# Chapter 94
Could someone’s aspiration and greed really be that selfless?
People who heard PepperMix’s interview found it strange, but considering the storm PepperMix was currently creating, it couldn’t be dismissed as mere fantasy.
Not only the domestic entertainment industry but the whole world was interested in Grand Tamer’s explosive growth in such a short period.
The success story that flowed from Crop Five to Ki Hyunshin to PepperMix continued endlessly, and each artist created tremendous synergy.
“Crop Five,” “God Hyunshin Cover Contest,” and “Crop Five Epilogue” surpassed 100 billion cumulative views.
And since watching one naturally led to searching for the others, the connected marketing had an enormous ripple effect.
Companies everywhere tried to benchmark Grand Tamer, but no one could do it like Grand Tamer.
Our self-evaluation was that this probably stemmed from the desperation and sincerity underlying those programs.
When “Crop Five” was being filmed, Crop Five were complete unknowns.
It wouldn’t be wrong to say they didn’t just start from the bottom—they started from underground.
Then Crop Five met Grand Tamer, and by utilizing the advantage of Grand Tamer being a Seyoung Group affiliate, they started with the “flex” concept, which became a huge hit.
“God Hyunshin Cover Contest” began with Crop Five members’ desire to give me a nice present.
And “Crop Five Epilogue” contained content about Crop Five supporting PepperMix for the sake of Team Leader Hyun, their former manager.
None of these were simply planned for ratings—each had a manager behind it.
The manager’s feelings for Crop Five, and Crop Five’s feelings for their manager.
* * *
A cold wind swept past, fluttering the collar of my coat.
“Thank you for coming. We have about 20 minutes, so let’s warm up with something hot to drink.”
I declined the offer while greeting the people who had come to meet me.
“No, thank you. I’ll go to the lecture hall and wait while watching the preceding session. I’d like to know about the attendees in advance.”
Requests for lectures about Grand Tamer’s success never stopped, and I had become a regular lecturer, traveling to various places with that content.
Hundreds of people had gathered in the hotel reception hall that would be used for the lecture, and I quietly observed the preceding session from my designated seat.
Then it was my turn, and I took the podium.
The atmosphere heated up dramatically from the moment CEO Kang Seomin of Grand Tamer was announced, and flashes went off everywhere as people tried to take my picture.
The host asked them not to take photos, but a few transgressions couldn’t be completely prevented.
Since this had become routine when going out with Sijin, I started the lecture without making a big deal of it.
“When we discovered Crop Five, we didn’t think about making money through them. Since we’re a company that pursues profit and needs to generate significant revenue, I can’t say we had absolutely no such intentions, but that was secondary. Especially in the entertainment industry, it’s about relationships between people, and if hearts aren’t moved, truly disastrous results can occur, so I think that aspect is really important in this field.”
Whenever I said things like this at companies, universities, associations, or various gatherings, people’s eyes lit up.
All the people I mentioned—Crop Five, Ki Hyunshin, PepperMix—were people they wanted to meet at least once.
Therefore, just because I knew such people, my value skyrocketed.
“People ask: How did you discover Crop Five? How did you make Grand Tamer a core company of Seyoung Group? How could you raise an entertainment company’s market cap to over a trillion won in just one year? I don’t think I did that. Some people say I’m just pretending to be humble when I say this, but this is an important point. I didn’t do it, but I did discover Crop Five, Ki Hyunshin-ssi, and PepperMix.”
With those words, people’s concentration intensified.
“I think the work should start by considering whether Crop Five, Ki Hyunshin-ssi, or PepperMix might be right next to you, and whether you’re providing them with the proper support they need.”
People nodded.
It was easy to speak and to listen, but actually doing it would be truly difficult.
I thought so too.
And I didn’t really believe what I was saying.
I thought it wasn’t me who discovered them, but Crop Five who found me.
However, I couldn’t say that in the lecture, so I was packaging it that way.
When the lecture ended, numerous people followed me out.
They did this even though they probably shouldn’t leave before the program was completely finished.
They wanted to take pictures with me and exchange even a few words, expressing their regret, and I took photos with them.
“Crop Five will be discharged from the military soon, right? My child really likes Crop Five. They’ll have a concert after discharge, right? They should do it in Korea first.”
Perhaps not forgetting that there were many overseas concerts before they enlisted, they earnestly requested this several times, and I confidently promised them.
After barely escaping, I spotted Hyung.
Thinking people might gather more if they saw Hyung, I quickly approached him, and Hyung, seeming to realize I had spotted him, turned and started walking first.
He still looked solid and confident.
I felt newly grateful for Hyung’s presence, which had steadfastly remained in place without changing over time.
As we went outside, Hyung headed toward my car.
“How did you get here, Hyung? How did you come here?”
I asked as I got into the driver’s seat, and he replied as he climbed into the passenger seat.
“Secretary Yeon brought me.”
“And then left?”
“Yes. I told her I’d go with you.”
“Where are we going?”
At that, a disapproving look immediately poured down on me.
I quickly racked my brain, wondering why I should be receiving such a look.
But nothing came to mind.
Should I ask what’s going on?
If I asked Hyung, the atmosphere suggested he might get angry. Should I ask Sijin instead? Or would Team Leader Hyun be better?
While I was thinking this, Hyung shook his head as if he could see right through my thoughts.
“You bastard. Even if I’m not your blood brother, how could you forget my birthday?”
I nearly asked if it was Hyung’s birthday but managed to hold back.
I really wanted to praise myself for restraining.
“Of course I know. I was just wondering why you’re in such a hurry. I’ve already prepared your gift.”
This should be convincing enough, right?
Hyung glanced at me uncertainly.
“So are we going to your house now? Are we having a party there? Should I go there too?”
“Not my house, the family home.”
“Family home? Uncle’s house?”
“Yeah.”
Now I understood what was behind the dissatisfied expression that had been on Hyung’s face.
“We’re having your birthday party at the family home?”
I barely swallowed the question: “How old are you, Hyung?”
I couldn’t be the only one thinking that, and Hyung had probably said it himself several times, but it seemed to have fallen on deaf ears.
“So it’s just with family? Wouldn’t it be better if I didn’t join in?”
“No. You have to be there.”
“Why specifically?”
I was asking this while wondering why it would be good for me to see my uncle, even though I didn’t have any particular feelings left for him, but Hyung glanced at me.
“They’ve been nagging me endlessly about blind dates, and I think they’ll invite someone to the house today. I know because noona told me.”
“You could just not go, Hyung.”
“Sometimes you’re really…”
Hyung started to say something but stopped.
“Anyway, that’s not possible. If I do that, they’ll say they won’t leave me a penny of the inheritance. I don’t want to receive a lot of the inheritance, but I should get some, right? Father might really do that.”
“Why? Grand Tamer is stable, you’re doing well at your job, and you’ll be earning more in the future.”
“But that money is still money I should receive. There’s no need to lose that money by going off track now. Don’t you agree?”
“That’s true.”
But I didn’t understand why they’d force him to see a blind date he didn’t want to see.
At times like this, I briefly thought it might be fortunate that I didn’t have a father.
I had accidentally learned that this stubbornness ran in my father’s family, and if my father were alive, he probably would have pressured me in a similar way.
Mom would try to stop him, but if Mom couldn’t stand up to Dad…
I just didn’t want to think about that.
“Why didn’t you contact that person first? Tell them you don’t want to meet. Couldn’t it work if you said you already have someone you like?”
“Do you think I haven’t tried?”
“Ah, you have?”
Does that mean it didn’t work even after trying?
Hyung’s deep sigh that came at that moment seemed to answer for him.
