In This Life, The Greatest Star In The Universe

Chapter 16:

Chapter 16:

Chapter 16

The sound of a car horn comes from outside the dorm.

Looks like the manager is here. Lets go down.

It was Yoon Seok-hwan, who came to pick us up at the same time every day.

Afraid of getting scolded, we quickly put on our clothes and grabbed our shoes that were scattered around.

By the way.

Im sure Bi-ju cleaned everything up the day before, but when did it become a mess again?

Ji-ho, thats not mine.

Hyung! Thats mine.

While the culprits who took up 90 percent of the shoes at the entrance were making a scene, Ri-hyuk opened the shoe cabinet and looked at them with disdain.

Meanwhile, Bi-ju checked the gas and electricity cords.

After finishing all this and getting into the Starex on the first floor, that was the end of our morning routine.

Hello!

Good morning, manager.

Recently, the companys staff had quit one after another, so manager Yoon Seok-hwan was in charge of picking us up from the dorm to the practice room.

Of course, today was a little different from usual.

Manager Yoon, who was dressed dandy.

We were also not wearing our usual tracksuits, but rather decent casual clothes.

Are you all ready?

The corners of Yoon Seok-hwans eyes rose through the rearview mirror.

Today was the day.

The day we went to Hwai Entertainment for the collaboration work.

Collaboration.

It was an industry term that meant working with another artist.

To be more specific, it was when artists with different genres or musical colors sang together.

It was different from featuring, which was often marked as feat. Hong Gil-dong in songs, where the other musician only participated in a part of the song. Collaboration meant that the two musicians had equal weight.

It didnt really matter.

It was just a convenience to distinguish them, and even the people who worked in the industry were confused.

I really had a hard time with the featuring terminology.

Manager Yoon brought up the behind-the-scenes of the negotiation with Hwai Entertainment.

I thought I was going bald because of them.

Who? The CEO?

Everyone in the car burst into laughter at the youngest who suddenly joined the conversation.

Im sorry, CEO.

Manager Yoon laughed as he took out the memory of the black box in the car.

I have to erase the black box recording every day because of him. What if someone listens to it, really.

You can turn off that function.

Its okay. I sometimes use it anyway.

He plugged the memory into his phone and continued his interrupted story.

It was a mess because of the song title. Hwai Entertainment said that they were not artists who hadnt even debuted. They wanted to do it with Feat, and we said that it was obvious that they had equal weight.

They fight over that too.

Thats why we have a planning company, you bastard.

Manager.

Ri-hyuk, who was munching on a banana in the back seat, asked.

So what happened?

We tied it up somehow. I told them that we had a talented kid who could compose among us. Hes not just singing, but also participating in the song work.

Manager Yoon looked at me and asked.

Why did I say this?

To do well?

Thats right. You have to do well. Whether the song title will be Jang So-won X New Black or Jang So-won Feat. New Black depends on your hands now.

It was a word that felt a lot of pressure.

By the way, Ive never been to Hwai Entertainment.

You havent been there?

Ri-hyuk hyung, I originally went to audition for acting. Thats why I came to our company in the first place.

So his dream was to be an actor.Updated chapters at novelhall.com

I thought he looked like an actor every time I saw him.

I asked Ri-hyuk.

Have you been to Hwai Entertainment?

Im probably the only one whos been there among us. I went there to audition for vocals.

Oh, the one you got eliminated in 10 seconds?

It wasnt 10 seconds.

"You said it yourself, right? You got eliminated as soon as you entered the audition venue."

"Why did you get eliminated?"

Ri-hyuk answered reluctantly to my question.

"They said I looked like I could sing well, but they made me dance first."

Everyone laughed, except for one person.

Seomo, who was ranked fifth in the New Black dance hierarchy and had been swallowing tears in his heart, rationalized.

"It was a company that we wouldn't have joined anyway, even if they begged us."

"Oh, really? Hyung?"

"Can you please be quiet"

While the youngest smiled at his sincere request, Ri-hyuk started to talk about the Hwai Entertainment building.

"I was going to give up because of the facilities."

Then what about the other two?

I dont know. Theyre probably not doing well.

The topic of the conversation moved to another direction.

Maybe it was because of their status as trainees who had a foot in the entertainment industry, but they seemed to have a lot of rumors they heard.

They were telling each other what they knew.

I frowned as I watched them.

What are they talking about?

It felt like watching entertainment reporters on TV saying things like Miss A or Mr. B and gossiping.

And it seemed like I wasnt the only one who thought that way.

The eyes of Seok-hwan hyung, who I could see through the rearview mirror, were grim.

Are they going to get scolded?

But before I could say anything, Yoon Seok-hwan cut in.

Hey, kids.

His voice was cold and the air froze.

The four trainees who were chatting in the back seat widened their eyes.

He looked angry, unlike usual.

What are you doing now?

The members stiffened at the managers sharp gaze.

Im asking you.

The atmosphere was like before a storm.

What are you doing now?

Are you not going to answer?

We were talking, sir.

Bi-ju looked around nervously and Yoon Seokhwan stared at the kids in silence.

A cold silence.

I was also tense, sitting in the passenger seat.

He drove without saying a word for a long time.

It was as if he wanted us to think about what we did wrong.

Unlike the youngest and Junghyun, who didnt catch on, Ri-hyuk sighed and Bi-ju made an oops expression.

After about five minutes, Yoon Seokhwan spoke calmly.

Kids.

Thankfully, his tone was gentle.

I dont mind if you gossip about the entertainment industry among yourselves. Thats fine.

But dont you think you should keep those stories to yourselves?

Were sorry.

I dont like how it looks either, but how do you think it looks to others?

He shook his head.

It doesnt matter if Im the only one here. I wont spill anything you do wrong. But youre not going to debut? Youll have a road manager or a stylist soon, are you going to do this then?

At this point, Jung-hyun and Ji-ho also made an oops expression.

Road managers are really tough, kids. When celebrities make ten million won a week, they barely make a hundred a month. Its common for them to quit for a mere hundred thousand won more. Do you think they wont spread what you said when they go somewhere else?

Yoon Seok-hwan emphasized.

The entertainment industry is small, kids.

You havent experienced it yet. A story you tell in the car can spread to the whole set the next day.

He looked around at the nodding kids and turned to the youngest.

And Ji-ho.

Yes?

The youngest shrank his shoulders, afraid of being scolded.

You know you were careless with what you said about the CEO, right?

Im sorry. Ill be careful next time.

Stop saying youre young, youre young. Be careful. Got it?

The youngest nodded at Yoon Seok-hwans emphasis to think before he speaks.

We might have felt bad depending on the person, but we all agreed with his calm tone.

We had no choice.

He wasnt speaking with emotion, but telling us what we did wrong and how to be careful in the future.

It was a manager-like action.

Unlike fans who love us no matter what we do, managers have to tell singers what they need to hear from an objective standpoint.

And Seon Woojoo.

Yes, sir.

Here it comes.

You know you made the biggest mistake, right?

Im sorry.

The younger ones might not know better. But youve been to the army, you know what kind of remarks are problematic. If this happens again, you have to step up and take action. Got it?

I wanted to say that I was going to do that, but I admitted it was my fault.

So I bowed my head and said.

Im sorry, sir.

Please do well, Woojoo.

Seok-hwan hyungs eyes looked gloomy as he looked out the window.

I cant always be by your side.