Chapter 23 - It's Much Better
Haram Entertainment CEO's Office.
The atmosphere there was much more serious than usual.
This was because Baek Hyeon-woo and Park Yeong-ho were explaining the Newstarz reorganization plan.
“That concludes my explanation, CEO-nim.”
“……”
CEO Baek Yeon-ah kept her mouth firmly shut.
It was the Baek Yeon-ah who usually showed a very relaxed side in front of her nephew, Baek Hyeon-woo, but for today, her expression was quite serious.
This was because she had heard the story of putting a new member into the girl group Newstarz, which could be called the pillar of the company.
“CEO-nim, I think this is a very good idea.”
Park Yeong-ho carefully opened his mouth.
“Didn't you also take a liking to Yoo Jeong-ah after seeing her at the audition, CEO-nim? At that time, we accepted Director Choi's opinion and just failed her... but honestly, I was also very disappointed.”
“……”
“If we put her in as a new member of Newstarz, most of Yoo Jeong-ah's shortcomings will be diluted. There won't be a problem.”
Despite Park Yeong-ho's persuasion, Baek Yeon-ah continued to keep her mouth shut.
He had expected her to show a positive reaction, but unexpectedly, her reaction was not favorable.
“Hyeon-woo-ya.”
Baek Yeon-ah, who had been silent for a good while, opened her mouth.
“What did Director Choi Tae-hyung say?”
“He told us to handle it ourselves.”
“Phew…”
A sigh escaped from Baek Yeon-ah's lips.
“Hyeon-woo-ya, adding a member to an existing group is not such a simple matter.”
“I have never thought of it as a simple matter.”
“What will you do if all of Newstarz's fans leave because of the member addition?”
Baek Yeon-ah said, looking at Baek Hyeon-woo.
“I'm not doubting Yoo Jeong-ah's skills. Because I saw it clearly with my own two eyes at the audition.”
“……”
“However, there is no guarantee that putting Yoo Jeong-ah into Newstarz will work out in a good way.”
Contrary to his expectations, Baek Yeon-ah was not positive about incorporating Yoo Jeong-ah.
“Certainly, the current 4-member system is incomplete. But the fans who love Newstarz right now love them because they like that incomplete form. But if they suddenly change to a 5-member system, will the love of those fans be maintained?”
“……”
“Certainly, Newstarz is not a group that is achieving great success. Still, they've always had a loyal fanbase, and have been drawing popularity in a passably stable way. But if we make such a change here... we might even lose that popularity.”
At Baek Yeon-ah's opinion, Park Yeong-ho let out a small groan.
Because it was true that he hadn't considered that part.
From a manager's point of view, suddenly making a big change to a flagship business that is operating in a passably stable way carries a large risk.
However...
“Just as you said, CEO-nim, there may be fans who lose affection for a Newstarz that has changed to a 5-member system.”
Baek Hyeon-woo slowly opened his mouth.
“However, with the current 4-member system, Newstarz cannot become a group that is loved even more by the fans.”
“What?”
“Director Choi told me. That Newstarz is bound to go on a downward trend and then disband.”
“……!”
At the citation of Choi Tae-hyung's remark, Baek Yeon-ah's face stiffened.
“Even the fans who are fervently cheering for Newstarz right now, their love is bound to fade over time. Even if we maintain the current system, we are bound to lose the fans' love someday.”
“That's…”
“To prevent such a situation from happening, we have to make a change.”
Baek Hyeon-woo said in a clear voice.
“So that we can receive even more love from the existing fans than now... and so that we can be loved by even more fans, we must make Newstarz grow.”
“……”
“I do not think that Newstarz's peak is now. Newstarz is a group with potential, and I believe they can grow even more.”
She's On's Yuri, whom he had seen at the first venue, possessed skills more outstanding than any member of Newstarz.
However, Yuri's Potential was merely an A. The other members of She's On were similar.
