Chapter 76 - Just Say the Word

The dazzling light of the spotlight.

In its midst, Seo Na-eun couldn't properly open her eyes.

People's voices were heard from all directions, but there wasn't a single thing she could properly understand.

She couldn't feel a sense of reality, as if she were dreaming.

“Na-eun-ah!”

At the voice of Kim So-yeong, who grabbed and shook her shoulders, she finally came to her senses.

Seo Na-eun turned her gaze to the screen.

There, the viewer vote results for Newstarz and N.A.N were being displayed.

The vote difference was a mere hundred or so votes.

A vote difference that could have been overturned if only the fans had been given a little more time to promote.

Still, the winner and loser were decided.

The winner and loser were determined by a difference of about a hundred votes.

The one who took the final victory was Newstarz.

They pushed aside the popular group N.A.N and achieved an underdog's miracle.

“We won!”

Kim So-yeong hugged Seo Na-eun and raised her voice.

Laura, Kanade, and Yoo Jeong-ah were also hugging each other and rejoicing.

“It's dazzling.”

Seo Na-eun tried to raise her head.

But the spotlight was too bright, so she couldn't.

“It's too dazzling.”

Because she couldn't raise her head, tears fell downwards.

Tears were falling ceaselessly, but she couldn't raise her head.

Like that, Seo Na-eun cried with her head bowed.

While repeating the words of thanks, 'Thank you,' in her mouth.

……

“You could say that viewer voting on a survival program is a double-edged sword.”

Haram Entertainment office.

Team Leader Choi Tae-hyung, who was watching TV, said with his arms crossed.

“It has the advantage of being able to induce viewers' immersion, and because the winner is decided by majority rule, you can get the most legitimate result. However... it also has the disadvantage that it's easy for it to proceed as a simple popularity contest, so a fair evaluation is actually difficult.”

Instead of the truly skilled participant, the participant who is popular and has strong fandom firepower records a high rank.

This was the limitation of a voting-format survival program.

“For this 'The Idol' as well, there was a high possibility that N.A.N's massive fandom would overwhelm the other groups and that would be the end of it. As long as the final winner was decided by viewer votes, N.A.N was in an overwhelmingly advantageous situation.”

Everyone thought that N.A.N would gain the upper hand.

Ordinary people, and industry insiders like Choi Tae-hyung.

“However... Newstarz overturned that prediction.”

The Newstarz members, hugging each other and rejoicing on the TV.

Watching them, Choi Tae-hyung smiled.

“This wasn't something that was possible with just skill alone. Because even their basic skills are more outstanding in N.A.N. It was something that was only possible by setting up a good strategy.”

Newstarz had attempted all sorts of strategies to stand against N.A.N.

They highlighted their growth narrative, and also emphasized the unity of the members who had come together as one.

The rivalry narrative with Choux-pop also had a positive effect. Ultimately, through the deal with DP Entertainment, they were able to make even the Choux-pop fandom their allies.

Those strategies took effect, creating an environment where they could stand against N.A.N, whose status was much higher.

“Director, if you say it like that, it sounds as if the entire result was decided outside the stage.”

At that moment, A&R Team Leader Kim Seon-hee raised an objection to Choi Tae-hyung's view.

“It's true that in terms of skill itself, N.A.N, who are veterans among veterans, are more outstanding... but on stage today, Newstarz displayed a power beyond their skills. I'm saying it's a result they were able to obtain because they actually showed a more impressive performance than N.A.N.”

“……”

Choi Tae-hyung shut his mouth.

Certainly, today Newstarz had shown a more outstanding performance than what they usually showed.

If Newstarz's performance had been worse than N.A.N's, the victory would have gone to N.A.N.

“Well, that's true too.”

Muttering that, Choi Tae-hyung turned his gaze to the TV.

What the TV is showing right now is a splendid stage, but below that stage, there must be the very person who made it so that Newstarz could display a power beyond their skills.

……

“Hyeon-woo-ya, Hyeon-woo-ya! The kids did it!”

“Yes, they did really well.”

Answering the cheering Baek Yeon-ah, Baek Hyeon-woo checked the screen once more.

Newstarz had won, but it was a narrow vote margin.

‘As expected, N.A.N's fandom firepower was incredible. If their fans had encouraged voting just a little bit more, we would have lost.’

Unlike people like Baek Yeon-ah who were cheering loudly, Baek Hyeon-woo was calm.

Because he had to think about what came next.

‘I have to make Newstarz an even more popular group.’

Even while Baek Hyeon-woo was lost in thought, the live broadcast continued.

