50. Tuning (3)
I laid the groundwork for the story first.
"I heard that MH Entertainment is releasing a new artist this year."
The content that came out as the introduction was what the stylist said during the pre-recording of the first music broadcast of Intro.
'I heard that MH is releasing a new artist this year? I think they made a deal with the broadcasting station to take good care of their juniors.'
Although nothing official has been released yet, it was a rumor going around among industry insiders.
When I mentioned this, CEO Son Dong-young's expression became subtle. Pyo Seung-soo gestured as if to tell me to say more.
"The competition for the Rookie of the Year award this year will be tough."
The translation was 'If you support us, we will bring that Rookie of the Year award to you.'
I also hinted that if we postponed the album because of Pyo Seung-soo's stubbornness, we would lose the Rookie of the Year award to them.
Pyo Seung-soo's face crumpled. It was proof that he couldn't ignore my words.
I thought to myself, holding back a snort.
'I guess you got caught.'
Only a few people know this, but in fact, Lime's CEO Pyo Seung-soo and the CEO of MH Entertainment were not on good terms.
The CEO of MH Entertainment was the only female CEO among the major entertainment companies, and N years ago, Pyo Seung-soo confessed to the CEO of MH Entertainment and was rejected.
'The only people who know this are the members of Planet, CEO Son Dong-young, and a few of his closest associates.'
Anyway, Pyo Seung-soo had been looking down on MH Entertainment since he was rejected.
The other person didn't seem to care, but...... I remember that when Planet and Rebel made comebacks at the same time, they would really fight for the top spot.
Of course, I couldn't express this outwardly, so before Pyo Seung-soo could open his mouth, I continued to explain.
"I heard that last year, IX and Lux Entertainment's rookies clashed. As a result, the two groups shared the same impression."
"....."
"If we win the Rookie of the Year award this year, following IX, Lime Entertainment's stock price and status will rise."
The competition for the Rookie of the Year award is the so-called Big 3 entertainment companies both last year and this year.
If it continues to do well here, it will be a deal that will cover up the HanAwon accident.
Pyo Seung-soo took a sip of his drink as if he was thinking for a moment. I carefully chose my next words. What I had to say next was a bit sensitive.
"And this time, the rookie award for IX and Intro is meaningful. I respect senior Han A-won... but I've heard that Lime Entertainment relies on seniors."
Lime Entertainment is a large entertainment company that has grown to the point where it can compete with the big three entertainment companies, but in the end, it couldn't stand shoulder to shoulder with them.
The reason is simple.
Lime Entertainment has a strong impression that it is led by Han A-won and Planet.
'Terra is successful, but... if you look at it, those guys also received help from Han A-won.'
But what if two rookie groups succeed without Han A-won's production or help?
"Yeah, okay. It's all good, but that's a story that only works if you guys win the rookie award."
...You usually talk nonsense, but at times like this, you're sharp.
"I don't know why our smart CEO Son or your label staff gave you the position of general producer, but I have no intention of brushing it off, saying you're a guy with potential."
Pyo Seung-soo leaned back and shrugged his shoulders. Of course, that wasn't wrong. Not to mention CEO Son Dong-young, the other employees also had some resistance, but they accepted my existence more easily than I thought and moved on.
'I guess it's because they've seen me work overtime and work together.'
However, Pyo Seung-soo had never seen me work, and at best, he'd only heard about the information on my profile and the evaluations of those around me.
"I acknowledge your passion for talking about the Rookie of the Year award, but that's it."
His voice was a bit rough, perhaps because I had hurt his pride by mentioning MH Entertainment and Han A-won.
Even though I had intentionally brought up that kind of reaction, I didn't know it would be this effective.
I admired Pyo Seung-soo's distorted expression and then said.
"Then how about this?"
"What?"
"If I don't win the Rookie of the Year award, I'll pay back all the investment for the next album."
For a moment, silence filled the room.
Pyo Seung-soo looked at CEO Son Dong-young as if he wasn't sure if what he heard was right. CEO Son Dong-young was also looking at me with his mouth wide open, so it wasn't helpful.
