Became The Leader of a Girl Group Destined To Fail - Chapter 212

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This chapter was translated by Lunox Novels. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
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Episode 4.

At the mention of a solo album, the members’ expressions hardened visibly.
Seo Baek-young and Yun Chung looked the most troubled.
Why?
Because Colors would naturally expect those two to be the ones debuting solo.

“We’re only in our third year right now. I don’t think this is the right time to be discussing solo albums yet.”

What kind of reasoning was that supposed to be?
We hadn’t fully stabilized yet—this was precisely when the group should be at its most active….
I turned my gaze toward Baek Ju-ha. It was a clear signal: this cannot happen.

“Representative Baek Ju-ha said we should respect the artists’ wishes. Of course, our planning team will absolutely prioritize your opinions as well… but it feels wasteful to miss this crucial window. This isn’t just a proposal for the company’s sake. Such a long hiatus wouldn’t be good for your careers either.”
“….”

The planning director, sensing the meaning behind my stare, hurried to justify himself.

“Just looking at the atmosphere within Ever Blue, dissatisfaction about delayed comebacks is growing. We’ve even had a few protest trucks recently asking why we haven’t made a comeback….”

The marketing director, feeling somewhat wronged, added his own comments. My eyes narrowed.
No, those protest trucks were mostly about Label 1 and Label 3’s schedules overlapping constantly these days and demanding more self-produced content. There was barely any mention of our comeback timing.
But I couldn’t point that out directly.
I absolutely couldn’t agree to solo albums… but these people were just doing their jobs after all.
I sighed inwardly and nodded.

“I understand. We’ll communicate more with the fans and ask them to wait a bit longer.”
“Yes….”
“More urgently, we need to address the schedules.”

At my words, everyone on the operations team nodded.

“We’ll proceed with the scheduled commercial shoots as planned. We’ll cancel all self-produced content except for individual projects. As for variety shows, if only Kim Geum stops appearing, it’ll definitely raise questions, so we’ll reduce overall participation across all members.”
“Understood.”
“Most other things are manageable… but there’s one issue.”
“Fan meetings. That’s the biggest problem, isn’t it?”

At Yun Chung’s words, the staff members exchanged uncomfortable glances as if in agreement.

“The problem is that it’s already scheduled for next week. The fan meeting has already completed ticketing, so cancellation seems difficult. And if Geum doesn’t attend alone….”
“There will be complaints, you’re saying.”
“Yes, that’s correct.”

The members’ expressions darkened at those words. I wanted to tell her to rest no matter what, but….

“I’d like to defer to Geum’s opinion on this. Whether she attends or not.”
“…Understood.”

The staff seemed to agree that was the right call and said nothing more.

“I also have something to say about the comeback!”

Just then, Yeon Ju-hong suddenly raised her hand.
Since Yeon Ju-hong rarely spoke up in meetings like this, everyone looked at her with curious expressions.

“Whenever we do even a little spoiler during our livestreams, you guys force-end the broadcast. I wish you’d stop doing that!”
“!”
“I really barely spoil anything! All I do is dance a small part that Chung-chung or Geum gives me, so subtly that it’s barely noticeable. I hate the forced shutdowns. I’d rather you just give me a subtle hint not to do it instead!”

It was a suggestion befitting Yeon Ju-hong, who communicated the most among the members.
Come to think of it, if the broadcast suddenly shuts down, the fans watching wouldn’t be happy either.

“And I feel hurt when you hint that I do too many livestreams.”

Yeon Ju-hong’s expression genuinely looked hurt.

“I enjoy playing with the fans, but I don’t think you’re restricting livestreams because you don’t plan to hire additional staff to monitor them. Just hire more people instead! We earn enough to cover that.”

Wow.
Ju-hong has really grown up.
All the members marveled at Yeon Ju-hong, who articulated every point so clearly and precisely.
Our Ju-hong has really matured.

“And I’ve prepared a lot of proposals because I want to make my own content, but you don’t even read them and just say no to everything. I’ll do the filming, I’ll do the editing. I said I’d handle all of it and you only need to check the content at the end, but you still refuse. And you keep saying it’s because there’s no staff for it—I wish you’d stop pouring all the money we earn into covering Label 1’s deficits and let us use some of it instead!”

