Chapter 116
Chapter 116
-----------------------------------------------------------------
Translator: Vine
Chapter: 116
Chapter Title: First Win, First Paycheck
-----------------------------------------------------------------
“This week’s number one is!”
Usually, the candidates for first place would stand on either side of the MC, but this time, Creatin, whose promotion period had ended, was a nominee, so the MC's left side was empty.
‘It’s our first week back, so it won’t be a huge problem even if we don’t get first place.’
It would be great to win, but there was a definite possibility we wouldn’t, so I had somewhat steeled myself for it.
“Congratulations! It’s RE-V’s ‘LIKE’.”
With the MC’s announcement, confetti burst into the air.
A trophy was placed in my hands before I knew it.
It was the first trophy we’d received for this song.
“BRAVE. Thank you so much. Thanks to you, we’re holding a first-place trophy in our hands again.”
“Waaaaah!”
“We’ll always love you and be grateful!”
Haru waved the trophy toward BRAVE.
As if in reply, BRAVE waved their cube light sticks from side to side.
“Congratulations.”
“Congrats.”
Our fellow artists offered us their congratulations.
“Yoon-seul.”
I turned my head at the sound of my name and saw Zero to the Boy standing there.
“Thank you, and congratulations on first place.”
They didn't say anything more and left the stage.
‘They seem different from when I saw them a little while ago.’
When we talked in the waiting room, they had looked resigned, but now their expressions were determined, as if they had made up their minds about something.
Just like I had been before I said everything I wanted to say during the live broadcast.
‘They look like they’re actually about to sue.’
If Zero to the Boy were to file a lawsuit against their agency for an unfair contract, my story would inevitably come up.
Among the GANGSTER-M members, I was the only one who could officially make a statement right now.
The other members were in no position to appear before the public due to their unsavory issues.
‘Most of the people who were in the agency before GANGSTER-M have either retired or caused trouble.’
Honestly, even perfectly sane people would gradually go crazy while at LM Entertainment.
‘I get it. It’s the kind of place that drains the life out of you.’
There was definitely a lot of work, but the most we ever got paid was 300,000 won.
And even that wasn’t paid out monthly.
We were paid quarterly, and that was the total amount.
‘It’s absolutely ridiculous.’
It would have been better if that was the end of it.
There was zero artist care, the CEO constantly had curses on his lips, and they provided no privacy protection whatsoever.
They even installed a location-tracking app on all the GANGSTER-M members' phones, which said it all.
Not that it stopped people who were going to cause trouble from doing so.
‘Yoo Jin-hyung was dating on the side, and Choi Jun-seong, a minor, was drinking and even dabbling in strange drugs.’
“Yoon-seul.”
Jung Eun-woo’s voice snapped me out of my thoughts.
‘Right. This isn’t the time for such thoughts. I’ll put them aside for now. It’s not like they can act on it immediately anyway.’
I saw our manager, who had come up on stage, handing out angel wings.
“Everyone got one?”
“Yes.”
An angel wing was now in my hand.
We had made a pledge, so I quickly put on the wings to keep our promise.
“Kyaaaaaaah!”
I hadn't even done anything yet, but I could hear the fans screaming.
It was closer to a shriek than a cheer.
As the instrumental began, the manager ducked low and hurried off the stage.
* * *
[The angel wings for the kids’ first-place encore stage today were insane. Wow. Why did angels suddenly descend upon us? Did they know my life was so dry and come down to save me? (Photo of RE-V wearing angel wings)]
↳ lololol They were truly a ray of light, angels who descended to save my dull life.
↳ It was seriously the best pledge ever.
↳ Since they were angels today, I hope they come back with devil wings next time. A fallen angel is still an angel, right?
↳ Aren't you a genius? Wow. My heart is pounding just imagining it.
↳ But why did Yoon-seul’s hair suddenly change?
↳ Right? It’s different from the performance.
[Our boys got first place. Who was it that said they only won because of their popularity from the survival show! Come out. All of you. They proved you wrong.]
↳ Were there people like that?
↳ Yeah. Fans of the trainees who were eliminated from RED CUBE… they ganged up on me and started picking a fight. Said our first-place win was all thanks to RED CUBE’s popularity. That they wouldn't get such good results with their next album. But then their pre-release track hit number one right after their comeback.
↳ Wow. I get that they’re upset, but that’s just wrong.
↳ Have they even properly watched our boys perform? They couldn't say that if they saw their festival stage, especially this time.
[The manager getting off the stage today was so funny lolololol You could feel his determination to absolutely not block our boys from view, you know?]
↳ I know, right.
↳ LOLOLOLOLOLOL I burst out laughing at that part too LOLOLOLOL
↳ Manager-nim. Don’t worry. As long as you don’t suddenly start dancing up there, we’re fine.
↳ lolol Right. We’re flexible. So don’t be so scared!
