The grand TOP 10 selection round, no, the TOP 11 selection round, dawned.
Executive Director Park sat at his office desk and stroked his chin.
“Signed with LS Entertainment, huh.”
He had just heard that Yoon Jaeyi, the buzz-worthy contestant whom Team 2’s in-house composer HS had saved with a super pass, had signed with Team 2.
“Tsk.”
Even in his own eyes, Yoon Jaeyi had a voice and skill worthy of an LS contract.
She could even be considered Kang Hajun’s strongest rival in this season of K-SingerStar, yet he decided not to dwell on it.
Kang Hajun’s true goal in entering the show was not winning first place but making a successful debut.
“Yoon Jaeyi…”
Since she was family now, she also had to finish the program well and debut.
At a feast, the big teammates should help each other and gather up every last crumb.
“Maybe it is actually good that it is Yoon Jaeyi…”
She had already faced Kang Hajun in the one-on-one battle round, and ratings had peaked at that moment.
On YouTube the clip titled “K-SingerStar most talked-about moment” logged record views. The public clearly enjoyed their match-up.
If later rounds arranged a rematch, the loose rubber band would snap back with tension, and the topic would trend again.
Layer upon layer of talk becomes name recognition, meaning they could reap publicity without spending huge debut money.
And if the two most talked-about contestants both debuted under LS Entertainment, the agency’s stature would also rise.
“Yes, this may be better after all.”
One corner of his heart still wanted Kang Hajun to stand on top, but that could wait.
Lost in thought, Park nodded several times, then his phone vibrated.
After checking his watch he put on his jacket and called somewhere.
“Hajun, are you in the practice room right now?”
For once he intended to accompany the boy to the shoot in person.
A studio in Ilsan was in utter chaos as staff prepared for that day’s K-SingerStar recording.
“Producer, this is not what we agreed on.”
Behind the stage Assistant Producer Seong Gyu-jin bowed repeatedly, sweat streaming.
“I tried calling but you never answered…”
“How can I pick up every call when I am that busy?”
The man scolding him was Kim Woo-seok, executive director of JN Entertainment.
Suppressing the anger in his voice, Kim questioned calmly.
“Back then you told me Yuju was the last of the TOP 10 appointees, did you not?”
“After that one more was added. It passed in an internal vote…”
Even with Seong’s embarrassed face, Kim showed no sign of backing off.
“If you suddenly switch to a TOP 11, people will call the show rigged and Yuju, who signed with us, will be dragged into it as well.”
In truth he did not care much; TV people changed their words every day.
But he had paid twice the fare to board the K-SingerStar boat so late.
“If anyone could be appointed, we never would have put up that huge investment.”
His temper could not help but boil.
“Director Kim, please calm down. You know this is above my pay grade.”
Hands on his hips, Kim jerked his chin.
“Then explain these internal circumstances. I would love to hear.”
Seong looked around once, then began in a low voice.
“You know contestant Yoon Jaeyi, the big topic…”
“She is the eleventh appointee?”
“Yes, she just signed with LS Entertainment.”
“LS Entertainment?” Kim narrowed his eyes.
“Main judge HS intervened in person, so without any separate lobbying, Yoon Jaeyi was confirmed and everything got tangled.”
Kim reacted to the name HS, the rookie hit maker now exclusive to LS.
He had been recruited by Kim Woohyun, Woo-seok’s former junior in their old company.
Grinding his teeth, Kim remembered the day he tried to poach Woohyun.
Woohyun had seemed shaken, and he had been sure of success, though Woohyun flatly refused to bring HS along.
Snaring Woohyun alone would have boosted his own status, yet in the second meeting Woohyun had rejected the offer outright and walked away.
He had bragged loudly to his higher-ups that he would poach both Woohyun and HS, yet ended up with neither.
Woohyun’s refusal still made no sense to him, and he could not forgive it.
“Director Kim, the chief producer Kim Young-ho holds real power here. I could not stop it. I am sorry.”
He was not angry with Seong.
His fury was aimed at HS, or rather at Kim Woohyun who had nurtured HS.
“Speak of the devils…”
“Here come the stars themselves.”
In his sight appeared Kim Woohyun and a helmeted man who had to be HS.
