Chapter 46 - How Far Are You Trying to Expand Your Connections

『 Translator – Divinity 』

“You're a bit mischievous...”

Eun-joo laughed, covering her mouth with her sleeve like before.

“If I could take one spot in Newstarz... I'd want to take the leader, Seo Na-eun's spot.”

“Are you coveting the leader position?”

“That's not it.”

Eun-joo answered in a leisurely tone.

“I think I can do it better than the other positions.”

“I see.”

Baek Hyeon-woo confirmed Eun-joo's gaze and nodded his head.

“Understood. Thank you.”

The interview concluded like that.

As Eun-joo went outside, Choi Tae-hyung grabbed Baek Hyeon-woo and demanded an explanation.

“Assistant Manager Baek, what was that about earlier? Why did you ask that kind of question?”

Choi Tae-hyung simply couldn't figure out what Baek Hyeon-woo was thinking.

“Was your intention for sitting in on the interview to find a replacement member for Newstarz? What kind of underhanded...”

“Of course not.”

Baek Hyeon-woo denied it, shaking his head.

“I just wanted to check.”

“Check what?”

“Whether she has properly grasped her own aptitude.”

“Aptitude...?”

“Director.”

In front of Choi Tae-hyung, who was tilting his head, unable to understand what he meant, Baek Hyeon-woo opened his mouth again.

“The first, second, and third ones don't seem very good. I don't think you need to bother picking them.”

“……!”

Even though he hadn't asked those people a single question.

Baek Hyeon-woo gave his opinion to fail them without hesitation.

“However, you must get the fourth interviewee, Eun-joo-ssi.”

“……”

Choi Tae-hyung stared at Baek Hyeon-woo for a moment with his mouth shut.

“What's the reason?”

“First, she has properly grasped her own aptitude.”

Baek Hyeon-woo had said something similar just a moment ago.

Don't tell me... does that mean she has a similar aptitude to Seo Na-eun?

“Second, she has potential.”

“……”

Potential?

What do you know?

Can you just say that based on intuition?

Suppressing his desire to snap at him, Choi Tae-hyung shook his head.

“Hah, really...”

But, for some reason.

After hearing Baek Hyeon-woo's words, he started to think that it might be okay to pick Eun-joo.

“I just don't get it...”

A moment ago, Choi Tae-hyung had felt a charm from Eun-joo that was different from others.

Still, it was difficult to be confident that that charm would work in the idol industry.

If it were like before, he would have failed her just like Yoo Jeong-ah last time.

However, after hearing Baek Hyeon-woo's words... he had a thought that it might be okay to just push forward with it.

Groan...

Baek Hyeon-woo is definitely a guy he doesn't like.

A guy who seems like he'll cause a big incident someday.

Among the people Choi Tae-hyung knew, the person with the most outstanding intuition was Baek Hyeon-woo.

***

‘He's contemplating.’

Baek Hyeon-woo watched from the side as Choi Tae-hyung contemplated.

‘And I can't reveal that I'm giving advice after checking the status window.’

He recalled the contents of the status window he had checked earlier.

Since Eun-joo was a former UBX trainee, he was able to check her status window.

––——–—–—

[Eun-joo]

Vocal: C

Dance: A

Visual: C

Potential: S

Body Condition: 75%

Mental Condition: 75%

––——–—–—

According to the status window, Eun-joo possessed an ability specialized in dance.

You could say she's a similar style to Seo Na-eun.

‘She herself had already figured out that she had an aptitude for dance. That's why she said she wanted to take on the position of the main dancer, Seo Na-eun.’

A person who properly understands what they are talented in and what role they can perform is rare.

The reason Baek Hyeon-woo had asked the question, 'Whose position in Newstarz do you want to have,' was to confirm to what extent Eun-joo understood herself.

Eun-joo had properly grasped that intention, and had revealed her opinion that she hoped for a main dancer role like Seo Na-eun's.

‘If Haram Entertainment provides her with customized training in a direction that maximizes her strengths and supplements her weaknesses... she will become a good idol.’

The noteworthy part is that her Potential is an S.

Among the trainees he had met so far, the only person with a higher Potential than Eun-joo was Yoo Jeong-ah, who was an SS.

Even if she has lacking parts now, if she is trained properly, she will be able to grow very quickly.

“Assistant Manager Baek…”

“Yes, Director.”

Choi Tae-hyung, who had been contemplating for a good while, picked up a pen.

And he said while circling something on Eun-joo's resume.

“Next time we interview kids too... you take a look, Assistant Manager Baek.”

“……”

Choi Tae-hyung had a slightly pride-hurt expression.

It seemed he was feeling a sense of humiliation at the situation of having to ask for help from Baek Hyeon-woo, with whom he wasn't on good terms.

However, Baek Hyeon-woo paid it no mind and smiled.

