Producer with no Regrets - Chapter 372



Only Noblemtl

Episode 372

Kim Tae-hoon stared at the ‘Biikyeonri’ stage with his mouth open. The huge singing voice that shook his eardrums was not coming from the stage.

People from all around are singing ‘Biikyeonri’ with one heart and one mind.

‘So this is how it is.’

Kim Tae-hoon was puzzled when he saw the announcement that appeared on the screen before the performance began.

At the end of the performance, they asked us to sing along with the lyrics of ‘Biikyeonri’ that would be played.

I couldn’t figure out what kind of scene he was trying to create.

‘So that’s what it was.’

The song sung by thousands of people became a high wave that swept across the stage.

The Girls’ League that was hit by it just stood still and trembled.

A performer standing still on stage in a daze is something that would never be allowed in a normal performance.

But at this moment, the sight of the Girls’ League standing still resonated more deeply than any other performance.

‘So this is what it means to complete a stage with fans.’

A tingly tremble came to Kim Tae-hoon’s eyes.

Although I never shed a single tear while watching a sad movie, tears eventually rolled down Kim Tae-hoon’s cheeks.

‘Seongpil, you always said you wanted to be a producer.’

Kim Tae-hoon also understood it roughly.

Because it was common in the industry for managers to transition into full-fledged producers.

Seongpil was going to become a producer someday.

After gaining more experience and gaining a feel for the industry, Kim Tae-hoon wanted to give him producing authority.

And as Sungpil’s career as a manager reached its 8th year, Yoon Sangyeol joined Success Entertainment.

Kim Tae-hoon entrusted the producing to Yoon Sang-yeol.

‘Seongpil, you were angry. If you do this, what will become of you?’

Kim Tae-hoon calmed his younger brother’s anger by repeating the word ‘later’.

He always had an apologetic look on his face, but on the other hand, it was also annoying.

Anyone can see that it was right to give producing authority to Yoon Sang-yeol.

The person who was the chief producer of KS Entertainment came, so why would he entrust such an important task to Sungpil, who was a former manager?

‘Perhaps, as long as Sangyeol is here, you may not have had a chance.’

Knowing that, Seongpil disliked Yoon Sangyeol even more.

There were quite a few times when I came to Kim Tae-hoon privately and asked, “Can I help you out a little?”

Every time that happened, Kim Tae-hoon would invariably reply, “Later,” and send him away with an apologetic face.

‘Honestly, I didn’t understand. There was a proven talent named Sangyeol, but I just couldn’t understand why you were clinging to him.’

At Seongpil’s age, he knows his own subject. If there is a brighter star by his side, he learns to hide himself by roughly observing the situation.

But Seongpil didn’t do that.

He kept mentioning producing in front of Yoon Sang-yeol, as if he had no shame.

I didn’t understand.

I thought it might be a little lacking.

‘I understand now.’

It was only at this moment that Kim Tae-hoon was able to understand Seong-pil’s feelings. No, he would not have been able to understand it any other time.

‘I have this scene in my head.’

Kim Tae-hoon smiled bitterly.

‘Of course you wanted to produce it yourself… … .’

The Girls’ League’s stage shone brightly.

Seongpil, the world imagined by one human being was finally revealed to the world in a form that could be seen by thousands.

Kim Tae-hoon took in that world with his eyes and apologized to Seong-pil from the past.

‘I’m sorry, I thought you were narrow-minded.’

Of course he wanted to leave the company.

I guess I had to leave even if it meant letting go of a relationship of almost 10 years.

It would have been impossible for a human being who could imagine such a vast world to endure being in a narrow cage forever.

After the concert, Kim Tae-hoon and Yoon Sang-yeol left the venue together.

As soon as he came out, a fierce cold hit him. Kim Tae-hoon closed his coat and looked at Yoon Sang-yeol. He had a blank expression, as if he didn’t even feel the cold.

And looking around, it seemed like the other audience members didn’t care about the cold either.

Instead, their faces were filled with warm happiness.

It seemed like he was the only one feeling the cold, so Kim Tae-hoon fiddled with his hands in his pockets for no reason.

