The first variety show we were booked on was called ‘High-Class Music Show.’ Despite the name, it was actually more of a talk show with four hosts and a guest star.

Normally, new idols might be reluctant to appear due to the show’s intensity, but this program had some major perks that outweighed any drawbacks. For one, it was famous for generating memes. 

It was also incredibly popular with the public, and if a guest had a decent sense of humor, the hosts and production team would make sure they got plenty of screen time. If the difference was noticeable, they could essentially monopolize the episode.

“Just be yourself. Calm. Stay calm,” I said, patting Jin-ah on the shoulder as she nervously bounced her leg in the waiting room.

“How am I supposed to do that?! It’s my first variety show! And it’s right on national TV! How can I not be nervous?!”

“Then… keep trembling, if that’s what you want.”

Jin-ah shot me a glare.

“Look at you. You’re my agency rep! Shouldn’t you be trying to calm me down, especially since I’m the genius who’s been making it big?”

“Funny, you weren’t this nervous during the music shows. Didn’t you say that my support gave you the confidence to stay calm?”

“Yeah, well, this is first time doing a variety show!”

“It was your first time doing a music show, too!”

“Yeah, but I practiced a lot for those! This! is totally! different! There’s no practice for this!”

As Jin-ah and I raised our voices in the waiting room, the door suddenly swung open and someone entered. Our attention shifted as Jin-ah quickly bowed in greeting.

“Wow! That’s a lot of energy. Keep it up during the recording, okay? Just because you’re a rookie or a girl group member doesn’t mean you can stick to being all cutesy. We won’t go easy on you.”

“Yes, I’ll do my best!”

The man was Jin-sil Kim, a host who first became known for his sharp-tongued wit. After exchanging pleasantries with Jin-ah, he pointed at me with a big grin.

“President Kang, your reputation really precedes you. You’re incredible. Everything you touch turns into a success, except for that one flop with Blue Sherbet. Some people even say you did that on purpose, but I know it was just a matter of adjusting to new circumstances. Right? And now you’re squaring off with Director Park.”

“I suppose.”

“Come on, don’t play coy. There isn’t anyone in the industry who doesn’t know about you, President Kang. Didn’t Sung-ah Kim even help you out recently? She must have come to you because things haven’t been going well for her lately, no? I hear her latest movie is a mess.”

“It just came out, so we’ll see. Besides, Sung-ah’s resourceful. She’ll be fine.”

“Of course, it’s Sung-ah Kim. Even if the project flops, no one holds it against her. She’s such a huge star with amazing talent. Even with a few more failures, her reputation wouldn’t budge.”

Then, in a low voice, Jin-sil Kim asked, “But things might be different from her perspective, don’t you think? She came to you because she wants to be back under your wing, isn’t that it? She knows that under you, she’d be on the fast track to success.”

When I glanced at Jin-ah, I saw she was making a strange face. She was clearly uncomfortable imagining Sung-ah Kim joining our company.

There was no need to worry, though. It wasn’t happening. If I were to recruit Sung-ah, it would only be after firmly establishing Blue Sherbet. I had four other talented stars to raise up first.

“No, not at all. We haven’t discussed anything like that, and we only met by chance.”

“Oh, come on! Why so careful? Your name is already all the rage. Is it because of HS? Their president’s been able to save face among conservative higher-ups who don’t even favor idols thanks to Sung-ah Kim.”

“Haha. I’m not holding back. It’s just the truth. We haven’t had any talks about her joining us.”

“If she asked for help picking her next project, would you?”

As I pondered how to escape this conversation smoothly, an idea came to mind. I lifted my lips into a gentle smile and replied.

“Who knows? I’d have to see.”

No one wanted Sung-ah Kim to succeed more than HS’s president. There might still be a chance to leverage something useful out of him.

***

Before shooting for ‘High-Class Music Show’ had started, Jin-ah greeted the hosts and other cast members. The hosts and other cast members warmly welcomed both Jin-ah and me.

There was no one among the cast who could cause trouble for us. Of course, this was because I had already looked into who the cast would be and fixed the lineup in advance.

