On a day when the fallen leaves had dropped, and the temperature brushing against one’s cheeks had become quite chilly.
“Why are you so late?”
Hyunseung, who had come to the airport to go to America, tossed a reproach at Kim Woohyun, who came running up belatedly and in a fluster.
“Hhk, huff, I had to go say goodbye to Danbi…”
“This time we’re just going for a scouting trip, and you still had to go say goodbye for that too.”
“Still, I was worried Danbi might be waiting every morning…”
“That’s passionate love.”
At Hyunseung’s words, Executive Director Park, who was standing beside him, snorted and added.
“Let’s see how long it lasts.”
Kim Woohyun shot Executive Director Park, a glare, then greeted the family standing behind Hyunseung.
“Huh? Hyunseung’s little sister came too! And even Hyunseung’s father! Hello…”
But when he realized the fact that he was Deaf, he hurriedly used sign language.
–Father, hello. It feels like it has been a while.
-Yes, it has been a while. Please take good care of our son.
–I’m the one who should be asking for that. I’m always the one receiving help.
Seeing Kim Woohyun’s not very fluent signing, Father answered with a warm smile instead of continuing the conversation.
“When did you learn sign language?”
Hyunseung asked, looking fairly surprised at Kim Woohyun.
“Just in case, I learned at least some basic greetings.”
But as Kim Woohyun answered in a tone that quickly became proud, Hyunseung deliberately knit his brows and turned his body away.
“You’re late, so let’s go.”
Even as he said that, a faint smile had spread at the corner of Hyunseung’s lips.
Because he knew it was careful consideration and steady effort.
Step, step.
Hyunseung walked ahead for a moment.
Slide.
He slightly turned his head and looked over the faces of those following behind him.
Father and Hyuna.
And behind them….
Dad Park and Mom Kim.
Those four were slowly walking after him.
Heh.
Looking at them, Hyunseung felt laughter come for some reason.
And at the same time, the word “responsibility” settled down heavily.
.
.
Hyunseung had to break into a sweat coaxing Hyuna and Kim Woohyun, who did not want to get off the private jet.
“No, why are you doing this too, Director.”
“Seriously. You’re not a kid.”
Executive Director Park also scolded Kim Woohyun, but the disappointed look was obvious on his face.
No matter how much he was an executive at a major entertainment company, he probably would not have had many chances to ride a private jet.
“Tsk.”
Executive Director Park left first, putting his regret behind him, and Kim Woohyun followed with heavy steps.
“Min Hyuna, if you keep doing this, I’m leaving you on the private jet.”
“No, no!”
“Before I leave you behind, take good care of Father, and get off quickly.”
In the end, Hyuna also got off the private jet with Father.
Before long, when they got into the limousine that had been prepared, their eyes sparkled as if they had never been regretful.
“Wow, pop stars really are a different class. From a private jet to even a limousine like this.”
Kim Woohyun said, patting the wide car seat.
“I prepared the limousine.”
At Hyunseung’s words, there was silence for a moment.
“Wow, our CEO really is a different class, I’m telling you.”
Kim Woohyun immediately switched his stance, lifting both thumbs.
Hyunseung was still awkward about being called “CEO,” but Kim Woohyun seemed like he had already adapted, and he kept calling out, “CEO, the best!” over and over in a slick way.
“Are you a kid? Stop making such a fuss.”
“Yes…”
“It’s embarrassing, you’ve been like this in front of Hyunseung’s family since earlier, tsk.”
“I’m sorry…”
Only after getting scolded by Executive Director Park did he finally quiet down.
Jeonmu-nim, nice.
Taking advantage of that quiet moment, Hyunseung checked on Hyuna and Father, sitting across from him.
Maybe because they had already ridden a limousine during the Japan trip, the two did not seem as interested as expected.
Have they already gotten used to it.
Still, Hyunseung seemed to like that side of his family, and he smiled silently.
From now on, I’ll make sure they only see, hear, eat, taste, and enjoy even better things, so it would be good to get used to it.
“We’re here.”
Right on time, a newly built headquarters building came into view outside the window.
At those words, everyone pressed up to the window and rolled their eyes around to find the building.
“That’s it, right, that one?”
Even if it was not as towering as LS Entertainment, a new white headquarters with a unique structure was sitting inside a forest.
“Wow…”
“Oh…”
“Man…”
The moment the car stopped in front of the building, the people who got out first could not hold back their admiration.
“You’re here?”
The one who greeted them, no, who greeted Hyunseung, was Vincent.
“How is it, isn’t it killer?”
Vincent asked, rolling his shoulders as if full of confidence.
“Let’s go see the studio first.”
But Hyunseung spoke dryly and walked past Vincent.
“Oh, an instrument…”
Hyuna, who noticed him after, muttered blankly without realizing it, but fortunately it was Korean, so Vincent could not understand it.
“I still can’t believe I’m going to end up working with Vincent.”
As they all walked toward the building, Kim Woohyun muttered quietly so only Executive Director Park could hear.
Executive Director Park glanced around slightly for a moment at those words.
“Me neither…”
He whispered so only Kim Woohyun could hear.
Yeah.
In the current pop music market, if you asked, “When you think pop star, who is the first person you think of,” nine out of ten would say Vincent, his status was that high.
Among the world’s population, in any country where the internet and smartphones are widespread, even if people do not know his face, you could say everyone has heard his songs at least once.
And yet, that kind of person suggested the label business to Hyunseung first.
Amazing.
Kim Woohyun felt a halo shining from Hyunseung’s back. It was not only Kim Woohyun who felt that.
First, Executive Director Park did.
Father did too.
And Hyuna also felt it.