So you really had a lot pent up, Ju-hong….
All the members began to grow increasingly serious as they heard the anguish in Yeon Ju-hong’s voice.
At first, it seemed like just a cute suggestion from our youngest member, but listening to the details, it became clear that Colors had been blocking every attempt our capable and admirable youngest was making to try new things.
Yun Chung was especially shocked to realize she hadn’t known at all that Yeon Ju-hong had been wrestling with these concerns alone behind the scenes.
While I’d been busy with song production, our youngest had grown so much without my noticing.
…I need to pay more attention to Ju-hong. She was suffering in silence, unable to even speak about it.

“I’ll reflect everything as much as possible.”
!
“I promise you.”

Baek Ju-ha spoke with an extremely resolute expression.
Even in that moment, she was perfect in using formal speech since it was an official setting.
I seem to have chosen a good representative.
Yun Chung smiled quietly to herself.
Then.

“May I say something too?”
!

Wait, now even Ryu Bora…?
Since Ryu Bora had truly never spoken at a gathering like this before, everyone’s faces showed surprise.

“I’d appreciate it if you’d stop putting this off and press charges against the cyber bullies spreading rumors and the malicious commenters.”
!!

At Ryu Bora’s words, the members’ eyes began to fill with sorrow.
Among them, Ryu Bora was by far the member who had suffered the most damage from cyber bullies.
The biggest problem was Ryu Bora’s family.
After Baek Ju-ha visited them once, Ryu Bora’s family members didn’t dare come near her anymore, but they kept trying to borrow money using Ryu Bora’s name.
Unable to bear it any longer, Ryu Bora released a statement through Colors severing ties with her family and explicitly stating she would never lend them money, yet some people still thought, “Surely she won’t turn her back? Her daughter is Ryu Bora. She’ll pay it back,” and lent them money anyway.
Up to that point, I wanted to say it’s their own money to spend as they wish….

‘The problem is that it all comes back to Ryu Bora, with them demanding she pay them back.’

How long had it been since the severance article was released, and they were still….
Because of some particularly vicious people who even charged excessive interest and demanded Ryu Bora pay them back, the cyber bullies continued to spread malicious rumors about her.

‘The company handled the debt collection, but we completely failed to deal with the cyber bullies….’

Ryu Bora’s expression of utter exasperation silenced everyone in the conference room for a moment.
There wasn’t a soul present who didn’t understand how much pain Ryu Bora had endured as a human being.

“Ryu Bora. We want to do that too. But the moment we sue the cyber trolls, there will be an avalanche of articles… and then people who didn’t know about the rumors will find out about them.”

After a moment, the marketing team lead spoke up with difficulty.

“In the end, the one who suffers is… StillBlue.”
“….”

At the mention of StillBlue suffering damage, Ryu Bora’s jaw clenched immediately.
She despised those malicious rumors, but at the same time, she couldn’t bring herself to do anything that would harm StillBlue.
Then.

“Does it matter?”
“!”

Seo Baek-young spoke up with an utterly composed expression.

“I hear other idols are suing too these days. If anything, Colors is actually the slowest in taking these protective measures. Please go ahead and sue.”

At Seo Baek-young’s firm tone, the marketing team lead looked helplessly toward Representative Baek Ju-ha.

“Baek-young is right.”
“…!”
“And if only our group sues, we’ll inevitably draw attention. But if all the idol groups under Colors file suit together, things would be different, wouldn’t they?”

Yun Chung spoke with confidence.

“I doubt the cyber troll channels only targeted us. Instead of suing in StillBlue’s name alone, if the other groups agree… why not file suit together?”

Of course, there wouldn’t be a single idol group that disagreed.
There wasn’t anyone who hadn’t been targeted by them at least once.
And if you’d been targeted even once, you knew firsthand what kind of hell they brought.

“I know the company has been hesitant because of the lawsuit costs up until now.”

That wasn’t the end of it.
Yun Chung added her next words as if she already knew what the marketing team leader was worried about.
He’s always going on about budgets—how could I not understand what’s on his mind?

“If necessary, I’ll cover it from my own pocket, so please proceed.”

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