Siblings Work in Business (42)
The CEO gave us so much, solely because he believed in our talent.
Back then, with a child’s mind, I only thought, ‘He’s a grateful person,’ and ‘I have to succeed and repay him!’
‘Thinking about it now, it was an unbelievable amount of support…’
Having lived with Lee Eun-ji and being responsible for another person…
I knew that even basic necessities cost a lot of money.
Especially proper education, which costs even more.
Even when I attended middle school with government support, money was always tight.
Small things like class parties for Teacher’s Day, class t-shirts for festivals, school supplies, field trip expenses…
Even making friends required money to go to karaoke or buy snacks.
And a decent place to live.
Even the smallest things required money, money, money to live a normal life in this country.
And as far as I knew, having such freedom before becoming an adult was mostly thanks to parents’ capabilities.
But Lee Eun-ji and I had no parents, no money, and no outstanding skills.
We weren’t even old enough to work.
We studied and looked at the blackboard with ‘them,’ but we couldn’t fit in.
There was no physical violence, but it was an experience that taught us that violence doesn’t always require physical contact.
「“I want to leave this neighborhood. I want to go somewhere completely different. It’s all because of me, if only I disappear…”」
One day, Eun-ji said while crying, as our emotions and sense of self withered away under their gazes and whispers.
I couldn’t leave her alone, so I took Eun-ji’s hand and left.
‘We’ve managed so far, so we’ll manage somehow.’
With the thought that there would be an answer as long as we were alive, we recklessly headed to Seoul.
Having nothing meant we had nothing to lose.
Having already hit rock bottom, there was nowhere further to fall.
Around that time, Eun-ji suggested,
「“Oppa, since we’re here, why don’t you try becoming a singer? It was your dream.”」
I don’t know any songs.
At my reply, Eun-ji borrowed instruments whenever she earned money and made songs for me, and I auditioned with those songs.
I always failed.
But those accumulated failures allowed me to look forward to the next opportunity.
Lee Eun-ji was supporting me, and since I said I would do it, I had to take responsibility.
“You there.”
And then we met him.
A middle-aged man in an outdated suit that looked like it belonged in the 90s.
It was CEO Park Chang-seok, whom we met by chance, regardless of our repeated failures.
“How old are you?”
“Me? I’m 17. Why?”
“Well, I’m this kind of person.”
Our first encounter happened when the CEO tried to cast Eun-ji.
But he never discriminated between Eun-ji and me.
He invested in our skills and determination as long as we showed and proved them.
‘He always waited for the results, rather than rushing us.’
Eun-ji and I were both impatient, so there wasn’t even time for the CEO to rush us…
‘But…’
As I was lost in thought…
A sudden chill ran down my spine.
We had received so much help from the CEO for so long.
But…
‘We don’t know anything about ‘Park Chang-seok,’ the person, not CEO Park.’
I had never been to his house.
I didn’t even know about his family.
Even I, who had spent more time with him and even regressed, knew nothing about him.
The company currently had no employees.
The CEO was someone who always handled everything himself, and it remained that way even after Lee Eun-ji became a star.
Before the regression, the only employees we had before moving into the new building were our stylists and managers.
Wasn’t the company’s only income from Lee Eun-ji’s activities, advertisements, and appearance fees?
‘Then before that?’
Eun-ho looked up at CEO Park.
‘It must have been at least hundreds of millions of won…?’
The CEO was always modest, unlike a wealthy chaebol (conglomerate).
But he didn’t seem like he borrowed money to raise us, considering how relaxed he was even after offering such a large sum of money earlier.
‘Ah, this is confusing.’
While I was lost in thought…
It seemed like the discussion with Dark Ocean was finalized.
CEO Park was discussing the specific filming locations with Director Go Tae-seo.
“Although it’s just a suggestion, I think filming on a set would be better, since you have a sufficient budget…”
“I’ll leave the decision to our artists. Eun-ji, what do you think?”
“I’m okay with it.”
“Eun-ho?”
“…Huh?”
Lost in my thoughts, I was visibly startled.
“Focus, Lee Eun-ho.”
“I apologize.”
CEO Park frowned and warned me to focus.
It seemed like something I needed to investigate further, but for now, it was time to focus on work.
‘I don’t want to disrupt the work.’
I pushed my distracting thoughts aside and actively participated in the meeting.
A week after the meeting with Dark Ocean Production…
Director Go Tae-seo sent the PPM (Pre-Production Meeting) file, which included the storyboard, filming locations, detailed timetable for filming, lighting, art, costumes, and everything needed for the music video shoot.
