Became The Leader of a Girl Group Destined To Fail - Chapter 228

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

Episode 20.

“Excuse me, Nam Director!”

Baek Ju-ha’s voice rang out sharply in an instant.

“How could you say such things to our own artist?”
“What? Did I say something so extraordinary? I’m simply trying to identify any issues, aren’t I? Label 3 is always going on about ‘artists, artists’ while hiding and concealing problems, which is precisely why we can never cooperate properly with the other labels. So what if there’s a mental health issue? Why would that be something to hide? If there’s a problem, shouldn’t we share it? Do you think we don’t have ears to hear? We do. I just assumed Label 3 would handle things appropriately on their own, so I let it be. But every time the media asks me questions, I have to say, ‘Oh, I don’t know. Label 3 doesn’t share anything like that,’ and I’m so embarrassed I can’t even lift my head. What kind of director is this? I’d be better off as a pants salesman somewhere. There’s no cooperation, no cooperation at all.”

Nam Director spoke while clicking his tongue disapprovingly.
At his rude demeanor, every staff member’s expression hardened.
Even the other staff members from Label 1.

“Cooperation? Is that something you should be saying as the head of Label 1 right now, Nam Director? Are you being so cooperative by speaking to another label’s artist like that?”
“No, Representative. Anyone watching would think you’re the representative who only oversees Label 3. You’re not just the director of one label—you’re the representative leading all of Colors, aren’t you? You need to maintain neutrality. The reason I end up speaking so boldly every time is because you consistently fail to maintain neutrality and always take Label 3’s side. Do you think I want to do this?”

After that, the conference room continued to echo with raised voices between Baek Ju-ha and Nam Director.
They hadn’t resorted to cursing each other, but their conversation was genuinely heated, with feelings thoroughly wounded.

“….”

And in the midst of it all, Yun Chung watched Nam Director quietly and intently.
‘Mental health issue’?
That was absolutely not the tone of someone concerned about the wellbeing of StillBlue’s members.
It was a sarcastic insinuation—as if to say, you can’t perform because your mental state is weak, can’t you?
Sitting in that position, how could he not know that young idols were suffering psychological pain from numerous issues? Yet he spoke of it so lightly.
Yun Chung’s expression froze with an unprecedented coldness as she looked at Nam Director.
During her time as Baek Nok-ha, how many idols had she witnessed suffering mentally.
Because she had lost more than one acquaintance that way, such health and mental issues were an unbearably tender spot for Yun Chung.
The reason she made such efforts to never burden her members or cause them psychological pain was entirely because of that.

“Nam Director. Perhaps you could be a bit more careful with your word choice….”

Sensing something irreversible in Yun Chung’s chillingly cold atmosphere, Cha Division Chief, the director of Label 2, opened his mouth.
He was someone who typically avoided getting involved in any conflict, earning him the nickname “the evasive director,” but this time it seemed he simply could not avoid it.

“No, it’s not like I did anything that impressive—”
“Let’s bundle her in the deal.”
“!”

At Yun Chung’s words, every mouth in the conference room snapped shut.

“That’s what you want, isn’t it? To bundle her in. No matter how different the labels are, attacking our own artist’s ‘mental issues’ while trying to accomplish something—in the end, that’s all bundling is, right?”
“Kh, hmm!”

Yun Chung continued speaking in a voice so measured it held no inflection whatsoever.

“Put her in that slot. I won’t interfere.”
“So you’re not refusing the casting offer?”
“Correct.”

Yun Chung cut through with absolute conviction.

“StillBlue will take the stage at that festival.”

Of course, I wouldn’t move as obediently as you’d like.

“I just hope that the group Nam Director is so keen on proves to be as skilled as you believe.”

Because if they aren’t, we’ll go down together.
Yun Chung steeled herself.
No matter what happens, I’ll make sure you hit rock bottom, Nam Director.

***

“The festival is in two weeks.”

That night, at StillBlue’s dormitory.
Baek Ju-ha drained a can of beer as she spoke.
Her face showed she was absolutely burning with anxiety.

“That’s why I wanted to turn it down—I didn’t think it was safe. But somehow it reached Nam Director’s ears anyway.”
“It’s not your fault, unnie.”

At Yun Chung’s words, all the members nodded their heads in quick agreement.

“No, it’s my fault.”

Baek Ju-ha exhaled a long sigh.

“It’s my responsibility to protect you all… and I failed to do it properly.”
“No, if we’re assigning blame that way, then I’m the one who failed first.”

Yun Chung spoke matter-of-factly.

“Kim Geum’s health condition must have leaked outside. Otherwise, there’s no way Nam Director would have made such a pointed remark like that.”

Since he mentioned a mental issue rather than a hearing problem, he probably didn’t know the exact details.
But… he definitely knew that something was wrong within the StillBlue Group.

“I’ll reorganize internally. I need to find out where the information keeps leaking from.”
“…Thank you for handling this.”
“No, it’s naturally something I should be doing.”

Baek Ju-ha cracked open another beer can, her expression troubled.

“Kim Geum, are you… going to be okay? The performance is in two weeks.”
“Of course I will be. I managed the fan meeting well even before my hearing recovered to a certain degree. No problem.”
“That’s….”

Baek Ju-ha let out another long sigh. There was definitely an issue she hadn’t yet told the members about.

“Actually, there’s one more reason I was trying to turn down that booking. That festival is being broadcast in connection with a music program. ShowShow! MusicMusic!, to be specific.”

ShowShow! MusicMusic! was one of the terrestrial music broadcasts.

“Busan invested some money into it… and apparently asked us to do a special stage. So you’ll perform your usual songs, but also have to prepare another special stage.”
“!”

At those words, Kim Geum’s eyes wavered slightly.
But soon after, she smiled.

“Why is that a problem?”
“!”
“I’m the specialist in special stages. Special stage means Kim Geum, Kim Geum means special stage.”
“Geum.”

Yun Chung called out to Kim Geum.
Naturally, Yun Chung had anticipated a special stage as well. The reason she’d accepted was because she thought that if push came to shove, she could do a solo stage of her own, or alternatively, collaborate with another group instead.
Not a special stage for all of StillBlue.

“No, Chung-chung. I think we all need to do this.”
“!”
“Our fans are waiting for us. We can’t refuse something like this.”
“But—”

Just as Baek Ju-ha was about to speak, Yun Chung grabbed her arm and stopped her.

“Are you confident?”
“Of course. Who do you think I am?”
“Kim Geum.”
“Exactly.”

All the other members nodded as if it were obvious.

“Whatever they are—Greenery or whatever—we just need to show them what we’re made of.”
“They’ve got plenty of character issues anyway. The Burnash seniors have been grinding them down. They benefit from their seniors’ help but don’t even say thank you, just keep asking for more.”

In truth, it wasn’t just Yun Chung and Baek Ju-ha who were angry.
All the StillBlue members had heard Nam Director’s remarks from today’s meeting and were seething with rage.
Even though Greenery hadn’t spoken directly, the backlash was inevitable.
Especially considering their track record with Burnash.
If they acted that way toward seniors as accomplished as Burnash, there was no way they’d treat the relatively junior StillBlue any differently.

“I already have some ideas about this anyway.”

At Yun Chung’s words, all the members let out soft chuckles.

“Of course.”
“Chung-chung always has a plan thought out beforehand!”
“Tell us quickly, Chung.”
“Let’s go check it out, Chung-chung.”

It was a rare moment when all the members were united in spirit and purpose.

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