The press release Lemon Entertainment put out was on the portal front page within minutes.

Lemon Entertainment: “We were taken aback by the recent interview; it was probably a mistake,” “Most agencies have requested a collaboration with composer Kim Deokchun.”

And starting with the showbiz outlet Entertainment IN’s exclusive, countless articles began to appear.

Lemon Entertainment: “We’re baffled by agencies’ backlash... Why would the agencies that asked for a collab—”

Scarlet’s agency: “Agencies that asked for a collab with composer Kim Deokchun... would never have run such an article.”

Lemon Entertainment shares thoughts: “Thank you for showing interest in composer Kim Deokchun.”

Public attention poured in.

An article along the lines of, “The ones who said they wanted to be friends with us wouldn’t have trashed us behind our backs, right?”

It sounded gentle, but the vibe was basically, “Did you really shell pumpkin seeds behind our backs?”—and netizens fixated on it.

Netizens who love a ringside view of a fight weren’t about to miss this.

“Popcorn, please!”

To the agencies that had opened the propaganda war, Lemon Entertainment stepped up with a cheerful “Yep, mirror rainbow back at you.”

Watching that, Scarlet and NewBlack fans smiled with satisfaction.

“Nice going, Gyuho.”

“Gyuho’s protected for a bit. Five seconds. Four. Three.......”

“Shave the old man bald.”

Idol fans seasoned by years of media play understood perfectly what Lemon Entertainment’s press release meant.

Put simply, it was a “Come out and say who said it,” a move to flush out the ringleader.

If—as the articles explicitly claimed—it was true that all the agencies had asked Kim Deokchun for a collab, then those who’d made requests and bad-mouthed him behind his back would look even worse.

Sure enough.

The comment sections had turned into a curse fest.

If this is true, it’s unbelievable lol. Saying “let’s do well” to his face and cursing behind his back?

If they’re saying there was a mistake, doesn’t that mean it was a reporter’s brain-fanfic???

This is ridiculous, tsk tsk.

Agencies are all retards, you all know that now?

If this is real, they need to make a statement.

Because of the “There must have been a mistake” line, a truth tug-of-war kicked off.

Normally, anonymous agencies would become a joke and that would be the end of it.

But once Lemon Entertainment said, “They would never say that. The messenger must have garbled it,” eyes turned toward the people directly involved.

“Did the reporter make it up because they’re anti-NewBlack?”

Or else—

“Did they really say ‘let’s work together’ up front and then talk trash in the back? That’s weird too.”

Either way, the truth had to come out.

If they really hadn’t trashed him, they’d say they were wronged. If they had, they’d keep quiet.

And if they lied, “I never said that,” that would make the showbiz outlet look like fools; but given how reporters will happily bash others yet hate nothing more than being bashed themselves, they wouldn’t let that slide.

If everyone stayed quiet, they’d get condemned together as “all the same,” so a defector was inevitable.

“Which clown is it—hurry up and step out.”

While Souffle and Curtain fans rubbed their palms together and smiled with relish—

The first defector appeared.

Girls on Top’s agency: “It’s true we requested a collab from composer Kim Deokchun... We did not give that interview.”

After High Entertainment collapsed, the now-independent Girls on Top side immediately raised their hand to say, “Not us.”

The vibe was basically: We want to be on good terms with Deokchun, and we never did that interview—waving at Lemon Entertainment as they said it.

So the composition request was real lol

So it was true

Girls on Top only just set up their own company; no way they’d do that

They can’t even afford settlement money, so they won’t risk trash talk

The desperate flailing of “It wasn’t us” lololololol

With the Girls on Top piece up, netizens quickly put the facts together.

“So agencies did request compositions?”

Lemon Entertainment wouldn’t have said “Most agencies sent composition requests” without receipts.

Which meant no one could bluff, “We never asked for a song.”

Behold: the start of the game of chicken.

Soon, other defectors lined up.

DNS Media: “We did request a composition... We did not give that interview.”

High Color’s label: “We have never conducted an interview with that outlet.”

