Translator: Synopsis

  After coming back from America, KangYoon’s time flowed very busily.

  After talking about the theme of the debut stage with the producer of K Cable’s ‘Music Counter’, he also had to discuss how to promote the girl group with the PR team.

  After his meeting with the PR team was finished, KangYoon was now sharing the results with the planning team.

  “…An EDDIOS-exclusive broadcast?”


  Chief Kim JoonSeon of the planning team frowned after looking at the report that KangYoon brought. Vice-chief Min JoonHyuk or Kang ChangSeon was the same. Kang ChangSeon especially strongly disagreed.

  “You mentioned about publicizing their actions after the broadcast. Then, we’ll have to publicize them resting in the van, practice and even their private lives. I think it will be bad to publicize so many things when stars last long when they become a target of admiration.

  His opinion was very valid. KangYoon also agreed and continued his words softly.

  “You’re very right, Vice-chief Kang. However, if we think about the point in time the broadcast will take place, it will be one month after their debut. If we do really well, that will be the time we take 1st in the rankings and gather recognition, or may struggle in the low rankings. However, the common point is that they aren’t simply targets of admiration for teens, our primary target audience. I can also do it if I try. They are my future – In the end, it’s all about dreams. They will become friendly and close existences. We will take that opportunity.”


  “Team leader, you know that it isn’t easy to become a singer.”


  Vice-chief Kim JoonSeon retorted to KangYoon’s words. However, KangYoon shook his head. (T/N: Kim JoonSeon is supposed to be chief, but author made mistake)

  “We can say that because we actually know what’s happening. However, teens would only run while looking ahead. They are sure that they will be able to win this vicious competition if they sing well, or if they dance well. We know that that’s not all of it, but they don’t. We will use this trend to take a step closer to them. The broadcast is just one side of this.”


  KangYoon’s point was that even after the back stories of EDDIOS was publicized after their broadcast, it would cause interest and not decrease the admiration or mysteriousness about them. Everyone accepted after hearing him out.

  “Understood. I’ll look into it.”


  Chief Kim JoonSeon checked the necessary things.

  KangYoon followed with other important topics and finished the meeting.

  ‘Ah…. So tired.’


  Leaving the meeting room, KangYoon felt his body loosening. After he had come back to Korea, he had to work for many hours without being able to adapt to the jetlag. He was worried that his body may break down. However, there were still several more meetings for him to attend. He secretly sighed just sensing the piles of work ahead of him.

  The endless stream of work eventually finished late at night. KangYoon, having finished the vicious relay of meetings, took care of all paperwork before leaving his office. By tomorrow, these documents would go to the president’s office. KangYoon smiled a little after imagining President Lee HyunJi who would be smothered in the piles of paperwork tomorrow morning.

  When KangYoon came back home, HeeYoon was waiting for him while reading a textbook about harmonics.

  “You’re back?”


  “It’s late, why aren’t you sleeping?”


  No matter how many times KangYoon said this to her, HeeYoon never listened. Of course, sometimes she would sleep when her body was simply too exhausted to stay awake, but this nice little sister did not sleep until KangYoon returned home most of the time. KangYoon felt sorry for her.

  “Hm? You’re studying music?”


  “Yeah. Isn’t this what you’re always reading?”


  “Yep. Isn’t it hard?”


  “It’s a little hard, but it’s still doable.”


  KangYoon was honestly surprised. He barely understood the basics of harmonics after reading through the book several times. Doable? He really did feel that young minds were better for studying.

  “Tell me if you need any more books. I’ll buy them for you.”


  “Okay. But oppa, are you going to learn composition or something?”


  “I want to if I can, though, it won’t be easy.”


  “Wow, my oppa is great.”


  “I still don’t know yet. I still can’t differentiate between musical notes and tadpoles.”


  Although he denied that, HeeYoon knew that KangYoon was always putting in an effort. He always jotted down a few lines he heard from producers when he was a manager in order to learn planning. HeeYoon believed that he will use them well even though he might not be doing well right now.

  ‘I also need to do something.’


  Seeing KangYoon trying hard all the time, a weak body was just an excuse. She always felt that it wouldn’t do good for her to just stay like this when looking at someone who lived their life to the fullest.

  ‘Should I, do this for real?’


  HeeYoon’s eyes shined while looking at the book named ‘Foundations of Harmonics’. This was actually quite fun for her as well.

  ***

  The hottest topic in MG Entertainment nowadays was the debut of EDDIOS. Right now, when the entire company was focusing on EDDIOS, the directors, the president, and even the chairman couldn’t speak about their own profit.

  The final directors meeting before EDDIOS’s debut.

  KangYoon usually didn’t get called to directors meeting a lot, but he volunteered to attend today. He uploaded a PPT file to the projector and was presenting it to everyone.

