Free Web NovelManager Ma couldn’t stop the corners of his mouth from lifting as he monitored the situation.
“Ah, this cutie is seriously killing me.”
Starting from the graduation sighting, all kinds of eyewitness accounts were pouring in.
Even without running any separate viral campaign, Han Yeoreum’s name kept appearing across SNS and online communities.
“And the funding already hit 100%—.”
On one side of his dual monitors, Manager Ma had a window open for 〈The Great Garland〉.
The funding had crashed the server the moment it opened, and within just one hour, it broke past 100%, setting yet another record.
Ppongdang @pppongdang___e
If those cold-hearted broadcast bastards think I’ll just roll over because they’re holding Huijae’s necklace hostage—fine, just this once I’ll do what you want, just this once
Retweets 3,321 Likes 7,447
This time, JC’s funding couldn’t exactly be called cheap. But the quality had already been proven through 〈ParCheHi〉 and 〈Strange Tales〉.
On top of that, the included goods perfectly targeted what fans wanted—enough to make it impossible not to open their wallets.
[The Great Garland Gallery]
[The funding goal’s already passed, can they just close it and start production already?]
Fuck I need Huijae’s necklace asap
Anonymous (23.332) No way those money-hungry bastards would close it LOOLLL they’ll scrape every last penny
Anonymous (16.1) You can tell from how they’re still holding back unreleased still cuts, these guys are obsessed with money, look how ruthless they are
Anonymous (77.772) Just make it already, don’t even need shipping, I’ll go pick it up myself lol when’s it coming T_T
〈The Great Garland〉 was, quite literally, a continuous streak of success.
[The Great Garland Funding]
80,000,000 / 913,450,000
1141.8% achieved
It was the largest funding scale ever seen for a drama Blu-ray. Manager Ma burst into loud laughter, unable to contain the overwhelming surge of emotion.
“Hahaha! And if we sell it again in Taiwan after this, just how much more can we rake in—!”
There were about 100 days left until 〈The Great Garland〉 would air in Taiwan. By late May, early summer, even audiences far away in Taiwan would get to meet young Huijae.
Manager Ma was already drawing up the bigger picture for what came next—〈Youth Disqualified!〉.
“And the merch on that side won’t be any less impressive either....”
They had already been testing consumer purchasing power through vlogs again and again.
From the most iconic item, Melon Milk, to the lip balm Han Yeoreum casually applied, the muffler she wore, So Dami’s favorite blanket, and even Choo Gaeul’s bag—
[Us chatting together / I bought Han Yeoreum’s muffler in cocoa color too... it looks even prettier in real life..]
Reviews kept increasing so I ordered it right after getting my paycheck and it arrived crazy fast, and it’s really soft and warm so I’m satisfied (｡>﹏<｡) I kinda want to buy the cream one too..
– Watching Youth Disqualified! makes it fun to copy their casual outfits, all three pick such simple items, and they’re not too expensive either T_T
– I posted a review before but I feel proud (´∀`*)ﾉ
Favorability directly translated into purchasing power. Manager Ma tracked the momentum surrounding Han Yeoreum with sharp instinct.
“Good. Then let’s ride this wave!”
Han Yeoreum’s promotion schedule for her next project didn’t end with 〈EmBubu〉.
It was only just beginning.
The next schedule was a program that could create synergy, especially since 〈Youth Disqualified!〉 had invested heavily into its OST.
“Our cutie’s voice is no joke either.”
Manager Ma leaned back in his chair, already anticipating the panelists’ reactions.
* * *
This was the MBS Variety Division. The set was in full preparation.
“Hello, PD.”
“Oh.”
The older PD adjusted his glasses. This was the recording site of one of MBS’s flagship variety shows, 〈King of Mask Singer〉.
A program where celebrities appeared wearing masks and competed solely with their singing ability.
With viewers and panelists guessing the identities of the mysterious participants and building competitive matchups, it had gained massive popularity and maintained stable ratings.
Today’s lineup was fairly average.
Among them, the first-round pair included a male idol who had debuted some time ago, and a rising actress.
The rising actress was a familiar face even to him, a PD from the variety department.
These days, there was no one in the industry who didn’t know her.
And for good reason—her momentum was anything but ordinary.
“She’ll probably get a good reaction.”
“But the matchup’s a bit unlucky, isn’t it?”
Due to the nature of the program, once the mask came off, screen time wasn’t particularly large.
The PD knew that too. He shrugged lightly and tapped the cue cards against his neck, looking a bit regretful.
“That’s a shame.”
In 〈King of Mask Singer〉, no one ever chose an easy song for the first round duet stage.
