Producer with no Regrets - Chapter 811



Only Noblemtl

Episode 811. Main Character (In My World) (2)

KS Entertainment General Producer’s Office.

“Much more than I expected… … .”

Yoon Hee-yeon turned the tablet around and showed it to Erica and Kim Min-ju across from her.

This was data on the initial sales of Erica’s ‘Collection pt. 1’ and the resulting revenue, music rankings and revenue, and expected revenue-generating activities in the future.

Although solo activities do share profits with KARA, the proportion is set much higher for solo artists.

Why don’t all the profits go to the solo members?

In any case, it was because she used the name ‘Erika of Caius’ and to prevent the unfortunate incident of her abandoning the group and working alone.

“If the results are good.”

Erica cleared her throat.

Whenever I was called to Yoon Hee-yeon’s office, nothing good happened. Maybe that’s why I felt a great sense of relief when I heard her compliments.

“I want to keep pushing forward as a soloist.”

Those words made Erica nervous. Surely that wasn’t the case, but she was afraid that she would be told to postpone her activities with KARA and focus on her solo activities.

Of course, Yoon Hee-yeon didn’t mean to say that.

“This is the possibility I see in your solo activities. Your solo activities, the ‘Keiras Artistry Project’, will contribute to raising the value of Keiras’s name. No… … At this point, I’m not sure if it will contribute or not.”

If only fans of KARA bought Erica’s album, wouldn’t the value of KARA have increased?

They’re just robbing the wallets of Caius fans in a different way. If that’s true, then the fuel efficiency isn’t that much better than when they were active as the main Caius.

“Anyway, Erica? You did well. I’m sure you’ve already heard from producer Kang Dong-hyun, but you’re really amazing. You still have a lot to learn, but it looks like you’d enjoy working as a real music producer.”

“……yes?”

The first emotion Erica felt at Yun Hee-yeon’s compliment that was beyond her imagination was embarrassment.

‘Is this just lip service?’

Anyway, since the results came out well, are you planning to give it a try?

Behind these doubts came pure joy. Yoon Hee-yeon is not one to speak in vain.

Although they were not on good terms, Yoon Hee-yeon was also an object of admiration for Erica. She was someone who climbed to the top of KS Entertainment at a young age with nothing.

No, rather, it would be more accurate to say that Yoon Hee-yeon and Jung Ho-hwan took control of KS Entertainment and put it at the top.

“thank you.”

In the end, Erica expressed her gratitude in a dazed manner. Yun Hee-yeon smiled faintly and continued her story.

“I want to experiment. If I were to say that the solo activities of idols under KS Entertainment so far are, well, what should I say… … . Should I say that they provide pensions?”

It was close to an act of providing a foundation for the group to become independent and live off of each other even after the group disbanded.

Or it could be the task of picking out the few useful ones from a group that no longer has any value to create.

“Or if the older members get angry and say, ‘If you don’t do solo, I won’t renew your contract!’, I’ll do it. It’s true that I didn’t feel much merit.”

KS Entertainment’s power is truly revealed when producing groups, so solo activities have been limited to secondary work.

“So the test I want to do is, how much can solo activities contribute to the group’s growth? This is it. We… … .”

In KS Enter’s judgment.

“The growth of girl groups will soon reach its ceiling. Just like boy groups did. The initial sales of 3 million have become the realistic threshold that can be reached in the next year or two. It will be the same for girl groups… … I wonder how far they will go.”

That will be revealed in a few years. And Yoon Hee-yeon hopes that KS Entertainment will play a role in revealing that Maginot Line.

“The KAIST Artistry Project will continue until your next album. And when all the projects are finished, you will release the KAIST album and see what happens. I think you will reach your peak at that point.”

This is the ceiling that the current generation of girl groups can reach, and the true pinnacle where KARA will sit.

“That will be the peak, that must be the peak.”

“… … Are you saying that I will continue my solo project?”

“huh.”

Yoon Hee-yeon answered refreshingly.

Erica’s heart swelled with emotion. She remembered all the persecutions she had received from Yoon Hee-yeon. She also remembered the time she had been locked in a room with Kang Dong-hyun and made an album. And the pleasant memory of teaming up with Sung-pil to tease Yoon Hee-yeon…

“then…….”

