Chapter 840: Is This the Land of the New Black? (16)

A traditional Korean set-course restaurant in Gangnam, Seoul.

In a room decorated like a traditional house, Park Gyuho adjusted his hair while looking into the mirror.

Just as his hand brushed back imaginary strands—

Click—

The door slid open and someone entered.

A beautiful woman in semi-formal attire, her wavy hair cascading elegantly over her shoulders.

“It’s been a while, Representative Park.”

“Oh my. Representative Jang Sohee.”

Jang Sohee of SNH Entertainment and Park Gyuho clasped hands and exchanged polite greetings.

For a brief moment, their gazes swept over each other.

The nicknames that floated through the entertainment industry crossed their minds.

‘Park Gyuho of the long hair...!’

‘Jang Sohee of the bald head...!’

Perhaps because of that, an inexplicable sense of familiarity hung between them.

Park Gyuho smiled and gestured to a seat.

“I ordered the Orchid Course. I remember you enjoyed it during the Managers Association meeting last time.”

“Thank you.”

The two representatives wiped their hands with warm towels and continued their probing exchange.

Mostly talk about the state of the entertainment industry, and about the dramas and films that had been rising hotly in recent days.

“I heard Lemon is producing a film directly this time? I heard it’s about Seon Myeongju’s life.”

“A rather difficult challenge has come up. Haha.”

“I was wondering if there might be audition opportunities. Our actors have been experiencing a bit of a drought lately....”

Seeing the other party running around trying to secure work for her actors, Park Gyuho smiled inwardly.

‘We get along well.’

Even as the head of a major agency, she was hustling to bring work to her artists. He felt a sense of kinship.

To him, the entertainment business was about leaving people behind.

“I worry every single day.”

Jang Sohee picked up a piece of acorn jelly with her chopsticks.

“The times are changing too quickly. It wasn’t like this before, was it? We lived in the broadcast television era for decades... and now there’s OTT and everything. TikTok? I hear those kinds of short videos are trending too.”

“Indeed. Every time you wake up, the trend has changed. Haha.”

Park Gyuho joked lightly.

“But if you’re the head of SNH Entertainment, one of the Big Four agencies, you don’t really need to worry, do you?”

“Big Four? That was a long time ago.”

Jang Sohee smiled faintly, narrowing her eyes.

“If you include us at all, it should be the Big Five now. Lemon has been climbing steadily. I hear next year’s revenue announcement will surprise everyone. Lemon is overwhelmingly number one in sales right now.”

“But you still have the history of being one of the Big Four.”

“What history? Back in the mid-2000s when the idol era blew up, the media just hyped up the ‘Big Four.’ It feels like just yesterday Chairman Park Taejun was running Taejun Records....”

She let out a small laugh.

“Ah. Now he’s the former chairman.”

“That’s right.”

Hearing that Park Taejun, who had seemed like he would rule forever, had stepped down, the two of them briefly felt the passage of time.

“The times really are changing. Haha.”

“A lot of things are happening that would have been unimaginable before. Chairman Park stepping down was truly unexpected.”

“Indeed. He was still so vigorous....”

They both smiled and nodded.

‘Chairman Park, travel far.’

‘You were always putting down Daylight. Good riddance, you old fool.’

Mindful that there might be recording devices around, the two representatives reminisced about the “star of an era, Park Taejun” with appropriate regret.

In reality, their second phones were recording beneath the table.

“So....”

When the main dish of grilled patties arrived, Park Gyuho brought up the real matter.

“What brings you to ask for this meeting, Representative Jang?”

“You already know, don’t you?”

“Hahaha.”

“You know full well. I hear Director Jo Gyuhwan is exceptionally well-informed in this industry.”

As she said, Park Gyuho already knew the purpose.

“It’s about company investment.”

“Yes.”

Jang Sohee set down her chopsticks.

“We’re in the process of selling shares of SNH Entertainment.”

“Hm....”

Park Gyuho wiped the sweat on his head with a handkerchief.

He gave off the impression of being somewhat simple, but Jang Sohee was not fooled.

‘There are a hundred snakes coiled inside that bald head.’

