Chapter Twenty: Trivial Matters

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The album was finally completed in its entirety. It featured a total of ten songs, four of which were written and composed by Jiang Yihan himself. Besides the title track, “Castle,” the other three were “Puppet,” “The Sweetness of Breaking Up,” and “The Last Kiss.” The remaining six songs were selected by the company to maintain the album’s cohesiveness and to continue the story-like style, so their themes also revolved around breakups, with titles like “Farewell Tag,” “Tonight’s Cruel Game,” and others. In short, the entire album focused on the theme of breaking up, but the musical styles were deliberately diverse to avoid pigeonholing Jiang Yihan’s approach.

“Puppet” was an up-tempo hip-hop track, requiring a powerful dance performance on stage. The song described how, in a relationship, one party is always in a weaker position, like a puppet controlled by strings; once the breakup happens and the strings are cut, the puppet falls apart, ceasing to exist. “The Sweetness of Breaking Up” was mid-tempo, with lyrics expressing that breaking up isn’t always full of pain—it can also be an act of selflessness for the other’s happiness. The sweetness comes from seeing the one you love smile happily. “The Last Kiss,” another upbeat hip-hop song, told the story of a couple revisiting their memories together before saying goodbye with one final kiss—a portrayal of the modern attitude among young people toward amicable breakups.

Jiang Yihan’s songwriting talent earned high praise from several music teachers. To fit the debut album’s theme, the best of his own compositions were chosen. The concept for the first album was “Breaking Up”—telling stories that begin after the end of a romance. From the title track “Castle,” it was clear that the album was built around storytelling, with each of the ten songs representing the story of a different couple. The quality of the album was such that it was expected to make a significant impact on the music scene.

At the end of the year, the major award shows were broadcast as scheduled. Jiang Yihan and Li Ran watched all of them together as spectators.

“Bro, do you think next year I’ll see you on TV like this?” Jiang Ziyi naturally began to imagine her brother standing on stage as she watched, and she couldn’t help but smile at the thought.

“Who can say? To get invited to the award shows, I’ll need to achieve some success next year. Otherwise, who would have me?” Jiang Yihan stared at the TV, lost in thought. “I wonder what it feels like to stand there.” For the first time, he realized he’d chosen a completely unknown path. Perhaps he’d become the center of attention, or maybe, after ups and downs, he’d return to an ordinary life. But no matter the outcome, he was already on his way, wasn’t he? Maybe, one day, he would be on that stage, just like those on TV. Who could know?

The award shows came to a perfect end, each honor finding its rightful owner. TVXQ, having just endured trials unknown to the public, reaped their rewards, winning major music prizes and ending their debut year on a high note. The storm surrounding TVXQ, which had created so much buzz in the entertainment world, quietly faded away—who knew when it might erupt again?

On January 1st, New Year’s Day, the AA Lollipop commercial they had filmed earlier aired on schedule. Jiang Yihan, Li Ran, his sister, and Lee Seung-hyun all watched it together. The commercial was short, only thirty seconds, but it was youthful and lively, especially with the camera focused on Jiang Yihan’s smile, which truly lifted people’s spirits. The final tagline, paired with his mischievous grin, was particularly enticing. As Lee Seung-hyun put it, “Yihan, do you have any samples at home? I want one too!”

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Later, Li Ran mentioned that both the AA Lollipop and Li Tong’s other products had received rave reviews. The official fan cafe, which had just launched a few days earlier (essentially an official gathering place for fans), quickly shot up the search rankings. Within a week, both AA Lollipop and its main star’s names were among the top search terms in Korea. Once Jiang Yihan’s name became known, the official fan cafe rapidly reached third place in the rankings, and his Cyworld visitor numbers soared, with more and more of his photos circulating online. Even before his debut, Jiang Yihan’s name was already hot.

Speaking of Kwon Ji-yong, his recent behavior was worth noting. He was a genuinely good kid—well-behaved, especially toward Jiang Ziyi, but also often coming over to hang out, chat, and play games with Jiang Yihan and Li Ran, deepening their friendship. Confident and full of ideas, he was composing his own songs, so their conversations were always enjoyable. The group of young men quickly became close friends. Ji-yong even spent New Year’s Eve at Jiang Yihan’s place, sleeping on the floor in their shared room.