Erica looked at Kim Min-joo sitting next to her.

“I guess the next batter will be Minju?”

That’s the only reason to sing along with Kim Min-joo.

“Yeah, that’s right. But realistically, I don’t think all of you have the talent to produce. That’s why I included you, Erica. I wanted it to be an Erica artistship project, not a KAIST artistship project.”

“……yes?”

“Erica.”

Yoon Hee-yeon smiled deeply as she looked at Erica. Without even looking at Kim Min-ju next to her.

“You are truly, truly, truly amazing. I need to gain experience for the future. I have the chance to gain that experience. What do you think?”

This question wasn’t directed at Erica. It was directed at Kim Min-joo.

“For the sake of your friend’s bright future and Caius’s brilliant victory, can you make a concession, Minju?”

Kim Min-joo was requested.

When it was my turn to stand at the starting line, I asked Erica to stand there again.

“It won’t change the fact that you’re the main character. Just… … What if you think of it as a love triangle with Erika? Honestly, it’s burdensome, like artistry… … .”

Just like before.

Do what you’re good at.

Because not everyone is multi-talented.

“As an idol, you just have to show us your iconic image like you do now. Isn’t that easier for Minju?”

There was no answer from Kim Min-ju. It took quite a while for Erica to look at her worriedly, and for Yoon Hee-yeon to stare into her eyes.

Yoon Hee-yeon manipulated her tablet a few times while letting out a nasal sound. The photo she showed was a graph showing the initial sales of girl groups of all time.

“This is the difference between you and the Girls’ League, it’s really just a fingernail. It’s just a little bit, just a little bit.”

A very small choice can completely change your future.

“You don’t have to make the best choice every moment. Just choose the best and go to the best future. Do you know what the best is, as a smart Minju?”

Then Yun Hee-yeon started telling a realistic story.

“There is a most common form of idols who demonstrate artistry. These are what are commonly called self-produced idols. The members who can produce are the main ones. It’s not like it’s a game of housework, so you can’t take turns playing the role of the mother, right?”

Artistry demonstrated by talented members taking the center stage in producing.

“This is the most realistic form of self-producing idol.”

“The Girls’ League is… … .”

It was the first word and the first question that Kim Min-ju brought up.

“What about the Girls’ League?”

“Girls League? What are you talking about? Of course it’s a scam. What you see is what’s real. I intend to make your project look like that too.”

* * *

The Globe members threw Noah a small party.

In the practice room, candles and firecrackers were lit on top of a low-calorie cake, celebrating the triumph of Samurai Girls Noah.

“Noah! Noah! Noah! Noah! Noah!”

Amidst the cheers of the members, Noah shouted while holding a toy sword diagonally.

“Yayhoo!”

Noah’s sword, which was trying to extinguish the candle by cutting it in half, shattered the candle holder and scattered the cake everywhere.

“… … .”

Noah licked his tongue at the whipped cream on his toy knife.

“Choo-up, I cut something useless… … .”

“Let’s clean and eat.”

Rahee brought ‘Samurai Girls Noah Mad Movie’, made with her lacking editing skills, to the screen.

The members chanted Noah’s name every time she appeared, sometimes laughing, and sometimes shedding tears of emotion.

“Thank you all for the congratulations.”

A small party held during the preparation period for the next album.

The members dispersed according to their own training schedules while still in the afterglow of the party.

Noah came out the back door of Success Enter. Then he found a restaurant using a delivery app and ordered delivery.

After about 30 minutes, a franchise rider came to the back door and put down the food.

It was jajangmyeon.

“excuse me.”

As the rider was about to turn back, Noah called him.

“The delivery man who used to work at this Chinese restaurant quit?”

“Huh? I don’t know. I just receive food and deliver it.”

The rider disappeared as quickly as he had come.

Noah sat down on the stone steps nearby with his jajangmyeon in his hand. He opened the package and mixed it, lost in his memories.

“In the old days, when you ordered, there was a delivery man.”

Could it be that it disappeared because it couldn’t keep up with the times? Well, how many restaurants have delivery people these days?

Noah recalled his memories with the delivery man.

That man was someone who had known the trainees of Success Entertainment since the Epsilon days. That may be why he often took care of the trainees’ convenience.

