Siblings Working in Business (192)
Eun-ho’s handwritten letter idea, while the albums were already being packaged…
…seemed excessive from a business perspective.
But it wasn’t a bad idea, considering the fans.
‘It could be a good event for the company’s image and the fans.’
Since the posters were being shipped separately due to delays, causing the shipments to be split into two boxes, there were no scheduling conflicts.
However, CEO Park’s concerns weren’t about the budget.
As everyone knew, the relationship between CEO Park, Eun-ho, and Eun-ji wasn’t a typical CEO-artist relationship.
They were closer to family.
‘It’s not bad. I actually like the idea.’
So, it was even harder for CEO Park to give the go-ahead.
It was because of the incredibly busy schedule Eun-ho and Eun-ji created for themselves.
Eun-ho and Eun-ji hated long breaks between E-UNG promotions.
For some reason, they were obsessed with working, especially with music, as if possessed by the ghost of someone who died without fulfilling their musical dreams.
As a result…
They were already working hard on their next album while promoting their first mini-album.
Preparing for the next album on top of promoting the current one…
Writing lyrics, composing, recording…
Since they were self-producing, Eun-ho and Eun-ji, the songwriters, were the busiest.
On top of that, they were filming Legally Siblings, which, although about their daily lives, was still work.
And then there were their weekly PT sessions, dermatologist appointments, and the vocal and dance lessons they’d been taking since their debut.
Adding handwritten letters on top of all that?
“No.”
CEO Park firmly refused, knowing how hard they were already working.
He couldn’t allow it.
“Why letters all of a sudden?”
Although he had his reasons, Eun-ho couldn’t explain them.
It was because of something that happened before the regression.
Back when he was promoting solo…
He had received a fair number of letters from fans.
Even during those difficult times, he received a few letters here and there.
There were also some hateful letters, but he always opened them with a flicker of hope, wondering if it might be from a fan.
He liked that brief moment of ‘anticipation.’
Back then, he was so consumed by his own struggles that his gratitude was overshadowed, but now, perhaps because he was happy…
He often thought about those times.
He regretted not expressing his gratitude more.
He still remembered the envelopes and handwriting of the letters from those fans.
His gratitude, amidst his struggles, had been genuine.
Thanks to that, those moments of excitement when receiving letters became cherished memories.
Since the fan signing event tickets had to be sent separately…
He just…
Made the suggestion because it reminded him of those times.
But if he explained it now, he would definitely be sent to the loony bin…
“No one dislikes receiving letters, and we had a lot of pre-orders.”
“That’s true.”
“I just wanted to do a small event to thank the fans.”
Eun-ho vaguely explained.
But CEO Park didn’t seem to think it was a good idea and just sighed deeply.
“Okay, Eun-ho, let’s say you print the letters and just write the winners’ names.”
“Okay.”
“…Eun-ho, you know there are 200 fan signing event winners, right?”
“Oh.”
Eun-ho’s expression brightened at CEO Park’s words.
“I thought there were 300, so it’s actually 100 less.”
“Huh.”
“Huh, huh.”
CEO Park, feeling a slight headache, pressed his temples and continued,
“Anyway, according to your plan, you’re going to handwrite the names of all 200 winners.”
“That’s right.”
“And when are you going to find the time?”
“I’ll write them whenever I can, like during car rides or meal times.”
“All by yourself?”
If he said he would do it alone, he would definitely be met with opposition.
Eun-ho glanced at Eun-ji and said,
“Lee Eun-ji’s handwriting is worse than mine, but…”
“Wha-, what?! Wow, how can you just put me down like that?!”
“Because it’s true.”
“Don’t be ridiculous. Mine’s a hundred times better than yours! You write like a worm.”
“You’re the one being ridiculous…”
“You write like a worm!”
“No, I don’t. Anyone can see mine is better.”
“This is the company. Don’t fight.”
At CEO Park’s warning, Eun-ji, unable to retort, just huffed and puffed.
Eun-ho bit his lip to hide his smirk.
But that seemed to irritate Eun-ji even more.
“You’re annoying, Lee Eun-ho.”
“Yeah, you too.”
“Ugh.”
When Eun-ho smiled, Eun-ji shuddered and rubbed her arm.
“Stop it.”
“…”
“…”
Eun-ho and Eun-ji shut their mouths as a shadow loomed over them.
CEO Park was smiling like a Buddha, but Eun-ho and Eun-ji knew this was their final warning.
After a long discussion…
It was decided that they would write the letters.
The staff’s opinion, that it was a good event, played a big role.
“If you’re going to write the letters, write them here, now.”
“Ah.”
“Oops.”
Eun-ho let out a short, “Ah, I guess so.”
Eun-ji, on the other hand, looked at CEO Park nervously.
“The packages are already being prepared for shipping, so you have to write them now. Why, can’t you do it, Eun-ji?”
“No! I can do it.”
“Good.”
Chang-seok took several sheets of A4 paper from the printer and handed them to Eun-ho and Eun-ji.
“Write one.”
“Okay.”
“Um, okay.”
Eun-ho started writing smoothly, but…
「Hello. This is Eun-ji.」
Eun-ji, on the other hand, was stuck after that.
About five minutes passed…
CEO Park collected their letters for a mid-check.
