Chapter 423
Translator: RaidenTL
Chapter 423
However, that overwhelming sense of pride didn't last long. Seeing Kang Yi-chae’s nonchalant, smirking face stirred a strange sense of irritation within Seo Ho-yun.
While Seong Ji-won welcomed him with a bright smile, Kim Seong-hyeon and Jeong Da-jun glared frostily at Yi-chae for his sudden appearance. Had they been anywhere other than a broadcasting station, they likely would have pounced on him to demand answers several times over by now.
As Kang Yi-chae blinked at the members' rapidly shifting expressions, Seo Ho-yun grabbed him and pulled him toward PD Jeong Jun-hwan.
“I’m very sorry for being so late. Do you have a moment to talk?”
“Ah, of course, of course!”
“—PD-nim!”
A voice bordering on a scream erupted from the members of Two Pause, cutting through PD Jeong Jun-hwan’s enthusiastic response.
“You said you’d discuss the Song Camp plans with us today. It’s almost time for our appointment.”
“Ah… right, that’s true….”
Checking the watch on his wrist, PD Jeong Jun-hwan’s gaze drifted back to Kang Yi-chae. He let out a heavy breath through his nose.
“I’m terribly sorry, but I’ll have to contact you again later. I don’t think I can do it right now.”
“P-PD-nim!”
“Sorry, I’m really sorry.”
Regardless of whether Two Pause turned beet-red with humiliation or not, PD Jeong Jun-hwan acted as if he heard nothing. He hurriedly ushered Kang Yi-chae, Seo Ho-yun, and the rest of The Dawn back into the meeting room. The road manager, who had been waiting inside for the members, looked pale as a ghost, clutching his phone in one hand as if he had already heard the news.
PD Jeong Jun-hwan pulled out a contract he had prepared beforehand and slid it cautiously toward Kang Yi-chae.
“Kang Yi-chae-ssi, is that article really true? The one about you collaborating with NerdyFreak….”
“Ah, yeah, well….”
“NerdyFreak posted on social media with the nuance that they wanted you to make ‘more’ songs… Does that mean you participated in the composition alongside NerdyFreak?”
Kang Yi-chae stared blankly at PD Jeong Jun-hwan for a moment without responding, then gave a slight nod, the corners of his lips curling upward.
With that simple gesture, the anxiety Kim Seong-hyeon had been harboring seemed to melt away instantly.
“When, when is it coming out?”
“Hmm, the coordination with the other side’s management isn't finished yet, so it’s hard to give an exact date. One song will likely have a sample pre-released through NerdyFreak’s SNS first, but as for the other tracks, I’m not sure….”
“Other tracks?!”
PD Jeong Jun-hwan’s eyes widened in disbelief.
“Are you saying this collaboration isn't just a one-time thing?”
“Ah… um….”
Kang Yi-chae made a face as if he’d made a slip of the tongue, then quickly layered a bashful smile over it.
“Please forget what I just said. It’s not like I’m even featuring on the other songs, so it’s a bit much for me to go blabbing about them here….”
As if you aren't already pouring out a suspicious amount of information, Ho-yun thought.
He was basically saying that Kang Yi-chae had featured in NerdyFreak’s current music and that the collaboration might even continue into the next album.
Watching PD Jeong Jun-hwan standing there dazed, as if possessed by a ghost, Kim Seong-hyeon swallowed a dry laugh.
“Ha, haha. This is all so sudden that I can’t tell if I’m dreaming or awake. Phew… Kang Yi-chae-ssi, by any chance, do you have the work you did with NerdyFreak on you?”
At that moment, Ho-yun’s leg shifted. Under the table, he gave Kang Yi-chae’s shin a sharp kick. Simultaneously, Yi-chae fumbled for his phone, muttering with feigned innocence.
“Ah~, I do have it… but it’s a secret, so I really shouldn't be doing this….”
“Just a little! If you could just let me hear a little bit! Just so I can confirm!”
“Well then, just a snippet of the highlight?”
Everyone’s attention snapped to Kang Yi-chae.
As if savoring the moment, Yi-chae slowly scanned his surroundings before placing his phone on the table and tapping the screen. A clear piano melody began to fill the meeting room through the speakers.
【…—The wind and rain are blowing, but I tap my feet to the radio—】
Soon, the powerful and unique voice of NerdyFreak’s vocal, David, flowed out.
