“Wait, is this for real?”
The terrifying word “cost-effectiveness” was flitting through the fan-site master’s mind.
Season two had begun with a bizarre opening.
If this was what lay behind that thumbnail full of laughter, she did not even want to watch.
[If the members were to face a financial burden, I’d be willing to step up and help them? Is this a psychological test?]
[I’m... obviously circling yes for willing to help. But our members aren’t the kind of kids who’d end up in that situation.]
Dohui and Seoyun had filled out the survey in the conference room.
Honestly, even if it was a budget self-produced show, it would have been enough.
It was the kind of time when simply watching the members chatter among themselves was entertaining.
“But they’re taking the whole ‘cost-effective’ thing even further? Are you guys insane?”
[The two of you have stated that, for today’s first special episode, you’re willing to cover the difference yourselves for the members!]
But then came the PD’s declaration, pressuring them to pay out of pocket.
Naturally, the reactions from the fans, including the fan-site master, were icy.
─Never imagined TopEast would treat them like this lol They made the concept look so classy and then pulled this shit lol
─My head is spinning. In the end, a small agency is still a small agency.
─Dohui and Seoyun immediately saying they’d help the members out is so sweet it makes me even more annoyed lol
─Who the hell plans this kind of thing? Judging by the way the PD talks, did they outsource this?
─Even if the planning was outsourced, TopEast approving this is the real legend lol
[But was the special we’re paying for even going to be fun in the first place? I really don’t mind spending money for our Air at all~ I really don’t. You know what kind of person I am, right, unnie?]
[I know, I know. I know our Dohui’s heart and what kind of person she is. That’s why I’m asking what fun we’re supposed to get out of spending our own money. Isn’t it only fun if we’re suffering? We’re in a perfectly good mood right now, aren’t we?]
“Exactly. Is this even fun?”
“They’re really beating them over the head with the captions, too.”
What she especially disliked was how they referred only to Seoyun and Dohui as “the bosses,” repeatedly emphasizing that they had succeeded through Seiven.
The group had only debuted recently and hadn’t even been active for a year. What good could possibly come from deliberately emphasizing that and creating this kind of atmosphere?
“What was that PD bastard’s name again?”
The fan-site master tried searching for which outside production company the PD belonged to.
Since his face had not appeared even once, she could not find him easily.
Even in this situation, the two people at the center of it all seemed conscious of the fans who would be watching the self-produced content. They kept cracking light jokes without a wrinkle on their faces, trying to loosen the mood, which only made her more irritated.
[That’s right. As long as our Air watches us a lot, we’ll have no regrets. This time, Dohui and I are paying. We’re paying, but...]
[...Should we start by reducing the number of staff? Restructuring.]
[Director of Photography, could you turn off the camera for a moment? It’s okay. No, the director and I obviously have to go together.]
[Hey, first of all, PD. You first. High salary.]
[PD: Huh? Me? Am I getting fired?]
[Right. Who cares if they’re superiors or whatever? We’re just firing everyone. Chiyo unnie, you’d better watch yourself, too.]
[Huh? I’m getting fired too? But I’m a member.]
[You’re right. Sorry.]
“Ugh... What did the kids who just wanted to have fun filming this do wrong?”
And just like that, the provocative thumbnail was born.
Dohui, delivering a passionate speech.
[We’re pouring money, love, and passion into making this, so if Air doesn’t watch it, we’re going to be so disappointed!]
Seoyun playing along.
[Then we have to make people watch it. A thumbnail that makes them want to click as soon as they see it.]
[Ah, if we do this, everyone’s going to show up wearing suits. It can’t be helped. Since Chiyo unnie is wearing black, let’s have her kneel as our representative.]
[Chiyo good at dogeza.]
[...Chiyo, you shouldn’t say things like that...]
* * *
Jeong Sohyeon’s mood was not entirely peaceful. Her long strides and the unusually heavy clacking of her shoes as she strode along made that clear.
As the producer overseeing everything—the music video, choreography, concept, album, outfits, and schedule—Jeong Sohyeon had barely a moment to spare from one day to the next.
And this was a double title track, at that.
Even on days exhausted from handling work and attending meetings, she had no time to check every piece of self-produced content herself.
Of course, it was not as though she had never looked over the proposal.
As the person overseeing the Debonair team, she had clearly signed off on the initial self-produced content proposal.
Yes, the original plan had definitely been a reality-variety show in which they would work a little in the outdoors from the morning, earn money by playing games, and then use that money to throw a party at a pension and relax.
At some point, without her knowledge, it had been changed into something that deliberately created an uncomfortable atmosphere.
“Director, you’re—”
“Team leader.”
That was why Jeong Sohyeon pressed firmly between her brows once, trying to hide her anger, then questioned the planning department’s team leader.
“Yes?”
“YouTube. Who approved this?”
It was not something that should have been authorized at the team leader level.
“And why was the outsourced PD changed? This person is from Mwave and LE.”
She had held herself back, but she had no idea what kind of expression she was making.
“Well...”
The planning team leader was acting more cautious than usual, clearly reading the room. Jeong Sohyeon could only assume that her expression must be quite grim.
“It was the division head...”
“Division Head Mun Gyuchul?”
“Yes. He told me to submit the documents directly to him...”
She was sick to death of this pointless internal politics that was tripping them up at the most crucial time.
Division Head Mun Gyuchul had been finding fault with her at every turn ever since then.
She had let their power struggle slide, thinking of it as nothing more than petty pride, but...
“He also said the changes had been confirmed...”
Watching her subordinate offer an excuse that was hardly an excuse, Jeong Sohyeon clenched her teeth, then swallowed her anger.
“Fine. Next time, submit it to me as well. No matter what.”
“Yes...”