“brother.”

“huh?”

Yoon Sang-yeol suddenly stopped walking and looked at Kim Tae-hoon. For some reason, Yoon Sang-yeol’s breathing became ragged, and white breath rose around him like chimney smoke.

“Let’s make a regular album.”

“……uh?”

“Regular album. Globe.”

I blinked in embarrassment for a moment.

“What? Oh, you said you’d make the regular version later?”

Yoon Sang-yeol often used to say, “What kind of regular album is this in this day and age?”

In an era where music is consumed by song rather than album, something as expensive as a full album is considered an overinvestment.

As a hit maker, Yoon Sang-yeol used a strategy of releasing singles in succession. Although he does not admit it, it was similar to Jung Ho-hwan’s producing strategy.

“I think it would be right to make it in about 4 or 5 years… … .”

“It was like that. But, no.”

What is it not?

It was difficult to understand what Yoon Sang-yeol said because each word was disjointed.

“Sangyeol-ah.”

Kim Tae-hoon spoke as if he was being scolded.

“The Globe kids are already having a hard time. Can you even work on a regular album? No, not just them, but you too.”

Success Entertainment has been aggressively absorbing other agencies. According to Yoon Sang-yeol, they have been focusing on absorbing agencies that have groups that are “showing signs of growth.”

And as the general producer, Yoon Sang-yeol managed all of those groups. Thanks to that, Yoon Sang-yeol was handling an absurd amount of work.

The reason Globe focused on singles and mini-albums was also intended to minimize the burden on Yoon Sang-yeol.

Even when I subtly told him, “Can’t you pay less attention to other groups?”, Yoon Sang-yeol didn’t listen.

“I’ll have to see it for myself to feel reassured,” he says, refuting others in a tone that suggests he doesn’t believe them at all.

“A full album has to have about 15 songs, right? And Globe is a group you personally manage. If you do all that, you… … .”

“What should I say again?”

Yoon Sang-yeol laughed as if it was a needless worry.

“It’s nothing.”

“It’s nothing… … .”

Yeah, it’s probably nothing.

Yoon Sang-yeol seemed like a person with no physical limitations. He didn’t get exhausted even though he only slept about 5 hours a day and spent the rest of his time working.

‘You can do it… … .’

But what about the globe?

“Sangyeol-ah. Let’s decide after looking at the situation. We’ll look at the company’s situation again, and if it seems okay, we’ll prepare for a regular album. Especially, the Globe guys are having a hard time just preparing for a single with you right now. If we suddenly switch to a regular album, it’ll be confusing and you’ll get really tired.”

“that…….”

that.

After saying that, Yoon Sang-yeol closed his mouth. However, Kim Tae-hoon knew what was going to happen next.

‘That’s none of my business.’

Whether the globe is tough or not, it’s none of your business.

Even if it’s hard, what can you do? That’s their job. They became idols to be used by the company and consumed by the public.

Yoon Sang-yeol might have tried to say something like that.

“Once you complete the regular program, you’ll have a repertoire and can perform. You can make more money. You like money, hyung.”

Money? I like it.

But, this is not what I wanted to hear.

“I have to make money.”

A person who has no interest in money insists on working on a regular album while talking about money.

Kim Tae-hoon thought this was his karma.

If his usual behavior had been like that, would Yoon Sang-yeol have used money as a basis for persuasion? No, maybe that was why Yoon Sang-yeol was able to continue to push Globe.

‘Is it because of me…?’

Because the CEO of Success Entertainment’s goal is money.

In the name of money, in the name of the company’s purpose, Yoon Sang-yeol may have been able to hide his guilt for abusing Globe.

“Then, let’s just wait and see like you said.”

But the regular album plan will come true in the end. As he looked at Yoon Sang-yeol, who had turned his back firmly as if to say so, Kim Tae-hoon had this thought for the first time.

‘Something’s wrong.’

Something is wrong with this company.

* * *

I finished three consecutive days of concerts in Seoul.

Garo Enter rented a store for the Girls’ League and held a small dinner party.

