Synopsis and Starting Chapter Chapter 1
Chapter 2
Chapter 3
Chapter 4
Chapter 5
Chapter 6
Chapter 7
Chapter 8
Chapter 9
Chapter 10
Chapter 11
Chapter 12
Chapter 13
Chapter 14
Chapter 15
Chapter 16
Chapter 17
Chapter 18
Chapter 19
Chapter 20
Chapter 21
Chapter 22
Chapter 23
Chapter 24
Chapter 25
Chapter 26
Chapter 27
Chapter 28
Chapter 29
Chapter 30
Chapter 31
Chapter 32
Chapter 33
Chapter 34
Chapter 35
Chapter 36
Chapter 37
Chapter 38
Chapter 39
Chapter 40
Chapter 41
Chapter 42
Chapter 43
Chapter 44
Chapter 45
Chapter 46
Chapter 47
Chapter 48
Chapter 49
Chapter 50
Chapter 51
Chapter 52
Chapter 53
Chapter 54
Chapter 55
Chapter 56
Chapter 57
Chapter 58
Chapter 59
Chapter 60
Chapter 61
Chapter 62
Chapter 63
Chapter 64
Chapter 65
Chapter 66
Chapter 67
Chapter 68
Chapter 69
Chapter 70
Chapter 71
Chapter 72
Chapter 73
Chapter 74
Chapter 75
Chapter 76
Chapter 77
Chapter 78
Chapter 79
Chapter 80
Chapter 81
Chapter 82
Chapter 83
Chapter 84
Chapter 85
Chapter 86
Chapter 87
Chapter 88
Chapter 89
Chapter 90
Chapter 91
Chapter 92
Chapter 93
Chapter 94
Chapter 95
Chapter 96
Chapter 97
Chapter 98
Chapter 99
Chapter 100
Chapter 101
Chapter 102
Chapter 103
Chapter 104
Chapter 105
Chapter 106
Chapter 107
Chapter 108
Chapter 109
Chapter 110
Chapter 111
Chapter 112
Chapter 113
Chapter 114
Chapter 115
Chapter 116
Chapter 117
Chapter 118
Chapter 119
Chapter 120
Chapter 121
Chapter 122
Chapter 123
Chapter 124
Chapter 125
Chapter 126
Chapter 127
Chapter 128
Chapter 129
Chapter 130
Chapter 131
Chapter 132
Chapter 133
Chapter 134
Chapter 135
Chapter 136
Chapter 137
Chapter 138
Chapter 139
Chapter 140
Chapter 141
Chapter 142
Chapter 143
Chapter 144
Chapter 145
Chapter 146
Chapter 147
Chapter 148
Chapter 149
Chapter 150
Chapter 151
Chapter 152
Chapter 153
Chapter 154
Chapter 155
Chapter 156
Chapter 157
Chapter 158
Chapter 159
Chapter 160
Chapter 161
Chapter 162
Chapter 163
Chapter 164
Chapter 165
Chapter 166
Chapter 167
Chapter 168
Chapter 169
Chapter 170
Chapter 171
Chapter 172
Chapter 173
Chapter 174
Chapter 175
Chapter 176
Chapter 177
Chapter 178
Chapter 179
Chapter 180
Chapter 181
Chapter 182
Chapter 183
Chapter 184
Chapter 185
Chapter 186
Chapter 187
Chapter 188
Chapter 189
Chapter 190
Chapter 191
Chapter 192
Chapter 193
Chapter 194
Chapter 195
Chapter 196
Chapter 197
Chapter 198
Chapter 199
Chapter 200
Chapter 201
Chapter 202
Chapter 203
Chapter 204
Chapter 205
Chapter 206
Chapter 207
Chapter 208
Chapter 209
Chapter 210
Chapter 211
Chapter 212
Chapter 213
Chapter 214
Chapter 215
Chapter 216
Chapter 217
Chapter 218
Chapter 219
Chapter 220
Chapter 221
Chapter 222
Chapter 223
Chapter 224
Chapter 225
Chapter 226
Chapter 227
Chapter 228
Chapter 229
Chapter 230
Chapter 231
Chapter 232
Chapter 233
Chapter 234
Chapter 235
Chapter 236
Chapter 237
Chapter 238
Chapter 239
Chapter 240
Chapter 241
Chapter 242
Chapter 243
Chapter 244
Chapter 245
Chapter 246
Chapter 247
Chapter 248
Chapter 249
Chapter 250
Chapter 251
Chapter 252
Chapter 253
Chapter 254
Chapter 255
Chapter 256
Chapter 257
Chapter 258
Chapter 259
Chapter 260
Chapter 261
Chapter 262
Chapter 263
Chapter 264
Chapter 265
Chapter 266
Chapter 267
Chapter 268
Chapter 269
Chapter 270
Chapter 271
Chapter 272
Chapter 273
Chapter 274
Chapter 275
Chapter 276
Chapter 277
Chapter 278
Chapter 279
Chapter 280
Chapter 281
Epilogue
Categories Genre: All, Comedy, Completed, Drama, Romance, Slice of Life Status: Completed ______
Total Chapters in book: 283
Estimated words: 482630 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 2413(@200wpm)___ 1931(@250wpm)___ 1609(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 482630 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 2413(@200wpm)___ 1931(@250wpm)___ 1609(@300wpm)
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LIST OF LAST 10 CHAPTERS:
Page No. 283 Page No. 282 Page No. 281 Page No. 280 Page No. 279 Page No. 278 Page No. 277 Page No. 276 Page No. 275 Page No. 274 Page No. 273 Chapter 43
Volume 1 / Chapter 43
TL: LightNovelCafe
Producer Kim Ki Sik who had watched the first episode’s edit compilation picked out two points of significance as an artist chooses the emphasis of a work.
