Lee Jin-wook had been staring at his phone since morning.
Surely, HS was supposed to call today.
But there had been no sign of him.
“He’s not trying to call the whole thing off, right?”
He had already hinted to the higher-ups that a big deal was in the works.
If things fell through now, it would put him in a very awkward spot.
That could not happen….
Just then, as Jin-wook was pacing like a puppy that needed to pee…
[Godchis] (T/N: God+Etchis)
His phone vibrated, and the name he’d been waiting for popped up on the screen.
“Ahem, hmm!”
Jin-wook cleared his throat, took a deep breath, and answered calmly.
“Yes, this is Lee Jin-wook from Media Content Division 1.”
— …….
“Hello?”
— …….
“H-HS-nim?”
There was a long silence, and then,
— “Who are you?”
A young girl’s voice came through the receiver.
Right after, a man’s hurried voice followed.
— “Hey, kid, give me that.”
There was some noisy scuffling, then silence.
— “You’re the Yellow Pong representative, right?”
The man’s tone had calmed down. In the background, a cute girl’s voice asked, “Yellow Pong?”
“Yes, that’s right,” Jin-wook answered, smiling faintly.
Ahh.
HS was a dad. That’s why he wanted to make children’s songs for his daughter.
It was strangely heartwarming.
But that warmth didn’t last long.
— “Since you responded positively to my email, can I take that as an agreement to the terms I listed?”
HS skipped all formalities and jumped straight to business. Jin-wook replied, “Yes,” while thinking.
Man, this guy is in a hurry.
People that impatient were usually on the sensitive side….
He had a feeling this collaboration might not be smooth.
Sure enough.
— “Big companies usually talk a good game, then upper management shoots it down. I don’t need to worry about that happening here, do I?”
HS’s sharp tone came like a jab.
“W-well—”
Already thrown off, Jin-wook stammered. In truth, this project hadn’t even been formally reported to upper management yet.
He had planned to submit a report with his name on it once the details were firm.
Yes.
He had intended to see how far Yellow Pong could be involved, work out compromises, and then submit the final report….
But this guy didn’t seem open to compromise.
— “If you can’t guarantee that, I’ll look at other companies.”
“N-no! Wait a moment!”
In the end, blinded by his desire for promotion, Jin-wook gave a rash answer without thinking of the fallout.
“I’ll take responsibility and make sure it goes through.”
— “Then I’ll trust you, Mr. Lee Jin-wook. I also need to move fast on this project.”
“Then, when are you hoping for the release?”
Another pause.
— “One week.”
The voice was firm and unyielding.
“Sorry?”
— “One week.”
Wow, this guy really was in a hurry.
“Do you mean… one week to produce the media content and release it?”
— “Yes. The song will be done in 2–3 days, so one week from then.”
What, is he insane?
Something felt off. Jin-wook was starting to think he had gotten involved with the wrong person.
— “Can you do it?”
But it was already too late to back out. He couldn’t let such a massive opportunity go to another company.
Yes, he needed this promotion.
Then he could get married, have a daughter who looked like him, and make children’s songs for her.
Just like HS.
Jin-wook snapped to attention like a new recruit.
“I-I’ll make it happen!”
— “Good. Then send me the collaboration contract by today.”
“Yes, yes…”
— “I’ll email you as soon as the track is done. We’ll be in touch.”
Click.
Jin-wook stared at the disconnected screen.
One thing was certain.
For now….
He wasn’t going home anytime soon.
Around lunchtime, LS Entertainment’s rooftop terrace was as crowded as always.
Among them, the Management Division 1 staff sat together, sharing quiet gossip.
“Hey, you heard the news, right?”
A nasty rumor had been circulating lately.
“You mean HS sharpening his knives?”
“Yeah, that’s the one.”
“He’s probably about to do some serious damage.”
It was the rumor that composer HS would be releasing a track soon.
“HS, of all people, lost to a rookie composer. Of course he’d be pissed.”
“Yeah, I’d lose my pride too.”
“Could he be preparing a solo album?”
One staffer clapped his hands in mock alarm.
“That might be it. He’s planning to wipe the charts clean!”
At that, another sighed heavily, looking gloomy.
“That’s why Soul stopped promotions and postponed their comeback.”
“Good call. Otherwise, they’d get crushed.”
A newbie, just two weeks into the job, spoke up cautiously.
“But… do we really have to avoid him?”
Suddenly, every gaze turned to the rookie.
“Isn’t it weird? We’re in the same company, yet we have to tiptoe around and time our releases just to avoid him? As a member of Team 1, it hurts my pride!”
The rookie, face full of determination, added,
“HS isn’t some god, right? We have skilled composers and famous artists in Team 1 too!”
