Chapter 92

# Chapter 092

"I'm sorry to interfere, but this kind of harassment won't help at all."

Conflict and division within idol groups are common.

With strong personalities living and working together, it's inevitable that problems will arise.

Even a few ordinary people in an office can create big and small issues, so how much more so for idols who are always together.

The key is the will of the members to adjust the atmosphere and the capability of the agency.

'I don't want to speak harshly.'

This idol group has been active for two years.

During that time, they haven't achieved any notable success.

It's understandable, given that they're only in their second year, but the company and the members might think differently.

They must be feeling anxious and uneasy.

Without any comforting indicators in these tough times, each of them must have accumulated various wounds and pains in their hearts.

"I understand your anxiety and frustration, but I hope you won't direct that anger at others."

To hide their wounds, the members must have sharpened their mental blades even more.

That's why they unintentionally hurt others.

Words alone won't dull those blades, but Seong-pil hoped his advice would instill a sense of caution in them.

"You're a group, and you'll be together for a long time, whether you like it or not."

"..."

The member who had bought bread stood there, unsure of what to do.

"But the manager isn't here, and the group member is buying food. If you don't like bread, I can buy it..."

"You're not a member."

"Huh?"

The idol in the car said it dismissively.

"She's not a member."

"Then...?"

The member who thought they were being bullied, or rather, the woman, sniffled and turned her head. Then she said,

"I'm a stylist..."

"Ah."

Seong-pil slapped his knee and laughed.

"I'm sorry, I misunderstood. But, a stylist is still a colleague. This isn't right..."

"I understand."

The idol who seemed to be the leader cut Seong-pil off with a tone that said, "Why are you interfering in other people's business?"

Feeling awkward, Seong-pil slowly backed away.

He then whispered to the stylist,

"I'm sorry. A stylist is like a manager in a broader sense, but doing errands isn't normal. Talk to your seniors or the group's manager."

"Yes, thank you."

The stylist wiped her eyes and managed a weak smile.

Her tears and makeup were smudged and wiped away, making her look even more pitiful.

* * *

The music show "Music Station."

Yeon Hyo-won, the FD (Floor Director) of the show, carefully checked the stage one last time. Then, she sighed and returned to the office.

"Are you done?"

Koo Sang-joon, the main PD of Music Station, patted Yeon Hyo-won's back.

"Yes. I've checked everything, and there are no protrusions."

"Phew, why would there be any on the stage?"

One of the idol members who performed yesterday tripped over a protrusion on the stage during the recording and fell.

Fortunately, they weren't seriously injured, but the poor stage management was undeniable.

The agency's representatives and the fans who were watching at the time had to lodge harsh complaints.

Of course, it was Yeon Hyo-won who received them, not the main PD, Koo Sang-joon.

"Let's go smoke."

The two went to the smoking area and lit their cigarettes.

Just as Koo Sang-joon was about to light his cigarette,

"Hello, PD!"

Suddenly, Seong-pil appeared and lit Koo Sang-joon's cigarette.

Yeon Hyo-won, who was standing nearby, was so startled that her heart almost dropped.

It was truly a situation that fit the word "suddenly."

There was no one in the smoking area, yet Seong-pil appeared like a ghost.

"Hey, Park Team Leader. Long time no see."

"Ha ha, how have you been?"

"I'm always the same."

But Koo Sang-joon PD didn't seem surprised at all. He naturally took the flame from Seong-pil and puffed on his cigarette.

"Hello, FD. I'm Park Seong-pil."

"Ah, yes."

Yeon Hyo-won reluctantly accepted the flame from Seong-pil.

"Right. You became a manager, didn't you? I keep forgetting. The company name is..."

"Garou Entertainment, PD."

"Ah, right. Garou Entertainment. I remember. The one that used to be Supress, right?"

"Wow, you have a great memory. Yes, I'm working there now."

"Hmm."

"PD, have you listened to the song I gave you...?"

"Huh? Oh, right. I haven't listened to it yet."

"Ha ha ha, it's a really good song. I'm sure it will suit your ears."

