K-Producer C44 Securing a deal

As Byul-ho and the group entered the practice room, they were greeted by the sight of their coaches, who had arrived earlier and were waiting with a mix of concern and amusement on their faces.

"Well, well," the dance coach, Tae-hyun, said with a smirk. "Look who finally decided to join us. Rough night?"

The vocal coach, Mi-sook, shook her head, trying to hide her smile. "I hope you all learned a valuable lesson about celebrating responsibly."

The members had the decency to look sheepish, mumbling apologies and bowing slightly.

Byul-ho stepped forward. "I take full responsibility for their condition. But they're ready to work now, aren't you?" He turned to the group, who nodded vigorously.

"Alright then," Tae-hyun clapped his hands. "Let's see if you can dance without falling over."

For the next two hours, the group pushed through their practice, their movements gradually becoming sharper and more synchronized as the effects of Byul-ho's Haejangguk worked its magic.

As they wrapped up their dance practice, Byul-ho called the group together. "Good work, everyone. Now, let's talk about our music. We need to finalize some decisions about our upcoming releases."

The members gathered around, their faces eager despite the lingering tiredness.

Jae-sung spoke up first. "I've been working on the bridge for 'Resurection'. I think I've found a way to make it flow better with the chorus."

Hyun-woo nodded. "And I've made some adjustments to the arrangement of 'Look Up'. I'd like your opinion on it, Byul-ho."

The discussion continued, with each member contributing ideas and suggestion. Despite their rough start to the day, their passion for their craft was evident.

"Alright," Byul-ho said, checking his watch. "I have a meeting to attend soon, but I want you all to keep working on these ideas. We'll reconvene tomorrow to make final decisions."

The group nodded, their eyes shining with determination.

***

Byul-ho finished his shower in the company building. He carefully selected a professional outfit from the small wardrobe he kept at the office - a crisp white shirt, dark slacks, and a navy blazer that gave him a more mature appearance.

Adjusting his tie in the mirror, Byul-ho took a deep breath. "You've got this," he muttered to himself.

He made his way back to the practice room, where the group was still hard at work. "I'm heading out now," he announced. "Keep up the good work, everyone."

The members and coaches paused their activities to bid him farewell.

"Good luck, hyung!" Jae-sung called out.

"Knock 'em dead, boss," Tae-hyun added with a thumbs up.

Byul-ho nodded appreciatively and headed out. He walked to the bus stop.

The bus ride to Jangchung-dong seemed to pass in a blur. Byul-ho's mind raced with potential scenarios and strategies for the meeting.

As the bus neared his stop, Byul-ho straightened his blazer and took another deep breath.

He stepped off the bus and saw the imposing structure of the Shilla Hotel looming before him.

With a final adjustment of his tie, Byul-ho strode towards the hotel entrance.

As Byul-ho approached the table where Min-ji was seated, he noticed her eyes widen slightly in surprise.

"Well, this is different," Min-ji said, her tone a mix of approval and amusement. "You clean up nicely, Byul-ho-ssi. Quite a change from your usual street style."

Byul-ho felt a small surge of satisfaction at her reaction. "Thank you, Min-ji-ssi. I thought the occasion called for something more... professional."

He took a moment to observe Min-ji as well. She was dressed in a sleek, tailored blazer over a silk blouse, her hair neatly pulled back. "You're looking quite polished yourself," he added with a nod.

Min-ji accepted the compliment with a brief smile before her expression shifted to a more serious one. "Shall we get down to business?" she asked, gesturing for Byul-ho to take a seat.

As Byul-ho settled into his chair, he could feel the atmosphere change. The initial pleasantries were over, and now it was time for the real negotiations to begin.

"Of course," Byul-ho replied, his voice steady despite the nervous energy he felt. "I'm eager to hear more about this potential endorsement deal."

