CH 15.2

Thanks to Yoo Yeon Seo, the members also felt that On Seven’s starting line itself was ahead of other rookie groups, which made it easier for them to tolerate his unpleasant personality. 

(It’s not even for a foreign country, so why did Yoo Yeon Seo suddenly leave?) 

(Did his family pressure him not to do it?) 

(But if that was the case, shouldn’t they have said before his debut? Based on him being able to debut, it doesn’t seem like Jusung is the reason.) 

(So, is there another reason?) 

Even after Yoo Yeon Seo suddenly withdrew from the group, public opinion was on his side because of Jusung Group’s good corporate image and Lee Hee Seo’s good reputation when she was alive. 

(Isn’t it because he was the only one from a rich family and stood out?) 

(He didn’t seem to have a good relationship with other members. He doesn’t have any close friends, does he?) 

(While it feels like the teamwork wasn’t great… Wasn’t he close to Kim Yi Jun?) 

At the time, Yoo Yeon Seo’s unpleasant personality was packaged as being quirky, and the reason for his sudden departure was directed towards One Seven. 

Later, when Yoo Yeon Seo debuted as an actor, a magazine reported that he left due to his own whim, and even non-fans left negative comments, and the arrows of criticism were aimed at Yoo Yeon Seo. 

Even when Yoo Yeon Seo said he couldn’t take it anymore and wanted to be an actor rather than an idol, Lee Han Gyeol wasn’t angry or resentful.

Yes, that was the case. After all, it was thanks to Yoo Yeon Seo that One Seven became so well-known. He probably didn’t want to carry the burden of being in a group anyway. That was how he calmly rationalised it.

However, during the period of hiatus and obscurity, even Lee Han Gyeol, who was indifferent to everything, began to blame everything on Yoo Yeon Seo and resent him along with the other members. 

‘Come to think of it, it’s strange.’ It could simply be our own or our agency’s problem that prevented us from succeeding. 

It’s only now, after the group has stabilized and the backlash has died down, that he realized this. 

During the times when your mind and bank account are impoverished, one’s is why when our hearts thoughts tend to become negative. 

‘When will I ever have the chance to be cast as a supporting actor in a big-budget film like this?’

Anyway, Yoo Yeon Seo is Yoo Yeon Seo, and work is work. 

Lee Han Gyeol won’t do something stupid such as missing an opportunity just because of a former member. 

“I heard that he just does his acting and retires to his car.” 

“Is that so?” 

This was purely a lie to reassure Park Joo Won. There were quite a few scenes where the two of them had to work together in the script and to get used to them, they had to practice together before shooting. 

‘Actually, there is one thing that bothers me.’ What Kim Yi-jun impulsively said when he visited Yoo Yeon Seo’s hospital room kept lingering in Lee Han Gyeol’s mind. 

[What if there was a reason he couldn’t disclose why he left the group?]

[If he had quit because of pressure from his family?]

During their hiatus, One Seven did their best in practice to fill the vacant main vocal position before resuming their activities. 

Even during their low popularity, they consistently released songs and albums and attended music shows. 

But where did their activity fees come from? Their agency doesn’t have money to sustain a hopeless idol group. 

It costs hundreds to thousands just to appear on a music show, and where did they get the money to buy songs and shoot music videos? 

‘It’s been strange all along.’ The manager hyung and the CEO always made phone calls with someone whenever they needed money, and if asked who it was, they would simply say they found a good investor by chance. 

‘Was that really just a coincidence?’ Lee Han Gyeol wrote on his script, thinking about it. 

*     *     *    *    *

“So, can you do this move too?” Director Park Sung Jin demonstrated a difficult martial arts move. 

Yoo Yeon Seo immediately copied it after seeing it once. The trainees exclaimed in admiration. 

“Have you really never learnt this before?” 

“No, I haven’t. I did some exercise for health reasons after the accident, so my body feels a little lighter.” 

Today, Lim Seung Hyun was there too, so the lie that he might have learnt some self-defence moves from before wasn’t believable. Lim Seung Hyun along with Lee Tae Gyeom had unbelievable stares on their faces as they watch Yeon Seo.

“Wow, this can’t mean that you only did some exercise. The movements you did makes it seem as if you’ve been doing it for decades.”

“Is that so?”

‘It’s still not enough. This body is still underdeveloped… You would faint in surprise if my physical condition became similar to that of the days of Kang Jin Hoo’. Yoo Yeon Seo laughed to himself.

“Isn’t this all because I’m good?”

“Boo!”

The trainees booed loudly at that unfortunate remark. Whilst attending action school, Yoo Yeon Seo quickly became acquainted with the trainees and coaches.

It could be because of the comradeship of sweating together, or because of the rice and snacks he buys every time. The biggest thing is because of Yeon Seo’s personality, was more gentle than previously thought.

“Ah, please take good care of me in ‘Baekho-ham’ as well. I heard the director is in charge of the action scenes?”

“I am more grateful. If not for Yoo Yeon Seo-ssi, where would our trainees have a chance to earn money?”

‘Baekho-ham’ was based on a mysterious incident that takes place on a naval warship that was patrolling the northernmost waters of Korea.

Many coaches and trainees of Cheonha Action School were scheduled to participate as stuntmen due to the production cost that was ample after Yoo Yeon Seo’s appearance was confirmed.

“Young master, it’s time.”

“Then I guess I should go.”

Yoo Yeon Seo stood up from his seat. Today, there was a meeting with the director, writer, and main/supporting actors of ‘Baekho-ham’.