Translator: Synopsis

  KangYoon was currently at work with the company intranet open.

  However, he was notified through the intra-company messenger that the liaison team had erringly sent an attachment through email.

  Sending company files and documents through personal email accounts was a very big risk in terms of security.

  KangYoon encouraged the employee so that it will never happen again and opened his personal email.

  ‘It’s here.’


  Personal email accounts were usually banned within the company, but he was an exception. It was a privilege for his position and achievements. KangYoon opened the email from the employee and downloaded the file. Then, he closed the internet window, or so he was about to when he saw an unfamiliar email.

  ‘Kidney transplant?’


  KangYoon’s eyes widened as soon as he saw the email. He couldn’t wait for a kidney transplant just in Korea, so he was looking into transplants in foreign countries as well. Thanks to that, he had spent a lot of money, but he thought that it was a reasonable price for HeeYoon.

  ‘So someone like HeeYoon’s case isn’t that common. But the next after next? That seems promising.’


  KangYoon was filled with expectation while reading down the email which was kindly written in Korean. This was worth all the money he had spent until now. He felt happy when he thought about doing various things with HeeYoon after she became healthy again.

  Today was the collaboration stage between Eddios and Min JinSeo. Since it was an important event, KangYoon decided to attend to that himself. Since Eddios was on a schedule, they decided to meet up in the TV station while Min JinSeo would go with him since she was one of the candidates for an award.

  KangYoon met up with Min JinSeo in the lobby and headed to SBB TV station where the Award Ceremony would take place.

  When he arrived nearby, the red carpet was laid out along with a photo zone inside the lobby, and there were many fans and reporters in a formation.

  “Wow…”


  Min JinSeo was flabbergasted. Whenever a celebrity went up to the photo zone, all the people there were struggling to get closer. Some people even put their hands out, trying to touch the person. All of this was unfamiliar to her.

  “You should get ready.”


  Min JinSeo smiled brightly when KangYoon said that.

  “Then I’ll be going!”


  “See you later.”


  Min JinSeo opened the door of the car and quietly walked onto the red carpet. Then, reporters and fans all rushed towards her. In the center of the red carpet, she waved her hand with a bright smile.

  “She’s doing well.”


  Looking at her, who was now a full-fledged star, KangYoon made a satisfied smile.

  ***

  “Today might be busy – Tomorrow’s no good either –.“


  In a small studio in Hongdae, Lee HyunAh was singing with 4 people. The drums, the bass, the electric guitar, and the synthesizer harmonized with her powerful voice and the song spread around the studio.

  “I want to – urge the clock –”


  The clean tone from the electric guitar was emphasized while the synthesizer did the background with some sound effects. With the solid bass from the drums and the bass guitar, Lee HyunAh’s song was emphasized once again.

  After a round of practice, everyone gathered around.

  “This is so good. Did you really make this, HyunAh?”


  Kim JinDae, who played the drums, asked in excitement. Even Lee ChaHee, who played the bass guitar, felt the same.

  “HyunAh, this is… great.”


  She seemed to have fallen in love with this song. The other members felt the same. It was neither too fast nor too slow, but the rhythmic groove and Lee HyunAh’s power harmonized in a peculiar way and made a great result. Everyone didn’t hold back their praises.

  However, Lee HyunAh shook her head, as though this was no good.

  “Thanks, but this isn’t made by me alone.”


  “Then?”


  Lee HyunAh answered calmly when Kim JinDae asked.

  “Someone helped me out– my guardian deity I guess? I’ll show you when we perform. He’s a cool guy.”


  “Whew, a lover? I knew someone like HyunAh couldn’t be single.”


  Jung ChanKyu, the one who played the electric guitar, teased her. However, Lee HyunAh firmly denied that.

  “Unfortunately, the hurdle is too high. He’s too… nah, forget it. Let’s just practice.”


  All the members of the band curiously interrogated her, but they couldn’t pry any information out. In fact, Lee HyunAh pushed them away and they just gave up.

  ***

  Inside a waiting room of SBB TV station.

  The place where 6 girls, the coordinators, and the manager was a complete disaster right now.

  “Hey hey! Stop it there!”


  In the middle of this disaster was Jung MinAh. She scolded Han JooYeon who was busy putting on makeup on her eyes while straightening Lee SamSoon’s hair with her hands.

  “My eyes are completely weird, aren’t they?”


  “They look fine. If you do anymore, you’ll become a panda.”


  “Fine, okay.”


  Han JooYeon grumbled but accepted Jung MinAh’s words. Jung MinAh was mostly in the right when it came to make-up. Jung MinAh had good judgment.

