Translator: Chamber

  Editor: Illidan

  The cameras on the stage captured every movement of the ones on stage.

  The fancy multi-colored lights shone down on the singers and the speakers on the ceiling swallowed the audience with its sounds and made everyone excited.

  The girls of Eddios, who were behind the stage, were currently watching the 6-man boy idol group named Twistel.

  “Look at them. They’re so good at dancing!”


  Lee SamSoon exclaimed after seeing 6 men doing a wave dance.

  Their performance was more dynamic than when Eddios had their debut. Their performance brought out passionate cheers from the audience.

  “They’re quite good. They’re the Twistel guys right?”


  “Yeah. I heard they’re famous these days.”


  Han JooYeon replied to Christie An’s words.

  Twistel was a boy group that had their debut a little over a year ago, and they belonged to GNB Entertainment. The 6 skinny and attractive-looking boys captured the hearts of many fans.

  Seo HanYu spoke to KangYoon as she watched them.

  “Why don’t we have a boy group at World Entertainment as well? I heard that boy groups make a lot of money.”


  KangYoon lightly patted Seo HanYu’s back. He felt somewhat proud that she was being worried about him.

  “That’s a good idea. Thanks for telling me.”


  “Not at all. I’m glad that I can be of help.”


  Although he had been thinking about producing a boy idol for quite a long time now, the situation didn’t allow it.

  If his company possessed a proper system of raising trainees like MG Entertainment, it wouldn’t be that hard to procure new trainees, but as World Entertainment was a small company, they couldn’t afford to ‘screen’ their potential trainees. Kim JiMin’s debut and Eddios’s comeback was another story.

  However, KangYoon had his ambitions.

  After all, idols like Eddios were a huge source of profit for any company.

  “Eddios, please get ready!”


  Just as KangYoon thought about things, Twistel’s performance on stage finished. The producer came to the back of the stage and told Eddios to get ready.

  “Off you go then.”


  “Yes!”


  Being encouraged by KangYoon, Eddios stepped up on the stage.

  Next to the darkened stage, the hosts introduced Eddios to the audience. There was also a short teaser video along with some commentary about how it had been a long time since they last had any activities. The video lasted about 15 seconds and featured the girls practicing hard.

  After the video, the host shouted with an excited expression.

  “I won’t say anymore. They’ve come back after 3 years. Please welcome, Eddios!”


  Along with the host’s shout, the camera switched to show the stage. All lights turned on at the same time before the music recording started flowing out.

  At the same time, Eddios, who started off sitting down while having their back towards the front, slowly stood up before Seo HanYu started singing on the mic.

  “Tell me to – cheer up – that you will be with me- console my fatigued heart –”


  The crisp piano sounds distorted into an electronic piano sound and soon the drums came in as well. At the same time. All of Eddios turned around and stepped to the front of the stage.

  Seo HanYu, who was at the front, stepped back into the formation before Han JooYeon stepped out.

  “Some want to be consoled – more and – more – but I am an ordinary girl –”


  Han JooYeon returned with a questioning expression on her face. At the same time, Jung MinAh was the one to step up now. She grabbed the mic after a smooth wave.

  “The wind is free – yet we don’t know where we’ll be–”


  Eddios’s singing and dancing created a strong white light. The white light began with Seo HanYu and it became stronger and stronger until it burst out when everyone sang in unison.

  “But we have already come this far — cheer up – the world is not that hard – yeaah~”


  Their choir started to contain something other than white light. The voices of the 6 girls combined with their dynamic dancing generated a silver light that gradually took over the white light.

  And then Christie’s finale added the final touch.

  “The world – is fun – for one reason – and that’s you! — Wow!!”


  The final part.

  As the first verse ended, the white light completely disappeared when everyone shouted ‘wow’. The white light was completely replaced by a bright ‘silver’ light.

  The influence of the silver light was spread to all corners of the audience.

