Chapter 14 (including forum-style poems), second poem, completed...
Han Sang-hee saw President Yang again at the formal ETE planning meeting.
The number of participants at this meeting was larger than in previous years.
Not only were President Yang and Director Jiang present, but there were also some faces she didn't recognize.
The main topic of discussion was ETE's debut.
Director Jiang advocates for debuting next year as originally planned, while the others suggest postponing it for two years.
The two groups of people pulled and tugged at each other.
In the end, President Yang made up his mind to debut next year.
This is the main content of the meeting.
The three members of the project team simply need to listen quietly.
It's so obvious that this is just going through the motions.
As Han Shangxi watched the performance of these people, this thought popped into his mind.
She glanced at her friends and family members beside her out of the corner of her eye.
Minjin was spacing out, and Ji-hye seemed to be getting bored as well.
Her eyes met those of Zhihui.
They could see the dissatisfaction with the meeting in each other's eyes.
While the three of them were focusing on their own thoughts and feelings, the other people on the scene were also observing them.
They were initially skeptical about launching a new girl group so quickly, but after hearing about the considerable profits mentioned by Director Yang, they had no reason to hesitate.
Everyone knows that we're putting on a show today.
The purpose was to let these members know that their debut was not easy, and not to get too carried away.
The entertainment industry isn't doing well these days. Aren't these people the ones covering up all the mischief idols do in private?
Young people should learn to be grateful.
When the group was exchanging pleasantries, they were thinking about the same topics.
Yang Hyun-suk actually had some reservations about ETE's debut date.
It's true that she's going to debut, but is it too early to debut next year as Jiang Suxian suggested?
According to Yang Hyun-suk's plan, his next group to be launched is a boy group, and the debut date is the year after next.
What ultimately convinced Yang Xianshuo to make up his mind was Jiang Suxian's seemingly persuasive but actually threatening words.
"I'm sorry, CEO. When I signed the trainee contract with Sang-hee, it was only for two years."
Ah, that's really crazy.
Why is Jiang Suxian so determined to launch ETE next year?
Based on the average debut age of idol groups, even if they debut the year after next, these individuals are not considered late.
She was referring to 2011 from the beginning.
These guys are definitely talented enough to debut next year.
Now even songs don't take up too many company resources.
So why not?
A company shouldn't be so incapable of operating two girl groups simultaneously.
If there really isn't one, she can reconsider the company's risk resistance and inform her friend.
As I've said before, she's not only the manipulator of the ETE project, but also the spokesperson for the TK conglomerate within the company.
After the meeting ended, only President Yang, Director Jiang, and three planning members remained in the room.
Jiang Suxian specified the content of the second piece of music.
She hoped this song would be a collaboration between the three members.
This was the result of her discussion with President Yang.
Yang Xianshuo asked her to inform these three people.
Jiang Suxian knew exactly what Yang Xianshuo was thinking.
After she made the announcement, the three of them outwardly agreed, but in reality, they each had their own ideas and started to quarrel, and they also became dissatisfied with her.
It would be best if things got ugly.
Then Yang Hsien-shuo was asked to mediate.
However, Jiang Suxian believes that she understands the three members better than Yang Xianshuo.
Would these three really do such a thing?
She didn't think so.
Seeing that the person in front of her had quietly accepted what she said, Jiang Suxian had a certain degree of confidence in herself.
Following the decision made by higher-ups, the company began to release some information about the new girl group.
In larger companies, even trainees get attention.
Not to mention news of a new girl group.
When news of Waiji's new girl group was released and began to be tested through entertainment news releases, small-scale discussions also emerged on forums.
[...A new girl group from YG?]
LZ: Has everyone seen the news? I heard that YG Entertainment is planning to have girl groups also adopt a creative style?
1L: It seems that the golden sister is also playing in the game now.
2L: ? Are you talking about that golden-haired girl who practiced at the Hat family for several years but suddenly disappeared? I was really looking forward to seeing her face, wondering if she was beautiful.
4L: I'm curious, why is she called Golden Sister? Is her surname Jin?
