Chapter 69
Chapter 69
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Translator: uly
Chapter: 69
Chapter Title: Episode 24: Meeting with the Rookie Girl Group (2)
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Kang Han-do got in the car with Nemid and set off toward their destination.
Nemid checked the navigation and looked around the area.
“It says it’s around here... but I don’t see it.”
“Keep looking. The GPS is way more accurate than us clueless folks.”
“I really don’t see it, though?”
Nemid gripped the steering wheel while scanning the surroundings, but their target remained nowhere in sight.
That’s when it happened.
“Isn’t that it over there?”
Nemid turned her head toward where Kang Han-do was pointing, then glanced back and forth between the road and the navigation screen.
“Oh! You’re right. It’s there.”
“They sure made it hard to find.”
After parking nearby, the two headed toward a small building.
Kang Han-do eyed the tiny sign at the entrance.
UltraBig Entertainment.
That’s right. Kang Han-do had scheduled a pre-meeting here today with the rookie girl group VSLine.
It was a get-to-know-you session before producing the reality program.
UltraBig Entertainment was a small-scale agency. They didn’t have any standout stars.
Which made VSLine, their latest ambitious project, all the more critical. If the group flopped, the company might as well shut its doors.
Kang Han-do felt the pressure mounting.
‘A whole company’s fate riding on whether I save their program or not. Talk about irony.’
Life had a way of throwing these situations at him. The world was a complicated place.
Kang Han-do headed upstairs with Nemid.
No elevator in sight—they had to take the stairs.
And of course, it was on the top floor, the fifth.
Nemid let out a deep sigh.
“Climbing up and down here all day would get you in shape fast.”
“You’re telling me.”
Kang Han-do offered a brief nod of agreement.
They reached the fifth floor. The door had “UltraBig Entertainment” scrawled on it in handwriting.
It screamed bare-bones.
He pressed the intercom buzzer, and the lock clicked open.
“Yes, who is it... Oh my gosh!”
The office lady let out a short shriek the moment she saw Kang Han-do.
“A-are you Kang Han-do by any chance?!”
“Yes, that’s me.”
“Oh my goodness! This is huge! A celebrity at our company!”
Weren’t the people working here celebrities in their own right? Kang Han-do was tempted to point that out but held back with superhuman restraint. It’d be rude to nitpick on a first meeting.
Under her guidance, Kang Han-do and Nemid entered a room that doubled as a conference space, lounge, and reception area.
“Please wait just a moment. I’ll get the CEO and the girls. Oh, right—anything to drink?”
“No, I’m good. I had plenty of coffee on the way.”
“Then at least have some water. Talks can drag on, and you’ll crave something then.”
“Haha, thanks.”
She was friendly and approachable.
‘Looks like she handles all the odd jobs around here.’
Kang Han-do hadn’t spotted any other staff on the way in.
Just her.
The office was tiny and cluttered.
‘Debuting a girl group from a place like this. Wild.’
They must’ve poured everything into it.
Kang Han-do had researched VSLine on the drive over.
Their official debut was recent, but the group had formed two years ago.
After trainee days, they’d hustled at events to build recognition.
Their stories were tearjerkers.
Handing out flyers themselves for gigs was standard. They’d even mended old clothes for stage outfits.
‘The plight of a cash-strapped agency.’
No helping it. Money wasn’t everything, but it sure eliminated a lot of worries.
UltraBig Entertainment now stood at a crossroads: success or bust.
Kang Han-do found himself on the same boat, unwillingly.
Of course, if VSLine bombed, he wouldn’t go down with it. He’d just do his job for the fee.
But still.
‘I should give it my all anyway.’
He wanted to help VSLine hit it big through the reality show he was hosting.
Lost in thought for a moment.
The door burst open, and a group of young women flooded the room.
Seven in total.
They lined up in front of Kang Han-do.
The one who seemed like the leader gave the signal.
“One, two, three!”
“Hello! We’re VSLine, the rookie girl group aspiring to be your V-line, S-line dream!”
It was an adorably over-the-top group greeting. Kang Han-do had never experienced anything like it.
Not bad, though.
Every one of them had striking looks and figures. Hard to believe they were nobodies.
But the industry wasn’t that forgiving. Beauty and bodies alone didn’t guarantee stardom.
After the greeting, a man in his late thirties stepped forward from the group.
“Hello, Han-do. I’m Na Un-chan of UltraBig Entertainment. Nice to meet you.”
