Became The Leader of a Girl Group Destined To Fail - Chapter 98

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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 98.

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[Trending in South Korea]

#BurnashComeback
#BurnashTeaser
#BurnashFirstFullAlbum

You’ve got to be kidding me.
A sigh escaped me involuntarily.

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Wait, isn’t Colors debuting their rookies right now? Are they overlapping?
That’s some serious sabotage
└Stop pretending you don’t have a subject lol just criticize openly if you’re gonna do it
I mean, it’s not like they’re trying to ruin the kids, but scheduling their activities to completely overlap like this is seriously ridiculous
It’s not even a 2-3 week difference… if this keeps up, aren’t they basically promoting at the exact same time?
Colors doesn’t even have that many groups, can’t they manage one thing like this lol lol lol like who do you think you are with 100 groups^^
And we don’t even want this either, we’re gonna get compared on music charts so much… we’re a boy group so weak on digital obviously, they’re a girl group so weak on albums lol lol comparison posts are gonna flood in
I’m gonna actually kill these broke-ass haters for real lol
Ugh those bastards, I’m already pissed thinking they might drag my group into this with theirs
If they’re from the same entertainment company and keep pairing them up on variety shows, it’s twice as annoying lol
Ugh… haha, these bastards are really pushing their stuff hard… haha, I can already picture how this is gonna go.
Anyway, if they pull some joint stage at year-end awards, we’re done for real
└Don’t jinx it like that
Colors fans, aren’t you scared of my group? Be careful walking at night.
Doesn’t Colors plan to make the sub-units number one? Setting aside the digital release, they’ll probably get crushed in the physical album sales…hehe
└Stop pretending to be concerned while taking digs lol just admit your group’s ranking dropped and say something

The hottest male idol group right now, Burnash, was making their comeback.
And it was their first full-length album, no less.
Whether you were a Burnash fan or a StillBlue fan, the news wasn’t exactly welcome.
If our activity periods had only overlapped slightly, we wouldn’t have been thrilled, but we could have managed.
But.
One group was already releasing pre-release tracks while the other was dropping title teasers?
That meant our activity periods were identical.
One side had their debut album.
The other had their first full-length album.
Neither could afford to back down—both were putting everything on the line.
Naturally, the rivalry between the two groups became a rivalry between the fandoms.

“….”

That was why I found myself facing these two people right now.

“….”
“….”

Dan-ha and Han Jae-i.
These two, whose expressions were just as grim as ours.

“First of all.”

Lee Sol was the first to speak.
Lee Sol had stepped into the role of our representative and mediator.

“Before we talk, let’s make it clear that there’s no hard feelings between us whatsoever.”

Honestly, I found this meeting uncomfortable.
It had been created at Lee Sol’s insistence in the first place.
Why did I find it uncomfortable?
Because we were meeting with seniors?
No.
Because I knew this meeting wouldn’t accomplish anything practical.
From what I could tell, Lee Sol seemed to have come to lodge a protest.
But protests only matter before things blow up.
A protest wouldn’t fix what was already a problem.
We couldn’t exactly say now, “Oh, we accidentally released the teaser. We’ll pull it down. See you in a month.” That wasn’t an option.

“You’re the leader, so you need to hear the situation directly! Watch and learn from the sidelines. Once you gain enough experience, you might be the one handling this later.”

I had simply followed along because Lee Sol called me.
With her saying all that, I couldn’t exactly refuse to come.
Either way, Lee Sol had arranged this meeting for our sake, so I came without making a fuss.

“I want to hear your side of things first—why you suddenly released a teaser. As far as I know, Burnash’s comeback was supposed to be next year.”

Burnash’s producer was Dan-ha.
Even though she was only in her second year since debut.
It was possible because she was the most popular idol in Colors, and among all idols, the most popular one.

“I deliberately scheduled their debut for the end of this year specifically to avoid overlapping with you. We checked everything, but if something like this suddenly happens, it puts us in a difficult position too.”

Lee Sol’s feelings were my feelings.
Honestly, since I’m her junior, I can’t say anything, but if our positions were reversed, I would’ve cursed immediately.

“Don’t you realize both groups lose out in this situation? Why would you do this, Dan-ha?”

Lee Sol and Dan-ha seemed to know each other, fortunately.

“First of all.”

But it was Han Jae-i who spoke up.
Both had unpleasant expressions, but Dan-ha’s was worse.

“It’s not like that, senior.”
“!”

Han Jae-i’s voice was genuinely aggrieved.
More than aggrieved—she seemed slightly angry.

“Then what?”
“We were just as shocked when the teaser suddenly dropped. You have no idea.”

Han Jae-i was forcing a smile, but it wasn’t a smile at all.
Fury filled the face that always wore a grin.

“So it was just a company mistake?”
“It doesn’t seem like a mistake, actually.”

What on earth was she talking about?
Lee Sol and I felt our eyebrows rise involuntarily at her incomprehensible words.

“It was Sung Director’s orders.”
“…What?”
“Since this album is a full-length release, Sung Director was involved. The investment costs are substantial, and it’s our first full-length album too.”

