Chapter 9
Translator: RaidenTL
Chapter 9
“Yes. I received it today and brought it with me. I’ll send the sample over later.”
“Were you two close? Well… I suppose that’s not the important part.”
The CEO seemed more willing to accept it than I expected.
“Normally, we’d have to release a song that fits the plan, but in this case, I think it should be the other way around. I want to redesign the plan to fit the song.”
“Well, your previous songs were pretty terrible.”
Oh, he’s surprisingly easy to talk to.
At the same time, I felt a surge of indignation. So he knew the songs were trash but pushed them anyway because he couldn't be bothered?
“If possible, I’d like to start the planning meeting today. We don’t have much time.”
“Hmm… fine. I’ll let the planning team know. Since time is tight, I assume the members have something in mind?”
“Yes. I’m confident I can lead this in a good direction.”
Nothing concrete had been decided yet, but it was a matter of working things out with the planning team.
The CEO nodded briskly.
“I can’t give you any additional budget, though.”
Shit, I knew he’d say that.
“We’ll need at least some choreography. Even if we handle the planning internally… what about the company’s in-house performance team?”
“We’re an agency specializing in actors. Why would we have one of those?”
“…Then what about an external dance team?”
“No additional support.”
This pathetic excuse for a company…
“Either fit it to the choreography you already have, or isn't there that kid, Seong-hyeon? Seong-hyeon is a killer dancer. Ask him to do it.”
Dancing well and choreographing are two completely different things, you prick!
Even if we were a "nugu" group, this was still a company that had debuted an idol group, yet the CEO was incredibly ignorant. If a "rebellion" dialogue option had popped up right then, I wouldn't have hesitated to click it.
“……Fine, I understand for now.”
I’d have to remember to revise the other members' contracts all at once later. I let out a sigh.
“Then let’s just get the signature done quickly.”
“Yes, yes. Ho-yun, here’s the contract.”
“Ah, about that.”
“……?”
The manager, thinking the conversation was over, had been nodding his head like a dashboard bobblehead. Just as he was about to take the contract and lead me out, I snatched it from his hand and held it up, fluttering the pages.
This was the reason I came here alone.
“There are two things that need to be revised.”
“What are they?”
“First, please rewrite the settlement ratio.”
An 8-to-2 split in favor of the company? Was that for real?
No matter how short the contract was, this was unacceptable.
At my words, the CEO and the manager looked flustered before asking, “Our profit distribution isn't that bad… The really shady places don't even give a cut if you're below the break-even point. You just keep racking up debt. Other places are about the same.”
“Haha, let’s at least hear him out. Right, what are you looking for?”
Quickly regaining his composure, the CEO let out a laugh. I grinned right back at him.
“7 to 3.”
“You sounded so solemn, but you’re actually quite modest. I’ll think about it. If the company takes 70 percent, other agencies would also…”
What was he talking about?
“No, I take 70 percent.”
The moment I said that, everyone shut their mouths. A chilling silence filled the CEO’s office.
The CEO took off his glasses and pressed his fingers against the bridge of his nose.
“Ho-yun.”
“Yes.”
“Are you… messing with me right now?”
“No, I’m not.”
“Se-Seo Ho-yun!”
The manager hurriedly grabbed my arm.
Manager, you’re supposed to protect the artist at a time like this. Why are you doing this? Then again, the CEO was the one actually paying his salary, so I couldn't really blame him.
“You seem to be feeling very high and mighty just because you got one song, but the initial investment is incredibly difficult, Ho-yun.”
I knew that. In truth, the company wasn't necessarily malicious; they were just incompetent. The profit distribution and respect for the artists were likely within reasonable bounds for the industry.
The fact that they hadn't immediately discarded a group that still had no prospects after a year of activity proved that. Though "neglect" was probably a more accurate term.
“We don’t even know if you’ll succeed with that one song… You need to generate buzz.”
“Yes.”
“But unfortunately, The Dawn doesn't have any members with that kind of recognition. Ji-won… well, he was a trainee at a major agency before, so some people might know him, but not you, right?”
He was speaking bluntly while pretending to be gentle.
He was right.
If I weren't in this game, he would have been absolutely right.
It should be about time.
As I waited in silence, the CEO smiled awkwardly, perhaps interpreting my quietness as defeat.
“I’ll think more about the settlement. For now, don’t look so gloomy…”
“CEO!”
Suddenly, the office door burst open, and someone who looked like a staff member rushed in. The CEO frowned at the frantic entrance.
“What is wrong with everyone today?”
“I-I’m sorry. But it’s urgent… Ah! Seo Ho-yun is here too.”
“Just in time?”
Perfect.
I nodded with a smile. He recognized me. The signal had arrived.
The staff member stared at me with an expression I couldn't quite read—was it resentment?—before speaking urgently.
