Producer with no Regrets - Chapter 538



Only Noblemtl

Episode 538

Amsterdam.

The capital of the Netherlands, a beautiful city where tradition and modernity coexist.

An empty square in Amsterdam.

As a country with the highest percentage of recreational sports people in the world, people running or riding bicycles were easily seen everywhere.

‘It only looks bright.’

An Asian man was sitting on the steps of the plaza, looking out over the square. He had his laptop on his lap and his hand over his eyes to block the sun.

Overall, it’s a city with high saturation. Maybe it feels more unique and intense because it’s a foreign country.

‘Is this the place called the city of pleasure?’

Legalization of drugs.

A huge prostitution business.

Behind the bright lights of Amsterdam, there is a nickname of the city of pleasure. It is also said to be the driving force behind attracting a huge number of tourists every year.

The man recalled the darkness hidden within the light, then suddenly came to his senses at the familiar language heard from in front of him.

‘It’s PTR-17.’

Professor Nam typed on his keyboard while carefully looking at the scene unfolding before him.

There were about 100 young people gathered in the square.

They stood in a circle with an empty center, and when music started, some of them moved into the center and danced to the music.

K-pop random play dance.

It is now a common sight in major cities around the world.

[‘K-pop random play dance’ is a play culture where people gather in an empty space, play K-pop randomly, and those who know how to dance come to the center and dance. This culture, which can be found in many major cities around the world, has very unique characteristics compared to the dance cultures that existed until now. First of all, it is the size of the community. It is suitable for the new media era… … .]

Professor Nam pondered over the subject of comparison.

British rave culture? Or 90s black ballroom culture?

Professor Nam groaned.

The topic of this column was ‘K-pop random play dance’. When I first heard the topic, I thought ‘it’d be easy’, but it was surprisingly difficult to get the hang of it.

As an expert, he must diagnose and interpret a phenomenon.

‘But that’s difficult.’

K-pop random play dance is a culture that emerged after the advent of smartphones.

It is not easily comparable to the dance cultures that existed in the past. What is incomparable means is that it is difficult to analyze.

At that moment, unfamiliar music reached his ears.

‘Project For You?’

It’s already been over a year since the project group ‘For You’ disbanded. I thought they would soon be forgotten by people since they weren’t a group that left a big mark.

Professor Nam turned his eyes from his laptop to the square.

“Oh, that’s right.”

Out of the 100 people who could have possibly done it, only three showed up. Only three of them knew how to dance to that song.

Usually about 20 or 30 people show up.

Really popular songs sometimes make it into more than half.

But there are only three people.

Those three must be extremely embarrassed. They were dancing in the crowd and then suddenly became the center of attention.

That was when.

“――!”

Dozens of people surrounded the trio and cheered. The trio were shy, but they showed off their choreography with the cheers.

As each movement continued, the cheers and applause grew louder.

Professor Nam smiled faintly as he looked at that.

[… … One of the characteristics is the solidarity and sense of community within the community. The process of learning, practicing, and performing the dance in public places is itself a ritual. This gives a sense of belonging to the community. This sense of belonging is similar to a sport that excludes competition… … .]

The phone rang.

I was so excited that my fingers were tingling with electricity, but it just ended so pointlessly.

Professor Nam looked at his phone annoyedly, but his face soon brightened.

“Hey, it’s been a while!”

[How have you been, Professor? I hope you are having a good year of research.]

The opponent is a man who was the team leader of Success Entertainment… …and then became the director of Garo Entertainment.

Park Sung-pil.

I once received help from him when I was writing a book.

“I’m always doing well. You seem to be in the prime of your life.”

[It’s still far away.]

“Dream big.”

[Professor, have you heard Globe’s new song?]

“Oh, that was today.”

[What about the music video?]

“I haven’t heard the song, but I’ve never seen the music video.”

[I want to hear your thoughts, Professor.]

“You really are a bit impatient. Later… … .”

[Right now.]

