Why Is a Lowly Person in a Precious Place (2)
Majia's confident words made Cheon Do-hee ask with a puzzled expression.
“Serena? Why did she apply here…?”
“Yeah.”
“No, what if you don't know? We were playing together until last week.”
“I see.”
“…”
No conditions prevented participation in other companies.
It was possible to claim that she came because she was close to Maru, or that she tried supporting because the famous Utaite Lee Yu-ra was also participating.
The Pazizik side, which had the list, wouldn't say anything if they realized it was from this side, to avoid problems.
However, the atmosphere between Serena and Majia had been subtle in recent broadcasts.
It was a feeling that Do-hee's sensor for wanting Majia by her side was wavering.
No matter how much of a punishment it was.
For Ji-a, 'Master's heart is moemoeeung♡' is a bit much.
Majia laughed heartily and accepted it.
“And speaking of which, how close have you become with Serena?”
“After the drinking party, having a separate coffee and gossiping about the company behind the scenes…?”
“?”
The president looked at me with sharp eyes.
“Shouldn't you have told me about such important matters in advance?”
“I was going to pretend I hadn't heard it. How am I supposed to tell everyone if you ask me not to?”
“That makes sense….”
Since Majia wouldn't gossip about the company, the main gossip would be from Serena.
If she agreed with that gossip and made a slip of the tongue, the other party might think 'What's this, Parallel is inviting me?'
Although I trust Ji-a, this is the first time she's appearing in such external events, even with a rival company's VTuber.
Do-hee asked cautiously out of worry.
“Has she not said anything to Serena like 'come to Parallel' or something?”
“Absolutely not.”
Majia's sharp answer and blank expression.
That is, Majia didn't make any mistakes.
But having gossiped about the company to a rival company employee and appearing at the Parallel's joint event without prior notice.
With her experience of operating a VTuber company for 3 years, Cheon Do-hee realized that this was an act of defection signal.
“Is she thinking of switching companies….”
Serena herself wants to switch companies, and there's nothing Parallel can do about it.
Thanks to the growth spurt at Wicker Town, she's still growing well.
But to abandon that and come out means she has made that decision, so forming a 'beautiful farewell' mood at the company would inevitably break the fans' trust.
In the end, it's something the VTuber herself has to bear.
And if Serena has thoughts, she wouldn't have refused the strong offer from Lapiz to switch directly to Parallel.
She would have stayed as a personal VTuber (not company-affiliated) for a few months following several senior VTubers who moved, preparing for the switch.
“… If there's any trust, she'll just do what she wants.”
Reasons for the switch?
It would be multifaceted, but the main part would be dissatisfaction with the company.
However, in a situation where that dissatisfaction and the heart for the fans were exactly balanced, a variable suddenly appeared.
“Did Ji-a play a decisive role….”
Most fans of idols, VTubers, etc., but honestly, most people don't know anything except their own opinions.
At least they keep track of the same generation and group, but once the company changes, it's no longer their business.
But Majia is different.
She just helps anyone she likes.
Rival company? Doesn't matter. If help is needed, she helps.
“Is it the sun and the north wind… No, was this what she meant?”
When the wind blows hard, the traveler wraps his clothes tightly. Conversely, when the sun shines brightly, he takes off his clothes.
The recent analogy Majia told seems to fit the current situation perfectly.
Majia had only been taking care of the VTubers she liked at her place, but Lapiz was already shaking on its own.
“Yeah… There are no VTubers who would dislike being cared for by Ji-a.”
The first generation of Parallel also naturally distanced themselves because of her sweet and direct way of speaking and her personality of pushing and seeing.
Now, how is it?
Everyone is just waiting for the day Majia does a joint stream.
Majia has a high standing among Parallel's VTubers.
In terms of content, joint event popularity, and essentially all aspects related to broadcasting, Majia is recognized as a cheat key.
To the extent that more than half of the second generation candidates preparing for interviews after the first evaluation mentioned Majia at least once in their support letters.
It was that Majia's 'Majia-daeri' supported them, and the statistics showed she was in the top ranks with comments like 'I am a fan of President Momo's fan, fan of first generation' and 'I want to enter because Majia-daeri is supporting me'.
It could be seen that Majia had begun to play the role of Parallel's face, and that positively.