7L: No, no, it's because of a legendary blurry picture. The golden halo that the sunlight cast on her is the origin of the original nickname "Golden Girl".
8L: The sunlight was so bright it blurred the edges of the mask, making it impossible to see the face clearly. However, just a pair of eyes and a certain aura at that moment convinced many people that the person must have a beautiful face. Sometimes I really think netizens are ridiculous.
11L: Beauty is sometimes a feeling [blurred image]
Besides, there were other fan-taken photos later on; she looks great even without sunlight [side profile with mask].
12L: Ahem, shouldn't the focus be on YG's previous girl group debuting just over a year ago and already preparing for another one? Why is everyone discussing whether it's "golden" or not?
14L: Agree with 12L, feel sorry for 21. She's always been called a "crooked chicken princess." Well, now the real princess has arrived.
16L: If it were the golden-haired girl, it wouldn't be unacceptable.
21L: Just so you know, WYSIWYG doesn't judge by looks. Your golden-haired girl might not even make it into the debut group.
24L: Why does everyone think gold is so pretty? If she were really that pretty, she would have been part of the Hat Family Flower Field long ago.
28L: Help! Why does this thread always veer towards that blonde girl no matter what we're talking about?
29L: Don't worry, I'm used to it. No matter the topic, as soon as that golden girl is mentioned, the posts are all about her.
Whether someone is pretty or not, whether they have talent or not, these things can be discussed and debated a hundred times a day.
This person truly has the ability to generate buzz.
[YG, please treat your current groups better, okay? Senior fans, speak up!]
LZ: They've only been around for a little over a year since they debuted, a new girl group? Are they kidding me? Even I, a fan of theirs, can't stand it anymore.
1L: You mean that so-called monster rookie, who won his first number one award in just 28 days after debut, won the Grand Prize of the Year in his debut year, and is about to release his first full album and already has a junior group? Are you crazy?
3L: Although I'm a family fan, I still find it a bit hard to accept.
4L: I suggest deleting this. As a fan of my senior brother, I don't care. Who I'm supporting doesn't matter.
7L: It's just hype. Whether they'll actually debut is still uncertain.
8L: The company has mentioned it subtly several times in its financial reports, and it's even been reported in the news. What do you think, upstairs?
11L: I'm putting this out there, I will definitely boycott the new girl group's debut. You guys better deal with it.
12L: Actually, it's not so bad. Pretty girl Modo Modo?
Didn't the girl group next door also launch f(x) just two years after Girls' Generation debuted?
13L: So it's really noisy next door. As a fan of the Waiji family, I really dislike all that drama.
14L: 12L If you want to see pretty girls, go to the two shops next door. We only care about talent, not looks.
In contrast to the fervent voices emerging from the forum, there was also a group that remained silent.
After seeing the news about the new girl group, some people didn't take it seriously at all, while others became somewhat curious about the new girl group.
Things that defy common sense always attract some attention.
The conflicts of interest among adults, and the ups and downs on the internet, have nothing to do with Shang Xi and his two companions.
The three sat in the practice room, discussing their plans for the second song.
The previous meetings were more of an observation of an adult's effortless performance.
Here, the three of them were much more serious than before.
Yang Hyun-seok correctly guessed the complex emotions that Lee Min-jin and Sung Ji-hye would experience.
When people face someone more outstanding than themselves and realize they can never surpass that person, it's inevitable that some dissenting voices will arise in their minds.
Han Sang-hee was that kind of person to the other two.
Sang-hee's strong performance at the beginning led Lee Min-jin and Sung Ji-hye to accept the last member to arrive.
After discovering that their opponent was more capable than them, the two simply resolved to work harder.
The initial advantage in the creative course also relieved Minjin and Jihye.
This advantage vanished after the emergence of EAT EARTH.
Now, they still have to accept this arrangement, which is nominally a collaboration but in reality, it's about Shangxi leading them.
Don't you have other thoughts in your heart?
It would be a lie to say there isn't.
What teenager doesn't have a competitive spirit?
A loss is a loss.
Their acknowledgment of Han Shangxi's excellence does not mean that they themselves are not excellent.
