Translator: Synopsis

  “HyunAh, where are you going?”


  Asked Lee ChaHee, but Lee HyunAh left with a vague answer.

  She rushed to the entrance of the office in fear of being late.

  KangYoon was waiting for her at the entrance.

  “Let’s go.”


  Lee HyunAh suppressed her jubilance and stood next to him.

  “Where are we going?”


  “Wait a moment. There’s one more person.”


  “What?”


  As soon as he finished his words, a car stopped near them and the windows went down. It was Lee HyunJi’s luxury sports car. She spoke from within the car.

  “Huh? You’re going too, HyunAh?”


  “…….”


  Lee HyunAh looked at KangYoon with a strange expression. However, that only lasted a moment. Thinking back, it was her fault that she assumed that the two would go alone. KangYoon didn’t seem to know what she was thinking and opened the door to the front passenger seat and got onboard. Lee HyunAh got onboard the back seat.

  The three departed to Hongdae like that.

  Inside the car, KangYoon and Lee HyunJi spoke about many work-related matters. These included their future plans, fund management, as well as employment of other staff.

  ‘Wh…. What the heck? Why am I here?’


  Why was it that she felt fluttered just before? Lee HyunAh momentarily felt that she was a fool. It only took an instant for her excitement to fall to the bottom.

  “…Our current budget….”


  “With the pay we get this week….”


  Lee HyunAh wanted to participate in that conversation, but there was no way to. Their talk regarding money was something completely clueless to her. She only felt that the scale of the money was big, but nothing felt realistic to her. Of course, she knew some things about copyrights fee, but building usage fees, other singers, as well as other administrative matters were like an alien language to her.

  ‘…I shouldn’t have come.’


  While Lee HyunAh looked out the window with a frown, the car stopped. It was a shared parking lot in Hongdae.

  “The parking fees are expensive here….”


  When Lee HyunAh said that in a worried tone, KangYoon received a ticket from the parking lot’s agent and shook his head.

  “Spending money here is much better than looking for an empty space on an alleyway to park.

  Time was money. Agreeing with his opinion, Lee HyunAh followed behind him.

  The three-headed to a nearby concert venue, Sweetpins. When they entered, a female staff in clean clothing greeted them.

  KangYoon said that he had made an appointment and the female staff called the office to confirm. Soon, a man came out from the office and greeted them.

  “Are you Mr. Lee KangYoon? Welcome.”


  “Hello.”


  After a light greeting, the male staff leads KangYoon and company to the office. They drank the coffee that the concert venue gave them and looked through the guide leaflets, the prices, and the materials about other concert teams.

  Looking at those materials, Lee HyunJi asked the staff.

  “How many people can it hold?”


  “Up to 200. If we go with standing seats, we can go with twice that much.”


  “So around 300….”


  Lee HyunJi judged that the staff was exaggerating and drew her own conclusions. The staff became awkward and turned his gaze around to KangYoon.

  “We have done a remodeling recently and have replaced all the sound and light equipment to the latest ones.”


  “How high is the ceiling?”


  When KangYoon asked an unexpected question, the staff couldn’t reply easily. When KangYoon saw the papers, the height was there. He turned his gaze around to the papers.

  “…Not that low. Looks like there’s no need to worry about the sound.”


  “…….”


  “According to these, you seem to be using the Allen series of speakers. Those are quite strong in the highs, so I’m worried that there may be unwanted noise. Is there sound dampening on the ceiling?”


  The staff sweated hard. These people were very picky. As an office worker, how was he supposed to know the special traits of speakers? It wasn’t easy to answer those questions. The staff members back became damp with sweat. He still tried to answer to the best of his abilities using the papers.

  Fortunately, KangYoon’s questions weren’t limitless.

  “…Thank you for the coffee. I wish to see the venue now.”


  “Th… this way please.”


  After KangYoon’s barrage of questions, the staff immediately led them to the concert hall. The hall was right in front of the 1st floor lobby. When the staff opened the door, there was a wide stage as well as a large clearing.

  “The booth seems to be in a suitable place….”


  KangYoon looked around and took pictures with his phone. Lee HyunJi also looked around in her own way.

