Chapter 94
Chapter 94
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Translator: Ryuma
Chapter: 94
Chapter Title: A Successful Broadcast and a Looming Threat
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Ji-yoo of Savage Girls was having lunch with Gyeon Sang-jin at a high-end restaurant.
“CEO, why do you keep watching videos of those annoying kids while we're eating? It's just a radio show, too.”
“They ruined the picture we painted. I'm still pissed about the Elegang modeling gig, so just be quiet for a minute.”
Gyeon Sang-jin’s stress had been mounting as he felt Answer’s recognition grow after their appearance on Best Idol.
‘All that work for nothing.’
-It's been almost a year since your debut. There must have been some tough times, right?
-The hardest time after becoming a member of Answer was… when the younger members who struggled with us left the group.
-That's right. You were originally a seven-member group. Speaking of which, wasn't Mi-ji from Your Girl, who you competed against on Best Idol, an original member of Answer?
“That bastard is spouting nonsense.”
-Ah! You knew? Yes. Mi-ji went through a lot, so I think it's a real relief that she found a good group.
Gyeon Sang-jin's mood soured even more, feeling a negative nuance directed at Your Girl's Mi-ji.
-Since we've talked about something sad, let's move on to something bright. There must have been happy times too, right? Who wants to go first? Seul-bi?
-Yep! For me, it was when Ro-si joined.
“Such a fake act...”
Even Ro-si’s shy smile got on Gyeon Sang-jin’s nerves.
-Ah… why is that? Because she's pretty?
-Ahaha. Ro-si is pretty, isn't she?
The DJ, who was checking the listeners' reactions, made a playful expression.
-Oops! To our listeners, I’m definitely not showing any personal bias! I was just saying that Answer, with its many center-worthy members, has an advantage in competitions… Argh! Please forgive me! I won't show any personal bias from now on. Here’s my second grand bow!
Thump!
-Eek! That must have hurt!
“Her! That bitch Seul-bi! Flirting again! Wow, that's really pissing me off.”
Ji-yoo picked up a caviar-topped dim sum and threw it back down.
Grumbling about his dislike of the DJ's antics, Gyeon Sang-jin spoke.
“Did something happen with her?”
Ji-yoo of Savage Girls explained what had happened at the club to Gyeon Sang-jin, twisting the story in her favor.
“She was so damn arrogant, shaking her ass in front of her seniors, and all the guys were drooling over that bitch Seul-bi…”
Something in Ji-yoo’s words seemed to spark a thought in Gyeon Sang-jin’s mind.
“So you’re saying they were partying at a club at that hour? Where was it?”
“New Face… no, was it Evening?”
As Ji-yoo’s eyes darted around, Gyeon Sang-jin looked at her as if she were pathetic.
“Try not to go so often. How frequently do you go that you can't even remember the name?”
“It's fine, I just get a private room. I don't even go down to the stage unless I'm really feeling it. I even have a few pictures I took, should I show you?”
“Tsk, tsk, tsk.”
Gyeon Sang-jin clicked his tongue as if she were pathetic and picked up his phone.
“Send me those pictures.”
“Okay.”
“…Hey, Reporter Lee. Have you eaten?”
* * *
-Wow… a message just came in from the writer. It seems Yoo Ji-eun has also become a fan of Answer.
-Wow!
The Answer members let out a collective gasp at the message from Yoo Ji-eun, one of the top female solo artists.
-I'll read it to you exactly as it is. Yoo Ji-eun says, ‘I enjoyed your performance on Best Idol. Let's be friends when we meet.’
-Yoo Ji-eun-seonbaenim, thank you so much! We're huge fans too!
Starting with Seol-ah, all the members stood up and bowed deeply toward the camera.
-Yoo Ji-eun, the members of Answer just bowed deeply to the camera. By any chance, could the Answer members sing a short snippet of one of Yoo Ji-eun’s songs?
-Yes!
Seol-ah answered with a joyful expression.
-For your information, Yoo Ji-eun is watching on the viewable radio. She says she bowed back.
-Ahahaha.
Hearing that a top star was listening to the program along with them, the real-time comment section from regular listeners became even more active.
The consistently good atmosphere continued from the third part of the show into the start of the fourth.
Just looking at the beaming faces of the PD and writers, it was clear that today's broadcast was a massive success.
Seol-ah lifted the condenser microphone from the table and stood up.
-Oh, it's heavier than I thought.
-You could have just sung while sitting down.
