Chapter 144. A One-off Single (2)

Translator: Chamber

Editor: Illidan

“Please sit here.”

Seo HanYu put the clothes on the empty place away and gave KangYoon some room to sit down.

“Thanks.”

When KangYoon sat down, Lee ChaHee and Ailee, who were sitting with Seo HanYu greeted him as well.

He grumbled while looking at Jung MinAh and Lee HyunAh in a catfight again.

“Were those two married in their previous lives? Why are they at each other’s throats?”

“Shouldn’t they be on good terms if they were married in their previous lives?”

Seo HanYu didn’t seem to understand what KangYoon meant and tilted her head. Hearing the rather sudden question, KangYoon sighed deeply.

“…Forget I said that.”

Seo HanYu’s clueless face made KangYoon panic.

Lee HyunJi giggled while looking at the two.

“President. You should talk from their point of view. How are they supposed to know what marriage is like?”

‘I don’t think you do either.’

Those words were stuck at KangYoon’s throat. He had one life, and it was precious…

Seo HanYu spoke while pouring KangYoon a glass of soju.

“I heard that JooAh-seonbae-nim visited a few days ago.”

“Yeah. Did MinAh tell you that?”

“Yes. MinAh-unni told me that she learned a lot from her. And I just had to be at the gym at that time….”

Seo HanYu couldn’t hide her disappointment. KangYoon filled her empty glass without saying anything. After downing their drink with a clang, KangYoon’s face started flushing red.

Since the CEO was back, the loud atmosphere died down a little. Also, the topic of conversation naturally switched to about work. KangYoon asked Lee ChaHee about the private lesson that the company had gotten her recently.

“…The student that was doing it as a hobby decided to go to college with it?”

“Yes. I scolded him saying that it wasn’t such a decision to be made so lightly, but he told me that he thought a long time about it.”

Lee ChaHee was worried about a student that had changed his path recently. Although lessons preparing for college exams were more profitable, there were just as many things that she needed to teach. Moreover, this was about a person’s future, so it pressured her as well.

“I think that person trusted you when he said that. Why don’t you try doing it?”

“Should… I?”

“Tell me if it’s too much for you, okay?”

Lee ChaHee felt a burden off her shoulders. Although she thought that her matters were insignificant compared to the debuts and comebacks of other people, KangYoon still wholeheartedly listened to her.

“Okay. Thank you.”

“Don’t thank me. Just get along nicely with others.”

“Did you ever see us not get along nicely?”

When Lee ChaHee asked back, KangYoon pointed at Kim JinDae.

“Don’t bully JinDae too much.”

“What!?”

Lee ChaHee was confused. When did she ever bully Kim JinDae? KangYoon’s words made everyone laugh.

“Hahahaha!”

“That’s right, ChaHee. You should really stop bullying m… ouch!”

Lee ChaHee intuitively poked at Kim JinDae’s waist.

“Ah…”

KangYoon shrugged his shoulders and turned around to Ailee this time.

Ailee seemed to have something to talk about with KangYoon as well and she spoke after sitting up.

“President. When do we… have activities?”

Hearing a careful question, Seo HanYu, Christie An, and even Han JooYeon, who focused on receiving lessons after the Christmas event perked up. No one had directly asked him about this before.

With three people paying attention to one person, the others paid attention to him as well. Even the catfight ladies turned around to him. The loud noises died down instantly.

“I didn’t want to bring work into eating, but….”

KangYoon made an awkward smile. All of Eddios was waiting for his words. KangYoon took a deep breath before speaking.

“Until now, JooYeon, SamSoon, and MinAh, albeit not yet, had their share of activities alone. There are three left now then. Ailee, Christie, and HanYu. First up, Ailee.”

“Yes?”

Ailee widened her eyes when she was called out.

“I was planning to tell you this tomorrow but… I guess there’s no difference telling it to you now. I got something for you.”

“Really?”

Ailee’s expression brightened. When was the last time she was cast for something? Her long wait had finally borne fruit.

However, words had to be listened to until the end.

“It’s a program called Fun with Kera on DLE. You are the main host.”

“Eh? Wait a minute.”

Seo HanYu was happy for Ailee but turned her head when she heard that.

“Isn’t Fun with Kera a popular character in a TV show? There’s that weird costume as well…”

“Yes. The animal character named Kera is quite popular lately.”

When KangYoon confirmed her words, everyone shouted out in shock.

“Eeeek?”

“W, wait a moment! A, are you telling Ailee to host a children’s TV show?”

Christie asked back. She couldn’t understand.

Ailee was the most childish among the members of Eddios. She was picky, a crybaby, and got upset easily… It was like a child hosting a children’s show. Maybe that suited her?”

