Chapter 179
“No, we can’t.”
Colors headquarters, CEO’s office.
A secret meeting was taking place here.
“Shouldn’t you at least listen to what it is before saying no?”
I could already guess what it was without listening.
“You’re going to talk about an overseas tour, aren’t you?”
“!”
Ugh.
CEO Hong and Secretary Yeon looked at me with surprised eyes.
They were really easy to predict….
“No. It’s not even been a year since we debuted. No matter how solid our domestic fandom appears, we’re still rookies. We can’t afford to go overseas when we’re still unstable.”
The fandom hadn’t even been around for a year.
Since we came from a survival show, there was a strong tendency for individual fandoms.
We were just starting to build a general fan base, and now they want us to go overseas?
Did they want to see our fandom collapse?
Absolutely not.
“But the company has to consider the shareholders’ perspectives too. You know the money we earn overseas is several times what we earn domestically, right, Cheong?”
I knew.
Even when I was Baek Nokha, a solo artist with relatively weak overseas fandom, I still made several times more abroad than I did at home.
“Now is the time to solidify our core fandom. If we focus on overseas popularity already, our domestic fandom will collapse in an instant.”
“We know that too, but….”
CEO Hong sighed.
“You know the company has been slightly unstable since Director Kim left, right? It takes some time to gain control.”
“Yes.”
I knew.
I was also disappointed that CEO Hong hadn’t managed to take full control yet.
I really wanted to replace her with someone else.
“If I can show a solid performance during this time, it will enhance my standing. The more power I can wield in the company, the more aggressively I can support you.”
“CEO.”
I wasn’t swayed by CEO Hong’s persuasion.
Why?
“You’ve already made this proposal to the seniors, and now it’s our turn… It probably means they also declined, right?”
I didn’t care about CEO Hong’s situation.
“Of course, they declined because they’ve already done enough overseas tours. Anyway, we can’t do it this year. You have to think long-term. Don’t you want to make money next year?”
CEO Hong sighed at the mention of next year.
She understood what I meant.
She wasn’t a foolish person.
“I’m suggesting one year. By this time next year, we won’t refuse an overseas tour.”
Though I wouldn’t be here then.
Still, if it’s the second year… it should be fine.
“But-”
“Instead.”
I presented a card to CEO Hong, who still showed no signs of backing down.
“We can compromise a little.”
“A little, you say….”
“A domestic concert is not a problem at all.”
Something that both CEO Hong and we could agree on.
A few days ago, a college student who had been struck by Seo Baek-young.
She called herself “Baekfra.”
‘Now my identity is Baekfra.’
After coming back from her part-time job, she finally got to review the showcase video from yesterday.
Today was the day for the much-anticipated second part of Color Film.
While waiting for Color Film 2, she planned to review the showcase.
‘Ha. They said the showcase was legendary, but I couldn’t watch it live because of my part-time job. Seriously.’
In my next life, I must be born rich, at least for my kids’ sake.
So, I can buy a million copies of the Steel Blue album.
Baekfra found the showcase video on K-app.
She pressed the play button.
[Hee-young: Every song on this album is really great. Which song do you guys like the most from this album?]
The difficult question made all the members adopt thoughtful expressions.
[Juhong: I would choose “Summer Triangle,” the song I participated in writing the lyrics for!]
Yeon Juhong was the first to raise her hand and speak.
[Hee-young: Oh, I really liked that song too. “Summer Triangle.” It’s a story about stars, right?]
[Juhong: Yes. The large triangle formed by Deneb of Cygnus, Altair of Aquila, and Vega of Lyra is called the ‘Summer Triangle.’]
[Geum: She used what she learned at school.]
[Juhong: When else would I use what I learned in science class if not now?!]
‘That makes sense!’
Our diligent middle school graduate, Yeon Coral….
So cute….
[Juhong: Celebrities are often called stars, right?]
[Hee-young: That’s right.]
[Juhong: But I thought of our fans, Everblue, as stars instead. The Summer Triangle has been used to find constellations because it’s made up of the brightest stars.]
[Hee-young: Oh.]
Yeon Juhong continued excitedly.
[Juhong: So, I wrote the lyrics with the thought that even if we lose our way, we just need to find the Summer Triangle.]
[Hee-young: Ah, so even if you lose your way, you just need to find your fans?]
[Juhong: Yes!]
The members were all looking at Yeon Juhong with satisfied expressions.
‘Yoon Cheong is almost smiling like a mom….’
