Translator: RaidenTL

Chapter 152: Checking the Achievers (1)

Idols have a lot to do besides appearing on music shows.

They have to go on variety shows, perform at events, and film self-produced content.

Among these, fans definitely prefer variety shows and exclusive self-produced content—especially the ones with a proper production crew attached!

Spark doesn't have any so-called "natural-born entertainers." Where would a "no-jam" group go when they're only interesting to look at and boring in every other way? Perhaps that’s why Spark hadn't appeared on many variety shows in the past.

Still, nothing beats variety shows for bringing in new fans.

To hit number one on a music show, we had to appear on every program possible. What was the point of Lee Cheong-hyeon making great music if people didn't hear it? We needed the public to actually listen.

I carefully scanned the list of programs that had sent casting offers. Perhaps because food-related variety shows were the trend, there were an unusual number of mukbang programs.

"Choi Je-ho, can you eat a lot?"

"I can eat if I have to."

"How much?"

"Probably more than the rest of you."

Since he wasn't the type to gain weight no matter how much he ate, having an extra meal or two wouldn't hurt. Alright, you're assigned to the cooking show.

There was also a program whose main content was testing human patience... Kang Gi-yeon volunteered for that one. I told him it was okay to give up if they tried to make him eat something like bugs that weren't HACCP-certified.

There was a familiar program as well.

Challenge! Life Experience – 1 Night, 2 Days

It seemed the production team of Challenge Living liked us quite a bit, considering they wanted to take us ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠away for two days and one night.

"We'll be doing something other than a cafe this time, right...?" Park Ju-woo asked.

I didn't care what it was, as long as it wasn't making shaved ice. When my older sister worked part-time at a cafe, her eyes would roll back into her head whenever bingsu season rolled around.

"Since it's summer, maybe it's something like picking fruit? People pick a lot of peaches and grapes."

"I think they did an orchard special recently. Maybe it's pulling weeds in a rice paddy."

Kang Gi-yeon and Choi Je-ho racked their brains. Pulling weeds on a summer day? I felt dizzy just thinking about it.

Still, being invited back by a program we'd appeared on before was a good sign, so we decided to definitely do Challenge Living.

There was also an unexpected program. It was a singing show called My Singer's Genre Departure.

It was a show where various singers performed songs outside their main genre. It was popular for clips because fans could see a different side of their favorite artists.

"How did we get an offer for My.Singer's.Genre?"

For this kind of show to get attention, they usually needed singers familiar to the public. If a singer nobody knew challenged a different genre, it wouldn't feel "new" to the viewers.

Because of that, the threshold for appearing on My.Singer's.Genre was high. While trot singers or opera singers—who have vastly different vocal styles—appeared frequently, it was rare ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠for more than three idol teams to appear in a single season.

The answer came from a completely unexpected place.

"They said Nyuri sunbaenim recommended us. She received an offer, but her schedule was full with events, so she pushed for us instead."

To think this was all thanks to the full support of a legendary senior. I'd heard the entertainment industry was all about networking, but experiencing its power firsthand was truly impressive. At this moment, I didn't even envy MYTH.

"Seong-bin, do you want to try this?"

"Me?"

Jeong Seong-bin looked startled.

"You couldn't participate in the Position Battle either. Go show them what you've got."

"But..."

Hesitation was written all over Jeong Seong-bin's face.

It was understandable. Park Ju-woo hadn't participated in the Position Battle either.

Normally, I wouldn't have suddenly demanded Jeong Seong-bin appear on a show like this.

But at this point in time, for this kind of program, I couldn't not send him.

"An apology is an apology, but I think revenge is a separate matter."

"...!"

"I realized it after paying someone back once. You have to let your temper out at least once before it turns into a physical illness."

Jeong Seong-bin's face turned pale as he caught my drift.

"Hyung, are you serious?"

"I haven't been anything but serious since the day I arrived at UA."

I thought of Jang Jun-hu, who had probably let his guard down after Jeong Seong-bin bowed low before him.

"We have to teach him a lesson. Don't you think?"

Jeong Seong-bin's eyes trembled. Then, he soon regained his composure and steadied his breathing.

"You have to do well, okay? If you do well, Ju-woo can go on next time too. We have to let Ju-woo sing some rock."

"I'll trust you...!"

Watching the back-and-forth between Park Ju-woo and me, Jeong Seong-bin smiled brightly. His face looked like there was no longer any need to worry.

As soon as Jeong Seong-bin's appearance on My.Singer's.Genre was confirmed, I headed to UA.

Then, I wandered aimlessly around the agency. My excuse was looking for work to help with, but at this point, no employee was willing to give me a task.

The person I was actually waiting for only showed his face around the time an employee pleaded, "Iwol, you don't have to do anything, so just sit down and have a drink...!"

"Hello, Sunbaenim!"

My thunderous greeting echoed through the office. Everyone inside turned their gaze toward me.

Jang Jun-hu, receiving the polite greeting, wore a bewildered expression.