She forced herself to swallow her anger, but that did not mean she let it go.
She pressed the extension leading from the director’s office to the CEO’s office, one digit at a time, hard enough to make her finger ache.
* * *
“Our unnie is seriously such a big person.”
Fortunately, as the self-produced content went on, it focused more and more on the members fooling around, and the stiff atmosphere from the beginning gradually eased.
Not only the two financiers, Seoyun and Dohui, who were doing their best to lighten the mood—
[Dohui: But lunch has to be funny too, right? So, members. Let’s make lunch a competition!]
[Seoyun: Okay. No company card—completely personal cards. We’ll treat all the staff, too. How about it?]
─And they’re even buying food for the staff ㅜ They’re so generous.
─Dohui meeting the camera director during her reckless moment, looking like a puppy that’s a hundred times happier lol I love it.
─(Image: The average assets of teenagers are 86 million won)
└What the hell are you talking about? Exclude Seiven.
The members had also done their part by reading the situation and laughing and chatting just as they normally did.
[Chiyo: We haven’t been paid yet...(bank balance: 0 won)]
[Naneun: I feel bad toward Dohui and Seoyun, so I’ll even take out the account where I’ve been saving my New Year’s money! It’s okay!]
[Ua: If we lose, I guess I’ll have to ask my mom to lend me some... Sorry, Mom...]
─The account with your New Year’s money...? Naneun, that’s not the account you entrusted to your mother, is it?
└???: “I’ll hold on to this money and give it back to you later.”
─What’s with Ua’s facial acting lol
“This is what a team is! Go, family-like... atmosphere!”
In the end, the young-and-rich Seoyun and Dohui’s one-on-one sundubu-jjampong bet was finalized, and from then on, it was one laugh after another.
[Seoyun: Do you know how to hit?]
[Chiyo: In Japan, women are good at baseball too. Men play baseball, women play softball. You don’t know?]
─Did Chiyo play softball? lol
─If Debonair goes to throw the first pitch, Chiyo can do it.
└Hey, are you taking a shot at Dohui’s dead-ball right now?
[Seoyun: ...Looks like she really is good. Ah, this puts our team at a disadvantage. I had absolutely no expectations for Naneun unnie in the first place...]
─Crack!
[Naneun: Wow! I—I hit it! Seoyun, did you see? Unnie hit it!]
[Seoyun: I knew I could trust Naneun unnie!]
─LOL look at Seoyun completely changing her tune.
─Naneun unnie is so adorably innocent, getting that happy over it.
[Ua: But Chiyo, that softball thing? Did you really play?]
[Chiyo: No.]
─LOL So she was lying?
From the members deceiving one another in turn—
[Seoyun: Wow, it was terrifying when Lee Dohui threw the ball at Sera.]
As that day’s incident flashed past—
The batter’s position, and Dohui’s unexpectedly impressive athletic ability as she stepped up to the plate.
[─Crack!]
[Dohui: If they invite me to a baseball stadium this time, should I try batting instead of throwing the ceremonial first pitch?]
─Yeah, I think that would be better, Dohui.
─There must not be a second victim...
─Sera was in pain that day. She cried.
─LOL She’s clearly seen someone spin a baseball helmet before.
Meanwhile, Dohui’s team (Chiyo) and Seoyun’s team (Seoyun) were busy hatching a conspiracy.
[Seoyun: I shall provide dessert.]
[Chiyo: Oh-ho...]
[Dohui: What are you two doing?]
[Chiyo: Nothing?(innocent)]
─This is absolutely a scene of collusion lol
─LOL Every single member here is good at facial acting.
In any case, Dohui struck two consecutive hits with the posture of a rather stylish, seasoned player.
Though until then, she had been relentlessly slandered.
[Seoyun: She’s the one who threw a ball at Sera, remember?]
[Ua: Sera sunbaenim looked like she was in a lot of pain.]
[Seoyun: She was bruised that day.]
─That incident comes up whenever they get bored.
─The pitcher’s beanball lol It’ll never stop being a dark chapter.
─But is it really her first time holding a bat? How is she so good? ㄷㄷ She’s got great athletic ability.
└If she’s that good, why was she like that that day...
─Dohui’s good at baseball too. I love it. If our Eagles had only hit as well as Dohui, they wouldn’t have come in last lol These fucking bird-brained bastards aren’t professionals, how the fuck can they be this—
└Why are you suddenly getting angry...
And even at that very moment, the conspiracy continued.
[Seoyun: Ha, what’s with Lee Dohui’s athletic ability? At this point, Chiyo, you’re our only hope.]
[Chiyo: Don’t worry.]
[Dohui: What are you two doing?]
[Chiyo: Nothing.]
─Chiyo giving Seoyun an obvious thumbs-up is pissing me off so much lol
[Dohui: If you don’t deliberately miss, unnie is never buying you food.]
[Chiyo: (nods)]
Contrary to the bold way she had stepped forward, Chiyo gave a passionate performance, gripping the bat with trembling hands and doing nothing but dodge the ball.
[Chiyo: Eek!]
The bat cutting through empty air became one with her in a performance so committed that even someone watching from close by could not tell whether it was genuine or method acting.
[Dohui: Do it properly!]
[Chiyo: I—I’m holding a bat for the first time today. I-I’m serious.]
Afterward, Ua also showed off her skills without holding back.
[Ua: This is harder than I thought~?]
[Dohui: Ah, please, just hit one...]
[Dohui (Dohui Team Captain/2 at-bats, 2 hits): Ah.]
[Seoyun (Seoyun Team Captain/2 at-bats, 1 hit): Ack.]
─LOL That’s team games for you~
The anxious first episode was finally brought to a close with Naneun and Seoyun’s noisy celebration of victory.