I Became the CEO of an Idol Company in a Game – Chapter 113

Author: Cireng

[6:58 PM.]

There were two minutes left until Florence’s debut showcase.

As the lights slowly dimmed, the hall where the showcase was being held filled with even more tension.

“We will begin shortly. Please remain seated for a moment. And keep your eyes on the stage.”

As the MC’s announcement ended, the screen on stage lit up, and the black-and-white visuals and purple flower imagery used in the pre-debut teaser began playing again.

The Florence members appeared at the center of the stage under the lights.

The moment they took their first step, small cheers burst out from various parts of the audience.

“Hello, we are Florence!”

Kang Seoah’s bright greeting echoed through the hall. At the same time, reporters quickly pressed their camera shutters.

Florence’s outfits today looked similar at a glance, but upon closer inspection, they were white dresses with subtle differences in detail.

Purple ribbons were tied around the members’ wrists as accents.

“Waaaaaah!”

Since there were no official light sticks yet, those who appeared to be fans were holding glow sticks instead.

“Those glow sticks… the fans prepared them themselves, right? They’re just debuting.”

One reporter casually asked the others nearby.

“I heard the CEO prepared those.”

“The CEO? You mean the Ramos Entertainment CEO?”

The reporters naturally exchanged information.

“Yeah. Since there’s no official light stick yet. They said he handed them out when people entered.”

They were aware of the influence that John Raid Lombardi, the CEO of Ramos Entertainment, currently held in the industry.

The epitome of turning over a new leaf.

A capable producer who revived a failing idol group.

On top of that, his connection with top actor Kang Woojin.

Because of that, they were already drafting articles with the thought that his name had to be included.

“Then we should let you hear the debut song first, right? It’s [DREAMING].”

As the MC stepped aside, Florence took their positions.

Lim Hyeju and Mio knelt on one knee, sitting while facing opposite directions, while the other members stood behind them. All of them crossed their hands near their chests, waiting for the intro to begin.

“Waaaaaah!”

Fans shouted in excitement. Florence looked at them with a slightly nervous expression.

Soft purple and pastel-toned lighting spread across the stage.

Small LED starlights sparkled here and there.

[NA NA NA NA NA NA NA NA]

The song began with soft harmonies.

Florence gently moved their fingers, resembling the motion of a butterfly.

The camera captured their movements.

This debut showcase was being broadcast live online.

[NA NA NA NA NA NA NA NA NA NA NA NA NA NA NA NA]

The members lightly lifted their fingertips and took small steps on their toes, slowly moving toward the center.

The fans held their breath, fixing their gaze on every single movement.

‘They’re really pretty.’

Florence was truly beautiful.

After briefly seeing them on John Raid Lombardi’s observation variety show, she had become a fan.

‘I was so anxious thinking they wouldn’t debut because of the discord rumors.’

Right after the rumors broke, she imagined every worst-case scenario, member changes, and debut delays, but as if unaffected by such rumors, they were now performing their debut showcase right before her eyes.

Even though the stage had just begun, she somehow felt like she might cry.

It was surprising how deeply she had fallen for them in such a short time.

[Gently close your eyes

Shall we take a brief look inside]

The reporters kept their cameras fixed, recording the members’ fingertips, gazes, and even their smallest foot movements.

They viewed the stage from a different perspective than the fans.

How to get more views.

That was their main concern.

“For a debut stage, they’re pretty stable. Doesn’t seem like there’ll be mistakes.”

“Yeah.”

Florence’s live performance was stable.

They concluded that emphasizing mistakes or writing negatively wouldn’t bring high views or counts.

[My heart

And your heart

The place where they meet]

At the center of the stage, the members looked at each other, briefly held hands, then let go as part of the choreography.

[I’ll slowly approach

Surprised

So you won’t wake up]

Every time they slowly turned on their toes, the hems of their dresses spread out, creating elegant movements.

Since the skirts weren’t short, there was no risk of undershorts showing or thighs being exposed.