Professor Nam logged onto iTube with a low laugh. Then he played Globe’s new song music video.

‘Is the title Who uh? It’s not intuitive. It’s not one word. I think it’s probably a hook lyric.’

Professor Nam looked at ‘Hoo Ah’ calmly.

When the music video ended, he laughed again.

[How are you?]

“I get why you were in such a hurry. What is this… … .”

[whopping…….]

Seongpil trailed off.

Professor Nam knows the story of Sungpil and Yoon Sangyeol. Since Yoon Sangyeol is producing Globe, Sungpil would not want to say anything praising him.

Moreover, he must have been reluctant to even be sure. He must have been greatly inspired by this song, but he must have wondered if it was only his.

Professor Nam brought out the answer he was looking for.

“If this isn’t a primary strategy that relies on nostalgia, it might change the scene.”

[… … !]

“A new grammar is being used.”

The concepts of ‘sexy’ and ‘innocence’ that divided the second generation of girl groups were almost extinct in the third generation.

A certain girl group was the starting point.

Possessing the femininity represented by the color pink, while also showing off the strength represented by the color black.

“Like when girl crush became mainstream.”

The group rewrote the grammar of idols.

It was a pioneer, a leader, and a pinnacle.

“You could say that it was a trend and a trend from overseas, but it was a change in thinking.”

The dichotomy of ‘sexy’ and ‘innocence’ that the second generation put forward had one fundamental problem. The concept only included the perspective of men looking at women.

There was no woman looking at the woman.

It was a natural result, since the producers were all men. Korea was more heavily influenced by Japan than the West, so it was natural that the mainstream was formed in that way.

And the producer who thought of that unexpected thought, ‘What kind of woman do women want?’ took the lead in the market.

There have been those who have attempted such challenges before, but they were lacking both technically and ideologically.

The beginning of the third generation was achieved through a change in thinking, overcoming such failures.

Such a transition.

“The novelty of that time is visible in the Globe. Of course, it may be a hasty judgment. If you say it is ordinary, it is ordinary. The way of expression is new… … .”

[Will it work?]

Seongpil paused and asked again.

[Will the market move?]

“I don’t know. We’ll have to wait and see. It’ll probably take time, but I have a feeling this concept will resonate.”

Professor Nam couldn’t think of a word to define the color the globe was showing.

But as an expert in popular music, I felt uncomfortable leaving the concept uncertain. So I brought in a word that was once at its peak, but is now barely hanging on.

“I’m not sure if I should call her innocent… ….”

It was youth and love that the Globe showed.

It’s a tedious topic.

But there is a difference in the way it is shown.

The keywords are ‘American culture’ and ‘teen culture’. It feels like they are blatantly targeting the Western world. However, the way they express it is not old-fashioned.

“It would be impossible to show the love that is rooted in innocence and youth in this day and age. But, oh, there is so much I want to say.”

I wish I had watched it a dozen times and talked to Seongpil.

“If you bring the concept of innocence from the past into the present, it will just be ignored and forgotten. To interpret this in a modern way, the song needs to have an ego. You’ve done a good job of incorporating that. It’s not about these kids being watched by someone else, but the kids’ own hearts. It’s detailed. And more than anything, what’s needed to create this concept… .”

[The sophistication of the song.]

“Yeah. No matter how many times I listen to this, it’s clear that it wasn’t made by a Korean.”

[Yoon Sang-yeol and a Swedish person were co-composers.]

“Sweden again? Those people really make good music.”

When it comes to music genres that have influence in the world, the only ones that are not American pop are Swedish and Latin.

Sweden has a very extensive and sophisticated popular music education system, which means that it produces a lot of excellent musicians.

Swedish composers are active all over the world, and their style is called Swedish pop.

There was a time when as many as half of the songs that made it to Billboard’s top 10 were written by Swedish composers.

K-pop also owes them a lot.

“I really like this song… … .”

Professor Nam spoke in rapture, then suddenly wiped his smile away.

