Became The Leader of a Girl Group Destined To Fail - Chapter 245

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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 37.

“…If it’s not for you all, then who is it for? They’re backup dancers for your Stage, aren’t they?”
“Then can you assure us that those backup dancers won’t be trainees from our Company, but professional dancers instead?”
“….”

At my words, Hong President’s gaze turned distinctly cold.

“I can’t give you that kind of assurance. Where does certainty exist in business?”
“I see. If assurance is difficult, you could always show us through a contract.”
“Ha ha.”

It sounded like laughter, but it wasn’t laughter at all. Hong President and I were staring directly at each other.

“Fine, your assumption is correct. We want to position trainees who will debut as the next generation girl group as backup dancers beforehand to promote them. What’s wrong with that? Plenty of companies promote that way. It’s not like you’re special.”
“I would have agreed if it were a different Stage. For example, our concert Stage or another domestic Stage. But isn’t Coachella different in meaning? Especially since this is our first Coachella Stage.”

Anyone watching would think we’ve performed there about ten times already, honestly.
This is our first chance to stand on Coachella, and you want me to hand over all the spotlight to them?
It was beyond absurd—I was at a loss for words.
I flipped to another page of the proposal.

“Moreover, we only received about 25 minutes at Coachella, so we can perform at most 7 songs, and this proposal plans to have them as backup dancers for every single song?”

Not just standing there for about 30 seconds before leaving, but backup dancers for every song?
For songs that never even had backup dancers in the first place?
That was essentially admitting that StillBlue couldn’t fill the Stage on our own.
When we’ve always been the kind of group to richly command the entire Stage with just ourselves.

“Yun Chung. You can’t possibly not know how much money went into this album.”
“And that money, we’ve more than covered with our profits.”

Nam Director before, and now Hong President.
I couldn’t understand why they kept exhausting me with the same argument.
Spent a lot of money? I know.
But the condition was to finish everything within a month in exchange for that level of investment in the first place.
Besides, we handled all the producing ourselves and invested the money we saved elsewhere, so the total investment amount isn’t significantly different from idol groups at other Entertainment Companies.

“That’s right. Your performance this time was genuinely impressive. Our stock price, which had been in free fall, stabilized because of it. Thanks to you, the shareholders’ anger has cooled down. It wasn’t bad at all.”
“….”

Despite Hong President’s acknowledgment and praise, Yun Chung remained silent, merely watching with caution.
Usually, when Hong President lavished compliments like this, it meant-

“So, the shareholders’ opinion was that they’d like to see more groups like yours continue to emerge.”

There was always an ulterior motive behind it.

“By next year, you’ll be in your fourth year. If we start promoting a new girl group next year and launch them in early the year after, that’s exactly a five-year interval. It’s the most appropriate timing. I’m sure you’d agree with that.”
“Yes. We’re aware that from the Company’s perspective, it’s time to prepare plans for a new girl group. We also know that our senior artists at the Entertainment Company have helped tremendously in promoting us. So naturally, we want to cooperate. We want to help our juniors who will debut after us too. However.”

Yun Chung took a breath before speaking.

“That promotional vehicle cannot be Coachella.”
“….”
“We can compromise on everything else. We can even help with the compositions and producing that Nam Director requested but we refused. We have more time now. But Coachella is non-negotiable.”

This was the one thing Yun Chung could not yield on.
It wasn’t for her own sake. This was for StillBlue as a group, and for all the fans who loved that group.

“You saw the article confirming our Coachella appearance recently, didn’t you?”
“I saw it. So what?”
“You must have seen the public sentiment then. You were monitoring the fans’ reactions too.”
“….”

Girl groups performing at Coachella were truly rare. This wasn’t just a matter for StillBlue alone—it was a rarity across all of K-pop.
It meant that K-pop’s influence in the overseas market was growing exponentially.

“It’s not just our stage. It’s not just us who are anticipating it—it’s a stage that everyone is truly watching and waiting for.”
“Which is exactly why it’s the optimal promotional tool.”
“….”

This isn’t getting through to him.
Yun Chung read it instantly from Hong President’s utterly unmoved expression.
And standing beside Hong President—Baek Ju-ha’s face, completely resigned and saying nothing, only confirmed that intuition.
Baek Ju-ha had already tried to persuade him. She’d done everything she could, yet nothing was landing.
I’d wondered why Baek Ju-ha was being so unusually quiet.
She’d simply realized before I did that this was someone words couldn’t reach.
Yun Chung finished her calculations swiftly.

“I understand. It seems you’ve already made your decision regardless of my thoughts, sir. This isn’t a discussion—it’s a notification.”
“Good that you understand. That’s a relief.”

Yun Chung rose from her seat with no change in expression, simply nodding.

“I’ve heard what you’ve said loud and clear.”

Fine. Good.
If words won’t work, I’ll make something else work.

***

“How long have you been trying to convince him?”

In the empty Dormitory of the three members.
Only Yun Chung and Baek Ju-ha sat facing each other in the Living Room.

“Ever since Hong President came back.”
“….”

She really had been at it for ages.
No wonder Baek Ju-ha looked completely worn down….
She must have been under tremendous strain. And rightfully so….

“You should have told me.”
“You’re already struggling enough with comeback preparations. I didn’t want to burden you with this too. Especially since you’ve had to look after Geum as well.”
“….”

Yun Chung exhaled a very long breath.

“We have to stop this.”
“We absolutely have to. But Hong President is… an even more ruthless person than Nam Director. In a certain sense.”
“….”

I knew that too.
Though he might appear slightly more rational than Nam Director, in some ways he was far more difficult and merciless.

“Words won’t work.”
“…But is there any method besides persuasion?”
“Well… there is one thing I can think of.”

At my oddly bitter smile, Baek Ju-ha looked at me with concern.

“Yun Chung. Those girls in the girl group aren’t at fault. Targeting them would be….”
“Of course not. If I used that method, we’d be no different from Nam Director.”

At my firm words, Baek Ju-ha’s expression brightened. She had been genuinely worried.
Really, what does she take me for?
I shot her a reproachful glance.

“We need to target Hong President himself. Let’s make sure he can’t even focus on Coachella.”
“…Hong President himself? Is that even possible?”
“Hong President was never the type to obsess over performance metrics like this in the first place. But if he’s pushing us this hard with such reckless moves, there must be a reason. Definitely.”
“!”

At those words, a spark of realization flashed in Baek Ju-ha’s eyes.

“You’re right. Even though Hong President is stubborn, he’s not the type to make such self-defeating moves…. I did think something was off.”
“First, we need to find out why Hong President is doing this. Let’s start by investigating that.”

Baek Ju-ha nodded with a determined expression at my words.

“I’ll look into it right away. Do you have any suspicions?”
“I have a feeling something happened in the United States.”
“…!”
“His sudden announcement that he’d return from the United States felt strange from the start. He went there saying he’d pursue his own music, but he’s coming back without having done any music yet…. Doesn’t that seem suspicious?”
“You’re absolutely right.”

Baek Ju-ha nodded in agreement.

“If it’s about matters in the United States, Choi Han-jin would know something. I’ll reach out to him carefully.”
“Can you trust him? Wasn’t he close with Hong President from the start?”
“I’m not sure if I can trust him, but what’s certain is that if we can just bring him to our side….”
“He would become a formidable card, is what you’re saying.”

Baek Ju-ha nodded in agreement.

“Good. Then let’s approach him carefully.”
“Leave it to me. I’ll make it succeed no matter what.”
“I trust you, so don’t worry.”

And so the two women faced each other and smiled.

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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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