Chapter 484
Chapter 484
Featuring.
In music, it usually refers to a guest artist participating in a song by singing or performing a specific part.
Typically, the trend is to involve a guest with different attributes than the original artist. This adds a unique flair or strength to the album.
For example, a rapper might bring in a vocalist, a male artist might feature a female one, or a senior artist might feature on a rookie’s track for promotional purposes.
But here’s the thing.
[VTIC Shin Cheong-ryeo Sunbae-nim: Junior. Are you interested in featuring?]
Me? On a VTIC track?
‘…A top-tier male idol featuring on another top-tier male idol’s song?’
The internet, a place already rife with verbal abuse, immediately came to mind.
It would be a total shitshow.
Sure, it would draw massive attention, but…
‘Why would I?’
There was nothing to even think about.
I paused looking at my status window and sent the reply immediately.
‘He can’t seriously mean he wants me to feature on his song.’
I wanted to see what he was up to, sending a text like that out of the blue.
A moment later, my phone vibrated again.
The reply arrived…
[VTIC Shin Cheong-ryeo Sunbae-nim: Is that so?]
[VTIC Shin Cheong-ryeo Sunbae-nim: You really should be interested, though.]
“…….”
[VTIC Shin Cheong-ryeo Sunbae-nim: Wouldn’t it feel better to help each other out rather than holding onto a debt? It looks better, too.]
Look at this guy.
‘Is he telling me not to make him bring up the favors he’s done for me lately?’
He’s the same guy who once tried to bash my head in, but it’s true he’s been cooperative since then, paying his dues to settle the score.
I’d also received some crucial help from him a few times after that.
‘But it was mutual, you bastard.’
Don’t act like you’re the only one who helped. Besides, you’ve stabbed me in the back plenty of times, too.
I started typing a reply that intentionally misinterpreted his words.
I stopped mid-sentence.
‘Hmm.’
It didn’t seem like he was just trying to get under my skin.
It was annoying, but also quite intriguing. I rubbed my chin before editing my reply and sending it.
I hate to admit it, but as a veteran who’s been in this game for decades, he knows how to read the room.
He’s not some airhead who’d want to collaborate just because he’s "close" with someone.
There was no way he’d ask me to feature on his own album. Which meant…
‘This is a connection.’
Who could it be? Surely not Malang Dalkom…
Vrrr—
[VTIC Shin Cheong-ryeo Sunbae-nim: My song, of course. ^^]
“…….”
Is he insane?
I called him immediately.
“Sunbae-nim.”
—Junior.
“Do you have anything else to add to that explanation?”
I heard a faint chuckle over the phone.
—Yes.
And so, an impromptu meeting was arranged.
Though it felt more like a duel.
Cheong-ryeo called me to an outdoor cafe where we had met once before.
‘Did he buy the place?’
There was no one else around again, whether he’d rented the whole place out on short notice or actually bought it.
Instead, a yellow dog was excitedly running around the grass.
“The grass grows so well in the summer, I think Kong-i is excited too.”
“…….”
Woof!
I looked down at the dog, who had dropped a ball at my feet and was wagging its tail vigorously.
What… does it want me to throw it?
‘There you go.’
Whoosh. The soft ball drew a parabola across the yard, and the dog sprinted after it like an arrow.
Then, I looked back at the human sitting across from me.
“We can go inside if it’s too hot.”
“I’m fine.”
It was early morning, almost dawn, so the air was still cool.
I didn’t speak first. I sat with my arms crossed, waiting for the one who proposed this to explain himself.
That was only proper.
And he followed through.
“Well, first off, you know I’m preparing an album.”
Right.
“And you know all the VTIC members have enlisted, right?”
Yeah, I know.
When I nodded, he gave a mock-serious nod back.
“There’s a song I want to use, but there’s a part in the bridge where the vocal range doesn’t quite fit me.”
“…….”
“Well, given the situation, I thought you’d be the perfect fit. What do you think?”
Is he serious?
“Is the guy out on leave unable to use his voice or something?”
Anyone would think Ju-dan was on strike and refusing to record.
But Cheong-ryeo didn’t even blink.
“You aren’t allowed to engage in profit-making activities while serving.”
“Songs made before enlistment are an exception.”
“Recording while out on leave doesn’t fall under that. It would be troublesome if word got out.”
He smiled softly.
“I’m sure you understand, Junior.”
“…….”
Understand?
Me, understanding why it would be troublesome if word got out…
‘…Ah.’
Dammit.
‘It reached his ears, too.’
I took a sip of my ice water. Then, I spoke.
“Did it leak from the LeTi side?”
Cha Yu-jin’s disappearance from the dorm.