“The company’s phone lines are currently paralyzed.”
“Huh?”
“Why?”
The manager tilted his head. It was a small company, but they didn't have any actors popular enough to paralyze the phone lines.
“Did someone get into an accident? Is Ji-heon dating someone? Or did he do drugs?”
“No, no… It’s nothing like that.”
The staff member hurriedly waved his hands. Then, he stole a glance at me.
“To be precise, it’s regarding Seo Ho-yun…”
Ah, Ju Woo-seong did a good job.
Thanks, Woo-seong.
I maintained a relaxed smile, but the CEO and the manager looked bewildered.
“They’re asking if Ju Woo-seong and Seo Ho-yun are doing some kind of collaboration… or if Seo Ho-yun is starting a new project. Ju Woo-seong’s fans and investors are suddenly calling like crazy.”
“Ju Woo-seong? From Black Call? What does he have to do with Ho-yun?”
“Three hours ago, a video of him with Seo Ho-yun was uploaded to Ju Woo-seong’s Starstagram. He said Ho-yun is a younger brother he really treasures, that he has a great personality, and that he’s perfect from head to toe…”
“Pfft.”
Ding!
[You’ve been hit!]
Why did he have to add such embarrassing words? I clearly specified the video and the content to be uploaded…
That’s a real middle finger.
I guess Ju Woo-seong’s pride was too wounded to just take it lying down. I rubbed the goosebumps on my arms and made a mental note for next time.
“What’s going on? Were you close with Ju Woo-seong?” the manager asked, stunned.
Close? Not a chance.
Of course, I had orchestrated the whole thing.
I thought back to Ju Woo-seong a few hours ago.
When I brought up what I wanted this morning, he had muttered reluctantly.
‘…You want me to take a video with you and post it on Starstagram?’
‘Yes. Post a few with the concept of being close neighborhood brothers. I’ll contact you regarding the timing.’
‘Is that all you want?’
No, there’s more, Woo-seong.
Do you really think I’d use a precious asset like you as a one-off and just throw you away?
‘Yes. That’s enough.’
But I acted as if that were the case.
Let’s get close slowly.
When I answered with conviction, Ju Woo-seong accepted the proposal, looking dazed.
‘Fine. I thought… I thought it was going to be something huge.’
‘It is something huge.’
Well, it was good for him. Instead of paying back money, he just had to tap his screen a few times for Starstagram.
But it wasn't just any Starstagram. It was the Starstagram of Ju Woo-seong, who ranked 14th in followers. That single post was worth tens of millions of won.
Even if a star just posted the words "I'll work hard," entertainment news articles would pop up with headlines like [New Year's Resolutions...]. That was the power of a star's SNS.
And it didn't end with articles. The reaction from fans was even more explosive.
Fans already knew everything about his private life and his close acquaintances. There were plenty of people who followed a star's friends just to see one more photo of their idol.
But suddenly, on Ju Woo-seong’s Starstagram, which usually only featured advertisements, a complete unknown appeared?
‘They’ll obviously look up who it is, then.’
I didn't want to pretend to be close to Ju Woo-seong, but it turned out he had a cat. After waving a cat teaser a few times, I had a video worthy of Starstagram.
‘Oh my, it looks like my Nyang-nyang-i really likes Ho-yun.’
‘I think she likes me more.’
‘…You’re crossing the line.’
Ju Woo-seong was a good actor, and when I monitored the footage after filming, we looked as close as if we’d known each other for ten years.
My face had been polished and groomed at a professional shop, and thanks to the effort I’d put into my Charm stat, I didn't look out of place standing next to Ju Woo-seong. That was an important point.
While monitoring, I praised him.
‘You’re a good actor, Ju Woo-seong.’
‘This really feels like I’m being forced to take a compliment…’
Ignoring his hollow muttering, I headed to the front door to return to the company. I stroked Nyang-nyang-i, who was lingering near my ankles as if saying goodbye. Ju Woo-seong looked like he’d been betrayed.
‘What? She doesn't even do that for me!’
I guess Ju Woo-seong turned into an idiot when it came to cats. I didn't have time to deal with an idiot any longer, so I left immediately and came to the company.
And that was how it happened.
“I asked how you two know each other!”
“We’re like brothers.”
I had no intention of telling them everything.
The staff member hesitated in the awkward office atmosphere, but feeling he had to finish his report to the CEO, he spoke up again.
“So, there’s suddenly a controversy surrounding Seo Ho-yun within the Black Call fandom. It’s being talked about in online communities too. They’re asking if Seo Ho-yun is a trainee, or if he’s joining The Dawn as a new member… and if he is, when the comeback is. Of course, there are also protest calls from fans…”
The fans were calling in a rage, asking why Ju Woo-seong was being associated with some "nugu." I had expected that reaction.