"Is that so? Park Team Leader... now a manager, right?"

"Yes, yes."

"Since you say so, I'll listen to it when I have time."

"Thank you!"

Seong-pil bowed deeply.

Koo Sang-joon and Yeon Hyo-won finished their cigarettes and were about to go back inside.

"Have a good day!"

Seong-pil's loud farewell echoed from behind.

As they walked away, Yeon Hyo-won, who had noticed something strange, asked,

"Didn't he come here last time? He's been here several times, and he's here again today..."

"Yeah, he comes often."

Seong-pil really came to the broadcasting station frequently. He would stick to the PD and talk about his songs several times.

When Koo Sang-joon PD, who was tired of it, started to act a bit coldly, Seong-pil changed his strategy to just showing his face without talking about his songs.

Then, when the PD's resistance to the topic of songs diminished, he brought it up again, just like he did just now.

"I don't understand why he keeps coming here dozens of times. Is he clueless?"

"Indeed."

Koo Sang-joon PD didn't react much.

A few days later.

A cup of coffee was placed on each of the music show staff's tables.

It was Seong-pil who had brought them.

Yeon Hyo-won, seeing the name "Garou Entertainment" on a post-it note stuck to the coffee, felt a bit nauseous.

'How did I end up memorizing this company name...'

Still, she was grateful for the coffee.

A few days later, after lunch, Yeon Hyo-won, the FD, went out to buy coffee for her team and ran into Seong-pil.

"Are you here to buy coffee?"

"Yes..."

"I just bought some to bring back, but I ran into you again."

"Ah... it's fine. We can drink it among ourselves..."

"Then, let me get you a dessert..."

"Why?"

"Because I've received a lot of help from PD Koo."

Really, a completely transparent answer.

Seong-pil's intention was probably to get his agency's idols on the music show.

Yeon Hyo-won found Seong-pil's actions annoying and unpleasant.

If it were just once or twice, she could have tolerated it, but he kept coming without giving her a chance to forget, making her feel even more uncomfortable.

'They have no achievements or fan base, so they shouldn't be pushing into this place. They should aim for cable TV.'

A few days later.

Yeon Hyo-won was waiting near the editing room in the early morning, hoping the editing would finish soon.

Her job was to coordinate the stage, but she had volunteered for the FD position to experience various tasks.

Her dream was to become the main PD of a music show, so she always stuck around the editing room.

"I'm getting hungry."

PD Koo Sang-joon, who had come out of the editing room, said.

"Shall I get some late-night snacks?"

"No, they'll be here soon."

"Huh? Did you ask the junior...?"

"PD!"

The familiar voice made Yeon Hyo-won flinch.

It couldn't be.

It was the early morning at the broadcasting station.

There was no way an outsider, let alone Seong-pil, could be here...

"I brought them!"

It was him.

Seong-pil.

Yeon Hyo-won couldn't even manage a hollow laugh.

Seong-pil was holding a lot of late-night snacks in both hands. Koo Sang-joon naturally took them and said,

"Park Manager, have some too."

"Oh, should I?"

After the joint meal with the staff and Seong-pil, and even a shared cigarette, Seong-pil finally left.

It was close to morning.

"Is he crazy?"

Koo Sang-joon and Yeon Hyo-won were smoking again.

"Who?"

"That guy. Park Seong-pil from Garou Entertainment. What kind of guts and mindset does he have to keep coming here dozens, hundreds of times?"

"Oh, him."

Koo Sang-joon PD flicked his cigarette ash nonchalantly.

"Didn't you know Epsilon?"

"Of course, they're from Success Entertainment."

"Do you know that they fully promoted on all six major music shows for six weeks when they were newbies?"

"I know. It was strange for a complete newbie, but the song was good..."

"That was his doing."

"His...?"

"Park Seong-pil, the manager you called crazy."

Yeon Hyo-won's mind froze.

Was it because she had been awake for too long? Her thoughts weren't clear.

