Chapter 68

# Chapter 068

Yoon Sang-yul, producer at Success Entertainment.

In his past life, he was almost like a nemesis to Seong Pil, and even after the regression, he failed to improve their relationship and ended up leaving Success Entertainment.

However, regardless of their relationship, Seong Pil learned a lot from him.

"Seong Pil, have you heard 'Next Floor'?"

"Yes, I have."

It's the title track from the first regular album of Kears, the main girl group from the large agency KS Entertainment.

"I listened to it ten times today. Wow, the music video is really amazing, isn't it? It seems like they spent a fortune, but our company..."

Yoon Sang-yul clicked his tongue with a mocking laugh. Seong Pil's mood soured, and he stopped talking.

"What now? Did I say something strange again?"

"Damn, don't you feel anything more from the song besides the music video?"

"The song? Well, it smells like money, as you'd expect from KS Entertainment."

"Really? Hahaha!"

Yoon Sang-yul laughed heartily, seizing the moment. Seong Pil seriously considered punching him in the face.

"Hey, I copied that. Listen to it once."

"I might kill you..."

"What?"

"No, did you copy something like that?"

"I did."

The copy of 'Next Floor' started playing.

It was the instrumental version without the vocals.

Seong Pil's expression grew increasingly perplexed.

"What is this?"

"Are you out of your mind?"

"Is this song really this bland?"

It had always seemed so rich, but without the vocals, it felt like a completely different song.

The main elements were the bass and drums, with occasional synth sounds or vocal chops.

"Are Kears dancing to this, matching the beat? I can't even tell where the verses and choruses are."

"That's why it's out of your mind. This is really something made by shuffling idol kids around."

"For what?"

"Maybe he wanted to create a song that wouldn't go out of style. Impressive, isn't it?"

Seong Pil hadn't heard Yoon Sang-yul genuinely praise someone in a very long time.

"Do you understand why it's impressive?"

Here we go again.

Seong Pil sighed and let him show off his knowledge.

"This is... all the sounds used are extremely normal. The song is made by minimally transforming these normal sounds. There's no melody line, just bass and drums! Sometimes synth sounds are used to enrich the song, but very rarely. By using only basic sounds, this song won't go out of style! If it becomes a hit, it will be talked about for years, even decades!"

"..."

Hong Gyu-hun pursed his lips, saying nothing.

'Has he ever been this excited?'

Yes, he has.

Mainly when it came to the members.

When Seong Pil suggested bringing in Baek Seol-ha and Jang Ha-yang, he spoke to Hong Gyu-hun in a firm tone.

When Hong Gyu-hun showed reluctance, Seong Pil didn't hesitate to throw a tantrum like a child begging their parents.

'Is this song really that impressive?'

Well, based on Seong Pil's explanation, it was.

A song that sticks to basic sounds, thus not going out of style easily.

But, thinking about it in reverse, it lacks character.

It's hard to imagine what form it will take when completed.

It felt more like an unfinished song from the start.

"Mr. President and Miss, I understand why you think this is strange. Seol-ha also thinks so. If the melody is the face of a song, then this song has no face."

People listen to songs for various reasons.

Mostly, they get hooked on a song because they like the melody and sound.

When humming a song, they often hum the melody rather than the lyrics, showing how important the melody is.

If we compare a song to a person, the melody is like the face.

Just as a person's first impression is formed by their face, a song's first impression is formed by its melody.

"In exchange for the lack of melody, this song has other strengths. If I have to use this song, I really want to, but I need trust."

"What kind of trust?"

"Trust in our members."

The members, suddenly mentioned, looked puzzled.

"The only thing that fills this song is the members' colors. It's a song that can only be used with a strong belief in the members' abilities."

There is no face in the form of a melody.

If there is no face, then the members' voices and vocals become the face.

It's a song that can't be adopted without confidence in the members' abilities.

"Ji-eum."

"Yes, yes."

"Didn't you say it was a bit difficult to introduce this song to us? What's the reason?"

"..."

It was hard to say.

No, it was impossible to say.

If he told them the reason, they would surely be upset.

"I think I understand. You don't have confidence that we can handle this song."

"..."

"If it's not a top-tier idol with distinct characteristics, it can't fill the song. Without the support of a major agency, it would be hard to fully utilize it. Right?"

He hit the nail on the head.

