“Whew…”
The countless love calls coming in simultaneously from broadcasting stations.
Yet the producer of Debonair—
Director Jeong Sohyeon was at her wits’ end.
Even before this, the Debonair members had been, alongside Ailee, the number one target for recruitment among active idol groups.
But in the aftermath of their self-produced content becoming a massive hit, they had become the zero-priority target for broadcasting stations.
According to people in the industry,
several main-level variety show PDs and main-level variety writers—especially staff in the observational variety field, like their self-produced content—had already set their sights on our girls.
Of course, receiving good evaluations from industry people was a positive sign.
Generally speaking.
But in the current situation, appearing on variety shows indiscriminately whenever the schedule allowed was not a particularly good picture.
“Because nothing good comes from accelerating image overexposure.”
If they were complete rookies, maybe.
Dohee and Seoyun had spent their prime days in Seven, who had briefly been compared to Coral Blue, and while they had built up reputation and value, it was an undeniable fact that they were secondhand rookies.
Also, given the nature of the audition program through which the two had debuted, they inevitably had to be close to the public.
But that did not mean they could preserve a certain degree of mystique
by turning the broadcasting stations into enemies.
Broadcasting stations were the “A-side” in the relationship; only companies on the level of the Big Four entertainment agencies could even attempt a power struggle with them.
And as it happened, TopEast was already on fairly poor terms with the supermassive music broadcaster Mwave due to a dispute during Seven’s disbandment process.
So, inevitably,
“We’ll have to go on one or two shows as the schedule allows. For each broadcasting station.”
She even wondered if she had been rash to force Director Moon Gyuchul to resign.
Although Director Moon Gyuchul was certainly not someone one could look kindly upon, spending company expenses lavishly under the guise of hospitality on broadcasting station executives at entertainment establishments and the like,
he had also been someone who, with his own wastrel-like capabilities, actively served as a lubricant between the broadcasting stations and the company.
‘It would’ve been better if he’d just stopped there.’
There was nothing to be done.
Leaving aside internal politics, if TopEast was to become a healthy structure in the end, he was a rotten branch that would have had to be cut off someday.
And the conclusion had not changed.
In the end, the members would have to appear on quite a few variety shows, and image overexposure would be unavoidable.
If so, there was only one method in the end.
The members’ real personalities they would show on variety shows—
easygoing, approachable, affectionate images.
They had no choice but to cloak them in an image on the opposite end of that spectrum: luxurious and dignified.
In truth, this time, she had thought the image of having composed the title track would be enough to cover for it, and she had wanted to save this for later.
But there was no helping it.
“We had to go this year anyway. If that’s the case, earlier is better. Probably… since Paris Fashion Week is in autumn this year…”
She had delayed it a little to raise their value, but now it was time to swiftly finish negotiations with the brands and release articles alongside their comeback.
Jeong Sohyeon nodded repeatedly.
“Yes, it was something we needed to do in the end.”
Beauty, jewelry, fashion.
Among the three branches of luxury ambassador contracts,
Dohee currently only had one contract in the jewelry category.
Just as Seoyun had already completed contracts in all three categories,
it was time to newly select luxury ambassador brands for Dohee in the remaining two categories.
“It’s not like I can tell the girls to go on broadcasts and act coy…”
Thus, Jeong Sohyeon opened her drawer and took out the documents.
Then she carefully reconsidered, one by one, the image direction pursued by the brands that had offered Dohee deals, as well as the branding effect Dohee could gain from them.
Of course, Jeong Sohyeon also had to check Debonair’s schedule chart at the same time.
Thanks to that, the headache simply would not go away.
“No matter how much idols are all-around entertainers, they’re not comedians…”
She kept pressing firmly against the muscles at the back of her neck.
“Haa…”
* * *
Meanwhile, Dohee, who was about to film, was simply pondering like a professional how to draw laughs on a variety show.
“Could the paper that says intelligence and a sense of humor are proportional be true? Huhu…”
“Mm… I don’t know? There might be a counterexample?”
“Eh? Ua-chan, why are you looking at me?”
* * *
Perhaps because Manager Yeongho was needlessly nervous about the fact that he himself would be appearing on TV, he was busy trying to lead us into a solemn atmosphere as well.
“The director said not to overdo it this time, no matter what, so everyone, tomorrow, be a little modest. Got it?”
“Manager, are you nervous?”
“He’s nervous, he’s nervous!”
“Girls, this is real.”
“Whoa, what’s with the facial acting~”
“What if this broadcast becomes your chance to become an actor?”
“No, I’m serious, girls.”
“Wow, method acting. Chills.”
“I think I understand why you set foot in the entertainment industry. Did you have a dream?”
“Right, maybe acting really was your dream… But I actually think you’d do well if you became an actor, Manager. Like a premium supporting actor! You have a good impression, too!”
“Naeun, how can you too, really… I mean it, so tomorrow’s concept is gentle, quiet, and cultured, okay? Like when you girls eat!”
Star Beside, abbreviated as Sbeed.
