The Malicious Member Has Returned! Episode 169
* * *
All this time, Sin Giho had been keeping his distance from Tioje—to the point where it mocked the fact that he was an idol from a program that he himself had planned and brought investors to.
Not just in spirit, but in physical distance as well.
"Director, it has been quite a while since you were last in Korea. Did you have a good business trip?"
"What's so special about a business trip? It's all the same wherever I go. It's not like I was gone for a day or two—what kind of question is that?"
"Ha, but this time you went to America, didn't you? You had been going to China, so I was simply wondering. Besides, the people you met were hardly ordinary."
"…
Start the car. I need to stop by the office and sort out some documents."
Because he had failed to debut Liu Wei, he had lost the Chinese investors' trust in a big way, and with his lifeline severed, he was in a situation where he had to do anything he could to find a new path.
It wasn't as if he couldn't throw his weight around, claiming they were idols he had planned, and exert influence over Tioje's activities.
But Sin Giho did not want to become that kind of shallow person.
As if his grand nickname—'the Tiger' or whatever—hadn't been earned simply because the character *ho* happened to be in his name.
'…If I don't have the capital to back it up, that kind of influence won't amount to anything meaningful.'
First, he needed to establish the background necessary to exert influence.
Grabbing the Tioje members by the scruff, shaking them, and using them to reclaim his position—that came after.
Under that judgment, the first thing Sin Giho thought of was, ironically, the hint CEO Do Jaechan had thrown at him during the final live broadcast of
"Just because you're a China expert, does that mean you intend to never even look at the Anglo-American market your whole life? That's problematic. How is that proper nurturing? After all, it's the Anglo-American sphere that holds the global music market by the throat."
It was a rather convincing argument, one quite unlike CEO Do Jaechan.
In reality, China's high 'expected returns' came from its population; it fell short of being called the center of the global music market.
In the end, it was the Anglo-American market that held the global record market fast.
Therefore, Sin Giho, slipping out of the live broadcast venue at the time, sent Liu Wei back to China and immediately attempted to contact someone.
Namely, the secretary that an investor couple—who had left their son behind in Korea and departed leisurely for the United States—had sent to the live broadcast site.
The result was….
"Fuck, what? 'Isn't it what you wanted that we don't intervene?' Ha!"
"W-Well, it seems the fact that we had a conversation with Logan seated there left quite a poor impression. At the time, it was to our benefit that Logan left the show."
"…
I'll have to meet them in person and talk. Cancel the Qingdao schedule and draw up a new one."
Well, it had been miserable.
The business trip to America carried out while Tioje was preparing for their debut and doing their two-week 'Hide and Seek' promotions wasn't much different.
"…
Please, let's talk just a little longer. Isn't this the group your son is in? It will undoubtedly have a positive influence."
"I doubt it. We don't teach Logan to act that way. I'm sure he would prefer to succeed through his own strength."
"Ha… You left him to grow up in his grandmother's care, yet you say *you* taught him? Please, hear me out. I saw it then. You are concerned about mending your relationship with your son, aren't you? With this, surely you can reconnect with Logan again—"
"If Logan fails because of this matter, wouldn't he return to our embrace? If you're trying to provoke us with such a preamble, I'm afraid it's rather disappointing."
"Wait, that wasn't my intention. I'm offering you a good option. A very good option where you won't suffer any major losses."
"…
I suppose. In the end, whether we choose it or not is our decision. Please leave for today."
He barely managed to set up the meeting, and it ended without even thirty minutes of conversation.
That Sin Giho entered the repackage album meeting room acting difficult and hypersensitive was certainly due to his personality, but it couldn't be said that these business trip experiences hadn't played a part.
He had to have a hand in the repackage album to exercise even the minimum of influence, yet he was in a state of having no capital to speak of.
"How many times do I have to tell you there's a set budget? If you want to recoup it on time, you have to stick to the schedule!"
"Don't be so petty over just a week, seriously. You're just insisting it can't be done when it obviously can, aren't you?"
"Petty, ha…."
On top of that, Mun Yunha was a mere director, yet he was looking down on Sin Giho to his heart's content, secure in Do Jaechan's backing.
"Ugh, seriously. This is *our* album. Why are you only talking amongst yourselves? Are we dolls or something? Up until now, you've respected our opinions a lot…."
"Hwaseong, shh."
Even though he was the one in charge of their own team, the Tioje members' expressions were sour, as if to say, 'Why is that guy suddenly popping up and acting like that?'
'These little punks, honestly!'
And so, the rage Sin Giho had been accumulating since
"You mean the song your family liked? It's such a shame we couldn't include it!"
"What?!"
It was the conversation with Logan that Kim Chunyong had deliberately raised his voice to say, entering Sin Giho's ears.
"…
What?"
It went without saying what kind of turning point this brought to the conference room.
* * *
Truthfully, it wasn't as if Kim Chunyong had a complete grasp of Sin Giho's entire situation.
He was busy enough to die just preparing for the debut album and carrying out promotions; how could he know the company's internal affairs in detail?
Therefore, the only thing Kim Chunyong could do was deduce from what he knew.
For example—it stemmed from things like the story of Logan's own parents, which he heard from Logan. Logan had felt something watching Kim Chunyong dutifully calling his family during the 'Hide and Seek' promotions.
"Oh, Logan. Are you messaging your parents?"
