Reboot the heyday

Seolhyun gritted her teeth, bracing herself for Wang Taika's taunts.

No matter how humiliating it was, she had to endure it this time. Although she had heard rumors of Wang Taika's perversion, she was still terrified when she actually faced him.

Perhaps he'll make some other outrageous demands, this guy! Seolhyun closed her eyes, thinking that if all else failed, she could just yell "molestation!" She would never submit to such treatment.

It can only be said that Seolhyun still hasn't grasped the current situation. In fact, she lost her composure in the heat of the moment.

Wang Taika had no idea what Seolhyun was imagining, but he knew he didn't need to deliberately make things difficult for her. The prerequisite for a cute-yet-aggressive approach is that the character must be cute. While Seolhyun was quite pretty, she wasn't Wang Taika's type.

At this moment, Wang Taika stopped the school, simply because he saw a promising female idol wasting her talent by getting stuck on a rut, which he found regrettable. More importantly, he saw a similar stubbornness in Seolhyun's unwavering refusal to admit defeat—a stubbornness that was not willing to follow the crowd. Although this stubbornness was misplaced, it was not without value in essence.

Somewhat embarrassingly, Wang Taika seems to always find a reflection of his own personality in the major flaws of others, but he never sees a familiar version of himself in the strengths of others.

Maybe I really am full of flaws, otherwise how could I have so many familiar aspects of the worst aspects of human nature?

Wang Taika shook his head and said, "Since you've come all this way, using your family connections and going through all this trouble, just to hear me tell you that all of this is your own fault. And then you run away like a punctured balloon? This doesn't seem like the do-or-die spirit you had when you came in."

Seolhyun slowly turned around, her face still flushed and confused, and looked at Wang Taika.

Don't get me wrong, the blush is from the embarrassment of what just happened. It shows that Seolhyun still cares about her image, which is a good thing.

Wang Taika met her gaze and directly offered a suggestion that was completely unexpected, yet aligned with her original expectations: "Instead of dwelling on past choices and the current resource allocation within AOA, why not try a different stage? Pandora's second generation is making a comeback, and one of them will be rotating through a spot. Do you want to give it a try? I can't guarantee you'll get that spot; you'll have to earn the money yourself. However, I think your qualities might be a good fit. But you'll have to sign the contract first."

Seolhyun froze, her eyes widening slightly in surprise. Was this an invitation to join XB Entertainment?

This was indeed the initial idea, but although the goal was the same, the process was completely different from what I had imagined.

A strange, unexpected turn of events left Seolhyun completely bewildered. The dramatic shift overwhelmed her, leaving her brain unable to process the information. One moment she was immersed in utter shame and the stark reality of shattered dreams, and the next, a completely new path unfolded abruptly before her.

This is management, this is the art of managing subordinates. Simply put, it's about the carrot and the stick, but it's difficult to implement in practice. But for Wang Taika, all of this is already second nature.

After a few seconds of deathly silence, the expression on Seolhyun's face, a mixture of shame, stubbornness, and confusion, gradually faded, replaced by a complex, gradually brightening radiance. She took a deep breath, as if to exhale all the pent-up emotions in her chest.

Seolhyun looked at Wang Taika, her eyes no longer showing the previous aggression and vulnerability, but instead a calm that had settled, and a hint of rekindled ambition. "Okay!" Without any unnecessary words, Seolhyun readily agreed.

Wang Taika said, "You'll have to figure out how to handle the contract with FNC yourself. That's it for this comeback. When AOA makes their next comeback, you'll get the resources you deserve."

But the next moment, Wang Taika changed his tone: "But let's be clear from the start, the company's resources are tilted towards signed artists. This is the most basic business logic, and any company would do the same. When we consolidated the contracts, the group needed your fame and influence, so you had leverage in negotiations. But now, it turns out that even if AOA's comeback reduces your exposure, the impact won't be significant. Therefore, your original leverage has naturally depreciated."

Wang Taika looked at her sharply and said, word by word, "People always have to take responsibility for their choices. You chose to wait and see and chose to retain your contract with FNC, so you have to bear the consequences, such as the difference in resource allocation. This is fair, it has nothing to do with personal grudges, it's just business. So I welcome your signing with XB Entertainment now. But the terms can't be the same as before. We will reassess you based on the actual value you can bring now and the company's overall strategic plan. That's reality."

Seolhyun nodded, a hint of bitterness in her smile. She had actually already considered these things, but she hadn't expected Wang Taika to be so blunt.

These words, precise and cruel, dissected all the feigned warmth, leaving only naked self-interest. This absolute rationality and calmness sent a chill down Seolhyun's spine and revealed a profound gap in their understanding.

Seolhyun stared blankly at the man before her. The unreliable, roguish figure she remembered, whom she secretly considered a risk factor, had now completely blurred and vanished.

Instead, a truly powerful, ruthless, and rational leader effortlessly determined the course of her career.

He's changed. No, perhaps he was always like this; I was just blind back then, failing to see his potential and vision. It's not that he's changed, but that I've finally seen his true self.

This huge gap in perception made Seolhyun feel more ashamed than any accusation. All her previous grievances and resentment seemed so ridiculous and childish at this moment. She wasn't angry with Wang Taika; she was struggling with her own shortsightedness.

Leaving Wang Taika's office in a daze, Seolhyun first spoke with her family about her future plans. Her family naturally supported the decision.

Then came the contract termination process with FNC Entertainment. In reality, FNC Entertainment had already intended to give up, and Seolhyun didn't cling to the contract after leaving. Although there were some twists and turns, it was generally resolved smoothly.

At this time, the other members of AOA learned of the company's latest arrangements and sent their blessings. Although she felt a sense of being reintegrated, Seolhyun still felt a sense of resentment.

It wasn't until I finished dealing with all these things and returned home alone, lost in thought, that I was pulled back to the past by a flood of memories, reflecting on my past decisions.

Regret overwhelmed her like a tsunami.

Ironically, she hadn't actually done anything wrong. (End of Chapter)