[Cheong: I composed the song, but Juhong really wanted to participate in writing the lyrics, so I told her to give it a try…. She came back with really good lyrics in just one day.]
[Hee-young: Wow.]
[Cheong: After polishing it together, a really great song came out. I hope the fans enjoy it.]
[Hee-young: I’m a fan too, and I really enjoyed it, so no need to worry.]
Yeon Juhong had a proud face, and Yoon Cheong had a serene smile.
The conversation wrapped up in a warm atmosphere.
[Hee-young: Personally, I liked “Summer Solstice” the most.]
[Geum: I composed it! The lyrics were helped by Ryu Bo-ra.]
[Hee-young: Oh, really? I knew our Geum was good at composing, but I didn’t know Bo-ra was this good at writing lyrics.]
Do Hee-young looked genuinely surprised.
Understandably so.
Ryu Bo-ra, seen on Make a New Color, seemed somewhat lethargic and disinterested in the world.
Of course, she wasn’t like that in front of the camera.
Do Hee-young glanced at Yoon Cheong.
Even during Make a New Color, she had thought Yoon Cheong was no ordinary person….
[Hee-young: You are all amazing.]
Do Hee-young said with a gentle smile.
[Hee-young: Each member is discovering new talents and constantly moving forward. That’s really not an easy thing to do.]
Do Hee-young knew this because she had walked the same path.
Breathing itself is difficult in this industry.
To never stop, to never rest and keep moving forward.
How hard that is.
Do Hee-young indulged in her thoughts for a moment, then returned to reality.
[Hee-young: Could you explain the song?]
[Bo-ra: “Summer Solstice” means the longest day of the year. It started from the idea of being able to take the longest nap on the longest day.]
[Geum: Actually, this song came to mind after hearing Bo-ra’s idea! So, you’ll feel our synergy in it.]
All the members nodded.
[Baek-young: You have no idea how much they fought while making that song….]
[Juhong: I really thought we were going to disband. They fought so much.]
Seo Baek-young, Yeon Juhong, and Yoon Cheong all nodded vigorously.
[Hee-young: Oh my.]
[Bo-ra: I told you not to mention that.]
[Geum: It wasn’t a fight. It was a clash of opinions.]
[Hee-young: Why did you fight?]
Ryu Bo-ra and Kim Geum glanced at each other and then chuckled.
[Bo-ra: I wanted to focus on the longest day.]
[Geum: I wanted to focus on the shortest night.]
Kim Geum raised her hands as she said this.
[Geum: But Bo-ra won. I can’t beat Ryu Bo-ra.]
[Baek-young: No one in the group can beat her….]
[Cheong: That’s right….]
‘As expected, Bo-ra is the real powerhouse!’
Baekfra chuckled to herself.
It was already a popular belief among the Everblue fans that Ryu Bo-ra held the most influence.
[Hee-young: Then we can’t not listen to it. Let’s hear “Summer Solstice,” sung by the five summer fairies.]
With Do Hee-young’s introduction, spotlights illuminated the Steel Blue members.
Each of the five members held a handheld microphone and began to immerse themselves in the song.
Oh, my daydream
On the longest day of the year
I’ll be able to take the longest nap
You will appear in that dream
The first part was sung by Seo Baek-young in a languid voice.
‘Ah, so that voice in the teaser was…! It was Baek-young’s voice.’
She could produce such a voice too.
My baby is amazing. Perfect. Adorable.
As I walk towards you step by step
You come from afar step by step
I shout out
Oh, my daydream
You are the one who makes me dream
You are the one who excites me
Next was the chorus.
All five sang with joyful smiles.
Affectionate lyrics. Hopeful melody.
Like everyone’s first love
Like the long summer days everyone experiences
You are my daydream
Followed by Yoon Cheong’s climax.
True to Steel Blue’s main vocalist, she hit the high notes cleanly and effortlessly.
‘Kim Geum said she composed the song trusting Yoon Cheong.’
It was true.
Such an octave range could only come from having solid faith in the main vocalist.
On the longest day of the year
Be sure to find me
Be sure to whisper to me
That it took a long time to find me
That this is not a dream
“…So.”
Seo Baek-young, Kim Geum, Ryu Bo-ra, Yeon Juhong.
The four of them now-
“You’re suggesting… a concert?”
Were staring at me.
“Uh, yeah….”
Was it going to be too hard for them?
It seemed a bit too early-
“Oh. Of course, we should. Why are you even asking?”
“That sounds awesome!!!!!”
“Where will it be held? Capacity? Date?”
“First, let’s start with the set list.”
….
I guess I worried for nothing….