Chapter 47: [Truly, a Great Drink! Energy UP!!!] [Everyone, Energy UP!!]
Last year, Semi from the girl group idol 'Pascal,' who made a name for herself on a variety show, held up an energy drink. On the large display mounted on the wall, the image shifted from Semi at the center to the rest of Pascal fanned out behind her like backup dancers.
The marketing staff at Dongsu Pharmaceuticals, makers of the energy drink Energy UP!, were tearing their hair out.
Team Leader Oh Seong-jin, who was leading the meeting, spoke with a double meaning.
"We don't have much time left."
The first meaning was the contract period for Semi promoting Energy UP!. The second was the broadcast run of the Supreme Beat Contest, which Energy UP! was sponsoring.
The Dongsu Pharma employees had poured their blood, sweat, and tears into it. They'd worked tirelessly to boost ratings for the Supreme Beat Contest, which no one had cared about at first, all to raise Energy UP!'s buzz. Whenever a promising contestant was shown drinking the Energy UP! provided at the event, they'd screenshot it and post it on SNS every day.
Of course, the results didn't match their efforts.
"So, what's the prize for the winner?"
Team Leader Oh Seong-jin asked about the Supreme Beat Contest prizes, and the rookie at the far end of the table read from the announcement.
"One compact car from a German brand and 300 million won in cash."
There were no Energy UP! perks included. Naturally. They hadn't even considered adding it to the negotiation list from the start.
Team Leader Oh Seong-jin hadn't earned his position for nothing. He glanced around at his seated team members with a sweep of his eyes.
He clapped his hands, and the junior rep on the opposite side slapped photos of the four teams onto the pristine white whiteboard.
"The Supreme Beat Contest winner will come from one of these four teams. And winners get a ton of perks."
One compact car from a German brand and 300 million won? Did Snet really go to all this trouble just to give away sponsored swag? No way.
Team Leader Oh Seong-jin stood, grabbing a dry-erase marker.
"The Supreme Beat Contest has massive ripple effects. It wasn't just another hip-hop competition show stuck in one genre—no hip-hop snobs-only club. Everyone watched, men, women, young, old. Did you see Rockwon? What do you think of the impact?"
It had even gotten middle-aged folks to restore deleted channel numbers on their remotes.
"What do you think Snet's gonna do? Go seasonal, obviously. They'll make more seasons. So what happens then? The inaugural winner's a founding hero. Public broadcast might ignore them, but their affiliate stations will push them hard. And that's when!"
He slammed the marker cap down on the board.
"If the winner keeps promoting our product? The effects would be huge."
Any company promoting a product thinks that way at minimum, but the real strategy started now.
Team Leader Oh Seong-jin flashed a sly grin.
"Sounds good, right? Great effects. But as you know, our budget's tight."
The sly smile quickly surrendered to reality.
They'd targeted middle-aged folks with vitamin overloads, and Energy UP! signed with Rockwon after their elimination. Good thing they got knocked out. If Rockwon had advanced, they wouldn't have budget today for a new model contract.
Pinned by money woes, Team Leader Oh Seong-jin hatched a clever plan.
A method left purely to luck. No—luck is skill. A method left purely to skill.
"From now on, we need to pick our winner in advance."
They still had about a week until the schedule sent by the Supreme Beat Contest production team.
Plenty of time.
The parachute rookie raised a hand with a question.
"Because of their value, right?"
"Yes."
No rehearsals aired yet, so winner odds were even. Images varied, but it was all subjective taste. Before they became full stars, snag them cheap with an exclusive model contract.
Oh Seong-jin started with the first team.
"Team one: Kickkick Band. Literal band kids doing band music. What do our staff who watched think?"
"Uh... honestly, they're top favorite right now. Probably most fans?"
"More than Black Label?"
The rookie hyping Kickkick Band got challenged by the junior rep across from her pushing Black Label.
"I see Black Label taking first."
"Why?"
"'Cause Kickkick Band's one-trick ponies with Choi Jeong."
"Pfft, then Black Label's one-trick with Won Ji-min."
The junior rep snorted.
"What are you even saying? Didn't you monitor last round? They crushed Rockwon—Ray did."
"Huh? Last round was ballad stage, sunbae. And it's Rockwon, not Rockon. Watch your pronunciation."
"Hey!!"
