Siblings Work in Business (99)
「“Do you like the Toxin seniors more, or us?”」
Eun-ji had asked that once, while looking at a magazine interview.
Back then, CEO Park said that while he had more memories with Toxin, Eun-ho and Eun-ji were precious to him like a daughter and a son.
But that was a lie.
To Park Chang-seok, Eun-ho and Eun-ji were like his children.
If it was purely about memories, it couldn’t compare to the long time he spent with Toxin.
‘Can I even call it ‘memories?’’
The day the court approved his legal guardianship of the two…
…CEO Park cried in his car, overwhelmed with emotion. He had never cried like that in his life.
“Thank goodness… thank goodness, you two…”
Their striking visuals and unique aura during their first meeting…
He had invited them for a meal out of both a desire to sign them and curiosity about why such talented individuals were being neglected.
And the past few years with Eun-ho and Eun-ji had changed his life.
After taking them to a barbecue restaurant for their first meeting…
…he listened to their story.
‘Even in this day and age…’
Even without hearing everything, he was speechless.
He was shocked by how casually they talked about their hardships, as if it were nothing.
“We’re doing okay now. Since we’ve grown taller, people think we’re adults, so we don’t get kicked out of saunas anymore, right?”
“That’s right. Being able to shower is the best. Our clothes don’t get as dirty either.”
He wanted to tell them that that wasn’t ‘doing okay.’
But he didn’t want to burden them with the harsh reality, as they seemed so happy just to have a meal.
It was a new feeling for him, and he was a little confused.
‘Money…’
After leaving TaKa Entertainment, CEO Park had come into a considerable amount of money.
Not just from his work, but also from incredibly lucky investments in stocks and real estate.
He hadn’t thought about donating any of it.
It was his money, earned and grown through his hard work.
At first, with his newfound wealth, he had planned to retire to the countryside and live a peaceful life, tending to a small farm.
But he couldn’t forget the ‘taste’ of the industry.
The excitement of seeing young, talented individuals grow and rise to the top…
And their gratitude, even after achieving success…
The past glory kept calling him back.
And the frequent requests from the CEO of TaKa, asking him to return, accompanied by gifts, especially on special occasions.
A year passed, and CEO Park, looking at the gifts sent by the now much larger TaKa Entertainment, thought,
‘I don’t have a reason to go back to TaKa. I have enough money now.’
What if he started his own company and managed Toxin himself?
He suddenly had a clear vision.
‘I was better at the job than the CEO of TaKa anyway. I can do this.’
It might have sounded arrogant, but it was true.
His contribution to TaKa’s growth wasn’t insignificant.
In fact, ‘Team Leader Park Chang-seok,’ ‘A&R Park Chang-seok,’ were more well-known in the industry than the CEO of TaKa.
Ji Ye-chan, perceptive as ever, had refused to renew his contract as soon as he heard about CEO Park’s departure.
But he established his own agency under the condition of keeping Toxin together.
The other Toxin members’ contracts would expire in a few years. The renewal season was coming.
Perhaps that was one of the reasons the TaKa CEO tried to block the collaboration.
Of course, that attempt backfired when he personally visited him…
The other Toxin members’ contracts with TaKa Entertainment would expire in 2016.
‘Ye-chan was right, after all.’
Ji Ye-chan was smart.
As if anticipating this, he had secured many rights for Toxin when they joined TaKa Entertainment, despite CEO Park’s initial objections.
Toxin was just using TaKa as a stepping stone. Their true loyalty was to CEO Park.
So, while the CEO of TaKa tried to bring him back, Park Chang-seok chose to establish ‘Necessary’ Entertainment.
It was a name that reflected his ambition to take control.
However, due to pronunciation issues, it became NRY Entertainment.
“Necessary. Necessaaary. Necessorry, damn it!”
At least, the CEO should be able to pronounce the company name.
So he shortened it.
NY… too short.
Three letters, then…
And so, NRY Entertainment was born.
He had initially planned to recruit some promising rookies before Toxin joined him.
The CEO of TaKa, as a form of sabotage, advised him to ‘look for rookies with exceptionally strong, almost intimidating images.’
