Translator: Chamber

  Editor: Illidan

  “Leave the first beat as it is and cut it on the half beat after the 2nd.”


  Listening to Kim JiMin playing the guitar, HeeYoon shook her head saying that it wasn’t the right feeling.

  “Unni~. It’s too hard to suddenly stop on the half beat ….”


  “I can’t help it. It’s the only way I can get that feeling.”


  The usually soft HeeYoon was all but gone. It was the saying, like brother, like sister. As Kim JiMin couldn’t get that ‘feel’, HeeYoon enforced practice like a spartan teacher.

  Kim JiMin eventually tired herself out and put down the guitar pick.

  “I should play with my fingers instead.”


  “Let’s try again. One-and-two-and….”


  Along with HeeYoon’s beats, Kim JiMin slowly learned the rhythm. In the second part, she had to split the first beat in two, and smoothly join the half beat after the 2nd beat with the third.

  As she had a solid foundation, it didn’t actually take that long for her to grasp it.

  “Good.”


  HeeYoon clapped. Kim JiMin, who had learned herself a new playing method, became cheerful again. Learning an advanced method really wasn’t easy.

  “Is this right?”


  “Yeah. Now, let’s try singing as you play that part. You know what part to accentuate, right?”


  “Yes. The third beat, right?”


  “Yes. This song is the same.”


  The two started to practice again after HeeYoon’s explanations.

  ***

  KangYoon had received the completed song from HeeYoon and started to rearrange the song.

  KangYoon first tried combining the recorded acoustic accompaniment with Kim JiMin’s voice. He saw an array of white light.

  ‘There’s no need to drag out the guitar solo for so long.’


  After the guitar part, he added a cheerful drum part.

  ‘Let’s just add a basic rhythm, and record a band.’


  He seemed to require a session from White Moonlight. In order to bring out Kim JiMin’s guitar solo effectively, a band was necessary. After all, real instruments sounded a lot better than MIDI. He had to do this in order to raise the quality of the sound.

  ‘Looks like I should head to the company after this.’


  KangYoon only added a few string instruments without a line. Other than that, he added the drums, the bass guitar, and the electric guitar to get a general feeling of the song before saving the file. After his work, he left his house with the file.

  On his way, he called the members of the band. The members of White Moonlight were summoned to the studio as they were just about to go home after practice. They were in a good mood though, since it had been a while since they recorded anything.

  When KangYoon arrived at the studio, The members of White Moonlight, HeeYoon, Kim JiMin, and even Lee HyunJi were present. Although it was late in the evening, the studio was already full.

  “Director, you haven’t gone home yet?”


  “This is JiMin’s song we’re talking about. I made a visit because I was curious what it would sound like.”


  Everyone was focusing on the first ‘new’ singer from World Entertainment.

  The various instruments were already set up inside the booth. KangYoon adjusted the sound for each of the instruments. After that, the recording began.

  Along with the accompaniment, Kim JinDae tapped on the snare and the foot bass, when KangYoon spoke through the mic.

  “JinDae, let’s go with rimshot. ChaHee, well done staying out.”
-

  Yes.

  Kim JinDae replied very formally unlike his usual attitude.

  In that round, the notes from the drums intermixed with the intro accompaniment to create grey light. It seemed to stem from the drum’s playing method. KangYoon asked Kim JinDae to go with rimshots.

  In the next round, the drums blended well with the other sounds.

  ‘This is better.’


  Unlike the grey color from before, the light was a bright white this time. Next was Lee ChaHee’s turn to join. At the part where other instruments joined after the acoustic guitar and the drums played a duet, she played the slide method to skid down the strings. Kim JinDae also gave some alterations to the drums to add to the impact.

  However, KangYoon shook his head and spoke into the mic again.

  “ChaHee, let’s skip the slide. I think we can use that in later parts when we need some accentuating.”


  – Yes.

  “JinDae, don’t go too flashy from the get-go.”


  They had unintentionally brought out their habits because White Moonlight’s songs were mostly the powerful sort. KangYoon adjusted their playing.

