Chapter 24: The Idol's Technique That Never Fails

“This can’t be cut. Absolutely can’t be cut.”

“No… If you say it can’t be cut at all….”

At the music video editing site.

I had been informed in advance that the team First Light had a member who needed to be managed carefully. However, I didn’t expect the TRV staff to be this involved in the editing process.

On the contrary, while Director Hong was frustrated, the TRV staff couldn’t hide their frustration either.

They needed to minimize Jeong Hae-won’s screen time, but Director Hong, known for his good communication with the company, was stubbornly refusing to cut it.

“How can I cut this? Look at how his eyes change here. Such an expression is hard to capture even in movies.”

It seemed that Director Hong’s aesthetic sense perfectly matched Jeong Hae-won, and he was strongly insisting that his screen time should be at least the same as the other members.

The TRV staff sighed but couldn’t help glancing at the editing screen.

It was a scene where Jeong Hae-won, who was usually stiff in front of the camera, started his choreography on stage.

“…But, even so, putting him in the opening is a bit much.”

“Why can’t I put him in? Fine, I’ll cut the rest of his scenes then.”

Jeong Hae-won was said to have severe stage fright, but it didn’t seem to apply to this stage. Even with OIN and TRV staff playing the role of the audience, the moment he stepped on stage, his eyes completely changed.

Usually, due to the long time he spent in the dark, he had a world-weary air that didn’t match his age. But the moment he started his choreography on stage, he was a completely different person.

There was a passion that seemed to want to burn the stage, as intense as the lyrics he wrote, and a sparkle that seemed to affirm everything in the world.

“This has to be included. Really, let’s include it.”

“No, no matter what, the opening is not an option. How can we give the first scene to a member who joined in the middle? The introduction isn’t even his part.”

“The scene is good, though.”

“Hold on.”

The staff member took out his phone and left, but it took quite a while before he returned. Upon returning, he said with a hint of pride:

“If you include it in the choreography version, we can reconsider.”

“It has to be decided now, not at a meeting.”

“I had a hard time convincing them even this much.”

After reaching a compromise and the TRV staff leaving, Director Hong asked the OIN staff:

“I don’t watch variety shows much, but did he really gather so many negative comments? Is his personality that bad? I didn’t feel it at all.”

“Personality? He’s actually one of the most socially adept among his peers. His appearance is different… Oh, even though he’s a kid, it makes me nervous.”

The other staff members agreed:

“Really, being a kid makes me feel guilty.”

“Oh, he comes in and starts causing trouble. He’s guilty, he’s guilty.”

The staff members had similar opinions. While there are many entertainers whose broadcast image differs from their real personality, Jeong Hae-won was particularly extreme.

“…Well, that’s that.”

Director Hong seemed to have a rough understanding and moved on.

Although he had to cut the scene he really wanted to include, he planned to somehow include it in the choreography version.

* * *

[The video has reached 1 million views]

[You have been given an A-grade ticket for (Hit Song Maker's Red Roulette)]

I just watched the spinning roulette. The company was so chaotic that I didn’t even have the spirit to press it.

From what the employees said, this was the first time a video from this agency, excluding music videos, had exceeded 1 million views. It’s understandable that TRV, which was considering recruiting me as a member, was thirsty for attention.

The problem was that among the members’ personal external activity videos, there were some that had over 1 million views. The team First Light’s recognition didn’t match the individual members’ recognition.

When I said I hadn’t seen the first two episodes of First Light Company, one of the Jacon team staff, who was celebrating with cake at the TRV building’s cafe, said:

“Oh, how could Hae-won not see it? It’s his item.”

Without thinking, Shin Ji-won answered for me:

“It’s because we were busy and didn’t watch it together. He can’t do anything well on his own.”

Thankfully, the atmosphere didn’t get awkward. But I can do things on my own, I even have a driver’s license…

At that moment, a staff member asked:

“Then, let’s all watch the second episode again? To celebrate the 1 million views for the first episode and to boost the views for the second episode.”

“Sure, let’s do that. Sounds good.”

We cut the cake and placed it on our plates, then played the second episode of First Light Company on the meeting room monitor.

* * *

First Light’s own variety show, First Light Company.

The second episode.

The members were divided into two companies, and the story was about them acquiring each other. However, with no information and only Jeong Hae-won, who had some experience with a company, the meetings were just a series of jokes.

Han Hyo-seok from Light Company asked:

“Acquisition, according to the dictionary, means a company or individual buying another company’s stocks and management rights. But for that, First Company needs to be of a certain size, right?”

Before he finished, Min Ji-ho from First Company slammed the table and stood up:

“We are SamX. We are huge!”

