138 - Upki Girl

< Your Red is Temporary, But Our Red is Eternal > ―――――― Girl Crush TOP10 Concert IN Busan BEXCO Exhibition Hall 1 ―――――― The Girl Crush fever is ongoing. Hong-i and Yona are contracted with B-Music for six months, so even after the show concluded, they are on the road under the Girl Crush name, performing nationwide tours, university festivals, and regional events at least twice a week. Additionally, they filmed a total of seven commercials for sportswear, energy drinks, and headphones, all under the Girl Crush title. The fee for a three-month exclusive commercial featuring the top eight Girl Crush members ranges from 80 to 100 million won. When you consider that a typical rookie girl group earns about 20 to 40 million won, it gives you an idea of the viewership and buzz that Girl Crush generated. While it might be tempting to think, "Isn't it nice to be a celebrity?", unfortunately, that's far from the truth. All revenue related to Girl Crush is split among B-Music, related companies, distributors, and management. Hence, the actual earnings that come to us are less than you might think considering the work involved. For example, only about 30% of a commercial fee is distributed among the rappers, and that amount is further divided equally among all participants. So, in reality, the portion that trickles down to the individual members isn't much. If they were paid 100 million won, they might end up with, at most, 3 million won individually? It'd be wonderful if that few million won could entirely go into the hands of the kids, but since costs for outfits, hair, and makeup need to be deducted first, the company and Upki Girl split the remaining amount, which leaves Hong-i and Yona's share quite meager, in the tens of thousands. Even though it's a decent sum for kids who've just entered their twenties, considering the average annual salary of an office worker, it's hard not to feel resentful when realizing that the ones who actually perform receive only a fraction in the grand scheme of things (excluding Alia). As for Upki Girl, they also agreed to share their individual profits with the team. It was mutually decided with the company to split it 70% for the individual and 30% for the team. To briefly touch on revenue distribution and accounting: At least with Upki Girl, since there's not much initial investment or preparation time involved (featuring Alia), settlements can be expected sooner. But for a typical girl group, only a massive hit would lead to the first accounting within three years of their debut. For instance, Plan L only received their first settlement in their third year, and the exception was Riz So Nyeo who received theirs unusually early in their second year. Such achievements are only reached by hitting number one on music charts and programs at least four times consecutively from their debut. For the remaining 80% of girl groups outside the top 20%, it’s fortunate if they receive any settlement during their active period. It usually boils down to the company at least covering basic living expenses. Of course, I wasn't aware of these facts until I actually got involved in production. "Manager." "Ah, Hong." "Are you feeling unwell?" "No, I just dozed off for a moment." The night before the Girl Crush concert in Busan. I must have fallen asleep while waiting for Hong-i and Yona and looking at my phone. I was sitting on the sofa, but at some point, my body leaned over. Perhaps I'm reaching my physical limits lately as I instantly fall asleep the moment my head touches the pillow. For regional Girl Crush performances, It’s better for condition management to arrive early, secure lodging, and get some rest rather than hastily departing shortly before rehearsal time, so we usually set out at dawn or the night before. One of the perks of B-Music events is that they always ensure top-notch convenience and amenities for the performers. This is because it’s a subsidiary of a company that oversees general cultural content rather than just simple music broadcasts. The accommodation for the Busan concert this time was also a luxury hotel arranged by Girl Crush. Of course, this only applies to the performers, while managers and staff have to use nearby motels. Today, Hong-i, Yona, Jang-woo, myself, and the hair and makeup staff—a total of seven—are setting off. Yona, who narrowly lost to Midori in the round of 16, could participate in the top 10 concert as the 9th finalist. "You're quite tired, aren’t you…" Hong-i, with her chin nestled in her long padding neck collar, looked at me