“Only include Jun Hyuk and Nam Seung Hee’s previews. Don’t change it or make it with the kids who sing well.”
“Do you want to blur their faces?”
“No, both of their faces are their weapons. Just put in 10 seconds of Nam Seung Hee in the middle. Mix pieces of Jun Hyuk’s story together and put it in the ending. Just 15 seconds. End it with a close-up of his face. Okay?”
“Isn’t it too blatant?”
“So let’s see it. We can see which would be better to air. We’ll see if Jun Hyuk can or can’t beat everyone’s singing with just his looks. Don’t put Jun Hyuk’s story in tomorrow’s press release, either.”
“Take him out of the press release?”
“Yeah. We’re going to pit the 15 minutes of exposure against the whole program without borrowing the strength of a press release.”
The limitations of a live broadcast. Jun Hyuk’s performance without singing could not bring out the liveliness of the scene. His intention was to see if Jun Hyuk could make up for these shortcomings and get him to the top 5 if it was possible.
“Then, how about the top 10 tournament? You planned everything without any contract violations, right?”
“Yes. We’ll progress with this order if you confirm, and start allocating the mission songs.”
“Okay. Let’s see it.”
The contestants in the top 12 would live together for 40 days while preparing for the live broadcast, sweating to be the best. However, that sweat cannot push someone to the top spot. Their dreams were being decided in this conference room following a contract that adults made.
“First, how many are there in large agencies?”
“Four people. We already finished talks with these. There’s no need to advance two of them any further. According to their contracts, we only need to get them on the first stage of the live broadcast.”
“So they’ll be the first two to be eliminated?”
“Yes.”
Top 10 decided.
“The remaining two are automatically the next to be eliminated?”
“Yes. Articles saying they are signing with their respective agencies will go out once the program is over, and we’ll get 20% of their profits after they debut…..”
Top 8 decided.
“The cable channel didn’t ask for anything?”
“We aren’t told what the contract with the cable channel says. It’s not even the top 5 but the early eliminations so…..”
“There are three kids without agencies. These are the next people to be eliminated.”
“Right.”
Top 5 decided.
“You’ve only planned the rest of the kids to top 5, right?”
“Yes. I’m sure they’re thinking that they’ve chosen through enough if we’ve reached the top 5.”
The broadcast station and agencies knew after going through four seasons that there was enough publicity if they just got to the top 5.
“No one has requested the top 3 yet”
“No.”
Up to here was the middle of the betting race where the agencies were gathered. The agencies would watch the broadcast and see the reactions. Following that reaction, they would decide if they would bet more or put their cards down.
“Oh yeah, there’s a place requesting the win. Jessica. You know Mango Entertainment, right?”
“Mango? The company that a manager from SN created when he left? Mango keeps pushing for it?
“Yes. Their investors are good and they have two good idol teams. They prepared this girl a lot and are busy trying to make her the 2nd Park Jung Hyun.”
It was fully possible. She had received high praises from the judges during the area preliminaries when they did not know which agency she was in. She had proved that her vocals were perfected with four years as a trainee.
“Did they say they signed with a cable channel?”
“Yes. The deal being made is that if they make them 1st place, they take 20% of the profits for 5 years and they’ll put the debut song on the top three stations, and on the condition that they make 1st place on the music program, they take 20% of the profits for 2 years.”
The total profit they discussed was not just the money brought in from music. Advertisements and TV appearances were also included. The only money they could not take was what was made from performing at events. Since most did not bill their taxes, it was difficult to identify the revenue. If they stopped billing the taxes? They would definitely take it.
“Five years? The condition is good. Most places end it after three years.”
“They’re asking us to make her number one no matter what.”
“Say she wins, who’s working on her debut song? Nothing matters if the song sucks… She won’t be able to gain popularity.”
“They’re thinking of taking the safe route. They’re going to release a single and work on a remake album. Apparently, they even got the copyrights.”
It was evident that they had prepared thoroughly. It was up to Jessica whether this preparation would go on to become a success or end with failure.
“What about the remaining four?”
“There isn’t much difference between them. They only asked to be in the top 5 anyway. The conditions are the customary 20% for two years. Their intention is to watch the response and act then.”