Right now, Seo Na-eun was in the middle of giving her victory speech as the leader.

“First, I want to say thank you to our members who have worked hard. And also to CEO-nim Baek Yeon-ah who believed in and supported us, Director Park Yeong-ho-nim who has looked after us for a long time, and...”

Seo Na-eun's gaze searched for Baek Hyeon-woo below the stage.

Meeting Baek Hyeon-woo's eyes, Seo Na-eun said in a serious voice.

“Team Leader Baek Hyeon-woo-nim, who made it possible for us to take a new leap, thank you so much. I'm truly grateful.”

“Thank you!”

The other Newstarz members also shouted their thanks in unison.

Perhaps because Seo Na-eun spoke while looking at Baek Hyeon-woo at the end, it felt as if she were expressing her thanks to Baek Hyeon-woo personally.

‘I'm telling you to look at the camera and speak.’

Although he nagged like that in his mind, a smile was also on Baek Hyeon-woo's lips.

Soon after, the final winner's encore stage began.

This time, Newstarz would be singing 'Gravity', which N.A.N had sung earlier.

It's a live broadcast, and since everyone is tired, there's a high possibility they won't be able to show their best performance.

However, it's okay to make a mistake once.

Because this is a stage where no one gives a score.

‘Sing and dance to your heart's content.’

For the first time in a while, Baek Hyeon-woo watched Newstarz's stage with a comfortable feeling.

While sending a round of applause in his heart to the members who had worked hard.

……

“What a fucking disgrace!”

N.A.N withdrew from the studio.

Newstarz's encore stage wasn't even over yet, but in any case, there was no longer any reason for N.A.N to stand in front of a camera.

They left the studio as if running away, making the excuse that they had another schedule.

“We hung on for 7 weeks, and what the hell is this! If I'd known it would be like this, I would have just appeared on the new variety show that HBS offered!”

Director Kim Do-gyun couldn't suppress his emotions and kept shouting.

If they suffer such a humiliating defeat, a setback will occur in UBX's promotional strategy as well.

It's obvious that the atmosphere in the N.A.N fandom will also greatly stagnate.

They gained nothing and only suffered a loss.

“How could we lose to kids like that! To scrubs who've never even gotten 1st place on a music show!”

“Director, what are you saying to us right now?”

Ryu-hwa, unable to listen any longer, opened her mouth.

“Appearing on 'The Idol' was your decision in the end, Director. Why are you being so irritable in front of us?”

“That's right. We also cleared our personal schedules and prepared diligently.”

Even the leader, Wi-hyeon, protested against Kim Do-gyun.

It was Wi-hyeon who usually had a docile attitude in front of Kim Do-gyun, but right now, Wi-hyeon's mood was not very good either.

“Honestly, wasn't the company thinking too complacently? If the company had put in more effort at the company level, the result would have been different.”

“You kids, you call that something to say...!”

In the end, Kim Do-gyun and the members began to argue, veins popping.

Watching that, Ha-ryeong let out a sigh from a step away.

‘What a dysfunctional family.’

It was a world of difference from Newstarz, who were tightly united around Baek Hyeon-woo.

She had a thought that it was only natural they couldn't win.

‘But I was satisfied today.’

Ha-ryeong is thinking that she finished with a flourish this time.

She was able to sing satisfactorily on both of the stages she had today.

In particular, singing Newstarz's 'Gravity' in the second round remained in her memory.

‘When I go to Haram Entertainment, should I try a duet with Yoo Jeong-ah.’

When I meet Baek Hyeon-woo, I should talk about that too.

Thinking such thoughts, Ha-ryeong bid farewell to N.A.N in her heart.

……

The next day.

In the meeting room, where the aftereffects of the after-party that had continued until dawn still lingered, Baek Hyeon-woo proposed in a serious voice.

“I think we should move up the new song's release.”

“……!”

The people sitting in the meeting room all held their breath.

Currently, the production of the music track for the new song 'After girl' is finished.

However, it was not yet a state where all preparations were complete.

“Team Leader Baek, the MV work isn't finished yet. And the promotional side too...”

“We must not miss the timing.”

Baek Hyeon-woo said with emphasis.

“In the future, the final episode of 'The Idol' will go viral. Then the interest in Newstarz will explode. To a degree beyond what we had initially expected.”

Newstarz had shown that excellent of a performance this time.

It's clear that it will become an even bigger topic than the Night-Bomb Festival.

“Now is the golden opportunity to aim for 1st place on a music show.”

“……!”

1st place on a major network music broadcast.

That holds a great meaning for singers promoting domestically.

Just taking 1st place once is enough for their event appearance fees to jump several times.