  Although he said a lot, the recording time wasn’t that long. Both Kim JinDae and Lee ChaHee were skilled players, and KangYoon’s requests were clear cut as well.

  Like that, they were able to smoothly go past the 1st and 2nd verses and into the chorus.

  “ChaHee, your notes are going too high.”


  As the chorus was about to end, KangYoon felt something strange as the notes rose without limit. The white light did not change, but the bass and the accompaniment fell lower in comparison.

  – Huh? I played according to the score you gave me. I’m pretty sure I didn’t play it wrong….

  “That’s strange. It was a whole tone up….”


  This was the part where many flashy sound effects entered the fray to liven up the mood. Lee ChaHee’s bass had to support them from below. However, the bass notes were now lower instead. The mood of the entire song was shaking.

  After one line, KangYoon halted the recording again.

  “ChaHee, you’re low this time.”


  – That’s strange. I did play it right….

  The sound was strange despite playing correctly? Just in case, KangYoon had a look at his own score as well. There was nothing wrong with it. He entered the booth to have a look at Lee ChaHee’s copy, but he didn’t find anything wrong with it either.

  ‘What’s this?’


  Lee ChaHee wasn’t someone that tried to cover up her mistakes.

  ‘Am I too tired?’


  KangYoon decided that he had become too sensitive.

  “Let’s just try ag….”


  At that time, Lee ChaHee suddenly paled and started shaking on the spot while looking at KangYoon.

  “What is it?”


  – President, on your left, there’s a gho… gh…


  “Go what?”


  KangYoon was confused. Lee ChaHee’s expression was locked in horror. The usually calm attitude of hers had all but disappeared.

  – Kyaaaak! A gho… Ghost!!

  Everyone was shocked by the sudden scream.

  A ghost! All of a sudden, too! Everyone looked around in search of this ghost, but they found no traces of one.

  In the end, Kim JinDae grabbed Lee ChaHee and strongly shook her.

  – ChaHee, Calm down

  – Uh… ye…… yeah….

  Lee ChaHee calmed down after a while.

  KangYoon entered the booth seeing Lee ChaHee act weird.

  “Did you see something?”


  “Uhm, it was… there was some woman right next to you, president….”


  “A woman?”


  KangYoon was flabbergasted.

  Summing it up, it was the story of the recording studio ghost that brought good luck. This was weird coming from Lee ChaHee, who always had a calm attitude.

  (T/N: Apparently recording studio ghost is a thing. “Seeing a ghost while recording means that the album will be a great hit” – that’s the general outline.)

  “Sheesh, there’s no such thing as a ghost in the modern world.”


  “I really did see one though….”


  How was he supposed to react to that? Many mystery fans would probably like this story.

  Though for KangYoon, it was no fun at all.

  ‘Is her romance not going well these days?’


  KangYoon told Kim JinDae to look after her and declared a period of rest.

  Lee HyunJi, who was watching all this while, approached KangYoon.

  “The legendary studio ghost. It’s been a while since I heard of one.”


  “There’s no such thing as ghosts. It’s all made up.”


  “Oh? I believe in ghosts though. Do you really think that way?”


  Lee HyunJi had the ‘this is interesting’ expression on. However, KangYoon chuckled instead.

  “Well, it does look like things are looking good for the music. I wish I saw one too.”


  “Pfft, I knew you’d say that, president. Anyway, the ghost, huh. Looks like we have one more thing to advertise about. I should ask ChaHee for more details.”


  Lee HyunJi entered the booth with joy. Then, she started asking Lee ChaHee about things while consoling her.

  ‘Looks like women love ghost stories.’


  KangYoon shook his head after all this ‘ghost’ incident.

  ***

  (T/N: AFAIK, this company is mildly important… so don’t just forget about it.)

  GNB Entertainment was a company that was growing at an incredible rate during the past 3 years.

  After an investment from the Korean colossus company that was Benneth, it grew in size rapidly while scouting popular actors and actresses, comedians as well as singers.

  President Han YoungSook was an iron fisted woman that single-handedly created the company with an immense budget.

  Today, she called Yoo NaYoon, who would soon have her debut.