This is how the size of these youths’ dreams were decided. Producer Kim Ki Sik brought up his hidden card Jun Hyuk,
“The problem is Jun Hyuk…. How far should we advance him? Put him in 5th place?”
“I really think I’m going to go crazy.”
Producer Jo looked upset as soon as discussion on Jun Hyuk started.
“Because Jun Hyuk doesn’t listen?”
“Jun Hyuk doesn’t listen but it’s also the cafe owner who is his guardian. I tell him I’ll link him with an entertainment agency, but he doesn’t listen. He says he’s not interested.”
“I think he’s trying to make his own agency with Jun Hyuk as his poster boy. Aren’t there a lot of people like that?”
“It’s obvious. Even if that cafe owner really makes an agency and tries to train Jun Hyuk, it’s impossible and he doesn’t know that.”
This industry’s entertainment market was run on a system. At the center of that system was money and networking.
Just because a Misari cafe owner discovered a kid with talent did not mean that everything went the way he planned. If the cafe owner was in his early 30s, he might be able to settle around 10 years later. However, he was already in his mid-40s. It was an impossible dream.
“So what I’m trying to say is that Dine Music is going after Jun Hyuk the most and they want to do some work. What should I do?”
“Dine?”
“Yes. Dine is big in Japan. They say with Jun Hyuk’s looks and skills, he’d do better in Japan than in Korea… Japan’s performing arts can’t be compared with ours.”
“Hm, that sounds good.”
As the main producer showed a positive reaction, Assistant Director Pil Jae’s face brightened. Producer Kim thought that guy must have at least been invited to drink with Dine Music.
“Right? That’s what Dine Music was saying. If he just does two years of promotions, he has the potential to earn at least $100,000 easily after.”
“So? How do they want to work?”
“They’re going to make the cafe owner into a villainous thief.”
“Thief?”
“Yes. He brought on an orphan and didn’t pay him anything for his labor. If that wasn’t bad enough, he’s trying to exploit him for money just because he has a talent in music. He didn’t take any measures while he was bothering him for two years and just because he went out on broadcast, he acquired guardianship. This type of story.”
“It’s true. He he.”
“These were revealed as clear facts. I think it’ll work too.”
The production team sitting in the conference room and Dine Music did not have feelings of animosity or resentment toward the cafe owner, Yoon Kwang Hun. This was just work. Everyone thought this way. They needed to do a good job to make money and to do this, they needed to address whatever made their work difficult.
Yoon Kwang Hun was just an obstacle to their work.
“That’s something Dine Music needs to do on their own. We can just forget about it in the meantime. They can go through with it or not.”
Producer Kim was certain that Assistant Director Pil Jae had been approached by Dine Music when he quickly started talking after he said to forget about it,
“About that… It seemed like they wanted us to help out a bit.”
“Us? How are we supposed to help them?”
“It’s obvious that Jun Hyuk will become one of the trending topics next week when the show airs. They said they were going to spread the articles then…..”
The assistant director hesitated a bit.
“So?”
“Jun Hyuk can’t see the articles. It’s all over if Jun Hyuk tells reporters that the cafe owner is like his father.”
“So they’re asking us to cover his eyes and ears?”
“Yes. He goes into the boarding house this week anyway. If we make sure they don’t get internet and phone access… They can end it in three weeks. And we have to make sure the people around him don’t say anything as well.”
It was certain that this assistant director was deeply involved with Dine Music as he was acting as their messenger altogether.
Producer Kim did not want to reproach him. He had been working as an assistant director in the strenuous world of variety programs for three years. If he had not had these kinds of bonuses, he would have quit a long time ago.
“For free?”
“Excuse me?”
Producer Kim smirked at the assistant director,
“To do that, they need us no matter what. What you just said is that we need to completely cut Jun Hyuk off from the outside.”
Assistant Director Pil Jae tried to see whether or not Producer Kim was angry first. Producer Kim had already figured it out that he had gone to the room salon with someone from Dine Music. Fortunately, he did not seem angry.
“We need to prepare the foundation. They’re asking us to edit the highlights of the hard life Jun Hyuk had as an orphan and his miserable life for when the broadcast airs. That way, the article about his exploitation as a slave will become bigger news.”
No one could speak. This was not just an issue of Dine Music. The broadcast production team was becoming an accomplice. It meant that they were getting actively involved in making one person into garbage.
“Pil Jae.”
“Yes.”
“Tell Dine Music to come in. Someone higher than an executive. Someone with a say. We need to decide after hearing the master plan. Schedule a meeting for today. The broadcast goes out next week so we don’t have time. Oh right, tell the legal team to join the meeting as well.”
“I’ll do that.”
“We need to progress with these things thoroughly since we’re taking a lot of risks.”
Assistant Director Pil Jae may be content with having drinks, but this did not cut it close for the main producer, Kim Ki Sik. He wanted to receive a secret offer from Dine Music.
Total Chapters in book: 283
Estimated words: 482630 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 2413(@200wpm)___ 1931(@250wpm)___ 1609(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 482630 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 2413(@200wpm)___ 1931(@250wpm)___ 1609(@300wpm)
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