"Do you know how much it costs to make and promote an album?"
"Yes, I know. Instead, if we win the Rookie of the Year award, let's pretend today never happened."
When I made a counteroffer with a bright smile, Pyo Seung-soo cursed, saying that he had seen all the crazy people.
Well, I can understand why he said that.
This was a kind of life-threatening gamble. And it was a very unfavorable gamble for me.
Instead of delaying the album, we could have changed the general producer, but I didn't want to do that.
It would have been different if someone else had produced it from the beginning. I didn't want to let go of the garden I was already tending.
'If we delay this album anyway, we'll be subject to the time limit system or something.'
Since I'm already on a leash, it wouldn't make a difference if I put a gag on it.
Son Dong-young looked like he wanted to say something but I ignored him.
Anyway, Pyo Seung-soo will accept this offer.
Normally, he would have sneered and said things like, 'Can you collect it even if you put it in debt?' or 'There's no stupid investor who would invest in something that will fail.'
But since I've already irritated his nerves, that proud gentleman won't refuse so slyly.
As expected, Pyo Seung-soo laughed and accepted the offer.
"Okay. If you win the Rookie of the Year award, I won't try to get my investment back. I'll keep the position of executive producer, but if you don't win, it'll be pretty fun."
"CEO Pyo! This is ridiculous. Please reconsider."
"Reconsideration? Isn't that something that my friend personally asked me to do?"
CEO Son Dong-young suddenly stood up from his seat. Then he grabbed my shoulder tightly. It seemed like it had been a long time since I'd seen that guy express his emotions like this.
"I'd rather give that debt to me..."
"Let's discuss the details through the contract. Is there a limit on the amount?"
"No. Instead, the contract is limited to the next album."
CEO Son Dong-young, who was cut off from his words, shut his mouth tightly and sat back down.
He seemed to realize that no one would listen if he tried to stop us here.
'I'm acting selfishly, so I don't want to put the burden on others.'
After that, we only had a brief conversation about the contract and then got up. Unlike the first time, Pyo Seung-soo smiled brightly and said that I was a funny guy.
This contract seemed even more enjoyable because it didn't harm Pyo Seung-soo himself.
'If I win the Rookie of the Year award, Lime Entertainment's status will rise as I said, and if I don't win, he'll be able to catch a kid and continue to make money, so he is excited.'
A brat whose heart is so obvious. He must want to eat a little kid. I kept my disgust hidden and kept smiling as if I didn't know anything throughout the conversation.
After the greetings and cleanup, as soon as I got into CEO Son Dong-young's car, he started talking. He must have been frustrated because he couldn't find the right time to talk.
"No matter how much I think about it, this isn't right. Think about it again. If not, I'll take on the debt......."
"Thank you, but it's okay."
CEO Son Dong-young trailed off and sighed. Was he worried that a little kid would put his life on the line?
"You still have a lot of time to live. Of course, I trust you, but it's not just a penny or two, and this is too reckless."
The car slipped down the road. CEO Son Dong-young took a deep breath and looked at me through the rearview mirror. I straightened my posture and closed my eyes.
"You know what would happen if we postponed our album for a year. It would definitely be buried."
"I know it's not my place to cast Mr. Yoo Young, but there was definitely a way to change the general producer."
When I opened my eyes, CEO Son Dong-young was biting his lip. It seemed like he was angry at himself for not being able to do anything in that situation, rather than being angry at me.
I felt like something terrible had done.
"CEO."
"Yes."
"This is the current situation. Isn't it different from what was discussed when the label was established?"
The emotion that CEO Son Dong-young had felt earlier was clearly 'bewilderment'.
CEO Son Dong-young closed his mouth. He kept his gaze fixed forward and tapped the steering wheel.
In the meantime, I listed my guesses one by one.
"You must have heard that they would not spare any support for the label. But now that they suddenly changed their words, you are bewildered."
"That's right. But that doesn't justify Mr. Yoo Young's actions now."
"Well. After winning the Rookie of the Year award, CEO Pyo won't be able to change his words easily. As I said before, this Rookie of the Year award is very meaningful."
