Episode 50: A Shared Fate on the Same Boat, Like It or Not
“What the hell is this? Investing with your salary?”
Joo-hwan, looking utterly bewildered, demanded an explanation once more.
CEO Jung Han-yong let out a laugh that sounded somehow triumphant as he opened his mouth.
“This kid bet his entire salary to CEO Yong. If Free Sense doesn’t make it into the top 100 on the charts with this new song? Then he’s covering the full production costs with his future paychecks.”
Joo-hwan furrowed his brows, as if he couldn’t believe that the CEO Yong he knew would accept such a childish proposal.
“Top 100 on the charts these days…?”
“And entering on the first day of release.”
CEO Jung chuckled and turned to me with a question.
“What rank did you predict, anyway?”
“98th.”
At the mention of 98th, Joo-hwan snorted derisively.
I knew exactly what he was thinking.
He probably figured some clueless newbie was charging ahead with nothing but passion and recklessness, knowing nothing about this industry.
Most of the people gathered here had gone through similar processes and failures to grow, so they’d understand to some extent—but still, wrong is wrong.
Sure enough, he shook his head, using slang that you’d only hear in casual settings.
“Ah… that’s a bit of a stretch…”
Stretch or not, the album release schedule was non-negotiable territory.
I tried to maintain as much courtesy as possible while firmly stating my opinion.
Just like always in situations like this— not based on data or logical explanations grounded in facts, but by putting my own body on the line in a stubborn, forceful way…
“You’re absolutely right, Team Leader Joo-hwan. Rushing ahead without proper preparation is reckless. I think all the seniors here feel the same way. I know it’s reckless myself. But I’ve staked everything on this reckless challenge.”
All eyes in the room focused solely on me.
Everyone except Team Leader Joo-hwan watched with keen interest, wondering how I’d persuade him.
“I absolutely won’t back out or change my mind later. All the seniors here, the company staff, and the Free Sense members—please be my witnesses. If Free Sense doesn’t make it onto the ‘Song for You’ chart in the second week of October, I’ll pay back the full production costs, even if I have to sell my organs.”
Joo-hwan turned to CEO Jung Han-yong with a soulless, hearty laugh.
“I’m going crazy here… What kind of character is this guy?”
“Heh heh, I have no idea where a kid like this came from. But isn’t he weirdly convincing?”
“Convincing? You serious?”
“Hey, how’s that not convincing? He’s putting his salary and his organs on the line. Where else are you gonna find persuasion like that? CEO Yong agreed to invest a whopping 200 million in this album—200 million. Can you stake 200 million on your words? Then bet 200 million on delaying the release by two months. That’d settle it, right?”
Exactly, exactly!
CEO Jung Han-yong had said exactly what I wanted to say.
I’d gone all-in with six years’ worth of savings and my five organs and six entrails, so who was he to nitpick over a little stain on his reputation?
With one word from the CEO Jung, the tide of opinion swung firmly in my favor.
And at this crucial timing, the stag beetle I’d been holding back until now delivered the finishing blow.
“No way. How can 200 million from an average Joe be the same as 200 million from a rich guy? PD Joo-hwan should stake six years’ worth of royalties to make it fair.”
Not to be outdone, Ah-hyun chimed in casually.
“Yeah, yeah. That’s only fair. Man up and put six years of royalties plus one organ on the line.”
Sigh… You two should’ve just stayed quiet…
I was grateful that Jin-ah and Ah-hyun had taken my side, but I worried they’d end up with a bad reputation because of it.
No, It seemed like they already had.
Joo-hwan glared alternately at Ah-hyun and Jin-ah, as if resenting the atmosphere that had cast him as the villain.
“Ha…” He let out a short, hollow chuckle.
Then, as if realizing he couldn’t back down now that things had gone this far, he addressed everyone in a tone that said let’s see who wins in the end.
