Chapter 96 - Pay!

"Seriously?! Can't you make them pay?! Are you serious?! "

Mrs. Song was standing in front of Ye Rim, her face flushed and her eyes flashing with fury. The singer had been summoned to the Club early in the morning, and naturally knew why. She just didn't expect to find the club as she found it.

The scene behind the room was chaos as Pearl's staff tried to salvage some of the lounge furniture. Broken chairs and mirrors, broken lamps, damaged sound system, torn fabrics and wet upholsters; that was what had remained after the fight between Ye Rim's guests. 

Ye Rim wasn't used to being intimidated by many things, but right now, she felt small and useless. Trying not to look defeated, she tried to argue a little further,

"We can fix this, I'm sure! The fact is, I'm having a little trouble talking to them…"

The older woman narrowed her eyes, and said,

"So that's how it goes, young lady? Do you think your friends come here, break my dad's bar, and we are the ones who should be hurt because their image can't be scratched? The CEO and those famous rowdy wrestlers? It is up to us?! And us, Ye Rim?! This is our bread and butter! I need to pay the employees, the suppliers, the RENT! My father will die of heartbreak! And it's your fault! YOUR FAULT who invited these arrogant idiots in! And you didn't even stay here to help calm them down!"

Ye Rim felt guilty for not coming back, and for not imagining that the fight between her friends would escalate that way. Martial martial wrestlers against self-inflated security guards and chaebols.

At first, of course, Mrs. Song just wanted her to be able to talk to those responsible to make them pay for the damage. However, things were not going as expected. And because of that, Mrs. Song was losing patience and taking it out on the singer.

"Mrs. Song, I…" In fact, Ye Rim had been trying to talk to So Kwang Sik, but his secretary had said he was in a spa and would only be back in 15 days. He didn't answer his personal phone, either. 

Ye Rim didn't know if he just didn't want to talk to her after she was gone in the middle of the mess, or it was true. Well, it could be true. After the punch he took in the face, he could most likely be making some aesthetic recovery in some discreet clinic. But would he want to afford all the losses without complaining, or would he want to destroy Ji Woong's career? To be honest, she didn't know him well enough to disclose the possibility.

What about Ji Woong…? She knew he was in the hospital, taking care of a colleague who got hurt most seriously.

He had answered the phone in a very moody tone. And shortly after he hung up, Ye Rim received the call from Geun Pal, saying that the team had been reprimanded by their technician. Ji Woong could lose his sponsors if they knew about it.

And she also didn't know if he had the money, or would want to pay, the bar's damages if the millionaire CEO didn't pay his share either.

' Oh my head aches! ' she thought, she didn't even have enough money in the bank to buy a chair whatsoever. As if reading her thoughts, Mrs. Song shouted, in a high-pitched voice that pierced like needles in Ye Rim's brain, 

"I should sue them, but how can I sue a man like CEO So?! I don't even have a lawyer!"

Ye Rim just nodded, agreeing that it was a bad idea to try to go to court against a millionaire like So Kwang Sik, especially in Pearl's situation. And suing Ji Woong wouldn't do anything either. In fact, it would only hurt his career, and that wouldn't bring anyone any money either.

"Take responsibility, Ye Rim ssi! Make them pay!"

"But, Mrs. Song, I can't…"

Every day a different famous or rich man comes here to see you; but instead of spending money in here, they cause confusion! You don't even know how to decide what you want! Pick one of them and make him pay!"

Ye Rim swallowed, feeling her face turn red and hot, for the comment was mean! But she couldn't contain herself,

"You're offending me, Ms. Song! Should I get a man just to make him pay my debts?! Does that make any sense?! I'm going to overlook your words because I know how much you're suffering, Mrs. Song. You're like a mother to me."

"Ahhhhhhhh! I don't know anything else!" Apparently regretting saying that, Mrs. Song was exasperated, "Just pay! Pay! If you're not going to make them pay, it's because you know it's your fault! You have to take responsibility for putting those freaks inside my dad's bar!"

Ye Rim was angry at the situation, but saw the tears welling up in the older woman's eyes, then nodded.

"Yes, Mrs. Song, I will take responsibility. But… I can't pay cash. What if… I paid with work?! Let's calculate the renovation costs, and I will work for free until I pay off the cost, "Ye Rim was pleased with her own idea, it would be fair to everyone. The bar would be closed until a renovation put things in order. The reform could not be long, as this meant that the employees who could be dismissed, would have to leave. And musicians would have to look elsewhere to play until activities returned. It was hard on everyone, but it was unavoidable, so as sooner as it could start, sooner it would end.

The singer even suspected that much of the damage was not really caused by her friends, but by Hong Gi's men. But there was really no way to prove it, as security cameras disappeared, according to Ms. Song.

Mrs. Song looked at her as if she were an alien,

"Girl…! You…! "

"That's a good idea, isn't it? We can do it, I will do my best! United we can get over this bad time together! Fighting!"

"Ye Rim !!! YE RIM!!! Do you think I have money to renovate the Pearl? If I can barely pay the rent on time?! You will sing, yes, but where will the customers sit? Where is the bar that will serve the drinks? Look at the tables! Do you think I can get clients here?!" Mrs. Song was apoplectic, so she just turned and left the room, not wanting to talk to the young singer anymore. 

Ye Rim looked around sadly, feeling suddenly tired and with a heavy weight on her back.

"Why do these things happen to me?!" she whimpered, discouraged.