sympathetically. A look akin to that of Hinata from Naruto’s unrequited love... Feigning nonchalance, I opened my eyes wide and stretched. "Ugh!" "Manager, you were groaning quite a bit." "Oh, really? What about Yona?" Just as I asked, Yona and the remaining kids came up from the basement stairs. Eunbyul Soweon’s vocal line has a radio schedule tomorrow afternoon, so we had to split into two groups for separate activities. Riya joined that side. "I want to go to Busan too." "So we’ll have to deal with Director Yeom for tomorrow’s schedule, huh? Ugh..." Soweon, who doesn’t quite get along with Yeom, grumbled. It seems everyone except Eunbyul finds Yeom intimidating because he's the representative. "Can’t we send Gangster Yeom to Busan and have Mumeum or Jang-woo stay? Riya's also scared of Gangster Yeom." Riya boldly asked, and I firmly declined. "Nope. That’s not possible." "Tsk." "Don’t dawdle and get some rest. Soon it'll be so hectic you won't be able to sleep even if you want, so take care of your condition now. Soweon, make sure the kids are asleep. Got it?" "Yes." Hmm. Normally, I’d expect a response like, “If you’re so worried, why don’t you stay, Manager?” But lately, Soweon has been quite compliant. No, rather than compliant, it feels like she's drawing a line with me. Since meeting Jeehee, she sends noticeably fewer personal messages and her attitude towards me has undoubtedly changed. Did something shift in her mindset? While it’s convenient that she no longer bothers me, it’s scarier not knowing when she might explode. "Do well on the radio tomorrow. Soweon, don't stress too much during the talk segments. Just showcase your singing as the main vocalist." "Alright." “Eunbyeol, you too. Just being there makes you stand out, so there’s no need to overdo it. Just follow what the MCs say.” “Manager, it’s DJ, not MC.” Alright, Miss Know-it-All. Lately, Yona has even been correcting my vocabulary. “Ah, DJ.” Eunbyeol looked at me pleadingly. “…Should I not do Capoeira?” “Yes, definitely forbidden. Besides, why would you even do a physical comedy on the radio?” “It’s not a comedy sketch. I learned a new move…” “Soweon, if Eunbyeol tries to do Capoeira, just chop her neck to knock her out.” “Yes.” “We’re off.” “Have a safe trip.” “Hong-hong unnie, Yonna unnie, do well!” We exchanged goodbyes with the radio team and headed out to the hotel parking lot. But something felt off with my condition since earlier. The moment the cold wind hit my face, a chill surged through me, my joints ached, and my muscles felt tender. My nose feels prickly too - seems like I'm catching a cold. Damn. I sensed a chill this morning. I haven’t started coughing yet, but if it’s the flu, I worry about passing it to the kids. “Jangwoo, sorry to ask, but can you drive on the way there? I’m not feeling so great.” “Sure, no problem. Are you feeling really bad?” “I’m okay for now, but I feel like pushing myself might make it worse.” “Ah, I know that feeling.” “If you get old, you’re ready for the grave. You really feel it when you hit your 30s.” “No way, you don’t look your age at all.” “No, really. I can’t stand looking in the mirror these days. It’s horrifying to think how much I’ve aged.” It was no joke; I was serious. No matter how much people say I look young for my age, there's a feeling that tells me otherwise. I can't stand looking at my face since it feels so unfamiliar, like I’m not looking at myself anymore. My stamina took a nosedive too. In my 20s, I could pull all-nighters for three days straight and still function, but now missing just one night’s sleep leaves me exhausted for days. Even now, my body is feeling it. Juggling Replay Girls, Girl Crush, and preparing for all the other events and albums has overwhelmed me, and all that accumulated fatigue hit me hard at once. I need to acknowledge this. If I don’t take care of myself, it’s my loss and makes things harder for my team. So, I need to moderate myself and manage my pace when I’m not in top condition. Yona was busy moving outfits with the stylist, so she hadn’t noticed my state, but Hong-i had overheard my conversation with Jangwoo. As I opened the passenger door, Hong-i firmly placed her hands on my shoulders. Whoa, her grip is something else. She’s got some strength. “Manager, I really think you should rest back at the hotel.” “It’s not that bad. I’m just being cautious in case it gets worse.” “But you were groaning so much on the sofa earlier. I think you’ve caught a cold. How about you stay behind and let us handle it, Jangwoo and I?” Jangwoo could handle it alone, but