[How many weeks will they promote the pre-release? They said it had a double-title feel. Shouldn’t they promote it a little longer then?]
↳ I wish they would do a full four weeks, but that would be too hard on our boys. So I’ll hold it in.
↳ Honestly, if I had my way, I’d want our boys to be on stage all the time, but that would be too exhausting for them. We’re adults… let’s be patient.
[Zero to the Boy is talking with Yoon-seul. Do they know each other from being in the same agency? (Screenshot of Zero to the Boy and Seo Yoon-seul talking)]
↳ They might know each other, right? Yoon-seul wasn’t a trainee there for long, but he apparently had a tough time because the debut members kept changing.
↳ And even if they weren’t on the debut team, they’re male trainees of a similar age, so they probably would have exchanged greetings in passing.
↳ LM isn’t that big, so they must have known each other? I heard they’re famous for not taking many trainees.
↳ Huh? Really? First time I’m hearing this.
↳ Yeah, they’re famous for not accepting many trainees.
[Am I the only one who just found out that LM is famous for not taking many trainees…? So that’s why people still go to a place that’s notorious even among fans for its poor treatment. Because they’re that desperate to debut. I used to wonder, why would anyone go there? Are they stupid? But there was a reason. Fewer trainees means less competition for a debut spot.]
↳ Especially for kids who were scouted from other agencies.
↳ What’s really cruel is that this place mainly accepts kids from other agencies.
↳ What??? Is that for real?
↳ That’s insane… They don’t hold auditions or anything?
↳ No official auditions. If you look into how the debuted kids were cast, they all say they were trainees elsewhere before coming to LM and debuting. There's occasional street casting, but even then, the audition process is supposedly strict.
↳ But in a way, that's smart. Being a trainee at another company means they already have a certain level of skill and have been trained there. No wonder their artists are decent for the size of the agency.
↳ But then why is Zero to the Boy…
↳ It seems LM pushed them out prematurely when they weren't ready. Their mental state got completely wrecked on that survival show before their debut. They could have gotten better over time, but the manager and the agency kept giving them weird concepts, making it worse… Hey, company. Stop trying to sabotage Seo Yoon-seul and focus on raising your new kids properly.
↳ Zero to the Boy is just getting more and more pitiful. I saw their trainee videos, and their skills weren't bad. This is 100% the company's fault. They were even better in their camera test videos for the audition than they are now.
* * *
“Guys, congratulations.”
For some reason, the manager’s congratulations felt more intense today.
“To get first place right after your pre-release comeback, I’m so proud.”
The corners of the manager’s eyes curved into a soft smile.
“And there’s more good news.”
He said, his eyes twinkling as if he wanted us to be curious.
“What is it?”
As Jung Eun-woo responded, the manager’s shoulders shook with excitement.
‘What good news could it be?’
“You guys will be getting your first paycheck today.”
“What did you say?”
“Our paycheck?”
It was unbelievable.
My eyes met the other members’.
“Wait. So suddenly?”
“You’ve all been working so hard. It’s about time you got paid.”
I was so happy that my mind felt like it had gone blank.
‘No. Let’s not get my hopes up too much.’
It probably wouldn’t be a large amount.
It was our first paycheck, after all.
It was the same back with GANGSTER-M.
I had been so excited to receive my first paycheck, but less than 50,000 won had been deposited.
‘It could be the same this time. Leon did say he carefully chose a good company for us, but…’
“Yes. It’s true. Everyone, check your bank accounts. And as a gift from the company to celebrate your first payment, here.”
The manager handed small boxes to each of the members.
“You can open them here.”
A subtle hint of anticipation colored his voice, as if he wanted us to open them right away.
I tore off the wrapping paper.
“Huh?”
“Hyung.”
Inside the box were none other than Bluetooth earphones.
“I noticed you all use wired earphones. The company saw that and prepared these for you.”
It was a thoughtful gift.
All the members of RE-V used wired earphones.
“They’re engraved with your names, too.”
“Thank you.”
The initials ‘YS’ were engraved on the Bluetooth earphone case.
‘To think I’d receive a gift like this from my company.’
A conviction grew in me that a company like this wouldn’t deceive us with our pay.
‘I think I understand why Leon told me he had searched hard to find a good place for me.’
“You should check your payments, too.”
At the manager’s words, we all fumbled with our phones.
“Is this right?”
“You didn’t accidentally add an extra zero or something, did you?”
I rubbed my eyes, unable to believe the number I was seeing.
‘No way.’
“That’s right. I mean, you guys have been working nonstop. Of course you should earn that much.”
I had thought I would be ecstatic to earn even a million won as an idol, but an amount double that was displayed in my bank account.
“So this is how Ju-hyeok bought a car,” Haru muttered to himself.
“Alright, then. Let’s continue being happy about your bank accounts on the way back to the dorm.”