  “HyunAh.”


  “Yes?”


  She, who was suddenly called out after all this time, was surprised by KangYoon’s call.

  “Go stand on the stage.”


  At KangYoon’s request, she headed to the center of the stage. KangYoon stood in the middle of the audience area and looked at the stage; then asked the staff.

  “Can we test the lighting and the speakers right now?”


  “Please wait a moment. The engineers are on leave today….”


  The staff showed an awkward expression. The engineers usually only came to work on Fridays, Saturdays, and Sundays, where there were shows. This was done to save on human resources cost.

  “Just open the door. I know my way around.”


  “If you say so….”


  The staff didn’t dare to refuse a request from a potential customer. He brought KangYoon a set of keys from the office and opened the booth.

  “HyunAh, stay still.”


  “Yes.”


  Lee HyunAh nodded her head.

  KangYoon started fiddling with the lights in the booth. He controlled the lights with the light mixer and soon grasped how it was done. The staff watched KangYoon from behind.

  “Can you switch the lights?”


  “If you contact us prior to the show, then yes.”


  “Good. The lights here have too much blue tone. HyunAh doesn’t do well with blue lights….”


  KangYoon fiddled with the lights for a few minutes before turning them all off. Then, he left the booth and turned on the spotlight. With one strong light shining down upon her, Lee HyunAh asked KangYoon in embarrassment.

  “So, do I keep standing here?”


  “Yeah. You’re going to be performing here in the future so have a look around too.”


  Lee HyunAh felt as though she had become a puppet. Before, with Greenlight, there was no prior testing due to time problems…. And this felt strange.

  KangYoon went back to the booth again. He turned on all the lights and had a look.

  ‘Is he some kinda engineer?’


  From what the staff knew, KangYoon was supposed to be the president of a company, but he felt more like an engineer instead. The way he controlled the lights with the light mixer was just like an expert. He would even believe it if KangYoon said he was an employee here. He had met various presidents until now, but someone like KangYoon was a first.

  KangYoon controlled the lights for a while before turning off the light mixer.

  “You said that we can change the light settings, right?”


  “Yes, of course.”


  Asking the same thing made KangYoon quite the annoying customer, but the staff member was a professional. He never lost his smile, However….

  “Can we test the acoustics as well?”


  When KangYoon said that he wanted to test the sound mixer as well, the staff’s eyebrows twitched. These people were very picky.

  ‘Ha…….’


  At this point, the staff became absent-minded. However, it wasn’t like the customers were in the wrong or something. He permitted them with a slightly trembling voice.

  “Yes. O… of course.”


  Normally, getting to know the stage was a very reasonable thing to do. However, other people usually looked for things like the location of the venue, the makers of the equipment, and other superficial things like that, but this person was completely different. He even went on to do some testing himself. This was the most frightening of customers out there. The staff clasped his hands in nervousness.

  KangYoon told the staff that he wanted to borrow a mic. At this point, the staff had half-given up. KangYoon gave the mic to Lee HyunAh and HyunAh connected to the mic input.

  “Ah, ah — mic test. Ah, ah–”


  Listening to Lee HyunAh’s voice over the speakers, KangYoon checked the overall acoustics. It would be good if he had a music recording with him, but he didn’t have one on hand.

  “HyunAh, can you sing a song for me?”


  “A song?”


  “Yeah, it’s for testing.”


  HyunAh seemed to be happy that she finally had something to do before she warmed up her voice and raised her voice.

  “All day – my heart – is on top of that clock -”


  HyunAh’s voice filled the hall. Observing the weak white light from the green note, KangYoon checked for the sound. This was the base test without any effects added to HyunAh’s voice.

  ‘It’s not really a satisfying sound. It feels murky.’


  That was KangYoon’s conclusion after considering the musical note, the light, and the sound he heard through his ears.

  “Should I do more?”


  “No, it’s fine.”


  KangYoon thanked the employee before turning off the power switch and leaving the booth.

  “Thank you. Can you give me a business card?”


  At KangYoon’s question, the staff gave him a business card. He was already sweating on his forehead.

