One week after the digital release.

In the flow of my usual routine I was sitting in the second-floor studio receiving a lesson from Director Jo Gyu-hwan.

During our break.

Director Jo Gyu-hwan, holding a cup of coffee, looked at me and smiled.

“Why so gloomy?”

“Huh?”

“Are you upset because the song’s performance isn’t as good as you expected?”

“No, I’m not.”

I waved my hand with a smile, but it was true.

Human hearts are fickle: even when you tell yourself the process is what matters, you end up fixating on the outcome.

We kept dropping off the charts.

Maybe this result means our song isn’t good. Then was all our effort wrong? Such thoughts had been chaining themselves together in my mind lately.

As if he understood my mood, he smiled and said,

“Don’t worry.”

His next words made my ears perk up.

“Your song is going to hit.”

“What?”

“I think your song is going to hit.”

If anyone else had said it, I’d have scoffed. But coming from him, it carried weight.

Jo Gyu-hwan.

The copyright owner of nearly three hundred songs and Lemon Entertainment’s Midas touch.

I couldn’t help but be surprised.

“There’s a phrase in baseball called DTD. Have you heard it?”

“No.”

“It means Down To Dead-last—teams destined to fall will fall.”

Director Jo said,

“The music industry is similar. Songs that are meant to rise will rise. That’s the natural order and what I’ve seen all along.”

“Thank you for saying that, but honestly this time—”

“I’m not just going on instinct.”

The composer continued.

“The song itself is good.”

“Really?”

“Yeah, you made it well.”

Somehow I felt validated and my mood lifted.

“The duet parts are well distributed and overall the song has a distinctive color. The melody is fresh and the medium tempo makes it perfect for the coming spring season. Above all, the current chart is a vacuum.”

“A vacuum?”

“Sixty Seconds’ fandom power has totally collapsed. They had ten songs dominating the rankings.”

“Oh...”

“Girls On Top is slowing down too. TNT is making a comeback soon, but if we set them aside there’s no real competition. If things go right, we can sweep a deserted chart.”

Director Jo, scrolling through the charts on his smartphone, said,

“In my view the song is good and the conditions are set for it to hit. We just need the right trigger...”

“The right trigger.”

I murmured and asked him,

“How can we create that trigger?”

“Huh?”

“What should I do....”

Before I could finish, Director Jo chuckled. Then he broke into a hearty laugh.

Startled, I asked,

“Why are you laughing?”

“Because you’re cute.”

I’d heard I was handsome many times, but never cute.

“Why are you worrying about that?”

“Huh?”

“I know you’re the leader and you keep thinking about how the team can succeed, but your main job is being entertainers.”

“Oh...”

“Why else would the agency exist? They’re here to handle everything so you can just practice. If you took that on too, we’d have nothing left to do.”

He looked at me with admiration and said,

“Right now Senior Manager Yoon is hustling around every broadcaster, pitching our song, so don’t worry.”

“Really?”

“You’ve been out of sight lately, right?”

I imagined Yoon Seok-hwan bowing at every broadcast station, asking them to play our song.

He must be in pain bending his back with that herniated disc.

Seeing me think that, Director Jo smiled reassuringly.

“You just flap your wings. We’ll give you the wings.”

Thanks to Senior Manager Yoon’s legwork.

Sometimes Something played on radio selections, and when it did we’d briefly reenter the top 100.

Overall the chart performance was disappointing, but it wasn’t without gains.

Our recognition had risen.

Views steadily climbed on our choreography video on the company’s MiTube account, our year-end evaluation practice footage, and the collaboration video with Jang Sowon.

Mostly subscribed ➤ NоvеⅠight ➤ (Read more on our source) Lemon Entertainment fans clicked them, but occasionally people who heard Something would seek us out.

Still, it barely reached three digits.

What to say.

Like people who hunt for hidden local eateries in back alleys even in tourist spots.

– Something was great!! Cheering for New Black!

– I searched after hearing the song lol you’re all handsome

– I’ll keep an eye on you guys lol

Only five or six comments, but they meant the world to us.

