Team Leader Shim Joon had a slightly surprised expression from the unexpected response.

Of course Team Leader Shim Joon intended on following Do Wook’s decision completely. This was a production proposal that came in for Do Wook directly.

If Do Wook helped PD Yong Soo Chul and made a name for himself, that in itself would be good. From the company’s perspective however, if Do Wook was going to work on a song for a different singer anyways, it would be better if he gave the song to Monster or Milky Way rather than him helping the production for a different company’s group.

Still, Team Leader Shim Joon thought Do Wook of all people would want to work on a project with PD Yong Soo Chul, if only out of consideration for their history.

“Is that so?”

“Yes. I’d just like a little more time to think about it…”

Team Leader Shim Joon nodded his head in response.

“Ok, I’ll let PD Yong know.”

“Thank you.”

“But what’s your concern? Is it because we have to start preparing for the KK album?”

Do Wook shook his head.

KK’s next album was scheduled for next spring.

There was talk of extending their inactive period, but Do Wook was seeing the next album as a chance to change KK’s position once again.

Therefore, he was planning on taking his time to think about the various factors.

The timing was good, since HIT Entertainment was also thinking of using the members as individuals more since they had started to make a name for themselves.

Anyway, not having enough time because he had to prepare for the next album was not the reason.

“No, it’s just. I don’t know what kind of project it is, but it’ll mean I’ll have a project to work on again. I think it’ll be good to think it over.”

“Ok. I understand”

“Yes. Please let him know.”

Do Wook said that then left the Album Production Team conference room.

There was one reason Do Wook decided to sound like he was rejecting the offer.

‘PD Yong Soo Chul is flying high right now.’

On top of that, at the time he had worked together with PD Yong Soo Chul, Do Wook had been a minor and he had been releasing the first song he ever produced to the world, so there was a lot that had been lacking.

Do Wook had given PD Yong Soo Chul a good idea, but when it had come to things like technique, Do Wook had gotten more help from PD Yong Soo Chul than the other way around.

It wasn’t a clear teacher-student relationship like with Kim Woo Yeon, but it could be considered as a similar relationship.

‘Even if we work together again, it’s very likely that it’ll revolve around PD Yong Soo Chul.’

It didn’t mean he wouldn’t take any of Do Wook’s suggestions at all.

PD Yong Soo Chul would definitely become the main and Do Wook would become the sub. Do Wook could guess for the most part what would come out of that.

‘It’ll be successful, but if someone would ask if it’s a good album…that’s hard to say.’

Do Wook thought as he recalled when PD Yong Soo Chul previously tried to make a solo album for one of the One Minute members. At that time, the One Minute member solidified her position as a sexy star who would succeed Lee Jin Ri through her solo album.

However, it was an overly sexy concept.

It was inevitable that she’d walk a different path from Lee Jin Ri, who was sexy but still acknowledged by the public.

‘You have to push the limits a little. If you can do that, you’ll gain popularity and get good reviews,’

Do Wook thought.

Do Wook wanted to take on projects once he had more influence, so, although he felt bad, he decided to tell Yong Soo Chul that he’d have to think about it some more.

PD Yong Soo Chul’s proposal in itself was a good opportunity for Do Wook too.

‘An opportunity to produce for a group other than KK…and it’s with PD Yong Soo Chul, so there’s low risk. It’ll become a good opportunity for me to think about my skills as well as my future path.’

***

Yong Soo Chul, who received the news from Team Leader Shim Joon, invited Do Wook to a restaurant near his studio a few days later.

It was just a lunch invitation to grab a meal together, but the meet up location was near Yong Soo Chul’s studio. It was pretty clear what his intentions were.

During the meal, Yong Soo Chul asked Do Wook if it was too overwhelming to work with him.

Yong Soo Chul wanted to know if Do Wook’s answer that he’d think about it was a roundabout way of turning down the proposal, or if he genuinely needed some time to think it over.

“Me producing for another singer is a little…”

“With your skills it shouldn’t be a problem. I think you’re worrying too much.”

“Since it’s not a KK project, I might have a different opinion than you on things like the concept.”

PD Yong Soo Chul nodded his head when Do Wook slowly started to open up.

“I think it’s something we could easily resolve by talking it over.”

Do Wook responded to what Yong Soo Chul said with a vague expression.

PD Yong Soo Chul understood the dilemma Do Wook currently had. At the same time, he wanted to do what he could to convince Do Wook.

While planning the One Minute solo album, Yong Soo Chul put his all in the aspect of ‘popularity’.

He planned on highlighting the One Minute member’s sexy appearance as much as possible. At the same time, he planned on recruiting Do Wook, who was the hottest star right now, to co-produce so he could ride the coattails of Do Wook’s fame.

In the middle of all that, PD Yong Soo Chul did have a question: if Do Wook would be good at doing sexy music too.

However, when he saw Do Wook and Lee Jin Ri’s performance, he was able to confirm that Do Wook had plenty of understanding of that type of concept too.

That was why he went to HIT Entertainment with the proposal.

As expected, after they finished their meal, Yong Soo Chul offered to show Do Wook the studio and invited him over.

Yong Soo Chul planned on casually bringing Do Wook over to the studio and playing songs for him as well as introduce him to the One Minute member.

Yong Soo Chul calculated that if Do Wook listened to the beat he had been working on, Do Wook would also realize its potential for success and want to be involved.

He was that confident in his current music.

“Wow…Mr. PD.”

Do Wook was genuinely in awe as he entered the studio.

This was Do Wook’s first time visiting the studio that PD Yong Soo Chul had newly acquired.

He had heard the rumors, but after seeing it in person, it was even more incredible. It felt like a large exhibition hall, not a simple studio.

