I Became the CEO of an Idol Company in a Game Chapter 102

<Episode 102>

 

Bzzzz.

As my phone vibrated, I immediately answered the call.

“Hello.”

[Hyung.]

It was Kang Woojin’s voice.

I hadn’t checked the caller ID in my haste.

“Something urgent came up at the company, so unless it’s important, I’ll get back to you later.”

[Huh? Did something happen?]

He must have called me casually, but hearing the seriousness in my voice, he sounded flustered.

I wanted to keep this an internal company matter if possible, but it didn’t seem like Kang Woojin would just let it slide if I brushed it off.

In his case, he worked with our company as composer Maru, and he also ran a company himself, so he was discreet enough to trust. More than anything, he followed me like an older brother.

“Florence’s debut song was leaked. And not even from the original composer… it was hacked through Composer Han Youngjoo’s laptop.”

[What?!]

Kang Woojin’s voice rose.

[No, who on earth… I might be overthinking this, but is it that company that was copying Spade Joker?]

His intuition was frighteningly sharp.

From my relationship with Joo Youngjun to even matters regarding A-Fen.

‘And he just guessed it in one go.’

Though he denied it himself, he might truly have been born with the instincts of a businessman. Quick-witted, with a good eye for work, and fast at calculations like this.

“I’m not sure of the details either. But what made you think that?”

[Leaks are like that, right? Unless someone holds malicious intent toward your company, there’s no reason to do something like this. If they get caught, they’ll be in serious trouble too.]

He was right.

Once identified, the culprit would face significant consequences.

That meant either they had lost their mind or held deep resentment toward me.

Joo Youngjun was probably both.

‘After coming to see me late that night, he must have realized there was no way to bring me down, so he resorted to this.’

[So what are you going to do?]

“For now, preventing the leak is the best option, but we’re preparing a response manual assuming it does get leaked. Once we hire a lawyer, legal action can be arranged quickly. The real issue is what to do if it leaks.”

As soon as I finished speaking, silence fell. It seemed Kang Woojin was thinking.

[Hyung.]

He called me in a low voice.

“Yes.”

[How much was leaked? Is it the original?]

“The scope? It’s before the arrangement. A guide version.”

Silence followed again.

I couldn’t tell what he was thinking.

“What is it?”

[I have a suggestion. You might think it’s crazy, but I think it could be better.]

Even before he finished, I had a feeling what he was going to say.

“You’re suggesting we release it ourselves first? The leaked version?”

[Yes.]

His concise answer struck me.

[Instead of carrying a risk that could explode at any time, wouldn’t it be better to set it off ourselves first? That’s what I’d do.]

It wasn’t a bad suggestion.

It could even land a blow on Joo Youngjun.

The problem was how to release the leaked track.

‘We can’t just throw it out there recklessly.’

If we were going to release it, it had to benefit us too.

[How about making a new teaser? Like an old album concept.]

Kang Woojin threw out the idea casually.

But it wasn’t bad at all.

Scenes flashed through my mind.

An old tape cover, rough-recorded vocals, black-and-white-toned visuals.

Over those visuals, Florence’s voice overlapped.

“Thank you for the advice.”

[No problem. If there’s anything I can help with, just let me know anytime.]

“Alright.”

As soon as I hung up, my fingertips tingled.

‘Good. Then if it’s going to blow up anyway, let’s make it count.’

I turned my laptop on the desk and typed a new line in my notes.

[Florence – pre-debut film: “Echoes of a Lost Tape”]

The cursor blinked on the screen.

I quickly organized the scenes that had flashed through my mind. Maybe because it was urgent, my typing sped up even more.

Bzzzz.

My phone vibrated.

It was Han Suseok.

“Hello.”

[Sir.]

“Yeah.”

[We’ve hired a lawyer, and the PR team is fully prepared. However, IP tracing will take more time.]

I had expected that.

Since JM Entertainment had accumulated a lot of cash due to being designated as a rival in the game app.

‘They probably hired a hacker with that money.’

No way someone who calls himself a businessman would have his own employees do something like this.

He must have quietly hired someone through illegal channels.

‘People like that wouldn’t leave an easy trail to follow.’

“Then spend more money. Use my personal funds if needed. If there are well-known experts in this field, hire them no matter the cost.”

This was exactly what the reserve funds and personal money were saved for.

Of course, that meant we absolutely had to catch the culprit.

[Understood.]

“Yeah. Sorry, but hang in there. And Han Suseok.”

[Yes.]

“Instead of sitting around in anxiety, I think it’s better to release Florence’s original debut track ourselves. Like a long teaser. I’ll explain it to the PR team, so just be aware.”

[Yes, noted.]

The call ended.

‘Ah, right.’

I also needed to inform Composer Choi Minjun.

‘My mind’s all over the place.’

I immediately sent him a message asking to meet in person. Perhaps he had already heard a bit from Han Youngjoo, because he came to the company right away without much reply.

“Sir.”

“Please, sit.”

“Yes.”

Choi Minjun sat down with a serious expression.

“I apologize for calling you in so suddenly. The matter is that serious.”

“No, it’s alright. I should be here.”

He had clearly heard something from Han Youngjoo, but I needed to explain it myself.

“I’m sorry. Your song has been leaked.”

I bowed my head and apologized first.

“What? No, please raise your head. I heard everything. They said the company server was hacked through Youngju’s laptop. It’s the hackers’ fault, not yours.”

As I slowly raised my head, I saw him waving his hands in urgency.

“Even so, I can’t say I bear no responsibility. That’s what it means to be in this position.”

At my answer, Choi Minjun fell silent for a moment.

“So what happens now? Will my song be replaced as the title track or something?”

“No. That won’t happen.”

There was only about a month left until the debut.

It was too late to change the song now.

If we changed the title track, we’d have to reshoot the music video…

‘That would cost too much time and money.’

All preparations were already complete, including arranging the album tracks around his song as the title.

“So I’d like to make a proposal.”

“A proposal… what kind?”

Choi Minjun tilted his head.

“We want to release the original ourselves before the leaked version comes out.”

“The original?”

His eyes widened in surprise.

He clearly hadn’t expected this.

I handed him the proposal document I had prepared.

“We can’t carry a ticking bomb, and if the leaked version gets released, the damage to the company will be too great.”

Choi Minjun read through the document carefully, still looking flustered.

“Are you alright with this?”

“You’re asking for my permission?”

“That’s right.”

He looked even more surprised.

“Ah, I’m sorry. I don’t know if this is how it’s usually done, or if it’s just you.”

“Honestly, in the industry, it’s not common to ask for permission like this. After all, we’ve already purchased the song.”

He nodded at my honest answer.

“Then why are you doing this? You said the situation is urgent. What if I refused?”

He seemed genuinely curious about my intentions.

‘Why am I going this far?’

It was because of trust.

Business could never be done alone.

Especially in entertainment, connections mattered.

If you built strong trust with composers, you’d get the chance to hear great songs first when they were completed.

That meant you could secure good songs quickly or have time to prepare something to compete with them.

“Then I’d have to persuade you.”

I held back from saying more.

“There’s no need. I agree, of course. Honestly, I’m annoyed that someone leaked my song. And especially since they were targeting Youngju’s other songs but ended up taking mine.”

That was a relief.

I had worried he might reject the proposal.

“And… when you catch the culprit, please let me know. I’ll join the lawsuit.”

“Of course.”

He was a victim too, after all.

And if all of Joo Youngjun’s victims filed lawsuits, the case would only grow bigger.

“Then I’ll get going. And… I’m currently working on a song for Florence. When it’s done, would you listen to it?”

“It would be our honor.”