# Chapter 16
He had an important mission.
At first, only two of the six people in the group chat were talking, but after a little time passed, the numbers next to the messages all disappeared.
That meant everyone had read them.
[Since you’re all here. I’m going to properly commit to a project this time, and I need everyone’s cooperation.]
[He’s trying to squeeze money out of us again. This guy.]
[It’s not bullshit. I’m not joking. This time it really feels good. I’m really going to make these guys into world-class artists this time.]
[Whatever. Is your brother still keeping it a secret? I really don’t understand your brother. Being a third-generation chaebol heir is so great. Why doesn’t he reveal it?]
[Shut up. Stop derailing the conversation. Just tell me how you’re going to cooperate with our project. No exceptions.]
[You fascist. Get lost.]
[Fine. You can sponsor a sports car. It might seem like you’re helping me now, but later it’ll be the opposite, you know? Foreigners will ask what car our kids are driving. Be ready to treat us then.]
Kang Seungwon was passionately selling his pitch, and his friends, while groaning, racked their brains about what they could do.
[Oh, by the way, don’t forget to make them all wear crop tops. It has to be trendy this year. I don’t think I can maintain this body next year.]
The conclusion was crop tops, and everyone was in perfect agreement with that statement.
* * *
Tentatively named ‘Crop Five’.
The trainees had no idea why they were being called by such a name, but one day hyung casually referred to our kids as Crop Five, and from then on, he kept reinforcing it.
I thought the origin might be crop tops but tried to convince myself it couldn’t be that, yet there was nothing else I could guess.
But these innocent members were adapting to it, saying it sounded better the more they heard it.
“Now that we even have a name, and it’s specifically set as ‘Five,’ we won’t be eliminated from the debut lineup, right?”
Lee Dagyeong said, activating his happiness circuit.
“That ‘Five’ doesn’t necessarily mean the five of us, you know?”
On the other hand, Han Sijin threw cold water on the idea.
But the members were no longer very anxious about such comments.
Each of them had been paid 20 million won in advance as an appearance fee, and everyone was greatly encouraged by the fact that they were earning money at a point when investments were only being made in them without even having debuted.
The rumor that the CEO personally looked after newly recruited trainees was widespread inside and outside of Grand Tamer.
Our members were already the center of attention just because of that fact.
The members were well aware of this.
Although it could have acted as pressure, they didn’t show it and devoted themselves to practice day and night.
Since they were already getting everyone’s attention, they seemed determined to show their best in situations where their skills would be evaluated.
I actually overheard them talking about this.
They unnecessarily worried, saying that since I had scouted them, my position could be weakened depending on their performance.
Still, it didn’t seem bad that they were motivating each other with such thoughts, so I didn’t say much either.
It was natural that trainees who were trying hard looked endearing, and hyung spared no support to ensure the members could learn what they wanted to learn.
For example, Cha Yeonwoo, who wanted to compose, was provided with professional composition training and a studio equipped with hundreds of millions of won worth of equipment.
Another investment made in this regard was recruiting modern dance and hip-hop dance specialists after realizing that the members had been dancing different styles.
“Alright, today we’re going to do styling. We’ll find out which style suits each of you best.”
While the camera was rolling, I memorized my lines and said them in front of them.
The corners of the members’ mouths trembled as they tried to hold back laughter at my terrible acting.
Then Han Sijin burst out laughing first.
“Hyung. You’d do better reading a Korean textbook than that.”
“Hey, why are you bringing down our hyung’s confidence? Hyung did really well for that level. Hyung, it’s okay. You were natural.”
You’re worse, Cha Yeonwoo.
Anyway, since I had done my best, I let it slide, and the members all headed to the pre-arranged department store.
Everyone couldn’t hide their excitement at the mention that they would be buying clothes they would wear there.
“Can we buy everything we like?”
“Yeah. Probably.”
“Wow… How many outfits?”
“I don’t know? Just push for it first. If you really want it badly enough, don’t you think they’ll be flexible?”
