Became The Leader of a Girl Group Destined To Fail - Chapter 233

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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 25.

Colors Headquarters Building.
Seo Baek-young and Ryu Bora had been asked to film a challenge shorts video to coincide with White Noise’s comeback, so they’d headed to the Practice Room together to shoot it.
Kim Geum, Yeon Ju-hong, and I had come to the Studio for composition work.
Though we called it collaborative composition work, it was really just Kim Geum teaching Yeon Ju-hong.
I’d come more to observe, thinking that having two people teach Yeon Ju-hong at once would only confuse her.

‘…Kim Geum still didn’t seem ready at all.’

A moment earlier.

‘Let me help. Let’s try it together.’

At my suggestion, Kim Geum had gone rigid for a moment.
Like someone who’d heard words they shouldn’t have.

‘I don’t think I’m ready yet.’
‘…’
‘This album… I’m not ready yet…’

Seeing Kim Geum continue to hesitate, I gently patted her shoulder.

‘You don’t have to push yourself.’
‘!’
‘I only mentioned it because I wanted to help. Let’s do it when you’re comfortable.’
‘Chung-chung…’
‘I mean it. There’s no rush. Worst case, I can just compose more myself. Or we can take outside tracks like we discussed earlier.’
‘But—’
‘I understand you don’t want outside tracks. I know how important self-produced title tracks are to you. But right now, the priority for all of us is not to overextend ourselves. You know that, right?’

At my words, Kim Geum’s head dropped slightly.
But then, as if accepting it, she slowly nodded.

‘You’re right, Chung-chung. Anything more would just be my stubbornness…’

As Kim Geum grew smaller before my eyes, my heart ached along with her.
There was no reason for her to shrink away like this.
Lately, she’s been seeing so much negative feedback from fans that she’s completely burying herself. I wonder if there’s any way to help…
Some solution had to exist.
In that moment of contemplation.

“Kim Geum. How should I handle this? I’m not sure how to proceed from here…”
“There’s no single right answer. But with the line you’ve created now, it would feel more natural to layer it like this, building it up.”

In response to Yeon Ju-hong’s question, Kim Geum stacked melodies with remarkable skill, layering them one after another. She even offered advice on how to construct harmonies more effectively.
But that wasn’t all. She created several plausible melodies that suited the direction Yeon Ju-hong’s composition was heading, and immediately demonstrated them as examples.

‘…That’s it.’

It wasn’t that she couldn’t do it.
She had the ability, but psychological burden was holding her back.
So to draw out her abilities gradually without that mental weight…

‘The other members could help with this, not just me.’

As hope finally emerged, a smile crossed my lips.
I quietly slipped out of the Studio and headed to the Practice Room where Seo Baek-young and Ryu Bora were.
Because—

Hong Yeon-seo, the Shop Owner

Everyone, come to our company’s Main Conference Room right now.

That was the message Hong President had sent.
…So he’s back in the country, Hong President.
I let out a deep sigh.

***

And so.
In the company’s Main Conference Room.
The company’s top executives, Label 2’s White Noise, All Colors, and…

‘Have I lost my mind?’

A meeting had begun with both StillBlue and BurnAsh in attendance.

‘What on earth is this gathering?’

And presided over by Hong President, no less.
…Wait, where’s Greenery? Yun Chung glanced around the conference room and realized something was off.

“Why isn’t Label 1 here?”
“Right? Are they running late?”

Sure enough, murmurs rippled through the room around me.
Could it be…
I clenched my fists as an ominous premonition washed over me.
Could it be… Could Hong President actually… Could it…
No, no matter how ruthless someone is… surely not even that…

“Chung-chung. What’s going on here…?”

Yeon Ju-hong, clearly oblivious to the situation, whispered cautiously to me.

“…I don’t know either…. Let’s just… wait and see.”
“I’m good at that.”

Yeon Ju-hong seemed to accept this readily, breaking into a bright smile as she reached for the water bottle in front of her.
Then,

“Thank you all for coming. I know everyone’s busy, so I’ll keep this brief.”

The conference room door opened and Hong President stepped inside, taking her position at the front.
She looked exactly the same as always, except for one thing that had changed…

‘Her eyes are blazing.’

That woman’s eyes are burning with fury right now.
I had an instinctive sense that today’s trouble was going to be far worse than ordinary.