【Because I know how to dance even in the middle of thunder—…】
Anyone who heard it would know without a doubt that this was an unreleased new song by NerdyFreak.
As soon as a few short bars passed, Kang Yi-chae decisively cut the music.
“I’m sorry. I can’t let you hear any more than that.”
Looking like a man full of regret at the music stopping midway, PD Jeong Jun-hwan threw a probing question at Yi-chae.
“…Ahem, hmm. I’m very curious how you and NerdyFreak got in touch. Did you contact them through the company for a collaboration?”
“Ah, no, it wasn't like that. It just happened personally, a bit—….”
Stopping there, Kang Yi-chae glanced at Seo Ho-yun and immediately waved his hands dismissively.
“Oh boy, I got too excited talking to you, PD-nim. I shouldn't have mentioned this much. It’s still confidential.”
“Ahaha… my lips are sealed.”
“Hahaha! Mine too. I’ll tell you the rest of the story later, separately, once the song is released.”
Hoping that "later" would be on his own show, PD Jeong Jun-hwan gulped and gripped the corner of the contract tightly.
“…Kang Yi-chae-ssi.”
“Yes?”
“Is there anyone else who knows what we just discussed?”
“No one yet. Ah!”
Answering nonchalantly, Yi-chae suddenly let out an exclamation, his eyes curving playfully.
“Now there’s one person here.”
He pointed directly at PD Jeong Jun-hwan.
The guy had always been sly, but now he seemed even more audacious. Instead of saying anything to Yi-chae, Kim Seong-hyeon simply averted his gaze.
“Since I’m the only PD who knows this yet…….”
PD Jeong Jun-hwan, who had been acting so cold just an hour ago, now looked ready to give up his liver and gallbladder if it meant securing Kang Yi-chae.
Unable to keep his hands and feet still from the sheer desire to have him, PD Jeong Jun-hwan paced restlessly, muttering to himself.
“—I want to check if we can get interviews with the NerdyFreak members too, but let’s sign the contract first and continue our discussion carefully….”
“PD-nim.”
Just as PD Jeong Jun-hwan was looking around for a pen with a voice full of excitement, Seo Ho-yun cut in, cooling the inflated atmosphere.
While Kang Yi-chae had been distracting the PD, Seo Ho-yun had been meticulously scrutinizing the contract and the proposal. He set the documents down with a thud.
“Is this proposal finalized?”
“Huh? Yes?”
For a moment, PD Jeong Jun-hwan jumped as if snapped back to reality.
Kim Seong-hyeon shifted his gaze to the printed materials Seo Ho-yun had been scouring.
“A gathering of various talented composers to show off their skills and participate in a music competition… The program format is quite familiar.”
“Ah, well, the basic framework is the same as Seasons 1 and 2.”
PD Jeong Jun-hwan scratched his head and flipped through the papers, his voice dropping into a dissatisfied tone.
“…Is there a problem?”
There was no way Seo Ho-yun would say no.
He was the one who had personally asked Seong-hyeon to hold onto the PD—.
“Yes.”
—…Ah, right. This was Seo Ho-yun.
Kim Seong-hyeon narrowed his eyes suspiciously and watched the situation unfold.
While everyone else looked at Seo Ho-yun with a mix of emotions, the man himself lightly tapped the contract with a long finger and added casually.
“If you proceed like this, I think there will be quite a few problems.”
The youngest member of the group eventually choked on his own saliva in shock, covering his mouth and coughing violently.
Even though he must have seen PD Jeong Jun-hwan’s brow furrow and the road manager’s look of horror, Seo Ho-yun didn't seem to care at all.
“It’s too bland, PD-nim. For a variety show, it’s dangerously safe.”
It felt as if he were intentionally choosing provocative words. As proof, PD Jeong Jun-hwan’s expression visibly soured within seconds.
“Of course, I’m not saying I don’t understand the proposal itself. Since the previous seasons were successful, following the same method might seem like the safest path to success.”
“What did you….”
“But because of that, will it be able to differentiate itself from other programs?”
Other programs?
Seo Ho-yun didn't miss the moment PD Jeong Jun-hwan hesitated and continued.
“Ah… I guess you didn't know yet. I heard TBS is releasing a composition variety show similar to Song Camp in the third quarter of this year.”
