Chapter 104 : Retribution Ready
Chapter 104: Retribution Ready
The next day.
Seo Dongyun arrived at work.
Just as he was about to step into the A&R Team office after walking down the long corridor, his direct junior, Assistant Manager Oh, hurried toward him.
“Deputy Seo, wait a second.”
“Hm?”
“Director Han Ji-hyuk is downstairs in the office right now.”
That wasn’t anything unusual anymore.
Han Ji-hyuk, the Content Executive Director.
At this point, it didn’t even surprise him.
He’d just thrown a tantrum and gone back up yesterday.
“So what?”
Dongyun asked with a shrug.
But Assistant Manager Oh glanced quickly around and then dragged Dongyun to the corner of the hallway.
Then, he whispered a quick summary of the situation.
The conclusion was simple.
Director Han Ji-hyuk had stormed into the A&R Team office.
And his target was none other than Seo Dongyun.
“You should brace yourself.”
“Right. I guess I should.”
Assistant Manager Oh looked at him with worry.
‘Why is he so calm?’
Was he planning something? Hopefully, yes.
But he soon shook his head.
‘Director Han is tenacious as hell…….’
Who was Han Ji-hyuk again?
He lacked quick wit, but he held grudges.
He must have been grinding his teeth all night over yesterday’s incident.
He’d definitely prepared a blow big enough to shut Seo Dongyun up.
Seeing his senior humiliated? That was something he couldn’t stand.
Dongyun was the one senior he trusted and relied on the most in the company.
Attacking him was no different from attacking himself.
‘But that doesn’t mean I can step in for him.’
This was the most loyalty he could show.
Better to prepare for the beating than take it without warning — at least then he could raise a guard.
“Manager Kim ran out crying.”
“……Really?”
“Yes. The mood’s seriously tense.”
He’d thought it was an exaggeration.
But it seemed Director Han had really taken yesterday hard.
Still, even so—if he had an issue, he could’ve just called them up to his office. Making a scene in the department? That was crossing the line.
Thinking that, Dongyun lightly patted Assistant Manager Oh’s shoulder.
“Don’t worry too much.”
“……Are you planning to take half a day off and run away?”
“What are you talking about? I’ve got plenty to do today. But more importantly—”
He paused before continuing.
“No matter what I say, I don’t think it’ll make the atmosphere any better.”
“That’s true.”
“But we can’t just keep getting chewed out like this. We lose our whole morning every day without getting any work done.”
Assistant Manager Oh swallowed hard.
He knew Han Ji-hyuk’s pattern by heart.
Phase 1: Bring up yesterday’s issue.
Phase 2: Launch a barrage of questions.
There was never any real conversation to be had—just childish revenge, paying back what he’d suffered.
Dongyun asked,
“How do you think we can stop Director Han from coming down here?”
Assistant Manager Oh hesitated for a moment before confessing.
“If we bring Stay, maybe things would change a bit?”
“You really think so?”
“Yes.”
“Yeah? Then we’ll bring him. Why not.”
Seo Dongyun smiled—slowly.
Assistant Manager Oh quickly covered his mouth with his hand and looked closely at Dongyun’s expression.
It wasn’t a lighthearted smile.
It was cold, determined.
‘What… is this? Don’t tell me… resignation letter?’
No, no way.
Assistant Manager Oh looked up at him.
This was… something else.
That expression and atmosphere sent chills down his spine.
With that, Dongyun headed into the office first.
“……Or maybe he’s just gone insane?”
Mumbling to himself, Assistant Manager Oh trudged back toward the office too.
Even so—
He couldn’t help but wish, like a miracle, that someone—anyone—would bring Stay and stop Director Han’s rampage before it got worse.
“Deputy Seo, you’re early today.”
It was 8:30 a.m.
Meaning: How dare you arrive later than the director?
Pretending not to notice, Dongyun replied,
“Good morning. Nice to see you again so soon.”
“Yeah. But you know, we’re the kind of people who shouldn’t be seeing each other this often, don’t you think?”
Seo Dongyun — retribution, ready.
Like a hawk eyeing its prey, Director Han Ji-hyuk locked his gaze on Seo Dongyun.