In fact, this part was the hardest.
The production team had to step in and mediate intense negotiations between both agencies beforehand.
“They’re here to show off their skills, after all.”
The biggest appeal of 〈King of Mask Singer〉 was the keyword the public loved—hidden power.
Wait, they were this good?
Shocking everyone with the skill hidden behind the mask, then revealing the identity and leaving everyone stunned—that was the essence everyone knew.
“And we can’t exactly go easy on actors either....”
So first-round duet songs increasingly leaned toward high-difficulty tracks or well-known masterpieces that truly showcased vocal ability.
The survival logic of round one was simple:
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“Well, at least they’ll promote their next project properly.”
Thinking that, the PD turned his gaze toward the stage—
—and his mouth slowly fell open.
Why were people in broadcasting called “those broadcast guys”?
Because if they wanted a certain picture, they could easily cut and paste scenes, force narratives with captions, and fabricate whatever they needed.
They were people accustomed to manipulation and editing.
“What is this?”
But for the first time in a while, the PD of 〈King of Mask Singer〉 felt raw, unedited catharsis.
The thrill of seeing the exact scene you wanted unfold without having to create it—
It wasn’t just the main PD who felt it.
Looking around, the staff, the panelists, even the audience had the exact same reaction.
“This is good.”
“This song is insanely hard to sing!”
The panelists cheered, and the audience leaned in with focus.
“This just got interesting.”
Before he knew it, the stage was becoming something far more serious than what the PD had originally envisioned.
* * *
‘I feel a bit bad, but....’
Holding the microphone, today’s participant wore a black opera mask.
He was the sub-vocalist of a male idol group, going by the name <Phantom of the Abyss>.
He took a deep breath.
The first-round song was none other than rock.
‘It’s a bit high, but...!’
It was a song he had often sung since his trainee days.
Because it was difficult, he expected praise from the panelists and proper recognition from the audience. Just thinking about it made his heart pound.
All the practice he had done before coming to the set was paying off.
That pleasant tension, the kind you only feel when you’re fully prepared, resonated through his entire body.
“Stand by for filming!”
A staff member wearing a headset shouted.
<Phantom of the Abyss> stepped onto the stage.
On the darkened stage, both he and his opponent took their positions.
Since identities were hidden until the masks came off, even the participants didn’t know who they were up against.
‘Ah, there she is.’
He glanced toward the opposite side of the stage.
A round apple-shaped mask with a name tag that read <Aori Apple>.
‘Who is that? Judging by the height... probably a woman. A singer?’
The opponent was dressed in a large, rounded outfit, almost like a mascot costume.
She even had a small yellow chick-shaped bag slung over her shoulder.
“We’ll begin final sound check!” freēwēbηovel.c૦m
Watching his opponent, <Phantom of the Abyss> tightened his grip on the microphone.
Whoever it was, winning came first.
Clunk.
With that sound, all the lights went out.
“Looks like it’s starting.”
“Finally....”
A quiet murmur spread through the audience.
That familiar tension settled over the stage before the performance began.
Then—
An electric guitar cut through the darkness.
A famous song recognizable from just the intro.
A track that had led the rock boom of the 90s, especially known for its endless high notes in the latter half.
“They’re singing this?”
“That’s a tough pick today.”
The panelists listened with intrigued expressions.
As it was a well-known song, the audience quickly heated up as well.
<Phantom of the Abyss> unconsciously tightened his grip on the microphone as he looked at the crowd beyond his mask.
Quietly settling down,
the streetlights on the night road
He took the first verse.
Because the key was slightly higher than usual, his heart pounded.
But soon, just as he had practiced, he continued. freewebnσvel.cøm
On the uphill alley,
only the sound of my footsteps
A small gasp spread through the audience.
His voice was better than expected.
“So that’s why he chose this song?”
“That’s nice—.”
The panelists gave generous reactions.
Now it was <Aori Apple>’s turn.
Whether the momentum would continue—or a winner would be decided instantly—depended on her.
On the filthy asphalt,
a shadow stretches long
A clean, restrained voice—like it was scattering emotion into the air.
It didn’t feel like singing.
It felt like quietly telling a story.
Some of the panelists, who had been sitting comfortably, straightened up.
They instinctively felt they needed to react properly.
On the clumsy wall,
so no one can climb over or escape,
shards of broken beer bottles—
The way the lyrics were delivered felt like an honest confession of reality.
It was as if something beyond the music was becoming visible.
The sharp, precarious sound of the electric guitar merged with <Aori Apple>’s voice, reaching deep into the listeners’ ears.
‘Huh...?’
At the same time—
the entire audience stirred.
