#108

“Really?”

Nam Yisol asked with wide, moist eyes, and I nodded vigorously. With that clear affirmation, Nam Yisol’s face brightened immediately. Of course, the same went for Manager Ahn Siwon, who was standing beside him.

“Thank you, sir!”

I grabbed Manager Ahn Siwon’s shoulders as he bowed deeply and straightened him up. Then I spoke in a stern voice.

“But you must not do this again next time. If anything unexpected happens, you have to report it to me no matter what. You understand, right?”

“Of course!”

Ahn Siwon answered cheerfully with a bright smile. His face, which always looked younger than his age, now seemed so youthful that he could easily be mistaken for someone who had just turned twenty.

Hmm, cute. Thinking that with a chuckle, I turned my head to Nam Yisol this time. As my gaze landed on him, Nam Yisol awkwardly lifted the corners of his mouth into a smile.

“Yisol-ssi. For now, I’m curious whether what you just said represents the opinion of all of Tartarus.”

“That is……”

At my calm question, Nam Yisol couldn’t answer right away and watched my reaction closely. It was obvious he was worried that telling the truth would get the other members in trouble too.

“As I just said, I’m not mad. I don’t plan on scolding anyone either. I’m just curious.”

“……Yes. That’s right.”

Only after I reassured him again that I wasn’t angry did Nam Yisol finally open his mouth heavily. I nodded at his answer and glanced up at the second floor. There was no sign of anyone upstairs, as everyone seemed to have gone into their rooms.

I was truly grateful that they were worried about me and thinking of me. But that didn’t mean I wanted them to endure unfair treatment just for my sake. I didn’t want that at all.

“Yisol-ssi.”

“Yes, sir.”

“You already know what I’m going to say, don’t you?”

“You’re going to say not to do that. Not to endure it.”

It was exactly as Nam Yisol said. I gave a faint smile and replied.

“That’s right. That’s what I was going to say. Don’t do that. Don’t endure it. You don’t have to.”

“……Yes.”

At my soft-spoken words, Nam Yisol lowered his head with a gloomy expression. I could vaguely sense the kind of emotions he was feeling. Likely a mix of self-blame for not being helpful or embarrassment for stepping in and making things bigger.

But I didn’t want Nam Yisol or the other members to feel that way. Those were far too dark a price for such a kind, thoughtful heart.

“Yisol-ssi.”

With that feeling in my heart, I called out to Nam Yisol and reached my hand toward him. Then I cupped both of his cheeks and gently pulled his face toward mine.

Bonk. A soft, cute sound accompanied the moment our foreheads touched. I saw Nam Yisol’s eyes widen in surprise at the sudden gesture.

“But still, I’m happy. Thank you for thinking of me.”

I gently rubbed my forehead against his as I conveyed my sincere gratitude. I could feel Nam Yisol’s hair brushing against my own forehead, which was neatly revealed by my pushed-back hair.

When I felt that my feelings had been fully conveyed, I carefully pulled my forehead away. Then, with a soft smile in my eyes, I spoke to Nam Yisol, who still looked dazed.

“Would you mind passing on what I said to the others? If I say it myself, it might feel like too much pressure.”

“Huh? Oh, yes!”

At my words, Nam Yisol hurriedly nodded and quickly ran up to the second floor. I silently watched his rapidly disappearing figure before slowly turning my head to face Manager Ahn Siwon. When our eyes met, Ahn Siwon spoke up with a worried expression.

“You’re going to do it, right?”

“Do what?”

Feigning innocence, I responded nonchalantly, pretending not to understand what he meant. Ahn Siwon gave me a wry look.

“You’re going to do something about that director, right? That’s why you sent Yisol upstairs so he wouldn’t hear, isn’t it?”

Ah, I got caught. I gave a mischievous smile to Manager Ahn Siwon, who had hit the nail on the head.

“Yes. Well, I do feel a little sorry for Manager Ahn, who tried to hide the director’s behavior to prevent this situation, though.”

When I said that in a voice laced with a hint of playfulness, Ahn Siwon flinched.

“……You knew?”

