Chapter 24

TNT Boy Group.

The 8-member group ambitiously planned by TJ Entertainment, known as the house of idols.

Since their debut in 2010, they have been hitting it big with every album they release, making them the top boy group.

Han Tae-hyun.

In such a group, Han Tae-hyun is one of the most popular members.

Even though the girls' group Girls on Top has been around for a similar amount of time, in terms of popularity, they were like fireflies in front of the sun compared to Tae-hyun.

“Uh? Uh...”

It was embarrassing for Gil Chae-kyung to almost get caught badmouthing TNT and to be seen as having a close relationship with Tae-hyun.

“U-joo hyung?”

“Long time no see?”

“How long has it been?”

As the guy suddenly hugged me, Gil Chae-kyung's face turned pale.

I've seen this in dramas.

It's the look of a manager who just found out that the subordinate they were mistreating is actually from the owner's family.

“Uh...”

Gil Chae-kyung stammered.

“What’s your relationship, Tae-hyun oppa?”

“What do you mean, what’s our relationship?”

Han Tae-hyun said with a completely different expression from when he was talking to me.

“Can’t you tell? We’re close.”

“Ah.”

“And I’m not really in the mood to talk to you right now. Can you step aside and let us talk?”

Gil Chae-kyung, feeling thoroughly embarrassed, shrank back.

Indeed, in this industry, popularity is everything.

So flustered that he almost dropped his drink can, Gil Chae-kyung disappeared as if running away, and I asked while watching him.

“Not on good terms?”

“Neither good nor bad. Just so-so. Honestly, I was about to curse at him, but then I got caught. No way I’d look good.”

“You heard that, huh?”

“No, only TNT did. The rest, I just guessed.”

Tae-hyun said.

“Clearly, he was cursing at us, but the atmosphere wasn’t right for him to badmouth anyone else. The only common ground between New Black and TNT is being 1st place candidates. He was probably talking about the tension between 1st place candidates.”

“You’ve really gotten perceptive.”

“Is this my first time eating in the entertainment industry? I’m already in my fifth year.”

He used to be as clueless as Ji-ho during his trainee days, but it was a significant improvement.

The guy who used to follow me around calling me hyung is now a member of the top boy group.

I feel proud.

It’s like seeing a well-grown child.

“Hyung, we shouldn’t be standing here. Let’s go to our waiting room. The kids will be really happy to see you.”

“Hmm, your staff is here, so...”

“Do you know how much Ji-hoon has grown? Come on, just for a bit.”

Han Tae-hyun grabbed my arm.

Kim Bi-ju [U-joo hyung]

Kim Bi-ju [I’m lost, can you help me?]

After reading the message, I pulled my arm away from Tae-hyun and said.

“Sorry. Not now, let’s say hi next time.”

“Why?”

“Our kid is lost. I need to go pick her up.”

“Oh, our kid...”

A look of confusion flashed across Tae-hyun’s face.

No, was it not? His expression seemed to stiffen for a moment.

Tae-hyun quickly smiled brightly and pulled out his smartphone.

“Then let’s take a selfie. Is that okay?”

“She’s really bad with directions. I need to go quickly.”

“Just one. I bet we’ve already taken a bunch while talking.”

After taking a few photos, he confirmed with me and smiled.

“Congratulations on the win.”

“It hasn’t been announced yet.”

“Trust me, hyung.”

Han Tae-hyun smirked.

“I’ve eaten more meals at the broadcasting station than you.”

* * *

When I brought Bi-ju, who stood there like a deer that had wandered into a military base, back to the waiting room, everyone was awake.

“I’ve brought the drinks.”

As I received thanks like “I’ll drink well” and “Thank you,” Ri-hyuk picked up a can of cola and made a sour face.

“Wow, it’s lukewarm. What took you so long?”

“Sorry.”

Bi-ju said timidly.

“I went to the bathroom and got lost.”

“Next time, call me. Not that hyung.”

The youngest member, who had been listening, seemed to have found a new target for teasing, his eyes sparkling.

“Ri-hyuk hyung, are you jealous because she didn’t call you?”

“What? Just drink your drink.”

“Sure, you’re Seo Ri-hyuk when you’re upset.”

