Park Jeong-gi, a producer in NBC's entertainment division, had spent the past few days deep in thought.
‘Grass Leaf, Tree Leaf, Maple Leaf won again.’
Producer Park Jeong-gi was in charge of ‘King of Mask Singer,’ a program that aired every Sunday at six in the evening.
‘King of Mask Singer’ was a program in which celebrities concealed their identities behind masks and displayed their abilities using only their voices. Lately, however, a star who had won the Mask King title nine consecutive times had been giving Producer Park Jeong-gi one headache after another.
‘Mu-won. Can't you lose already?’
In truth, the identity of the current Mask King, “Grass Leaf, Tree Leaf, Maple Leaf,” had been exposed long ago.
Solo singer Lee Mu-won. He had won the Best New Artist award at the BMA last year. A mistake involving one of his signature gestures had exposed his identity, but his singing was so good that he kept winning.
Some people asked, “Isn't it good for him to keep winning?” But this was a competition program.
Viewers were supposed to watch with anticipation, wondering which singer would defeat the reigning Mask King and become the new Mask King. Lately, however, Lee Mu-won had continued his winning streak for so long that people had started saying K.I.M.—the King Is Mu-won.
As a result, the ratings fell week after week, and Park Jeong-gi was searching for singers with fire in his eyes.
Then he came across a post online.
[That vocal tone is seriously insane]
[Video]
Judging from the stage in the background, it appeared to be Idol Week. A singer was performing onstage.
‘Huh, there's something......’
There was a depth to the singer's voice that he could not properly express in words. Park Jeong-gi's instincts as a broadcaster told him the answer.
‘This is the one!’
He checked the list of singers who had appeared on the last episode of Music Town and soon learned which group the singer belonged to.
‘Sun & Moon? Never heard of them. Are they rookies?’
Ring-ring.
At that moment, Park Jeong-gi's phone rang.
The caller was Director Park Hyeong-hun of DM Entertainment.
‘Why is this man calling me out of nowhere......?’
When he dragged the answer button and raised the phone to his ear, he heard a cheerful voice.
-Goodness, Producer Park!
“Well, if it isn't Director Park. What brings you to call me?”
-Right. Is this the first time we've heard each other's voices since the clan gathering?
“If you know that, you should call more often.”
-We've both been so busy lately. I hear Mu-won has been giving you quite the headache?
This man went straight for the sore spot the moment he called.
The fact that the current Mask King was Lee Mu-won was already an open secret.
But Park Jeong-gi did not have to worry anymore.
“It's fine. I've found a promising singer.”
-Really? We were hoping to recommend someone too.
Only then did Park Jeong-gi realize why Director Park of DM Entertainment had called.
‘So he called to ask me to put someone on the show.’
Unfortunately, that would not be possible. Seven spots had already been filled, leaving only one.
And he was determined to fill that spot with this singer.
“We only have one spot left now.”
-Oh, I-is that so? That's a shame. Who did you have in mind, Producer Park?
“There's a new idol group called Sun & Moon. Their main vocalist sings so well it gives me chills. I'm planning to contact him.”
Phew—
He heard a sigh of relief.
-Sun & Moon are our boys.
“What?”
Hearing the triumph in Director Park Hyeong-hun's voice, Producer Park Jeong-gi hurriedly searched for <Sun & Moon> on a portal site.
‘He was right.’
Sun & Moon belonged to DM Entertainment.
Producer Park Jeong-gi felt their positions reverse.
“Director Park—no, Hyeong-hun-hyung. Let's continue our discussion. Who were you planning to recommend?”
-I was going to recommend our Yujin because I know how well he sings, but now I'm not so sure.
At the petulant tone, Producer Park began groveling again.
“Goodness, please try to understand my position. We absolutely have to replace the Mask King this time.”
He could not allow the ratings to fall any further, so he wanted to recruit Sun & Moon's vocalist by any means necessary.
-Then let's make one deal, Producer Park. If you grant me this one request, I'll have Yujin appear on the show.
“What? What is it?”
-Put both Sun & Moon members on the next program you're preparing.
“Hyung, how did you know about that......?”
Wasn't that something only the people preparing the program should have known?
But Director Park Hyeong-hun avoided answering and pressed Park Jeong-gi instead.
-What will you do?
Sun & Moon. At present, all he knew about the group was the vocalist's ability. He hesitated briefly, but time was of the essence, so Park Jeong-gi soon nodded.
“All right.”
-Then you know our manager's number, right? Send the schedule there.
“Yes, hyung. Take care.”
After ending the call, Park Jeong-gi realized that he had failed to make any bet on what would happen if Yujin lost.
Feeling as though he had been robbed with his eyes wide open, he let out a deep sigh.
***
“I did as you asked, Chanhwi, but are you sure this is all right?”
Chanhwi was sitting across from Director Park Hyeong-hun, who held the position directly beneath CEO Kim Dae-myeong at DM Entertainment.
