Chapter 5

Is the work going well?

A question flew at KangYoon, who was handing in the interim report to Chairman Won JinMoon .

Yes . It is going well . Were selecting the song right now . We have also decided on the album name: Girls on Top . It represents a proud and aloof girl shining at the top .

The attracting audience should not be men then . Are you aiming for a female fanbase? The JooAh I know is easier to attract a male fanbase . This may be dangerous .

Chairman Won JinMoon pondered while going over each page of the report . However, KangYoon confidently said his argument .

Instead, it has possibility . Currently, it cannot be considered that there is a wide variety of musical media choices for Japanese women . At best, its at the level that they are buying albums or magazines . The aim of this album is for JooAh to attract admiration from there .

Wouldnt it instead attract jealousy? Were foreigners, and Koreans to boot .

If its JooAh, then she can shine at a higher position . There are already magnificent stages to support JooAh .

Chairman Won JinMoon seemed worried while listening to the interim report . However, the concepts and fanbases he never heard of until now also sparked his interest .

Anyway, you have all the power . I will believe you . I will wait for the next report, and I will receive the next report in the directors meeting . This report is fine, but prepare a presentation for then as well .

I understand .

KangYoon headed to his office after exiting the chairmans office . His office was already in a mess due to the scattered resources, various paperwork, many monitors, and even clothes since he didnt go home recently .

Its no surprise that hes worried . However, it will be accepted .

Putting down the transacted paperwork, KangYoon muttered .

In KangYoons past, JooAh debuted in Japan while aiming at the teen fanbase . However, she attracted female supporters in their 20s and 30s rather than teens . Cute, great, and even cool for these kinds of reasons There were lots of reasons for people to like JooAh . And she achieved success by placing in the top 10 in Japan .

However, KangYoon was now aiming for the top 5 . If he set the target right this time, then the possibility was high .

But the problem is the song . Even if we use the original one, its obvious that it will only get in the top 10 . This adventure I started, I will take it to the end .

Whether he becomes minus or midas, it all started here . If he used the same song as the past, then he would just repeat history . Of course, a Korean singer placing in the top 10 is a great achievement in itself, but KangYoon had ambition . He started this, so he couldnt be satisfied with just the same level as before .

KangYoon opened the budget draft . He had more than 30 songs until now, and requesting for these songs had costed him a huge amount of money . Moreover, the money for making the album cover, JooAhs activity costs, and other miscellaneous costs The album production costs this time was incomparable to JooAhs previous albums .

Im using money like water . The scale is different alright, haha .

KangYoon thought back to his past for a moment . In his past, it hurt him to even use 1 million Won (870 USD) . But now, 1 million Won wasnt even enough to request for one song . The number increased at a frightening speed and this came back to him as responsibility . Like the huge budget, the responsibility he felt was big too .

-Team Leader, Miss JooAhs here .

Please let her in .

When he was focusing on his work, he was contacted from the lobby that JooAh had come here . Normally, JooAh would barge in, but today, she even contacted him before coming . It was a kind of consideration for KangYoon .

Soon, JooAh and Manager Kang JinSung came into the office . After a brief greeting, the three sat down and started the conversation .

Is the practice going well?

The main song isnt even out yet, do you think I can practice? When is it coming out?

I told you that the guided version will come out tonight . Why are you here so early?

I wanted to listen to it earlier . How many are there?

30 .

Oppas great, alright . You made him do guided versions for 30 of them? JiWan-oppa must be dying .

JooAh was really surprised . Normally, they would settle on a main song and make 1~2 guided versions . However, KangYoon had made guided versions for all 30 songs .

Its because selecting songs for the album is an important task . All the members, including Producer Oh JiWan, will be gathering . You need to get a grip on yourself, alright?

Oh, leave it to me .

A guided version referred to the records of melodies sung by another person, before the actual recording . All the singer, that was recording the melody, had to do was to follow the song . Normally, its done by trainees for practice, but sometimes singer friends of the actual singer did it too .

Is JooAhs condition alright?

KangYoons gaze turned to the manager this time .

Its good . Your words of not restricting so much on diet was very effective . Since then, she managed herself well .

I think oppa knows me better . Thank you for believing in me .

Dont mention it .

There are people who do better when you leave them alone . JooAh was one such person . Due to this freedom, Manager Kang JinSung had an easy time and JooAh could comfortably concentrate on practice and rest . Thanks to that, the two were at their best conditions .

But when is the song coming out? My throats getting all itchy .

Then shall we wait there? And not here?

Lets do that . Im no good with meetings .

JooAh stood up as soon as she said that and headed towards the underground studio . KangYoon and Kang JinSung shrugged their shoulders while watching her activeness . An active girls charm would make men smile .

When the three went to the underground studio, there was a great crowd that included Producer Oh JiWan and his team members, Chairman Won JinMoon, and even a woman in a suit .

We met at the interview, right? Nice to meet you . Im Lee HyunJi .

So its the President . Im Lee KangYoon .

The woman in the suit, who sat next to Chairman Won JinMoon in the interview, offered her hand to KangYoon . It was a woman who looked like she was in her mid to late 30s . She had a short height and had a bit of wrinkles around her eyes, but she still boasted of beauty . It was the victory from management .

President Lee came since she was also interested in JooAhs song selection, and that includes me, too . We will just watch from the back so dont mind us .

