Chapter 180
Chapter 180
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Translator: Ryuma
Chapter: 180
Chapter Title: A Band That Dances
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When they asked what I thought of their daughter, I couldn't help but think her parents were truly remarkable people.
Lee Yoo-ah was no longer just some trainee preparing to debut. She had transcended the level of a typical celebrity and been contacted by the top entertainment agency overseas, becoming a big shot with the potential to be a global star. To the tune of a three-million-dollar signing bonus, no less.
It was true that her parents had always liked me, but the very idea of trying to pair me with their daughter, who had become such a major figure, was, in a way, admirable.
After all, the person they knew me as wasn't some wealthy tycoon, but simply a capable and trustworthy producer at JD Enter.
They were simple, good-hearted people. Just like my late parents.
“…Mom, honestly! Why would you ask something like that!”
“R-Right. Honey, really.”
Lee Yoo-ah’s voice was sharp, and even her father pretended to scold her mother. It must have been because my silence had dragged on for too long.
“She's beautiful. In fact, looking at the entire industry, not just our company, you could count the number of female singers as pretty as Yoo-ah on one hand.”
“Really?”
Her parents’ faces instantly brightened.
“Yes. And with her kind heart and exceptional talent, I think someone like Yoo-ah would rank in the top ten even on a global scale.”
“Hohoho!”
“Ah, Oppa. Why are you suddenly saying all this? I'm not *that* great. The other Answer members are all beautiful, too.”
My over-the-top praise seemed to embarrass Yoo-ah and her parents more than anything. Thanks to that, I was able to move on as if I had answered their original question.
Then again, maybe they knew and decided to let it slide…
We finished our enjoyable meal and went outside. Lee Yoo-ah’s father boarded the accessible van first.
“I had a wonderful time today, Min-jun. I hope we can see you again.”
“That's right. Come by for chicken sometime, even if Yoo-ah isn't with you. I'll still be in business.”
“Thank you, sir, ma'am. I also had a delicious meal and a wonderful time. I'll be sure to make time to visit again.”
Once her parents were in the van, Yoo-ah stepped closer to Min-jun and whispered.
Even with Lee Yoo-ah's scent, which would have made any ordinary man dizzy, Min-jun’s expression remained unchanged.
“But Oppa. Could you say that in front of Ro-si?”
“Say what?”
A subtle buzz from the alcohol had made Yoo-ah bolder than usual. Min-jun pretended not to know.
“That I'm beautiful.”
Min-jun smiled faintly as if he'd just understood.
“I don't think it's something I couldn't say in front of Ro-si.”
“Ahh. Would it only be a little difficult if you had to sit us both down and choose one?”
Min-jun only offered a wry smile in response to Yoo-ah’s provocative words, and she pouted cutely with a hint of disappointment.
“Hoo… Just you wait. I’m going to come back a massive celebrity.”
“As a producer for JD Enter, I sincerely hope you hit number one on the Billboard charts, Yoo-ah.”
As Min-jun spoke with serene eyes, his hands clasped together, Yoo-ah broke into a grin.
“Thank you for today, PD-nim.”
“You too. I mean it.”
Yoo-ah opened the car door and waved cheerfully before the vehicle pulled away.
Watching the car disappear into the distance, Min-jun found himself opening his wallet. For some reason, the rabbit god holding a pestle felt incredibly cute.
“Go get 'em, Yoo-ah.”
* * *
In the most exclusive VVIP room, inaccessible to the public, two men were sipping expensive whiskey.
They were Park Hyun-soo, the chairman of KGM, the nation's largest agency that had dominated parts of Europe and Asia long before Fire Emblem's debut, and Gyeon Sang-jin.
“Gaejinsang. Just when I thought you were getting somewhere, things are looking a bit grim lately, eh?”
“Aish… Hyung-nim. We have our age and social standing to consider. You could at least call me by my proper name.”
“Got a big head just because you hit it big with those Fire Emblem kids, haven't you?”
Park Hyun-soo spoke as if to dismiss Gyeon Sang-jin.
“Are you in a different industry? Everyone's racking up billions in debt, going crazy just for a shot at one big hit.”