“Fine, then let’s do a majority vote. Those in favor of pushing ahead with the rookie’s plan as originally scheduled, raise your hands.”
“Hold on.”
CEO Jung Han-yong halted the vote.
With a sneer laced with the scent of sesame oil, he said to Joo-hwan,
“From what I see, you need to put something on the line too for this to be a real game? Six years of royalties, call?”
“Ah, why are you being so childish?”
“I’m just trying to help because it looks too unfavorable for you.”
“No, Han-yong Hyung… This is really not it. You’ve never even tried a one-two day production yourself, so why are you acting like an amateur too?”
“It’s fun.”
“Ah, seriously!”
Joo-hwan burst out in frustration, looking like he was about to explode from exasperation, while CEO Jung couldn’t hold back his laughter at the sight of Joo-hwan getting fully entangled, letting out a genuine, hearty “Kuhahaha!”
Who would’ve thought CEO Jung’s childish antics would turn into such a refreshing twist…
“Hoo…”
Joo-hwan took a deep breath to regain his composure.
Then, he burned his bridges too.
“Okay, let’s do this. We’ll go with a majority vote. If I lose, I’ll step out of this project. That settles it, right?”
“Hey, why go that far?”
“No, I can’t put my name on a project that’s being bulldozed like this.”
“What, you sulking now?”
“Ah, Hyung… Please read the room…”
“Sheesh, why act like an amateur?”
“If I step out, you can take over A&R. Do whatever you want.”
“Really? Thank you very much. You know I eat ramen for breakfast? No take-backs.”
Jokes even in a situation like this…
No matter how I looked at it, this CEO Jung guy was totally out of his mind.
Joo-hwan, who might have a narrow-minded side but was rock-solid in his convictions, almost looked like a fairy in comparison.
With a face brimming with excitement, CEO Jung took over the majority vote in Joo-hwan’s place.
“Alright then! We’re diving into a showdown for the pride of the rookie roadie and the star A&R! First, you two, close your eyes.”
“…Hyung, stop messing around and just do it…”
“Hey, eyes closed for fairness. Who’d raise their hand with you glaring like that?”
“Sigh… Do whatever.”
Did Joo-hwan have confidence in himself?
From the outside, he seemed convinced he’d win.
But I had a feeling.
No, not a feeling—it was the real deal.
This vote was a no-brainer; I’d win.
Why?
Excluding me and Joo-hwan, there were ten people total, and out of them, the five from Free Sense and CEO Jung Han-yong were on my side.
As soon as we closed our eyes, the vote began.
“Those in favor of going ahead as the rookie road manager says, on schedule—quietly raise your hands.”
I was still tense, though…
Even if Free Sense and CEO Jung voted for me, and the other four went for Joo-hwan, it’d be a 6:4 win.
But having four top-tier experts rebel against me carried that much risk.
The future footage couldn’t be wrong, but what if this sparked some butterfly effect and altered the future?
The moment I swallowed hard, CEO Jung burst into “Puhahaha!”
“Ten to zero! Unanimous victory for the rookie road manager!”
Huh? A 10-0?
For a split second, I thought CEO Jung was pranking.
Even so, 10:0 seemed a bit much.
But when I opened my eyes and scanned the room, it didn’t look like he was joking.
The stag beetle sitting next to me patted my shoulder with a nod, as if to say good job, and the other members wore victorious smiles directed at me.
My eyes met Joo-hwan’s.
He had the same realization—it wasn’t a joke.
His face flushed red in an instant.
He licked his lips with his tongue.
Winning so overwhelmingly felt less triumphant and more a bit harsh.
As the other team leaders couldn’t bring themselves to look at Joo-hwan’s face, he stood up from his chair, nodding coolly as best he could.
“Okay, as I said, I’ll bow out of this project. But as fellow company folks, I’ll root for you sincerely. I really hope it goes well.”