Before the official debut, Li Tong held a press conference to announce Jiang Yihan’s debut and upcoming activities. However, Jiang Yihan did not attend. As Li Tong put it, “There’s no need to step out so early. We’re not trying to be mysterious, but there’s no reason to let the reporters catch you so soon.” Li Ran attended the event and saw the 300-seat conference room packed to the brim, with many people standing. The AA Lollipop commercial was the main focus of attention. Just when most reporters assumed Jiang Yihan would debut through commercials or acting, Li Tong’s simple statement—“He will debut as a singer”—piqued everyone’s interest.

“Mr. Li Tong, can you reveal anything about the contract terms?” This question was asked by a reporter planted by ABC Company—a common industry practice to steer the press conference or highlight important news. Everyone present was a seasoned entertainment reporter and immediately sensed that something big was about to be announced.

“I can’t give specific details. All I can say is that our company made significant concessions to sign Jiang Yihan—concessions so impressive they would shock the entertainment industry,” Li Tong replied slyly, wearing a satisfied grin. “But I can disclose the contract amount—five hundred million won over two years.”

A collective gasp swept through the room. The subsequent questions became even more heated. This contract sum, which would cause even many second-tier artists to pale, was like a bombshell, creating a sensation.

“President Li, to be honest, after seeing the AA Lollipop commercial, I have high hopes for Jiang Yihan. I think his prospects in this industry are beyond our imagination. However, the Korean music industry isn’t exactly thriving right now, and groups dominate the market. What makes you believe Jiang Yihan’s album will be profitable? How strong are his singing abilities? How confident are you?” The question came from Zhang Nian, a reporter for the entertainment magazine Begin—not one of ABC’s plants. Although there were many journalists present, most were neutral, simply observing. Zhang Nian was the first to openly praise Jiang Yihan. Begin was a medium-tier magazine, not known for its inside sources or accurate assessments of newcomers. Zhang Nian himself was a newcomer, having graduated from college only a few years ago. This was only his second assignment as a reporter, showing how little importance Begin placed on this event. Yet Zhang Nian’s intuition changed everything.

“Which magazine is he from?” Li Tong asked a staff member. “Let him come see me after the press conference—he’s quite sharp.” Zhang Nian hadn’t focused on the commercial but instead smartly zeroed in on the debut as a singer, recognizing Jiang Yihan’s potential, which delighted Li Tong.

“I believe many factors contribute to a group’s success, but that doesn’t mean a solo male artist can’t make it. Jiang Yihan’s overall talent gives me confidence, and his vocal strength will surely satisfy everyone. The new album is scheduled for release on January 15, with his debut stage set for January 16 on Popular Song. You’re all welcome to come and see for yourselves.” Li Tong didn’t give a direct answer, instead offering an official response and dangling an enticing prospect. Now it was just a matter of seeing how many people would take the bait—those who did would surely find it worthwhile. As for the pre-recorded MV, Li Tong’s team decided to release it a few days after the debut stage, distributing it to various TV stations for promotion.

After the press conference, Zhang Nian nervously came backstage, not knowing what to expect. But when Li Tong expressed his appreciation and offered him an exclusive interview, Zhang Nian was overjoyed. The interview wouldn’t happen immediately—Jiang Yihan needed to focus on training before his debut—so Li Tong gave Zhang Nian a comprehensive dossier on Jiang Yihan and a copy of his album, asking him to write an article first. The following week, Begin published Zhang Nian’s piece.

Jiang Yihan—a name unfamiliar to most. Some might have heard of him because of AA Lollipop or ABC’s lavish investment, but few truly knew him. His looks were undeniably princely, as seen in the commercial; some might even think ABC was crazy to invest five hundred million won in a newcomer, or be curious about what made him worth such a sum. But let’s set aside his looks, his contract, and any personal questions. Let’s focus on his work. I believe his music will leave a mark in everyone’s hearts. I was fortunate enough to hear the album before most people—ten songs, four written and composed by himself, and the debut track is his own creation. For any newcomer, this is astonishing. How to describe his voice? Clear, transparent, magnetic, enchanting, emotive…all these seemingly contradictory adjectives can be unified in his sound. His low notes are magnetic, his high notes dazzling, and his ability to switch effortlessly between registers is astonishing. And what about his music? Listening to his songs, you enter his world—and create one of your own, immersed and unable to pull away. Perhaps we’ll all become obsessed with him. I’m already looking forward to his debut stage.