The fact that the news reached Wonder Hall’s agency—who were busy preparing a massive negative viral campaign against us—in such a short time.
Was the route through LeTi?
‘LeTi provided nearly half of our company’s investment.’
In that process, an environment where staff from both sides communicate was inevitable. Naturally, that meant an exchange of information.
And the story of Cha Yu-jin leaving the dorm could have leaked through them.
However, Cheong-ryeo lightly shifted the phrasing.
“Well. ‘It leaked all the way to LeTi’ would be more accurate.”
“…….”
“I understand. You must have a lot on your plate right now. Controlling information must be tricky, right?”
He leaned forward slightly, resting his arms on the table.
“If you do the featuring, I’ll tell you where the rat is.”
“…….”
“Seems like a fair trade. What do you think?”
Hmm.
I set my glass, now filled only with ice, down on the table.
“First, let me verify.”
“Hmm?”
“I need to confirm if the information you heard about my company is correct.”
The part about it leaking to LeTi.
Cheong-ryeo, who had been listening quietly, didn’t hesitate to give the answer.
“Cha Yu-jin left the dorm.”
“Do you know why he left?”
“Hospitalization due to stress, followed by conflict between members… That’s the rumor, but who knows?”
So he doesn’t believe the rumor himself.
However, he didn’t seem to have a shred of doubt about the fact that Cha Yu-jin had bolted.
‘His confidence is something else.’
Fine, whatever. I could see he had a solid grasp of our situation.
Then, the next question.
“Why do you want to use me?”
“…….”
“Wait. Don’t give me that ‘you’re the right fit for the situation’ crap. If it’s about song quality or promotion, I know you have plenty of other options.”
Starting with having Ju-dan record before he enlisted, or if the song was discovered late, there are plenty of talented male soloists out there.
‘He could even just cover it with the arrangement.’
So why use a rival top-tier male idol?
“There must be a specific reason why you have to use me for the featuring.”
“You’re right.”
“…!”
Cheong-ryeo admitted it cleanly.
Then he smirked.
“Want to guess?”
Should I kill him?
“Well, I guessed yours, didn’t I? I was just wondering if you could guess mine. It’s okay if you don’t know.”
You heard information, and I have to deduce it. I don’t see how that’s the same as "guessing," but okay.
‘If I get annoyed, I lose.’
So, I told him straight.
“I’m not a mind reader. How would I know what you’re thinking?”
“Hmm.”
“But I can think about it from my perspective.”
The reverse.
‘If I were Cheong-ryeo, and I absolutely had to use Park Moon-dae for a featuring?’
How could I benefit from using a rival top-tier idol while minimizing the downsides?
“If I had to use me, I’d think about how to handle it.”
The realization came quickly.
“No matter what you do, you lose on costs. It’ll be controversial, so you have to defend against that.”
Fandom division, fighting, rumors.
Public opinion would clash and feelings would be hurt. A brilliant plan would be needed to mitigate that.
The time, money, and manpower required for that plan?
It would be much more profitable to put those resources into album promotion instead.
So, what would he do?
“So… I’d think about how to prevent the controversy entirely.”
There was only one way.
“If we were in the same company, it wouldn’t be a controversy.”
“…!”
Exactly.
Featuring between seniors and juniors within the same company is naturally more accepted.
The range of what fans are willing to "overlook" is much wider.
In other words, if TeSTAR’s agency, Orbit Stars Entertainment, was a complete subsidiary of LeTi… then it would work.
If I’ve gotten this far, I can deduce his reason in reverse.
Setting the mood.
“Are you trying to use my name in your activities… to more clearly show that our company has joined the LeTi line?”
…Basically, it would go like this:
Cheong-ryeo took his arms off the table.
Then he smiled.
“You guessed it.”
“…….”
“As you probably know, LeTi is also investing in platform businesses. Things like online concerts, broadcasting, and fan social media.”
Cheong-ryeo continued, fiddling with his Americano glass.
“And the importance of platforms in this industry… well, I’m sure you’ve felt it yourself, Junior.”
“…….”
“So, looking at the long term, we need to bulk up our image a bit more right now.”
This guy has essentially taken control of his agency, LeTi.
That’s why he can boldly invest his own album into expanding the company’s business power.
‘For the long-term survival of the group.’
Because he can do whatever he wants with the company!
‘Crazy bastard.’
“So you want to flaunt your influence over our company a bit more?”
“Hmm? Flaunt? Isn’t it just stating facts? That half of the investment didn’t just vanish, Junior.”
Cheong-ryeo stared at me intently.
“And… you of all people should know.”
Know what?
“This isn’t a proposal where only LeTi benefits.”
