Chapter 15
Chapter 15
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Translator: MadScientist
Chapter: 15
Chapter Title: The Red-Light District Advertising Meeting
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Not shabby, but not luxurious either—just your average commercial building's basement.
This is where the practice room for Ceria, the girl group I manage, is located.
Not only the practice room, but our agency, Enric Entertainment's office, is on the second floor as well.
We cram what even mid-sized agencies have as full-fledged company buildings into this building's second floor and basement.
That's how tight Enric Entertainment's finances are...
"#@#!@~"
Standing in front of the practice room door, coated thickly so you can't see inside, I could faintly hear Ceria's new song, and even feel the vibrations of the girls practicing hard.
"Haa..."
I gripped the door handle, hesitating dozens of times over whether to go in or not.
The phone call I'd gotten earlier—from Station Director Kim Han-seo—had joined the top of my already long list of worries.
He said the Music In Us appearance we had talked about before wouldn't work out; the group that had originally backed out was coming back, so that's how it shook out.
I got a promise that if another chance came up, he'd let us know first, but it felt like one of those promises that would just evaporate, so I wasn't holding my breath.
Of course, since the spot on the music show wasn't ours to begin with, I had no right to complain.
'But... even so...'
Along with the good news yesterday that we'd snagged a music show slot, Ceria had been practicing non-stop, barely sleeping.
They'd ground their bodies down to stubs, to the point where I thought it was a blessing it only lasted a day.
"Eh..."
I carefully let go of the door handle.
If I opened this door, the members would swarm me with smiles, but I couldn't bring myself to deliver the news that would shatter those smiles right now.
If even false hope and dreams could be the fuel to push forward for now, that was fine.
I should cool my head at a nearby café for a bit.
Just as I turned to go, I spotted the president of Ceria and my agency, Enric Entertainment.
"Manager Yoon~ What are you doing here? The girls are inside, right? I came to treat them to some meat to celebrate the music show spot."
"...President."
"Yeah? Why? What's with that look on your face?"
"Well..."
"No way..."
Before I knew it, a dark shadow had fallen over the president's face instead of his bright smile.
We first dodged the Ceria members and took seats at a nearby café.
The president, whom I'd known for a long time, seemed to sense the dire situation from my gloomy expression and hesitant words.
"Slurp— Hoo...."
The president took a sip of his coffee and let out a heavy sigh full of worry.
"President."
"Yeah, yeah. It's the music show thing that got canceled, right? No need to spell it out."
"Yes..."
I hung my head.
I hadn't done anything wrong, but delivering disappointing news like this always felt this uncomfortable.
"Tch, damn it. How does a spot fall through after just one day?"
"Right? Not sure if it's a relief or a misfortune..."
"More than that... haa... we're screwed. We're totally screwed now."
"...?"
I tilted my head.
The music show cancellation was disappointing, sure, but it wasn't our spot originally, and having to watch music shows only on TV was the usual anyway, so why the sudden...
"Truth is, this album was our last shot. First-week sales tanked, no ad sponsorships coming in, cash just isn't flowing. We can't hold out anymore. And right when that happened, you snagged us a music show spot—even Music In Us—so I thought God hadn't abandoned us yet... but it was just torture by hope."
"......President. You mean... we're closing the company?"
"Yeah, that's what I'm saying..."
My heart sank, and I nearly dropped the coffee cup in my hand.
If the company closes, Ceria disbands, and everything ends.
Even if our lives were modest, we always held onto dreams and hope, but reality wasn't that romantic.
"Sung-ho."
As I chewed my lip alone, the president—no, my brother—called my name.
Not by title, but by the bond we'd shared since high school.
"Yes, Brother Cheol-su."
"Sure, you're called manager on paper, but internally, you're Enric Entertainment's number two, aren't you?"
"That's right..."
Yeah, Enric Entertainment was a company Cheol-su bro and I started together.
"You're the only one I can trust to handle the girl group up close, that's why you have the manager title."
"Yeah, bro. Why beat around the bush between us?"
"That Station Director Kim Han-seo who offered us the music show. You're really sure he's the guy who came to Ceria's fan sign a few days ago?"
