Chapter 151
Just as when KangYoon was contemplating about what to do in the future while browsing through the articles, Lee HyunJi approached him . In her hands was a report that summarized the events for the first quarter .
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“Can we talk for a moment?”
“Of course . ”
KangYoon and Lee HyunJi stood up and headed to the sofa . This was also the two’s exclusive meeting room .
Jung HyeJin realized that the two were having a meeting and sensibly brewed them some coffee .
“Thanks . ”
KangYoon expressed his appreciation and stalked talking .
“There were a lot of things in the first quarter . First, JiMin debuted and her results were great . From the reports, the reactions from the public were incredible for a rookie . Not to mention the music charts, she placed first in some of the music programs as well . I did not expect that…”
Lee HyunJi agreed to KangYoon’s words .
“Yes . It wouldn’t be an exaggeration to say that Eunha was the highlight of the first quarter . We’ve regained all of our investment in her training, and even filled some of the losses for Eddios . The mini album’s reactions were good so I believe that we should release a regular album soon . ”
KangYoon had a look at the calendar before speaking in a difficult manner .
“Yes . We should do a regular album . However, if we do one now, our manpower at the company may be too split up . I think we should delay it for the time being . ”
“Okay . ”
Lee HyunJi brought up other important topics .
The artists were doing well . Kim JaeHoon became a stable source of income for the company, and Kim JiMin followed suit . The members of Eddios also started their activities as well .
“I didn’t know HanYu would go on a fashion show . Ris also started as a radio DJ… thanks for all your hard work . ”
KangYoon was surprised at Lee HyunJi’s neat manner of working .
While he was working with Namhoon, the remaining two members of Eddios were scouted . Seo HanYu was scouted as a guest model for a fashion show hosted by a famous magazine, while Christie An became a host for ‘FM Date at Night’ at DLE TV station every night at 8 p . m . along with a male idol .
“It turned out just as you thought . 3 of them will do long-term projects while the remaining 3 will have short-term activities with a big impact – I think it’s turning out according to plan . ”
“Indeed . I think it’s about time . ”
KangYoon spoke joyfully while having a look at the materials that Lee HyunJi brought him .
“So every member of Eddios is now active . Although we had an unexpected loss regarding MinAh’s album, the results were very good . SamSoon and Ailee are having it hard, but… they’ll bring better results . ”
“Yes . Pfft, I can understand SamSoon, but to think you’d send Ailee to a children’s program… I didn’t know she’d do so well . She goes along well with Tayo, too . Did you know that Ailee had such talents, president?”
KangYoon smiled awkwardly .
Right now, Ailee was digesting the character known as ‘Zounni’ in ‘Fun with Kera’ . She was now one of the best-ever Zounnis in existence .
1st quarter .
All members of Eddios were building their foundations stably . There was also another group that was building their foundations .
“This place may burst any moment now . ”
Lee HyunJi clicked her tongue while looking at the number of guests for White Moonlight’s regular performance at Lunas . The number was ever-increasing and Lunas was becoming a little too small for them . She even suggested to KangYoon to install some bridges on the 2nd floor for the audience .
“It’s about time they moved onto another stage . ”
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“Then we’re moving from Lunas to a bigger building?”
KangYoon shook his head .
“No . We can’t throw away our foundations . There’s the risk of losing fans if we do that . Rather than that, I’ve told HyunAh to prepare some songs, so next month, we should go major with them . ”
“Oho . ”
Lee HyunJi clapped in understanding . The difference in profits of being indie and being major was quite big . Although White Moonlight was steadily giving them profit, the amount was the smallest compared to other artists in the company . However, they were going to change now . In her shoes, it was very good .
However, there was a problem with that . Lee HyunJi pointed out .
“They’ll need a trigger, or something revolutionary to catch the attention of the general public . Even if we pull off a Sace collab again, I doubt people will attend…”
“The people who watch their shows will come, but the general public will not . Using a web portal like Sace can only be done by groups on the level of Eddios . Although the effects are big… it’s not worth it . ”
They thought about it together but there was no clear solution .
In the end, they ended their meeting with summing up the 1st quarter achievements and KangYoon headed to the practice room to meet with White Moonlight .
