K-Producer C51 Next step

The next day, Byul-ho arrived at the company to find Ascend already hard at work in the practice room. As he approached, the sound of music and synchronized footsteps filled the air. He stood at the doorway for a moment, watching with pride as his group moved in perfect harmony.

When they noticed him, the coaches quickly paused the music and nodded in greeting. Byul-ho returned the gesture before turning his attention to the members.

"What's up, guys? How are you doing?" Byul-ho asked, his voice carrying a mix of casualness and authority.

The members, slightly out of breath, gathered around him.

Jae-sung, wiping sweat from his brow, spoke up first. "We're doing well, Hyung. How about you? We didn't see you yesterday..."

Byul-ho's lips curved into a small smile. "I've just been dealing with some unexpected developments at the company."

The members exchanged curious glances, nodding for him to continue.

"By the way," Byul-ho added, his tone shifting slightly, "we've received a ton of endorsement offers from other companies. You guys better expect a raise."

A ripple of excitement passed through the group. Min-jae's eyes widened. "Really?"

Byul-ho nodded, then dropped the bombshell: "Some companies are actually willing to endorse you guys directly - and my company will only take a small cut. The bigger portion can be kept by you. For now, I'm still working on finding managers for each of you."

The practice room fell silent for a moment as the news sank in. The members looked at each other, a mix of shock, excitement, and disbelief on their faces.

Hyun-woo's eyes widened, his voice a mix of excitement and disbelief. "We'll really get to directly endorse them?"

Yeon-seok, ever the pragmatist, furrowed his brow. "But wouldn't it be unfair if the company only takes a small cut?"

Byul-ho smiled warmly at his group, touched by their concern. "Since the endorsements will be directly with individual members, it's only fair that the majority of the profit goes to you. The company's cut is for managing the deals and providing support."

The members exchanged glances, a mix of gratitude and amazement on their faces. Jae-sung and the others looked at Byul-ho with newfound appreciation.

Sung-ho, usually reserved, spoke up. "Thanks for that, Hyung. It means a lot."

Byul-ho nodded, then shifted gears. "There's one more thing. I think you guys should start learning languages like Japanese, Mandarin, or English."

Do-hyun's eyebrows shot up, his tone skeptical. "Why? We're doing fine with Korean."

Jae-sung, catching on quickly, patted Do-hyun's back. "It's because when we go international, we'll at least know some words. Right, Hyung?"

"Exactly," Byul-ho confirmed with a nod. "But don't worry, it's not a top priority right now. Maybe just 30 minutes a day to start with."

The members nodded, some looking excited at the prospect, others a bit apprehensive.

Later that day, Byul-ho spent time with the members, observing their practice and joining them in the recording studio to discuss their songs.

"How's the new track coming along?" he asked, leaning against the soundboard.

Jae-sung rubbed his neck. "It's... getting there. The bridge is still giving us trouble."

Byul-ho nodded, "Let's hear it again. Sometimes fresh ears can help."

As evening fell, Byul-ho found himself back in his office, sifting through the mountain of endorsement offers. He sighed, rubbing his temples.

"Quantity doesn't always mean quality," he muttered, setting aside another subpar offer.

***

The next day at school, Byul-ho found himself in the cafeteria with Min-ji and Seul-gi.

Min-ji smiled knowingly. "I've heard your company's been blessed recently."

Byul-ho couldn't help but grin. "Yeah, things are looking up. We're estimating about 340 million won worth of deals by next week."

Seul-gi's eyes widened. "That's... a lot."

Byul-ho nodded.

"Can't believe Ascend grew so much just because of a popular K-pop blogger," Seul-gi mused, shaking her head in disbelief.

Min-ji nodded sagely. "Well, it's not just any blogger. He's well-known in the K-pop community. His taste in groups is trusted by many."

Byul-ho listened, a thoughtful expression on his face. "It's surreal how fast things can change in this industry."