La Rose, High Color, Girls on Top and other agencies in a panic... “No relation to our companies.”

While three of the five teams (excluding Scarlet) were frantically going “Absolutely not us!”

Netizens’ eyes turned to the two staying silent.

TJ Entertainment (NYX’s agency) and SNH Entertainment (Autumn Girl’s agency) were hesitating—that’s how it felt.

Netizens, long used to celebrity scandal “explanations,” clocked it immediately.

“It’s you two.”

When agencies that aren’t guilty rush to deny it at lightspeed while others stall with “one moment...,” that hesitation means something.

There’s a reason “We’re in contact” and “We’re checking facts” sound ominous in showbiz.

Sometimes it’s truly not them, but mostly the bad feeling proves right.

Wondered who it was—turns out it’s two of the Big Four lolololol

Clap for that petty mindset lol

So while other agencies were going wow, they sent a request and then muttered f**k under their breath?

Asked without knowing who the composer was, then flipped when it looked hopeless???

Why does TJ meltdown so hard about Lemon lately... Aren’t they the self-proclaimed No. 1 agency?

That’s humiliating lol

Grandpa, please retire (fist)(fist)

It’s just so ugly, really

Even as the curses poured in, everyone clicked their tongues at the two agencies staying mum.

And within that chorus, Souffle felt like they’d just chugged ice-cold water.

“That hit the spot.”

Lately TJ Entertainment had been subtly squaring up to NewBlack.

No one knew why, but starting with the English-song project, they’d been letting their annoyance show.

So fans had been side-eyeing: “What’s their problem?” Now that Lemon Entertainment had hit back, they could lay into them guilt-free.

“Maybe they’ll poke us less now.”

Up to now, Lemon Entertainment, as the label of the top boy group, had dealt with things gently.

They quietly sued over rumors and malicious comments.

When reporters talked nonsense to their faces, they calmly added, “No, that’s not true,” and left it there.

With the public happily taking care of antis and trolls, the company avoided needless commotion that could hurt the artists’ image.

No matter how unfair the controversy, what lingers with time is the public’s “Didn’t they have some scandal?” and fans replying, “No, they were the victims...” and having to explain.

That’s why two of the Big Four had leaked this media play.

“Oh? They never answer even if we keep poking? Let’s throw a punch.”

They must have thought Lemon would let it slide like before.

“You got hit once, and you can’t even— Aaaaagh!”

...Roughly that situation—Souffle smiled.

“Mind your behavior.”

Soon, watching the “muggles” unload a “tsk tsk tsk” initial-attack on TJ Entertainment and SNH Entertainment, Souffle felt positively giddy.

“Powerful, muggles!”

Souffle lobbed little rocks from behind the crowd, shy but delighted.

Same time.

TJ Entertainment’s PR team clutched their heads.

“......”

“......”

Silence hung in the air—scarier than yelling.

This was one of those times.

“So you want us to... clean this up?”

“......”

If you requested a composition and then realized it was a spaceship, you should’ve kept your mouth shut.

Why can’t they keep a lid on it.

TJ Entertainment’s PR team started to smile in a twisted way.

“Ha ha ha ha.”

“Ha! Ha ha!”

Phones ringing nonstop.

It was obviously reporters asking for TJ’s position, and the PR team wasn’t picking up.

“Even if Grandpa Joo Sunwoo came, he couldn’t fix this.”

Higher-ups were going, “Damn, the article went out like that. Please handle it,” but how could this be handled?

According to the talkers in the planning team, “We just grumbled in passing; we didn’t think it’d go out like that.”

“If you don’t know that, you shouldn’t be in this business......”

As the team lead wrung what little hair he had left—

A staffer asked, “Team lead, what should we do?”

“...Assistant Cho, you’re not asking because you don’t know, right?”

“No.”

“There is absolutely no fixing this.”

All they could do was wait for things to go quiet.

When the news first hit, PR had confidently proposed a plan.

We’ll just say it wasn’t us! Because it wasn’t! What lunatic would do that?