PD Jeong Jun-hwan’s eyebrows twitched; this was clearly news to him as well.
“Similar programs will be airing at the same time. Do you think Song Camp, sticking to its old ways, can still maintain overwhelming popularity then?”
PD Jeong Jun-hwan remained silent for a moment, as if chewing over Ho-yun’s words, before offering his thanks with a stiff face.
“…Seo Ho-yun-ssi, I didn't know about the TBS matter. Thank you for telling me.”
“Don’t mention it.”
“However, I’m not quite sure what you’re trying to say right now.”
The atmosphere had cooled to an irreversible point. Kim Seong-hyeon grew stiff with tension, worried that the casting discussion itself might fall through.
But Seo Ho-yun made a nonchalant suggestion.
“How about rebuilding that show from the ground up?”
The manager, who had been pale this whole time; Seong Ji-won, who sat silently with a smile; Kang Yi-chae, who was staring indifferently at the table; Jeong Da-jun, who was rolling his eyes while pretending to be calm; and Seong-hyeon himself, who had been agonizing over how to fix this mess.
Everyone’s eyes turned toward Seo Ho-yun.
“How should I interpret that statement?”
The sharp question flew toward Seo Ho-yun like an attack.
Seo Ho-yun clasped his hands together and opened his mouth slowly, maintaining a relaxed posture.
“I don’t have any ulterior motives. Isn't it better for everyone if things go well? Think about it. Once the NerdyFreak song our Yi-chae made is released, it’s bound to become a hot topic instantly. If The Dawn is on the Song Camp cast list, the program’s viewership ratings obviously won't be bad. You’ll also get to add a decent line to your career, PD-nim.”
“And?”
“But are you really going to be satisfied with just that?”
It sounded like a devil’s whisper.
“PD-nim, think about it from the public’s perspective. An idol they’ve barely heard of collaborated with a rock star who conquered the Gramophones to make a song. On top of that, the prideful NerdyFreak is supposedly begging him to participate in their next album… How does that look to you, PD-nim?”
“……It looks like viral marketing.”
“Of course, some will say he’s bringing glory to the nation. But I’d bet my own wrist that there will be more people doubting Kang Yi-chae’s skills. Furthermore, such a controversy won't die down easily.”
Seo Ho-yun added, “There are quite a lot of people these days who are intensely interested in our group’s rise or fall, after all.”
“In that case, what if Song Camp is the only way to confirm if Kang Yi-chae is truly as great as the rumors say?”
“…….”
“And what if that person clashes with other composers and enters a music competition?”
PD Jeong Jun-hwan, realizing Seo Ho-yun’s intent, asked with a frown.
“…Are you telling me to create a competitive narrative centered around Kang Yi-chae?”
“Since the fire has already started, a mere campfire won't be of much use. We might as well fan the flames and let it burn even brighter.”
There wasn't a hint of hesitation in Seo Ho-yun as he poured out his words.
He was arguing for a change.
Throw away the peaceful collaboration of famous composers and have a blood-splattering competition with Kang Yi-chae at the forefront.
“The stage is already set, PD-nim. People who want to see if Kang Yi-chae is truly worth his name, people who want to see him get crushed by established composers, or people who are just hungry for an argument. I’m certain that the more you provoke them, the more Song Camp’s buzz will skyrocket. Perhaps the songs coming out of Song Camp will even take over the charts entirely.”
Kim Seong-hyeon, who had unconsciously shrunk his shoulders at the raw, relentless words, glanced at Kang Yi-chae, but Yi-chae only let out a bored yawn.
“You can already see the broadcast in your head, can’t you, PD-nim?”
After listening in silence for a while, PD Jeong Jun-hwan offered a small rebuttal that didn't really sound like one, his momentum having softened.
“……It’s a gamble.”
“It’s a gamble with a high probability of winning.”
Seo Ho-yun, who had been pushing hard until now, changed his tone and continued his gentle persuasion with a soft voice.
“And as much as the risk is high, the reward is just as great. If the newly revamped program becomes a massive success, who do you think will get all the credit?”
Then, he flashed a pure, bright smile.
“What I just suggested is only a small example. When all of this is over—.”
His eyes, fixed straight on PD Jeong Jun-hwan, shone with a brilliant light, unable to fully hide their sharp edges.
“—Aren't you curious to see where you'll be standing then?”