Chapter 151
Chapter 151
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Translator: uly
Chapter: 151
Chapter Title: Showcase
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Chapter 53. Showcase
Woo Ji-hyun drove to Gangnam for the first time in a while.
There was an event he absolutely had to attend for research on his next work.
Of course, even without that reason, he’d received an invitation, so he had to go anyway.
“Of course, that invitation was half-forced, so it’s a bit iffy.”
“What’re you mumbling about?”
“Huh? Why are you here?”
“’Cause I figured you’d show up?”
Woo Ji-hyun startled as he parked in the underground lot and stepped out of the car.
A black silhouette had appeared out of nowhere, making him yelp in surprise.
But he quickly realized it was just Bini and let out a sigh of relief.
“Why are you waiting for me?”
“Hehe. Just kidding. I came back alone ’cause you left something in the car.”
“You’re not trying to sneak in some KakaoTalk, are you?”
“Come on. Do I seem like the type? And our company doesn’t have a no-dating clause. They just say to avoid getting caught if possible.”
“Nice.”
Woo Ji-hyun looked genuinely surprised.
He’d heard idols were usually banned from dating for three to five years after debut, but apparently it varied case by case.
“So do your best, oppa. I’m rooting for you. Age isn’t a big deal.”
“What’re you talking about?”
“Huh? You’re really not interested in even one of them?”
“What kind of question is that?”
Woo Ji-hyun answered indifferently.
He couldn’t fathom what she was getting at.
But Bini seemed thrown off by his reaction, unable to hide her bewilderment.
“Our sisters aren’t the type to get ignored anywhere…”
“Enough nonsense. Let’s head up. It’s about to start. How long does a showcase usually last, anyway?”
“It varies by company, but usually an hour to an hour and a half. Two hours tops? Nothing set in stone.”
“Pretty long, huh.”
Having never done the whole idol fan thing, this was Woo Ji-hyun’s first showcase.
But for his next work, he needed to know the ins and outs, so he whipped out a notepad and pen from his pocket to jot everything down before he forgot.
“Huh? Why’re you writing that stuff down?”
“My next book’s about the entertainment industry. Every little detail like this is gold to me.”
“Ohh. If you do it right, it could even get dramatized.”
“That’d be nice.”
He wasn’t aiming for dramatization, but he wouldn’t say no if someone wanted to buy the rights.
Fundamentally, though, Woo Ji-hyun wanted to create something good.
And quality work started with solid research.
One of his favorite sayings was that tiny details made all the difference in quality.
“With your skills, I bet you could pull it off. Honestly, your novels so far have been great for webtoons, but a bit tough for dramas or movies. Well, ‘We’ll Make Anything(?) for You’ might work as a drama.”
“But no offers yet.”
“Hey, you’re only six volumes in. It hasn’t been that long since you started serializing.”
“You’ve been checking Kakao Page on the side?”
Woo Ji-hyun gave her a surprised look.
He’d heard her solo album was blowing up, leaving her swamped with events.
“Nothing beats reading during transit. Gets a bit nauseating, but I’ve gotten used to it. Webtoons go without saying.”
“Perfect for quick peeks. No wonder they call it snack culture.”
“Oh, right. You went to that orphanage you’ve always dreamed of, yeah?”
“Yeah, with Elder last time.”
“The kids are sweet, right?”
Bini beamed as she spoke.
It was a smile so pure, it stood in stark contrast to her dazzling stage presence.
The sight even caught Woo Ji-hyun off guard for a moment.
“Yeah, sharp as tacks, but not annoying. Super cute.”
“You’ve fallen for the kids’ charm too, huh? Hehe!”
“Plus, I learned Elder’s ideal type.”
“You said something weird to him, didn’t you?”
Bini’s face soured in an instant, like she’d never smiled.
She shot Woo Ji-hyun a sharp glare, her eyes like a cat’s.
And yet she navigated the dim underground lot without missing a step.
“I was just making an educated guess based on facts.”
“Still too much. How could you trash our love like that? Even if it’s quirky!”
“Kidding, kidding. So, how’re the fans? Big crowd?”
“What do you take us for? There are only two groups doing better than us right now. PriOs is top three!”
Bini puffed out her chest proudly.
To her, Woo Ji-hyun’s words felt like an insult to PriOs.
“I know, but it’s not the full group.”
“Even with two, we’re still PriOs.”
“Yeah, yeah. Did you do a showcase for your single album too?”
“Of course. But you were deep in your mysterious aura phase back then, so we couldn’t invite you.”
“Ah.”
Woo Ji-hyun nodded as they stepped off the elevator on the third floor.
Yeah, that tracked—he wouldn’t have been on their radar then.
