Chapter 20
“I’m also well aware of just how easy a character like me is for the public to tear apart. But even if people talk about me, I don’t particularly care, so you don’t need to worry.”
Of course.
No matter how much they talked about Yeon Se-rang, what damage would that do to Kang Iwon inside her?
I don’t like parachutes much either. It’s just that right now, I don’t feel particularly guilty about using it.
I was the victim who got ruined because of Imperial’s obscene money and obscene power. And that victim is saying she’ll use Imperial to benefit the idol industry at large.
What’s the problem with that?
Se-rang felt no guilt or anxiety.
“So if you think you can raise the ratings by using me to pull some aggro, do it. As long as you don’t distort the facts, you can edit me to suit your taste, PD.”
“…!”
When PD Kim’s face brightened, Se-rang smiled and added, “Anyway, even if you work hard to tear me down, if the issue is seriously bad, the higher-ups will cut it themselves.”
At that, PD Kim’s face darkened again.
“May I give you one piece of advice?”
“Go ahead.”
“Do you like underdog narratives?”
“There’s no one in broadcasting who dislikes underdogs. But Director, you’re a little too…”
Does he think I’m an idiot? Se-rang could not hide her disbelief. “Not me. Look at the kids I chose. They’re the real underdog narrative.”
“That’s true, but underdogs are originally…”
They only hit big if they win later. If a team with a low chance of winning really loses, it is useless.
All that remains is cold mockery like, “The ones who were supposed to lose lost.”
“Don’t worry about that. Please edit them with an underdog feel. Don’t blur out their screen time. Show everything in detail. It’s fine even if their current skills are very lacking. You can emphasize their inexperience too. While you’re at it, you can frame me as a rookie producer with no eye for talent. No, please frame it exactly that way.”
“!”
“Director Yeon. That’s…!”
When Executive Director Kim tried to cut in with great concern, Se-rang raised her hand and stopped him.
“If you do that, it will probably pull strong aggro as a ‘broadcast.’ People usually don’t watch as much when only skilled kids appear. What’s fun about that? The unskilled kids who contrast with the skilled ones have to appear so people can nod and go, ‘Wow, that kid really was good. Now that I’ve watched this one, I understand how good the earlier ones were.’ But does that mean only the unskilled kids lose out? Not at all. The unskilled kids receive their own kind of attention too. Some people watch them with pity, and some watch while mocking them.”
That was the entertainment industry.
Whether it was good attention or bad attention, one had to receive attention first. Only then would the next opportunity come.
The worst thing was being “ambiguous.” A celebrity who was too ambiguous to remain in people’s memories disappeared easily.
So now, she would pull in plenty of even this bad attention.
Because.
People’s hearts were far simpler and far more complicated than expected. Bad attention could flip into good attention in an instant, and good attention could flip into bad attention just as easily.
There was a reason people said the difference between a fan and an anti-fan was paper-thin.
“I understand what you mean, Director Yeon. Certainly, if we do as you say… it would draw attention well. Originally, survival shows inside entertainment companies tend to get a bit loose because they don’t like exposing their own trainees’ weaknesses. Then they lose the fun. But if we do as you said…”
“It’ll be fun.”
“It will definitely be fun.”
“But promise me one thing. In exchange for giving you my image and my kids’ image, you need to secure their screen time properly. I’m not telling you to give them more than the others. That would be manipulation. But you must include them ‘fairly.’ You understand what I mean, right?”
“Don’t worry. That’s what I want too. If anything.”
Se-rang nodded and stood up. “Then please take good care of my kids.”
The moment they left the meeting room, Executive Director Kim quickly approached Director Yeon and protested in a low voice.
“Director Yeon! What exactly are you doing? This is completely different from the direction the chairman has in mind.”
“The direction the chairman has in mind? Executive Director Kim, do you know something like that? Even I, his granddaughter, don’t know what’s inside my grandfather’s head. Hearing that you do makes me quite disappointed.”
“You know that’s not what I mean! Of course, the chairman wants Director Yeon to—”
“To do well?”
“Of course!” Executive Director Kim pressed a hand to his forehead and sighed. “But if you eat away at your own image like earlier…!”
“Don’t worry. I’m not eating away at my image. I’m only giving it to them like this so they can pull aggro for the first episode or two.”
“That’s exactly why…!”
“Because I’m confident.”
“!”
“I’m confident I can create and show an incredible stage with my kids, Executive Director.”
Because I’m confident I can surprise everyone who looked down on me and my kids.
After speaking more firmly than ever, Se-rang moved her feet again.
“Where do you guys live?”
Perhaps they had not expected that to be the first question, because all three trainees only rolled their eyes in confusion.
Dowon was the first to speak. “I live in Sillim! I live alone.”
(Translator’s Note: Sillim (신림) — Area in Gwanak District, Seoul, known for dense residential zones, student housing, and many single-person households.)
“Yuhyun and I live together near Yeoksam.”
(Translator’s Note: Yeoksam (역삼) — Area in Gangnam District, Seoul, close to major business and entertainment company districts.)
“I see.” Se-rang nodded. It was fortunate that all three lived on their own. “Then pack your things now.”
“…?!”
“From now on, you’ll practically be living in the company practice room, so even commuting time is a waste. You should live right in front of the company.”
Dowon was twenty, while Yuhyun and Taeha were nineteen. She did not need to worry about Dowon’s school situation, but she was slightly concerned about Yuhyun and Taeha.
However, when she checked their profiles again, Taeha was from overseas and had already taken the qualification exam, while Yuhyun seemed to have attended an arts high school before dropping out and taking the qualification exam too.
Therefore, there was no need to worry about school anymore.
“B-but… I think we’ll need time to find a place….” Yuhyun nervously raised his hand.
Dowon and Taeha also nodded, strongly agreeing.
“Why would you find the place yourselves?”
“Pardon?”
“From now on, I’ll be responsible for everything you wear, eat, and sleep in.”
“!”
The three trainees’ mouths fell open.
Se-rang smiled, feeling a subtle thrill.
When she had been Kang Iwon, it had been difficult to support trainees generously. Even if Iwon only ate one meal a day, she had tried to make sure the trainees had three meals a day, but it had been truly difficult.
But this body?
All I have is money.
“From now on, there is only one thing you need to worry about. A perfect stage. Don’t even think about anything else. If you need something, just tell me. I’ll solve everything for you.”
“…!”
“You only need to repay me with skill. Understood?”
The three trainees, who had been dazed at first, gradually seemed to realize that this was real, and their faces began to brighten.
“Yes!”
When the three answered brightly, Se-rang instead smiled crookedly.
“This isn’t the time to be happy. I’m going to give you everything, but that means you need to produce results just as clearly.”
“…!”
“I’ll make this clear. You will realize that all the training and practice you’ve done until now was nothing.”
Because from now on, true extreme training would begin. The three of you may be desperate, but I’m truly desperate too.
Se-rang looked down at the three of them with sunken eyes. “If any of you are going to give up halfway because it’s hard, I’d like you to tell me now. I’ll have to erase your recording footage and pick replacements for the missing spots.”
“!”
Of course, she did not mean it. But Se-rang had no intention of entrusting her life to trainees who did not have even that much grit.
“But I promise. If you follow all my training, you will debut no matter what.”
“!”
“If you do exactly what I tell you, I will return the reward of debut to you.”
Se-rang held out her hand to the three of them, the back of her hand facing upward.
“Will you do it?”
At the hand Se-rang held out, Dowon, Taeha, and Yuhyun looked at it once, then at each other.
Then, as if they had made up their minds, they placed their hands on top of Se-rang’s.
All three of them.