81 - Upki Girl

< Eye Contact & Yona > Wanting to greet them in person, huh… Yona decided to face the situation head-on. I wondered what Manager Kim Sang-in would have advised. As a manager, not a protective brother or guardian, what would be the best direction for my artist? Personally, I wished Yona would avoid this, but her viewpoint wasn't wrong, so I chose to respect her decision. As she prepared to exit our car parked in front of Eye Contact’s food truck, I spoke to Yona. "Don’t open the door; I'll do it for you." I pressed the automatic button to open the back door and, anticipating any possible scenarios, turned on my phone's recording function before stepping out. The fans standing in line in front of the truck were already awed by the physical grandeur of our Maybach, even more so when Yona stepped out. As Yona approached, offering greetings, both Eye Contact and their fans were taken by surprise. The murmurings and whispers blended into an audible mix. "Oh, it’s Yona." "Unbelievable." "Is Yona appearing today too?" "Yeah, I saw she’s on the opening cue sheet." "Yona!" "Unnie!" Contrary to my concerns, the Eye Contact members welcomed her as if she was one of their dearest friends. After all, they also need to maintain a good image; they couldn’t show sour attitudes in front of fans. Experts at acting kindly, they seemed to be putting on an even more affectionate facade. Fans were eager to capture photographs with Yona and Eye Contact together in one frame. Their first meeting since Yona’s departure. Today, Eye Contact's website and official café would be abuzz with this scoop. "Oh, Yona, long time no see. Have you been well?" From within the food truck, where the person handing out drinks could not be seen, appeared none other than Karma's CEO, Kim Seok-won. With so many involved in album preparations—from acting and language schools to recording studios, costume studios, salons, fitness centers, skincare shops, and even plastic surgery clinics—news spreads quickly in this industry, no matter how well one tries to keep it under wraps. Kim Seok-won was already aware that I'm a manager at Hum Hum and that Yona had signed with us. It’s no surprise he wasn’t startled to see us together despite creating “Revenge,” a song targeting Yona. Looking solely at his and Eye Contact's position, they had plenty of reasons to dislike us, yet his gaze showed not anger but a kind of magnanimity beyond arrogance. Puffed up because Yona's new song hadn’t gained much response while they basked in their all-time high popularity since debut. Manager Kim Sang-in predicted they must have secured some hefty investment, given the scale of promotion and media exposure for this Eye Contact album. Nonetheless, there were no related articles, and no rumors were circulating in the industry, indicating a probable personal investor. While the word "sponsor" wasn’t used explicitly, it was evident that this wasn’t a legitimate investment but rather a negative one. The connection mileage your sponsor network accumulated overtime likely played its part here. Considering Eye Contact's trajectory so far, their fandom and company scale, public awareness, this couldn’t generate such buzz legitimately. At this rate, shouldn’t they rename the team to “Sponsor Contact”? "Hello." Yona also bowed ninety degrees towards the CEO. Immediately the Eye Contact members surrounded Yona, creating a cheerful atmosphere. Sumi, a co-lyricist of “Revenge” and the leader of Eye Contact, held Yona’s hands like playing a children’s game and asked in a nasal tone. “Yona, your song sounded great. Who composed it for you?” Their title track was composed by one of the top producer teams, “All Star.” On the other hand, the composer for “Open” is “Yeom Keun-son,” our CEO. On the surface, it seemed like a casual inquiry, but the underlying intent was clear. “We have a song by ‘All Star,’ but yours seems composed by someone unknown?” It was a display of boasting. “Our CEO wrote it.” “Which company did you join again?” “It’s a new one called Hum Hum Sound.” “Oh, I see.” The eyes of Eye Contact members shifted towards me, who was standing behind Yona. I offered them a warm smile, matching their facade. “I’m looking forward to your performance. The concept this time is fantastic.” They responded in unison by bowing and chanting their prepared thanks, "Thank you! We’ll work hard!" Among them was a girl who had auditioned at Hum Hum, who looked at me with eyes hoping for recognition. She remembered my face, clearly wanting acknowledgment. Though our interaction was brief, seeing her again felt pleasantly familiar. Having no ill will against her, I gave a slight nod of recognition. And then, the encouragement directed towards Yona… which was actually Eye