Chapter 142
So, how did it all happen…?
The story is a bit long.
Actually, I could somewhat predict what was about to happen.
The marketing strategy chosen by Moment was surprisingly common.
It was ‘noise marketing,’ trying to ride on the popularity of a famous idol.
Where else would the term ‘reverse viral’ come from?
Moreover, their tactics included trying to snatch away our key personnel to use them for themselves.
Even companies wage scouting wars to steal talented people from their competitors.
There was no difference in the entertainment industry.
Of course, it was rare for them to come out this aggressive and dirty.
The part I was most concerned about was the ‘scout competition.’
I was worried they might steal our key personnel.
Fortunately, I didn’t have to worry about the most important personnel, the composer, and the lyricist.
Our team was mostly handled by Kim Geum and me.
So, the problem lay in other areas.
First, there were the stylists, makeup artists, and hair salons.
Using the same shop wasn’t really a problem. It was quite common for idols to use the same shop.
However, the stylist side was a different story…
Not long ago, I subtly broached the topic to the stylist exclusively working with Steel Blue.
“Unnie, haven’t you been receiving a lot of good offers lately?”
“Uh, uh?!”
“Because you coordinate for us so well, I thought you must have become very popular.”
The stylist was initially flustered but then answered honestly.
She said that she had received an offer from Moment.
But she was hesitating because the conditions were too good, and it didn’t feel right to suddenly move to a competing idol group.
After thinking for a moment, I told the stylist.
“It’s really okay if you transfer. But… a company with no sense of ethics towards others is likely to treat their own people the same way. A company without ethics won’t suddenly become ethical for their own people.”
“That’s true…”
“Could you delay responding to that offer for about a week? For your own sake.”
“Oh? Oh… sure!”
And a week later, the stylist subtly asked me.
“Cheong-ah. How did you know?”
The stylist then vented her anger.
Moment had changed their mind within a week.
They offered only half of the original conditions, with a take-it-or-leave-it attitude.
“…Ha ha.”
Of course, I knew.
How did I know?
I deliberately spread a rumor that we were changing stylists to the Colors side.
That too, saying it was because she was very unreliable and frequently failed to meet commitments.
I had a hard time working with her in my previous life.
The thought still made me shudder.
Anyway, Moment changed their target to that stylist, and our stylist decided to stay with us.
The same went for the other personnel.
We sent the unreliable ones or those who would later cause personality issues to Moment, and brought in more talented people.
People I had personally worked with in my previous life.
I had been avoiding working with those people on purpose until now.
I was afraid I might make a mistake, and it would feel weird.
Since they knew me as Baek Nokha.
And I had to face them again as Yoon Cheong.
But now I felt it was really unavoidable.
“Hello~! I’m Kim Yoon-young, starting to work with you from today. Please take care of me!”
“Oh. Yes. Hello. I’m Yoon Cheong. Nice to meet you.”
…I just needed some time to act friendly… Let’s handle it politely in a business manner.
By the way.
Since I only leaked information to the Colors side, the fact that it kept getting out meant there were still leaks throughout the company.
I should let CEO Hong know soon.
Manager Unnie
Cheong-ah
But the choreographer wasn’t on the list you sent?ㅠㅠ
We need someone to make the choreography
Ah.
I forgot to mention it beforehand.
Manager Unnie
I’ll get that for you
Don’t worry
Alright. Since it came up, let’s start with…
**Seo Baek-young**
**Singing: 82/100**
**Dancing: 94/100**
**Appearance: 85/100**
**Charisma: 79/100**
**Variety Sense: 67/100**
**Special Ability:**
**Choreography Creation (83/100)**
**?(?/100)**
**Recommended Ability to Develop:**
**Choreography Creation**
It seemed it was time to develop the members’ abilities.
Starting with Seo Baek-young.
“Unnie.”
I handed a water bottle to Seo Baek-young, who was lying on the practice room floor.
“Hmm?”
“How about you create the choreography for our next album?”
“Me?”
Seo Baek-young looked genuinely surprised.
“Yeah. You’re good at it. Like during the Menucal. You participated a lot in the choreography for the last album too.”
“Ah. So, should I participate like last time?”
“No. Try doing it solo this time.”
Seo Baek-young’s eyes widened in shock.
“Isn’t it too risky for me to create the choreography for our title track alone?”
“It’s not risky at all. No one knows us better than you do.”
“But…”
“Don’t you want to give it a try?”
I sat down next to Seo Baek-young.
Why do our members like lying down so much?
I felt like I was always talking next to lying members.
