Ten months had passed since Jamal’s album was released.
Securing a concert venue had been difficult due to back-to-back bookings, and the plan had almost fallen through, but it was made possible thanks to Hyunseung’s help.
—Godchis!
And so, he stood on stage, able to perform for his hyung-nim. To hear the name “Godchis” echoing through the concert hall….
It felt like a dream.
Throughout the performance, Jamal was so overwhelmed by rising emotions that he had to wear a helmet engraved with Hyunseung’s signature flame mark for several stages.
Yes.
If he cried on stage, his hyung-nim would probably curse at him for looking pathetic.
—I hated your bent back.
However, it was difficult to control his emotions when performing the stage dedicated to his mother.
But he endured. This was the stage he had wanted so badly. He didn’t want to ruin it with tears. If they had failed to secure the venue, this stage would never have been seen.
He absolutely could not mess it up.
For his own sake, and for Hyunseung, who had held this solo concert for him, he had to perform like a professional until the very end.
—JS! JS!
Thus, Jamal’s first solo concert ended without a hitch all the way to the final stage, and the venue was instantly filled with the thunderous cheers of the audience.
And so.
Coming down from the stage, Jamal immediately pulled out his cell phone.
It was to check whether Hyunseung had come to his concert.
He said he’d come if he could.
On the phone screen, a text message from Hyunseung had arrived.
[I have a schedule, so I’m leaving first. Good job.]
It was a shame he couldn’t say hello, but at least he had seen the show before leaving.
Then, he should ask when the schedule ended and give his thanks in person….
Tap, tap-tap.
Just as Jamal was typing on the keypad.
Buzz.
A new message arrived.
Where is this?
It was a message from Hyunseung, but it only had an address written on it without any explanation. Did he send it to the wrong person?
Or….
Was he telling him to come here? Was there a company dinner today?
Buzz.
Before he could finish his reply, another message arrived after a short interval….
“H-Hyung-nim….”
Jamal couldn’t finish reading the message.
[I’ve made a reservation, so take your mother there for a private meal, share the words you couldn’t say through the performance, and have a good time. And, thank you for everything until now.]
It was because his vision had blurred as tears welled up.
In the end, without being able to grasp the significant meaning of ‘And, thank you for everything until now’, he immediately ran to the VIP seats and hugged his mother, who was waiting for him.
Since the concert had just ended, he must have reeked of sweat, but he hugged his mother even tighter as she patted his back without a word.
“Hyung-nim, thank you. Hyung-nim, thank you. Hyung-nim, thank you….”
Then, he buried his face in his mother’s shoulder and muttered the same words repeatedly.
Surprisingly, during those ten months, Hyunseung never once stood on stage as a DJ.
After revealing the face he had hidden so persistently and performing for Daniel on the Grammy Awards stage, it was as if he had lost his momentum.
It seemed he had quit DJing altogether.
It wasn’t that he was working on songs, either.
One song for Rise, who kept bothering him via DM.
One song for MisutSara, who scolded him out of jealousy.
After working on exactly two songs, he suddenly washed his hands of it, causing Vincent to groan day after day.
Then.
What has our Golden Child been up to lately?
“Our Golden Child is strange these days.”
“What exactly?”
“He’s working way too hard.”
Kim Woohyun followed Executive Director Park, who had come to work out after hours, and stuck close to his side, adding with a serious face.
“Isn’t it really strange?”
At those words, Executive Director Park snorted and replied indifferently.
“Maybe he’s finally grown up. That aside, why hasn’t that guy really come to grow his muscles yet?”
“Listen to me. He’s not working on the songs he loved so much, he’s not DJing, and when I ask what he’s doing lately, he says it’s all work or meetings!”
“That guy?”
“Yes, like a real CEO!”
“Well, now….”
“Something has definitely happened to our Golden Child. He’s being threatened by the board of directors that he’ll be dismissed if he doesn’t increase Unice’s second-half sales by 200%….”
“Would he?”
Then, as if he couldn’t listen anymore, Executive Director Park lightly pushed him away, picked up a barbell, and added.
“Make it make sense. And even if he really received such a threat, if it’s him, he would have already thrown a few songs at them and be cooking the directors alive.”
“Aren’t you worried, Executive Director?”
“Why worry about a guy who’s doing his job well? For now, worry about the survival of VINCIS without Hyunseung.”
Kim Woohyun only twitched his lips at Executive Director Park’s words. Actually, he wasn’t wrong. Right now, he was busy enough struggling for the future of VINCIS.
However.
What could he do when he kept worrying about Hyunseung like a child left by the water?
Is he getting his coffee okay?
Is the food in the cafeteria good?
Or.
Is he being cursed at by people because he couldn’t fix his personality and is acting like a brat?
“Ah, lately my dreams have been strange, and the Tarot cards keep showing unsettling and weird things….”
Kim Woohyun muttered, spinning around in place as if anxious.
“You, stop fiddling with things like Tarot and get some exercise. That’s the best way to shake off stray thoughts.”
It was just as Executive Director Park sighed and tried to calm Kim Woohyun down.