-How could I dare to sing a song by Yoo Ji-eun-seonbaenim while sitting down! I will stand and sing with all my heart!
Seol-ah smiled brightly at the camera, as if for Yoo Ji-eun to see. Though she was being more playful than usual, it felt incredibly natural.
-She's got flair.
-Look at her character. You can't fake that; it comes from the heart.
-She's pretty and has a good heart.
-Somehow, I feel like Answer will never lose their original passion.
The mood in the comment section was great, too.
-I'll sing a little bit of Yoo Ji-eun-seonbaenim's 'Cotton Candy.' Seonbae-nim, I apologize in advance if I don't sing it well.
-I bet Yoo Ji-eun is smiling, right?
♪♬
A pinch of fluffy Cotton candy
A pinch in your mouth
Cutting through the wind…
♪♬
-Ah, that's nice.
-So sweet.
-She has a different charm from Yoo Ji-eun, doesn't she?
-Wow! It's a song I love, and I like both versions!
Although it was an a cappella performance, Seol-ah sang with sincerity, and all the Answer members stood up and began to dance.
-Go, go!
The excited DJ even started following the choreography, and the atmosphere reached its peak.
♪♬
A pinch of soaring Cotton candy
A pinch on your cheek as we kiss
Sweet, a pinch of your Cotton candy
♪♬
Though the choreography involved small movements, it was qualitatively different from a half-hearted performance.
The amount of practice the Answer members had put in was evident as they hit every point of the choreography with beaming smiles.
“Answer is amazing, aren't they?”
The head writer, who had approached me at some point, said with a smile, and the youngest writer in the booth also seemed to have relaxed a bit.
“They react so well on their own, the kids are shining. This is going to be a huge hit.”
“Thank you, PD-nim. And you too, writer-nim.”
Choi Yoo-jun bowed with a beaming face, and I followed suit, bowing my head as well.
⋮
Answer’s perfect performance in a comical short play adapted from a listener's story also received a great response from the studio and in the comments.
-We have our ratings survey next month, and I'd love for Answer to come back again.
-Just give us a call!
-My, my. So spirited, our Answer! Then you'll really come, right? Writer-nim! Get their schedule right now.
-Hahaha!
Unaware of my inner turmoil, the Answer members readily agreed.
Their schedule had filled up in an instant after their appearance on Best Idol, and more than half of the next month was already booked.
It was the job of Production Manager Ji and me, the Chief Manager, to create a situation where they could earn the most money while maintaining peak condition.
-We'll be back after a short commercial break!
-For those of you who are afraid to go to the bathroom because of your diet…
“Hey, rookie, how many of those prebiotic sponsorships from last week do we have left?”
The youngest writer in the booth quickly ran out.
“There should be seven left.”
“Give one to each of the Answer members and their managers. The hand cream, too.”
“Yes!”
Only the youngest writer seemed incredibly busy. But the sub-writers and head writers must have gone through the same struggles to get where they are, so I wouldn't dare look down on her.
“How about this day?”
The head writer held out next month's calendar, which was packed with notes.
So this is why she gave us the sponsored products beforehand.
“Oh! Thank you!”
Yoo-jun, who had just received the bundle of sponsored goods from the youngest writer, was all smiles, oblivious to the situation.
“Honestly…”
“Hm? Me? Why?”
Choi Yoo-jun blinked his large eyes.
“We have a schedule for the entire afternoon that day…”
“Then what about this day?”
“Ah… we have a schedule until noon that day too, so I don't think we can make it.”
As her hand moved across the calendar, I vaguely sensed that the ratings survey period was about two weeks long.
“Oh, dear… then a viewable radio show won't work.”
I pointed to the days immediately following Answer's album release. If we were going to appear again anyway, we might as well promote the album. I couldn't just do favors for others.
“This day should be fine. 11:30 PM.”
“11:30 at night, not during the day?”
“…Why? Is this your first time doing a pre-recording?”
“Ah, a recording.”
I knew pre-recordings existed, but this was my first time actually doing one.
⋮
-Traffic is more congested than usual due to an accident near Gayang Bridge…
“Great work, everyone!”
“Yeah, Answer, you guys were awesome today. The broadcast was killer.”
“It’s all thanks to you, Seonbae-nim.”
The DJ praised Answer with a pleased expression.
“Thank you for your hard work!”
“Thank you for your hard work!”
The traffic report being broadcast in the studio played in the background as the Answer members greeted everyone inside and outside the studio brightly and politely.
“The PD-nim wanted you to have this.”