So it wasn’t independent production.
But I hadn’t known Sung Director was involved.
Sung Director was Hong President’s relative and one of Colors’ top executives.
He primarily managed the male idols.

“Still, he said he’d only participate in promotions and wouldn’t touch the album or activities themselves, so we didn’t feel the need to refuse. Sung Director is good at that sort of thing, after all.”
“…Right.”

Sung Director was ambitious, but he wasn’t incompetent.
The problem was that he didn’t communicate at all and was completely closed-minded.

“But I never expected him to suddenly release the teaser without telling us anything.”
“Did you protest?”
“Of course we did.”
“What did he say?”
“Sung Director said our label would split next year. Did you know about that, senior?”

Lee Sol’s words caught in her throat.
Did I know?
Of course Lee Sol and I knew.
If anything, it was more surprising that Burnash hadn’t known until now.

“So you did know. That makes sense—it would be strange for someone with your seniority not to know.”

Han Jae-i smiled bitterly.
Burnash was only in their second year.
It was difficult to be well-informed about company matters.
They’d only just shed their rookie status.

“Anyway, while bringing that up, they kept saying there’s no point in a junior like me trying to object. No matter what we said, they wouldn’t listen at all.”

Well, we’ve already released the teaser anyway, so there’s nothing to be done about it.

“As you’d naturally know, sunbae… Sung Director seems to want to take us with them in next year’s label division. But… I heard Director Kim also said they want to take us.”

Of course they would.
We’re the most promising group at Colors right now.
The senior groups ahead of us are at a stage where they’re facing contract renewals, so it wouldn’t be strange if they left the company anytime.
But Burnash still had plenty of contract time remaining.

“In my opinion, since Director Kim took over StillBlue and Sung Director took us… Sung Director seemed to want to check Director Kim’s achievements as much as possible. They said evaluation criteria start from this year’s fourth quarter, so if Director Kim successfully debuts a rookie, it’ll hurt Sung Director’s year-end performance.”

Hearing their situation, I had nothing to say either.
Burnash’s only fault was simply having a shitty boss.
Since we also had Director Kim as our villain, their situation felt desperately relatable.

“So… you’re victims too.”
“…Yes. I’m sorry.”
“We really had no choice either. I’m sorry, sunbae. We know how much you care… I’m sorry too, junior. It must have been really tough with your debut album.”

Dan-ha and Han Jae-i bowed their heads and apologized to us.
Neither Lee Sol nor I could say anything more.
I understood why the two of them had looked so unhappy.
They probably didn’t like Sung Director’s unilateral actions either.
Releasing the teaser without any consultation.
But at the same time, they had no choice but to submit to the unavoidable situation.
They must have felt just as bitter about it.
The problem was.
This was a game we simply couldn’t compete in.
Music charts… we might be able to compete somehow.
Despite being a male idol group, Burnash ranks high in music charts thanks to Dan-ha.
If our song is really good… then maybe it’s possible.
But.
Album sales won’t even be comparable.
The difference would be more than tenfold.
A rookie girl group versus a top boy group.
Albums aren’t even a competition.
Sung Director knows that too, which is why they sent out Burnash.
If they thought they’d lose to us, they absolutely wouldn’t have released them.
No matter how urgent the situation, there’s no way I could have come out ahead.
In the end, this was something that happened because we weren’t strong enough.
It’s bitter that this happened between groups from the same Entertainment Company, but truthfully, it’s no one’s fault.

“Thank you for telling us.”
!

In a competitive society, it’s almost laughable to talk about yielding to anyone.
If Burnash hadn’t been from the same Entertainment Company, this meeting wouldn’t have even happened.
We would’ve just brushed it off as bad luck.

“Actually, I don’t think you owe us an apology. You’re victims in this too, aren’t you? We’re just grateful that you said this much.”
!

What were they so shocked about?
I felt a vague dissatisfaction watching the two of them react so visibly.
Isn’t it obvious?
How deep could our connection possibly be for them to ruin their own future because of us?
We’re strangers.
Honestly, I only apologized because Lee Sol was here—I wouldn’t have done it if it were just me.
There was nothing to apologize for in the first place.
They’re victims too, so what’s there to apologize for? We’re just in the same situation.
So what’s left now is—

“We’ll do our best.”

To keep pushing forward.

“Um… we’ll work hard too.”
“You could probably get by without pushing so hard, but you seniors…”

I meant it sincerely.
They might be desperate since it’s their first full album, but I’m more desperate than that.
I only have one year.
I left the two of them looking bewildered and signaled Lee Sol to head out.

“Yun Chung, aren’t you angry?”

The moment we stepped out of the Conference Room, Lee Sol blinked rapidly.

“Mm. There’s no point getting angry about it—it won’t change anything. Honestly, using that time to practice one more time is far more practical and helpful.”

I glanced at the clock.

“Don’t worry, Lee Sol. We might miss out on a music show win, but….”

I tried to reassure her, seeing the concern etched across her face.

“In the long run, it might not be such a bad thing.”

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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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