CH37

The most common comments were about M-Show going viral, followed by comments questioning why the scores were so generous.

Still, it seemed like people were showing some interest, saying that If the two teams that were truly evaluated as written by the author were to face off, it would be worth watching.

"But what does 'yangkki' mean?"

"It's like saying, 'You're a thug.'

"They write about Go Tae-Hwan like that?"

Han Si-On made a humming sound as he looked at Go Tae-Hwan and tilted his head.

Go Tae-Hwan wanted to know what was up with that move, but he did not want to risk some wild answer.

In fact, what the members of Three Months, Hundred Days could not know was that the thugs Han Si-On had met for over a hundred years were in the American style.

The kind that popped pills, shot guns, and easily got involved in crimes.

That was why he did not understand how Go Tae-Hwan was called a yangkki by the writer.

Not knowing that fact, Go Tae-Hwan spoke up.

"It's pretty odd that someone watched and rated us and then posted it like this."

"This person only wrote good things, but sooner or later, we're getting some haters too."

"For real, but honestly, I'm not really feeling it. How malicious comments could be so hurtful to someone."

"As Jae-Seong said earlier, Si-On does seem skilled at dealing with people. It felt a bit awkward and embarrassing for me."

In response to Lee Ye-On's comment, Han Si-On casually answered.

"Fans are the kind people who buy our albums, after all."

"Albums?"

"Yeah, there was a bloke who said buying an album is like owning someone's moment in exchange for something valuable that can be traded for anything in the world."

"That's deep, but why do you call him 'a bloke'?"

"Just saying."

After saying that, Han Si-On shrugged and stood up from his seat.

"Shall we leave? I have an appointment in the evening."

"Sure, let's all head out."

While cleaning up, Go Tae-Hwan felt some confusion brewing inside.

Just a few minutes ago, Han Si-On was all good, but now his mood seemed to have gone down again.

The time spent with Three Months One Hundred Days is more comfortable than expected.

In the middle of our talk, On Sae-Miro was throwing some negative vibes, but it didn't seem aimed at me.

It wasn't like he was worried I might dip, or he himself wanted me to leave, either.

I'm not sure what kind of emotion it was.

Even after living as long as I have, it's impossible to fully understand the depths of a person's heart.

Anyway, I got a bit too comfortable in that relaxed atmosphere and let my words slip out carelessly.

The stuff I told Lee Ye-On was straight from the devil's mouth.

So far, I've encountered the demon a total of three times.

The first was when I made the contract.

At the scene of a traffic accident, the devil stopped time, postponed my parents' deaths, and threw me into a closed timeline.

The only explanation the devil gave then was I had to sling 200 million albums, and if I hit that goal, I'd be sent to my chosen time and timeline.

All other deets? I had to grind for them.

Only physical albums are counted, and if I buy them with my own dough (or have others buy on my behalf), they don't count. Producing credits on albums gets partial counting based on contribution.

That's the gist?

I also directly discovered the damn regression rule where giving up triggers regression.

The devil was incredibly unhelpful.

My second meet with the devil was when my mental game was all out of whack.

Memories from that time are a mess, but I reckon it was when I tried to break into the EDM genre.

My mental state was shot so badly that I kept unconsciously triggering regressions over and over.

I was going to meet attorney Choi Ji-Woon, but when I opened my eyes, I was at the intersection.

Another time was when I was passing through the immigration gate, but when I opened my eyes, I was at the intersection again.

At the worst times, I was transported from my parents' wrecked car directly into an ambulance, only to close and reopen my eyes back in that wrecked car, again.

I was consumed by the negative thought that it was impossible no matter what I did.

That was when the devil slid in.

Just like our first meetup, the devil forcibly activated my reason and intellect, and then they spoke.

Or rather, they conveyed a question.

Why is this problem occurring when not even a thousand years, or even ten thousand years, have passed?

The demon said my chances of success were increasing as I went through regressions.

I was a bit taken aback at the time.