"Success Entertainment was small back then, right? Similar to Garou Entertainment now... No, not similar. Still, Success Entertainment was better. Anyway, it was a small company, and Park Seong-pil made that happen."

"Made a complete newbie from a small company... fully promote on six music shows? How...?"

"How else?"

Yeon Hyo-won shuddered.

Could Seong-pil be doing the same crazy thing at all six broadcasting stations, both in the past and now?

"That's crazy, but if it goes on for days, weeks, months... wouldn't even a cold-blooded person want to help? No matter how much you reject and chase him away, if he keeps coming, even kneeling and crying... Ah, I shouldn't have said that."

The past was reflected in Koo Sang-joon PD's eyes.

The young Seong-pil, who didn't give up even after being rejected dozens, hundreds of times.

He knelt and said, "Please, let our kids perform, I beg you..." dozens of times.

"He's a nuisance, right?"

"He's a nuisance, but as they say, persistence can move even the heavens."

"..."

"Of course, now he has connections and a career, so he doesn't need to be a nuisance like before. There are probably quite a few music shows that will listen to him just because he says so."

"But not for us..."

"He just keeps coming. I've told him to stop via text, but he doesn't listen."

"Does he even contact you personally?"

"Yeah. We meet sometimes, have meals, and drinks. We're like brothers."

No wonder Seong-pil's attitude seemed so natural.

"I was at a lower position than you when we became friends. Thinking back, it's embarrassing. I used to complain to other company managers and drink with them. I was really just a nobody back then."

If Koo Sang-joon was at a lower position, how long ago was that?

And if they had such a long-standing relationship...

"I'm sorry."

Yeon Hyo-won apologized.

After hearing the whole story, she realized that Koo Sang-joon and Seong-pil were just friends.

Calling Seong-pil crazy in front of a friend was a huge faux pas.

"It's fine. Objectively, he is crazy."

Koo Sang-joon kept chuckling and repeating "crazy."

"I was curious to see how far you would go with your complaints, so I let you continue."

Yeon Hyo-won's blood ran cold. Koo Sang-joon laughed even more at her reaction.

"Have you listened to the song Park Manager gave you?"

"No, I haven't."

"Listen to it. It's good."

That meant the Garou Entertainment idols would definitely appear on the music show.

"Get the schedule for the next and the next quarter."

"Yes, yes!"

* * *

"The HBS music show schedule is fixed."

Seong-pil's calm report left Hong Gyu-hun speechless.

"Already?"

"Yes. The song is good, so the response was quick."

"Is... is this real?"

"Yes. The problem is that a major group might make a comeback or debut around the time our kids are scheduled to appear."

Even if a music show appearance is confirmed, it can change later.

If a popular group or artist makes a comeback, the least known ones are often cut.

Many people end up crying because of this.

If the schedule is just delayed, it's still better, but if it's canceled entirely, it's not just tears but blood tears.

"But from what I've learned from various agencies, there's nothing that will affect our kids' debut schedule. The PD also confirmed this."

Seong-pil had indeed gathered this information.

But he was so confident because he had knowledge of the future.

Seong-pil's mind was filled with the names of all the groups and musicians that would appear in the future.

Although he didn't know the exact dates, he knew which months they would debut.

'There are no factors that will hinder our kids' debut.'

That was Seong-pil's conclusion.

The music show appearance is confirmed!

"Park Manager."

"Yes."

"Although it's a bit embarrassing to say, I'm grateful you joined our company."

"Ha ha, you finally recognize my value. You can be even more grateful! And you could raise my salary, too!"

Hong Gyu-hun thought,

'He's starting to sound like Rika.'

Well, anyway.

"Right. Park Manager is my treasure. Let's do our best together."

"Those words make me feel really embarrassed."

"Let's move on to the next item."

"But you still didn't say you'd raise my salary."

"PD Son, do you have anything to report?"

He really didn't bring up the salary...

"Yes. The stylist team selection is complete, and Seong-pil has finished scouting for the music video director."

"Finally..."

Song, choreography.

And the next stage.

"Styling and music video, huh."