Uh, sir.

What?

It was us....

They felt like challenging the planning team to a duel of darkness.

The PR team lead, sighing hard, leaned back his head.

No way out.

They couldn’t say “We did trash him—so what?” and they couldn’t say “Baseless. Oh? You have proof? Heh...”

All they could do was wait until netizens’ attention moved on.

“...At least let’s pretend we’re doing something.”

“Okay.”

A gloom hung over the PR office.

People busied themselves tapping laptops or lifting phones to clean up the mess, but a few had the same page open.

[JobPlanet]

Lemon Entertainment | Media

They were staring at job postings for lateral-hire PR roles at other agencies, each lost in thought.

“Should I... jump ship.”

Hard to put into words, but—

Lately it felt like the ship they were on was beginning to creak and slowly sink.

“Hyungs, look at this!”

We snorted at the phone our maknae thrust at us.

TJ Entertainment: “We did not give that interview... Our position is that it’s baseless.”

Ri Hyuk stroked his sharp chin as he read.

“Looks like they’ve come to an understanding with the showbiz outlet.”

“Seems so.”

We didn’t know what TJ Entertainment had offered, but the outlet had ended with a “Sorry, looks like we wrote it wrong?”

Of course—

Since the statement came so late, it didn’t land with the public.

“They’re burning......”

Pointing at TJ Entertainment, the comment sections were basically, wow, look at that blaze.

Junhyun said, “Still, after this they’ll be more careful. About bad-mouthing in the back and all.”

“It won’t stop; it’ll just get sneakier.”

I smiled at Junhyun.

“They just won’t do it so blatantly.”

From our side, the result was positive.

Most of all, we’d done friend-foe identification.

We’d learned the ones whispering behind our backs were two of the Big Four.

I carved TJ and SNH Entertainment into the list in my head, then looked at our second kid and smiled.

“Biju, you pitched a great idea this time.”

“I learned it from you.”

“Oh, come ⊛ Nоvеlιght ⊛ (Read the full story) on, from me?”

“No, really. From you.”

Biju beamed.

“How to make me the good guy and them the bad guys, how to make the bad guys furious, how to sit back and watch them get dragged......”

“......”

“I learned it all from you.”

“I don’t recall teaching anything that cutthroat.”

My minions gave me the “Did you, though?” look, and I rolled my eyes right back.

Warm laughter filled the van.

“Kyahahaha!”

“Kya-hat!”

Everything was going smoothly.

Prep for the METRO promotions starting the day after tomorrow was on track.

And my debut as girl-group composer Kim Deokchun was a success.

Ara [Still #1 today!!]

In the screenshot Scarlet sent, “Not Fine” was still sitting at No. 1 on the Mango chart.

The stage-cam views were shooting up fast.

And the music video we dropped a bit later was rising at a shockingly steep rate.

“Looks like a lot of overseas viewers.”

The numbers were impossible with domestic traffic alone; we, the company staff, and the girls themselves were all stunned.

Billboard magazine had even requested an interview.

The situation was far better than my best-case scenario—I felt a little dazed.

Like maybe I’d just used up all my luck on this.

“Junhyun.”

“Yes, hyung.”

“Bring me the Dark Jelly Bible. I need to calm my heart.”

“Okay.”

I opened the book Junhyun handed me to settle down, then looked out at the familiar Incheon sea sliding past the window.

Today—about a day before the METRO promotions—was our last schedule before the comeback, alongside our overseas tour.

We were attending the Teen Choice Awards in the States.

One of the “Choice” series, along with the Kids’ Choice where we got slimed last time.

When you see the word “Teen,” what comes to mind?

What. F**k.

No.

Not you guys.

I waved away that deadpan face in my head and thought again.

As “Teen” makes clear, the Teen Choice is voted by American schoolkids. In short, a measure of what American teens like right now.

We were nominated in about a couple categories.

“Still, since there’s no performance, it’s really relaxing. We just need to go accept an award.”

I nodded at Junhyun.

It was just an award-run: shoot on the photo wall, take the trophy, smile.

