The Road to Glory Chapter 200 - [Side Story] Chapter 2. Label H

“But is it really okay to come back this early? Are you done with your movie consulting?”

“Not yet. But since filming is over, there’s no reason for me to stay there. If needed, I can either go there or they can come here.”

“Ah.”

The past year was consistently noisy.

So much so that even Jang Jinsoo, a student preparing for college entrance exams, could hear about it.

First, March.

When the year began, Halo’s 14th album “Shape of Love” and its track “Love this World” were released, earning him a Grammy.

It had as much impact as Coachella from two years ago.

Neither Jang Jinsoo nor anyone else had imagined Halo would release such a song.

It was music that captured Halo’s transformation – he who always shook people’s emotions with groundbreaking music while telling his own story.

But Jang Jinsoo liked that song.

Because it was a track where you could feel the warmth of the world that Halo loved.

It became Billboard #1 in record time and stayed there for a very long time,

To the point where Grammy had no choice but to declare defeat,

And it was such a beautiful song that no one could deny it.

That wasn’t the end.

The world continued to buzz.

With news of Halo’s music being made into a film.

Just like how Queen’s music and life were made into a film, and ABBA’s songs were reborn as “Mamma Mia.”

When news broke that Halo’s 13th album would be made into a film with BB directing, there was a mix of anticipation, worry, welcome, and rejection.

While some were excited about the prospect of Halo’s music being showcased on big theater screens with powerful audio systems,

Others expressed concerns about the screenplay.

Using music as film music was fine, but a film isn’t just about music, is it?

The worry that a poor screenplay might ruin masterpiece songs was somewhat quieted by the news that Brian Berry would be directing.

While concerns and complaints hadn’t completely disappeared, it meant people would wait and see.

What followed was something everyone could have predicted.

Countless actors worldwide wanted to appear in the “Halo movie.” Actors of various nationalities, races, and genders applied for auditions. Men, women, old, young – even ten-year-old kids applied without knowing what roles were available.

From Jang Jinsoo’s perspective, it seemed like The Sun fans or Hellygans – or their families – who had shown themselves to be fans were applying.

Even non-fans couldn’t help but be interested.

A film combining the great director Brian Berry with Halo’s music.

They say great actors make great films.

As much as investors wanted this film, which was unlikely to fail either as a commercial film or as a portfolio piece, actors wanted it too.

There was considerable noise too.

The biggest noise came when rumors circulated in Hollywood that Halo had written the screenplay.

When BB confirmed it, the tabloids went wild with speculation.

Honestly, not all the talk was positive.

The press eagerly applied all sorts of standards to judge Halo.

While Halo wasn’t one to care much about what others said, this kind of “negative” controversy was a first, and Jang Jinsoo was worried too.

The controversy was temporarily settled when “Reddy Crawford,” who won the role of “Halo,” and the director gave interviews.

It wouldn’t make sense to keep making a fuss about a film that hadn’t even been released yet.

Still, it’s clearly the most anticipated work of late 2034.

Whether in a good way or bad.

Jang Jinsoo nodded vaguely as he put down his dishes. Halo wiped his mouth with a handkerchief. They were both full and had caught up with each other.

Park Seungah, who had been watching the kids’ reunion with satisfaction, asked,

“Haeil will go to the label, but what about you, Jinsoo? Will you go to the label too?”

“Ah, no. I have somewhere to go.”

“Somewhere? Are you going home?”

“No, I’m looking for a part-time job.”

Park Seungah’s eyes widened.

It was unexpected.

“A part-time job?”

“Yes, I’m thinking of living independently.”

“Why do you need to do that?”

Halo tilted his head.

“Huh? Of course I need to earn money. To live independently. Like you.”

“You know.”

“Know what? …Oh. The streaming revenue.”

Jang Jinsoo smirked as he recalled the streaming revenue from Show By Show. It was a significant income for a high school student. He hadn’t used any of it yet, so getting an apartment wouldn’t be a problem, but that money wouldn’t last forever.

Although he had a scholarship now, college life would have expenses, and he needed to think about life after graduating from Korea National University of Arts. There was no guarantee his album would succeed during his studies or right after graduation.

“Still, I need to earn living expenses. I can’t just keep spending.”

Also, though he didn’t say it, he hesitated to use the streaming revenue from “Show By Show” since it wasn’t earned solely through his own efforts. Even if the guy in front of him didn’t care at all.

“Then when will you make music?”

Having already struggled to understand why he was going to college, now that he was talking about having a part-time job too,

Halo wondered if Jang Jinsoo was really serious about making music.

Jang Jinsoo answered, “In between?” It wasn’t a satisfactory answer.

“What kind of work are you planning to do?”

“Um… convenience store?”

He was planning to figure it out from now on.

Although he was an admitted student at Korea National University of Arts, not yet enrolled, music-related jobs might be difficult, but regular part-time jobs should be possible. Well, it wouldn’t be his first time.

Or he was thinking of asking the hideout guys if they had any part-time work available.

Then came an unexpected suggestion.

“Why don’t you work at my label?”

“What?”

It wasn’t a yes or a no.

He just never imagined Halo would make such an offer. However, the person in question spoke as if it were nothing special.

“If you’re going to join my company, you should know how it works, right?”

“I’m joining your company?”

“You’re not?”

He spoke so matter-of-factly that it seemed like they had already agreed on when he would join. Jang Jinsoo stammered like an idiot.

“What would I do there?”

“Anything.”

It seemed like he was just saying whatever came to mind.

“Is your company really hiring?”

“They’re begging me to hire more staff.”

“How badly must you work them.”