But it was fine. For a celebrity who lived off recognition, antis were much better than indifference.
“…Leave for now.”
“Yes, sir!”
The staff member quickly made his exit. The CEO looked like he was deep in thought.
“CEO.”
I decided to drive the point home.
“If you leave the planning to me, I’ll make sure The Dawn’s comeback song enters the charts on all three major platforms.”
“What? Chart-in on all three?”
The CEO’s expression changed.
“I heard that one of them, that… it’s become difficult lately…”
He wasn't completely out of the loop; the atmosphere turned skeptical as soon as "chart-in" was mentioned.
Hmm, Mango has indeed become difficult.
A year ago, when the real-time charts were reorganized into 24-hour cumulative counts, the charts became as stagnant as a brick wall. For a rookie idol, a new entry into the charts was like plucking a star from the sky.
I stared intently at the CEO.
He knows one thing, but he doesn't know the other.
“Yes, you’re well-informed.”
I swallowed my internal thoughts and smiled at the CEO, coaxing him gently.
“I will make it chart. Don’t worry.”
“……Are those just words?”
“C-CEO.”
“There are plenty of people who talk a big game. There are also plenty of stars who get a brief flash of popularity. I need a definitive indicator. …Can you do it within a day?”
“A day?”
The manager beside me was horrified, but I let out a smirk. This guy was trying to intimidate me again…
“Yes.”
Of course, it didn't work. I held up the contract.
“I told you there were two revisions.”
“…….”
“One is the adjustment of the settlement ratio.”
And the second… I slowly shifted my gaze, looking back and forth between the CEO and the manager. The manager swallowed hard.
I’m telling you, this guy would be great as a studio audience member.
“The second is the penalty clause. If I fail to chart in the music market within a day of the release for this promotion, make me pay back double the investment that has gone into The Dawn so far.”
“Seo Ho-yun!”
The manager’s voice rang out sharply. The CEO just gave me a cold, piercing stare.
I acted nonchalant, but I knew I was making a reckless gamble.
There were five members, and I’d heard their trainee period at Daepasung wasn't that long. Assuming it was about a year or two, the investment would be roughly 300 to 400 million won. Double that would be at least 600 million.
I didn't necessarily have to go this far, but I had to offer something if I wanted to adjust the contract with a penalty clause. If I talked nonsense about changing the settlement ratio without putting anything on the line, it wouldn't matter if I brought a song or appeared on Ju Woo-seong’s Starstagram.
From the look in his eyes, it seemed the CEO had caught onto my intention.
“He must still be unwell, talking nonsense like that…”
“Fine. We’ll set the penalty at double the investment.”
“Whaaat?!”
The CEO nodded and took the contract back.
“A 7-to-3 settlement ratio is too much… Let’s make it 60 for the company and 40 for you.”
“60 for me, 40 for the company.”
A brief battle of wills.
“50-50?”
“No. 60 for me.”
Four dollars!
“55 to 45?”
“60 for me.”
Four dollars!!
It was a scene that felt like a negotiation king from an old drama was passing by. Finally, the CEO let out a hollow laugh.
“You’re incredibly stubborn.”
“Thank you for the compliment.”
“It wasn't a compliment. Fine, I’ll adjust it for you alone. It’s not like I’m losing that much anyway, considering the penalty.”
I knew he’d be like this. It was a good thing I came alone without telling the other members. Whether the contracts were revised later or not, I had achieved my goal for now.
I nodded and stood up.
“Please call me when the contract is finalized with the additions. I’ll sign it then.”
“Ho-yun.”
“Yes?”
“We’re not that bad of a company. You can still back out now. I feel like I’ve been swept up in your bluffing… but it’s now or never. From here on out, you must take responsibility for your words.”
Give me a break. He was acting soft, but he was really telling me to pay the penalty if I failed.
Well, he might just be saying that to prevent me from claiming it was an unfair contract later.
“Haha. Responsibility…….”
I have always taken responsibility.
Whether it was when I lived as a ruthless PD and promised to make a contestant a star no matter what I had to do to them. Or when I lost my parents and promised at the funeral to take good care of my brother.
I always kept my promises, no matter what it took.
“Of course I’ll take responsibility. What are you talking about?”
“…….”
After saying that, I gave a deep bow. The CEO’s skeptical gaze followed me.
As I shrugged and stepped out of the CEO’s office, a system window popped up.
Ding!
[Quest Arrived!
Seo Ho-yun, you’ve crossed the point of no return.
Here is your quest.
The Dawn Comeback Song Chart-In
Success: Fame +100, Charm +20, Dance +20, Singing +20
Failure: Consider filing for bankruptcy. It’s better than debt!]
“Unbelievable.”
I couldn't help but laugh at the last line.