CEO Park, however, took it as a genuine suggestion.
And the day he visited TaKa to inform them about establishing his company near Seoul…
…he met Eun-ji.
A strong, captivating aura.
‘This is the one.’
It was an even stronger feeling than when he first met Toxin.
He approached her.
And after Eun-ji’s rejection, he noticed Eun-ho, who looked just like her.
Although he had a calmer demeanor than Eun-ji, his aura was equally unique.
However, Eun-ji’s presence was so overwhelming that Eun-ho didn’t initially catch his attention as much.
Still intrigued, he invited both of them to his company.
After their meal at the barbecue restaurant, it was already late evening.
“Do you have a place to go?”
“Yes! We’ll sleep at a sauna!”
“Thank you for the meal.”
Thanks to Eun-ho taking care of her…
Eun-ji, although still young, was well-mannered, but she also had a bright, almost cheerful personality.
It was hard to believe they had gone through such hardship.
CEO Park felt a pang of sympathy for them.
“It’s getting late, so why don’t you stay at the office tonight? There’s an empty room on the second floor.”
Unable to just send them away…
…CEO Park offered them a place to stay, the same attic room Toxin used to live in.
It was a bit old, but the bedding and other necessities were still there.
That evening…
CEO Park was deep in thought.
He had let them stay out of sympathy, but he wasn’t sure about their debut yet.
He was a businessman, not a charity.
‘Giving them unconditional support…’
He didn’t want to become another source of disappointment for them. He knew that support without expectations could turn into resentment and unmet demands.
‘Please.’
The next day…
CEO Park went up to the second floor.
“Could you sing for me?”
“Sing?”
“Yes.”
Eun-ho readily agreed, while Eun-ji looked puzzled.
“Right now?”
“Yes.”
Eun-ho started singing immediately.
It was an original song he had never heard before.
Although it lacked commercial appeal, it showcased Eun-ho’s talent.
And CEO Park was both surprised and relieved.
Eun-ho’s skill was clearly that of a singer, not an ordinary person.
“I-I’m not a good singer…”
“It’s okay. Just relax.”
“Okay.”
Eun-ji took a deep breath, seemingly nervous.
And when she sang, CEO Park was stunned by her deep, resonant voice.
It was a low, yet clear and powerful voice that caught his attention, distinct from the typical deep male vocals.
“Can you two come downstairs for a moment?”
CEO Park, not wanting to miss out on these two gems, handed them a contract he had prepared.
But the moment he did…
Eun-ho and Eun-ji, who had been letting their guard down…
…became wary again.
“Can’t I do it alone?”
Eun-ho, although it was a good opportunity for him, was hesitant because of Eun-ji.
Eun-ji didn’t want to be in the spotlight and had no intention of becoming a singer.
But the moment Eun-ho asked…
CEO Park’s face fell.
“That’s… a bit difficult. Is there a reason…?”
Eun-ho and Eun-ji stood up simultaneously.
“Thank you for the meal. But we can’t sign the contract. We’ll pay you back for the food and lodging.”
“W-Wait!”
Eun-ho and Eun-ji left without hesitation.
He tried to forget about them, telling himself it couldn’t be helped.
He expanded his business to an academy, bringing in sisters Lee Ha-neul and Lee Gu-reum, who were Toxin’s teachers, and recruited a few more trainees.
But none of them were as promising as Eun-ho and Eun-ji.
Lee Ha-neul, dissatisfied with the lack of students at NRY Entertainment, despite the contract, asked CEO Park,
“Were they that memorable?”
“Yes… I should have tried harder to convince them.”
“How special were they…?”
“Haha, you’d understand if you heard them sing.”
“Is that so? I heard you know where they lived.”
“I do.”
“Then why don’t you go and find them? You never know.”
CEO Park initially dismissed the idea, but after a few days of mulling it over…
…or rather, three days, because of his impatient nature…
…he drove to every orphanage affiliated with a church, searching for Eun-ho and Eun-ji.
He had some contact information, but many were unreachable.
So, he drove to those places.
After a four-hour drive, he finally found the orphanage where Eun-ho and Eun-ji had lived, the last of the five places he visited.