However, while promoting for nearly 3 years, Newstarz has not once recorded a 1st place.

“There's a jinx that a group that doesn't get 1st place within 3 years of debuting will never get 1st place and then will disband. There are exceptions, but still, I want to help them hit 1st place once before their 3rd anniversary.”

“Hmm…”

Baek Yeon-ah groaned and checked the date.

There really wasn't much time left until Newstarz's 3rd debut anniversary.

Will getting 1st place on a music show be possible by then?

“I will meet with the music show PD-nims and secure the schedule. I'll also talk with the variety PDs and create promotional opportunities.”

Baek Hyeon-woo said in a clear voice.

“We will land 1st place on a music show with Newstarz's new song.”

……

Just as Baek Hyeon-woo had predicted, the final episode of 'The Idol' created a huge buzz.

The news that Newstarz, who had been an ordinary girl group, had defeated the global star N.A.N and taken the win, stimulated many people's interest.

People who weren't interested during the main broadcast began to binge-watch 'The Idol' videos, and Newstarz's past activities were also unearthed and plastered all over the popular posts in the communities.

Above all, the stage video of Newstarz singing 'Keep your eyes' recorded a tremendous number of views.

Originally, 'Keep your eyes' is a mega-hit song with Public Appeal SS and Addictiveness S.

Here, Newstarz's unique color was added, and it was reborn as a song with a new charm that the original song did not have.

In particular, the new side of Seo Na-eun, who led the vocals, captured many people's hearts.

“It's amazing no matter when I see it.”

“……!”

As Baek Hyeon-woo was watching the YouTube video to also check the view count, Seo Na-eun, who happened to be passing by behind him, quickly ran over.

“M-Manager-nim, do you really have to watch that?”

“Why? You did amazing.”

“No, it's that… I wasn't quite in my right mind then.”

Seo Na-eun blushed and lowered her head.

“Shall I say I was too immersed in the song, I feel like I overdid it...”

“No, that's not it. It was actually better, wasn't it?”

“Ugh…”

Actually, he could understand the reason Seo Na-eun was embarrassed.

This song is originally one that expresses the obsession of wanting to monopolize the other person.

In the original song, Ha-ryeong had expressed that emotion with her rich expressive power, but Seo Na-eun expressed it by revealing the desires from deep inside her.

She must have felt as if her own inner heart had been completely laid bare.

However, it's also a fact that thanks to showing that raw side of Seo Na-eun, a unique charm that couldn't be found anywhere else was created.

If Yoo Jeong-ah had been the main vocalist by herself, she would not have been able to elicit this kind of response.

“U-Anyway, please don't watch it too often. Because it's embarrassing.”

“Hmm… okay.”

Baek Hyeon-woo obediently closed the video.

“Anyway, since the popularity is this good... we can ride this momentum and release the new song.”

“The new song… yes, that's right.”

Watching the nodding Seo Na-eun, Baek Hyeon-woo opened his mouth again.

“Actually, the new song release has been moved up a little.”

“Yes?”

“A specific date will be out soon.”

Right now, the people in charge are proceeding with the various procedures.

Baek Hyeon-woo was in the middle of waiting for the official release date to be decided.

“We have to go on music shows, and we have to show our faces on various variety shows for promotion... we'll be busy for a while.”

“I-I suppose so.”

It wasn't that they were particularly free until now either.

While preparing for 'The Idol', they also practiced the new song in parallel, and they also had to prepare for the drama Kim So-yeong is appearing in.

However, from now on, it will get even busier.

“So I was wondering, can we keep our promise this weekend?”

“A promise?”

“We promised to go out together after 'The Idol' is over.”

Seo Na-eun made a caught-off-guard expression.

“Ah, you didn't say anything, so I just thought it was called off...”

“Of course not. A promise must be kept.”

I just didn't bring it up because I thought you'd need time to recover your stamina.

“Have you thought of a place you want to go?”

“Ah, well...”

“Just say the word, wherever it is. I'll take you there.”

This time, Seo Na-eun really played a big role.

Because you could say she was the biggest contributor, he wanted to grant her anything she wanted.

“You haven't been able to go anywhere for fun while you've been busy as an idol. So if there's a place you wanted to go, let's go this time.”

“Then…”

Seo Na-eun, who had been hesitating for a good while, carefully opened her mouth.

“Could you... take me to the sea?”

“What?”

For a moment, he couldn't believe his ears.

“Go to the sea...?”

Baek Hyeon-woo turned his gaze outside the window.

He could see people walking around in thin, short-sleeved outfits under the hot sun.

It was the middle of summer.