I Became the CEO of an Idol Company in a Game Chapter 17

<Episode 17>

 

Spade Joker’s dorm was filled with a party-like atmosphere. They watched the stage their manager had filmed over and over again.

Only now did it feel like they had truly debuted as idols.

“Hyung, can you believe it? That’s us.”

Leejoo’s eyes grew moist.

“Hey, don’t cry. If you start crying now, this place will turn into a sea of tears.”

Zen grumbled for no reason, but judging by how tightly he pressed his lips together, he was clearly holding back tears himself.

“It still feels like I’m dreaming.”

“My heart was racing so much after seeing the SNS reactions today that I captured everything.”

“Same.”

The corners of the members’ lips refused to come down. Their cheeks kept lifting higher and higher.

“I don’t even know if my face is going to cramp from smiling so much. I can’t believe a day like this would come for us.”

“This is so exciting.”

“The company’s having a staff dinner today, too. They said our comeback is going smoothly.”

“Really?”

“Yeah.”

A company dinner meant that album sales weren’t bad.

That’s why the members of Spade Joker smiled even brighter, so much that their lips couldn’t go any higher.

“I wish every day could be like today.”

“What do you mean? We have to go even higher. This is just the beginning.”

At Cain’s words, the other members nodded.

“Right.”

“Let’s really work hard.”

Their determination burned brighter.

 

[Spade Joker was amazing. I became a fan after watching today’s stage. Why am I only discovering an idol like this now? I thought they were rookies, but they’re already in their 4th year?]

↳ That’s mostly the company’s fault lol. It’s good now, but before it was pretty disastrous. Fans who joined back then are basically devoted.

 ↳↳ But now that the company seems to have come to its senses, I’m becoming a fan.

↳ I’d taken a long break from stanning idols, kind of drifting… I thought there was no idol left that could make my heart race. Turns out I was just waiting for Spade Joker.

 

[Spade Joker? Wow, their company really got its sense back. This is the first time I’ve seen a refreshing concept done this properly. Song, outfits, choreography, makeup… everything was perfect.]

↳ Seriously. The music video drops today, right? I’m so excited.

 ↳↳ We’ll know if the company really got its sense back once we see the MV.

↳ The teaser looked good.

↳ I’m excited. Feels like it’ll be great.

 

[The fandom name is Clover, right? I’m a Clover from now on. This is insane. It hit my taste perfectly. How did they know I’m obsessed with refreshing concepts?]

↳ I’ve just handed my heart over to Spade Joker… I only have one heart, so if it’s not them, it won’t beat anymore.

↳ After watching Reverse Perspective, they seem kind and close to each other. And they’re handsome and good on stage? That’s just perfect.

 ↳↳ I’m so happy more people are finally recognizing their true value.

 ↳↳ Clover always welcomes new Clovers!

 

[All new Clovers who just joined, gather here! We don’t have much, but we’ll give out some unofficial goods we made.]

↳ Wow, here! Here! I want it so bad.

↳ Another Clover who joined after today’s stage here.

↳ Are Clovers angels? Or just good people gathered together? Giving out unofficial goods for free… what angels.

 ↳↳ Honestly, even though our group is in its 4th year, there hasn’t been much content to enjoy. Just a bunch of weird stage videos. So this is basically a bribe to keep people from leaving!

 

Spade Joker kept rereading the supportive posts about them on SNS again and again.

Like checking stocks, they refreshed their phones every minute, unable to look away.

“But aren’t we going to the company dinner?”

“We’re in the middle of promotions, remember? They said we’ll have ours after the promotion period ends.”

“Right, we still have to perform and appear on variety shows.”

“Yeah. So don’t stay up too late checking SNS, go to bed early.”

“Maybe you should say that after putting down the phone in your hand first.”

At Cain’s words, Juseok teased him playfully.

“Ah.”

Since Kain himself hadn’t been able to put down his phone even while getting water, he gave an awkward smile.

“It’s not a bad thing… we’re just happy, so let’s enjoy it.”

