Episode 14: You Been Going to Cram School Lately?
YTV’s 7th floor, home of the entertainment division.
Hong Hyunwook, buoyed by an additional budget allocation, warmly welcomed his guests.
“Well, look who’s here! CEO Seo!”
“What’s with calling a busy man like me? We’re the idle ones who should come to you.”
“Aish, don’t say it like that. Thanks to you, we got extra funding!”
Hong Hyunwook rubbed his hands eagerly, prompting a hearty laugh from Seo Yoonje.
“It’s not my doing. It’s thanks to her.”
Seo Yoonje gestured to Lee Ahjeong behind him, and Hong Hyunwook gave an awkward smile.
Seo Yoonje playfully furrowed his brow.
“What? It’s the truth, but you’re not even gonna deny it? I’m hurt.”
“Aigoo, stop teasing PD Hong and let’s go. You might have time, old man, but I’m busy.”
“Oh, Hong PD, this is my life now.”
Pushed by Lee Ahjeong’s nudge, Seo Yoonje hammed it up, and Hong Hyunwook chuckled.
“Let’s head in. Everything’s ready. Hey, intern, grab three coffees for Meeting Room 3.”
“No need. We brought our own drinks. And we paid for some for your team too—just need someone to pick them up.”
“Oh, you didn’t have to do that!”
“MyWay’s corporate card paid, so why’re you taking credit?”
Cheers erupted among the Blind Singer crew at Lee Ahjeong’s gentle voice, followed by laughter at Seo Yoonje’s grumpy retort.
Leaving the excitement behind, the trio entered the meeting room.
“Here’s the contract. The pay’s a bit modest…”
“Who does this for the pay? We’re here because we want something out of it too.”
“That’s a relief to hear. Haha.”
While Seo Yoonje was one thing, the modest pay for AZ’s name made Hong Hyunwook avert his eyes, missing the subtle glance exchanged between Seo Yoonje and Lee Ahjeong.
“So, prelims are done? How’re the contestants?”
Seo Yoonje asked, skimming the contract.
Hong Hyunwook tilted his head back, letting out a small sigh.
“I thought I was gonna die.”
“What? Was it a mess?”
“No, the opposite. A monster showed up.”
“A monster?”
Seo Yoonje’s eyes sharpened.
It wasn’t the first time his gaze shifted for a talented singer, so Hong Hyunwook continued unfazed.
“You know our prelims are first-come, first-served, right?”
“Mhm.”
“So… the first day, the first contestant… that guy nearly ruined the whole audition.”
“What’d he do?”
“Strumming his guitar—dagadangdang—and singing so hard that nothing after him felt like music. We almost sent everyone else home. Thank god someone broke the mood halfway through.”
A name flashed through Seo Yoonje’s mind, naturally.
“Who was it?”
He asked, feigning ignorance.
His acting was painfully obvious, but Hong Hyunwook, lost in recalling that day, didn’t notice.
“Nah, even you wouldn’t know him. Total nobody.”
“Come on, just tell me. What’re we gonna do, knowing a name? It’s a blind audition—names and faces are hidden.”
“Hm… true. Guy named Han Yujin. Heard of him?”
“Nope, first time hearing it. You, Ahjeong?”
“Nah, me neither. But I’m more curious about the one who broke the mood. Who was that?”
Seo Yoonje’s acting was abysmal, but Lee Ahjeong deftly shifted the topic, and Hong Hyunwook missed the odd vibe again.
“Oh, you might know him. Eom Dongkyu. Pretty big in the indie scene.”
“Dongkyu’s in? Wow, that’s huge.”
“You know him?”
“Yeah, he’s well-known. You’ve probably heard his stuff too, sir. I’ll play it for you later. If it’s the Dongkyu I know, he’s a strong contender for the win.”
“Uh… well…”
Hong Hyunwook hesitated, smacking his lips before continuing.
“I know I shouldn’t say this, but… Eom Dongkyu might not have it easy. Honestly, if I weren’t involved, my one-pick would be Han Yujin. That’s the vibe.”
At that moment, Seo Yoonje signed the contract.
Only he and Lee Ahjeong knew it was to keep from bursting into laughter at Hong Hyunwook’s words.
“If PD Hong’s that impressed, I’m curious. Gotta look him up. Let’s go, Ahjeong. Contract’s done.”
Seo Yoonje slid the contract to the far end of the table and stood.
“No, CEO Seo! You can’t! You can’t take him—not until the show’s over! Please!”
Hong Hyunwook scrambled to grab the contract and chase after Seo Yoonje.
Watching him, Lee Ahjeong thought to herself:
‘How does he not notice when the acting’s that bad?’
***
At Café Taleia, on the outskirts of Seoul, the lone employee moved tirelessly despite the number of potted plants outnumbering the daily customers.
Wiping down a coffee machine that served more drinks to the owner than to patrons.
Polishing empty tables two, three times over.