Ri-hyuk punched Ji-ho’s shoulder, and Ji-ho started acting like he was in the most excruciating pain.

Jang So-won smiled, finding it cute.

“Do you usually play like this?”

“Just these two.”

The eldest sister’s smile was like a mother’s, watching her younger siblings bicker.

“With the live broadcast coming up, how do you feel? Nervous?”

“I didn’t sleep for more than three hours last night.”

“Me too.”

“Even you, senior?”

“This is my first time aiming for a solo 1st place. Until now, all my 1st places were with the group.”

Jang So-won said.

“I thought I’d never be able to appear on music shows again after that incident. Honestly, who would have imagined that our song would push all the others aside and take 1st place?”

“Yeah.”

“It’s amazing, isn’t it? Just a month ago, we were all in a small studio.”

The memories came flooding back as if they were from a long time ago.

We had so much fun back then.

Staying up all night in the recording studio, eating snacks and drinking.

“It feels like a dream.”

She smiled faintly.

“It feels like it would shatter if someone came and poked me with a needle. Even if it’s a dream, I don’t want to wake up. So many things have happened that I never imagined. Calls for appearances on shows and events are pouring in... I thought we’d never be able to get back up.”

An idol singer who had been at the top but fell due to scandals among the members.

It’s easy to imagine the kind of neglect and disdain she must have faced in an industry where attitudes can change as quickly as turning a hand.

Starting her solo career again from scratch.

Now, through her original song, Jang So-won is receiving countless spotlights and is a 1st place candidate on music shows, standing on the ground wave stage once more.

A situation that could be called a second golden age.

“I’ve been thinking...”

Seeing the slight moisture in Jang So-won’s eyes, I quietly handed her a tissue.

She dabbed her eyes, saying “Thank you.”

She seemed to have been slightly overwhelmed by emotion while talking.

“If it weren’t for you guys, I wouldn’t be here. Thank you, everyone. Really.”

“Us too.”

I replied.

“Without you, senior, we wouldn’t have received even a fraction of the attention we’re getting now. In fact, we might have just been riding on your popularity...”

“That’s nonsense. Leader, without you, this song wouldn’t have been completed.”

“No, it’s not.”

“Stop being modest.”

“It’s just that I added a few things to the melody you created. We’re really grateful. It’s a path we couldn’t have taken on our own.”

The atmosphere was so touching that it felt like we should raise a toast.

The staff, including Manager Yoon and Jang So-won’s team, were already listening intently and smiling warmly.

Usually, someone would burst into tears at this point.

But the tears came from an unexpected place.

“Min-gi, why are you crying?”

The road manager who had brought us was sniffing.

Why is he crying?

The guy with red-rimmed eyes whispered, and Yoon Seok-hwan, hearing it, laughed and relayed it to the others.

“He says he’s an original Sugar Fish fan. What? What did he say?”

“I was a black sugar.”

“A fan club member?”

“Yes, 1st generation... sniff...”

Seeing the sobbing man, everyone burst into laughter.

Our road manager was a Sugar Fish fan club member.

Is he so moved by seeing his favorite group’s comeback?

“Were you a fan? You should have told us.”

Jang So-won brightened up and stood up.

“Come here. Who was your favorite?”

“I liked Lisa...”

“I’ll just hold your hand, but I’ll give you a hug.”

Despite saying that, Jang So-won hugged the road manager.

Pat, pat.

It’s touching, but what is this?

It feels like someone is getting all the favors in a pot of porridge.

* * *

Lemon Entertainment Public Relations Team.

The PR team, which had been busy since morning, was spreading articles about the music show New Black would appear on and promoting it.

But they weren’t tired.

It’s tiring when an artist causes an accident or gets involved in a scandal and you have to clean up the mess, but when good news breaks, like now, everything is enjoyable.

It was already 5:30 PM.

As the time for Music On approached, the PR team members took a breather and naturally gathered in front of the TV.

“Wow, I’m nervous.”

“Yeah, the kids are on stage, but we’re the ones on edge.”

“Who do you think will get 1st place?”

“Hmm, our kids are the most likely. But I can’t relax thinking about TNT’s album scores.”

“But they’re still considering us for 1st place, right?”

“We’ll see. Broadcasting stations don’t hesitate to step on small agencies. Remember how we were tricked by the PD’s promises and ended up with a fraction of the time on the stage last year?”