When practice got tough, reading those comments became my new healing habit.

Of course, there was an even bigger gain.

Me [Grandma, how do you like your grandson’s song?]

King-God Kim Deok-soon [It’s good]

King-God Kim Deok-soon [If you have a cassette tape send it I’ll play it at the diner]

Me [Where do tapes exist these days? Everything’s digital]

Me [Anyway just wait a bit]

Me [A money shower might hit soon ^ㅇ^]

King-God Kim Deok-soon [Amazing]

There’s no way my grandmother would be this kind.

King-God Kim Deok-soon [Did you think I’d fall for that you bastard]

King-God Kim Deok-soon [Stop dreaming and get back to practicing until you bleed]

Seeing myself feel relieved after that barrage of curses, I realized maybe I wasn’t entirely sane.

Still, knowing how much she must’ve been bragging about me made me proud.

‘My grandson is a singer! An idol singer! He even released a song!’ Imagining Grandma promoting me everywhere filled me with pride.

I hadn’t produced any results until now.

I felt good for giving my grandmother, who only looked to me, something to show.

“Hyung.”

Bijoo poked me.

“Yeah?”

“Jiho wants you to wave.”

“Oh.”

I looked down and waved.

Among boys and girls in middle-school uniforms our youngest waved at me with a bright smile.

February 13.

One day before Valentine’s, today was Jiho’s middle-school graduation ceremony.

“What are they?”

“They’re entertainers.”

“Do they appear on TV?”

“Mom, they’re trainees not entertainers. Like interns working at a company.”

“Our Suyeon knows everything.”

“Mom, nowadays even elementary kids know.”

“They’re handsome.”

“That one in the middle looks dependable Doesn’t he look smart too?”

Yes, that’s me. Ma’am.

“Really, please. I expect entertainers to be rough around the edges.”

“But they all look gentle.”

From all around I heard people whispering about us.

We pretended not to hear and leaned casually against the railing, but we heard everything.

Every time someone said ‘handsome’ or ‘cute’ my cheeks twitched.

Ah, happiness.

I love attention We love attention.

“Being outside the company feels like getting respect.”

“Right.”

Bijoo answered.

“It’s been ages since I’ve heard I’m handsome.”

“You?”

“They said your faces are typical idol faces.”

“Those people must never look in a mirror.”

By the way, our youngest is really handsome.

In an auditorium of hundreds his face stood out.

Girls watching Jiho’s every move swarmed around us.

Whenever Jiho waved they glanced our way and whispered, giggling among themselves.

Well, it’s not malicious.

Meanwhile the boys sneered at our reactions.

I couldn’t help but smile.

I could guess what kids that age were thinking. It was obvious.

Kids are so cute.

Their skin was clear and their lively energy was endearing.

“Young is best after all.”

“Stop sounding like an old man.”

Rihyuk teased and pointed.

“Jiho’s parents just arrived Let’s go greet them soon.”

“Where?”

“Over there with the four women.”

“Wow.”

Jung-hyun’s exclamation spoke for everyone.

Three older sisters, right?

A dignified middle-aged man, a soft-featured middle-aged woman, and three model-like women in their twenties.

Genetics are powerful.

Many eyes glanced at Jiho’s family of beauties.

But what caught my attention was Jiho’s father.

He exuded the aura of a conglomerate executive, dressed head-to-toe in luxury suits.

“About Jiho’s father.”

“Yes?”

“Didn’t they say he owned a chicken shop?”

Bijoo smiled awkwardly at my question.

“He is the owner Yes Why?”

“He feels more like a conglomerate exec. Last time at the year-end evaluation he wasn’t there so I imagined one thing. But seeing him now reminds me of Chairman Park Tae-jun from TJ Entertainment.”

“Bijoo hyung.”

Rihyuk interjected.

“Stop beating around the bush and just say it.”

“Say what?”

“That Jiho’s father is the chairman of a chicken franchise, hyung.”

While I blinked, Bijoo typed Wang Hyun-tak into a search bar and showed us.

