NOVEL ONLINE FREE Chapter 20: A SUCCESSFUL IDOL
"LIM GARAM, Gong Hanseo, Kwon Jigu, Lee Eunsang, and Finn— congratulations. You'll debut as 'Victorious Boyfriends,' ViBo for short."
Garam smiled gratefully.
He was glad that their group would finally debut a year after training under a new management (the management that Song Sihyuk created after buying Shooting Star Entertainment).
I'm not just sure about our group name.
Garam looked at his group members to check their reaction.
First, Gong Hanseo.
He looks relieved, and I get it.
Gong Hanseo was the one who worked the hardest. Now he was the leader, main visual, and the main rapper of the group.
Hyung, your hard work paid off— and you became more handsome.
Garam then looked at Kwon Jigu— the main dancer and lead vocal of the group.
Kwon Jigu was tall and muscular, but he was just actually a shy kid…
… and a bit of a crybaby.
Kwon Jigu was the one crying the hardest among them.
Lee Eunsang, the all-rounder maknae of the group, was comforting Kwon Jigu— the third oldest member in the group.
How adorable.
Lee Eunsang had a cute face and a petite frame, but he was actually the manliest in the group.
And the most frail-looking would be…
"What's wrong, Finn-ya?" Garam whispered to Finn, the lead dancer and lead rapper. Also the second maknae who was only a few months older than Lee Eunsang. "Do you not like our group name? You frowned after CEO Myung announced our group name."
Finn was born Finn Alexander Yang— he was part Korean, American, and Norwegian.
He's fluent in Korean, English, German, and Norwegian language.
Anyway, Finn was what people called a 'Wasian.'
"It's just a bit cringey, Hyung," Finn whispered in a low voice. "But I'll get used to it."
Garam just smiled and ruffled Finn's hair.
This kid looks grumpy most of the time, but that's just his resting stoic face.
"Ahem." CEO Myung Hyesu cleared her throat. "As you know, all of you are Betas."
Ah, yes.
It's rare for a group with only Beta members to debut these days.
"The idol industry prefers Omegas these days," CEO Myung Hyesu said, and she wasn't trying to discourage them— she was just speaking facts. "Go and prove to everyone that Betas have a place on the stage as well."
Garam, Gong Hanseo, Kwon Jigu, Lee Eunsang, and Finn answered energetically: "Yes, Ma'am!"
As the center and main vocal of the group, Garam really worked hard and carried the team.
Thankfully, the Victorious Boyfriends really did succeed.
***
DURING the Victorious Boyfriends debut era, they won several Best Rookie Awards— all thanks to the fact that their first song went viral for being catchy.
Then the people got interested in them because they were an all-Beta group.
The general population is composed of Betas, so our group won the hearts of the general public. Well, some of them just hate Alphas and Omegas. Even so, a group that caught the attention of the general public is destined to succeed.
And that was what happened.
On Victorious Boyfriends' second year as an idol group, they grew their fanbase by releasing back-to-back hit songs.
Garam, Gong Hanseo, and Lee Eunsang were in charge of making their songs (and rap).
Kwon Jigu and Finn, on the other hand, were in charge of the choreography.
Thanks to that, Victorious Boyfriends became famous as a self-produced boy group.
Also, in that era, their group won their first 'daesang award'— they got the 'Song of the Year' award at several prestigious award shows.
That success led to their first Asian Tour.
In their third year, as their name became established in the industry, the Victorious Boyfriends embarked on their first World Tour.
Both tours were a success.
Their group had to lie low in their fourth year, though.
After all, Gong Hanseo had to enter the military because he was almost thirty then.
Plus, their leader had gotten into a controversy.
Well, Gong Hanseo was innocent. But his reputation was affected negatively. So, the company decided to send him to the military in the meantime.
Only male Omegas are exempted, while Alphas are only required to serve for a year.
For Betas, it was still a two-year mandatory service.
Garam didn't want to send Gong Hanseo to the military alone, so even though it was still early for him, he still decided to enlist with their leader.
But since Garam was an orphan Beta, he was only required to serve for six months.
That was also the same case for Betas who were working as the family's breadwinner.
Our government created that law so Betas would stop complaining about male Omegas being exempted and Alphas only serving for a year in the army.
Kwon Jigu, Lee Eunsang, and Finn then decided to do solo activities.
The three kids assured them that they would 'hold down the fort.'
And the kids' solo activities seem fine.
Kwon Jigu accepted the offer to be a judge in a hit dancing battle show.
Lee Eunsang then started his career as an idol-actor after taking acting lessons.
And Finn chose to focus on fashion as he was an ambassador for several luxury brands.
Hence, Garam and Gong Hanseo entered the military without a worry.
However…
After six months…
When Garam got discharged from the military…
What the hell is happening?
"Why did we suddenly flop?" Garam asked in disbelief. "I was only gone for six months, and all our brand deals have been stolen from us?"
"We have a problem, Garam-ah," CEO Myung Hyesu said while massaging her temple. "A rookie idol group debuted a month after you and Hanseo enlisted. They became an overnight success. And, now, they're stealing your brand deals on purpose."
"How did that happen, ma'am? You know who my sponsor is."
Garam and his group members worked hard all this time.
But he wouldn't deny the fact that they succeeded because the SG Group was secretly supporting them.
Most of our brand deals are from SG Group.
"That's the problem, Garam-ah," CEO Myung Hyesu said, sighing. "Apparently, the Omega visual of that rookie group is being sponsored by Song Sihyuk-ssi."
Excuse me?
Song Sihyuk is my husband!
Well, that husband of his ghosted him.
So, he actually had no way of asking that bastard directly whether that rumor was true or not.
Garam clenched his hands tight.
Song Sihyuk, are you cheating on me?!
***
Please ADD