Lee HyunAh and Kim JinDae were discussing a song .
“Hm? President, hello . ”
Lee HyunAh and Kim JinDae greeted him . KangYoon waved at them and gestured to them to sit . They put down their mic and instrument and sat next to KangYoon .
“Where’s everyone else?”
“ChaHee is doing a lesson right now, and ChanGyu is visiting the professor for some homework . They’ll be back soon . ”
KangYoon lightly nodded at Lee HyunAh’s answer and talked about the topic at hand .
“I’ll say this again once everyone’s here, but I’m planning to turn White Moonlight into a major band . ”
“HyunAh?”
Hearing KangYoon’s words, Lee HyunAh became speechless for a moment . Kim JinDae waved his hand in front of her eyes, but she was still out of it due to shock . Kim JinDae then poked at her waist .
“Ouch!”
Lee HyunAh came to herself . Now that she did, she asked KangYoon in a trembling voice .
“M…m…major? Re… really!?”
“Why are you so surprised?”
“No, no . it’s… . ”
KangYoon always told them this . However, now that the time was upon them, her heart was fluttering . Kim JinDae also blinked several times in surprise .
“We haven’t even started yet . Anyway, you have some songs you created, right?”
“Yes . ”
“How many do you have?”
Lee HyunAh took out some scores from her bag and handed it over to KangYoon . She also showed him the video that they recorded with her phone .
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– I have something to say —
After Lee HyunAH’s song, a clean-tone guitar, and Lee HyunAh’s voice harmonized . The quality of the recording wasn’t that good, but her voice and the guitar tone created good sounds .
‘This…?’
Due to the phone being a medium, he did not see any light . However, this song felt rather different . It was a different style to White Moonlight’s usual rock, so it would be hard-pressed to use it as the main song in their major debut, but it was nonetheless, very good .
“What song is this?”
“Oh, this? SoYoung gave it to us . We first tried rock at first, but it didn’t feel that good so we made it quieter . How is it? Is it good?”
“Hm… . ”
KangYoon was surprised . Although he would have to listen to the entire band playing it to be sure, he was surprised by Park SoYoung’s composition skills .
“What’s SoYoung doing nowadays?”
“SoYoung? Haa… . ”
Lee HyunAh sighed .
“She graduated and she has to look for a job, but it’s a big deal . She doesn’t come out of her house often, and she’s writing up resumes and applying to various places, but I heard she hasn’t had any luck . ”
“The economy isn’t so easy nowadays… HeeYoon met with SoYoung last time but I don’t think she mentioned anything like that . ”
“I don’t think she said anything to miss HeeYoon . SoYoung is actually quite a proud girl . It wouldn’t have been easy for her to ask her friend who’s doing well . ”
KangYoon shook his head . Pride was important, but living was even more important . Being poor, dignity meant nothing – that’s what he thought .
“…For now, tell her to visit me once . ”
“Who, SoYoung?”
When Lee HyunAh asked back, KangYoon nodded his head .
“Yes . I want to talk to her about this piece . She definitely became good . She has a good sense for it as well . I think she knows your voice best, HyunAh . ”
“Okay, when should I tell her to come?”
KangYoon told her that any time was good and stood up .
“Let’s talk again after everyone’s here . ”
“Yes . ”
KangYoon went back to his office .
“I’m back~…”
Ailee, who had returned from shooting ‘Fun with Kera’, took off her shoes in a tired manner .
At the door, Han JooYeon welcomed her .
“Welcome back . ”
“Yeah . . JooYeon~”
Ailee ran to Han JooYeon and hugged her . Han JooYeon was at first freaked out by her behavior but still accepted her embrace regardless .
“Girlie . Are you tired?”
“Aaaah, forget it . Tayo-oppa is such a bad guy! He always scolds me . ”
Ailee took off her stockings in a violent manner and sat on the sofa . her shorts rolled up a little giving a glimpse of her underwear . Not that anyone said anything about it .
Feeling a presence, Seo HanYu exited her room as well .
“Unni, you’re back . ”
“HanYu, this unni is back . ”
Ailee appealed to the two of them how tiring it was at work today and how Tayo bullied her so much . She did not refuse any of the practices that Tayo wanted to do, and she also told them that she did her best .
