CH42

TL/n - Lion Entertainment = Ryan Entertainment

***

As Choi Jae-Seong said, Han Si-On was scary these days.

It was not about him getting angry easily or being sensitive.

On the contrary, he was much kinder and gentler than usual.

Even so, the reason why he felt scared was because of Si-On's attitude while preparing for the stage.

It was the first time he had felt that a person could be so obsessed with something.

At the same time, it made him wonder if he had ever lived like that.

He had practiced hard before.

But he had never bet his life on it.

Han Si-On had bet his life on it.

Watching this side of Han Si-On had a positive effect on Three Months, Hundred Days.

"My god, you guys are really hardcore," vocal trainer Yoo Seon-Hwa blurted out in front of the camera after observing them.

Even the most hardcore trainees in Ryan Entertainment sometimes take a break from training - that's their system.

Except for Lee Ye-On, the Three Months, Hundred Days members had no prior training experience with an agency. She did not expect them to keep up so well.

Moreover, Han Si-On woke up two hours earlier than everyone else while keeping up with this training schedule.

When Goo Tae-Hwan asked what he was doing, he said he had to tune his vocal tones.

The feeling of watching Han Si-On's stage being steadily completed from the side was...

"Wouldn't the internet go crazy after the broadcast?"

"I think so too. But I'm a little worried it might not be idol-like enough."

"Hmm. You have a point. The fans might say something when they get together. They'll probably complain it's real music."

But soon, Choi Jae-Seong shook his head.

"But come to think of it, besides <Under the Streetlight>, the other songs were all seniors' songs, right?"

Indeed.

Flower's Bloom, Boy Scout, Never Play Around.

They were all idol group songs.

As Choi Jae-Seong said, it was just that the impact of <Under the Streetlight> was too strong.

Especially that arrangement version.

At that moment, Lee Ye-On cut in.

"What are you guys talking about?"

"Ah, we were talking about what people's reactions might be after Si-On's stage tomorrow."

"You mean they'll treat him like a fucking lunatic in a good way?"

"Right?"

"Let's go. PD Kang called."

"Oh, break time's over already?"

"Yeah. Let's go."

It was the day before the first mission of the main Competition in <Coming Up Next>.

***

At first, the Drop Out members felt a little uneasy about having the original composer of Selfish do the arrangement.

Composing and arranging are not completely separate areas.

Many great composers are also great arrangers.

However, in K-pop, there are often clear differences between composing and arranging abilities.

The top line (main melody) may be good, but some people have difficulty bringing that out with the unique sound of idols.

Still, the reason Drop Out tasked Selfish's composer Zion with the arrangement.

"Let's try to get ZION's personal contact."

It was at the request of their agency, Double M Entertainment.

"He has only sold songs to two teams - us and N.O.P."

"Wasn't the song N.O.P. was interested in the one we got?"

"No. They prioritized Selfish, but I heard they were also interested in the song <I'm not your man> and bought it."

"Is that their title track too?"

"Yeah. It's the title track."

He had sold title tracks to the two hottest boy groups at the moment.

This meant that the composer ZION had not gotten lucky hits with flukes.

Of course, we would have to wait and see, but the probability of him continuing to produce good songs was high.

"But the sales were led by the A&R team leader from BVB Entertainment. That's worrying."

"Seo Seung-Hyun? Was that his name?"

"Yes."

Drop Out even knew that the contract was led by an employee from another company named Seo Seung-Hyun.

Double M was quite open about sharing information with Drop Out, the face of the company.

"If he's a really good composer, we need to get his business card. Even if we give him the arrangement, something should come out, right? At least his personal email address or Kakao ID."

"Yeah."

"If his arrangement sucks, we can just pay him and not use it."

For this reason, Drop Out gave the arrangement to ZION, but...

"Whoa, what is this?"

"It's back."

A few days later, a result of crazy high quality flew in.

The sound was arranged perfectly for Drop Out.

It specified in detail the part distributions and expressions suited to each member.

But crazier than that was the guide vocal of the completed arrangement version.

Selfish originally had English lyrics attached.

They didn't know if ZION had sung it, but there was a crude-quality recording of the song there.

Everyone thought the quality was crap, but the singing was good.

But this time, the quality of the version sent was unbelievable.

Just unbelievably amazing singing.

It did not feel like he was pitching and hitting the right notes, but the sophistication was insane.

"We could release just this version separately."

"Or we could just release it with these lyrics?"

Any Korean lyrics attached probably wouldn't be as good as the guide version.

The only downside seemed to be the lack of a rap part.

But there was a section in the bridge that could be rapped, so the rappers could rest easy, too.

"Should we say we want to release an English version?"

"Can we use these lyrics as they are?"

"The company will pay lyric fees anyway."

"Then ZION eats up all 4:4:2 (the standard split for lyrics, composing, and arrangement) for the English version?"

With the arrangement version getting unanimous approval, the Drop Out members now started getting curious.

About ZION's identity.

"Is he really a rookie?"

