Siblings Working in Business (200)
Responsibility
“My complexion is a bit pale, but I don’t think my dark circles reach my chin…”
CEO Uh Seok-bae, previously hidden behind the wall, appeared with an unreadable smile.
“We’re honored to have such a distinguished guest in our humble office.”
Chang-seok, as if expecting him, greeted CEO Uh without a change in expression.
‘A distinguished guest in our humble office.’
It was a phrase often used to show deference to someone of higher status.
However, it could also be interpreted as a subtle, “What are you doing here?”
Chang-seok’s intention was closer to the latter.
「“I’ll consider it and contact you again. I hope you understand.”」
It had only been a few days since they parted ways after that conversation. Why was he here to pressure him already?
There was no way he would welcome him.
Frankly, he was annoyed by CEO Uh’s unannounced visit.
But CEO Uh maintained his impassive demeanor, unfazed by Chang-seok’s insincere politeness.
“Since you haven’t replied yet.”
“It hasn’t even been a few days. You’re rushing me. Haha.”
“I’m getting impatient in my old age.”
“Haha. There’s not much of an age difference between us.”
“Judging by appearances, CEO Park looks much younger…”
Being called ‘young’ was usually a compliment.
But combined with his position, was it really a compliment to be called ‘young’?
‘Ugh! This is suffocating!’
Song-ju, caught in the middle of their subtle power struggle, excused herself, unable to bear the tension.
“We’re the ones in a hurry, so I came here because I’m anxious.”
CEO Uh spoke, watching Song-ju leave the office.
His tone was polite, contrary to his stiff expression.
Although on high alert, Chang-seok maintained a fake smile, his lips curled upwards, just like when he first met CEO Uh at the DI Music building.
Although CEO Uh had made concessions, if they had to define who was the ‘dominant’ and ‘submissive’ party, NRY was clearly the latter.
But Chang-seok held his ground, unwilling to back down out of pride.
And he had also heard that DI Music didn’t particularly like a submissive approach.
Even if that weren’t the case, Chang-seok straightened his back, thinking of Eun-ho and Eun-ji.
‘If I back down, Eun-ho and Eun-ji will also be seen as beneath Aeseul of DI Music.’
That was why…
Even if it meant breaking, Chang-seok had to hold his ground.
“I apologize. But as the saying goes, ‘Greed for free things leads to hair loss.’ We also need time—”
CEO Uh’s dark eyes widened as if he had never heard such a saying.
“Is there such a saying?”
“CEO Uh has a full head of hair, but as you can see, I’m losing mine, so every strand is precious, and I have to be careful.”
Although it was Chang-seok who started with the joke, CEO Uh’s gaze lingered pointedly on his hairline before moving down.
Although it was an irritating look, Chang-seok calmly continued,
“Anyway, that’s why I need more time to consider.”
Greed for free things leads to hair loss.
That sentence was the starting point.
Although it seemed like a simple joke, there was a hidden meaning.
There were many things to be wary of when running a company.
One of them was ‘freebies.’
Especially large, unaffordable freebies. They were dangerous.
No one could predict what kind of storm they would bring, except for the giver.
‘A benefactor helps someone poor, who then earns money, builds a large company, and repays the benefactor.’
There were stories like that, like fairy tales… but…
‘The reason is too strange.’
CEO Uh’s words…
Even if he believed 100% that he was offering such generous support out of love for his niece…
It was still too much.
Considering album production, it could easily reach hundreds of thousands, even millions, yet the only condition he asked of NRY Entertainment was for them to collaborate with his niece, Aeseul. A ridiculously simple condition.
‘And he’s even offering to cover all the expenses, not just sharing them… does that even make sense…?’
If he had asked for a high percentage of the royalties or future profits, Chang-seok might have agreed immediately.
But CEO Uh offered to split everything equally, 50/50, with NRY Entertainment.
An incredibly generous offer, almost suspiciously so.
How could he easily accept such an offer from DI Music?
Even without that, there were a mountain of things to consider…
And then there were Eun-ho and Eun-ji’s ambiguous reactions when he told them about the offer, making Chang-seok’s head spin.
Eun-ji showed clear hostility the moment Aeseul’s name was mentioned.
Eun-ji usually expressed her anger playfully.
Although sometimes she was genuinely angry…
‘Even then, it was when I suggested she collaborate with Eun-ho, or when I asked her to sing a love song.’
To be precise, her anger stemmed from her instinctive aversion to ‘doing such things with her brother.’
That meant…
Her anger was mostly directed at Eun-ho, and unless there was an ‘unpleasant incident’ like with Eun-ho or Payoff, she didn’t genuinely dislike anyone.
So, he tried to find out what had happened.
According to Director Kang Mi-joo of Cellas Shop, they had briefly met once.
