[Do-hee Lee’s Contract Exposed…Topist “Impossible to Leak, Fake”]
─(Today’s Entertainment Online Issues Team) Regarding the circulating contract of idol Do-hee Lee and the clauses of the artists, Do-hee’s agency TOPEAST Entertainment dismissed it as “a fake made by netizens”…
Jung So-hyun was in the meeting room again, reading the article that had just come out.
“The rebuttal article is going up too, so it should settle down soon.”
“Yes, after all, there’s no one but us who can prove the contract content.”
“The reporters are also asking us to tone down the articles.”
The executives were reporting on the ongoing situation, but Jung So-hyun’s ears weren’t really tuned in.
‘Those kids…’
She was immersed in thoughts about the members.
“Request? Shut up and tell the reporters right now. If they don’t take it down, we’ll see them in court.”
However, she could clearly hear her uncle Kim Wi-dong’s growl amid it all.
“Do they think we’re playing house?”
Even though he didn’t raise his voice in front of the executives, the suppressed emotions were ringing in her ears.
“Hey, whatever, that’s Moon Kyu-cheol, right? That jerk is the reason for this mess.”
“That… we can’t make a definitive conclusion. There are several people who are aware of Do-hee’s detailed contract clauses.”
As the senior manager said, everyone here was well-aware.
First, the senior manager reviewed all the contracts while handling stock-related tasks.
CEO Kim Wi-dong, Director Jung So-hyun, and Head Lee Jung-hye directly handled Do-hee’s entry contract, and even several employees who had transferred to other companies knew about it.
The most notable person among them was Kim Jin-woo, who was then the casting team leader and had cast Do-hee.
“Well… Seeing that he took a consulting position at LE Entertainment, we can reasonably assume so. But we can’t just jump to conclusions.”
It was recently departed Head Moon Kyu-cheol.
“We can’t sue them?”
“Unfortunately, we have no evidence… but they also won’t be able to provide evidence to prove or disprove the authenticity of the contract due to legal restrictions, so it’ll be easy for them to rebut the issue.”
“Yeah, we can’t take action, but perhaps it’s a blessing—”
“A blessing? …A-blessing?”
Head Lee Jung-hye closed her mouth at the CEO’s low muttering.
“……”
“Yeah, times have changed, haven’t they?”
The CEO lit a cigarette as if he couldn’t hold it in.
“In the past, we couldn’t act recklessly because of those shady gangsters. And now we’re here without even having to go to court over this small matter.”
He exhaled a large puff of smoke, trying to control the anger that had boiled over.
“By pushing to abolish the evil practices, only punks are left. This is the dilemma, indeed. Back in my day, it was about becoming an unrecognized guest…”
─Knock knock knock
And then, a knock was heard at the conference room door.
“Uh, come in.”
“Do-hee just arrived…”
“Really…?”
The representative finished a drag of his cigarette and quickly extinguished it.
He opened the window and doused himself in deodorant.
“Can’t let the kid smell cigarette smoke…”
Then, complaining about the smoke, he left the conference room to welcome her personally.
“I’ll meet Do-hee separately and report back to you, representative.”
Jung So-hyun bowed to the remaining executives and followed her uncle’s back.
His back looked quite worried.
“Oh, our Do-hee is here!”
It was the same when they met.
Careful expressions and gestures as if she’d float away in the wind or shatter if dropped.
After all, the leak of the contract was largely the company’s fault, so that added to it.
“Ah, hello, representative.”
Separate from that, Do-hee appeared quite indifferent.
“Oh dear… You must be tired, huh? You must have worked hard for the photoshoot! Surprised by that sudden article?”
“Ah… not really surprised. Just a bit tired… Maybe it’s just that the time difference isn’t adjusted yet.”
“But it’s late at night; how can you not be tired? Making you come to the office in the midst of everything…”
Her uncle began speaking with a sheepish expression, sounding regretful.
“The legal team is doing their best to sort things out, so it’ll be wrapped up in no time. The rebuttal article went out quickly, and they’re already taking down the other articles.”
“Ah, I saw that on the way here.”
However, Do-hee nodded while flashing a smile that didn’t quite fit the situation.
“But honestly, I’m not really thinking much about it. It’s just something that could happen.”
“Really?”
Her uncle started laughing without a clue.
“Truly bold! If Do-hee were a man, she would’ve been a real warrior!”
Jung So-hyun ignored her uncle and quickly grabbed Do-hee’s hand.
“Representative, Do-hee must be tired too, so we should get her to her lodgings to rest.”
Her hands were cold, as if suffering from poor circulation, and also sweaty.
“Ah~ that’s right, we should hurry and get you to rest.”
In contrast, Do-hee’s face remained completely nonchalant.
“Uh? I’m really okay, though.”
Jung So-hyun felt a dry throat.
Not because she was indifferent but maybe just too used to it.
“I’ll take you there quickly.”
*
The irregular lights and shadows of the streetlights swept across the inside of the car several times.
