The scores for the entertainment agencies that “AI Automation” had brought up. For several seconds, Gang Rojun stared at the results in silence.
[EY Entertainment / 3 points]
[Big Star Entertainment / 28 points]
[GN Entertainment / 95 points]
[KRO Entertainment / 73 points]
[Eoullim Entertainment / 69 points]
·
·
·
·
What stood out the most was EY Entertainment’s score.
‘3 points? That’s harsh.’
Its score had come out absurdly low compared to the other agencies. No, this wasn’t merely low—it wouldn’t be wrong to say it had no score at all. Even the worst of the other agencies had over 20 points. And yet only EY Entertainment had 3.
On top of that.
‘Big Star Entertainment is low too.’
Following EY Entertainment, Big Star’s score was also on the low side at 28 points. Conversely, GN Entertainment, which had been the stingiest in its evaluation of Sihu, Gangmin, and Dogyeong, had a score close to 100.
‘GN Entertainment is 95 points—should I consider the other seven agencies’ scores average?’
The other agencies were roughly around 60 to 70 points.
In other words, only EY, Big Star, and GN Entertainment—the so-called Big Three agencies in Korea—showed unusually distinct scores. What on earth was this? Why were two of the biggest Big Three agencies the ones with the lowest scores? Rojun scratched his head as if he couldn’t understand.
‘They’re the two most famous agencies when it comes to idols, so it’d be normal for their scores to be high—’
Even so, 3 points was a bit much. Even 28 points was enough to make him frown. The request Gang Rojun had given “AI Automation” was to score how well the agencies matched with the final winners, including himself. Which meant EY and Big Star Entertainment were, quite literally, trash.
Especially EY.
After thinking it over for a while, Rojun—
‘There’s no way “AI Automation” gave me an answer with errors mixed in or got it wrong. It’s “AI Automation,” isn’t it?’
—came to a conclusion.
‘I don’t know exactly why, but if we go to EY or Big Star, we’re screwed.’
“AI Simulation” was a god-tier cheat item. Not trusting it would be stupid, and he couldn’t know the details right now as to why those two agencies’ scores were low. They had to make their final decision in about a week, so there was no time to find out—and no need to, either.
‘We avoid EY and Big Star, and push for GN Entertainment.’
Excluding the two trash-score agencies, the remaining eight were above 60 points. Among them, GN was 95 points, nearly 100. There had to be a reason “AI Automation” had assigned it 95 points. Having made his decision, Rojun closed the “AI Simulation” app he had been looking at and accessed a search site, then began searching up the Big Three agencies.
Mostly EY and Big Star Entertainment rather than GN Entertainment.
After skimming through various articles, blogs, and the like, Gang Rojun found a few incidents and lowered his phone.
‘I’ll try talking to the guys with this much. If they say they don’t like it, I’ll have no choice but to pull out the big guns.’
Having organized his thoughts, Rojun stretched his arms out fully and let out a small breath.
‘Shall I start making a song?’
He immediately picked up the guitar he had placed beside him. Holding the guitar in his arms, Rojun strummed it lightly while letting out a contemplative hum. What kind of song should he start with? During his time on “Geubaekpeu,” Gang Rojun had experienced songs like ballads, rap, dance, and more. Still, maybe it would be best to start with a ballad after all? Come to think of it, the first song Rojun had ever learned was “Bereavement,” a rock ballad.
‘Since it’s the first song I’m composing, I want to put some meaning into it.’
How about something in the form of a gift to his deceased parents? “Bereavement” had been a song filled with heartrending longing for someone who had died, so for the song he would try making this time, Rojun thought it would be nice to have a slightly brighter feeling, like sending greetings or asking how they were doing. Once he decided on the concept, a suitable musical idea came to mind. His fingers didn’t move immediately like Sihu’s did, but even having his head work this much was more than enough.
It was probably thanks to his “Composition” stat having passed 20 points.
‘This feels a little daunting, but let’s try it for now.’
It was then.
-Bzzzz.
A short vibration rang from the phone he had set beside him. Wondering what it was, Gang Rojun checked it and immediately smiled faintly.
“It popped up.”
The reason for the vibration was a notification sent by the “AI Simulation” app.
-[Surprise Title Mission Activated!]
-[Related Title: “Side-Hustle Rich”]
-[Reward Upon Completion: 8 Stat Point Enhancement Coupon]
-[Completion Condition: Finish your first composition!]
A surprise mission had appeared. More than anything, Gang Rojun liked the reward.