When I said this, the members laughed.
They were laughing because I was a manager who didn’t know anything.
But that was unavoidable.
What the members were curious about, I was curious about too, and even though I had asked in advance, what could I do if they wouldn’t tell me?
So I was also surprised and confused just like the members every time, participating in the filming like a sixth member.
No matter how much I complained about what was so fun about this, hyung, the decision-maker, wouldn’t budge.
That’s why it was difficult for me to actively appeal to him in front of people who didn’t know I was the CEO’s brother.
“Let’s have Irun and Yeonwoo drive one car each. Can you do that?”
Although we had a car we usually used, this time we had a sponsored car, so we needed additional drivers.
“Yes. I’m really good at driving.”
While Cha Yeonwoo spoke energetically, Seo Irun just nodded once.
Seo Irun was so quiet that even that much of a response felt like a blessing.
Although he was only one year older than the other kids except for Lee Dagyeong, being the oldest among the members and so taciturn, the other members found him difficult to approach, but now they seemed to be adapting, recognizing it as Seo Irun’s personality.
“Hyung. I’m good at driving too, so why are you asking Yeonwoo?”
Even before Han Sijin spoke, I had thought he would say that.
“Sijin, I was going to say something anyway, so that’s good timing. If this gets broadcast, how do you think people will perceive you when you say things like this?”
I said this thinking they would edit it out properly anyway.
“As expected, Han Sijin says whatever is on his mind?”
The guy responded as if he really thought that way.
I should have asked for something else from this jerk.
The members snickered in response.
“Sijin, if you say things like that, don’t you think people will consider you selfish, thinking you want to do all the good things yourself? They’ll think you’re greedy. Let’s manage your image now. Right now, we’re just among our members, but even when you’re with other groups, you’ll talk like this, and then you might be targeted for attack.”
“Uh…”
Han Sijin seemed completely unaware of this thought and looked shocked.
“Hey, Lee Dagyeong. Do you think so too?”
As if Dagyeong was the easiest to approach because he was even one year younger, Sijin asked, and Dagyeong nodded vigorously as if it was obvious.
“And well, it’s not even a big misunderstanding. Hyung, you are greedy. You try to do all the good things, try to stand where the camera can see you, are very greedy for screen time, and try to say one more thing whenever possible.”
“…”
I expressed my condolences to Han Sijin.
What was he thinking, asking Dagyeong that?
Dagyeong doesn’t even think highly of Han Sijin.
“N-no way. Cha Yeonwoo, do you think so too?”
“No.”
I thought Cha Yeonwoo might be trying to protect Sijin as a fellow member, but that was my misunderstanding.
“Dagyeong is actually softening his words because you’re his hyung, but the truth is even worse.”
Guys. The camera is rolling.
I was worried that Han Sijin might be damaged beyond recovery, but that was also an unnecessary concern.
“Oh really? Is that how it looks? I am doing it because I’m greedy, but I guess it shouldn’t look that way. I’ll have to be careful from now on.”
What?
Why are you so composed?
Anyway, with that conclusion, we headed to the department store, and both Seo Irun and Cha Yeonwoo were good drivers.
“Hyung, Yeonwoo seems to be a better driver, so let’s leave our car driving to Yeonwoo from now on?”
“That’s right. You’re the busiest now, hyung, so it would be hard if you have to drive too. I’ll do it.”
Jeong Chan and Cha Yeonwoo went back and forth, and it seemed like a decision was almost being made already.
“That’s enough. It’s my job, and if you take my job away, what am I supposed to do?”
Even when I spoke, a rebuttal came immediately.
“Driving isn’t your only job, hyung. You also mediate between the CEO and us, and you always think about what we need and give us your opinions. You also made it possible for us to do this broadcast right after coming in. If it weren’t for you, what trainees would start such activities right away? You even went around recruiting us one by one, and we all know how hard you work.”
Jeong Chan said firmly that if I had nothing to do, I should at least rest.