“Isn’t this just me who likes this? Is it a critics’ pick? Is this a style that only critics like… .”

[When I first heard it, I thought, ‘This is amazing.’ But as I kept listening to it, I thought it was okay. But it definitely has the power to grab your ears. It’s a style I’ve never experienced before in K-pop.]

“I feel reassured when you say that.”

I was sincere.

Isn’t Sungpil the one who produces the group called Girls’ League? His sense is at the forefront of trends.

It must have been so, but Professor Nam could hear the anxiety in his voice.

“Swedish kids do aim for global music. K-pop is almost Westernized, but it seems difficult for it to be immediately accepted by the domestic sentiment. But, are you afraid that you might fall behind the times?”

Professor Nam pointed out Seongpil’s feelings.

Seongpil didn’t answer right away.

“It’s still a long way off. It hasn’t even been five years since I got the key.”

Now that I look at it, Seongpil seems to have an obsession.

Just looking at the achievements that the Girls’ League has made so far, he is a legendary producer. It is not an exaggeration to call him that.

‘But can you see any higher than this?’

He is a person who is never satisfied.

Conversely, the desire for improvement is extremely high.

If Professor Nam were in Seongpil’s position, he would have quickly become arrogant and bragged about himself to all sides.

And there would be no human being who would refute that.

Because Seongpil is a person who can afford to be that arrogant.

‘Are you really determined to beat the big agencies?’

A reversal phenomenon that has only happened a handful of times in the history of idols.

That’s similar to a small business outpacing a large company. It’s as rare as the unicorn IT companies that occasionally emerge in Silicon Valley.

‘Not only are you worried about the large agencies, you’re also worried about the mid-sized agencies.’

Well, it’s Success Enter.

‘Besides, people in this industry tend to be oversensitive to being told that they are out of style.’

Seongpil seemed to be worried that he would fall behind the trend before it even happened, but isn’t that also part of his ambition?

I will not age even for a single moment. That determination stands out in Seongpil.

[Is this a starting point?]

Suddenly, Seongpil brought up an unexpected story.

“The starting point?”

[The starting point that defines the 4th generation.]

“Ah, generations.”

The idol industry divides generations based on the characteristics of the era.

The first generation of idols at their infancy.

The second generation of idols established.

The heyday of the 3rd generation of idols.

Now people are looking at the 4th generation, but they don’t know what to define as its characteristics. That’s natural, since they haven’t encountered it yet.

What awaits the third generation after achieving globalization?

“If the 4th generation hasn’t arrived yet, the Girls’ League would be called the 3.5th generation. It’s too early to worry about falling behind… .”

[It reminds me of ‘Lana Del Rey’.]

Professor Nam let out a hollow laugh.

This is another unexpected metaphor.

“Is this song from Globe really that good?”

Lana Del Rey.

This is a pop star who changed the landscape of the pop market.

Beginning with the girl power of the girl group ‘Spice Girls’, the West entered a golden age of party music that lasted for about 15 years.

Female artists showed a positive, strong, and glamorous image. A concept that can be summarized by the word girl crush dominated the mainstream.

The one who presented a new alternative to him was ‘Lana Del Rey’.

“Do you think it will have that much of an impact?”

Lana Del Rey makes music that is melancholic and beautiful, sad and brilliant.

She loved vulnerability rather than strength, and was obedient rather than rebellious.

A love that clings to those in power and becomes a parasite.

Begging for a kiss from a man who is trying to dump me.

Serving the bad guy.

She made music that went against the grain of the times. As such, she faced a lot of criticism. Some even said that she set women’s rights back a hundred years.

But Lana Del Rey flatly denied this.

‘Ultimately, how does what I want to do undermine my human rights?’

She overturned the dominant ideology of girl crush and gave rise to another trend, alternative pop.

The pop market before and after Lana Del Rey was completely different. The heyday of music that was only positive was over.

And the new trend she created eventually blossomed into a culture by giving birth to a bold alternative called ‘Billie Eilish’.