On the other hand, half of the Newstarz members are S, and the other half are A. Yoo Jeong-ah is even an SS.
If Newstarz can properly display their potential, there is no reason why they can't catch up to She's On.
“Newstarz's new leap... I believe the key to that is Yoo Jeong-ah-ssi.”
“……”
Baek Yeon-ah's eyes trembled.
She was being swayed by the words Baek Hyeon-woo had laid out.
“Hyeon-woo-ya…”
A moment ago, Baek Yeon-ah, as a manager, had tried to avoid risk as much as possible.
However, an entertainment agency is originally a business that is bound to carry an enormous risk.
Because you can't succeed in the entertainment industry if you don't take risks and challenge yourself.
Is this really something worth challenging?
Within her wavering heart, Baek Yeon-ah opened her mouth.
“Really... if Yoo Jeong-ah joins Newstarz, can they really take a great leap forward?”
To his aunt, who asked with a trembling voice, Baek Hyeon-woo slowly nodded his head.
“I will show you myself.”
***
A goshitel located on a back road in the old part of town.
In the small space with only minimal furniture, Yoo Jeong-ah was breathing slowly.
“Phew...”
Sitting comfortably on the bed, she continued her slow breathing.
In particular, she tried to make her exhalations as long as possible.
Because that was Baek Hyeon-woo's advice.
‘Manager-nim said... that the exhalation must be long for the autonomic nervous system to stabilize.’
They say that when you measure autonomic nervous system function with an ECG, the parasympathetic nervous system is greatly activated when you exhale.
Since the parasympathetic nervous system plays a role in stabilizing the body, it seems that if you exhale for a long time, the tension is released by the action of the parasympathetic nervous system.
‘As it is, he said my breathing is fast, so I have to consciously try to breathe slowly.’
According to Baek Hyeon-woo's explanation, a person who normally has fast breathing is highly likely to have a stiff upper body and an excited sympathetic nervous system, leading them to fall into tension and anxiety.
That's why Baek Hyeon-woo had Yoo Jeong-ah take 10 minutes out of her day to do breathing exercises.
Inhale for 10 seconds, and repeat exhaling for 20 seconds.
It was training to calm the body while breathing slowly like that.
That right now, it's more important to eliminate unnecessary tension from the mind and body than to practice singing or dancing... that was Baek Hyeon-woo's explanation.
‘If I prepare while doing as he told me... he said he would create an opportunity for me.’
After finishing the 10-minute breathing exercises, Yoo Jeong-ah also began the stretches that Baek Hyeon-woo had taught her.
‘So that the trapezius, scalene, and levator scapulae muscles can be stretched...’
The more she stretched, the more she could feel the muscles all over her body screaming.
Because Yoo Jeong-ah is in a state of chronic muscle tension, they say that if this tension is released, the tension in her mind will naturally be released as well.
‘It might just be me, but my mind is certainly at ease these days.’
Until now, Yoo Jeong-ah had often been overcome with anxiety.
This was because of the worry that she might have to give up on her dream of being an idol.
But since meeting Baek Hyeon-woo, that anxiety has been greatly alleviated.
Her future is still just as uncertain, but it seems she has come to have a positive mindset.
‘Even if I can't become an idol at Haram Entertainment... I think I can continue to work hard to seize the next opportunity.’
As Yoo Jeong-ah was thinking that and continuing her stretches.
The cell phone she had left in the corner vibrated.
“Ah…”
[Manager-nim Baek Hyeon-woo]
Just seeing the name displayed on her phone made her heart grow warm.
Yoo Jeong-ah held her phone with both hands and checked Baek Hyeon-woo's message.
“A mid-point check...”
I want to do a mid-point check to see how much you've improved, so I'd like you to come to the practice room sometime tomorrow.
That was the content of the message Baek Hyeon-woo had sent.
“I'll go, Manager-nim.”
Answering politely to herself, Yoo Jeong-ah got up from her seat.
