Episode 40: Full Lineup and New Song Details
No way, CEO.
You throw a fastball and then a curve?
Taking Jung’s phone, I greeted Team Leader Lee first.
“Hello, I’m Kang Hyeon-jong, Team 2’s rookie manager.”
-“Hi. Sorry, we couldn’t greet you properly last time due to our schedule.”
“It’s fine.”
-“How’s your burn?”
“Almost healed.”
-“Make sure to treat it well so it doesn’t scar.”
“It’s in a spot that’s not too visible, so it’s okay.”
-“I heard you became full-time—congrats.”
“Thank you.”
-“Hold on, I’ll hang up and call back on video.”
“Okay.”
Soon, a video call came through on Jung’s phone. The screen showed GraceOne members getting their makeup done at a salon, each waving and greeting me one by one. The display lit up like a Jeju canola field in bloom.
-“Hello!”
-“Thank you!”
-“Thank you, Manager!”
“Uh, hi, hello.”
-“Thank you so much for saving us!”
The Japanese member, Ayaka, greeted me in her slightly awkward Korean. Then, finally, my bias, Min-young, appeared.
-“Is your injury okay?”
Light. Pure light.
My heart, already revving from the other members’ greetings, went full-throttle, roaring in every direction.
A video call, more intimate than broadcasts or V Live, sparked a fleeting, pseudo-romantic feeling—like I was close to Min-young.
This is what a successful stan feels like.
I don’t know about my past life, but this one’s a win.
“Y-Yes, I’m f-fine.”
-“Good to hear. Take care!”
“Thank you, Min-young-ssi. Stay healthy and keep up the great work.”
What the—? I sounded like a stiff entertainment news reporter with that clichéd, cringey line.
I’d imagined endless things to say if I ever met her at a fan sign, but my brain vacuum-sealed, leaving me speechless.
The brief chat with Min-young ended, and after greeting the rest of GraceOne, my first encounter with them wrapped up.
Jung took the phone back and asked Lee to send the video message for Woo-ya’s siblings.
“Make sure to include their names—Yoo-kyung and Ji-han.”
-“Got it. So, Free Sense is back to five members?”
“Yup, we’ve got both new members. Jeon and the rookie picked them, and they’re solid.”
-“Hope it works out this time. Who’s doing the song?”
“I’m writing it.”
-“Maybe let someone else take a shot…”
“What’s that? I’m not dead yet. Don’t you know Free Sense’s song is climbing back up the charts?”
-“Sure, sure. I’m hanging up.”
***
Leaving the meeting room, Woo-ya and I took the elevator to the basement practice room.
Free Sense had been using external studios, even when GraceOne was abroad, but starting today, they’d use the company’s main practice room—a clear step up in status.
In the elevator, Woo-ya teased with a playful grin.
“I think I know who your GraceOne bias is.”
“Who?”
“Min-young, right?”
Crap.
Did I give it away during the call?
I played dumb.
“Nah, no such thing.”
“Come on, your voice totally changed when you talked to her. You were stuttering, all nervous.”
“Did I…?”
“And she’s exactly your ideal type—eye smile, upturned lips.”
“You’re imagining things.”
“Imagining? Pfft, hilarious.”
Ding. Basement 1.
It was my first time in the company’s practice room too.
Opening the door, a wave of heat hit my skin.
The Free Sense girls were drenched in sweat, deep in choreography practice.
“Oppa’s here!”
“Hey, you made it?”
“Hyeon-jong-ssi, why does it feel like forever?”
“Hello!”
“Wow, it’s sweltering in here. Turn on the AC.”
“It’s on.”
Their passion outburned the air conditioning.
The room pulsed with the vitality of four young women.
I caught a glimpse of their practice before the music stopped—Seon-yu’s dance lines were sharp, her expressions and moves more relaxed.
Practice really does pay off.
“Eek, welcome!”
Seung-ah, who’d met Woo-ya before, waved both arms enthusiastically.
Woo-ya matched her energy with her capitalist customer-service voice.
“Yes, unnie! I missed you so much!”
I introduced Woo-ya to each member, and she responded with max-level social skills, her reactions lively and warm.
This girl could survive anywhere.
“Unnies, we’re basically family now, so speak casually.”
“Yeah, that’s better. You can be casual with Jin-ah and Seon-yu too.”
“Okay, will do! Looking forward to working with you, Seung-ah unnie, Ah-hyun unnie.”
After charming Seung-ah and Ah-hyun with her friendly vibe, Woo-ya took the initiative to approach Jin-ah.
A mutual compliment-fest ensued.
“Wow, Jin-ah, you look like a doll!”
“Thank you.”
“You’re so cute!”
“Unnie, you’re cuter.”
“Really?”
