The single word on his phone screen was a death sentence and a pardon all in one. Deal.
Yoo-jin slid down the wall, the tension leaving his body in a rush that left him dizzy. The immediate threat was gone. Hana wasn't going to burn him. She was going to use him. In his world, that was the closest thing to mercy he could hope for.
He pushed himself to his feet, the exhaustion hitting him like a physical blow. He had won, but the victory felt like a scar. Now came the hard part: managing the consequences.
He found the rest of the team in the main lounge, their mood a strange cocktail of triumphant and subdued. Mina and Eun-bi were quietly celebrating their win, looking over the sheet music for 'Echo'. Min-hyuk and Ji-ho were talking in low voices, already planning the logistics for the OST recording.
They all looked up as he entered. Their faces were filled with trust and admiration. To them, he was the miracle worker who had just landed them the biggest project of their lives.
The hypocrisy of it all was a bitter pill.
"Ji-ho," Yoo-jin said, his voice carefully neutral. "Hana wants to see you in the dance studio. She's ready to start over on her solo track."
Ji-ho's eyes widened slightly in surprise, but he simply nodded and left without a word. He was a professional. Work was work.
Mina watched him go, a small frown creasing her brow. "Is Hana... okay?"
It was a simple, earnest question, and it twisted the knot of guilt in Yoo-jin's stomach even tighter.
"She's a competitor," Yoo-jin deflected, the lie coming easily now. "She's disappointed, but she's already focused on the next fight. That's what makes her an A-Rank talent."
[Lie Detected.]
He ignored the system. He looked at Mina and Eun-bi, the victors of his rigged game. Their joy was so pure, so untainted by the dirty politics that had secured it. He had to protect that, no matter the cost to his own conscience.
"You two should be proud," he said, and this part, at least, was true. "Director Yoon is the toughest critic in the industry. You won him over with pure talent."
Eun-bi blushed, still unable to fully process the reality of it all. "It's because of you, Producer-nim. You pushed us to make 'Echo' something more."
"And Mina," he said, turning to her. "Your performance was perfect. You found the heart of that song."
He saw her emotional state shift through his skill.
[Name: Choi Mina]
[Emotion: Happiness, Gratitude]
[Dormant Feeling: Affection (Deepening)]
[New Status Effect: Hero Worship]
The 'Hero Worship' tag was new. It made him deeply uncomfortable. He wasn't a hero. He was the villain of Hana's story, and now, he was about to become the villain of Mina's, too. He just didn't know how to tell her yet.
His new deal with Hana required him to give her 80% of his resources. Mina, the SSS-Rank talent he'd bet his life on, the artist who had just won them this massive victory, was about to be sidelined.
Before he could figure out how to break the news, his phone rang. The caller ID made his stomach clench for an entirely different reason. It was Jung Sae-ri. The Muse.
He excused himself and stepped into his small office, closing the door.
"Producer Han," her voice was as smooth and musical as ever. "I just got off the phone with Director Yoon. He was… uncharacteristically enthusiastic. He called your song a 'devil's masterpiece'. Congratulations."
"We were fortunate," Yoo-jin said, the director's last words to him echoing in his mind.
"Fortune favors the prepared," she countered. "I knew you were the right choice. My instincts are never wrong."
There was a pause. This wasn't just a courtesy call. She wanted something.
"In fact," she continued, "I was so impressed that I've taken the liberty of arranging a small welcome party for you and your team. A celebration for the new OST partnership."
Yoo-jin's internal alarms went off. A party. With Jung Sae-ri. This was a networking opportunity beyond anything Starforce could ever offer. But it was also a test. A summons from one of the 'Awakened'.
"That's very generous of you, but my team is already—"
"It's not a request, Producer Han," she interrupted, her voice losing its warmth for a fraction of a second, revealing the steel beneath. "It's at my private agency's lounge, tomorrow night. A few of the film's investors will be there. Director Yoon will be there. It would be… unwise not to attend."