‘Nice!!’
Then Rojun recalled his side jobs.
-[Side Jobs: [1] Screenwriter, [2] Actor, [3] Lyricist]
He was certain that once he completed this quest, the “Composer” side job would be added. If that happened, his side jobs would increase to four, and the “Side-Hustle Rich” title would be enhanced by +4. Gang Rojun’s combat power surged rapidly.
‘Even if it takes some time, I have to get this no matter what—whether it’s the title or the reward.’
The next morning, Friday.
A large building near Hapjeong Station in Seoul. This building, through which countless people were still coming and going, was the headquarters of GN Entertainment, one of the so-called Big Three agencies in Korea. As expected of a major entertainment corporation, there were many vans, people carriers, and even celebrities to be seen.
Inside GN Entertainment’s large conference room.
More than twenty people were stationed in the conference room, where tables had been arranged in a square. Team leaders from GN Entertainment and executives above them were all present. The CEO of GN Entertainment was also seated at the head of the table. The person receiving everyone’s attention in this meeting was a female team leader whose face was shadowed.
“Team Leader Park, what happened with the self-PR shoot on the ‘Geubaekpeu’ side?”
At one director’s question, the female team leader’s face grew even darker.
“Well—my apologies. We unexpectedly ended up playing a game.”
“……A game?”
“Yes.”
The female team leader had participated on behalf of GN Entertainment during the agency shoot for “Geubaekpeu,” and had been the first participant in the name-the-person game, only to fail spectacularly. She recited everything that had happened during filming in the conference room. Soon, the surrounding executives lamented.
“Thirty seconds? Good grief—only thirty seconds?”
“This is ridiculous. We paid that much attention to it all this time, and it ended after only thirty seconds?”
“That U Hanseok went too far too. Suddenly springing a game on you like that.”
“So did you say everything you needed to say within those thirty seconds?”
The female team leader, who had been hesitating, answered with difficulty.
“……About half.”
The sound of people clicking their tongues could be heard here and there. It was the executives.
“What about EY and Big Star?”
“They got around 80 to 100 seconds.”
“Don’t tell me—we came in last?”
“……”
A soundless affirmation. The executives openly let out sighs.
“You should have done better.”
“You blew it.”
“It’s over. The final winners of ‘Geubaekpeu’ must be leaning toward EY or Big Star.”
“You should have kept your wits about you…… Hoo—”
For the executives, it wasn’t just that their self-PR had been short; they also didn’t like that they had placed last in a setting where all of the Big Three had appeared. At this, the female team leader merely lowered her head.
At that moment.
-Slide.
The CEO of GN Entertainment, seated at the head of the table, slowly folded his arms. Thanks to his rolled-up shirt sleeves, the muscles on his forearms stood out. He had a sturdy build and was on the taller side; though he looked to be past his fifties, he was handsome enough to be called good-looking. A bit, how should one put it—a middle-aged flower man?
The CEO looked steadily at the female team leader and spoke.
“Raise your head, Team Leader Park. There’s no need to feel intimidated.”
His voice was gentle yet powerful, and when the female team leader lifted her face, the CEO looked around at the surrounding executives and murmured calmly.
“If you were that worried, you should have gone yourselves.”
“Ah, no. That’s—”
“CEO, we just felt it was a shame.”
“Anyone can flap their mouths. Show it with your actions.”
“……”
The conference room froze in an instant.
“Something unexpected happened on site, and she went through a battle somehow and came back. Why do you all have so much to say?”
This time, the executives sharply lowered their heads. Soon, the CEO gave the female team leader a faint smile.
“You worked hard, Team Leader Park.”
“Th-thank you.”
“It’s not as if anything’s been decided yet, is it?”
“Yes. They’ll be holding the vote after this filmed segment airs. I heard that after the results come out, the final selection will be made on the live broadcast on the 20th.”
“A live broadcast, huh—that should be fun.”
After speaking quietly, the CEO lightly tapped the table with his index finger. Then he crossed his legs.
“There’s nothing we can do right now. We’ll have to accept it humbly.”
One executive cut in.
“We even pulled ourselves together and scouted managers and producers, but if we miss out on the ‘Geubaekpeu’ kids…… It was a chance for us to really make a proper run at it. Wouldn’t that be a bit of a waste?”
“Just a waste? We’ll probably think about it for the next few years. But what can we do? All we can do is wait.”