  “Then I shall contact you later.”


  “Please have a safe trip back.”


  After a handshake, KangYoon left the Sweetpins concert hall.

  Heading to the car, KangYoon asked Lee HyunAh.

  “How was the hall?”


  “Hm….”


  Lee HyunAh thought about it for a moment before replying.

  “Honestly speaking, it didn’t feel that good. The sound was murky, and the lights weren’t too my style either.”


  “Really?”


  “But if pre…ppa wants me to do it, then I’ll do it.” (T/N: President + oppa, now in reverse)

  “…Mind how you address me.”


  “Sorry.”


  “Anyway, so this place is no good. Let’s look at a few others.”


  Lee HyunAh seemed embarrassed about what KangYoon said and scratched her cheeks while looking away.

  After that, the trio looked around a few more concert venues. The employees there all had a hard time due to KangYoon’s testing.

  ***

  Late night music show, Hula.

  This was a music TV programme done by Moon Shinhak who was an entertainer, musician, as well as an actor, and this programme was a music-specific programme that was broadcasted just after midnight. The motif of this program was to let famous singers sing to their heart’s content as long as it was within the studio inside the TV station.

  Today, Kim JaeHoon was recording that programme.

  “You didn’t forget anything?”


  “Yes!”


  The parking lot in front of the front gates.

  KangYoon asked the band who were loading their instruments into the van. This was their first time appearing on TV, so they all looked nervous.

  “I also want to go, but I have a lot of work to do. Damn…”


  Lee HyunJi showed her disappointment. It was such a pity for her that work was dragging her feet.

  “But it’s because of you, director, that I can leave the company without worries.”


  “Thank me more.”


  “T.h.a.n.k.y.o.u.”


  KangYoon replied in a prankful tone to Lee HyunJi’s grumbles.

  Lee HyunJi turned around to Kim JiMin behind KangYoon.

  “JiMin, you can’t go touching things just because they all look curious to you, okay? You can’t step on the lines either.”


  “Yes.”


  “Pfft, the lines are fine. Though, she might be electrocuted.”


  “Oh….”


  “Hahaha, it’s a joke.”


  Kim JiMin shrank back at Lee HyunJi and KangYoon’s pranks. Thanks to that, their mood as they went to the TV station was very bright.

  With the exception of Lee HyunJi, Jung HyeJin, and Lee HyunAh, who remained at the company to practice, everyone else was going to the TV station. This was an outing with a lot of members since the founding of the company.

  Inside the car, Kim JaeHoon clasped his hands and closed his eyes. This was his first appearance on TV after a very long time. His heart pounded with nervousness.

  Behind him, Lee ChaHee and Kim JinDae were fighting, while Jung ChanGyu and Kim JiMin were talking about serious things.

  ‘Looks like they are getting along.’


  KangYoon looked to the back seat through the rearview mirror. Seeing everyone get along, he felt joyous.

  When they arrived, the assistant director came out to meet them.

  “Hello, I’ve been waiting for you.”


  With KangYoon at the front, everyone followed the assistant director. The studio of the recording was on the 17th floor. When they arrived at the studio, the drums, mixer, guitar amp, and many other musical necessities were mostly set up.

  While KangYoon greeted Moon Shinhak, the presenter, and the producer, Kim JaeHoon, the rest of the band started to tune their instruments. The drums were tightened to produce a suitable sound, while the electric guitar was controlled through an effector. The bass guitar was also tuned to match the rest.

  Kim JaeHoon installed the microphone that KangYoon had gotten him and started to tune his voice.

  “Love you — love you —”


  Kim JaeHoon sang lightly to tell the requirements to the sound engineer. Today, there was no ear mic. Instead, there was a monitoring speaker, and Kim JaeHoon had asked the sound engineer to add the base sounds of the bass guitar, the drums, and the synthesizer.

  A lot of time had passed, and the other members had finished setting themselves up. However, Kim JaeHoon was still in the middle of setting.

  “It’s just as I heard.”


  Moon ShinHak narrowed his eyes. KangYoon asked from the side.

  “What have you heard?”


