The Malicious Member is Back! - Chapter 172



Only Noblemtl

The Malicious Member Returns! Episode 172

* * *

What Kim Chun-yong had to do now was simple and clear.

The repackaged album that will be released after ‘Hide and Seek’ will be just as, if not more, than ‘Hide and Seek’.

If we do better, we will definitely get first place on a music show at least once.

Even if it was to safely complete X’s immediate mission, and even if it was to win the subtle war of nerves with Director Shin Gi-ho.

In fact, the purpose was one and everything else was secondary.

Anyway, in order to fulfill the contract conditions with X, who are known as the ‘best idols in K-pop history’, they had to win first place, and even if it was a dream come true, if they win first place, then of course Director Shin Ki-ho will be satisfied.

So, the important thing is… .

“Right. You guys, Ready?”

A good enough album that will meet those criteria.

“… Yeah. Ready. Go ahead, Logan.”

Kim Chun-yong nodded slightly at Logan, who was looking at the members with a solemn expression in front of the recording booth.

In order to create that great album, T.O.J quickly finished his first company dinner after debut and came to the company recording studio.

“Um, everyone did the last stage of ‘Hide and Seek’ today, and you must be really tired. But I think it would be good to do this today.”

Logan walked slowly into the recording studio lined with equipment and looked at Kim Chun-yong naturally.

It was because of a conversation they had after Director Shin decided to include Logan’s song on the album in order to curry favor with Logan’s parents.

It was Kim Chun-yong who fulfilled Logan’s wish to include his song in the next album, so it was only natural that they started talking about the song.

Kim Chun-yong’s selfishness was involved, but anyway.

“… I told you, Logan. I told you you could definitely put it in.”

“God, that’s right! Honestly, when you first told me that, I thought you were joking. But after you brought up the topic of our family, you suddenly said yes…”

“Anyway, isn’t it good? Your grandmother really likes this song of yours. I’m sure she’ll be happy.”

“Well, that’s right. Actually, my grandmother likes all my songs.”

It was good to get what I wanted right away.

Even though he deceived Director Shin, who understood the word ‘family’ to mean parents, and because of that, their interests became slightly entangled.

So, the next step is important.

“Oh, then I’ll start slowly. First, I think you’ve all heard it! Let’s listen to the song first.”

“…okay.”

Kim Chun-yong slowly sat down on a chair in the middle of the recording studio and looked at Logan, who was operating the equipment, and fell silent.

There was one reason why Kim Chun-yong decided that this Logan song had to be used as the album title.

…because it’s a song that’s already been proven.

“Huh? Isn’t that the kid who appeared on with us? It looks like he’s going to audition again?”

“… Oh my. It’s Logan? Wow, I didn’t know him well because he voluntarily left without even having time to get to know him! Is this why he likes his home country so much? Tsk, I’m jealous because he seems so good at it.”

“The song… is good. Hwaseong hyung, please turn up the volume… a bit…”

During the time when Hanchang Kim Chun-yong, the members, and Liu Wei were active as Arrows.

So, before that problematic thinking happened.

Logan, who returned to Liverpool, soon appeared on the famous British audition program and confidently won first place.

Only now have I learned that there was a plot by Director Shin and Liu Wei behind the scenes, as well as pressure from my parents, but anyway.

On that audition program, whether it was because he was free from pressure from his parents or because he had another condition, Logan revealed a number of excellent original songs.

Like the song I sang while busking on the street when I ran into Choi Gun-young, or the song I sang during the first mentor evaluation of .

♪♬♩♪♩… .

And, the song that is ringing in the recording studio right now is the song that Logan sang in the semi-finals.

An easy-listening song based on the guitar that fits the current trend, and which Logan, who insists that ‘you have to communicate with the instrument’, always performs a sleeping ritual before playing.

‘… He made all these songs in advance. He’s a genius, really.’

Kim Chun-yong, who was sitting huddled together on the sofa at the back of the studio with his members and listening to the song, stuck out his tongue and hid his admiration.

I can only say that I am purely impressed by the song.

