Translator: Chamber

  Editor: Illidan

  [I long for you – yet — you are far away — please look at me–]

  The video showed a restaurant.

  The lady that used the soju bottle as a mic sang trot without a single accompanying instrument. People who seemed to be her colleagues tapped their chopsticks on the table like a drum and the mood heightened. The people sitting elsewhere frowned at first but soon joined in with the cheering.

  Lee HyunJi, who first thought that Kim JaeHoon must have picked the wrong video, became immersed and KangYoon also watched with crossed arms.

  ‘She’s drawing attention from other tables as well. Well, with a level of singing like that, it would certainly attract attention.’


  Crossing his arms, KangYoon groaned a little.

  The lady eventually closed her eyes and soon her singing got better and better. The mood was getting hotter as well as some people even stood up and started dancing along.

  The lady’s singing was uniting everyone.

  [Oooooh! Again, again!]

  [Miss In, Miss In, you should sing some more.]

  [Miss In, Miss In!]

  (T/N: She’s being referred to as a teacher, which is her job.)

  After the song was over, people asked her to sing again. The lady had to pick up the empty soju bottle again with an embarrassed expression. When the lady was about to sing again, the video ended.

  “I wanted to see some more though…”


  KangYoon uncrossed his arms with a disappointed expression.

  Lee HyunJi just laughed.

  “Nice singing. Though, we aren’t that small to receive a video like that… I wonder what happened there.”


  Lee HyunJi’s thought that people were looking down on World too much and shook her head. The song was good, yes, but this video, which had no effort put into at all, made her want to reject this video.

  However, KangYoon thought differently.

  “They may have sent this on purpose. My singing is just this good. Her intention might be to make us see the influence she has on other people. I don’t think it was such a bad idea”


  “Can we really look at it that way? If she wanted to stand out from the others, I guess she succeeded in doing that. But this is supposed to be an audition… As someone who has to evaluate this, I feel unpleasant. Leaving that aside, I don’t think this participant’s age is that low. We want trainees, so I wish for people around JiMin’s age at maximum. Just from the video alone, I don’t see any merit in recruiting her.”


  Lee HyunJi shook her head. The participant’s age should be late teens to early 20s to minimize the risk of having a long preparation time.

  KangYoon agreed with her words somewhat. Being old meant that there were a lot of obstacles in debuting.

  However, KangYoon wanted to listen to the song directly before deciding.

  “I think we should come to a decision after we meet her.”


  “Really? Hm… if you say so, president.”


  Although she didn’t like this, Lee HyunJi knew that KangYoon had a good sense for this more than anyone else. Until now, if he said something worked, then it worked. A sense for business like that was very rarely seen in this industry.

  She believed in his senses.

  “We should come to a decision after we meet. We will have to see if this person really has the knack to become a star, and whether she really wants to become a singer or not. Failure means a big risk for an entertainment company after all. Seeing how she’s having dinner with many of her colleagues, she seems to have a job, so I think we should be careful regarding that as well.”


  “Okay. Miss HyeJin.”


  Lee HyunJi asked Jung HyeJin to contact the person who sent this video.

  “Yes, director.”


  Jung HyeJin wrote an e-mail immediately. Yoo JungMin, the new employee, sat next to her and watched her work.

  After this was done, KangYoon stood up from his seat.

  “I’ll be visiting SoYoung then.”


  “Ah, you’re watching over her rearrangement, right? I hope SoYoung can grow quickly and take over your job in music…”


  Lee HyunJi sighed. She expected Park SoYoung to grow to KangYoon’s level regarding rearranging.

  KangYoon smiled and spoke.

  “Time will solve it. She’s very talented if she stops thinking that she’s inferior to HeeYoon. I’m planning to scold her a lot until then.”


  “Pfft, you’re quite evil, too, president. I can see SoYoung having a hard time with you.”


  “She should overcome that herself. It’s not something that another person can do about it. I hope she grows well… I’ll be off then.”


  KangYoon took a few books and left the office.

  After he left, Jung HyeJin gave Yoo JungMin, some work.

  “Mr. JungMin. You see these places here right? Please contact them and write down their history.”


  “Understood.”


  “If you don’t know something, then please ask. If you make a mistake…”


  Jung HyeJin took a glance at Lee HyunJi.

  ‘The director doesn’t like making mistakes from work.’


  ‘Understood.’


  ‘The president is a little flexible, but the director is really strict.’