Listening to her story, Han JooYeon and Seo HanYu whispered to each other .
‘Looks like Tayo-seonbae had it hard . ’
‘Yeah . It’s not easy to get along with a picky girl like that . ’
In front of Ailee who was venting her frustration, the two shook their heads .
Having spent so much time together, ‘Yes’ sounded like a ‘no’ to them .
A bar in Mapo-gu .
This was a place that attracted high-class people with an antique-looking ceiling which was illuminated by a faint purple light .
KangYoon, who was invited here by chief producer Kim ChooYeon lightly clanged his glass with the others in cheers . Chief producer Kim ChooYeon drank the strong brandy in one gulp and filled it up again .
“I got off of trouble thanks to you, President Lee . Damned Yang PD, he can’t do anything properly…”
“It’s good to hear that things went well . Nothing good would have happened to even us if that dragged out for too long . I wish to end the topic of MinAh here . ”
KangYoon’s words were welcome to him and chief producer Kim ChooYeon laughed heartily .
“Hahaha! Thank you . ”
“I also had to ask you for a favor for sir Namhoon, didn’t I? We are just helping each other out . It’s not like we are going to see each other for a day or two .
Chief producer Kim ChooYeon liked this young CEO . He was neither cocky nor self-deprecating . He liked this man from both a business perspective and a personal standpoint .
He refilled KangYoon’s empty glass and spoke .
“I guess so . Oh, do you know about Min ChaeYeon?”
“Oh, that not-so-rookie rookie . I heard that she was nameless for 6 years . She made it big through the villain role in Luxurious Villain . She was good at acting…”
“Yes . But you know? That very same Min ChaeYeon moved over to Tasty as soon as her contract was over . ”
KangYoon blinked his eyes several times .
“Tasty? The one that has several top-tier actors and actresses…?”
“Yes . She ran as soon as she made it big . Apparently, the business owner of Min ChaeYeon’s former company even went as far as to inhale briquette gas (carbon monoxide) . He looked after her for 7 whole years… personally, I find that very unfortunate . ”
“Hm… . ”
(T/N: Burning coal briquettes inside a car to commit suicide is quite a stereotype in movies and stories . )
KangYoon didn’t feel like this was someone else’s problem . He had experienced a similar situation before he returned to the past and when he had a single artist at his company . He knew that it felt like someone was shaving his bones off .
Chief producer Kim ChooYeon added .
“It’s somewhat funny to emphasize loyalty in a world like this, but I still feel bitter when I listen to stories like this . ”
“Me too . To entertainment business owners, artists are like their own children . ”
At the chief producer’s level, he knew many of the backstories in the industry . KangYoon knew most of them, but there were many that he wasn’t aware of . The two talked about a lot of things and shared their information .
It was a very wholesome conversation .
The two drank for a long time .
Chief producer Kim ChooYeon’s face had turned bright red . He grinned and talked to KangYoon .
“Haha, president . I’m having fun . It’s good to have someone I can talk to . ”
“Me too . ”
“Phew, I’m getting drunk . President . ”
He leaned towards KangYoon .
“I have some good intel . Would you like to hear it?”
“Some intel?”
When KangYoon asked back, he replied in a low tone .
“There’s an empty OST slot for a Wednesday and Thursday drama that we do . It’s a medical romance drama titled ‘His Hospital’, and we’ve only released two episodes so far . ”
“Oh, I’m aware of that . I also heard that it has decent viewing rates . ”
“Yes . But the producer over there is quite picky and hasn’t decided on an OST yet . That dude is quite stubborn so he ignores all pressure from investors… Do you have any in mind?”
This was a nice suggestion . KangYoon had no reason to refuse .
“I’ll be thankful if you do . ”
“Let me see, what’s his number again…”
Chief producer Kim ChooYeon looked up the contact info on his phone and showed it to KangYoon . KangYoon saved the number on his phone and bowed .
“Thank you, chief producer . ”
“Well, it will be outside of my influence whether the music gets used or not even if it does go on the album . I can’t help that . The producer is quite picky so you must be careful . ”
KangYoon said he understood and nodded his head .
‘That song will work . ’
KangYoon was ensured after hearing the proposal from chief producer Kim ChooYeon .