Chapter 87
Chapter 87
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 87
Chapter Title: Album Presentation
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87. Album Presentation
2022.04.20.
Teacher Yoon Mihyeon was doubled over laughing so hard she couldn't straighten her back.
‘It's true, but she doesn't believe me.’
Even in the midst of it, the director steadfastly promoted the movie. He didn't seem all that upset. If anything, his eyes sparkled whenever he looked at me.
“Ah, time's already up. One last question.”
Fortunately, the final question was ordinary too. After a standard query about expected audience numbers, the press conference finally wrapped up.
Watching the reporters file out, I bowed at the waist.
“Thank you for your hard work.”
“Good work. Dowon.”
Once the reporters had left, the director suddenly grabbed my shoulders and spun me around.
“Director?”
“You pretty little thing!”
Has he lost his mind?
“Buzz factor good~job! Investment good~job! Our movie good~job!”
Ah, good. Not crazy after all. Just your standard capitalist.
“Sorry for causing a scene.”
“No, no, not at all! This isn't a scene. It's buzz for the investors. You did great. Cha Dowon, good job! Excellent job!”
He was excited.
I headed over to Jeong Ji-seok, who was standing in the back.
“Sorry for the rudeness today.”
He didn't say a word. I flashed a bright smile and continued.
“I'm good at singing and dancing, but I'm good at acting too.”
“It's hard enough to just be good at acting.”
“Most people struggle with that, but I'm good at acting too, so it's a problem. Can't be helped. Guess I'll have to act.”
Jeong Ji-seok clicked his tongue in disbelief.
“Looking forward to working with you. Dad.”
In the script, Jeong Ji-seok wasn't just "father"—he was "Appuji."
“Yeah. Looking forward to it, you little punk.”
The word "punk" had a heavy accent, but it didn't matter. That's when Yoon Mihyeon chimed in, still laughing.
“You two are getting along?”
Where are you going, Teacher?
‘Senile cataracts kicking in?’
I shook my head, and Teacher Yoon Mihyeon laughed even harder.
‘Why are you looking at us so fondly?’
It was like watching bickering siblings. I let out a sigh.
***
[Cha Dowon lol you killed it wtf did you do lmao]
I stared at the messenger window and took a deep breath.
[Shut up.]
[Everyone's watched your clip a ton lol others say you're cool lol where lol insane lol]
Lee Taejin, grandson of the police chief and future mukbang emperor, seemed thrilled.
[When you coming to school?]
[Too busy]
I closed the messenger. I really was busy.
‘Why'd he want to meet here of all places?’
I glanced around. I was in a Friends Entertainment conference room. Quietly, I flipped through two scripts at once.
Thanks to my multitasking ability, I could handle both separately. But maybe because they were traditional historical dramas? Memorizing felt a bit off.
‘And it's in dialect too.’
A groan escaped me.
‘I could memorize them if I took it slow.’
The problem was I didn't have time. My schedule was packed with events and CFs.
‘Things got quiet for a bit, and now it's flooding in.’
Like it had been waiting.
‘If I don't memorize the scripts, Jeong Ji-seok will mock me.’
That was worse than death. I grumbled and dove back into the scripts.
That's when a message popped up on my smartphone.
[Come to school! I'll hook you up!]
“No time for school. Memorizing comes first.”
No way to boost my memory instantly?
I muttered to myself, then snapped to attention. I quietly looked at my smartphone.
‘Why didn't I think of this? Might work?’
I switched my smartphone to cheat mode.
[cheat mode 2/3]
[Cha Dowon memorization]
[It's A. Change it?]
It was A from the start.
‘Not bad, but for an idol, memorization is basic.’
I tapped the screen quietly.
[Change to S]
Will it work?
[……]
[Changed to S-rank. Body will change.]
[Side effect: Lose consciousness for 20 minutes in 2 minutes.]
[cheat mode 3/3]
I'd used up all my cheats, so no pushing the side effect back. I checked the time on my smartphone.
‘What time was our meeting?’
Exactly 20 minutes from now.
That's when the door suddenly opened. I frowned at who walked in.
“Minje hyung?”
“Yeah, you're early. Had some prep to do.”
Kang Minje walked in with a laptop and smiled brightly.
“Prepared a presentation.”
“That's why you called me here?”
“Yep. It's our next album concept. Wanted to show it in a big space.”
Kang Minje looked confident. No, this fox had turned the album concept into a full presentation.
‘Could've just told me.’
So thorough.
Suddenly, my consciousness started fading. I grabbed Kang Minje's arm tightly.
“Minje hyung! I'm gonna sleep! I'll wake up in 20 minutes, don't wake me!”
“Huh?”
“I'm sleeping! Passed out from sleep! Not fainting! Don't wake me!”
I quickly flopped face-down on the script. I think Kang Minje said something, but I couldn't hear it. My consciousness plunged like it had been waiting.
***
Kang Minje looked at the sleeping Cha Dowon and muttered.
“Finally alone, and he's asleep?”
Face-down Cha Dowon didn't respond. Kang Minje chuckled and hooked up his laptop.
‘He's busy, after all.’
It wouldn't be an exaggeration to say Cha Dowon was the busiest person at Zenith right now.
“Play now, or what.”
Variety shows, CFs, media everywhere—his face was nonstop. Thanks to that, the group's image was skyrocketing.
“Makes things easier for me.”
Kang Minje whispered to the sleeping Cha Dowon.
“But as easy as it gets, it's heavy too. Can't put out anything weird.”
He thought a dozen times a day about good concepts. Tough and hard, but weirdly enjoyable.
“This concept wouldn't exist without you.”
No answer from the sleeper.
