Chapter 51
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Translator: Wjin
Chapter: 51
Chapter Title: Igniting the Stage
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In an age where stories are typed on computers and uploaded online, what good is a pen? Yet to me, this one held priceless value.
"Thank you."
I couldn't think of any other words. Reading my heartfelt sincerity, Director Sara smiled brightly and said,
"Let's go."
I took one more look around before heading to my assigned seat and sitting down. There was still plenty of time left, but a hot surge welled up from within. It just didn't feel real.
"...".
I sat there quietly, clutching the gifted pen and steadying my heart, when Ye-jin approached.
"President, we got word from the platform."
"How's the response?"
"Too early to tell, but they said the launch won't be delayed."
Today marked the opening of the greatest idol web novel ever. Banners had started popping up since morning, and even before release, my fan cafe was already buzzing.
"Don't worry. It's fun!"
Ye-jin clenched her fist in encouragement.
'She's saying that because we need at least a solid hit.'
This wasn't some casual project I could write without pressure and handle solo. If it didn't hit a certain sales mark, a lot of people would be in trouble.
'The BL hook has to land.'
That was another wildcard. Trends would shift in ten years, but right now, conservatism still held sway. You had to stay just half a step ahead—run too far out in front, and the times wouldn't catch up.
"Rehearsal's in thirty minutes, so rest up until then."
This was our kids' first rehearsal stage. They never imagined their debut would happen at a web novel author's fan signing, but hey, that's what made life interesting.
'The stage isn't bad.'
No, it was actually perfect. Unless you were a rookie from a major agency, who else got full backing to perform in a hotel like this?
On top of that, there was a drama promo event lined up today. Among all the events Director Sara had planned, this one had the biggest ripple effect.
'Time to check it out.'
I was a writer, sure, but also the president responsible for everyone. I couldn't afford to waver.
"...".
The hotel lobby was expansive, with a stage smack in the center and tables for the signing set up along the right wall.
Guidelines stretched from the windows around the stage in a loop, enough to pack in at least two hundred people if it got tight.
Reporters were starting to trickle in, and having gotten prior notice, they set up tripods in front of the stage and mounted their cameras.
'Did I get here too early?'
A rookie boy group had just wrapped their rehearsal on stage. He hadn't caught it, but with no real expectations, there was no disappointment.
More impressive was emptying out the entire hotel lobby for an event like this.
'Must be for the drama promo.'
Probably called in for that. He'd heard that idol had a minor role in the drama too.
His gaze drifted over there.
'Web novel author signing event?'
Over seven hundred fans lined up outside, or so he'd heard. A total outsider to web novels, the sight felt utterly alien to him.
'Director Sara's doing.'
That's what he figured. The latest industry rumors buzzing around claimed JJ Group's Director Sara was pouring everything into this drama.
The quiet reporter finished setting up his camera and scanned the surroundings, lost in thought.
'The world's changed a lot.'
A web novel author signing, drama promo, and boy group debut stage all in one spot? He never would've imagined such a combo. Nine years on the entertainment beat, and this was a first.
"Rehearsal's over!"
The security guard's shout prompted fans from the line outside to start filing in bit by bit.
Plenty of time before the main event, but they were letting people grab spots early.
Someone nudged his arm.
"Senior."
"Oh, Reporter Cho."
He flashed a light smile at the familiar junior. Entertainment reporters were always chasing the same stories, so run-ins like this were common.
"You're here early."
"You're no slouch either, Reporter Cho."
The junior sidled up close, dropping his voice to a whisper.
"Heard the rumors?"
"What rumors?"
"JJ Entertainment's going all-in on this drama. Should I buy some stock?"
"You still haven't kicked that habit?"
"How else am I supposed to have fun?"
"Live for the thrill of a scoop, like a real reporter."
"Hey, I put in the effort for those too. You know that."
"Chasing events like this? Sounds like you need to try harder."
Today was a JJ Entertainment invite-only for reporters. Not like there was real news drawing them in. Purely formal, write up whatever the client wanted and bounce.
"Gotta eat to live. You know how it is."
Scraping by on a reporter's meager salary meant swallowing your pride sometimes, and today was one of those days.
Didn't even know what web novels were, no clue if the drama would pop, and now a boy group debut on top? Anything worth covering here?
'Not even a proper production press conference...'
The other reporters' faces said they felt the same. Plenty had set up cameras then stepped out for a smoke.
'This is boring. Should I join 'em?'
As that thought crossed his mind, a murmur pulled his attention around.
"Whoa, awesome!"
"That's Memento Mori, right?"
"Yeah! Saw him on TV!"
"Jackpot! Worth the wait!"
