The Road To Glory [EN]: Chapter 1851

< 185. A Good CEO >

“Okay, so you really want to be a singer? Fine.”

The businessman decided to take a step back.

“I’ll take responsibility for your first album and get you a contract. I’ll find you a good producer, too. If there’s anything you need to learn, I’ll even get you a coach. But this is only for your first album. After that, it depends on your performance. Got it?”

After dangling a carrot, it was time to bring him back to reality.

“Think about it. How many people would do this much for a runaway kid with nothing? I even revealed my identity. It’s good to be careful with contracts, but you have to grab opportunities when they come.”

And then, another carrot.

“But it’ll probably feel sudden, so I’ll give you time. You can check if I’m a scammer or not. Actually, I’ll tell you how to tell if someone’s a scammer. Check my criminal record, who owns my building, and if the company is really registered. You should also consider the revenue and net profit, and look at the bank loan status and debt ratio. Oh, and industry recognition is important, too. Check who the singers are in my company and what albums have been released.”

The businessman even took the initiative to have him investigate.

After visiting the bank and government offices, the boy had no choice but to acknowledge that he wasn’t a scammer.

Even if he could fake everything else, he couldn’t lie to the government or the bank.

And the same would go for broadcasting stations and other singers.

The boy still didn’t particularly like him, but he knew it was a good opportunity.

The man’s business seemed solid, and he definitely promised the first album.

He made his decision as he signed the contract.

He would become an outstanding singer and hang out with many people, and he would meet his brothers again.

If he became famous, his brothers would come looking for him.

“Okay, so what should I call you now?”

Name.

The boy had abandoned everything from home.

The allowance and clothes he had brought from home had long been lost or thrown away.

The boy decided to completely abandon the name he hadn’t heard in a long time.

And then he remembered.

The stage name he had struggled over with his brothers.

His brothers kept bringing up things like ‘Shorty,’ ‘Stumpy,’ and ‘Little Tomato’ to tease him, so the boy gritted his teeth and said he would find something cool himself, and he rummaged through the books he had.

He found one in a crumpled science textbook.

“I am.”

His brothers laughed and laughed, but the boy didn’t find it funny at all.

He would live up to that name.

The boy spoke the name he would carry for the rest of his life.

“HALO.”

Halo.

The CEO nodded at the boy’s answer.

Since the boy was a minor, parental consent was required for the contract.

When the boy didn’t seem too happy about it, the quick-witted businessman, no, CEO, said he would take care of it.

After he gave him the address, he went and came back, saying that his family had okayed it without saying much.

The boy didn’t ask the CEO what was said.

And not asking was the right choice.

“No, you said, ‘He’s not my kid anymore, so do whatever you want’? Seriously? Are you really his parents? No, how are you going to tell him that?”

“Why would I tell him?”

“Huh?”

“What if he gets shocked and runs away? Or suddenly says he doesn’t want to do it. He can’t do that. He has such a bright future. It’s better to just leave it be. He, Halo, is mine now. Just make sure it doesn’t get to his ears.”

Far in the future.

The ‘young man’ who reunited with his parents heard words of apology directly from their mouths. They said that saying ‘He’s not my kid’ was just something they said impulsively. That it wasn’t their true feelings. About 15 years later.

By then, he was old enough not to need his parents anymore, so he just took it calmly.

The CEO wasn’t deeply knowledgeable about music, but he was an excellent businessman.

He focused on HALO, the rookie singer’s, appearance as a selling point, and – against the boy’s wishes – put the boy’s face on the cover of HALO’s first album, *Struggle*, which was released without any special production.

It was a photo of the boy with his hair wet, resting his pale cheek on one hand and staring silently at the camera.

And the reaction was explosive.

There was no bulk-buying that was common at the time – the CEO had no intention of developing the boy solely as a singer at that point – but the album with the boy’s photo on it sold an enormous number of copies.

It wasn’t because the boy’s music was excellent.

In the first place, people weren’t buying it to listen to the music.

The majority of women who stopped by bookstores or record stores couldn’t take their eyes off the boy’s photo, lingered in front of it, and eventually bought it. The boy’s album sold out with just word of mouth and display, without any special promotion.

“It’s ironic, isn’t it?”

“Why?”

BB, who was meeting with Halo again a day later, suddenly sighed.

His voice held some emotion.

Was it mourning for a ‘man’ who had never existed in the world? Or—.

“Currently, your fandom has a high percentage of men. Especially your first album, *Struggle*, is the kind of music that makes a man’s blood boil.”

Halo chuckled.

“That’s why it spread.”

“Oh ho. It wasn’t the end, but the beginning.”

Clearly, the CEO was right at first.

The boy’s appearance was the best promotion, and everyone who passed by stopped and looked at the boy’s photo.

Some people said it wasn’t a real person, but just an imaginary painting, but anyway, it sold like hotcakes. Tabloids that saw this unusual phenomenon called it the ‘Adonis’ phenomenon [referring to the Greek god of beauty and desire].

Even if people bought the album without listening to the music, the people who bought the album would have eventually listened to it at least once.

They would usually play it at home, school, or work, and it would reach their older brothers, younger brothers, and even their fathers.

Youth with boiling blood. Teenagers and those in their 20s who are enthusiastic about new things and rebel against old things.

And the name HALO became known to women of various ages.

