# Chapter 60
“Ah. I really don’t like this kind of thing. I never imagined I’d become so obsessive when I liked someone. I’m probably not the only one, right? No one could have imagined it. You’re the same, hyung.”
Watching Sijin sincerely express his feelings with indignation, I nodded enthusiastically.
Who would understand if not me?
“Of course. Absolutely.”
“Hyung. Do I seem pathetic? Do you dislike me being like this?”
Sijin asked with a serious face, as if it had been weighing on his mind considerably.
“I really don’t want to be like this either. But there are so many jerks in this world, you know. I trust you, hyung. Actually, it was hard to trust you at first, but I tried really hard to believe in you, so now I can trust you to some extent.”
Why do I feel so guilty?
It must be because of my early hesitation before realizing my feelings for Sijin.
Whenever this topic came up, I would swallow dryly and subtly turn away.
If I had known it would be like this, I wouldn’t have shown interest in anyone.
“Well. That’s all my fault. I should have taken the initiative first, but I couldn’t. I was worried about what would happen if I messed up and pushed you away. Anyway… I think I need to fix this too. I’ll try not to be too possessive, so please understand me a little, hyung.”
“Of course. What else can I do? It’s not like I can say it’s defective now and ask for a replacement or throw it away.”
“Exactly. So use it well. I’m pretty good, aren’t I?”
“I’m not so sure about that.”
“Why are you like that, hyung? I do well, don’t I? Did you forget again? Want me to remind you?”
Crazy bastard.
I shook my head and checked my smartphone.
Realizing it was time to get ready and leave, Sijin stood up with me.
“Hyung, you work too much. I could really let you live without lifting a finger.”
When I smiled, his face turned red.
He probably thought I was putting on airs in front of him now that I’ve realized who I am.
“Can I give you a ride, hyung?”
“Maybe?”
Seeing Han Sijin’s face brighten at that single word, I laughed, wondering how this made any sense.
It was the ultimate happiness that I didn’t want to miss even a little bit.
* * *
When I received hyung’s call at work, I had some idea of what was waiting for me.
With Crop Five’s success being frequently covered in domestic and international media, and with so much interest in their future activities, I had been thinking hyung might call me again.
What I didn’t expect was that Grandfather would be there for that conversation.
When I entered hyung’s house, thinking only he would be there, Grandfather was present, and when I showed my surprised face at the unexpected encounter, Grandfather clicked his tongue and said:
“What kind of expression is that to show your grandfather?”
“Ah… Hello. I didn’t know you’d be here. Do you come here often?”
As I approached and sat beside him, a pleased smile appeared on Grandfather’s face.
“You’re speaking comfortably now? You used to be so formal before.”
Hyung commented while busily setting the table.
Hearing hyung’s words, I realized he was right.
I hadn’t even noticed when I started doing it, but just as hyung said, my speech had become more casual.
“Should I… change it?”
Grandfather immediately shook his head.
“No. I like it. How many people around me can speak to me in such a way? Continue to speak like that.”
“Yes, Grandfather.”
When I tried to help hyung, he waved his hand from a distance.
“You stay there and talk with Grandfather. I get confused when people come and go while I’m working, and it makes things harder.”
“But it would finish faster if I helped.”
“For me, this is relaxing. It’s my hobby.”
If that’s the case.
Sitting next to Grandfather, I started with asking how he’d been doing and shared words we hadn’t exchanged before, while enticing aromas kept coming from the kitchen.
Eventually, Grandfather couldn’t stand it anymore and got up, and we moved to the dining table to continue our conversation.
In the center of the table, soybean paste stew with blue crab and army stew were served.
Though the side dishes weren’t many, they were all mouth-watering and appetizing, suddenly making me hungry.
After the meal, our serious conversation began.
“I think it would be good for Seomin to return to Crop Five.”
Grandfather spoke as if he had been waiting to say this from the beginning, and I looked at hyung.