Possessing a once-in-a-generation treasure like NewBlack was one thing, but raising that treasure so well was not something just anyone could do.

“I must say I’m a bit taken aback. What could SNH Entertainment possibly lack...?”

“For the two reasons I mentioned earlier.”

“Two reasons?”

“The tide of the times is changing. And one of the forces leading that tide is clearly NewBlack. I predict this trend won’t change for at least the next ten years.”

She continued calmly.

“Everyone knows our company is stable and solid. But being solid isn’t enough. We’re merely struggling to keep up with the flow of the times, not leading it. I’m not belittling our staff—it’s just reality.”

But Lemon could.

Though unspoken, the implication was clear.

“So shouldn’t we at least cling to the tail of a group that’s leading the future?”

“Th-that’s too much praise, but I understand your point. And the other reason?”

“Mm....”

She took a sip of water.

“For our artists and employees.”

“Excuse me?”

“To be honest, our revenue indicators haven’t been great lately... We’re surviving, but it’s not exactly abundant. When there are years of plenty and years of famine, this feels like a famine.”

“Mm....”

“We need external investment.”

It sounded as though she needed outside investment to provide better conditions for her staff and artists.

Park Gyuho could relate. He had been in similar situations many times.

But business was business.

“I understand what you’re saying. But does Lemon Entertainment truly need to invest in SNH Entertainment?”

Jang Sohee smiled.

‘Halfway there.’

She began explaining what Lemon would gain.

“I studied Lemon extensively. Negotiation has to be win-win.”

“Of course. Haha.”

“I’ve been observing Lemon’s recent moves, and I noticed a certain pattern.”

Her eyelashes lowered slightly.

“You recently acquired DNS Media as a subsidiary.”

“That’s right. It took quite some effort to persuade that friend.”

“That’s what puzzled me. Why would a thriving Lemon acquire DNS? Of course Street Boys is a huge asset, but even if Sbo had ten teams, they couldn’t match NewBlack’s revenue.”

That was when she realized.

“Lemon is searching for its next debut groups.”

“Haha....”

“A wise choice. Even if a new group raised by Lemon fails, an idol group debuting under DNS Media could hit big. The more investment options you have, the higher the chance of success.”

“......”

“And it eases the burden on NewBlack, the pillar of your company.”

While Park Gyuho silently acknowledged this, Jang Sohee pressed his need directly.

“A girl group.”

“Pardon?”

“We can make one for you.”

She spoke seriously.

“You don’t currently have female trainees at Lemon, do you?”

“No.”

“DNS Media also hasn’t had female trainees since La Rose.”

“It just turned out that way....”

Park Gyuho said,

“Scarlet achieved tremendous success, but while making them, we realized something. We don’t have talent for creating girl groups....”

“I believe we can fill each other’s needs in that area. I can’t make boy groups....”

“Ah....”

A flicker of sympathy crossed his eyes.

‘They’ve had their struggles too.’

SNH currently had Daylight, who debuted in 2006, and Autumn Girl, who debuted in 2013.

Considering that major agencies usually launch new groups every four to five years, it might seem like a large gap.

But there had been a boy group in between.

The problem was that the group had disappeared due to scandals.

“I told them to debut and earn money, and they came back with a baby. Before marriage....”

“Pfft.”

“It makes my teeth grind. One caused chaos insisting on marriage, another nearly hit pedestrians while drunk driving.”

When she mentioned that Enoty, the boy group debuted in 2015, was at least somewhat better—

“We’re giving Enoty our best support, but I can clearly feel it. Our company simply isn’t talented at handling boy groups. We can’t do both sides like TJ, KM, or MOP.”

“That’s true.”

“In that sense, SNH can give Lemon what it wants.”

A girl group portfolio.

When she said she could create the girl group portfolio they lacked, Park Gyuho felt his heart stir.

“Imagine it, Representative Park. A joint concert under Lemon Entertainment.”

“Mm....”

His mind glittered.

A joint concert of Lemon’s labels.

Daylight and NewBlack.

Street Boys, Scarlet, Autumn Girl, La Rose, Enoty.

And even the two TNT members Wooju had been courting recently—Jang Hanbyeol and Seok Jihoon....