Lana Del Rey’s achievements.

Girl crush, which was forced upon female artists, was made into just one option.

Thanks to this, pop music has become much more diverse than before.

“So what you’re saying is… … .”

A concept that is currently mainstream in K-pop, thanks to Globe’s song.

“Girl crush is going to lose its life?”

There is a saying that Korea’s present is like Japan’s ten years ago. But that saying doesn’t apply when it comes to culture.

But if we apply that usage to the examples of Korea and the United States, Korean culture is 10 years ahead of America’s.

‘Is this the right time for someone like Lana Del Rey to come out and change the landscape of the scene?’

That’s too comparative an explanation.

Jet lag has long since disappeared from world culture.

It no longer happens that something that was popular in Japan comes to Korea after a few years, or that something that was popular in the US becomes popular in Korea after 10 years.

The Internet and globalization have almost completely eliminated cultural time differences.

“You, predicting the Korean cultural world by using foreign examples is too old-fashioned a method.”

[No, that’s not what I meant. I just thought that the times might be moving forward.]

Professor Nam was puzzled.

I don’t know what Seongpil is talking about.

The times are coming forward?

Seongpil’s speech was strange.

‘You seem to know the future.’

Girl crush isn’t dying, but the times are advancing?

The criteria for dividing an era require a boundary point. However, Seongpil was vaguely saying that the era was being pulled forward.

‘Are you so shocked by Globe’s new song that you can’t think straight?’

Probably so.

And the Girls’ League must be feeling anxious because of the pressure of falling behind.

“I’m so worried… … .”

Professor Nam suddenly raised his head, which had been bowed, as he tried to comfort him.

The random play dance was slowly coming to an end. The last song was about to come out.

Girl’s League’s ‘Apple Crush’.

[professor?]

Professor Nam smiled faintly.

“Oh, you should have seen this.”

[yes?]

“What I’m trying to say is, don’t worry too much. You need to get some rest. Then I’ll hang up. I have a manuscript to write.”

[Oh, yes. Sorry to interrupt.]

Professor Nam hung up the phone and looked at the spectacle unfolding before him.

Girl’s League’s ‘Apple Crush’.

More than 80% of the 100 people come out and dance.

This is the first time so many people have danced with me at the same time. They look at each other and laugh, as if they are surprised too.

It seemed divine to see dozens of people dancing the same dance at once.

Professor Nam sighed in satisfaction as he looked at it. Then he started typing on the keyboard again.

[… … There is a reason why dance is so active. In a competitive society where each person lives for himself, this kind of group dance may be one of the few experiences where young people feel connected to others.]

“Who would have thought a day like this would come?”

I never imagined that there would come a day when boys and girls in this distant foreign land would be dancing to songs in Korean.

‘Even one of those songs is from a group produced by that young guy.’

The young man who always shyly talked about wanting to become a producer is now freely sharing his dream with the world.

The dream is so beautiful to look at, it always makes me look forward to the next one.

Professor Nam finished writing.

[No one hurts anyone, no one knocks anyone down, just enjoying what they like. This is where the vitality of K-pop dance lies. – Professor Nam Tae-seop]

* * *

The phone call with Professor Nam did not calm Seongpil down.

“This won’t do.”

Seongpil seemed to be talking to himself.

Seongpil checked the calendar standing next to the computer. He checked the year and date several times, but of course, it didn’t change.

“If something like this comes out now… … .”

Did Yoon Sang-yeol’s genius suddenly come to light and he created a song that transcended time?

That could be the case. Just looking at Jung Ho-hwan’s example, it’s not that surprising that the future changes.

But this is different from Jeong Ho-hwan’s time.

Yoon Sang-yeol brought the future.

No, maybe.

‘The future is here? Sooner than expected?’

This is something that should not happen.

At least it shouldn’t happen ‘now’.

Seongpil checked the calendar again.

No matter how many times I checked, the result did not change.

‘The time limit is broken.’

