Dominate Showbiz: Media Tycoon Discovered My Talent-Chapter 103: Undercover

"Look, I understand you’re already famous and can’t just walk around showing your face," Kaija said, swallowing a sip of tea, "but do I really have to dress like you too? I’m still just a trainee."

"It’s better to be safe than sorry, birdie," Karl replied with a small shrug, still chewing his boba. "I’d rather relax and enjoy this date with you than spend the entire time running and hiding like dogs." 𝕗𝐫𝚎𝗲𝘄𝐞𝕓𝐧𝕠𝘃𝕖𝐥.𝐜𝚘𝚖

The two of them sat at a small table in the corner of Boba World’s flagship store, the best boba tea chain in S Country, according to Karl.

Before leaving campus, Karl had thoroughly dressed Kaija up with items from his outing defense kit: oversized sunglasses, a large bucket hat, and a high-collared jacket. All in black. Compared to Kaija’s signature stalker outfit, this getup was on an entirely different level.

Sitting next to her on the long bench, Karl had the exact same look on him. The only difference was that his face mask kept shifting as both his cheeks were stuffed with the white pearls he chewed with pure bliss. And while Kaija only held a single cup of her all time favorite full-topping boba tea, Karl had one cup in each hand.

Even fully covered, the superstar couldn’t possibly hide his towering height. Paired with the tall Kaija walking beside him, all eyes in the shop had inevitably been drawn their way, that innate celebrity aura radiating from every step they took.

Only this "couple" looked more like they were about to rob a bank in the middle of this colorful Boba World shop, judging by the way they were dressed.

Just as Karl finished another mouthful of pearls, he continued, "When I checked my phone this morning, there were already a bunch of new articles about you, and the view count on your video is skyrocketing. Who knows, maybe everyone in S Country knows your face as well as mine now."

"I see your point..." she shot him a concerned glance. "But did you really have to growl at Esko like that on the call? You definitely scared the hell out of him."

"Hey," Karl scowled, "you’re on a date with me. Stop mentioning other guys."

She let out a long sigh, rolling her eyes. Was Karl really that clueless, or had he not even paid enough attention to notice that Esko wasn’t straight?

Her phone rang again in her pocket. Karl immediately glanced over at the screen when she pulled it out.

"Who the hell is Mister Lion King?" he asked, his tone already sharp.

"Oh, it’s our dear boss, Charles Kosonen," she replied flatly, pressing the answer button. "I’d better take this call."

But before Kaija could say a single word, Karl snatched the phone out of her hand and brought it to his ear, leaving her frozen in horror and shock.

"What do you want, dude?" Karl spoke into the phone, irritation dripping from his voice. "Kaija Sepala’s busy right now. She worked hard for weeks just to perform for all of you obviously tone-deaf, tasteless judges last night. Can’t she have a day off in peace?"

Upon hearing Karl’s unmistakably deep voice, Charles’s face darkened immediately on the other end of the call.

"Where are the two of you right now?" he asked flatly, pinching the bridge of his nose.

"I’m not telling you," Karl grumbled. "She’s with me, perfectly fine and safe. I’ll return her to campus when I head to the airport later this evening. You hear me?"

"Listen very carefully, Karl Hanski," Charles said, his tone tightening. "If you’re with her, make sure to cover her carefully from head to toe with whatever you can find, got that? Make sure no one recognizes her until you bring her back here in one piece."

A contemptuous sound slipped from Karl. "I already did, dude. Who do you think I am, an idiot? But why all the fuss?"

Charles ran a hand down his face, fighting the urge to snap. Of course, this was totally an idiot he was dealing with. He couldn’t let that idiot get under his skin.

One minute after Charles finished explaining the entire campus situation, Karl’s face twisted with unrestrained anger.

"What the hell is wrong with you people?" he growled from deep in his throat. "She’s not even three months in! Even I, the great Karl Hanski, took three years! Are you trying to ruin her career or what?"

Beside him, Kaija’s eyes widened in shock at the mention of her career. Thankfully, Karl had lowered his voice, or the entire shop would’ve turned to stare at them.

"But didn’t she look ready to you?" Charles shot back flatly. "I bet you didn’t vote for Liisi Grant, did you?"

"Of course I didn’t!" Karl snapped. "But being ready on stage and being ready for the pressure out there are two very different things!"

Now, Kaija couldn’t sit through this conversation anymore, especially when it was clearly about her.

"Um, excuse me," she raised a hand. "What the hell are the two of you talking about?"

"Give Kaija the phone, Karl Hanski, and don’t make me ask twice," Charles’s irritated voice cut in.

"Tsk." Karl handed the phone to Kaija, his face already puffed up in a pout as he warned, "Don’t agree to whatever that cunning fox says. He’s just using you to cover up the backlash over the show’s results."

Kaija’s brow drew together, a bad feeling settling in her chest. "Charles?" she said into the phone, setting her boba aside so she wouldn’t choke on whatever news was about to come.

A faint smile lifted on Charles’s face the moment he heard his name spoken softly from the other end. "It’s me," he said, his tone just as gentle. Then it suddenly sharpened slightly. "Why didn’t you tell me Liisi Grant’s song was yours?"

Her brow shot up at once. Since Dani definitely wouldn’t have had access to Charles, she quickly guessed it must have been Antony who’d told him everything.

"Well, when it happened, you weren’t around," she replied coolly. "There was nothing I could do about it, so I pushed the whole thing out of my mind. After giving it a thorough thought, I figured there was nothing you could do either."