While Julien Moreau was still passed out at home after the company dinner that lasted until dawn, TW Entertainment was buzzing with excitement early in the morning.
"Wow! Is this real? We're fifth on the charts just one day after release!"
The cause of the excitement was clear: Pierre Lemoine's winter album, released at midnight, had turned into an unexpected hit.
Pierre was a respected ballad singer with a loyal fanbase, but due to the limitations of the genre, the company had only expected a modest chart debut around 50th place.
Moreover, the album's release had been rushed, marketing was limited, and the timing—already deep into winter—seemed unfavorable.
Yet perhaps it was the record-breaking snowfall that began early yesterday morning?
Pierre's title track, Snowman, defied all expectations and debuted at No. 5 within a day.
Even Luc Morel, head of the A&R team, who had dragged himself to work with heavier dark circles under his eyes than usual, was beaming as he encouraged the staff.
"Deputy Kim! Is the press release ready? If not, hurry up and send it out! We have to row while the tide is high!"
"Yes, sir! I'm on it!"
Half of the A&R team was already on rotational leave, but the atmosphere among those remaining was bright.
And why wouldn't it be?
Not only had the grueling album preparation paid off, but the results were far better than anyone had dared hope.
"I wonder if the CEO has arrived yet?"
Luc Morel dragged his tired body to the CEO's office.
Meanwhile, Jacques Chevalier was gazing out the window, watching the snow fall.
Children were already outside, building snowmen and playing, despite it being a school day.
They simply couldn't resist the magic of the first heavy snow, leaving little snow sculptures scattered everywhere.
As Jacques watched with a smile, there was a knock at the door.
Knock knock!
"Sir, it's Luc."
Luc Morel entered, grinning brightly.
"Sir, have you seen the charts?"
Jacques smiled calmly and replied:
"No. 5 on Marlon Chart, No. 8 on Box Music, No. 6 on Soribada."
Luc beamed.
"You already know! Congratulations, sir. Shouldn't we tell Julien too?"
Jacques shook his head with a laugh.
"Let him sleep. He drank like a fish yesterday. I'll call him after lunch."
He chuckled, remembering Julien's drunken laughter at the dinner.
It was easy to imagine him now, suffering from a massive hangover.
"Also, while we're still riding high, let's send out another press release and plan an event."
Luc nodded with a mischievous smile.
"Already on it. I thought an event would be a good idea, so we started preparing one too."
Luc had already instructed the team to organize a Snowman Contest—perfect, considering the record snowfall.
"Good. What's the event?"
"It's a Snowman Contest, sir. We'll have people build snowmen and submit photos. Winners get a signed copy of Pierre Lemoine's album."
Jacques nodded, satisfied.
"Perfect. Let's move forward with it."
At that moment, just as Jacques had predicted, Julien was clutching his pounding head at home.
"Ugh... I'm dying..."
He had no memory of how he got home the night before.
He remembered the company dinner... and then waking up in bed.
"At least I made it home safely."
Groaning, he gulped down a bottle of cold water and checked his phone.
He was curious about the chart performance of Snowman.
'Hmm... I wonder what spot we're at.'
He recalled the predictions they had made at the dinner:
Julien had guessed 30th, Luc Morel said 50th, and Jacques had optimistically guessed 20th.
With his experience from his previous life, Julien believed 30th was realistic.
Even for a veteran ballad singer like Pierre, breaking into the top charts on day one wasn't easy without an idol-level fanbase.
'Technically, I should have won the bet.'
He opened the Marlon Chart website, expecting a modest ranking.
But when the page loaded, his hand froze.
"...Fifth?"
He blinked in disbelief before a wide smile spread across his face.
'So... Jacques technically won the bet? But how did we get this high?'
Looking out the window, he saw the answer:
A thick blanket of snow covered the city. Children were building snowmen in every direction.
"...It's because of the snow, huh?"