Quick, accurate, and stealthy was his motto.

Many trainees owed him a debt of gratitude. Noah was one of them.

Noah took a big bite of jajangmyeon. As he chewed the oily, salty, and sweet noodles, he felt a happiness that the low-calorie cake couldn’t fill him with.

I ate a few more chopsticks like that.

I ate radish and onion too.

“it’s good…….”

delicious.

It’s delicious.

“To the point where I can’t stand it… … .”

I don’t think so.

A few drops of clear liquid fell on the jajangmyeon. Noah sniffed loudly and quickly ate all the jajangmyeon without anyone noticing.

In the past, you could just leave the dishes outside, but now they are plastic so you have to wash them and throw them away.

Noah washed her mouth, which was covered in jajangmyeon sauce, in the bathroom and slapped her cheeks. She looked somewhere with determined eyes.

The hallway space was where Globe’s personal practice rooms were located right next to each other. Inside each narrow room, there was equipment for vocal training.

The place where Noah stopped was Yang So-min’s training room. When he knocked, the door opened after a while.

“Noah?”

“Yeah, Somin. Can I come in and talk?”

“There is only one chair.”

“It’s okay. I can stand.”

After a while, Noah and Yang So-min faced each other in the small room. Yang So-min sat down, and Noah stood up.

Noah had nothing better to do, so he idly stroked the synthesizer’s keys. Then, a note rang out, and he suddenly lifted his hand.

“What do you want to say?”

Noah repeatedly clapped her index fingers together. It was a habit she had when she had something difficult to say or when she was feeling psychologically intimidated.

The moment their index fingers were about to collide again, Noah dropped his arms and looked straight at Yang So-min.

“……sorry.”

“huh?”

“I’m sorry. I wanted to keep apologizing.”

“what?”

“Director Park left… … .”

Yang So-min’s eyebrows twitched. It was because Noah called Seong-pil ‘Director Park.’

“Because it was me… … that was the trigger… … .”

It may not have been the cause, but it could have been a proximate cause.

Seeing Yang So-min suffering after Seong-pil left, Noah wanted to continue to apologize. What prevented that apology was Noah’s self-defense.

‘It’s not my fault.’

The jajangmyeon he ordered was only a trigger, not the root cause.

‘So it’s not my fault that Somin is suffering.’

Still, I couldn’t turn away from it forever.

As we discussed before, Yang So-min is resentful of Noah. If an apology can help her feel better even a little, Noah is ready to get down on his knees.

Huh? You’re already on your knees.

“sorry…….”

Noah knelt down and asked for forgiveness.

Yang So-min sat on the chair and quietly looked at Noah. Then the corners of her mouth slowly went up.

That smile was never made up; it was purely a reflection of Yang So-min’s heart.

Noah’s expression also brightened.

“Were you concerned about that?”

“Ah, yeah. I know. Like an idiot… … . But if Somin feels better… … .”

“Ugh.”

Yang So-min put her hands on both sides of Noah’s armpits as if she was lifting a baby and helped him up. Noah felt like he was about to cry.

Huh? It’s already pouring?

“I’m sorry, I’m sorry, Somin… … .”

“It’s okay. Stop it. I’m fine.”

Noah diligently observed Yang So-min’s expression through his eyes blurred by tears. Yang So-min had a big smile on her face.

This is definitely not just talk.

He truly forgave Noah.

“There’s no need to apologize or feel sorry.”

“Thank you, now I can sleep with both legs stretched out… … .”

“Yeah. You can rest assured. Because Director Park will come to save you.”

“……huh?”

Noah blinked his eyes wide.

“You’re coming… to save me…?”

Yang So-min looked around the training room, still smiling. It was her personal vocal practice room.

“It’s been a long time.”

In this cramped room, Yang So-min sang a song.

“But that will end, for sure.”

At first, I was trying to please some strange human.

But now.

“Because Director Park will be coming.”

One day, Seongpil will come looking for me, so I will keep on working hard to acquire skills that I will not be ashamed of.

“So you don’t have to be sorry.”

I have been singing a song.

Noah asked what the story was. Yang So-min told him. It was the story that Seong-pil had told him when he met with CEO Kim Tae-hoon.

