Siblings Working in Business (221)
“Reporter Kim, are you leaving today?”
“Yes. I’ll be back. It’s just an interview about their past; it’s not like it’ll be anything special…”
“You never know, it might be a scoop. I heard their lives have been tough, so do a good job.”
“I hope it’s not too boring. I’ll be back!”
Reporter Kim was in charge of interviewing Lee Eun-ho and Lee Eun-ji of E-UNG about their past.
Even if it wasn’t a scoop, it was still an exclusive interview, so it was a good assignment either way.
He started the interview with a rather indifferent mindset.
“Hello, Reporter-nim!”
“Nice to meet you.”
“The pleasure’s all mine. Now, I’d like to record this interview for accuracy, is that alright with you?”
“Yes.”
“Yes, that’s fine.”
Reporter Kim, upon meeting Eun-ho and Eun-ji, was struck by their aura.
‘It’s like…’
They weren’t just typical idols. They had a subtle, distant air about them, a wall that seemed impossible to breach, despite their apparent approachability.
And this unexpected distance was strangely alluring.
Like something you could reach, but couldn’t quite grasp, making you yearn for more.
That’s the feeling they evoked.
A desire to be a part of their world.
“Reporter-nim! Are, are you okay?”
“Yes, I’m fine…”
Achoo!
Reporter Kim blew his nose with the tissue Eun-ji handed him and continued with his questions.
“So, for several years, when you were young, you lived with homeless people… how, how did you live after that…?”
“There were a few abandoned houses in the neighborhood, so we lived there.”
His nose started burning when they talked about leaving that unknown building and starting their lives on the streets, just the two of them.
He had started crying from the very beginning of the interview.
The more he listened, the more he thought…
‘How could they have had such a difficult childhood?!’
His colleague’s comment about their lives being ‘tough’ wasn’t an exaggeration.
It was fortunate that they had met so many kind people after their childhood kidnapping incident, as if it had been a turning point.
Especially the ‘bread guy,’ who gave the nameless children names.
That man, truly…
He wasn’t an angel, and the fact that his whereabouts were unknown made the story even more poignant.
He was also shocked by the story of the CEO of NRY Entertainment, the man with the receding hairline.
When he first met him, he had seemed intimidating because of his unexpectedly large build, as if he worked out a lot.
But as it turned out, he wasn’t called ‘Bit’ (meaning ‘light’) by the fans for nothing. He was Eun-ho and Eun-ji’s benefactor, their parent, a warm, comforting presence like a giant teddy bear.
Reporter Kim became even more drawn to their story.
‘I feel like there’s more to their story…’
He felt like they were hiding something about their past.
Not out of malice, but more like keeping their ‘private’ lives private…
‘I want to know more!’
Although he had just learned about ‘E-UNG’ in detail, he wanted to know more about them after today.
‘They’re an interesting pair. Truly.’
When he first started the interview, he couldn’t believe their story, thinking it was a lie.
It was like a story from the ‘80s, so unbelievable that he wondered if it had really happened in Korea.
But their clear, innocent light brown eyes proved that everything they said was true.
“We look forward to working with you, Reporter-nim.”
“Of course. Let’s meet again soon.”
“…Yes.”
Eun-ho, slightly surprised by Reporter Kim’s words, replied with a polite smile.
Eun-ji, glancing at Eun-ho, chuckled.
‘Lee Eun-ho, you must be really uncomfortable with Reporter-nim.’
No matter how hard Eun-ho tried to hide it, she, his family, who had grown up with him for years, could see right through him.
[E% who cried after reading the article, gather here ㅠㅠㅠ Was I the only one who cried? Was I?! Our Ji and Rangi ㅠㅠㅠ They looked like young masters, I thought they grew up pampered!!!! Sob]
└ Cried a river here.
└ 2
└ 3 me too ㅠㅠㅠㅠㅠ
[Even the main character in a sad web novel wouldn’t have it this bad ㅠㅠ What kind of life have they lived? Rangi, he was just a kid himself, protecting his even younger sister ㅠㅠㅠ]
└ According to their homeroom teacher’s interview, he was quiet and kind even then…
└ Our Rangi is the best ㅠㅠㅠㅠ
[While everyone’s crying, isn’t Ji-ji beating up bullies to protect Rangi also cool?]
└ Girl crush! She looks like she would flip a store if she didn’t get a refund!
└ Eun-ji Unnie is awesome, I love you ㅠㅠ
└ In the interview, Rangi and Ji-ji said they practiced fighting for real to protect themselves when they were in dangerous situations lol
└ This is so true lol The article cracked me up
└ Ji-ji’s special move: throwing sand lol
└ It’s a dirty tactic, but effective, so it’s funny lol
[I’m happy there are so many articles about our Unnie and Oppa, but when is E-UNG’s new song coming out? ㅠㅠ]
└ ㅠㅠ Ji and Rangi are starving themselves making music, and now this because of that Jo guy ㅠㅠ
└ But a lot of people learned about E-UNG because of this!
