IWDAR Chapter 17

Mo Tae-uk had risen to this position through keen observation and astute listening. 

 

The entertainment industry wasn’t a business where one could succeed simply by having a lot of money.

 

Gossipmongers, whose hobby was spreading rumors, might assume that Tae-uk’s family background and his grandfather’s financial power paved his easy path to the top. 

 

However, when Tae-uk inherited On Entertainment, previously his mother’s company, it was far from thriving. 

 

At the time, several significant incidents had rocked the family, leaving his mother in a fragile state, and the repercussions had dealt a severe blow to the company. It was a situation fraught with risk for the industry-naive Tae-uk to handle.

 

However, despite Mo Nak-hyun’s dissuasion, the reason Tae-uk actively involved himself in his maternal family’s business was due to the specter attached to him. 

 

Since childhood, a persistent ghost had relentlessly tormented him, yet strangely, this ghost trembled whenever music played.

 

‘Ghosts are born with a passion for singing and dancing. This is a strange thing, isn’t it?’

 

In a dilapidated temple nestled deep within the mountains, where Mo Nak-hyun had dragged him, a woman in worn-out Buddhist robes shook her head. 

 

‘The spirit attached to your grandson doesn’t seem to be an ordinary evil spirit.’

 

Even I could say that. 

 

Tae-uk, his right leg broken due to the ghosts’ mischief, scoffed and thought to himself.

 

Of the countless forms of music, the ghosts clinging to Tae-uk particularly loathed songs sung by human voices, especially live performances, even more so than music played through media or audio devices. 

 

Even his grandfather, who had a nature that never tolerated losses and thus opposed the idea more vehemently than anyone else, eventually had to give in.

 

Although technically his mother’s company, it was inherited under the Mo family name, requiring Tae-uk to seize every opportunity on his own, without his grandfather’s help.

 

No matter how much Mo Nak-hyun loved his only grandson, he was colder than anyone else when it came to business.

 

Mo Nak-hyun wanted Tae-uk to prove himself, and Tae-uk persevered, acquiring the company and further enhancing On Entertainment’s reputation. 

 

It wasn’t without reason that people drew a distinct line between On Entertainment before and after Director Mo Tae-uk’s involvement.

 

“By the book, I should submit Han Wooyoung’s demo file to the casting team, the team leader would contact Han Wooyoung, he’d go through a formal audition process, we’d discuss internally, and then a decision would be made… but…”

 

Clink— 

 

Tae-uk set down his light blue teacup, the sound resonating heavily.

 

“Unfortunately, I don’t have the time to spare right now.”

 

Wooyoung couldn’t help but feel puzzled by his words, which carried a strange resonance. Even though several days had passed since the incident at the hotel, he felt that everything was proceeding rather hastily.

 

“May I ask why you are in such a hurry to sign the contract?”

 

As Wooyoung voiced his question, a server announced that the food was ready. 

 

A lavish spread of Hanjeongsik¹ filled the spacious table, and Wooyoung suddenly felt a pang of hunger. 

 

While Soohee had been thoughtfully providing his meals, it had been a while since he’d seen such an elaborate feast. He couldn’t help but gulp, his mouth watering. 

 

Tae-uk quietly swall a laugh, finding Wooyoung, who had moments ago been sharply questioning the contract, now captivated by the food, endearingly childlike.

 

“Wooyoung, you haven’t eaten yet either. Take your time and listen while you eat.”

 

“Please, you eat first, CEO Mo.”

 

As if he couldn’t possibly eat before his elder started, Wooyoung urged Tae-uk to eat first with a resolute face. For some reason, Tae-uk felt offended by this.

 

“……I’ve been curious. Just how old do you think I am, Wooyoung?”

 

“…….”

 

This is a trap. Wooyoung thought. I mustn’t fall for it.

 

“Thirty… five?”

 

“…….”

 

“Thirty…?”

 

“…….”

 

“Tw, twenty-five!”

 

“Why not just go all the way and say nineteen?”

 

“……Are you nineteen?”

 

At Tae-uk’s coldly expressionless face, Wooyoung quickly averted his gaze.

 

“I haven’t lived that long to warrant such formality, Mr. Han. Please, eat comfortably.”

 

“Yes, sir. Enjoy your meal, CEO Mo.”

 

“I will.”