Among the cast members were a rookie actor and Jin-ah plus two comedians, who were there in case the rookies messed up during the broadcast.

‘The actor will be fine, but the problem is those two comedians.’

The comedians were known for their sharp wit. If Jin-ah were the future version of herself, she would have been able to engage in witty banter with them and draw out plenty of screen time as easy as it was to pull taffy. 

However, the Jin-ah right now was incredibly nervous, especially since this was her first variety show appearance. Plus, it was a mainstream variety show on a major broadcasting network.

“Jin-ah, are you still nervous?”

It was right before the shoot began. Jin-ah nodded quickly, as if saying there was no need to ask.

‘Right, she’s still a rookie. No matter how much talent she has, it’s her first time. It’s expected.’

I thought she would do well since she did well on the radio, but it seemed like making her debut on a popular mainstream variety show was a different story. I didn’t expect her to stand out, but I didn’t want her to be nervous either. So, I offered some advice.

“This is different from radio. It’s not live. Even if the atmosphere gets awkward, it’s not a minus, it’s just a zero. Everything will be edited. So even if you say something boring or make a mistake, don’t think too much of it.”

“Oh, now that you mention it?”

“When they bring on someone who’s never done a variety show, would the cast and crew be expecting much? The reason they want you on the show is because they want to get everything they can about Blue Sherbet. They’re not expecting you to be funny. Besides President Hae-yeol’s show, you’re Blue Sherbet’s first variety show appearance. They would probably have a lot of questions and a lot to talk about, right?”

“Oh, that’s true.”

“That’s why you can just clear your mind and say whatever comes to you. Even if you’re only on screen for ten minutes, that’s already a success.”

Her face visibly brightened. She was the type to really take advice to heart, and somehow that made me feel uneasy.

“Just don’t forget. Clearing your mind doesn’t mean you shouldn’t know the difference between what to say and what not to say. Don’t say anything controversial, okay?”

“Oh, of course. Anyway, you’re saying it’s good as long as I get the ten minutes.”

“Yeah, ten minutes.”

She nodded emphatically. Her face showed no signs of pressure. It was just a clean, clear expression. Like the clear, bright sky. Though I doubted her mind was as clear as that.

‘Maybe I should’ve let her stay nervous.’

I didn’t know why, but when she showed overflowing confidence, my brow furrowed. It felt different from how she acted during the music show, and it made me feel uneasy.

When Jin-ah saw my expression, though, she became more confident. As she did, my brow furrowed even more, and she grew even more confident. Just as I was about to say something, the writer announced that the shoot was about to begin.

“I’ll be back before you know it, President Kang. Ten minutes. Clear my head. It’s not minus, just zero.”

Jin-ah turned her body away. My hand reached out toward her and grasped nothing but air. It almost felt like a scene from a melodrama, where the female lead was sorrowfully letting go of the male lead.

***

After the hosts opened the show, Jin-ah and the guests entered the studio and immediately began their introductions. 

The first guest was a rookie actor, who was so nervous that they only spoke in formalities. It seemed like there would be very little footage to use from their segment. The hosts tried their best to salvage the situation and extract as much content as they could, but it seemed that the actor wouldn’t appear much on screen.

I bit on my nails as I watched the set. Jin-ah was up next, and I noticed that she looked unusually relaxed. She looked at home. The experienced hosts couldn’t have missed that.

Jin-sil Kim chuckled and directed a comment at Jin-ah. 

“What happened? You were just fighting with President Kang in the waiting room, saying how nervous you were.”

The hosts were already prepared to make a few sharp, aggressive remarks before Jin-ah even had a chance to greet the audience, but Jin-ah was quicker.

As soon as Jin-sil Kim made his remark, Jin-ah immediately replied without hesitation.

“Fighting? No, no. You can’t just go ruining the image of a rookie girl group member!”

Wait, was she nervous? It didn’t seem like it. Although, her response was not quite as innocent as the previous actor’s.

The hosts noticed her bold response and her innocent yet defiant look. They immediately perked up, and the studio atmosphere heated up. Seeing this as an opportunity, the hosts raised their eyebrows and began to throw out remarks.