“Hey, why take it so seriously? It’s all just fun and games. You’re the one who hasn’t done a one-two-day production yourself— isn’t it weirder for things to go on the original schedule? What’s the big deal about pulling the timeline forward a bit?”
CEO Jung finally tried to hold him back seriously, but Joo-hwan said nothing and left the conference room with his laptop in tow.
“Wow, looks like he really got upset.”
“Shouldn’t you go after him…?”
The style team manager asked worriedly, but CEO Jung shook his head with a somewhat awkward expression.
“After getting crushed like this, you think he’d come back if I grabbed him now? I’ll talk to him separately later.”
“What about today’s meeting, then?”
“Everyone brought their references, right? Let’s proceed with those for now.”
It didn’t feel like CEO Jung had rejected Joo-hwan to protect his own reputation.
In the end, I’d been the one to push him out, and it was a legitimate outcome forged through the experts’ vote between two irreconcilable propositions.
And it was Joo-hwan who’d first declared he’d step away from the project.
Even if he really didn’t participate, I didn’t think the future I knew would change.
Based on my experiences so far, this would just be another step leading to a successful result.
Rather, CEO Jung encouraged me, the one who’d ended up as the villain.
“Whoa, that was some fierce combat power. Yeah, when you’ve staked your life on it, you gotta charge ahead boldly when you win.”
Right. I’d only done what I had to for my own convictions.
No need to feel intimidated.
Just prove it with the results.
If CEO Jung convinced Joo-hwan to take back the A&R role, that’d be part of the process too.
Everything was proceeding as planned.
“Let’s take a look at the choreography team’s references.”
That afternoon, after the first concept meeting led by CEO Jung Han-yong wrapped up.
Word was that Joo-hwan had submitted an official report to CEO Kim Yong, stating that if the schedule wasn’t delayed by two months, he’d refuse to handle Free Sense’s A&R.
And after hearing the details of the meeting from CEO Jung, CEO Yong decided against the two-month delay, instructing to proceed as scheduled with CEO Jung taking over A&R.
‘When you’ve caught the flow, you gotta ride it all the way. From what the team leads said, time’s a bit tight, but it’s not impossible at all. Han-yong, you talk to Joo-hwan one more time. If he really won’t do it, just handle it yourself.’
CEO Kim Yong, who valued intuition and luck above all, chose to go with the natural current rather than a meticulously planned schedule backed by logic and stats.
And so, the next evening, after Joo-hwan’s resignation from the Free Sense album project was all but confirmed.
It wasn't CEO Jung who persuaded him a second time—it was me.
I went straight to Joo-hwan’s studio and bowed my head low.
“The Free Sense album absolutely needs you to handle it, Team Leader. Please take back the A&R role.”
“What is this? Hey, are you pitying me now? When were you acting all high and mighty? What, did Han-yong Hyung tell you to come say this for him?”
That wasn’t it.
Nothing could shake my convictions except the future video.
<People Who Make Star Idols #1. VIP Entertainment A&R Team Leader ‘Joo-hwan’>
.
.
.
―Q: Following GraceOne, you achieved a successful transformation for Free Sense, who were called mid-tier veterans. Is there a secret to your unique producing style?
“If it succeeds, it’s all thanks to Team Leader Joo-hwan. If it fails, it’s all my fault. Curse me all you want—just please take it on. You’re the only one who can make this album a success, Team Leader.”
Even though the future footage hinted at involving Joo-hwan, I had my pride too.
Of course, I’d have licked the soles of his shoes to keep him if I had to, but there was a good reason for me to go this low, setting aside everything.
It was because that proud man had credited the entire success of Free Sense’s new album to me and the staff.
―Joo-hwan: Honestly, the success of this concept and production for Free Sense wasn’t my doing alone. As the saying goes, isn’t it just adding a spoon to the feast? I merely added my spoon to the banquet table that the staff in each department had prepared. All I did was gather their creations together. And among them, the youngest manager for Free Sense put in the biggest effort……
――――――