Episode 24: Give the Kids a New Song
Getting worked hard = getting busy = more schedules for Free Sense.
Nice.
This paradoxical happiness equation had my hips wiggling with excitement.
The quiet jabs and body blows I’d been throwing without expecting a knockout were finally paying off.
But then, just as my happiness circuits were booting up, CEO Jung’s next words were enough to cool my enthusiasm.
“You heard we’re working on a boy group now, right?”
“Uh? Oh, yes, I heard.”
“We’re starting auditions next month, so once things kick off, you won’t be calling this ‘fun’ anymore. How much time left on your probation?”
Team Leader Jeon answered for me.
“Not quite two months.”
“Perfect timing. You’ll hit the ground running right when your probation ends.”
So this wasn’t about Free Sense after all.
The second management team’s boy group project was already set, and as a lowly employee, I had no say in what department I’d be assigned to.
Even Team Leader Jeon follows orders without complaint—how could a probationary nobody like me make a fuss?
I could only grumble internally.
Still, the disappointment stung, especially since I’d been hoping for news about Free Sense’s future plans.
Is Free Sense really not even on their radar?
Just as my mood started to sink, Team Leader Jeon spoke up, as if voicing my thoughts.
“CEO, Free Sense is getting some good buzz right now. How about giving them a new track?”
It was unexpected, but it made sense. Team Leader Jeon likely felt more attachment and regret for Free Sense than I did.
I’d been overly invested in the kids lately, carrying a sense of responsibility and pride as if I’d already made something happen. But in reality, Jeon, who’d been through the group’s rise and fall, had a deeper bond with them.
CEO Jung raised an eyebrow.
“Why? What’s going on with Free Sense lately?”
“Yeah, they’re getting some feedback online.”
“Really?”
Apparently, he hadn’t received any updates about Free Sense.
It was a stark reminder of how little attention the group was getting.
Team Leader Jeon explained what had been happening with Free Sense over the past few weeks.
Jung only knew about the brief buzz from our hospital visit for the truck driver, but he was clueless about the recent Halloween Day meme or the alumni event content going viral online.
When Jeon showed him the YouTube video, his face darkened, as if his flaws had been exposed.
Unable to watch it to the end, he leaned back in his chair, distancing himself from the phone.
“What the hell is this!”
Yup.
Halloween Day was his song.
As the producer, seeing his earnest work mocked like this must’ve bruised his ego.
“This kind of content is trending these days,” Jeon explained.
“I know that! But my song doesn’t deserve this level of treatment, does it…?”
Oh, no, no.
CEO Jung is the alchemist and treasure chest of this world.
The Halloween Day comment compilation was already on its third installment, and follow-up tracks like ‘Style’ and the first mini-album ‘Yha!’ were being gleefully dug up too.
All his creations.
The only song considered remotely “normal,” ‘How Do I Look Today?’, was composed by someone else.
Trying not to rub salt in the wound, Team Leader Jeon continued calmly.
“’E-Bean’ got a huge image boost from this kind of content, didn’t they?”
Exactly.
‘E-Bean’, who debuted in the early to mid-2000s, was a dance music legend who even broke into the U.S. market.
But time and trends caught up with him, and the albums he released after his military service were panned, seemingly ending his career as a singer.
No one doubted his skill, talent, or self-discipline.
He still had dance moves and visuals that outshone active idols, and he was well-regarded as an actor.
It was just that his self-produced music was too outdated, making it a target for mockery.
But two years ago, his last album, ‘CapJjang’, was rediscovered as a meme, sparking a second golden era for him.
E-Bean may have elevated this “comment culture” into mainstream appeal, but during that time, several other artists and their quirky songs also rode the meme wave to fame.
What set E-Bean apart was his ability to embrace the mockery with magnanimity, transforming it into a likable image.
Since E-Bean, many artists have jumped on this YouTube comment trend.
It’s starting to feel a bit played out now, but luckily, Free Sense caught the tail end of the hype train.
CEO Jung, however, didn’t seem thrilled that his song had joined this bandwagon.
Maybe he already knew and was just in denial…
“Ugh, I’m suddenly feeling self-conscious. In my 20 years of composing, I’ve never been treated like this.”
“But it’s bringing in a lot of offers right now. Even viral ads,” Team Leader Jeon said.
“Really…?”
“There are over ten offers already.”
Whoa, ads too?
This was news to me.
Ads are the clearest gauge of current popularity.
Even if it’s just viral ads for online exposure, not TV, that market’s booming, so it’s undeniably a great result.
“So the feedback’s better than expected?” Jung asked.
“Yup,” Jeon confirmed.
Seeing Jung’s mood improve, Team Leader Jeon leaned in with confidence, his tone almost playful, like a younger brother coaxing an older one.
“Give the kids a new song.”
“A single and a music video aren’t hard, but if they can’t promote, it’s kinda pointless, no?”
“Just let them promote for two weeks.”
“Hmm… GraceOne’s album is coming up too… Can we make it work?”
“If we prep quickly, their schedules won’t clash with GraceOne. We’ll hit and run before GraceOne’s comeback. I wouldn’t bring this up if the response wasn’t so good—it’s too much of a waste.”
“Why’re you telling me this? Talk to Yong-hyung.”
Kim Yong.
While Jung Han-yong leads the artistic and musical side, Kim Yong, the other CEO, handles VIP’s overall management and finances—the real power behind the scenes.