Ji-eum nodded silently.

"But I believe. I believe the kids can do it. That's why I really want to use this song."

A long silence enveloped the meeting room. Hong Gyu-hun stared at Seong Pil without blinking.

Seong Pil met his gaze, determined not to back down.

Finally, Hong Gyu-hun spoke in a tired voice.

"Park Manager."

"Yes."

Seong Pil answered resolutely.

Ji-eum's song was years ahead of its time.

If it could be properly applied to the present, it could be a huge hit.

It felt like this had to be the members' first song.

Beyond rational reasoning, Seong Pil had a strong intuition.

He was determined to persuade Hong Gyu-hun no matter what.

"First, give back the laptop."

"..."

Seong Pil hesitantly returned the laptop to Ji-eum.

Hong Gyu-hun approached Ji-eum and offered his hand.

With a height difference of about 30 cm, Hong Gyu-hun had to look up, straining his neck.

"Ji-eum, thank you for your hard work today."

"Y-Yes..."

"And you guys."

The members, called out, snapped to attention.

"If I catch you eavesdropping on meetings or hanging around here again, I won't let it slide. Got it?"

The members all replied, "Yes!"

"Let's continue the meeting a bit later. The atmosphere is too disrupted. Take a break and come back."

* * *

Seong Pil and Son Hae-bin went out of the meeting room to take a break.

On the other hand, Hong Gyu-hun and Han Goo-in stayed behind.

"Han Manager."

"Yes."

"What did you feel from that song? Not so much a feeling, but any small impression?"

"It was boring."

"Right, the song is boring."

A song with only bass and drums?

Even the D&B (Drum & Bass) genre, which emphasizes drums and bass, isn't like this.

Was he trying to express minimalism in music? Honestly, it felt like something made by someone with an artistic temperament.

"But the one who made it is Ji-eum."

Ji-eum is said to have participated as a ghostwriter in many songs. Among them, there were quite a few hits. At first, I thought it was an exaggeration.

But after seeing him perfectly copy the song in just a few minutes, I had to believe it was true.

"If Ji-eum really participated as a ghostwriter in so many hits, he's the real deal. A real genius. I don't know to what extent he contributed to which part, but he must have been given that much work because of his ability."

"That's right."

"..."

"Han Manager."

"Yes."

"Do you trust Park Manager's instincts?"

"Have I not trusted them so far?"

"This time?"

Han Goo-in smiled faintly.

"I don't know. It's a big decision. I have a small heart. Once the song is decided, there's no going back."

"I, honestly, am leaning towards Park Manager's opinion. But I'm scared. That song is like a blank sheet. We have to fill that blank sheet with the colors of our kids, but I don't know what will come out."

"Everyone will be scared. With that much money on the line."

The fear wasn't a lie.

Hong Gyu-hun's heart trembled as if he were facing a predator.

Now that the time had come to choose the song and debut, he felt like he was hanging off a cliff.

"Wouldn't my father, brothers, and sisters be indifferent to my position?"

They deal with money on a different scale from Hong Gyu-hun.

"They must have overcome this moment."

"Right. Han Manager, if we proceed with the debut plan, how much money will we need to spend?"

"At least 500 million won."

At least 500 million won.

That's 50,000 units of 10,000 won.

"We're betting 500 million won on this one song."

Hong Gyu-hun fell into deep thought.

No, it was closer to a panic attack.

A question popped into his mind, shaken by the weight of 500 million won.

"Can I invest 500 million won in my kids based on trust alone?"

Ji-eum's song is a blank sheet. Therefore, it is filled only with the colors of the members.

It's a song that can only be used by trusting the members.

But can he trust the members that much?

Does he trust them...?

"Goo-in."

"Yes."

"What if we fail again this time?"

Han Goo-in sat next to her and held her hand. Hong Gyu-hun squeezed her hand, seeking warmth.

"You can do it."

* * *

"Get a job at a marketing company instead of an entertainment agency. Your presentations are amazing."

"Stop teasing me."

Seong Pil blushed and flicked the ash off his cigarette.

"I'm not teasing, I'm serious! When you're feeling down, just think about today. This was probably the most shining moment of your life."

Seong Pil knows his own character.

When he gets hooked on something, he goes all in.

Whether it's anger, sadness, love, or joy, it's the same.

This time was no different.

