Chapter 213: Performance Presentation (3)
Translator: RaidenTL
Chapter 213: Performance Presentation (3)
The atmosphere in Spark’s waiting room after the pre-recording was like a festival.
And why wouldn't it be? Kang Gi-yeon had just made a triumphant return.
He hadn't sweated excessively, nor had he made any mistakes. Most importantly, he had delivered a performance he was personally satisfied with. With that, he had done his part for this last broadcast.
"I'm so proud of you, our youngest! What should Hyung buy you? Just say the word. I'll buy you anything except a house!"
"Since when were you my Hyung?"
His bickering with Lee Cheong-hyeon was the same as always. Thanks to that, I was finally able to breathe a sigh of relief.
I was the one who was nervous this time...
Ever since I turned off the negative emotion control, a wave of guilt, worry, and anxiety had kept me awake for the past few days. But seeing him like this finally put my mind at ease.
I was trying to peacefully enjoy the time leading up to the ending stage when the manager dropped a bombshell.
"Guys, you're getting your settlement after this season ends."
"...Huh?"
"I'm saying you'll start receiving settlement payments from the third quarter!"
Wait, why are you only telling us this now?! An office worker’s vitality triples the moment they hear they’re getting paid! I was already feeling miserable about having to work on a Sunday!
The Spark members, however, looked dazed, as if the fact that they were actually starting to earn money hadn't sunk in yet. To be precise, they seemed to be having trouble processing the reality of it.
But settlements are important. Especially for idols who have worked until now without receiving a single cent.
"What's the settlement date for UA? I think it was in the contract, but sometimes the settlement date and the date the statement is issued are different—I mean, I've heard they can be... You're deducting the withholding tax before it comes out, right?"
I grabbed the manager and grilled him. He wasn't released until he told me the exact hour and minute the money would hit our bank accounts.
"A minute ago, you called me a monster born of an idol persona."
Kang Gi-yeon snickered from the corner. That’s right, this body is a monster born of capitalism. I calculate everything in life in terms of money.
"Forget that. Has everyone signed up for a housing subscription?"
"Pardon?"
Jeong Seong-bin asked back, his eyes wide with surprise.
"I asked if you signed up for a housing subscription. I assume most of you have indemnity insurance, but check anyway and anyone who hasn't should sign up now."
"Hyung, we haven't even received the money yet."
"The interest rates on savings accounts aren't bad right now, you know? If you don't have any big expenses coming up, open a deposit account. I'm sure there was a Minhyup Bank near our dorm."
"...Hyung."
Just as I was debating which financial products to introduce to these young, sheltered members, Park Ju-woo tapped me on the shoulder.
He then pointed to the behind cam in the corner of the waiting room that was filming me.
"..."
I guess I’ll be appearing in the last broadcast behind-the-scenes as 'Method Actor Kim I-wol,' unable to break character from a financial drama. I'm doomed.
"You're... you're going to edit that out, right?"
"Of course not."
The staff member gave me a bright smile. I swallowed my tears and forced a happy smile back.
"Oh, I-wol."
The manager signaled the camera to film elsewhere for a moment and then called me over.
He seemed to have something private to say, so I leaned in slightly. He covered his mouth with his hand and whispered into my ear.
"The accounting team told me to tell you to submit receipts for the money you spent out of pocket. They said if it's been too long and you don't have the payment records, just print out the order history. They want to settle everything before the end of the year."
"Pardon?"
How did the accounting team find out about that?
When I acted as if I had no idea what he was talking about, the manager gave me a playful swat on the back.
"Seong-bin told them. Do you have any idea how shocked we were?"
"The atmosphere at the company was a bit... tense back then."
"Even so. We'll reimburse everything you spent out of your own pocket, so make sure to bring the expenditure details, okay? If you really don't have them, bring the transfer records. The accounting team will process it as an expense."
What kind of talk is that? You're going to give the accounting team a heart attack. Receipts, dates, amounts, and deposit accounts are the lifeblood of accounting.
"And one more thing... a planning fee will be added to your settlement statement. It'll be listed under a separate item, so I wanted to let you know in advance."
"A planning fee?"
"You know, for producing the album. It'll be roughly what it would cost to outsource it. It might not be a huge amount, but still."
I didn't quite understand. I only did it because the system told me to, and now they were giving me money?
Did the company ever give extra pay for doing another team's work? No, they always just brushed it off, saying we were all helping each other out.
I must have looked incredibly dim-witted because the manager patted my shoulder sympathetically.
"You're getting paid for the work you did. It's only natural, so don't look so puzzled."
Then, the manager spoke up loudly so the entire waiting room could hear.
"And guys, there's actually one more thing I haven't told you."
At the manager's words, everyone's attention shifted back to him.
"You guys are 1st place nominees this week."