– Born in ’57, businessman.

– Chairman of Hoho Chicken.

Hoho Chicken is one of the top three chicken franchises.

“....”

No wonder the things Jiho uses are high-end.

So it wasn’t just any chicken shop.

My brothers’ faces showed sympathy, as if thinking We felt the same at first.

He really was the son of a wealthy tycoon.

It was the first time in my life I’d seen a billionaire-level rich guy so I stared at Jiho’s father in fascination.

Murmurs.

Everyone’s gaze shifted elsewhere.

My eyes followed.

At the auditorium entrance.

Amid the sound of shutters, a swarm of cameras appeared.

Faces we’d forgotten.

“I forgot about them.”

“That’s right. She’s in the same school as Jiho?”

Girl’s On Top’s maknae Gil Cha-kyung.

I hadn’t seen her since she picked a fight with Jiho.

“She really is pretty.”

“That’s her. Every time she comes to school our Jiho gets so excited and talks about her.”

“She looked fox-like but she’s lovely I think she resembles our daughter.”

“Cha-kyung is prettier. Ye­seon takes after you with that mouth.”

“You really should keep quiet It’s irritating every time you speak.”

Her appearance earned the elders’ warm whispers.

With delicate features and a pretty face adults loved her.

As Gil Cha-kyung walked by she glanced at Jiho and then at us, and smiled.

It was a smile full of intent.

“I’m sitting next to Jiho.”

“What?”

“With so many seats why sit there...?”

What’s her game?

Gil Cha-kyung was extremely displeased.

She’d been overshadowed by the attention on Joo Hana, who’d been pointed to as Joo-wan’s girlfriend during the controversy.

Her excitement at seeing the gathered reporters lasted only an instant.

Most questions were things like “How is Ms. Hana now?” and “How do you feel?”—utterly infuriating.

“Ask me about my graduation.”

At least today she should have been the protagonist.

She was angry her unnie couldn’t attend due to the scandal, angry at the strange questions from reporters, and most of all angry at seeing Wang Jiho happily greeting his hyungs.

“Ugh disgusting.”

Why was she smiling?

That sight disgusted Gil Cha-kyung so she deliberately sat next to Wang Jiho.

I’ll teach her a lesson.

She flashed a bright smile at her classmates, who looked on in wide-eyed surprise.

“Hi Jieun, Youngseon.”

They saw her once or twice a year.

But the classmates were thrilled that a classmate idol knew their names.

Thanks to that Gil Cha-kyung easily struck up a friendly conversation.

“These guys are easy.”

For Gil Cha-kyung, who’d been in the industry since first grade of middle school, it was nothing.

Having instantly charmed her idol-dreaming peers, she immediately got to work.

“Hi Jiho long time no see.”

“Yeah, it’s been a while.”

“We keep seeing each other at our company? It’s weird to see you here.”

At her words the others gushed.

“Amazing They’re from the same company?”

“No.”

“Then how did they meet at the company?”

In a gentle tone Gil Cha-kyung said,

“I heard Jiho came to get a song from my unnie.”

Strictly speaking it was a collaboration, but denying it here would only make Wang Jiho look bad.

Gil Cha-kyung smiled and said,

“By the way, you released a song, right?”

“Really? Jiho, you never told us that.”

“It was a bit embarrassing...”

But Gil Cha-kyung’s ploy didn’t have much effect.

Jiho, who should have blushed, just laughed like a puppy.

“What’s the song called? Or what’s the group name?”

“It’s still not well known so I can’t say...”

Hearing this, Gil Cha-kyung cut in,

“It’s New Black.”

“New Black?”

“That’s right, Jiho?”

Now we should have heard “Who’s that?” instead.

But things went differently.

At the mention of New Black the air around us seemed to freeze.

‘What is that?’

Amid the sudden hush whispers rippled outward.

“New Black?”

Within the murmurs spreading through the auditorium Gil Cha-kyung looked stunned.

‘What is it?’

What could it be?

It felt like we’d just handed her massive publicity by accident.