  “Waaaaa- I love you Eddios!”


  “This is crazy! You are the way, Eddios!”


  “MinAh! Jennie! Ris! SeoYu! Ailee! JooYeon! Forever!”


  The audience waved their cheering props like glowing sticks and banners while shouting out the individual names of the girls. The voices of the ones belonging to Aries, the fan club, were especially loud.

  Following that, the song continued with Lee SamSoon’s singing.

  The bright silver light continued and the 4-minute long stage ended very successfully.

  ***

  Kim JiMin, who had finished her period of activities, was spending an enjoyable time at home with her grandma.

  Thanks to her debut title song placing first in numerous music chargers, she enjoyed the popularity of placing first in numerous music programs. Thanks to that, she visited many places like events and brought in a huge profit for the company.

  She bought a new residence and her life became more plentiful so she was now able to live a comfortable life with her grandmother. She felt very happy.

  “Hahaha, just then, the president…”


  While climbing a small hill, Kim JiMin spoke about her stories to her grandma.

  She was wearing casual clothes and was visiting the supermarket. Although she was a well-known star, she was also known for her rather easygoing attitude in her neighborhood.

  However, when she arrived home, she found a lady in a suit waiting in front of her house. She had a look at Kim JiMin before approaching her.

  “Miss Kim JiMin?”


  “And who might you be?”


  When Kim JiMin became wary of the lady, her grandma stood in the lady’s way. However, the lady waved her hand saying that she was no one suspicious but still took a step back.

  “I’m no one suspicious. My name is Han JungJoo and I’m from Muzee Entertainment.”


  “Muzee? What does Muzee want with me?”


  When Kim JiMin asked back confused, the lady gave Kim JiMin a file and a business card before leaving.

  “Today, I’ll just give you this. If you have any intentions please call the number on it.”


  The lady walked right off after that. Kim JiMin tilted her head after looking at the business card.

  “What was that about?”


  She opened up the file. The file contained a poster that introduced Muzee Entertainment, as well as some papers containing a ‘contract’.

  In other words, she was trying to have Kim JiMin break up the contract with World Entertainment and join Muzee Entertainment. It was basically poaching.

  ‘Whoa? What’s this? You want me to betray?’


  Kim JiMin snorted.

  When no one recognized her value, the one that noticed her and raised her into a star was none other than KangYoon. Her contract wasn’t even over yet, so leaving now just because she became a little popular? The very thought of it made her flabbergasted.

  Furious, she threw the file and the business card into the trash can and even stomped on the contents of the trash can down a few times.

  Seeing that, her grandma asked.

  “JiMin, what’s going on?”


  “Oh, I was just worried that the trash would overflow…”


  Her grandma only looked at Kim JiMin in a weird gaze since the trash can wasn’t even half-filled.

  ***

  3 years.

  Eddios had a comeback stage after 3 whole years of absence.

  If Jung MinAh was marketed in a new way using the web portal that was Sace, Eddios used the strategy of creating an exclusive ‘Eddios channel’ on a widely-used messenger app that was FinesTalk. Sliding over a few times from the FinesTalk chat page revealed channel Eddios so the access to the public was very easy. It became an easy promotion for them.

  On top of that, their debut stage on KS TV created a huge issue, and the number of people using FinesTalk increased. There was also the fact that there were many things about Eddios that was only accessible by using FinesTalk.

  KangYoon’s so-called win-win strategy was working.

  Checking the report given to her by her employee, president Ha SeYeon heaved a sigh.

  “…This is surprising considering that it has only been one week.”


  She was honestly surprised as she read the report. It had been merely a week since Eddios made their comeback. However, the results were blinding.

  KangYoon spoke in a soft tone.

  “I’m glad that there are good results. Oh, I think I’ll be able to pay FinesTalk some commission early next week at the earliest.”


  By contract, the commission should be paid in a month, but if you pay us early, we’ll only be thankful.”


