The Stage That Shook the Network
The chance to show their changed selves came that Friday.
It was the earliest terrestrial music broadcast stage of the week: Friday’s KBC Music Box.
Every member knew how crucial today’s performance would be.
That was why the waiting room air felt heavy and still.
Hayul kept lightly slapping his palms to stay focused, while leader Ahyeon quietly watched over the others.
So much has happened these past few days.
Ahyeon, Jaeha, Berry, Hayul, Roa.
Kim Changsu had gathered the four members besides Roa—who had joined D-Sync first—from various agencies and formed them into a single group.
Even Roa, the longest-serving member at D-Sync, had been there less than six months, so there hadn’t been much time to build teamwork.
After all, the members had simply been chosen for their skills to fit the group concept; there had never been any plan to train them for long.
That was why the sudden crisis had left them unsure what to do.
—Desperation matters, but sometimes it becomes poison. Your skills are already enough, so practice with ease.
Strangely enough, everything had unfolded exactly as Namhun said.
The problem sparked by Hayul’s mistake had thrown Candy Pop’s stages into chaos, yet they had quickly returned to normal.
It proved the issue had never been skill, only mentality.
Normally Candy Pop would still be practicing even in the waiting room, but today everyone sat quietly with eyes closed, as if meditating.
Just then the door opened and Namhun walked in.
“It’s live soon. Time to show what you’ve got, right?”
At Namhun’s words the Candy Pop members gave small nods.
External Effect – Creation of a Common Enemy
Performance Focus – +20
Mental Stability – +20
Singer – Candy Pop
Song – PANG, PANG!
Comprehension – 93
Proficiency – 92
Immersion – 93
Digestibility – 92
Condition – 97
Audience Reaction – 93
Overall Score – 93.2
Performance Bonus – 2.2
External Effect Bonus – 2
Final Score – 97.4
Whew. We’re good.
The rehearsal had gone well, but only after seeing the live stage could Namhun finally relax.
So two points is the cap for the external-effect bonus.
He had hoped for more, given the +20 boosts.
Still, he had half-expected it.
If there were no limit, the final score could exceed 100.
The highest performance bonus so far had been +3.5 when they first discovered the cat-paw dance, yet even that had not carried over to official stages.
Because it wasn’t an official stage.
Most bonuses hovered around two to three points, so there was probably a cap there too.
“Looks fine to me. What do you think?”
Team Leader Lee Min-seop, who could not see the status window, also wore a bright expression.
“Yes. It’s good. Time to get started.”
* * *
After the live Music Box broadcast ended.
Hayeon sat in front of her laptop and opened the editing program with practiced ease.
Candy Pop’s stage had been flawless.
She usually used the YouTube upload from the broadcaster as source material, but today was different.
Using the high-capacity file obtained through D-Sync Entertainment, she could separate the MR and live vocals far more cleanly.
Even though it was not the raw file shot by the network, the result would be far higher quality than her previous work.
“This should be enough.”
Hayeon reviewed the finished video once more.
The unwavering vocal tone, the detailed emotional expression, and the clean chorus delivery were all excellent.
“They really are good…”
She could not help but admire it even as the uploader.
The video title was short and striking.
[Candy Pop ‘PANG, PANG!’ MR Removed Live Full Version]
The usual simple title.
She clicked upload and the video went live.
Within minutes views and comments began to climb.
“Already five hundred views?!”
Hayeon was surprised.
Not only Candy Pop’s fandom but ordinary viewers were reacting to the video.
Every time she refreshed the page the numbers jumped.
Hayeon smiled at the screen.
MR-removal channels usually worked with the broadcaster’s YouTube uploads.
But from now on, thanks to D-Sync’s broadcasting connections, she could receive pre-processed files and gain a clear advantage.
The long-standing concern about the channel had finally been resolved.
* * *
The effect of Hayeon’s MR-removal video was significant.
Yet it still lacked the power to fully overturn public opinion.
Namhun had expected as much.
While assessing the situation, he turned to Team Leader Lee Min-seop.
“What’s the most popular live music program right now?”
Lee Min-seop immediately understood Namhun’s intent.
“You want to get the kids’ live skills verified, don’t you?”
“Yes. We’ve confirmed there’s no problem with their live performance, so now it’s time to quiet the rumors.”
“Hmm. There’s a program called ‘Kang Yunmo’s Sound Up,’ but idols can’t appear on it.”
“Wait—Kang Yunmo?”
Namhun’s eyes widened at the familiar name.
“You mean the vocalist of the band Plastic, Kang Yunmo?”
“Yes, that’s him. I see you know of him, Teacher Namhun.”
Kang Yunmo’s Sound Up was a program that pursued perfectly balanced live stages.
Its guests were mostly skilled indie musicians or the nation’s top vocalists.
“He has very firm standards, so even the PD can’t control him. Not a single idol has ever appeared on Sound Up.”
Namhun nodded, thinking it made sense.
Lee Min-seop had put it politely, but Kang Yunmo was a rocker to the bone.
Namhun had met him once years ago at a private gathering, and Kang Yunmo had openly told him that idols were dancers, not singers.
“Other than that, there aren’t any live programs that would generate real buzz. Radio might be easier. As long as it’s not Choi’s In Live, which they’ve already done, we could book a slot right away.”
“No. We’ll go with Kang Yunmo’s Sound Up.”
“Excuse me?”
Lee Min-seop frowned at Namhun’s answer.
“I already told you it’s impossible…”
“Please contact them anyway. I’ll handle the rest.”
* * *
“Shall we finalize this week’s lineup like this?”