The junior rep slammed her palms down like dough and shot up.
"Be honest—they lack skill. Skill."
"No, it's funny debating idol skill against indie band. They're the real bubbles. Just pretty faces riding the wave."
"Seriously... you know nothing. Modern idols don't blow up just for looks anymore. It's skill and charm. Plus stories backing them now."
Team Leader Oh Seong-jin listened patiently to the two.
Luck's seven parts timing, three parts skill. Right. Pretty idols singing and dancing well is baseline now. Dozens, hundreds of such teams. They just haven't hit their moment yet.
So he perked up at the junior rep's words.
"Hold on. Story?"
"Exactly, team leader. Black Label. G&X kids."
The junior rep pressed.
"What about G&X kids? Actor management tanked hard, but idols? Never failed at making them. Then Black Label?"
"Tanked hard."
She agreed.
"Right. Tanked so bad disbandment rumors flew. But now? Third-stringers turned mid-tier, even first-tier hype without full debut. This potential... well..."
She trailed off, shrugging with a done-deal face. Conviction they'd rocket no matter what.
The junior rep was dead serious. Not just talk—she cited Black Label's traffic share, YouTube views on 'Black Label' searches, all the evidence.
Got it.
Team Leader Oh Seong-jin turned.
Parachute's turn. "Black Label's enough there. What about Kickkick Band?"
"Huh?"
The rookie gaped. Just a hunch, but not this intense.
One thing clear: that junior rep's a hardcore Black Label stan. Her wallet probably has official photocards.
But now, Kickkick Band time.
"Uh... so why I think Kickkick Band'll blow up..."
Knock knock.
A knock. The junior rep cracked the door, asking politely.
"We're in a meeting right now. Might run a bit long... plenty of time left."
"No, it's not that. I overheard your meeting talk—sounded intriguing."
The balding man wedged his shoe toe in the gap.
Sharp as ever. He clocked the power player instantly.
Locking eyes with Team Leader Oh Seong-jin, he said,
"Wasn't eavesdropping on purpose, just happened to hear... Mind if I take over what you were about to say?"
"Pardon?"
The balding man declared,
"I'm an exec at Kickkick Band's agency."
***
Everyone froze. Even the camera filming us lost focus for a split second, like it was stunned too.
Everyone wore the same shocked face, leaving just me and flustered Ray behind.
Black Label's manager even stepped up to clear the misunderstanding with me.
"Um... composer-nim. Sure, rap's huge in idols these days. But... lead rapper? Um... not just Ray. I mean, Ji-min does it better..."
Won Ji-min was world-class anyway. No. Pure potential? Ray edged ahead.
Skill ceiling mattered hugely, though.
"I picked Ray. For this track, I'd love Ray as lead rapper."
"Uh... got it, oppa."
Ray doing lead rap or not—no need to bet lives on an unreleased song.
Weight and parts adjustable anytime based on the vibe.
Won Ji-min knew that, calmly continuing concept talk.
"Tweaking minor positions without changing the big picture? Fans and viewers get fresh fun from it. I like the idea."
Even sharp-eyed Won Ji-min held back full endorsement.
Ray eyed me.
"Oppa, for real?"
"Yeah?"
"You're saying make me your rap ace. Wondering if it's from seeing my skills."
"No need."
Her beatbox earlier? Impossible to mimic. That said enough.
"Why? You hype me up then bail like this?"
"Not bailing. Ji-min's right—concept first. Let's talk it out. Need beats for raps. Got it?"
"Umm... I freestyle good too."
No thanks. Not hearing that freestyle.
Ray's rap skill didn't matter yet. No demo anyway. Priority: Won Ji-min's point—what message?
We grabbed notepads and pens for ideas, mind-mapping.
"Hmm..."
"Uh..."
"Er..."
An hour for brainstorming. Last five minutes? Pens still.
What? No one thinks?
Ray scribbled lyrics hard. Pros write their own, forcing rhymes from nonsense. The other two pondered love stories. Most songs do.
Me? Back when I chased idol dreams beyond my league, survival races blinded me too. Hid behind veils others made, galloped like a racehorse, eyes front only.
Regretted it. A breather might've changed past life?
"How about now?"
"Pardon?"
Won Ji-min looked up.
"Black Label's story. Your dreamed future, past life—everything so far."