“Wow…”
Director Go Tae-seo’s videos were known for their dreamy atmosphere.
And that charm was evident even in the storyboard.
Everything, including the scenes Lee Eun-ji and I wanted, was perfectly placed.
“We’re going with this?”
“Yes! It’s perfect!”
“I like it.”
Neither Lee Eun-ji nor I had any objections.
A few days after the decision was made…
“A photoshoot?”
“Suddenly?”
We were both surprised by the sudden offer for a photoshoot with CK Music Life Magazine…
But the music video filming date was set.
Filming
“Brrr, it’s cold…”
Cherry blossom trees and a high-hanging moon.
Dancing on the green grass and falling asleep by a dark lake under the night sky… It looked perfect in the storyboard, but when I actually stood on the set…
‘It’s too realistic.’
The first thing that caught my eye in the indoor set was the green chroma key wall.
Still, the video would definitely turn out well.
The artificial cherry blossom trees were in full bloom, and the floor, thanks to the director’s insistence, was set with real grass, not artificial turf.
And the other sets around us…
It was my first time filming a music video with so many different scenes, so it felt quite unfamiliar.
“Oh…”
Just as I was looking around curiously…
A bundle of blankets waddled towards me.
“It’s cold…”
I recognized the familiar voice and saw that the blanket bundle was Lee Eun-ji.
She was completely wrapped up, only her face showing, to avoid messing up her makeup and hair.
“That looks warm.”
“A staff member gave it to me because I looked cold…”
“What about me?”
“You’re wearing pants.”
“Are these pants?”
“Then are those underwear?”
“Who said they were underwear? I’m saying they’re thin.”
“You’re thaying they’re thin?”
I felt a strong urge to smack Lee Eun-ji as she mimicked my voice annoyingly.
If it weren’t for the thick blanket I was holding, I definitely would have.
The set was perfect.
It would have been better if the weather was warmer, but today was a clear, sub-zero day, colder than a snowy day.
January, with its lingering cold, was chilly.
‘The water pipes on the second floor of the dorm froze this morning…’
So, Lee Eun-ji and I had to shower on the first floor of the company, where the water heater was installed.
This blanket was my lifeline today.
Wearing a thin white shirt, black slacks, and being barefoot in this weather was insane.
It was definitely not the weather to be running around in a shirt and shorts.
‘But that’s exactly what we’re doing.’
And with four female dancers and four male dancers…
The moment Lee Eun-ji mentioned the shirt, the costume concept seemed to be fixed as black and white, so the dancers’ first outfits were also black shirts, black slacks, and bare feet.
“Brrr, it’s cold…”
Of course, Lee Eun-ji, the main reason for this outfit choice, was shivering the most.
Short black shorts barely visible under the oversized shirt.
And bare feet.
Everyone else was wearing at least one more layer than Eun-ji.
But still, it wasn’t appropriate attire for the middle of winter.
“Eun-ji, Eun-ho, guys! There’s a heater here! Come over!”
“Where?”
“Where?!”
At the call of Roa, a member of Cloud Dance Team, I went to the heater and took a spot.
It was the best spot to get warm.
“Ugh.”
Lee Eun-ji, waddling over with difficulty because of the heavy blanket, couldn’t get to the heater in time.
Just as I was about to tease her…
“Ah…”
“Thank you!”
The kind dance team members pushed Lee Eun-ji next to me.
“It’s warm…”
“It is…”
As Lee Eun-ji muttered, seemingly drowsy from the warmth, In-hyeok, another member of Cloud Dance Team, sighed in relief.
Not just us, but also the staff who had finished their preparations early were huddled around the heater.
They all wore thick black padding jackets, so…
They looked like a group of penguins.
Was it just me?
Watching Lee Eun-ji enjoying the warmth of the heater…
I felt a surge of annoyance.
“Hey, what are you doing?!”
Actually, by the time I thought about it, I had already acted.
I blocked the heat from reaching Lee Eun-ji with my body.
“Move! Lee Eun-ho! Are you crazy?!”
As expected, Lee Eun-ji yelled angrily, trying to push me away.
“No. You’re the one who wanted to wear just a shirt.”
“I didn’t know it would be this cold! And what does that have to do with this?!”
It was a lame excuse, but what did it matter?
My goal was to block the heater, and I had already succeeded.
“Ah, it’s warm…”
“Lee Eun-ho, you littl…!”
Lee Eun-ji was about to curse out of habit, but she looked around and clenched her teeth.
It was the result of CEO Park’s four-hour lecture last night, telling her to watch her language on set.
“Would you please move, Oppa?”
Eun-ji asked sweetly, her eyes smiling.