“That was really unfair.”

“I still get chills thinking about it. They were catering to some unknown big names while cutting our kids’ time...”

“Hey! It’s starting.”

The ‘Music On’ logo disappeared from the top of the screen, and the live broadcast began.

Actor Kang Hyun-min and girl group Lavender Rose member Jeon Yoo-bin were holding microphones and smiling brightly.

- The hottest K-POP! At the center of its popularity, live Music~On!

They then introduced themselves.

- Hello, I’m Kang Hyun-min.

- Hello, I’m Jeon Yoo-bin. Oh! Hyun-min, what’s on your face?

- What?

- Sweat. Handsome.

- Yoo-bin, you’re so...~

The male and female MCs, exchanging lines that made the space seem to shrink, began introducing the performances of the day.

- There’s also a special stage by Jang So-won and New Black.

- Shall we see the chart rankings for the second week of March?

As the songs were announced in reverse order, the employees continued talking.

“The Girls on Top are struggling.”

“Didn’t they get 1st place last time?”

“Yes.”

“Maybe it’s because of the controversy with Joo-hana.”

“What did she do wrong?”

“That’s how the entertainment industry works. If you date someone with a bad reputation, your image gets tarnished too.”

“Look! Something is 1st place.”

As Something appeared at the top of the chart, cheers erupted from the scene.

It was less enthusiastic than the reaction to 2nd place TNT’s Blink, but it clearly showed the public’s popularity.

After the song introduction, the TV screen switched to the stage.

While an unfamiliar girl group performed the opening act, the PR team members chatted.

“It’s been a while since we watched a music show.”

“It’s a historic moment. An idol who swept the charts with a collaboration song before debut and was forced to appear on a music show. It’s a great story for an article.”

“By the way, what are you going to do about the personal interview requests for Jang So-won and Universe?”

“We’ll do it.”

“Well, it’s a good image for a composer idol.”

“Envious.”

“Even if it’s a half-win with Jang So-won, Universe’s personal royalties will probably buy a car every month. By the end of the year, he could buy a house in Seoul.”

Just as everyone was smacking their lips at the thought, someone asked.

“Does anyone have Universe’s contact information?”

“Why?”

“Look at this.”

One of the employees showed his smartphone.

“TNT Tae-hyun just posted on his personal Twitter.”

[TNT_태현]

@RealHanTH

Met a good hyung after a long time

#7yearfriend

#1stplacecandidatecongrats

#handsomenessstucktoface

The photo showed Seon Woo-ju and Han Tae-hyun taking a selfie, arm in arm.

“Universe is handsome. He doesn’t look out of place next to Tae-hyun.”

“We see him every day, so it’s not a big deal. But the kids say that every time a new convenience store worker gives Universe their number.”

“Oh, he got a number from a guy recently?”

“Haha!”

“Why do they do that? Love is sublime.”

“Everyone, stop talking. Let’s spread some articles about this on SNS.”

The people watching the TV each picked up their laptops and got to work.

“Korean wave stars are Korean wave stars. Look at the number of retweets.”

“But how do they know each other?”

“Maybe they met at TJ.”

“I want to ask. If it wasn’t right before the live broadcast, I’d call and ask. This is perfect material for an article.”

“Still, aren’t you envious?”

“Of what?”

“TNT means golden connections.”

The others nodded in agreement.

“Still, thanks for posting it if you knew.”

“What do you mean?”

“TNT’s fandom is known for being extreme. The kids who were flooding the community with accusations of chart manipulation for Something were from there.”

“You must be annoyed. How could a no-name group push your singer out of 1st place?”

“But if Tae-hyun posts this tweet, they’ll probably calm down. A TNT member personally certifying a close friendship with a New Black member and congratulating them on being a 1st place candidate.”

“He’s a good kid. Maybe he didn’t know, but still.”

If Seon Woo-ju had been there, he might have thought, “He knew what he was doing,” but the PR team was just grateful.

Finally, while they were busy with their work, the stage began.

“It’s starting.”

“Turn off the sound and turn up the volume.”

As the gentle prelude played, the stage appeared on the screen.

The PR team members looked at the TV with eager faces.

It was the moment they were first showcasing Something.