Chapter 86 of The Techniques of an Idol Who Never Fails

[Big Blue's Lee Joonhee Spoiled the New Song in the Live Broadcast]

[↳?????]

[↳Can we really start the comeback promotion now%^%^?]

[↳↳If the kids who used to avoid talking about comebacks are doing this, it's 100%%^%^%^]

[↳Is there any Skipper (Big Blue's fan club) who isn't crying?]

[↳↳Maybe there's one person who isn't crying, but I'm not one of them]

[↳↳222 Not all Skippers are crying, but I'm sobbing…….]

[↳Joonhee sang two lines, and I'm already in tears]

[↳Our team is really coming together%^%^]

[↳See, I told you they would%^%^%^%^%^]

[Doesn't Joonhee's two lines sound like a chorus?]

[↳ㅇㅇIt does]

[↳bpm100]

[↳↳How excited must you be to check the BPM? Hahaha]

[↳↳Even when humming, you're still keeping the beat, huh? Hahaha]

[↳Are you often a spoiler, Mr. Joonhee, as a fan of another group?]

[↳↳He does it when he wants to]

[↳↳He's a naughty youngest, despite his looks Hahaha]

[↳↳I thought he grew up and wouldn't do it anymore Hahaha]

[But isn't it more beneficial for Big Blue to focus on their individual careers rather than come together now?]

[↳Since they are idols, they want to do idol music, right?]

[↳Their main job is being idols Hahaha]

[↳The problem is whether they can align their schedules]

[Can Big Blue still make the daily charts if they come out now?]

[↳They can even with garbage]

[↳They can even make the monthly charts Hahaha]

[↳Since they haven't been active for so long, people are starting to ask these questions]

[If Big Blue releases an album with all five members, there will be several explosive broadcasts ㄷㄷㄷ]

[↳They might not be at the top as idols, but their individual recognition is overwhelming…….]

[↳↳Top as idols Hahaha No Hahaha]

[↳↳↳If you don't want to hear this, you should release an album]

* * *

From the fans who were squeezing every bit of information, I could feel how much they had been waiting for the comeback.

The short music that Big Blue's Lee Joonhee hummed had an enormous impact. Even the Instagram of the OTT platform where Joonhee is currently filming used it for promotion.

[‘Actor Lee Joonhee’ also spoiling things?]

While on the phone with Joonhee, I said,

“Hyung, can you really do this when you have enough annual leave?”

-Originally, it wouldn't be allowed, right?

Yeah, that's right. Hehe.

Joonhee laughed at my voice and continued,

-Sorry, the recording schedule is a mess. Haewon, you're busy too.

“Eh, when have I ever had a schedule?”

I checked the recording schedule sent by FormDapi.

Everyone is so busy that there's no member available for recording. The member from 1 AM to 2 AM is relatively good, and Daniel, who is of Korean descent and an American, is a cast member of a drama series being filmed in LA. He had to come to Korea, record for 30 minutes, and then go back. We had no choice but to finish the concept photos and recording in half a day. I hope that 30 minutes is properly secured.

Nonetheless, all the members agreed to the activity, and we set the comeback schedule. It's amazing that these busy members are all participating by giving up their own time, and I envy the ability to pull this off.

After conveying the points to pay attention to during practice through Joonhee, I hung up the phone. I had already sent an email, but Joonhee said, “The members might skim through the email, so I'll relay it again.” He emphasized that important things should be communicated verbally rather than in writing.

After I hung up, Shin Jiwoon entered my studio.

“Hyung, I brought the demo.”

“……You're giving this to me?”

Shin Jiwoon went to the Tike Entertainment A&R team himself and brought the demo from the leaker. Seeing how the A&R team handed over someone else's demo so easily, I thought, this is why Tike Entertainment has so many leaks.

It seemed like the leaker had taken my audio file, rearranged it, and distributed it to the A&R. I thought maybe I could figure out when it was leaked by listening to the audio.

I store my work files by date until the song is completed. Sometimes I need to go back and work on them. I set the standard that the song is completed when the music video is released.

I played the audio that Shin Jiwoon brought.

It was a demo of the file I had worked on, with a few virtual instruments changed and familiar samples overlaid.

This is really pissing me off. Listening to the demo, I can feel it.

Shin Jiwoon asked,

“Can you tell when it was leaked?”

“Ah, I can't. It's been changed too much.”

I answered and continued,

“I'll listen to it more.”

“Yeah. Come to room 304.”

“Okay. I will.”

After I nodded, Shin Jiwoon left the studio.

A sigh escaped me.

All the additional samples were ones I had heard when I first started learning composition last year. So, I knew the moment I listened to it when it was leaked.

Still, to confirm it, I played the audio from the date I had suspected. My guess was right.

I pressed my palms firmly against both eyes.

“……Damn, you bastard.”

And I immediately knew who had leaked it. There was only one person I had left my MacBook with that day.

* * *

Shin Jiwoon left the studio and then headed back towards it. Through the small glass on the door, I could see Jeong Haewon pressing his hands firmly against his eyes.

