The Road To Glory [EN]: Chapter 2001

2. Label H

“But are you sure it’s alright for you to come back so early? Is your movie consultation finished?”

“Not yet, but the filming is over, so there’s no reason for me to stay. If they need me, they can come here, or I can go there.”

“Ah, I see.”

The past year had been quite eventful.

Even Jang Jin-soo, who was preparing for his college entrance exam, had heard about it.

First, in March.

At the beginning of the year, HALO’s 14th album, ‘Shape of Love,’ which won a Grammy, and the song ‘Love this world’ were released.

It was as touching as Coachella [a large music festival in California] the year before last.

Neither Jang Jin-soo nor anyone else imagined that HALO would release such a song.

It was music that showcased HALO’s transformation. He had always stirred people’s emotions with unconventional music and told his own story.

But Jang Jin-soo liked the song.

Because it was a song where you could feel the warmth of the world that HALO loved.

It reached number one on the Billboard charts in record time and stayed there for a very long time,

To the point where the Grammys had no choice but to acknowledge its success,

And it was such a beautiful song that no one could deny it.

That wasn’t the end of it.

Then the world buzzed with more news.

About HALO’s music being adapted into a movie.

Like turning Queen’s music and life into a movie [Bohemian Rhapsody], and recreating ABBA’s songs into the movie ‘Mamma Mia.’

The news that BB [Brian Berry], a famous director, was directing the movie based on HALO’s 13th album brought a mix of anticipation and worry, excitement and skepticism.

While some were excited that HALO’s music could be captured on a large screen with immersive audio in a movie theater,

Others expressed concern about the script.

It’s great to use music in a movie, but music isn’t everything.

The worry that a strange script could ruin a great song was somewhat calmed by the announcement that Brian Berry was directing.

The worries and complaints didn’t disappear entirely, but it meant people were willing to wait and see.

What followed was something everyone could have predicted.

Numerous actors around the world wanted to appear in the ‘HALO movie.’ Actors of various nationalities, races, and genders auditioned. Men, women, young, and old, even ten-year-olds applied without knowing what roles were available, which meant they just wanted to be a part of it.

From Jang Jin-soo’s perspective, it seemed like many members of the Taeyangdan or Heligans [HALO’s fan clubs]—or their families—who had shown a lot of support for HALO, had applied.

In fact, even if they weren’t fans, they couldn’t help but be interested.

A movie where the great director Brian Berry and HALO’s music meet.

Great actors are made by great movies.

Actors would have wanted to be in a movie that wouldn’t fail commercially or as a portfolio piece, as much as investors did.

There was also a lot of media attention.

The biggest buzz was when rumors spread in Hollywood that HALO had written the screenplay.

When even BB admitted it, the tabloids went wild.

To be honest, not all the comments were positive.

The media scrutinized HALO with all sorts of standards.

HALO doesn’t usually care about what others say, but it was the first time he had faced such ‘negative’ controversy, and Jang Jin-soo was also worried.

The controversy was temporarily settled with an interview featuring ‘Ready Crawford,’ who won the role of ‘HALO’ in the audition, and the director.

It’s hard to maintain excitement for a movie that hasn’t even been released yet.

Still, it’s definitely the most anticipated film of the second half of 2034.

For better or worse.

Jang Jin-soo nodded and put down his utensils. HALO also wiped his mouth with a napkin. They were full, and they had caught up.

Park Seung-ah, who had been watching the children catch up with a happy expression, asked.

“Hae-il will go to the label, will Jin-soo go to the label too?”

“Ah, no. I have somewhere to go.”

“Somewhere to go? Are you going home?”

“Not that, I’m going to look for a part-time job.”

Park Seung-ah’s eyes widened.

It was an unexpected remark.

“You’re going to work part-time?”

“Yes, I’m thinking of becoming independent.”

HALO tilted his head.

“Huh? Of course, I have to make money to become independent. Like you.”