  “NaYoon. Are you doing well?”


  “Yes. It’s thanks to everyone’s help.”


  “That’s good.”


  The words were nice, but Yoo NaYoon was very nervous. The president’s eyes seemed to see through everything.

  “It will be your debut after the Lunar New Year. At that time, there will be no singers making comebacks, and there will be no super rookies either. You know that this is the best time, right? Well, I guess you are a super rookie yourself, NaYoon.”


  “……”


  It was a compliment, but Yoo NaYoon was unable to smile. She knew that those words contained thorns.

  President Han YoungSook continued speaking with a very engaged expression.

  “I heard a few days ago from president Kang that someone will be debuting at a similar time as my NaYoon. Fufu, at your level, nothing should beat you, right?”


  President Han YoungSook had confidence. President Kang ShiMyoung had told her to watch out since World had a lot of achievements up their sleeves, that company, with a single trainee, and low on company funds, seemed beneath her notice. In other words, they should have their hands full running Kim JaeHoon and Eddios. A new trainee from such a company? It made her laugh.

  “You have faith in me. There’s no problem at all.”


  “Yes, yes. Just consider all my investment in…. *hm hm*. My pretty is not going anywhere, right?”


  President Han YoungSook patted Yoo NaYoon’s back. To her, this rookie from World Entertainment had no meaning to her.

  ***

  “It’s always about the money.”


  Pressing buttons on the calculator, Lee HyunJi heaved a deep sigh. Money for distribution of music, as well as money required to pay a lot of other services, meant that there was no money left over for a big showcase.

  KangYoon said that it was okay and that they should look for another method.

  “Even if we do hold a showcase for JiMin, there will be no people to attend it. Although we possess Kim JaeHoon and Eddios among our ranks, our reputation as a company is quite low. We’ll have to leave a showcase for Eddios’s comeback.”


  “That’s a pity. A debut is a once in a lifetime thing, but she’s having such a small one.”


  “It won’t be as small as you think it is. The TV station allocated us quite a lot of time.

  They were allocated 6 minutes. They acquired that time through the deal that the debut will be exclusive to Music Camp on DLE TV station. They also could not hold any other stages in that week.

  Lee HyunJi was surprised by KangYoon’s skills.

  “Looks like President Choo ManJi is repaying us for DiaTeen. DLE was close with Yoonseul, right?”


  “Yes. I thought I would have a hard time even after that, but president Choo gladly took it into his hands. Without effort from his part, this would have been very hard. If that didn’t work, I would have had to look for another method.”


  KangYoon discussed a lot of things about Kim JiMin’s debut with Lee HyunJi. She needed a manager, as well as a coordinator, and they had to set on a schedule for her as well. They talked about the usual things that were required to run an entertainer.

  They were talking about a lot of things when KangYoon brought up a topic that president Choo ManJi told him to be wary about.

  “A rookie from GNB will have her debut on the same day.”


  “GNB? Doesn’t president Han YoungSook run that place?”


  “Yes. Coincidentally, theirs is a female solo too. Their ages are similar as well….”


  Lee HyunJi’s frowned. Usually, music artists with similar themes do not release their albums at similar times. This was usually done through negotiations by the companies themselves. This was either a whim of fate or that the opponent was looking to stomp on them.

  “Did they aim for that?”


  “I don’t think so. It just looks like their thought processes were similar to ours. No one is making a comeback or having a debut in early February.”


  “This is a little bad for a coincidence. GNB is a company with a lot of money. Although they don’t have much know-how compared to MG or Yoonseul, their budget is through the roof. People jokingly refer to them as the rich entertainer.”


  “Pfft, I’m envious now.”


  KangYoon sighed. However, he soon regained his confidence.

  “I hope their theme is not something similar to ours, but if it is, this will be a showdown. If we delay the date, though, we’ll only be labeled copycats. I believe that it’s better to meet them head-on.”


  “Looks like the journalists will love this topic. Should we make something out of it as well?”


  “No, marketing JiMin like this won’t last long. If her image is ruined due to a single misstep, things will go down the drain. We need to be slow and steady.”