It was the same word Director Ahn had used. Unwise. The language of the powerful. He was being pulled deeper into their world, whether he liked it or not.
"We'll be there," he said, knowing he had no other choice.
"Excellent," she said, her charming tone returning instantly. "Oh, and one more thing. The investors are particularly interested in meeting the young woman with the incredible voice. Please make sure Choi Mina is feeling her best. She's the guest of honor."
The line went dead.
Yoo-jin stared at the phone. The guest of honor. Mina. Not the team. Mina.
The gears were turning. This wasn't just a party. It was an exhibition. Jung Sae-ri wasn't just celebrating the OST; she was showcasing her latest discovery. Her latest asset.
And his secret deal with Hana was a ticking time bomb set to go off right in the middle of it.
The next evening, Yoo-jin stood in front of the mirror, adjusting his tie. For the first time, he'd swapped his usual drab work clothes for a sharp, dark suit Min-hyuk had insisted he buy. He looked like a different person. He looked like a player.
The rest of the team was waiting for him, looking equally out of place and nervous. Eun-bi and Mina were in simple, elegant dresses. Ji-ho and Min-hyuk looked deeply uncomfortable in their own suits.
The only one missing was Hana.
"She's not coming," Yoo-jin had told them. "She said she'd rather work on her album."
It was the perfect excuse. It painted her as a sore loser, reinforcing the narrative he needed them to believe.
The party was in a sleek, exclusive lounge in Gangnam that screamed 'new money'. The air was thick with the scent of expensive perfume and quiet power. Yoo-jin immediately spotted Jung Sae-ri holding court in the center of the room, a goddess in a glittering silver dress. Director Yoon was nearby, looking as grim and out of place as ever.
As soon as they walked in, Sae-ri's eyes lit up. She gracefully detached from her circle and glided towards them.
"Producer Han! And this must be the brilliant team," she said, her smile dazzling. She was a master of this world.
She greeted each of them, but her focus was entirely on Mina. "Choi Mina-ssi. Your voice on that demo was breathtaking. It's an honor to finally meet the artist behind it."
Mina, overwhelmed, could only bow and stammer a thank you.
Yoo-jin felt a presence behind him. He turned. It was Director Ahn.
"An impressive venue," Ahn noted, his eyes sweeping the room. "The Chairman is pleased with the outcome of the competition. You've proven yourself capable."
"I did what I was told," Yoo-jin said, his voice flat.
"Indeed," Ahn said. "Which is why we have your next directive. The Chairman sees great potential in the synergy between Jung Sae-ri and Choi Mina. He believes a collaboration beyond this OST would be… profitable."
Yoo-jin stared at him. "What kind of collaboration?"
"Jung Sae-ri is considering launching a music sub-label under her agency," Ahn revealed, his voice a low whisper. "She needs a flagship artist. The Chairman believes Choi Mina is the perfect candidate. Your job is to make that happen. Nurture the relationship between them. Ensure Mina makes a strong impression tonight."
It was a staggering revelation. They didn't just want to control him. They wanted to poach his star artist. They wanted to move Mina from mid-tier Starforce to the orbit of a top-tier actress.
And it put him in an impossible position. His secret deal with Hana demanded he sideline Mina. But his secret masters at TK Group were now demanding he push her into the spotlight more than ever before.
He was being torn in two. Whatever choice he made, he would be betraying someone.
Across the room, he saw Jung Sae-ri leading Mina by the hand, introducing her to a circle of powerful, smiling men in expensive suits. They were investors. Predators. They were looking at Mina not as an artist, but as a stock to be acquired.
And at that exact moment, his phone vibrated. A text from Hana.
Director Park just scheduled a company-wide progress meeting for all active projects. Tomorrow. He wants a full presentation on both solo albums. I expect 80% of that presentation to be about my work. Don't fail your first test.