As he swallowed at the lineup—

“Representative Park. If these three companies unite, that’s K-pop.”

“You’re absolutely right. Haha, well....”

Park Gyuho laughed.

“I should pay a visit to SNH Entertainment soon. I’d like to see it for myself.”

“You can ask the NewBlack members how their impression of SNH was.”

“Ah. Come to think of it... our major shareholders went there.”

“The Daylight girls really liked them. Haha.”

Though the topic of investment wasn’t pushed further, the positive current between them was unmistakable.

The two representatives began speaking warmly about their groups.

“People don’t understand. They always ask how we made Daylight into a national girl group... but honestly, they just became that.”

“I agree a hundred times.”

“They simply went out and earned money on their own.”

As the two heads of national groups boasted about their children—

Buzz.

Both of their phones vibrated.

Jiho [Representative]

Jiho [We found something else we want for the concert!!!]

Jiho [Daylight seniors have fireworks...]

Park Gyuho’s fingers trembled.

Jang Sohee stared blankly.

“Representative Park?”

“Yes?”

“You’re doing a drone show at your next concert?”

“Yes.”

“The Daylight girls say they want that too....”

“And we’re planning to do the kind of fireworks Daylight did....”

“......”

“......”

They looked at each other and swallowed.

“Representative Jang.”

“Yes?”

“Have you... invested money only to have money disappear?”

“Oh my. You too?”

“......”

“......”

They smiled at each other in shared misery and poured each other drinks.

Who are we.

The strongest NewBl—

“Ugh....”

“Ugh.”

Maybe because our stomachs were empty, nausea churned.

Among people dry-heaving here and there, we stood in line at SNH Entertainment’s cafeteria.

“They provide breakfast too.”

“Breakfast is precious....”

The Daylight members muttered the same, our eyes hollow.

TNT looked even worse.

“These people are insane....”

“It’s NewBlack and GirlBlack....”

“No, Daylight debuted first, so NewBlack is uuugh—”

Hanbin covered his mouth mid-sentence.

SNH staff waved us forward first.

Ri Hyuk muttered,

“It’s been a while since we stayed up all night.”

“Let’s catch some sleep at the dorm later.”

Our bloodshot reflections stared back at us from the cafeteria glass.

Yes.

The three groups had stayed up all night rehearsing and aligning movements.

A stage that normally required days had been perfected in one.

Aaaaah!

We were on break!

It’s fine, Hanbyeol. We won’t die from this. If you die, I’ll take responsibility and build you a royal tomb like Qin Shi Huang.

A pyramid?

TNT, wedged between us and Daylight, suffered a bit.

Only Taehyun, actively promoting as a soloist, merely rubbed his stiff neck.

“You’re all monsters....”

Jihoon shook his head.

“I missed idol activities while acting lately. Now I don’t anymore.”

“I want to go back to drama sets too, hyung.”

“Jiho....”

“Hyung....”

While the acting members and maknaes whimpered, we took seats with bowls of hangover soup.

After sprinkling generous perilla powder and taking a sip, sighs of admiration escaped.

Rian raised a water cup instead of alcohol.

“Good work, leader.”

“You worked hard too, sunbae.”

Though we would meet again, the most important joint rehearsal was done.

We silently drank soup, promising to do well at the closing ceremony.

“Junhyun. That’s bone.”

“It’s tasty.”

“Spit it out. Hey. Spit.”

“Ah. I was chewing bone?”

Watching Junhyun crunch bones, Taehyun marveled that he was like a Jindo dog.

We were too exhausted to even know what we were saying.

Like the final morning of a school trip, we ate in a daze and said goodbye.

“See you again!”

“Let’s meet again!”

Daylight fled to the company nap room, yawning.

“Hyung. Next time we meet, let’s eat... eat together.”

“Su...re. We should eat. I’ll pay.”

TNT members, utterly spent, called their managers and collapsed into their cars.

Taehyun, heavy-eyed, blinked and waved “Bye~” at me.

And then—

“Jihoon, why aren’t you going?”

“My manager isn’t answering....”

“Wait and take the car that drives you. If you drive now, you’ll definitely crash.”