Min-ji leaned forward, her eyes curious. "So, what's next? Another concert in the works?"

Byul-ho shook his head, a thoughtful expression on his face. "Not just yet. Right now, I'm focused on finding the right manufacturer for Ascend merch. We need to capitalize on this momentum."

"Ah, I see," Min-ji nodded, understanding dawning in her eyes.

Seul-gi perked up, realization hitting her. "Come to think of it, Ascend doesn't have any official merch yet, do they?"

"Exactly," Byul-ho confirmed with a sigh. "Some fans have even started making their own homemade stuff. So far, we've only been able to offer high-quality photographs."

He ran a hand through his hair, a mix of frustration and determination in his voice. "It's not enough. I need to give the fans something tangible, you know? Something they can wear or hold onto."

Min-ji nodded thoughtfully. "It's a crucial step. Merch isn't just about profit; it's about fan engagement."

"Tell me about it," Seul-gi chimed in, her eyes sparkling with excitement. "I'd buy an Ascend lightstick in a heartbeat!"

Byul-ho couldn't help but smile at her enthusiasm. "Noted. Lightsticks are definitely on the list."

He paused, then added with a hint of vulnerability rarely seen in his business persona, "It's just... there's so much to consider. Quality, design, pricing... I want to get it right."

Min-ji and Seul-gi exchanged glances, both seeing a side of Byul-ho they rarely witnessed - the passionate entrepreneur behind the cool exterior.

***

After school.

Byul-ho stepped into the bustling casual restaurant, his eyes scanning the room. In the corner, he spotted a portly man in a suit, matching the description he'd been given. Taking a deep breath, he approached the table.

"Excuse me, are you Song Ha-neul-ssi?" Byul-ho asked politely.

The man looked up, his eyebrows rising in surprise as he took in Byul-ho's youthful appearance. "You're that Byul-ho I talked to on the phone?"

Byul-ho nodded, extending his hand. "Yes, that's me. Nice to meet you, Song Ha-neul-ssi."

Ha-neul stood, shaking Byul-ho's hand with a firm grip. "Well, I'll be... I was expecting someone a bit more... older," he chuckled, his round face creasing with amusement.

As they sat down, Ha-neul leaned forward, curiosity glinting in his eyes. "So, young man, tell me about this K-pop group of yours. Ascend, was it?"

Byul-ho nodded, straightening his posture. "Yes, Ascend. They're a rising group with a growing fanbase. We're looking to expand into merchandise production to meet fan demand."

Ha-neul nodded, stroking his chin thoughtfully. "I see, I see. And what kind of products did you have in mind?"

As Byul-ho began to outline his ideas, Ha-neul listened intently, occasionally interjecting with questions or suggestions. Despite the initial surprise, it was clear that Ha-neul was taking Byul-ho seriously, recognizing the potential in the young entrepreneur sitting across from him.

Ha-neul leaned back in his chair, a thoughtful expression on his face. He nodded slowly, a hint of admiration in his eyes.

"I've got to hand it to you, kid," he said, his deep voice tinged with surprise. "You've really thought this through. T-shirts, hoodies, lightsticks... even phone cases. You've covered all the bases."

He paused, drumming his fingers on the table. "And your idea for limited edition items for each member? That's smart. Creates scarcity, drives up demand. And your ideas for customizable lightsticks and eco-friendly packaging are particularly interesting."

Byul-ho nodded, a small smile playing on his lips. "Thank you, Ha-neul-ssi. I believe that to succeed in this industry, we need to be forward-thinking and considerate of our fans' desires and values."

Ha-neul chuckled, shaking his head in amazement. "Well, I'll be... You talk like a seasoned CEO. Alright, I'm intrigued. What kind of production numbers are you thinking?"

Byul-ho leaned forward, his eyes bright with enthusiasm. "We're looking at an initial run of 10,000 units for each product line. We want to start conservatively but be ready to scale up quickly if demand is high."