K-Producer C43 Remedy

Min-ji's voice came through the line, clear and professional. "Good morning, Byul-ho-ssi. I'm calling about the endorsement we discussed last night."

Byul-ho felt a surge of surprise and tried to keep his tone measured. "I have to admit, I'm a bit surprised you're following up so quickly. I wasn't sure if you were entirely serious."

There was a brief pause before Min-ji responded, her voice taking on a slightly indignant tone. "I'm always serious when it comes to business matters, Byul-ho-ssi."

Byul-ho couldn't help but smile at her earnestness. "Of course, I apologize. I just hope you're seeing Ascend's true potential and not just... well, offering out of pity."

"Of course not," Min-ji replied quickly, a hint of annoyance in her voice. "I wouldn't mix personal feelings with business decisions. I genuinely believe this could be beneficial for both parties."

Byul-ho nodded, even though she couldn't see him. "I'm glad to hear that. So, what's the next step?"

"I think we should meet to discuss the details in person," Min-ji said. "Are you free later today?"

Byul-ho glanced at his schedule, seeing his afternoon was unexpectedly clear. "Yes, I could make time this afternoon. Where would you like to meet?"

Min-ji's voice came through the line, clear and confident. "Let's meet at La Yeon. It's in the Shilla Hotel, Jangchung-dong."

Byul-ho's eyebrows shot up in surprise. "La Yeon? That's quite... upscale. I'm not sure I can afford a place like that right now."

A soft chuckle came from Min-ji. "Don't you have money from selling your shares to my family?"

Byul-ho smiled, despite himself. "That's for company funds, Min-ji-ssi. I can't use it for personal expenses."

"Don't worry about it," Min-ji said smoothly. "I'll cover the bill."

"Really, it's okay if we meet at a more modest place," Byul-ho insisted, feeling uncomfortable with the idea of Min-ji paying.

Min-ji's tone became more businesslike. "Byul-ho-ssi, this is a business meeting. The environment should reflect that. Besides, La Yeon offers privacy and a professional atmosphere. It's important to set the right tone for our discussion."

Byul-ho hesitated for a moment, then sighed in resignation. "I suppose you have a point. Alright, La Yeon it is."

"Excellent," Min-ji replied, satisfaction evident in her voice. "I'll make the reservation for 2 PM. Does that work for you?"

"Yes, that's fine," Byul-ho agreed, still feeling a bit out of his element.

After hanging up the phone, Byul-ho glanced at the clock. He still had a few hours before he needed to leave for the meeting with Min-ji. Deciding to make the most of his time, he settled down at his computer to check on Ascend's social media progress.

As he scrolled through their official accounts, a smile spread across his face. The short clip from their concert had sparked significant engagement. Fans were sharing, commenting, and creating their own content based on Ascend's performance.

"Maybe I should consider a larger venue for the next concert," Byul-ho muttered to himself, noting the growing demand.

He delved deeper into the comments and posts about Ascend:

@아센드사랑해: "Ascend's performance was amazing! I must go to their next concert ㅠㅠ"

@K팝매니아: "I've never seen this style before. It's fresh and good!"

Of course, there were some negative comments too:

@비판적청취자: "Aren't they just another idol group? I don't see what's so special."

But the positive responses far outweighed the negative ones. Byul-ho felt a surge of pride for his group.

As he continued reading, he came across a comment that made him pause:

@음악전문가888: "I'm looking forward to Ascend's growth. But to maintain this popularity, they'll need the support of a bigger agency."

Byul-ho leaned back in his chair, pondering this comment.

Byul-ho shook his head, dismissing the comment. While it might be true for some, he felt confident in his ability to elevate Ascend with his unique knowledge and experience.

Glancing at his watch, Byul-ho realized it was time to head to the company building. He arrived at 9:00 AM, expecting to find the members already hard at work. To his surprise, the practice room was empty.

"Aish," he sighed, running a hand through his hair. "Looks like last night's celebration hit harder than I thought."