└ Some people got the wrong idea ㅠㅠ They think they’re suing fans ㅡㅡ
[Did anyone see the article about CEO Bit Bit Bit Chang-seok?]
└ Why, what “light” has our CEO brought us this time?
└ Lol
└ (Article link)
└ Wow… touching… (covering mouth)
└ I’m a Potion + E%, and I’m so glad our Oppas came back to a father like this ㅠㅠㅠㅠㅠ
While there were positive aspects to the E-UNG story gaining attention, there was also a dark side.
As if it were a law of nature, the articles about Eun-ho and Eun-ji were no exception.
Some criticized them for taking such strong legal action, saying, ‘Was it really necessary to go that far?,’ and ‘There’s no smoke without fire,’ especially considering they were idols, whose careers depended on their image.
It was only natural for media outlets that weren’t on good terms with NRY Entertainment to focus on the negative aspects.
In the CEO’s office, where they had gathered for a meeting…
Eun-ji, not wanting to think about it, munched on almond snacks, looking indifferent.
Eun-ho, unlike Eun-ji, was deep in thought, his face creased with worry, and then cautiously spoke,
“Wouldn’t it be better to do what you mentioned before, CEO Park, to improve our image? What do you think?”
CEO Park tilted his head and asked,
“What I mentioned before? What was that?”
It had been a few days, and Chang-seok didn’t seem to remember, so he asked Eun-ho again.
“Release positive news stories.”
“Positive news?”
“Like the donations you mentioned. You’ve been donating under our names without telling us, haven’t you?”
“…What? That’s creepy. Eun-ho, how did you know?”
“It’s hard not to know when thank-you letters are being sent to our house.”
Just then, Eun-ji tilted her head and asked,
“We got thank-you letters at our house?”
“Yeah.”
“I’ve never seen them.”
“You wouldn’t even notice if the mailbox exploded with tax bills.”
“Haha. Don’t fight at the company, you two.”
Chang-seok, seemingly surprised by the mention of thank-you letters, chuckled and nodded.
“You’re right, I didn’t expect the thank-you letters. Donations, huh…”
Chang-seok went to his computer, searched for the ‘Support’ folder, and printed out a long list.
“There are donations to school violence prevention organizations and the orphanage you grew up in. It would be good to release this information, since I didn’t donate with the intention of publicizing it…”
Eun-ho, as if having heard his mumbling, responded,
“Doing good deeds in secret is nice and all, but CEO Park, if you keep burying them, aren’t you just being a pushover?”
“A pushover, you say.”
“Well, Eun-ji and I grew up receiving a lot of help.”
“…That’s true.”
“If someone who helped us when we were in need could have their problems solved by the ‘story’ of how they helped us, wouldn’t you want us to use it?”
Chang-seok, finding Eun-ho’s logic sound, smacked his lips.
“…You little… you’re making me speechless.”
“Haha. So now that we’ve solved that, let’s move on to the main issue. How are you going to refute those articles calling us ‘cruel’?”
“Oh, how did you know I was going to refute them?”
“Because quietly enduring isn’t your style.”
“How do you know my style?”
Chang-seok asked in surprise, and Eun-ho, as if it were obvious, replied with a dumbfounded expression,
“You raised me.”
“Hahaha.”
Chang-seok burst out laughing, thinking how Eun-ji had inherited his compassionate side, while Eun-ho had inherited his more ruthless side, just like his own children.
“Right. We have to refute them. If it’s become a news story, it means the opposing opinion is just as strong.”
“You mean they’re trying to manipulate public opinion by burying the opposing view?”
“Exactly.”
“I guess we’ll get to see the legendary human bulldozer of TaKa Entertainment in action.”
“That’s cheesy.”
“Haha.”
Eun-ho said with a playful chuckle.
After a long meeting, Chang-seok held a press conference a few days later.
Although it was something that could have been quietly resolved, as Eun-ho said, quietly enduring wasn’t his style.
Besides, there was something he wanted to address publicly.
“Lee Eun-ho and Lee Eun-ji of E-UNG, who are at the center of this incident, are precious treasures to our company and like my own children.”
After a brief introduction, Chang-seok addressed the main issue of the press conference.
“And this applies to all current and future artists and musicians of NRY, who are like family…”
Just then…
A familiar-looking reporter raised his hand and interrupted Chang-seok with an aggressive question.
“There are some netizens who believe the lawsuit is ‘too harsh.’ What are your thoughts on this? Are you going to ignore these opinions?”
Chang-seok smiled, observing the reporter.
It seemed like a question meant to put him in a difficult position…
“That’s a good question. NRY Entertainment will strongly respond not only to malicious comments and false articles that insult the character of our ‘family’…”
The reporter who asked the aggressive question was the same one Hyun-woo caught stalking Eun-ji for a scoop.
Chang-seok looked directly at the reporter and said,
“…but also to excessive invasions of privacy that border on criminal.”