CHAPTER 39

Cherry Blossom Today (2)

As soon as we sat down at the table, Han Myung-Ho asked.

"Did you actually have a prophetic dream?"

"Yes. I'm serious."

Just a moment ago, I suggested that we should spend more money at the hair salon to put more effort into Cherry Blossom's hairstyling. I told Han Myung-Ho that I had a dream where a huge dragon ascended to the sky.

Upon hearing this, Han Myung-Ho reluctantly paid extra for the girls' hairstyling.

In the entertainment industry, superstitions often came into play due to the frequent need for reassurance. I downed the water from my cup in a single gulp, hoping to soothe my burning throat.

'Ah, I feel guilty about lying.'

"Well, I hope your dream really means something. The pressure from the company these days is no joke."

"What kind of pressure?"

"...I don't know if I should be telling you this, but there's talk going around in the company questioning the need for two girl groups. Our chief is having a hard time fending off those comments."

In Division 1, there was a top-tier girl group, Golden Road, who competed against Petite More for the first place in the idol industry. On the other hand, Cherry Blossom from Division 2 was at the very end of the B-list.

Considering the income disparity between the two teams, it was only natural for there to be talks about disbanding Cherry Blossom.

But having seen Cherry Blossom in person, I had a different perspective. I had no doubt they would achieve stardom with just one hit song.

"To be honest, we already exceeded our salon budget for this month…If push comes to shove, I'm going to support the girls with my own money. I really hope your dream can help us, Yoon-Ho."

Watching Han Myung-Ho scratch the back of his head, I finally understood why he had been so hesitant about spending more at the hair salon earlier..

'Individuals like him deserve success, but, more often than not, the world works in the opposite way.'

In the entertainment industry, and often in the world, it was the harsher, more ruthless, and less scrupulous individuals who often thrived.

"I'm sure my dream will help Cherry Blossom."

'So what if I'm lying about a fake dream? I'm giving him hope.'

As I extended both my hands, Han Myung-Ho pulled them close to his chest earnestly.

"Thanks, Yoon-Ho. And make sure you eat well whenever you can. There might be times when you don't get to eat at all."

Then Han Myung-Ho looked at the menu and began ordering food.

"Ma'am, can we have one sundae soup[1], one pork cutlet, two rolls of kimbap, and two bowls of ramen please?"

'Oh my goodness. How many dishes is he ordering?'

By the end of the meal, I was nearly bursting from eating so much.

***

After finishing our meal at the restaurant, heavy snow began to fall.

"Oh, it's snowing."

"It looks like a snowstorm is coming. The roads might get busy soon, so let's hurry."

As expected, the events of December 24th were unfolding again.

When I returned to the hair salon with Han Myung-Ho, the girls who had just finished their hairstyling immediately caught my eye.

Woo Yeon-Hee, with her long black hair, had a red accessory that accentuated her sexy image. Yang Eun-Bi sported a yellow accessory, emphasizing her soft and sweet image. Eun-Ah, boasting long brown hair, wore a silver accessory adorned with pearls, giving her a goddess-like aura. Sae-Ri, on the other hand, had two hairpins adorned with blue gems on the side, which added a touch of cuteness to her look.

Looking in the mirror, all the girls wore bright smiles, clearly pleased with the finished look.

"We look good."

"Unnie, look~! Don't I look cute?"

"Yes, you look adorable. But it seems like you've got some kimbap stuck in your teeth…"

Sae-Ri was taken aback upon hearing Woo Yeon-Hee's cautious words.

"What!? Why are you only telling me now!?"

"Because I just noticed it?"

Yang Eun-Bi answered on Woo Yeon-Hee's behalf and laughed.

"Ah, seriously! You are so mean, Eun-Bi unnie!"

"You should be thankful I even told you."

Sae-Ri puffed her cheeks angrily, but quickly looked back in the mirror and broke into a big grin again.

"...But that aside, I look so pretty today. Hehe."

It was a typical response from Sae-Ri who was always quick to forget the bad stuff and move on.

Han Myung-Ho also seemed pleased to see the girls so cheerful.

"The salon took great care of the girls."

In the meantime, I captured candid moments of the girls on my phone because such photos were perfect for publicity purposes.

***

Thanks to our decision to leave earlier to avoid busy traffic, we managed to arrive at the KBC building hall in Yeouido before the roads turned icy.

As I hurried to the waiting room for the Idol Daejun, Han Myung-Ho gave me instructions.

"I'm going to greet the staff and get them some coffee and donuts. Could you take the girls to their waiting rooms and ensure that they greet their sunbaes as well? You know where their rooms are, right?"

"Yes. I've checked them out a few times before."

"Do you know in which order you should start?"

"Come on. Of course I do."

"Perfect. Then would you be able to handle the schedule before the performance? I'm going to meet the PD and try to negotiate a deal. Even if I have to humble myself, I need to achieve something for the girls today. I'm counting on your dream, Yoon-Ho."

He had a way of making me feel guilty.

"For sure, Mr. Han."

"Alright. Let's give it our all today! Let's go!"

Perhaps because I took the lead in managing the girls, Han Myung-Ho began to actively sought out ways to promote Cherry Blossom. The future was still uncertain, but the situation seemed to be slowly changing.

Upon arriving in the waiting room, Cherry Blossom finished arranging their belongings.

"Yoon-Ho oppa. Are we leaving right now?"

Woo Yeon-Hee was the first to ask. Perhaps due to the effort she had invested in her hairstyle, her confidence seemed to radiate more than ever, causing her face to shine brightly.

At this rate, I thought she'd make a great impression on the fans during the performance.

"Just a moment. Let me check the schedule first."

I took out my phone and once again confirmed today's agenda written in Everyday V10.

[Everyday V10]

[Date: December 24th, 2019]

-09:30 PM Opening spot for Petite More's backstage performance collaboration.

-11:00 PM: Notification of budget cuts for Cherry Blossom's 3rd album production.

There would be a year-end special live broadcast of the Idol Daejun today at KBC Broadcasting Station.