Chapter 12 - I'll Give You a Tour
A park in the evening.
Baek Hyeon-woo, who had stepped into that place, confirmed the presence of the thin-framed woman sitting on the bench.
‘As I thought, it's Yoo Jeong-ah-ssi from the audition earlier.’
Baek Hyeon-woo was on his way out to buy some things needed for the practice room.
But while walking down the street, he felt a zapping sensation.
Looking around, he saw a status window being displayed from the direction of the park, and when he went closer to check, it was Yoo Jeong-ah.
Normally, he wouldn't have bothered to speak to her like this, but he couldn't just let it go.
Not only was Yoo Jeong-ah the first person with SS Potential that Baek Hyeon-woo had seen...
‘...but a change like this had appeared on her status window.’
Yoo Jeong-ah's status window, which he had also checked at the audition earlier.
There had been a change in its contents.
–––––––
[Yoo Jeong-ah]
Vocal: A-
Dance: A-
Visual: F
Potential: SS
Body Condition: 60%
Mental Condition: 35%
– Pain is occurring due to a problem with the trapezius muscle in the head and neck.
– Body Condition is slightly lowered.
– Mental Condition is severely lowered.
– A minus correction is being applied to Vocal and Dance.
–––––––
At the audition hall, her Body Condition was 75%, and her Mental Condition was 70%.
Those had dropped to 60% and 35%, respectively.
As a result of that, a minus correction had also been applied to her Vocal and Dance.
‘If something bad didn't happen in the meantime, this must be the effect of the audition.’
Judging it to be so, Baek Hyeon-woo slowly opened his mouth.
“I'm sorry for suddenly speaking to you. My name is Baek Hyeon-woo, and I'm a manager working at Haram Entertainment.”
“Ah, yes, the one I saw earlier...”
Yoo Jeong-ah, who had been staring blankly, hurriedly stood up and bowed her head.
“Ah, thank you for earlier. Thanks to you, Manager-nim, I was able to get a chance.”
“I just said it on a whim. Please raise your head.”
“No. Really… thank you.”
A heartfelt voice.
Her diligent personality was evident even in her attitude of expressing gratitude.
“Um, but what brings you here...”
“Ah, this has nothing to do with the audition.”
He said it in advance, in case she misunderstood.
“I was just passing by, and it seemed like your physical condition isn't very good.”
“Pardon...?”
“Doesn't your head hurt? Or your shoulders feel stiff.”
Yoo Jeong-ah flinched.
But she immediately avoided his gaze and shook her head.
“No. I'm just… fine.”
“Is that so?”
“Yes...”
“……”
For a moment, he was at a loss for words.
When the other person reacts like this, it becomes difficult to continue the conversation.
‘There were quite a few patients like this, too.’
Generally, in a treatment setting, communication with the patient is important.
This is because becoming close with the patient and forming a relationship of trust also helps with the treatment.
But sometimes, you see patients with whom it's difficult to communicate.
When you try to talk, the conversation keeps getting cut off.
If it's a patient who simply dislikes small talk, you can just treat them quietly, but patients who don't even talk about things necessary for treatment are a headache.
The ability to communicate smoothly with such patients is also considered important in a treatment setting.
“You know Newstarz, right?”
“Pardon?”
“Our Haram Entertainment's Newstarz.”
“Ah, yes, of course I know them.”
“Newstarz's Seo Na-eun-ssi was in very bad condition a while ago.”
Yoo Jeong-ah's eyes widened slightly at the story Baek Hyeon-woo had brought up out of the blue.
“She had a performance coming up at the time, but her condition was so bad. She almost ruined it completely.”
“But in the fancam that was trending recently, she was absolutely perfect...”
“It was the day that fancam was filmed.”
“Pardon?”
“Her condition was bad right up until the rehearsal. We treated her hastily before the main performance and sent her on stage.”
“I-Is that possible?”
Yoo Jeong-ah leaned her body towards Baek Hyeon-woo.
It was different from her attitude until just a moment ago.
When communication is not smooth, the most effective breakthrough is to bring up a topic that the patient might be interested in.
You have to open the floodgates that way and get the patient to actively participate in the conversation.
“At that time, Na-eun-ssi's shoulders were hunched like this.”
Of course, at that time, Seo Na-eun's biggest problem was her ankle.