I had assumed the demon had been continuously making similar contracts like mine and corrupting and exhausting my soul to devour it entirely.

I had even thought the demon was mocking, ridiculing, and despising me.

So, when it hit me with that calm inquiry, I was thrown off.

But soon, I got pissed and threw out all the questions I had bottled up.

I asked why I have to sell albums.

I demanded that if it was not to mock, ridicule, and despise me, the demon should tell me the reason.

The answer was truly unexpected.

[In the age of primitives, it was offerings. In the age of savagery, it was slaughter. In the age of conquest, it was war.]

[These made death bountiful in value.]

[After the age of civilization dawned, the value of death diminished while the value of wealth amplified.]

[The Earth is no longer a millstone turned by mortals facing death.]

[It is a windmill swayed by those clamoring for the rise and fall of wealth.]

[Yes, money it is.]

[If one seeks to possess another's moment with goods that can be exchanged with anything in the world, it is an offering, worship, and conquest.]

[I just stand at the crossroads of values and indulge the desires that are bound to them].

[And you were just chosen as my proxy.]

I was left speechless.

No need to ask why it had to be albums.

According to the devil, high-brow arts like paintings or groovy arts like dance wouldn't cut it.

Surprisingly, once I wrapped my head around the devil's game plan, my emotional rollercoaster leveled out.

Perhaps I had been consumed by the fear that all my efforts were just a source of mockery for the demon.

After that, I kept hitting the devil with questions.

I was still scared, but it felt like this shot might not roll around again, and weirdly, the devil seemed to want me to succeed.

When I asked why only physical albums counted, the devil said if something was not tallied up, it was either because it wasn't really an attempt to possess or wasn't a desire bound to value.

I asked if the devil had pulled contracts with other musicians like Beethoven or Mozart.

The response was that back then, it was the age of savagery and conquest.

The last thing I asked was about my current chance of success.

And...

[100%]

The devil said if I could ride out the time trials, my odds would be a hundred percent.

That was my second round with the devil.

As for the third and the final...

Nah, don't even wanna think about it.

It's something I never want to experience again.

"Damn it."

I can't believe I'm reminiscing about that mess.

That was definitely not the answer I should've dropped when Lee Ye-On asked.

It was unlike my usual demeanor.

Did I get too comfy coming back to Korea for the first time in a long while?

While pondering this, my phone rings with an incoming call.

"Han Si-On? Can you come to the broadcasting station right now?"

It's PD Kang Seok-Woo.

He must have heard about the situation between Fade and me.

***

After listening to PD Kim Dal-In's serious explanation, Kang Seok-Woo brightened up.

"Han Si-On said he is confident he can get Chris Edwards on board?"

"Uh…? Yes."

"Hmm. How did he know we were having trouble with appearance fees and stalled negotiations? Was it just a wild guess?"

"Well, I don't know…"

"It's weird, right? Did you happen to check with HR if the arrangement version they requested is ready?"

"...I haven't checked that yet."

"Why haven't you?"

"Boss, that's not what's important right now, is it? Han Si-On said he would leave if Fade doesn't apologize...?"

"Ah, that?"

PD Kang Seok-Woo chuckled.

"You think that was him seriously saying he'd bail? He isn't an idiot."

"Then what's Han Si-On's play?"

"I don't know. But I have a hunch that he knows which side's holding the leverage in this game."

"Pardon?"

"Never mind, just go. I'll talk to him directly."

Once PD Kim Dal-In left with a grumble, PD Kang Seok-Woo dialed a number.

About 40 minutes later, Han Si-On came to the broadcasting station.

"Hello."

"Ah, have a seat. You want some coffee?"

"Water will be fine."

After receiving a bottle of water, Han Si-On bowed his head and apologized to PD Kang Seok-Woo.

"First, I'm sorry for causing a disturbance."

"No sweat. I heard about the circumstances, and you weren't the one who initiated the conflict with Fade."

Inwardly, PD Kang Seok-Woo thought that Han Si-On might have intentionally stirred the pot with Fade.