 

With a small smile, Tae-uk pushed the Sanjeok skewers, which Wooyoung had been eyeing, closer to him. 

 

Smoked with burning straw, the glistening glaze and sweet meaty aroma made his mouth water just looking at it.

 

Wooyoung stared at the Sanjeok² Tae-uk had offered, his expression complex. After his adoption, his meals were strictly controlled, meaning he couldn’t just eat whatever he wanted. 

 

 

His adoptive parents were excessively concerned about his appearance, as he frequently attended public events. His daily calorie intake was predetermined, and he had to meticulously record everything he ate. 

 

If he exceeded that limit, he was punished. He had never eaten his fill of anything, especially not high-calorie foods like this. He had never experienced the satisfaction of eating his fill, especially not with such high-calorie foods. 

 

Tae-uk’s seemingly casual act of kindness, as if all this food belonged to him, made Wooyoung feel… something he couldn’t quite name.

 

“The vegetables here are of exceptional quality, as they’re directly cultivated. Wild garlic is in season, so try some if you don’t mind.”

 

Wooyoung gazed at the wild garlic salad placed before him. Seeing him hesitate to pick up his chopsticks, Tae-uk looked momentarily perplexed.

 

“Come to think of it, people your age don’t usually like this sort of thing, do they?”

 

“No.” 

 

Wooyoung shook his head. 

 

“I don’t dislike it. Actually, I love it so much I could never get enough.”

 

“……Wild garlic salad?”

 

“Yes. Wild garlic salad.”

 

Unable to identify the welling emotion within him, Wooyoung felt momentarily lost, like a stray child. 

 

He reached out and picked up some wild garlic salad. Unlike his usual timid, bird-like pecking, he ate heartily, as he pleased. 

 

The fragrant aroma filled his senses, like the taste of spring itself. 

 

He also cut a large piece of the once-forbidden, greasy Sanjeok and chewed with relish. It was so delicious it almost brought him to tears. 

 

Tae-uk watched Wooyoung eating heartily for a moment. Finding the sight pleasing, he unconsciously found himself pushing various dishes closer to Wooyoung. 

 

He realized he had forgotten the reason he brought the boy here only when Wooyoung had eaten more than half of his rice. Mo Tae-uk hated wasting time, but somehow, he didn’t feel like any of this time with Wooyoung was wasted.

 

He felt like he could watch Han Wooyoung eating heartily for much longer.

 

As a result, the serious contract discussion only began when the meal was over and dessert arrived. Again, Tae-uk offered Wooyoung his entire portion of dainty persimmon. 

 

Wooyoung was slightly flustered. 

 

He felt like he was the only one who ate heartily throughout the meal, so he tried to refuse Tae-uk’s dessert, but the man easily silenced his protest.

 

“As you’re well aware, our agency doesn’t debut groups very quickly.” 

 

The contract talk had begun. 

 

“We have one team we’ve been meticulously preparing for several years, and we’re aiming for a debut this fall.”

 

“Fall… so about five months from now?”

 

“Correct.” 

 

Even as he spoke, Tae-uk watched Wooyoung diligently eating the persimmon. He seemed fascinated by the way the food disappeared into his small frame.

 

“Unfortunately, we discovered that the main vocal member of that team, whom we’ve invested heavily in, was involved in school violence.”

 

“…….”

 

“He was a publicly known trainee. As soon as the debut date was announced, the victims wrote and sent a statement to the agency.”

 

Feeling that this wasn’t a topic suitable for casual dessert conversation, Wooyoung quietly put down his teaspoon. 

 

Tae-uk frowned slightly and placed the spoon back in Wooyoung’s hand.

 

“If it were only one or two individuals, the agency could have handled it internally. But the problem was the number of students who submitted the statement, and the fact that most of the victims were girls. Most troubling of all was that one of the victims was a student with disabilities.”

 

Wooyoung looked at Tae-uk with a strange expression. The matter sounded incredibly serious, yet Tae-uk seemed merely inconvenienced, as if dealing with a minor annoyance.

 

“So, the reason you’re rushing the contract is…”

 

Tae-uk, who had been staring intently at Wooyoung with a heavy gaze, nodded.

 

“I intend to recommend you, Han Wooyoung, for that vacant position.”

 

If you accept this contract, that is.