Kang Yejin arrived in the conference room to find an uneasy silence hanging over the department heads. The CEO, Ji Yoonseok, sat at the head of the long table with a pensive look. Yejin slipped into her seat, her heart thumping softly as she sensed the tension in the air. The usual small talk was absent. Instead, everyone's attention was fixed on the CEO who cleared his throat to speak.
Ji Yoonseok folded his hands on the table. "I'll get straight to it. We're postponing the finalization of the pre-debut lineup."
His gaze swept across the room, weighing each reaction.
Park Soyeon, the head of trainee development, exchanged a quick glance with Yejin, while Han Jihoon, the creative director, tapped his pen against his notepad.
Nam Yoonseo, the PR head, was the first to voice what the others were thinking. "Postponing, sir? May I ask what prompted this decision?"
Yoonseok nodded, anticipating the question. "Internal concerns." Then, he paused for a moment before continuing. "There's been feedback from last month's evaluations. Certain trainees aren't meeting the performance benchmarks we need. Until we're confident in the lineup, it's safer to hold off than to announce it and make changes later."
Lee Sanghoon, A&R director, adjusted his tie before speaking up. "It's true the last evaluation showed some gaps. Performances fell short and the trainees who were in the lineup... their scores declined."
Yejin's brows drew together. The pre-debut lineup—formed after the last monthly evaluation—consisted of the most promising trainees who fit the company's current vision: an all-boy group of versatile all-rounders, adaptable to any concept or genre. Thanks to her reputation, when she pushed for Damien's name to be added, no one argued. His performances leading up to the evaluation had been stellar, and his potential was undeniable. But now, with his recent drop in performance…
Kang Yejin felt a knot in her stomach.
Steeling herself, she leaned forward. "If we're talking about Damien, I'd like to put things in perspective. Yes, his recent performance wasn't his best. But his core skills and potential remain strong. We've seen him deliver flawlessly in the past."
Nam Yoonseo's lips pressed into a thin line. "Potential is one thing, Director Kang. Consistent results are another. Our decisions should rely on data and performance, not just instincts or one-off promises."
"My instincts are informed by watching trainees day in and day out, Director Nam," she replied. "One slump shouldn't negate what he's proven so far. He has the instincts of a performer you can't teach."
Nam Yoonseo's eyes narrowed as he interjected, "One slump? He's only been at the company for a month or so. And as soon as the monthly evaluation arrived, he failed to deliver. Not to mention his decline performance... The public won't care about how talented he could be if he can't deliver when it counts."
Lee Sanghoon cleared his throat. "To be fair," he said in a careful tone, "Damien's voice has a unique yet versatile tone that's hard to find. He's the only one in the trainee pool with that kind of range and color. From a music standpoint, he still brings something special to the table."
Nam Yoonseo glanced at Ji Yoonseok. "CEO-nim, if I may be blunt, we have other trainees performing at consistently who have been at the company for much longer. Kim Sewon for example, has maintained solid performance scores and has the visuals and charisma our PR campaigns favor. Why jeopardize the lineup for someone who's faltering right before debut?"
A flicker of irritation crossed Yejin's face at that comparison. "Kim Sewon is doing well, yes, but he's not without issues either. His style can be rigid and he's had conflicts with teammates." Her voice hardened slightly, remembering reports of the trainee's attitude. "Damien, on the other hand, has team synergy. He's worked with most of the trainees in the pre-debut lineup and their teamwork is excellent. We can work on a high note; it's harder to fix a bad team player."
Han Jihoon tapped a finger on the table. "If it was just a one-time issue, perhaps we can give him a chance to bounce back. We've invested time in him for a reason."
Nam Yoonseo shook his head in mild disbelief. "This sounds awfully like coddling. Are we running a business or indulging a favorite? Kang Yejin, I understand you have an eye for talent, but we can't gamble the group's debut on a gut feeling. We need concrete assurance he'll be ready."
Yejin took a slow breath. This was where their philosophies clashed most sharply—Yoonseo's cautious pragmatism versus her intuition and willingness to take calculated risks on talent. "It's not just gut feeling. I've watched Damien adapt under pressure. He learns from mistakes fast. Cut him now and we lose someone who could be a standout in the final lineup. I believe in him, and I'm willing to stake my reputation on that."
A heavy silence fell.
Before Nam Yoonseo could retort, Ji Yoonseok raised a hand, commanding the room's attention. The CEO had been listening quietly, his expression unreadable, as the two directors sparred. Now he leaned forward. "Enough. I appreciate the candid input from both of you. Ultimately, we all want what's best for the group and the company."
He glanced at a folder in front of him—likely the trainee performance reports. "Here's what we'll do. The pre-debut lineup announcement will be delayed, as I said. In the meantime, we'll place any potential candidates on a 'monitor closely' status."
Then, his eyes flicked to Kang Yejin and Nam Yoonseo in turn. "That includes Damien. We'll give him, and anyone else in a similar position, a short window to improve and show us consistency. If they meet the mark, they remain in contention. If not, we'll have to reconsider their place."
Yejin released a breath she hadn't realized she was holding. It wasn't an outright victory, but still, it was a lifeline. "Understood, CEO-nim."
Ji Yoonseok stood, signaling the meeting's end. "Thank you all. Let's keep a close eye on our trainees. We owe it to them—and ourselves—to get this right." As chairs scraped and people began gathering their materials, the CEO added in a lighter tone, "Oh, and let's keep this postponement internal until we have our new date. Last thing we need are rumors flying around. Also, let's set the monitoring period to end after the upcoming monthly evaluation. Everyone needs to compile their findings and submit them to me the week after."
"Yes, sir." Everyone agreed.
As the group filed out, Yejin stayed behind, slowly gathering her things. Nam Yoonseo paused by the door and looked back at her. "I hope your faith in him pays off," he said quietly. It wasn't quite a jab, but more like a solemn concern. "For all our sakes."
Yejin met his gaze steadily. "I intend to make sure it does."
With that, he smiled slightly and nodded before leaving.
Alone for a second in the now silent conference room, Yejin exhaled and pressed a hand to her temple. She thought back to the meeting and suddenly realized something.
Some about the CEO's explanation didn't sit right.
It felt like a cover—too polished. His gaze had been sharper than usual, more calculating. And it wasn't like the company hadn't debuted groups that struggled during their pre-debut period. Some had even flopped hard early on. Of course, they bounced right back. If they hadn't, they wouldn't have made it to debut in the first place. But this time around…
Internal concerns...? The words echoed in her mind. Has something serious been uncovered behind the scenes?
She let out a small laugh at the thought. No way. Starlite Media had maintained a spotless reputation for years. There was no chance something that major had happened—something so serious that even the directors were being kept in the dark.
Shaking her head, she pushed in her chair and finally left the conference room.