The Malicious Member Has Returned! Episode 245
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There had never been a single time when AG's artists had their skills or capabilities doubted.
Well, the moment they stepped on stage, even the dance members all sang live in booming, resonant voices—how could anyone possibly say something like, "They need more practice"?
On top of that, there were the consistently uploaded live and choreography practice videos, recording studio behind-the-scenes, and album behind-the-scenes.
"Nice to meet you. The Noisy Boy who has returned today as well, the absolute legend of Hong Kong, Gao Yan! I'll get straight to the point. As you can see in the background, today's content is the Stairway to Heaven, famous for extreme activities…."
Moreover, thanks to the recruitment of Gao Yan, a digital creator they couldn't have even imagined, AG was enjoying a boom of abundant video content more than ever, and they hadn't even considered that they could do something more than this.
Even Yu Hobin, the competent manager of Tioje.
Their skills were solid enough to make fans proud and satisfied, they had plenty of video content, and they even did live broadcasts at appropriate times.
Really, could they do more than this?
[You can exchange direct messages with my singer? Let's pay 7,990 won per month and send words of support directly!♡]
However.
[Surprise appearance of a new star! Meet WEZ on Smeji starting February 1st♡]
It turned out they could do more.…
Infinitely so.
"This is really… I never even thought about it…." The content team and business support team inside the AG headquarters nodded desperately in agreement with Yu Hobin's words.
It was also proof that they hadn't been reading the faxes and emails fans sent them carefully.
[No, seriously, I'm going crazy, why isn't Tioje on Smeji? It's time now, it's been 6 months since they debuted, #1 singers should do that stuff]
[Subject: I'll send you the lottery winning numbers ^^
Content: Just kidding. I heard if you write the subject like this, they'll read it. Crazy. Please please please, it's time for Tioje to do Smeji. How long do we have to just watch them come sporadically on SNS official accounts? AG, get a grip. If you're an agency, support the kids.]
If they hadn't just roughly skimmed those emails because of the uncomfortable swear words mixed inside, they might have realized it a bit faster.
And if it had been Yu Hobin receiving those emails, he would have realized much sooner, but the AG company email address publicly disclosed externally was connected to the content team and management support team, so this entire process was inevitably a step behind.
"Ha…."
Low sighs containing regret and remorse burst from people's mouths, and eventually some even muttered, "We're going to get cursed at again."
Fans' anger always started from something small and came back as a large, painful boomerang.
However, the fortunate thing was that they knew now.
Yu Hobin carefully examined the site filled with pastel tones and the faces of WEZ members floating across his computer screen.
"So it's a Star Message Service…."
AG hadn't been aware of it internally, but the Star Message Service could be considered an essential service that any idol who had made a name for themselves absolutely had to open.
What fans wanted was to communicate in the direction they wished with idols who showed cool sides on stage.
In the midst of this, platforms that precisely targeted those needs poured out like mushrooms at the point of transition from the 3rd generation to the 4th generation.
They say you have to advance in the way the era demands to do better, or something like that.
Anyway.
Among the private message services that started with the theme of "being able to exchange messages with celebrities including idols," the one with the hottest fervor was, as expected, Smeji.
[2X0114 Yein being lovey-dovey on Smeji♡]
[⎿You know Smeji is a paid service? Don't leak it;]
[⎿I'm spending my own money to show this to others, so stop complaining]
[⎿⎿No, it's basically a fan letter anyway lol you can leak that, chat room leaks are what's forbidden...]
[Teo's Smeji blunder is crazy_jpg]
[⎿The clickbait title was insane, I really thought I caused a huge accident]
[⎿Sending a malatang photo at 2 AM was definitely a huge accident. I thought I lost my mind from hunger]
They exchanged messages one-to-many as if chatting, left fan letters on the board, and the singers left hearts or comments there.
To fans, that was proof that their idol was truly thinking of them, it was joy, and furthermore, it was the satisfaction of spending time together.
In this current era where you had to capture fans' hearts to survive in this harsh idol industry, it was not a choice but perhaps a necessity.
Being a step late in this matter was enough to fluster the people inside AG.
"Then what should we do? We need to request to join now, even if it's late…."
"No, Aquatic said they're using their own service. Should we develop our own too?"
"Our company's development team couldn't possibly do something like that!"
"Let's start by sending a request email for now. Ah, seriously. I never even thought about this…."
"Wow. Serenia is doing this too. Should I subscribe to this as well?"
While the people in the office were each spitting out collective monologues and running around in confusion like that.
"Sigh…."
Yu Hobin, who had sent out request emails to major platforms faster than anyone else, gently rubbed the corners of his eyes with his fingers and let out a low sigh.
'I'm completely unqualified to be a manager, aren't I.'