There was a short silence.
“Pfft—”
The senior employees clamped their mouths to hold back laughter.
“Pff, hahahaha!”
“Oh man, that’s cute.”
They burst into laughter, holding their stomachs.
“Why… why are you laughing?”
The rookie couldn’t understand.
“Yeah, Team 1 is the best!”
“Let’s learn from his confidence, guys.”
It wasn’t a bad thing to say, and it wasn’t even wrong.
But somehow the mood turned strange.
“Why don’t we start an ‘Overthrow HS Project’ then?”
“Yeah, HS isn’t invincible. Let’s challenge him head-on!”
Their faces were smiling, but the tone was pure sarcasm.
“Hey, rookie.”
The oldest senior pulled out two cigarettes, one for himself and one for the rookie.
“This is your first time in the entertainment business, right?”
“Yes, sir!”
He lit the cigarette for him and added,
“It’s not because we’re spineless or inferior that we avoid HS.”
“Of course not. He’s human. He can fail, can’t he?”
“True. But you asked if HS is a big deal, right?”
Ssss…
He took a long drag.
“He’s a big deal. He’s a different league altogether.”
Whoosh…
Exhaling smoke, he continued,
“You’ll see, but in this business, there are monsters who dominate everything. HS is one of them.”
“But even if a monster is scary, we can’t just starve, right?”
“Kid, even monsters get full.”
The rookie hesitated. “I guess…?”
“When he’s full and resting, that’s when we quietly pick up the scraps. That’s winning.”
“That’s winning?!”
“What else? That’s how you survive here.”
The others chuckled, calling the senior “old-school,” but they all silently agreed. Sometimes, against an unbeatable monster, the smart move was to lay low and wait.
Yes.
Survival mattered more than victory here.
“But still…”
The rookie, not yet understanding, seemed unconvinced.
“Hmm.”
The senior studied him, then asked,
“You want to help Team 1 win?”
“Yes! What can I do?”
“Every night, fill a basin with water.”
“Every night? …What?”
“And pray.”
“Pray?”
“Pray that HS will slip and fall.”
With a mischievous grin, he added,
“Pray for Choi Jihyun to fall too, while you’re at it.”
“You’re joking again!”
“No, pray like you mean it!”
The others burst out laughing again.
Truth was, everyone there had once wished for such a miracle.
“But I’m not religious, so it doesn’t work for me.”
Still, they had accepted it was impossible now.
Meanwhile.
Hyunseung had stopped by a gukbap (soup with rice) place to have lunch with ManagerKim for the first time in a while.
“Manager, you’re talking bad about me in your head, aren’t you?”
“Why would I?”
“My ears have been burning.”
Kim took a big spoonful of soup and said casually,
“Honestly, half the industry probably is.”
“What? Why would they hate an upstanding citizen like me?”
Kim looked up and met his gaze.
“Look at the music charts. You’re monopolizing them. Other companies must be cursing you, and even Team 1 doesn’t like you much.”
Hyunseung sighed, tilting his head.
“Well, they could just release good songs too, couldn’t they?”
Kim laughed dryly. If the competitors heard that, they’d riot.
With signs saying, “Down with HS!”
“You think they don’t know that?”
Kim shook his head, spoon in hand.
“It’s because your songs are just that much better.”
Hyunseung seemed pleased to hear that and smiled as he took a big bite of rice.
“Special occasion. Lunch is on me today.”
“Oh, really?”
“But I have a favor to ask.”
“Knew it.”
“Society’s all about give and take, isn’t it?”
Kim chewed and swallowed before speaking.
“Alright, let’s hear it. But if it’s more expensive than this soup, I’m saying no.”
“Here, book these people for me.”
Hyunseung slid over a note. Kim warily took another big spoonful of soup.
Hopefully it wasn’t some washed-up singer, a trainee, or a struggling idol.
“Team 1’s been asking when your next release is. Are you really working on something?”
“Yeah, just a small side project.”
“Only small for you, I bet.”
“Maybe.”
“So, what instrument is worth buying me lunch?”
He opened the note.
“Pffffft!”
Kim spat rice everywhere.
“What are you doing?”
Hyunseung recoiled, handing him tissues.
“You’re not a kid. Don’t spit your food out.”
“W-wait, are these the people I think they are?”
“Yes, you know them.”
“What are you planning with these people?”
Hyunseung just ordered new bowls of gukbap.
“Boss, two fresh bowls, please.”
Then, looking at Kim, he said,
“Since I bought you two bowls, you better deliver.”
“I’ll try to book them but…”
Kim stared down at the note, forgetting to wipe his mouth.
“What on earth…”
He couldn’t even begin to imagine what kind of project needed a lineup like that.
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