Thanks to the final choice Kang Rojun uttered into the handheld microphone.
-[“The choice of the four of us is GN Entertainment.”]
Countless viewers watching the final episode of “Geubaekpeu” began spewing out enormous questions like mad.
-Huh?? GN??
-Hooolyyyyyy what a twist!!
-That’s ridiculous lolololololol suddenly GN??
-Wow lololol I was 100% thinking EY or Big Star
-GN’s fine too
-No lololol GN was 5th in the viewer vote too, so why GN?
-Aaaah GN is seriously not it
-I think Rojun was nervous and said it by mistake
-Rojun!! Is GN right?!! Not EY?!
Of course, here and there were reactions saying GN Entertainment was fine, but the overall response was negative.
-What kind of twist is this lolololololololol
-GN Entertainment’s form lately has been reaaaally dead!!
-EY Entertainment: trembling with rage
-Wouldn’t Big Star be better than GN?ㅠㅠ
It wasn’t strange. In the viewer vote, first and second place had been EY Entertainment and Big Star Entertainment, while GN Entertainment had been pushed down to fifth. On top of that, if one looked at recent public opinion, EY and Big Star were ranked higher than GN.
But Kang Rojun and the members’ choice overturned everyone’s expectations and landed on GN Entertainment.
At this, EY Entertainment, who had heard Rojun’s choice on “Geubaekpeu” in real time and had been more certain of victory than anyone else, was plunged into confusion.
“······GN?? I misheard EY, right?”
“No—he definitely said GN Entertainment.”
“Wh-what are you talking about!! Not our EY, but that damned GN!!”
The faces of everyone from the executives to the CEO of EY Entertainment shattered or crumpled.
“Did Rojun maybe say it wrong by mistake?? Since it’s live and he was nervous.”
“Even so, would he say GN instead of EY?”
“It doesn’t make sense! It doesn’t!! Why would they choose GN instead of our EY!!”
“No, it has to be a mistake. He said it by mistake. They’ll correct it.”
However, as if making it clear that the GN Entertainment Kang Rojun had just named was correct, “Geubaekpeu” on the screen lit up only the GN Entertainment logo among the ten logos behind the stage where the final winners stood.
The logos of the other nine entertainment companies, including EY, went dark.
There was no way the production team of “Geubaekpeu,” which was being broadcast live, would repeat the same mistake.
In other words.
“It seems······it’s definitely GN Entertainment.”
“Th-this is insane!!!”
Rojun, Sihu, Kangmin, and Dokyeong’s choice was GN Entertainment. From that point on, the EY Entertainment executives began shouting, not in confusion, but in something closer to rage.
“No, what the hell were those bastards thinking, choosing GN?! Did they lose a screw??”
“That’s what I’m saying. What on earth were they thinking······”
“GN definitely pulled something behind the scenes!”
“It’s more than possible! Someone call Woo Hanseok right now!!”
By then, the face of EY Entertainment’s CEO, whose pride had been cracked, flushed a deep red. The executives watching his mood had no choice but to move quickly.
“C-CEO! We’ll check right away!”
“Something is definitely wrong!”
On the other hand, GN Entertainment, which had been like a funeral hall, also reacted in disbelief. However, their tone was somewhat different from EY Entertainment’s.
“They, they chose us??”
“What is going on? I’d half given up—”
“Is it certain?”
“Our logo lit up.”
“We won? Did we win??”
After spending a few minutes grasping reality, the GN executives suddenly erupted into cheers.
“We won!!”
“Hahaha, those four made one hell of a brilliant decision! Good, very good!!”
“CEO! Just as you said, a reversal happened!!”
“Congratulations, CEO!”
But the GN CEO, who had the air of a handsome middle-aged man, replied with a calm expression without jumping around.
“This didn’t happen because we did well, so don’t get excited.”
After sweeping his gaze over the executives, he slowly rose from his seat and gave an order.
“Keep monitoring.”
The CEO put on the suit jacket he had taken off and looked at Kang Rojun and the members on the TV. Rojun, Sihu, Kangmin, and Dokyeong bowed deeply at ninety degrees to the viewers.
-[“We’ll see you on our official debut day. This has been ‘Produce That 100!’”]
“Geubaekpeu” came to an end.
Afterward.
Many of those who had been watching the final episode of “Geubaekpeu” were stirred up. First was the team of “Rental Lover,” including PD Jeong Suryeong.
