Chapter 16 - The Time Has Come to Change Fate
“Ah... the ranking dropped again.”
Haram Entertainment office.
Team Leader Park Yeong-ho sighed as he checked the music site rankings.
“I thought it would go a little further.”
A while ago, Seo Na-eun's fancam video went viral.
Under its influence, Newstarz's song climbed back up the music site charts and gained popularity.
It was something that had never happened in the nearly 3 years that Newstarz had been active.
However... these days, that momentum was faltering.
“Is the song lacking, after all?”
No matter how much of a hot topic it becomes, if the song itself lacks power, it's hard to have a long run.
A trend like the current one is a phenomenon that appears because the song's charm is lacking.
“Newstarz is fine with everything else... but their vocals are weak.”
This was a part that Park Yeong-ho had felt several times while being in charge of Newstarz since before their debut.
There are no members who sing so terribly that it makes your ears rot, and you could say they're above average overall... but they don't have a main vocalist who can truly captivate people's hearts.
“They originally had a solid main vocalist...”
Before debuting, Newstarz was a 5-member group centered around a solid main vocalist.
But as the main vocalist suddenly left and went to another agency, that position became vacant.
If it were another large agency, they would have somehow found a trainee who sings well and filled the main vocalist spot, but Haram Entertainment was not in a situation to do so.
In the end, Haram Entertainment dealt with it by changing the existing members' positions and assigning the main vocalist role to Kim So-yeong.
Haram Entertainment's strategy was half a success.
For a group that debuted in a chaotic atmosphere, they managed to get a passable response, but they couldn't make it big.
Thanks to the members working hard, they were able to secure a loyal fanbase, but despite quite some time passing, they couldn't release a smash hit and remained at a mediocre level of popularity.
“I know that So-yeong is working hard, but it's always a shame.”
The role of the main vocalist in an idol group is extremely important.
Especially when 'jungso-dols' belonging to small and medium-sized agencies gain popularity, the main vocalist often plays an important role.
There have been several cases where a group gained popularity because the main vocalist acted as a 'high-note shuttle' and 'hard-carried' the song.
However... it's difficult to expect that with Kim So-yeong's vocal ability.
“Newstarz's 3rd anniversary is coming up soon. They need to hit number one at least once, but at this rate...”
In the industry, there's a saying that if you can't hit number one on the music charts within 3 years of debuting, you'll never be number one.
Newstarz's 3rd anniversary is also in a few months. He wanted to see a decisive outcome before that time came.
If Newstarz fails to seize a chance to rebound and aimlessly reaches their 3rd anniversary...
“Team Leader Park.”
“Ah, yes, Director.”
At that moment, Director Choi Tae-hyung called for Park Yeong-ho.
“An event planning company I used to know is supposed to come by in an hour for a gig, Team Leader Park, you handle them.”
“Pardon? Me?”
“Because I have another schedule.”
“Ah… I understand.”
Choi Tae-hyung handed the related documents to Park Yeong-ho and went straight outside.
‘Is he going to see a trainee from another agency?’
Choi Tae-hyung, the industry veteran that CEO Baek Yeon-ah recruited a while ago.
His mission is to create a new girl group to succeed Newstarz.
Since the last audition fell through, he had been busy running around looking for worthy idol aspirants.
‘He has many connections and is a capable person, so he'll probably handle it well on his own.’
At that moment, an ominous thought popped into Park Yeong-ho's head.
‘If the girl group that Director Choi is preparing does well... will Newstarz get the cold shoulder?’
If things go wrong, they might focus on the new girl group and Newstarz could enter the process of disbandment.
Because they're a mediocre group that hasn't achieved number one even though it's been almost 3 years since their debut.
‘To prevent that from happening, we have to seize a chance to rebound somehow.’
However, what on earth should he do here?
Park Yeong-ho let out a sigh with a frustrated heart.
***
Meeting Kim So-yeong's eyes as she sat on the bench, Baek Hyeon-woo threw out a question.
“What would you think if you could entrust the main vocalist position to someone else?”
“Huh?”
Kim So-yeong's eyes widened at the sudden topic.
“Entrust the main vocalist position to someone else? What are you talking about?”
Kim So-yeong asked with a surprised expression.
“Are you by any chance talking about entrusting it to Laura or Kanade?”
“No.”
“Then don't tell me, to Na-eun?”
“Na-eun-ssi has the role of main dancer. We can't push the main vocalist role onto her as well.”
The vocal abilities of the Newstarz members are all more or less the same.
Their Vocal ability on the status window was also a B for all four of them.
From what Baek Hyeon-woo had observed while comparing them with other idols so far, a B was a level of 'not so bad that you could say they're bad, but a little lacking to say they're good'.