Laughing, he realized how perfectly the weather had matched the song's theme.
Meanwhile, the second track Snowflower had also entered the Top 50, just as expected.
Both songs debuting so high was a phenomenal result.
Curious, he checked the album page and saw that the Snowman Contest was already live.
'That must be Director Morel's work. Guy moves fast.'
Despite his usual zombie-like appearance, Luc Morel was lightning-fast when it came to action—one of the sharpest people Julien had ever known, past or present.
Julien read through the fan comments:
(gom*** PandaLover) - Wow! I played the song last night without thinking, and the snow started falling like crazy outside. I cried without realizing it.
(rnwod**** CaféOwner) - I built a snowman behind my café after hearing the song. I entered the contest too! Please give me a signed CD!
└Me too! I entered!
└Same here! I want a CD!
Seeing the reactions, Julien's smile deepened.
The snowball had started rolling—both figuratively and literally.
At this rate... maybe even No. 1 was possible.
He thought back to the past when ballad singers rarely reached No. 1, dominated by idol groups and fast-paced genres like hip-hop and dance.
But everything about Snowman had aligned perfectly—song, season, and now, the record-breaking snow.
A good feeling settled over him.
Just then, his phone vibrated.
[Caller: Jacques Chevalier]
Julien answered immediately.
"Hello!"
His voice cracked a little from yesterday's drinking, but Jacques's cheerful voice boomed through the line.
"Haha! You dying? Serves you right for drinking like a sponge! Get ready and come outside in 10 minutes. We're going for hangover soup."
Ending the call, Julien stood up, preparing to head out.
Outside, Jacques's car was already waiting.
Julien climbed into the passenger seat and greeted him.
"You fool, drinking so much you can't even find your way home. You almost died, didn't you?"
Julien could only offer an embarrassed laugh.
"I even had to carry you home, you idiot. And you still haven't changed your door code like I told you."
Julien rubbed his pounding temples, mortified.
"I'm sorry... I just felt so comfortable with everyone... I'll be more careful next time."
In both his lives, Julien had never gotten that drunk before.
It was proof of how much he trusted the people around him now.
Still, he couldn't help but feel ashamed.
'Sigh... Add up my previous and current life, and I'm over forty. How embarrassing.'
Seeing Julien's miserable expression, Jacques chuckled warmly.
"You're still in your twenties, kid. It happens. Don't beat yourself up too much. Still, cut back next time, alright?"
"Yes, sir."
Trying to forget the memory of last night, Julien focused on his rumbling stomach instead.
They soon arrived at a nearby hangover soup restaurant.
As they waited for their food, Julien noticed something:
Snowman was playing over the restaurant speakers.
"Oh! It's already out here too?"
Jacques smiled proudly.
"Feels good, doesn't it? Hearing your song out in the world?"
Julien nodded humbly.
"I didn't do much. Pierre and the company worked the hardest."
"And about that bet... you remember, huh?"
Jacques looked awkwardly proud but also slightly guilty.
Truth be told, Jacques had intentionally bet high, hoping to lose and give them a reward.
The original plan was that whoever lost the bet would grant a wish to the winner.
Jacques had engineered it as a sneaky way to reward Julien and Luc Morel for their hard work.
Julien thought for a moment.
Honestly, he didn't really want anything.
At that moment, all he wanted was a steaming bowl of soup.
"I'll tell you my wish later. There's no expiration date, right?"
Jacques widened his eyes dramatically.
"You're not planning something crazy, are you? Fine. You have one year!"
They both laughed just as the long-awaited soup arrived, steam rising invitingly.
"Whew, this looks amazing!"
Julien took a big spoonful and sighed in happiness.
Jacques smiled watching him.
"Sometimes, you really do seem more like a 40-year-old than a 20-year-old."
They both laughed, digging into the soup.
Unaware that the "wish" Julien held onto would someday lead to something far greater than either of them could imagine.