Besides Han Sang-hee, Lee Min-jin and Sung Ji-hye are also among the strongest trainees.
They believe they have the ability and deserve this debut position.
Just as Han Sang-hee said when they first met.
"No matter what, we need to debut first so that people can see that ETE exists."
Han Shangxi's words always appeared at the perfect moment.
Won't the arrangement of the second song make Han Shangxi's mind waver as well?
Yang Xianshuo expected that Han Shangxi, the winner of the previous round, would have to bring his teammates with him in the next round.
Although it's a team effort, it's clearly a way to make the winner relinquish their original honor.
If that's the case, then Han Sang-hee feels she should debut as a solo artist.
Her two friends were composing music, just a little slower than her.
They are fellow travelers.
Let's discuss the distribution of so-called honors only after we've made sure others notice their existence.
After getting to know Minjin and Jihye, Han Sang-hee didn't think of them as bad people, which is why they are so close now.
People may change, and she may change too.
But it's good that everyone hasn't changed at this stage.
Let her handle what happens next.
Being fixated on and obsessing over unknown changes is not the way Han Shangxi is.
Han Shangxi's idea was very simple, and he only had one thing from beginning to end: to debut.
The three of them changed their original schedules for the second song.
What theme, what style, what content?
These all require the three of them to work together, explore, and refine their skills step by step.
Compared to their separate plans for a while, after starting to work on the second song, the three of them became inseparable again at the company.
For the first time, Lee Min-jin and Sung Ji-hye truly felt their friend's progress and were completely convinced.
This friend is truly admirable.
They had witnessed how much Han Shangxi was squeezing out his time some time ago.
If you asked any of them to do it, they don't think they could be as ruthless as their friends are to them.
When working together to refine a song, even if you admire each other, arguments are inevitable, but they are only about the issue and not the person.
They argued for so long they insisted on their own ideas more than anyone else.
After the results are obtained, things will return to calm.
The three of them did not spend much time in the recording studio this time.
Even if they wanted to, it seems unlikely that President Yang and the others would grant them that much authority.
Minister Li's reason was that the three of them were too conspicuous.
Usually, Han Shangxi would go to the recording studio alone, produce the content according to their expectations, and then copy it back.
They then made further modifications.
The production of the second song took longer than expected to be completed before the first snowfall.
The first snowfall in Seoul in 2010 was earlier than in previous years.
Sometimes things just happen by such unexpected twists and turns.
Empire was created two weeks after the first snowfall and completed in early December.
Unlike the distinctive style of "EAT EARTH", "Empire" sounds like a song that fits YG Entertainment's aesthetic.
The content is definitely hip-hop oriented, with a strong tarp flavor.
However, it exhibits a much lower level of aggression than YG has typically shown.
Empire is more like a subtle form of rebellion.
The shift in positioning was incorporated into the song. In that section, each person was not in their designated position.
What the three of them wanted was to maintain their composure even after their roles were dramatically disrupted.
More than just elegant puppets, they are vibrant and dynamic living beings.
It's catchy, fun, and interesting. As for the topic that has been debated for many years, whether the song has a satirical meaning or not, that's another matter.
ETE wants to ignite the stage with their own energy.
Yes, they are ETE.
While working together to refine their songs, Shangxi and the other two gained a clearer understanding of what kind of idols they wanted to become.
ETE will become a beloved entity.
Han Sang-hee was certain this would become a reality, as were Sung Ji-hye and Lee Min-jin.
A note from the author:
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ETE debuted, and it turns out the golden-haired girl is Sang Hee's successor.
Forum belike: Oh my god, this person is clearly both talented and good-looking, okay?
...
Pigeon's forum writing style is rather unethical; it's usually not the amicable kind. Please don't take the entertainment content seriously. I apologize in advance if there is any offense.
If subsequent chapters are in the forum format, they will be marked in the summary, just like this chapter.
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Thank you to readers "白纸", "我是不开心的开心", "noknow", "jusfina", and "yigiena" for their enthusiastic support! [doge emoji with rose in hand]
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