  Another person came into the fray. It was KangYoon who brought Min JinSeo.

  “Hello.”


  Everyone greeted KangYoon since it was the first time they saw him today. They didn’t know that KangYoon was going to come today, but they didn’t panic.

  “Yay.”


  No, a few even rejoiced. Han JooYeon and Christie An in particular. Of course, the managers were cautious since their superior was here.

  KangYoon checked up on their conditions. He had nothing to worry about their costumes since they came here straight from the pop competition in HMC TV station. He was only worried about their conditions. He asked again and again.

  “We’re fine. We’re feeling great right now.”


  Jung MinAh spoke up for all of them. She knew what KangYoon was worried about.

  “JinSeo should be lacking compared to you girls so match with her, okay?”


  “Yes.”


  “There’s nothing else. Oh, yeah. Today’s the last day of 2008. Let’s finish this off well.”


  KangYoon left the waiting room after a few words of well wishes. From behind him, he could hear ‘fighting!’ from Eddios behind the door. Their teamwork was good, and they were getting into their positions as well.

  “Hey, aren’t you KangYoon?”


  He was heading towards the audience seats to watch the Award Ceremony when someone called out to him. When he turned around, it was Writer Song TaeJin who boasted a burly figure as always.

  “So it was you, noonim.”


  “What the hell is up with that loose reaction?”


  Writer Song TaeJin slapped KangYoon’s back. The sound was so loud that the nearby people looked at them to see what’s up.

  “That hurts. And this is the TV station, you know?”


  “So what? Are you embarrassed about me?”


  “Nothing like that. Other than that, why are you here?”


  She pointed towards her own attire when KangYoon asked that. It was a suit for a woman.

  “So it’s the Award Ceremony.”


  “Apparently I’m getting the writer’s award this time. There’s also the manuscript award as well. So I came here to get awards. I got it so many times that it’s a bother now.”


  “That’s so like you.”


  KangYoon was about to turn around after bidding goodbye. However, it wouldn’t be Song TaeJin if she just sent him away here.

  “What, didn’t you come here to watch?”


  “I did.”


  “Then why are you going there?”


  The place KangYoon was headed to was the place where the members of the public came to spectate. Other than the people appearing on the stage or the candidates, everyone would sit in the audience seats and not at the tables at the front. KangYoon was confused.

  “Because that’s where I sit. Then, if you don’t mind….”


  “Wait, Hm, so you sit on that side, eh? Then come with me.”


  “Wha?”


  KangYoon was at a loss, but he was eventually dragged by her and sat down around a table where the cast was sitting. He panicked at first but he soon adapted. When he looked around, he was surrounded by producers, camera director’s, audio directors, and other ‘bosses’ of the staff.

  KangYoon greeted all of them. After conversing with them briefly while exchanging business cards, this actually became an opportunity for him. All of them felt hesitation towards KangYoon at first since he was acting friendly, but they soon talked to him about a lot of things.

  The Award Ceremony was a live broadcast. Inside the venue, the red light signifying the live broadcast turned on after a simple announcement. Then, the stage opened with the opening performance, a celebrity band.

  – Today, I—


  The celebrity band, ‘Sketchbook’, showed a good performance centered around an actor who was becoming increasingly popular as of 2008, Lee GyungHoon who was singing, and five others. The people at the tables clapped while the fans also replied with cheers.

  However, what KangYoon saw was something different.

  ‘It’s grey.’


  The combination of the musical notes was just not good. The inharmony and the ordinary voice was not so pleasant to listen to. Not only that, the stage devices didn’t seem to be working properly as the microphone echoed a lot.

  ‘The fandom sure is frightening.’


  What was interesting was that grey light couldn’t win against the fandom. It was interesting for KangYoon to see people clapping with awkward smiles.

  After their stage was over, 1 professional presenter and 2 actresses came onto the podium. After a brief introduction, the Award Ceremony began properly along with their declaration.

  ***

  The rookie award, that all actors and actresses wanted, was awarded. The actors and actresses that received the rookie award teared up and some called out all the names on their list as well. Of course, due to time constraints, the presenter sometimes cut them short, but the joy of the rookie award was very big.

  The rookie award was finished and the next in the ceremony continued.

  “Next up is the youth actors award.”


  After hearing the presenter’s words, KangYoon fixed his posture. The presenters prepared for the award ceremony while commenting and the awardees from the previous year came up to award this year’s awardee.

  After the youth actors award ended, the youth actress award began.

  “2008 SBB youth actress award, let’s watch.”


  The 4 child actress candidates were listed on the big screen.