But, the road ahead is long and winding now.

“Uh, Chun-yong hyung. But, this is different from ‘Boyhood Ending’ which I made with the A&R team before, because I made it with the thought that I would sing it alone… I had to adjust the song a bit. To make it fit our members.”

“Right. I was thinking about that too. How long do you think it’ll take?”

“Um, but still, it’ll probably take a week… Honestly. I can’t just make it roughly and put it out there.”

“… Huh. I guess I’ll have to find a way.”

The repackaged album preparation period given to T.O.J. was 4 weeks.

These four weeks did not mean that we spent four weeks solely preparing.

We take mood sampler photos and concept photos.

As soon as we film and edit it, we upload it and simultaneously reveal the teaser schedule.

From choreography practice, to recording, to filming a music video.

This meant that it would take four weeks to complete all of these tasks.

In the meantime, you spend a week editing one song?

“No. Whose dog’s name is a week? You guys, you ask me to do you favors so easily just because I like you.”

“God, Director. This is a really, really good song. I’ll fix it and come back!”

“I don’t want to sound like that old fart, but what can’t be done can’t be done. We need to think about the other guys on our directing team too. Is the A&R team just sitting around? What about the choreography team?”

“… Ugh. Is that really not possible? … Please?”

“It’s no use acting like a puppy. I’m a cat person, Logan.”

Even Moon Yoon-ha waved her hand.

Eventually, in the process, they had to come to an agreement.

In the direction where the impatient side makes ten concessions.

“Then, is it okay for us from Friday when we have our last company dinner to the weekend of this week?”

“… You’re not coming to the last-minute company dinner? Oh my, these greenhouse plants that have never experienced social life… .”

“No, no! I’ll go, I’ll go! Instead, if I leave a little earlier… I think I can make it until the weekend.”

“… Hmm.”

So, this is what happened.

♪♬♩♪♩… .

As the song ended, a sense of desperation appeared on the faces of the members who had previously heard the news from Kim Chun-yong and Logan.

“… Now, if we want to use this great song as a title track, we have to modify it a little to suit us, right? Like adding a rap part, or adjusting the bridge tone, etc.”

“Yes. Honestly, I don’t know if it’ll be possible in three days…!”

“No, no. You can do it. Logan. I’ve done some demo song work, and I ended up making songs that were far less complete than this.”

“Hmm, that’s right. Our ‘Hide and Seek’ was also made by mixing together various things that came out in the draft… Logan, you don’t have to worry about that.”

Starting with the affectionate and powerful consideration of Bang Yoo-chan and Son Jae-ha… .

“Lyrics! Most of the lyrics that I have now are in English, right? Oh, a local. I guess I’ll have to think about the lyrics from now on!”

“Right, right… But, me and Hwaseong hyung… Jaeha, hyung… even took some… lessons in songwriting… so… we can, we can do it…!”

Even the youngest line’s energetic and enthusiastic appearance.

Kim Chun-yong, who had been quietly watching the scene, locked eyes with Logan and spoke quickly.

I knew my members would react this way, so I prepared these words in advance.

“So, I thought about it. I think it would be good to have Logan do the final confirmation and then record so that we can divide up the roles. Those who can write lyrics can prepare the lyrics together, and Yoochan hyung can organize the demo and sing it.”

“… Is that okay? But, wait. Then what are you going to do, Chun-yong?”

“Hey, Yongyong hyung. If you’re going to say something like, ‘I should be a director,’ then I’ll reject you in advance.”

“Hey, Inma. Do you think I would be that leisurely…?”

Kim Chun-yong, the person who started all this, took out his cell phone and waved it to the members with a slightly empty smile.

There was a short message floating there, shared with someone.

[JDS Crew Teacher Jindasol: Then, please make a draft and send it to me, Chun-yong]

[JDS Crew Teacher Jindasol: Let’s try to match it with the blueprint]

[JDS Crew Teacher Jindasol: But since this is our team’s job, can we record it later as a guest member?]