He became a trend, reaching ‘No. 1 Man You Want to Date’ in women’s magazines, even surpassing the most popular male actor at the time.

With his popularity that created a fandom, his album rankings also rose, reaching No. 1 in radio listenership and album sales.

From then on, the boy was a popular star.

Everyone wanted him, and advertisements, photoshoots, and broadcast offers poured in.

The CEO responded to all offers that did not deviate from the image of the boy he was cultivating.

Even if it was something the boy didn’t want.

The boy, who had to stand like a doll when he was called to parties for high-ranking people, eventually stormed into the CEO’s office.

“What are you doing? Have some dignity. Don’t act like a crazy cow.”

The CEO laughed at the boy’s words, who had already kicked over a table at the party.

“Don’t you want to do a second album?”

“Looks like you’ve made all the money you can from me?”

The CEO gritted his teeth.

The boy knew what he wanted, and the boy also knew what the CEO wanted.

Even that the CEO wouldn’t be satisfied with just this much.

“…”

Sharp gazes were exchanged.

The CEO put down his cigarette and picked up a piece of paper.

“It’s an offer.”

“I’m not doing it.”

“Don’t do it if you don’t want to.”

The CEO scoffed.

“It’s an offer to finally listen to your music.”

“!”

The boy’s pride was hurt, but he wanted to do it.

The boy was thirsty for the stage, and he wanted people to listen to his music.

Critics said he sold albums with his face, but he didn’t think his popularity was just because of his looks. Every time he met fans, they told him they liked his music.

The boy wanted to make music, not just be a star.

“But have you ever thought about appearing in a movie?”

“You do it.”

“This is too much.”

The CEO thought he had to put the boy in his place, but he couldn’t insist because he had a schedule tomorrow.

In any case, the boy’s name became known day by day.

If the first album, *Struggle*, had only reached that ranking because of his looks, it wouldn’t have lasted long.

But *Struggle* rose to the top of the charts around the world, beyond the UK, and was rediscovered through the praise of famous singers, even if it was panned by critics.

At least the CEO came to admit that the boy was a singer and made decent music.

–I’m not going to become famous to do music, I’m going to become famous with my music.

The words of a runaway teenager who had nothing were half right.

The more that happened, the higher the boy’s value rose.

The CEO cultivated an image of the boy not only as a handsome face but also as a singer with tremendous talent, and he also booked many performances for the boy.

He didn’t engage in the exploitation that was rampant at the time.

The CEO didn’t think the boy’s value would end in a few years.

The CEO wasn’t foolish enough to kill the goose that laid the golden eggs.

He thought of himself as a good CEO, and it was definitely true.

Although he had a battle of wits with the CEO every time, the boy was also satisfied with his current life.

A different world unfolded for him than before. He had amassed wealth that someone could never earn even if they worked their whole lives, and he could sing in front of people who liked his music.

Many people loved him.

The life of a runaway teenager who had nothing had changed 180 degrees.

New friends and lovers.

The boy sang of joy and happiness in that pink world with people who recognized him.

That was the second album, *Spring Again*, a masterpiece that would never be replicated.

‘Spring’ was realized through the soft melody of the violin, the elegant harp, and the orchestra.

The CEO, who said he didn’t like music, praised it so much that he said it had to be released, and the result was as everyone knew.

Even critics re-evaluated the value of the rookie singer.

The world recognized him not just as a handsome singer, but as a great singer.

If the first album, *Struggle*, was divisive, the second album was universally popular and held the top spot for the longest time.

“But that joy didn’t last long either.”

“Why?”

“Let’s stop here for today.”

“Yes?”

With the story of how ‘he’ rose to become an artist loved by the public, the interview ended that day. BB looked at him imploringly, asking if he was really going to end it there.

But Halo did not resume the interview.

Today was the end.

They had plenty of time, and what should I say?

He didn’t want to finish this interview, which directly described his past, so quickly.

It was like he had become Scheherazade in *Arabian Nights* [a legendary queen who told stories to her husband to delay her execution].

He subtly enjoyed BB’s reaction, who was going crazy wondering what the next story would be.

On the other hand, the past stories he was recalling after a long time seemed to be resonating in his heart as well.

“So what kind of album are you thinking of releasing this time?”

Although he had been meeting with BB for several days, he skipped it today.

Because he has a concert in Seoul tomorrow.

Halo, who decided to rest for the concert, had dinner with August Veil at the hotel restaurant.

“I want to deal with a subject I’ve never done before.”

“Good. Didn’t I say that the most wonderful time for a young man is when he is challenging something new? I really love their challenges.”

“Well. I think I’ve heard it before.”

“It’s enough to know now.”

That person hated that kind of thing.

Unlike the second album, Halo recalled the CEO who had absolutely opposed the third album.

“That’s why I might like you. Your music is always new and amazing.”

“Was there ever a time when you wanted to oppose it because it was too new?”

“How dare I oppose it.”

“Why? Because I’m Halo?”

“I won’t deny it, but it’s not just that. I like music, but I know I don’t have the talent. Should I ruin their colors just because I can’t see them?”

“Even if I don’t get good results?”

“Isn’t the experience of grades enough from school days?”

Halo clinked glasses with August Veil.

The yellow light reflected off the lukewarm water and shone brightly.

And on the last day of the concert, a sun as bright as the light rose.