Noah’s expression changed from moment to moment, and by the time the story ended, his face was indescribable.

Compared to the ambiguous Noah, Yang So-min was straightforward. She looked happier than before and said this.

“I wish you would come soon, hehe.”

* * *

Former Darkest member Ha Min stopped by RRBKZ’s hideout after a long time. He parked his car nearby and went to the entrance, where he saw a car parked right in front of the entrance.

Just as I was starting to feel annoyed, I saw a familiar face coming from the car trunk.

“uh?”

It was Yubin. He was groaning in the trunk as he took out a box.

Ha Min was so happy that he immediately tapped his shoulder. A smile spread across Yu Bin’s lips when she saw Ha Min.

“brother!”

“Hey, it’s been a while! Are you done with work?”

“Yes. I came back yesterday.”

“What are you doing?”

“These are snacks I bought in Japan. I gave them to you, my brother and sister.”

“Why are there so many snacks? I’ll help you.”

“Then thank you.”

The two entered the hideout carrying a box full of snacks. Park Su-ryeon, who was lying on the sofa reading a book, glanced at the two.

“Hello, sister.”

“uh.”

Why is it low pressure?

Are you sick of your lover again?

The two carried the box without a care. When they cut the tape and opened it, they found a variety of snacks and a lot more amaiballs.

Ha Min held a handful of Amaibol in his hands.

“These are just a handful of snacks that we bought to give to you, and they’re all Amaiballs. Did you get them from the company?”

“yes…….”

“Yeah, I could have given it to all of you members, but where did you bring it here?”

“There are six boxes at the dorm and twelve boxes at Garo Enter. I also brought a few boxes to my parents’ house.”

“Was it a quick fix?”

Amaibol was definitely not a healthy flavor. After eating a few, I got sick of it.

Ha Min asked as he turned on the game console.

“I saw Samurai Girls. It was really good. Isn’t this RRBKZ’s best output?”

“Everyone said it went well.”

“Speak as if you were talking about someone else. Are you embarrassed? If it were me, I would brag to everyone in the neighborhood.”

“haha…….”

Yubin only showed a dull reaction, forgetting about Amaibol.

He’s not the type of person who doesn’t have many skills, but he seems embarrassed to be praised for his own achievements.

At that moment, Park Su-ryeon closed the book.

“You didn’t look for a reaction, did you?”

“… … ?”

What are you talking about?

Even if you write crap on SNS, people still check the comments. But you didn’t get any responses after achieving the great feat of Samurai Girls?

That doesn’t make sense.

But, looking at Yubin, who is as hard as a rock, it really seems like that.

Park Su-ryeon threw the book down on the table and stared at Yu-bin.

“why?”

Yubin scratched the back of her head helplessly. Even though Park Su-ryeon came right up to her, she refused to make eye contact.

“I’ll see… when I achieve that goal… .”

Yubin’s goal when she created Samurai Girls was to enter public broadcasting. She tried to break through the language restrictions of public broadcasting with the power of culture.

However, Garo Enter made a request to the broadcasting station, but there has been no news as of yet.

“Isn’t that an excuse? Are you just scared?”

Park Su-ryeon’s characteristically straightforward speaking style was displayed.

Ha Min put down the game pad and walked over to the sofa where Park Su Ryun and Yu Bin were sitting. Then he spoke affectionately to Yu Bin.

“You might not see it, but why are you like that? I heard that there are some members of your group who don’t look for reactions. Why would someone who knows everything be like that?”

Ha Min seemed to be protecting his son who was being scolded by his father, and he caused a rift between Park Su Ryun and Yu Bin.

“Good job, Yubin. It’s better not to see it than to hear weird things for no reason. If I go back in time, I would tell our members to do the same as you.”

“Then that won’t do.”

“No, why do you keep… … .”

“He’s a creator.”

Park Su-ryeon responded in a calm tone.

“You said you were going to be a producer. If you don’t see other people’s reactions, how is that any different from masturbation? If you make it for your own satisfaction, you’ll only be able to make things that satisfy yourself.”

Ha Min was speechless at the creative theory that was more common sense than he thought. He couldn’t say anything in rebuttal because it wasn’t just an emotional criticism.

