Chapter 187
# 188
Girls (4)
CEO Jeong Hye-seong, who was continuing the conversation by explaining the direction of the group girls’ activities to Do-wook, asked.
“Then, while you’re here, you can at least practice with the members…”
“Ah. no. “It shouldn’t get in the way of practice.”
“no. I’m just saying hello for a moment. On the contrary, I know very well that Mr. Dowook is busy.”
Dowook nodded at CEO Jeong Hye-seong’s words.
The two got up from their seats and headed toward the practice room.
Hyesung Entertainment’s practice room was in the basement. The building where the entertainment was located was a 10-story building, but the representative office was on the 8th floor, related offices were on the 7th floor, and the practice room was in the basement. This clearly showed that it was a small agency.
“The practice room is in the basement.”
“yes. Probably because of soundproofing issues or something like that. “It’s a poor environment…”
CEO Jeong Hye-seong said as if she was a little embarrassed by Do-wook’s words. Dowook responded as if telling him not to think like that.
“You can grow it further in the future. “It’s great that you brought us all the way here, CEO.”
“Hehe… Fortunately, thanks to Mr. Dowook’s recent investment, the environment has improved a lot.”
CEO Jeong Hye-seong smiled at Do-wook as if she was grateful. Seeing CEO Jeong thanking me made me realize just how much he suffered from financial problems.
‘In the past, we nevertheless succeeded with girls to a certain extent. What a great person.’
Dowook sincerely hoped that CEO Jeong Hye-seong would elevate the girls to a higher position without restrictions.
Girls currently has the disadvantage of being a small agency, but at the same time, it had strengths that were good for storytelling when it debuted. At the same time, unlike before, the late investment money had come in, so the album quality could have been improved.
When I looked inside the glass-doored practice room, I saw the members warming up.
Since the title song had not been released yet, the girls were strengthening their basics and practicing creating a repertoire of various dance covers like KK did.
When CEO Jeong Hye-seong opened the door, a tinkling sound was heard from a small bell attached to the glass door.
The eyes of the members who were stretching and pressing each other’s backs turned towards the door.
They looked surprised at CEO Jeong Hye-seong’s surprise visit and quickly greeted him with enthusiasm.
“hello!”
“Hello, CEO!
The voices of the members saying hello were loud. CEO Jeong Hye-seong waved her hand as if to roughly tell people to do something and said.
“Uh, everyone, it’s not time for practice yet, right? “I have someone to say hello to today…”
The members looked like rabbits at CEO Jeong Hye-seong’s words.
There were seven girls in total. The oldest, the leader, was 22 years old, and the rest were all 18, 19, or 20 years old.
Everyone had an untidy, fresh look.
Do-wook, who was standing behind CEO Jeong Hye-seong, stepped forward and nodded slightly to the members. At Dowook’s sudden appearance, the ‘Girls’ members literally screamed in surprise like little girls.
“oh!”
“Aaaah!”
There was also a member who made sounds that KK fans would make. He was the youngest member at 18 and actually liked KK so he started training to become an idol.
“The investor I mentioned last time. “Everyone say hello.”
The members came out one by one, introduced their names, and bowed. He greeted me so politely that when I bent down, the back of my head fell forward.
Dowook felt burdened, but received greetings from the members anyway.
“I really want to meet you so much… Hey… What should I do…”
Dahye, the youngest member who was a fan of KK, was almost in tears. said.
Except for one or two members who were trainees at other agencies, most of the members were selected through Hyesung Entertainment auditions and street casting.
Since it was a new company, I was a trainee for as long as 2 years or as short as 1 year. Considering the trainee period of members from other large entertainment companies, it was relatively short. However, because I was more anxious that I might not be able to debut, I focused more on practicing, and even though the period was short, I never fell short in terms of the amount of practice.
Even though I practiced as hard as I could and was confirmed as a member, it was an uncertain debut.
Even though she was young, Da-hye had a strong will to debut and stand on the same stage as KK. When she saw Do-wook’s face, she felt like she was going to cry.
It felt like sunlight shining through the layers of fog.
“Ah……”
Do-wook was embarrassed and stood unable to do either this or that. CEO Jeong Hye-seong said that it was an expected reaction because he knew how much Da-hye liked KK.
The members next to Da-hye comforted her and told her not to cry.
“Nice to meet you too. “It’s really hard to practice…”
When Do-wook asked in a friendly tone, Da-hye shook her head with bright eyes.
“I really… I really want to stand on the same stage…”
“Dahye, you’re Dahye, right? If you work hard, you will soon be able to do that.”
At Do-wook’s words, Da-hye pursed her lips and nodded vigorously. It was a look in his eyes that showed tremendous will. Dowook calmly looked around at the other members one by one.
Not only Da-hye, but also the other members seemed confident that they could make their debut when they thought that Do-wook was an investor who helped them.
Since the girls trusted only one person, CEO Jeong Hye-seong, and ran, Do-wook’s presence was justified.
The members’ eyes looking at themselves were full of desire to make a successful debut.
‘It was good to see their faces in person…’
In the past, I only knew about the girls as a viewer through TV. Of course, you could feel the members’ fighting spirit through TV as well. However, when I met him in person, the vitality in his eyes was more than I expected.