He had considered asking CEO Kim Dae-myeong, but the CEO had rarely appeared at the agency lately, seemingly busy with investments. From what Chanhwi heard, the company was putting together an acting division.
More important right now was persuading Director Park Hyeong-hun.
Director Park Hyeong-hun's gaze swept over Chanhwi.
Chanhwi had barged into his office and asked whether he could put Yujin on ‘King of Mask Singer,’ so Director Park had granted the request.
“I still don't understand. Chanhwi, both of you need every appearance you can get right now, yet you want to send him onto a program where only one of you can appear.”
“I think we've already demonstrated our skills sufficiently on NeoTube, onstage, and on Idol Week. The PR Team leader told me the response has been favorable too. In this situation, I think what we need to do is show results.”
At first, Director Park wondered what gave this boy the nerve to make such a request, but everything Chanhwi said made sense. Still, one thing bothered him.
“Are you sure Yujin can win? Against Lee Mu-won? He did quite well last year.”
Lee Mu-won had won the Best New Artist award at the 2022 BMA, which was cause for some concern.
Chanhwi, on the other hand, answered confidently.
“Don't worry. You know how good Yujin is.”
Chanhwi emphasized his point to the still-worried Director Park.
“I guarantee Yujin's singing ability.”
“Where does that confidence of yours come from......?”
After a long deliberation, Director Park made his decision.
“Ah, to hell with it. Fine. Let's do it.”
When even Yujin's fellow member was pushing for him this strongly, shouldn't they at least give it a try?
The two had done well at every turn so far, and Director Park believed they would do well again.
‘He has the skill, so he should at least make it through the first round.’
That alone would count as a strong showing. Even if all Yujin accomplished was getting his face known, it would be effective.
“You tell Yujin yourself, Chanhwi. If he says he doesn't want to do it, tell me immediately.”
“Yes. Don't worry. I'll persuade him!”
“Ah, Chanhwi. Wait.”
Chanhwi, who had answered energetically and was about to leave the office, turned at Director Park's call.
“But what is this program Producer Park is preparing?”
“I'll tell you later.”
Chanhwi smiled and closed the door.
***
When Chanhwi arrived outside the dorm, he gripped the doorknob with his heart pounding.
‘It's all right. I've already planned how to persuade him.’
In truth, the greatest obstacle in this operation was persuading Yujin, the person at its center.
The Yujin he knew before his regression had hated competition programs to an almost unreasonable degree.
So this time too.
-My music is for me, not for competing with someone else.
Yujin would surely say something like that and refuse.
Chanhwi had therefore prepared everything he needed to persuade him.
“All right. Let's do this!”
***
What did a rookie idol need in order to become successful?
Songs, dance, and many other things, but exposure was the most important.
We needed to show our faces not only on music programs but in many more places before viewers would remember us and become fans.
I had arrived prepared to deliver a speech on that subject for over two hours.
“Okay. I'll do it.”
“So what I'm saying is...... Wait, what?”
“I said I'll do it.”
All my preparation had been rendered pointless by how easily he agreed.
“......You weren't like this.”
“Okay. Like what?”
“Never mind.”
I decided it was fortunate that the discussion had ended quickly.
Come to think of it, he had also asked whether we could take first place when we debuted. Had something changed his mind before then?
Yujin, who was examining information about past episodes of King of Mask Singer on his phone, looked at me as if something were strange and asked a question.
“Am I appearing on this program alone?”
“......Who else would?”
When I answered with my own question, Yujin looked back at his phone.
“...It's nothing.”
“You have a heavy responsibility, so do well.”
That was how we would get to appear on the next program together.
***
“Until every heart is filled with flowers of hope, we'll keep bringing you songs! Mystery Music Show, King of Mask Singer!”
Kim Seong-yoon, the MC of King of Mask Singer, delivered the opening line before the large audience.
“Last week as well! With an enchanting voice that makes our hearts bounce, bounce, Grass Leaf, Tree Leaf, Maple Leaf secured a ninth consecutive victory—the Mask King who could win even singing with his feet!”
The camera displayed the man in the leaf mask sitting in the Mask King's seat with his legs crossed arrogantly.
The celebrity panelists jeered playfully.
“Boo! What a jerk!”
“No one can beat him. No one.”
At their jeers, the Mask King moved both hands up and down in a calming gesture.
Watching with a smile, Seong-yoon delivered his next line.
“Today we'll learn whether a new Mask King will rise and end the Leaf King's tyranny, or Leaf will become the first Mask King in history to reach ten consecutive victories! Let the first-round duet battles begin!”
Waaaaah!
-The first match of round one! I believe that people may all be equal, but Mask Kings are born high and low. The Crescent Moon Embracing the King!
“Whew.”
Yujin's eyes shone beneath the Crescent Moon mask.
The Crescent Moon Embracing the King entered the arena.