K-Producer C36 First Concert

Byul-ho arrived at the agreed meeting place, a discreet conference room in a high-end Seoul hotel, accompanied by Seong Ha-joon, his legal advisor specializing in corporate transactions. They were there to meet Min-ji and her representative for the share transfer.

Min-ji was already seated at the table, alongside Jang Eun-seo, her family's trusted financial consultant. The atmosphere was polite but tense with the weight of the impending transaction.

"Shall we begin?" Ha-joon asked, placing a briefcase on the table.

Eun-seo nodded, her eyes sharp. "We're prepared to proceed with the transfer at the agreed price of 6.7 billion won."

Byul-ho's eyebrows raised slightly. The amount, equivalent to about 5.4 million dollars, was considerable, especially given his father's company's recent troubles.

"That's a fair offer," Byul-ho said, his voice calm despite the significance of the moment.

"The paperwork is in order," Ha-joon confirmed after a brief review. "Byul-ho-ssi, are you satisfied with these terms?"

Byul-ho nodded, his face impassive. "Yes, let's proceed."

As Seong Ha-joon and Jang Eun-seo began discussing the finer points of the transfer, Byul-ho's mind wandered to his plans. The amount, while substantial, wasn't enough to fully support his grand vision for his company and Ascend. But it was a start.

'Brand deals,' he thought to himself. 'Once Ascend gains more popularity, that's where the real support will come from.'

"Byul-ho-ssi?" Min-ji's voice snapped him back to the present. "Is everything alright?"

"Yes, of course," he replied smoothly. "Just considering our next steps."

As they finalized the transaction, Byul-ho felt a mix of emotions. It was the end of one chapter - his direct connection to his father's company - but the beginning of another. With these funds, he could start bringing his vision for the future of K-pop into reality.

"Thank you for your cooperation," Eun-seo said formally as they concluded.

Byul-ho nodded, standing to shake hands with both Min-ji and Eun-seo. "Likewise. I trust this arrangement will be beneficial for all parties involved."

***

Two weeks after finalizing the share transfer, Byul-ho had been working tirelessly to organize a small concert for Ascend. He'd secured a modest venue in Gangnam, capable of holding around 300 people.

Using his knowledge of social media marketing, Byul-ho orchestrated a campaign that quickly spread the word among Ascend's growing fanbase.

"Small, intimate concert with Ascend! Limited seats available!" the posts read, generating buzz across platforms.

The ticket price was set at 30,000 won – affordable for most fans, but still allowing for a modest profit margin.

Within days of the announcement, Byul-ho's phone was constantly buzzing with notifications.

"Hyung!" Jae-sung called out, bursting into Byul-ho's office. "Have you seen the ticket sales?"

Byul-ho grinned, pulling up the sales report on his computer. "I have. It's looking good, isn't it?"

"Good? It's amazing!" Jae-sung exclaimed. "We're almost sold out, and it's still three days until the concert!"

Byul-ho leaned back in his chair, a satisfied smile on his face. He thought inwardly, 'This is just the beginning, Jae-sung.'

On the day of the concert, an hour before the doors were set to open, Byul-ho received the final report.

"Byul-ho-ssi," his assistant, Song Mi-rae, said, poking her head into the dressing room where Ascend was preparing. "I just wanted to let you know – we're officially sold out. All 300 tickets have been purchased."

A cheer went up from the members of Ascend. Byul-ho nodded.

"Great work, everyone," he said. "Now, let's give these fans a show they'll never forget."

***

As fans began to file into the venue, a mix of excitement and curiosity filled the air. The atmosphere was intimate, with fans clustered in small groups, chatting animatedly.

"I can't believe we actually got tickets," a young woman said to her friend. "It sold out so fast."

Her friend nodded. "Yeah, it's smaller than I expected. But kind of cozy."

Nearby, a group of three girls were discussing the members.

"Who's your bias?" one asked.

"Definitely Jae-sung," another replied. "His voice is amazing. You?"

"I'm torn between Min-jae and Sung-ho," the third girl admitted. "They're both so talented."

A couple of rows back, two older fans who had attended numerous K-pop concerts were comparing this experience to others.

"It's different, isn't it?" the first one mused. "Usually, we'd be in a huge arena by now."

His friend nodded. "True. But I kind of like this. It feels more... personal, I guess?"

"Yeah, I see what you mean."

Near the front, a small group of fans who had followed Ascend since their debut on the talent show were chatting excitedly.

"Can you believe this is their first concert?" one said. "They've come so far since KRS."

Another nodded. "I know! I'm curious to see what they'll do in this intimate setting. It's not like they can rely on big stage effects or anything."

"That's true," a third chimed in. "But I think that's what makes it exciting. We'll get to see their raw talent up close."

***

As the lights dimmed, Ascend stepped onto the stage, met with enthusiastic cheers from the audience. The members, each holding a microphone, waved to their fans with genuine smiles.

Jae-sung, as the leader, stepped forward. "Thank you all for coming tonight," he said, his voice warm and sincere. "This is our first concert, and we're so grateful for your support."

Min-jae chimed in, "We've missed performing for an audience these past few weeks since we left KRS. But we're thankful for the opportunity we had on the show."

The fans responded with applause and encouraging shouts.

"Ascend, fighting!" one fan called out.

Another fan turned to her friend, whispering, "They seem so down-to-earth. I like that they're not bitter about KRS."

A longtime K-pop fan nodded approvingly. "It's refreshing to see a group acknowledge their roots like this. They're handling it well."

Near the front, a group of younger fans were visibly moved.

Another fan commented, "I'm glad they're not letting the KRS situation hold them back. This concert proves they're serious about their career."

The atmosphere in the venue was warm and intimate, with fans feeling a strong connection to the group.

Sung-ho stepped forward, a glint of excitement in his eyes. "We have a special treat for you all tonight," he announced.

Hyun-woo nodded enthusiastically. "We're going to perform an unpublished song with brand new choreography."

"It was originally prepared for our next KRS stage," Do-hyun added, "but we thought, why not share it with our true supporters instead?"

The fans murmured with interest, their curiosity piqued.

As the group took their positions, the audience noticed their unique outfits - a blend of retro and modern styles, with bold colors and sleek lines that hinted at something different from typical K-pop fashion.

The venue fell silent as the first notes of the track began to play. Suddenly, the air was filled with a surprising mix of retro beats and modern production, causing eyebrows to raise and eyes to widen throughout the audience.

One fan turned to another, whispering, "Is this... disco?"

Another replied, equally surprised, "But it sounds so..."

As the retro-infused track filled the venue, Ascend began to move. Their choreography was unlike anything the audience had seen before - a perfect blend of smooth, fluid motions reminiscent of classic disco, combined with sharp, modern K-pop dance elements.

The fans were immediately captivated. Even though the vocals hadn't started yet, the group's synchronization and the uniqueness of their moves had everyone entranced.

"Oh my god," one fan whispered, her eyes wide. "Those moves are so catchy!"

Another nodded, unable to look away. "I've never seen anything quite like this before."

A longtime K-pop fan who had attended numerous concerts, including SHINee's, leaned forward in her seat. She murmured to her friend. "SHINee did retro, but this feels fresh somehow."

Her friend agreed, "Yeah, it's like they've taken the retro concept and completely reinvented it."

Near the front, a group of younger fans were already trying to mimic the moves in their seats. "How do they make it look so effortless?" one asked, fumbling through a hand gesture.

As the intro continued, the energy in the room continued to build. Fans found themselves bobbing their heads and tapping their feet, caught up in the infectious rhythm.

"This is just the dance break," an impressed fan commented. "I can't wait to hear the actual song!"