“Wow—I didn’t think they’d pick GN Entertainment??”
“Exactly. There was the viewer vote too, so I thought for sure they’d choose between EY and Big Star. Then suddenly GN?”
“Of course GN is a large company too, and they’re still called one of the Big Three, but······it’s a bit disappointing, isn’t it? GN Entertainment has been pretty quiet these days.”
“Right. The boy idols and girl idols they put out haven’t done that well either.”
“I wonder why Writer Rojun chose GN. PD Jeong, did you hear anything??”
At the question thrown her way, Jeong Suryeong answered in a tone that said, How would I know?
“How am I supposed to read that monster writer’s mind? Well, anyway, they’ve decided, so all we can do is cheer them on.”
She said that, but even Jeong Suryeong couldn’t erase her curiosity.
‘It does come out of nowhere. GN Entertainment—there’s no way PD Woo Hanseok colluded with GN. This choice must be purely what the writer and the members thought······anyway, things are going to be noisy here and there for another few days.’
Song Mingeun of “Geubaekpeu” and the judges were all saying similar things in their respective places, and so were people in the broadcasting industry and the many entertainment companies that hadn’t been able to participate in the war.
“GN Entertainment? That’s unexpected. Very unexpected.”
“Well, GN is one of the Big Three entertainment companies too, so it’s not bad, is it?”
“That’s true, but EY and Big Star were options—throwing them all away and going to GN is strange.”
Whatever the case, the media quickly carried the news related to the final episode of “Geubaekpeu.”
《“Geubaekpeu” Ends, Final Winners Choose “GN Entertainment”》
《Rojun·Sihu·Kangmin·Dokyeong Choose GN Entertainment, Viewers Say, “A Huge Twist!”》
Naturally, there was a great deal of talk about the entertainment company the final winners had chosen.
《[Issue Pick] EY Entertainment·Big Star Entertainment Fail to Be Chosen, Winner Is GN Entertainment》
《“Geubaekpeu” Final Winners Overturn Everyone’s Expectations with a Twist Choice! / Photo》
《“5th Place in Viewer Vote” GN Entertainment Lands This Year’s Biggest Catch》
Judging by the mood, even the media seemed puzzled by Rojun and the members’ choice.
《“Why GN Entertainment?” Viewers Puzzled by Rojun·Sihu·Kangmin·Dokyeong’s Choice···Broadcasting Industry Also Tilts Its Head》
《Rumors of Backroom Dealings Between “Geubaekpeu” and “GN Entertainment” Spread Through Online Communities》
Meanwhile, the hall of the “Geubaekpeu” campus, which had just finished its live broadcast, was filled with applause.
-Clap clap clap clap clap clap!
-Clap clap clap clap clap clap clap clap!
Because the long journey of eighteen episodes had come to an end.
“Ahh—you all worked so hard!!”
“Really, really great work, everyone!”
From the writers, including Kim Sehui, to dozens of staff members, everyone gathered in the hall and shouted. Cries mixed with joy and regret.
“Whew······it’s a little sad.”
“If you’re sad, Writer Sehui, why don’t you stay a bit longer??”
“Hey!! That’s not what I meant!!”
“It’s overrr!!!”
“This one really felt especially long, so I think that’s why it feels even more bittersweet.”
“It actually was long. Eighteen episodes aired, after all.”
“Everyone, you worked so hard!!”
By then, Rojun and the members, who had come down from the stage, were also bowing repeatedly to the staff.
“Thank you for your hard work!”
“You worked so hard!!”
“Thank you!!”
Their waists had no time to rest from bowing. Kang Rojun found the situation strange.
‘Now···“Geubaekpeu” is over, right?? Wow—this feels really weird.’
The members would continue to be together from now on, but the “Geubaekpeu” staff, with whom he had shared joys and hardships for months, ended here.
‘It’s the end, but it’s also the beginning.’
Soon, PD Woo Hanseok, who had been talking with the staff and still had dark circles under his eyes, approached the four of them.
“Everyone, sincerely congratulations. And you really worked hard all this time. Now all that’s left is for you to fly freely.”
Rojun and the members bowed at ninety degrees once again.
“Thank you, PD!”
For some reason, Sihu’s eyes reddened.
“I really learned so much before leaving······”
Woo Hanseok looked at the faces of the four boys for a moment, then held out his hand.
“Let’s shake hands once.”