Like the professional office workers they were, the employees immediately turned their eyes back to their monitors.

However, the sudden drop in noise and the heads peeking slightly over the partitions suggested that everyone's attention was fixed on us.

Besides, the phrase 'workplace bullying' has already been etched into their minds twice.

Once when Jang Jun-hu's bullying first came to light, and once when I reported Yu Han-su.

Having heard about abusive behavior within the company twice now, the UA employees would immediately associate any suspicious behavior with bullying.

So, if I greeted a senior from the same company as if I were reporting for military duty, what would people think?

Jang Jun-hu stood frozen like a statue, not knowing what to do.

He probably intended to come to the office at his usual time to catch a busy Management Team employee and soak up some flattery, ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠but unfortunately, he'd have to talk to me today.

"Sunbaenim, are you very busy today?"

"Why do you ask?"

"There's something I absolutely must ask you! I was wondering if you could spare some time, if it's not an intrusion!"

Despite my words, several suspicious glares were still directed at us. Jang Jun-hu seemed to feel them too.

"...Fine. Is there an empty meeting room?"

An employee guided us to a meeting room with translucent glass walls.

Everyone seemed genuinely worried that I might get hit. Since Jang Jun-hu did have a habit of getting physical, I was actually grateful for the concern.

A quick glance showed that Jang Jun-hu's face was completely crumpled.

But this isn't nearly enough.

For all the tears our leader shed, you're going to have to cry tears of blood.

"What is it?"

Jang Jun-hu asked, sitting with his legs crossed.

"You're only humble toward Seong-bin. I guess you don't think taking my phone and threatening me counts as bullying."

"F—"

Jang Jun-hu started to swear but stopped. He seemed conscious of the CCTV.

"So what? You want me to apologize to you too?"

"No. I just want Seong-bin to receive a proper apology."

In other words, your previous apology wasn't enough.

"What... what do you want me to do?"

When I mentioned Jeong Seong-bin, Jang Jun-hu calmed down a bit. He seemed to realize this wasn't a situation where he could act out.

"It's nothing much. Seong-bin is going on a music variety show soon, and I thought it would be good to have your 'invisible support,' Sunbaenim. Since you've been holding the kid back for so long, I figured you should give him a push for once."

"Hey!"

"Sunbaenim. While I'm using honorifics, why don't we speak with mutual respect as human beings?"

I stared intently at Jang Jun-hu.

"After talking with the police involved, I realized that when it comes to giving testimony, there's no such thing as 'PD' or 'senior-junior hierarchy.'"

"..."

"We haven't gone that far yet, and we're not going to. Let's keep this conversation civil."

Jang Jun-hu bit his lip. He ruffled his hair messily in annoyance and looked like he was about to slam the desk before restraining himself.

I waited quietly until he finished his display.

"...What kind of support?"

Once Jang Jun-hu raised the white flag, I brought up what I had prepared.

"Your debut song, Sunbaenim—it's a real masterpiece."

"Hey."

"It would be meaningful and great for a cherished junior from the same agency to sing it, wouldn't it?"

"You little...!"

Just as Jang Jun-hu was about to shout, several silhouettes flinched behind the translucent meeting room wall. They looked ready to burst in at any moment.

Unfortunately for him, the UA of today is different from the UA of the past.

There's no Yu Han-su to help him crush a junior, no Production Team Leader to carry out backroom deals for him, and no sycophantic staff to tell him he's always right. There's no one left.

With the watchful eyes of the employees at my back, I looked Jang Jun-hu ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠straight in the eye and spoke.

"What do you think, Sunbaenim?"

"..."

"Of all the trivial favors you could do, I think this one would actually be worth something."

Jang Jun-hu was silent. I could practically see the gears turning in his head.

Of course he'd be nervous.

The current Jeong Seong-bin is more talented than the Jang Jun-hu of back then. Jang Jun-hu himself probably knows that better than anyone.

His career might take a hit, though.

For Jang Jun-hu, who has maintained his career on the fame of his debut song, having that song's legacy taken from him is a major problem.

Moreover, he's the type of person who would be devastated by the title of "an established balladeer who got crushed by a high school idol vocalist."

"I'll just need your cooperation for the official digital release. Since we're in the same agency, it should be easy to coordinate!"

His face turning bright red, Jang Jun-hu glared at me and asked, "Do you really think he can pull off my song on stage? Like you said, he's a kid who spent years getting cursed out by me while trying to sing."

Yes, you spent years eating away at the most important moments of that kid's life.

"You know better than anyone, Sunbaenim. Seong-bin has always been talented."

That's why he needs to step over you once. By completely overshadowing your most brilliant moment.

"And you're making it sound like I'm doing some grand backroom scheme... but Seong-bin agreed to this too."

The image of Jeong Seong-bin's pure, smiling face was as vivid as if I'd just seen it. I felt so proud that the corners of my mouth almost twitched upward.

"So you don't need to worry about him. The kid grew up very well."

Naturally. Not just anyone can be the leader of Spark.