CHAPTER 1
5 Months Ago
January 1st, 2022
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CITRINE Studio Records was a brand-new company in Seoul, South Korea that everyone was talking about. The rumors about the survival show they are planning on went insane; including that this would be their first group. The two CEOs of the company were a married couple, the wife of course Mrs. Bae Youngsoo, is known for her amazing choreography skills for famous groups such as 2NE1, WJSN, and Red Velvet! Her husband, Mr. Bae Jimin was musically talented and had a gift for the keyboard and guitar which ended up creating fantastic songs such as “Good Evening” by SHINee, Very Very Very by IOI and Eleven by IVE! The couple met through a reality TV show for producers who were not that known to become friends and share their stories! They fell in love and decided to make a company based around the Citrine gemstone which symbolizes happiness and health.
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Their end goal is to create a group that spreads happiness around the world, and to leave an impact on the Korean music industry.
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“Good morning, everyone!” Youngsoo and Jimin happily walk into the staff room, with cameras and many staff members sitting around the long table. Youngsoo finds a seat by the podium as Jimin comes up to the mic. He nods to the TV staff holding a video camera to tell them he is ready for recording.
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“I am Bae Jimin, the CEO of CITRINE Studio Records, and Bae Youngsoo,” he motions to his wife who waves, sadly having a mask on due to healing from a cold, “is the other CEO! We are managing this company together and have seen incredible growth since February 1st, 2020.
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Reporters start quickly taking notes and start raising their hands for questions.
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Jimin holds his hand up, “please wait till the end for questions.” He gives a proud smile looking around the room, “next month in February 2022 will be the 2-year anniversary of our company, so we have decided that it is time we make our first group.”
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The whole room went wild, and staff members chatted excitedly; makeup crew, mainly girls who are in their early 20’s to 30’s, and the fashion crew already writing down outfit ideas. Youngsoo’s eyes go smaller from her smiling and look at her husband lovingly.
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“As many of you know, the word got out into town that we might be making a survival show…” he pauses knowing the reaction coming, “which is true.”
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Reporters stood up, “please sir! Why a survival show?”
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“What about COVID?” Another interjects.
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“Are you scared the group will not achieve anything?”
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“Sir-”
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Jimin holds up his hands once more giving the reporters a firm yet gentle look, “like I said, please wait until the end.” He sighs and pulls out some papers from behind the podium. He clears his throat and starts reading, “the survival show will be meant for females, ages ranging from 2003 to 2008. All contestants must be willing to sign a contract with us and follow the guidelines to take part all the way up until around the middle of May where the group will be composed of 5 members and debut in June.” He stood tall and confident, making sure no one would start yelling out, “the participants will be from all around the world, being from any Asian ethnicity and trained from a company or not.”
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Before he continued, Jimin looked back up from his papers and pointed to one of the reporters, “you seem like you’re anxious for a question.” The whole room laughs along with him giving a small smile.
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The reporter was a young woman, posed with maturity all over her and stands up with her mic, “CEO Jimin,” she looks him directly in the eyes, “it always seems to be these days that with girl groups, there is a fear that the members will be sexualized, how do you feel about this topic and how would you handle it?”
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Before he answers, he looks at his wife, knowing she would be better at answering this herself. They communicate silently through eyes on whether she was feeling up to it.
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CEO Youngsoo stands up and switches spots before pulling her mask slightly from her mouth and leaning into the microphone, “I worked in the industry with female idols for 19 years, and this specific problem can be quite complicated.” She pulls out her own papers from behind the podium and stands them up, “when making this show, we do keep in mind that there will be minors, but they will only be allowed to join if their parents sign a consent form.” She goes to the next page, “in Korea, the oldest at 2003 is a legal adult here while in other places they would be 19, so keeping that in mind we have to take note most of the members are not going to be suitable for a more mature approach.”
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People in the audience clapped softly and nodded in approval, “it is in my best interest and for the future of our female trainees that they all get treated well and are safe accordingly. We also take note that in America, children born in the year 2004 are now aged as adults but are still minors here.” She gently pulls down her mask and takes a breath, “my husband and I have decided that no matter the circumstances, the girl’s will not do any vulgar concepts.”