The true 4th generation of idols begins.

One factor that determines the fourth generation is the massive quantitative growth of the K-pop market. The market expansion is so great that it far surpasses the benefits that Girls’ League has enjoyed so far.

And ironically, that quantitative growth works to the disadvantage of the existing frontrunners.

‘If this isn’t a phenomenon limited to just one song from Globe, but a trend in the cultural world as a whole… … .’

If Seongpil’s actions had a butterfly effect and led to faster cultural development and cultural change.

If that era opens earlier than scheduled.

‘The Girls’ League, our kids… … .’

Can’t stand at the top.

There is a group called Sun, which is often referred to as the 4th generation girl group.

There are many things that divide the line, such as the sophistication of the song, changes in choreography, advancements in music video appeal, and diversification of concepts.

But the most important thing, as it is called a generation, is time. To be exact, it is the period and year.

The 4th generation idols have a significantly larger fandom than the 3rd and 3.5th generation idols that came before them. They are enjoying the benefits created by their seniors more directly.

‘And only those who have been blessed with time can benefit from it.’

To put it bluntly, you have to stand behind the line that says, ‘Get ready for the 4th generation, let’s start!’ to receive the benefits.

For example, KS Entertainment’s girl group B.I.S., which was considered one of the top tiers of the third generation, currently has a maximum initial sales of less than 100,000 copies. Another top tier group’s current record is 200,000 copies sold.

However, one of the girl groups that debuted this year easily sold over 100,000 copies in its first week of debut.

Next year, 200,000 copies, the year after that, 300,000 copies, and later on, there will even be an atmosphere of ‘Isn’t this the basics?’

Album sales directly indicate the size of the fandom. Having a large number of fans means value as an idol.

4th generation girl groups, the most direct beneficiaries of market expansion.

And the Girls’ League doesn’t fit into that line. It’s stuck somewhere between the 3rd and 4th generations in terms of time.

‘Because new fans in the K-pop market tend to like new groups more than existing groups.’

A 7-year deadline given to idols.

It’s only natural to want to be together from the beginning.

If I’m going to be a fan, I want to go forward with the group while experiencing both the bitter and sweet sides of it.

So, those who were brought in by the market expansion achieved by the third generation choose to become fans of new groups rather than the groups that already existed.

‘There are two or three more groups like the current KAIST… … .’

In the meantime, you’re aiming to be the best idol?

It’s going to be incredibly difficult.

‘There was no need to worry about this now!’

The real division between the fourth generation and the people would come after the Girls’ League had established its position.

By then, the fandom will have grown and solidified, so there is no need to worry about losing growth potential due to the emergence of a 4th generation group.

In the first place, thoughts should have remained at the level of ‘A song ahead of its time’, so how could the thoughts flow to ‘The times have been brought forward!’

‘… … No, let’s stop being so excited and think about it carefully.’

Seongpil began to sort out the situation in his head.

‘Caius’s growth is steeper than in his previous life.’

The previous album’s initial sales were 600,000 copies.

2nd highest record of all time for a K-pop girl group.

‘It’s an absurd record. At least, it’s a record that couldn’t have been set at this time.’

The all-time record number one is held by the pinnacle of the third generation that changed the grammar of modern K-pop.

They are a group with such great cultural influence that it is said that the third generation was born because of them. They are the ones who are responsible for the trickle-down benefits that the Girls’ League received.

Just below that group is Caius.

‘You can tell just by looking at the globe. It’s growing faster than in my previous life.’

Perhaps the world had been sending signals to Seongpil all along.

But Seongpil accepted it as a simple change. He could not reach the grand idea that ‘the times are advancing.’

If you think so, it means that Sungpil himself has advanced his development. Sungpil was not a person with that much self-consciousness.

“What should I do… … .”

Seongpil paused and picked up his notebook and pen.

‘What are you going to do if you’re just flustered?’

The start of the 4th generation is disadvantageous to the pioneers. For whatever reason, groups that debuted during the 3rd and 4th generations slowly sink without any real brilliance.