“I don’t know. As I said earlier, the opening song needs real impact.”
“Then how about Yeha? Her new track charted at number five on Music Pie.”
“Isn’t she an idol?”
“She is, but… her skills are excellent. She’s an idol-turned-soloist, so the vibe might actually work.”
Kang Yunmo lifted his head and cut in.
“Forget buzz. Give me a proper singer with real ability. Remember what this show is. It’s Sound Up. Sound has to be the focus. You think I don’t know that song? She can’t sing it live without the AR.”
Meetings always went this way.
The staff fell silent and racked their brains for better options, yet Kang Yunmo’s expression remained impassive.
His iron rule of centering the stage on “sound” never wavered.
Just then the PD’s phone rang.
He checked the screen, hesitated, then stepped out of the meeting room.
“One moment.”
The PD looked at the call and furrowed his brow.
The name on the screen read “D-Sync Entertainment Team Leader Lee Min-seop.”
He had spoken with the man once before about Plan One’s main vocalist’s solo album.
Even then, Kang Yunmo’s opposition had killed the appearance.
“I’ll take this call and be right back.”
Once outside, the PD answered.
“Hello? Yes, Team Leader. What can I do for you?”
Lee Min-seop’s calm voice came through the line.
—PD-nim, we’d like to put Candy Pop on Sound Up this time.
“Excuse me? Candy Pop?”
As a music-show PD he was well aware of the recent Candy Pop controversy.
Still, he had never expected a request for Candy Pop—let alone Plan One.
“That’s impossible. You know what kind of person Yunmo hyung is.”
—We’ll convince Kang Yunmo ourselves.
The PD let out a short laugh.
“Are you trying to get me killed? You know his personality. He’s already sharp during the meeting.”
—Please. I know you’ve been struggling too.
Ever since the broadcast accident had shrunk Hongdae’s indie scene, the PD had been desperate for guests.
If things continued, the program itself might disappear.
These days, anyone with talent debuted as an idol through an agency from a young age.
—If we can just open the door, things will get easier for you going forward, won’t they?
Lee Min-seop’s tone carried certainty.
Sensing something, the PD asked carefully.
“Do you have a surefire way?”
—Yes. Just trust me this once.
The PD sighed as if his head hurt.
“All right. But I’m putting this on your tab.”
On your tab.
It meant that if he ever took charge of another program, he would call in Plan One as a favor.
—Of course. Anytime.
The PD returned to the meeting room and spoke cautiously to Kang Yunmo.
“Hyung-nim, could you take a call?”
“Who is it?”
* * *
—Hello. This is Kang Yunmo.
His voice was still powerful.
Age had not dulled the distinctive tone and strong resonance.
Namhun smiled.
The familiar voice was welcome, yet it also stirred a strange tension.
“Yunmo hyung-nim, it’s been a while. This is Nam.”
—Who?
“Nam. You came to the funeral, but everything was so hectic I never got to thank you properly.”
A brief silence followed on the other end.
Then a short, low breath.
—…Nam? The one who used to follow Jae-min around?
“Yes. That’s me.”
Another, longer silence.
Namhun could feel Kang Yunmo pulling old memories to the surface.
Kang Yunmo was now a national rock star with his own music program, but in his early twenties he had been struggling.
In contrast, Jeong Jaemin—son of Jeong Nam, one of the Trot Four Heavenly Kings—had been quite well-off.
Underground musicians naturally gravitated toward the generous Jeong Jaemin.
Back then Jeong Jaemin owned a rehearsal studio and several expensive instruments, and he never hesitated to buy meals for fellow musicians in need.
Because they had shared hard times, Kang Yunmo and Jeong Jaemin were close.
—Yeah, it’s been a while. That was a real shame. How have you been?
“I’ve been well, thanks to you.”
After the pleasantries, Kang Yunmo’s voice remained heavy.
Namhun moved to the main point at the right moment.
“Hyung-nim, the girl group I’ve been coaching—Candy Pop—would like to appear on your program.”
—What?
Kang Yunmo was momentarily speechless.
Then he burst into loud laughter that vibrated through the receiver.
—Hahaha! Nam, is that why you called after all this time? Looks like you’ve become the kind of guy who makes requests now. Time really flies.
Kang Yunmo’s laughter carried a chill.
His voice soon hardened, and his tone turned firm.
—No. This program is for singers with real skill. No matter what you say, my answer stays the same.
Namhun answered calmly, unfazed by the expected reaction.
“Hyung-nim, do you remember the bet we made back then?”
Kang Yunmo’s voice paused.
—…A bet?
“Yes. The high-note showdown.”
—Don’t tell me you’re bringing that up now?
Kang Yunmo trailed off, but Namhun did not stop.
Namhun had not been the only one to defeat Kang Yunmo in a high-note contest.
Jeong Jaemin had dragged Namhun around and pitted him against famous rockers of the era.
And Namhun had won every single match.
While high notes were not everything in singing, given the trends of the time, every one of them had taken a hit to their pride.
“Hyung-nim, you said back then, ‘If you beat me, I’ll grant you one wish.’ I still haven’t used that wish.”
—….
Kang Yunmo fell silent for a long time.
Namhun knew the silence was a good sign.
Even a playful promise was something Kang Yunmo would keep.
That was exactly why he could maintain such strict principles.
“Hyung-nim, I wouldn’t ask for this kind of favor unless I was confident. I believe we can show you something worthwhile on your program.”
Kang Yunmo let out a long breath, as though he had been thinking hard.
—Fine. I’ll allow it.
At the short reply carrying complicated emotions, Namhun spoke with force.
“I won’t let you down.”