NewComer
patreon
K-Producer C60 Each capabilities
🕑 Added 2024-08-27 10:16:59 +0000 UTCThe next day, Byul-ho arrived at an upscale restaurant in Gangnam, his eyes scanning the room until he spotted Jin-ae. Behind her stood three young women.
As Byul-ho approached, Jin-ae rose to greet him. "Byul-ho-ssi, thank you for coming," she said, her tone businesslike.
Byul-ho nodded. "Of course, Jin-ae-ssi."
Jin-ae turned to the three girls behind her. "Let me introduce Cool Girls. This is Gwan Sun-hi, our main vocalist."
Sun-hi, a petite girl with long dark hair, gave a small wave. "Hi," she said softly, her eyes widening slightly as she took in Byul-ho's youthful appearance.
"Yang Min-jung, our main dancer and rapper," Jin-ae continued.
Min-jung, taller with short dyed hair, cocked her head to the side. "Yo," she said, a hint of skepticism in her voice. "You're really the CEO? I thought you'd be... older."
Jin-ae shot Min-jung a warning glance before introducing the last member. "And Bae Myung-hee, our visual and lead vocalist."
Myung-hee, striking with delicate features, offered a polite smile. "Nice to meet you," she said, her tone neutral as she studied Byul-ho carefully.
Byul-ho, unfazed by their reactions, greeted each of them in turn. "It's great to meet you all. I know I might not be what you expected, but I assure you, I'm committed to making this collaboration a success."
As they took their seats, there was a palpable tension in the air. The Cool Girls exchanged glances, clearly still processing the idea of working with such a young CEO.
"So," Byul-ho said, his tone professional but with a hint of challenge, "shall we discuss our plans for the collaboration? I'm sure you all have plenty of questions."
Min-jung, never one to hold back, leaned forward. "Yeah, I've got one. How come Ascend's suddenly blowing up? What's your secret?"
Byul-ho smiled, unfazed by her directness. "Hard work, innovative concepts, and a bit of luck. There's no real secret - just dedication and a willingness to try new things."
Sun-hi, fidgeting with the sleeve of her shirt, spoke up softly. "Um, what kind of concept are you thinking for our collaboration? Will it be more like Ascend's style or ours?"
"That's a great question," Byul-ho replied. "We're aiming for a blend of both styles. It'll be a chance for both groups to showcase their strengths and maybe step out of their comfort zones a bit."
Myung-hee, her expression still carefully neutral, asked, "And the choreography? Who will be in charge of that?"
Byul-ho nodded, appreciating her focus on the practical aspects. "We'll have choreographers from both companies working together, but the final decision will be a joint one between Jin-ae-ssi and myself."
As the questions continued, Byul-ho answered each one with patience and clarity. He could see the girls gradually relaxing, their initial skepticism giving way to cautious interest.
Jin-ae watched the exchange with a mix of relief and admiration. Despite his age, Byul-ho was handling the situation with a professionalism that was slowly winning over the Cool Girls.
After a particularly detailed explanation about the production process, Min-jung let out a low whistle. "Okay, I'll admit it. You might be young, but you seem to know your stuff."
Byul-ho grinned. "I appreciate that."
***
Later that day, Byul-ho led Jin-ae and Cool Girls through the hallways of Golden-Star Entertainment's rented building. The sound of music and synchronized footsteps grew louder as they approached the practice room.
As Byul-ho pushed open the door, the music abruptly cut off. Seven pairs of eyes turned towards them, a mix of curiosity and surprise on their faces.
Roh Sang-ook, Ascend's manager, stepped forward. "Byul-ho-ssi, are these...?" he trailed off, glancing at the newcomers.
Byul-ho nodded, a small smile on his face. "Everyone, I'd like you to meet Wan Jin-ae, CEO of Butterfly Agency, and Cool Girls, the group we'll be collaborating with."
There was a moment of silence as the two groups sized each other up. Jae-sung was the first to break the ice, stepping forward with a warm smile. "Welcome to our practice room. I'm Jae-sung, Ascend's leader."