Likewise, Han Si-On probably knew that PD Kang Seok-Woo was on that.

Yet, they remained completely composed. They were just exchanging reassurances and kind words.

Then, they got to the main point.

"I'll get Fade to apologize tomorrow. So then, should I tell him to just go home?"

"It's not necessary. He can just send a video apology."

"Alright, then we'll do that. This is just out of my curiosity, but why the intense reaction? It didn't seem like you just lashed out in anger."

"Mind if I keep it real, Mr. PD?"

"Shoot. Lay it on me."

What Han Si-On revealed next was exactly what Kang Seok-Woo had expected.

Han Si-On knew he was a far more important figure than Fade on Coming Up Next.

He believed that and took a firm stance.

What caught PD Kang Seok-Woo off guard was Han Si-On's assessment of Fade.

'Did Fade try to demoralize Three Months, Hundred Days, knowing he wouldn't make the show? Is he that calculating?'

If PD Kang Seok-Woo had been there in person to observe the non-verbal cues, he might have picked up on it, too. But just hearing the words seemed a bit dubious.

However, it did not really matter.

Even if it was just Si-On's excuse and attempt to maintain his dignity, it would not matter.

"Alright then, if I make sure Fade will apologize, you'll guarantee Chris Edwards' appearance in exchange, right?"

"And if Edwards doesn't show up, do you lean more toward Fade?"

"As expected, you don't give in easily. Yes, I heard you already discussed appearance fees with PD Go? What do you want?"

"Hmm..."

Han Si-On glanced around before speaking up.

"A tighter connection."

"Between us? We're already pretty tight, aren't we? Honestly, I didn't expect this talk with a 20-year-old participant."

"I mean a connection beyond a PD and participant."

"Ah... You want to owe me one."

"Not exactly."

"It is what it is."

PD Kang Seok-Woo flashed a friendly smile, and he spoke up.

"But Si-On, understand this: Leveraging indebtedness only holds sway over individuals you can't simply dismiss."

It was a heads-up that if Han Si-On wanted to owe PD Kang Seok-Woo, he would better hold his ground in the showbiz game.

If Han Si-On went back to being just a regular Joe after the show, PD Kang Seok-Woo had no reason to throw him any single favor, no matter how small it would be.

Kang Seok-woo is not a saint. He is just a good business partner. Han Si-On knew that.

"Sure thing."

"Good. When can you send me the Flowers Bloom arrangement version HR asked for?"

"I'll get it to you by tomorrow's end at the latest."

"Alright. Send it directly to me."

"I do have one question - when I looked at Lion Entertainment's YouTube, I don't recall seeing Fade."

"Ah, that? It's a bit complicated. You see, Take Scene was originally supposed to have 7 members. But through some circumstances, it got finalized as 5."

"So two got the boot?"

"Yep. Ak.Son was the confirmed fifth originally."

"I see."

"But he had to bow out for family reasons, and Fade hopped back in."

"Ah, I see how it was."

Han Si-On gave a nod.

"Yeah. According to CEO Choi Dae-Ho, Fade was someone they agonized over keeping until the very last minute too, so there shouldn't be any issues with his skills."

"Right. There was some conflict between us, but objectively, Fade is talented."

"Exactly. Even if you cannot get along well, try to be objective in front of the camera."

After that, PD Kang Seok-Woo and Han Si-On had a light conversation before parting ways.

In the room Han Si-On vacated, PD Kang Seok-Woo scratched his chin thoughtfully.

"Huh… crazy."

No matter how he sliced it, Han Si-On did not roll like a typical twenty-year-old.

He was sharp in conversation, and the way he judged other's values was ruthless.

But that was exactly why PD Kang Seok-Woo liked him even more.

If Han Si-On had been all soft and shaky, even with the same skill level, PD Kang Seok-Woo would not have bet on him.

That way, while Coming Up Next veered slightly off its original concept, it was still smooth sailing.

TL/n - 

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