A Blank Slate Regression for the Idol That Lost His Original Mindset - Chapter 220

—————
This chapter was translated by Lunox Team. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
—————

A Regression Guide for Idols Who Lost Their Initial Intentions Episode 220

“Today we’ll be having another meeting, oops, what am I saying… we’ll be having one more meeting.”

I looked back at Ryu Jaehee with an incredulous expression as he covered his mouth and corrected himself.

I could understand if Kim Dobin acted like that, but what am I supposed to do if even you, Ryu Jaehee, get influenced by this?

“Seriously, what’s so wrong with the word ‘again’ that you can’t even say there were two pieces of kelp again in the raccoon soup?”

“I’ve developed a neurosis about the word ‘repeat.'”

Even if I did say ‘again’ twice as much as usual during recording two days ago, isn’t this a bit of an overreaction?

But seeing even Gyeon Hajun join that parade of forbidden words made me reflect on myself, wondering if I had been a bit too harsh.

Come to think of it, Gyeon Hajun was the only one who hadn’t personally experienced me being that sharp during the four years we worked on songs together as Rev, so this project must have been pretty intense for him.

The shock of my song being Kim No-dap’s pick had also made my nerves a bit sharper.

Since the shock of this song being the CEO’s pick was so intense, I decided to humbly accept whatever results came out this time as I entered the conference room.

The music that played in the conference room after two days of editing work was practically the finished version.

While the previous meeting had different guide vocals for each demo song, this time both songs had Rev members’ voices on them, making comparison easier.

“Then we’ll vote by show of hands.”

Every time a song title was mentioned, hands shot up from all directions. Ryu Jaehee chose this time.

Setting aside Ryu Jaehee’s changed choice, I blinked at the clearly different results from two days ago, then leaned toward Ryu Jaehee sitting next to me and asked.

“Weren’t the vote counts for and pretty similar two days ago?”

Did my producing bring out the song’s charm too well?

But even so, we didn’t even modify the song, so was there really something that could make the results flip so overwhelmingly?

“Right? But listening to it again this time, does feel better. No, really, even excluding all personal feelings.”

Normally I would have just passed it off as a song with good staying power, but the CEO still voting for felt too unsettling.

“CEO, you don’t actually prefer but are doing this to save face for me, are you?”

When I asked hopefully, the CEO shook his head very firmly.

“No way? I really do like it. It’s been a while since my taste aligned with our staff and our artists. Have I finally developed some discernment? Hahaha.”

Toward the CEO laughing proudly, I spoke the truth he was avoiding.

“Your taste always deviates from the mainstream, CEO. Starting from stubbornly pushing that space worldview in Korea, which is called a sci-fi wasteland…”

I just hoped the CEO wouldn’t push that damn space concept again this time.

Most people said similar things to Ryu Jaehee. caught their ears when they first heard it, but felt better when they listened again after getting used to it.

In other words, it meant you had to listen at least twice for it to grow on you.

‘Is it really okay…?’

From being the CEO’s pick to these evaluations, nothing felt right, but it was also a song that broadened the direction of my musical style, and there wasn’t time to remake the song, so was decided as the title track for this mini album.

The concept meeting that followed immediately after a two-day gap finally made me feel that LnL had escaped from being a shitty company, even if just a little.

I let out an exclamation of admiration seeing the proper presentation appearing on the screen board.

“Wow, is it possible to make something like that in just two days?”

“From what I heard, they prepared both versions for and in advance just in case.”

“Before the title track selection?”

“Yes.”

We had also prepared somewhat since we had our days as cottage industry idols, but it was nothing compared to that clean PPT.

How did just changing one director make the planning team so different? Damn, we should have kicked out that parachute hire earlier.

“As you know, the phrase ‘ride or die’ comes from the Bonnie and Clyde movie. So how about we use that movie as an homage in the music video?”

“The concept would be more of a retro concept…”

I quietly put away our idea that interpreted ‘ride or die’ as ‘a corpse without loyalty’ and came up with some mafia and Korean noir mixed concept.

Yeah, now that I think about it, it would have been a bit much to sing this song dressed up in mafia-style suits.

“Do Rev members have any other opinions?”

“We think mafia— mmph!”

Spotting Kim Dobin about to cheerfully open his mouth, I quickly sent an eye signal to Gyeon Hajun sitting next to him, and Gyeon Hajun immediately covered Kim Dobin’s mouth.

“No, we also think it’s good. Retro style. Since the song is future house genre, it would suit well.”

And so LnL began preparing Rev’s 4th mini album in earnest.

* * *

Using the excuse that we couldn’t spend the Chuseok holiday due to schedules, the agency gave us a three-day vacation during the Lunar New Year holiday.

Knowing how busy the agency was due to tight schedules, even three days was appreciated.