“I’m sure you’ve all heard the rumors about my return, haven’t you? Starting today, I’m resuming my duties. Of course, my return won’t bring about any major changes from what we’ve been doing so far.”
“….”

Don’t lie like that….
Anyone can see you’re about to overturn everything….
Whether the others sensed Hong President’s lie as well, everyone’s faces were tense.

“However, there’s one thing. I’ve heard that there’s been considerable discord within our company lately.”
“!”
“Before I resume, I wanted to resolve this matter first, which is why I’ve arranged this meeting. I hope everyone present today will maintain strict confidentiality about what happens here.”

The idols exchanged glances with one another.
What on earth was he trying to do?

“I did consider handling this quietly without arranging a meeting like this. That’s usually my style, after all.”

Hong President said this, then released a long breath.

“But if I did that, I don’t think I could ever restore trust with the artists. So I’ve decided to resolve this clearly, here and now.”

What’s this about?
Hong President said that, then opened the door.
He gazed out into the hallway and gestured for someone to enter.

“Come in.”
“!”

The people waiting outside the door were none other than the members of Greenery.
And they all looked extremely embarrassed.
And….

“Greenery members, please take your seats over there. Nam Director, would you come here for a moment?”

Nam Director had come along as well.
What a dizzying turn of events….
Startled by Nam Director’s sudden appearance, the members all looked at Hong President in confusion.

“Nam Director.”
“Shop Owner. What on earth is this about? This isn’t an official meeting, and why would you—”
“Colors is terminating its employment contract with you, Nam Director.”
“!”
“Surprised?”

I was someone who rarely batted an eye at most situations, yet I found myself unable to suppress my shock at this turn of events.
I wasn’t alone. The veteran idols of Label 2 were equally stunned.

“You’ve risen to executive status and played games with my company, so you should have expected to be fired, shouldn’t you?”
“What? I played games? Hey, Hong Yeon-seo! You better watch what you’re saying—!”
“And it’s not just termination. A lawsuit is coming your way too.”
“!!”
“We’ve already secured all the evidence. Your reverse viral campaigns against our company’s idols. And your embezzlement of company funds into your personal ventures. We have it all.”
“!”
“Want me to list the reverse viral content? Creating the skill controversy around BurnAsh, spreading dissolution rumors about All Colors, leaking the private lives of White Noise members, and spreading health rumors about StillBlue members. Should I go on?”

He’d been thorough across the board.
Everyone stared at Nam Director in shock.

“…What do you mean he had a personal business?”

Murmurs rippled through the room.

“Isn’t it that coin business? He invested company funds into his own company with that…”
“Oh no…”
“This won’t end with criminal charges. We’re pursuing civil litigation as well, so prepare for trial.”

Hong President then looked directly at the Greenery members.

“Listen carefully. You are victims.”
“!”
“You are merely victims who were manipulated by Nam Director’s schemes. The company has determined this, and all you need to do is accept it and continue with your activities. As if nothing ever happened.”
“…!”

Hong President was precisely addressing the concern I had harbored in my heart.
The Greenery members looked utterly bewildered, but judging by how things were unfolding, it seemed unlikely they would side with Nam Director.
Not in a million years.

“All the staff members from Label 1 will have their treatment decided after the company conducts its own audit. If they knew about Nam Director’s actions and turned a blind eye, then naturally they should go down together too, right?”

No one dared to answer that.
…Seriously, she’s impressive, Hong Yeon-seo.

“The reason I’ve gathered everyone here is simple. I want to acknowledge the damage the company has caused you all and demonstrate our resolve to correct it decisively.”
“….”
“From now on, this won’t happen again. I’d like to apologize to all our artists.”

I thought there’d be a bloodbath.
I didn’t expect her to handle it this boldly and cleanly.
Yun Chung was at a loss for words.

“…Chung-chung. Tell me.”
“What?”

At Ryu Bora’s soft whisper, Yun Chung turned the question back on her.

“You did this, didn’t you.”
“You’re making me sound like some mastermind villain in a movie…. No.”

It was true. There’s no way I’d openly tell her to cause such a scene in front of everyone.
…But.

‘I did hand over all the evidence of what Nam Director did.’

That’s only natural.
She just came back—someone had to help her, right?

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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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