Min-ji nodded, pulling out a sleek tablet from her bag. "I've prepared some initial proposals for how we could structure this partnership," she began, her tone all business now. "But first, I'd like to hear more about your plans for Ascend. How do you see the group evolving in the next year?"

Byul-ho leaned forward slightly. He began to speak, he knew that every word, every idea he shared could be crucial in securing this deal.

***

Several days had passed since Byul-ho's meeting with Min-ji, and he still found himself marveling at the outcome. A 35 million won deal for Ascend to endorse "Mobs Club" men's fashion for three months seemed almost too good to be true. He was eagerly awaiting the official contract from Min-ji's mother's company.

However, his attention was currently focused on a more pressing matter. Byul-ho had just received the contract from Iniseu, and what he saw didn't sit well with him.

He arranged a meeting with Song Ji-soo, the woman he had initially negotiated with. As they sat across from each other in Ji-soo's office, Byul-ho's expression was serious.

"I have some concerns about the contract, Song-ssi," Byul-ho began, his tone firm but respectful.

Ji-soo's eyebrows raised slightly, a flicker of surprise crossing her face. "Oh? What seems to be the issue, Byul-ho-ssi?"

Byul-ho pointed out several clauses in the contract that he found unfavorable. Ji-soo's expression remained neutral, but he could see a hint of respect in her eyes, clearly not expecting such a thorough review from someone so young.

"Given these issues," Byul-ho continued, "I believe we need to renegotiate. I'm proposing a higher payment and a shorter endorsement period for Ascend."

Ji-soo's lips tightened slightly. "I'm afraid that's not possible, Byul-ho-ssi. We've already agreed on the terms."

Byul-ho leaned forward, his gaze steady. "Actually, Song-ssi, we haven't. Not officially. And considering you've tried to insert non-compete clauses that weren't part of our initial discussion, I think my requests are more than fair."

He then pulled out another document. "For context, here are the terms of another endorsement deal we've recently secured. As you can see, they're significantly more favorable."

Ji-soo's eyes widened slightly as she glanced at the document. She was silent for a moment, clearly reassessing her strategy.

"I see you're more... experienced in these matters than I initially gave you credit for, Byul-ho-ssi," Ji-soo said finally, a hint of grudging admiration in her voice. "Let's discuss your proposed changes."

As the negotiations drew to a close, Byul-ho and Ji-soo finally settled on a deal: 23 million won for a three-month endorsement period. The significant increase from the initial offer was largely due to Byul-ho's strategic presentation of the Mob Club offer and the unexpected growth in Ascend's popularity over the past week.

Byul-ho couldn't help but feel a sense of satisfaction as he watched Ji-soo's expression. He could almost see the wheels turning in her head, likely regretting not having finalized the deal sooner.

"Well, Byul-ho-ssi," Ji-soo said, her tone a mix of resignation and respect, "it seems we have a deal. We'll draft up the new contract immediately."

Byul-ho nodded, keeping his expression neutral despite his internal excitement. "I appreciate your flexibility, Ji-soo-ssi. I believe this arrangement will be beneficial for both parties."

Ji-soo managed a small smile. "Indeed. We'll have the contract ready for your review as soon as possible. I assume you'll want to go over it thoroughly?"

"Of course," Byul-ho replied, a hint of amusement in his voice. "I'm sure you understand."

As they stood to shake hands, Ji-soo's grip was firm. "You're quite the negotiator, Byul-ho-ssi. I look forward to working with Ascend."

After Byul-ho left her office, Ji-soo sank back into her chair, letting out a long sigh. She had clearly underestimated the young CEO, and it had cost her company. She made a mental note to approach future dealings with Byul-ho more cautiously, recognizing that he wasn't someone who could be easily manipulated or taken advantage of.

Meanwhile, as Byul-ho made his way out of the Iniseu building, he allowed himself a small smile of triumph. He had successfully navigated two major endorsement deals in a matter of days, securing favorable terms for Ascend. It was a significant step forward for the group and for his company.