There was no one who possessed the vocal ability to elicit enthusiasm from people as a main vocalist.
Because they had judged it to be so within Haram Entertainment as well, they had continued to entrust the main vocalist role to Kim So-yeong.
It was like measuring the height of acorns, but at least among the four, Kim So-yeong's vocal volume was the largest.
“At the audition held at the company a while ago, an interesting person came.”
“Huh?”
“I'll show you for a moment.”
Baek Hyeon-woo took out his phone and played a video.
Then, a familiar melody flowed out. It was Newstarz's song, 'For you'.
However, the one singing was not Newstarz.
“It's a video I filmed yesterday.”
“……!”
Hearing the black-haired woman in the video sing, Kim So-yeong's eyes widened.
“Manager-nim, this person...”
Kim So-yeong stuttered.
It was a voice she was hearing for the first time, but the vocal ability was considerable.
It was to the point where it felt much better than the original song sung by Newstarz.
“This person... she applied for the audition?”
“Yes, but she failed.”
“She sings this well and she failed?”
“It seems the judges failed her because she looked too blunt. That she wasn't the style they wanted for this group.”
“Ah…”
Understanding what he meant, Kim So-yeong nodded her head.
She had heard what kind of style Director Choi Tae-hyung, who held full authority over the new girl group, liked.
The woman in the video was certainly a far cry from that style.
“However, So-yeong-ssi.”
Baek Hyeon-woo said in a calm voice.
“If she were to join Newstarz instead of the new group, don't you think it would be fine?”
“……!”
That's right.
This was the solution Baek Hyeon-woo had thought of.
Yoo Jeong-ah, who possessed SS-class Potential, was a talent that should never be let go.
However, it would be a difficult thing for Yoo Jeong-ah to enter the new girl group that Choi Tae-hyung was pushing for.
Transforming her image into the style Choi Tae-hyung prefers right now is next to impossible. Moreover, it's not easy to find other members who can match Yoo Jeong-ah's skill level.
However, if she were to join as a new member of Newstarz, these problems would be resolved.
“Originally, Newstarz was a 5-member group and had a separate main vocalist. But because the main vocalist left and they became a 4-member group, the positions became all jumbled up. In particular, you, So-yeong-ssi, who was the main rapper and sub-vocalist, ended up taking on the role of main vocalist.”
Kim So-yeong was originally Newstarz's main rapper.
At the company she was previously affiliated with, she was also preparing as a rapper, and she herself felt that being a rapper suited her aptitude better.
She only changed positions because a vacancy opened up for main vocalist.
“If you accept a new main vocalist now, Newstarz can be reborn as the 5-member group that was originally intended. You too, So-yeong-ssi, can return to your original position as main rapper.”
“……!”
If Kim So-yeong had been greedy for the main vocalist position, she would have felt displeasure at this suggestion.
However, Baek Hyeon-woo could be sure that wasn't the case.
Because the Mental Condition stat on the status window was stirring.
She could be freed from the heavy pressure of being the main vocalist and return to the main rapper position she had originally wanted.
Hearing that, Kim So-yeong's Mental Condition, which had been around 70%, was rising to nearly 80%.
“I also heard from Na-eun-ssi and Laura-ssi. That you were members who gathered on the premise of being active as a 5-member group, but because you changed to a 4-member group right before debut, the role division all went awry and the balance was ruined.”
“……”
“As you said earlier, this is an important time for Newstarz. If you welcome a new main vocalist and become able to be active as a complete group... Newstarz will be able to make a new leap forward.”
At first, Baek Hyeon-woo had thought that he had to make it so that Yoo Jeong-ah was chosen as a member of the new girl group.
But he changed his mind while listening to Laura's story.
If Yoo Jeong-ah is a rookie with the greatest potential, then it's right to stick her in Newstarz, not the new girl group that Choi Tae-hyung is trying to make.
Because Baek Hyeon-woo was none other than Newstarz's dedicated manager.
“M-Manager-nim.”
Hearing Baek Hyeon-woo's story, Kim So-yeong asked in a trembling voice.
“This, is this something that Director Choi has approved?”
“No. This is something Director Choi does not know about yet.”
“Then with the CEO...?”
Kim So-yeong also knows that Baek Hyeon-woo is CEO Baek Yeon-ah's nephew.
Baek Hyeon-woo is merely a road manager part-timer, but if this was CEO Baek Yeon-ah's will, then it was as good as decided.
However...
“No.”
“What?”
“I have not yet brought up the story of incorporating her as a new member of Newstarz. I'm thinking of formally writing up a proposal and suggesting it soon.”
Kim So-yeong couldn't believe her ears.
“I-Isn't the order wrong? The right way is to get permission from the higher-ups first and then notify us...”
“No.”