“Hey, she hasn’t even finished her introduction. You trying to win a race?”

“And what’s this about fighting? Why would you fight over being nervous?”

A rapid shift in tone occurred in just a few seconds. The actor from earlier had been forced to smile. Meanwhile, the comedians who were next in line to be introduced hesitated, unsure whether to jump in.

But once again, Jin-ah was quicker.

“Yeah, exactly! What’s this about fighting over being nervous? When did I ever fight?”

Jin-sil Kim laughed and pointed at Jin-ah.

 “I saw you in the waiting room earlier! Don’t lie, I heard it with my own ears!”

“You can’t call that fighting! That’s just having a conversation!”

The hosts chuckled as they pointed at the two.

“They’re fighting again. I think Jin-sil’s right this time, though?”

“Yeah. Why’s she so combative? Haha, is this her first time on a variety show?”

Suddenly, Jin-ah cleared her throat before folding her hands neatly in front of her. She smiled in a way that seemed carefully calculated.

“Hello, my name is Jin-ah Choi from Blue Sherbet.”

“…!”

“What… what are you doing?”

Everyone stared at her in confusion. Jin-ah, surprisingly, also wore a bewildered expression.

“Sorry? What do you mean? I’m introducing myself. You’re not seriously going to cut this part, right?”

“Of course it’ll be included, you punk!”

“Hahaha! Even so, how could you call a rookie idol ‘you punk’!” Jin-ah spoke with a look of faked despair. She continued.

“What is this? Don’t we all start with introducing ourselves? What about my image? This is my first variety show! You can’t make me out to be the weirdo here!”

All the hosts looked at Jin-ah with disbelief.

‘Oh, my god.’

I saw the writer give me a thumbs-up and rubbed my face in disbelief. Then, I tilted my head in realization.

‘Wait.’

Everyone was so caught off guard, I almost got swept up in the same vibe, but this was actually what I had been hoping for.

‘This is just Jin-ah’s usual variety show persona.’

Remembering that this was the exact character she would develop in the future, I was able to relax and turn my attention toward the set again.

By now, Jin-ah’s introduction had gone on for over 20 minutes. Even the comedians, who had been waiting backstage, were starting to join in, creating a spectacular 7-person banter.

“My dear senior colleagues! It’s my turn right now. I’ll have you know I’m still in the middle of my introduction!”

“What introduction takes over 20 minutes? Just say ‘Hello!’ and it wouldn’t even take a second!”

The comedians didn’t hesitate to speak out after having figured out Jin-ah’s character, and Jin-ah took it in stride.

“Well then, I’ll give you 2 seconds. I would say it’s a substantial amount. I can, of course, finish my introduction after your introductions.”

“Wow! Rookie idols these days are something else!”

“No, no! You can’t just do anything to my image! I’m an idol, you know! A rookie! In a girl group!”

It was Jin-ah’s solo performance. That was how this show worked. If there was a funny moment, they didn’t care about the order, they just went with it.

Even if introductions took a long time, there was no pressure to rush to the next segment. The production team was absolutely beaming.

She was cute, didn’t feel fake, and even her little outbursts seemed genuinely pure and entertaining. They had a feeling this was going to be a hit.

“President Kang, I think this is going to be enough for two episodes.”

“Haha. Please edit it so it doesn’t seem too overbearing.”

“Of course! But you have to come back for the next one, too.”

The introductions continued with the comedians, and they finally moved on to the main questions. The host asked the rookie actor a question. However, the actor could only force a smile and give straightforward answers with their confidence having been shattered.

However, no one was disappointed. The hosts were sure they could get plenty of airtime from the next person. The tone of the hosts had already changed. Jin-sil Kim threw out a comment bluntly.

“Jin-ah, your lip-sync controversy for the recent song is all everyone’s talking about. What’d you do?”

“Excuse me, again with the slander. This show is going to ruin my image. President Kang! What am I supposed to do?”

She looked at me with an expression that looked like she was about to cry, and everyone in the studio, including the camera, followed her gaze. Why is everyone doing this to me.

“President Kang, what is going on with this girl?”