Jin-ah’s gaze drifted to Woo-ya’s chest.
That look—she’s about to say something weird…
Sure enough.
“Pippi unnie, you’re a boob-spoon.”
“Huh? What’s that?”
It’s like calling her chest a “golden spoon.”
Instead of explaining, Jin-ah barreled on.
“Unnie, I want toast. Pippi toast.”
“Sure, I’ll make it for you every day.”
“When are you moving in?”
“Probably this week.”
Seon-yu hadn’t moved into the dorm yet either.
Once the rooms are sorted, they’ll likely move in around the same time.
Finally, the complete Free Sense lineup.
Woo-ya, already brimming with enthusiasm, peppered the members with questions, and they answered kindly.
I could feel a shift in Seung-ah and Ah-hyun’s energy.
Gone was the chronic gloom and defeatism from repeated album flops.
Watching them giggle over trivial things, I felt a quiet pride.
A vision from the future clip of their complete lineup on stage flashed in my mind, giving me goosebumps.
It’s finally starting to feel real.
Pride and fulfillment.
Sure, it was the future videos’ guidance, not my own genius, but pushing through as a lowly manager to make this happen? That was all my grit and effort.
I’ve earned this pride.
Bringing Seung-ah, Ah-hyun, and Jin-ah up from rock bottom feels like mission accomplished.
I wanted to capture this historic moment of the five together.
“Let’s take a picture.”
“Ugh, what? We look like total messes right now.”
“That’s the vibe.”
“Vibe, my foot.”
Ah-hyun groaned, but Seung-ah and Seon-yu were already touching up with powder.
After a quick makeup fix, we snapped a group photo, and Woo-ya took selfies with each member, cementing their first meeting.
After sharing Woo-ya’s contact, I added her to the group chat. The girls uploaded their pics, laughing hysterically.
“Seon-yu, perspective doesn’t even matter with you. I’m never standing next to her in group shots.”
“You’re such a cheat code.”
“Are we even the same species? How’s her face that small?”
It’s not that the others’ faces are big—Seon-yu’s proportions are just unreal.
She reminds me of three legendary visual centers:
Han Soo-hyun and Seol-ah, who debuted in girl groups, sparked CF and variety show crazes, then transitioned to successful acting careers.
Yang Ju-in, limited by her Chinese pronunciation for acting but a bigger phenomenon as a girl group center.
They debuted two years apart, and since Yang Ju-in’s fifth year, no standout center has emerged.
As a girl group stan, I think if Seon-yu’s potential fully blooms, she could be the next visual queen in their league.
***
Days later, on the afternoon Seon-yu and Woo-ya moved into the dorm, after helping with their unpacking, a future video arrived while we rested.
With new album production starting and concepts to finalize, I’d been antsy since the last video that helped recruit Woo-ya gave no further hints.
Sure, pros like CEO Jung would handle it, but I was banking on the future videos for answers, as always.
The moment the subscription video uploaded, I clicked it.
[SongForYou Top 100, Korea’s No.1 Music Chart]
★ October Week 2, 2020 Hot Clips ★
October Week 2…
If Free Sense’s plans go smoothly, that’s right when the album drops.
-“Hello, I’m DJ Songddung from SongForYou Hot Clips. The charts have been stagnant this year, with even established artists’ new songs struggling to break through. Take Eric Hyun from DoubleAxel, who held the brand reputation top spot for nine months straight—his new song charted out in just a week, showing how tough the chart concrete is.”
-“Analyzing the Top 100, 72 songs are over three months old, and over 20 have stayed for six months. The rest are mostly drama OSTs or autumn-themed season songs. It’s the highest entry barrier ever, and if veterans are struggling, rookies don’t stand a chance. But some songs are still shining through. Let’s check out the Top 100 for October Week 2.”
-“At No. 1, same as last week, is ‘Retro School’ by Refund Expedition, a project group from ‘What Do You Do for Work?’”
So Refund Expedition gets formed after all.
The weekend variety show ‘What Do You Do for Work?’ jokingly pitched, “What if ‘90s legendary singers formed a group?” and it became reality.
Their current summer season song project, ‘Paddaegi’, is already predicted to dominate the charts before release.
-“It’s not old, it’s retro. Modern songs are so lame…”
Thankfully, it wasn’t a full Top 100 playlist—just a 12-minute highlight reel of charted songs.
As the YouTuber said, most top songs were still charting now.
CEO Kim wasn’t kidding—cracking the Top 100 is a win.
I opened a note app on dual screen, meticulously scanning from No. 1 to 100 for Free Sense’s new song.
Just as I was about to give up in the final ranks, there it was.
-“At No. 98, it’s Free Sense, back as a five-member group with their new song. They charted on release day…”
Ty for chapter
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