K-Producer C30 Fellow producer

Days flew by, and soon the time arrived for Ascend to compete once again on "Korea's Rising Stars."

After school, Byul-ho met with his group, and together they boarded a bus headed for the KRS studio. As they settled into their seats, a ripple of recognition passed through the other passengers.

A young woman, her eyes wide with slight excitement, pointed at them. "Aren't you Ascend from KRS?" she asked, her voice tinged with awe.

The members nodded, their faces lighting up with genuine appreciation. They thanked her warmly, engaging in conversation with the handful of people who had recognized them.

Byul-ho observed this interaction thoughtfully, his mind racing behind his calm exterior. On one hand, he was pleased to see his group basking in the glow of their budding popularity. Their hard work was paying off, and the public was beginning to take notice.

However, a part of him remained cautious. He knew that this current wave of recognition was largely due to their appearances on KRS. If they were eliminated, or even if they won the entire second season, there was a real risk that public interest would wane quickly once the show ended.

The entertainment industry was notoriously fickle, and Byul-ho was all too aware of how quickly "rising stars" could fade back into obscurity.

What concerned him most was the way the young woman had phrased her question: "Ascend from KRS." Byul-ho didn't want his group to be permanently associated with just one show. He had greater ambitions for them, envisioning Ascend as a group that would stand on its own merits, not merely as alumni of a talent competition.

As he watched his members interact with their newfound fans, Byul-ho's mind was already working on strategies to ensure Ascend's longevity in the industry.

***

Byul-ho and Ascend finally arrived at the studio, greeted by a bustling crowd of excited audience members waiting to enter.

Guided by efficient staff members, the group made their way to a spacious room where other contestants for the second stage had gathered. Byul-ho's keen eyes surveyed the scene, taking in the diverse array of talents that had made it this far.

He mentally reviewed the competition structure: today and the following days would see contestants battling for spots in the third stage, where the field would be narrowed significantly to around 10 participants. The fourth stage would be a single, high-stakes episode, with only four contestants advancing to the semi-finals, and then on to the finals.

As Byul-ho contemplated the challenging path ahead, his gaze fell upon another K-pop group, Dragon Sign. They were slated to compete against Ascend in this round, a matchup that Byul-ho suspected was far from coincidental.

He could almost see the producers' thought process, envisioning the ratings boost from pitting two K-pop groups against each other in a dramatic showdown.

As Byul-ho and Ascend settled into their designated space, the members huddled together, speaking in hushed tones. Their eyes darted around the room, inevitably landing on Dragon Sign, the K-pop group they were set to compete against.

"They seem different from B.D," Jae-sung murmured, noting how Dragon Sign was completely focused on their own preparations, paying no attention to Ascend or any other contestants.

Min-jae nodded in agreement. "It's actually kind of refreshing. No drama, just focus."

The rest of Ascend seemed to share this sentiment, appreciating the professional atmosphere despite the looming competition.

As they continued their quiet discussion, a colorful figure approached their group. The man, dressed in an elaborate clown outfit complete with a red nose and oversized shoes, stopped in front of them with a friendly smile.

"Hello there!" he said, his voice cheerful despite the hint of nervousness in his eyes. "I'm Kim Joo-won, a comedian. It's nice to meet you all."

The sudden appearance of the clown-dressed comedian caught Ascend off guard.

The Ascend members greeted Kim Joo-won warmly, their initial surprise giving way to curiosity.

Jae-sung spoke first, "It's nice to meet you, Kim Joo-won-ssi. Are you competing today as well?"

Kim Joo-won nodded enthusiastically, his clown makeup accentuating his wide smile. "Yes, I am! And actually, I have you all to thank for that."

The group exchanged confused glances. Sung-ho asked, "What do you mean?"

"Well," Kim Joo-won began, his voice filled with excitement, "I saw your audition performance on KRS. The way you poured your hearts into your performance, the message in your song... it really inspired me. I'd always dreamed of being a comedian, but I never had the courage to pursue it seriously. After seeing you, I decided to take the plunge and auditioned myself!"

The Ascend members were visibly moved by this revelation. Min-jae said softly, "Wow, that's incredible. We had no idea we could inspire someone like that."

Kim Joo-won continued, his eyes shining, "Not only that, but I've become a huge fan of your music. I bought your EP and I've been listening to it non-stop. Your songs really resonate with me."

The members looked at each other, touched by the comedian's words. Jae-sung stepped forward, speaking for the group, "Thank you so much, Kim Joo-won-ssi. That means a lot to us. We're honored that our music has had such an impact on you."

The other members nodded in agreement, genuine smiles on their faces as they thanked the comedian.

Byul-ho observed the interaction with interest as the Ascend members engaged with the colorfully dressed comedian.

***

As time passed, the atmosphere backstage grew tense with anticipation. The show finally began, and a large screen displayed a digital roulette wheel, randomly selecting the first contestant. The wheel stopped on a singer's name, and the staff quickly ushered her towards the stage.

Before she left, the staff reminded all the contestants to show enthusiasm for the cameras. As the singer stepped onto the stage, a mix of genuine and performative cheers erupted from the other contestants. Some were sincerely supportive, while others played their part as instructed.

The backstage area fell quiet as the performance began, all eyes fixed on the monitors. One by one, contestants took their turn on stage, each performance building the tension for those still waiting.

During a lull between acts, Byul-ho gathered Ascend around him, discussing last-minute strategies and offering advice. Their huddle was interrupted by the approach of a camera crew and an interviewer.

Trailing behind them was a man in a crisp suit, his demeanor exuding authority. Byul-ho's eyes narrowed slightly as he recognized the aura of a producer.

A familiar sense of wariness settled over him as he considered the possibility that this producer might try to dictate their responses to the upcoming interview.

As the crew set up their equipment and the interviewer prepared the questions, Byul-ho's mind raced, ready to navigate whatever curveball the show's production team might throw their way.

The suited producer stepped forward, a polite but calculating smile on his face. "Ascend, we're excited to hear from you. I'm sure our viewers are eager to learn more about the group that's been causing such a stir."

Byul-ho nodded respectfully, his guard up. "We're happy to share our story," he replied diplomatically, waiting to see how much control the producer would attempt to exert over their narrative.

The producer extended his hand, a practiced smile on his face. "You must be Byul-ho, Ascend's manager and CEO. I'm Park Jin-woo, one of the producers for KRS. It's a pleasure to meet you."

Byul-ho shook his hand firmly, his instincts confirmed. Despite their different spheres – Byul-ho in music production and Park Jin-woo in television – he recognized the familiar air of a fellow producer.

"The pleasure is mine, Park PD-nim," Byul-ho responded respectfully, using the honorific title for a producer. "Thank you for having us on the show."

Park Jin-woo nodded, his eyes scanning the group with keen interest. "Your group has been causing quite a stir, Byul-ho-ssi. We're excited to see what you'll bring to today's performance."