If we just filmed the Lunar New Year greeting video for fans today, we’d have three straight days of vacation after that.

Of course, this vacation wouldn’t be enjoyable at all since I’d be forcibly dragged to Grandfather’s house.

I was also scribbling lyrics for Filial Piety Diss Rap Part 2 in advance for Grandfather, who would disparage my profession by calling me a wandering entertainer in front of all the gathered relatives.

Part 1 was freestyle so it left some regrets, so this time I meant to do it properly. I was considering whether to record a beat in advance when I had time.

In my opinion, maybe it would be better to just work without taking vacation rather than presenting Filial Piety Diss Rap Part 2?

But if I suggested that to the agency, I could face the members’ resentment, so I decided to just sacrifice myself. At least Ryu Jaehee would probably be on my side.

The agency must have delivered the concert VIP tickets too, so I should personally deliver Rev’s first concert tickets to my parents and Yoon Jeonga.

“I feel like we just filmed a video greeting in hanbok not long ago. We’re filming again so soon.”

“Hyung, that was New Year’s greetings, this is Lunar New Year greetings.”

The youngest line chatted as we entered the studio.

What was laid out before us wasn’t the ordinary men’s hanbok we usually wore matching.

“What’s this now?”

Seeing hanbok with no overlapping pieces, my head already started throbbing and I rubbed my forehead.

Since we became a family that fights over everything like a real family instead of a harmonious pseudo-family after being told to become family, we waged fierce battles even over hanbok colors every time we filmed holiday greetings.

We don’t even have particular color preferences, but why do the colors that appeal to us on any given day always overlap?

“No, hyung. Why did you rent them like this?”

When I asked while looking back at Manager Hyung, he shook his head and answered.

“Because I’m sick of you guys always fighting over those damn hanbok colors, sick of it.”

“That doesn’t mean we won’t fight. There will definitely be people with overlapping preferences again, you know? And if you hate seeing us fight, why did you rent those two?”

There were five types: a navy prince’s gonryongpo, a set of a gat and jade-colored durumagi, black cheollik that military officials often wore in historical dramas, modernized hanbok that reminded me of my high school Chinese character teacher, and women’s hanbok.

At least I was certain the last two wouldn’t have any demand.

I gathered the members to conduct a demand survey first.

“Hey, when I count to three, point with your finger at what you want to wear. One, two, three.”

As soon as I finished counting to three, everyone’s fingers pointed to the prince’s gonryongpo.

“I knew this would happen.”

It was the expected result. The cheollik looked the coolest on the surface, but everyone seemed to want to hold power. Our members, I didn’t see them that way, but they were quite ambitious indeed.

“Then there’s no choice.”

As I nodded and muttered in a solemn voice, Ryu Jaehee nodded along beside me and opened his mouth.

“Right. At times like this, we should have a Rev meeting—”

“By leader’s authority, I as the leader will wear the gonryongpo.”

Before Ryu Jaehee could finish speaking, I boldly grabbed the gonryongpo and declared confidently.

Jeers and rebuttals flew from all directions, but I didn’t blink an eye.

“Hey, this isn’t right!”

“That’s right, hyung! This is abuse of power!”

“Right, Eden. This isn’t right.”

“Abuse of power or misuse of power, that is the question.”

“What are you saying, Doby Hyung?”

Despite the pouring criticism, I held onto the gonryongpo and just insisted stubbornly.

“Let me taste the leader position at times like this! I can’t even use it normally!”

“What? You don’t wield leader power normally? Even passing dogs would laugh at that. Maybe if you said I can’t wield eldest hyung power.”

Seo Yehyeon shook his head as if he’d heard something ridiculous. I also got heated at the mention of having no eldest hyung power and retorted.

“That’s what would make passing dogs laugh. What do you think is the reason you can make a fuss telling us to read calories every time we eat snacks? Try having Kim Dobin or Ryu Jaehee do that. Would we even give them a snort?”

Manager Hyung, who had been watching our standoff like watching a fire across the river, said weakly.

“Hey, guys. I brought various options so you wouldn’t fight, but why are you fighting again…?”

“Huh, wasn’t this brought to make us fight? If you wanted to prevent us from fighting, you should have brought five identical gonryongpo.”

Kim Dobin cheerfully delivered a brutal truth.

“Fair and square! Reve’s 500th… what number was it again.”

Ryu Jaehee paused briefly to check his cell phone before continuing.

“Let’s decide with Reve’s 501st meeting!”

“What’s the point of a meeting! Everyone’s just going to insist on wearing the gonryongpo!”

He shouted desperately while defending his gonryongpo. They’d definitely do some skit while filming the video, so there was no way he’d give up his position as crown prince.

—————
This chapter was translated by Lunox Team. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
—————