Assistant Manager Oh, watching from the side, silently scored the round.
‘1:0, Director Han loses.’
Show even a hint of irritation, and you lose.
But then came the counterattack.
“By the way, Deputy Seo, do you still stand by what you said before?”
“Pardon?”
“‘We need to make an artist that Stay would want to give a song to.’ That line. It was quite something. Really hit hard.”
The tone sounded complimentary, but something was off.
“But the higher-ups don’t seem to see it that way. To put it mildly, they think it shows a lack of responsibility. They feel like the A&R Team has this tendency to blame others. You can imagine how awkward that was for me.”
He took a breath and continued.
“What you said wasn’t wrong. But the situation is. In an organization, spouting the right answer isn’t always the right answer. What do you think, Deputy Seo?”
What the hell was that supposed to mean?
Dongyun’s eyes widened slightly.
For the Executive Director to use the phrase ‘the higher-ups’—that was an unexpected strike.
Assistant Manager Oh mumbled inwardly.
‘……1:1, then?’
Not exactly a loss, but the way Dongyun pressed his lips shut meant he was momentarily speechless.
‘Please, say something!’
Even as the air turned icy cold, Dongyun gathered his thoughts.
What a cheap move.
Just because his pride was wounded, he was dragging in higher authorities to apply organizational pressure.
A polished way of saying, “Even the top brass don’t like you.”
So this was how he wanted to play it?
Truthfully, Dongyun had intended to act the gentleman.
He’d planned to ask for a word in private and quietly schedule a meeting with Stay.
He hadn’t wanted to make a scene.
But—
‘Do I really need to hold back?’
They were the ones who struck first.
Fine. Then this was all-out war.
Seo Dongyun asked bluntly,
“If I manage to set up a meeting with Stay, would that ease your anxiety, Director Han?”
“……Anxiety?”
“Director Han, if one of our company’s artists worked with Stay, do you think that would make things easier for you?”
At Seo Dongyun’s question, Han Ji-hyuk stuttered, unable to respond right away.
This wasn’t something he’d prepared for.
Polite, yet it struck precisely at his core.
For the first time, someone had seen right through him.
Anxiety — yes, that was it.
His position as Content Executive Director was on shaky ground.
Because of that damn Stay!
The higher-ups were pressuring him to “bring in the guy who wrote Signum’s song,” while the teams below were grumbling, “The artists are restless because we can’t get Stay.”
The title might sound grand, but in truth, he was little more than an emotional dumpster, a bullet shield… something like that.
A position wedged in the middle, taking fire from all sides.
He was this close to losing all his hair from the stress.
He admitted it.
He’d taken that frustration out on the A&R Team.
People said he had a rotten temper, that once he bit down, he never let go, that he was a petty superior who picked on juniors for fun, that he had a leadership complex—various speculations.
But in truth, as Dongyun had said… he’d been anxious.
This was sharp empathy.
For the first time, someone had read his heart.
‘Ah……!’
Suddenly, he felt embarrassed.
Looking around, he saw Assistant Manager Oh, Deputy Lee, Manager Hwang……
All staring at him with empty eyes.
In their gazes, Han Ji-hyuk saw a reflection of himself.
Just as he’d been restless because of Stay—
They, too, were walking on eggshells because of him.
He realized that his excessive obsession had only made his employees uncomfortable.
Ah, so I’m that old-fashioned boss I always hated.
The realization hit him hard.
Who cared about Stay, anyway?
His staff mattered more.
Han Ji-hyuk looked at Seo Dongyun.
Seo Dongyun was looking back at him with the same calm expression as always.
A troublesome guy with a knack for striking with facts.
But also the brightest and sharpest one in the A&R Team.
There was no reason to feel anxious—not with someone this reliable on his team.
‘I should probably apologize first.’
He was just about to open his mouth to say sorry—
When Seo Dongyun spoke first.
“I’ve scheduled a meeting with Stay.”
The sudden bombshell froze the office in silence.
Director Han, who’d been about to apologize, just gaped like a fish.
Assistant Manager Oh, who had been watching their clash, covered his mouth in disbelief.
Dongyun glanced briefly around the room before continuing.
