Chapter 18
Chapter 18
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Translator: Vine
Chapter: 18
Chapter Title: Cold Night Hits Number One
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- Cold Night is good, right?
- I listen to it every day
- If we adapt this into English and release it, it'd probably chart on Melboard too
- The song is insane
- For real, Kim Beomsin made this?
- He wanted to escape ballads, and this time he really did
- Kim Beomsin's voice hasn't given out yet
- But people who are ridiculously good at singing or whatever always have "king" or "god" in their names—why not Kim Beomsin?
- Because... he's already Kim "Beom"Shin
- Fan club name is Kim BeomGOD lololol
- Fangirls' naming sense is on GOD Fans level lolololol
- Those fans are mostly in their 40s and 50s now. That's your moms talking
- Lmaooo insult GOD Fans and it's a mom diss
- But the reactions are wild—this has to be digital chart buying, right?
- Fr, washed-up Kim Beomsin suddenly climbing the Mango chart? Makes any sense?
- Lol you don't know chart manipulation isn't a thing?
- Chart manipulation doesn't happen, but those GOD Fans could be streaming like crazy to boost the rank
- Evidence would leak for that—check the age-based streaming trends. 20s are blasting it too
- It's just a good song blowing up
Washed-up Kim Beomsin was shaking up the digital charts.
It might've started with his GOD Fans, but now tons of people were streaming his song daily, pushing the rank higher every day. It was steadily hovering between 5th and 10th on the real-time chart.
And with that real-time success, the daily chart was seeing the same turbulence, bouncing between 5th and 10th.
What turbulence? It's not even #1, just 5th to 10th?
Every song above Kim Beomsin was by an idol group.
This was the era of 5th-gen idols dominating the charts.
Climbing to 5th as a solo act in their world was no small feat.
"Congratulations, sir!"
BSK Entertainment was in full party mode.
No singer besides Daydream had pulled off results like this, and the CEO had made it happen.
"Yep, thanks."
"Congratulations!!"
"Ahem, yeah."
Kim Beomsin's ego was shooting straight to the stars.
"From now on, call me the singer loved by the MZ generation."
"...That's a stretch."
"Getting 'MZ pick' off one song feels like overkill."
"You're real cute when you talk back, Secretary Jeong. Makes me wanna fire you."
"Hahaha, no need for that. Keep overlooking my charm and let me stick around."
He'd thrown some shade mid-celebration, but overall, every day felt like a dream for Kim Beomsin.
The washed-up mindset? Gone.
I'm not done yet. For real.
That's what he was thinking.
Positive stuff.
But when it's too much, it wears on everyone around.
"What's the name for the new girls we're launching?"
"I was thinking BSK Girls? Like, Kim Beomsin's kids vibe."
"That doesn't feel right..."
"Why not? Starting with a buff as the children of the guy shining at #5 on Mango?"
"Then by that logic, Daydream Girls..."
"Hm? That's not bad."
The only one who could resist the CEO's desperate flailing to sabotage the new group he'd launched with a massive loan was the co-CEO.
But right now, co-CEO Park Sangcheol was frozen, staring at his smartphone.
"Mr. Park, do something..."
A junior female staffer poked his side and whispered.
Park Sangcheol slowly turned to look at her.
"W-Why, what's up?"
"Everyone, check Mango."
At his words, they all pulled up Mango.
Any agency employee had the app as a must-have, so even without his extra nudge, they dove straight into the real-time chart.
1. Cold Night [Kim Beomsin]
Holy crap.
"What? A glitch?"
Even Kim Beomsin, the singer himself, couldn't believe it and muttered nonsense about a bug.
Real-time charts update hourly, but somehow, in the last hour, Cold Night had overtaken a top 5th-gen idol to become the most-streamed song.
No solo digital single—not from a music show intro or promo—had hit #1 in at least the last five years.
If 10th to 5th was turbulence, this was a full-blown upset.
"Th-This is crazy."
"Eek!! What do we do? Promote it?"
"Should we post on SNS thanking fans for #1?"
Naturally, the entire BSK staff was in chaos. No one knew how to handle this unbelievable moment—they were all panicking without answers.
Amid it all, one person stayed cool: Park Sangcheol. He assessed the situation and spoke.
"Contact Shin Jiyeong right now."
"Huh?"
"Call her, and send gifts—gift cons, whatever. To both her and composer Yuin."
"???"
"We gotta stay on their good side for them to give us first dibs on future songs!!"
"Oh!! On it!!"
Hearing that, Kim Beomsin chimed in.
"Send every kind of coffee, top-grade hanwoo beef—wait, no, I'll handle it."
It was the obvious, smart move from BSK's perspective.
People don't forget the first ones to give them a shot—gratitude and loyalty.
Like Shin Jiyeong.
She'd gotten offers from giant Taein Entertainment but met BSK first and ended up giving them the song.
But handing over one chance doesn't mean the relationship lasts. Let it cool, and it's over.
Ellis had flipped out and left Taein, vowing never to work with them again.
No guarantee this composer would keep succeeding, but buttering them up couldn't hurt.
BSK didn't know it yet, but agencies everywhere were eyeing the name Yuin after seeing their song rocket a "washed-up" Kim Beomsin to real-time #1 on Mango.
Word was already out that Shin Jiyeong had shopped Yuin's tracks everywhere, with over eight agencies sniffing around. Now the same composer tops the chart with Kim Beomsin? Eyes were glued.
