Siblings Work in Business (10)
Just as I thought her laptop might go flying next, I soothed Lee Eun-ji, saying,
“I really like it. I love it. I might have overreacted, but I’m not lying.”
Lee Eun-ji still looked dubious, but she seemed to like the compliment, and the corners of her mouth finally turned upwards.
Seeing her grinning stupidly, for some reason…
I felt a sudden urge to tease her, saying, “Actually, I was lying.”
But I genuinely liked the song, and if I did that, something heavy would probably come flying at me from Lee Eun-ji, so I held back.
“Has the CEO heard it?”
“Yes. I gave it to him as soon as it was finished.”
“The CEO seems to like it too.”
“Of course he does. Who wrote it?”
“Yeah, you’re so great.”
Based on experience, the songs Lee Eun-ji wrote always hit CEO Park’s taste.
Among the albums Lee Eun-ji released before the regression, the songs produced by CEO Park were mostly sensual R&B tracks similar to this one.
Perhaps that’s why…
I could easily predict the CEO’s reaction.
“Heehee. He said it’s good enough for a single and that he’ll tell us the recording date after the weekend.”
Of course.
Just as expected.
“Who wrote the lyrics?”
“I racked my brain writing them and sent them to him, and he commissioned them to lyricists he knows.”
“Were there other lyrics besides these?”
“Yeah, about six? But they all interpreted it as a love song, so this one was the best in my opinion. So, we went with these lyrics.”
I could imagine Lee Eun-ji fuming at the love song lyrics.
Well, the theme of separation was a staple in love songs, so there were bound to be many.
“The lyrics are good. I like it. When’s the recording?”
“You’re not making a fuss?”
I froze for a moment at Lee Eun-ji’s sudden question.
If it were before, she would have thrown a fit at the mention of it being “my” song.
I shrugged nonchalantly, avoiding her question as if it were nothing.
Lee Eun-ji tilted her head slightly, then turned her gaze back to the monitor and continued.
“What about the song we heard before? That was good too.”
“Cat footsteps?”
“Yeah.”
Although it had a different feel from this song, I liked it too, so I asked with a hint of regret.
“They’re thinking of including it as a B-side track if we make a mini-album later, or maybe revising it and working on it later.”
“So, it got dropped.”
“It can’t be helped.”
“Aren’t you disappointed? It was good.”
“Not really. Since we have a better song, I don’t care.”
Lee Eun-ji shrugged lightly, as if she had no regrets whatsoever.
Perhaps because she seemed so professional…
I rubbed the back of my neck.
‘I don’t have the ability to compose like Lee Eun-ji.’
My weapons were the experience I gained and honed while busily living in the future, and the sound of my voice. That was it.
‘I need to manage my condition well.’
Perhaps because I sang my heart out yesterday after a long time…
A good song, a healthy body, and senses honed by experience.
At least when it came to singing, I was in top condition.
Thanks to the weapons well-honed by experience, I was confident that this time, I wouldn’t crumble under the weight of Lee Eun-ji’s talent.
Bzzz, bzzz.
Weekend morning.
CEO Park stopped shaking his protein shake and looked at his vibrating phone.
“Hello.”
He answered the phone with a smile, seemingly a welcome call.
He held the phone to his shoulder and continued mixing his shake.
But soon, his hand stopped.
“What do you mean?”
CEO Park sat down at the dining table with a happy yet complicated expression.
“That’s… good for us. But you don’t have a reason to do that. That’s why I’m saying this.”
CEO Park sighed, rubbing his forehead.
The voice on the other end of the phone, trying to persuade him, was bright.
Meanwhile, CEO Park let out a sigh with a faint smile.
“I know, but… Ye-chan. It’s your solo song.”
The person on the other end of the phone was Ji Ye-chan, with whom he had been drinking until late last night.
“Everything I’ve achieved in my singing career is thanks to Team Leader Park, how can I forget what happened back then?”
“I didn’t know you were still thinking about that. I appreciate your words, but…”
“Team Leader, you know my personality, right? I have a chance to repay you, so I should.”
“You’re not a cat bringing me a dead mouse, what repayment are you talking about?”
“Even animals repay their kindness, humans should do more. And Team Leader Park, you know me, right?”
At Ji Ye-chan’s nonchalant words, CEO Park shook his head, rubbing his forehead.
“You did it again, didn’t you? Made plans and then called me?”
As CEO Park sighed, bright laughter came from the other end of the phone.
Back when he was promoted to manager at TaKa Entertainment and worked as an A&R in the creative team…
There was a time when the company was uncomfortable and rookies were intimidated by the twisted attention and obsession of reporters.
But unlike the cautious rookies, Ji Ye-chan actively approached reporters and handled them to his liking.
