Chapter 65
Chapter 65
-----------------------------------------------------------------
Translator: uly
Chapter: 65
Chapter Title: Cover Song Algorithm (4)
-----------------------------------------------------------------
At first, views on the video climbed thanks to our existing fans tuning in.
Since they were fans who already loved us, the reactions were overwhelmingly positive.
- Wow, this song is seriously tough, but she just sings it so effortlessly. Go Eun-young is a total genius, she's insane.
└ For real. I've wrecked my throat so many times trying to sing Aidan's songs at karaoke, but she makes it look easy... Go Eun-young's vocals are legit top-tier.
- Our Eun-youngie is a vocal genius, visual genius ㅠㅠㅠㅠㅠㅠㅠ
- Whoa, did Teddy lose it or what? How is he dancing like that???? Check those joints ㄷㄷ
- Fell for him watching his debut stage at EverPlanet... this kid is the 'real deal'... he's insane, no cap......
└ Same, hopped on after debut stage. Teddy really dances like a pro. Did he train in dance?
- Lee Jae's vibe hits so hard...... suddenly I'm a sobbing mess...
- The song seems easy at first listen, but nailing it is no joke... Ha Jaecan really sing ㄹㅇ
└ 222 Personally, Lee Jae's voice is so my type ㅠ
Just like that, subs and likes piled up naturally, and views kept steadily rising.
Then, out of nowhere, the views shot up like a rocket.
"Hey, guys. Our cover just hit 100K views out of the blue."
"Come on, Jae-oh hyung. What’s with the sudden joke? Doesn’t suit you."
"No, for real."
"You’re the funniest sometimes, hyung."
"I’m telling you, it’s real."
And comments started flooding in from new viewers showing up out of nowhere.
- Some mysterious L-Tube algorithm dragged me here... song slaps, as expected from Go Eun-young.
└ 222 Clicked cuz it popped up and found nirvana...
└ 3333 Go Eun-young kills it... thought she was good back on NoOn, but she's leveled up so much.
└ 444 Didn't even know Go Eun-young debuted ㄹㅇ feels empty now;; lives up to the hype.
- Damn, insane. How's the dancing this good? Newbie fr?
└ ㄹㅇ dances like a beast... clicked randomly and got mesmerized.
└ btw he's hot too. Looks like he's gonna be my husband.
└ ㅗㅗㅗㅗㅗㅗㅗㅗㅗㅗㅗㅗㅗㅗㅗㅗㅗㅗ
- What’s with this voice... first time hearing it, but it's so good.
└ Same, algo pushed it so I clicked, now on repeat cuz I love it ㅠㅠ New face but kills it.
└ Best cover of this song I've seen so far.
└ Love it so much ㅠㅠㅠ
What... the hell is going on? Right as I was getting bewildered, the system chimed in with something I'd totally forgotten about.
[SPECIAL REWARD, 'L-Tube Algorithm Jackpot' has been revealed. For a set time after reveal, the cover video will be prioritized in the algorithm recommendations.]
L-Tube algorithm. No one knows exactly how it works publicly, but once it starts pushing your video, views explode exponentially.
Tons of L-Tubers have gone mega-viral—'ttek-sang'—because of it.
So this was the special reward? This is... a total game-changer.
I couldn't hide my shock watching the cumulative views and metrics skyrocket with every refresh.
'The power of the algorithm is nuts.'
But hey, good news is good news.
For a rookie group just starting out, top priority was exposure.
Any chance to etch our name in the public's mind was huge.
And the L-Tube traffic actually brought us real gains.
During a break from choreography practice, Park Su-rim glanced at her phone and came running over in a panic.
"Whoa. Guys."
"What’s up, Su-rim hyung?"
"Big trouble."
"What?"
"If it's 'I'm hungry' or something, you're in for it."
Park Su-rim shook her head furiously at Han Tae-hee's teasing threat. Then she broke into a huge grin and said brightly,
"Our Pleeter followers hit 10K."
"No way. For real?"
Go Eun-young craned her neck to peek at Park Su-rim's phone and went, "Whoa, jackpot."
"Finally got that K, huh?"
"10K!"
"Never thought this day would come."
"Right?"
Yeah, really. Seemed like just yesterday we had 300 followers.
Blink and we'd debuted, wrapped promo, and now SNS followers at 10,000.
Time flies. I was feeling it in these little moments.
"Still, that's a huge jump."
"Yeah. Probably from the cover upload."
"Definitely. Looks like a bunch of new fans hopped on board."
Compared to huge groups, it was peanuts, but more inflow was a great sign.
Those trickles add up to massive fandoms eventually.
The members looked a bit dazed but secretly thrilled.
'Feels good.'
For me, with the life-or-death main quest, this was massive.
* * *
EverPlanet, now with 10K SNS followers.
The seven of us, me included, ramped up practice for a killer mini-album 2 comeback.
Most days ended with us dragging our exhausted bodies back to the dorm.
But today was different.
"Hm? Eun-young, where you off to?"
"Gotta make a quick stop! You guys go ahead!"
"Huh?"