  “…The debut stage will be at Music Count of K Cable. The time will be the 2nd week of December. We have around 8 minutes.”


  “You got quite a lot of time even though it’s a debut stage. The competition should have been fierce due to it being Christmas season.”


  “I benefited from the value of the name MG Entertainment a lot.”


  Although KangYoon said that, Chairman Won JinMoon actually shook his head. Not only him, even the directors knew that it was hard to be assigned more than 5 minutes for rookies. This was all thanks to KangYoon’s business ability.

  “It’s going similar to JooAh’s Japan debut. Isn’t there something like a scandal this time?”


  “Hahaha.”


  Chairman Won JinMoon lightly switched the mood. KangYoon also laughed and went to the next slide.

  KangYoon presented in detail about what they were doing now, how they will be promoted, and what kind of activities they will do in the future. Although it took a considerable amount of time, everyone focused on his words while even writing some things down.

  “…That will be the end of my presentation. Do you have any questions?”


  However, unlike the previous meeting, there was no one that grabbed the microphone. Everyone was looking at Chairman Won JinMoon. KangYoon had a look around before declaring.

  “With that, I will now conclude the presentation related to EDDIOS’s debut.”


  A round of applause erupted. KangYoon politely took a bow before sitting next to President Lee HyunJi. It was right next to the main seat, but no one stopped him. He was implicitly admitted to being important within the company.

  “EDDIOS, to give (DIO) a promise (ED). Both the meaning and the sound is good. Don’t you think so?”


  “Yes, Chairman.”


  Director Jung HyunTae immediately answered. All the other directors frowned, but the point-earning company politics never ended.

  “Good. Let’s end it here today. The directors should also think about EDDIOS a lot too.”


  “Yes, Chairman.”


  “EDDIOS, and Min JinSeo. It’s good that the end of this year is filled with good events. Let’s go.”


  Chairman Won JinMoon seemed to have felt good as he left the meeting room while humming Following him, the directors all left and eventually only KangYoon and President Lee HyunJi were left in the meeting room.

  “Thanks for your work.”


  “Thanks for your work.”


  President Lee HyunJi gave KangYoon a candy. The sweet candy would energize him after that tiring presentation. KangYoon said thanks and put it in his mouth. The sweet flavor was great.

  “Team leader Lee is always getting praised. People will mistake you for the Chairman’s son, you know?”


  “No way, really?”


  “I might.”


  KangYoon smiled at the joke. When KangYoon organized the presentation materials at the front, President Lee HyunJi spoke to him.

  “Do you know that they’re discussing putting JinSeo as a candidate of a reward?”


  “Really? That’s a first for me.”


  “Right now, it’s still some leaks so it’s not so trustworthy. But apparently, she’s being talked about as a candidate for ‘Child actress award’ and the ‘Best supporting actress award’.”


  “Really?”


  KangYoon couldn’t hide his surprise. After appearing on ‘Whispers of the Stars’, he heard that there was a flood of requests from dramas for Min JinSeo. After deep consideration, she appeared in the drama named ‘I run towards you’, as the childhood character of the main heroine, and she had acquired good feedback.

  “Oh yeah, Team leader Lee. Aren’t people scouting EDDIOS at the end-of-year award ceremony?”


  “Yes. I replied to them that I will think about it.”


  “I wish it goes well.”


  Her wish was KangYoon’s wish. He cleaned up the meeting room before heading to the practice room.

  When KangYoon entered the practice room, the girls, who were practicing hard until now stopped the music and sat down. Now, KangYoon didn’t need to tell them anymore.

  “Today, I came here to select a leader.”


  Everyone perked their ears when they heard KangYoon’s words. The leader was an important position that was in charge of communication between the company and the team as well as many other things. Also, the leader would also receive more attention from the fans as well.

  Everyone awaited KangYoon’s words while wondering who it was and if it was them.

  “Jung MinAh.”


  “Yes?”


  “The leader of EDDIOS is you.”


  “Whaaat?”


  This was so sudden for Jung MinAh. The other girls were disappointed but nodded their head in admittance. Of course, that excluded Jung MinAh.

  “I, I am the l, leader?!”


  “Yeah, so?”


  “N…. no way. I am?”


  Jung MinAh asked again, but KangYoon’s words didn’t change. She couldn’t believe it and turned around to look at the other girls, but they were indifferent about it as well. It was a silent approval from them all.

  “Any objections?”


  “No.”


  Jung MinAh couldn’t get herself together since she was appointed as the leader without any hassle whatsoever. She always thought that leaders had to be smart and cool. She thought that Han JooYeon or Christie An would be the one but it turned out to be her…. She still couldn’t believe it.

  However, KangYoon thought differently.

  “MinAh, I judged that you could become a good leader for all of the girls. You are smart, and considerate now too. Though, your expressions are still quite rough.”


