Big, fancy sunglasses.
A gold necklace and an expensive watch.
A thin leather jacket in hand.
Ripped leather pants paired with black boots.
The man in question had thin cheeks and wore a small smile on his face. He looked like an actor, or maybe a rock star.
“You went all out for this interview! Super cool! I mean, wow. You usually dress casually,” a journalist said.
“It’s hot. Why would anyone wear a leather jacket, leather pants, and boots in this heat? And I don’t really like gold necklaces and stuff like that.”
The journalist looked confused.
“Then why pick this outfit?”
“My answer is in the music video that’s coming out soon. Somehow, this outfit ended up being the best choice.”
“Sorry, but didn’t you say you didn’t really like it…?”
“I’m only saying I like it under special circumstances. I wouldn’t say that me not liking it applies to this current situation. It’ll all make sense once you watch the music video, so please go check it out. I think a lot of people will like it as much as I do.”
Since asking more questions would just lead to the same answer about watching the music video, the journalist moved on to a different question.
“How would you describe the song?”
“I think it’s going to be the best song of my career.”
“Haha. Sounds like we can look forward to it! Can you spare some more details for us?”
In response to the journalist’s casual tone, Crescendo shook his head.
“It really will be the best song of my career. I can at least promise that.”
“Oh… Why do you think that is? Is there a special reason?”
The journalist matched his serious tone and asked more sincerely.
“Yes, there is. A special reason, I mean. Very special people worked on this song with me. Honestly, I’m the guest artist, but I’m very excited because it’s totally worth it. I can promise that when the song comes out, it’ll chew out every other news article out there.”
The journalist’s eyes lit up at his incredible confidence. This could be a big scoop. Of course, it was only possible if Crescendo gave his consent.
“Can you tell us who these special people are?”
“I’ll just give you a hint.”
The journalist swallowed nervously.
“There are two of them. These two have already worked together before and created an amazing song. It’s super famous not just in Korea, but also in America and Europe.”
He grinned slyly.
After that, he didn’t give any meaningful answers. His fans searched desperately for information about the song, and new information came out pretty easily.
Crescendo’s social media.
[Thank you for the offer, and I’m honored we get to work together. D-2.]
(T/N: D-2 means “D minus 2.” It’s a way to count down to the release date.)
Based on his responses, there was only one thing his fans could guess. It was a hip-hop legend.
Internet users dug through hip-hop records from the 90s to now, and narrowed it down to a few candidates.
As you might have guessed, though, they were completely wrong.
***
The final episode of 〈 Tomorrow’s Idol 〉 had an average rating of 10 percent and a peak rating of 13 percent.
Even though there were still a few months left in the year, SBC’s 〈 Tomorrow’s Idol 〉 had already earned the title of this year’s biggest hit show across all TV broadcasting stations.
“Why is my face showing up so big in all these articles?”
journalists and viewers picked Kid, Min-seok, Jin-ah, Hyun-hee, and me as the main stars of the show. I wasn’t even an official cast member, but I made it into the top five.
“Someone with the golden touch but with a conscience? I’m not that kind of person. They just don’t realize it.”
How could they call Yumi’s uniqueness a flaw? What a load of bull.
I was walking with tteokbokki, sundae, and fried food in one hand, and my phone in the other. Finally, today was the day Yumi’s song would be released. Everyone else was busy with their own schedules, so only Yumi was at the dorm.
‘I wonder if she’s upset.’
I was running a little late because I was talking with Sung-ah at ALTO about movie-related things. So, I brought street food as a bribe and to celebrate the music release.
When I opened the dorm door, Yumi came running over from the living room. She wore a bright, cheerful smile. Yeah, she wouldn’t be the type to be upset over someone being a little late.
“Sorry I’m late. Were you bored by yourself?”
“Not at all.”
I held up the plastic bag in my hand.
“I brought your favorite. Tteokbokki.”
“Wow! Thank you.”
She took the plastic bag and put it on the dining table.
“Let’s eat together.”
“Of course. I bought it for us to eat together.”
“President Kang, you seem really busy these days.” She complained while unpacking the food, but she was smiling.
I guess she meant it was good that things were going well?
“It means everyone’s doing well. You’re going to be really busy, too. After today, boom! You’ll be super popular.”
“But will I be busy enough to go to different places? It’s not like I’m going to DJ or anything. I want to have something to do, but no matter how much I think about it, there aren’t many things for me to do. Though I guess you did say you’d take care of me.”
Yumi’s hands slowed down as she unpacked.
I stood next to Yumi and helped tear open the packaging.
“Well. From what I can see, there’ll be tons of places calling for you.”
“Really? Where?” She said hopefully.
I grinned and answered.
“You’ll find out soon. Actually, why don’t you see for yourself over the next few days? I don’t think the offers will stop after just one day.”
“Then, can we accept everything?”
“Even ten bodies wouldn’t be enough for that.” I laughed, and Yumi smiled widely too.
We sat down and completely devoured the tteokbokki, sundae, and fried food. Oh, oops. I accidentally forgot to bring the fish cake soup. What a huge miss.
When we had eaten about half the food, Yumi brought up something random.
“Sometimes, I feel bad when I see the others come back all tired. It feels like I’m the only one relaxing comfortably at the dorm.”