“So you’re okay with it, right?” Jeon pressed.
“Hey, I’d love for the kids to promote again. Honestly, I’d fund it myself if I could.”
“Alright, I’ll talk to CEO Kim, but please back me up.”
“Sigh, but Yong-hyung wants to move on from Free Sense…”
Jung caught himself, glancing at me, and stopped short.
“Anyway, that’s not for this conversation… If Yong-hyung gives the green light, I’ll write the song for them?”
“Huh?”
“What?”
“Huh?”
“What’s with you?”
“You said you were done with Free Sense’s albums.”
Jeon’s diplomatic phrasing meant, “Please step away from Free Sense’s music.”
Jung, incredulous, raised his voice in protest.
“Hey, I’m still good!”
“No, that’s not what I meant…”
“Wow, look at this guy. I just landed the title track for ‘Signal’!”
‘Signal’
A seven-member girl group in their fifth year, with a strong male fandom.
Solid Tier 2.
They’ve never topped the big four music shows, including the main networks, but they’ve snagged plenty of wins on cable.
“For real? You’re still alive?” Jeon teased.
“What, you think landing Signal’s title track makes me some has-been?”
“Come on, with your track record, no one in Korea would dare call you out.”
“But my stuff’s not trendy anymore? Too old-school?”
“No way, I love your songs. And landing Signal’s title track is a big deal—they’re notorious for not taking outside songs.”
“Exactly, that’s the point. So, I’ll write for Free Sense too?”
“Then make it something pretty. Not like Halloween…”
“Don’t mention Halloween! It’s banned in our team.”
As the two bantered like close brothers, I felt like I’d been on a rollercoaster between heaven and hell in mere minutes, finally landing in heaven with a sigh of relief.
The prospect of a new Free Sense album, which had felt so distant, was coming together faster than expected.
Sure, hearing that CEO Kim Yong was eager to wash his hands of Free Sense was a downer, but the fact that Jung Han-yong, a major pillar of the company, was starting to view the group positively was enough to make me want to do cartwheels.
It wasn’t just a step forward—it felt like the first leap in a triple jump.
“But if Free Sense gets an album, won’t that overload Team 2’s workload? The boy group auditions are starting soon—can we handle it?” Jung asked.
“With the kids’ album on the line, workload’s not an issue. We’ve rested enough; it’s time to hustle again. Plus, we’re getting another manager-level staff,” Jeon replied.
This from the guy who complained to me that team leader duties were killing him.
Brushing off Jung’s concern, Jeon exuded confidence and pointed at me.
“And this guy’s doing pretty well. It’s only been a month and a half, but he’s handling schedules and taking care of the kids on his own.”
“He’s a sharp one, huh?” Jung said.
“Well, not that sharp… but he doesn’t forget what he’s taught and does it well,” Jeon added.
“That’s what sharp means,” Jung laughed.
“Sometimes he’s too eager and doesn’t read the room,” Jeon said.
“Oh, not good with cues?”
“No, he’s got good instincts. Doesn’t say what he shouldn’t and says what needs saying.”
My first performance review from my mentor since joining was overall positive.
Hearing such high praise to my face left me flustered.
But moving forward, I’d need to be more eager and less cautious in front of Team Leader Jeon.
With positive feedback on the album, I had to bring up adding members before the new album’s lineup was set with just the three.
But that’s a bold suggestion, way above my pay grade.
Still, everything I’d proposed so far had worked out well, so…
“By the way, I didn’t catch your name, rookie,” Jung said.
“Kang Hyun-jong, sir.”
“Alright, see you next time.”
“Yes, sir.”
“And don’t work too hard now. You’ll be forced to later anyway.”
Jung’s parting words added another layer of psychological pressure.
But what can I do?
I had to speak up before the new album concept solidified with just three members.
“The kids have to go to the salon, right?” Jeon asked.
“Yes.”
Sensing Jeon had more to discuss with Jung, he seemed ready to send me off.
I steeled myself, thinking it’s better to take the hit now, and spoke up.
“Team Leader, I have something to say…”
“Yeah? Let’s step out for a smoke.”
“Alright.”
We moved to the smoking area on the first floor.
Jeon let out a relieved sigh, visibly satisfied.
“Phew, looks like we can at least get them a single.”
“That’s awesome, really. You did an amazing job convincing CEO Jung.”
“We’ll need to have a meeting, but since he’s on board, it’ll probably happen. The question is how much support and promotion we’ll get.”
With the salon appointment looming, I lit his cigarette and got straight to it.
“Team Leader, I know I’m not in a position to say this…”
“Why’re you setting the stage for something big again?”
“If we do a new album, are we going with just the three members?”
“Of course. No reason to change the lineup now.”
“Would it… be possible to add new members?”
Catching my drift, Jeon frowned, exhaling smoke with a hint of displeasure.
“We should be grateful they’re even getting a single, and you want to add members?”
“Two more, to make it a five-member group…”
“This is about that girl you gave your contact info to on the street, isn’t it? The one who called the company.”
“Yes…”
“You got something going on with her?”
“What? No, absolutely not.”
“Then what’s this about?”
I froze, too nervous to continue.
Jeon, cigarette in mouth, still looking unimpressed, pressed me.
“Got a picture?”
“Yeah, her KakaoTalk profile.”
“Let me see. How pretty is she to make you act like this?”
I quickly searched for Seon-yu’s name on my phone and handed it to him.