As soon as practice wrapped, Go Eun-young bolted out of the studio in a hurry.
An hour later, she strolled back to the dorm beaming ear to ear.
In her hands? A brand-new box.
"Huh? What's that?"
"What?"
Go Eun-young smirked, quirking her mouth to the left, and opened the box.
Inside was...
"Isn't that a BerryBook?"
"Yup! The latest model."
"Whoa! Can I check it out, Eun-young?"
"Of course."
A BerryBook, none other than.
Go Eun-young was the most gadget-savvy in the group.
Youngest, and a total gamer.
Her fancy hobby? Collecting gear from Berry Inc. Full-on Berry stan.
Every digital device she owned was Berry-made, no exceptions. BerryPhone, BerryPad, BerryBook...
"Bought another one? You just got a BerryPhone."
"BerryPhone and BerryBook are different."
"Thanks to you, Eun-young, we get to try all Berry's new stuff."
Even though they weren't cheap, she snagged every new release somehow.
"Where'd you get the cash for that?"
"Second sis bought it for me."
Probably 'cause she was the baby of a well-off family.
Kim Kwang-myeong eyed her jealously after hearing about the second sis gift.
"Damn. Lucky. My family's got nothing like that."
"But hyung, you have a BerryBook too. Who got you yours?"
"I worked for it, back before trainee days."
"Whoa. Job? Where?"
"Sold some tracks."
"Huh? You sell songs?"
Go Eun-young's eyes went wide as she double-took, and Kim Kwang-myeong shrugged casually.
"Yangpyeong Re-Yu High, Sinlim Shinseong Elementary... a few more, but I forget."
"Why elementary schools outta nowhere?"
"I wrote their school songs."
"You? School songs?"
This guy? School anthems?
"Yeah, dude."
I'd heard budding composers take gigs like school songs or promo jingles to make ends meet early on. Never pegged Kim Kwang-myeong for it. Shocking.
Then Go Eun-young nodded like it clicked and muttered,
"No wonder... it was a super old model......"
"What, dude?"
"It is! Like, five years old!"
"Obviously? Bought it five years ago."
"You've been using it forever. Time for a new one. Latest specs are solid."
Kim Kwang-myeong shook his head at the pitch.
"It's still fine. Plus, all my work's on here. Switching means migrating everything."
"So migrate?"
"Too much hassle."
"Ugh."
"And where's my money coming from? Think I'm loaded like you?"
"...What'd I do."
Han Tae-hee, watching TV nearby, cackled at Kim Kwang-myeong's jab and piled on, "Yeah, you bougie brat."
Go Eun-young pouted and grumbled.
"But... new product out, how do I resist?"
"Anyway, I'll upgrade eventually. Once royalties hit, I'll think about it. Maybe you can spec one out for me then."
"Obviously! I'm great at that. Hit me up when you upgrade your laptop? Promise?"
I gave Kim Kwang-myeong a vague thumbs-up and chuckled watching Go Eun-young geek out over the new BerryBook with Teddy.
Still, kids gonna kid.
To me—stuck mentally at 25 (though some'd call that kid-level too)—18-year-old Go Eun-young just seemed so young.
'Kid's got a good heart, though.'
Gotta train her right as we go.
Or she'll turn into some power-tripping jerk adult.
I mustn't forget.
These guys all met pretty bad ends as idols for some reason or other.
'Fail to fix that, and we're toast.'
Long road ahead. Mountains to climb.
* * *
But to trek far, handle what's right in front first.
Thanks to intense assist from choreo teacher Jung Hyun and our main dancer Choi Teddy, we nailed the routine and dove into full comeback prep.
Part of that: summoned to the company today instead of practice.
Briefing on album 2 concept and lore. Wondered why tell us rookies, but... they said come, so we came.
On the way, Kim Kwang-myeong hit the elevator button and muttered,
"But what, new concept? Sticking with Planet Guardians?"
"Yeah. What else they want......"
"Hm......"
Park Su-rim and Ha Jaetrailed off as they boarded.
Han Tae-hee burst out laughing.
"Guys. Give up. Acceptance is peace."
"True......"
"But...... I still hate Mars."
"Fire vibes were lit, though. Flame Power Teddy!"
"Ugh! STOP!"
If you can't dodge it, enjoy it. Han Tae-hee embodied that best.
We hit the company floor and stepped out.
Then, a unfamiliar woman's voice called out.
"Ah, hello! EverPlanet, right? This way!"
I turned toward the voice.
A petite, neat-looking woman was struggling with a stack of papers and a laptop toward the conference room.
I signaled the members with a look.
We rushed over and split the load.
"Ah! Thank you."
She adjusted her glasses, thanked us, and dashed to fling open the conference room door.
We stacked our shares neatly up front and took seats.
Looks like she's running this presentation.
I'd figured CEO Oh or Manager Hwang, so I tossed her a casual question.
"Manager Hwang not here today?"
She nodded at my ask.
"Ah! Right. From now on, I'm handling album stuff mainly. Oops. Haven't introduced myself yet, have I? I'm Ji Soo-jin, new A&R team lead. Nice to meet you."
She bowed to us with that.