I can't know how someone with perfect pitch hears music, but I have a rough idea of how much work Jeong Haewon can do with it, having seen him from the side.

I thought that someone as meticulous as Jeong Haewon, who organizes his files by date, would know the leak date the moment he heard it.

So, his answer that he didn't know was clearly a lie.

When I went to room 304, the members were trembling while watching the KQS New Year's special escape room. Park Sunjae was almost unable to watch, covering his eyes with his hands, and then turned to Shin Jiwoon and asked,

“When is Hyung Haewon coming? We need someone who isn't scared.”

“I told him to come.”

Shin Jiwoon replied with a disgruntled expression and sat down.

Then, Hwang Saebi looked at Park Sunjae and said,

“I'm here.”

“Hyung, you're no help. You wouldn't even run if a ghost appeared, you'd find it too much trouble.”

“Sunjae, I lack physical strength, not the will to survive.”

After Hwang Saebi answered, he crossed his arms and watched the broadcast again.

The shooting started in the garage of a seemingly ordinary suburban house. The screen was completely dark, and the footage was taken with an infrared camera.

The members were searching for clues in the garage using their sense of touch. Then, Han Hyoseok touched something and was startled, sitting down.

Feeling embarrassed, Han Hyoseok sighed, and Hwang Saebi quickly went to his side. After helping Han Hyoseok up, he took the object.

Seeing this, Park Sunjae said,

“……He's really a leader.”

Hwang Saebi, feeling embarrassed by the compliment, pretended not to hear.

-Haewon.

Seemingly afraid to check what he was holding, he called out to Jeong Haewon. Jeong Haewon took it and felt it, then said,

-It's a doll.

-Ah, really scary…….

On the screen, Park Sunjae couldn't bear the fear and sat down. And the Park Sunjae outside the screen also covered his eyes with his hands, unable to look at the doll.

“It looks too scary…….”

The doll with long, disheveled hair opened its eyes when picked up and closed them when laid down. At that moment, Min Jihoo, who was working hard, said,

-Hyung Haewon, there's an open glass box here!

-Ah, they're putting the doll in it.

Jeong Haewon said and went to the glass box, placing the doll inside. When he closed the box, the light inside turned on. Thanks to the bright light, the inside of the garage became visible.

There was a talisman on the garage door, and next to the glass box, there was a secret about the house.

Roughly, it said that the doll moves on its own at certain times, and the house was built to suppress it.

The members shuddered, saying they never wanted to do an escape room again. Then, An Joo-won paused the video and looked at Shin Jiwoon, asking,

“But why isn't Haewon here?”

“Ah, I don't know.”

Shin Jiwoon continued with a disgruntled tone,

“Maybe he doesn't want to catch the leaker.”

* * *

Manager Park Jungwoon came out to the parking lot in response to Jeong Haewon's call to go eat. Usually, he had almost all his meals delivered to the studio, so I nagged him to go out, and he finally listened.

When Manager Park Jungwoon sat in the driver's seat, Jeong Haewon sat in the passenger seat and asked,

“What's good to eat around here?”

“Let's eat something healthy instead of delicious. How about a gondre rice bowl?”

“Okay.”

Jeong Haewon's expression wasn't very enthusiastic. Manager Park Jungwoon asked,

“Why, are you not in the mood?”

“Not in the mood.”

“Then, how about something more stimulating?”

“Hyung.”

“Yeah.”

After leaving the parking lot, Jeong Haewon spoke again.

“There's something really strange.”

“Strange?”

“Among all the people who have treated me badly so far, there isn't a single truly bad person.”

At this, Manager Park Jungwoon hesitated. Jeong Haewon continued in a calm voice,

“They all felt guilty while doing it. To survive. Out of necessity. Because they were told to, to protect their positions, and to achieve some results.”

“……”

“When you think life is like that, the world suddenly seems so pitiful.”

Manager Park Jungwoon eventually stopped the car. Then, Jeong Haewon said,

“Keep going. Let's eat.”

“……Haewon.”

“I just want to know who told you to do it.”

Manager Park Jungwoon couldn't answer.

“Is it…… your new boss?”

Jeong Haewon's sarcastic words made Manager Park Jungwoon close his mouth. Jeong Haewon asked again,

“At least answer this. Who did the arrangement?”

“……A friend. But I don't know how they did it.”

“Ah.”

Through other questions, after hearing that he had leaked it, Jeong Haewon laughed aimlessly and leaned back in his chair.

After a while of silence, he spoke again,

“It would be nice if only bad people did bad things. Then, I wouldn't feel so disappointed……. Still, I'm grateful for one thing. You taught me not to trust people I like.”

“……”

“I won't report it to the police, so return the car and leave quietly.”

“Sorry……”

“If you're sorry, go to VMC and betray me once for them. That's okay, right?”

“……Yeah.”

Jeong Haewon said this and got out of the car. There were people on the sidewalk who recognized him, but since he's usually hard to approach, they only took secret photos from behind and didn't speak to him.