K-Prorucer C61 SBS

Over the next three days, the practice room buzzed with activity as Ascend and Cool Girls worked on their collaboration. The initial awkwardness had given way to a sense of fellowship, with members from both groups exchanging tips and encouragement.

On the afternoon of the third day, Byul-ho found a moment to pull Jin-ae aside. "How's it going with your father's connections?" he asked, keeping his voice low to avoid being overheard by the practicing idols.

Jin-ae's face lit up with a mix of relief and excitement. "Good news. My father agreed to help. He's reached out to his friend, Tan Chul, at SBS."

Byul-ho nodded, his mind already racing with possibilities. "That's great. When can we meet him?"

"Tomorrow afternoon," Jin-ae replied. "He's expecting us at the KBS building at 2 PM."

The next day, Byul-ho found himself walking through the imposing doors of the SBS broadcasting station. The bustling lobby was filled with staff members and visitors, all moving with purpose.

Byul-ho and Jin-ae approached the reception desk together, their steps in sync. The receptionist looked up at them with a polite smile.

"Good afternoon," Byul-ho said, his voice steady despite the nerves he felt. "We have a 2 PM appointment with Tan Chul-ssi."

The receptionist nodded, her fingers flying over the keyboard as she checked the schedule. "Ah yes, I see it here. Jeon Byul-ho and Wan Jin-ae, correct?"

They both nodded in confirmation.

"Perfect," the receptionist said, reaching for two visitor badges. "Please wear these at all times. Tan Chul-ssi's office is on the 12th floor, room 1204. The elevator is just to your right."

They stepped into the elevator and waited. Shortly, the elevator doors opened on the 12th floor, revealing a long corridor lined with offices. They made their way to room 1204, pausing for a moment outside the door.

Jin-ae took a deep breath, then knocked firmly.

"Come in," a deep voice called from inside.

They entered to find a spacious office with a panoramic view of Seoul. Behind a large desk sat Tan Chul, a man in his late fifties with salt-and-pepper hair and sharp eyes.

"Ah, Jin-ae-ssi," Tan Chul said, standing to greet them. His gaze then turned to Byul-ho, curiosity evident in his expression. "And you must be Jeon Byul-ho. I've heard interesting things about you."

Byul-ho bowed respectfully. "It's an honor to meet you, Tan Chul-ssi. Thank you for taking the time to see us."

Tan Chul nodded, gesturing for them to take a seat. As they settled into their chairs, he turned his attention to Byul-ho.

"I remember seeing you on KRS," Tan Chul said, his eyes sharp with recollection. "Your group showed great potential. It was unfortunate that K-pop groups were removed from the show due to those... issues."

Byul-ho chuckled softly, his demeanor respectful yet confident. "We're still grateful for the exposure the show provided. It was a valuable stepping stone for Ascend."

Tan Chul's lips quirked into a small smile. "A humble perspective. That's refreshing in this industry."

He then turned to Jin-ae, stroking his chin thoughtfully. "And now, this rising group is collaborating with your company, Jin-ae-ssi. Quite an interesting development."

Jin-ae's cheeks colored slightly, but she met Tan Chul's gaze steadily. "I won't deny that Butterfly Agency needs this collaboration. We're hoping to revitalize our presence in the market." She paused, her voice taking on a more earnest tone. "That's why we're here today. We believe your program could provide the perfect platform to showcase what our groups can achieve together."

Byul-ho nodded in agreement, adding, "We want to bring something fresh and exciting to your viewers. Something that combines the best of both our companies."

Tan Chul leaned back in his chair, his expression thoughtful as he considered their words. The room fell silent for a moment, the weight of opportunity hanging in the air between them.

Tan Chul leaned forward, his hands clasped on the desk. "To be frank, under normal circumstances, I wouldn't consider featuring rookie groups like yours on our prime-time slot. However, given my friendship with your father, Jin-ae-ssi, I'm willing to give you this opportunity."

He paused, his gaze shifting between Byul-ho and Jin-ae. "But let me be clear - whether you capture the audience's attention is entirely up to you. Your performance, your charisma, your ability to stand out - that's on you."