Rika picked up a handful of octopus sashimi and put it in her mouth. She chewed it and shed tears of emotion.

“Mahhihi… … Too Mahhihi… … .”

Rika’s cheeks had never been chubby since a while ago. Shin Areum found it strange.

“What if you keep getting belly fat? It would be great if the fans could see your belly fat at the concert.”

“Mahhihi… … .”

Rika ate sundae, raw fish, soup, and bossam. She really ate a lot.

It seemed like he was trying to replenish all the calories he had burned during the concert at this moment.

“Ugh.”

Jo Ara, who had been drinking soju, made an old man-like voice. And then she filled her own glass again. Her face had already turned red and her eyes had also lost focus.

“Araya, what if you turn into a dog?”

When Jang Ha-yang asked worriedly, Jo A-ra burst into loud laughter.

“Don’t stop me, I’m not human anymore.”

Joara was the only member who kept her own alcohol in her dorm.

Jang Ha-yang was a little worried about her. She was worried that she might eventually become someone who relieves stress by relying on alcohol. So, every time Jo A-ra filled her glass, Jang Ha-yang’s worries also filled a glass.

“Hayang, aren’t you going to eat any more?”

Baek Seol-ha asked, feeling sorry for continuing to eat the delicious food alone. Jang Ha-yang shook her head with a faint smile.

“yes.”

“why?”

“I’m trying to stick to my diet.”

Just because they’re idols doesn’t mean they always eat a diet that’s right for their body.

I eat chicken, pizza, and hangover soup. Especially on a meaningful day like today, I try to satisfy my appetite, which I usually can’t satisfy.

But Jang Ha-yang seemed to have no appetite at all.

“No, try this.”

Baek Seol-ha picked up a piece of sundae and offered it to Jang Ha-yang. Jang Ha-yang looked at it blankly, and Baek Seol-ha was startled and took the sundae back.

“I, I’m sorry. I don’t like it when other people pick it up… … .”

“Ahaha. It’s okay if you got spit on it.”

“Oh, really?”

“Once. More than that, even if you are my older sister, you won’t be able to avoid death.”

“… … .”

Snow White chewed on the squid sundae.

“Hahaha, just kidding!”

I just smiled vaguely at Jang Ha-yang’s strange joke and focused on the food.

it’s good.

“ha.”

Shin A-reum sighed. Naturally, everyone’s attention turned to her.

Shin A-reum held the soju glass delicately as if it were a wine glass and spun it around.

“Are you going to Japan tomorrow evening?”

The next Girls’ League concert will be held in Japan. As rumored to be more famous in Japan than in Korea, they have held four concerts in Japan since the beginning.

Instead of just four times in Tokyo, we decided to do it twice in each of the two regions.

“right.”

“I guess I’ll be busy for the next month.”

“Hey, but doesn’t that make you a little more confident?”

Joara laughed heartily as she downed another shot of soju.

“I feel like I can now perform the entire concert repertoire with my eyes closed.”

“Oh, you do it with your eyes closed. I’ll do it with my eyes open.”

“What the heck, how come you never react to my pranks?”

Although his tone seemed to be subtly accusing, there was a little bit of moisture inside.

Shin A-reum suddenly realized that Jo A-ra was drunk. Jo A-ra furrowed her eyelashes and squinted her eyes as if she was being wronged.

“Hey, that’s right, that’s right. Me too. Are you starting to feel more confident?”

Shin A-reum put her arm around Jo A-ra’s shoulder and gently stroked her shoulder.

“Ahh!”

Suddenly, Rika took a handkerchief out of her bosom.

Judging by the design, it seemed to be Seongpil’s. It seemed like he had received it from Seongpil at some point and never returned it.

“Hmm, it’s short. Ah!”

Rika took out a handkerchief from her bosom again.

Judging by the design, it was a Korean product.

Shin A-reum laughed because she was so dumbfounded.

“Are you some kind of handkerchief collector? You collect handkerchiefs from all the employees in the company and don’t return them?”

“I knew what I just heard!”