Now he was a lyricist on a hot streak, but back then, he was just a newbie who’d lucked into Elder’s album.
Plus, word had spread under the radar.
“Crowded, right? Sold out, not a single empty seat. If we hadn’t reserved yours ahead, you’d be out of luck.”
“PriOs indeed.”
“Ahem!”
Woo Ji-hyun finally said what she wanted to hear.
Bini’s nose shot up to the sky.
“You’re here?”
“Long time no see, Manager Park Eun-su.”
“Tell me about it. Oh, that promo video was fun. You’ve got some killer reflexes.”
“My writer kids are just hopelessly bad at sports. They’re all about writing, no real athletes among ’em.”
Park Eun-su chuckled softly at his blatant dissing of his juniors.
She could tell they were tight despite the trash talk.
He’d stuck with them till the end, after all—the man right in front of her.
“Long time no see, Writer Woo Ji-hyun.”
“Oh? Department Head Cha’s here too?”
“Yes. The president wanted to come, but a last-minute schedule popped up. He was really looking forward to seeing you.”
“Hahaha.”
Woo Ji-hyun laughed awkwardly.
Cha Woo-young was pushy enough; now the president too?
This was about his limit.
“Of course, he’s not the type to strong-arm you into working together. Haha!”
“Wouldn’t think so.”
“Naturally. He’s straightforward—you’d enjoy meeting him.”
“Maybe we’ll cross paths sometime.”
“I’ll set something up soon.”
Cha Woo-young’s eyes gleamed.
Like he was vowing to make it happen ASAP.
Woo Ji-hyun turned away with an awkward smile at the intense gaze.
“Oh, I saw that article defending me last time. Thanks for the help, Manager Park.”
“No big deal. Just doing what needed doing. And Department Head Cha gave the direct order.”
“Thank you, Department Head Cha.”
“Haha! Don’t mention it. I owe you one, so this evens things out. Especially since it’s for our kids.”
Cha Woo-young waved it off with a warm smile at Woo Ji-hyun’s sincere gratitude.
Sure, he’d helped for Woo Ji-hyun’s sake, but the real reason was PriOs.
He shook his head, insisting it wasn’t worth such thanks.
“Wanna peek at the waiting room? The other members are there.”
“I’m not staff—can I even go in?”
“Just come with me.”
“Nah, feels wrong. Got nothing to say there anyway.”
Woo Ji-hyun shook his head at Bini’s suggestion.
He was curious, sure, but with the showcase starting soon, he didn’t want to distract them.
He knew they were pros, but he wanted their absolute best.
Plus, this was his first time hearing a song he’d penned live from the audience.
“Figured you’d be curious about the waiting room.”
“I’ll ask after the show. Don’t wanna mess with their focus now.”
“Moments like this really show your age.”
“A compliment?”
“Definitely.”
Woo Ji-hyun glanced around as he settled into what could be called his seat.
It was front-row VIP—stage-side seats reserved for industry folks and invitees, not fans.
That’s why spots like his were still empty while others filled up.
“Surprisingly even gender split. Thought a girl group showcase would be all guys.”
“Oppa, you really know nothing. Time to ditch that ‘uncle fan’ title. A group can’t trend big on guys alone. Gotta win over the girls too for true top-tier status.”
“Huh. Noted.”
“Why carry a notepad when you’ve got a smartphone? And a tablet PC?”
Bini tilted her head at the notepad and pen reappearing, baffled.
This level of analog was next-level.
She’d have ditched them for being a hassle.
“Phones and tablets are full of distractions. Gotta open an app first. But a notepad? Instant. Writing it myself sticks in my memory. Best part: it’s right there in front of me.”
“Sounds inconvenient to me.”
“Different strokes. For me, it’s habit. Over ten years writing—habits like this are normal.”
“Fair enough.”
Screeeeech!
Woo Ji-hyun and Bini’s heads snapped toward the stage.
White smoke billowed from both sides, accompanied by rowdy music.
Heavy fog from two fog machines blanketed the stage as today’s MC, Kim Sun-young, emerged mic in hand with her bright laugh.
The noisy venue fell silent in an instant.
The fans knew the showcase was underway.
“Hello! I’m Kim Sun-young, your MC for today!”
“Woooo!”
“Wow, what a roar! Girl group showcase energy right there—deep, powerful cheers. Gets me pumped. But I know you’re not here for me, so let’s bring out today’s stars. We’ll kick off with the title track, of course. I felt it the second I heard it: this one’s a hit. Perfect for scorching summer nights. It’s called ‘Hot Night.’ Give it up now!”
Fwoosh!
The lights cut out with Kim Sun-young’s signature tone.
The cheers vanished as if by magic, leaving utter quiet.