PD Yong Soo Chul had records and CDs of artists he liked displayed in a showcase on one side of the room. He also had his cherished things, like shoes and jackets from those artists, placed in glass cases like a museum.

Do Wook looked around and checked out the studio.

The black wallpaper was suited PD Yong Soo Chul well.

“The studio is incredible.”

“It’s the first studio I got that’s really ‘mine’, so I put in a lot of care.”

PD Yong Soo Chul subconsciously started to smile.

The extravagantly decorated studio was PD Yong Soo Chul’s pride.

He used to be a night DJ, now a former producer for KK, and currently planner and producer for One Minute. Other people probably couldn’t imagine the pride he felt for making it to this point.

Do Wook already knew that PD Yong Soo Chul would later copy his own songs and become shunned by the public.

It was in the not too distant future.

Because of that, even though Do Wook admired the studio, he was worried that when it would happen, his currently-heightened pride would take a big hit.

At the same time, it wasn’t something he could tell him in advance. Even if he told him, it would only hurt his relationship with Yong Soo Chul.

‘I should be able to just bring it up in passing…’

There is a saying that a rich person can survive 3 years even if they get ruined. Even if PD Yong Soo Chul ended up receiving a little backlash, it would happen after releasing the songs that received love.

Since it was after enormous wealth and steady music income were guaranteed, Do Wook simply hoped Yong Soo Chul would be able to get through that patch well.

Before that, he hoped that the solo album Yong Soo Chul was currently working on would go in a better direction and that they’d be able to work on it together.

“It’d be nice if you got a studio like this one day too.”

“Haha, well…”

“Is the company compensating you well?”

Maybe it was because they weren’t at HIT Entertainment, but PD Yong Soo Chul asked Do Wook a little more freely.

Do Wook replied,

“I haven’t received compensation from the group yet. Since I have music income.”

“I see…”

“Yes. I’ll probably be able to get properly compensated around next year.”

Since the agency had invested in them since their trainee period and even more afterwards, it was difficult for group members to get properly compensated within the first year.

Therefore, by Do Wook’s calculation, starting next year they should get proper compensation, and the members were expected to have earnings.

“You have to make sure you receive accurate compensation. There are so many agencies that don’t do it properly. After leaving, I’ve noticed that that’s the case.”

Do Wook nodded his head to what Yong Soo Chul said.

Do Wook also knew very well that there were many companies like that.

‘Since I’ve seen a few idols break up over that…’

However, Do Wook wasn’t too worried. HIT Entertainment wasn’t a large agency, but it wasn’t an agency that delayed or withheld compensation.

‘Department Head Jo Anna, who becomes the President later, will become widely known for being solid when it comes to that.’

For Do Wook, who was a part of KK, it was certainly lucky.

‘Otherwise I would have had to use all sorts of methods to fight for it…’

While he was in the middle of that thought, the studio door opened and a female with long, straight, black hair entered.

One Minute member Lee Hyun Ji had arrived.

“Hello Mr. PD. Hello,”

Lee Hyun Ji greeted PD Yong Soo Chul and Do Wook in turn.

“Hi, you’re here, Hyun Ji. Do Wook, this is Hyun Ji. She’s a member of One Minute. I’m not sure if you two have met before.”

“Ah, hello. We met at a music broadcast once before.”

“You remember~ I said hi to you back then~!”

“Yes. Nice to see you again.”

Hyun Ji, who had removed her stage makeup and only had light makeup on, looked exactly like a 21-year-old, the same age as Do Wook.

Of course, she was wearing black leather hot pants and fishnet stockings that would be difficult for typical 21-year-olds to wear. On top of that, she had a t-shirt so tight that her ample bosom might pop out and it looked like it’d expose her belly button…

It seemed it wasn’t an outfit trying to appeal to someone, but just Hyun Ji’s personal style of clothing. Do Wook was thinking to himself that he didn’t know where to look.

“She’s the member who’s working on this solo album. Hyun Ji.”

“Do Wook, are you really working on the project with Mr. PD?”

“It’s not for sure yet, Hyun Ji.”

PD Yong Soo Chul looked at Hyun Ji with a pleased expression as he said that. A personality overflowing with affection and a sexy body. It was a body that men couldn’t help but like.

Thinking the timing was right, PD Yong Soo Chul played the beat he had prepared for Do Wook.

After getting some distance from Hyung Ji who had stuck to him like glue, Do Wook attentively listened to the beat Yong Soo Chul played.

PD Yong Soo Chul was definitely in his prime. The beat was so good that it made you want to nod your head to the rhythm at once. You could add any melody to it and it’d be good.

It was also definitely the style of music Yong Soo Chul wanted to do.

“That’s the basic idea…what do you think?”

“I like it. As expected of you PD Yong.”

PD Yong Soo Chul’s face lit up when Do Wook said that.

Suddenly there was a thought that crossed Do Wook’s mind.

‘That’s right, if we did that….!’

It was a way to stop the overly sexy concept and help KK at the same time.

“But Mr. PD,”

Yong Soo Chul had a puzzled expression from Do Wook’s words. Hyun Ji also blinked her eyes and focused on what Do Wook was saying.

“If it’s a song with this concept, rather than a solo, I think a duet would be good.”

“A duet?”

“Yes.”

“With whom?”

Hyun Ji’s expression darkened a little. It was an opportunity for her to get all the attention alone, she didn’t like the idea of sharing that with another member.

Hyun Ji’s expression, that had slightly soured, brightened again at Do Wook’s response. However, PD Yong Soo Chul’s expression darkened instead.

“Would he…be a good fit?”

—

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