These are the people who failed to pass the filter of the 4th generation and ended up as just another group.

But there are exceptions.

The road from the 3.5 generation to the 4th generation.

There are groups that passed that filter. There were definitely those who passed the filter and competed on the same level as the 4th generation groups.

‘Of course Caius is included in it.’

And there are a few more groups that can be counted on one or two fingers. They are so few in number that it is difficult to even refer to them.

I can’t be that optimistic about the Girls’ League, thinking that it has already passed the filter.

‘Even the 3.5 generation groups of major entertainment companies could not compete with the 4th generation that had emerged in earnest, and disappeared vaguely without any significant achievements.’

Seongpil summarized the characteristics of the groups that passed the filter. And he couldn’t help but come to the most obvious conclusion.

“Innovation.”

Revolutionary spirit that breaks the mold.

Seongpil looked at the monitor again. Globe’s music video was playing nonstop.

If there’s one generation that’s the first to break through the filter, like Girls’ League, it might be Globe.

And Sungpil must do the same.

‘If the Girls’ League wants to reach the top idol, they have to overcome this crisis.’

We need to grow and unite our fandom as quickly as possible.

‘We have to deliver the Girls’ League’s song to at least one more person.’

Before those who are into K-pop stick to 4th generation groups, we need to make at least one more girl group fan.

It requires huge success.

A success that cannot be achieved without becoming a fan.

Then, another question arises here.

‘Is Ara’s song suitable for that purpose?’

Could this be the window that breaks the filter?

Girls’ League debut album first week sales of 10,000.

Next album 20,000.

Next album 120,000. Title song highest ranking 1st.

Next album 260,000. Title song highest ranking 2nd.

And then.

‘Ara’s producing is… … .’

Could the Girls’ League get any more successful than this?

‘No, Ara isn’t bringing it.’

Joara’s producing exists on its own. Sungpil’s role is to make it known to the world and show it to the world.

‘I will make it happen.’

Or, let’s be a little more optimistic.

‘I might just be being over-the-top.’

This sense of crisis is something only Sungpil, who has seen the future, can have. Other people may only have thoughts like, “This is unique” or “This is strange” when they see Globe’s new song.

‘I just have to not get too worked up. Especially, I have to make sure it doesn’t affect the kids.’

Anyway, Sungpil’s goal was to produce the best idol.

Even if the 4th generation approaches quickly, the goal does not seem completely impossible, just slightly more difficult.

‘I believe in children. I believe in the light they carry.’

Because I always believed in you… … .

Because I believe… … .

“I need to do more work.”

* * *

‘Automata’ guide vocal recording site.

Snow White entered the recording booth and trembled. Outside the booth, Jung Ji-eum and Rika were constantly chasing Snow White.

Rika pressed talkback. Her voice echoed through the booth.

[Express the intensity that emanates from within a human being! If you are so embarrassed, even the anger will disappear!]

Snow White swallowed her saliva and brought her mouth to the microphone.

And sang.

Thoracic resonance.

“Wow, whoa, whoa, whoa, whoa, whoa, whoa!”

Nasal resonance.

“Trrur tata tata!”

Resonance of two voices.

“Wow! Purrrrrur swow!”

Whole body resonance.

“Victory! Fight! Liberation! Yaaaaak―!”

Recording the highlight part vocals of ‘Automata’.

It wasn’t even a vocal. It was just a shout.

The highlight of ‘Automata’ was focused on dancing. It wasn’t like a game boss fight, so the performance was divided into 1st and 2nd phases.

You can never sing while dancing. If you do, you will only be able to hear rough gasps instead of lyrics.

So this was the idea that Joara came up with.

If you can’t come up with lyrics, let’s shout!

“Seolha!”

As soon as I left the booth, Jung Ji-eum greeted me with tears in her eyes.

“I knew you could do it… … .”

“It’s true… … .”

Rika sniffled and came to Baekseolha’s embrace.

