Chapter 29: "Right Now..."
G&X Entertainment's New Talent Development 3rd Team Leader Park Joon-soo clicked his pen rhythmically.
The ambitious project from G&X's first-quarter debut, Nemesis. They'd cherry-picked several visual members they'd been hiding away for ages. Kids who wouldn't be outshone as center even in any other group. They selected and re-selected with care.
Just picked for their looks? Even if their position in the group was visual center, in this day and age, you couldn't push someone forward on face value alone. They'd raised their skills to the level where you could call them sub-vocal and sub-dancer. Had to keep an eye on the other members' feelings, and anyway, it was obvious they'd whine about wanting to try acting later down the line.
Visuals were good enough at this level. No matter how stunning the visuals, they wouldn't boost streaming rankings. Song quality was secondary—you had to sing well. That's why they'd pulled her in. Selling the G&X name, already famous online as "Squirtle-top." She was handling the gateway fan member in Nemesis too. Visual and main vocal. With those two pillars that gauge group popularity in place, they slotted in variety skills and a bubbly maknae bursting with cuteness, then backed it with blockbuster promotion worthy of a major agency. Debut track quality went without saying.
Nemesis, meticulously planned by G&X after shaking off the pain of Black Label, had completed thorough preparations. They'd confidently gone fully private with the album—no teaser tracks to build hype and take pre-orders like most agencies do. Just a string of member teaser videos, then straight to first-week album pre-orders. The composition screamed G&X. Fancraft so solid you'd swear it was done by a veteran fan. They earned praise like "As expected of G&X."
Good image stopped right there. The phrase "As expected of G&X" flipped in meaning overnight.
"Right? We've gotta claw for it."
Park Joon-soo ground his teeth. Nemesis couldn't become G&X's sore spot.
"Look here."
Even in the comments, Black Label got dragged in.
"See how Black Label's still getting roasted? We can't end up like that."
Same company, but not the same entertainers. Look at that 2nd Team Leader who launched Black Label. Missed promotion. Not just missed—had it in hand and fumbled it flat. 2nd Team Leader face-planted, took a bad step. Couldn't follow that path.
Swish swish.
He scrolled past the negatives.
"Here."
Park Joon-soo jabbed at one section.
"See? We're not a total bomb. If they're saying good song fixes it..."
Company picked aces of aces, so direction wasn't wrong. Just a slight detour. Team Leader Park steeled himself.
"Our Nemesis has to go all-in on this repackage album. So honestly, for this quarter, Promotion Team—full support, please."
Blunt request, but whatever. Think about it—this wasn't today's or tomorrow's issue. Every comeback, team leaders begged for promo all-in, claiming they'd feed G&X. Figured it was youthful fire.
"Got a track ready?"
"Talking with A&R now. Title track's out abroad for mixing."
"So you've got something locked. Jacket shoot and schedules line up..."
"Thinking double title for the repack."
"Pardon? It's a repack."
"Yeah. Repackage."
Park Joon-soo hemmed and hawed, then spat it out.
"Honestly, hard to call debut a success. Need double title to make a real splash."
"So still..."
Nothing ready. Promo Team Leader flicked his pen on the paper. Wanted full company buff, but prep? Not yet. With Park's personality, it'd drag three months vague. Pending request. Whatever.
"Got it for now."
After that, no meaty talk. Meeting ended, Park left. Promo Team Leader asked Choi Yoo-jung,
"How's Black Label now?"
***
Strictly speaking, pre-awakening 350. Plug in the right cheat key, maybe decent firepower...
"Coming? Really?"
A deep sigh escaped with smoke drawn from his danjeon.
"Ha... just sighs nonstop."
Didn't matter if it was mainstream 350 or niche vibes galore. Supreme Beat Contest wasn't for general viewers anyway.
"Main viewers are young folks."
But Rockwon was different. No clue on 350's intent, but they blatantly targeted 50-60s. Drew in a new viewer slab tougher than concrete. PD couldn't ignore Rockwon anymore—hell, coddling them now. Injected a demographic denser than any age group.
"Definitely... editing will favor Rockwon heavy over Black Label."
Even pros likely sided with Rockwon over Black Label. Tons saying Opaz fumbled for Black Label's fisherman's win in round of 16. Beyond song, needed overwhelming concept. Fandom stacking higher than Rockwon's concrete base.
He sucked on the cig. Subtle tobacco tang. Harsh smoke stabbing deep into lungs.
"Cigarette."
"Huh?"
Under the dorm streetlight, the shadow illuminating him blurred.
"Not good for you."
He looked up. In the dark night, Won Ji-min gazed down, shadowed by moonlight. Even in pitch black, why did Won Ji-min glow? The gloom only clung below her high nose bridge.
"What're you doing?"
"What're you doing, oppa?"
I shook off the lit cig and stomped it. Waved hand in the air. Smell—she's sensitive.
"Sorry."
"It's fine. Our manager-oppa smokes a ton. Used to it."
"Still."
"What're you doing?"
"I asked first."
"Hm..."
Won Ji-min raised her half-empty ion drink bottle.
"Working out. PT coach can't come here, so no structured routine. Cardio... so I run."
She turned toward the wide track field.
"Can I sit?"
Tone dropping with certainty—not asking, declaring. Seemed so. No wait for reply—Won Ji-min answered with action. Ponytail swishing as she asked,
"What're you thinking? Some unspeakable worry?"
"Saw me?"
"Yeah. Spotted you earlier. Around... four laps in?"
"How many laps?"
Won Ji-min paused. Counted on fingers, then folded them all.
"Like 12?"
"Watched from the start, huh."
"Means your worry's deep. What's up?"
"Hm..."
Black Label vs. Rockwon—who wins? Not solo worry. Spill it, maybe unravels.
"Know the next opponent?"
"Rockwon sunbaenim. Trot singer, right?"
"Good voice."
"Sings real well."
Won Ji-min turned to me.
"That's the worry? Us losing?"
"Not easy."
"Really? Unexpected."
Won Ji-min popped the cap, drank.
"Thought you'd say we'd win for sure."
She pumped her fist. Whoa, startled.
"You're all fighting spirit. Like last match."
"Ah, that. Well..."
Just beat who we should.
"W-Wait? You don't doubt us, right?"
"Huh?"
"We can do intense songs too! High notes streeeetch, robot-sharp sync'd choreo."
"No, not that."
Black Label vs. Rockwon. Never thought skills lacking. Purely composer chops and fandom loyalty worried me.
"Hm... heard about vote rates. But no law says egg can't crack rock."
Crack? I eyed Won Ji-min.
"Keep smashing rock with egg, it'll crack someday. Right?"
Uh... yeah. Even solid concrete cracks eventually. No rule we can't.
"Whoa? That's 'convinced by my words' eyes. Sold?"
I shook my head at Won Ji-min.
"Nah. Didn't buy it. Rock never cracks."
"Eh?"
"But thanks for the help."
As I stood, a new message popped up.