Became The Leader of a Girl Group Destined To Fail - Chapter 217

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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 9.

After the fan meet—which had been nerve-wracking from start to finish—came to an end.
StillBlue maintained their radiant smiles right up until the moment they climbed into the car, but the instant it pulled away, they all released a long, collective sigh.

“Kim Geum~!!”

And at that same moment, they all cried out together.
Everyone except Kim Geum.
Then they turned to face one another, bursting into laughter—part delighted, part relieved, part utterly unrestrained.

“Wow, seriously, unnie, you were absolutely legendary today. You performed so incredibly well?! Is our Geum a genius or something?”
“Geum. You did so well it made all that worry seem pointless. You were amazing. Truly impressive, our Geum.”
“You really worked hard. You can stop stressing yourself out now.”

That was Yeon Ju-hong, Seo Baek-young, and Yun Chung, in order.
They all spoke in voices much louder than usual, worried Kim Geum might not hear them properly.

“Hehehehe.”

Kim Geum listened to their words while continuing to laugh—a silly, unbridled laugh.
And she stared intently at the one member who hadn’t spoken yet.

“What are you looking at?”

It was Ryu Bora.

“What about you? Huh? Nothing to say?”
“What’s there to say? You just performed at your usual level.”
“…So you’re saying I perform like a legend every single day as a matter of course? That I’m incredible and I’m the strongest?”
“Stop it.”
“Did everyone hear that?!!? Did you all hear what Ryu Bora just said?!!?!? I didn’t mishear, right?!?!!?”
“Geum, calm down….”

As an extremely excited Kim Geum bounced around as if she might burst through the car ceiling, everyone tried to calm her down.
But Yun Chung quietly caught Ryu Bora’s eye and smiled.
Because to Yun Chung’s ears, it had sounded exactly like that too.

“So Bora’s finally admitting that Kim Geum did well this time.”
“I never said that. Don’t overinterpret things.”
“Ugh.”

I wrinkled my nose once, then immediately ruffled Kim Geum’s hair without restraint.

“You did great. Our Kim Geum.”
“No, why do you call me ‘Geum’ when I did well?”
“Because you’re Geum.”

Kim Geum—that’s who she is.
There was no more accurate way to describe Kim Geum than this.
Only then did I release the shoulders I’d been holding so tightly, exhale deeply, and take a long breath.
One hurdle cleared like this.

***

That night.

“Oh, you’re here.”

In the Conference Room on the floor where Colors’ Label 3 was located.
I greeted Baek Ju-ha as she opened the door and entered.

“Hey, Yun Chung.”
“Thank you for coming at such a late hour. But… I have something urgent to discuss.”

I expressed slight apology to Baek Ju-ha.

“No, I think I know what this is about. It’s because of that email from Label 1 earlier, right?”

I nodded at Baek Ju-ha’s question.

“Yes. They suddenly want to summon the executives and each group leader for a meeting tomorrow. The way they’re notifying us like this the night before seems really suspicious. I have a feeling there’s something more going on than usual.”
“They’re definitely going to say something ridiculous. I can already tell without even seeing it.”

Baek Ju-ha said that and clicked her tongue.
Beneath her eyes lay deep, dark circles. Even when she was StillBlue’s manager, it hadn’t been this bad… Being the representative of Colors seemed to be quite the burden.
And rightfully so. There weren’t many companies with ambushes scattered throughout like Colors.
Like seeds of malice planted by Hong President before he left….

“I’m sorry, Yun Chung. About the proposals that came up in our meetings before…. I should be taking better care of you and the members….”

Baek Ju-ha seemed troubled by the fact that all the StillBlue members had made very strong proposals in the previous meeting.
She appeared to regret not noticing and resolving those issues beforehand.

“No, it’s not that. Both I and the members understand your position. You’re not just our unnie anymore—you’re the representative responsible for all of Colors’ artists. We know you can’t focus only on us.”
“Still….”

Baek Ju-ha said that, then let out a sigh and rubbed her face with both hands.

“I’ll be honest with you, Yun Chung.”
“Yes.”
“I just want to manage Label 3 alone. I want to care for you guys and BurnAsh, that’s it. When other labels act like garbage, I just want to fight. Not hold back like I do now because I’m the representative—I honestly want to have it out with them. I don’t think I’m cut out for this position as overall representative.”
“Then you should do that.”
“?!”

Baek Ju-ha looked at Yun Chung with surprised eyes, not expecting her to agree so readily.