“Listen to Executive Director Park.”
Turning his head at the voice from behind, he saw Lee Duseok standing there. He had recently started exercising with Executive Director Park to improve his physical strength.
To think he was exercising with someone as crazy about fitness as Executive Director Park at that advanced age.
Yes.
In this harsh jungle of an industry, the reason Lee Duseok survived for so long was probably his strong mental and physical strength.
“Oh, Teacher, you’re here.”
Kim Woohyun bowed politely to greet Lee Duseok.
“It’s been a while since we’ve been eating from the same pot. Shouldn’t you treat me like a Director by now?”
“I’m sorry. ‘Teacher’ is just stuck in my mouth.”
“That can happen. Anyway, Director Kim, do as Executive Director Park says. Don’t worry about Hyunseung, and worry about our own situation. Don’t just trust your natural physique, do some exercise….”
Ah, the nagging has started again.
“Yes, yes….”
Kim Woohyun had only heard rumors, but actually working with Lee Duseok was a first since he came to VINCIS.
Lee Duseok’s ability and skill were so immense that the rumors seemed modest.
And his nagging was also immense.
“Lately, it seems you’re leaving earlier and earlier. How can a Director do that? Back in my day…”
While Lee Duseok continued his nagging.
“Even if there really is a problem with the boy, we have to protect VINCIS well so that he can either run away or come back, right?”
He lightly tapped Kim Woohyun’s shoulder. For some reason, Kim Woohyun felt his mind becoming peaceful with that one touch.
It might have been because of the composure that came with age, but it was also because his words were laced with sincere concern for Hyunseung.
Yes.
No matter what happens, I—we—just need to protect him.
“In that sense, shall we have a meeting for the second-half performance goals?”
“Right now?”
“Strike while the iron is hot. Let’s do it right now since we’re gathered like this.”
Ah, I think I need to protect my ears first right now.
“I clearly mentioned it last week. You’re not going to say you haven’t prepared yet, are you?”
“Ah, well, that is…”
“Back in my day, the moment the word was out, immediately….”
Kim Woohyun only missed Hyunseung more and more.
Michelle had one secret she hadn’t told Hyunseung.
[Is our Hyunseung really okay lately?]
It was that she was secretly communicating with Kim Woohyun. Calling it “secret communication” was a bit much.
It felt more like a kindergarten teacher staying in touch with a parent.
[Is Hyunseung eating his meals these days? What about coffee?]
[Are there any people bullying Hyunseung in the company?]
[Could you contact me if anything happens to Hyunseung?]
Hyunseung had once described Kim Woohyun as a “helicopter mom.” He said it was a term used to mock mothers who overly protect their children in Korea, and at the time, she didn’t understand even after hearing the explanation.
As a mother, isn’t it natural to worry about and protect one’s own child?
However.
Now she understood.
Yes.
Everything should be done in moderation.
“Hmm.”
Michelle sent a reply saying everything was fine and not to worry, then put down her phone.
Actually, she knew the reason why Kim Woohyun was so worried about Hyunseung lately.
Although she didn’t show it, she also felt that Hyunseung was strange.
“CEO, may I come in?”
Michelle asked, carefully knocking on the CEO’s office door.
Then, exactly ten seconds later, the answer “Yes, come in” came back. It was a new habit Hyunseung had developed recently.
Since he wasn’t someone good at multitasking, there seemed to be a gap until he stopped what he was doing and replied.
“You’re here to deliver the approval documents, right? Just leave them there.”
Hyunseung, sitting at the desk, spoke with his eyes fixed on the papers. Michelle approached him and set down the documents she had brought.
Then she quietly looked at his narrowed brow.
The Hyunseung Michelle saw….
Within the past six months, he had somehow become a complete CEO.
Of course, she had always thought of him as a great leader.
But he was never someone who fit the image of a CEO that people typically imagined. However, these days, Hyunseung was gradually becoming closer to the “CEO” people spoke of.
Yes.
Crossing the threshold of the meeting room instead of the studio, holding a fountain pen and documents rather than instruments or equipment. A very ordinary CEO.
A CEO who, buried in work, strives for the company’s survival.
That wasn’t the only strange thing.
Lately, he had a lot of contact with shareholders, and for some reason, it felt like he was urgently tidying things up.
As if.
He was someone who would finish everything and then suddenly disappear.
“Is there something else you wanted to say?”
At that moment, Hyunseung looked up at Michelle, who was still standing there, and asked.
“Ah, no.”
Michelle, lost in thought, lowered her head slightly as if nothing were wrong and turned away.
Yes.
According to her principles, she just had to do her job without asking questions.
He surely has his reasons and thoughts.
Thinking so, she turned her steps to leave the CEO’s office.
“Do you happen to have time this evening?”
Hyunseung’s voice came from behind her.
“If you don’t mind, let’s have dinner together.”
Michelle stared blankly at Hyunseung for a moment before turning around.
“Yes, that sounds good.”
She soon corrected her posture and replied.
It was because she felt that his words weren’t simply about having a meal.
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