“Hahaha, you bastard. Anyone would think you'd lost a fortune raising those kids. You're the kind of guy who'd sell their underwear if you could.”
“Aish. Are you really going to keep this up? Who do you think I did all that for?”
“Who for? You did it for yourself, you punk. Don't get too arrogant after just one hit. I'm on my fifth in a row, you know?”
Park Hyun-soo had produced five consecutive hit groups—not quite on Fire Emblem’s level, but big enough to conquer parts of Europe and Asia—and his taunts made Gyeon Sang-jin’s blood boil.
“Aish. You call me out for a drink after all this time just to do this…”
“Alright, you punk. Drink up.”
“We're both getting older. You could stop with the 'you punk,' too.”
“Pfft.”
The two of them downed their glasses straight.
“Kuh. Anyway, you said you were going to crush that young upstart, so what's taking so long?”
“…”
A bitter smile spread across Gyeon Sang-jin’s face.
“No, that's not right. In fact, you got beaten by them and ended up tanking Your Girl, the group you were making to be the female Fire Emblem, didn't you?”
“Ah, seriously! Why do you keep saying things that ruin the taste of the drink? And Your Girl hasn't tanked. They're just laying low for a bit. Honestly, Hyung-nim, your company might have more talented girls than Your Girl, but you don't have a team that's as cohesive.”
“You punk, that's all part of the strategy. Do you think you make money by throwing them all in one place? You only need two popular members in a team. The rest are just lackeys.”
“…”
“Look. You make more money by splitting the kids up for different gigs. You need a two-top system so you can split them in two directions.”
“I know that much. If you think it's so easy, why don't you try to crush them yourself?”
Gyeon Sang-jin was debating whether to storm out.
“I heard a rumor it was because of that young punk, too. The one from our company's auditions?”
In an instant, Gyeon Sang-jin's face twisted in misery.
“So why did you steal him? Did you really think I wouldn't find out?”
“Ah, shit! Why are you bringing up something that's long over?”
The mention of Min-jun made Gyeon Sang-jin snap, and he shot up from his seat.
“You really gonna walk out? You think you can push me around now that we're a little closer?”
The instant Park Hyun-soo's voice turned icy, Gyeon Sang-jin froze.
“Ah, just kidding, just kidding! I'll stop for real. From now on, strictly business. Okay?”
As the one in the weaker position, Gyeon Sang-jin had no choice but to sit back down.
‘Vicious bastard. If it weren't for that thing in the past, I'd just…!’
Gyeon Sang-jin took a deep breath to calm his anger. As old memories resurfaced, he plopped back down in his seat.
* * *
My intuition told me to choose the schedule with CEO Park Jae-yong instead of Answer.
“Ack! Really? I'm going to be on TV?”
“Yeah. They're coming to the commercial shoot this afternoon. They said they're installing an observation camera in the car.”
“Wow!”
Choi Yoo-jun still hadn't given up his desire to be on television. I used to be like that, too, before Gyeon Sang-jin turned me to the dark side.
“Yoo-jun, you'll swap with Mr. Myeong-hyun at the site and head home. Then, tomorrow at 6 AM, you'll pick up Seol-ah's mother and Ye-jun and bring them to the theme park.”
“So, I leave around 3 AM, pick up her mother and Ye-jun, and head to the theme park, right?”
“You got it. Your work is done after that. I'll handle the rest.”
“Sweet! Ah! Wait a minute. Does that mean I don't get to go on any rides?”
“We're going there to work.”
“Ah, right. That’s true. But it still feels like a bit of a shame.”
I couldn't count how many times Choi Yoo-jun's expression changed in just ten seconds.
“Anyway, got it! Have a good meeting today and a good volunteer trip!”
“Yeah. I’m counting on you.”
He calls it volunteering when I'm just dropping off some snacks. It makes me feel a little guilty.
Choi Yoo-jun left, and the employees started trickling in.
“PD-nim Min-jun! Thanks for the snacks yesterday, they were great!”
“Thanks to you, PD-nim, my older sister was thrilled to be buried in snacks. Thank you.”
“My six-year-old said it was the most fantastic gift he's ever received in his life. Thanks, you know?”