“Man, this brings back memories.”
Executive Director Park, who rarely accompanied shoots, toured the studio with a nostalgic smile.
Only a blood-soaked fight to decide the winner remained, and the air was heavy.
Countless staff ran about, and clear agency reps traded bows with producers.
“Looks like they have come to interfere openly now.”
Park was no different; on an important day, a higher-up should attend. With no pressing schedule, he had come with Kang Hajun.
“Hello, I am Director Kim Byung-gyu of SE Entertainment. Our contestant Lee Jun-hyuk, who signed with us…”
“Producer Seong, long time no see. You heard I became executive director at WD Label?”
“Producer Kim, we met often back in the Infinite Challenge days, but I rarely see you now.”
It looked friendly on the surface, yet these were relationships of mutual benefit and survival.
Everyone was fighting with power and connections to get what they wanted.
After observing a while, Park rubbed his palms together.
“Hajun, we still have time. Let’s make our own rounds.”
Hajun did not quite know what rounds meant but followed.
Scanning the area, Park spotted a target and smiled.
“Hey, Chief Producer Go, long time no see. Been well?”
Go Hyun-deok was the top commander here; talking to him beat chatting with lower staff.
Only someone of Park’s rank could address a CP directly.
“Director Park, it has been a while. How are you?”
“I saw you often when I was division head.”
“Nowadays you rarely come on site, right?”
“Yes.”
Park draped an arm around Hajun.
“You know our Hajun. He was pretty sad about that elimination.”
“Well, that was…”
“Joking. It was inevitable then. Anyway, you brought him back, good job.”
Patting Go’s shoulder, he added a quiet push.
“A miracle revival makes great buzz, doesn’t it? Please take good care of him.”
Go understood the veiled demand at once.
“Of course.”
Park turned away, looking for the next target.
“Isn’t that Manager Kim and the rookie composer?”
Hajun also looked and whispered automatically,
“HS…”
“Since he promised you a song, we should say hello.”
They walked over. Voices came into focus.
“Some pay a high fare and others ride free, that does not sit well.”
“If they helped the show as much as they paid, you cannot call it free riding.”
Judging by Manager Kim’s face, he disliked the other man.
“If you stay in this field, you and I will cross paths many times.”
“Probably.”
“If HS is hot now and you act like this, what happens to our relationship?”
As they neared, tension crackled.
“Are you upset because we rejected your offer last time?”
Park, sensing trouble, cleared his throat deliberately.
“Manager Kim.”
“Executive Director Park!”
Kim bowed at once, HS nodded lightly.
“Rare to see you on set, Director. What brings you?”
“Came to play manager for Hajun. Nice atmosphere here.”
He signaled for Hajun to greet them.
“Hello, Manager Kim, Composer HS. I am Team 1 trainee Kang Hajun.”
“We meet at last.”
“I have heard you are very capable. Please look after me, even if we are on different teams.”
Kim had thought Hajun a cosseted young master, yet the boy showed excellent social grace.
He then turned shy before HS.
“Um, hello…”
“Hi.”
Kim found it strange but let it go.
“So Team 2 already signed Yoon Jaeyi. Acting as her manager today?”
“Not only Yoon Jaeyi, also managing Hyunseung here.”
While Park nodded, he noticed someone he had forgotten.
“Huh, is that Kim Woo-seok?”
“Director Park, long time.”
Park’s gaze scanned him.
“Left the nest and got flashier.”
“Found a fine new nest.”
Seeing the business card, Park gave a thin laugh.
“Executive director? Congratulations.”
The tone was half teasing; he slipped the card into his pocket.
He lacked the generosity to congratulate someone who had left his nest.
“Was I interrupting your reunion?”
He laid hefty hands on both men’s shoulders.
“Not at all,” they said together.
Yet Park’s face hardened.
“Then why the tense mood?”
Silence thickened.
He needed to check. From Kim’s words it looked like Woo-seok was angry over a refused scout offer.
“Manager Kim, what were you discussing?”
“Well, Director…”
“Or you, Woo-seok, want to tell me? Holding my busy people, what were you talking about?”
The studio air conditioning was chilly, yet cold sweat trickled down Woo-seok’s back.
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