  Everyone giggled in agreement. Jung MinAh desperately denied that but the milk was already spilled.

  “Hey hey. Miss Leader says she’ll treat you to a drink.”


  “Oooh! Leader! Leader!”


  “…….”


  Thanks to KangYoon’s propaganda, Jung MinAh had to spend all the thousand won notes (1 USD) in her pocket.

  ***

  Mid-December with cold winds.

  It even snowed and the world turned white. Everyone exclaimed at the slightly late first snow, and some swore as well.

  However, that did not apply to anyone here right now.

  “Aah, it’s finally today…!”


  “The unnis are debuting today! Gather around!”


  K Cable station where EDDIOS would be debuting was already full. EDDIOS’s fan club, Aries, was making a formation with various banners and glowing sticks.

  When the girls of EDDIOS arrived, they were shocked by the banners with their group name and their own names written on it.

  “Wow, it’s our fan club.”


  When Han JooYeon muttered that without even getting off the van, Ailee Jung also chimed in.

  “There’s my name too….”


  Seeing a middle school girl covered in the snow holding a banner with her name on it, Ailee Jung felt complex array of emotions. No, it was the same with everyone else.

  At that time, KangYoon, who was in the front seat, calmly told them.

  “They are people who came here to see you. In this cold weather too.”


  “…….”


  KangYoon’s words came as a pressure for all of them. KangYoon naturally knew that but continued to speak.

  “prove to them that their decisions aren’t wrong.”


  “Yes.”


  The van headed to the underground parking lot of the TV station. Lee SamSoon asked about whether they had to greet the fans at least, but KangYoon shook his head. He also said that there had to be a suitable distance between the team and the fans.

  KangYoon sent the girls to the waiting room and headed to the PD immediately. Producer Yoon MinCheol, who directed Music Count, was currently speaking with the lightings director who was having a look at the lighting devices.

  “Hello?”


  “Oh, Team leader Lee. Welcome.”


  KangYoon shook hands with Producer Yoon MinCheol. The two had already met before. They met a few times while working on this project and had good opinions of each other due to their attitudes. Thanks to that, KangYoon could get more allotted time, and could also get a wide waiting room as well.

  KangYoon handed out drinks to the staff. KangYoon’s generosity was already well-known among the staff. Thanks to that, everyone had good opinions of him.

  “There are no singers who come so early. It will be empty for at least 2 hours so use it to your heart’s content.”


  “Thank you. The broadcasting time….”


  “I have scheduled it at a time where there are a lot of views.”


  He put his thumbs up since he had a deal with KangYoon. Although the results were simple, the effort KangYoon and the liaison team had put in the process was very difficult.

  The stage devices were set and a large ship replica and a model of a wave came in. The lightings changed accordingly and the dry ice machine was also installed in its place. There were several edits since it didn’t fit with the wave so the time was slightly delayed.

  “Wow….”


  Jung MinAh and the other girls arrived at the stage. They were wearing stage make-up and even costumes as well. They were practically ready to record for the broadcast.

  “Here, it’s here!”


  “Wow, awesome!”


  The stage was opened and the audience started entering. The fans, who were shaking in the cold outside, filled the seats from the front row with red hands that held banners. The girls felt emotional after looking at that.

  ‘Let’s do this well.’


  ‘Yeah.’


  Everyone agreed to Jung MinAh’s words.

  There was no dry rehearsal. Since they were already in their costumes, the dress rehearsal, the camera rehearsal and the introduction to the song happened all at once. KangYoon also started seeing the waves of musical notes and light from the girls.

  ‘Looks like they’re in good condition.’


  The light dance routine they did to see the movement lines were in perfect sync. The staff was surprised and the fans started cheering. Just a light practice was already like this. How good would the actual deal be? – was what was on their minds.

  “They are really good.”


  “Thanks.”


  Producer Yoon MinCheol, next to KangYoon, also commented.

  Since there were 6 of them, it took a little time to adjust the volume of each microphone. Thanks to that, the sound engineer was annoyed a little, but the girls did not compromise with this. They were educated quite strictly at the company after all. Only after Lee SamSoon’s microphone was completely adjusted at last did they stand in their positions on the stage.

  “Is it an MR?”


  “Yes. What is it?”


  “No, it’s nothing. It’s just that the song isn’t loud. Kids these days dance hard though…. Will they be alright?”


  Producer Yoon MinCheol tilted his head while talking to the sound engineer. He also thought that EDDIOS was different than the current idols who performed with MRs with light lyrics in the background. However, he was a producer. He put away his private thoughts.

  After being told that that the lights, the sound, and the various devices were completely ready, he told the broadcasting team.

  “Let’s start!”


  With his signal, a red light turned on all cameras.

  EDDIOS’s debut was here.