Note: We finally reached Chapter 10 of the manhwa!
By the time several days had passed since their sudden Go match at Lee Du-seok’s home, the digital single album for Jung Arin, which they had poured their hearts into preparing, was finally released.
However, perhaps because there was virtually no marketing other than a tiny banner in the corner of the streaming site—
“The response is pretty dismal.”
They couldn’t even find it in the Top 100 of the charts, let alone anywhere near the top rankings. If she started official promotions and word-of-mouth kicked in, there was still a chance the track could climb back up (“reverse run” on the charts), but—
“Yeah…”
For the moment, there was no hiding their disappointment. Manager Kim stared blankly at his phone for a moment. Then Hyunseung set his own phone aside and asked quietly,
“By the way, what’s the final word on the broadcast slot?”
If Teacher Lee Du-seok really intended to keep his promise, they should have gotten a call—or several—by now.
“Don’t tell me he’s just dropped the matter?”
“Aw, no way…”
“Might be better not to get our hopes up.”
Just as Hyunseung grumbled under his breath—
Bzzz… Bzzz…
Manager Kim’s phone began to vibrate.
“Huh?”
Seeing the caller ID—**“Music Center PD Yoo”—**Manager Kim raised a finger to his lips and answered,
“Yes, this is Kim Woo-hyu…Yes, yes, is that so? Thank you very much!”
His voice rose with excitement as the call went on. Once he hung up, he turned to Hyunseung and shouted,
“It worked! We did it!”
Then he pulled Hyunseung into a sudden hug and exclaimed again,
“Arin’s performance order on Music Center has been moved to twelfth. Originally, she was slated for tenth…”
Behind her, only KOK and the top idol groups would remain, so for a rookie, that was a prime slot on the show.
“I was half-convinced that not even someone like Teacher Lee Du-seok could pull it off for a rookie in the current climate, but I guess I was wrong…”
Right at that moment, Hyunseung also noticed several messages popping up on his phone screen.
[ Old Go Master : I don’t like anything half-baked… ]
[ Old Go Master : If I’m going to owe a debt… ]
[ Old Go Master : I should make it a proper one… ]
[ Old Go Master : Been a while since I pulled some strings… ]
[ Old Go Master : If you want to repay the favor… ]
[ Old Go Master : Make sure you do it over a Go match… ]
Seeing the messages from “Old Go Master” (Lee Du-seok), Hyunseung couldn’t help but smile. Just as he was about to lock his phone—
More messages arrived:
[ Old Go Master : @>—–, It’s a morning glory. They call it “morning’s glory.” The flower language for the morning glory is “good news.” May today be filled with good news! ]
The old-fashioned emoticons and style made the generation gap quite obvious, and Hyunseung squinted at his screen.
“What’s up?”
Manager Kim walked over, but Hyunseung locked his phone again and replied,
“Nothing important.”
Well, for people around that age, sending texts like this was apparently the trend—if you could call it that.
Not long after Lee Du-seok “joined the battle,” so to speak—
“Hmm…”
It was as though the entire situation had flipped on its head.
[ “Unknown Singer” Jung Arin Receives Consecutive Praise from Top Artists… ]
[ Jung Arin, Digital Single “Adolescence” Receives Rave Reviews from Renowned Composers ]
[ “Fully-Formed Vocalist” Jung Arin, Eagerly Anticipated Ahead of Her Debut Stage… ]
Sitting at his computer in the studio, Hyunseung scrolled down and let out a dry laugh.
He had thought Lee Du-seok would only manage to change the broadcast order, but now the entertainment news sections of the major portal sites were packed with headlines about Jung Arin.
This kind of press blitz was typically reserved for a rookie meticulously groomed by a large agency—someone they were truly betting on. It wasn’t something you could do unless you had the power to sway the major media outlets.
He really is something else…
Indeed, Lee Du-seok was making good on his promise with aggressive support, and thanks to that, the previously low chart ranking for Jung Arin’s track was already showing signs of climbing. Occasionally, it was even breaking into the Top 100 on the major domestic streaming platforms.
Hyunseung couldn’t help thinking that he might soon need to spend entire days playing Go with the man in return.
On the day of the Music Center broadcast, Executive Director Park lounged on the sofa in his office, phone in hand. He planned to watch KOK’s first performance from the 10th-anniversary album—painstakingly produced in Japan—and also wanted to see Jung Arin’s performance, which he’d pushed all the way to the opening slot.
The opening act of a music show was essentially the domain of lesser-known agencies or powerless rookie singers. They’d get on stage just to show their faces, if that. Though every once in a while, a first-slot act manages to go viral and climb the charts, it’s far from common.
Moreover, a rookie from a major label like LS Entertainment was almost never scheduled first—if only because big agencies typically protect their artists from that slot.
She should’ve chosen her alliances more carefully.
If that snotty young composer had been just a bit more easygoing or at least savvy, none of this would have happened. Park wouldn’t have bothered bumping KOK’s schedule earlier or bribing the show’s CP to move Jung Arin to the first slot.
