Chapter 126. A Christmas for Everyone (1)

Translator: Chamber

Editor: Illidan

Today was MG Entertainment’s monthly director’s meeting. All the directors had gathered.

Many things that were piled up until now due to the season being the end of the year, was quickly processed. The meeting was dragged out with the infighting between the directors accusing others of wasting budget or using too little budget.

One topic was about Eddios.

“Eddios’s extension of contract date had already gone past.”

Director Jung HyunTae emotionlessly spoke while looking at the papers. This clearly seemed less important than other topics in this meeting. The other directors didn’t say much as this wasn’t their problem.

Director Kim JinHo spoke.

“There’s no extension. Didn’t we already put forth the opinion that we’ll use that budget somewhere else?”

“Yes, we did. Were those girls debuting next summer?”

Director Jung HyunTae flipped over the page. There, it was written about the new girl group project. He kept reading on.

“Debut in the Summer of 2012, huh, with five girls. I feel good about it. Are things going well?”

Director Moon GwangShik, who was in charge of the new girl group, smiled as though everything was going well.

“Naturally. I will hand in a formal report in the New Year’s meeting.”n/ô/vel/b//in dot c//om

“Hahaha.”

‘Eddios is not even getting mentioned anymore.’

Since the contract was over, they’re just forgetting about it? This was unthinkable if it was the previous MG. It wasn’t that extending a contract was an easy thing to do. Even if a musician decides to break the contract and leave due to other matters, MG Entertainment would usually send one off on a good note, not in the worst possible way like they were doing now. They didn’t even seem to consider the opinions the artists would have when they leave MG.

These were director Lee HanSeo’s thoughts, and director Moon GwangShik brought up another topic.

“By the way, Min JinSeo’s achievements in China this year were amazing, to say the least. An oriental drama she decided to appear in became a big hit. Sending her to China was a godly move.”

“Hahaha. It’s the achievement of everyone here.”

Director Lee YoungChang spoke with a laugh.

As they were talking about Min JinSeo, the atmosphere lightened up a little. Min JinSeo was directly supervised by chairman Won JinMoon himself. Now that he had fallen ill, although the principle was for his deputy, that was, his son, to manage her, practical power was within the directors’ hands. Of course, not that Min JinSeo was easy prey for the directors.

“Looks like she’ll stay in China for the foreseeable future.”

“Indeed.”

“It’s obvious that she would set her mind somewhere else if she returns to Korea. It’ll be better for her to stay there.”

This was the general opinion of the directors. The Chinese market was definitely large. It was an opportunity to earn money, and there were no elements of danger either, so it was killing two birds with one stone.

(T/N: China? Not dangerous? Hmm…)

‘Don’t they see that the girl is getting exhausted?’

Director Lee HanSeo shook his head while looking at the other directors.

***

Lee HyunJi was the second busiest person in World Entertainment after KangYoon.

Ever since KangYoon had gotten a verbal contract agreement with Eddios, her workload had tripled. She had to set the contract deposit, allocate budget for Lunas’s modification, Kim JaeHoon’s activities as well as Kim JiMin’s lesson fees.

She worked overtime every single day.

“Director, aren’t you… going home?’

It was 9 p.m.

Jung HyeJin cautiously asked while looking at the ever-increasing mountain of papers. However, Lee HyunJi replied with baggy eyes.

“…You can go home first.”

“*Sob*. President is such a bad guy.”

“The end-of-year financial document is hard isn’t it?”

“Yes…..”

Jung HyeJin was also bombarded with work due to the season being the end of the year. She grumbled that although money was piling in her bank account, she had no time to spend them. Hearing that, Lee HyunJi laughed.

“You’ll become rich!”

“I don’t want to become rich like this!”

Jung HyeJin screamed in happiness(?) in the haven(?) of work. (E/N: sarcasm)

Meanwhile, KangYoon was talking with Kim JaeHoon, White Moonlight, and Kim JiMin.

“A Christmas performance?”

This was the one single event where they could rake in the most money throughout the year. Kim JaeHoon tilted his head as he thought that his schedule would be jammed full, but turned out that the night of the 24th was completely empty.

KangYoon explained.

“I didn’t put anything there because I want to hold a concert in Lunas. The theme of the concert is a singles party, I guess?”

“A singles party?”