  Lee HyunJi nodded her head in understanding.

  ***

  Lunar New Years. Kim JiMin focused on practice even after the holiday season. No one interrupted her. Though, HeeYoon and professor Choi ChanYang occasionally helped her out a little.

  Time flowed quickly and it was now February.

  D-Day.

  KangYoon, Kim JiMin’s manager, Choi HyukJin, and her coordinator Lee JinAh, were currently waiting at DLE station’s waiting room.

  “JiMin looks so pretty with makeup on.”


  Lee JinAh wasn’t stingy with her praises as she put makeup powder on Kim JiMin’s face. Her skin did not have a single blemish and accepted the makeup well, there was a sense of achievement in doing so.

  Before she got into her stage costume, KangYoon and Kim JiMin went around handing out CDs. This was a form of greeting for rookies in their debut. The other singers gave words of encouragement seeing that a solo girl, rare in this industry, was going on stage.

  Like that, the two of them went around to the other waiting rooms and finally stumbled upon the last waiting room, labeled, ‘Nael’.

  “This place is….”


  Kim JiMin looked at KangYoon with a slightly worried tone. This waiting room was for the singer that debuted at the same time as her.

  “Even if she’s a rival, you need to be friends with her.”


  “Won’t she look at me strangely or anything?”


  “If she does, that’s all she amounts to.”


  “You’re right.”


  Kim JiMin knocked on the door. When she was granted entry, she entered.

  Yo NaYoon and her manager greeted them from inside.

  “Hello? I’m Eunha and I’m having my debut stage today. I’m here for greetings.” (T/N: Eunha is JiMin’s stage name. Means ‘galaxy’)

  Kim JiMin gave her greetings.

  ‘Wow, so pretty.’


  Yo NaYoon (T/N: ‘Nael’ is her stage name.) had a doll-like appearance. She was taller than Kim JiMin and had curves where they needed to be. It was just that, she gave the aura of someone unapproachable.

  “Hello. I’m Nael.”


  Yo NaYoon gave her her own CD in welcome. Kim JiMin exchanged CDs with her as she looked at her.

  “Since we have our debuts on the same day, does that make us peers?”


  “Hahaha.”


  Kim JiMin smiled at Yoo NaYoon’s words. However, sparks could be seen between them. Both Kim JiMin and Yoo NaYoon were wary against each other.

  After a brief greeting, KangYoon and Kim JiMin left the waiting room.

  “How was it?”


  “She was pretty. VERY pretty.”


  She meant it. Yoo NaYoon was just tall enough for men to like, she was slim, and had a doll face. Honestly, she didn’t think that she would win against her appearance-wise.

  “Sir. Can I… win against her?”


  She seemed to have lost confidence and KangYoon smiled softly.

  “Win? That’s not necessarily important.”


  “Then what?”


  “The ones you should focus on are the people listening to your music. Not her.”


  “Oh…..”


  Kim JiMin exclaimed. KangYoon was right.

  “You became a singer because you wanted to sing, right? Now, you’re at the starting line.”


  “Yes.”


  Her memories of reaching here after meeting KangYoon for the first time played in her mind. Thinking back, the process was fun. She was having a hard time after a failed audition when she met KangYoon, and he allowed her to live her dream as a musician despite being financially unstable. She saw a lot of other peoples’ stages, grew up, and now she was here.

  …It was a miracle that she was standing here in the first place.

  “She should have a story of her own. However, what’s important to you, JiMin, is you. You sing your song. She will sing her song. The viewers will be the judge.”


  “Okay.”


  When they arrived at her waiting room, KangYoon patted Kim JiMin’s back.

  “The moment you go up on stage, you focus on your own song. Leave everything else to me, okay?”


  “Yes!!”


  KangYoon patted Kim JiMin’s head before sending her into the waiting room.

  ‘Another one has begun.’


  Seeing the waiting room shut, KangYoon tried to calm down his racing heart.

  World Entertainment’s rookie was going on stage. He was filled with excitement, expectation, and a bit of worry as he headed towards the stage.