  ‘There she is.’


  KangYoon could see Min JinSeo who came up 3rd. Her debut piece, ‘Whispers of the Stars’ as well as the following series was summed up into a short video. Min JinSeo’s acting stood out amongst the four candidates.

  “That’s definitely for Min JinSeo.”


  “The others are pretty good too, though.”


  “Nah, they can’t be compared.”


  Writer Son TaeJin’s evaluations were merciless. KangYoon only shook his head.

  “SBB youth actress award! Miss Min JinSeo from the Whispers of the Stars! Congratulations!”


  A round of fanfare played. Min JinSeo, who was called out along with a grand fanfare of music, couldn’t believe it. A moment later, she was congratulated by the other youth actors and actresses around her and walked to the stage absent-mindedly.

  After receiving the trophy from the previous year’s awardee, she grabbed the microphone.

  “Thank you. My very first drama was the Whispers of the Stars. I thank director Oh YeonJoong for taking care of me even though it was my first time acting. I’m happy to receive this award in SBB where I first debuted. Director Yoo MiYeon, the lightings director, the business team, the camera team, and sir Jang GeunSoo as well…. Thank you very much to all of you. To my mom, dad, and my sister, MinJi who have endured for me all this time…. Thank you all so much. My teachers, my friends as well as my dear fans… thank you all as well. And finally…”


  Taking a long time for her speech, Min JinSeo wiped the tears away from her face as she took a deep breath. Then, she turned around to see KangYoon.

  “I thank sir Lee KangYoon from the bottom of my heart. You were the one who recognized me first and allowed me to stand where I am today. Happy new year. Thank you.”


  When Min JinSeo bowed politely and stepped down, a round of applause followed.

  Writer Song TaeJin poked KangYoon’s waist.

  “Whoo, KangYoon. You kinda seem amazing now.”


  “Hahaha.”


  When the gazes around him fixed onto him, KangYoon made an awkward smile. His name being called out in a ceremony like this made him joyful and grateful. He felt like this was why people raised celebrities.

  After that, KangYoon watched the ceremony with Writer Song TaeJin. Actually, KangYoon had no time to watch any dramas so he didn’t know any dramas other than the ones that Min JinSeo appeared on. So he couldn’t really sympathize with what anyone around him talked about. Writer Song TaeJin shook her head, but KangYoon only ignored her.

  The first part ended, and the interlude came.

  KangYoon headed to the waiting room behind the stage. Eddios and Min JinSeo were waiting for their entrance.

  “Congratulations, JinSeo.”


  “Thank you.”


  The congratulating of the youth actress award winner continued behind the stage as well. Min JinSeo calmed herself down, but she still felt fluffy when the unnis congratulated her. At that time, KangYoon appeared.

  “Sir-”


  “Ahjussi!”


  However, Jung MinAh was a little ahead of her. She stood in front of KangYoon fast.

  “…We’re working.”


  “Oops, my bad. Sorry about that.”


  KangYoon sighed. She was probably doing this on purpose. He thought that he might tell her off later and talked about what was going to happen today.

  “You looked at the stage, right?”


  “Yes.”


  “I heard that they fixed the microphone. The in-ear microphones were checked as well. Do you need anything else?”


  “I knew I could count on you!”


  Jung MinAh cheered for KangYoon’s reliability. The other girls were the same. KangYoon did all the things they had to ask the manager about the stage, so they had it easy.

  However, Min JinSeo interfered with KangYoon and Jung MinAh.

  “Uhm, sir. I…. am worried that the floor is too slippery.”


  “The floor? Can I see your shoes?”


  KangYoon sat down and had a look at Min JinSeo’s shoes. She was wearing trainers, and they looked slippery for the stage. KangYoon picked up the shoes Min JinSeo took off and went to the coordinator behind him.

  “Miss JinYoung. JinSeo’s shoes.”


  “That should be fine though…”


  “Please change it, just in case.”


  “Yes, I’ll get to it immediately.”


  She ran and immediately brought a different pair of the same color.

  ‘What’s she doing?’


  Jung MinAh smirked after seeing Min JinSeo’s actions. Actually, the shoes weren’t that slippery. It was just Min JinSeo was trying to do something. Just as sparks were about to erupt between the two, the coordinator brought Min JinSeo’s new shoes.

  “Do they fit?”


  “Yes, unni. Sorry for worrying you.”


  After a small complication, it came to the time when they had to go on stage soon. KangYoon looked at all of them and spoke.

  “Break a leg.”


  “Yes!”


  The 7 girls headed onto the stage.

  ***