Ha Min-do also composes songs. After Darkest disbanded, he became a self-produced solo idol.

So I understood deep down what Park Soo-ryeon was saying. She was right.

“You threw what you made into the world. You need to know what kind of echo it makes. People who are locked in their own world and create something, no matter how excellent that something is, only echo in their own world.”

“Hey, you, what, do you usually think about that kind of thing… … ?”

“I read it in a book.”

Park Su-ryeon’s hobbies are reading mystery novels and essays. Some of the essays she reads are probably those of artists.

“I’m not good at creating things, but I think that’s right. Look at this.”

Park Soo-ryeon pointed to Yu-bin, who was shrunken like a rag that had just been taken out of the washing machine.

“You don’t even know what you did.”

At that moment, Yubin’s phone rang. Yubin was startled when she saw the name on the screen and answered the phone.

“Yes, Director Min Kyung-seop.”

When the title of director came up, Park Su-ryeon and Ha Min kept their mouths shut.

Yubin just kept repeating ‘yes’ before hanging up the phone. He stared blankly ahead and then suddenly started sobbing.

Park Soo-ryeon and Ha Min were terrified. Even though Yu-bin was a bit silly and clumsy, he was not the kind of man to cry in front of people.

The two of them started to think. The director called. After he hung up the phone, he started crying. What on earth did he have to say to make him cry?

“… … .”

… … expulsion?

“Hey, why are you crying?”

Ha Min wrapped his arms around Yu Bin’s shoulders with his trembling hands.

If I were to do what I did to the Darkest members, I would have danced and said, ‘This little brat is a fortune teller!’, but I couldn’t do that to Yubin.

“What is it?”

“You got caught dating three idols at the same time? Did you even touch your company’s trainees? You’re crazy.”

“Don’t you think he’s just like you?!”

“I’m coming out on TV… … on cable… … .”

“… …Who, Samurai Girls?”

“yes…….”

Appearance on cable TV… … .

The only ones that have Japanese language restrictions are terrestrial music broadcasts. That’s what Yubin was trying to break through.

Going on cable TV feels more like going out because I can, rather than because I’m trying to break through.

In fact, it has nothing to do with Yubin’s goal. That’s why the words ‘I’ve been selected to appear on a cable music show’ must have sounded like this to Yubin.

‘You failed.’

“Don’t provoke maternal love.”

Park Soo-ryeon put her tongue, which was throwing out factual violence, back in and comforted Yoo-bin.

“What if a man keeps crying after drinking the bitter cup once? If he cries now, how much more will he cry in the future?”

“It’s been seven years… …?”

“what?”

“Japanese songs are on cable… … .”

Park Soo-ryeon thought back carefully. It seemed like she had heard a story about a Japanese band appearing on a music show a few months after her debut.

After that, definitely… … .

“I guess so?”

Yubin pressed her eyes tightly with both hands. Only then did Park Su-ryeon and Ha Min realize that he was crying because he was happy.

Park Soo-ryeon clicked her tongue and took her hand away from Yu-bin.

“This was a man.”

Yubin set her goal in her mind because she thought that public broadcasting would not work. But when there was no response from cable, she was shaking, and when she got a call, she cried with joy.

“Would you rather have chicken than pheasant?”

“yes…….”

Park Su-ryeon and Ha Min simultaneously chuckled and patted Yu-bin on the back.

Yubin’s cry out to the world returned as a pleasant echo.

* * *

Seongpil went to work at Garo Enter early in the morning. He walked up to the second floor, enjoying the quiet of the morning for the first time in a while.

I was debating whether to go to the office or the CEO’s office first, and then headed to the bathroom.

I straightened my hair and cleared my throat in front of the mirror in front of the sink. The suit still fits fantastically.

Seongpil, who was lost in his own reflection in the mirror, held his stomach with his hand. He had not been exercising and eating as much as he had in Korea, and he had gained fat because he often went out drinking with Himura.

‘Your body fat percentage might be over 13%… … .’

I’ve never measured my InBody weight because I’m scared. I’ve never even stood on the scale.

There is no disadvantage to having a high body fat percentage, but I have come to understand the feelings of idols a little bit.

After tightening my abs, I left the bathroom.

Seongpil, standing in front of the president’s office, knocked on the door.

