The VIP lounge was pristine — quiet, polished, almost intimidating in its stillness.
Hand in hand, the couple stepped inside, their footsteps soft against the marble.
Only one person occupied the room.
A foreign man sat near the window, bathed in the warm gold of the afternoon sun. The light wrapped around him like a halo, turning his silhouette into something ethereal — almost unreal. He looked like a Renaissance sculpture that had decided to walk into the present day: sharp cheekbones, porcelain skin, long elegant fingers tapping across a laptop keyboard. A thin ribbon of steam curled from his black coffee.
He was beautiful.
And terrifying.
The couple swallowed hard as they approached.
"Uhhh… e-ex… excuse me…" the husband stammered in English, voice cracking with nerves.
The man looked up.
The moment his eyes lifted, the couple froze.
Piercing blue. Too bright. Too calm. The kind of gaze that made the world feel like it stopped breathing.
Then — a gentle smile. Warm, kind, unexpectedly soft.
"혹시… 당신들이 어거스트 군의 부모님이신가요?"
Ah… are you August's parents, by any chance?
The relief hit them instantly.
"네! 네, 맞습니다."
Yes! Yes, we are, the husband blurted out, nodding quickly.
The man stood, extending a hand with impeccable manners.
"이렇게 뵙게 되어 영광입니다."
It's an honor to finally meet you.
The husband grabbed the offered hand with both of his, bowing deeply.
"정말… 정말 감사합니다. 우리 아들을 위해 이렇게까지 해주시다니… 진심으로 감사드립니다."
Thank you so, so much. For doing this for our son… truly, thank you.
His wife followed immediately, bending low in a deep bow, voice trembling with gratitude as she added her thanks.
The man panicked a little and quickly gestured for them to rise.
"아니에요, 제발 고개 드세요. 저는 그저 제 의무를 다했을 뿐입니다."
No, please, please stand. I was only doing my duty.
That one word — duty — made their blood run cold.
They lifted their heads slowly, dread creeping in.
Duty?
Nothing is ever free.
What does he want from our son?
They looked at him with fear.
The man immediately caught it and raised both hands gently, reassuringly.
"걱정하지 않으셔도 됩니다. 저희는 아무 대가도 바라지 않습니다. 순전히 선의로 도운 겁니다. 사실… 제가 일하는 회사의 대표님께서, 당신들의 아들을 TV에서 보고 깊이 감동하셨어요."
Please don't worry. We expect nothing in return. This was done purely out of goodwill. In fact… our company's CEO was genuinely moved when he watched your son on The Genesis Project.
"우리… 아들을요?"
Our son? the parents echoed, confused.
The man gestured gracefully toward the chairs.
"부디 앉아서 이야기를 나누시죠. 자세히 설명드리겠습니다."
Please, have a seat. I'll explain everything.
Still nervous but sensing no malice, the couple sat.
"음료라도 드릴까요?"
Would you like something to drink?
"아… 아뇨. 괜찮습니다."
Ah, no, thank you, they replied.
He nodded, then folded his hands neatly on the table.
"그럼 바로 본론으로 들어가겠습니다."
Very well. I'll get straight to the point.
He reached into a sleek leather briefcase, pulled out a gilded business card, and slid it forward.
"제 이름은 살라자르 드라고노프입니다. 저는 미국 로스앤젤레스에 새로 설립된 연예 기획사에서 일하고 있습니다."
My name is Salazar Dragunov, and I work for a newly established entertainment company based in Los Angeles.
He continued with calm precision.
"대표님께서 '제네시스 프로젝트'를 시청하시고… 아드님이 얼마나 열심히, 얼마나 진심으로 데뷔를 위해 노력하는지 보셨습니다. 그런데 그런 불행한 사고를 당하는 걸 보고… 마음이 많이 아프셨습니다."
Our CEO watched The Genesis Project. He saw how hard your son worked to debut, how sincere he was… and witnessing what happened to him broke his heart.
He slid a black glossy folder across the table.
"그래서 아드님께 진심을 담은 제안을 드리고 싶습니다. 저희 회사에 들어오신다면… 어떤 일이 있어도, 반드시 빛나게 하겠다는 약속과 함께 말입니다."
So he asked me to extend a sincere invitation. If your son joins us… we promise to make him shine, no matter what it takes.
He gave them a moment to absorb it.
Then:
"여기에 계약서 사본이 있습니다. 천천히 읽어보세요."
Here is a copy of the contract. Please read it thoroughly.