However, Baek Hyeon-woo didn't mention that and just took a shoulder-hunching pose.
Because it was a fact that Seo Na-eun's head and neck muscles were tensed at that time.
“Just like you are now, Yoo Jeong-ah-ssi.”
“……!”
Yoo Jeong-ah flinched in surprise.
“I felt it at the audition hall earlier too, but it's even worse now.”
“Ah, that's...”
“In that state, your shoulders will feel stiff and your head will feel heavy.”
Saying that, Baek Hyeon-woo directed his gaze to Yoo Jeong-ah's shoulders.
To be precise, he checked the line going down from her neck to her shoulders.
“Because your trapezius muscles are very tensed.”
The trapezius muscle.
A muscle that got its name, 'seungmoguen', because it's shaped like a monk's (僧) hat (帽), it comes down from the back of the head along the nape of the neck and covers the shoulders and back.
It's mainly involved in the movement of the neck, and it's also the muscle people use when they shrug or hunch their shoulders.
“You've often been like that, haven't you? If that state continues, it will affect your performance.”
“……!”
Yoo Jeong-ah is in a state of anxiety about debuting as an idol.
She couldn't help but react to the words that it would affect her performance.
“Th-then what should I do?”
Hearing Yoo Jeong-ah's words, Baek Hyeon-woo smiled.
Because he had finally drawn out the words, 'Then what should I do?'
No matter how difficult a patient is to communicate with, if you can make the patient say these words first, the conversation afterwards goes smoothly.
“Yoo Jeong-ah-ssi, do you have time right now?”
“Pardon?”
Yoo Jeong-ah made a flustered expression.
“Ah, I, um, that kind of thing...”
“I don't mean it in a strange way, so please don't misunderstand.”
It was late, so being misunderstood couldn't be helped, but Baek Hyeon-woo had no ulterior motives.
“I'll give you a tour.”
At the unexpected words, Yoo Jeong-ah's eyes widened.
* * *
Haram Entertainment CEO's Office.
Baek Yeon-ah was sitting in her seat with a conflicted heart.
‘Yoo Jeong-ah... such a waste.’
In the end, they decided not to pass anyone in this audition.
Since the rest of the contestants were all below standard, they decided to gather more people soon and hold another audition.
Also, separate from the audition, Director Choi Tae-hyung was apparently scheduled to use his personal connections to see if there was anyone worth using.
‘I gave Director Choi full authority for this new group. Since that Director Choi says it won't work, it can't be helped, but...’
It's easier to succeed by teaching singing and dancing to someone who already has charm as an idol, than it is to make someone with outstanding singing and dancing skills acquire that charm.
Even Baek Yeon-ah knew that much.
Turning Yoo Jeong-ah, whom even DP Entertainment had given up on, into a charming idol would not be an easy task.
However... the talent Yoo Jeong-ah showed at the audition was too much of a waste.
‘Is there no way somehow...’
Right at that moment.
Baek Yeon-ah's cell phone vibrated.
It was a message sent by her nephew, Baek Hyeon-woo.
‘……?’
But the content of the message was strange.
It said that he had just met Yoo Jeong-ah outside, and asked if it was okay to give her a tour of the practice room.
‘Why with Yoo Jeong-ah...’
Could it be that he's doing this because he's hastily assuming Yoo Jeong-ah passed the audition?
Baek Yeon-ah immediately sent a reply.
That they had decided to fail Yoo Jeong-ah in the meeting just now.
She also briefly added the reason for failing her.
However...
‘It doesn't matter?’
That it didn't matter anyway, and that he wanted to give her a tour of the practice room, was Baek Hyeon-woo's reply.
Unable to understand what he was thinking, Baek Yeon-ah tilted her head.
‘Why is this kid acting like this?’
At that moment, the actions Baek Hyeon-woo had shown so far came to Baek Yeon-ah's mind.
The time he predicted She's On's Yuri would seriously injure her ankle, the time he noticed Seo Na-eun's body was unwell and treated her... and the time he suddenly cut in when they were about to just send Yoo Jeong-ah out and ended up making her showcase her singing and dancing.
These were actions unimaginable for a rookie manager who had had no connection to the entertainment industry until now.
There is something about Baek Hyeon-woo.
Baek Yeon-ah suddenly had that thought.
‘Alright. Do as you please.’