That phrase was the most scary one of them all . KangYoon said that he understood and started working right away .

Producer, are the songs ready?

Yes . Shall we start straight away?

JooAh, shall we start?

As soon as he said that, JooAh headed into the booth . Inside the booth, the thick scores, headsets, and microphones were done being set . Even the microphone was set to match her height, so further adjustments were not necessary .

Then lets start . Please put on the first song .

From the studio, JooAhs voice started flowing out . Everybody quietly listened to her singing .

Hmmmmmmmm

The melody without lyrics were coming, it was resounding throughout the studio through JooAhs voice .

I see it . Hmm Its just white .

It was white light . But it was just white . It had no sense of being delicate and it was something like a white from a crayon . KangYoon looked at the people around him . They had no big reactions either .

Ok . Next .

After the first verse ended, the next started . However

Its grey!!

KangYoon looked to JooAh just in case, but she was singing with all her might . However, to think its grey This meant that JooAh and the song didnt match each other .

Stop . I dont think this is right .

KangYoon stopped the song . Then JooAh, who was inside the booth, also nodded .

Yes, I dont like this one either .

Good . Lets go on to the next one .

Continuing on, the third song started . However, this time

Grey .

I dont think this is right either .

KangYoon stopped it again . Then, it was Producer Oh JiWan who chimed in .

How about we listen a bit more?

That isnt necessary . The song doesnt match with JooAh . I think continuing is useless .

But the first verse hasnt even finished yet

At that moment, JooAh, who was inside the booth, spoke .

I dont like this song either . I want to do another one .

When it became like this, people were surprised at KangYoon . Wasnt it as if he was listening in JooAhs point of view? Like this .

This time, its white .

The first verse ended . However, KangYoon proceeded on with the song . It was because there was a climax point at the end of the second verse . However

Hmm To think the climax part is grey . I think I need to request for a rearrangement .

After the song ended, KangYoon picked up a microphone .

JooAh, lets try this again after requesting for a rearrangement .

Yes . Its a good song but its lacking something .

KangYoon was choosing the song as if his heart was connected with JooAhs . However, the more surprising thing was that there seemed to be no flaw in his selection . He was pinpointing good songs and bad songs for JooAh, whether it was a ballad or a fast song . Moreover, his opinion matched with JooAhs, so nobody could refute what he was saying .

Contrary to everyones expectations, the song selection didnt last that long . They only went through each song once to narrow down 30 songs into 12, so the process ended in just two hours .

Team Leader Lee, Im surprised at your ability to see songs .

Thank you, President .

Lets eat together some time . Then, see you later .

President Lee HyunJi bade farewell and exited .

Ayy, to think, HyunJi, that girl would say something like that . She seems to like you a lot . Is the old lady trying to marry this time?

Chairman, what do you

Hahaha, its just a joke, a joke . Me too, todays song selection was a surprise in itself . I thought god had descended . To think that you made everyone accept the songs by just going through them once I look forward to the future .

Chairman Won JinMoon, who was amused at KangYoons awkwardness, tapped KangYoons shoulder once and exited . After that, the employees who followed him in left in a straight line . The only ones left were Producer Oh JiWan, JooAh, and the manager .

Thank you for your work . Now we have to make the lyrics, record it, and wait for the choreography .

At KangYoons words, everybody nodded .

Thank you for your work, Team Leader . Today left a deep impression on me .

Producer Oh JiWan spoke a line too .

Oppa, that was great! Did we get through to each other today?

What do you mean? Get through? Thats just your point of view .

This album . I have a great feeling . I think it will turn out really good .

Isnt that obvious?

KangYoon spoke with the remaining people for a while before going up to his office . When he finished doing the remaining work in his office, it was already 10:30 PM . It was very late for leaving work .

KangYoon took the train and the bus back home even though it was late . When he arrived, it was already the next day . [1]

HeeYoon, you didnt go to sleep yet?

Oppa wasnt home yet though .

When he stepped past the tattered door, HeeYoon heard it and came to meet him barefoot . At that figure, KangYoon was so surprised and he waved his hand .

Get in quickly . Did todays dialysis go well?

Dont worry . Of course I did it .

He washed his face with cold water in the courtyard and changed his clothes . He was tired, so he laid out the futon and lied there immediately, but HeeYoon opened the door .

Oppa .

Yes? HeeYoon, what is it?

My brothers face I havent seen for three days . I want to have a look .

Thinking back on it, he hadnt left work for three days . He called whenever he had the time, but seeing face to face was different . KangYoon thought dear me!

Oh, my dear sister, did you miss me so much?

Yes . What are you gonna do about it?

HeeYoons white face looked whiter than ever today . However, she was KangYoons most precious and most pretty little sister . KangYoon sat up and hugged her .

Oppas work is going very well this time . If it goes well, let me fix your illness, and buy a good house and everything, alright?

Im alright . Im happy with just oppa by my side .

Im happy with just you too . So lets get happier .

She had a tall height, but she was very skinny . And when KangYoon saw her, his heart ached . However, he was happy that he could embrace her now . He wanted to protect this happiness and make it grow more .

That night, KangYoon resolved while hugging his sister . To make this small happiness grow larger and larger .

To do that, first,

Japan .

He needed to sweep Japan .