Even Ailee said that it wouldn’t do.

“P, president. I like that I was scouted for something, but I don’t think I can…”

“Sorry. This is a must-do. I’m not accepting refusals.”

“What!?”

Everyone was shocked at KangYoon’s strong attitude about this. KangYoon would usually try to persuade the artist if they didn’t agree to something. Not listening to refusals outright… even the others were saying that Ailee shouldn’t do this so Ailee kept losing confidence.

However, KangYoon spoke with confidence.

“Ailee. Don’t you like children?”

“Yes? I. I guess that’s true, but…”

The other members of Eddios turned around to Ailee since this was the first time they heard of such a thing even though they had been together for many years.

“Aren’t you good at looking after children? I heard you were a babysitter in America.”

“I did, but it’s been such a long time….”

“But you still should have your old habits. And it’s not like you absolutely detest children. You actually quite like them. Don’t you?”

“……”

Ailee had nothing to say. He was entirely right.

In fact, the ones shocked by this news was Eddios and other artists. Eddios especially was shocked by the fact that KangYoon knew something about their member that they didn’t.

Regardless, KangYoon struck the iron while it was hot.

“Do it. I think you’ll do well.”

When KangYoon gave her confidence, Ailee nodded her head. The other members were all flippant about it, but KangYoon’s next question put them all down.

“Or would anyone else like to do it in her stead?”

“……”

Everyone became quiet. Looking after children in a children’s TV show which has very little viewing rates? They wanted to refuse.

‘Since I’m doing it…’

Ailee set her mind.

That she would try her best even though this was a children’s program.

***

The day after the party.

Although he had drunk quite a lot the day before, KangYoon came to work as though nothing had happened. Then, he started working on Jung MinAh’s comeback stage that he hadn’t taken care of yet.

Having set the necessary budget request to Lee HyunJi, KangYoon called producer Jung GwangJin of DLE TV station. He was trying to get Jung MinAh some allocated time for her comeback stage.

– The number you’re trying to reach is currently unav…

However, producer Jung GwangJin didn’t pick up. He tried again just in case but it was the same.

When KangYoon frowned and shook his head, Lee HyunJi carefully asked.

“Is he not picking up again?”

“Yes. I don’t know how many times this makes it already.”

It had been several days since producers in various TV stations started ignoring him. If they had negative opinions about the comeback stage, then he would at least try to gather some strategies around it. However, he was simply unable to contact any of them.

Lee HyunJi didn’t seem to like the current situation either and frowned.

“Last time it was SBB and now even DLE is on a boycott. What’s happening?”

“Yeah, exactly. I wonder if anything will happen to JiMin as well.”

“JiMin isn’t a problem apparently since her schedule is already set in stone. MinAh is the problem.”

KangYoon had a headache. He tried calling and even visited various TV stations to meet a producer or anyone related, but none of them worked.

He was sure that the two stations were avoiding him on purpose. He couldn’t do anything since he didn’t know why they went on a boycott. KangYoon rested his chin on his hands and spoke in a careful manner.

“I think something’s at play here…”

“Is there someone that can possibly lose out with MinAh’s solo album? Let me tell you this first, but MG is definitely not the one behind this. They don’t even care.”

“Well, they treat Eddios like a completely abandoned card. I’m thankful we aren’t obstructed. In any case, regardless of why this is happening. I’ll try to do something. For now, let me contact HMC.”

KangYoon hurriedly called another TV station. However, it seemed as if they were all conspiring against him like no one he knew picked up.

Although he tried calling the producers of public TV again, nobody picked up. KangYoon heaved a deep sigh.

“They aren’t picking up. Something’s definitely at play here.”

“What? How can that be….”

Lee HyunJi’s expression darkened due to annoyance. This was unthinkable when she worked at MG Entertainment. There were happenings of small scale companies being boycotted through coercion from bigger companies, and this felt exactly like that. As she had arrived at a conclusion, she trembled.

However, KangYoon stayed calm.

“So the only place we got in touch with is KS TV. Although I’ll try some more hands, I don’t think we can procure any more stages.”

“What do we do then? An album without a proper TV stage doesn’t make any sense. Why don’t we try delaying it….”

KangYoon shook his head upon hearing that.

It will be April soon. Meaning, many girl group idols will stage their comebacks. If we do delay it to that time, we will have to break through the heavy competition. We can’t delay this any further.”

Lee HyunJi sighed deeply.

“Why don’t you try visiting them? I think that’s the best course of action.”

KangYoon agreed to her words. He hurriedly left the office.

***

“As instructed, we have told all the producers of various TV stations. He should be having trouble procuring the stages right now.”