“No, but seriously, can I really go?”

#

Halo walked familiarly through his label building that he hadn’t visited in a while. The corporate building that was completed in the latter half of last year.

This place, which fans called the “temple,” served all roles as a label, workspace, and home.

Jang Jinsoo, who had already seen the top floor penthouse and bottom floor theater, clicked his tongue.

How should he put it. It was a building where all sorts of fantasies came together.

Although he had visited several times before, he wasn’t used to this “temple.” He could never get used to its scale, and something was different every time he visited.

For instance.

Jang Jinsoo hesitated as he entered the main entrance with Halo. For some reason, many people were buzzing in the first-floor lobby.

“Is something happening today?”

“Hmm. Wonder what’s going on?”

The building owner and label CEO tilted his head as if he didn’t know.

Just then, the PR representative came out and stood at the press area.

Along with him, voices of people – no, reporters – burst out.

“The filming of ‘Halo’ has finished today, how much of the screenplay did Mr. Halo write?”

“What is Roh Haeil-ssi’s schedule going forward?”

“Mr. Halo’s whereabouts have been unclear since the Grammy Awards, where is he?”

“Are there any plans for exclusive interviews?”

Jang Jinsoo unconsciously looked back and forth between the reporters and Halo, who had pulled his cap down low.

The Halo whose whereabouts were unclear was right next to him.

They wouldn’t know since he had secretly arrived the day before yesterday.

But the label should have known.

“First-“

As the employee opened their mouth, the reporters fell silent as if on cue.

“I would first like to state that there are no plans for exclusive interviews.”

The employee’s words flowed smoothly.

There was nothing to mention about the Halo movie, and they wrapped up the reporters’ questions.

And finally, Halo’s whereabouts that everyone was curious about.

“Currently, Mr. Halo is at his LA residence to focus on producing a new album…”

The PR team employee tucked her hair behind her ear to organize the interview. Naturally, her gaze drifted far, and she discovered two figures standing behind the reporters.

“In LA…”

The employee’s pupils shook.

One was a stranger, but the other was impossible not to recognize. Fortunately, he was wearing a mask with his cap, but how could she not recognize him?

How is my singer who should be in LA here…?

Former “Do We Look Like Jaws to You?” fan club executive.

Current H Label PR team employee Ms. Kim hurriedly continued speaking as the reporters started to turn around at her gaze.

First, after getting all the reporters out.

“He is staying there, and his return schedule has not been determined yet.”

Jang Jinsoo, who had directly witnessed the employee’s pupils shaking, turned back to look at Halo with disbelief.

“Don’t tell me, you.”

“Shall we go in?”

The person who had just given the employee a heart attack said with a playful expression.

“They’ll probably be surprised.”

Your employee already seems pretty surprised.

“Yeah, let’s go in first.”

Jang Jinsoo had a lot to say but didn’t say it.

:

“Boss?”

“Boss!”

“Why are you here?”

The employees’ reactions were all the same.

They jumped up, called out his name, and it spread in a crescendo.

“It’s been a while everyone, have you been well?”

Finally, Halo, who had made all the employees stand up, casually waved his hand and turned their worlds upside down.

His sudden appearance at work itself wasn’t the problem. The problem was that everyone, even management, thought he was in LA.

What if something had happened?

Their boss, unlike other rock stars, wasn’t the type of newsmaker to appear in the social section, but in a different sense, he was an unpredictable artist who was a newsmaker.

“Boss!”

Soon, the PR representative who had nearly had a heart attack in front of the reporters came up after safely sending them away and wailed.

“Boss, do you know how surprised I was? Suddenly like this… And I told you to please let us know when you’re returning.”

“Ah.”

Halo smiled gently as if just remembering.

“I’ve returned.”

“…!!!”

While all employees experienced a shocking event, the label instantly regained its vitality with Halo’s appearance.

He’s an unpredictable artist who occasionally causes headaches but doesn’t create social issues, and most employees are Halo’s fans – that’s the kind of company it is.

It means they’re used to Halo’s eccentricities.

Moreover, since Halo and his band are the label’s only artists, the label itself heavily depends on Halo’s presence.

All business, from broadcasting to albums and merchandise, revolves around Halo.

“Boss, but this person-“

Belatedly, they noticed another presence beside Halo. Just as Jang Jinsoo was hurriedly trying to greet them, another voice came from behind first.

“Oh, Boss is here?”

A familiar voice.

People’s gazes shifted casually, and Halo raised his hand in welcome.

“Have you been well?”

“Me? I’ve been doing well thanks to the good position you gave me. Boss is the same as ever, and this person is-“

“…Uncle Kang Yeongmin?”

Jang Jinsoo couldn’t believe his eyes.

Kang Yeongmin from HY Studio, who had recorded Halo’s <Confession>, Jang Jinsoo’s <Show By Show>, and Halo’s 1st and 2nd albums, was standing right in front of him.

“Who do we have here. JJ?”

His style had changed so much he almost didn’t recognize him.

Where did that delinquent from middle school go?

Jang Jinsoo was just as surprised.

He wondered why someone who should be at Hongdae’s HY Studio was here.

And Jang Jinsoo let out an exclamation.

He realized why Roh Haeil had said he would be surprised in the lobby.

“As you probably already know, this is Mr. Kang Yeongmin, A&R Team engineer at my label.”

“And this is-“

The employees looked at Jang Jinsoo with curious eyes. Halo grinned and introduced him.

Three days later.

At 9 AM, a time typical for office workers, Jang Jinsoo stood in front of everyone in the content planning conference room.

“Hello, I’m intern Jang Jinsoo.”