Jeong Hae-won from Light Company asked, confused:

“SamX? I saw you using an iPad earlier.”

Min Ji-ho, speechless, sat down and looked at his teammates, An Ju-won and Shin Ji-won. An Ju-won asked:

“What does Light Company do?”

Park Sun-jae from Light Company answered:

“TechX!”

“Oh, a thrilling choice,”

“Yes, TechX in 2043! What kind of company are we?”

Shin Ji-won’s question made Park Sun-jae whisper to Jeong Hae-won and Han Hyo-seok, who almost simultaneously answered:

“Research and development.”

“New material research and development.”

“Research and development to create vehicles!”

“Same?”

“You don’t seem confident.”

“Personal opinion. Not the opinion of Light Company.”

As the youngest member spoke, all the members started to argue.

While the two teams were talking nonsense, the host, Hwang Sae-beok, was drinking coffee and listening. Despite being a new host, he diligently checked the meeting script and said:

“Light Company, 10 billion added.”

An Ju-won asked:

“What for?”

“I have information about both companies. If your random statements match the actual information, you can earn a certain amount of market value. Yes, you can.”

Hwang Sae-beok, still not used to being a host, corrected himself three times.

The members murmured:

“10 billion each? This building doesn’t seem that valuable.”

“Is that important now?”

“Weren’t we developing new materials? It was for vehicles, not protective equipment?”

As the members of the same company gathered in groups of three to discuss, the fans’ reactions poured in:

[The kids are so excited today lololololol]

[Our kids aren’t shy? They’re just playing like they’re alone lololololol]

[Shyness is over ㅠㅠㅠㅠㅠ]

[They must have been this friendly and noisy in the dorm… I thought it was always quiet… My bias was wrong…]

[Even with negative comments, this is my favorite content]

[But with Hae-won, the kids seem more relaxed than usual…]

[Just the shyness period is over, not because of Hae-won]

[Still, the Jacon team must have worked hard. It seems like a lot of editing…]

[The editing is really good, can’t see Hae-won at all lololol]

[Is the editor a god?]

[As a fan of another group, is this new song really made by Hae-won?]

[Rumor]

[Not a rumor, it’s confirmed…]

[Really??? Everyone was keeping it a secret, I didn’t know ㅠㅠ]

[This time, it was a bit disappointing to hear it was a diss, but now it seems like a relief…]

[Why is TRV pushing Hae-won so much? Are they related?]

Meanwhile, the members continued their meeting to increase the market value. After thinking for a while, Shin Ji-won asked the host:

“So far, we know that it’s 2043 and the Earth is covered in ice, right?”

“Yes.”

“But our team has developed a new material that can move in extreme cold. And we need to acquire each other’s companies.”

“Correct.”

“Our company… According to the information we found, we have a system that needs to be observed and measured. We found a letter in our company’s B section… It says that if our system can’t be repaired, the Earth will be destroyed. So, does our company have a technology that can control the ice to some extent?”

“First Light, 150 billion.”

As Hwang Sae-beok said this, an excited Min Ji-ho exclaimed:

“Cicada!”

Han Hyo-seok, bewildered, asked:

“Are you saying the Earth is heated by a boiler?”

“What, have you been to 2043?”

“Wouldn’t you know if you hadn’t been there?”

As they started arguing again, Jeong Hae-won, who had been quietly writing, said:

“Are you fighting again?”

“No, Ji-ho is.”

“Hyo-seok doesn’t acknowledge the greatness of the boiler.”

“Hyo-seok. Ah, because of Hae-won, everyone calls him Hyo-sik.”

[06s are fighting again lololololol]

[Hyo-seok seemed mature, but with Ji-ho, he’s just a high schooler lolololol]

Jeong Hae-won pushed the paper he was writing to Han Hyo-seok, who picked it up and said:

“Host, if we don’t provide the new material technology we developed to First Company, will the Earth be destroyed?”

Hwang Sae-beok, who was flipping through the materials, said:

“Yes, that’s correct.”

“Huh?”

“Fortunately, Light Company discovered this an hour ago. Let me explain. While the two companies are fighting, the Earth will be destroyed in one hour. If the two companies don’t merge, the Earth will be destroyed in one hour.”

Hwang Sae-beok’s dry and engaging voice made all the members look at him. He continued calmly:

“The reason the two companies are fighting until the Earth is destroyed is this. If the technology is combined and the problem is solved, it will be a chicken run.”

An Ju-won muttered:

“So, it’s true that the Earth will be destroyed because of us.”

Min Ji-ho nodded:

“Right? I thought so too.”

Suddenly, the lights in the meeting