Disbanding the Band, Furnishing the Studio
I'm done with the band. Time to spruce up the studio. Lately, I've been running around everywhere. Signed a studio lease, brought in all sorts of gear. Meetings all over the industry. I've been turning down love calls from major agencies because I want to try things my way first.
On the investment side, I'm steadily building my portfolio. KingBidia. Strategy's simple: buy KingBidia stock and trust Hwang, the shopkeeper who hustles like a street vendor. Even if the world goes to hell, hold on till the end. I don't know much about other stocks, but I know KingBidia's gonna moon. Just buy.
While I'm at it, I run into Kang Saero at school.
"Kim Seryeon, what've you been up to lately? Hardly see your face anymore."
She's a bit sulky because I bailed on our last study date. Couldn't be helped—prior commitment.
"Distribution company meetings. Checking how royalties are settling out."
"Distribution company?"
"They handle digital music distribution."
Green Dream Music. Recently had our first royalty audit and a celebratory meeting for the hit.
"Still a student, so managing this stuff is tough."
Conversations like this always lead to the usual question.
— Aren't they just sucking up commissions?
Mom asked the same thing. But Kang Saero, from an entertainment family, seemed to know better this time. Different question came instead.
"Royalty split? Do they push promos well?"
"Splits are a bit better than industry average. Even before my TV appearance, they treated me great."
"'Cause you're handsome."
"They said the song was good."
"'Cause you're handsome."
Kang Saero's answer was firm.
"And the promos are insane. Top spot on MD Pick Summer Drive Playlist."
"Huh? That was there from the start?"
"Yeah."
"Thought it got added after you blew up on TV."
"Way before that. Summer seasonal promos are brutal competition—locked in months ahead. Then the song started charting, boom, main banner."
Kang Saero's eyes widened like Shim Bong-sa getting rice. Entertainment kid through and through—she gets how the industry rolls. Instantly grasped how huge that was.
Main banners on music sites? Battlefield. Even with cash, no room at the inn. A no-name rookie without connections blasting through? Unreal.
"President's a woman, huh."
"......Enough about my face."
I channeled my Dye&-learned firmness, and Kang Saero backed off with an awkward eye-smile.
"I know the song's good. But distro folks hear every hit. Plenty of great songs get rejected."
Time for lifetime #1 menhera mode.
"Ah.... So Bless was just okay.... Guess it really was face-carry all along...."
"Nooo!!! Seryeon, no, forgive me!!!"
Kang Saero grabbed my shoulders, shaking and pleading desperately. Never had this in my past life—feels kinda fun.
Works like a charm.
Teasing Kang Saero (this is enjoyable). Stopped before she'd cry, back to explaining.
"Anyway, asked the rep how they pulled it off. Showed my middle school stage clip and the 3-second teaser from Stan audition promo. Convinced 'em."
Kang Saero muttered in disbelief.
"Teaser... 3 seconds."
"Audition shows live or die by star power early on. That's the pitch."
Quoted the rep.
"Prime-time broadcast audition doesn't toss randoms in promos. Even 3 seconds means star potential. Kid composes, songs slap, stages great. This is a sure thing—trust me once, front the promo...."
"Whoa. So yeah—"
Kang Saero started to say something, then stopped. I went full future talk-show spill.
"So the rep uncle.... prostrated on cold floors in front of Vanilla Platform MDs."
"Ahh."
"And the MD was even younger. All for the song's success. Ditched all pride."
"Aaaah."
She covered her mouth, eyes welling up. But sales is cold. Kang Saero nodded seriously.
"Sounds worth sticking with long-term."
Seemed like she was pondering for me.
"Even agency idols struggle to find reps that passionate."
"Nah. But big distros are still better overall."
"Loyalty feels good short-term, but looking back, might not be the best deal."
Vivid advice from industry folks. Then she asked.
"So what're you doing? Renew? Next release?"
"Bless renewal's basically done. Next track, taking it slow."
"Loyalty, huh."
"Part of it. They're all working pros—wanna build ties. Rep's great, prez treats me well now we know each other."
"Huh."
Even Kang Saero hadn't clocked that far. I paused, then dropped it.
"Gotta make connections."
Real goal, casual toss.
"Endgame's my own one-man label."
"Ah! Info gathering like that...!"
Eyes wide now, she got it.
"Smart. Kim Seryeon."
Arms crossed, nodding. Then slipped out admiration.
"Damn, that's cool."
Indie or solo label romance. Music pure, no corp BS. Mass success and respect. Every arts high kid, industry hopeful dreams it once.
After school. I packed my bag to bolt. Kang Saero? Stuck, eyeing me enviously.
"Straight home?"
"Studio for exam prep."
"Jealous. Practice building for me."
Late June now. Exams soon. Arts high's biggie: practicals. She's prepping vocals; I'm polishing my performance piece.
Nonhyeondong Studio. Post-school routine: straight here. Rappers live off cup ramen here, but I eat home—body only.
Beep beep beep!
Ring-ri-ling—
Door lock. Ding! AC on. 18°C, long-sleeve cardigan for chill. Aaah, bliss. This is flex.
Laptop up, routine time. Before composing: notepad for today's negativity dump. Primes emotions, boosts immersion.
Tap tap tap....
The world's fundamentally broken. People only think about rice and ditched romance, hearts all dead. Why judge others' lives pathetically with your dead hearts?????
"Hm."
Paused. Not quite the vibe. Thought hard, realized.
Material shortage.
Not satisfying. Used to menhera overflow from breathing; words flowed. Now? Eating well, living well, all praise—no inner darkness.
Too mentally healthy, composing suffers.
Chugged caffeine energy drink, forced hype, tinkered track, opened online shop.
No more mouse clicking—want a real keyboard.
Budget gear and mouse grinding till now. Had cash but no space. Now studio, funds plenty. Gear lust rising.
Duh, better try in-store. Shady site screaming ad fraud and midnight run—not just browsing.
Maybe hit up a shop later.
Scrolling mall deep in thought.
Beep beep beep beep—
"......?"
Sudden door lock press outside. Mishear? Beep beep, ring-ri.Click, click.
No. Someone trying to open from outside.
Spine chilled.
What the.
Kang Saero? Never gave code. Would text first.
Ji Soeun? Crazy enough, maybe. Checked last texts just in case.
Deep in audition prep, locked in company. No way she'd come.
Then who? Stalker fan already? Or Ji Soeun fans assassinating me?
Peeked through door's small window—bad angle. Intercom screen.
Eek—.
Screen showed total surprise. Tiny height, wild outfit. Black-beige two-tone hair. Black frilly blouse, ribbons, platform loafers. Guitar or bass case on back.
Short band sis in landmine fashion, drunk off her ass midday. Cute face objectively—why live like that?
"Why won't it opennn......."
Thud.
Sis forehead-plants door when lock fails, slides down sitting.
What the, real landmine menhera.
Fake crazy meets true madness. No choice. Call cops.