"...What?"
"I said, you're 1st place nominees."
A suffocating silence fell over the waiting room. No one dared to speak.
What was happening?
Settlements, planning fees, and now 1st place nominees?
"Usually, they give us a heads-up when the music show starts, but I didn't say anything because I thought it would be too much pressure for Gi-yeon. Sorry for telling you so late."
"No, you did it for our sake...! It's okay!"
Jeong Seong-bin hurriedly reassured the manager.
But 1st place nominees? I couldn't even fathom how we had made it that far.
We had appeared on countless shows without rest, but it was difficult to take 1st place on broadcast points alone.
Since the first-week sales period had passed, our album points would have dropped. Digital points and text voting points were areas where we had to rely entirely on the fans, so I had tried to exclude them from my expectations as much as possible...
"They must have voted and streamed so much for us," Lee Cheong-hyeon muttered.
To be a 1st place nominee at this point, there must have even been additional bulk purchases of the album.
Knowing how hard the fans must have worked for our last broadcast and our first 6-member stage, it was hard to even lift my head.
I was planning to aim for the 1st place KPI again next year.
We hadn't even won yet, and it wasn't like a lost hope had been revived, but at the very least, I was more than satisfied with this result. Beyond satisfaction, I was grateful for the overwhelming affection we had received.
"...Let's think of an ending reaction version."
"Huh?"
Lee Cheong-hyeon, who had been repeatedly muttering "1st place nominees..." in disbelief, looked at me.
"First, a version where we sincerely congratulate the other seniors if they win 1st place. Second, a pledge for if we win. And prepare your thoughts on being nominated. We can just film the behind cam ourselves after the broadcast."
"If we prepare like that, we won't be flustered whether we win or not."
Lee Cheong-hyeon laughed as if it were absurd. The other members were the same.
However, meetings were now second nature to them. They naturally gathered in front of the sofa in the waiting room, practiced the highlight choreography of the other nominees, and prepared a deep bow as our team's pledge.
"Are you nervous?"
I whispered into Kang Gi-yeon's ear.
At the end of the broadcast, while all the singers were standing on the large stage, Kang Gi-yeon's posture remained perfectly upright.
"No."
His answer was firm. I couldn't be more proud of him.
"You don't look nervous at all either, Hyung."
"I am. I'm incredibly tense."
Kang Gi-yeon looked at me with eyes that said, 'Don't lie.'
But I was serious. Everything I’d done over the past few months was riding on this. I was desperately racking my brain so I wouldn't forget the highlight choreography of the other nominees.
Just as I was about to explain my sincerity to Kang Gi-yeon, the MC began the announcement.
"Let's meet the three teams nominated for 1st place on 'Music World' this week!"
The top three groups were introduced one by one on the electronic display. Spark was truly among them.
It was surreal to see it with my own eyes. Normally, it would have taken much longer for Spark to even become 1st place nominees.
"First, let's look at the album points!"
If we were nominees this time, we might actually be able to win 1st place next time.
Then, I’ll have to target the first-week sales properly. I’ll need to do more promotion and build more recognition. I’ll herd everyone onto broadcasts like a flock of sheep, with Choi Je-ho and Jeong Seong-bin at the front. I’ll let Kang Gi-yeon rest if he wants, though.
"Next is the broadcast points!"
I’ll have to make Lee Cheong-hyeon write songs while feeding him nothing but water dumplings. I heard others feed people fried dumplings in situations like this, but fried food is bad for the body.
I’ll make Park Ju-woo drink pear and bellflower root tea until his body smells like bellflower root.
If we go to see the New Year's sunrise again next year, I’ll pray for a 1st place win even if it kills me.
"Next, we will reveal the digital points!"
I’ll have to squeeze UA even harder. Seeing as they’re giving me a planning fee, they must still have plenty in their coffers.
Since it’s come to this, I’ll strip them clean. I’m an expert at bringing the remaining balance of the office supply budget down to zero.
"Hyung, Hyung!"
"What?"
Lee Cheong-hyeon urgently grabbed my elbow and shook it.
What is it? I'm busy planning for the future. You should focus on your facial expression...
...?
"Finally, the real-time text voting points!"
Wait a second.
Why are our points so high?
The real-time text voting points were still climbing, but even a quick calculation of the middle portion made it clear. We weren't in 3rd place.
And then, Spark’s live text voting points hit the maximum.
"The winner of this Sunday's Music World is... Congratulations! Spark!"
With a loud bang, confetti cannons exploded from both sides of the stage.
People around us clapped and offered their congratulations, and the trophy was handed to our leader, Jeong Seong-bin.
In front of us, fans were crying. Expressions of love and the members' names echoed through the air, mingling with the AR of "MISSION."
Truly, Spark had won 1st place.