The Pentaring members who passed Moon Suyeon’s hard training gathered around a round table in front of the lounge for an impromptu talk show.
The participants were the five Pentaring members, Moon Suyeon, and Heavenly Yuah.
With myself and Nam Hyun-ho absent, a typical girls’ talk setup had formed.
The reason the two of us weren’t present was simple.
Among all entertainment industry professionals, rookie girl groups are the most sensitive to scandals.
During this period, it’s best to be overly cautious, and even I, as her blood relative, find it somewhat burdensome to join them.
No, due to Heavenly Yuah and Moon Suyeon repeatedly referring to that person only as ‘that guy,’ it’s enough to build the image of him, but there’s no need to add more to the narrative.
Even if I have to step aside, it’s only proper for Nam Hyun-ho to vacate his seat as well.
– Ah, that human being, or rather, my older brother’s school days’ love stories? Hmm…
– Is it something you need to contemplate that much over? Are there that many?
– No, it’s not that. The thing is, my brother had a rather peculiar style. While his exterior was decent enough to attract some attention—there was even a nearby all-girls school—it always ended with them drifting away.
– Oh, so there was no direct romance at all?
– As far as I’m aware. Honestly, someone like him…
Despite me not being present, I was mentioned quite a bit during their talk.
Both Moon Suyeon and Heavenly Yuah openly discussed my past.
Oddly enough, they initially referred to me as ‘that person,’ but then corrected themselves, calling me ‘older brother.’
Even the most seasoned in pretense would find calling me ‘older brother’ burdensome.
Could they be intentionally goading me?
While covertly calling me ‘that person,’ they make sure they don’t incur any losses themselves.
Thinking about it, no, that’s probably not the case.
Considering our regular interactions, calling me ‘that person’ seems to carry a certain degree of respect.
More importantly, there were indeed people who genuinely goaded me.
– While talking like that, aren’t you quite taken with your older brother?
– Huh? Really?
– Yes, senior. You meticulously monitor every project your older brother has starred in. Sometimes, you even leave comments…
– Hey, when did I ever?!
– I saw it, though!
– Well, even so, it’s family.
– No, it’s not like that…
– Don’t worry. You’re his younger sister after all.
– That’s…
This scene was truly amusing.
While the girl subtly insulted me, other Pentaring members ended up exposing shocking truths.
She diligently monitors my work projects and occasionally leaves comments on my articles.
When Heavenly Yuah and Moon Suyeon nodded in agreement with this revelation, the girl was visibly thrilled.
However, revealing all the truths here would be difficult.
The girl watches my projects strictly to critique me.
The comments she leaves are undeniably negative reviews.
Even among blood relatives, if this fact were revealed, it would be disastrous.
Ultimately, I’m left speechless, becoming increasingly anxious.
The most frustrating part is that everyone, except for her, is mistaken.
They firmly believe she’s doing all this purely out of concern for me.
Particularly noticeable from the other Pentaring members, who have an innocent, puppy-like demeanor, clearly showing sincere belief.
Among the girls engaged in this talk, it seems only the younger sister character actually has an older brother.
Younger sister, just what battle have you been fighting?
For once, the girl seemed pitiable.
After neatly capturing the talk session on video, we turned off the cameras and continued the conversation more freely.
Determined Moon Suyeon contacted PMC and requested that all schedules for today be canceled, allowing us to return to our company.
The Pentaring members, who’ve been working tirelessly lately, preferred resting before resuming.
Taking a break is better than just resting.
Pentaring’s managers seemed to understand that maintaining good relationships with senior figures like Luna and established actresses like Heavenly Yuah was beneficial, so they didn’t object.
Thus, we’re now exchanging rather personal stories.
“Fan signing event is coming up soon.”
“It’s a large scale fan signing event, where all the winners of various events are invited too, so I’m excited.”
“Ah, yes. Then will that person be attending?”
“That person? Who?”
“Hayoung has been waiting to meet the person who suggested that name.”
“Aah, Pentanil?!”
“Yes, Pentanil! That person will be attending too!”
When three women gather, the saying goes that dishes break—and with seven of us together, just imagine!
It was a flawless scene without a single gap in conversation.
As I listened, something significant reached my ears.
Pentaring was hosting a large fan signing event, inviting all the winners of various events, including the brave soul who first suggested the group name ‘Pentanil.’
So, I had been invited to this fan signing event.
“What is meant by ‘waiting to meet’?”
“Ah, that. Hayoung just wants to see whose face would come up with such a group name for idols.”
“Ah, I see?”
“Well, it was a bit extreme, wasn’t it? Imagine our shock when it actually got chosen.”
“It was literally like life and death.”
“Yes, that was way too much!”
Indeed, when you think about it.
While the puppy-style handwriting might make sense, calling Mo-jiri ‘the wolf’ would make her furious.
But honestly, it feels a bit unfair.
After all, the fans’ enthusiastic support led to the name getting selected, right?
What fault does the one who posted it initially have? I merely posted it as a joke.
Even Heavenly Yuah, who is somewhat privy to the situation, looks at me with a cold, calculating gaze, making me feel extremely wronged.
After Pentaring left, I checked my email to find that an invitation had indeed arrived.
It’s fortunate we aren’t particularly interested in each other, so we don’t even know each other’s emails.
If we did, we might already be in an uproar.
And upon further investigation, it seems the event where I suggested Pentanil was originally tied to the fan signing event invitation.
I carelessly posted it without thought, but other fans had intended to win the invitation to the fan signing all along.