The couple exchanged a hesitant glance, then opened the folder.
Two versions — English and Korean.
As they read deeper, their eyes grew wider.
"월… 월급…?"
A… monthly salary? the husband whispered in shock.
Salazar nodded politely.
"네. 연습생 신분이라도 월급이 지급됩니다."
Yes. Even as a trainee, he will receive a monthly salary.
"건강 보험까지…?"
Health benefits…? the wife exclaimed.
"물론입니다. 최고 수준으로 보장됩니다. 병가, 유급 휴가, 모든 복지가 포함됩니다. 저희는 소속 아티스트를 직원으로서 정당하게 대우합니다."
Of course. He'll be fully covered — health benefits, sick leave, paid leave, everything. We treat our artists as proper employees.
They kept reading.
Then—
"가… 가족 지원금…?"
Fa–family support payments…?
Salazar smiled warmly.
"맞습니다. 소속 기간 동안 매달 지원금이 지급됩니다. 아드님이 금전적인 걱정 없이 자신의 재능에만 집중할 수 있도록요."
Correct. While he's under our company, your family will receive monthly support. We want him to focus on his talent, not financial stress.
The couple were speechless.
It felt unreal — too generous, too impossible.
Salazar noticed.
He gently placed a thick envelope on the table and slid it toward them.
"계약서의 진위와 조건이 궁금하실 겁니다. 당연히 시간이 필요하겠죠. 이건 저희 회사에서 드리는 작은 선물입니다."
I know you may doubt the contract. And of course, you'll need time. This is a small gift from our company.
"존경할 만한 변호사를 고용해, 계약서를 검토해 보시길 권합니다. 저희의 진심과 의도를 확인해 주세요."
Please hire a reputable lawyer to verify everything. We want you to see that our intentions are truly genuine.
He stood, offering a final bow.
"결정을 내리시면, 언제든 연락 주세요."
Once you decide, contact me anytime.
Then he walked away, silent and graceful — leaving behind the contract, the card, and the envelope stuffed thick with cash.
The couple sat motionless for a long moment.
Finally, the wife whispered,
"우리… 어떻게 해야 하지…?"
Honey… what do we do?
The husband released a long, shaky sigh.
"해야 할 일을 하면 돼. 변호사부터 알아보고… 그리고 아들이랑 충분히 얘기해보자. 결국… 선택은 아들 몫이니까."
We do what we must. I'll find a lawyer to review everything… then we'll talk with our son. In the end… it's his decision to make.
As Salazar walked out of the hospital, he pulled out his phone and made a call.
The moment the line connected, he spoke immediately.
"Salazar Dragunov reporting. Phase 1 complete," he said, cold and efficient.
"Very good. Keep up the good work," Foca replied, making Salazar's lips curl into a warm smile.
"Thank you, sir," he said before ending the call.
Still wearing that deadly warm smile, he noticed an elderly woman strolling by, staring straight at him in stunned silence. Salazar politely nodded and continued on.
The old woman collapsed instantly.
Nurses sprinted toward her, helping her upright as she gasped for air.
"저승사자를 봤어… 저승사자가 날 데리러 왔어…"I saw the Grim Reaper… He came to take me…
"할머니, 저승사자 안 보셨어요. 오래 산다고 하셨잖아요."Grandmother, you didn't see the Grim Reaper. Didn't you say you were going to live long?
"근데 진짜 봤다니까!"But I really saw him!
The nurse sighed and tried another approach.
"그래요? 저승사자를 보셨어요? 그럼… 저승사자가 어떻게 생겼어요, 할머니?"Oh? You saw the Grim Reaper? Then… what did he look like, Grandma?
The old woman clutched the nurse's wrist with trembling hands.
"엄청 잘생겼어… 호수처럼 고요한 눈, 도자기 같은 피부… 진짜 저승사자였어!"He was unbelievably handsome… Eyes like a still lake, skin like porcelain… I'm telling you, it was the Grim Reaper!
The nurses froze.
That description…
It was way too familiar.
They had seen someone exactly like that today — the impossibly handsome foreign man who'd spoken to the front desk receptionist.
Slowly, the nurses looked at each other with identical, knowing expressions.
Yep.They also saw him.
They, too, had encountered the "Grim Reaper."
And honestly, if the Grim Reaper looked as handsome as that foreign man, they'd be packing their bags and walk into the afterlife on their own two feet. No scythe, no chase — just 'sir, take me'.