  President Ha SeYeon was thankful for KangYoon because of his consideration. Actually, FinesTalk didn’t have a proper profit model other than the platform that KangYoon proposed. Their other services were provided free of charge right now.

  KangYoon waved his hands saying that it was nothing.

  “We’re in this together now. I hope both of us do well.”


  “Phew, that makes me realize things. Oh, do you have anything else you need? Like promoting other singers or artists.”


  Seeing her be so positive about this, KangYoon put down his coffee mug and spoke.

  “It’s still in the planning stages right now, but I hope FinesTalk can provide a music streaming service in the future. I hope we can work together on that as well.”


  “A streaming… service?”


  President Ha SeYeon’s eyes shone. She hadn’t thought about launching a music streaming service yet. However, she knew just how much wealth other companies had accumulated through streaming music.

  KangYoon spoke calmly.

  “I think there’s plenty of potential if FinesTalk can create a proper platform for it. The music streaming sites run by telecommunication companies give too little back to the musicians. The distributor’s share is too big compared to the share that goes to the composer or the singer. I wish to end such a bad cycle.”


  “Hmmm….”


  KangYoon’s proposal was attractive. If a proper platform appears that treats the musicians better than the existing ones, the musicians will strive to provide better quality. It was also good for the company’s reputation, and the people would be provided with better-quality music. This was 2 birds with one stone. There was no reason to refuse.

  “That sounds rather difficult right now, but it’s a charming offer. If you stay with us, then we’ll be thankful. If you invest in us… no, I guess that was going too far.”


  “Hahaha, are you willing to receive our investment?”


  “At least in regards to music streaming, yes. After all, you possess far more knowledge about that field than we do. Aren’t we all in this together?”


  President Ha SeYeon showed a cool attitude. KangYoon was surprised by her personality and replied with a confident expression.

  “You’re right. I hope we can go a long way.”


  After enjoying a cup of coffee with president Ha SeYeon, KangYoon left FinesTalk.

  It was a little before 6 in the evening. The summer skies were still bright.

  ‘Looks like I won’t be late.’


  KangYoon took a subway to Gangnam. He had an appointment to drink today, so he left the car behind.

  He entered a high-class wine bar in Gangnam and was led to a room. Lee JunYeol (aka Sedy) was waiting for him.

  “Yo, bro! You’re early.”


  Although this was a bar, there were no women present. This was because Lee JunYeol knew that KangYoon disliked places with a lot of women and only ordered drinks.

  The two toasted and started talking.

  (T/N: That’s probably implying that you can order women…?)

  “Bro, congratulations to you. I heard Eddios made it big?”


  “Thanks. It’s because of everyone’s efforts.”


  “No way, it’s all because of your meticulous planning.”


  Lee JunYeol flattered him but KangYoon shook his head. KangYoon believed that they only made it so far because all members of Eddios put enough effort into it.

  After congratulating KangYoon, Lee JunYeol went into the topic.

  “Hey, can you have a listen to this for a moment?”


  Lee JunYeol plugged a pair of earphones into his phone and gave it to KangYoon. He then played a music file that was saved on the phone. KangYoon listened to the music and had a look at the small array of music notes in front of his eyes.

  ‘What the hell are these black notes?’


  However, the music notes from the phone combined to create a thick black light. Thanks to that, KangYoon frowned instantly. He felt as though his entire body was being dipped into thick fuel oil.

  “Huh? What happened?”


  “Ah, nothing. Don’t mind me.”


  When Lee JunYeol saw that KangYoon was entering a bad condition immediately, KangYoon shook his head.

  After agonizingly listening to the song until the end, KangYoon heaved a deep breath.

  “What song is this?”


  “Haaa… bro, help me out here.”


  “What’s wrong?”


  When KangYoon asked again, Lee JunYeol spoke heavily.

  “This is my new digital single.”


  “What!?”


  KangYoon’s eyes widened when he heard the answer.