“Hi. Kang Han-do. And this is my manager, Nemid.”
“Unique name. Foreigner?”
“Nah, just a friend who lived abroad.”
“Haha, got it. Anyway, great to finally meet.”
He had a likable face. A young CEO with a good vibe.
Na Un-chan. Kang Han-do hadn’t heard the name before.
Not even in his past life memories.
‘Guess it didn’t pan out back then.’
One of two outcomes: VSLine flopped and they folded, or he quit showbiz altogether.
‘Either way, not a happy ending.’
Kang Han-do smacked his lips bitterly. Knowing the future could sting sometimes.
Na Un-chan turned to the VSLine members.
“No individual intros yet?”
“We did the group one, but not personal yet.”
“Then how about Eun-young starts?”
“Sure!”
There was one member Kang Han-do had noticed.
The one who’d just chatted with the CEO.
“Hello. I’m the eldest and leader of VSLine, Eun-young.”
‘Knew it. She’s the leader.’
She’d given the signal for the group greeting earlier.
Starting with Eun-young, the remaining six introduced themselves one by one.
Too many to memorize everyone on the spot.
The leader Eun-young stuck out. And the main vocalist, Rinna.
All pretty, all charismatic. Properly polished, they could thrive in the industry.
Once intros wrapped up.
Na Un-chan leaned in toward Kang Han-do with hope in his eyes.
“We want to build a big fanbase for VSLine through this program. As you can see, Han-do, each girl is a diamond in the rough. So much potential. I want to launch them somehow, but our agency doesn’t have the clout. This reality show was a real struggle to land. Since it’s such a hard-won chance, I’d appreciate your help.”
“Of course. I’ll do my best.”
Kang Han-do liked Na Un-chan’s vibe right away.
He owned his weaknesses without excuses. That earned major points.
But even Kang Han-do’s efforts had limits.
Skill mattered, but luck was non-negotiable.
“Debut song set yet?”
“No. Debating between two tracks. We’ve recorded both, and we’ll decide after agonizing till the end.”
“Got it.”
“If you have time later, mind giving them a listen? The more feedback, the better.”
“Sure. If I get the chance.”
Kang Han-do nodded firmly.
Who knew? It might be a song he remembered.
* * *
After lunch with CEO Na Un-chan and the members.
Kang Han-do wanted to hang out longer, but Star House filming awaited, so he had to head out right after eating.
“Drive safe!”
“Take care!”
Na Un-chan and VSLine bowed deeply to see him off.
In the car, Kang Han-do sighed wearily.
Nemid, behind the wheel, checked him in the rearview.
“Tired?”
“The meeting wasn’t bad. Just... never eaten with that many girls before. Got tense without realizing.”
“Aw, you handled private chat like a pro, though.”
“I make my living with words. Gotta manage even when nervous.”
“Weren’t they all cute?”
“You their unnie?”
“Way older! Eun-young the eldest said she’s 24. Babies, total babies.”
“Come to think of it, I don’t know your age. How old?”
Nemid responded with a sly chuckle instead.
“Heh heh heh. Not telling. And Han-do, you don’t ask a lady’s age like that. Super rude.”
“Fine. My bad. My bad.”
Sinking into his seat, Kang Han-do gazed out the window, thinking of one person.
‘Wonder how Ye-hee’s practice is going.’
Meeting a girl group had him thinking of Choi Ye-hee.
They’d kept in touch and met up often before she joined LC Entertainment as a trainee. Now, seeing her was tough.
No choice. Forcing time from someone chasing dreams that hard would just burden her.
‘No news is good news, right? No word means she’s doing fine.’
That’s what Kang Han-do decided to believe.
* * *
After wrapping Star House filming.
Oh Shin-hoon pulled Kang Han-do aside.
“Han-do.”
“Yeah, sunbae-nim.”
“Heard from Jin-wook hyung. We talked about grabbing drinks soon, the three of us?”
“Yeah, he mentioned that.”
“Free this week? Next week on, I’m slammed. Jin-wook hyung’s good then too. Just need to sync with you.”
“I’m open weekdays or weekends.”
“Perfect. This week it is.”
Oh Shin-hoon and Ryu Jin-wook were Korea’s top two busiest MCs. If they carved out time, how could Kang Han-do say no?
He’d make time, even if he had to invent it.
Plus, he had questions for them.
How to MC a reality show with a rookie girl group?
If they had tips, he wanted to learn straight from the pros.