Was that why she didn’t complain even though I was the only one here on the day her music released? Was it the reason she said she would accept all the offers?
I didn’t hide my disbelief and spoke bluntly.
“What are you talking about? Everyone has different specialties, but you worked hard too. And being busy is good. Just a few months ago, how were we doing? No one was calling us, but now we’ve bought a car, changed offices, and changed practice rooms.”
“Oh.”
“We all worked hard to get here together. No one’s looking down on your hard work.”
She nodded and smiled softly.
“Still, I’d rather be a busy bee.”
I couldn’t help but laugh.
“Really? You’re not satisfied with this, huh? I got it. I’ll work you hard and move you to a better dorm too.”
“No! The dorm is… I like it the way it is. I like it here.”
It was only a joke, but her quick and serious response stopped me in my tracks as I was picking up another sundae. I looked at her. She was trying hard to look serious.
Maybe she became attached to this place. I was pretty comfortable here too. It felt like home. I should ask the others about this later.
We finished our food and talked about various things. There were still thirty minutes left until the music was released.
Usually, this would have been a prime time to check the public’s reaction and push out more promotions since a teaser video usually would have been released. Yumi was an exception, though, which was why we could afford to be this lax.
After all, there were no teasers to speak of. Well, except for Crescendo’s interview and social media.
Hip-hop fans were just waiting desperately for the song in question to release.
Then, the clock struck six.
The song went up on music sites under the name ‘Yumi,’ and the scheduled music video was uploaded to YouTube.
There in Yumi’s room, we sat shoulder to shoulder in front of the computer and read through the comment section.
“They still seem confused, don’t they?”
“Well, this just means they’re really surprised.”
“Really.”
“Yeah. It exploded. Big time.”
We talked calmly and quietly.
Vrrrrrr— My phone started ringing loudly.
***
Sometime before Yumi’s song was released, when 〈 Tomorrow’s Idol 〉 had ended successfully…
Director Park shivered in delight and thought, ‘Finally.’
He had long finished preparing everything needed to bring down Blue Sherbet and Hyuk Kang at the same time.
Since Trainee Hyun-hee Lee happened to be on the same team as Jin-ah Choi, he couldn’t make his move until now.
That was no longer the case.
Now that Hyun-hee had gained both recognition and popularity, and the program had ended, there was no need to wait any longer.
He could even make Hyun-hee, who had genuinely gotten along with Jin-ah, look like she had been betrayed. It would be striking two birds with one stone.
However.
“Wouldn’t it be best to tread carefully right now?”
“I don’t know what you’re talking about.”
Executive Director Kim stepped in, and Director Park tried hard to hold down the rage bubbling inside him. His calm stare and the Executive Director’s cold one clashed fiercely in the air.
“Things are going well. Some of it is tied to us, too. Also… anyone with half a brain would’ve realized that something’s not quite right here.”
Even though he omitted some details, the meaning was clear. Director Park shrugged it off.
“Haha. Seems like life in upper management has been treating you well. This may be a good time to look back at what’s happening on the ground. If you have questions, just ask. I’ll be sure to walk you through how things really work out here.”
He was saying he knew the field better.
Kim gave a small nod.
“Well, when you make a mistake, you’re supposed to learn from it. And when someone’s better than you, you should know when to admit that. But when your ego gets in the way, it clouds everything. People stop seeing clearly, they get tunnel vision.”
He held Park’s gaze as he spoke, each word hitting right where it hurt.
Park’s face turned red with anger. He wanted to look calm in front of this person, but it wasn’t working out as planned.
“So tread carefully for now. Watch a little longer. There’s plenty of time.”
The volcanic explosion that was bubbling up in Director Park became unbearable for him as he headed to the management department. The storm hit, and this storm showed no signs of calming down for several days.
“Hah. Hah. Damn… jerks.”
Director Park was at home, drinking cheap wine and swallowing his anger. If Hyuk Kang had stayed at the company, he could have been at the same level as that show-off — Executive Director. He wouldn’t have had sit by while being ordered around like that.
“…What does he know? I know this field better than him.”
His gaze darkened into a cold stare as the boiling anger began to cool down. Once he made up his mind, he felt a renewed sense of energy.
“Tomorrow.”
He would release the article he had prepared. Director Park contacted the journalist he had already won over.
The next day at 6 p.m., an article was released about Blue Sherbet’s in-group bullying with testimonies from industry insiders who pointed to Yumi’s lack of talent as the main cause. Yumi’s music also released.
At the exact same time.
Completely satisfied, he had barely started reading the reactions to the bullying article for not even three minutes before he found out.
He discovered that Yumi was THAT Yumi.
“Sh-shit! What is this! This is…!” Director Park’s face turned pale as he shook.
With equally shaking hands, he picked up his phone and called the journalist.
“The article! Take down the article right now!”
Even though he didn’t want to admit it, he had to. That guy had him in the palm of his hand.
[Myserious talent finally reveals herself. YouTuber Yumi is actually Blue Sherbet’s Yumi!]
[Even with rumors about her lack of talent, she was already recognized overseas. ‘Yumi’ overseas reaction analysis!]
[An even bigger surprise for Europe and North America! “It doesn’t matter that she’s an Asian woman. Yumi is just Yumi.”]
[Surprise Supernova! Blue Sherbet’s Final Card!]
—