it’d be hectic without someone to swap with when he needs a break. “Nah, it’s fine.” “Then I’ll sit in the front, so you can lie down in the back.” “What’s up? Is Manager not feeling well?” By then, Yona and the makeup team approached with worried faces. I brushed it off, saying I was just under the weather, and quickly slid into the passenger seat. I should’ve listened to Hong-i. *** “Ugh…” Even in sleep, I can feel myself groaning. The day’s events, nonsensical dreams, and countless thoughts swirl like a chaotic blend of clay in my head. I can feel it. This is a colossal cold that comes once in a lifetime, if at all. The chills are so fierce that just touching the blanket feels painful. Sitting in the passenger seat during the four-hour drive to Busan, my condition deteriorated significantly. Despite taking Tylenol and drinking vitamin supplements before the drive, it hadn't helped. I was in a groggy, half-awake state, teetering between sleep and consciousness. The pillow beneath me was soaked with sweat. Ugh—Snore— Khhurrk! Sssshhh… Jangwoo isn’t usually a snorer, so he must've been really exhausted. The sound of his snoring started to bring me back to reality. After dropping the kids and female staff at the hotel, we checked into a nearby motel and promptly crashed. “Ugh…” This is truly miserable. Even under the blanket, I’m shivering uncontrollably. If I’d known the flu was this severe, I would’ve stayed behind as Hong-i suggested. Should I wake Jangwoo and head to the emergency room… “Ugh…” As I shifted slightly to check the time on my phone, something slid off my forehead and landed in front of my face. Reaching up, I touched a damp, lukewarm towel. Jangwoo must’ve placed it to cool my fever. “Grmph! Oh… are you awake…?” Blink. Blink Blink. Huh? It’s Hong-i? It’s really Hong-i? All the lights were turned off, but the faint glow from the switch allowed me to make out faces. The assumed snorer wasn’t Jangwoo but Hong-i, who was sitting on the floor next to the bed, leaning her arms. She reached over to check my forehead for fever. “Sorry, I nodded off for a moment.” You snored pretty loud for just a short nap. “Why are you… here? Are you really Hong-i?” “Ah… Jangwoo-oppa said you weren't doing well.” “And Jangwoo?” “He’s right behind you.” “Ah…” Jangwoo was almost passed out, back-to-back with me, on the same bed. Concerned about my condition, Hong-i had called, and after hearing about my continuous groans in sleep, decided to come over herself. “What time is it?” “A little past 3 AM.” “Ah… when did you get here?” “Just before 1 AM. Would you like some water?” "Uh… what about Yona?" "She passed out first. I only told Jeong-hee unnie before coming." "But is this real?" "No. It's probably a dream." "Yeah. This must be real..." I felt so out of it, probably because of all the groaning I did in my sleep. Even awake, my mind was foggy. I tried to get up to accept the glass of water Hong-i poured for me, but there was no strength in my body. "Ugh…" "Just stay still. Let me help you up." What a sight this must be. I had to rely on Hong-i to lift my upper body like I was an incapacitated patient. Drinking the water snapped me awake. This girl shouldn’t be here taking care of me. She needs to sleep if she wants to perform well at tomorrow's concert. A lack of sleep could make her voice hoarse or falter. "Uh… Jangwoo, Jangwoo." "Why? What's with Jangwoo oppa?" Hong-i was startled, pulling my hand away as I tried to shake Jangwoo awake. "You need to sleep quickly. Jangwoo, wake up." "No, don’t wake him." Jangwoo was completely out. Even amidst the commotion, he didn’t stir. To be fair, he’d been driving all day since yesterday morning, so he must be exhausted. "Never mind, just sleep here. I'll call the front desk to check for another room." "Sigh… Manager…" "No, no. You must sleep quickly. Or do you want to take this bed? I can take the floor…" "Manager!" Oh. It's the first time I think I've seen Hong-i frown like that. Her face contorted, she spoke firmly and clearly. "I'm really fine, so just worry about yourself. What is this? I told you to stay at the hotel, didn’t I?" "No, I'm really feeling better…" "Do you want me to get angry at you?" "Huh…?" "Lie down before I lose my temper. Or do you want me to knock you out?" "No, don’t hit me. I’ll lie down." "Finish the water in the cup." "Okay…" There's a saying that style is temporary, but class is permanent. Even though Hong-i’s lost some weight, at this moment, I felt like I’d lose to her in a one-on-one fight. < Your Red is Temporary, But Our Red is Eternal > End