─♬♪♬
Inside Jung So-hyun’s car, soothing classical piano music, likely to her taste, was flowing out.
Amid the chaos of the day, a serene calm enveloped the inside of the car.
Jung So-hyun caught a glimpse of Do-hee’s hand lightly moving in sync with the piano melody.
Like she was performing.
“Do-hee.”
“Yes?”
“If you ever want to take a break or need time off, just let me know. I may not be able to offer it every day, but I can definitely make time with some adjustments.”
“Oh, okay. But it’s fine for me since my home is close. I feel like Chiyo Unni would want to go to Japan…”
Do-hee switched the subject to Chiyo as if it was about her.
“Yeah, we should definitely give Chiyo a vacation too.”
Yet, Do-hee’s delicate fingers continued to dance up and down as if still playing the keys.
Realizing her title was as Director of Topist, Jung So-hyun couldn’t help but ask.
“Does Do-hee… regret being an idol?”
“Isn’t it sudden?”
Jung So-hyun paused, wondering if that question was out of place, and quickly rephrased.
“You don’t have to answer if you don’t want to. I just thought it might feel a bit disappointing since you were winning awards until last year.”
It was then that Do-hee paused her fingers, contemplating for a moment before finally responding as the traffic light changed.
“I think… right now is the best for me. Right now.”
“I see.”
Jung So-hyun gripped the steering wheel as the light turned green.
“Great. I’m glad.”
The atmosphere of peaceful driving resumed.
Before long, the car pulled into an underground parking lot.
“Let’s get out.”
Jung So-hyun parked the car and turned off the engine.
“I haven’t been to the teacher’s place in a while.”
Inside the car, it was silent, with no engine hum or classical music to fill the void.
But soon, a strange ticking sound began to echo from somewhere.
“Do-hee?”
Jung So-hyun paused before getting out, turning her head at the unnatural feeling.
Under the dim parking lot lights, Do-hee’s fingers, illuminated in that soft glow, halted as the music stopped.
“Um, Director, can I just go by myself today? It’s nothing serious. I just feel like…”
Instead of playing, she was obsessively tearing down the car seat cover.
“I just want to have a separate chat with the unnis. Yeah.”
*
The elevator felt so cramped.
“I must be out of shape,” she said, making her way up the stairs.
Just two floors to the lodging.
Her heart thumped a bit faster.
“Can’t believe I’m barely making it without running.”
“I’m not running.”
“Just one more floor.”
“Maybe I should increase my cardio a bit.”
Calmly, I stepped up to the last stair and stood in front of the dormitory door.
“Oh right. I lost our bet this morning, so I promised to buy ice cream at the convenience store…”
I relaxed my grip on the door lock and lowered my head.
The cold steel door chilled my forehead.
‘Gotta go in.’
I should say something.
What’s the point of being here otherwise?
‘I gotta go in…’
So I immediately unlocked the door.
And…
“Do-hee, you’re back~?”
A warm voice I didn’t expect reached my ears.
Na-eun Unni, wearing an apron, came out from the kitchen to the entrance.
“Oh dear, our youngest must have had a tough day. If you were worried about me, don’t! I’m really totally fine. I’m more worried about how hard it was for you…”
She rushed over and hugged me tightly, patting my back.
“…What are you talking about? I’m not tired at all.”
“Sure, sure.”
I then noticed Chiyo Unni, wandering around the living room with a pot in her hands.
“Ugh, Do-hee, hurry up and come back already!”
For a moment, I was stunned by the usual atmosphere that felt just like any other day. Na-eun Unni pointed at Chiyo Unni and then patted my backside.
“You haven’t eaten dinner, right? You must be hungry. Let’s have dinner quickly.”
I was pulled along by Na-eun Unni towards the kitchen.
Only then did I realize.
“Ah! The youngest may have a terrible personality, but their abilities are impressive!”
Chiyo Unni laughed just like I usually do.
“You clumsy youngest.”
It was just her way of lightly brushing off what she meant.
Yet today, the chilly atmosphere in the dormitory was still very much present.
Woo-ah Unni wasn’t even looking at me.
“Unni, I’m not hungry.”
Just like that, Woo-ah Unni shot up from her seat and said, “I’m going out.”
Then she dashed out the door.
I felt a bit… taken aback by the sudden temperature drop.
So I couldn’t even catch her, just watching her leave through the entrance.
I turned my gaze to Seo-yoon Unni, who was calmly sitting at the dining table.
“Um, Unni.”
I tried to call out softly, like usual, but my voice trembled a bit more than I realized.
No, instead of trembling, it felt like it was locked.
“Go after Woo-ah. She said she’s not coming back to the dorm today, and you need to bring her back.”
But Seo-yoon Unni just fixed her gaze on her bowl and avoided my eyes.
“Just… just talk to me later. Later.”
My heart ached a little.
It was the first time I was experiencing such a complex emotion in this life.