[A secret conversation

Entering your heart]

They kicked their legs forward like ballet and moved ahead, naturally changing formation.

It resembled an “N” shape.

[Sometimes I

In a fragile

Dream

Will you support me]

The chorus.

Kang Seoah lifted her head and looked straight at the audience.

At that moment, light burst from behind the screen, and flower petals poured down from above.

Purple petals slowly descended, covering the stage.

Cheers erupted from the fans.

The Florence members held hands, lifted their legs with momentum, and switched positions.

[Before the sunrise

With a happy smile]

The lighting shifted to dawn tones.

Soft purple mixed with apricot light filled the stage.

Seoah and Mio faced each other and smiled. As their fingertips touched, the lights flashed white all at once.

A music box sound gently spread.

Florence walked slowly, looking at one another.

[The eyes that look at me

Shine brightly and clearly]

As Hyeju’s voice rang out, the camera slowly rotated, following her face.

Noticing the camera, she gave a slight smile.

[Red moon

Blue night sky

Calm air]

The members slowly formed a circle, each extending their hands.

White light touched their fingertips, reaching toward the sky.

[None of this makes sense

A sight I’ve never seen before

Within these vivid sensations]

Mio spun widely at the center.

The hem of her white dress fluttered through the air.

Unlike the pure concept of the song, the choreography was relentless.

It looked simple but was actually difficult to perform.

[It can’t stay like this forever

But I’ll keep this memory

Carefully to myself

And convey this feeling

(AH)]

Kang Seoah slowly closed and opened her eyes, then belted out a high note.

At that moment, the glow sticks in the fans’ hands waved wildly, and cheers exploded.

[Florence is stable for rookies.]

[They’re pretty.]

[Hasn’t it been a while since we’ve seen a pure-style idol like this?]

[Florence! They’re finally debuting. I’ve really been waiting for them. I fell for them after watching that 3-minute visuals clip.]

The real-time reactions were positive.

Seeing the public’s favorable response made it feel like all the hardships had been rewarded.

“CEO.”

Han Suseok approached me.

“Yeah.”

“It’s proceeding smoothly without any issues.”

I nodded at his words.

“What about Joo Youngjun? Has he done anything since then?”

“No. He seems anxious after hearing that the hacker was caught.”

Hearing that made me feel reassured.

“So? What do the reporters think?”

“They seem to be looking for something sensational, but it looks like they haven’t found anything yet.”

At Han Suseok’s words, I scanned the reporters.

Fifty of them.

That was a lot.

Definitely not a number you’d normally see at a debut showcase.

Most small and mid-sized agencies like ours wouldn’t be able to gather this many reporters.

And yet, the reason we managed to bring in fifty reporters…

“They probably came because of the discord rumors. Looking for something to tear apart.”

[Under the sunlight, you and I

Quietly look at each other

Smile slightly

My heart races with excitement]

Even as we talked, Florence’s performance continued.

“They’re probably all thinking about how to write their articles right now. If there’s nothing to write, they might even make things up instead of the discord rumors.”

Han Suseok nodded in agreement.

“Let’s review everything after the performance. If any article crosses the line, report it immediately.”

“Understood.”

[They’re seriously so pretty and talented.]

[Wait, are they really rookies?]

[I’ve been waiting for a pure-style idol like this. Of course, I like girl crush too. But for me, pure concept is the essence of girl groups. But these days, no one really does that concept anymore. Even groups that used to do it changed after gaining experience.]

[I’ve been waiting for idols like this.]

[It can’t stay like this forever

But I’ll keep this memory

Carefully to myself

And convey this feeling

(AH)]

Once again, Kang Seoah’s high note rang out.

‘Their skills really are solid.’

Among the Florence members, Kang Seoah would likely receive the most attention.

In terms of skill alone, she was even superior to the main vocalists of senior idol groups.

[Wow.]

[That high note is so refreshing.]