The silence in the studio after Sol-woo’s performance still hung in the air. With the atmosphere thick with emotion, Director Yoon and Manager Tae-shik finally crossed through the glass door. Once inside, they openly congratulated the young man — the effort he’d shown in so few days deserved every bit of recognition.
At that point, Shinsadong Tiger’s expression shifted to something much more serious. He looked at his co-composer:
"Elly, please give me some time alone with them."
LE understood immediately. Not being official staff at the agency, having heard Sol-woo sing was the limit of what the company could allow her to witness. Strategic plans, logistics, and internal company matters couldn’t be discussed in her presence.
Before leaving, she gave Sol-woo an approving thumbs-up and wished him luck for his future. Sol-woo responded with a slight bow and saw her off warmly.
Once out of the studio, she walked at a steady pace down the hallway and disappeared from view.
Inside the production room, the Producer-nim took the floor and laid out his position clearly:
"Based on what I just heard, I’m willing to stay on and personally guide Sol-woo-ssi," Shinsadong Tiger declared, looking at the team. "My girl group launches their new album at the beginning of June, so by that same month I’ll put a concrete proposal to Sol-woo-ssi. By June I want the demo version of this song finished, along with his ideas and proposals for future tracks."
He paused and turned his attention to the team at the console.
"What month are you planning to officially announce his signing to the agency?"
Ji-soo, as head of image strategy, took the conversation with complete seriousness:
"I have the announcement planned for the beginning of June. During these three months we’ll focus on uploading daily content to the agency’s platforms so he can start building his own audience base. By June we’ll have enough structure in place to absorb the first media waves."
Director Yoon nodded slowly, growing thoughtful before giving his verdict:
"Ideally, Sol-woo-ssi would be able to debut toward the end of this year or the beginning of the next. We’ll evaluate as we go. For now, work on your respective plans and bring them to me."
Shinsadong Tiger, watching the director with a firm look, spoke again:
"Director, I think you should start looking for music video roles for Sol-woo-ssi. They could be productions abroad or right here in Korea."
Tae-shik, caught off guard by the suggestion, stepped in immediately:
"Why do you think that, Producer-nim? Wouldn’t it be better for him to focus exclusively on developing his talent?"
The manager was being completely genuine. For him, the worst thing someone just starting in the industry could do was skip stages. And beyond that, Sol-woo had no background in modeling or acting.
The Producer-nim answered with unassailable logic:
"From what I’ve seen of this kid, he draws his inspiration from what he experiences and observes. Do you really think he’s going to be able to show his full potential if you keep him locked in here between four walls? He’s not like those commercial idols who get everything handed to them on a plate ready to sing. This kid needs to organize his thoughts, live things, and figure out what he wants to write. You need to factor that in. I’ll say it again — find him music video appearances so he can start understanding what’s waiting for him."
Ji-soo weighed the producer’s words and offered her perspective:
"It would be a strong strategy — but we’d need to be very careful. We can’t give him interviews or expose him too much to the public yet. The best approach would be for him to take on those roles, stand out for his visuals and aesthetic, and when we start pulling together the promotional material for his official debut, we release all of that as part of his portfolio."
The director grasped the strategic play, though his brow remained furrowed:
"Let me think about it. It’s a good idea, yes... The problem is that if he attracts too much attention too soon, it becomes a double-edged sword. Think it through carefully."
Ji-soo looked down, thoughtful. She knew the director was right. Letting him gain experience was ideal — but if any project accidentally went viral, it would unleash a tide online that would be impossible to contain, with her practically alone against the industry trying to protect him. That, without question, would draw unwanted envy.
Seeing the hesitation in the room, Shinsadong Tiger spoke with quiet but firm conviction:
"It’s not that serious. And besides — if the Big 3 agencies try to apply pressure or create obstacles, just announce me as part of the agency’s staff and as a shareholder. With that on the table, let’s see if they dare come at us with everything they have."
The words from the solidly built man restored confidence to the room. Director Yoon allowed himself a smile of relief — having the backing and the name of a figure like that reduced the pressure on the company enormously.
Satisfied, the director turned toward the young man, who had remained in silence taking in every detail:
"What do you think about all of this, Sol-woo-ssi?"
Sol-woo looked steadily at each person in the room and answered with a calm, unshakeable voice:
"From the moment I signed with MNO, I placed myself at your disposal. So I’ll limit myself to following the instructions of my superiors and instructors. It’s that simple."
Everyone in the room nodded in silence, convinced. There was no better answer than that.
It was Saturday. Sol-woo sat in an armchair, leaning back, watching the quiet harmony of Seoul’s streets through the window. He looked almost meditative. The agency had given him a day off to clear his head and rest from the demanding routine. For the work team, however, the day was anything but free — everyone was gathered in the director’s office.
Inside, Ji-soo was the first to break the silence:
"The Producer-nim’s plan, despite being risky, could deliver excellent results if we execute it properly, Director."
Director Yoon gave a quiet nod before offering his perspective:
"I’ve been thinking it over. It’s a good move — but I think we should keep it within Korea. We can’t involve him abroad yet."
Manager Tae-shik agreed, adding a straightforward argument:
"That’ll be best. What Sol-woo-ssi needs right now is to connect with the Korean audience. The Western market can wait."
Shinsadong Tiger, who had been holding back and listening to the discussion, finally stepped in with a measured but firm voice:
"My girl group launches their new album on June 1st. After that date, I’ll dedicate all my time and effort to Sol-woo-ssi. We need to be far more proactive with this kid’s career. I feel like if we don’t seize his moment right now, it’s going to slip through our fingers. Don’t you feel the same?"
The director let out a small sigh and nodded:
"Yesterday in the studio, when he finished singing, I noticed he completely drifted off. It was as if he’d gotten lost inside his own memories. You know how delicate that can be for his stability."
"In fact," Manager Tae-shik added, crossing his arms, "during these days I’ve been with him, I’ve noticed he always keeps a kind of wall up with everyone around him. Have you picked up on that? As a future idol, his approach should be about connecting with people — not isolating himself. Lawyer Park even suggested at one point that he start sessions with a psychologist. I think we should address this seriously with him."
Shinsadong Tiger shook his head immediately, shutting the idea down:
"Let’s not lose our professionalism. We’re not gossiping elders — it’s not our place to dig into his personal life. If he decides to open up at some point, he’ll do it on his own terms. The level of focus he shows toward his career and the respect he extends to all of us speaks for itself. We can’t corner him or smother him. For now, let him continue with his daily routines. June is when we’ll really see him in action."
Everyone in the room nodded in silence. There was nothing more to add for now — they would move forward step by step, respecting the pace and watching every detail of the plan.