Debuting by Riding the Returnee’s Bus Chapter 148

“Good job today!”

 

“Good job, everyone! Thank you for your hard work!”

 

“<Fantasia>, it was fun today. Let’s meet again soon. And Taeyeol! A quick word with you….”

 

“Pardon? Ah… yes.”

 

“Go ahead and talk. We’ll head back first, Taeyeol hyung.”

 

“Ah… yeah, okay. Unha, thanks.”

 

“Hehehe… thank you for your hard work!”

 

“Good job today. Let’s definitely meet again, Mr. Unha”

 

“Yes! Of course! Thanks to all of you, filming was so much fun. Thank you.”

 

“Hahahaha. Thank you. Oh! And I’ll gladly take those signed CDs for the <Fantasia> members. Like I said earlier, my daughter really loves <Fantasia>.”

 

“Just say the word anytime! I’ll send you the next album, too!”

 

Immediately after the filming ended, even while I was greeting the permanent cast members and the numerous staff, the conversation I had heard earlier wouldn’t leave my mind.

 

‘As soon as one problem is solved, another one arrives. Is it always going to be like this?’

 

I wondered if it was just my imagination that I was never given a moment to catch my breath.

 

Of course, it also felt like I’d finally climbed over one major mountain. The issue regarding Kim Taeyeol had been one of the main worries within <Fantasia>. Since it had somehow become linked with Jegal Hwi, I was in a situation where I had to piece together the narrative that I had been running around for Kim Taeyeol’s sake.

 

Looking at it from various angles, the current situation was naturally satisfying. In fact, Jegal Hwi was nodding while stroking his chin. He was realizing that the words I had blurted out before weren’t lies.

 

The same went for Joo Wooyoung, who cherished his comrades. Though he wouldn’t know exactly what happened between me and Kim Taeyeol, he clearly recognized that I had helped Kim Taeyeol get back on his feet. I had successfully implanted the image of Lee Unha as someone who knew how to value his teammates.

 

Even Jung Taehee was sighing in relief, so right now, I felt quite proud of myself. The problem was…. I didn’t even have time to properly enjoy that feeling.

 

“…….”

 

My to-do list was already piled high….

 

“…….”

 

There were mountains of things to look into, both for <Fantasia> and for me personally…. specifically, what Joo Wooyoung and Jegal Hwi talked about, Jegal Hwi’s identity and purpose, and learning more about Baek Suhyeon’s older brothers. I had tentatively decided to look into all of these once this variety show phase was over—more precisely, after we swept the #1 spots on music shows—but even so, it was impossible not to feel irritated.

 

‘This means I have to push all that back even further.’

 

Once again, it looked like I’d end up drifting further away from Joo Wooyoung, Jegal Hwi, and the rest of the members. And not in a way I welcomed.

 

‘Weren’t we supposed to film more mini-albums? No, shouldn’t we be pushing ahead immediately with either a mini or a single?’

 

Even while exchanging my final goodbyes, my thoughts grew increasingly tangled. The fact that someone else knew something about me before I did only made me more annoyed.

 

‘I knew things had been suspiciously quiet. Those idiots in the Management Division… Seriously? Is this how you’re supposed to handle confidential information?’

 

I didn’t know who the culprit was, but I judged it was highly likely either Hong Dukwang or the rookie managers under him. No matter how much of a disaster Director Oh could be, he wasn’t the kind of person who’d leak something that carelessly.

 

Sure enough, his attitude hadn’t changed at all. Director Oh was welcoming the victorious <Fantasia> with his usual high energy.

 

“Our <Fantasia> worked hard again today! Huh?! Wow!!! Artist Lee Unha and Artist Kim Taeyeol, you guys were literally flying out there! Right?!”

 

‘No, don’t get annoyed. Even if I blow up, I have to ask while managing my image as much as possible.’

 

“I’ve seen many sets, but I’ve never seen one with such a great atmosphere. Thanks to our amazing Fantasia… I’m walking around with my nose lifted high! Hahahaha!”

 

‘I probably shouldn’t tell him his own subordinates are the reason I’m in such a bad mood, right? Probably.’

 

If I were to bring up this issue, the right answer was to open my mouth quietly with a smile, acting as if I knew nothing. I didn’t want the members to think I was the type to tattle on people or throw my weight around.

 

After organizing my thoughts, I calmly said exactly what was on my mind.

 

“Good job! Good job, my artists!”

 

“Director!”

 

“Oh, yeah! Our Artist Lee Unha! Do you have something to say?!”

 

“Hehe… It’s nothing serious… I just wanted to ask you something.”

 

“Huh? What is it? What’s up? If you have a request, feel free to speak! Should we have a team dinner today? Hmm? Whatever it is, if it’s our Artist Lee Unha asking, I have to listen. Right?!”

 

“Hehe. No… it’s not that… actually, I heard something quite surprising.”

 

“What is it?”

 

“Well, Jungah sunbaenim told me that I’ll be starting filming for a movie or drama soon.”

 

“Uh…?”

 

“…….”

“…….”

“…….”