After shaking hands with all four of them, he gave them double thumbs-up.
“We’ll meet soon as idols and a PD. I said this once before too—‘Geubaekpeu’ will be heaven. From now on, it’s going to get really tough. Anyway, if we run into each other here and there, let’s say hello, all right?”
Among the many people in this large hall, the one who would feel the most regret was PD Woo Hanseok. Even while directing “Geubaekpeu,” he had come to feel like a father to the members.
‘It’s time for them to become independent.’
Woo Hanseok gave a faint laugh and continued what might be his final briefing.
“But let’s not think about parting too quickly. In any case, you’ll have to wait here on campus for at least a week if it’s short, or a few weeks if it’s long.”
PD Woo Hanseok looked at the calendar on his phone.
“For now, stay on campus until this weekend, then go home starting next Monday. You have luggage to move too, right? Rest for about a week and spend time with your parents. By the time you sort this and that out and return, GN, the company you chose, will probably have something to discuss with you.”
Since they had chosen their nest, GN Entertainment had a lot to prepare. First, they had to proceed with contracts, and by the time the small procedures were finished, there also had to be a dormitory for the members to use. Until then, Rojun and the members could use this campus and wait.
“Well, I’ll explain the details little by little. For today, just enjoy yourselves. You have to check the media and public reactions too, don’t you? I glanced at some articles that popped up, and they’re making a fuss because you chose GN??”
Was it that strange? Still, Kang Rojun had no intention of changing the decision.
‘EY and Big Star’s scores were trash at 3 points and 28 points, so I’m absolutely not going.’
Then Woo Hanseok placed his hands on Rojun and Sihu’s shoulders, his smile deepening.
“Once we finish cleaning up, we’re going to have a meat party right here. Let’s all eat until we burst.”
And so, an hour later, it was past 11 p.m. While the “Geubaekpeu” staff were excitedly cleaning up, Writer Kim Sehui, who had received a call from someone, ran over to PD Woo Hanseok.
“PD!! Th-they’re at the campus entrance right now!”
“What is here? Speak properly.”
“Ahhh, sorry!”
After receiving the corrected message from Writer Kim Sehui, PD Woo Hanseok looked slightly surprised.
“···Looks like he came straight here as soon as he saw the results??”
Then he turned his gaze to Kang Rojun and the members, lifting the corners of his mouth.
“He must be impatient. Unlike that gentleman.”
A short while later.
The place where Kang Rojun, Sihu, Kangmin, and Dokyeong were brought was a meeting room on campus. Why were the four boys in a meeting room when it was almost midnight? As if he had already heard something, Sihu, with his baby perm, looked quite nervous.
“Uah—this is too sudden. I’m not mentally prepared yet.”
Kangmin was the same.
“Hyung, me too. I’d only heard about him. I didn’t think we’d see him in person this quickly······”
The expressionless Dokyeong pretended not to be.
“What’s with you hyungs? Why are you so scared?”
“Dokyeong, stop shaking your leg first.”
“···I’m freaking terrified right now.”
He too, like Sihu and Kangmin, was full of unease. Only Kang Rojun was unbothered.
‘Why are they making such a fuss? More importantly···it’s too late, isn’t it? Ha—I want to eat meat. We were just about to start. I should’ve eaten a few pieces before coming.’
As if finding that strange, Sihu asked Rojun.
“Rojun, are you totally fine??”
“With what?”
“No! Not ‘with what’!”
The reason Rojun could remain so unusually calm compared to the others was that he hadn’t really been interested in the entertainment industry all this time. He’d had fantasies about it, but he had never researched it in depth or anything like that.
“Honestly, I don’t really know that person. Aside from seeing him in articles a few times.”
Right then.
-Slide.
The glass door of the meeting room opened. Sihu, Kangmin, and Dokyeong reflexively turned their heads and stood up. Kang Rojun was the last to lift his backside. Soon, a tall, solidly built man dressed in a suit entered through the open door. The first thought that came to Rojun’s mind the moment he saw the man was:
‘Whoa, his aura is insane. And he’s seriously handsome?’
It was that he exuded an extraordinary presence and overflowing style. That man slowly looked over Rojun, then Sihu, Kangmin, and Dokyeong, before holding out his hand to Kang Rojun first.
“Thank you for choosing us, and for giving us the opportunity to meet you.”
Even his voice was dignified and weighty.
“I am Ha Seohwan, CEO of GN Entertainment.”