This is why the term “fandom can’t” exists, I suppose.
Even someone like me, who isn’t even a fan, getting an invitation makes you think.
“Mr. Siwoo, surely you’re not going to attend?”
“What?”
“Pentaring’s fan signing. Hayoung is quite genuinely upset. If not for Mr. Siwoo, it wouldn’t matter, but if it’s Mr. Siwoo…”
“Well, she’s always short-tempered, isn’t she?”
With the invitation for Pentaring’s fan signing in hand, I was lost in thought when Heavenly Yuah, who knows the whole story, approached to inquire about my intentions, cautioning me that something was bound to happen if I attended.
Her reasoning is sound.
While the younger sister might be furious, there’s nothing she can really do against other fans.
She’s likely waiting only to identify the person who dared suggest such a thing.
However, once she discovers it’s me, the situation will inevitably change significantly.
This is something I need to seriously consider.
“I’ll need some time to think about it. There’s still a lot of time left.”
“That’s a good idea. However, I personally think it might be better to avoid it.”
Indeed that makes sense.
There’s no need to provoke unnecessary conflict.
But considering this, it is also a golden opportunity to openly tease the little sister.
A truly tempting chance.
While expressing this makes me feel like I’ll be dismissed as trash, the allure is undeniable.
Hence, I need some time to consider.
“First, there’s something more urgent.”
“Something more urgent?”
“Most likely, the next project.”
“Ah, you mentioned scripts were coming in, right?”
“Yes, there’s quite a lot to check.”
Even if I attend the Pentaring fan signing, it should remain a secret from Heavenly Yuah.
I do have dignity and social standing, even if going for such teasing feels somewhat beneath me.
Still, nothing stimulates conversation within actors more than discussing future projects.
“Here are the scripts.”
“Oh, there are quite a few.”
“All the scripts sent to you have been gathered.”
In this modern age, it might seem odd to see scripts in book form, but it’s surprisingly common among actors who prefer checking scripts on actual paper rather than phones or monitors.
There’s a certain artistic sensitivity behind this preference.
I have always been one to check scripts through their printed versions, and thus find myself handed a mountain of physical scripts.
“Should I go through all of these?”
“Yes, you’ve always liked looking over scripts. Even you, our senior, does this, doesn’t he?”
“That’s true. Then, I’ll look over them too.”
“But you said you would rest, didn’t you?”
“I will rest but can still offer recommendations.”
“True, if it’s limited to that…”
After a few hours spent reviewing the scripts with Heavenly Yuah, we decided to take a break as the creative spark hadn’t yet struck.
I’ve seen a significant rise in my value since my recent film, resulting in continuous offers.
Even without formal submissions, if I find a promising script, I forward it for further consideration, so this exploration of scripts will continue until I finalize my selection.
There’s no need to rush since this isn’t a matter that would be resolved in a day or two.
“Then, what do you do during your breaks, Yuah senior?”
“Me?”
“Right, you seem to lack any particular hobbies.”
“Indeed, I don’t have any notable hobbies. I assume I’ll still need to handle some company work during this break.”
“Company work?”
“Our main company.”
“Is there an issue with what happened in the U.S. during the Chuseok holiday?”
“Of course not. It’s just regular work done even during normal days.”
“So, even while pursuing an acting career, you’ve continued overseeing company tasks?”
“Yes, small ones that have to be done.”
At S&M, the management is handled by hired professionals, yet the final decision authority remains with the owner. The most critical issues are handled by the former Tian Ma, Chairman Tian.
However, it’s been a while since Tian Youa also took charge of certain smaller matters.
Though it seemed she had no other pursuits aside from acting, she turns out to be someone who’s rather busy.
“Then, in the future, could it be that senior Tian Youa…”
“Not necessarily something I desire, but I do have a younger brother, though even he…”
“Younger brother?”
“Yes, Siwoo would find this familiar. He’s also from the Xiao Ma family. For some reason, family ties haven’t changed.”
“That’s quite surprising.”
In the Wu Lin times, Tian Youa also had a younger brother.
Not born of the Demon Queen but of the second Empress, he was indeed talented, although not comparable to the unprecedented genius, Tian Ma.
However, it’s quite inevitable that as blood relatives, comparisons were bound to happen.
Due to Tian Ma being nothing short of a genius, comparisons became unavoidable, and he met his demise through exhaustion and overtraining.
“So, Xiao Ma is more interested in painting than martial arts, as far as I recall.”
“Yes, his interests were quite evident early on. So much so that the headquarters were in uproar. Initially, when his memories were lost, they pushed him towards that career, but now it seems that’s impossible.”
“Thereby, I continue doing what I can. As a result, I’ll be quite busy during this break too.”
“Will you go to the U.S.?”
“Nah, there’s no need. Pretty much everything can be managed from South Korea.”
On closer inspection, their family affairs seem quite complicated.
With just two heirs, one is an actor, and the other aspires to be a painter.
It seems despite her acting career, Tian Youa still manages to handle enough company tasks, so this workload falls on her.
I can imagine the chaos if the situation had gone unnoticed.
The eldest daughter born of the Demon Queen is more passionate about acting than management.
Simply listening to her story was enough to make me shake my head in disbelief.
Their complicated situation was a clear recipe for turmoil.
The conversation revealed the complex dynamics within her family, making it clear why the responsibilities fell to her even though her brother had his own aspirations. Despite their differences and challenges, they navigated their roles with a mix of determination and sacrifice.