Jin-ae nodded solemnly while Byul-ho responded, "We understand completely, Tan Chul-ssi. We appreciate the chance and we won't waste it."

Satisfied with their response, Tan Chul continued, outlining the details of their appearance:

"You'll be featured on next Friday's episode. You'll have a 10-minute slot, which includes a brief interview and your performance. The interview will air at approximately 8:40 PM, followed immediately by your stage."

He paused, making sure they were following. "You'll need to be here by 2 PM for rehearsals and final preparations. The show is live, so there's no room for mistakes. I suggest you use this week to polish your performance to perfection."

Byul-ho couldn't help but smile when he heard that, then he saw Tan Chul slide a document across the desk.

"This contains all the technical specifications for your performance - stage dimensions, lighting options, sound system details. Make sure your team goes over this thoroughly."

As Byul-ho reached for the document, Tan Chul added, "One last thing - we'll need your final song choice, performance video, and any special requirements by Monday at the latest. Our team needs time to prepare."

Byul-ho and Jin-ae exchanged a quick glance, both fully aware of the tight timeline they were facing. But neither showed any hesitation as they turned back to Tan Chul.

"We'll have everything to you by Monday," Byul-ho assured him, his voice firm with determination.

***

As Byul-ho and Jin-ae exited the SBS building, their steps were quick and purposeful. The afternoon sun cast long shadows as they walked, their voices low but urgent.

"We need to step up our rehearsals," Byul-ho said, his mind already racing with plans. "Every second counts now."

Jin-ae nodded, her expression a mix of excitement and anxiety. "Agreed. We should also start thinking about the interview portion. We need to make sure both groups shine."

They arrived at Golden-Star Entertainment's building, the familiar sight of the practice room a welcome comfort after the high-stakes meeting. Inside, both Ascend and Cool Girls were mid-rehearsal, their faces flushed with exertion.

Byul-ho clapped his hands, drawing everyone's attention. "Everyone, gather round. We have news."

As the two groups huddled together, a mix of curiosity and anticipation on their faces, Byul-ho and Jin-ae shared the details of their upcoming TV appearance.

Jae-sung's eyes widened. "Live prime-time TV? That's huge!"

Min-jung from Cool Girls bounced on her toes, unable to contain her excitement. "We're gonna be on SBS? For real?"

As the reality of the situation sank in, a determined energy filled the room.

Despite their previous experiences on television, everyone understood that this was different. This was their shot at making a lasting impression on a national audience.

"Alright," Jin-ae said, her voice cutting through the murmurs. "We have a lot of work to do and not much time. Let's get to it."

***

The next morning, Byul-ho found himself back in the familiar surroundings of his high school classroom.

During lunch break, he sat with Min-ji and Seul-gi as usual.

As they ate, Byul-ho decided to share some news about his recent activities. "Actually, there's something I wanted to tell you both. Golden-Star is collaborating with another company."

Min-ji's eyebrows shot up in surprise. "Really? That's unexpected. Which company?"

"It's a smaller agency called Butterfly Agency," Byul-ho explained. "We're working with their girl group, Cool Girls."

Seul-gi leaned forward, her eyes sparkling with interest. "Wow, that sounds exciting! How's it going so far?"

Byul-ho smiled, feeling a mix of pride and excitement as he spoke about the collaboration. "It's been intense, but really rewarding. The groups are working well together."

Both girls listened intently, clearly intrigued by this new development.

"Do you think..." Seul-gi started hesitantly, "we could maybe see them rehearse sometime?"

Min-ji nodded eagerly, adding, "If it's not too much trouble, of course."

Byul-ho considered for a moment before nodding. "Sure, why not? You can come by the company after school if you'd like."

After school, Byul-ho found himself leading Min-ji and Seul-gi to the Golden-Star Entertainment building. As they entered the practice room, they could hear the sound of music and synchronized footsteps.

Jin-ae was there, watching the rehearsal with a critical eye. She turned as they entered, her eyebrows raising slightly at the sight of Byul-ho's companions.

"Jin-ae-ssi," Byul-ho said, gesturing to the two girls. "These are my classmates, Min-ji and Seul-gi. They were curious about our collaboration."