Chapter 21
Chapter 21
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Translator: uly
Chapter: 21
Chapter Title: Chapter 6. A Hit Song Will Take Off
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One week after the digital release.
In the midst of my usual daily routine, I was sitting in the second-floor recording studio, taking a lesson from Executive Director Jo Kyu-hwan.
During the break.
Executive Director Jo Kyu-hwan, who had brought coffee, looked at me and smiled.
"You look a bit down."
"Pardon?"
"Is it because the song's performance isn't as good as you hoped?"
"No, it's not."
I waved it off with a smile, but honestly, he was right.
Human hearts are so fickle—we think the process matters more deep down, but we end up fixating on the results.
Repeatedly falling off the charts.
Maybe this means our song just isn't that great. Does that mean our efforts were all wrong? Lately, those thoughts had been spiraling in my mind.
As if reading my mood, he smiled and said,
"Don't worry."
My ears perked up at his next words.
"Your song is going to take off."
"Huh?"
"I have a feeling your song is going to hit big."
If anyone else had said it, I would've laughed it off, but coming from him, it carried real weight.
Jo Kyu-hwan.
A copyright holder with nearly 300 songs under his belt, the Midas Touch of Lemon Entertainment.
That's why I couldn't help but be shocked.
"You know that baseball term DTD?"
"No."
"It means a team that's going down is going down."
Executive Director Jo Kyu-hwan explained.
"The music industry is similar. A hit song is destined to hit. That's the rule of this business, based on everything I've seen."
"I'm grateful for the words, but honestly, this time—"
"It's not just a gut feeling."
The composer continued his explanation.
"The song itself is good."
"Really?"
"Yeah, it's well-made."
For some reason, it felt like validation, and my mood lifted.
"The duet parts are distributed perfectly, and the overall vibe is solid. The melody is fresh, and the mid-tempo makes it perfect for the upcoming spring season. Plus, the charts are wide open right now."
"Wide open?"
"Sixty Seconds, with their insane fandom firepower, tanked. They had ten songs lined up."
"Oh..."
"Girls on Top is stumbling too. TNT is coming back soon, but they're in a league of their own anyway. No real competition otherwise. Play your cards right, and you could sweep the empty house."
Executive Director Jo Kyu-hwan scrolled through the charts on his smartphone and said,
"In my view, the song is strong, and the environment is ripe. It just needs a little spark..."
"A little spark."
Mulling over his words, I asked him,
"Then how do we create that spark?"
"Hm?"
"What should I do..."
Before I could finish, Executive Director Jo burst out laughing. Then he let out a hearty guffaw.
Confused, I asked,
"Why are you laughing?"
"You're just so cute."
I'd heard "handsome" a million times, but "cute" was a first.
"Why are you worrying about that?"
"Huh?"
"I get that you're the leader and always thinking about how to make the team succeed, but your job is to be an idol."
"Oh..."
"That's why we have an agency. We're here so you can focus on practicing without worrying about the rest. If you handle everything, we can't make a living."
He looked at me proudly and said,
"Yoon the manager is out there hustling at every broadcasting station, pitching your song. Don't worry."
"Really?"
"You noticed he's been scarce lately, right?"
I could picture Yoon Seok-hwan bowing and scraping at stations, begging them to play our song.
He already has a bad back from that herniated disc—bending over must hurt.
As I thought about that, Executive Director Jo Kyu-hwan smiled reassuringly.
"You guys just flap your wings. We'll attach them for you."
* * *
Was it thanks to Yoon Seok-hwan's legwork?
Something occasionally popped up in radio playlists, briefly cracking the top 100.
The scores were still low overall, which was disappointing, but it wasn't for nothing.
Our name recognition had gone up, at least.
Views started steadily climbing on company YouTube uploads like our choreography video, year-end evaluation practice clips, and the collab footage with Jang Sowon.
Mostly from Lemon Entertainment subscribers, but some came after hearing Something.
Maybe three digits at best.
How to put it.
Like travelers who seek out hidden alleys for the best eats.