Lee HyunAh blinked several times. The members of White Moonlight grabbed their chests in pain.

“Urgh, the president is stabbing where it hurts.”

“Urgh….”

Jung ChanGyu also silently cried at Kim JinDae’s words. Meanwhile, Lee ChaHee didn’t seem that flinched. Lee HyunAh asked in surprise.

“ChaHee, you have a boyfriend?”

“I do have someone I’m getting along with very well recently.”

“Whaaat?”

Seeing her being so cool about it, everyone, including Lee HyunAh was surprised. However, Lee ChaHee was nonchalant about it.

“He’s a public servant, and although he doesn’t have a good sense of humor, he’s a kind guy.”

Lee HyunAh showed deep interest. Lee ChaHee also talked about this ‘guy’ she got along well with. When KangYoon saw that they were straying off the topic, he clapped his hands. Only then did they get back to the matter at hand.

“There, there. Anyway. Other places usually hold parties for couples only right? The singles don’t have anywhere to go. So we’ll do it the other way. A concert for singles. An Invinsingles party, so to speak?”

“Sir, I think you’ll have to change the name at least.”

Kim JiMin’s words made everyone laugh. KangYoon shrugged his shoulders in awkwardness. That word sounded cringy, to say the least.

“Yeah, let’s change that. Anyway, JaeHoon and White Moonlight shouldn’t have anything scheduled, and I’ve emptied that slot out for Lunas that day. The time is 7 p.m. Christmas Eve, and the cast is…”

“World family?”

Lee HyunAh asked and KangYoon nodded.

“Yes. And also…”

At that time, the door to the studio opened and a man walked in. He was sufficiently tall and had a skinny body, a figure that any woman would like.

KangYoon waved his hand at him.

“Hi, come and sit, JunYeol.”

“Yo, bruv.”

It was from Lee JunYeol. He gave KangYoon a bro hug before sitting down next to him. Everyone was shocked by the sudden appearance of a famous singer.

“Ah, hello.”

The women’s heart shook. They were shaken by Lee JunYeol’s manly appearance. The men also seemed wary of his good looks.

KangYoon introduced Lee JunYeol to everyone. Everyone here knew who Sedy was.

“Hi, people! Lee JunYeol here.”

Everyone applauded when he introduced himself. The claps from the ladies were especially loud.

“Wow. I never knew I’d get to see Sedy here.”

Lee HyunAh spoke honestly. Lee JunYeol smiled.

“Fufu, I’ll go anywhere my bro asks me to.”

“Really?”

Lee HyunAh’s evaluation of KangYoon had just gone up by a level.

Now that he was here, KangYoon kept on speaking.

“You know the general gist, right?”

“Oh, a party for singles? Are you really fine with me? I don’t know how singles feel like.”

Kim JaeHoon lightly frowned at that. However, KangYoon spoke instead.

“It’s fine. I’ve prepared you a partner on stage. You two can sing together on stage.”

“A partner? Who is it? Oh, is it the one I talked to you about last time?”

He was referring to the featuring matter. KangYoon nodded his head.

“That included. Anyway, do meet her. I think your voice fits very well with hers. She’ll be here soon.”

Having finished his part, KangYoon turned around to something else.

“For this party, the order is important. First will be White Moonlight, second up is JaeHoon, and 3rd is JunYeol.”

“Okay. How do we choose the songs then?”

KangYoon gave them the order of events when Lee HyunAh asked that question. Each team had a story. White Moonlight would set the mood, Kim JaeHoon would melt the hearts of everyone present, and finally, Lee JunYeol and his partner would give the audience warmth. This was the general outline.

“A duet after going solo all this while. Okay. This looks like homework to me. When is my partner comi….?”

When Lee JunYeol was wondering about his part, a lady with straight, long hair entered the studio. She was wearing jeans and a jumper. Everyone was surprised to see her here.

“JooYeon?”

“It’s JooYeon!”

The biggest voice was from Kim JinDae and Jung ChanGyu. This was a member of Eddios they were seeing. KangYoon had not yet told everyone that Eddios had joined the house. Lee HyunAh and Lee ChaHee were shocked as well, and Kim JiMin also gulped in nervousness when she saw a top-tier musician.

Even Kim JaeHoon’s eyes were trembling, while Lee JunYeol turned around to KangYoon with amazement in his eyes.

