[Korean Showbiz] Idol Compliance Report

When the first snow of 2013 fell on the windowsill of Bang Si-hyuk's office, Han Jae-yeon put down his pen and ultimately chose not to sign.

"Are you really sure you don't want to stay at Big Hit as our secret weapon?" The producer turned the ring on his finger for what felt like the umpteenth time. "The next boy group needs a leader who can command the stage."

The young man pushed the contract back. A slender wristbone peeked out from his sleeve. "PD Bang, you know better than anyone how long it'll be before the next opportunity comes around."

As he gathered his things and left, he ran into Min Yoongi carrying a box of ramen. Yoongi braced the door with his shoulder, his mint-like voice wrapped in a cloud of breath. "I heard P Nation's debut plans have been dragging on for a while."

"You took a gamble and won, didn't you, hyung?" Han Jae-yeon pulled his scarf up another half inch. "This place doesn't need a second Min Yoongi."

A new shadow appeared in the mirrors of P Nation's basement practice room. Han Jae-yeon was born on December 3, 1999. He was gentle, emotionally steady, and calm in how he handled things.

He considered his teammates coworkers he needed to play nice with in front of the cameras, and everyone else ordinary coworkers.

He just wanted to make good money and take it easy for the rest of his life...

As for his teammates' and other seniors' and juniors' feelings toward him, he wouldn't reject them, make promises, or take responsibility.

The protagonist isn't a good person in the conventional sense. He has a bit of a performative personality, and of course, the others aren't exactly good people either.

Theme: When every flutter of the heart comes with a price tag, staying cool and composed is the most graceful rebellion against an age of revelry.