“You’re not writing an exclusive, right? Let’s not screw each other over now.”

“What exclusive? I’m just copy-pasting Alive’s press release. Looking on social media, it seems someone was a complete scene-stealer, but I didn’t have the time to investigate so I’m just writing down the review from the screening. I have to write one about Royal Family after this. God damn it.”

“Everyone seems to be writing about the same thing, huh?”

“This just shows how incredible Royal Family and Alive are.”

A female reporter said while gnawing on a piece of stir-fried cartilage.

“And Lee Songha, who has her hands in both projects, is really amazing.”

“No, that’s not it.”

A thin man replied, pausing from writing his article.

“The truly amazing person is Chief Jung Sunwoo. He’s the one who chose both of them.”

This was an interesting topic for the reporters.

The table instantly became noisy.

“Let’s see. First, it’s a fact that Next K-Star had such stellar ratings that it became a seasonal show.”

“Nothing more to say about Cat Guardian Ghost.”

“He also made Neptune’s mini-album a hit. By pushing for Lee Taehee’s song to boot.”

“Ah, even entertainment shows. The New Year’s special and ‘Now, We’re’. Both jumped up the real-time rankings when it aired. I almost rubbed my fingerprints off writing articles that time.”

“Im Seoyoung and LJ’s entertainment show is also doing better than average.”

“Royal Family is a mega-hit. Alive is now a matter of whether or not ten million people will see it. There were probably a ton of reporters ready to knock him down a peg if either one of them flopped, but they can’t say anything now.”

Every time someone made a point, the reporters made exhausted faces.

“Incredible. He’s had no failures so far.”

“Just what’s his secret? I’m so curious!”

“I actually looked into it a little.”

A female reporter with thick makeup joined in. Everyone’s gazes landed on her.

“I normally don’t believe in superstitions, but I went to see a shaman to write an article about Chief Jung. He said that Chief Jung is definitely a head shaman. Apparently, it hasn’t been long since he’s been blessed so he has contact with the gods or something?”

“Did you actually put that in an article?”

“I did. And people called me a ‘trash journalist’ for it.”

The other reporters chuckled.

“If he could see what projects will be a success, then why would he work in this industry? He would go straight to Hollywood. W&U have been sending actors to Hollywood, but they’ve been getting nowhere for years.”

“But then what is his secret? Is it really luck? Or he has a disgustingly sharp eye for things?”

“But whether it’s luck or skill, how does he cope with all this pressure?”

The thin man said with a frown.

“Since they’ve seen the results with their own eyes, W&U must at least hear his opinion on things. As for Neptune, they must have complete trust in him.”

“Probably?”

“There are also a lot of people who blindly have high hopes, calling him ‘Midas’s Hand’, and conversely, there are a ton of people waiting for him to fail. Damn it, if I was him, I probably won’t even be able to go to the bathroom from all the pressure.”

“Especially now I bet. Because of Neptune’s next full album.”

The female reporter said while rubbing her lips.

“From what I know, Neptune’s fandom is at a critical state.”

*

“Neptune! Hey, is Neptune on standby?”

The producer grabbed a floor director and asked after coming out of the broadcasting van.

“Yes, everyone’s on standby except for Lee Songha.”

“How can you forget about Lee Songha! She’s the highlight! A ton of people are going to be watching the live broadcast because we wrote her name in huge letters in the preview, and people gathering in the square right now have been chanting Lee Songha’s name! It’ll be a huge problem if she’s not there!”

“They said that they’ll come here right away as soon as they arrive in Incheon Airport. They didn’t get a wink of sleep due to their schedule in China and are coming here without rest…”

“Why did the writers set such a tight schedule?”

“It’s because we barely managed to get even this when Neptune’s company kept refusing. Still, the director was really happy that we were able to get Neptune, Lee Songha on the list.”

“Ah, damn it. Call them again and ask how much longer they’ll take!”

After the producer and floor director went their separate ways, a university student with a buzz cut moved from behind the broadcasting van. The place was bustling with people holding cameras and cheering items. They were fans waiting to see the singers.

The student with the buzz cut joined the group of Neptune fans on the side.

“I heard on the way here, but Songha is apparently coming here without sleeping due to her schedule in China.”