“Why are you so surprised? Did you really think I’d force you to do something against your will?”
“Ah, no…. But you recommended me for this position….”
“I recommended you because I thought you could do well. But if you don’t like it, then of course you shouldn’t do it. We can just find someone else who wants the position.”

Of course, that would require the premise of ‘doing the job well.’
Since Baek Ju-ha had seemed so strained lately, it wasn’t entirely unexpected.
Finding new talent would be a bit difficult… but that’s something to think about later.
Yun Chung fell into thought for a moment.

“Then I should contact Hong President about this.”
“…That pathetic man?”

Baek Ju-ha clearly disliked Hong President, her expression turning very bitter.
…I’m not fond of him either.
Yun Chung thought quietly to herself.

“I’m changing the representative. And it was about time I contacted Hong President anyway.”
“Why? Just checking in?”
“No.”

I shook my head.

“I’m going to properly settle things with Nam Director.”

***

“…You want me to do the producing?”

The next day, in a meeting with the executives of Labels 1, 2, and 3 and the leaders of each group.
I asked in disbelief, my ears not trusting what I’d heard.

“Yes. And pick out a song for us too. Something for the title track.”

Nam Director of Label 1 spoke as casually as if he were talking about someone else’s business.
What, does he think I’m a song vending machine? Like I just press a button and everything comes out.

“I’m only in my third year, and I’m already stretched thin just working on our group’s projects. With our group’s next full album title track still not finalized, it would be quite difficult to produce a title track for another group as well.”

I spoke firmly, then wondered if I’d been too blunt and added a softening remark.

“If you’re planning to debut that rookie girl group in five years, I think I could manage one song within that timeframe.”
“Five years? Come on, what’s so difficult about—”
“Excuse me? Nam Director?”

Just then, Han Jae-i from BurnAsh raised her hand with a smirk.

“As a fellow artist, I find that comment a bit offensive, you know? Haha. Composition isn’t that difficult~ If you speak so lightly about it, it’s disrespectful to the composers listening. Hahaha.”

Han Jae-i, if you’re going to laugh, at least hide the killing intent in your eyes while you do it….
Anyway, why is this cunning person so actively taking my side? It’s suspicious.
I remained silent, though deeply uncomfortable.
Well, either way, having someone on my side wasn’t a bad thing.

“First of all, I’d appreciate it if we could refrain from bickering in such a formal setting.”

Glancing briefly at Han Jae-i, I turned to Nam Director with a calm voice and lodged my protest.
How old is he really, and he still hasn’t broken this habit?

“Second, if it’s really that easy, I think you should just do it yourself, Nam Director. I’m not sure why you’re asking me specifically….”

Pfft.
At my words, everyone burst into laughter without even realizing it.
As laughter erupted from all corners, Nam Director’s face turned crimson.

“If you keep talking like that, I won’t cooperate on the Coachella booking.”
!

Coachella booking?
We got an offer like that?
Since this was the first I’d heard of it, I furrowed my brow.
What was Coachella again?
It was a massive international music festival that any K-pop idol—or really, any musician—would dream of performing at least once.
Since it primarily featured the world’s most acclaimed musicians, StillBlue, being only in our third year, hadn’t even considered it….
Yet an offer had come in like this.
That alone was surprising, but what was even more shocking was that a director from a rival label was brazenly threatening to sabotage such a golden opportunity.

“Wait. That booking came to us at BurnAsh and StillBlue. Why does Label 1’s director get to decide whether to cooperate or not?”
!

That’s when Han Jae-i interjected once more.
Ah, so that’s why she took my side.
It made perfect sense now.

“Look. In the first place, just because an offer came in doesn’t mean anything’s set in stone. These things require coordination with the company, scheduling adjustments, reviewing terms—all of it. What kind of place is Coachella? It’s a global festival. Not domestic. Much bigger. In that process, I’d be the most valuable asset with my international connections. But if you’re going to be uncooperative like this, then I have no choice but to be uncooperative too, that’s all.”

Nam Director muttered on in an extremely arrogant manner.
This guy has international connections?
I doubt overseas people have such poor judgment….
I quietly signaled Han Jae-i with my eyes.

‘That’s a lie, right?’

Han Jae-i answered my gaze with an identical eye signal.

‘Of course, why are you even asking? That guy has nothing to offer.’

The two of them reached a silent understanding.
And at the same time, they cried out.

“We at Label 3 will handle this ourselves.”

Label 1—or rather, Nam Director—you’re being told to stay out of this.

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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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