Episode 88: Debut Team (2)
I’d boasted that I’d storm straight into the CEO’s office, but unfortunately that wasn’t possible right away.
‘No helping it.’
The bigger and more proper a company is, the busier the CEO or president inevitably becomes behind the scenes.
Seo Yoonje is never a man with free time.
‘That’s exactly why he keeps shouting about wanting a sabbatical and retirement.’
So that more opportunities can go to the artists under him.
So that he doesn’t end up dumping that burden on the employees.
To create that possibility, Seo Yoonje gave up the time he could have spent enjoying music himself.
Considering that his true nature is also that of an artist, the value of the time he sacrificed for his juniors is something I have no right to measure.
‘I should just be grateful I managed to snag a lunch appointment on the same day.’
No matter how much Seo Yoonje cherishes me, that’s a separate matter.
What I’m about to do isn’t something only he wants, and waiting this long is a length of time I can easily endure.
It took roughly an hour from arriving at the company around the time the New Artist Development Team clocks in to finishing checking the trainees’ current status.
Of course, unlike the other employees I don’t exactly have a packed schedule, so letting two whole hours slip by isn’t exactly pleasant, but…
‘Luckily, I’m not exactly short on ways to kill time.’
Before regressing, I devoured pretty much every piece of content out there for creative input.
All that’s left now are things I already excluded because they didn’t suit my taste, so not having anything worth spending time on at moments like this is one of the few downsides of regression.
But lately, one piece of content appeared that perfectly solves that downside.
Something that can’t possibly not match my taste, and that I can only enjoy at this exact point after regressing.
If there were likes, subscribes, or star ratings, I’d smash every single one of them: ‘Zia’s acting practice’.
Great Actress Lee Ahjeong must have decided that Zia’s basics are finally decent, because for the past few days she’s been sending me videos through messenger of Zia acting out famous scenes from various dramas and movies.
“We newlyweds have to stick together all the time. There’s no guarantee we’ll be happy forever, right? That’s why we have to collect these happy moments little by little, stack them up neatly. So that later, when things get tough, we can take them out and be happy again.”
In the familiar practice room with an entire wall covered in mirrors, Zia—wearing a plain white cotton T-shirt—delivers a famous line from last year’s biggest melodrama.
“Zia-ya. ‘Stack them up neatly.’ Let’s try that part again. Your diction’s getting a bit mushy.”
“Yes, ma’am!”
Just as Lee Ahjeong points out in the video.
Objectively, it’s clearly not perfect acting yet, but even so, it’s more than enough to put a smile on my face.
I’ve never in my life seen an actress this lovable.
“Your emotions are good, though. Is it because the role is a newlywed wife that you’re immersing so well?”
“Ah, unnie!”
The moment the smile on my lips—sparked by Lee Ahjeong’s half-teasing follow-up evaluation—was about to turn into real laughter,
“What’s so fun to watch?”
Seo Yoonje’s voice coming through my earphones snapped me back to reality.
I reflexively tap the screen to pause, and the time displayed at the top of my phone reads 11:50.
I hadn’t even watched that many clips—how did it get so late? As I stand up, Seo Yoonje grins and says,
“Hungry, right? Let’s go. There’s a great baekban place nearby.”
He definitely saw Zia’s face frozen in the center of my phone screen, even if he couldn’t hear the sound.
Grateful for Seo Yoonje’s tact in pretending not to notice me acting like a lovesick fool in the middle of the company, I give an embarrassed smile and follow him out.
“This place is no joke. The food’s amazing, unlimited refills, cheap, and if you’re signed to MyWay it’s free.”
I can’t help but chuckle at Seo Yoonje’s playful bragging that instantly brightens the faces of the cafeteria staff.
The place we’ve arrived at is none other than MyWay’s in-house cafeteria.
The thought of complaining “You’re the CEO and we’re only eating at the cafeteria?” doesn’t even cross my mind.
I’ve received far too much from Seo Yoonje to whine about something like that, and…
“Starting ‘that side’ now?”
Of course Seo Yoonje would never take me somewhere public eyes could reach when he already knows exactly what I’m about to bring up.
“Yes.”
“Well, we’re honestly already late as it is. It was always the plan from the beginning, and the kids have suffered long enough, so pushing forward itself shouldn’t be an issue…”
He nods lightly in agreement, but lets the end of his sentence trail off vaguely.
“What worries me is you, Yujin-ssi. You never get a proper day off—preparing your own songs, looking over everyone else’s… Won’t you burn out? Look, Hylliy’s comeback literally just ended.”
In Seo Yoonje’s gaze I can clearly feel the concern of “You’re young, but aren’t you over-revving the engine?”
That’s where the regressor privilege shines again.
“I’m fine. I rest properly when I rest.”
Compared to other creators, I have an absurd amount of breathing room.
Why? Because all the references are already complete.
All I have to do is tweak them slightly to fit the current trend and the new artists.
The energy I spend on the agony of creation is extremely low.
“Sigh… Fine, come sit. We’ll talk while we eat.”
Of course, my outward confidence can’t possibly convey what’s really inside.
Seo Yoonje lets out a short sigh, picks up his spoon, and continues.
“To be honest, if you’re willing to do it, I’m nothing but grateful. It’s something I can’t do myself, and you’re doing it for me. After hearing ‘Mysty’, I had no choice but to admit that when it comes to ‘this side,’ you’re way better than me.”
