Siblings Work in Business (59)
The black page was filled with white text alongside familiar photos.
The page documented all of E-UNG’s activities, mine and Lee Eun-ji’s.
「E-UNG’s journey began when member ‘Lee Eun-ho’ participated in the featuring of a solo song by Ji Ye-chan, leader of TOXIN and an acquaintance of CEO Park Chang-seok.
Lee Eun-ho’s participation in the OST for the hit drama ‘He is 1+1=1,’ produced in collaboration with CK E&M Studio, was chosen as the best song…(omitted)」
They might be a fan.
I took the magazine from the CEO, initially dismissing the idea, and started reading casually.
—E-UNG, expressing their gratitude for fan gifts on stage and showing their affection for their fans…(omitted)
Reading that, I couldn’t help but smile, the editor’s face coming to mind.
The incident where we received gifts and showed them off on stage…
Was it written by the person who came to see our performance at Twenties Live Bar?
Just as I was thinking that…
「“Ah, Seul-gi wanted to come, but CK…”」
Joo-yeon’s words from before the busking suddenly came to mind.
Wow, no way.
Joo-yeon, who came alone that day, suddenly mentioned ‘CK,’ was she trying to say this?
‘Huh?’
Haha.
I chuckled as I realized something while reading the neatly written article.
—Her deep, resonant voice, contrasting with her sharp gaze…(omitted)
Unlike my part, which focused on factual details rather than personal impressions, almost half of Lee Eun-ji’s part was full of praise.
It was obvious who the editor liked more.
Of course, my part was also well-written, with obvious effort.
I looked to the side, and Lee Eun-ji’s eyes were teary.
Normally, I would have teased her, asking, “Are you crying?”, but…
Knowing how much Lee Eun-ji cherished and cared for her fans, even before the regression…
I couldn’t bring myself to disturb her.
“The next page is my interview.”
As the CEO said, the next page was filled with his interview.
It seemed to be the page where he ‘used himself as leverage.’
—‘Father of TOXIN,’ Park Chang-seok.
—His journey to creating the trending sibling group ‘E-UNG’…
Father of TOXIN…
That phrase felt strange.
Toxin swept the 2000s and 2010s.
As Toxin became famous, so did their story and ‘Park Chang-seok,’ their ‘father.’
—Before becoming TOXIN, the six members were trainees at a less than reputable agency…
‘Less than reputable.’
It was a euphemism. To put it bluntly, Toxin’s former agency was a shady company run by gangsters.
Shady.
The CEO said it was ‘a place that cared more about connecting the members’ good looks to sponsors than their musical talent.’
The Toxin members refused the sponsorship offers.
They kept refusing, even when they were met with violence instead of conversation.
It was thanks to their shared ambition to ‘succeed through music.’
This was also something the CEO told me.
Before I dreamt of becoming a singer…
I was watching an awards ceremony on TV at the sauna, which Lee Eun-ji and I used as our home.
—To Park Chang-seok, our benefactor, the father-like figure who saved us from hell and brought us into the light, we dedicate this award.
—Thank you! Hyung!
The six members bowed deeply, and the face of their manager, not even a celebrity, filled the screen.
Lee Eun-ji and I only realized a year later that ‘CEO Park Chang-seok’ was the same ‘manager.’
—Why did you leave your previous agency?
I had accumulated over 10 years of experience. I worked non-stop, and I wanted to rest.
—I imagine there was a lot of opposition.
There was. The CEO was furious and offered to triple my salary, haha.
—What happened after that?
I went back to my hometown and farmed, raising two cats. But I couldn’t last a year and came back to Seoul. Seeing the artists debuting these days made me want to work again. (laughs)
—Did your former agency try to recruit you back?
Of course, they did. (laughs) But I refused and said I was starting my own company, and I received a lot of advice from the CEO of my former company. I was very grateful.
—How did you meet E-UNG?
I visited my former company after setting up our office. That’s when I met them by chance.
The advice from my former CEO was especially helpful.
If I were still at TaKa, I would have given up on them because of their strong image. (laughs)
But my former CEO advised me to showcase strong personalities.
Of course, raising those two wild kids was difficult, even for a veteran like me… (omitted)
Two wild kids…
I chuckled, remembering those days as I read the interview.
‘E-UNG.’
We were CEO Park’s first project after going solo, after his past success story.
As Lee Eun-ji and I were reading the CEO’s interview in the magazine…
“CEO.”
“Yes, Eun-ji?”