"Yeah. Somehow, seeing how you often call your family, hyung. I got a little! Worried… about them. I can't call because of the time difference, huh. And hearing their voices feels a bit awkward, too."
"Come on, don't be like that. You're just taking it one step at a time. Slowly, slowly. Do they reply often?"
"Sometimes! But I don't really understand what they're saying. I think it might be because we never really communicated well in the first place."
A very short story heard in the van during their busy, busy activities.
However, to Kim Chunyong, who knew the background of Logan's departure issue, it took on a different meaning.
'…It doesn't sound like a lie. Logan's parents care about Logan, so they wouldn't lie about something like that. But… if they met with Logan's parents directly, it's probably not an ordinary employee.'
Unlike his days as a staggering wreck reeking of alcohol addiction, the current Kim Chunyong had honed his instincts sharp through the continuous hardships and adversities since the survival show.
So, even if he didn't know the details…
'…They're trying to get in their good books. They must want something from Logan's parents, enough to warrant talking in person. Even going all the way to New York. I'll just keep this in mind for now.'
He could at least tell which faction within the company was currently trying to impress Logan's parents.
"Kim Chunyong, practice—no. …Mr. Chunyong. What did you just say with Logan?"
"Ah, you heard? You were in the middle of a conversation… Sorry for interrupting!"
"Forget it, I'm asking what you were talking about. I'd appreciate a quick answer."
'Got him.'
Seeing Sin Giho's sharp gaze fixed on him, Kim Chunyong inwardly cheered.
Because he read the strange expectation mixed within it.
'As expected, it was Director Shin's side. Since he lost the Liu Wei connection, he's trying to grab Logan's parents this time. …There was a chance it could be CEO Do's side, but thank goodness.'
Could it be that all the boasting about how, with the character *yong* in his name, every dream he dreamed was a dragon dream, was actually coming true?
"Well, you see…."
From here on out was the important part.
It had been quite a while since Kim Chunyong had executed his plans so smoothly without any negative variables or X's help.
Lightly running his tongue over his lips, Kim Chunyong continued speaking as naturally as possible.
"You might not have heard earlier, but when the 'Hide and Seek' demo came out, Logan played us a song. He'd made it before, and he was happy because its vibe was similar to his debut track."
"Hoo?"
Before any words could leap from Sin Giho, a reaction came first from Mun Yunha beside him, who looked ready to grab Sin Giho's pomaded hair and tear it out.
In other words, the aesthetics-maniac was reacting to a new beauty.
"Does the A&R team know about that, too? I heard they're still finalizing the repackage demo candidates."
"Oh, one of them knows! They said it's a good song, and they even said they hoped it could be polished and released later."
"Later? No, you said it has a similar vibe to 'Hide and Seek.' Wouldn't it be better to include it right away?"
"God, that's exactly what I was hoping for, but I don't know if we can with the lack of time…."
While Mun Yunha and Logan clicked together in perfect harmony, Kim Chunyong watched Sin Giho's frown deepen and gauged the angle.
"……."
Sin Giho looked to be thinking about something.
About how this could benefit him, and how it could harm him.
Whether to focus more on attracting investors, or to concentrate on the immediate buzz Tioje could gain.
And then.
"Huh, Logan. That song?! I think it would be really great if we could include it! No, I honestly thought Logan was a genius after hearing it. How did he make that at seventeen?"
"Hmm… Right. Hwaseong and I have been to the company music camp a few times, but Logan was way more amazing, haha. I think it would be really great if that song made it onto this repackage album."
At a most opportune timing, the members' fire support began.
[This is right, isn't it?]
'…Oh.'
Kim Chunyong saw the characters Son Jaeha was quickly scrawling on the meeting materials with a pen, hiding his surprise as his eyes darted.
Right.
Even if he hadn't thought as far as winning number one—the sudden mission condition he had received from X—the members' opinions were the same.
"Since this is… a repackage, album… if it's somewhat… an extension… and carries on the reaction, I think… it would be good."
"That's right. Ah, if you want, I can sing the demo for you right now! Logan played it for me a few times, so I even memorized up to the bridge part."
Thanks to Kim Chunyong opening the floodgates, unlike the beginning where everyone had been too shocked by Sin Giho's overbearing attitude to say anything, they each began to properly voice their opinions.
"Ha, the members like it that much? Then we have to include it, right? Excuse me, Director. You've been at AG longer than I have. Isn't the artist the top priority here?"
"……."
"Ah. If you could just give us a little more time, I think we could prepare a truly great song and album…."
And so, everyone except the one person deliberating was in agreement.
A good album needed good songs.
And to put in good songs, sufficient time and support were necessary!
For a brief while, everyone engaged in a more vibrant discussion.
"Um, it's true that my family liked it. Especially, not just anyone, but my…."
"Hoo."
Sin Giho's lips, tightly sealed for a long while, opened again when Logan's words once more reached his ears.
"For now, let's take a short break. I'm tired."
"…Yes."
Because it was the same cold and emotionless voice as always, the others simply thought, 'He must be in a foul mood,' but Kim Chunyong, who had orchestrated this situation, knew for certain.
That Sin Giho had half-broken in his resolve.
'…It worked. With this, the board is more or less set to take a shot at number one, even if only once.'
However.
In that very moment Kim Chunyong clenched his fist tightly under the conference table and let out a sigh of relief.
"Mr. Chunyong."
"…Huh?"
"Let's talk for a moment. Follow me."
Something slightly unexpected had happened.
…It wasn't a big deal, though.