  When Yoo JungMin looked at Lee HyunJi while gulping, Jung HyeJin chuckled.

  ‘Fufu, but she doesn’t nitpick with something useless. Anyway, shall we start?’


  ‘Yes.’


  Like that, World Entertainment office started running busily with the new employee.

  ***

  Sunday, it was the recording day of SBB’s Music Land. No, to be exact, it was a live broadcast.

  Kim JiMin, who had finished her morning schedule and arrived at the public hall in Deungchon-dong, headed towards her designated waiting room.

  When she entered, she saw that someone else had arrived first.

  “NaYoon.”


  “JiMin?”


  It was Nael, the singer who debuted at the same time as JiMin did. The two people were glad to see each other. As they had debuted on the same day, they had become close and they spoke a lot with each other.

  Receiving make-up from the make-up artist, the two sat down side by side. They talked about their companies, their schedules, and sometimes handsome male idols.

  The biggest topic was about ‘Birth of the Masterpiece’ that both of them were cast in. The two people were already aware that they were both appearing in it.

  “Have you prepared for that?”


  Kim JiMin shook her head at those words.

  “No, I’m still worried. The rearrangement isn’t even finished yet. Haa…”


  This was true. Although Park SoYoung was helped out by KangYoon, she still hadn’t finished the rearrangement.

  Seeing that, Yoo NaYoon poked Kim JiMin’s waist jokingly.

  “No way. Are you lying to me? The almighty Eunha? There’s a little more than a week left until the recording. I can practically tell you’re lying.”


  However, Kim JiMin shook her head.

  “It’s true. I can only practice if I can get the final version… Haa. Have you prepared for it.?”


  “Me? Well, a little.”


  “I’m envious…”


  When Kim JiMin looked at her with envious eyes, Yoo NaYoon shook her head instead.

  “No way. But Muse is on your side! The hit song creator Muse!”


  “…..”


  Kim JiMin couldn’t say that Muse wasn’t involved this time.

  Actually, she wanted to ask why it wasn’t KangYoon doing the rearrangement, but seeing Park SoYoung trying so hard, she couldn’t say that.

  Yoo NaYoon pouted and spoke on.

  “Tell your President I want a song when you see him.”


  “Hahaha….”


  At that moment, a tall man entered through the door. It was KangYoon, who brought the stage costume and a black plastic bag.

  “JiMin, here’s what you need.”


  “…Thank you.”


  Kim JiMin’s face reddened as she received the black plastic bag from KangYoon. She stood up from her seat and took out the contents before leaving.

  “I guess she isn’t used to this yet.”


  Looking at her, KangYoon shrugged his shoulders. Seeing that, Yoo NaYoon asked out of curiosity.

  “Uhm, c… composer?”


  “Hm? Oh, it’s Miss Nael. What is it?”


  “Ah, yeah. Hello, you don’t have to be so formal with me. I know you’re JiMin’s boss….”


  KangYoon nodded his head.

  Yoo NaYoon asked with a curious expression.

  “You seem to be doing her manager’s job… ah, I’m sorry. Looks like I shouldn’t have said that.”


  KangYoon knew that she was just asking out of curiosity so he waved his hand saying that it was okay.

  “It’s fine. I’m taking the role of her manager because we are lacking some people at the company right now. I can’t help it when we’re lacking people. Does that answer your question?”


  “Aaah, that sounds bad. I hope you find someone soon. You should focus on your music. Your songs are great after all.”


  “Hahaha, thanks.”


  KangYoon could feel that her words were genuine and laughed about it. She then seemed to have thought up of something and clapped.

  “Uhm composer. It’s about JiMin’s new song.”


  “You mean Happy Ending?”


  “Yeah. I really liked that song. You created it, right?”


  Although that song was what ended up pushing Nael to second place, she did not seem to feel bad about it at all. In fact, she seemed more eager to learn good music.

  KangYoon was surprised to see that her words felt genuine.

  ‘That isn’t so easy to do…’


  KangYoon spoke calmly.

  “Strictly speaking, I didn’t make it alone. I’m in charge of the rearrangement, and the composition was done by my little sister. Your song was good as well, Nael. I’m also enjoying it a lot.”


  “Thank you. I hope I can ask you to write me a song later. Is that alright with you?”


  “If the opportunity comes, then sure. I hope you do well too.”


  Kim JiMin returned while they were talking.

  “I’ll be going to the stage then.

  “Yes.”


  After KangYoon left, the waiting room became a world of women again.