***
Perhaps because it was a holiday, there was no one in the practice room.
Only Baek Hyeon-woo was there, waiting alone.
“Hello, Manager-nim.”
Yoo Jeong-ah bowed her head in greeting.
“I'm sorry for making you come out on a holiday.”
“Not at all. I'm the one who's sorry for calling you out so suddenly. You didn't happen to have any plans, did you?”
“No, it's fine.”
Actually, she was supposed to go to her part-time job today.
During her trainee days, she didn't have to worry about lodging and food expenses, but now she had to earn a living, so she was working quite a lot of part-time jobs.
However, after receiving Baek Hyeon-woo's message yesterday, she immediately said she couldn't go to her part-time job today.
Because responding to Baek Hyeon-woo's call was more important.
“Please call me anytime if there's something you need. I'll adjust my schedule even if I have one.”
“Um... you don't have to go that far.”
Baek Hyeon-woo scratched his head and guided Yoo Jeong-ah inside.
“You've been doing the things I told you about, right?”
“Yes, I did the breathing exercises and stretching today too... and before I go to sleep, I'm also doing autogenic training.”
Autogenic training is a type of meditation method for tension relief.
While lying in bed, you sequentially carry out thoughts that make your body relax.
“You certainly look better than last time.”
“R-Really?”
“Yes, really.”
Saying that, Baek Hyeon-woo looked at Yoo Jeong-ah.
“You've definitely gotten better.”
“Ah…”
Yoo Jeong-ah somehow felt shy.
She lightly scratched her head and avoided his gaze.
“I would like you to show me you singing and dancing in that improved state.”
“Ah, then...”
“Newstarz's 'Gravity', may I ask you to perform it?”
'Gravity' is Newstarz's debut song.
A provocative dance music track where a confident attitude stands out.
Baek Hyeon-woo had ordered Yoo Jeong-ah to practice this song.
She couldn't understand why it was this song, but because Baek Hyeon-woo told her to, she had practiced it diligently.
“Yes, I can do it.”
“Good.”
As Yoo Jeong-ah took her position in the center of the practice room, Baek Hyeon-woo stood opposite her, holding his phone.
It seemed he was about to record.
“I'll play the music, so please start right away.”
“Yes.”
“It's just a light mid-point check, so don't be nervous.”
“Understood.”
The song began immediately.
She caught the beat to the simple drum rhythm.
Like the main dancer, Seo Na-eun, she walked forward and struck a provocative pose.
And in place of the main vocalist, Kim So-yeong, she began to sing the first part of the first verse.
“────!”
It was a situation where she had to sing a song originally meant for four people all by herself, while also doing all the choreography.
However, Yoo Jeong-ah didn't think it was difficult at all.
Because during her trainee life, she had trained her stamina to the point where it wouldn't lose to anyone.
And, just as Baek Hyeon-woo had said a moment ago, this was merely a light mid-point check.
Even if there are bad parts, she won't be eliminated. Rather, she would be able to receive advice on what to improve.
All she had to do was show her performance with a comfortable mind, without being nervous.
“─────!”
In the climax part of the song, she shouted to her heart's content.
Since it was a soundproofed practice room, there was no need to worry about being loud.
As she belted out the high notes, it felt as if her stress was being completely relieved.
“You did well.”
When the song was all over, Baek Hyeon-woo lowered the phone he had been filming with.
“It's much better.”
“R-Really?”
“Yes, among all I've seen so far, this is the best.”
Baek Hyeon-woo said with a smile.
“It was good during the audition too, but now is much better.”
“Ah…”
“Your expression has also become natural, so it's much better to watch. As expected, relaxing was the right answer.”
She felt like tears were about to come out.
She was so deeply moved to hear the unexpected praise.
However, right at that moment.
“CEO-nim, this is Yoo Jeong-ah-ssi's true potential.”
In the practice room where there had only been two people, Baek Hyeon-woo turned his head and spoke to someone else.