“Since Team Leader Bang is here too, I thought it’d be best to report it now. And since Director Han’s been most curious about Stay, I’ll let you know directly.”
Still, the heavy silence in the office showed no sign of breaking.
The one who finally shattered it was none other than Han Ji-hyuk.
He stammered, flustered.
“Deputy Seo, wait, hold on. Are you saying… you actually got Stay?”
“Yes, that’s right. I got Stay.”
A stir swept through the office.
Employees who had been pretending to type, thinking, This has nothing to do with me, suddenly sprang up and gathered around Dongyun.
No way. Seriously? What?
Amid all the murmurs—
Dongyun spoke clearly once more.
“Composer Stay said he’s considering working with Tomorrow Entertainment.”
“Deputy Seo, did I hear that right? Stay? Stay, not… not Son Tae-hee?”
“……Son Tae-hee is an actor.”
“Whatever! You mean Stay, right?”
Director Han was visibly excited.
Team Leader Bang Hyunwoo, who had been listening, stepped in to calmly sort things out.
“Director, you know how it is. Deputy Seo isn’t the type to talk nonsense. But still, Dongyun, is it true?”
Before Dongyun could even answer,
Han Ji-hyuk cut in impatiently.
“When’s the meeting? When’s he coming?”
“The schedule isn’t finalized yet. The earliest would be next week……”
“No! It has to be now, right now!”
“Hm……”
What should he do? Dongyun thought for a moment.
To him, Stay was just the little brother who lazed around at home scratching his head and eating sandwiches.
But in the industry, it was different. This was a crucial time.
He couldn’t make himself too available right from the start.
Summoning every bit of his hidden acting skills, Seo Dongyun replied.
“It might be difficult right away. His schedule’s really tight. I had to plead just to set up a meeting…… Still, I’ll check again.”
“Ah, right, it’s Stay we’re talking about. Still… please, Deputy Seo. Time’s of the essence here.”
“Yes, sir! I’ll contact him.”
“Good, good. I’ll be waiting in my office—report back the moment you hear anything!”
Smiling faintly to himself, Dongyun headed back to his desk.
Busy, huh. He’s probably just sleeping at home.
He’d been pretty idle lately anyway.
Still, since he’d started the act, he had to see it through.
With an exaggerated sigh, Dongyun sent a message.
[You up?]
The thoughts before any meeting were always the same.
‘Let’s make sure I express my thoughts perfectly.’
I wasn’t exactly good with words.
Sometimes, I over-immersed out of nowhere.
But that couldn’t be helped.
That’s why I carefully prepared every line I’d say.
Because the meaning of words can change completely depending on just one expression.
Something clear, yet not too blunt.
……Still hard.
What was I supposed to say? “I came here because I want to give a song to Car”?
No way.
When should I even set the meeting?
I was chewing on the sandwich my brother bought while thinking that through when, right on cue, a message came from him.
[My brother: You up?]
[Me: Yeah.]
As soon as I replied, my phone rang.
“Yeah, what’s up?”
– You don’t have a gig today, right? Any plans?
“Nope.”
As soon as I answered, my brother spoke quickly.
– Hey, hey. You’d better come right now.
“Now?”
I asked, and he replied in a low voice.
– Yeah. Since you agreed to save my face, do it properly.
“What’s this about? Is there something I’m supposed to do?”
– You’re super busy, got it? But you’re doing me a favor by showing up today. Here’s how it goes……
Oh, great.
To summarize—
Everyone wanted to see me as soon as possible.
My brother had reluctantly agreed to check with me.
I got it.
In this industry, trends changed overnight.
Maybe that’s why—Kim Minsoo, Kwak Youngho, Jeong Jaewook—
They were all impatient and straightforward types.
The guy from Tomorrow Entertainment I was meeting today would probably be the same.
“What time?”
– ……Huh? Why aren’t you surprised?
“I was going anyway, so it’s better to go when I have time. Should I head out now?”
– You sure?
“No, I’ve got something to check first. I’ll leave in an hour.”
– You punk, thanks. I’ll buy you meat today.
I didn’t mind how this business worked.
If we were going to do it anyway, better to get it done quickly—for everyone’s sake.