“Do you like Toxin more, or us?”
I turned to look at her, forgetting to maintain my composure, at her absurd question.
Lee Eun-ji’s face was full of sulky jealousy, her lips pouting.
“Ha, hahaha.”
The CEO paused for a moment, then burst out laughing.
“Well, they’re memories… I have more memories with Toxin.”
Lee Eun-ji’s expression hardened in shock.
Her already sharp features, now serious, made me flinch.
Thankfully, the CEO continued, looking at Lee Eun-ji,
“But they’re from TaKa, and you two are my kids now. Of course, you’re more precious to me.”
Lee Eun-ji’s expression brightened instantly.
“Really?”
“I’m not married, but Eun-ji, you’re like a daughter to me, and Eun-ho is like a son. I’ve always thought of you that way and raised you like my own children. Isn’t that natural?”
Children…
Lee Eun-ji and I froze at the CEO’s embarrassing word.
‘This is…’
It was an instinctive feeling.
A mix of emotions, heartwarming yet heavy.
‘Lee Eun-ji probably doesn’t remember because she was young…’
I vaguely remembered their faces.
‘Those people’ who didn’t deserve to be called ‘parents.’
“I prepared this to show you how many people are watching you. Just do well today, like yesterday.”
Lee Eun-ji remained silent, her head down.
“If you cry, your eyes will be puffy on camera, Eun-ji.”
At the CEO’s playful remark, Lee Eun-ji raised her head.
As if she had also been thinking about the camera, Eun-ji’s eyes were red, and she was biting her lip to hold back tears.
The problem was that her face was hilarious.
“Haha. You’re ugly.”
My unfiltered words made Lee Eun-ji’s tears stop instantly.
Her face contorted menacingly.
Just as I thought she was about to do something…
“Don’t fight on your first broadcast.”
The CEO’s warning calmed Lee Eun-ji down.
“You’re coming with us, right?”
“I am. I have somewhere to stop by before going to the broadcasting station. I’ll be a little late.”
“I see.”
Despite her affirmative reply, Lee Eun-ji’s expression seemed a bit disappointed.
“Greet your seniors properly, and check everything during rehearsal, okay?”
“Yes.”
“Okay. Let’s go. You need your weapons and armor to go to war.”
We were ushered out by the CEO.
For our first broadcast.
“Oh, you’re here.”
“Eun-ho, Eun-ji! Over here!”
We thought we arrived early, but the Cloud team members were already there.
They seemed busy, discussing the spacing for the choreography.
We joined them and warmed up, preparing for the dry rehearsal.
“You were practicing.”
“Yes, just warming up…”
A moment later, the CEO came to find us.
Perhaps trying not to worry us…
He seemed relieved by our calm reply.
“Brrrr—”
Although we woke up early and prepared, our voices weren’t completely warmed up yet, perhaps because it was still morning.
We drank water and continued stretching.
Lee Eun-ji and I put on the name tags the CEO prepared for the dry rehearsal.
It was to promote ourselves, even without cameras.
Perhaps because of my body’s memory of always giving my best on stage…
‘What’s this?’
I thought I would be nervous being back on stage after a long time, but I was surprisingly calm.
Or rather, it felt like a film reel had snapped.
When I came to my senses, the dry rehearsal was already over.
It felt like I was intoxicated, not by alcohol, but by work.
“Eun-ho is meticulous.”
“He was positioning us on stage, very reliable for a rookie.”
“Thank you for catching my mistake during monitoring…”
It seemed like I didn’t mess up too badly, judging by the relatively gentle reactions from Cloud Dance Team and Lee Eun-ji.
After the dry rehearsal, we headed to the shop we had reservations at.
Time to get dolled up.
That was the perfect expression.
“Wow, crazy.”
“Wow.”
Lee Eun-ji and I looked at each other after our makeup was done and exclaimed at the same time.
“How can you still be ugly even with makeup?”
“How can you still look like a rockfish even with makeup?”
“Again…”
That damn rockfish.
I was starting to get attached to it.
I closed my mouth, knowing that only curses would come out if I spoke, mindful of the people around us.
“Is it because he’s your brother? Eun-ji always seems angry, but she’s so playful and cute around her brother.”
“C-Cute? Me?”
“Eun-ji, you’re so lucky to have such a handsome older brother.”
“…?”
Surprisingly, the unexpected attacks came from the people around us.
Lee Eun-ji looked at the staff member with a bewildered expression.
“Doesn’t it make you happy to see your brother’s face every morning?”