“Must be exhausted.”
Was he always this dead to the world asleep?
Still felt a bit disappointed.
“Body okay now?”
That nosebleed before—was it really fine? No time left? If so...
‘What should I do?’
Kang Minje rested his chin and kept staring at Cha Dowon.
The sleeper remained silent.
‘Tch.’
Why was it so hard to talk one-on-one, even living in the same dorm?
As Kang Minje grumbled and checked his prep, the door opened and Executive Director Ju danced in.
“Minje. Where's Dowon? Oh, asleep?”
“Said 20 minutes.”
“Makes sense. Look at him studying those scripts. Our Dowon.”
Executive Director Ju waved. Kang Minje smiled faintly.
“You like him a lot.”
“How could I not? He's the one boosting our stock.”
Ah, so that's why the dancing. Clever Kang Minje instantly got why Ju was in a good mood.
“They asked how I raised a kid like this.”
“You didn't raise him.”
“They'd believe he rolled in one day. So I said I did.”
Executive Director Ju spun in his swivel chair, then stopped, dizzy, and held his forehead.
“Still, gotta say something.”
“Ah. The press conference?”
“Wanna tell him not to make enemies...”
Executive Director Ju and Kang Minje looked at sleeping Cha Dowon.
“He won't listen.”
“Probably not.”
“Then my mouth just hurts.”
Kang Minje nodded.
“Nah, he handles himself fine. Not Dowon's fault. It's the old movie industry fossils.”
“Same as ever. Sometimes I wonder why movie stars get the most respect in entertainment.”
“No idea. Some law that movies are the only art?”
“Ah, so what we do is pure art.”
Kang Minje grinned.
“Isn't it too commercial for that?”
“Minje, don't say that anywhere. You'll get a million hate comments.”
“Of course not. Why make enemies? I'm the guy writing, composing, and arranging commercial tracks. Gotta look good to insiders and fans. Who knows, might do movie scores someday. Gotta shine.”
Guy's got a wild side too. Executive Director Ju shook his head.
“Anyway, why'd you call today?”
“Ah, wanted to explain our next album concept. Prepared a presentation.”
Right on cue, Yoo Hajin and Ki Jaeyoon walked in.
“Ah, damn! Hyung, don't nag about what I eat.”
“A tenth of my life is stopping you from eating, seriously!”
“I get hungry dancing. Huh? Executive Director Ju. Hi. Minje hyung, hi?”
Yoo Hajin spotted Ju and bowed immediately.
“Ah, Executive Director Ju. You're here.”
“Yeah. Hi, Jaeyoon. Diet management a mess?”
Ki Jaeyoon avoided Ju's eyes.
“Should I assign someone for tight management? No breathing room.”
Ki Jaeyoon hid behind Yoo Hajin.
“I'm good with Leader hyung.”
“Listen to your leader? Hajin puts up with you. Anyone else would've quit nagging by now.”
Yoo Hajin smiled awkwardly. Then Lee Seungjun entered last. Ju greeted him smiling.
“Ah, Seungjun's here?”
The quiet member bowed and looked up. Kang Minje glanced around.
“Everyone's here?”
That's when sleeping Cha Dowon bolted upright.
“Sca, scared me.”
Ki Jaeyoon blinked in surprise. Cha Dowon looked around.
“Ah, conference room.”
“What were you dreaming to jump like that?”
“Nothing much.”
Ki Jaeyoon pouted. Cha Dowon was brutally honest, yet impossible to read. The member currently blowing up grinned at the script.
“Why the grin?”
“Feels like my brain got smarter.”
“What?”
“Nap helped. Scripts sticking now. Ah, but presentation time?”
He always took charge. Come to think of it, there was another like that. Ki Jaeyoon eyed Kang Minje. The monster who handled lyrics, composition, and arrangement—different from Cha Dowon—smiled.
“Ah, let's start.”
The low voice was pleasant but intensely pressuring. Ki Jaeyoon exhaled softly and looked at the screen.
***
‘Kang Minje's a genius, alright.’
Kang Minje introduced the concept on the screen.
“Want our next album concept to be 'historical fusion.'”
Executive Director Ju rested his chin and watched. Kang Minje showed bizarre hanbok photos from who-knows-where.
“Fusion, so no historical accuracy on outfits. But flashy. Need sponsors.”
“That's fine. Historical means no gaining weight, though.”
Executive Director Ju glared at Ki Jaeyoon.
“Especially you, Jaeyoon.”
“Always picking on me.”
“You're the worry. Go on, Minje.”
Kang Minje smiled and continued.
“First, why fusion historical: Our videos get lots of foreigners.”
I nodded slightly.
“We're already eyeing Asia. But want bigger markets.”
Executive Director Ju squinted.
“You don't mean...”
“Let's look at North America.”
Executive Director Ju clutched his forehead.
“Not as easy as you say.”
“But endgame's North America. So I prepared.”
I quietly read the screen.
“Chunhyang?”
The one with Yi Mongryong and Bangja?
“Not Chunhyang Tale. Album title's Chunhyang. 'Spring Fragrance' for overseas.”
I asked right away.
“When's our album out?”
Executive Director Ju answered.
“Winter. Midwinter.”
Wow. Cutting it close.
“Not bad. Winter, spring fragrance. Nice.”
Executive Director Ju nodded.
“Historical's bold, though... you?”
“This one's historical, next we'll tailor to them. I want recognition with a unique concept first.”
Kang Minje smiled foxily.
“Gotta stand out first.”
Seemed solid. No, great.
‘Still a gamble.’
Pre-regression Kang Minje never would've done this.
‘What was Zenith's second album back then?’
Hook song loaded with synths, right?