“…Um…”
“Share it with us. Your ambition and aspirations.”
“My aspirations?”
“Yeah. Your dreams. Your vision.”
Seo Baek-young blinked rapidly.
“My vision is for us to succeed. To win rookie awards, grand prizes, and continue as idols for about 30 years by renewing our contracts together.”
“….”
I knew you were serious about Steel Blue, but….
“No, not those obvious things. Don’t you have any personal dreams? Like solo activities or something like that.”
“So-s-so-s-s-s-solo?!”
Why was she so flustered?
“Why not? You can do it. Not abandoning the group, but doing it alongside group activities.”
Seo Baek-young was a rare all-rounder member.
Dance, singing, charisma.
With those three qualities in harmony, why couldn’t she do solo activities?
…Of course, it would have to be after the group activities were well established.
Usually, main dancers or main vocalists among idol members often challenge solo activities.
“Honestly, I don’t have much ambition for solo activities. Does that sound a bit pathetic?”
“It doesn’t sound pathetic at all. I’m just curious because many people have ambitions for solo activities.”
Seo Baek-young replied with an awkward expression.
“Before debuting, I did dream of solo activities. But working with you guys changed my mind a lot.”
“…How so?”
Seo Baek-young rolled her eyes.
“I… I really like you guys. So I just want to keep performing with you.”
Here it was again.
“It’s not that I’m scared of being alone, but the thought of being without you guys is a bit scary.”
She spoke with complete straightforwardness and sincerity in her eyes.
“Um~! But I do want to dance more. So, I think doing some dance-related solo activities would be good.”
That helped me understand her a bit more.
“Should I ask the manager unnie to get you on some variety shows? Ha ha.”
Understanding her heart.
And the hearts of those around her.
“Still, Cheong-ah. I’d like to try your suggestion. As you said, no one knows us better than I do. I’ll try choreographing.”
“…Really?”
“Yeah. Let’s give it a try. Will you help me?”
“Everyone will be super enthusiastic to help.”
“I think they will.”
“But if you make it too difficult, I might drop out.”
“Geum will drag you back to work.”
“….”
Seo Baek-young said that and handed me the water bottle again.
“See, it’s better to be together than alone.”
Indeed.
I nodded unconsciously.
Anyway,
With that, the choreographer was secured.
***
Today was the VCR recording day for <Dear My Diva>.
It was an interview recording for the semifinalists.
Naturally, both Dahin and I participated.
“Ah, hello, sunbaenim…!”
“…Hello, Dahin-ssi.”
…Though I hadn’t expected to share the same waiting room again.
I was sitting in a chair, checking the public opinion about <Dear My Diva>.
Also, trying to get some ideas for the next stage composition.
Then,
“Sunbaenim… This isn’t much, but…! Please accept it…!”
Hmm, she was very polite. Maybe because she got stricter training from being in a large agency.
With a courteous tone, Dahin handed me something.
What was this? A box?
I took it without much thought and was surprised.
“Oh.”
“I heard from Burn Ash’s Dan Ha sunbaenim and Jae-i sunbaenim that you like pear and bellflower juice, so…! I prepared some…!”
“….”
Where do these people keep selling my personal information?
And if she thought I’d be swayed by mere pear and bellflower juice!
“Thank you.”
She judged correctly.
I accepted it.
I took two packs of pear and bellflower juice from the box and handed one to Dahin.
“This is something I should be giving you. Thank you. Dahin-ssi, please have some too.”
“Yes, yes!”
Dahin quickly took the juice and downed it in one shot.
….
This person….
“It’s… delicious!”
“…Doesn’t your throat hurt…?”
“N-no! K-kulkulk….”
She was incredibly nervous….
Why was she so tense in front of me?
Why treat me like a great-great-great-great-senior just because of a two-month debut difference?
“Anyway…. My members and I will enjoy this. Thank you.”
Why did she give this?
As an apology for past events?
I carefully put the pear and bellflower juice aside.
“Uh, sunbaenim…!”
“Yes.”
Then.
Ding!
Ding!
The message notification sound rang simultaneously.
One from my phone, and one from Dahin’s phone.
My phone was the one exclusively for Som.
What was this?
It had been a while since I got a notification, so I thought I should check it.
[!Surprise Mission!
Win the semifinals of <Dear My Diva>!
Reward: 500 points
Failure: 1,000 points deduction
※Sorry~! It’s a recession, so I need to earn some points~!※]
“This crazy furball….”
“Bad furball….”
Huh?
I felt like I heard something familiar…?
Bad furball…?