It was two handkerchiefs that always went into the washing machine with Rika’s outerwear and became one.

Rika tied two handkerchiefs together into one. She went behind Joara with it and placed it over her eyes like a blindfold.

“What? Is there a power outage?”

“Ah, Araya, shouldn’t you stop drinking… … ?”

“Don’t touch my drink!”

Jo Ara tried to buy the soju in front of her even though her eyes were covered.

“Okay!”

Rika completely covered Joara’s eyes with a handkerchief. Joara looked like she was wearing a blindfold.

“Ara-chan is sexy!”

“What is it? What is happening? What is happening?”

Rika was so happy to see Joara wearing a blindfold.

No one understood why a blindfold was sexy. Jo Ara, who was drunk as a dog, didn’t feel any sexuality when she wore a blindfold.

“Well, come to think of it.”

Jang Ha-yang said.

“Isn’t a blindfold a prop that idols often use?”

“That’s right! It’s the epitome of sexiness! If you wear a thin, loose-fitting linen shirt with it, you’ll be sexy!”

“Why aren’t the lights on? Is there a war? What the… … I’m still in my early twenties… … .”

“Someone, take my drink away.”

At those words, Jo Ara, wearing a blindfold, hugged the bottle of soju in her arms like a treasure and fell to the floor.

“Don’t touch it! It’s mine! It’s all mine!”

No one had any intention of getting Joara up, who was lying there curled up like a shrimp. Instead, they took out their phones and were busy adding to her dark history.

“It’s a company dinner after a concert, but it’s quiet.”

Snow White looked around the store.

They said that only people related to the concert gathered, and the number of people did not exceed 20.

“There’s nothing we can do. Party B and Party C have already gone to Japan.”

Party B is the supporting cast including the band and dancers, and Party C is the production staff of the performance planning company.

The A party, which includes the Girls’ League, the management team, and the styling staff, heads to Japan last. That’s why they were able to enjoy such luxury today.

“But what are those four people talking about?”

Jang Ha-yang pointed to a group of people a few tables away.

It was the table where Seongpil, Han Guin, Hong Gyuheon, and Son Hyebin sat. It was a place where all the executives of Garo Enter gathered, and no one thought of approaching them easily.

“I know…….”

Baek Seol-ha said with regret.

Since it was a post-concert dinner, I wanted to reminisce with those who had supported Girls’ League since its early days.

However, the executives of Garo Enter did not leave their seats at the table they had initially set.

“I don’t know much about it, but it must be something important.”

The Girls’ League members swallowed their regrets and focused only on their own tables. Joara was still lying on the floor, holding onto the bottles of alcohol.

At the same time, at the table where Seongpil was sitting.

“Boss, I told you that it’s really impossible to finish a body profile in 3 weeks?”

“I was going to take a picture of Director Son, but he’s missing?”

“No, I really really really worked hard on taking care of it, right? But the clarity is still lacking. It’s my first body profile, so it’s a bit… … to take it at the wrong time like roasting beans in a lightning flash.”

“I can’t put it off any longer.”

“Ah, it’s the boss… … .”

“We were supposed to film it this year. I have to keep my promise.”

“Seongpil, what’s wrong with you? Look at your belly.”

“Sister, are you sexually harassing me?! No, asking me to expose my stomach is sexual harassment!”

“If I go to take a body profile picture anyway, they’ll all see it. So what?”

Seongpil steadfastly resisted, saying that he absolutely could not do it, but when those around him tried to lighten the mood, he had no choice but to sneakily lift his shirt.

Hong Gyu-heon nodded with a solemn expression.

“It looks okay, doesn’t it? Is it okay?”

“Oh, really?”

When Seongpil smiled as if he was embarrassed, Son Hyebin, whose playfulness was aroused, said.

“Please show me Director Han too.”

As Han Gu-in lifted his top slightly, Hong Gyu-heon nodded again.

“Director Park is not satisfied.”

“You’re publicly evaluating my body. It’s shameful. I’m reporting you to the Ministry of Employment and Labor.”