“Of course. While I do think you’re a kind person, I also know you’re not someone who brings personal emotions into work. Besides, in this situation, reporting the incident to the higher-ups would’ve been more effective than granting Tartarus’ request, and I didn’t think you wouldn’t know that.”

“……”

“There must’ve been another reason why you made that decision. Maybe you were worried that if I found out, I’d do something to the director?”

As I gently raised the corners of my lips and said that, Ahn Siwon let out a deep sigh. Then he raised both hands to chest height and confessed honestly, as if laying it all out.

“You caught me. That’s right. I didn’t tell you because I was worried you’d step in and handle it yourself. Of course, the members pleaded so earnestly that I was a little swayed by that too. I won’t deny that part.”

“You were worried Tartarus would get a bad reputation again? You think that’ll happen if I step in?”

At my quiet question, Ahn Siwon shook his head.

“It’s not like you’re going to take down the director completely like you did with President Lee Yongjun in the past. Just replacing the director—no one really minds. It happens all the time…… Actually, I think a lot of people would feel secretly satisfied. That guy’s done a lot of shady things.”

“Then why……?”

“I’m more worried about your reputation than Tartarus’s. What the director said—that’s actually a rumor that’s been floating around the industry. It’s just underground talk and most people don’t take it seriously, but if you actually do something to the director, even if they’re secretly pleased, people will definitely whisper that the rumors were true. And honestly, that’s kind of annoying. I just don’t want you to hear things like that. I’m worried, okay?”

So in the end, it’s the same reason as Tartarus. He kept quiet because he didn’t want me to hear those kinds of things. Because he was worried about me. I let out a soft chuckle at the warm hearts of Manager Ahn Siwon and Tartarus. My heart felt warm and full.

When I laughed, Manager Ahn Siwon let out another deep sigh. Then, with a sulky look on his face, he pouted his lips and spoke.

“No matter what I say, you’re not going to listen, are you? You’re just going to do what you want, right?”

It was a very straightforward question. And one I could only respond to with affirmation.

“Just like how you all hate the idea of me hearing such things, I hate seeing you getting harassed by someone whose eyesight I honestly question. So what can I do? I have to follow my heart.”

“Even if that leads to bad rumors?”

“If they want to talk, let them. That kind of thing isn’t my concern. They wouldn’t dare say it in front of me anyway.”

“What if they do say it in front of you?”

“Then, out of respect for their courage, I’ll try my very best to have a sincere and earnest conversation with them. I’ll tell them: ‘Yes, it’s true I don’t know much about the industry, and yes, it’s true I just have a lot of money. But I don’t have the dirty habit of trying to fix everything with money. I do have a conscience. And I’ve never looked down on this industry. I’m still learning. Just like this’.”

At my casual response, Ahn Siwon furrowed his brows deeply.

“They won’t believe you, though.”

“I know.”

“And you’re still going to say that?”

“Yes. Because I’m an intelligent life form capable of conversation and communication.”

In other words, if someone couldn’t engage in conversation or communication, they weren’t an intelligent life form. Realizing what I meant, a flustered expression spread across Ahn Siwon’s face.

“……I didn’t expect you to say it like that.”

“Was it too harsh?”

“No. Not exactly, but…… It’s just something I never imagined coming from you. I always thought you couldn’t say things like that. You’re usually so gentle.”

I blinked in surprise at Manager Ahn Siwon’s comment. Hmm…… I’d felt it before, but everyone here seemed to think of me as too good a person. Of course, in life, I did believe it was best to avoid conflict and handle things smoothly when possible, but that didn’t mean I couldn’t say something sharp if I needed to.

“Well, a person’s got to speak up when it’s necessary.”

“That’s true.”

Manager Ahn Siwon nodded in agreement with my words. I looked at him and said.

“Anyway, I’ll go to the set tomorrow. I need to see for myself what the atmosphere is like, what exactly that guy is doing, and how far it’s gone. Don’t tell the others. Just you need to know.”

“Okaaay……”

Hearing my plan to go to the set in person, Ahn Siwon replied dejectedly, his shoulders slumped. I patted those drooping shoulders gently, trying to offer some encouragement.