“You know.”

“What do I know? ···Ah. Music revenue.”

Jang Jin-soo chuckled as he thought of the Show Me the Vocal music revenue. It was a large income for a high school student to have in hand. He hadn’t used it at all until now, so there wouldn’t be a problem finding a room, but that money wasn’t infinite.

He was getting a scholarship now, but there would be expenses in college life, and he also had to think about after graduating from Korea National University of Arts. There was no guarantee that his album would be successful during the semester or as soon as he graduated.

“Still, I need to earn living expenses. I can’t just keep spending.”

Also, although he didn’t say it, he hesitated to use the ‘Show Me the Vocal’ music revenue because it wasn’t earned solely through his efforts. Even if the guy in front of him didn’t care at all.

“Then when are you going to do music?”

He didn’t understand going to college, but now he was saying he was going to work part-time while going to school, so

HALO wondered if Jang Jin-soo really intended to pursue music.

Jang Jin-soo answered, “In between?” It wasn’t a satisfactory answer.

“What kind of work are you going to do?”

“Um···. Convenience store?”

He was going to find out little by little from now on.

Even though he was a student at Korea National University of Arts, he wasn’t a current student yet, so it might be difficult to find music-related work, but he could find a regular part-time job. Well, it wasn’t like he hadn’t done it once or twice.

Or, he was thinking of asking the hyungs [older brothers/male friends] at the hideout if they had any part-time work.

An unexpected remark was heard.

“Then will you work at my label?”

“What?”

It was neither a positive nor a negative reaction.

He had never imagined that HALO would make such a suggestion to him. However, HALO said it as if it were nothing.

“If you’re going to join my company, shouldn’t you know how it works?”

“I’m going to join your company?”

“Then you’re not going to join?”

He said it so naturally that it sounded like he had promised to join sometime. Jang Jin-soo stuttered like an idiot.

“What kind of work do I do if I go?”

“Anything.”

It seemed like he was just saying it.

“Are you really hiring people at your company?”

“They’re begging me to hire more employees.”

“How much did you exploit them?”

“No, before that, is it really okay for me to go?”

#

HALO walked through his label, which he hadn’t been to in a while, with familiarity. The office building was completed in the second half of last year.

This place, which fans call the ‘Temple,’ served as a label, a studio, and a home.

Jang Jin-soo, who had already toured the top-floor penthouse and the bottom-floor theater, clicked his tongue.

What should I say? It was a building where all sorts of fantasies were gathered.

He had been here a few times, but he hadn’t gotten used to this ‘Temple.’ He never got used to the scale, and things were always changing each time he came.

For example.

Jang Jin-soo paused as he entered the main gate with HALO. For some reason, many people were buzzing in the first-floor lobby.

“Is there something going on today?”

“I don’t know. Is something going on?”

The building owner and label representative tilted his head as if he didn’t know.

At that moment, the public relations manager came out and stood at the press area.

With him, the voices of the people. No, the reporters, erupted.

“The filming of the movie ‘HALO’ has ended today. How much of the movie screenplay did HALO write?”

“What is Noh Hae-il’s schedule after this?”

“HALO’s whereabouts have been mysterious since the Grammy Awards. Where is he?”

“Is there an exclusive interview scheduled?”

Jang Jin-soo unconsciously looked back and forth between the reporters and HALO, who was wearing a hat and mask.

HALO, whose whereabouts were said to be mysterious, was right next to him.

He came in secretly the day before yesterday, so they wouldn’t know.

But the label would know.

“First-.”

As the employee opened his mouth, the reporters quieted down as if they had promised.

“I would like to clarify first that there is no exclusive interview scheduled.”

The employee’s words flowed smoothly.

He said there was nothing to mention about the HALO movie and ended the reporters’ questions.

And finally, HALO’s whereabouts, which everyone was curious about.

“Currently, Mr. HALO is pouring his heart and soul into producing a new album at his home in LA···.”

