Became The Leader of a Girl Group Destined To Fail - Chapter 90

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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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Chapter 90.

“I think Yun Chung makes a fair point. What exactly bothers you about it, Bora?”

Seo Baek-young asked carefully, seeming equally taken aback by Ryu Bora’s firm stance.

“According to your plan, we’d have to do three comebacks by the end of next year, right?”
“That’s correct.”
“I don’t like that.”

Hmm.
The members’ eyes wavered with uncertainty.

“I don’t have major complaints about doing a lot of activities. I know I’m a rookie and can’t afford to be picky about opportunities.”

Ryu Bora spoke while popping an apple slice into her mouth.

“But if we cram the schedule that tightly, can we really maintain album quality? Director Kim is already desperate to make things his way. I honestly don’t know how much effort he’ll actually put into our albums.”

All the members fell silent at Ryu Bora’s words.
Because she wasn’t wrong.

“I’ve done dramas with incomplete scripts, and I’ve done them with finished ones too. The difference between the two is massive. Just like rushed dramas struggle with quality, rushed comebacks can’t achieve high quality either.”

Ryu Bora said this while spearing an apple slice with her fork and feeding it to Kim Geum.

“And if we keep churning out albums like that, Kim Geum has to create every single track on them, right? We’re not releasing everything as singles—there’ll definitely be EPs and full albums. Given her personality, she won’t half-ass the songs. And Colors won’t approve half-assed songs either. So either the proportion of outside artist features skyrockets, or she works herself to death. Then Kim Geum won’t sleep. I don’t particularly want to watch her wasting away. And if she doesn’t sleep, that temper of hers—we’ll all have to deal with it.”

I’m not sure if this is concern for Kim Geum or just complaining.
Well, at least Kim Geum herself seemed deeply moved by Ryu Bora’s words.

“I want to make music that I can confidently describe with three qualities: ‘made by us directly,’ ‘excellent,’ and ‘without regrets.’ I want to keep learning songwriting and actively participate. That’s why three comebacks in one year feels too rushed.”

Everything she said made sense.
Except for one thing.

“So Bora is saying that as long as the album quality is guaranteed, the frequency of activities doesn’t matter, right?”
“…If the quality of the album we create ourselves is high enough.”

I nodded in agreement.
That was only natural.
I had some experience as a singer-songwriter myself.
Because I had my own attachment to my music and my songs, I understood what Ryu Bora was saying.

“But the thing is, it seems like it’ll be difficult for Geum to compose alone.”
“That’s right.”
“I can compose too.”
“?”

A subtle question bloomed in the members’ eyes.
Except for Kim Geum alone.

“No, we all know you can compose, unnie. But that’s kind of… something…?”

Yeon Ju-hong tilted her head.

“It doesn’t sound like idol music?”
“…Right?”

I see.
I understood what they were worried about.
They probably never had a chance to see my skills except for the song I revealed during my self-introduction.
I had collaborated with Kim Geum once, but that was an exception since Kim Geum had led most of the composition.

“These songs. I composed them.”

I tapped my phone.
Those “idol-like” songs you all just heard.
I created all of them.
I really hoped this explanation would be enough.
If they said the quality was still lacking, it would hurt a little.
The members alternated their gaze between my phone and me at my words.

“Yun Chung.”

Seo Baek-young was the first to break the silence.

“Yes.”
“…You composed those songs just now?”
“One of them is a co-composition.”
“Co-composition?”
“Well, it started as an arrangement at first… but it became a co-composition….”

Kim Geum’s eyes widened.

“You abandoned me and worked with some woman…!”
“He’s male.”
“Then it’s permitted.”

Something felt off, but I’d move past it for now.
All the members wore expressions of shock.

“I naturally assumed those songs were ones you received from the Company.”
“Or perhaps ones you requested from our senior members….”

Was this really something to be so shocked about?

“Those songs earlier—weren’t they somewhat idol-like? I thought I made them to fit the idol genre reasonably well. If they’re not to your liking, I’ll create more. Until songs emerge that you love.”
“…You’re saying you’ll create more?!”

Yeon Ju-hong’s mouth fell open.

“Of course. To make an album, I’m prepared to create dozens. I don’t expect all of them to be included. Geum will participate too. But the point is, I have no intention of letting Geum shoulder everything alone.”

It wouldn’t be easy, but I’d already resolved myself to it.
I don’t mind my body bearing the strain.
That’s how desperately I needed this.
This mission was to win a rookie award.
Dozens of idol groups debut every year.
Without the resolve to give everything—bone and flesh—a rookie award was simply a dream.
There were so many exceptional idol groups out there.
Just considering the futures I already knew….

“If the quality isn’t up to par, just tell me straight. I’ll keep working on it until you’re satisfied.”
“No, it’s not that the quality is lacking….”

Seo Baek-young stammered, her expression slightly flustered.

“Then what’s bothering you?”
“Nothing.”