Hearing the report from the lady secretary, president Kang ShiMyoung had a faint smile on his face.

“Nice work. I quite like this for a change. Producer Yang SangChul got me some big fish. MinAh’s solo stage? Looks like World is using the girls of Eddios as individuals. Jung MinAh… may still work.”

President Kang ShiMyoung leisurely sipped his coffee. The faint fragrance heightened his mood.

“But, if they can’t procure stages on TV, they’ll have to delay the comeback, and soon it will be April. That means they will be competing with other girl groups. Fuu, that’s very good. I like it.”

President Kang ShiMyoung had a wide grin on his face. How much money had he lost because of the Hongdae incident? His hand trembled just thinking about it. However, he was paying back in full this time so he felt as though he was relieved of a 10 year-old burden.

Just then, he thought up something.

“What happened to Eunha?”

“Eunha has already signed the contract so unless they’re the ones to break it, there’s no reason for them to break the contract either, so….”

Hearing the lady secretary’s words, president Kang ShiMyoung waved his hands saying it was okay.

“Sheesh, producers. They’re all the same. They just don’t want to throw Eunha away due to her current popularity.”

“……”

The lady secretary took a few steps back in fear.

Regardless, president Kang ShiMyoung spoke in a soft tone with a satisfied smile on his face.

“In any case. Well done. The secretary team can eat out today. I’ll give you my credit card.”

“Thank you, president.”

President Kang ShiMyoung turned around to the window in his seat with a joyful smile.

***

KangYoon visited DLE, SBB, and HMC, the three public TV stations trying to meet music program producers, but he wasn’t able to meet anyone. Not receiving the call was nothing, and even the liaison team and the writers seemed to have work ‘outside the office’.

“…Where would you find work ‘outside the office’ as a music program staff?”

Going past the lobby of HMC station, KangYoon sighed deeply. He sat down on a sofa in the lobby. Fatigue overwhelmed him from the comfort of the sofa.

‘A cable TV show only is insufficient…’

KangYoon wrote down some things with his pen.

– Failed to procure a slot in public TV

– It’s absolutely impossible to settle with just a cable TV show.

– A new method is necessary – A showcase? Or another method?

– It requires a lot of money. Something new is needed…

Writing down his thought process, his head cleared up a little. He also thought of some marketing strategies that happened before he traveled back in time.

‘Now that I think about it. There was a case where Sace live-streamed a showcase, wasn’t there? When was that?’

This strategy was not in the minds of any companies right now.

Sace, the single largest web portal in Korea started a video streaming service following ‘Tune’, the biggest video platform in the world, and live streaming a music showcase was used as a marketing strategy by it as well.

KangYoon clapped his hands.

‘Right!’

KangYoon called Lee HyunJi immediately.

Hearing the story, Lee HyunJi exclaimed out loud.

– …Live broadcast the showcase with the web portal? If that works, then we can create an effect that rivals doing it on public TV. Moreover, if the showcase goes well, the effect on social media will be greater as well. The problem is when. I think we’ll be tight on time…

“Yes, that’s why I called you in a hurry.”

Lee HyunJi thought for a moment before replying in a fatigued voice.

– …Okay, then. I’ll try to do something about it.

“Do you have someone you know?”

– Even though I look like this, I was a former president at MG Entertainment. MG is a big company. Leave it to me.n/ô/vel/b//in dot c//om

KangYoon thanked Lee HyunJi before ending the call.

Two days later.

KangYoon headed to Seongnam where Sace’s HQ was located. Inside a building where a lot of start-up companies were located, KangYoon met with Gi SeungHwan, an executive director of the company. He was a man in his middle 40s and had a thin stature.

“Hello, Gi SeungHwan.”

“Lee KangYoon. Nice to meet you.”

Drinking some tea that a secretary brewed, the two started talking.

“The materials you sent us yesterday were very impressive. Live streaming a music showcase… Word has been flowing within the company about doing a proper live broadcasting content. However, due to financial limitations and procuring viewers, we were at a bottleneck. But you just came to us with the perfect opportunity… Thank you very much.

“Thank you for being positive. I hope Sace and our MinAh synergize well together.”

“There’s no need to drag this out any longer then.”

Executive director Gi was very cool about this project. He seemed deeply impressed by the document and did not ask for further elaboration.

After agreeing that they should come to terms with financial matters later, the two entered a partnership regarding the showcase. KangYoon felt rather surprised seeing things go so well.

After that, Executive director Gi SeungHwan left saying that he had matters to attend to.

‘What a cool guy.’

KangYoon laughed. He felt good that things were going well.

Although there were some roadblocks here and there, Jung MinAh’s solo album was fully prepared, and now all that was left was the countdown to the showcase.