You don’t have to attend, but we decided to go as part of the METRO promotion.

If we go and say, “Our song drops soon!” the promo’s that much better.

Anyway, since we’re going for publicity, it isn’t a big deal.

“Heheheh. What nice weather.”

I turned toward the gentle voice in the passenger seat.

Basking in the warm summer sun, our CEO was radiant.

I said, “CEO, shouldn’t you rest at the office?”

“No. I’ve got business in LA too. And I’ll personally take care of you while I’m at it.”

Watching CEO Park Gyuho volunteer as our day-manager, my minions and I traded looks that said, Lies...

“Looks like the love-call articles from agencies have made him nervous.”

“He’s sweating between his hairline and crown.”

“CEO looks really anxious......”

Maybe because agencies had been going “Deokchun! Be ours!” with love calls, or maybe because I’d succeeded with Scarlet’s song—

Either way, his bright eyes kept meeting mine in the rear-view mirror.

“Wooju, aren’t you thirsty?”

“I’m fine.”

“If you need anything, say the word. I’ll get you anything.”

“Then give me management rights, CEO.”

As the CEO sank into instant agony, I blurted, flustered, “Aaah! Not at all! I was totally joking.”

“R-right.”

He exhaled in relief, and laughter bubbled up.

Ri Hyuk blinked. “Were you... seriously considering it?”

“Ha ha ha. Of course I knew Wooju was joking!”

Drip.

Sweat beaded on the crown of his head and trickled down the wavy slope.

“CEO, you’re sweating......”

“Why am I sweating, huh.”

“Tissue?”

“Wooju, do you need tissue?! One moment.”

He hurriedly found tissues and thrust them at me.

I smiled and pushed them back.

“Wipe your sweat, CEO.”

“Right! I’ll wipe!”

“Yes......”

He seemed determined to take meticulous care of me somehow; I scratched my cheek.

Seeing our worried faces, the CEO regained his composure and chuckled.

“Don’t worry too much. This time I’ll do my utmost to take care of you and, from the bottom of my heart, my—”

“You just said you had business in LA....”

“R-right! Business too.”

Then he pivoted.

“Anyway, no need to worry. Back in the day I worked at TJ as manager for Si Hyun.”

“Senior Gwak Si Hyun?”

“That’s right.”

He’s one of our company’s three biggest shareholders along with Director Jo Gyu Hwan.

As the CEO hammed it up—“I’ll show you what an OG manager is”—we smiled warmly.

“We, we’ve arrived.”

Ji-un, who’d barely been breathing next to the CEO, pulled up to the third floor at Incheon Airport.

Staff filed out of the three vans behind us.

My brothers and I exchanged mischievous smiles at the CEO.

We hopped out quick, scanning the cloud-thick crowds like always.

“Here you go, CEO.”

“D-don’t do that!”

“We’ll make you today’s main character!”

Giggling, we flung open the passenger door where the CEO sat.

Murmur murmur.

“It’s Gyuho!”

“Gyu... Gyuho!”

“Is that CEO Park Gyuho?”

Like a legendary Pokémon had spawned, photo reporters and fansite masters raised their cameras.

Then they started shooting NewBlack.

Click—click—shutters blanketed the airport’s third floor.

“Huh?”

As always, the photo reporters checked their screens to make sure the shots landed, then tilted their heads.

The NewBlack members giggling across the crosswalk looked more luminous than usual.

As if Photoshopped—way more upgraded visuals than usual—drawn-out gasps slipped out.

“Wow.”

One reporter asked, “Why do you photograph so much better today? What is this?”

“Because there’s a reflector.”

“A reflector?”

At someone’s comment, a reporter watching the NewBlack members chattering across the crosswalk breathed, “Ah.”

“There really is a reflector.”

Reporters staring across the crosswalk let out whistles.

In 2017, among company heads, CEO Park Gyuho was called “the best CEO for making his artists shine.”

It was true.

Shimmer—shimmer—

He was, literally, a CEO making his artists shine.