Chapter 95
Translator: TrueDetective
Chapter: 95
Chapter Title: 27. Check Out This Setlist—It's Epic (2)
When we got back from vacation, the CEO was nowhere to be found.
Three days after our return, with no word from him, he finally slipped back into his place of residence without fanfare—on the very day the setlist dropped.
Clutching a bunch of corn that who-knows-where it came from.
"Saw the setlist."
The CEO said that as he picked out the biggest piece of steaming corn and handed it to the Heavenly Demon.
The Heavenly Demon took it as if it were the most natural thing in the world.
"The Nine Beggars Clan has such strong personalities... I can tell you had a tough time compromising in the middle."
It was just that, since this might be the last concert, I figured we'd let them do whatever they wanted within reason.
The setlist might've seemed absurd at first glance, but since it clearly showed the members had picked it themselves, the fans' reactions weren't bad at all.
Normally, the B-sides excluding the title track or the covers would divide opinions hard—you'd always get people saying swap this for that.
But this setlist had so many tags it was off the charts, which seemed to kill any backlash.
"Still..."
The CEO opened his mouth cautiously.
"You're really doing a cup ramen mukbang? ...At the first concert?"
Even as the Heavenly Demon's top stan, he apparently didn't want to see his fave chowing down on instant noodles instead of performing.
"Isn't a mukbang just empty hype masking a stage show...?"
"Curious?"
"Very."
"If you're so curious, come watch at the concert."
"..."
The CEO watched the Heavenly Demon munch away at the corn with clouded eyes for a moment before speaking up.
"There were quite a few unreleased tracks too. You haven't started production yet, right?"
"We've got about two months till the concert... Planning to prep them in that time. Just got the concepts locked in for now."
"Anything I can help with?"
I'd already thought ahead about what the CEO could assist with.
"Mind tweaking the schedule a bit? With concert prep, I'd like to avoid long-term gigs as much as possible. Dogs Meow, Cats Bark... yeah, better to wrap that up around early December."
Better to clear the decks now so there's less drama when we switch agencies to Haomen next year.
Adjusting schedules for concert prep was routine every year, so the CEO didn't agonize over it.
"Got it. ...Dogs Meow, Cats Bark was slotted in to flip your image, Heavenly Demon, but as you know..."
Yeah.
The Heavenly Demon and Garung duo shot had blown up huge, but it hadn't fixed his otherworldly vibe.
In the latest episode, while the Heavenly Demon slept in, Garung turned off the N-Tube he'd left running, snacked solo, and woke him up right on schedule for the next gig.
All aired.
"Even so, knowing it was a filming day and just sleeping the whole time..."
"No, Cow. That PD's malicious edit."
"You did sleep in—that part's fact. What's malicious about it?"
"After I woke, this seat and Garung did a ton of stuff. All of it cut."
"You did something?"
"Of course!"
The Heavenly Demon puffed up proudly.
"We plotted to rename the show with Garung. I hammered Dogs Meow, Cats Bark With Garung over and over."
Was that first-episode goal for real?
Brainwashing the viewers or what?
No wonder it got edited.
"No, pushing to rename a perfectly fine show title? That far?"
"Right. No need to go that hard."
The CEO chimed in with my rare roast of the Heavenly Demon, then said it with a don't-worry face.
"Asked the director to change it. Should happen soon."
For real?
Rich, influential agency boss got the poor PD sweating as the Heavenly Demon's evil minion.
"Speaking of..."
The CEO asked as if it just hit him.
"How was the vacation?"
Casual tone, but...
I could read the CEO's mind by now.
'Set this whole meeting up just to probe about the vacation from the start...'
Oblivious or not, the CEO smiled brightly and continued.
"Didn't expect you two to vacation separately. Especially not Cow with Szechuan Army... and Nahani tagging along? Total blindside..."
"Didn't see Nahani volunteering either. Told her about vacationing with Szechuan Army, and she got worried."
"I'd have done the same. Nahani coming along must've eased your mind."
CEO really hates Szechuan Army.
The poisoned tea incident?
Guy's the most sincere about the wuxia idol concept, though.
But good that CEO and Szechuan Army don't get along.
If the CEO had charmed him to his side...
Don't even think it.
"So, where'd you go? Didn't hit my island this year. Other spots Cow vacations at?"
Might be fishing when he knows, but...
Gut says Lion CEO didn't spill about the Hundred Thousand Great Mountains to the Pseudo CEO.
Invited us but ghosted the day-of—maybe to throw off the Pseudo CEO's eyes.
Guy loves scheming behind the Pseudo CEO's back...
"Not asking this seat?"
"Of course I am. Know you went to China. Which province? Guangdong?"
"Sichuan."
...Dude just went for mala tang?
At "Sichuan," the CEO's face lost all interest fast.
"I went to Tongyeong."
Not a lie.
Hundred Thousand Great Mountains gambling was just one day in vacation.
Rest of the time, Tongyeong.
Could've come home, but couldn't handle solo time with just Garung sans Heavenly Demon, so crashed under Hyunseong sunbae's protection.
