Page 15 of Wish Upon a K-Star
M inseok looks at the grim faces sitting across the conference room table. There’s three of them: his manager, a senior marketing manager, and a creative director. It’s the presence of the creative director that worries him.
Minseok has been in the industry long enough to know that this isn’t an average meeting.
“Minseok-ah, here’s your schedule for next week. There’s been a few updates and tweaks.” Hanbin hands him a printout of the schedule. Which is unnecessary, because Minseok’s appointments are all synced onto his calendar by an assistant. Another reason why this meeting strikes him as odd.
“What’s going on, Hyeong?” he asks Hanbin, but he looks at all three. Because all three are here for a reason. He’s just not sure what that reason is yet.
The marketing manager clears his throat. “We just wanted to check in with you about a few things,” he splutters. He’s short and out of shape and in denial about his thinning hair. Sitting across from someone as casually attractive as Moonster is eroding his already flimsy self-esteem.
Despite being over a decade older than Minseok, he is intimidated by the global superstar. He also doesn’t want to upset one of the highest earners in the company. And, per the manager, Moon Minseok is likely to be upset about what they’re about to present to him.
“We need to discuss some things on your schedule next week,” Hanbin says, taking over, to the gratitude of the nervous marketing manager.
“Minseok-ssi, we’re really happy about everything you’ve recorded and attended so far this summer,” adds the creative director. She’s not nervous like the marketing manager. She’s worked with many celebrities before joining Bright Star, and she will work with many more, she is sure. Her job here is to help maintain the strictly guarded image of the company’s number one group. And she plans to do it by any means necessary.
“However,” Minseok says, lifting an impatient brow. He might be affable, but he is also busy. And he knows when someone is taking their time getting to the point.
“Minseok-ah, we’ve been approached again about casting you in a variety show,” Hanbin says.
“Again? Is it one I’ve heard of already?” Minseok asks, reading the apprehension on his manager’s face.
Hanbin is not fazed. He’s too used to Minseok and how he tends to ask blunt questions without batting an eye. “We have been approached for it before.”
“Which means we’ve turned it down before,” Minseok says, cutting to the heart of it quickly.
“Yes,” Hanbin confirms calmly. He knows that this is a delicate dance. “But at this time, we think it is now a unique opportunity to help people get over any bad feelings.”
Minseok holds in a sigh and ignores the water bottle in front of him for a can of soda in the center of the table. The marketing manager jumps up, grabbing a cup and filling it with ice before Minseok can even open the can.
“Is it a show that erases baseless tabloid articles and hate comments?” Minseok asks wryly as he pours the soda into the offered cup.
“Minseok-ah,” Hanbin admonishes him.
Minseok quickly dips his head in apology though he is not sorry. Everyone in the room knows about the issues surrounding WDB. A dating scandal alone might not have been bad. But Sooyeon had been the nation’s girl next door, and Jongdae was blamed for tarnishing her innocent reputation.
There are some who even claim Jongdae took advantage of Sooyeon, since her reputation was so pure. And, like they’d been waiting for a chance to bring WDB down a peg, antis have started flooding forums with hate. The group’s formerly pristine image has cracks in it now—and the company doesn’t want any more to form.
“What’s the show?” Minseok sips the soda before letting the fizz settle. The bubbles dance in his nose.
He glances across the table, locking eyes with the nervous marketing manager.
It’s overwhelming for the man. He’s never met someone so young who’s so casually charismatic and confident like Moonster. He pushes nervously at the wispy bangs that don’t do a good job of hiding his receding hairline, glancing at the creative director.
She just leans back in her chair, crossing her arms. “Why don’t we wait for our other guests to arrive so we don’t have to explain it twice.”
Minseok glances at the empty seats with water bottles set in front of them. Perhaps the producers of the reality show are coming. That’s happened before, so they can pitch the concept directly to the boys.
The privilege of being so sought after that producers will come to you. At least that hasn’t changed yet.
Minseok realizes he can’t rush this meeting. So, he might as well relax. He grabs one of the doughnuts in the center of the table. Hanbin gives a little cough of warning, ever vigilant of the calorie intake. So Minseok obediently breaks it in half.
Hanbin says, “Since we’re waiting, it’s a good time for me to get this conversation out of the way. Have you seen the article about you and Shin Hyeri?”
Minseok doesn’t even pause in lifting the doughnut to his lips. He’s been waiting for this. In fact, he assumed the last-minute meeting was about the article. That’s why he was surprised to be told it was about his upcoming schedule.
He replies casually. “I skimmed it. Complete garbage. Not even worth addressing.”
Hanbin frowns and Minseok lifts a brow. At least, it wasn’t the type of article they’d ever address. But that was before JD’s scandal.
Hanbin sighs. “Well, things are a bit different now. We’ve been shaken lately.”
“Then we should say it’s a misunderstanding. That it’s not like that between me and Hyeri and it was an accident. That’s the truth.” Mostly .
The marketing manager clears his throat, and the room turns to him. The attention makes him sweat. But he knows he has to play his role. “Not all of the comments are negative. We’ve been monitoring them.”
Minseok grins at that. “Good, then we’re fine?”
“Most of them are not favorable,” the creative director adds.
Minseok wonders if this was all scripted before he arrived. A kind of good cop, bad cop routine. And if so, what are they trying to get him to do?
“The issue is that, in the past something like this wouldn’t have touched your reputation,” the marketing manager says hesitantly, his eyes shifting imploringly to the creative director, looking for support. She gives none. The marketing manager gulps audibly. “However, recently with WDB’s, well, issues, it seems some are quite happy to question your behavior and spread conjecture. And there are some who are alleging you were harassing Hyeri.”
Minseok feels the first true stab of fear. There are many rumors one can easily ignore, but rumors about bullying and harassment aren’t among them. He’d hoped that the few groundless comments about harassment would be easily dismissed since they were clearly false. “Are you saying we have to worry?” For the first time since their debut year, Minseok wonders if WDB’s future is really in trouble.
“Well, most of the negative comments are about Shin Hyeri,” he says slowly.
“Why are you saying that like it’s a good thing?” Minseok scowls.
“Huh?” The marketing manager blinks rapidly in confusion.
“She is one of your artists too.” His eyes sweep the table, landing on the director. “So, what are you going to do about it on her behalf?”
“Excuse me?” the creative director asks. She is not used to having artists question her so bluntly. She thought she’d be offended by such a thing, but instead it amuses her. Moon Minseok is clearly protective of Shin Hyeri. She wonders if they can use that to their advantage here.
Minseok turns to Hanbin. “You said that the article should be addressed. But I’m not the only one with a reputation to protect. You should be protecting Shin Hyeri’s too. Are you going to do that?”
When no one answers, Minseok’s responding laugh is filled with derision. “Of course not. Why put too much effort into someone like Hyeri, who is so clearly a lost cause?”
The door opens on his last sentence, and Shin Hyeri herself walks in.