“There is no one but Sam as the main vocalist of the Girls’ League! No one else can take that spot! It’s Sam’s spot forever!”

Snow White wanted to shout.

Just for this moment, please, who else can take the position of main vocalist of Girls’ League?

On stage

‘Wow, whoa, whoa, whoa, whoa, whoa, whoa! Trrr tata tata! Tsaah! Purrrrrur tsaah! Victory! Fight! Liberation! Yaaaaah!’

The thought of shouting that made me want to close my eyes and faint right away.

Even these lyrics weren’t written by the lyricist.

I just wrote down the lyrics as Rika hummed the melody that came to mind.

This is called a syllabule, and of course there are cases where the syllabule is used as is in the lyrics. However, I didn’t know that a syllabule like ‘t …

Snow White closed her eyes gently as she listened to the still sound and Rika’s praise.

A faint tear sparkled in the corner of her eyes.

‘Sir, this is clearly Ara’s revenge.’

This must be revenge for the vocal training I put you through during ‘Apple Crush’…

“Seol-ha, you’re happy too!”

“Teacher, don’t cry! I think I’m going to cry too… …!”

“Shall we all shout together to commemorate this?”

Trrur tata tata!

The guide vocal recording that had been so difficult for Baek Seol-ha was successful after just three attempts.

On the way to work in a car driven by Jung Ji-eum, Baek Seol-ha was lost in thought, ignoring the feeling of Rika’s hand on her side.

‘Since I came back from Japan, something… every day feels so peaceful.’

Jo Ara, who is producing ‘Our Producing’, will be very busy.

Of course, that doesn’t mean that Baekseolha is relaxed.

Now that the choreography is complete, I have to be busy with training every day.

‘This peace is probably… … .’

It’s a feeling of boredom.

A languid feeling of weariness.

You don’t have to worry about failing like you used to. Girls’ League is a popular group, so you just have to think about what you want to show your fans.

‘This is what it feels like to be in complete peace.’

Joara is probably having a headache every day, far from being at peace. And Joara’s worries may be internal rather than external.

‘Ara’s fight will be my grades.’

It has to be better than what Baek Seol-ha got with ‘Apple Crush’. Jo A-ra must be suffering under that kind of pressure.

Snow White suddenly woke up from her drowsiness.

‘I’m not even sure if I should worry about it with Ara, so what am I thinking about?’

Lethargy? Boredom?

There is no time to feel that way.

My beloved younger sister is working hard. As a sister and a leader, I shouldn’t have time to play.

‘As soon as I get back to work, I’ll ask Ara if there’s anything I can help her with.’

Just listening to the story can be a great help. Baek Seol-ha, who first experienced ‘Our Producing’, acknowledges this.

‘I’ll relieve Ara of some of her burden.’

certainly.

“Who wants to go to a private resort? It’s for 2 days and 1 night.”

As soon as he arrived at the company, Min Kyung-seop called all the members and asked them that.

“Me, me!”

Snow White raised her hand.

“That’s what a private resort is, right? A pool, a barbecue, and inside a huge building! That’s it, right?! Oh, that was a dream. I’ve always wanted to go to a place like that since I was little.”

“I think it’ll be cold if you go into the pool in this weather.”

Shin Areum, who dared to contradict Baek Seol-ha, quietly fell asleep with her forehead on the desk.

“Are you all going?”

When Baek Seol-ha’s eyes lit up, everyone nodded their heads. Then Rika raised her hand.

“Don’t look at my question like that! I’m not trying to vomit on what you said!”

“Uh, Rika. What’s your question?”

“Are we the only ones going?”

“huh.”

“What about everyone else? Isn’t this a farewell party!”

“That’s right, it’s a bit of a reward concept. A reward given by the CEO. The executives go with the executives, you guys go with your guys, and the regular employees go to the company outing and just get paid. Haha, I don’t go. It’s a secret from the CEO, but I like money better.”

“It’s the boss’s reward… … .”