"What do you think of that song, Unnie?"

"What do I think? We need to assign the lyrics, choreography, and recording, and see the final result. If you ask anyone in Korea, they'd say the same thing. Unless they have a clear vision."

The song is a box.

No one knows what's inside the box.

You have to open it to see if it's a treasure or trash.

The cost to open the box is several hundred million won. And the value of what's inside the box is determined by the members' potential.

"Is it a gamble?"

"For you, it's not a gamble. You have confidence."

Son Hae-bin straightened her voice and imitated Seong Pil.

"I believe. I believe the kids can do it."

"Stop it..."

"So I want to use this song! I believe in the kids!"

"Stop it, I said!"

"Hahaha! How many black marks do you have? Being with you would never be boring."

Seong Pil stubbed out his cigarette fiercely.

They returned to the company.

"Our Seong Pil is a real man, right? He's just fearless. I'm so proud. Who did he learn from? Who taught him to be such a good manager?"

"Sigh. From you, of course. I learned from watching you yell at the staff."

"Ahaha! I was wrong! But did you see the kids' eyes when you said that?"

"Which part?"

"I believe in the kids..."

"Please, just stop. I know I said something embarrassing."

"Hehe, that's why I asked if you saw the kids."

"I didn't. I was looking at the president."

"Really, their eyes were full of hearts?"

"Hearts? What hearts."

She's exaggerating to tease me again...

* * *

The members were sitting on the sofa on the first floor.

They all looked at the floor and ceiling, as if in a trance.

"Is this how all idol songs are?"

Jo Ara broke the silence.

No one answered, so she went to Aitube and searched for idol song instrumentals.

She picked one and listened. It was a bit bland but had a melody and all the necessary elements.

It was good even without the vocals.

"This song is strange."

"..."

The members were lost in their thoughts.

It was because of what Seong Pil said about Ji-eum's song.

The phrase "I believe in the members" resonated deeply in each of their hearts, and their interpretations varied.

"Let's get up now."

Jang Ha-yang said.

"We can't rest while the president and managers are in a meeting. Let's go practice."

"Yes, that's right. We need to practice!"

Rika got up, brushing off her bottom.

"Manager Park believes in us!"

He believes in us a lot.

It's a level of trust similar to what you'd have for family.

Despite the potential burden, Rika was overjoyed and full of enthusiasm.

"I should have recorded that moment. Did anyone record or video it?"

"No. How could anyone think to record it while listening to that?"

The members were more determined than ever.

They were already working hard, knowing the debut was approaching, but now they would work even harder.

"Teacher?"

Baek Seol-ha was still sitting.

Her eyes, looking at the floor, were dark like the sea.

Something was swirling inside.

"Teacher, are you feeling unwell?"

Baek Seol-ha tried to say something but kept closing her mouth.

Finally, she spoke with a voice full of negative emotions.

"Kids, that... that..."

Baek Seol-ha shook her head.

"It's nothing."

"Teacher, were you about to say something cheesy? Say it. Leave a legendary video like the president."

"Ara."

Jang Ha-yang put her arm around Jo Ara's shoulder.

Jo Ara stiffened as if wrapped by a snake.

"Didn't I tell you not to bring up that video?"

"I must have been out of it for a moment. Please save me."

"You know I don't like talking about that. You shouldn't say things people don't like."

"Yes..."

Jo Ara disappeared to the second floor like a student being dragged into an alley by a gangster.

"Teacher, come on!"

"Okay."

Rika linked arms with Baek Seol-ha and hummed a tune. Thinking about what Seong Pil said earlier, joy kept welling up in her heart.

It's a happy thing to be trusted so much by someone.

In contrast, Baek Seol-ha's eyes remained dark.

What she was about to say to everyone earlier was this:

"He believes in us so much. But if we fail..."

How disappointed will he be?

If the trust Seong Pil has now turns the other way, it won't just be disappointment, will it?

According to the law of action and reaction, if Seong Pil's trust turns the other way, it could become hatred or disgust.

As someone who had already failed as an idol, this was a thought Baek Seol-ha could have.

She couldn't forget the face of her former agency's CEO when he announced the disbandment.

The look of contempt and anger in his eyes still lingered as a trauma.

'Whose fault is it that you're disbanding because you couldn't do it?'

Thinking that Seong Pil might say something like that...

"I'm scared..."