-Something was great!! Rooting for New Black!
-Heard the song and had to check you out lol you're all so handsome
-Will keep an eye on you lol
Just five or six comments, but they meant the world to us.
Lately, when practice got tough, scrolling those for some healing had become a new habit.
Of course, the real win was elsewhere.
Me [Grandma, what do you think of your grandson's song?]
KingGodKimDeoksoon [Good]
KingGodKimDeoksoon [Send cassette tape. Play at shop]
Me [Cassettes? Everything's digital now]
Me [Anyway, hang tight]
Me [Money might rain down soon ^_^]
KingGodKimDeoksoon [Impressive]
No way my grandma would be that nice?
KingGodKimDeoksoon [Thought I'd say that, you rascal]
KingGodKimDeoksoon [Quit yapping and practice till you shit blood]
Only after the profanity-laden reply did my heart ease up. Guess I'm not all that normal either.
But words aside.
I could clearly picture how much she'd bragged to everyone around.
"My grandson's a singer! An idol singer! He just dropped a song!"
Thinking of Grandma promoting us filled my chest with pride.
We hadn't produced any real results until now.
It felt good, like finally giving her a gift after she'd only had me to look forward to.
"Hyung."
Bi-ju poked me from the side.
"Yeah?"
"Ji-ho wants you to wave."
"Oh."
I looked down and waved.
In the crowd of middle school boys and girls in uniforms, our maknae beamed and waved back brightly.
February 13th.
The day before Valentine's, Ji-ho's middle school graduation.
* * *
"Who are those guys?"
"Entertainers, they say. Entertainers."
"They on TV?"
"Mom, they're not celebrities—they're trainees. Like interns at a company."
"Our Su-yeon knows everything."
"Mom, come on. Even elementary kids know that stuff."
"They're all so handsome."
"That one in the middle looks so earnest, doesn't he? Handsome and smart-looking too."
Yes, that's me. Thank you, ma'am.
"You and your delusions. Entertainers are entertainers—what makes you think he'd study well?"
"No, I mean he just looks like it."
"Still, they don't seem rowdy. I thought idols would be all flashy, but they look so innocent."
Whispers about us floated from all directions.
We pretended not to hear, leaning casually against the railing, but we caught every word.
Our cheeks twitched at every "handsome" or "cute."
Ah, bliss.
I love attention. We love attention.
"Feels like we're getting some real respect out here."
"Yeah."
Bi-ju agreed.
"Haven't heard 'handsome' in forever."
"You?"
"The staff says faces like ours are dime-a-dozen in this industry."
"Those people must not own mirrors."
Anyway, our maknae is seriously handsome.
In a gym packed with hundreds, his face stands out.
Plenty of girls were eyeing his every move.
They'd glance our way whenever Ji-ho waved, giggling and whispering.
Probably nothing bad.
The boys, seeing the girls' reactions, would sneak peeks at us and scoff.
I couldn't help but smirk.
I knew exactly what those kids were thinking—it was written all over their faces.
Kids are so young.
Their fresh, glowing skin and vibrant energy were nice.
"Youth really is the best."
"Talking like an old man again."
Ri-hyeok, who'd scolded me, pointed.
"Ji-ho's parents are here. Let's go say hi later."
"Where?"
"That group of four women over there."
"Wow."
Jung-hyun's exclamation spoke for us all.
Three sisters, he'd said.
A stately middle-aged man, a gentle-faced middle-aged woman, and three twenties stunners with model vibes.
Genes are powerful.
Plenty of stares lingered on Ji-ho's good-looking family.
But what caught my eye was Ji-ho's dad.
He had that big-corp exec aura, decked head-to-toe in luxury suits.
"Ji-ho's dad..."
"Yeah?"
"Isn't he a chicken shop owner?"
Bi-ju gave an awkward smile at my question.
"He is a president. Why?"
"He just gives off major corporate exec vibes. He didn't come to the year-end eval, so I had this image in my head. But seeing him now, it's like spotting TJ Entertainment's Chairman Park Tae-jun."