Rika, who was deeply contemplating the president’s reward, suddenly came to her senses. And immediately refuted.

“Why do we have to go separately? If we’re going to go anyway, wouldn’t it be better to go together? Let’s all wear swimsuits and have fun together!”

“I don’t know. Ask the CEO or the directors. But I agree with what A-reum said. It’s cold to go into the pool in a swimsuit in this weather… .”

When Baek Seol-ha glared at him, Min Kyung-seop cringed and slowly backed away.

Resort. It was Baekseolha’s childhood dream.

When I was young, there was an episode that often appeared in children’s cartoons on animation TV channels: a resort party with friends.

That scene remained deep in Baekseolha’s mind, even after she became an adult.

Now that I’ve earned some money, I can go out with my friends.

“I’ll go ask right away!”

Rika spoke, but no one answered.

“Teacher!”

“Huh? Me, me?”

“Don’t you want us all to go together?”

“Uh, um… … .”

Seongpil, Han Guin, Hong Gyuheon, Son Hyebin, and probably Jeong Ji-eum too. These five and the Girls’ League are going to go out and play together, ra… … .

At that moment, Snow White had an irresistible image come to mind. It was a body profile photo of Seongpil that she had found in Rika’s board game box a long time ago.

“… … .”

“It’s okay if you’re embarrassed!”

“I didn’t imagine anything?!”

“… … ?”

“Oh, no.”

“You all hate it? You hate it?”

Rika looked back and forth between Jang Ha-yang and her peers.

Jang Ha-yang nodded as if he had no choice.

“If Rika wants it, let’s do it.”

“Hey, you don’t like it? If you don’t like it, I won’t do it.”

“… … .”

“… … .”

“… … Ahahaha, I wish Rika would do whatever she wants.”

“Speak straight!”

“I want to go with everyone!”

Jang Ha-yang made a grand gesture towards everyone as if he was performing a play.

“We’re comrades! If we’re not together, there’s no point!”

“Oh, unnie, your acting skills have really improved.”

“Ara-chan, are you going too?”

“Well, I guess it doesn’t matter to me.”

“Joara, is that okay with you? Don’t you feel like every day is a waste?”

“If the company sends you, you’re an idiot if you don’t go. Oh, but I get tired of going out with everyone… …Teacher, take your hand off me! You didn’t mean I wasn’t going, did you?!”

“Yoshi (good).”

Rika looked around the room as if she had nothing more to say.

“Is it really over? Everyone’s decided? Can we talk now?!”

Rika clenched her fists and raised them high into the sky.

“It’s the sea!”

* * *

[List of Executive Attendees

Hong Gyu-heon

Park Sung-pil (cancelled)

Hanguin (thinking)

Son Hye-bin

Stop (Cancel, Director Park threatened me. Actually, I wanted to go too.)

Min Kyung-seop (Congratulations on your wedding)]

“… … .”

Rika accepted the attendee list and looked at Seongpil in a daze.

“Director Park… … Why aren’t you going… … ?”

“Because I want to work.”

Seongpil’s eyes were filled with a passion for his work. He was determined to make the Girls’ League a success.

“… … work, huh.”

Rika’s voice was empty.

It was like the face of a wife who received a text message from her husband on their wedding anniversary saying, ‘I’m late because of work.’

What sets Rika apart from other wives is that she doesn’t just wait for her husband to come home.

“Rest is also work!”

Silvertown Mate, the desperate persuasion begins!

“Resting is just playing!”

“Sonna (that kind of)!”

Desperate persuasion, over as soon as it starts!

“When words don’t work, try persuading your body!”

“The ‘설’ of persuasion is the ‘설(說)’ of speaking… … Huh? Huh? You want to touch me even once? Move your arm away. I said move it away. Hey, don’t come near me. Don’t put your arm in my aaaaah!”

Jaeho Lee and Jihye Kang chattered while watching the scene.

“Director Park, ten thousand won to go.”

“me too.”