Chapter 16
Chapter 16
Episode 16. Debut just around the corner (2)
The next day.
Around lunchtime, Park Siwoo took a taxi and headed to the broadcasting station.
His target was MusicThink.
It was a music program hosted by a public broadcasting station in Korea.
The average viewership was around 1.3 percent.
Not particularly high, but that wasn’t the point.
“It’s the NewTube run by MuTing.”
Even artists who weren’t widely famous could still expect at least 100,000 views, along with solid promotional effects.
Of course, it wasn’t that TV viewership didn’t exist.
It was just far smaller compared to NewTube.
“We’ve arrived.”
“Thank you.”
After getting out of the taxi, Park Siwoo headed toward the annex of the broadcasting station.
MusicThink was recorded in the annex.
“Team Leader Park.”
“Ah, Manager Kim.”
A familiar manager who had arrived earlier to wait came out to greet him.
His name was Kim Seohyun.
Although he worked for a different company, they had known each other for a long time, so he occasionally helped Park Siwoo get into recording sets.
“I’m in your debt as always.”
“Not at all, we just help each other out. Come in.”
He swiped his card at the entrance.
The door opened.
Park Siwoo quickly slipped inside before it closed and followed Kim Seohyun into the recording area.
―♩ ♪ ♫ ♬
Inside the annex, recording was in full swing.
For a moment, Park Siwoo listened to the music playing when Kim Seohyun next to him spoke.
“Our kids’ stage is coming up a bit later.”
“Which slot did you get?”
“Eighth from the back. Since they’re not that well-known, it looks like they’ll be grouped together.”
“Still not bad.”
“Yeah, well.”
Kim Seohyun let out a quiet laugh.
“Go take care of your business. I’ll go check on the kids.”
“Alright, see you.”
After parting ways with Kim Seohyun, Park Siwoo walked toward the stage area.
The person he intended to meet was Lim Eunha, the main PD of MuTing.
The problem was—
“She’s a PD with a very strong sense of conviction.”
Not that she was stubborn without reason.
Rather, once she was confident about something, she pushed it through firmly.
That was precisely why MusicThink had become the most successful music program among its peers.
The broadcasting station probably liked her drive,
but Park Siwoo did not.
It also meant that once she made up her mind, nothing could easily change it.
In reality, Park Siwoo had failed to negotiate with her many times before.
“She won’t listen at all.”
Popular idols or groups usually appeared toward the end of the broadcast.
Because of that, as the show progressed, viewership tended to increase.
Appearing before trending idols naturally increased exposure.
So Park Siwoo had tried various ways to place Starlight’s idols toward the later slots……
The result was a complete failure.
She had said she didn’t want to associate with an agency involved in lobbying issues.
And the songs weren’t great either.
“This time, it’s a rookie group.”
He wasn’t sure if Lim Eunha would look upon them favorably.
After thinking for a moment, Park Siwoo approached the stage area as the recording was wrapping up.
Amid the busy staff moving around, PD Lim Eunha was sitting on the floor, casually drinking coffee.
“PD-nim.”
“Just a mo—oh, Team Leader Park.”
Since they had met before, Lim Eunha recognized him immediately.
She took a few more sips of coffee and stood up.
“Why are you here again? Didn’t AriaTte disband?”
“I'm not here for AriaTte.”
“Then what? As you know, rookies can’t be placed in the later stage slots.”
As expected.
Park Siwoo swallowed a bitter feeling.
“Popular agencies can place their acts toward the end right away.”
Starlight didn’t have that level of financial power.
He needed another approach.
Park Siwoo didn’t give up and continued,
“They’re acts with some budget behind them. They’ve secured top-tier promotion as well.”
“Even so, no. There’s a set order.”
As if trying to cut the conversation short, she picked up the headset she used when giving instructions.
“You have nothing else to say, right?”
This wasn’t something he wanted to use.
Just as Park Siwoo was about to mention the name Guitar Hero—
“PD Lim Eunha.”
A familiar voice came from behind.
“Are you busy? Should I come back later?”
“No, it’s fine.”
“Then just a moment.”
Thud, thud.
A man who walked in leisurely stared directly at Park Siwoo.
Meeting his gaze, Park Siwoo frowned.
“It’s been a while, Team Leader Park.”
The man greeting him was none other than Kim Miru.
The man who had had an affair with his ex-wife.
Park Siwoo loosened the tension in his clenched fist and replied.
“Hello, Kim Miru.”
Even though he restrained himself, he couldn’t hide the stiffness in his voice.
Kim Miru smirked and said,
“Working on new songs?”
“That’s company confidential. I can’t share that with outsiders.”
“Outsiders? Why are we outsiders? We’ve shared the same hole.”
“……”
Park Siwoo’s eyes widened.
Veins bulged on his forehead.
But he endured that anger with inhuman restraint.