“Yeah. Honestly, I feel like I wouldn’t get tired even if I didn’t sleep or eat right now.”

“Same here.”

 

***

 

Before heading to the company dinner, all the employees gathered in the office.

They were there to watch Spade Joker’s music video.

“Everyone ready?”

“Yes.”

All the employees answered in unison.

In truth, I had already watched the music video. I had to review it before it was uploaded to the official account.

“CEO, I’m so curious. I want to see it already.”

“Me too.”

The employees urged me on since they hadn’t even seen the thumbnail yet.

‘Feels like I’ve gotten closer to the staff while preparing for this comeback.’

“You can just play it already.”

“Alright.”

At their urging, my fingers moved faster.

[SPADE JOKER – ‘I’ MV]

The thumbnail showed the members lying on a grassy field.

“Then, I’ll play it.”

As I pressed the button, the music video began.

A bright blue sky with fluffy white clouds floated gently.

The word [I] appeared in white at the center, then scattered like clouds.

The camera moved downward, revealing a lush green field.

From afar, the members of Spade Joker came running while holding hands.

Just as their figures filled the frame, the screen changed.

It turned dark, but something faintly moved.

At the same time, the song began.

“Wow, it’s already good.”

“I think the response will be great.”

The employees shared their thoughts one by one.

[If you look around, there’s nothing but darkness

I can’t see anything]

The top of the screen slowly brightened, then became fully lit.

The members were lying on the grass with lifeless expressions.

The sunlight was too bright, so they shielded their eyes with one hand. Then they sat up and looked straight at the camera.

Tilting their heads, they soon stood and slowly approached the camera, touching it and chatting among themselves.

“CEO, I think you were right. Since the makeup, outfits, and hair are clean, the overall feeling stands out more.”

“Yeah, it suits the concept better.”

I nodded at their words.

‘Of course. No one understands this industry better than fans. And I followed their opinions, so it was bound to succeed.’

Fans had better instincts than most entertainment employees.

They had seen and heard so much, and more than anything, they had a deep desire to see their idols succeed.

Since I directly used their ideas, failure was never an option.

[Toward that sky

Woo Woo hoo

Toward that sky

Woo Woo hoo]

As Spade Joker lightly jumped, the background changed.

It became a white, enclosed space.

There, they performed synchronized choreography.

[Say hello

Breaking through the hardened soil, for the first time]

As the second verse began, their outfits changed.

In the first verse, they wore white shirts like in their comeback stage, but in the second, they were dressed in denim-on-denim.

The background also changed.

Instead of a grassy field, they were now in the sky.

They ran freely through the sky until a fierce wind stopped them. They shielded their faces with their arms and bent their legs, resisting the force.

“Seeing my song finally come to light like this…”

Han Youngjoo, watching the music video, murmured with deep emotion. Her nose had turned red, as if she were on the verge of tears.

[I’m gonna be harder]

Overcoming the wind, Spade Joker moved forward.

Neither the blazing sun nor the harsh wind could stop them.

No one knew what they were striving for, but they kept moving.

[Toward that sky

Woo Woo hoo

Toward that sky

Woo Woo hoo]

Suddenly, they fell from the sky.

The camera followed them as they plummeted endlessly downward.

[I]

Where the camera finally stopped, there stood six fully grown trees.

[I will become stronger and stronger]

Under the trees, couples whispered to each other, children ran around happily, and others sat reading books.

Many people were enjoying happiness under the shade of those trees.

The camera slowly moved upward, showing the same bright blue sky as at the beginning.

And with that, the music video ended.

“Waaaaah!”

“CEO, this is so good.”

The employees clapped and cheered.

“I think the response will be amazing.”

“Are we going to move offices soon at this rate?”

“I really hope so. Anyway, everyone worked hard. Let’s keep it up until the promotions end. We’ve seen everything, so let’s go to dinner now.”

“Yes!”

Somehow, the employees’ voices sounded louder than ever before.