K-Producer C74 In a hurry

Two days later, Byul-ho and Ascend found themselves stepping off the plane into the humid Bangkok air. The excitement was palpable among the members, their eyes wide as they took in their new surroundings.

They were quickly ushered into a waiting van by their Thai staff, the air conditioning a welcome respite from the heat. As they drove through the bustling streets of Bangkok, Byul-ho could see the members trying to take in every sight, their faces pressed against the windows.

After a short drive, they arrived at the offices of Supachai Thanakorn, Byul-ho's Thai partner. Supachai greeted them warmly, bowing slightly as he shook Byul-ho's hand.

"Welcome to Thailand, Byul-ho-ssi," Supachai said with a smile. "And welcome, Ascend. We're excited to have you here."

The members bowed respectfully, Jae-sung stepping forward to offer a carefully practiced "Sawadee krap" that made Supachai's smile widen.

"Come," Supachai said, gesturing towards the building. "Natthew is waiting to meet you."

As they entered the building, Byul-ho could sense the nervous energy from his group. This was their first international collaboration, and he knew they were feeling the pressure to make a good impression.

They were led to a spacious meeting room where a young man was waiting, his friendly smile putting the Ascend members at ease. Natthew stood as they entered, bowing in greeting.

Natthew stood as they entered, bowing in greeting. "Annyeonghaseyo," he said carefully, his pronunciation slightly off but his effort evident. "Welcome to Thailand."

Jae-sung stepped forward, a warm smile on his face. "Sawadee krap," he replied, his Thai accented but clear.

Byul-ho nodded approvingly as the translator began facilitating the conversation between the artists.

Natthew's eyes lit up as he spoke, the translator relaying his words: "I've seen your 'Love Sentence' music video. It's really great. The retro concept is very cool."

The Ascend members smiled, clearly pleased by the compliment. Min-jae spoke up next, his words carried through the translator: "Thank you so much. We actually listened to your song 'She's Bad' before coming here. The melody is really catchy."

Natthew nodded appreciatively, a hint of surprise in his expression. "Ah, you've heard it? Thank you. I'm glad you enjoyed it."

As the conversation continued, the initial awkwardness began to fade. The artists started discussing their musical influences and sharing anecdotes about their experiences in the industry, with the translator working quickly to keep up with the excited chatter.

Byul-ho watched the interaction with satisfaction. Despite the language barrier, music was proving to be a universal language that was helping to bridge the gap between the artists.

As the artists continued their animated discussion, Byul-ho felt a gentle tap on his shoulder. He turned to see Supachai gesturing for a private conversation.

They moved to a quieter corner of the room, where Supachai began to outline the plans. "We're organizing a concert for Natthew next week. As part of the collaboration, Ascend will join him on stage for 'Love Sentence'."

Byul-ho nodded, his mind already racing with possibilities. "That's a great opportunity," he said, then paused before adding, "but I think we could push this further."

Supachai raised an eyebrow, curious. "What do you have in mind?"

"Instead of just one song," Byul-ho proposed, "what if we split the concert? Have Natthew perform for the first half, then Ascend for the second, with the collaboration as the grand finale?"

Supachai's expression turned hesitant. "That's... quite a big change, Byul-ho-ssi. This is Natthew's concert, after all. I'm not sure how his team would feel about sharing equal billing."

Byul-ho leaned in, his voice low but persuasive. "Think about it, Supachai-ssi. This way, we're not just introducing Ascend to the Thai market - we're creating a true cultural exchange. It's a win-win. Natthew gets exposure to K-pop fans, and Ascend gets a proper introduction to the Thai audience."

Seeing Supachai still wavering, Byul-ho played his trump card. "Plus, Golden-Star Entertainment would be willing to cover 40% of the production costs for the entire concert. That's a significant saving for your side."

Supachai's eyes widened slightly at the offer. He was silent for a moment, weighing the pros and cons. Finally, he nodded slowly. "It's an intriguing proposal. I'll need to discuss it with Natthew's management, but... I think we might be able to make this work."

Byul-ho nodded, then added, "By the way, I wanted to follow up on our previous discussion about enhancing Ascend's image here in Thailand."

Supachai's interest piqued. "Ah yes, you mentioned some ideas a few weeks ago. Have you refined the plan?"

"Indeed," Byul-ho confirmed. "We've prepared a series of short, behind-the-scenes videos of Ascend exploring Bangkok. As we discussed, we'll share these on popular social media platforms and collaborate with local entertainment shows."

He continued, "We've scheduled the members to try local street food, attempt conversations in Thai with locals, and participate in traditional activities. It's all set up to showcase Ascend's genuine interest in Thai culture."

Supachai nodded approvingly. "I remember now. It's a clever approach. Have you finalized the details for the fan meet event we talked about?"

"Yes," Byul-ho replied. "We've arranged for a small fan meeting where fans can interact with the members, ask questions, and perhaps even suggest places for them to visit during their stay. It's all ready to go, pending your final approval."

Supachai nodded, but then added cautiously, "Before I agree, I'd like to discuss the benefits for our side in all of this. What's in it for our business partnership?"

Byul-ho smiled, prepared for this question. "Of course. I'm willing to increase your percentage of the concert profits by 5%, and we'll cover 60% of the promotional costs for these events. It's a small price to pay to increase my group's relevance in the Thai market."

Supachai nodded, seemingly satisfied with the offer. He then asked, curiosity evident in his voice, "May I ask, your group is still very young in my opinion. You have a lot of time, given your age and the group's, to increase their popularity. Why are you in such a hurry?"

Byul-ho smiled, memories flashing through his mind - his classmates' disdain, his desire to follow in his deceased father's footsteps, and the knowledge from his soul's previous life. But none of that mattered right now. He had a clear goal in mind.

"I'm actually planning to surpass Big Bang," Byul-ho stated simply, his voice filled with quiet determination.

Supachai chuckled, a mix of amusement and admiration in his eyes. "Big Bang? That's quite ambitious, Byul-ho-ssi."

Byul-ho's smile didn't waver. "Ambition drives progress, Supachai-ssi. And I believe Ascend has what it takes to reach those heights."

Supachai studied Byul-ho for a moment, seeming to reassess the young CEO. Finally, he nodded. "Well, with that kind of drive, who knows? You might just pull it off. Alright, let's proceed with your plans."

As they shook hands, sealing their agreement, Byul-ho felt a surge of satisfaction. Another step forward in his grand plan, another move towards the future he envisioned for Ascend and Golden-Star Entertainment.

***

As the days in Thailand unfolded, Byul-ho found himself juggling multiple responsibilities. Between overseeing Ascend's activities, managing business negotiations, and coordinating with the local team, he also had to carve out time for his schoolwork.

Late at night, after long days of meetings and events, Byul-ho would sit in his hotel room, laptop open, working on projects for his upcoming high school graduation. The irony wasn't lost on him - a Chairman of a growing entertainment company, negotiating international deals by day, and completing homework by night.

Fortunately, the knowledge from his past life made the academic work relatively straightforward. Complex math problems and essay questions that might have stumped his classmates were easily manageable for him. Still, the sheer volume of work, combined with his business responsibilities, meant many late nights and early mornings.

One evening, as he was finishing up an essay on Korean history, Byul-ho paused, a wry smile on his face. Here he was, writing about events he had technically lived through twice, all while planning the future of K-pop in a foreign country.