“Just wait a little.”
Kim Miru had clearly come here on purpose.
To provoke him.
There was no need to play along.
“Anyway.”
If he succeeded, he could crush him later.
Park Siwoo’s twisted expression quickly softened.
Seeing that, Kim Miru clicked his tongue inwardly.
From his perspective, Park Siwoo was an utterly boring man.
Even in a situation where an ordinary person would have thrown a punch, he managed to suppress his anger.
Coming all the way here to provoke him had been a waste of time.
“PD-nim, please take care of my comeback.”
Having quickly lost interest, Kim Miru spoke as if to wrap things up.
“Hmm? Ah, yes.”
Lim Eunha tilted her head slightly.
Was that all he came to say?
He really did turn around after saying just that.
But then—
“G, General Director.”
Kim Miru, who had been about to move, suddenly lowered his head.
Because the Director of the Media Planning Bureau, Ahn Junho, was standing right behind him.
“I hear you’ve been having an interesting conversation.”
At those words, Lim Eunha, who had been standing blankly, suddenly jolted and rushed forward.
“Hello, Director.”
“Ah, PD Lim. We met last week, didn’t we?”
“Yes, yes……”
“Good to see you’re doing well.”
With that, Ahn Junho turned his head.
Passing by Kim Miru, who looked expectant, he turned his gaze to Park Siwoo.
“You must be Team Leader Park Siwoo.”
Park Siwoo was surprised that Ahn Junho knew his name, but he didn’t show it and replied calmly.
“Yes. I’m Park Siwoo from Starlight Entertainment. I apologize for not having a business card.”
“Not the eighties anymore. No need for business cards.”
“Thank you.”
Just as Park Siwoo was about to bow, Ahn Junho continued.
“By the way, if you’re here, that means Neon Heart is about to debut, right?”
“……!”
Park Siwoo’s eyes widened.
Publicly, Neon Heart hadn’t been revealed yet.
No—come to think of it, a director of his level would naturally know.
“Yes, they’ll be debuting soon.”
“I see. I look forward to it.”
“By ‘look forward,’ you mean……”
“I’m a big fan of yours, Team Leader Park, so I’m especially looking forward to it. Commercial songs by Guitar Hero!”
“……!”
For a moment, he could feel the surrounding gazes shift to shock.
Kim Miru’s expression in particular was something to behold.
His eyes looked ready to pop out at any moment.
“Park Siwoo Team Leader is…… Guitar Hero?”
Lim Eunha exclaimed in surprise.
Ahn Junho asked back, flustered.
“You didn’t know?”
Nod, nod.
Lim Eunha nodded.
Only then did Ahn Junho realize he had made a mistake.
“Sorry about that, Team Leader Park.”
“It’s alright.”
He hadn’t planned on hiding it anyway.
And he had already seen Kim Miru’s ridiculous expression.
Park Siwoo smiled lightly and said,
“It would have been revealed anyway once Neon Heart debuts.”
“That’s…… a relief.”
Just as the situation seemed to settle somewhat—
Kim Miru suddenly leaned in.
But his expression was quite something.
Twisted and red.
Looking like he might explode at any moment, he hurriedly spoke,
“Wait, Team Leader Park Siwoo is Guitar Hero? Isn’t there some mistake?”
To question the director like that was quite rude.
Ahn Junho frowned and said,
“You are……”
He seemed to be trying to recall the name.
“Kim Miru, was it.”
That alone struck a blow to Kim Miru’s pride.
Park Siwoo was recognized, but he wasn’t?
His teeth ground together.
At that moment—
“Miru, we’re starting rehearsal.”
A staff member called him from a distance.
He had no choice but to lower his head.
“I’ll take my leave now, Director, PD-nim.”
As if preserving his last shred of pride, he left without greeting Park Siwoo.
“Cluck, he’s going to have a hard time in life.”
Watching him go, Ahn Junho clicked his tongue and continued,
“Team Leader Park Siwoo. So, when is Neon Heart’s debut?”
“It looks like it’ll be next month.”
“And their first debut broadcast will be here?”
“No, we plan to pre-release on TAMS first, then appear on MusicThink.”
“So someone’s already one step ahead.”
He smacked his lips, sounding slightly disappointed, and said,
“PD Lim Eunha.”
“Yes, yes!”
“Put Neon Heart’s stage just before the ending segment next month.”
She asked in surprise,
“The ending segment…… is that okay?”
“Guitar Hero.”
At those words, Lim Eunha nodded.
“I’ll place them in the ending segment.”
Hearing that, Park Siwoo clenched his fist tightly.
The ending segment was the most coveted slot a rookie could receive.
“Is my name that valuable now?”
Just adding the name Guitar Hero alone had changed her rigid stance.
Not to mention the fact that a broadcasting station director was his fan.
Park Siwoo felt a strange sense of pride swell within him.