A real look into the members’ daily lives, revealed from the perspective of the manager who is always with the celebrity.
It was the most popular program among celebrity observational variety shows.
So the fans would be very happy about it.
I was rather happy about it too.
There would be a bit of setup, but there was no need to take out a lot of separate time for filming.
We happened to be at the stage right before filming the music video.
Since the behind-the-scenes cameras would be rolling anyway, it just meant another production crew and some staff would be added.
“But to be honest, if we’re talking culture, that’s me.”
“Yes, Dohee, you’ve said plenty. This time, make sure you show a lot of that culture.”
“What? I’m usually—”
Plenty… I do refrain from bringing up obscure bits of knowledge for the sake of being humble.
Even so, that culture must be subtly dripping off me in abundance, no?
“Uh, seeing him like this, I think Manager might be serious.”
“I think so too…?”
“Right.”
“Tsk, girls, do you know how smart our Dohee is!”
Now that I looked closely, I understood.
“Look at this, look at this. These people are even roping in Manager now? I almost got fooled today, seriously.”
Even so, the members were about twenty years too early to deceive me.
* * *
‘......’
Let’s begin a cultured day.
Of course, it was no different from usual.
There were cameras installed in the dorm.
And today, I was merely enjoying the virtue of silence a little more leisurely.
—Shrrrrk!
When I drew back the blackout curtains, the morning spring sunlight greeted me again today.
‘Ah, so cozy!’
‘I should hurry and do my first stretches of the day and play the piano!’
Yes, today a quiet and tranquil song, like morning birdsong, would be good.
Not flashy, but calm and gentle.
Something with a nocturne-like feel.
Like Consolation, Liszt’s Consolation No. 3.
This piece would tell me that today would be busy and tiring too,
but that, as always, once it was over, everything would be all right, soothing me again today.
That was why today’s way of performing was not “playing the piano.”
It was simply letting the notes flow from my hands.
“Leiwand! (Excellent!)”
Ah, this German exclamation was a somewhat hastily improvised concept I’d looked up on my phone earlier, though.
* * *
“No way~” “Liar!” “Dohee, what’s wrong with you!”
The panelists watching the screen together reacted with disgust.
Their tone had some playfulness in it,
but MC Hong Jeongyong, famous for his sharp tongue, seemed sincere.
“This girl’s concept is too much! Who gets up and immediately stretches and even plays the piano? Stretching aside, even the pianists I know say they’d never do that because they’re sick of it!”
I was simply dumbfounded.
Just because those people didn’t do it, did that mean no one did?
As expected, the only one I could trust at times like this was our Seoyun unnie.
“But Dohee really does that every day when she wakes up. Without fail.”
It was true, but she defended me.
I really did raise her well.
“Without fail? She does it without fail?”
I decided to answer here.
“Yes, pretty much. It’s a routine I’ve kept up since I was young.”
Perhaps feeling awkward, Hong Jeongyong raised his hand and laughed as if he had merely been asking a simple question.
“Ah, really? Is that why you play so well? As expected, to be good at anything, you need effort. So what piece is that? The piano sounds so nice!”
I’ll just have to think of it as his own way of getting screen time.
“It’s Liszt’s Consolation, or Consolation No. 3. It’s a piece that expresses the happy days Liszt loved, and it’s beautiful how happiness consoles sorrow. It really makes your heart feel peaceful and good. Right?”
“Yeah, it’s nice!”
“But honestly, it is a bit of a setup.”
Hm?
“That’s right, see! I knew there’d be something. Members know these things about each other. Hurry and tell us, Seoyun.”
“No, normally she opens the members’ doors to wake us up and plays something really loud, even stepping on the pedal… But there, she’s playing something calm! No, I’m in the room next door, and her playing is my alarm, my alarm!”
Ah.
“When did I ever. It’s half and half, depending on whether I’m just warming up my hands or practicing something I want to practice.”
“Half and half? Half and half? Every morning when I wake up and go out, you go, ‘Unnie, you’re awaaake?’ and then say, ‘Now I, Lee Dohee, shall show you my transcendental technique,’ and from the morning—”
“Tss!”
No, that was because if I’m going to practice, difficult pieces are better.
And difficult pieces can generally be a bit loud.
Seriously.
—Leiwand!
“This!”
Hong Jeongyong pointed at me as if he had found his opening.
“Ah, this one really was a setup. I shouted it once as a joke.”
“Right? This one was way too improvised~”
And I’m only saying this now, but I’m sure Seoyun unnie would have gotten annoyed first thing back in her school days when her mother woke her up.
Not even knowing to be grateful.
It was the same thing.
This was such an expensive and cultured morning performance.
She should know how blessed she was—
Oops.
Manager Yeongho, sitting in front and watching, was sighing.
I always say this, but even if I act immature on the outside, there is always a deeper meaning.
If an eighteen-year-old looks too cultured or dignified, people get resentful, thinking she’s showing off too much.
So I only mixed in a little lightness.
For real.