“Ooh.”
An impressed, yet ambiguous, sound escaped his lips.
Eun-ho’s writing was good.
The writing.
The problem was…
“Kids.”
“Yes?”
“Wouldn’t even worms want to be your friends?”
“…”
“Wow, even I couldn’t write this badly if I tried.”
The content wasn’t the issue.
“How can you suggest handwritten letters with this kind of handwriting…?”
Eun-ho and Eun-ji quickly snatched their letters back at CEO Park’s teasing remark.
Eun-ho’s writing, as if lacking lines to guide him, gradually slanted further and further to the left.
Eun-ji’s writing, on the other hand, was a chaotic jumble of consonants and vowels, as if she had scattered needles randomly, seemingly only decipherable by her.
Eun-ho’s wasn’t much better.
It was similar to Eun-ji’s, just slightly neater…
Barely.
“Gi-hoon.”
“Yes!”
“Bring four rulers and some tape.”
“Okay.”
Gi-hoon returned shortly with four 15cm rulers and some scotch tape.
CEO Park taped a ruler vertically onto the desk and placed a sheet of A4 paper underneath.
“Write along this.”
They would move the horizontal ruler down each time they started a new line.
“Even if your handwriting is terrible, at least keep it straight.”
“…Is it that bad?”
Just then, as Eun-ji asked…
CEO Park quietly wrote, “Hello. This is Park Chang-seok,” on a piece of paper…
And showed it to Eun-ho and Eun-ji.
“Wow…”
“You’re right. They are worms.”
Eun-ji, initially impressed, then shut her mouth.
Eun-ho admitted defeat.
“CEO Park, did you practice handwriting in school?”
“Of course. Everyone did back then.”
His handwriting was textbook perfect, the kind you’d picture when thinking of the Korean alphabet.
They started writing again.
Eun-ho wrote smoothly, but Eun-ji stopped after two lines.
When she tried to peek at Eun-ho’s letter, clearly struggling, CEO Park snatched her paper away.
“Just give up if you’re going to cheat.”
“Ah, I-, I’ll try.”
Eun-ji, pouting, focused on her paper again.
“Are you done?”
“Yes.”
“Ugh.”
“Eun-ho, you’re really…”
CEO Park let out a short exclamation as he read Eun-ho’s letter.
He knew he was a good lyricist… but…
“You seem to have a talent for writing.”
It hadn’t taken him long, only about five minutes.
For a letter written in such a short time, it wasn’t bad, at least by CEO Park’s standards; it was much better than expected.
Eun-ho, embarrassed by the unexpected praise, covered the back of his neck.
“I just wrote what I wanted to say honestly.”
Seeing Eun-ho’s ears turning red, CEO Park couldn’t help but laugh.
“Haha, you kid. You’re so shy. Your ears are about to fall off.”
“They’re not going to fall off.”
Eun-ho covered his ears with his left hand.
But his other ear, already bright red, was still exposed.
“I-, I tried my best with the handwriting, but I made a mistake, should I rewrite it?”
“Where?”
“At the end…”
CEO Park smiled, seeing the erased ‘ㅅ.’
“It’s fine. It’s good enough.”
“But it’s a mistake, shouldn’t I rewrite it…?”
“No, it’s a waste of paper.”
“…”
Eun-ho’s eyes asked, ‘Now you’re worried about wasting paper?’ but CEO Park just smiled knowingly.
“It’s only two pages, should I rewrite the back?”
“No. This is more you.”
“Seriously, you’re not going to send it like this, are you? Please cover it up.”
“I will.”
“What’s with that vague answer?”
“Hahaha.”
Just then, as CEO Park and Eun-ho were bickering…
Eun-ji, seemingly fueled by jealousy or competitiveness at the praise Eun-ho received, was writing even more fervently than before.
But perhaps because she was trying too hard…
After reading half of Eun-ji’s letter…
“Rejected.”
“Aaaagh! But I worked so hard!”
“You only worked hard. This isn’t something you say to fans. It’s just filling up space with words.”
Eun-ji’s lips pouted.
Her chin wrinkled.
CEO Park, looking at her, burst into laughter, both amused and exasperated.
“You’re divinely talented at composing, and yet you’re jealous of Eun-ho’s writing skills?”
“Yes.”
“Hahaha.”
CEO Park, who had started scolding her, couldn’t continue, seeing Eun-ji pouting yet answering honestly.
“You two are something else. Anyway, let’s send Eun-ho’s letter.”
“Ah, CEO Park.”
“What.”
“Can we reverse the colors of the letter and send it as a black letter?”
“Why?”
“The lyrics…”
“Lyrics?”
When CEO Park seemed curious, Eun-ho clammed up, flustered.
“No, it’s just, um, I thought it would be nice to send it like an old letter, in a black envelope with red wax seal.”
“You’re scheming something again.”
“Haha…”
Eun-ho just smiled evasively, not wanting to elaborate.
“Alright. I’ll have them prepared that way. But since it’s a rush job, I can’t show you the finished product.”
“Ah, that can’t be helped since it’s urgent.”
“Okay.”
Eun-ho tilted his head.
Just as Eun-ho had something up his sleeve, CEO Park also had a knowing smile.