“Wow! Are you really giving this to us?”
Seeing the sponsored goods Choi Yoo-jun was holding, Answer gave the PD a heartwarming reaction.
“It must be tough managing your diet. You get bananas.”
“Hehehe. Thank you so much!”
Answer responded cheerfully, albeit with an embarrassed laugh, to the PD's relaxed comment.
The youngest writer saw us off all the way outside the studio.
“Thank you for your hard work too, Writer-nim.”
“Sniff. Thank you so much for today, really.”
Receiving thanks from Answer, the youngest writer expressed her gratitude with a tearful smile.
I felt a pang of sympathy for the youngest writer, who had been doing the work of both a sub-writer and a head writer all by herself, only to be reprimanded for it.
She might lack experience and the ability to handle crises, but her talent as a drama writer was exceptional.
Perhaps we would meet again someday.
“Writer-nim, you're bound to succeed, so even if it gets tough, don't leave the industry. Just hang in there, you have to.”
“…Me?”
The youngest writer’s eyes widened as she blinked.
“As a manager—no, as a casting manager, I have a definite feeling. I’m sure we’ll meet again someday.”
“Oh, my… even if you're just saying that, thank you… so much!”
The youngest writer bowed, her face on the verge of tears.
“Well then, we’ll see you again next month.”
“Yes. Thank you so much, Manager-nim.”
Every one of us had a spring in our step as we left the studio.
Tiring.
[Sudden Quest ‘Save the Youngest Writer’ Complete]
[The Cash Reward Roulette is spinning.]
Ta-da-da-daan ♪♬
Reward: School Uniform (A)
A school uniform? The cash reward is a school uniform?
* * *
I was in the car Choi Yoo-jun was driving, along with the members of Answer.
“Drop me off at the company first. I need to give you the receipts to file.”
“Yes, sir.”
Through the rearview mirror, I could see the Answer members re-watching the viewable radio show.
“Seol-ah unni came out so pretty.”
“If we're talking pretty, Ro-si and Yi-na came out the prettiest.”
“Wow… Unni, are you playing favorites right now?”
“…Sometimes, I dislike you.”
“Ugh! Why!”
Seeing how different Seul-bi was now from her initial sullen self stirred something in me.
Vzzzzing.
It was a call from Reporter Shin Dong-min.
“Hello, Reporter-nim.”
-Yes, hello. There's something I need to tell you right away.
“What is it?”
-I happened to see an article from another entertainment desk that made it to the main desk, and it's a hit piece on Answer.
“But we haven't done anything wrong.”
-…That's just how this industry is. By any chance, are any of your members frequent club-goers?
“……”
In that instant, the image of Seul-bi and Ro-si getting into a dispute with Savage Girls flashed through my mind.
“No. Answer has been practicing so hard they don't even have time to fool around. But I have an idea of where this is coming from.”
-It was Ro-si and Seul-bi, wasn't it? Something along the lines of ‘groupies spending a wild night drunk’? And ‘rumors that Ms. S frequently enters private rooms with a third-generation chaebol heir from a mid-sized corporation for secretive activities’? It seems to be a malicious article treating them like drug addicts.
“That son of a bitch Gyeon Sang-jin.”
I gritted my teeth without realizing it.
Choi Yoo-jun, who had been cautiously observing me, pulled the curtain, separating the driver's seat from Answer.
-Just say the word. I owe you a lot. I'll post a rebuttal article as soon as the hit piece goes up.
I considered telling him everything that happened with Ji-yoo but held my tongue.
“It's reassuring to have you on our side, Reporter-nim. I'll gather some evidence for the rebuttal and get back to you.”
-Understood. I'll draft a preliminary version on my end as well.
I ended the call with Reporter Shin Dong-min.
[Sudden Quest ‘Scandalous Rumor Article’]
Someone is slandering Answer.
Handle the situation appropriately to save Answer from the crisis and see that justice is served.
Reward: Legendary Random Draw
Upon Failure: Downfall
So it's either a legendary item or Answer's downfall.
“…Hyung, is something wrong?”
“It looks like a hit piece on Answer is about to be published.”
Swish.
“Yoo-jun oppa, we can hear everything. Why bother with the curtain?”
“Just a second. I think I need to figure out how to handle this, quickly.”
Was it because they trusted me? Choi Yoo-jun and Answer held their breath.
I closed my eyes and thought of an effective rebuttal.
Then, I called Choi Yoo-kyung and CEO Park Jae-yong in succession.