Hearing Kim So-yeong's worried voice, Baek Hyeon-woo shook his head.
“I am Newstarz's dedicated manager. Therefore, the most important people to me are all of you.”
“……!”
When he was at the hospital, he had to be mindful of the higher-ups.
That's why it was difficult to perform the best treatment for the patient.
Even though the patient is the most important thing.
But Baek Hyeon-woo no longer had any intention of working like that.
Now that he had become the idols' dedicated manager, he wanted to work while thinking of the idols as his top priority.
“I can't add a new member if you all don't want it. That's why I'm trying to persuade all of you first.”
For that reason, it was important to persuade Kim So-yeong, who would have to hand over the main vocalist position.
Because she could think that her position was being taken away.
“If we recruit a new member and you hand over the main vocalist position, your burden will also be greatly reduced, So-yeong-ssi.”
Until now, Kim So-yeong had felt a great burden from her role as the main vocalist.
Today too, she was on her way to receive additional vocal training with her exhausted body.
However, if she handed the main vocalist position to Yoo Jeong-ah, she would gain considerable leeway.
“On stage, you can focus on the role of main rapper... and off stage, let's try challenging yourself not just as a model but in acting as well.”
“A-Acting?”
“If it's you, So-yeong-ssi, you will definitely be able to succeed as an actress as well.”
Kim So-yeong possessed an S-rank Visual.
This doesn't simply mean her appearance is outstanding.
It means her expressive power, which captivates people's gazes with her facial acting, is outstanding.
From what Baek Hyeon-woo had researched so far, the 'acting-dols' who were very active as actors all had high Visuals.
If it's Kim So-yeong, who possesses an S-rank Visual, there's a high possibility she would also stand out as an actress.
“So-yeong-ssi, let's give it a try.”
Baek Hyeon-woo met Kim So-yeong's eyes and spoke.
“For Newstarz, and for the idol Kim So-yeong... this is an opportunity for a new leap forward.”
***
The next day.
While waiting at the filming site for a web variety show, Laura, who was scheduled to appear as a guest, abruptly threw out a question.
“Is it true that you went on a date with So-yeong unnie?”
Baek Hyeon-woo, who was next to her, was at a loss for words for a moment.
“What are you talking about?”
“I heard everything from So-yeong unnie, you know?”
Laura glared at Baek Hyeon-woo while sipping her drink through a straw.
“I'm gonna go tattle to Na-eun unnie. That you said you don't do things like date idols, but then you secretly went on a date at the park with So-yeong unnie behind our backs.”
“Going to the roadside park... was just to rest for a moment while on the move.”
“Ah, so you're trying to do everything while making excuses that it's not a date. Ugh, so shady. Why are men so shady.”
“……”
Laura laughed mischievously while looking at the silent Baek Hyeon-woo.
“Ayy, I'm just kidding, you know? I heard from So-yeong unnie that you talked about reorganizing Newstarz.”
“What did So-yeong-ssi say?”
“Well. She said she needs to think about it more.”
Yesterday, Kim So-yeong had said she needed time to think, and Baek Hyeon-woo had decided to wait for her.
“It seems she also talked a bit with Na-eun unnie.”
“With Na-eun-ssi too...”
Seo Na-eun and Kim So-yeong were the 'older pair' who were older than the other members, and as the main dancer & main vocalist, they had led the group.
There would be a lot for the two of them to talk about regarding reorganizing Newstarz into a 5-member group.
“So-yeong unnie is also a person with a strong sense of responsibility, so it seems she's seriously contemplating various things.”
“I suppose so. Ah, just a moment.”
At that moment, a message arrived on Baek Hyeon-woo's phone.
When he checked, it was from Kim So-yeong.
—Kim So-yeong: Hello, Manager-nim.
—Kim So-yeong: I've been thinking about it continuously since yesterday, and I've only just now made a decision.
Kim So-yeong's messages arrived on Baek Hyeon-woo's phone one after another.
—Kim So-yeong: I'll do as you said, Manager-nim.
“Ooh!”
Laura, who was peeking at the screen from the side, cheered.
However, she made a puzzled expression at the message that arrived right after.
—Kim So-yeong: Manager-nim, I can trust you, right?
—Kim So-yeong: I'm going to trust you, Manager-nim, so you have to take responsibility until the end.
Words that, at a glance, felt like they contained a special meaning.
Confirming those messages, Laura glared at Baek Hyeon-woo.
“Oppa, are you sure you only talked about reorganizing Newstarz? Did you perhaps come on to her and ask her out?”
“I did not.”
After strongly denying it, Baek Hyeon-woo smiled.
With this, he had also obtained the approval of Kim So-yeong, the existing main vocalist.
The girl group Newstarz, who had never rebounded after debuting in an incomplete state.
The time had come to change that fate.