Episode 186
With a light-heartedness that belied the colossal decision she had just made, Cheon Aram turned to look at all the employees. Then, playfully, she asked,
“Anyone against it?”
“‘….’”
Nobody spoke up.
“Looks like it. Alright, let’s all get back to work.”
At that, the employees stood up to exit the meeting room.
I couldn’t bear to meet the eyes of my colleagues who would now lose sleep due to my sudden whims. It wasn’t something I could brush off with a simple apology, so I could only bow my head.
As my colleagues passed me on their way out, they each gave my shoulder a light tap and said a few words.
“Great job on the project, Team Leader Seon. It really feels rewarding to have worked as a trainer until now. Though I’m all about dancing.”
“Wow, that arrangement really made my heart go ‘Magnificent.’ For a song like this, the hustle is necessary!”
“I really liked the girls’ voices. This version was much better for me.”
“…I think we need to reconsider the composer’s intent from that interview. Intent has changed, hasn’t it?”
“Narae, why do you have to be so sideways with your comments? Don’t mind her. She probably just got a bit teary-eyed and felt embarrassed.”
“Um… can I try mastering this version? I promise no plagiarism. You don’t even need to credit me. I just want to give it a shot.”
“Team Leader Seon….”
And then, James Oh, who had halted in front of me, said awkwardly,
“The song was great.”
“….”
And just like that, they all filtered out, off to do what they needed to do.
Standing next to me, Cheon Aram gazed at their retreating figures and lightly remarked,
“A really nice bunch, aren’t they?”
I replied with a smile mirroring hers.
“I feel like they’re too good for me.”
*
As soon as the comeback album for Girl Revolution arrived, Cheon Jong-hoon pressed play on the title track “I’ll be by your side” and propped his chin in thought.
After much pondering, he hit play again.
Even after listening to it twice, he replayed it, and once more, for a total of five consecutive listens.
Then he started tapping his fingers on the desk, speaking to himself in self-deprecation.
“Not an artist, not a system… have I fallen to the level of a supporting character despite having that talent? What a shame. Truly a shame.”
“Is that not a system? … With that talent, he’s been reduced to a supporting role. What a pity. Truly a pity.”
Shaking his head in despair, Cheon Jong-hoon played ‘I’ll be by your side’ once again.
After the song finished, he said,
“Still, I have to admit, this time you won.”
A clear smile was on his face.
*
N-Spirit successfully filled the awkward gap in the music broadcast with their clumsy impersonations and fan-favorite cuteness when the female idol MC, Hyoa, spoke.
“Okay, then shall we capture this memory with a photo together with our N-Spirit members?”
“Yes, that sounds great!”
“After all, photos are meant to be taken.”
As she raised and then lowered the camera with a suitable quip, the leader, Shinity, exclaimed in awe.
“Wow, that turned out so well….”
“We haven’t taken the shot yet.”
“Oh, right.”
“This time, it really turned out nicely. MC Hyoa, the photo is so….”
“I’m backlit. Let’s take it again.”
“Wait….”
“Live broadcast music world with the entire globe! The final stage starts now!”
Seeing the PD’s frantic gestures, I quickly cut off their peculiar exchange and flipped the screen.
In response to my intervention, the male idol MC, Shin Chan-woo, raised his thumb and said,
“Wow, Seon Taeyang manager, that was perfectly timed. Hyoa tends to get a bit obsessed with weird things, and it almost got awkward. How are you so good at this? Were you not a manager but an MC?”
“I’m definitely a manager.”
“Oh, come on, don’t lie. This vibe isn’t something a rookie would have.”
“….”
I, who had determined to bravely live as a manager, was once again called to appear on a broadcast, playing a role that was far from suited to me. Moreover, this time, it was the MC role for a regular music broadcast, something I had never experienced before.
I found myself questioning the very basis of why I, among idol members and solo vocalists, had to be here, and to be honest, I didn’t want to do it. But when ‘first-person observer’ entertainment writer Ina Bi begged me while prostrating for the sake of the broadcast, I couldn’t bring myself to refuse.
At least one thing I enjoyed.
“Yuri, is it okay if I stand on the right today?”
“Sis, we have a set order for where we stand.”
“Are you sure Team Leader Seon sitting next to the MC can’t see us?”
“Gyeoul, don’t worry, they can see us just fine.”