No way to contact Yuin directly, so with Shin Jiyeong as the agent, her phone was probably exploding right now.
That was their problem.
For BSK, with Kim Beomsin exploding after six years—water not just flowing in but flooding—they had to row hard and fast.
Row? Nah, slap a motor on at this point.
Park Sangcheol was lightning-quick in these situations.
"And call Ellis. Tell her don't mind us, do whatever she wants. Group name, details—even if she names them like a mess. People, gear, anything she needs, say we'll book and deliver ASAP! Just make it quick!!"
"Got it!"
* * *
Ellis got a bit urgent after Park Sangcheol's call.
Just like BSK said, with Kim Beomsin blowing up now, she needed to hop on that bus ASAP.
An idol raised by the resurrected legend singer and produced by Ellis? That title would outshine any YouTube or marketing spend.
Bonus: Slash marketing costs, pump it into idol quality.
"Costumes and concept to BSK—they've got Daydream experience. Choreo... gotta be Team Lilith."
Team Lilith was top-tier, even outsourcing from Taein.
Busy as hell, but the leader owed Ellis big— she'd helped build the team from scratch.
First to jump for Ellis, and they'd already pseudo-contracted by clearing her schedule early.
Still, couldn't just demand "us first."
Priority one: Title track recording.
Need the song to choreo, right?
"Alright... call the girls and record first."
With a lush guide track, it shouldn't take long. She hurried to schedule.
"Wait."
Still, input from the original creator would be good, right?
Plus, Yuin—the original creator—had pulled a #1 song just from hearing Kim Beomsin's voice.
They might drop killer ideas mid-recording for synergy.
"Watching recording might blow their mind—they'd love it. How cute would that be?"
...Not that she wanted to see them again because they're cute.
Smiling at the thought of Yuin, Ellis snapped to it and called Jiyeong.
-Yes, Ellis! What's up?
"Jiyeong sunbae! Can you and composer Yuin come to the girls' recording day? Wanna incorporate the composer's input while they sing."
-Really? Well, our Yeon—er, Yuin has a schedule. Can I check times?
Yuin has a schedule?
Even at six?
"Oh, that... afternoon. Around 6 PM."
-Okay, that should work.
"But sunbae, what schedule?"
-Haha... nothing big. Yeonwoo goes to kindergarten.
"Oh...."
Ellis was speechless.
Right. Kindergarten.
Important.
* * *
"You can do it, right, Yeonwoo?"
In his sky-blue polo and navy shorts—kindergarten uniform—Yeonwoo met his dad's serious gaze with his own determined nod.
"Yeah, I can."
"No fighting with friends."
"Got it."
Aunt Jiyeong butted in from behind.
"Yeonwoo, if someone hits you, don't just take it—fight back!!"
"Hey!! Quiet!"
"What! You telling him to man up and take beatings?"
"Kids get in big trouble for hitting these days, you idiot. Yeonwoo, ignore your aunt."
"Okay."
Yeonwoo nodded like it was obvious.
Jiyeong fumed at being brushed off, but Heo Ok took Yeonwoo's hand.
Jihoon eyed her curiously.
"You've got work. I'll drop Yeonwoo off."
"Mom? Yeonwoo's kindergarten—no car. Gotta walk him there."
"I know."
Heo Ok smiled at Yeonwoo. He grinned back.
Jihoon glanced at the time. Traffic would hit soon after drop-off—tight.
"Alright, Mom, thanks."
"Yep. Yeonwoo, let's go with Grandma?"
"Yeah!!"
Yeonwoo grabbed Heo Ok's hand and headed out.
Morning humidity hit hard—hot and sticky.
"Not too hot, Yeonwoo?"
"I'm good."
Yeonwoo liked summer.
Before, locked in a stuffy room like a chicken coop, it was miserable. Escaping made summer a whole new world.
Crossing the apartment to kindergarten, well-kept trees and grass filled the air with thick grass and earth smells.
Yeonwoo liked those smells.
But only for a bit.
At the path's end: kindergarten.
Kids already there, hands switching from mom or dad to teacher's, waving goodbye.
Some bawled the second parents left.
"Yeonwoo, you're six—you won't cry like that, right?"
Grandma's question got a nod.
"Yeah, I'm a boy—no tears."
"Where'd you learn that?"
Heo Ok laughed, ruffling his hair.
"But it's your first day—if it's too much, tell the teacher 'send me home' and they will."
"Really?"
"Yeah. Still, I'd love if you make friends quick."
"Yeah...."
Yeonwoo had never seen so many kids his age.
Exciting, but scary and strange too. What if they hate me?
"Hi. You must be the new kid Yeonwoo?"
Someone approached his swirling thoughts.
Yeonwoo darted behind Heo Ok, peeking out.
Shorter than Grandma or Aunt (both around 170cm, super tall). Shorter than Ellis too.
Shortest woman he'd seen, looking down at him.
"Hi, are you his grandma?"
"Yes, Yeonwoo's grandma."
"Nice to meet you. I'm Chae Hayeon, teacher for his Formosa class."
"Oh, his class teacher. Yeonwoo, what're you doing? Say hi."
Ignoring Grandma, Yeonwoo stared at Teacher Chae Hayeon in wonder.
Not many, but definitely—blue music fairies followed her.