He was the best ally when he was on your side, but there was no one scarier when he became your enemy.
“It’s no use objecting now.”
Of course.
It seemed he had already thrown bait to the cooperative reporters and then called.
“No wonder I kept getting calls last night while we were drinking…”
“Haha. To persuade Team Leader Park, I have to push everything like a bulldozer and then tell you.”
I didn’t know he would act so quickly.
Or rather, I hadn’t even asked him for a favor, so how could I have anticipated him pushing a rookie like this?
‘Well, Ye-chan, you were never ordinary.’
CEO Park chuckled and took a sip of his shake.
Ji Ye-chan was a famous artist with high recognition.
And NRY Entertainment was still a relatively unknown company despite its experience.
A famous artist, at such a company…
It was natural that attention would be focused on the rookie artist being actively pushed by the strategist Ji Ye-chan.
‘You did well. Better than I could have imagined.’
CEO Park closed his eyes, recalling Lee Eun-ho in the recording studio.
Eun-ho, whom I raised, showed an incomprehensible growth spurt, to the point where I wondered how he could be considered a rookie.
What Ji Ye-chan was doing was a godsend opportunity for Eun-ho.
‘He’ll be happy.’
Imagining Eun-ho’s reaction, a smile naturally spread across his face.
“I’ll tell Eun-ho myself after the mixing is done.”
“Okay.”
“But you know, right? Team Leader Park, you have to keep this a secret.”
“I know, I know.”
The call ended with a brief goodbye.
CEO Park finished his shake in one gulp, let out a refreshing breath, and walked towards the balcony window.
‘Ye-chan’s repayment…’
His influence would definitely exceed the limits of ‘repayment.’
‘There will be some downsides as well…’
Eun-ho has Eun-ji.
He’ll be fine, since he’s not alone.
Besides, with this song Eun-ji made, and the songs to be released in the future…
‘I want to put them on stage soon.’
I wasn’t particularly ambitious about their success, but this was all because of Ji Ye-chan.
CEO Park snorted and picked up his phone again.
As the former A&R of TaKa Entertainment…
And now, as the producer of NRY Entertainment…
“Let’s show off my skills again after a long time.”
[Both of you, come downstairs for a moment.]
Monday, after the weekend when we listened to Lee Eun-ji’s new song…
Along with a black sedan in the parking lot, the CEO’s summons arrived.
Lee Eun-ji and I ran downstairs as soon as we woke up, forgetting to even wipe the sleep from our eyes.
“You called?”
“Did you have a good weekend?”
As we entered the CEO’s office, perhaps because it had gotten colder over the weekend…
There was a small heater that wasn’t there before.
“Both of you, sit down.”
“Yes.”
The CEO was someone who could be incredibly friendly at times, but never casual when it came to work.
Especially in a serious atmosphere like today.
‘Do you know why?’
‘How would I know?’
‘Did we do something wrong again?’
‘Nothing except eating ramen on Saturday…’
‘He’s the type to scold us for ramen… is it really because of the ramen?’
Lee Eun-ji and I exchanged glances while sitting on the sofa.
Ever since we were told about our upcoming debut, we had to be strict with our self-management.
Instant food like ramen was strictly prohibited during this period.
Especially for the CEO, who was obsessed with health, the management was even stricter.
Having done something we felt guilty about over the weekend…
We couldn’t think of anything else but, ‘We were called here because of the ramen.’
“Why are you so stiff?”
The CEO’s gaze shifted from the documents to us.
There was no anger or disappointment in his eyes.
「“He said he’ll tell us the recording date after the weekend.”」
Seeing the CEO’s usual expression, I remembered what Lee Eun-ji had said on Saturday.
Now that I thought about it, there was no way the CEO, who just arrived at work, would know about the ramen we ate over the weekend.
‘He’s probably going to tell us when the recording is.’
Realizing we hadn’t been caught, I relaxed my tense body and waited for the CEO to continue.
“I’ve set your debut date.”
“Huh?”
I was flustered.
Debut, not recording?
We hadn’t prepared anything yet…
“February 8th of next year.”
Four months.
It was ample time, but also meant it was up to us.
“Is it a single?”
“For starters.”
The CEO answered briefly to my question and stood up.
‘For starters?’
I tilted my head at the ambiguous answer and looked at the CEO’s outstretched hand.
He was holding several A4 sheets with drawings on them.
“I’ve found composers and lyricists, and they’ve started working. Four months is enough time to make one song. The recording, jacket shooting, music video, everything.”
Lee Eun-ji and I were so surprised that we just froze, forgetting to respond.
“Follow me well.”
“Yes…”
Then…
As if dissatisfied with our weak reply, the CEO frowned.
“How should you answer?”
“Loudly!”
“Follow me well.”
“Yes!”