“…Then why is Older Sister Gaeul subtly moving to the right?”
“…Maybe they can’t see us?”
“….”
The conversation was too quiet to hear clearly from a distance, but being able to see the Girl Revolution kids next to me instead of behind me wasn’t so bad.
The only problem was pretending to know other weird stuff.
“Hey, Team Leader Seon, are you watching? We’re right here!”
“Trying to avoid eye contact, huh?”
“…Aah, was our friendship built through Girls in Road really only this strong?”
“This won’t do. When recording day comes, I’m stealing all the hand warmers Team Leader Seon stuffed in the sleeping bag.”
“Wow, truly the Zhuge Liang Song Hye-jin of Girls in Road!”
“Team Leader Seon! Are you watching? If you don’t react, I swear I’m confiscating all the hand warmers in this weather!”
Amidst the shouts and suppressing his laughter, the male idol MC Shin Chan-woo playfully asked.
“Haha, you’re gonna lose all your hand warmers; are you okay, Team Leader Seon? What are you gonna do if it gets too cold during filming?”
“Don’t worry, I won’t be the only one freezing.”
“Huh?”
“The next shoot is a marine camp experience.”
Let’s all die together, you guys.
Hearing my statement, the male idol MC Shin Chan-woo (former marine) was overjoyed and wished luck for his juniors.
As we engaged in playful banter, the results of the voting finally came out, and a sheet detailing the results was handed to Shin Chan-woo.
A strange tension gripped me as I wondered what was written on that paper.
We all ascended onto the stage, where the other contestants, including our inevitable number one rival, the Girl Revolution and Alcest, were waiting.
And then our eyes met.
Alcest’s members seemed to avoid my gaze, except for Yoon Jeong, perhaps recalling the threats I’d made when I barged in earlier.
The Girl Revolution kids, seemingly aware they were on camera, pulled their eyes away from me and focused on the camera, but they couldn’t help sneaking glances my way.
At that moment, Shin Chan-woo said to me.
“Would you like to announce the results, Team Leader Seon?”
“But Director Jang told you to do it, didn’t he?”
“Haha, don’t worry, Jang Ji-seok is my father.”
“…Really?”
“Yep, really. Don’t we look alike?”
When I considered it, yeah, we really did resemble each other.
It happened.
Dad is a music show PD, but his main job is being an idol?
You must be set for life.
“Then let’s do it. I’ll handle the aftermath.”
I accepted his goodwill and grabbed the cue sheet he handed me.
SS is an agency so powerful that it can build a fandom strong enough for fans to become devoted to a new group just by looking at the company.
Now, with Cheon Jong-hoon, who aims to be SS’s successor, having created the group Alcest, they dominate as girl group zero with an undeniable presence, treated like royalty among other girl groups—what a legend!
And now, Alcest, having added a girl named Yoon Jeong and become a five-member group, is releasing albums of even more overwhelming quality than before.
Naturally, they’ve succeeded in attracting fans even faster and more effectively, rising to the top among current girl groups.
It’s likely that the name written as number one on this cue sheet is Alcest. Our Girl Revolution has had its fair share of incidents, after all. While we’ve successfully suppressed the antis arising from those incidents and built our fanbase, it doesn’t quite put us in a position to push Alcest aside, who surged to first place while we were in decline.
Still, I believe there will come a day when Girl Revolution will be number one, but given the stats, that day isn’t today.
Having made that judgment, I resolved not to show any disappointment before the kids and checked the cue sheet.
“…”
As I read the cue sheet, MC Shin Chan-woo and Hyo-ah continued their banter while looking at the screen.
“Yes, right now, three groups that are candidates for number one are on the screen. Which of them will take the top spot?”
“Who will be number one?”
All eyes turned to me.
Within that gaze, I spoke the name with the coolest smile I’ve ever had in my life.
“It’s Girl Revolution with ‘I’ll be by your side.’”
Bang!
Pollen burst forth.
Applause and cheers enveloped the stage.
The camera captured the four girls, and my stars shone brighter than ever, sending their light to the world.
Ah, I’m grateful to be a manager.
I was sure that no matter what choices I made or what life I lived, it couldn’t compare to this happiness.
In a space adorned by blooming lights and shimmering pollen reflecting off the ceiling,
In that miraculous moment facing the four girls I met,
Stars were etched in the sky.
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