I shrugged my shoulder and kept a poker face. Then, Jin-ah spoke up with vigor.

“Wow! Not one person on my side. Mister Producer, I can only trust you. You can edit this well, right? Just ten minutes of airtime is all I ask. Clips of me being nice, demure, and very mindful.”

“We’re already over ten minutes! From what I see, this will be at least two episodes.”

“I don’t believe you, Mr. Jin-sil. Producer, you’re on my side, right?”

“You don’t understand. The one you can’t trust here is the producer. All the broadcast people are the same!”

“No, but you’re a nice person who’s playing a malicious character, and that’s why you’re bringing me into this. Yes, I understand completely.”

“…? What is she even saying?”

The recording went on like this. It was full of chaotic and disorderly fun. It was exactly the vibe that suited the nature of the show.

“Did I get angry when Blue Sherbet failed? Hmm. Even though we failed, our boss treated us really well. The members all got along, too.”

After answering one question, Jin-ah would veer off and answer another.

“This new song is really tough. The president said, there’s no one else in the world who can do this like I can. No, wait! I promise I’m not being arrogant! I didn’t mean it badly, it’s just that the dance suits me!”

“We didn’t even say anything! We were just watching!”

“I can see the misunderstanding! I didn’t mean it in a bad way, okay? How are you going to take responsibility about my image…”

“Wow, this is really unbelievable.”

Hours passed, and Jin-sil Kim suddenly asked a question that wasn’t in the script.

“You said Blue Sherbet will continue group activities. But one of the members is missing. What’s she up to?”

“Uh… that…”

“You’ve been hiding her for a while now. Her name is Yumi, right? Is she going to be one that comes after Jin-ah?”

“The next one is Hee-yeon, isn’t it? The info’s already been leaked.”

“Oh, we’ll get to that incident later. For now, let’s talk about Yumi.”

I made a big X sign toward the studio and Jin-ah nodded, closing her mouth.

“Both are off-limits.”

“I mean, but why, President Kang? Why the secrecy when it’s such a good time to promote it?”

“It’s all a part of his grand plan. You know what kind of person he is.”

Jin-sil Kim tsked and looked at Jin-ah.

“You’re lucky to be working with President Kang. Blue Sherbet is really blessed.”

The conversation veered off again, but the hosts managed to get all kinds of stories about the members. Of course, Yumi’s story was completely left out. The parts when they asked about her and Jin-ah not answering would probably make it into the broadcast, but that was unavoidable.

There was no need to even ask for an edit.

Now that Daft Punk had recognized Yumi, it didn’t matter if her identity was revealed. Still, doing it in such a low-key way wasn’t ideal. It seemed better to pique interest through the show.

After Jin-ah successfully performed for them live and the long recording finally came to an end, Jin-sil Kim came to me, impressed.

“Wow, President Kang, you’re going to keep putting her on variety shows, right? If you don’t, it’ll be a huge loss!”

“For now, I’m planning to have her go on two more shows during her promotion period. After that, we’ll focus on events and variety shows.”

“Oh, right. The performance was incredible, seriously. How does she manage to dance like that and still sing live?”

After the shoot finished up, Jin-ah was being showered with compliments from a 10-year veteran idol host in one corner of the studio. 

“President Kang, this is at least two episodes. She really nailed it this time. Once this airs, I bet you’ll get a ton of offers.”

We gained a lot with this recording. For starters, Jin-ah proved her variety show skills. There was no doubt about it. By showing a live performance, she was able to showcase her talent even to those who weren’t interested in music shows or idols.

We introduced Blue Sherbet’s members, which would raise both interest and recognition. We were even able to promote Hee-yeon’s next song in advance.

Interest in me might also go up, but… I couldn’t do anything about that. What could I do when my name kept coming up even when I was standing still?

“When all three variety shows air… we can probably raise our expectations for the music chart ranking.”

The public’s attention would be the most solid and reliable ally we could ask for. Our rates for events and advertisements would automatically go up the more recognition we received.

I expected we would have plenty to gain from this show, and there wasn’t a single thing that caused a reason for worry.

—

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