Chapter 8: The Techniques of an Idol Who Never Fails

[Set a Goal]

[Example: Hit Song Maker]

[Time Limit: 5 minutes]

A 5-minute time limit is too long.

This example is the answer.

I started playing the piano from a very young age, to the point where my earliest memory is of the piano, and I naturally aimed to enter a music university.

The problem was that around the time I was about to enter middle school, my family was struggling financially due to my sister's study abroad expenses. We thought we were middle-class until my sister went abroad, but it became unsustainable as her studies dragged on.

My sister wanted to quit because our family couldn't afford to support her art, but my parents insisted strongly, saying that all the previous investments would be wasted if she stopped now.

They could push so strongly because I had already told them I would stop playing the piano.

At that time, I didn't have any particularly outstanding talent, and to be honest, I was a bit tired of it, so I could easily say I would quit.

However, strangely, I became extremely depressed the moment I stopped playing the piano. I couldn't help but cry just by looking at the piano, and after I sold the piano in my room, I realized that the piano had been everything in my life until then. Perhaps I really loved the piano.

Anyway, we were lucky. My sister is now a rising artist.

On the day we went to her exhibition, we both cried. My sister had only eaten ramen for months to save money for three airplane tickets, and my parents worked day and night, but no one regretted it. I also thought it was good that I had quit the piano.

It was even more shocking to learn that my sister was living with her current fiancé to save money, but when I entered their chaotic studio, my heart swelled. I thought they looked like the artists I had seen in movies. I wanted to be like that too.

That's when I set a new goal: to become an idol.

I had been crazy about dancing throughout my school years and was quite popular, so I was confident.

Ironically, when I first stepped on stage as an idol chosen by the public, I realized again how much I loved music, especially popular music.

[I set the goal: (Hit Song Maker)]

[Checking the possibility of making a hit song

L-level hit song production probability: 0%

S-level hit song production probability: 0%

A-level hit song production probability: 0%

B-level hit song production probability: 0%

C-level hit song production probability: 0%]

I don't know what a C-level hit means, but according to the status screen, it seems I have no chance of making even a C-level hit. And since there's no level below C, it seems I have no chance of making any hit song at all.

At that moment, Hwang Saegil asked,

"When can you give us the song? Our A&R team has a track list meeting next Friday."

"By Thursday."

"The day before, you... "

Anyway, since I've debuted twice as an idol, Hwang Saegil couldn't curse and just trailed off. Even if I said next Thursday, it was still a week away.

"Just send it."

Hwang Saegil said and went into the hotel first.

With a deadline, the intensity of the pressure is definitely different.

* * *

On the day of the live broadcast, despite the gag order, news of Kang Hayeon's lift accident spread to Korea, and the number of reporters increased several times. Not just the entertainment section, but the social section was also there.

Kang Hayeon, despite the situation the day before, managed to MC without any issues. She seems to have a strong mental fortitude. They call this "soft on the outside, strong on the inside," I guess.

Still, the atmosphere at the event was very tense due to the accident the day before. I was also very nervous as Park Heeyoung's performance approached. My nervousness must have shown on my face because Park Heeyoung patted my back.

"Why are you so nervous?"

"Big sister, if anything seems off on stage, give a signal immediately..."

While I was speaking, Park Heeyoung laughed cheerfully.

"I'll handle it. Don't worry."

She seemed to be in a great mood, probably because things went well with her ex-boyfriend yesterday.

The power of variety shows is strong; when Park Heeyoung went on stage, the audience's cheers were no different from when any other idol performs. Park Heeyoung, already in a good mood, further energized the crowd and literally tore up the stage.

Perhaps because of this, Firstlight, who went on stage right after her, seemed to be overshadowed by Park Heeyoung. Their stage presence was noticeably weaker than during the rehearsal.

Someone tapped my shoulder, and when I turned around, it was Kang Hayeon.

"Um, excuse me."

"Yes?"

Even though I answered, Kang Hayeon didn't say anything. She just looked at me, and she was so beautiful that I ended up avoiding her gaze. Her manager, who had followed her, said,

"Hayeon is usually quite shy!"

"Oh..."

I didn't understand, but Kang Hayeon, who had been staring at me, handed me something and disappeared. When I opened my hand, it was a piece of paper with a phone number. Isn't it strange for an actress to just give out her number...

I quickly returned the paper to Kang Hayeon's manager and instead exchanged business cards with the manager. The manager repeatedly thanked me and asked me to do something through him, then left.

Anyway, it seems Kang Hayeon was trying to warn me in advance, and I was grateful. I'll contact her if I need actor connections in the future, definitely through her manager.

* * *

The next day, I took the noon flight back to Korea. Without even going home, I had to go straight to an interview schedule, so I drove Park Heeyoung to a cafe in Yeonnam-dong.