Even to the extent that this high evaluation turned the hearts of rival company VTubers beyond the internal (Parallel fandom).
But even so.
Today is Parallel's big festival.
The moment the news that a Lapiz person appeared on the scene, both sides would be in trouble.
Cheon Do-hee reached the conclusion of defection intention through reasonable reasoning, but in the community where internal company situations are unknown, speculation and rumors would run rampant.
“Viewers have already noticed to some extent….”
That is, even if viewers speculate that it's not her, it's best not to mention it officially.
Do-hee said.
“We agreed to give one award each to Parallel, right?”
“Parallel award?”
“Yeah. Serena is not to be picked as much as possible.”
But Majia asked if that was a problem.
“Why? Afraid Lapiz will say something?”
Majia tapped her phone.
One material in this is enough to end the story, what is there to worry about.
Tampering from Lapiz side.
Even if Majia contacted Serena behind the scenes to take her away or something.
In the end, Parallel has the evidence, and Lapiz has only suspicions.
Even if the CEO and representative from Lapiz shout at Parallel.
And Majia just wanted to give Serena an award, for her own reasons.
“Originally, besides all that, she's listening to the song now.”
Cheon Do-hee, who was concentrating on the conversation, finally heard the climax of the song Serena was calling.
The explosive, attractive voice made the viewers unable to even think of waving glow sticks.
“[Like the last breath for tomorrow,
I'll quietly close my eyes and let you go——!]”
— Wow
— Whoa, crazy
— She tore it
— Kyaaaaaaa
— Who is this?
— This is a viewer…?
— I want to marry this Moonsoon
— She's purifying…
Clearly, the healing wave of Serena's voice is in it.
But she copied Maru's deep, resonant singing style with strong appeal.
So it matched well with Maru's voice in the background.
She was truly an optimized participant for illegal duet.
“Based on my experience of practicing cover for a short time, to do this, you really need to listen a lot and practice a lot.”
It can be known from Majia, who has been a fan for a long time and has done covers.
This song was even more beautiful because she respected Maru.
It wouldn't be strange to give the Aurora award selected by skill rather than the Parallel award picked by Do-hee and Majia.
“I will definitely give the award to Serena if I can't come out with a better song than this. This is in the realm of love.”
But Majia's thoughts are soon Cheon Do-hee's thoughts.
How much effort Cheon Do-hee put into the production of Maru's first single album.
She wouldn't dislike Serena singing so beautifully.
“If you don't give it, people will pick it anyway. And even if they pick it, tell them not to pick it. I'll pick it.”
There might be annoying problems between companies.
But that's a domain the president should handle.
Majia has already done her job as an employee and handed over the evidence to Do-hee.
“Do you know why I tell you to tell me about such things? Because I don't want to pass the responsibility to you as an employee.”
Ji-a smiled wryly with a surprised expression.
“It would be nice if you were this trustworthy even in the back call.”
“Hey.”
***
Approximately 30 minutes later, in the Lapiz CEO's office.
Yeon Seong-muk was giving a long speech in front of the CEO.
“This is definitely tampering.”
He started from the post on Lapiz gallery 'Serena participating in illegal duet EU' and raised his voice, saying it's evidence of tampering because of the continuous close relationship with Majia.
“Evidence?”
“Only suspicions, but it's definite. If you investigate Serena's behind the scenes a bit, you'll see videos of contact with Majia in no time…”
The CEO sighed and asked.
“Team leader Yeon. Do you think bringing anonymous community posts as evidence is reasonable right now?”
“But based on experience, this is definitely…”
“The team leader is someone who says 'based on experience it's right' without any data? Is this correct?”
Yeon Seong-muk closed his mouth tightly, and the CEO began to interrogate.
“What did you talk about with Miss Majia on the day of the Pazizik year-end party.”
“Same operating team. A little talk about industry trends…”
“Really?”
The CEO's gaze was very sharp.
As if he knew all the truth.
“I have heard something. Be honest.”
“I didn't lie. Industry trends—.”
“I heard it from all operating team employees. Did you make a debut offer to Miss Majia?”
“……”
“I will soon receive performance recognition and be promoted to executive line. Damn it. I heard you said something like that at the drinking party.”
Yeon Seong-muk clenched his fists.
But no one could blame him.
The inner feelings that dreamed of a future of success after successfully recruiting Majia came out due to alcohol, after all, it was his own fault.