‘Just as there were limits to CEO Jeong Hye-seong’s planning due to limitations in capital, the members’ abilities were also blocked from further development.’
Dowook thought. We even calculated the possibility that the group Girls could grow into a world-class group rather than just being a rival to ‘Valentine’, which is sure to be released soon from Ara Entertainment.
Even though Dowook couldn’t know the future up to that point, it was still a calculation worth making.
If the group grew to that point, Dowook would also receive considerable wealth and fame.
“Everyone will be able to do well. “Looking at it this way, I’m even more convinced that it’s likely to be like that.”
Do-wook’s words were words of strength to the members and even CEO Jeong Hye-seong. The temperature in the cold practice room rose warmly.
After the brief meeting, Dowook left the practice room.
Dowook once again confirmed his location. Of course I knew that I was popular with the public, but the fact that I could give someone else a dream was something new to me.
Before he knew it, Dowook had gone from being a dreamer to someone who could share his dreams.
“But the members are confirmed to be those seven?”
Dowook asked as he walked up the stairs to the first floor.
CEO Jeong Hye-seong, who had a pleasant smile on her face, erased her smile and asked back.
“uh. But… it wasn’t that good…?”
It was a team that CEO Jeong Hye-seong put together with her best efforts.
Since many talented and talented trainees belonged to large entertainment companies, those who came to Hyesung Entertainment felt that they were lacking.
However, because the members had endured harsh training, they were now confident that they could compete anywhere.
CEO Jeong Hye-seong felt her heart sink, wondering if her confidence was just her own arrogance.
“no. Not at all. It was really nice to see that everyone had a clear will. “It also reminds me of my trainee days.”
CEO Jeong Hye-seong’s expression barely relaxed at Do-wook’s words.
“But…”
“…So?”
Although Do-wook really only intended to invest, Do-wook added some opinions. It was also an opinion that anyone could express.
“I think it would be nice to have one more person. “I was wondering what it would be like to have someone from overseas.”
It was not essential considering only activities within Korea, but it was something that had to be considered if one was to achieve success in overseas markets as well.
Do-wook also worked overseas and learned why Ara Entertainment had such a system in place when forming a team. Certainly, if there is a member who can speak English or other languages, the restrictions on activities even when overseas are reduced by about half.
When there were people from their own country there, fans of that country were considerably less wary of the group.
Of course, they liked K-POP Korean groups, but they inevitably opened their hearts more to members from the same country.
In the case of KK, there were no foreign members, only those who studied abroad, but they were so unique that they could be said to be an exception to everything.
“It’s an overseas branch…”
CEO Jeong Hye-seong lowered his head.
KK was already Korea’s most internationally known singer. Since those were Do-wook’s words, not only as an investor, but also as CEO Jeong Hye-seong, I couldn’t help but care.
Although it was a composition that CEO Jeong Hye-seong took for granted from the beginning, it was not easy to bring in foreign members from a new agency that was unknown even in Korea.
“If possible, I would like it too.”
Do-wook also nodded as if he understood what CEO Jeong Hye-seong said.
“yes. Besides, the current teamwork and atmosphere must not be broken…”
“That’s right. “I will try to develop a better eye for people.”
Dowook laughed at CEO Jeong Hye-seong’s words. It meant that he would accept opinions without overdoing it.
***
After returning from Hyesung Entertainment, Dowook sat down with the members to eat dinner and talk about various things.
“……Dowook is also a person who will become great.”
“It’s already become big.”
Ahn Hyeong-seo and Jeong Yoon-gi said with admiration.
This was after it was revealed to the members that they had invested in the production of a female idol group.
Most members used the money they received to buy a house for their parents or a small commercial building. The remaining money was in the bank account.
“Well, I didn’t produce it, I just paid for it.”
“Still, it’s great that you thought of investing in something like that. I think it would be an amazing feeling if that idol group came out and performed together in the future. “What is the group name?”
“Girls.”
“Wow girls…. Pretty?”
At Kim Won’s question, the members all glared at Kim Won.
“You too have a strong character.”
It was a warning from the youngest Seok Ji-hoon. Kim Won shrugged his shoulders. Dowook also laughed it off.
“Anyway, I felt strange. “There is a friend who saw us and dreamed of becoming an idol…”
“You are even helping that friend achieve his dream.”
“haha. “That too.”
Dowook responded to Jeong Yoon-gi’s words. Taehyung Park, who was listening quietly, also added.
“You helped me achieve my dream…”
Do-wook felt proud in his heart at Park Tae-hyung’s words. I thought I was only chasing my dreams and goals, but that wasn’t the case.
Life as Kang Do-wook felt more meaningful.
“You are our role model.”
The members’ eyes sparkled at Kim Won’s words.
‘role model!’
It was accurate. The KK members felt like they were full even though they hadn’t eaten yet. It was a different sense of accomplishment than that which comes from direct accomplishment.
“It’s rewarding. “I need to work harder.”
Seok Ji-hoon, who is currently preparing for his album and studying song composition, said. Other members also nodded. Just then, the waiters came over and started serving the prepared food.
“okay. “Let’s do well tomorrow too.”
At the leader’s words, the members recalled tomorrow’s schedule. I was scheduled to visit the Blue House.