He walked through the quiet hallways, the absence of music and chatter feeling strange. Reaching the dormitory area, he could hear faint groans and the rustle of blankets.

Byul-ho knocked on the first door. "Yah, Jae-sung! Are you alive in there?"

A muffled groan was the only response.

Moving to the next door, he called out, "Min-jae, Sung-ho, time to get up!"

More groans and a weak "Five more minutes, hyung" echoed from within.

Byul-ho couldn't help but chuckle. It was rare to see his usually disciplined group in such a state. While part of him wanted to let them rest, he knew they had work to do.

"Alright, everyone," he announced loudly, "I'm giving you 30 minutes to pull yourselves together. We have a lot to discuss about our next steps."

As he heard the slow stirring of his members, Byul-ho made his way to the kitchen. "Looks like I'm on hangover soup duty," he mused, rolling up his sleeves.

Byul-ho quickly realized he was missing some key ingredients for the hangover soup. Without hesitation, he grabbed his wallet and headed to the nearby market.

Fifteen minutes later, he returned to the company kitchen, arms laden with bags containing beef bones, cabbage, bean sprouts, and other essentials. He set to work with practiced efficiency, falling into a rhythm he remembered from his previous life.

First, he rinsed the meat bones and threw them into a pot. The next step was to boil them by adding water to the pot. Simultaneously, Byul-ho reminisced and smiled bitterly saying “Just like old times” when he used to prepare this soup for his hung-over colleagues at work every morning in his previous life.

He then put chopped cabbages, bean sprouts as well as beef slices into broth together with minced garlic cloves and some gochugaru for spiciness. These actions were almost like prayers: they put him into a state of mind where he could think about what lay ahead while keeping himself busy doing routine tasks.

By stirring continuously boiling mixture, he added an egg which had been beaten earlier followed by chopped green onions afterwards.

At this point the kitchen already smelled of hot pepper paste stew – Haejangguk – rich in flavor and smell. Close to the dormitory rooms where his hung-over members stayed one could hear shuffling feet accompanied by groans that meant those people began waking up finally after long heavy night sleep because of too much alcohol consumption.

“Good timing”, thought Byul-ho serving soup into bowls while hearing noise from outside telling him it’s time to eat now.

Putting dishes on table made him feel more alive than ever before since taking care of others has always been part of who he is, wether in his past life or his current one. And today, with the potential endorsement deal on the horizon, they would need all their strength and focus.

"Alright, everyone!" he called out. "Haejangguk is ready. Let's eat and get to work."

As the members stumbled into the kitchen, their eyes widened at the sight of the steaming bowls of Haejangguk.

"Whoa, did Byul-ho hyung make this?" Sung-ho asked, his voice still groggy from sleep.

Jae-sung sniffed the air appreciatively. "I didn't know you could cook, hyung."

Min-jae, rubbing his temples, looked at Byul-ho with a mix of awe and suspicion. "Is there anything you can't do? Are you even human?"

The group chuckled at Min-jae's comment, their laughter a bit weak due to their hangovers.

Byul-ho smirked, playing along. "Maybe I'm an alien sent to Earth to create the perfect K-pop group."

"That would explain a lot," Do-hyun quipped, earning more laughs from the group.

As they settled around the table and began to sip the soup, their expressions changed from tired and pained to surprised and relieved.

"This is actually really good," Hyun-woo said, his voice filled with wonder.

Yoon-seok nodded in agreement. "It's like magic. I can feel my headache disappearing already."

Hae-won, the youngest, looked up at Byul-ho with admiration. "Hyung, where did you learn to make this?"

For a moment, Byul-ho hesitated, memories of his past life flashing through his mind. "Let's just say I've had a lot of practice," he said with a wry smile.

As the members continued to eat, their energy visibly returning, Byul-ho felt a warmth that had nothing to do with the hot soup.

"Alright, everyone," he said, clapping his hands together. "Once you're done, we need to talk about our next steps. We've got some opportunities coming up, and I need you all at your best."

The members nodded, their eyes now alert and focused. They finished their soup and began to clear the table.