"Haa......."
"Do you think we won't win the Rookie of the Year award, CEO?"
CEO Son Dong-young laughed in vain at my bold words. He must have thought I was trying to be a jerk.
'That's true, actually.'
However, I was confident. I was confident that I would win this time too.
Because I had already succeeded in defying Pyo Seung-soo's expectations once.
When the signal came, CEO Son Dong-young looked out the window, lowered his head, and then raised it again.
"It's not a matter of trusting or not. Let's think realistically."
"You said that before. When you see me, you think of senior Han A-won. And you said that your intuition is pretty good."
"....."
When I blatantly changed the subject, CEO Son Dong-young frowned and looked at me.
After a brief silence, when the green light came on and the car started moving again, I opened my mouth again.
"Senior Han A-won also got one last chance because you trusted him, and he succeeded."
"...."
"Please trust me this time too."
CEO Son Dong-young's expression fell when the name Han A-won came up. It seems like he didn't know his words would come back like this.
He quickly returned to his usual self, but I didn't miss this brief change.
"Come to think of it, Han A-won ssi was also obsessed with producing. I didn't know that he was similar to this."
After remaining quiet for a while, he nodded only after arriving at the Lime Entertainment parking lot.
"Don't overdo it."
This guy is a really good guy. Thinking that, I nodded along.
***
"I'm home......."
"Young-ah! Come here!"
As I untied my tie and entered the practice room, Hwang Bo-kyun waved at me.
I looked around in the bustling atmosphere and approached him. Among the members gathered in a circle, I saw Baek Han-gyul.
Hwang Bo-kyun smiled brightly and slapped me on the back.
"Young-ah, look at this."
"Huh?"
"Gyul can finally wave!"
"Huh...?"
I blinked and looked at Baek Han-gyul, and Baek Han-gyul swayed with a solemn expression.
He looked like a fish out of water.
The members around me clapped their hands at something similar to Baek Han-gyul's wave. I was reminded of uncles cheering on a young child's antics.
"You kept practicing and improved! You finally went from being a slapstick to a body slapstick!"
......Is there a difference? I almost burst out laughing for a moment. Everyone was so serious that I couldn't laugh or deny it.
"That...... we all practiced together...??"
"Yeah..! I taught you.....!"
"Hyunseung hyung is my savior and teacher!"
Ryu Hyunseung nodded vigorously. His whole body erupted with pride.
'Yeah, it's good when the members' skills improve. It's good.'
I clapped my hands along with self-hypnosis. Baek Han-gyul then raised both arms to his waist in triumph.
"I'm also diligently practicing the basic steps to escape from body slap! It's been three years, so it's starting to take effect!"
"Yeah, I'll help you a lot......!"
"Wow, Han-gyul. Fighting."
"If there's anything you don't know, ask this hyung-nim too."
"Cheer up."
I shut my mouth looking at the members who were so affectionate. Maybe it's because I came after seeing Pyo Seung-soo, but seeing the kids who were so kind made me not know if this was really reality.
'It's healing though.......'
What is this strangely complicated feeling? Are they going to get scammed somewhere if they keep doing this?
I left the group, took off my jacket, and headed to a corner of the practice room. As I drank the water and digestive medicine in the drawer, Aram came next to me and glanced at me.
"Are you feeling unwell?"
"...No. More importantly, since when have Hyunseung hyung and Han-gyul been like that?"
"It's been a while. Whenever you weren't around, the two of them would practice together."
I relaxed my shoulders and looked at Baek Hangyul and the members gathered in the center. They all looked happy.
Aram tapped my arm and said,
"They're so happy, you should join in."
"I will."
Aram went out of the practice room, saying he was going to call Ji Young-heon, and I went to Baek Hangyul and patted him on the shoulder.
"You worked hard. The wave was um....... cool."
"Thank you! I'll work hard!"
Baek Han-gyul jumped around excitedly, probably because it was the first time he was praised for his dancing. He nodded, thinking that he should be praised more in the future.
"Let's get organized. Let's go film the live."
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