“It's company work, so of course I have to help.”

Perhaps later, if he gets promoted and his authority grows... he might even become in charge of the new girl group that Eun-joo will belong to.

***

After that, Choi Tae-hyung took not only Baek Hyeon-woo but also Park Yeong-ho and headed to the broadcasting station.

To maximize the effect of the set pre-recording, they had to meet with the art director and properly convey their requirements from the design plan stage.

Watching how various know-hows were utilized to create the most plausible set with a limited budget, both Baek Hyeon-woo and Park Yeong-ho diligently took notes.

“This should be enough for today. Let's head in now.”

“Sigh, you've worked very hard, Director.”

“You organize the contents of today's meeting, Team Leader Park. I'll check it and then submit it to the CEO-nim. Ah, and...”

After finishing the meeting with the people in charge, Choi Tae-hyung looked at Baek Hyeon-woo.

“Assistant Manager Baek, did you tell the Newstarz members?”

“The members?”

“That you're doing a 'Music World' set pre-recording.”

“I haven't told them yet.”

“Good grief, what have you been doing?”

Choi Tae-hyung clicked his tongue.

“It's good to deliver good news quickly. That way, the kids will get motivated too.”

“Understood. Then I'll go in and tell them right away.”

“Team Leader Park and I will handle the rest, so you go to the kids, Assistant Manager Baek.”

After parting ways like that, Baek Hyeon-woo headed to the practice room.

Newstarz was still in the middle of self-practice.

“Everyone doing okay?”

“Ah, Manager-nim.”

Seo Na-eun was the first to run out, and the other members also stopped practicing and looked over.

“You must have been very busy. I thought we wouldn't be able to see you today.”

“Yeah, there was some work to do.”

Baek Hyeon-woo gave the members a quick scan and opened his mouth again.

“We've decided to go on 'Music World' next week.”

“What? 'Music World'?”

“Yeah, we're going to showcase the new version of 'Gravity'.”

As he explained that, Seo Na-eun asked cautiously.

“Is it a pre-recording or a live broadcast?”

It's an obvious thing to say, but idols also prefer pre-recordings over live broadcasts.

Because even if they make a mistake, if it's a pre-recording, they can re-film it or fix it with editing.

If the sight of them making a big mistake on a live broadcast is aired as is, and is preserved as a video clip to remain forever... it's truly a nightmare.

“Pre-recording.”

“Ah, that's a relief.”

Seo Na-eun nodded and smiled.

However, it was still too early to be happy.

“We're going to do it with a prepared set.”

“What?”

Seo Na-eun's eyes widened.

The other members had a similar reaction.

“Huh? We're doing a set pre-recording?”

“Yeah, Director Choi, Team Leader Park, and I had a meeting with the vendors together today.”

“M-Manager-nim.”

Seo Na-eun asked in a trembling voice.

“Aren't set pre-recordings on 'Music World' mostly for a popular singer's comeback stage? If not that, then a singer that a large agency is specially promoting...”

“I asked the 'Music World' PD-nim for a favor.”

“You secured it by speaking to the PD-nim yourself, Manager-nim?!”

Not only Seo Na-eun, but the other members also made surprised expressions.

“Um, you're talking about HBS's PD Yoo Seon-hee-nim, right? You negotiated with her directly and got the promise of a set pre-recording?”

“Yeah, that's right.”

“Oh my god…”

Kim So-yeong covered her mouth with her hands and made an expression of disbelief.

From the side, Laura and Kanade also whispered.

“How did Hyeon-woo oppa secure a set pre-recording from the 'Music World' PD? Didn't he do something weird?”

“D-Did he blackmail them...?”

As the two in the younger pair spouted nonsense, Seo Na-eun bonked them on the head.

“There's no way Manager-nim would do something like that. Don't speak carelessly.”

“I-It was a joke.”

“Owowow...”

While Laura and Kanade were clutching their heads, the youngest, Yoo Jeong-ah, carefully opened her mouth.

“Hyeon-woo oppa, by any chance, didn't you push yourself too hard with the broadcasting station? I don't think they would give us such a good opportunity for no reason...”

“I just made an opportunity to build a connection.”

Baek Hyeon-woo answered with a calm demeanor.

“And I gave them some help.”

“Ah…”

At the words that he had helped PD Yoo Seon-hee, the members, including Yoo Jeong-ah, nodded their heads.

“I'm getting the gist. It seems our Manager-nim pulled something off again.”

Kim So-yeong said with a laugh.

“I don't know what kind of help you gave the PD-nim... but you worked really hard, Hyeon-woo oppa.”

“That's right. You really worked hard. Thank you.”

Seo Na-eun also expressed her thanks while bowing her head.

“Since you secured such a good opportunity for us, Manager-nim, we will all prepare diligently.”