"Doesn't he sing too well?"

"The singing is great, but the arrangement is so precise. Does this seem like something a rookie could do?"

"I disagree. You can technically do composing and arranging, but the singing doesn't make sense."

As a self-producing group, Drop Out knew how difficult it was to achieve "not too much and not too little."

Almost no rookie could pull that off.

In the end, the leader, called the Idol's Idol sent a message to ZION's personal email saying he wanted to have a meal together sometime...

"He ignored it."

"He ignored your email?"

"Nah, he probably hasn't seen it yet."

"...I think you just got left on read"

He was casually ghosted.

Unbeknownst to them, ZION, no Han Si-On, was too busy preparing for the Coming Up Next stage.

Without knowing how her oppas were being treated...

Choi Se-Hee, a longtime fan of Drop Out, succeeded again in applying for a Coming Up Next audience this time.

Whether it was because of the post, she put up or because they started aggressive advertising, there was a bit of competition this time.

But still, the acceptance rate was only 13:1, and Choi Se-Hee had know-how on getting accepted for these audience applications.

'This is nothing. I've even broken through a 322:1 ratio for Drop Out!'

What's more, she did not come alone this time.

She came with a friend.

"I said I'm buying you a pork belly for a guy that sucks."

Still, her friend did not trust the post she put up in the community.

Saying there was no way ten decent guys like that were lying around.

"Promise."

"Ah, come on, it's true."

"Still promise."

"Okay. But if there are decent guys, you buy."

"Call."

Choi Se-Hee's friend chuckled to herself.

How hollow was the condition 'if there are decent guys'?

When it came to the object of her obsession, there was rookie adjustment, future potential adjustment, and sob story adjustment.

Otherwise, the benchmark was only existing idol groups.

Whether it was Three Months, Hundred Days, or Take Scene, she could only compare them to existing idol groups.

Even if they really were decent guys, there would only be one, right?

While Choi Se-Hee was thinking that, the entry of the 500 audience members was finally completed.

Of course, that did not mean the show started right away.

There was a very long waiting time for audiences at variety show recordings like this.

Knowing this fact well, they applied for standing seats in front of the T-shaped stage rather than the 250 standing seats surrounding it.

How much time had passed?

When she was fidgeting in boredom, passing the time on her phone, a small cheer went up.

"Oh, isn't that Blue over there?"

"You're right. Choi Dae-Ho is beside him."

There were two more people who looked like judges.

As they went up on stage, the staff hustled around, organizing the audience and starting filming preparations.

As she felt last time, too, Coming Up Next was lenient about leaks.

Those who brought cameras were simply told to be careful not to get on the broadcast signal.

Other than that, it was just not to record and upload the competition stages themselves...?

An un-survival show-like lenient policy regarding leaks...

'Ah. Because it's not individuals being eliminated?'

Coming Up Next was a team vs team competition, so dropouts only occurred in the final round.

So, promoting and getting fans attached was more important before that.

Or maybe they were worried the show's popularity was low.

While Choi Se-Hee was thinking that, filming finally began.

The host of Coming Up Next was 1st generation idol and currently successful broadcaster Blue.

They did not know how the broadcast was planned, but Blue's opening was quite fast.

The program introduction was short, and there was no introduction of members at all.

It just emphasized several times that today's stage was a format where two teams of the same position competed.

There was not even a VCR.

'Is this a mess? Would people get immersed in this?'

That's why short-lived cable broadcasting companies don't work out.

While Choi Se-Hee was clicking her tongue, Blue, who was hosting, raised his hand and pointed left.

"Three Months, Hundred Days!"

At that moment, five men appeared from the left with a lift on the empty stage.

Since this was Choi Se-Hee's second time attending a Coming Up Next audience, they were faces she all knew.

But for most of the audience, they would be seeing them for the first time.

Even so...

Quite loud cheers burst out.

It wasn't because the audience was nice.

It was because of Lee Ye-On on the screen.

"Damn. What is that."

As Choi Se-Hee's friend exclaimed, she nodded her head.

That face certainly looked like a gangster.

It made no sense why he hadn't been on broadcast until now, to the point it was questionable.

"Add one serving to the pork belly bet?" 

"Nope. Add two."

"Remember what I said?"

"Wow, he's really handsome. I admit it."

Choi Se-Hee smiled contentedly at her friend's admission, but for some reason, her eyes went to Han Si-On rather than Lee Ye-On.

'Is it because of his fanservice?'

Of course, Han Si-On had a handsome face too.

A fair complexion with sharp, defined features, giving off a precarious and dangerous feel - that was her taste.

But placed side by side with Lee Ye-On, he did not grab people's gaze to that level.

'Is it because of the atmosphere?'

While Choi Se-Hee was tilting her head thinking that, Blue pointed to the right this time.

"Take Scene!"

A much louder cheer went up than for Three Months, Hundred Days.

Were there already people holding banners because they had shown their faces a few times on Ryan Entertainment content?

Like that, the ten participating members finished appearing on stage.