"Bi-ju hyung."
Ri-hyeok cut in.
"Don't be dense—just spill it."
"Spill what?"
"Ji-ho's dad is the chairman of a chicken franchise, hyung."
While I blinked, Bi-ju typed "Wang Hyun-tak" into search and showed me.
-Born 1957, businessman.
-Chairman of Hohochicken.
Hohochicken—one of the big three chicken chains.
"..."
No wonder Ji-ho's stuff was all high-end.
So that's the chicken shop he meant.
My bandmates looked at my stunned face with expressions screaming, "We reacted the same way at first."
A real chaebol heir.
It was my first time seeing near-chaebol-level wealth up close, so I stared at Ji-ho's dad in fascination.
Murmurs rippled.
Eyes that had been on us shifted elsewhere.
My gaze followed naturally.
The gym entrance.
Shutter clicks echoed as a swarm of cameras appeared.
A face we'd forgotten.
"Forgot about her."
"Yeah. Same school as Ji-ho, right?"
Girls on Top maknae Gil Chae-kyung.
Haven't seen her since she picked a fight with Ji-ho.
"She looks so innocent."
"That's her—the one my daughter goes nuts over every time she comes to school."
"Thought she'd look sly like a fox, but she's pretty. Looks like our girl."
"She's way prettier. Ye-seo takes after you—bad temper and all."
"Shut it if you know what's good for you. You piss me off every time you open your mouth."
Gil Chae-kyung's looks drew warm reactions from the crowd.
Delicate features, sweet and innocent—the kind adults love.
As she walked, she glanced at Ji-ho waving to us, then turned our way briefly.
She smiled.
A smile hinting at ulterior motives.
"She's sitting next to Ji-ho?"
"What?"
"Plenty of seats—why there...?"
What’s her game?
* * *
Gil Chae-kyung was pissed.
The controversy had spotlighted Joo Hana, pegged as Joo-wan's girlfriend.
The media swarm excited her at first.
But the questions were all infuriating: "How's Hana doing?" "What's your take?"
"Ask about my graduation."
At least today, she should be the star.
She was mad her sisters couldn't make it due to the scandal, mad at the reporters' dumb questions, and above all, mad seeing Wang Ji-ho happily greeting his hyungs.
"Can't stand looking at him."
Why's he grinning like that?
Hating the sight, Gil Chae-kyung deliberately took the seat beside Wang Ji-ho.
Time to make him squirm.
She flashed a bright smile at her wide-eyed classmates.
"Ji-eun, Young-seon, hi."
They barely saw her once or twice a year.
But a classmate-celebrity knowing their names thrilled them into a frenzy.
It let Gil Chae-kyung easily strike up friendly chat.
"These kids are easy."
Child's play for someone in the industry since middle school first year.
Having quickly won over her starstruck peers, Gil Chae-kyung got to work.
"Hi, Ji-ho. Long time no see."
"Yeah, been a while."
"We meet at the company, then here? Weird running into you again."
The listeners freaked.
"No way—they're from the same company?"
"Nah."
"Then how'd you meet there?"
Gil Chae-kyung said sweetly,
"Ji-ho came to get a song from one of our agency's seniors."
Technically a collab, but correcting her would just make Ji-ho look bad.
Beaming, Gil Chae-kyung added,
"Oh right, you dropped a song, didn't you?"
"Really? Ji-ho, you didn't tell us!"
"Was kinda embarrassed..."
But her scheme wasn't landing.
Ji-ho, who should be blushing, just grinned like a puppy.
"What's the song? Or the group name?"
"Not famous yet, so kinda hesitant to say..."
Gil Chae-kyung jumped in,
"It's New Black."
"New Black?"
"Right, Ji-ho?"
Now they'd react with "Who?"
But things took a different turn.
The air froze at "New Black."
"What?"
An eerie silence spread, followed by whispers rippling outward.
"New Black?"
Murmurs swept the whole gym as Gil Chae-kyung sat stunned.
"What?"
What is this?
This feeling of accidentally hyping them huge.