The front-row fans of the web novel author were chattering excitedly.
'That big a deal?'
Weird seeing so many fans for a novelist, but too big a gap for him to relate, so he just watched the incoming crowd impassively.
"New work drops today, right?"
"Yeah! And his last one's getting a webtoon adaptation!"
"Ugh, can't wait!"
Mostly guys, but women made up about twenty percent too.
"Novels, huh..."
He muttered at the unfamiliar scene, and his junior chimed in.
"Looked into it yesterday—that author's pretty huge."
"Still niche. Didn't even know web novels were a thing till now."
"Thought the same, but the market's legit sizable."
"Web novels?"
"Yeah. This drama's based on one."
"Hmm..."
His eyes landed on the Memento Mori author seated at the far end. Director Sara was right next to him, leaning in close, chatting and laughing.
'Digging into those two would be way more productive.'
They looked awfully chummy. What strings got that rookie boy group a debut spot like this? His reporter instincts tingled, but zeroing in on them today was a no-go.
'Get on the wrong side, and you're out.'
The junior shut his mouth tight, watching his senior turn away like it was beneath him.
Compared to entertainment giants, web novels were small potatoes. For folks chasing bigger thrills, a single author offered no juicy "hook."
'But seriously, those two...?'
He chuckled at the absurdity. A web novel author and a JJ Group heir?
'What a novel.'
Time dragged on. Waiting was a reporter's curse, but today felt extra slow.
His briefly absent junior returned and whispered,
"Whew, over a thousand showed up."
"Yeah?"
Glancing at his watch, it was past six.
"Takes top-tier idol power to pull that many, right?"
He smirked at the junior.
"Peanuts. Even cherry-picked, that's a thousand."
Words said, his brow twitched up just a bit.
Idols lived off looks. Fans shelled out time and cash to get close.
But an author? All for a signature?
-30 minutes to start!
"Focus. Time to work."
Web novels or whatever, he needed shots of the drama actors for his article.
Starts at seven, wrap by eight?
'Craving soju.'
No event rundown handed out either. About to ask his junior 'dinner plans?' when actors emerged with security—heading straight for the author signing tables.
"Huh?"
He frowned.
'Stage's this way—why the signing tables?'
-10 minutes to start!
Staff shout, and the boy group took positions on stage.
"Not separate?"
"Beats me."
The line buzzed at the actors. Ordinary folks couldn't help but gawk at celebs up close.
"Handsome."
"Check that face—how's it so small?"
"Huh?"
His junior craned his neck, spotting someone near the stage.
"What's up?"
"It's Min Choi."
"No kidding."
He spotted her too. Heavy hitter in the biz. Didn't know she was tied to this boy group.
As the rookies struck poses, lights shifted for them. Gear said no live mics.
Junior eyed their tense faces.
"Visuals are killer. Mid-tier at least."
"Your predictions never hit, though."
"C'mon, third year on the job."
"Long way to go."
Idol scene was a battlefield. Word got out it paid, everyone jumped in.
But breaking out? One in a hundred. Even then, fame needed skill and luck aligning perfectly.
'Looks alone don't cut it anymore.'
Min Choi was a surprise, but if asked if this group would make it? Meh.
That's how it'd been.
'Nothing else to shoot anyway.'
Framing the stage, he settled into position. No clue yet the shot he was about to take would spark something huge—but as lights shifted and intro beats dropped, the tall center guy's gaze hit him with faint unease.
'Those eyes...'
Didn't know his name was Jin-seong, but shutter clicked anyway.
The madness in Jin-seong's eyes spread like wildfire. All eyes on him amid the unfamiliar beat—then like ripping back a curtain, bam! He leaped, and the diagonally lined members matched with razor-sharp sync, claiming the stage front.
'Not bad.'
Immersion no rookie should have poured from Jin-seong; the hyped-up others found their calm too.
About ten seconds of intro brought shockingly bold moves, center switched, main vocal Ji-min kicked off the first verse—and the quiet reporter grimaced mid-shutter, unbidden.
'English?'
Western singers had mainstream pull, but English-led tracks rarely popped in Korea. Rookies? Dead on arrival.
'They keep it going?'
Solid choreo, sure, but nonstop English till the peak? Entry barrier city.
Chorus flipped to Korean, but the why still nagged.
Then it hit him.
'Doesn't feel off.'
He shot on autopilot, mesmerized. Junior's camera next to him chattered nonstop too.
'Melody's catchy.'
Verse looped, familiar tune syncing with his pulse.
'They're good.'
Stage wasn't over, but he had to admit it. Jin-seong and Jin-guk's acting pulled eyes, but the song's polish was top-tier.
Now the stage surged to its climax.