Carefully watering the scattered plants.
Taleia wasn’t run to make money.
//Its owner, Moon Sookhee, didn’t need to work anymore but couldn’t stand idleness, so she started the café as a pastime.
With no ads and a less-than-ideal location, there was no need to hire an employee at 3.5 million won a month.
Yet Moon Sookhee gladly honored her husband Seo Yoonje’s request to employ one, knowing the employee walked a path like her own.
That employee, Woo Zia, surely knew this was Seo Yoonje’s way of helping.
In a café with barely any work, she could read a book and leave, no problem.
But when Moon Sookhee was away, Zia worked even harder.
How could Moon Sookhee not adore such a diligent worker who ignored her pleas to take it easy?
Seeing her younger self in Zia, Moon Sookhee called out softly.
“Zia.”
“Oh, boss, you’re back.”
“Why’re you working so hard? I told you, you don’t have to.”
“Haha…”
Zia’s sheepish head-scratch tugged at Moon Sookhee’s heart.
At Zia’s age, Moon Sookhee had no one to support her like this.
Not that she resented it—just that seeing this young girl endure similar struggles stirred her deeply.
Was it age?
Swallowing the tears threatening to spill, Moon Sookhee spoke sternly.
“Zia, clock out.”
“What? I’ve only been here two hours, boss.”
“No, clock out. It’s awkward having an employee work harder than the boss. Feels like you’re guilting me into working.”
“No way, boss, it’s not like that!”
Zia’s frantic hand-waving made Moon Sookhee burst into laughter.
“Kidding. How many times do I have to joke for you to get used to it?”
“Boss!”
Zia’s whiny aegyo warmed Moon Sookhee, a mother of three sons.
‘Is this what having a daughter feels like?’
She’d love to have Zia as a daughter-in-law, but sadly, that wasn’t possible.
“But I’m not kidding about clocking out. Go home for real.”
“No, I’m fine, really… I only work four hours anyway…”
Seeing Zia hesitate, Moon Sookhee smiled and explained.
“My husband told me the Blind Singer PD was raving about your boyfriend.”
“Huh?”
“Said he’s his top pick. You think a PD’s favorite would fail the prelims?”
“Eep!”
Moon Sookhee, beaming at Zia’s gasp of joy, handed her a box.
“No idea when results are out, but go throw him a surprise party.”
Zia’s excitement faltered, her eyes flickering with conflict.
Moon Sookhee grinned playfully, untied Zia’s apron, swapped her rag for the box, and shooed her out of the café.
Pulling a 50,000-won bill from her wallet, she added:
“Don’t run—take a taxi. This is from a really good bakery. Don’t ruin it by jogging. Take a cab today.”
“Thank you, boss…”
Moon Sookhee waved off Zia’s teary gratitude.
Finally, Zia decided to be honest with her desires.
She opened an app and called a taxi—amazingly, one was just two minutes away.
In the cab heading to her saved address, Zia bounced her feet impatiently.
‘Should I have taken the subway?’
After nearly two years in Seoul, she still wasn’t used to the fact that the subway was often faster than a taxi when in a rush.
After what felt like an eternity, she arrived.
“Keep the change, driver.”
Words she’d never normally say slipped out as she bolted from the cab, only to freeze.
“Did I just hear my Woo Zia say ‘keep the change’?”
“Han Yujin, why’re you out here?”
The person she longed to see was standing there, as if waiting.
Yujin showed her his phone.
“Why? I got a notification you took a taxi, so I came out. What’s up? What’s that—”
Before he could finish asking about the box, Zia threw her arms around him.
Yujin, briefly startled, gently patted her back.
“What’s got into you, my Woo Zia?”
“You passed!”
“Passed what?”
“The Blind Singer prelims!”
Zia’s excited shout drew a quick glance around.
Yujin sighed.
“Who told you that?”
“The boss.”
“Ugh… I was gonna surprise you. Is that a cake? Guess we’re eating cake for dinner. I got one inside too.”
“That’s the issue? I could eat ten cakes right now. Yujin, this is huge!”
Zia dove back into his arms.
This time, Yujin embraced her without hesitation, noticing the moisture in her eyes.
Parting slightly, he wiped her tears.
“Crying already? Isn’t it a bit early?”
“For what?”
“You said I’m Grammy material. Crying over making the finals—not even winning—feels a bit off to me.”
“…!”
“Let’s save the tears for when I win that Grammy. It’s not too late then, Zia.”
His warm smile made Zia’s emotions surge again.
His calm confidence, both frustrating and endearing, made her fall for him all over again.
“Tch… you been going to cram school lately?”
“Cram school? Why?”
“You’re talking way too smooth these days…”
All she could do was pout.
“I’m too scared of making you cry to say anything. Come on, let’s eat that cake.”
Yujin took Zia’s hand and led her to their cozy haven.
This is genuinely so good! Looking forward to more :)
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