“Director Park, please don’t be like that. Aren’t you busy with work? In Japan… … .”

The Korean was startled.

I felt like I had brought up the wrong topic, but I finished what I had been hesitating to say.

“There was something like that… … too… … .”

“hmm.”

Hong Gyu-heon, who read the awkward atmosphere, raised his glass. Everyone toasted with glasses filled with soda water instead of alcohol because of the body profile.

“Let’s all work hard for one more month. Let’s go, Garo Enter.”

“Go for it!”

“Since men have abs, women should do the same.”

“Director Park, what you just said was a bit off.”

“Okay, Seongpil. What anime do you do?”

“It’s gender discrimination!”

“But men’s abs and women’s abs have slightly different meanings. Don’t they feel a bit equal?”

When I thought about Son Hye-bin’s words carefully, it really was true. Men and women’s abs do not have the same level of attractiveness.

Son Hye-bin asked.

“Where would a man’s abs be compared to a woman’s?”

“Hmm… … Isn’t it hip? Men’s hips don’t get as much attention as women’s… … .”

“So you’ve exposed your abs, so we’re going to expose your hips?”

“Director Park, do you really want to be disciplined?”

“Director Han… … I feel like I’m being hated… … .”

“Is that so?”

“Is that so? That’s the end?!”

The four of them chatted for the first time in a long while, completely excluding any work-related matters.

My heart felt lighter after the concert in Korea. They chatted happily until the dinner was over.

The serious story that the Girls’ League members thought it would never come out.

The two groups started talking after the dinner and when they saw Joara lying on the floor.

“Who made this like this?”

Seongpil said as if he was in trouble.

“No matter how good you feel after the show, you shouldn’t let your child suffer like this. A hangover can last up to two days. If your condition worsens during the show… … .”

“You ate all that by yourself?”

Since Shin A-reum’s answer was valid, Seong-pil had no choice but to nod.

“But Ara, why are you covering your eyes?”

“I want to let you experience the unique traditional games of the Korean people that boast a long history!”

“what?”

“It’s a straw mat!”

Rika woke up Joara by hitting her when she fell down.

The people at Garo Enter looked at the sight with a warm feeling, thinking that Rika had really failed to learn Korean culture.

* * *

The Japanese air I was tasting after four months felt somehow nostalgic.

As soon as he got off the plane, Sungpil felt a faint sense of nostalgia. Seeing the members looking tired despite the short flight, Sungpil felt a little guilty.

‘It must have been tough to have three consecutive concerts in Seoul.’

Since they only rested for a day and came back to Japan, the members’ fatigue level must be quite high even at this point.

And then the members had to drain their energy again.

“Guys, hurry up!”

The Girls’ League headed out, somehow making their way through the crowds that had gathered at the airport.

Seongpil desperately pushed his way through the crowd with the management team of Garo Enter.

Camera shutters and cheers were heard from all directions, and the scale of the event was so large that it seemed unrealistic.

“This way! This way!”

Shuichi of Webex, who had already gone from Korea to Japan, was shouting from far away in front of the minibus.

He waved his arms as if he wanted me to notice.

“Guys, let’s go over there!”

Seongpil and the manager team took each step with difficulty, protecting the members of the Girls’ League.

The outside of the airport building was just as crowded as the inside.

“Whoa!”

As we finally got on the bus, everyone sighed without saying a word.

“Wow, what is it?”

Joara looked back as she got on the bus. A crowd of people, too numerous to capture at a glance, were cheering for the Girls’ League.

“We’re really famous… … .”

Joara shut her mouth.

The entire minibus was plunged into silence.

Shuichi smiled awkwardly and looked at the person sitting in the front seat of the minibus.

The man rested his chin on his hand and stared out the car window absentmindedly. However, he couldn’t ignore the silence and gazes he felt behind him, so he said briefly.

“I rode it because I had a schedule.”

It was Seiko.

She still didn’t even glance back, seemingly indifferent. But her face reflected in the car window was faintly flushed with anticipation.

The silence continued.

“It’s true!”

Seiko added a word.

It was our first reunion in four months.