“Okay, for a while, let's think of next week's 'Music World' as our top priority.”

Baek Hyeon-woo said in a calm voice.

“You all probably know this better, but a video filmed as a pre-recording on a splendid set has a very large promotional effect. So let's prepare thoroughly and go for it.”

“Yes, Manager-nim.”

“We'll have to prepare properly.”

“It'll be tiring for a while.”

“Ugh, is the hell training starting again...?”

“I-I'll work hard.”

Unlike at the Night-Bomb Festival, there are no rivals like Choux-pop at this 'Music World'.

It's also a recorded broadcast, not live, and it's difficult to expect them to exert power beyond their limits like that time.

However, the Newstarz members had already gained confidence.

If they prepare well while maintaining the spirit that they can accomplish anything, they will be able to create enough buzz this time as well.

“Alright, then let's increase the training menu until next week.”

“It's hell training again, as expected...!”

Kanade screamed.

***

Ahead of Newstarz's 'Music World' appearance, Baek Hyeon-woo visited HBS once more with Choi Tae-hyung.

This was because there were many things to coordinate with the HBS side regarding the set installation.

“PD-nim, it's been a while.”

“Indeed. This is the first time since you moved companies, right?”

PD Yoo Seon-hee, who had exchanged greetings with Choi Tae-hyung, immediately spoke to Baek Hyeon-woo.

“Hyeon-woo-ssi, I've been to the hospital three times since then.”

“You went that often?”

“You said the more often I go, the faster I'll get better. But the director seemed a bit annoyed. I haven't even seen his face except for when I got an X-ray on the first day.”

“He's originally a bit like that... you just need to receive the treatment well from Won-shik.”

Seeing Yoo Seon-hee converse friendly with Baek Hyeon-woo, Choi Tae-hyung's eyes went round.

“PD-nim, are you unwell somewhere? A hospital...”

“You don't need to worry about it, Director Choi. It's my private life.”

“……?”

Choi Tae-hyung looked at Baek Hyeon-woo with a gaze that asked 'what on earth is going on'.

However, just as Yoo Seon-hee said, it was a private matter, so he couldn't tell Choi Tae-hyung.

It would be a different story if Yoo Seon-hee herself talked about it, but there was no way Baek Hyeon-woo would be the one to tell him first.

“By the way, can I ask you a favor?”

“Ah, PD-nim, please just say the word, whatever the favor may be. We will help you in every way at the company level.”

“No, I wasn't talking to you, Director Choi.”

“……”

Leaving the deflated Choi Tae-hyung aside, Yoo Seon-hee spoke to Baek Hyeon-woo.

“There's a PD I'm close with in the Drama Department.”

“The Drama Department?”

“He injured her shoulder's rotator cuff last time and had surgery, you see? The hospital says the surgery went well, but strangely, he says his shoulder keeps hurting?”

The rotator cuff.

It's a term that refers to the 4 muscles and tendons that surround the shoulder joint.

The shoulder is the only joint in our body that can rotate 360 degrees, and if you move it too excessively or receive an impact, the rotator cuff gets damaged.

If it's severe, the rotator cuff can even tear, and in that case, it must be sutured with surgical treatment.

“Do you know a hospital that's good at treating such symptoms? I was hoping you could introduce one, Hyeon-woo-ssi.”

“……”

Baek Hyeon-woo was lost in thought for a moment.

‘As it is, I wanted to have Kim So-yeong advance into acting.’

Kim So-yeong has been active as a model for a long time.

However, Baek Hyeon-woo wanted to have her try acting as well.

This was because not only is she tall and has distinct facial features, but she also possesses the expressive power of a Visual S-rank.

As a result of Baek Hyeon-woo going around various sites and verifying until now, the multi-entertainers who were recognized for their acting ability all possessed high Visuals like Kim So-yeong.

So, doesn't Kim So-yeong also have the qualities of an 'acting-dol'... Baek Hyeon-woo was thinking.

‘If I can form a connection with the HBS Drama Department through this opportunity, it might be a help in getting Kim So-yeong to advance into dramas.’

Having judged it to be so, Baek Hyeon-woo opened his mouth.

“PD-nim, I'll just take a look myself.”

“Ah, would that be okay?”

Yoo Seon-hee made a pleased expression.

“It would be great if you'd look at her yourself, Hyeon-woo-ssi. Then I'll talk to that PD.”

“Yes, if it's a condition that's difficult for me to help with directly, I will introduce a suitable hospital.”

“Thanks. If you do a good job, I'll repay this too.”

If, with this, he can form a good relationship not only with Yoo Seon-hee but also with a drama PD, it will be a help to Newstarz's future activities.

“Wow, this bastard… how far is he trying to expand his connections?”

He could hear Choi Tae-hyung muttering to himself, but it went in one ear and out the other.