Little Pink Starfish

I’ve worked in the U.S. for a very long time, but I don’t have much connection with HR Corporation.

I know a fair amount about HR Corporation itself, but I don’t really know the personalities of its members.

That’s because HR Corporation aims for the traditional white-majority mainstream culture.

Some might tilt their heads hearing that.

Considering that, HR Corporation has shown quite a bit of interest in Sedalbaekil.

Alex, Chris Edwards’ manager and HR Corporation’s ace, sent me a love call, and there was even a proposal for us to sing Players.

But this should be understood from a business perspective.

If I were an American singer active in the U.S., HR Corporation likely wouldn’t have shown much interest.

It doesn’t match the core business direction they pursue within the Billboard sector.

If I were active on Billboard under them, bringing me in and succeeding could actually negatively impact their overall business structure.

But since I’m a singer based overseas, they’re free to show interest.

Even HR Corporation doesn’t exclusively sell white-majority culture.

A company of HR Corporation’s size has to diversify its business, and overseas pop markets are part of that.

HR Corporation’s core white market and K-pop fans like Sedalbaekil’s don’t overlap.

That is, unless I go bombarding Billboard under the name Zion.

Up to this point, it was all information I was already well aware of.

So when HR Corporation proposed that we sing Players, I assumed it was a two-track strategy.

They’d release one version with their traditional white vocalist, and have Sedalbaekil sing a remix version.

Even though Sedalbaekil was relatively unknown in the U.S., quite a few people had seen us on Color Show.

Also, The First Day had sold a considerable amount in America.

Since we worked with many famous masters on that album.

We might not reach Platinum (1 million units) with U.S. sales alone, but a Gold certification (500,000 units) would be coming soon.

But there was something I hadn’t anticipated.

“So we finally meet, Scammer. Been about a year, hasn’t it?”

Andrew Bryant, who had become CEO of HR Corporation a few months ago, remembered me.

Well, it was natural that he remembered.

That phone call would’ve left a strong impression on him as well.

But I didn’t expect him to think that he became CEO thanks to me and feel indebted.

Andrew Bryant was someone who would have become CEO in the original timeline.

Back during the call, I even thought he might just share the same name (since name duplicates are common in the U.S.), but by now it was obvious that wasn’t the case.

Maybe my information helped speed up his rise a little, but it didn’t create it.

But that’s not how he saw it.

“So? Is your mouth still small?”

“Didn’t I say I could finish a meal with a teaspoon? Koreans eat rice, you know.”

“Hahaha.”

The phrase “small mouth” refers to someone who keeps secrets well.

So my joking reply carried the nuance that I had never let any secrets slip.

“I heard you became CEO.”

“Yeah? You should’ve reached out.”

“I didn’t think our relationship was that deep.”

“Well, I took a shot at becoming CEO because of you.”

“I don’t think the information I gave you was enough to secure that position.”

“True, but when you mentioned the word ‘CEO,’ it felt like fate.”

-Good. My small-mouthed friend. What’s your name?

“Sion. Last name is HAN.”

-Call me if you ever come to the U.S., whether you become a singer or not.

“What’s your name?”

-Andrew Bryant.

“What? CEO?”

-What are you talking about? You think CEOs have that much free time?

“In movies, it’s always the CEO who has conversations like this.”

-Haha. That’s just movies. I work in marketing. I’m not at the bottom, so feel free to visit.

“You became an incredible singer, I became CEO. Thinking back, our conversation sounds like a dream.”

“Now that you mention it, it does.”

“You’re very polite now. Unlike on the phone.”

“I’m an introvert. I become polite face-to-face.”

If Koo Taehwan had been here, he’d have thrown in something about MBTI types and E-something, but he wasn’t.

I was alone, sitting across from Andrew Bryant.

“I only recently found out about your existence.”

Andrew Bryant’s explanation that followed made sense.

After becoming CEO, he had reviewed all ongoing minor projects.

That’s when he came across my name in a report by Alex, who partners with Chris Edwards.

Upon discovering a Korean artist named Han Sion, he double-checked my phone number to be sure.

He had my number, and I’d never changed it.

Though I had opened a second phone for work.

That’s how we reconnected.

“I listened to The First Day too. You know Eric Scott is with HR, right?”

“Eric Scott?”

“We signed him recently.”

After some light chatting, Andrew Bryant got to the point.

“Alex, Chris Edwards, Eric Scott — all of them rave about your talent.”

“That’s very flattering.”

“No, it’s more than that. Scott said you could be the first guitarist in any band.”

Well, that’s not wrong.

“Edwards said you’re at the very top among all living composers.”

That’s also true.

Instrument playing is subject to personal taste.

My guitar playing is excellent, but not everyone would place me at the absolute top.

There’s no such thing as one undisputed best.