“But seriously, Seul-bi, how do you know all that stuff? Do you study the history of snacks or something?”
“Hahaha!”
The employees who had taken home boxes of snacks yesterday thanked me, and the morning was filled with lively chatter.
“Chief Producer. They're asking for you to come in quickly.”
“Keukeuk.”
Manager Ji called me with a playful tone, and the other employees snickered.
“I'll be right there.”
The planning office of JD Enter.
Ten people, the core of the company from the team leader level and up, were seated there. The meeting began as soon as I entered.
They discussed various topics, starting with Lee Yoo-ah's departure and what to do with the resulting surplus personnel. Each person reported on their department's situation.
It was my turn.
“Speaking of surplus personnel, Kim Sung-hoon has conveyed that he's willing to take on more work. We can assign them to his team.”
“Huh? Didn't he say he was going to die from overwork?”
“He must have had a new realization.”
Of course, that 'realization' was me reminding him of the vicious cycle where the more he works, the more his stock assets increase in value.
He declared himself a slave to money, so he has to work even if he doesn't want to.
“Also, I'd personally like to try casting some people who seem to have commercial appeal.”
“Casting? Where? Who?”
CEO Park Jae-yong asked again, a look of surprise on his face.
“It's a team I met at the university where Answer had an event. In terms of visuals and skill, they have plenty of star potential. And they don't have an agency.”
“What? They don't have an agency?”
“Pfft!”
Everyone reacted with disbelief.
“That's some skill. Getting gigs without an agency.”
“But I am looking forward to it. It's Producer Min-jun's first casting, after all.”
At the CEO's words, Manager Ji expressed his anticipation.
“Hm, you're right. Wow. Our Producer Min-jun is a casting manager now too?”
A casting manager's job was to track down potential talent by following rumors on various online communities or even just handing out a business card to someone with a striking look on the street.
Casting managers were usually found at agencies that focused on actors, and JD Enter didn't have one yet.
“But what kind of group forms without an agency? This isn't a school talent show. I just can't imagine it.”
“It's a four-piece band: guitar, vocals, drums, and bass. It will fill the gap left by Yoo-ah's team and will be a good choice.”
“What?”
“Huh?”
“Haha…”
My statement was met with various forms of disbelief from everyone.
“Seriously, a band in this day and age? No matter how successful you were with Yoo-ah's case, this is just not it.”
“I agree with Manager Ji on this one. A band isn't the way to go these days.”
Unlike the reactions from Manager Ji and the CEO, Director Lee Sun and Team Leader Lee, who had come to trust me completely, seemed to be listening to my opinion seriously.
Instead of answering, I played a video I had taken at the event on the monitor.
All four members possessed above-average visuals and skills, with the vocalist and guitarist's looks approaching idol-level.
“Well, their looks are good, and they handle their instruments decently… The song isn't bad either.”
“The CEO is right. They were born in the wrong era.”
The CEO and Manager Ji went back and forth, critiquing the Earl Grey band in the video.
When the video ended, CEO Park Jae-yong opened his mouth with a bitter expression.
“This isn't meant to disregard you, Producer Min-jun, so don't take this the wrong way…”
“CEO-nim, before you speak, could we hear him out? I'm curious to hear what Producer Min-jun has to say.”
“…”
The Director cut off the CEO, who was about to lecture me. The CEO nodded as if to say, "go on," and I began to speak.
“The disadvantages of a band, besides not being trendy, are that they have to carry around instruments and amps, which is terribly inefficient in terms of transportation costs and setup time. If a regular group's maximum daily schedule is five events, a band would struggle to do even three.”
“What's this? You have a good grasp of why major labels don't develop bands.”
A few people nodded in agreement with the CEO's opinion.
“Give it up. No matter how good the song is, you won't even break even. How would you even market them? The people who like bands aren't interested in new, young ones. They just like the songs from their own glory days.”
Manager Ji also made a point that was close to the truth, and a few employees again showed their agreement.
“I am planning a different kind of concept for the band.”
“Heheheh. No matter how different you make it, a band is still a band. What are you going to do, make them dance instead of playing live?”
“Yes.”
“…”
A chilling silence fell over the planning office. I added one more thing.
“And properly, at that.”