“… Wait, Yongyong hyung. A guest member? Again? Are you going to go get headhunted again?”

“Umm, Chun-yong. This is….”

“Uh, uh. That’s not important, is it?”

When the members looked at him with meaningful eyes after seeing the last message, Kim Chun-yong hurriedly put his phone back in his pocket and cleared his throat.

“Anyway, as you all know from the message… I’ll work on some choreography in the practice room above, and once I’ve made some revisions, I’ll come over and check them and give my opinions. I think that’ll be good.”

“… Hmm, it would be nice if the choreography came out together. But then, wouldn’t it give you less time to get used to the song?”

“Ah. Don’t worry about that, Jaeha hyung. … That won’t happen.”

Kim Chun-yong smiled with his fangs showing and tried to dissuade Son Jae-ha from worrying.

It takes less time to get used to the song. At least in Kim Chun-yong’s opinion, that was not the case at all.

Excluding the original author Logan, the person most familiar with the current title song candidate from T.O.J.E. was Kim Chun-yong.

“Hmm? Rex, you listen to that song a lot. Do you like it?”

“Ah, yes. This is pretty good… I’ve heard it so many times that I think I can almost memorize it now. I’m also thinking about making a cover choreography or something.”

“Aha. Don’t push yourself too hard. Okay? Soon, we’ll have to go to a music festival and award ceremonies.”

“Haha, don’t worry, hyung.”

Even to the point where I know what the finished product will be like.

“then….”

Without even a moment to commemorate the last broadcast of their debut album, the members’ eyes quickly exchanged glances.

Well, they say every ending is just another beginning.

“… Let’s do it now.”

Maybe, this was the time for another beginning for Tiozae.

* * *

The weekend mornings of T.O.J.’s dedicated director and aesthetic fanatic Moon Yoon-ha start early.

If her routine is ruined because she drank a lot the day before, the nickname attached to her name will be sad.

“Yeah, yeah. Lulu and Byungsik, let’s eat. Yeah…”

Moon Yoon-ha, who had been feeding the cats that were scratching her calves and screaming for food, slowly closed her eyes and poured herself a cup of espresso.

It was because my head was busy thinking about the concept of T.O.J’s next repackaged album.

“… Since the previous album was about mystery gunslinger boy scouts, this time we’re going to take that nuance and make it a little bit more casual… .”

Moon Yoon-ha continued talking to herself as she turned on her laptop.

Indeed, is this the image of a person who has continuously developed while other visual directors are drinking and lying around until the next day?

“Oh, but Chun-yong, I think you should change your hair a bit. … No, no. For now, let’s just leave it slightly covering your neck… and put dots on your face. Like Si-woo, honey.”

… or maybe I’m just an aesthetic fanatic with an eye for beauty.

“I think it would be okay for Jaeha to wear glasses. Um, more than that, I think it would be better to give the overall image a more lively feel…”

That’s when she revealed her true self without any filter, making others think, ‘That’s why she’s called the best in the industry.’

“uh?”

Her muttering to herself stopped when she went to her mailbox to check references sent by her team members.

My mailbox, which would normally be neatly marked as read, was filled with 20 unread emails.

“…what.”

The titles were almost all similar.

[Re: Repackage Album Title Candidate Song_Final]

[Re_Re: Repackage Album Title Candidate Song_Final 2]

[Re_Re_Re: Repackage Album Title Candidate Song_Real Final]

[Re_Re_Re_Re: Repackage Album Title Candidate Song_This is the Real Last]

The recipients are Moon Yoon-ha and the A&R team leader.

And the sender is….

[From: Target_of_Xenon]

Moon Yoon-ha started checking each and every email, and burst out laughing in a way that matched her usual cynical appearance.

“Oh, really. This is why people who have never experienced social life… Who sends emails like this? I gave them three days. Then shouldn’t they have organized it and sent it on the third day…?”

However, when I checked the file in the email with the sentence [Really please this is really reallygod last] attached.

“… Hmm. I know how that feels.”

It goes without saying that a rather affectionate smile appeared on her face.