K-Producer C76 Open minded

In the days following the concert, Thailand's social media platforms began to buzz with talk about Ascend. On Pantip, one of Thailand's most popular online communities, threads about the K-pop group started popping up.

"Did anyone else catch that K-pop group at Natthew's concert? They were pretty good!" one user wrote.

Responses flooded in:
"Yeah, I was surprised. Their dance moves were on point!"
"I liked their song 'Love Sentence'. It's been stuck in my head all day."
"Does anyone know where I can find more of their music?"

On Hi5, Thailand's popular social networking site, fans started sharing short video clips from the concert. Shaky, low-resolution footage of Ascend's performance spread rapidly, with comments praising their synchronization and vocal abilities.

Even on Sanook, Thailand's leading web portal, articles about the concert began to feature mentions of Ascend alongside Natthew. The comment sections were filled with curiosity about the K-pop group:

"I went for Natthew, but I left a fan of both!"
"That 'Love Sentence' song is catchy. I've been humming it all day."
"Are they famous in Korea? How come we haven't heard of them before?"

This online buzz, while still relatively small, was exactly what Byul-ho had hoped for. It was the first step in establishing Ascend's presence in the Thai market, and it was happening organically through fan interest.

***

Following the successful collaboration concert, Ascend continued to work closely with Natthew. They appeared together on various Thai social media platforms, sharing behind-the-scenes footage and casual interactions that endeared them to Natthew's fanbase.

The "Love Sentence" music video with Thai subtitles began circulating widely. Fans who had attended the concert shared it enthusiastically, introducing their friends to the catchy tune. Comments sections filled with praise for the song's addictive melody and the group's synchronized dance moves.

Unexpectedly, the song started to make its way into everyday life in Bangkok. At a popular bubble tea shop in Siam Square, a group of university students perked up as "Love Sentence" began playing over the speakers.

"Oh, it's that K-pop group from Natthew's concert!" one exclaimed, bobbing her head to the beat.

Her friend nodded, "I've been hearing this song everywhere lately. It's pretty good!"

Even at a small family-run restaurant in Sukhumvit, the owner's teenage daughter had convinced her parents to add "Love Sentence" to their playlist. As the song played, some diners found themselves unconsciously tapping their feet or humming along.

While Ascend was still far from being a household name in Thailand, their presence was growing. The collaboration with Natthew had opened doors, and their music was slowly but surely finding its way into the Thai music scene.

On Thailand's K-pop community forum, a heated discussion about Ascend was taking place:

SiamKpopFan2545: "Has anyone else noticed how Ascend is kinda like the new Big Bang? Their style is fresh!"

BangkokGirl007: "New Big Bang? Let's not get carried away. Big Bang is on another level."

Tuk_Tuk_VIP: "I don't know... Ascend's dance moves are pretty impressive. Maybe even better than Big Bang's?"

PakChong_Oppa: "Better than Big Bang? No way! Big Bang has years of experience."

MookataBoy99: "Come on, give Ascend a chance. Their songs are catchy and their performance with Natthew was amazing."

SongkranLover555: "I agree with MookataBoy99. 'Love Sentence' is on repeat for me. Can't say that about recent Big Bang songs."

ThaiTeaAddict: "Guys, it's too soon to compare. Let's see how Ascend does in the long run. But I gotta admit, they've got potential."

BangkokBoyVIP: "As a big Big Bang fan, I hate to say it, but Ascend's fresh style is really appealing."

***

After two weeks of whirlwind activities in Thailand, Byul-ho and Ascend prepared for their return to South Korea. As they boarded their flight, there was a sense of accomplishment among the group. They had come to Thailand as unknowns and were leaving with a budding fanbase and a solid foundation for future endeavors.

The flight back was filled with excited chatter as the members recounted their favorite moments and discussed the newfound attention they'd received. Byul-ho, though tired, felt a deep sense of satisfaction. The Thailand venture had exceeded his expectations.

As they exited the arrival gate at Incheon International Airport, a familiar face greeted them. Kim Seon-woo, Byul-ho's loyal butler, stood waiting with a warm smile.

"Welcome back, young master," Seon-woo said, bowing slightly. "I trust your trip was successful?"

Byul-ho nodded, a small smile playing on his lips. "More than we could have hoped, Seon-woo. It's good to be back."

Seon-woo's eyes twinkled with pride as he looked at the group. "The car is ready. I'm sure you're all eager to rest after your journey."

As they made their way to the parking lot, Byul-ho felt a renewed sense of purpose. The success in Thailand was just the beginning. With each step, his mind was already racing with plans for Ascend's next moves, both in Korea and beyond.

As they drove through the bustling streets of Seoul, Byul-ho turned to Seon-woo. "How have things been at the company while we were away?"

Seon-woo's eyes met Byul-ho's in the rearview mirror. "Quite well, young master. Han Lee has been doing an incredible job."

Byul-ho raised an eyebrow, intrigued. "Oh? Any specifics?"

Seon-woo nodded. "For one, we've secured that endorsement deal with the financial insurance company - you know, the one owned by the father of that young man from Samsung who's been pursuing Min-ji?"

Byul-ho raised an eyebrow, recalling his conversation with Jae-hoon. "Ah, yes. I'm glad that worked out."

Seon-woo continued, "Indeed. It seems the young man was quite eager to make the deal happen. Something about impressing Min-ji, I believe."

Byul-ho couldn't help but smile, remembering Jae-hoon's transparent attempts to get closer to Min-ji through business dealings. "Well, as long as it benefits our company, I'm not complaining."

As the car wound its way through Seoul's streets, Byul-ho's gaze drifted to his sleeping group members. Their peaceful faces belied the whirlwind of activity they'd just experienced in Thailand. A new thought began to form in his mind, challenging his previous assumptions.

'Am I really limited to producing just K-pop?' he mused silently. The success in Thailand had opened his eyes to the potential beyond Korea's borders. He recalled how, in his previous life, other K-pop companies had ventured into forming foreign groups, whether in Southeast Asia or China.

Byul-ho stroked his chin thoughtfully, his mind racing with possibilities. Suddenly, a memory from his past life surfaced - One Direction. They hadn't formed yet in this timeline. A spark of excitement ignited in his chest.

'Could I get to them before they take off?' he wondered. 'It's still 2009, after all.'

The idea was bold, perhaps even outrageous. Forming a Western boy band would be a completely different challenge from managing a K-pop group. There would be cultural differences, language barriers, and an entirely new market to navigate.

But the potential... if he could replicate even a fraction of One Direction's success from his previous life, it could catapult Golden-Star Entertainment onto the global stage in ways he hadn't previously imagined.