‘Will you be there?’

There was no response.

It’s usually the time Hong Gyu-heon comes to work. Maybe he’ll be a little late today.

“Director Park?”

At that moment, the door opened slightly and Hong Gyu-heon’s face appeared. Seong-pil straightened his disheveled posture and greeted Hong Gyu-heon.

“Hello, boss! Director Park Sung-pil, returned to Korea yesterday! I am reporting this!”

“I thought it was Director Park who knocked in the morning and didn’t say anything. Come in.”

As soon as Sungpil entered the president’s office, he felt a faint smell of cigarette smoke. No, it seemed like there was no smell at all.

Did Hong Gyu-heon quit smoking?

“It’s been a while, boss.”

She sat down and stared blankly at Seongpil. She didn’t even greet him. After a while of Seongpil being embarrassed, the corners of Hong Gyuheon’s mouth slightly went up.

“It’s been a while. We’ve been seeing each other since we last had a video conference.”

“It’s different when you meet in person.”

“Yeah. It’s different when you see it in person. It’s nice to see you.”

“Me, me too!”

“Once all the employees come to work, should we call them to the lobby and throw a party for Director Park’s return to work?”

“No. I think it’ll be fine later when we move to the new building. We’ll invite hundreds of employees to the auditorium and hang a banner that says, ‘Congratulations, Director Park Sung-pil’s return’… … .”

“There is a company like that.”

The two laughed heartily at each other.

Soon, Hong Gyu-heon’s expression changed.

“You said you said hello to the president of Webex, right?”

“He refused to offer me a meal, saying that he could not be treated as a guest in his own country.”

“I wanted to say thank you. But anyway, I was surprised. A joint group? A nationwide survival audition… … .”

“Because I saw potential in Bugbug.”

“We don’t have the ability to control it right now.”

“So, it must be something for the future.”

“I have a goal. To grow big enough to handle that project. If I get there, I can fulfill Director Park’s wish.”

“My wish?”

“Invite the employees to the auditorium and hold a return ceremony.”

“Yes, well, if you do it, I won’t refuse.”

“But before that, we need to achieve the goal we are facing.”

“yes.”

Seongpil and Hong Gyuheon looked at the schedule board at the same time. The red circles scattered here and there on the December schedule represented various award ceremonies.

And the biggest circle was the date of the HPT Music Awards, the biggest awards show in the K-pop scene.

That was the ‘goal that Garo Enter is facing’ that Hong Gyu-heon spoke of. It was the minimum condition that Garo Enter had to achieve to move on to the next step, and it was a long-held wish that Garo Enter had continuously harbored.

“Grand Prize.”

The highest honor given to the leaders of the year.

Artist of the Year Award.

Song of the Year.

Album of the Year Award.

And the idols who have won the highest honors so far, except for one group, WTP, have all been affiliated with the big three entertainment agencies.

As WTP is currently on hiatus due to individual members’ personal circumstances, the awards will once again be distributed to major entertainment agencies.

This tradition has continued for nearly 20 years. It is close to a rule that has continued to this day, along with the rise of the second generation of idols.

However, the award is not shared among the big agencies. The Grand Prize is truly an honor given to the best artists of the year.

There were many idols who belonged to KS, YJS, and SMS but never won a grand prize.

It’s not child’s play. You can’t take turns being mom or dad.

Once someone reaches the top, that position is bound to continue for a long time, because success has inertia.

So, the target is the throne of real idols who have acquired an aura that cannot be broken by the inertia of success. Caius has also been on that throne since last year.

“Director Park.”

Looking at the target records of the past dozen years, small and medium-sized planning companies come to think like this.

That’s not a place for just anyone to stick their head out.

A place where class restrictions clearly exist.

No matter how excellent the 6th rank is, there is a limit to the position one can rise to. The target is an honor that only those born of true bone can attain.

Rights inherited through bloodline.

That right.

“Bring it.”

Hong Gyu-heon asked as if it were a given.

Seongpil’s answer is.

“yes.”

Of course it was positive.

The affirmation was a declaration that they would recreate a miracle that has only happened once in K-pop history.

It was a year filled with that miracle.

It is time for the cry we have thrown out to the world to be returned as an echo. With applause that is more than just an echo.