  Yoo NaYoon got closer to Kim JiMin and asked.

  “JiMin, why did you leave just now?”


  “…Uhm….”


  Kim JiMin spoke carefully after contemplating a lot of it.

  “…It’s that day for me today.”


  “Eeh? That day?”


  “…But I didn’t have one on hand so he….”


  “……”


  Yoo NaYoon was taken aback. This meant that the black plastic bag KangYoon brought contained women’s sanitary products.

  “Whoa…… my god! So… the composer…. I mean, he’s your president, right?”


  “Yeah, Ah… my face is turning hot.”


  “I’m more shocked than you are. I can understand if he was your manager, but your president… just what in the world…”


  Yoo NaYoon seemed shocked as well.

  “…Ah, it’s getting hot….”


  Kim JiMin fanned her face with her hands to cool her head down and Yoo NaYoon blinked several times.

  ‘I’m kinda envious…’


  This meant that the president didn’t hesitate to do menial work.

  Yoo NaYoon felt rather envious of Kim JiMin.

  ***

  There was less than a week until the recording date of ‘Birth of the Masterpiece’, but Park SoYoung’s rearrangement still wasn’t finished yet. As there was little time left, she was working very hard at the studio.

  ‘This place should go like… ah, that’s not it!’


  She tried combining several different sounds using the program, but there was no sound that satisfied her.

  The studio, which became her workplace, had become a mess. However, Park SoYoung didn’t have any leisure to care about such a thing.

  ‘Should I try dragging this sound out with the sustain effect? Or mute it altogether?’


  The picture of an electric guitar appeared along with a circle icon for sustain and a cross icon for mute. The sustain made the sound dragged out while the mute cut the notes short.

  She tried other effects, but she wasn’t satisfied.

  ‘Guitar, string, drums… it’s bad no matter what I put in. Just what am I supposed to do…’


  Original = best

  That was her evaluation on the song ‘Streetlight’. Although she tried numerous combinations, nothing satisfied her. Even adding repetition and removing some lines didn’t do anything.

  She was worried about it a lot when KangYoon entered through the door. He had just come back from Kim JiMin’s schedule.

  When Park SoYoung saw him, her head lowered in dejection.

  “Oppa…”


  “The work… doesn’t seem to be going well.”


  KangYoon was able to notice the current state of things immediately. She spoke without confidence.

  “I’m sorry… even though you had faith in me, I… honestly don’t have the confidence.”


  Park SoYoung’s shoulders dropped down. She wanted to respond to his faith, but the weight of an old classic was greater than she thought.

  KangYoon asked with a calm expression.

  “Where are you stuck on?”


  “…Just, everything. I can’t get a grasp on what instruments or effects I should use. At this rate, it might be better to use the original song as it is.”


  “Really? Let’s leave that as a last resort. What kind of effects have you used?”


  Park SoYoung showed him all the combinations of effects she had used until now. As she was very detailed about things, all of those files were saved separately.

  “That’s a lot…”


  KangYoon first pulled out the headphones from the computer. This was to listen to what she had worked with. Soon, the speakers gave out some music notes along with sound, and white and grey light could be seen everywhere.

  ‘Ugh…!’


  Although he had expected this, the influence of grey light kept stabbing him which made him frown. However, he tried not to show it in his expression.

  After listening to all of her saved files for over an hour, KangYoon laughed powerlessly.

  “Haha… you’ve worked hard.”


  “…I’m sorry. It’s no good, isn’t it?”


  Park SoYoung became dejected. She had tried so hard, and she felt sorry that she didn’t have any talent.

  KangYoon consoled her by patting her back.

  “…Definitely, there’s not much to see right now.”


  “…….”


  Park SoYoung teared up.

  However, his words didn’t end there.

  “Looks like you went down the wrong path. Let’s start from the beginning, this time, completely differently.”


  “Completely differently?”


  KangYoon nodded his head and spoke with confidence.

  “Let’s go with an orchestral interpretation. You heard lectures about it in college, right?”


  “What? Yes, but I didn’t learn that much. It was just one of the required classes.”


  “That’s enough. Let’s bring out an orchestral feel. Let’s increase the intro a little and keep the original feel as much as it is. Delete the drums and bass and other band instruments and insert some orchestral instruments. If you do that, the original feel won’t disappear, and JiMin should be satisfied, right?”


  “Wow…”


  KangYoon’s words made Park SoYoung gulp. She felt like things were starting to get out of hand.