For guitar alone, some may say Jimi Hendrix, others Keith Richards, or Eric Scott.

I have the skill to place my name beside theirs, but not to stand above them universally.

Music is received differently by everyone.

The same applies to piano.

Winning first place in a competition doesn’t mean you’re the best pianist.

Competitions grade by deductions — a rubato that moves one person may cost points with judges.

Though I’ve never actually won first in a piano competition.

Anyway, while there’s subjectivity in instrument evaluation, composition is a bit different.

Though there’s still some element of taste, skills can be evaluated based on output.

In that sense, I am the greatest composer in history.

No one else can express such a variety of genres with so many types of melodies.

No one else has experienced as much trial and error as I have.

Even if it all happened within a closed time loop, that remains fact.

“Lastly, Alex said you’re a natural showman.”

“Showman?”

“He said you know how to draw people’s attention. Thinking about it, it makes sense. The Billboard masters didn’t choose you purely for your music.”

Did Eddie tell him that?

That’s true.

I poured their most desired childhood memories into the music to recruit those masters.

If showing what people want to see makes me a showman, then I am one.

And at the same time, I realized Andrew Bryant wanted to talk business.

Though he was grateful, he wasn’t acting like some fanboy.

When a CEO gives such a grand opening, business talk is bound to follow.

“First, if there’s a singer you want as the vocalist for Players, decide with Chris Edwards and let me know. I’ll make it happen no matter what. If not, I’ll assign the best superstar available.”

“That’s the original track, and Sedalbaekil would sing the remix?”

I asked for confirmation even though it was obvious.

But unexpectedly, Andrew Bryant shook his head.

“No. Your band’s version will be the original. Sedalbaekil — am I saying that correctly?”

This was surprising.

Releasing multiple remixes to climb the Billboard chart is common marketing.

Adding rookies to remix lineups is also standard.

It’s textbook rookie promotion to get the song on the charts and have them featured on remixes.

But if Sedalbaekil’s version becomes the original, the remix artists will likely be far more famous than us.

Unless Eddie and I personally select them, they’ll attach top stars.

There’s only one reason a company would make this choice.

Because they want to heavily invest in growing Sedalbaekil as a major act.

Meaning HR doesn’t just want distribution — they want to become true partners.

Were they about to propose a management contract?

But—

Once again, I was wrong.

Though I usually predict everything as a regressor, Andrew Bryant’s thinking was unexpected.

“We’re open to management, but realistically it would be difficult. We don’t have much influence in the Korean market.”

“So just a distribution contract?”

“Yes. Exclusive distribution rights for the U.S. and Western Europe. For the rest, we can negotiate.”

“By the rest, you mean all of Asia?”

“Except Korea. You’re already doing well there. Mainly China and Japan.”

“What exactly does HR want out of this?”

Could he seriously be a fanboy?

A CEO of HR Corporation?

Of course not.

His next words were surprising, but also welcome.

“This is my plan.”

“……”

“Well?”

“This is quite unexpected.”

“Really? I thought you would’ve considered this scenario. So, your answer?”

“I need to discuss it with the members… but I see no reason to refuse.”

“It’s going to be very interesting.”

Andrew Bryant lightly tapped the table.

“It would be best if this news reached your home country through the program you’re filming.”

---

This was a few weeks ago, during the filming of Self Made Season 2.

In the end, the members accepted Andrew Bryant’s proposal.

It was a bit overwhelming to enter such a massive game, but there was no reason to refuse.

It was a perfect win-win business deal.

And that conversation was now being aired.

[Andrew Bryant.]

[HR Corporation, CEO.]

The broadcast showed Andrew Bryant greeting us.

The members rolled their eyes at the sudden appearance of a major figure.

That was real.

At that time, the members were still wondering why HR Corporation’s CEO had come personally.

After that, we held multiple meetings with HR Corporation and discussed the project.

But PD Kang Seokwoo edited it to make it look like everything happened during the first meeting.

It’s more dramatic and cleaner that way.

Then, Andrew Bryant spoke on screen.

[The First Day. U.S. sales aren’t high. RIAA Gold?]

Even though we got Gold certification, there are countless Gold-certified musicians in America.

Even indie musicians who only perform within one state often achieve Silver or Gold.

The U.S. music industry operates on a completely different scale.

And now, Andrew Bryant was talking about how to carve up that pie.

[Have you considered re-recording it in English?]

[HR Corporation will fully support you.]

That was it.

What Andrew Bryant wanted from Sedalbaekil was the English version of The First Day.

Because—

‘This album’s concept is foolish. Like a movie where legendary heroes gather to slay one zombie.’

‘If you gathered all those masters, HR Corporation will handle turning it into a show.’

‘What do you think? Shouldn’t we aim for diamond?’

He said he wanted to aim for 10 million copies sold with this album.