“……."
I took a moment to let my brain cool down.
Then, I began to calculate calmly again.
‘TeSTAR’s benefit.’
“…Make up for the soured relationship with T1 through LeTi’s platform?”
“You catch on quick.”
Even so, it’s obvious we’d be pushed aside and kept in check by you guys.
Besides, is your platform even in the same league as a major broadcaster like T1 yet?
‘But, in the current situation, showing that we’ve picked a side to some extent isn’t a bad move….’
I hid my complicated thoughts and answered sharply.
“That’s just rationalization. LeTi clearly benefits more.”
“I thought you might think that, so I prepared another reward, didn’t I?”
…The matter of Cha Yu-jin leaving the dorm.
‘Hmm.’
I crossed my arms.
I could almost hear the scales tipping back and forth.
Of course, this wasn’t a decision to be made based on friendship.
That was when Cheong-ryeo spoke softly again.
“I want to make one thing clear.”
“…….”
“I have no intention of doing anything that would harm TeSTAR. It’s just….”
Cheong-ryeo grinned.
“I intend to do everything I can within the given circumstances.”
“…….”
“You’re doing the same, aren’t you?”
I realized who he was referring to, even though he didn’t name them.
—Iter.
Against those rookies.
“…….”
“In that sense, a strategic alliance.”
Cheong-ryeo held out his hand.
“What do you say?”
“…….”
I let out a short sigh.
Then I asked, “The duration?”
“This year.”
The answer came immediately.
Without further ado, I took his hand and shook it.
“Of course, this is my independent judgment. If it’s rejected at the group level after I go back and discuss it, that’s it.”
“Sure.”
His eyes said he knew exactly how that would go.
“And one more thing.”
I adjusted my posture.
“As you obviously know, featuring on the title track is too risky.”
“Hmm?”
“Keep it to a B-side or a second sub-track at most.”
“…….”
This was a natural and common-sense suggestion. Well, he probably would have done that even if I hadn’t said anything.
But Cheong-ryeo paused for a moment, then a faint smile played on his lips.
“I think there’s been a misunderstanding.”
Huh?
“I never said I needed you to feature on my solo album. I said I needed you for a ‘song I want to use.’”
“…….”
“Don’t worry. There won’t be any issues for either side.”
“…….”
Fine, fuck it.
Yeah, I overestimated him.
‘There’s no way that guy would take a hit on his own album….’
From now on, instead of spending even a second worrying about his career, I’ll just worry about my own stamina.
After gulping down the melted ice water, I roughly patted the dog’s neck. The dog panted loudly.
The guy across from me spoke again.
“Oh, and about the rat,”
You’re just in time.
‘I was just about to say that.’
“You don’t need to tell me.”
“…?”
“I’ll handle it myself.”
I smiled inwardly.
I knew that since we’d come this far and gained momentum, even he wouldn’t be able to back out easily.
“Instead, I want to set another condition.”
I laid out the condition I had been refining on my way here and during our conversation.
As Cheong-ryeo listened, his expression shifted until finally…
“Haha!”
He burst into laughter.
“Junior, you really are greedy.”
Look who’s talking.
I ruffled the head of the dog, who had brought the ball back again, and threw it once more.
“Want to cancel?”
“No.”
He stopped laughing and nodded.
“Fine. Let’s do that.”
I knew he would.
And so, I smoothly concluded the conversation with him. And then, against the summer morning sky…
[Hyung! Is something wrong? I haven’t been able to reach you lately….]
Hmm? A popup appeared.
‘Ah, Keun-dal.’
It had been a while since he contacted me.
I suppose he was worried since I’d been out of touch while dealing with the chaos surrounding Cha Yu-jin.
I was planning to contact him anyway, so this was perfect.
After explaining some of the background, I briefly declared the current situation.
‘The system upload is already complete.’
[Whoa, really?]
‘But new popups keep appearing. There’s even something called a survey.’
[…A survey?]
Yeah, I’m confused too.
‘I’m outside right now, so I’ll tell you more when I get back….’
That was when it happened.
“Um, Junior.”
What now?
But before I could even respond, that casual voice spoke again.
With words I never could have imagined.
“What do you mean, a survey?”
“…!!”
What?
I whipped my head toward Cheong-ryeo so fast I thought my neck would snap.
He was looking exactly at me… no.
He was looking at the empty air in front of my eyes.
Right where the popup window was.
“…….”
No way.
“You can see it?”
“Yes.”
Cheong-ryeo raised his hand.
And… with his index finger, he poked the popup.
“I can see it perfectly.”
[Aaaaahhh!]
…And just like that.
An unwanted status window counselor was added to my life.