“……”
In reality, there was nothing GN Entertainment could do in this situation. The same was true of the other nine agencies besides GN Entertainment. They were large corporations with considerable power in the entertainment industry, but they couldn’t lift a finger. Then, recalling PD U Hanseok with his heavy dark circles, the CEO let out a hollow laugh.
“In any case, you have to give PD U Hanseok credit for setting the stage.”
He raised his voice to address the now-quiet conference room.
“It’s still not time to give up. You never know what kind of reversal might happen.”
Meanwhile, at the same time.
New news appeared on the internet.
《Queen of the Music Industry “Park Hyeonjeong,” New Album Just Around the Corner》
《Great Singer Park Hyeonjeong Returns! Fans Who Have Been Waiting: “We Thought Our Necks Would Snap from Waiting”》
Great singer Park Hyeonjeong was returning.
《[Star Talk] Park Hyeonjeong Announces New Album, To Be Released on Music Platforms Next Monday / Photo》
The new album would be released next Monday. It had been quite a while since Park Hyeonjeong had released an album, and several media outlets hinted that the timing wasn’t good.
《Music Charts Occupied by “Geubaekpeu” and “Rental Lover,” Even Park Hyeonjeong May Struggle to Chart》
《The Return of “Queen Park Hyeonjeong”…… But “Geubaekpeu” Is Too Powerful》
Still, Park Hyeonjeong was a big-name singer. Since she also had a wide fanbase, she quickly drew attention.
-Waaah!!! I’ve been waiting!!!
-Honestly, I was getting sick of how lately it’s all idol songs everywhere lol this is nice
-What do you mean it’ll be hard to chart lolololol if it’s someone like Park Hyeonjeong, she’ll go straight into the top 10
-It’s almost winter, and it’s about time to crave some sorrowful ballads
-I’ve been into Park Hyeonjeong’s songs lately…… and now a new song with perfect timing……
But as expected, the issues surrounding “Geubaekpeu” and “Rental Lover” were powerful.
《Friday Has Returned…… Netizens: “Rental Lover and Geubaekpeu Are On!!”》
Today was Friday, and after episode 2 of “Rental Lover” aired, episode 17 of “Geubaekpeu” would air right after. “Rental Lover,” which had heated up the previous week, and “Geubaekpeu,” now just before its final winner broadcast.
《[Issue Pick] Episode 2 of “Rental Lover” Airs Today, Will We Properly See the Visuals of “Lover No. 4”?》
《Predictions of Final Winners Surge Across Various Communities…… “Geubaekpeu” Expected to Break Its Highest Ratings Today》
《“Rojun” Captures Friday’s Home Audience…… Trend Experts Say, “He Is Already More Than an Idol Trainee—He’s a Rising Star”》
Around the time countless issues like these were surging, Gang Rojun, Sihu, Gangmin, and Dogyeong were in the middle of practicing in a campus practice room.
-♬♪
Excluding today, there was now less than a week left until next Friday. With time so tight, they had to move their bodies even more. Because the 20th, one week later, would be the last time they would appear before viewers as participants of “Geubaekpeu,” and as the final winners.
After the four of them had focused on practice for about two hours like that—
“Uaaah—I’m dying!!”
The moment they took a short break, they sprawled out on the practice room floor. They were drenched in sweat, breathing roughly. Gang Rojun, lying spread-eagled, was no exception. Then Dogyeong, who had sat up by lifting his waist, spoke in a dry tone.
“Still, since the survival is over, practice is fun. Before, there was so much pressure that it felt more uncomfortable than anything.”
“I feel the same. Practice was fun, huh. Once we get an agency now, it’ll get even, even, even more fun, right?”
Gangmin and Dogyeong were chatting when—
-Swish.
Gang Rojun abruptly stood up and swept back his sweat-damp black hair. Dogyeong, turning his gaze toward him, clapped indifferently.
“I thought it was a pictorial.”
Gangmin agreed.
“If Rojun hyung debuts, I’m one hundred percent sure girl groups will flirt with him like crazy.”
“Not just girl groups. Seniors and actors are one hundred percent going to make moves on him too.”
“He’s going to have to manage scandals seriously tightly.”
To the kids bringing up such hot-blooded topics, Gang Rojun suddenly said,
“Let’s go to GN, not EY Entertainment or Big Star.”
For a moment, Sihu, Gangmin, and Dogyeong blinked their eyes. Regardless, Gang Rojun continued.
“Even if you guys don’t go, I’m going to GN Entertainment.”