The Malicious Member is Back! - Chapter 121
His future.
Looking at Logan’s mother speaking about his future, I suddenly saw a reflection of my own mother’s face. The words slipped from my mouth on their own.
“…Are you sure Logan’s wishes wouldn’t be beneficial to his future?”
At my words, Alissa narrowed her eyes.
‘As expected, he’s still young.’
Just as she had sensed before, Kim Chunyong was merely another boy around Logan’s age.
A young, naive soul. Like a moth drawn to the sweetness of a flame, unable to distinguish what was what.
‘It’s no wonder he doesn’t realize how strange this audition system is. At this rate….’
And then, without realizing it, she said aloud exactly what was on her mind.
“…I need to be clear. Even after hearing their offers, we’ve firmly decided to reject them.”
“What… what kind of offer could they have made for you to turn them down?”
Even outside of this situation, I was curious about that.
It’s that President Do Jae Chan, after all.
And considering the ongoing power struggle within the company with Director Shin, there’s no way he didn’t pull out all the stops.
Alissa took a deep sip of water from the bottle, and with precise pronunciation, she spoke quickly.
“They promised Logan would debut within three years, even if he didn’t make it on this show. They said he had that much potential.”
‘That’s insane….’
The shock of what she said had me fighting to keep my jaw from dropping, my eyes darting back and forth.
They’re already preparing a boy group through Targeting Star, and they’re offering a trainee who isn’t even fully contracted a guaranteed debut and an exclusive contract?
It was absurd just thinking about it.
This was Do Jae Chan’s desperate move to secure Logan.
And yet, even with all of that, he couldn’t convince them?
As if responding to my internal confusion, Alissa continued in a low voice.
“Still, what’s impossible remains impossible.”
Ah.
“He should’ve completed the tasks already set before him before trying to challenge something new.”
What’s impossible is just impossible.
“I imagine your own parents would be quite shocked in this situation, wouldn’t they? I’m deeply concerned. My son has impulsively thrown himself into an environment like this.”
Hearing her words, I felt my mouth open involuntarily.
Concern. Worry.
I used to hear those words all the time before I lost my family.
‘Are you even going to debut?’
‘Are you practicing hard enough? Shouldn’t you be taking better care of your appearance as a trainee?’
‘Are you at least eating well?’
At first, I hated hearing those questions, but once I’d gained the infamous reputation as a problematic member, I found myself longing for that kind of nagging again.
However…
“…I’m sorry.”
“…?”
“But my parents never opposed me over something like this.”
Alissa’s eyebrows shot up at my unexpected response.
“…What do you mean?”
“No, I’m not lying. My parents never tried to stop me when I said I wanted to be an idol.”
…That’s why I kept going.
My parents never once tried to prevent me from chasing my dream of becoming an idol, and that’s why I kept pushing forward, even when I was branded a problem member.
“If that’s what you want to do, then who are we to stop you?”
“If it doesn’t work out, you can always go to the military then work at your dad’s shop or something… go ahead and give it a shot.”
“Honey, I’ll support you if you really want to, but I’m just worried it might be too tough for you!”
“Don’t worry, Mom. If it doesn’t work out, I’ll prepare for a civil service exam.”
They never once objected to Kim Chunyong becoming an idol.
Everything started because I wanted to do them. And the family I lost because I actually did them.
‘But you can’t just throw that away because it’s hard, and it hurts.’
Before I could properly make up for everything, every painful day felt like I was trying to repay my debt to my family.
Even though it only led to more people getting hurt, and eventually, I became the worst of the worst.
But still.
“Of course, Logan’s situation is different from mine. But it’s true that knowing this kind of opposition was coming is part of why he did what he did.”
In some ways, that statement fit my own reasoning, though it was true enough for Logan too.
Talking to Logan’s mother made it clearer to me now.
If he lost the chance again, in a situation not of his own making…
Wouldn’t he really be unable to recover his relationship with his family?
‘Wasn’t that why he went on an audition program back in the UK after being forced to return by his parents and Director Shin?’
“Hah. What…?”
Alissa’s voice faltered as she let out a baffled chuckle at my words, clearly taken aback.
‘Wait, this might actually be working.’
Sensing the opportunity, I pushed past the personal family talk and launched into the points I had been holding back.
“Listen, even if this skill isn’t an EX-level move, it’s something that can still be useful, is what I’m saying.”
“Logan’s debut isn’t even guaranteed with Targeting Star, so wouldn’t it be alright for him to at least finish the program? Besides, it seems like he’s already taken a leave from school.”
“―That’s not what I wanted to hear.”
“I wasn’t saying it expecting to convince you either. But since Logan came all the way to find me, I can’t just sit here and say nothing.”
“…….”
Her lips tightened as she paused at Kim Chunyong’s words.
Indeed, Logan had turned to this trainee standing before her after seeing no progress in their conversation.
Even though his guardians—his parents—were right in front of him.
The implication of that was not insignificant.
“…….”
She took a deep breath and stared down at her phone, lying silently on the table.
Inside was the electronic version of the contract Do Jae Chan had offered her, promising that Logan would be part of the next AG project.
Neither she nor her husband had been particularly swayed by the contract on her phone.
But.
“―Is he doing well?”
“…Pardon?”
“Is Logan performing well enough to satisfy the public? Does he stand out?”
“…Well, he’s a bit different, yeah.”
Kim Chunyong’s voice trailed off as he glanced at the clock in the waiting room, causing her to suddenly rise and grab his shoulder.
“Then I want you to watch over Logan for a bit.”
“Me? Watch over him?”
Despite Kim Chunyong’s baffled response, Alissa nodded her head with a determined glint in her eyes.
It wasn’t as though Kim Chunyong had convinced her with his words. As mentioned earlier, to her, Kim Chunyong was just another kid around Logan’s age.
However.
Investing in something valuable and making sure its worth is maximized—that was something she and her husband were exceptionally good at.