“I know. Ah... why isn’t he picking up?”

I smiled at Seok Jihoon, who said he would definitely transfer to Lemon, and waved.

We boarded our vehicle.

“Good morning~!”

Minsoo’s booming voice greeted us.

We laughed and responded.

I was about to sleep again when—

“Ah.”

Biju spoke drowsily.

“I forgot to mention something, hyung.”

“What?”

“Minjun’s graduation is tomorrow.”

“Oh. Really?”

As we murmured,—

“Mm?”

Biju’s younger brother Minjun.

Elementary school graduation.

The two keywords collided explosively in our minds.

Jiho jolted upright.

“Wait. Biju hyung.”

“Yeah?”

“Minjun is graduating? That baby...?”

The child we met in 2014 was graduating elementary school?

Biju nodded.

“Yeah. He’s graduating.”

“My gosh....”

“So he’s a middle schooler now? For real?”

We were stunned.

I said,

“If he has a graduation ceremony, you should’ve told us earlier.”

“He told me not to come. Just asked for a congratulatory video call.”

“Hey.”

We shook our heads.

“That’s not enough.”

“Our Minjun is graduating. We should send something.”

Fortunately, we knew a company good at this.

It had been a long journey.

‘I’m a middle schooler now...!’

After finishing elementary school proudly, Minjun smiled brightly.

In a hall filled with elementary graduates—

[Congratulations on Your Graduation!]

While students took photos with parents—

Friends gathered around Kim Minjun.

“Minjun, let’s take a picture.”

“Which middle school are you going to? I wish I were going there too....”

“Mom, this is Minjun.”

“Oh my, you’re Minjun? So handsome!”

Minjun was famous at school.

For his looks.

Though slightly shorter than peers, his delicate, intelligent appearance was already extraordinary.

And one particular trait made him even more famous.

“Mom, doesn’t Minjun look just like Biju from NewBlack?”

“You’re right.”

“He looks exactly like Biju.”

Minjun and his family smiled faintly.

‘Well, I am his younger brother....’

They kept being family of NewBlack a secret.

If it became known, daily life would be impossible.

That was why he told his brother not to come.

‘I do want to see them....’

Biju hyung, Junhyun hyung, Wooju hyung.

And Ri Hyuk hyung.

He imagined their faces, then shook his head.

‘No. My middle school life will be exhausting.’

He was already struggling because people said he resembled Biju.

At first, when countless confessions poured in, he thought spring had arrived in his life.

You... like me?

Yes! You’re handsome, kind, cute, I really like you.

Oh....

And I like you most because you look like Biju!

.......

Just as he mourned the spring that never came—

“Minjun!”

A classmate ran over breathlessly.

“Minjun! This is crazy!”

“Huh?”

“There’s something congratulating you at the playground....”

Minjun and his family stepped outside.

Flutter—

“Uh?”

He stared at the banner.

His photoshopped, idol-like face was printed large beneath bold letters.

[Congratulations! Kim Minjun Elementary School Graduation!]

[From the Hyungs Who Love Minjun]

Below it, a sea of Americano cups.

In front of a coffee truck like one from a drama set, people attached cup sleeves reading “Congratulations on Kim Minjun’s Graduation.”

Minjun stared blankly.

‘What is that.’

Inside gift bags were T-shirts printed with his name and various goods.

[Kim Minjun Graduation]

[Walk Only on Flower Paths]

T-shirts with those phrases front and back, and magnets boldly reading “Kim Minjun.”

The moment he saw the hip goods, he knew the sender.

Five silhouettes grinning like mischievous kids in the dark.

“.......”

They must have thought, ‘If someone did this at my graduation, it would be amazing,’ and gone ahead with it.

Meanwhile, graduates began whispering.

Many would attend the same middle school.

‘...My quiet middle school life is over.’

Hearing voices like ‘Is that him?’ and ‘That’s him?’ echoing in his ears, Minjun smiled and lifted his phone.

[Missed Calls: 36]

Ding-dong.

Ding-dong!

Ding-dong-dong!

Minjun [Pick up]

Minjun [You’re not answering???]

Minjun [Hyung don’t come home]