 

The words I tossed out without much thought felt like a bomb had just dropped. A sudden silence fell inside the van as it began its return to the dorm. Director Oh’s expression twisted. I saw his gaze linger on Hong Dukwang. It was the same look a master would give slaves who had just made a mistake.

 

Naturally, the other members were just as stunned. They looked like they couldn’t wrap their heads around the sudden news of me starting movie filming.

 

‘Exactly. This is what everyone would think. Isn’t this obviously supposed to be the time for another mini album?’

 

They even started voicing those doubts directly.

 

“Is that true, Director Oh? Unha is filming a movie?”

 

“Then what happens to our promotions?”

 

“Director Oh.”

 

“What kind of movie is it? I’m curious.”

 

‘So you guys actually had some thoughts after all.’

 

“If Unha starts acting seriously, won’t he get really busy? Then what happens to our next comeback?”

 

“Is there some other plan?”

 

The barrage of questions came immediately, as expected. I saw Director Oh’s face naturally beginning to show signs of panic. Everyone was flustered, but he was probably the most flustered of all at this moment. He had only intended to return pleasantly after filming, and now e suddenly found himself having to explain confidential company matters.

 

Of course, it was something that had to be said eventually, but everything had its timing. I could bet that Director Oh never imagined he’d have to say this at a time like this. The fact that his voice became somewhat quieter than usual was proof of that.

 

“Well. I mean….”

 

“Yes.”

 

“Sigh… I was originally going to tell you… but keep in mind it’s not 100% certain since it’s still being discussed internally.”

 

“Pardon?”

 

“There’s talk that the next album should be a full-length one, not a single or a mini.”

 

“A full-length… album?”

 

“The production schedule is… well… nothing’s confirmed yet, but they’re estimating more than six months…”

 

“What?”

 

“Pardon?”

 

“Six months?!”

 

“Dammit! I tried to stop them too! Of course! I said we have to strike while the iron is hot, that we have to milk it for all it’s worth with a single or a mini. That’s how this industry works! When you’re doing well, you hit it fast and get out, you sell more and more while the album is moving! I said we should churn them out like a factory every three months—no, every two months!!!”

 

‘Right. Isn’t that the standard?’

 

“Ugh! I don’t know what the Planning Director and the Business Director talked about, but they insisted we can’t do that! Ah, these frustrating people… even I know how it works, yet the ones supposed to be doing business and planning don’t!”

 

‘Why can’t we do that? You have to earn money while you can.’

 

“They said that since we had a good start and the album is still selling well a week later, we don’t need to focus on a quick comeback. They said we should do it more properly next time, but I can’t for the life of me understand what they mean by that. It’s not like we aren’t getting good songs. There are composers left and right saying they’ll give us tracks. But they’re saying they won’t do it that way. They want to raise the MV quality even higher, raise the album quality even more to make a ‘masterpiece,’ and that the members themselves should participate in the producing side instead of us doing it for them. Can you believe they’re spouting that kind of useless nonsense?”

 

‘Strictly speaking, that’s not exactly useless talk….’

 

“Fine. Album prep can go on as planned. Even if it’s a full album, maybe we can somehow finish it in under six months if we work fast enough. But what then? Are we supposed to let our artists just sit around doing nothing? Huh? People might forget them! They’ve only just started gaining momentum, and we’re supposed to let that momentum disappear?”

 

‘Obviously not.’

 

“So that’s how the discussion about solo activities started. It’d be impossible to fully juggle Fantasia promotions with acting… but at the very least, you’d still be able to participate in producing the full album, wouldn’t you?”

 

‘That part does make sense…’

 

“And this is a bit off-topic, but honestly, there were just too many people belittling our Artist Lee Unha’s acting skills! I thought this would be a great chance to just prove them wrong once and for all.”

 

‘Why do I, an idol, have to prove my acting skills?’

 

“It’s not just Artist Lee Unha; it’s the same for the other members. For instance, we’re going to slot Artist Kim Taeyeol into variety shows… yeah, yeah. Once this promotion ends, while doing individual activities… everyone will participate in the album work, led by Artist Kim Haejun. Oh? Now that I mention it, this is partly our fault, but you <Fantasia> members are partly to blame too. You’re the ones who asked to participate in producing directly, and now the Planning Director is obsessed with that and is all fired up.”

 

‘That’s not how you were supposed to interpret it. Wanting to participate in producing didn’t mean we wanted to jump straight into a full album.’

 

I had thought we’d put out maybe two more minis and two more singles, gaining experience while moving toward producing….

 

‘We’re going in… this fast?’

 

It was news that was hard to believe. But….

 

“That’s why this promotion period is even more important. That’s why we’re so desperate for a #1 win on a music show. We have to make sure the public remembers us, don’t we?!”

 

I still wasn’t convinced, but… it didn’t seem like they had no plan at all. Even the other members seemed to find the explanation at least somewhat reasonable.

 

Only one person, who suddenly had to go into the front lines of a masterpiece production….

 

“Keep in mind there might be changes. Anyway… just like the Business and Planning departments want… let’s make a masterpiece that will go down in K-pop history. Right?! Artist Kim Haejun! You can do it, right?!”

 

Only Kim Haejun’s face had turned deathly pale.