Chapter 70 "That Was Great. For Real."
Hwang Sun-young emphasized it.
"That was great. For real."
"For real. It was really great. I kept saying it during the broadcast, right? I'm not just flattering you."
The radio show had ended. It wasn't Off the Record...?
The PD had grabbed the camera himself. To squeeze out any potential behind-the-scenes moments, he shone the red light our way.
Hwang Sun-young smacked her lips, the aftertaste still lingering.
"Hyun-woo, this song... um... when's it coming out? Will Ji-min sing it here sometime?"
"No."
My answer was firm. Won Ji-min turned to me in surprise.
It didn't matter. This song had its owner from the start.
"This song has its own owner. Probably... that person will sing it."
"Uh...."
Hwang Sun-young shut her mouth, slightly taken aback by my blunt refusal.
"...I see. Yeah, that makes sense. Of course. What I meant was... um... Ji-min's version today was so good too. If there's room, maybe release this version as well?"
"I'll think about it."
Had I accidentally unleashed some kingly aura? To lighten the chilled atmosphere, the youngest writer rushed over.
She held a Polaroid camera and herded us toward the wall.
"For our viewer event giveaway photo cards. Gather over here. Just one photo."
As we lined up, the PD whispered to the youngest writer.
"Hey, you got extras of these, right?"
"Uh... a few? Why?"
"Let me get a photo with Ji-min. My daughter wants one signed."
The youngest writer shot the PD a suspicious glare.
"This is really for your daughter? Not just you filling your fanboy urges...?"
"Hey, why do you have to say it like that? It's not. For real."
The youngest writer, preparations complete, shook her head and stepped forward. She peered through the viewfinder and counted down.
"Okay, ready. One, two, three."
The flash popped.
Smoke drifts out. The tobacco smoke spills from deep in the chest to the mouth, but what claws up from the chest is a sigh.
"What do we do now?"
G&X Entertainment's Rookie Development Team 2. The Nemesis Team had become like duck eggs in the Nakdong River—utterly screwed.
Park Hee-rak, the 3rd Team Leader, and Son Jong-su clung to the rooftop railing of the company building, continuing their post-meeting gripe session.
"What do you mean 'what'? We push forward."
"It's not like we can just push if we want to."
Son Jong-su flailed his arms.
"What did the rep just say? Giving Seo Hyun-woo's song to Red Dice. We're already out in the cold with Nemesis, aren't we? Feels like we'll end up like Black Label."
"Hey, at least Black Label got their big break clear as day. You know how many groups got buried alive and suffocated to death like that?"
"No, hyung. That's for mid-to-small agencies. We're different."
"How are we different?"
"We're G&X. Honestly, no one at G&X has ended up like Black Label."
The 3rd Team Leader finished his cigarette and flicked the ash.
"You talking front-runner or also-ran? Pretty soon, even saying 'Black Label' will confuse me to death."
"Both. Both."
The 3rd Team Leader picked up his cigarette after flicking ash. Plenty left, but he tossed it. He'd already lost his taste. Nicotine couldn't dull the pain anymore.
Son Jong-su kept venting, oblivious to the mood.
"No, honestly. Team Leader 1, that bastard. He's been playing it safe the whole time, and now he swoops in to snag Falcon's song. What a sleazy move."
"What can we do? As a rookie dev team leader, he needs results too. Grabbing a good song when it's there—that's just basic team leader instinct."
He said that, but the 3rd Team Leader wasn't thrilled either. It wasn't like they were hijacking with big money; they were just throwing a tantrum because they needed the performance boost.
Suddenly, Son Jong-su fiddled with his phone.
"What're you doing?"
"No matter how I think about it, this pisses me off. I wanna kill him. For real. Even if we're on the same team, this ain't business ethics. No. Even same team doesn't mean we gotta die for them?"
The premise was wrong from the start. Same company, not same team.
The 3rd Team Leader tossed his current cigarette to the ground and ground out the butt with his shoe sole.
"So what're you doing right now?"
"What else? Contact Falcon. If we can't have it, smash it. Red Dice? Bullshit."
"Think sending a message will make a difference?"
"Falcon's got nothing to lose. We're offering Black Label-level treatment."
"I should quit smoking...."
"Pardon?"
The conversation dragged on, giving him a headache. Time to vent stress.
Park Hee-rak shook out a fresh cigarette. Quick-witted Son Jong-su lit it with his lighter.
Park Hee-rak exhaled smoke and wedged the cig between his fingers. Leaning on the railing, he spotted a large van pulling into the first floor of the building.
