# Chapter 35
We had almost arrived in front of the dorm, and I needed to drop him off, but I was reluctant to part.
“Want to go for a drive?”
Han Sijin nodded immediately.
“Do you know any good routes?”
“How would I know about such things?”
“Then we’ll go where I want.”
But the roads were terribly congested and difficult.
“Take care.”
When there was nothing more to talk about, I let him out at the parking lot and said to Han Sijin, who silently nodded.
“Hyung. If I become a top star, could you be my manager again then?”
“No. I didn’t quit because I didn’t see potential in you guys. So even if you become a top star, I won’t become your manager again.”
“…”
Without saying anything about me being heartless or how could I say such things, Han Sijin got out of the car.
And he kept watching until I left the parking lot.
Thinking that once I left here, I might never see these guys again, my mood sank endlessly.
That evening, I continued to receive messages from the members, but from then on, it became difficult for me to respond to each of their messages.
It was because noona started calling me for private tutoring. At first, I thought it would be good to learn from noona, but I realized painfully how laughable that thought was.
Her affectionate treatment of me as her younger brother only lasted when she had no specific expectations of me. Once she decided to employ me as her closest aide, intense training without mercy began.
Still, I couldn’t blame noona.
Noona probably didn’t initially plan to give me such intense training.
It was all my fault for doing better than noona expected.
I thought I had no knowledge in those areas, but the knowledge I had acquired while doing translation work helped in various ways.
When I understood what noona was saying first and asked if certain content was correct, noona would ask with wide eyes how I knew that.
I explained how I came to know the content, and noona was amazed.
I was similar to someone who had never properly farmed but had scattered numerous seeds and sprouted many seedlings here and there.
There were already roots established, so I just needed to water and cultivate them.
Noona, who had set miraculous sales records and greatly increased market share with smartphones, had already embarked on her next project, and whenever she worried and felt anxious, I reassured her and participated in the process alongside her.
I couldn’t surpass noona’s knowledge anyway.
My role was to support her whenever she lost confidence due to unpredictable international situations and tectonic shifts.
Moving there, hyung’s connections were a great help, and I had many opportunities to meet hyung’s friends.
They found it fascinating that I had achieved great success at Grand Tamer and moved to Seyoung Electronics, and they even included me in their gatherings.
At first, they told me to come instead when hyung couldn’t make it, but later they invited me even when hyung could attend, and once they even called only me without contacting hyung.
Whenever that happened, I contacted hyung first to let him know.
After I did this a few times, they stopped excluding hyung and inviting only me.
“What kind of unnecessary strong bond is there between cousins? I was trying to drive a wedge between you two.”
The person who said that was Song Wonyoo from HM Oil, and though he said it with a smile, it didn’t seem like just a joke.
Although we were together, as we had to share market share, we weren’t exactly in a relationship where we could completely trust and rely on each other.
Still, once they realized I wasn’t a pushover, they kept an appropriate distance and treated me properly.
The seasons were changing.
People at the company still didn’t know that I was noona’s brother, and I didn’t want to reveal it yet.
It seemed like it wouldn’t be too late to reveal it after more time had passed and I had developed enough discernment to understand the true intentions of people approaching me.
And finally, news of Crop Five’s official debut came.
I had thought I would be with them when they debuted, but I realized once again that life doesn’t go according to plan.
* * *
A sensation.
But not everyone agreed with that word.
This was because the success of this monster rookie group was already somewhat anticipated.
Crop Five, which entered the charts at No. 1 simultaneously with the album release, expanded their fan base more solidly as time passed.
Typically, when initial momentum drops, it’s natural to give up the No. 1 spot, but Crop Five didn’t.
In an industry where even just staying in the top 10 for a long time after giving up the No. 1 position was considered a great achievement, when they maintained the No. 1 spot for six consecutive weeks, it could no longer be called an anomaly.
Visual kings armed with skill.
Their popularity wasn’t limited to just the domestic market; they were also sensationally popular in Japan, the UK, and the US.
The members gave numerous interviews, and each time, they never failed to mention me.
Whenever they were asked who had been the most helpful in their current success, all members pointed to me, their manager hyung.
Even when reporters asked if their current manager would feel hurt by such comments, the members didn’t yield.
―Our team leader knows that too,
they would answer in that way.
Since I had already become somewhat known by appearing in Crop Five’s early videos, countless footage of me was utilized each time.
As Crop Five gained popularity, it was naturally considered at Seyoung Electronics to use Crop Five as brand models.
Noona was more enthusiastic than anyone about employing Crop Five as models, and this was actively promoted with everyone’s consent.
My kids were becoming models.
The face of Seyoung Electronics, standing tall as the industry leader.
I couldn’t suppress my overwhelming emotion at the fact that Crop Five would finally become the face of Seyoung Electronics.
* * *
A meeting with the models was scheduled.
Noona knew how nervous I was and kept teasing me.
Hyung and Team Leader Hyun would bring the kids to that place.
I had tried to keep up with Crop Five’s broadcasts during that time.
But they appeared on so many programs, and I had so many things to do that it wasn’t as easy as I thought.
“The kids must have changed a lot. I was surprised when I saw them on TV a few days ago.”
After hearing noona’s words, I became even more nervous.
“How about revealing it now, Seomin? That you’re my brother.”
“I don’t think it’s the right time yet. It would be fine to tell those kids, but still…”
I liked that they liked me without any conditions.
That they liked me just for being Kang Seomin, not because I was the grandson of Seyoung Group’s chairman.
“They might feel betrayed when they find out later. They might feel hurt, wondering if you didn’t trust them.”
“That might be true, but…”
“Okay. If you don’t want to tell them yet, you don’t have to. Well. We can explain and resolve it later. And I think your members would understand why you couldn’t tell them. Anyway, what should we do? Shouldn’t we go to a shop and get dressed up? Get new hairstyles and makeup. I think we’ll look too plain if we meet them like this.”
“Wouldn’t I be fine just like this?”
At my words, noona burst into loud laughter.
“Our Seomin is so full of humor.”
Then she dragged me out, and we finished getting ready at her regular hair shop.
Although I was forcibly dragged by noona, I still felt good.
“Let’s buy new clothes too.”
“I’m really fine.”
“No. I’m not fine. My brother should shine the brightest.”
“I’m telling you, I shine even in the clothes I usually wear.”
“Oh my. I can’t argue with that, but it’s boring for me to go alone, so let’s go together. Seungwon is thrilled when I ask him to shop with me, why are you like this? Are you embarrassed of your noona?”
I finally burst into laughter.
My goodness, who else would hear such words from her?
“Noona. Shouldn’t we be a bit careful? What if the kids all feel intimidated by me?”
“Ah, let’s ask Seungwon to worry about that. That’s Seungwon’s job.”
I followed noona, laughing.
The secretaries following noona also smiled.
They sincerely thanked me for coming here, saying it was something they could never have seen before I arrived.
It was impossible to hide my identity from everyone.
People who had to be in close proximity to noona knew about it, but I could tell that noona had become brighter without having to hear it from them.
By the way, as the time approached, I couldn’t hide my growing nervousness.
* * *
A group of people entered Seyoung Electronics’ main conference room.
I, who had arrived earlier with noona and was waiting, couldn’t close my gaping mouth.
The Crop Five members all looked somehow different, making me wonder if they were really the same guys I knew.
But when I saw them smile at me, that familiar feeling returned.
I wanted to quickly finish the official talk and have a deep conversation with the guys.