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This was just an excerpt from Zhang Nian’s article—the first proper introduction to Jiang Yihan in the media, prompting people to take notice of this newcomer. Many thought the praise was exaggerated and doubted its credibility, but who could say whether it was true or not? After all, expert reviews were positive, and as for how much of Zhang Nian’s praise was genuine, that was for readers to judge. Zhang Nian’s journey as an exclusive reporter had just begun.

Lately, Jiang Yihan had been focused entirely on training. Surprisingly, he spent more time practicing “Puppet” than the title track “Castle.” “Castle,” being a ballad, relied mainly on his vocal skills and required practice, but “Puppet” demanded far more, especially in terms of dance. The main challenge wasn’t just the choreography but mastering the art of singing and dancing simultaneously—controlling his breath and maintaining rhythm. Only relentless practice could yield good results. On average, he’d run through “Castle” about twenty times a day, and “Puppet” fifty times. This unwavering dedication pushed him to a breakthrough—everything became smoother and more proficient. Endless, repeated practice was what Jiang Yihan needed, as did any artist—and, of course, what the cameras of M!Pick’s Korean PD required.

The final pre-debut task was forming Jiang Yihan’s future team: manager, stylist, and makeup artist, who would accompany him on all his activities. Naturally, Li Ran was the manager. The stylist was Ms. Zhao Zhenghua, affectionately called Sister Zhao, a woman in her thirties with years of experience in the entertainment industry, responsible for his wardrobe. The makeup artist was Xu Xian, a young woman of about twenty-five or twenty-six, in charge of his makeup and overall look. Since Jiang Yihan was just starting out and not too busy yet, no assistant was assigned—this would be arranged once his schedule became more demanding.

For the debut stage outfits, Sister Zhao and her team of stylists gathered around him. For “Puppet,” with its strong rhythm and clean stage look, they decided against overly complicated costumes. After some discussion, Sister Zhao chose suits paired with casual sneakers or canvas shoes for a fashionable yet simple and fresh look, perfectly matching Jiang Yihan’s image. Several sets were prepared in varying colors—black, white, silver, and other solid shades—with the final choice for the debut stage to be made on the day itself.

Next was the outfit for “Castle.” Since Jiang Yihan’s debut image was set as a refined prince and “Castle” was a love song, Sister Zhao once again chose suits, but with a twist: adding small accessories and double-breasted vests for a more British flair. After trying several outfits, Jiang Yihan’s look stunned everyone—he wore a black suit paired with a white stand-collar shirt, finished with a crown-shaped brooch, radiating princely charm. The stylists were all delighted with the final choice.

They also tried out outfits for “The Sweetness of Breaking Up,” since it was still uncertain whether “Puppet” or “The Sweetness of Breaking Up” would be the follow-up track—so the costume selection was still in the trial phase. This meant Jiang Yihan spent an entire afternoon trying on clothes, nearly fifty sets by his count, leaving him to marvel at how exhausting dressing up could be.

With everything set, the days slipped by and Jiang Yihan’s preparations were complete—the only thing left was the stage.

A Note from Broken Cat: I saw in today’s book review that some readers brought up issues with Jiang Ziyi’s character, and only then did I realize this is my first time writing a novel—there are bound to be many gaps and overlooked details. I sincerely apologize and hope for your guidance.

To clarify: Jiang Ziyi and Kwon Ji-yong met in September and only made their relationship official in December, so the timeline is reasonable—I just haven’t written much about it. Second, Jiang Ziyi is an important character, not just added randomly. Originally, I intended for her to become Jiang Yihan’s assistant, but I couldn’t find the right opportunity for her to leave school and enter his life, so her role has seemed insignificant. In my plans, both Li Ran and Jiang Ziyi are crucial to Jiang Yihan, and their stories will develop further. But as this is my first novel, my handling of details and characters has been lacking, which led to this result—making Jiang Ziyi seem underutilized and her having a boyfriend appear sudden. I apologize for this, haha! I’ll be more mindful in the future and consider how to revise earlier chapters as well. Thank you for your feedback.

Please continue to share your thoughts and suggestions!