“No need to look at Seungwon. I’m not trying to take Grand Tamer away to give to you. Seungwon said he wants to grow Grand Tamer with you. I think that would be good too. I received a report that the promotional effect Seyoung Group gained through Grand Tamer would be worth over 10 trillion won if converted to money.”
Grandfather’s story continued quietly from that point.
10 trillion.
An unimaginable amount.
Such an evaluation became possible because Seyoung Group owns so many companies.
Some people first learned about Seyoung as Crop Five’s and Grand Tamer’s parent company.
And as the fact that I was Grandfather’s grandson was revealed, Seyoung’s awareness and favorability rose vertically.
The connection between Crop Five’s popularity and Seyoung Group’s favorability was risky for both sides, but that was the current reality.
“Seungwon seems to have firm thoughts. I think it would be good to do it that way. You have the ability. You can think and imagine freely, beyond the mindset of older people. I think the future of Seyoung depends on you. Do what we old people couldn’t do. If you’re given something that has already grown as much as it can, no matter how well you do, it won’t even be noticeable.”
Seyoung and Grand Tamer.
Grand Tamer and Crop Five.
I wanted to know exactly what hyung thought.
When I looked at him, hyung opened his mouth.
“This kind of thing… I don’t know well, but I can predict from the circumstances. Crop Five has no limits. They’re already enjoying tremendous popularity and their value has skyrocketed, but nobody knows their full potential. If I were a competitor, I wouldn’t just sit and watch as we grow thanks to Crop Five. Normal people would try to create an idol group that surpasses Crop Five, but there are also people who would use unfair means to get what they want.”
“You think they’ll try to scout them?”
“It’s entirely possible.”
I recalled Crop Five’s contracts.
Their contractual relationship was really loose.
If they decided to leave Grand Tamer, there were almost no restrictions.
A relationship bound much more loosely than conventional contractual relationships.
That was something I did when first recruiting the members so they wouldn’t feel burdened, but if another company approached to poach them, we didn’t have much grounds to keep them.
The penalty they would have to pay wouldn’t be a significant amount for those coveting Crop Five members.
I could understand why hyung needed me.
It seemed he thought that if I came to Grand Tamer, I could keep the members with bonds stronger than contracts.
‘If the members want to leave Grand Tamer, is it right to let them go?’
Just as I was thinking that.
“I think you can judge that. I feel like I’m still lacking in that area. What path is best for the kids, I mean. I think I can make Crop Five the best. And I want to show the members something that’s not yet visible. But I’m a little lacking in that ability. The reason I’m telling you this is not to use you as an excuse to keep Crop Five. If you think Grand Tamer isn’t enough for those kids, you’ll tell them the truth.”
“That’s right.”
“Yes. That’s why I called you. You probably have ideas about how to make them want to stay here instead of moving elsewhere, and how to make this such a place. Make Grand Tamer like that. Draw that picture and show it to me. And.”
The person who had been speaking without pause suddenly hesitated.
“I guess you want to create it together.”
In the end, those words came from Grandfather.
Oh…
If that’s what he was trying to say, I could understand why hyung had trouble continuing.
It’s giving me goosebumps too.
“Am I right, Seungwon?”
At Grandfather’s confirmation shot, hyung replied in a barely audible voice that he was right.
If it had been for another reason, I would have said I’d think about it or that I couldn’t give up what I was doing now.
However, I had no escape from the judgment that I was the person who could make the best choice for the members, and the request to make Grand Tamer the best place for them.
From the moment I guessed what hyung was trying to say, it seems I was waiting for him to ask me to return to Grand Tamer.
So even before answering, I was sweating, unable to control my expression.
Recognizing that, Grandfather laughed first.
“That’s a relief. I was worried you might not like it.”
“Why?”
“Because even if you said no, I’d have to stick you in Grand Tamer anyway.”
Thanks to Grandfather going that far, I was able to make up my mind much more easily.