Because the snowball of the misconception that Majia didn't reject the debut offer on the day she was offered became huge by today.
Did she think to contact Majia to check her intentions?
No. By stalling, it would be advantageous to herself, and she was confident that Lapiz's scale was larger than Parallel's, as the parent company of Lapiz.
A frog in a well.
The result of trusting only Budis and its CEO father and acting thoughtlessly.
“Originally, what does Miss Majia believe and come over to our side? Do you know who this person is?”
“……”
“After being in that position for nearly 2 years, do you still not know the industry situation?
I see. So, the words to not let the kids shake, you were trying to take a competitor's employee. Hahaha.”
All industry-related people were watching from the lobby of the hotel where the Pazizik year-end party was held.
This looks like Majia. Should I talk or not.
If I approach rashly, rumors like 'where did you get eyes from' would spread, so everyone was waiting while checking each other.
But when Yeon Seong-muk contacted openly, how could they not know.
Because this news spread to MCN and agencies, the CEO was about to become a 'representative who violated business ethics' that no one knew about in the meeting with industry representatives.
Since it's a different company, but the rivalry between Parallel and Lapiz is already famous.
“Team leader Yeon, what do you always do when you go out for contract-related meetings.”
“Voice recording… I do.”
“Even if Miss Majia looks naive, I know that Team leader Yeon does similar things?”
“……”
“Did you really not record?”
“In a hurry. Probably.”
“Did you or not. Can you say for sure?”
“……”
“If you push evidence from that side, what do you think I would do?”
The company doesn't want to take risks, so in the end, the one with the knife to the throat is individual Yeon Seong-muk.
No matter how much of a parachute sent from the parent company, if left alone, it would only leave a stain on the company, how could I leave it alone.
“Recently, they say you're only watching Parallel's broadcasts sitting in your seat. Isn't the one thinking of switching Team leader Yeon? Maybe you want to make your father who demoted me to Lapiz eat dirt or something like a childish thought?”
“No. That's not it. I was just observing the trends on that side…. Absolutely no such thought…”
“While working, not thinking about broadcasting indicators and viewer sentiment all day but only looking at the phone. Was this time allocation for benchmarking? So. What was the result of the benchmarking? Do you have a plan?”
“… That. Because the members aren't actively following me.”
“Team leader Yeon took an appropriate attitude to be followed by the members? And. Why do I have to hear from outside our company why the VTuber and operating team at Lapiz fought?”
“… Yes?”
“The chief A&R producer at CAT Enter told me. It seems like member management isn't working well.”
A&R is short for Artists & Repertoire, a department that handles all planning and practical work related to artists including albums in the label.
If it's chief A&R producer, it's a huge figure overseeing numerous subordinate labels or related departments.
In a normal company, it would be like the CAO (Chief Administrative Officer) or COO (Chief Operating Officer), or the head of development department.
Since CAT Enter is a super large agency that divides the Korean entertainment industry with SB Enter.
An A&R producer from such a place is really an unbelievable heavyweight.
Did that person directly say such things?
At least, the one who has contact with CAT Enter is Serena.
Because Lapiz's VTubers always have support from the label under CAT Enter for releasing songs, while Serena always had support from the label under CAT Enter.
CAT always said they highly praise Serena's musicality.
But perhaps Serena's close relationship with CAT is not the case.
Yeon Seong-muk, who was suspicious, asked.
“No way. Did Serena… talk to that side?”
“What do you know about that? Are you going to take revenge?”
“No, no, no, absolutely not!”
“If you don't want to leave the industry forever, don't dream.”
The CEO's sharp gaze carries a warning.
“And until next month, solve all the problems hanging on the operating team and report. If you can't solve the problem, I'll send you back to Budis. Whether you make Team leader Yeon clean the bathroom or not is none of my business.”
“Ha, but uncle! That's the only thing…”
“Don't call me uncle in the company.”
Now openly showing hostility, the Lapiz CEO said.
“Even though I trusted you because of blood relation. Now it's not possible. Team leader Yeon, do you think the same?”
“Please show mercy…”
Yeon Seong-muk, lowering his head with a resentful expression, the CEO gave a final, certain ultimatum.
“Mercy or not. If there's any news of member departure within a month, that's the end. That's how I know.”