  “His perfectionism. Kim JaeHoon is known for being a perfectionist, isn’t he? Looks like the engineer fellow will suffer quite a lot today.”


  Just as Moon ShinHak had said, the engineer had a hard time doing the minute settings. To the others, like the band and the producer, it didn’t sound that much different, but Kim JaeHoon kept asking the engineer to retune it in dissatisfaction. A whole 20 minutes had passed since the rest of the band had finished their settings.

  ‘Oh no.’


  It was very rude to keep dragging time with setting in front of a senior like Moon ShinHak. Moon ShinHak was smiling in understanding since he was a musician as well, but who knows what would happen if they dragged for any longer. KangYoon headed to the engineer’s location before things got worse.

  “Excuse me, but can I have a look at it?”


  The engineer let go of the mixer with a blank expression at KangYoon’s words. Perhaps he thought that KangYoon would be good since he was the president of the company that Kim JaeHoon belonged to.

  “JaeHoon, let’s do this quickly.”


  “Okay. Love you — love you—”


  Yellow musical notes started appearing in front of KangYoon’s eyes. Soon, those notes started generating white light. KangYoon started controlling the mixer. As JaeHoon had requested, he minutely increased the bass and decreased the middles a little. Then, the light became stronger, albeit very little.

  “Huh? Hyung. Put up the gain a little bit.”


  Kim JaeHoon was excited as though he had finally found the sound he wanted. KangYoon adjusted the sound per his request. Then, the white light became a lot stronger.

  “This is good. Okay, thank you.”


  The settings were finally over. KangYoon said excuse me to the engineer and left the place.

  Moon ShinHak showed interest in KangYoon.

  “Are you an engineer as well, president?”


  “I learned a little.”


  “Haha. Your ears aren’t ordinary. Kim JaeHoon, that fellow, is known for being very picky, but you got an okay in one go. The sound is definitely better too. Looks like there will be a good stage today.”


  Seeing KangYoon make an awkward reaction, Moon ShinHak told him that they should have a drink together sometime and stood up to get ready for the show.

  After a band jam for the overall sound adjustment, the recording began.

  ***

  “Can’t win against my loneliness – I wander through the night, drunk, looking for you–”


  A quiet ballad filled the studio. The hefty, yet thin voice gradually became more powerful and made Kim JaeHoon’s own unique song.

  “My hot love – is washed away by the rain –”


  Contrasting to the bass that kept becoming lower, Kim JaeHoon’s voice kept going higher. Then, Kim JinDae’s drums halted for a moment before re-entering powerfully to heighten the atmosphere.

  “Your promise to return – made me live on – but –”


  Kim JaeHoon’s voice became gradually more powerful. KangYoon could already see a strong white light covering the entire studio. The white light seeped into everyone present and made them absorbed into the song.

  However, KangYoon wasn’t as satisfied. He could see something different within the white light.

  ‘Is that from back then?’


  It was similar to ‘that light’ that he saw from Lee HyunAh’s stage. It was silver light.

  The more Kim JaeHoon’s song heightened the song, the stronger the light became. However, the silver light didn’t completely overwhelm the white light. It became stronger before going away and did that again. In Lee HyunAh’s case, the two lights were intermixed, but this time it was different.

  The song ended like that. Everyone in the studio cheered and clapped.

  “Fuu, thanks for your work, everyone.”


  Kim JaeHoon greeted everyone while sweating. Although this wasn’t a proper concert stage, he was happy to sing to his heart’s content. The band members also felt very happy that they were able to go with a vocal that was not HyunAh.

  “Let’s rest for 30 minutes….”


  “Wait.”


  Before the assistant director could declare rest, KangYoon stepped up.

  “I apologize, but can we record this song just once more?”


  “What?”


  The producer did not hide his surprise. Kim JaeHoon’s song was one of the best he had heard. But why? Even Kim JaeHoon looked at KangYoon with a confused expression.

  However, KangYoon was thinking differently from everyone else.

  ‘This song isn’t one that will end with just this.’


  While everyone looked at him in confusion, KangYoon was convinced.

  He was convinced that he would be able to raise the power behind this song.