‘But since their schedules didn’t overlap after that, they had never interacted…’
No matter how hard he searched, he couldn’t find any other incidents between Aeseul and Eun-ji.
He even considered Aeseul’s number one ranking on the music charts as a possible cause, but Eun-ho and Eun-ji weren’t particularly concerned about rankings.
They were more interested in testing their own limits.
Having ruled that out, he then recalled Eun-ho’s ambiguous response.
「“Calm down. It hasn’t happened yet.”」
What hadn’t happened yet?
「“Did something happen between you and Aeseul? Why are you so angry?”」
「“Something happen?! Nothing hap-, happened, hap-, h-, h-, aaaagh!!!”」
Eun-ji, pulling at her hair, reacted violently to his question.
Eun-ho was pretending to be calm, but…
From his years of experience with them, it seemed he also disapproved of the ‘collaboration with Aeseul.’
‘If it weren’t for DI Music, I might have accepted out of curiosity…’
But because it was DI Music Entertainment…
Although he was meeting CEO Uh for the first time, he had a history with the current DI Music.
It was back when Toxin was still being planned under the name ‘Sedative.’
The CEO of their agency back then, a former gangster, was greedy.
He had proposed a business deal with the then ‘The Lucky One Entertainment,’ now ‘DI Music.’
But a leaky bucket at home would leak outside as well.
At the time, Chang-seok was planning Sedative’s escape from the CEO’s clutches, exposing his various wrongdoings and bringing the company’s shady dealings to light.
As expected…
The CEO continued his bad habits even during the collaboration with The Lucky One, and Chang-seok, seizing the opportunity, struck back.
He successfully extracted all the Sedative members and hid them in the house Eun-ho and Eun-ji were currently using as a dorm.
Naturally, the former CEO threatened him, sending his goons after him, and Chang-seok had to travel all over the country to avoid them.
Around the time the news of the CEO’s wrongdoings started spreading through articles and news reports…
The threats suddenly stopped.
To be precise, he was silenced with money and power.
Incidentally, the former CEO was currently missing.
He learned something after starting his own business.
Although he hadn’t known at the time…
The corruption he exposed was connected to the deeper parts of DI Music, the organization secretly managed by Uh Seok-bae.
It was also entangled with the business deal with the former CEO, and DI Music abandoned him to cut their losses.
At first, he thought he had simply become more powerful… but after starting his business and reconnecting with people in the industry…
He learned the truth.
After the truth came to light…
He revisited the media coverage from back then.
The media, instead of focusing on finding the missing CEO, were busy praising Chang-seok’s achievements, almost obsessively.
As if they were trying to hide something by focusing on the former CEO.
He had found it strange back then, but he was too preoccupied with whether TaKa Entertainment would accept ‘Sedative’ under the name ‘Toxin’ to think too deeply about it.
He had used the spotlight on him to create a good opportunity for Toxin, so he let it go, thinking, ‘It’s all good.’
‘Thinking back, there are so many suspicious things.’
That’s why he wanted to keep his distance from DI Music Entertainment.
Rumors of their dangerous dealings aside, they were the real deal.
“It’s an honor to have you here, CEO Uh, but we’re currently swamped with work.”
“I understand. NRY Entertainment has been quite busy lately.”
“Haha, well, as you can see, it’s difficult for me to give you a definite answer right now. I also need to hear what my artists have to say.”
“By ‘artists,’ are you referring to the E-UNG siblings?”
“Yes, of course.”
CEO Uh showed noticeable interest in Eun-ho and Eun-ji, then slowly tilted his head, lost in thought.
Seizing the opportunity, CEO Park added,
“I’m sure DI Music is also busy, so perhaps it would be best if you returned—”
He didn’t know what kind of person Uh Seok-bae was back then.
“Ah, if that’s the case, DI Music Entertainment has more employees than you…”
CEO Park’s eye twitched at CEO Uh’s reply.
‘This bastard.’
Was he mocking NRY for having fewer employees than DI Music?
CEO Park felt the forced smile on his face twitching.
“So you don’t have to worry.”
He wasn’t worried.
He was telling him to leave.
‘Get out of my company!’
He wanted to shout, but he had already pushed his limits, subtly asserting his dominance by using Eun-ho and Eun-ji as bait, so it was difficult to be more direct.
In moments like these, he thought of Eun-ji.
He wished she would possess him, even for a moment, and tell him off.
‘…But maybe not Eun-ji.’
Chang-seok shook his head, abandoning the thought.
Would Eun-ho, who would probably just smile and subtly mock him, or maintain a Buddha-like smile, be a better option?
Just then, as Chang-seok was lost in thought…
“Then I’ll wait until CEO Park is done with work.”
“E-excuse me?”
CEO Uh, with his signature cold smile, shamelessly pulled up a chair and sat down across from Chang-seok’s desk.