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The reporter takes some notes before speaking again, “what about when the girls are all of age? Will you make them do mature concepts?”
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Youngsoo smiles, “make them? We don’t make our staff and so forth do anything; we give them suggestions.” She takes a sip from the water a bodyguard gave her, “I am 44 years old; do you think I want to do sexy concepts just because I am of age?”
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No one responded.
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“Our girls will only do what they feel comfortable with, and they will learn as they get older to make their own music. Just because someone might be 20 in Korea, does not mean we should force them to do something they are not comfortable with.”
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Jimin looked at her proudly before asking softly if she wanted to sit and rest. She shakes her head, giving him an assured look before reading the rest of her husband’s papers.
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“The company has decided that the survival show name will be called “Find the YOU Within,” which is to motivate our trainees that life might not be easy, but when trying your best, you can find who you really are and start loving yourself better.” Her eyes scanned the words on the paper.
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She was a beautiful woman, slight lines on her face, but intelligent eyes and a gorgeous smile. They had trouble conceiving a child for the past 4 years, afraid they couldn’t have a baby, leaving Youngsoo to be out for a few months not wanting to say anything.
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Youngsoo puts the papers down and takes a sip of air, “my husband and I are finally going to be expecting our first child in the next 8 months.” She smiles at everyone, “I am 6 weeks (about 1 and a half months) pregnant, and I can’t express enough how thankful I am to have received so much love and support from our staff.” She pulls out an x-ray photo holding it up confidently, “in September I will be stepping down as CEO to focus on our child, but I am still here if anyone needs anything.” She knew the risks of being open about such things, but she and Jimin agreed to always be honest.
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Jimin stands up putting a hand on his wife’s shoulder, “this is a blessing, and this will give us the urge to want to be better people and maybe even take care of our future group on a healthier level. This is all we will say on this subject so please if you have any other questions, it must be about the show.” He points to the man in the back, “what is your question?”
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He jumps up, almost excited and grins, “knowing there will be a survival show, fans would be upset knowing it’s a temporary group. How do you feel about that?”
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Jimin lets his wife sit down before putting his chin in his hand casually, “we have never claimed that the group will be temporary. This will be a full-on group for the regular 7 years. Though we are planning for any minors if they make it to sign for 3 and see where it goes.” The reporter nods and talks to his fellow camera men.
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“With that question also,“ Jimin purses his lips, “any trainees who do not make it, we will send them off to survival shows so they can have another potential chance to debut temporarily or not.” Everyone claps at his statement, “we believe everyone has a chance and that everyone has potential, but ending on that note, we will answer only one more question.”
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Youngsoo notices another guy in the back, very cocky, and shaking his head at everything that was said so far. She nudges Jimin and tells him to pick that guy.
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“You.” Jimin looks daringly at the guy, “you have been disagreeing with a lot of what we said. Is there anything you have to say?”
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The guy looked young, maybe 24. He stands with his arms crossed and grins, “there have been scandals in the past where the main creator of the show rigged the votes, why are you going to make a show when you could just choose trainees? Also, wouldn’t it be better to do a male group?”
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Jimin frowns, “your statement is implying that I would do such a thing, but you’re wrong.” Running a hand through his slightly early gray streaked hair he puts his papers away, “the voting process will be by fans all over so it is not just Korea’s choice, and the government has informed me one of their faculty members will be here to watch over the process.” He smiles wide, “also, we are doing a show to give our company some more exposure.”
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Jimin taps his stubbly chin, “and your remark about a male group instead? There are hundreds of girl groups who debut and fail due to simple things such as sexualization and bully scandals which is double the amount of a male group.”
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“But why then?” The guy puts a hand on his hip, “you’re setting up your company for failure.”
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Even though he was on camera, Jimin laughed making others follow suit, “failure? We are doing a female group to show that even they have talent, and anything is possible, not everything has to be about boy groups.”
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It was like a mic drop, because after, he nodded to his bodyguards, helped his wife up, and walked out of the room.
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