“Bro, you’re telling me….”

“Everyone should know who she is, right? I guess I don’t need to do the introductions. JooYeon, come and greet everyone.”

Han JooYeon stood next to KangYoon with an embarrassed expression.

“Hello? I’m Han JooYeon. Please take care of me.”

“Whooooo! Good to have you here!”

The men, especially Kim JinDae, cheered out loud. Her puppy-like facial features instantly charmed him. Lee ChaHee clicked her tongue.

“JooYeon, you arrived yesterday, right?”

“Yes, I’m still feeling the jetlag…. I think I’ll need some time.”

Although his intentions were not to call her here, Han JooYeon said that she would come herself. After KangYoon left America, she had resumed practice again. The fact that Jung MinAh could debut solo came as a big shock to her. That motivated her to come to this place.

Lee JunYeol never imagined that his partner was Han JooYeon. He was very well aware that Han JooYeon’s singing was top notch amongst idols. Moreover, this was KangYoon’s recommendation. He wasn’t worried at all.

“You’re recommending me her, right?”

“Yeah, trust me this once. Her tone will fit nicely with yours.”

“It’s you, so you’re probably right.”

Lee JunYeol accepted without much fuss.

Since Han JooYeon was here, KangYoon gave the two their scores. It was a duet song.

“Huh? Isn’t this a song from 3 years ago? Love day?”

Han JooYeon also had a look at the score.

“Do we need to record it as well?”

“Nah, we aren’t doing an album, so no need for a recording.”

“So do we just get on with the practice by ourselves?”

KangYoon thought for a moment when Lee JunYeol said that.

“Are you alright with that?”

“We aren’t kids. Miss JooYeon, are you alright with it?”

Han JooYeon also thought about it for a moment before nodding.

“Yes.”

KangYoon accepted after seeing Han JooYeon’s opinion.

After that KangYoon gave the other teams their songs. However, the duo still tugged on his mind endlessly.

‘Won’t they get in trouble since they’re both quite selfish?’

KangYoon was worried that he just considered their voices and not personalities when he chose the two.

***

[Eddios’s new home at World Entertainment.]

The idol girl group Eddios has entered an exclusive contract with World Entertainment (CEO: Lee KangYoon).

On the 4th, according to World Entertainment, Eddios’s contract with their previous company had ended and they have since entered a new contract with World Entertainment.

World Entertainment has claimed that Eddios still has charms that they hadn’t shown off yet, and that they were very professional enough for Korea. They showed confidence that they had hidden, charming traits that everyone hadn’t seen yet and would like to show more of it in the future.

However, they did not mention when they would host a comeback stage. They did say, however, that the girls would be coming back from America. They did not mention what the girls will do in the future.

World Entertainment is a small company that has the male singer Kim JaeHoon in their arsenal and has the knowhow to bring back someone to the industry after 4 years of absence. Whether that knowhow works on Eddios or not, remains to be seen.

Starmate.

Journalist Lee YeonCham.

[email protected]

***

“Eddios has returned to their rightful place.”

President Choo ManJi groaned while looking at the internet article. He closed the browser before calling for his secretary. The secretary lady put down a cup of coffee carefully on his desk.

“Secretary Yoon.”

“Yes, sir.”

The secretary was about to leave when he called out to her.

“Why did Lee KangYoon get Eddios?”

“……”

The secretary did not speak. She knew that this question wasn’t aimed at her. Soon, president Choo ManJi answered his own question.

“No matter how I think about it, it’ll be difficult for Eddios to get any revenue in Korea. They might just barely be able to break even, I guess? Maybe if they push their limits and go to China, it would work, but going to China requires more foundation in China. Although they say it’s the Korean Wave and whatnot. It won’t be easy to succeed overseas when they have practically no foundation in Korea left. Then why, did that Lee KangYoon, choose to contract Eddios?”

“……”

President Choo ManJi stood up, while the secretary lady stood still. Then, he started circling around her.

“I simply cannot understand him. He’s not dumb enough to rely on emotions. If that was the case, he wouldn’t have given us a song in the first place. The world is so mysterious sometimes.”

President Choo ManJi frowned.

Even if they do perform badly, it wasn’t much of a concern to him.

However, something was tugging at his heartstrings.

Like that, the secretary had to listen to the president’s monologue for an entire hour.

***