Before long, when they entered the headquarters, a lobby that even non experts could see had a lot of effort put into it greeted them.
This is where I will work.
This is Oppa’s headquarters.
This is my son’s company.
Their eyes sparkled once more as they looked at Hyunseung.
However, the Hyunseung who had been shining with a halo disappeared in an instant, and he had become a tiger with sharply raised eyes, like when he works.
“Isn’t the wall clock in the lobby too big? It feels like an old hotel lobby. Change it to digital.”
“Are you planning to wallpaper the wall with your album covers? The hallway looks messy. Give up on a few.”
And then he dragged Vincent around like a secretary, pointing out one by one the things he did not like.
“The office space is too bleak compared to the other spaces.”
“If it’s a cafeteria, then it should, of course, be a bit more appetite stimulating…”
“The carpet under the sofa doesn’t match the color, so remove it.”
Strangely, Vincent was accepting it all and writing it down without much of a response.
For partners, the two of them felt very vertical.
But Executive Director Park and Kim Woohyun were not that surprised at that appearance.
Because they had not been seeing Hyunseung like this for only a day or two.
To be honest, if you listen, it is all correct too.
But unlike them, Vincent also did not feel at all that this relationship was wrong.
“Is this my studio?”
Rather, like a delicate herbivore, he watched Hyunseung’s mood from beside him, swallowing dryly.
“Yeah, that’s right.”
Especially when they stopped in front of the door with the sign that read “HS STUDIO”….
As if he was presenting a work he had put effort into for a long time to a master of the industry, his body trembled in small shakes from tension.
Tremble, tremble.
Because the memory of getting severely chewed out once before because of the studio was taking over his head like trauma.
Creeeak.
Like the door of a sealed barrier opening, the studio door slowly opened, and Hyunseung stepped inside first.
Step, step.
Vincent followed behind, and for some reason, he felt like the surrounding temperature had dropped five degrees more.
“Hm….”
Hyunseung slowly ran his fingertips over the set equipment and instruments for a moment.
“The specs are to my liking.”
He nodded slowly and said.
Clench.
At those words, Vincent quietly curled his fist and shouted “Nice!” inside. The money put into the studio alone was tens of millions.
To be honest, more than the money, he struggled because he had to search everywhere to outfit it with equipment better than any composer in the world…
“You must’ve had a hard time getting it.”
If it was that level of acknowledgement, it was enough as a reward for months of hardship.
“Well, for me it’s like eating cold porridge.”
Vincent spread his shoulders that had been tightly drawn up, and laughed lightly as if it was nothing.
Ah.
Until Hyunseung, after scanning the space overall, added one more thing.
“Except that I don’t like the overall tone, it’s fine.”
“Huh?”
“It’s dark, the instruments look like they’ll get sleepy, so let’s redo the wallpaper.”
Vincent nodded again, slipping between shoulders that had tightened up.
“Okay…”
Watching him from behind, the others thought.
That guy….
He really got gaslighted by Hyunseung.
In truth, that applied to everyone.
Hyunseung, bringing Vincent and the rest with him, headed to the CEO’s office.
He had already seen it once before, so he did not feel much, but the others, especially Father, looked around here and there with an emotional face.
–Dad, the view here is amazing, right?
-Our son is the best.
–Seriously, you’re such a doting dad.
Hyuna stayed by Father’s side, circling around as if trying not to get in the way as much as possible.
To be honest, he was grateful.
Now it was time to receive a report from Vincent about matters related to establishing “VINCIS.”
“I put the necessary documents on the CEO’s desk.”
At those words, Hyunseung picked up the documents on the desk.
Dozens of pages, filled tightly with English in font so small it made his face wrinkle on its own.
“Hah…”
Just thinking about hearing an explanation, understanding it, and trying to execute anything already made him sigh.
“To explain simply, we established the articles of incorporation and registered the corporation, and this is the operating agreement.”
But contrary to his worry, Vincent continued explaining clearly, tapping the documents at key points.
“And as you requested, I submitted those two as officers included in the operating agreement.”
He glanced at Executive Director Park and Kim Woohyun, who were standing blankly nearby, and added.
“As for other permits and the account opening, they’re on standby.”
That was it. There were no demands like he had to do something.
“That’s all you have to tell me?”
“Yeah, what else do you need?”
“No, it’s not that.”
In his previous life, just thinking of the words “corporation establishment” made him feel like it would be complicated, so he never even tried it.
But now, with it finished so easily, like this, in one smooth flow, he could not believe it.
“Is establishing a corporation really this easy?”
Hyunseung asked, still doubtful, looking at Vincent.
“Why should it be difficult?”
Vincent asked back, rolling his shoulders like what was the issue.
“Still, it’s not an easy thing to build a company.”
“The thing that makes even hard things very easy and simple is money.”
At that answer, Hyunseung nodded slightly and said, “Ah.”
Right, this guy was an enormous rich person.
Even so, it was the moment he felt just a little sorry toward Vincent, who had handled the overall preparation process so Hyunseung would not have to worry about anything.
Ah, of course, not extremely sorry.
Just about the part where he told him to take down a few of the album title photos plastered on the wall?
“Then will it be ready by January?”
Before long, Hyunseung asked, looking at Vincent.
“Without even going all the way to January, if you just have the prepared songs in your hands, you could even start the first label operations to match the Christmas season.”
“In my hands…”
At the answer, Hyunseung looked down at his palm for a moment.
“Then we can start to match Christmas.”
He smiled boldly.
And then tapping his head with his index finger, he added.
“Because the songs are always here.”
At that motion, Vincent, Executive Director Park, and Kim Woohyun felt something hot boil up from deep inside their lower abdomen.
That was probably… the words success and ambition.
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