Just as we were almost at the interview location, I received a call from the company. It was Manager Kwak.

Park Heeyoung usually prefers to take calls from the company on speakerphone, so I naturally put the call on speaker.

- Hey, Cheol. I'll send another road manager there, so you go to TRV.

"TRV... Jongno?"

- Yeah, there.

Near Gwanghwamun, there was a management company called TRV, one of the "Big Five." Of course, now it's called "One Strong, Three Medium," and TRV, due to the continuous underperformance of its idols, is no longer considered one of the Big Five.

Debuting Firstlight with members from the "National Selection A" audition was a life-or-death gamble for the company.

Even though Park Jongryeol Entertainment is the parent company, the two companies operate completely separately. Videos of trot singers from Park Jongryeol Entertainment have never been uploaded to TRV's official YouTube channel.

Still, seeing them send a road manager in such an emergency made me think they weren't completely separate.

- The Firstlight members are so introverted that they don't talk to outsiders. They want someone familiar to help out if possible.

As soon as he finished, Park Heeyoung spoke from the back.

"Bro, is Cheol a machine? He just finished an overseas schedule and hasn't even been home yet."

Manager Kwak, who heard Park Heeyoung's clear and loud voice, said,

- I told you, the kids are introverted and don't talk to outsiders.

"Damn, what rookie is so picky? And why is that company agreeing to all this?"

"Big sister, try not to curse on the phone."

I had accompanied other artists from the company a few times before, but I didn't understand why she was so annoyed today. To lighten the mood, I quickly said,

"Then I'll try to adjust the schedule with Si-hyung."

Park Heeyoung said from the back,

"What schedule? You're just being told to go to TRV. You won't come back, you."

When the car stopped at a red light, I involuntarily turned to look at Park Heeyoung. She said,

"Would the company keep someone who looks like you as a manager forever?"

"My image after 'National Selection A'..."

"Unlikability is also a topic, right? Firstlight doesn't have any topics."

"..."

"By 'help out,' do they mean you should fill in as a road manager? Either quit the company or join them. Choose one."

I'm doomed.

I have to quit the company.

I thought there was no need to think about it, but Park Heeyoung asked,

"But to take an employee from another company, wouldn't they need to be at the executive level?"

Manager Kwak, still on the phone, honestly said,

- President Park Heetaek of TRV.

The president?

Could it be that Hwang Saegil told the president I was preparing to compose a song?

No way. He's too shy to chat with adults like that...

While I was thinking, Manager Kwak said,

- Last time at the drinking party, you said, 'Why is this kid, who should be an idol, working as a manager?'

Oh, now I remember. There was an uncle who was doing love shots with Park Jongryeol and calling him 'President Park'...

...That uncle was the president of TRV?

I was dazed, and Park Heeyoung poked me from behind.

"Why are you so noticeable with that face?"

What, me?

* * *

I had no choice but to switch with another road manager and leave Yeonnam-dong.

Park Heeyoung, muttering that she knew we wouldn't last long and that she never liked my appearance, went into the interview without even saying goodbye. She looked very disappointed.

I immediately took a bus to TRV, located between Gwanghwamun and Jongno stations.

On the bus, I did some research on Firstlight.

Two years after the end of "National Selection A," their initial sales were around 30,000 copies, which was almost the same as their total sales.

And the songs are really bland.

Looking at the comments, it seems others feel the same way.

[They perform well, but I don't feel anything]

[↳I'm not the only one who feels this way, right? Haha]

[They have a bit of an art disease...]

[Whether it's art or not, I don't understand the concept]

There are not many reactions at all.

Despite TRV putting a lot of money into their own variety show, the views have been dropping sharply recently.

The biggest problem is these two: 18-year-old Han Hyoseok and Min Jihoo.

While playing basketball, Min Jihoo pushed Han Hyoseok and said,

- Hey, X. We're just playing for fun.

There's a beep and it says "affectionate curse," but it clearly looks like a real fight. Park Sunjae, the youngest and a classmate, quickly intervened.

- Ah, both of them are too competitive.

Pretending their bad mood is due to competitiveness doesn't fool anyone.

[Firstlight members don't seem to get along]

This reaction is a problem, but the biggest issue is this:

[Why is our fandom always so quiet? :-(]

[Is fandom... this lonely...?]

[I can feel a lot of 'National Selection A' fans are moving to other boy groups...]

Given the limited size of the domestic fandom, it might be the worst news for idols, especially male idols, that fans are moving to other groups.

By the time I arrived at TRV, I headed to the president's office as instructed by Manager Kwak.

When I entered the president's office, the drunk uncle I had seen a few times at company dinners was indeed President Park Heetaek. This guy can't function without alcohol.