"Even if we offer good treatment like you say, you think Falcon will take our hand? He's spent a month thick as thieves with them; the kids must've spilled all our company dirt."
"Come on, Team Leader. Heard or not, does it matter? Even Falcon knows how this industry works."
Park Hee-rak flicked ash.
"He can't just work with Black Label forever. And... also...."
"And also?"
"We're G&X, right? G&X. If he turns us down, his options shrink big time."
"Hmph."
Park Hee-rak turned to Son Jong-su. Still green, clueless about the world.
He'd seen plenty like him. Acting like they were the company itself or some big star, just lowly employees overstepping, looking down on others without knowing their place. That's what Park Hee-rak thought.
Falcon wasn't the type to get crushed.
"We gotta coax him gently."
"Pardon?"
Saving Nemesis now boiled down to one thing. Landing a banger from a top composer like Falcon and striking gold. Nothing else.
Park Hee-rak tossed out ideas as they came.
"First, contact Falcon like we said. Worst case, no loss."
"Got it."
Son Jong-su perked up. Park Hee-rak was following his lead. Fingers flew, but Park Hee-rak kept talking.
"Even if we don't get the song... building rapport matters. G&X name alone, he won't outright refuse. Black Label or...."
Red Dice. With Jung Pil-woon's orders, promo team would hustle now. Press releases on Red Dice everywhere. That'd do it. Didn't need much.
Just bait to lure Falcon out.
"If G&X calls, Seo Hyun-woo will show."
"Even if it's not Black Label business? Last time we..."
"Got shot down. So don't tip off it's Nemesis from the start."
"Th-then...?"
"Ah!"
Son Jong-su wasn't a total dimwit. Below the railing, Red Dice was boarding the van.
Grinning at Red Dice, Son Jong-su said,
"Right. Who's making us suffer like this."
"Exactly. When Seo Hyun-woo shows, just bring the kids along. Unless he's some psycho, no one's mad at a first meet. Have a meeting."
Park Hee-rak rubbed his hands. His current cig was nearly done. He didn't stub it; flicked ash a few times and tossed it.
"Get chummy."
"Don't fixate on one tree—see the forest? That it, Team Leader? Hard to snag a song now, but build ties slow and steady, get the song later...."
Park Hee-rak chuckled.
"Where'd you pick up that line, punk."
He shook his head.
"No. We don't have time for that. Think the higher-ups will wait patiently till we snag Falcon's song?"
"Th-then what?"
"Gotta keep the lifeline attached. Hook up the ventilator first."
"Pardon?"
Park Hee-rak turned. Time to head down and work.
"Jong-su, you networked with some KBC variety PDs last time, right?"
"Yeah... kinda...."
"Once the Falcon meeting's set, text those PDs."
"What do I say?"
The hothead grabbed his phone, ready to send now.
"Hey, not now. After we meet. Post-meeting."
"Ah, after. What do I say?"
Park Hee-rak paused. Then smirked, one corner of his mouth up.
"Spill the tea about eating with Falcon."
"What? Why?"
The manager oppa asked. While driving, he checked Won Ji-min's condition in the rearview.
"Why? Something happen?"
He glanced back via mirror, and at red lights, twisted fully around.
Won Ji-min said cautiously,
"Oppa. The road."
"Oh, right. Eyes front."
Gaze fixed ahead, but his mouth wasn't.
Kept grilling Won Ji-min.
"Why? Radio too intense? Ji-min, or something else?"
"No. Nothing happened."
Well, nothing major.
"Then you're off? Delay practice?"
"No. Members are waiting; what would I say?"
"You're wiped, huh. Ji-min. Push it back if tough. No rest days ahead."
"No rest ahead, so practice today. I'm fine, oppa. Body's good, no issues. Radio was fun."
"Hmm. Really?"
Won Ji-min nodded.
"Yes."
Right up until she heard those words from Seo Hyun-woo.
This song has its own owner.
Who was that owner? What?
Won Ji-min pondered deeply.
Why this sour mood?
Because the song was too good, hated to lose it?
Or...
Seo Hyun-woo oppa connecting with a new singer—did that bother her?
Won Ji-min listed options.
Narrowed them down. Eliminated one by one.
The song? Sure, great. But not this upset over greed for it.
Next. Hyun-woo oppa ditching Black Label? Nah. First real chance to test her skills.
For this album, she'd started lyrics and composing practice herself.
Next. Hyun-woo oppa spending time with a new idol, singer?
"...I hate that."
Unthinkingly, Won Ji-min clenched her fist.
"Huh? What, Ji-min?"
Ignoring the manager, Won Ji-min shook her head.
Seo Hyun-woo spending time with another singer? That was the worst.