Someone Else's YouTube Gig
"It's not someone I know all that well..."
"What do you mean? Just like you said—not someone I know well."
Myeongjeon raised a question mark in her mind at those words. Why bring it up if it's not someone you know well?This guy's got a knack for saying the most baffling things sometimes, she thought, but Junhong pressed on.
"Still, it's not like we're total strangers. Close enough to at least float the idea of an appearance."
"...Is it really worth going that far?"
"It kinda is."
With that, Junhong handed over a business card. Myeongjeon took it and immediately saw why. She didn't have much of a network outside the music world, barely knew anyone there, but even she recognized this name.
"Jeong Tae-young PD... that guy, right? The one who made that famous show at the broadcast station before."
"Yeah. Heard he's doing YouTube these days now. Not super close or anything, but we've met a few times."
Jeong Tae-young. A producer famous for helming several hit programs that even Myeongjeon had seen a few times, now transitioned into the YouTube ecosystem making shows there. Known more for comfy, low-drama content than shock value, and lately focusing on interviews... Perfect fit for Myeongjeon, who was hunting for that exact vibe.
"But I doubt just an intro from you would land me on his show. And I'm not exactly buzzing with topicality anyway."
"Realistically, yeah."
Junhong said that while glancing at 'Suyeon.' Pretty face, insane skills. Talent that could make her a superstar in the Korean rock scene. Not just Junhong—veterans like Taylor'd's Kim Cheol-yeon or Professor Chae Hogun recognized it too. A raw gem acknowledged by countless others.
What if that talent had popped up in idol land or the mainstream singer circuit? Total chaos. "Genius girl!" they'd scream, scrambling to sign her up.
Even short of that, if she'd just strummed an acoustic doing easy-listening covers, it might've gone viral the same way.
But Suyeon didn't. Glory laid out before her, yet she stuck to straight blues, blues rock, and her all-girl high school band, marching on.
A true blessing for the Korean rock scene... but a straight curse for her.
If she'd debuted as a solo artist right away, she might've even hit Jeong Tae-young PD's YouTube channel, Junhong mused. Though her lack of gravitas might've been an issue.
He listened to 'Suyeon's' response.
"Well, if you're offering an intro, I'd gratefully accept..."
"Really? Alright, lemme make a call then."
Junhong eyed the card, punched in the number, gritted his teeth, and hit dial.
A guy he'd only done music extras for on a couple broadcasts with, then bumped into once at a post-shoot drinks. Does he even remember me?
But he couldn't ignore 'Suyeon's' sparkling eyes. Those eyes full of faith that he'd actually pull through with the PD and snag the spot. Who could look into them and say, "Nah, I was just talking out my ass"?
Doomed to dial, even knowing rejection loomed.
Ring, ring, riiing—
An eternity of a single minute. Junhong was about to mutter a relieved "He's not picking up—" when—
"Hello?"
"Ah, uh, h-hello! PD-nim! Do you remember me? Im Junhong, the guitarist from that Oh My House appearance. We grabbed drinks together about a year ago too. Ring any bells?"
"Ah, uh... Hello. Um... Ah, aaaah! Yeah, yeah, I remember."
He remembers? Junhong screamed internally for the second time. How the hell does he remember that?Trapped into begging now.
"Uh, um... Anyway, reason I'm calling is... about that YouTube channel of yours—no, wait. You seen that blowing-up video lately?
[Dae-yo High School Girl]
That's a kid I know, and they mentioned it. Said since I know you, PD Tae-young, maybe they could appear."
Avoiding Myeongjeon's wide-eyed glare at the fib, Junhong turned away and added,
"You, uh, know of her...? Dae-yo High School Girl..."
"Oh yeah, I know her! Was actually thinking of reaching out about that myself."
"Pardon?"
Eh?
Even by Myeongjeon's standards, the booking progressed absurdly fast. Handing the phone over briefly, PD Jeong Tae-young's pitch boiled down to:
1. Not the main channel—a sub-channel.
2. Group content with others.
3. Music-related, probably.
4. Might amp up the character traits for buzz.
5. Not an official offer, so keep expectations in check.
Accepting it, Myeongjeon left a dazed Junhong behind and headed home.
The rest was fine, but...
No. 4's a problem.
Why had Myeongjeon even considered YouTube? To kill off this damn Dae-yo High School Girl image.
To erase the insane smear of her sounding like some brain-damaged high schooler post-concussion. That's why she'd gritted her teeth for an unwelcome YouTube stint.
But this offer was the polar opposite.
"Might amp up character traits for buzz"? More like will amp 'em up for buzz.
Obvious as day. If Myeongjeon were the PD, she'd do the same.
(Barring her own extreme disgust for it.) Who'd kill off a character like "natural-born genius guitarist high school beauty who effortlessly drops ~daeyo endings"?
But rejecting it? Too golden an opportunity.
Who turns down Jeong Tae-young PD, sub-channel or not?
No bullet to the head, no reason to. Except Myeongjeon had taken one.
Hence, the dilemma.
"So you're dumping this on me?"
"You're the only one with time right now."
Seoha eyed Suyeon brazenly chugging coffee and thought, Her mom's a businesswoman—shouldn't she be way better at this stuff?
Obvious guess. Barring Myeongjeon fleeing lest Hyein say, "Go for it! Why pass up a shot like that? Want Mom to call instead?"
"You've probably already decided. Just airing it out 'cause it feels off."
"Yeah... I don't wanna do it."
"Why?"
"Obviously 'cause I don't wanna spout dumb shit like 'daeyo'."
Seoha figured that made sense. No one'd do it for ten million won. Hundred million... maybe.
"Then just stick to your guns. Why agonize?"
"Dunno..."
Suyeon took another swig. Seoha had a hunch why.
Too good to pass up. Just swallow some embarrassment.
Wasn't like kicking away chances over personal hang-ups.
If it were Seoha, she'd ghost her friends and bail silently. Screw the hype—if she didn't wanna, no need.
But Suyeon was leader material, shouldering responsibility. Not flat-out rejecting meant half-accepting already.
Just denying it to herself.
So Seoha's job? One thing: nudge her over the edge.
"Lemme decide for you."
"What answer?"
"Do it."
Suyeon's eyes sharpened. But Seoha stayed cool.
"Iseo's out there cosplaying and bassing for Group Sound promo. You just gotta drop a few 'daeyos' on camera—what's the big deal?"
"It's different when you're living it."
"Sure. But embarrassment fades fast; the band's promo lasts."
Suyeon pondered. Seoha kept going.
"Someone said it: People only remember the moment. Few years on, no one's recalling you as Dae-yo High School Girl. Just 'oh, that genius guitarist beauty~' Easy."
"Maybe..."
Suyeon's psyche tilting toward yes. Seoha watched calmly, thinking, Even in a millennium, that Dae-yo High School Girl label ain't vanishing.