I happen to have a mouthful of rice at that exact moment, so I just bow my head once instead of replying.
Seo Yoonje smiles warmly at me, then makes a small “tch” sound, revealing his complicated feelings before finally arriving at the conclusion he couldn’t avoid.
“Alright. Let’s do it exactly like we did with Hylliy. I’ll put my name as overall producer, and you do whatever you want.”
“Yes, sir. Thank you.”
“Thank you for what? You’re the one doing all the tricks while I take all the credit.”
“Pfft.”
“That makes you laugh? You think I can’t take the credit?”
His fake growl only makes me grin harder.
Sure, when the nominal leader and the actual leader are different people, it usually doesn’t benefit the real one—but I already know Seo Yoonje has zero intention of doing that.
“If you were that kind of person, MyWay wouldn’t be the company it is.”
If he really wanted to use his name as a shield, it probably means “don’t shrink back even if ‘Mysty’ doesn’t do well.” Something like that.
“Hmph, smooth talker.”
A little embarrassed that I saw right through him, he mutters a tiny scolding and goes back to eating.
I scoop a big spoonful from the bottom of my soup bowl and shove it in my mouth.
The huge chunk of tuna soaked perfectly in kimchi flavor is definitely as delicious as Seo Yoonje bragged it would be.
Still nowhere near what Zia makes, though.
The “negotiation”—which felt too smooth to even call a negotiation—ends.
“We’ll go over the details properly once we’ve followed all the procedures.”
“Yes, sir.”
Just as Seo Yoonje and I are leaving the cafeteria,
“Hm? Why are you two together?”
A familiar voice from behind makes us both turn at the same time.
Standing there is the superstar whose beauty glows even without a speck of makeup.
“What are you doing here? Where’s Zia?”
The question slips out of my mouth almost reflexively.
Because for the past few weeks, the person who’s spent the second-most time with Zia after me is none other than this woman—Lee Ahjeong.
“Wow, seriously? The first thing you ask me is where Zia is? I’m a little hurt.”
Lee Ahjeong answers like that, but a playful glint clearly flashes across her eyes as she teases me.
My heart lightens a little when I realize nothing bad has happened.
“I had some business at the company today, so we finished lessons early. We had lunch together, and I was just on my way after dropping her off at home.”
“Ah.”
Lee Ahjeong doesn’t drag out the teasing and immediately clears up my question.
‘Well, if that’s the case, there’s no helping it.’
Actually, it’s perfect.
If what she says is true, that means Zia is home right now.
“Then I’ll head in first.”
“Pfft. Sure, go ahead. Be safe. Let’s go, Ahjeong-ah.”
Seo Yoonje’s soft chuckle makes me realize my inner thoughts are completely exposed, but my head is already so full of Zia that there’s no room left for embarrassment.
‘We only held hands and slept last night, you know.’
I do have a conscience.
No matter how much Zia herself suggested it first, actually going through with it would definitely cross the line.
She was exhausted and passed out right after dinner, so I couldn’t pounce on her. I just accepted her invitation and went to sleep.
‘But right now…?’
This is coffee. This is an energy drink.
A vitality that no amount of caffeine could ever match makes my steps light as air.
“Wait a sec.”
A voice dripping with laughter grabs my arm.
Not metaphorically—literally.
“I was actually looking for you so we could go up together. What a coincidence running into you here. Perfect timing, right? Come with us, Yujin-ssi.”
“Uh… me?”
“Yes. There’s something you absolutely need to hear too.”
“Can’t I just hear it later, after everything’s decided?”
I figured it would be about music or the stage anyway, so I tried to shake off Lee Ahjeong’s hand, but—
“It’s about Zia. Are you really okay hearing it later? It’d be great if you could help, though.”
At her next words, my hand freezes mid-motion.
My eyes instantly shoot toward Seo Yoonje.
“Mmm, I don’t know either. She only asked me to make time; I haven’t heard the details.”
Seo Yoonje hurriedly waves his hands, and Lee Ahjeong’s smile only grows wider.
‘No wonder she let me go so easily…’
I should’ve known the moment she gave up teasing me so quickly.
“Let’s head up first. It’s not something to discuss out here.”
The moment Zia’s name came up, refusing to hear the story was no longer an option for me.
I turn around, get back into the elevator, and when the doors open again—
“Oh. You’re already here?”
“Yep. Just now. Did you enjoy your meal, CEO?”
“Director Seong? Wait—this is about ‘that side’?”
Standing in front of Seo Yoonje’s office is a man whose face is very familiar.
I can’t quite place him, but it’s definitely someone etched in my memories from before the regression.
But I didn’t need to dig through those memories.
“There’s no point dragging things out when I’ve gathered busy people. Let’s get straight to the point. We’re planning to cast Woo Zia-ssi as the lead in Ahjeong’s upcoming 6th mini-album title track <Love Fortune> music video, CEO. Internally at ‘our side,’ we’ve already finished positive review.”
The moment the conversation began—each of us claiming a seat on the sofa—I remembered exactly who he was.
“And furthermore, ‘we’ are seriously considering bringing Woo Zia-ssi on as the second actress we will manage.”
The “we” that man is referring to is undoubtedly <BNW>.
BNW—the Lee Ahjeong division—wants Zia.