Recently, he had been quite discouraged upon hearing that the girl idol re-discovery survival program Ladies One was scheduled to appear on had fallen through.
"Yeah. That's how it happened. Haha, casting kept getting pushed back day by day, right? A program like this only gets scheduled if filming starts right away. Since that didn't happen."
"…Are you okay, noona?"
"Huh? Of course I'm okay. It's not like I didn't expect it."
He knew the idols he was currently in charge of were Tioje.
Even though he wished for their success more than anyone.
Anyway, his first charge was a special existence to him too.
However, now that things had turned out this way, he couldn't deny that his lingering attachment had a negative influence on Tioje.
'…It's my fault.'
No matter how well he had done his job until now, the entertainment industry was a place where even the slightest creak would turn a tower of gold into a complete mess.
Not a single inch of clumsiness, not even a slight ambiguity could exist if one wanted to maintain that position.
They were somehow rushing through emergency measures this time, but this must never happen again in the future.
"…….."
Yu Hobin looked for a moment at the question below Tioje's Smeji joining request email on his computer, asking if there were any other artists to additionally request.
Right now, Tioje was standing at a crossroads.
A music show #1, a Rookie Award, and the long hiatus until their next album which they were facing for the first time.
To make the next album successful just like the debut album and the repackage, managing this hiatus well was important.
And within that, the manager's role was even more important.
"…….."
Yu Hobin, biting the flesh inside his cheek hard, checked a message that had arrived from Kim Chunyong earlier and rolled his eyes.
[Hyung, thank you for listening to me even though you must be busy! Have a good day today too ♬]
Even though he had been distracted elsewhere and unable to properly perform his manager duties, his own idol had sent him a message telling him to cheer up.
How shameful and thankful this was.
Moreover, it wasn't just Kim Chunyong.
If he went into the chat room shared with the Tioje members, there were piles of messages sent by other members too.
[Bin-bin-bin-Hobin hyung! Logan and I arrived in Daegu! lol This is a gift for you (photo)(photo)]
[Hello Hobin hyung, it's Siu. My brother said he wants to send you some tonic this time... Can we send it to the company?]
The very young maknae line, despite this being their long-awaited vacation, was each preparing gifts for their manager, and….
[Hobin hyung, I'm only telling you now, but thank you so much for last year. Since I'm from a non-celebrity background and knew nothing, you must have been very flustered... Thanks to you, I learned a lot and am doing well! haha]
[(giftcon) (giftcon)]
[Hobin hyung, please let me know as soon as the meeting date is set. I'll come up to Seoul so you don't have to come down to Jeonju]
The eldest line, always trying to lessen his work, even showed their own maturity in very good ways.
Right.
With such charge idols, with such charge artists, there must be no time to be distracted.
"…Hoo."
Yu Hobin deleted the simultaneous joining request email for Ladies One that was in the additional request line and steadied his breath.
Selection and concentration.
That was precisely what he had to do now.
"…Alright."
His eyes sparkled and shone sharply as he began meticulously examining other program proposals.
To schedule the other members besides Kim Chunyong, Logan, and Son Jaeha, who were scheduled to appear as mentors on the survival program.
"Yes, hello. This is Yu Hobin, the manager for AG's Tioje. I'm calling regarding the program proposal you sent us."
And….
"…Then I will tell Mr. Hwaseong the same. Please take care of us."
- "Ah, yes. We're the ones who should ask for your favor! Um, also, if it's alright with you, Manager-nim…."
"…Yes?"
As if rewarding him for making that resolution, things began to proceed in a very good direction.
* * *
Do they say good things come all at once?
If this wasn't a string of good fortunes, what was?
[Surprise appearance of a new star! Meet WEZ on Smeji starting February 21st♡]
Ah, along with the long-awaited news of Tioje joining Smeji….
[Music Days' new survival 'Flickt Boys' becoming fully visible… Super luxurious mentor team? "There's a former survival idol too."]
[
[Tioje's second survival sortie, this time from mentee to mentor?]
Because articles about the survival program that many people had put effort into—and that had made Kim Chunyong's spine quite chilly—were now beginning to emerge in earnest.
"Hoo…."
Kim Chunyong, who had sprawled on his parents' bed and checked this fact, scratched his hair which was now slowly fading and turning almost pink, and let out a hollow sigh.
Well, it was normal to feel tension when starting something new.
- X: Hmm, so do you think you know what the skill I gave you as a gift is? hahaha
- X: Ah~ I wish the day would come soon when you use that~
- X: I want to see you flustered quickly~
Watching X's incessantly pestering messages on his phone, even those thoughts quickly disappeared.
This was the small problem during his vacation.
[What is this what is this (??)]
At a time when he could barely focus to prepare countermeasures for what was to come, because X, who was said to have caused a new revolution in the company union, had equipped some absurd skill in his status window.