He’d been annoyed by all the favorable articles about Jung Arin recently, but he figured once he actually saw her debut performance in that humiliating first slot, his pent-up frustration would be relieved.
It’s about to start…
Park reclined on the couch, phone resting on his stomach, watching the commercials that preceded the show.
Soon the ads ended, and the MBS network logo filled the screen. Right after that, Jung Arin’s stage should begin—without a single introductory word from the MCs.
But it wasn’t Jung Arin at all.
“Huh? What the—?”
Instead, a male idol group he’d never seen before took the stage. They were a no-name group from a tiny agency, the kind that might vanish tomorrow without anyone noticing.
“What’s going on—?”
Park straightened up, no longer sprawled lazily on the sofa.
“Did Director Choi pull some strings…?”
Sure, seeing the recent flood of articles about Jung Arin suggested that Choi must have done something.
Still, Park wasn’t particularly worried; he just smiled wryly.
“Putting on quite the show…”
He had already bribed the show’s chief producer (CP), so at best, Choi might have gotten them to move Jung Arin to the second or third spot.
Once the unknown boy group’s performance wrapped up, the broadcast cut to two youthful MCs holding cue cards.
“Let’s introduce today’s lineup! You won’t be disappointed—today’s show is loaded with big names!”
“That’s right—KOK is back with a mini-album celebrating their 10th anniversary!”
“Not only KOK’s special comeback stage but also returns by The Supers and N-BLEE!”
“Plus! We have a hot debut stage from rookie singer Jung Arin, so don’t change that channel!”
At the bottom of the screen, the text “This Week’s Hot Debut—Jung Arin” scrolled from left to right.
“That traitor… Kim CP…”
Park had paid a fortune to ensure there wouldn’t even be a single mention or caption like that. Obviously, Choi’s influence had forced the CP’s hand. It still infuriated Park.
“TV folks never keep their promises…”
But so what?
“Hah…”
Park sighed, loosening his tie a bit. He was certain they’d only managed to push Arin from first to maybe second or third place at best.
After all, do they have any idea how expensive that watch was…?
He was sure Kim CP wouldn’t completely betray him. With that, Park calmed down and resumed watching the show.
Second act… Third act… Fourth act…
As each performance came and went, sweat began to bead on Park’s bald head. By the time the eighth act finished, Jung Arin still hadn’t appeared.
“Damn it, where is she?!”
Growing increasingly anxious, Park took out a cigarette to steady his nerves. But even through the next few performances, Jung Arin was nowhere to be seen. By the time the show was nearing its finale, Park was practically drenched in sweat.
At last, droplets rolled down his face.
“This is insane—!”
There on the screen, Jung Arin finally made her entrance. Considering the following acts were N-BLEE, The Supers, and then KOK closing out the show, it was an unbelievably good slot for a rookie.
“That son of a… Kim CP…!”
Park snarled, immediately calling the CP’s phone. After a few rings, a timid voice answered,
“Yes, Executive Director Park…”
“Kim CP! You little snake—are you trying to pick a fight with me?!”
The CP’s voice trembled,
“Executive Director, I… I really had no choice.”
“What?! Even if Director Choi pressured you—!”
“If it were only Director Choi, I could’ve handled it.”
Park narrowed his eyes.
“Then who…?”
Silence.
“…It came from much higher up. Didn’t you already know about Teacher Lee Du-seok?”
“W-what? Who?”
The CP lowered his voice even more.
“Given the level of someone like Teacher Lee Du-seok, if I’d known he was involved, I wouldn’t have touched this in the first place… And, um, since this is a live broadcast, I really have to go.”
And with that, the call ended.
“Why would Teacher Lee…?”
Park muttered, incredulous. Lee Du-seok had long since sold his shares and retired, living a peaceful life away from the industry. Even the CEO had failed to get him back for company business—yet here he was, meddling in this minor internal spat?
“No way…”
Why would he intervene for a rookie singer who was practically set to be cut from the company until she got this last-minute chance? It made no sense.
“Impossible…”
As Park wiped his sweat with a handkerchief, Jung Arin’s stage continued:
– Sorry if I confused you…
“Damn it!”
Park slammed his fist against the side table in fury.
Meanwhile, real-time viewer comments rolled across the bottom of the screen:
0298: Omg she’s got that “refreshing” face vibe!
3418: Her voice is insane!
0409: I’m gonna stan her from now on.
7447: No choice, guess she’s gotta marry me now lol
6491: JEONG ARIN! JEONG ARIN! JEONG ARIN! JEONG ARIN! JEONG ARIN!
0212: Gotta note this name. I need to hype her up big time.
4597: How can a human voice sound like that??? ㅠㅠㅠㅠ
1135: I’m starting a daily campaign for “Adolescence” from today!
4813: Just channel-surfed and instantly fell in love…
Every single comment was overflowing with praise for Jung Arin.
Leave a Reply to a.kCancel reply