To wrap up the interview, the public relations team employee tucked her hair behind her ear. Naturally, her gaze was cast far away, and she discovered two figures standing behind the reporters.

“In LA···.”

The employee’s pupils shook.

One was someone she didn’t know, but she couldn’t not know the other. Fortunately, he was wearing a hat and a mask, but there was no way she couldn’t recognize him.

Why is my singer, who should be in LA, here···?

A former executive of the ‘Do You Think We Look Like Chumps?’ fan club.

The current H Label public relations team employee, Ms. Kim, hurriedly continued her words as the reporters tried to turn around at her gaze.

First, get all the reporters out.

“Staying, and his return schedule has not yet been determined.”

Jang Jin-soo, who directly noticed the employee’s pupils shaking, looked back at HALO, wondering if it was possible.

“No way, you.”

“Shall we go in?”

The person who had made the employee’s heart drop said with a playful face.

“They’ll probably be surprised.”

I think your employee is surprised.

“Yeah, let’s go in for now.”

Jang Jin-soo had a lot to say, but he didn’t.

:

“President?”

“President!”

“No, why are you here.”

The employees’ reactions were all the same.

They jumped up, shouted his name, and the excitement spread.

“It’s been a while, everyone. How have you been?”

Soon, HALO, who had made all the employees stand up, waved his hand casually, turning the employees inside out.

The fact that he had suddenly come to work was not the problem itself. The problem was that everyone, even the company, knew his location as LA.

What are you going to do if something happens?

Their president wasn’t the type of issue maker who would be on the social pages like any rock star, but in another sense, he was an unpredictable artist who was an issue maker.

“President!”

Soon, the public relations manager, who was about to have a heart attack in front of the reporters, came up after safely sending the reporters away, and burst into tears.

“President, do you know how surprised I was? Suddenly like this. And I told you to please tell me when you come back to Korea.”

“Ah.”

HALO smiled softly as if he had just remembered.

“I’m back in Korea.”

“…!!!”

Although a bizarre incident occurred to all the employees, the label quickly regained its vitality with the appearance of HALO.

It’s a company where the artist is unpredictable, sometimes makes you grab the back of your neck, but doesn’t cause social controversy, and most of the employees are fans of HALO.

It means they are used to HALO’s eccentricities.

Moreover, since the label only has HALO and his band, the label itself was greatly affected by HALO’s presence or absence.

All businesses, from broadcasting to albums and merchandise, revolve around HALO.

“President, but this person-.”

Belatedly, they recognized the other presence next to HALO. Just as Jang Jin-soo was about to greet them, another voice was heard from behind.

“What, is the president here?”

A familiar voice.

People’s eyes moved as if flowing, and HALO also raised his hand, happy to see him.

“How have you been?”

“Well, I’ve been doing well thanks to you giving me a good position. The president is still the same, and this person-.”

“…Uncle Kang Young-min?”

Jang Jin-soo couldn’t believe his eyes.

Uncle Kang Young-min of HY Studio, who recorded HALO’s , Jang Jin-soo’s , and HALO’s 1st and 2nd albums, was in front of him.

“Who is this? JJ?”

I almost didn’t recognize you because your style has changed so much.

I wonder where that delinquent from middle school went.

Jang Jin-soo was just as surprised.

I wondered why the person who should be at HY Studio in Hongdae [a district in Seoul] was here.

And Jang Jin-soo exclaimed.

He realized why Noh Hae-il had told him he would be surprised in the lobby.

“As you already know, Kang Young-min is my label’s A&R [Artists and Repertoire] team engineer.”

“And this person-.”

The employees looked at Jang Jin-soo with curious eyes. HALO smiled and introduced him.

Three days later.

9 a.m., which is the typical start time for office workers. Jang Jin-soo stood in front of everyone in the content planning conference room.

“Hello, I’m intern Jang Jin-soo.”