After sending the reply, Baek Yeon-ah put down her cell phone.
Hoping that her nephew, who had shown her surprising things until now, would show her something this time as well.
* * *
The place Baek Hyeon-woo took Yoo Jeong-ah to was the practice room.
“Hyeon-woo oppa, why are you so late!”
As soon as he stepped in, Laura, who had been occupying the practice room, got angry.
Her hair was wet from the sweat she had shed during practice.
“I definitely... huh? Who's this?”
Laura scanned Yoo Jeong-ah, who was behind Baek Hyeon-woo, from top to bottom.
“She doesn't look like an idol.”
“……!”
Yoo Jeong-ah flinched.
In fact, if you compared Laura and Yoo Jeong-ah, Yoo Jeong-ah just looked like an ordinary person.
Yoo Jeong-ah's appearance was also on the outstanding side, but she didn't have the bright, gorgeous charm that immediately caught the eye like Laura did.
“Don't tell me... is she your girlfriend, oppa?”
Laura glared at Baek Hyeon-woo with sharp eyes.
“That's really too much. What on earth are you trying to do, bringing your girlfriend to an empty practice room?”
“There's no way that's the case.”
Baek Hyeon-woo retorted in a cold voice.
“And what do you mean, an empty practice room. You're here, Laura-ssi.”
“I'm going to leave soon anyway.”
Laura said, glaring at Baek Hyeon-woo.
“And you're not denying that she's your girlfriend?”
“She is not my girlfriend.”
N-No, I'm not!”
Not only Baek Hyeon-woo but also Yoo Jeong-ah urgently shook their heads in denial.
“This person is Yoo Jeong-ah-ssi, who participated in the audition today.”
“The audition?”
At Baek Hyeon-woo's introduction, Laura's eyes widened.
“Then did you pass the audition and decide to sign a contract with our company?”
“Ah, no.”
Yoo Jeong-ah answered, bowing her head.
“Passing the audition is probably...”
“Huh? Then what is it?”
Laura looked at Baek Hyeon-woo with an expression that said she didn't understand.
“Then she's just an outsider, so why is she in the practice room...”
“Because I wanted to give her a little tour.”
“A tour?”
“This is a matter for which I have received permission from the CEO.”
A moment ago, Baek Hyeon-woo had sent a message to CEO Baek Yeon-ah.
Because he had received permission, he had brought in Yoo Jeong-ah, who was an outsider.
“Sigh, power really is a good thing. Doing whatever you want just because you're the CEO's nephew.”
“That's not it...”
“Ah, whatever.”
Laura turned her back to Baek Hyeon-woo.
“I want to go now, so please do it quickly. There's a live stream I want to watch on YouTube.”
“Understood.”
The reason Laura was waiting for Baek Hyeon-woo in the practice room today was because, separate from the finishing stretches, there was some care she needed to receive from him.
As Baek Hyeon-woo approached Laura, Yoo Jeong-ah, who was behind him, hurriedly spoke.
“Baek Hyeon-woo-ssi, right now...”
“This is what I wanted to show you on the tour.”
“Pardon?”
Leaving the bewildered Yoo Jeong-ah aside, Baek Hyeon-woo reached his hands toward Laura.
Laura was dressed in a spaghetti strap tank top, so the bare skin of her shoulder area was exposed.
Yoo Jeong-ah was surprised once more seeing Baek Hyeon-woo place his hands on her without hesitation.
“Ah, there, I think it's there.”
“Yes, it's here.”
He checked the state of her muscles, touching her shoulder with appropriate pressure.
For the past few days, Laura's right shoulder hadn't been well.
As her latissimus dorsi was released, her shoulder joint's movement had become smoother, but because she was working harder than usual, fatigue was building up in her other shoulder muscles.
That's why Baek Hyeon-woo had decided to give her special care every time she finished practice.
“It will hurt a little.”
“I know, so just do it quickly.”
Hearing Laura's urging voice, Baek Hyeon-woo got into the precise position.
After stabilizing the surrounding area using his fingers and palm, he pressed his thumb closely against the target point.
And then, with merciless strength, he pressed the trigger point on the muscle.
“Aaarghghghgh!”
In that moment, a bizarre and grotesque scream unbecoming of an idol burst from Laura's lips, and.
“……!”
Yoo Jeong-ah, who witnessed that sight, her face turned pale.