Pseudo CEO seemed to know about sunbae in Tongyeong, tilting his head.
"Tongyeong... you meet Team Leader Park too?"
"Yeah. Seemed to be doing well."
Not tipping my Hyunseong sunbae card to the CEO yet.
But admitted meeting him since CEO wouldn't recognize him anyway.
Looks too changed from back then—even in person, no way he'd clock it as the same guy.
But the CEO surprised me with a different question.
"Still planning to leave Kichi?"
"Why think that?"
"Figured you were calling Team Leader Park back before bailing."
Right on calling sunbae back.
But to Haomen, not Kichi.
"Seemed like he wanted back in the industry?"
"Nah... Sunbae still has no plans to return to Kichi."
"Shame. Been thinking two-man team with Team Leader Park since you seem overwhelmed..."
Even considered a duo setup?
Believes I won't leave Kichi.
Or wants to?
Anyway, gotta play vague for now.
"No plans from sunbae... how about giving Szechuan Army more authority?"
"...What?"
"He's just an assistant manager now, can't do much. You saw—he drops genius ideas now and then."
"..."
Could see the CEO visibly rattled.
CEO grants my asks easy, but this hesitation? Hates giving Szechuan Army power bad.
Doesn't realize mentioning him makes me wanna poke more.
Found a fun way to mess with the CEO, anyway.
"Oh yeah... almost forgot. Namgung Ryeo-sensei had a message."
CEO blatantly changed topics, but I let it slide.
"Namgung Ryeo-sensei?"
"Wants to join the next Dogs Meow, Cats Bark With Garung shoot."
Join the shoot?
Sure, the show often airs cast meetups with pets playing together.
Namgung Ryeo-sensei's pet... the two-tailed cat, Mihou.
My instincts scream Mihou ain't normal either.
To confirm, gotta see her with the Heavenly Demon.
No issues pairing with yokai Garung... right?
"Namgung Se bringing her lord? This seat approves."
Missed gauging Namgung Ryeo-sensei's skills at the last BBQ—too busy treasure hunting.
Heavenly Demon probably wants a close look under filming excuse too.
CEO clapped like great news.
"With your okay, Heavenly Demon, I'll pass it to production."
"Do so. Next shoot here too?"
"Next location's Namgung Wild Beast Palace."
Filming at Namgung Wild Beast Palace?
Heavenly Demon furrowed his brow neatly.
"Why keep going to that dying amusement park?"
"Visitor numbers exploded post-True Demon Alliance Sleepover Chaos shoot."
Expected—Nine Beggars Clan are top idols.
"But an amusement park's still random, no?"
"It was marketed as pet-friendly from the jump. Tanked before word spread."
Ah, that the naming?
"If you appear, Heavenly Demon, they offered free rental. Said it's revived thanks to you—owner coming to thank you personally."
"Thanks? Who?"
"Namgung Wild Beast Palace owner... Namgung Ju, the president."
"..."
Hold up.
"That... Namgung Se a person?"
"Nah. Namgung Clan running Namgung Wild Beast Palace? Historical inaccuracy."
Not about historical accuracy.
"Namgung Wild Beast Palace president just has 'Gongju' in name."
"This seat thinks that's weirder."
I'd agree, but stopped.
Me with Jeomsoui name? Not my place.
...Wait, if baby kidnapping real, CEO's fault I got Jeomsoui?
'Wanna probe CEO on baby kidnapping...'
If I said wanna try a lost-family finder show, how's he react?
But with unknown truths looming, no risking Jahana or Taiji.
"So, tell production about shooting with Namgung Ryeo-sensei?"
To that, I just nodded without probing further.
* * *
"...What?"
WeTaxi nickname: 'Heavenly Demon Reincarnation Myriad Demon Belly-Laugh Saber.'
Hereafter Belly-Laugh Saber stared at the Heavenly Demon's fixed variety show title floating on screen, eyes full of doubt.
The program name on screen read:
[Dogs Meow, Cats Bark With Garung]
'Is my eyesight shot?'
Lately Beggar Clan disciples called it that, sure.
But last week it was fine as Dogs Meow, Cats Bark.
What happened in one week?
Belly-Laugh Saber had wasted time chasing a nonexistent long-haired dude, finally snagging sweet fruit Weihua Town.
But declaring a title change first ep—even for his fave—was too much, he thought.
Yet three weeks post-broadcast, it actually changed.
'How to process this?'
As if reading baffled viewers' minds,
Screen went black next instant, text rising from bottom.
[Viewers,
Surprised by sudden title change?
Kichi CEO sent massive donation via our production—funds fully to domestic animal welfare groups.
In thanks, we retitled to Dogs Meow, Cats Bark With Garung—no misunderstanding please.
Always wishing happiness for our little friends by our side.
Heavenly Demon best~]
Content like they'd lost their minds over the huge donation.
Edited like StarX opening, making the infuriating notice fill the screen.
Then Dogs Meow, Cats Bark With Garung began.