Huh?
I turned my gaze toward Ryu Bora.

“What do you mean nothing?”
“There’s nothing bothering us about them.”

Ryu Bora turned on my phone and played the songs I’d shared earlier again.

“…Among everyone here, there’s not a single person who doesn’t recognize the value of these songs.”
“That’s right.”

Kim Geum quickly agreed.

“There would be plenty of groups willing to line up just to get one of these songs. It’s not just us boosting each other because we’re in the same group. We genuinely mean it. When I heard them earlier, I was shocked. At first, I thought the Company had provided them, so I thought, ‘Well, at least the Company hasn’t let me down.’ But to find out you composed them yourself….”

Kim Geum wore a deeply satisfied smile.
How embarrassing.

“My earlier concerns… came from worrying that Kim Geum would become nothing but a composition machine.”

Ryu Bora looked at me with her characteristic cool smile.

“But since there are now two composition machines, I’m in favor of it.”

…Is this supposed to be something I should be happy about…?

***

Having reached an agreement, we immediately faced the next problem.

“But do you think Director Kim would actually give us the choice of songs? I haven’t seen him often, but he seems a bit….”
“He’s not an easy person to deal with.”
“He’s got a terrible personality.”

Ryu Bora said what no one else dared to voice.

“If someone’s willing to say that right to his face, he definitely won’t listen to us so easily. He might just act like a contrarian and oppose everything we suggest.”
“Especially if he finds out Yun Chung made it—he’ll probably hate it even more.”

Yeon Ju-hong spoke with deep concern.

“What do we do?”
“What do you mean ‘what do we do’? First, we need to figure out what the company wants.”

Kim Geum pulled her hair back tightly.

“This is our future we’re talking about. Are we going to sabotage ourselves? We’ve staked everything on this album. We have to convince him somehow.”
“About that though.”
“?”

Everyone’s attention turned to Seo Baek-young.

“Actually, after hearing what Director Kim said back then, I’ve been thinking about it… We’re not the only ones who’ve dealt with him, right?”
“Oh. Right. That’s true.”

Ryu Bora nodded as if she immediately understood.

“What are you talking about?!”

Only Kim Geum still hadn’t grasped the situation and was tapping the table.

“Don’t you think our senior members might be having the exact same concerns?”
“Gasp.”

Yeon Ju-hong’s eyes lit up.

“That’s right! Then we should go find them right away and ask them to take our side…!”
“That doesn’t make sense.”

I pressed down on Yeon Ju-hong’s shoulders as she shot up from her seat.

“Sure, they’re seniors from the Agency, but they’re still strangers to us. There’s no point in approaching them out of the blue and asking them to take our side—they won’t.”
“That’s true.”

Ryu Bora smiled like a villain in a drama.

“But wouldn’t it be possible to attempt a little ‘networking’? Especially with people we were on a program with just recently….”
“We could definitely try networking.”

Seo Baek-young smiled knowingly as well.
Everyone here seems to be on the same wavelength as me.

“Then we should split into teams. For the seniors who appeared on Make a New Color—”
“Greysh.”
“Burnash.”

Both end with ‘sh’—unintentionally matching.

“Half of us approach Do Hee-young, and half approach Han Jae-i?!”
“Ugh… I’d rather not get close to Han Jae-i and Dan-ha.”

Kim Geum said reluctantly.

“Why?!”
“If we make eye contact and there’s a misunderstanding, both sides end up cursing each other out.”
“Ah.”

That’s fair.
There’s no benefit in getting tangled up with male idols before we’ve even debuted.
I nodded in agreement, and Seo Baek-young opened her mouth with a serious expression.

“I’m not the leader, but can I say something?”
“Go ahead.”
“Of course!”

What is she about to say that warrants such a serious tone?
Everyone’s eyes filled with curiosity.

“If anyone ends up in the newspaper’s social section… I’ll make sure they die by my own hands.”

Wow.

“Why are you saying something so obvious?”

Yeon Ju-hong looked appalled.

“I’m not someone without a conscience!”

At the mention of conscience, my gaze briefly shifted to Ryu Bora.

“What are you looking at?”
“Bora. When you want to hit someone… remember that you’re an idol….”
“What are you going on about?”
“Even if you weren’t an idol, assault is still wrong, isn’t it?! Sister Bora. Please remember that you’re a person first.”
“Do you want to die?”

Ryu Bora scrunched up her face and kicked at Kim Geum and Yeon Ju-hong.
But honestly, I was a little worried too.

“One more thing.”

There’s more?
We all swallowed hard and looked at Seo Baek-young.
What could it be?
Lack of practice? Cancellations? Negligence?

“Dating rumors are dead.”
“….”

The atmosphere suddenly turned solemn.
This was the first time I’d ever seen Seo Baek-young look so serious.
We all nodded vigorously in agreement.
For the first time, Seo Baek-young looked genuinely terrifying.

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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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