I hadn't made a fuss out of respect for Station Director Kim Han-seo's face, but I was certain.
I had all the key figures from NSS, especially the station director's face, memorized thoroughly as an entertainment insider.
No matter if he wore a hat and mask pulled low at the fan sign, he couldn't escape my sharp eyes.
"Yes, definitely. He tried to hide his identity at the fan sign and acted like he didn't know me when we met at the station, but it's Kim Han-seo for sure."
"And that his favorite is Sua?"
"Yeah, we did that event where fans could take selfies with their faves since we're a small group. He picked Sua."
"Hmm.... Yeah, I see.... Hm....."
"......"
I knew what Brother Cheol-su was thinking.
The kind of entertainment that bottom-tier agencies like us take for granted—time to do it.
Until now, his philosophy was better to drown than squeeze dirty money out of the girls by overworking them, but now it seemed like even rolling in shit was better than the afterlife; no choice.
And that Station Director Kim Han-seo happened to be a Ceria fan.
So, how could it not work? I picked up on the words he couldn't bring himself to say.
"Sung-ho... uh... you know... haa..."
"Bro, then I'll take Sua and go see the station director."
"?! S-Sung-ho..."
"No choice. Even if we cherish her and want to keep her safe, what's the point if it all vanishes?"
"I'm sorry... dumping this burden on you..."
"The company survived on losses thanks to you until now, so it's my turn. If we get on that music show and album sales pick up even a bit, it'll give us leverage to pull funding from investors."
"Right. If we can just get on that music show, I'll put on a ass show for the investors if I have to and sort it all out. But really, you okay? The trust with the Ceria members..."
"It's fine. As long as the company and Ceria survive... I'll play the villain."
"Thanks, Sung-ho... Let's get the company listed and take good care of the Ceria girls."
"Yes, bro."
We clinked our plastic coffee cups like shot glasses.
◇◇◇◆◇◇◇
Speak of the devil and he shall appear—or rather, pull the iron horns out while they're hot. I called Ceria's chief manager, Yoon Manager, gave him the bad news that the music show was off, and offered some sincere consolation.
He didn't show it, but he must've been pretty disappointed.
Next time a good slot opens, Ceria gets first dibs, no question.
Anyway, that's that. Now, I'm here at that same room salon where I had fun with Rize's Sihyun and Harang for a meeting about a new ad deal.
'Is this the go-to spot for entertainment industry schmoozing? Why the hell here again.'
I came because they insisted, but after all their hype about hearing them out, their bargaining chip is just women?
Pathetic. I had Rize's Harang and Sihyun just yesterday.
Won't budge for your average bar girl.
Today, I'm turning them down flat and heading home.
With that in mind, I stepped into the bar, and a guy who looked like a waiter recognized me and bowed 90 degrees.
"Hello, President! Thanks for gracing us again today! You must be a big shot, haha. Here's my card—I'm the manager in charge of Louis here. Call anytime if you need anything. Right this way to your room."
So the place is called Louis. The super buxom guy who called himself manager spoke concisely and heavily, faster than anyone, then led the way.
I pocketed the business card he handed me halfway there without thinking.
"Here, VIP Room 4. Have a great time."
The manager bowed and vanished.
Room 4? Isn't this the same room I drank and hooked up with the girls yesterday? What are the odds...
I opened the door and stepped inside.
There sat a man in a blue suit by the table, and across from him, a woman with red wine-colored hair.
I didn't know the man, but the woman was a face I recognized.
Not that we knew each other personally—as an idol otaku, I knew her face.
"Im... Da-hyun..?"
A solo idol who's third-rate in popularity, but pops up in community GIFs now and then with her sex appeal one-tool gimmick.
The poster girl for the cosmetics company I'm meeting with today.
"Whoa, as expected of the station director from an idol-focused broadcaster! You recognized me right away!"
The blue-suited man stood up and said.
"Kyaa~ Director, you know me!"
Im Da-hyun stood too, and didn't stop there—she came over and hugged me.
By my guess, what cosmetics company president goes out for sexual favors with their ad model...