The rest of Ascend followed suit, introducing themselves one by one. Min-jae offered a friendly wave, while Sung-ho gave a slight nod. Hyun-woo's greeting was polite but reserved, and Do-hyun flashed a charming smile. Yoon-seok and Hae-won, the youngest members, bowed respectfully.
Cool Girls responded in kind, with Sun-hi offering a shy smile, Min-jung a confident "Yo," and Myung-hee a polite nod.
The atmosphere was a mix of anticipation and awkwardness, the two groups clearly curious about each other but unsure how to interact.
Byul-ho clapped his hands together, drawing everyone's attention. "Alright, now that introductions are out of the way, why don't we show Cool Girls what we've been working on? And then perhaps they can share something of theirs?"
Roh Sang-ook leaned in close to Byul-ho, his voice low with concern. "Byul-ho-ssi, are you sure it's okay to show them our next choreography and song? It's still in development."
Byul-ho smiled reassuringly. "It's fine, Sang-ook-ssi. This is about building trust and showing what we're capable of."
With a nod to the Ascend members, Byul-ho signaled for them to take their positions. He then gestured to the sound technician, who started the track.
The opening notes filled the room, a catchy blend of retro and modern sounds. Jae-sung's voice came in strong, singing about overcoming obstacles together:
"When the world's against us, we'll stand as one
No mountain too high, no river too wide to run"
As Ascend moved through their intricate choreography, perfectly synchronized with the upbeat rhythm, Jin-ae and Cool Girls watched with a mix of awe and apprehension.
As the performance continued, Jin-ae leaned towards Byul-ho, her voice low. "This is... impressive. The song is catchy, and that choreography..."
Byul-ho nodded, a hint of pride in his voice. "They've been working hard on this."
When the song ended, there was a moment of silence before Cool Girls burst into applause.
As the Ascend members caught their breath, Cool Girls approached them, their earlier reservations melting away.
Min-jung, her eyes sparkling with excitement, attempted to mimic one of the more complex dance moves. "That spin-and-slide thing you did," she said, addressing Min-jae, "how did you make it look so smooth?"
Jae-sung, noticing the girls' interest, stepped forward with a warm smile. "Here, let me show you," he offered, demonstrating the move in slow motion. Soon, both groups were laughing and chatting as they attempted to teach and learn from each other.
Byul-ho watched the interaction with satisfaction before turning to Jin-ae. His expression was pleasant, but his eyes held a shrewd glint.
"Now that you've seen what Ascend is capable of," he began, his tone casual yet pointed, "I'm looking forward to seeing how your industry connections can elevate our collaboration. I trust you'll be able to secure us some prime-time slots and high-profile appearances?"
He paused, letting his words sink in. "After all, with talent like this, it would be a shame if we didn't maximize our exposure, wouldn't it? I'm sure your father's network could open some interesting doors for us."
Jin-ae met Byul-ho's gaze, her smile never faltering despite the challenge in his words. "Of course, Byul-ho-ssi. I assure you, we'll leverage every connection we have. This collaboration deserves nothing less than the best platform we can provide."
Byul-ho nodded, a knowing smile playing on his lips. He had done his homework on Jin-ae's background, particularly her father's influence. While her father wasn't a major player in the entertainment industry, his business connections could still prove valuable.
"I'm glad to hear that, Jin-ae-ssi," Byul-ho said, his tone measured. "I understand your father has some interesting connections. Perhaps we could explore opportunities with SBS or MBC? I hear they're always looking for fresh content for their variety shows."
Jin-ae's eyebrow raised slightly, impressed by Byul-ho's knowledge. "You've certainly done your research," she replied, her voice a mix of admiration and caution. "Yes, my father does have some contacts there. I'm sure we could arrange for Ascend and Cool Girls to make appearances on a few popular shows."
Byul-ho's eyes lit up with interest. "That's good. And what about music festivals? I recall your father's company has sponsored a few in the past."
Jin-ae nodded, her mind already working on possibilities. "The Busan International Rock Festival is coming up. It's not typically a K-pop event, but with the right approach, we could secure a spot. It would certainly set us apart."
As they continued to discuss potential opportunities, Byul-ho couldn't help but feel a sense of satisfaction.
Comments
Vieweye
This must be Chapter 59