These words were like adding fuel to a fire.

“She must have it tough going back and forth from China, she should take a break from Neptune.”

“Excuse me, Songha’s a member of Neptune.”

A few Neptune fans and Lee Songha’s personal fans glared at each other.

The quarrel soon heated up.

“No, to be honest, what help is Neptune to Songha?”

“You can’t say that! Neptune members are taking losses by letting Songha do her own thing. If not, they probably have appeared in many events and their album might already be out. Their next album keeps getting pushed back because of Songha!”

“Why are you trying to blame it all on her? Lee Taehee still hasn’t finished her song!”

“Also, the other members are the ones who urgently need the album, it doesn’t matter to Songha. She’ll have a lot of work to do if they start recording and practicing choreography. If the album flops, then she’ll have wasted her precious time and effort!”

“That’s right. It’s better if she stars in a drama or movie in that time!”

“I’m speechless. Are you saying she should go do her own thing regardless of being in a team or not?”

“If you think Songha is interfering with Neptune, then you should complain to W&U! Ask them to take Songha out of Neptune!”

“Are you joking? The members are getting along fine so why are you telling them to take out Songha?”

“How do you know if they are getting along well or not?”

“I can tell they are close just by the photos they upload on the official social media accounts.”

“Those photos are for the media. It could be that Songha wants to leave, but the other members aren’t letting her! They live together, and Songha is the youngest out of them. How do you know she’s not being mistreated?!”

“Hey! How dare you make assumptions with no evidence! Are you done talking?”

“I’m not done! I have tons to say!”

They started flinging curses at each other in the end. While both sides were fighting intensely, other fans were clicking their tongue a few steps away. They held planet-shaped cheer sticks and huge cameras. They were the first-generation Tritons, Neptune’s official fan club.

A large, athletic man mumbled,

“What a shitstorm.”

“I know, right? It seems there are more crazies than usual because this is an outdoor performance.”

A woman with a little baby fat left on her cheeks nodded.

Another member asked with a dazed face,

“Why are they acting like that? It’s been a while since I’ve come out due to exams so it’s hard to adjust.”

“It’s my first time seeing any of them. Why did such an aggravating crowd stick to Neptune?”

“Songha-Eating^{1} unni, are they part of our fandom?”

“They are new members who came on thanks to Royal Family.”

Songha-Eating, who was a devoted fan, sighed.

“Neptune’s fanbase grew as Songha’s personal fanbase grew, but as the fanbase grows so do the number of haters. They are more like haters than fans. There are a quite a few people squabbling on the official page so the mood’s a bit off these days.”

“Umm, but…”

A man wearing horn-rimmed glasses said with an uneasy expression,

“Our members don’t really have a bad relationship or anything, right?”

“I’m also worried there might be trouble because Songha suddenly became so popular on her own.”

“The fandom will become stable once their album comes out and they are performing as a group again.”

Songha-Eating still glanced at the fighting people.

One person shouted in a fit of anger,

“If you want to kick Lee Songha out of the group, then do it! But you need to leave Chief Jung Sunwoo behind!”

“Chief Jung is Songha’s manager!”

“What a joke! He’s been Neptune’s manager from the start!”

“Then let’s split it 50-50!”

As the commotion grew even louder, a writer rushed over with a security guard.

“Why is it so loud here?”

“I think they are Neptune’s fans?”

“It’ll be a problem if they are like that until the live broadcast. We should call Neptune’s mana-!”

“Ms. Writer!”

Songha-Eating quickly came over.

“I’m from Neptune’s fan club. I’m very sorry for the loud commotion, but it’ll quiet down soon!”

“It’ll quiet down?”

The writer and security guard looked over at the same time. The fight was only intensifying. It looked like it might become physical as even fans and regular people around them started to take notice.

“I don’t think they’ll quiet down?”

“No! If you wait a little longer, they’ll quiet down like a school bell ring- Oh!”

Songha-Eating, who had been calmly explaining, suddenly brightened.

“Chief Jung has arrived!”

A white minivan was entering the square’s parking lot.

^{1} The nickname of the woman with a little baby fat left on her cheeks. Mentioned in a couple chapters previously.