Contact’s subtle backhanded remarks began. “Unnie, we really want you to succeed.” “The song was genuinely good. Why isn't it gaining traction yet?” “If only you stayed a bit longer… Sigh.” “I know, we’d just started seeing some light after the struggles…” “Unnie, you should have been patient a bit more.” “Oh, now she’s crying again.” “Sniff, it breaks my heart.” These people, really. On the verge of tears, they implied Yona’s solo was a complete failure, even expressing sympathy. Hey, we weren’t banking on this blowing up anyway, alright? This is just a warm-up before going full-fledged. “Hey, you probably could have joined a bigger company. Why did you choose a startup? If you were going to leave, why not stay?” “Exactly. Even though it's tough, going through it together makes it a bit easier. Yona unnie must be lonelier now, being alone. Waaah.” These folks were treating me as if I was invisible. If not for Alya Capital backing us, we could have been crushed under our minimal investments while releasing an album amidst this humiliation—our morale would’ve been shattered. Worried that Yona might be shaken, I checked her expression... oh? It's Yo Seung-hwan. Clearly, there's nothing to worry about. Judging by her expression, she's entered Stone Buddha mode. Yona gently patted the back of Seulmi, the youngest member—a high schooler with a red nose who had been involved in sponsorship deals—and offered her comfort. "I see, sweet Seulmi, you’re upset because only you guys are doing well after coming this far together. But don't worry. At my current company, I’m so happy just focusing solely on music, without other concerns. And I’m not lonely at all. I’ll perform solo for now and then return to being part of a team. This solo is just a warm-up so my stage senses don’t dull." Eye Contact members seemed to think Yona was boasting; clearly, they didn’t believe her entirely. Seriously, though. Where are my girls? We've prepared tributes too. Me: [Where are you? We're at the entrance parking lot.] Lee Jang-woo: [Which part of the entrance?] Me: [To the right.] Lee Jang-woo: [Are you near Eye Contact?] Me: [Yes, that's right.] Lee Jang-woo: [We're heading your way.] While exchanging texts with Jang-woo, the CEO, who had been watching the scene with satisfaction, handed me a box of snacks, feigning unfamiliarity. "Here, take one. Our kids made these cookies themselves." "Oh, thank you. I’ll enjoy them." "As a startup, isn’t financial pressure tough?" Sir, why don’t you consider the car we arrived in before speaking? Stuck inside that truck, it seems you’re out of touch with the world. I responded calmly, refusing to take the bait. "Indeed. As a startup, we have no connections and are financially strained—it’s truly challenging. Everything costs money when we move." "That’s why raising an artist is tough. We went through so much to get here." "It’s good to see you’re doing well now." "Well, Yona still weighs on my mind. But knowing she’s singing peacefully puts me at ease." He says Yona is on his mind, yet composed such a petty song? This felt like a disingenuous pleasantry contest, where no genuine sentiments were exchanged. Ah, does any of this even matter? Though we had time before rehearsal, I no longer wanted to be here. "Yona, let's head inside." "Okay. I’ll go ahead. See you in the waiting room." "You’re second in the dry rehearsal line, right?" "Yeah." "I’ll catch you inside then." "Okay." As we were wrapping up with a warm hug in front of the watching fans, two 8-ton trucks appeared in the opposite lane, made U-turns, and parked right behind Eye Contact’s food truck. The trucks, designed to be mobile stages, clearly indicated their purpose via container-covering billboards. Instead of banners, they featured glossy advertisements similar to bus ads. The front truck displayed Yona's photo with the phrase "Yona Yon-na Pretty♡", while the rear truck bore an exclusive ground ad for the Oscar Hotel. They've arrived. ―Screech! Amid all eyes focusing on the identical, smoothly ascending doors, their contents became visible: Oscar Hotel’s buffet and the Upkey Girl team. As conversation about investment flitted through my mind, I recalled what Alya nonchalantly said to Cash: ‘You have to spend money in a way that makes it obvious.’ Indeed. It’s very obvious. Downright conspicuous. Inside the truck, Oscar Hotel staff began preparing to serve guests. Steps were set up, and the Upkey Girls, fully made up, stepped out to welcome guests. All bore sashes with supportive slogans for Yona. Even Seowon, who usually detested such things, and Our Hong, who was shy with strangers, actively participated at that moment. "Come have a meal on us—Yona’s treating!" "Please give Yona your love!" "Plates and forks are in the front truck." "Oscar Hotel supports Yona unnie, hurray!" Fans of other artists and journalists, waiting inside the parking lot, began to emerge, and soon the sidewalk bustled with people holding buffet plates. Spotted amongst the crowd waiting in the photo zone were Attorney Geon-tak and Yona enthusiasts. While exchanging greetings with them, snippets of other fans’ conversations naturally reached my ears. "Who’s Yona?" "The one who left Eye Contact." "Oh, her? Isn’t she stunning in person?" "The ones beside her must be from the same agency." "Nice, they look solid." "Wasn’t there a rumor about discord when she left Eye Contact?" "Who cares? I’m not interested in undistinguished acts." "But they’re all here together?" "They must be with different companies." A naturally contrasting scene compared to the Eye Contact food truck beside us. Eye Contact’s food truck had concluded operations or, better put, been overshadowed. Outclassed by the overwhelming scale and resources of a major corporation, Eye Contact’s truck was now merely a temporary resting spot for those waiting to enjoy Oscar Hotel’s buffet. "Excuse me, I just need to pass through." Determined to gauge Kim Seok-won’s reaction, I squeezed through the crowd back towards the truck. Even in this, Eye Contact members busily moved about with cookie boxes, and the face of CEO Kim, still inside the truck, mirrored his expression when he once lost Yona at a karaoke session—remaining unchanged. Feigning composure, he attempted to ask: "What’s your relationship with Oscar Hotel?" Should I prod him a bit? "Our sponsor this time. Oh, not the kind of sponsors you're familiar with, but actual corporate sponsorship." "Did you get an investment from Oscar?" "Yes, they insisted on investing. It seems like the Oscar Hotel CEO finds our girls charming. Oh, you know that Yona is coming back as part of a team right after her solo, don't you?" "How much did you get?" His annoyance seeped through as he dropped formalities. I answered as calmly as possible. "Why do you ask such questions? It seems unrefined." He probably didn’t expect his earlier arrogance to become a source of regret. It must feel akin to how Kang Baek-ho felt watching Jeon Ho-jang’s slam dunk. While subtly poking at Kim, I checked my phone. Real-time articles were appearing in the portal’s entertainment news section. ―Solo comeback by Yona, an unprecedented tribute ―Hotel buffet spotted on K-pop show morning arrival; is this real life? ―Singer Yona says, “Have a plate and go.” "Oh wow, the journalists are graciously putting up articles. I'll be on my way then." I offered a polite 90-degree bow and added with a sly look. "But really, what’s any of this compared to the sexy concept, right? If things don’t work out, we might give that a try too. Maid outfits, bare legs, bare feet—that kind of thing. Take care." *** After a bustling arrival, I met with Manager Kim Sang-in in the lobby and exchanged introductions with the “Trend Music Show” production team. It seemed Kim Sang-in had built a good rapport with the PDs and writers during his time at Plan L. Thanks to his influence, even the Upkey Girls could greet the production team. The news that Eunbit and Seowon, famed from "Sing Duo," were now teamed up caught the producers’ attention. A PD, who supposedly owed a debt to Manager Kim, was eager to recruit Upkey Girl for their debut stage. However, the female writer handing over the rehearsal cue sheet looked apologetic. "Sorry, we’re running short on waiting rooms, so you'll have to share with another team." "The underground coop?" "Yes..." "Haha, it’s been a while since I’ve been there. There was a time when Plan L used to wait there... How they grew and disbanded..." "I know, right." Rookies often used container-made waiting rooms underground, referred to colloquially as the 'coop.' Even these were in short supply, forcing solo acts to share with other groups. After a brief chat about Plan L, we took the elevator down to the second basement level. It was already crowded, filled mostly with idol groups in their first two years of debut and their staff. Aliya, who had a keen interest in K-pop, especially girl groups, was visibly excited. "Hello, we’re Who’s Who!" "I’m Manager So-and-so from Such-and-Such Company." "Hi, I’m Yona debuting as a solo artist! Please take care of me!" We exchanged greetings amidst the bustling crowd and finally found Yona's waiting room. Ah... The nametag on the door tugged at my heartstrings. 'Eye Contact & Yona' A silence like the calm before a storm settled. This is concerning; I didn’t bring a leash or muzzle. It was a moment requiring verbal guidance for Units 2 and 5. "Promise me. No matter what happens inside, you mustn't intervene." <End of Eye Contact & Yona>