Translator: Chamber

  Editor: Illidan

  – It won’t be easy to satisfy JaeHoon. You might be able to come up with something good if you do it together with SoYoung.

  “That’s true, but…”


  HeeYoon hesitated.

  She would feel very sorry to ask a friend of hers to work on a song with her when she came all the way to America for holidays.

  Knowing how she felt, KangYoon spoke with a soft voice.

  – Working with SoYoung will help you out a lot as well. SoYoung is capable of coming up with things you can’t and it’s the same the other way round.

  “Right…?”


  Her brother’s words were never wrong.

  HeeYoon’s mind changed.

  – Try it. Also, teach JiMin a lot too.

  “Okay, I’ll try.”


  After hesitating for a moment, HeeYoon accepted.

  – Watch out for cars. And call me if something happens.

  “You too, oppa.”


  After the call, HeeYoon turned around to Park SoYoung who was looking at her all this time.

  “What did he say?”


  “Uhm, SoYoung.”


  HeeYoon took a deep breath before speaking in a serious tone.

  “I’m working on JaeHoon-oppa’s song right now, and he told me that you should together work with me.”


  “Oh really? I heard that before I came here… but is that alright with you? Working together with someone isn’t easy…”


  Park SoYoung asked carefully.

  Working together on a project was very difficult and may even split apart two good friends.

  “I’m fine with it. Are you up for it?”


  “I’m fine with it too. I also want to confirm my rearrangement skills. But… I won’t be able to do any touring. I guess I’m a little worried about that?”


  HeeYoon welcomed a new way of working, and Park SoYoung welcomed it as well since she was going to learn from her no.1 rival composer.

  “Let’s just finish it quickly and go play around. Well then, please take care of me.”


  HeeYoon and Park SoYoung’s wills ignited.

  Kim JiMin was left now.

  Fortunately, she didn’t have a different opinion either.

  “Why don’t we make a piece that can surprise him? It sounds fun!”


  “You girls are so passionate… sheesh.”


  HeeYoon jokingly hit Park SoYoung’s arm.

  “HeeYoon, that hurts.”


  “Hehe, well then. Let’s get to it.”


  It was a difficult assignment, but the three girls were all ready for it.

  Their eyes started burning with passion.

  ***

  In the middle of Gangnam, where the land prices were insanely expensive.

  There was a shabby 5-story building, which looked very out of place amongst the skyscrapers. It looked completely empty as there were no signs indicated that it was anything.

  However, on the 5th level, jazz music was flowing along with some faint purple lighting.

  There were stars everywhere.

  Many men in black suits were guarding the entrance on the 1st floor as well as other places, while inside, lady bartenders greeted the customers with soft, or sometimes, proud smiles.

  This was a membership-only bar that only a select few were able to enter.

  On the 2nd floor, where only the VVIPs of the bar could enter, Namhoon, a veteran trot singer, was having a drink with a relaxed expression.

  “Man, that’s good…”


  He frowned a little as he drank the amber-colored cocktail.

  “Are you alone again today?”


  The ace of the bar, named ‘Lala’, asked him with a beautiful sonorous voice, but Namhoon shook his head.

  “Unfortunately, not today.”


  “Oh really? A friend of yours then?”


  “A friend? Fufu, he’s a little too young to be called ‘friend’.”


  “Young? Fufu, now I’m curious. I wonder who Mr. Namhoon would bring over today.”


  Lala refilled his glass with a smile.

  Namhoon emptied his glass with joy and looked at the entrance.

  Not long later, the elevator opened and an employee entered accompanied by a man.

  The one being guided was KangYoon.

  He looked around with curiosity, exclaiming.

  Looking down from the 2nd floor of the bar, Namhoon made a satisfied smile.

  “There he is.”


  “Oh? That person is… the composer, Muse, am I right?”


  “Correct. Do you know him?”


  “I’m a fan. The songs from Muse are all good so… what a pity. I wish I could get an autograph.

  Lala felt a little unfortunate.

  The nature of the bartenders meant that they do not hear what they hear and they do not see what they see. Receiving an autograph was out of the question.

  “Welcome, President Lee.”


  When KangYoon entered the 2nd floor, Namhoon waved his hand to greet him.

  “Hello. I almost thought I came to the wrong place.”


  KangYoon, who kept a level expression until now, finally expressed his confusion after he sat down.

  Today’s meeting was the compensation for the collaboration stage with Jung TaeSung. It was not an official meeting but a private one. Although quite a lot of time had passed, they held one today since it wasn’t easy rescheduling their appointments so that they could meet up.

  “Sit down first. Lala, this is Muse, president Lee KangYoon that you wanted to meet.”


  “Hello? I’m Lala, I’m also a fan of yours. Pleased to meet you.”


  The lady bartender wearing a luxurious dress and a soft smile made KangYoon exclaim.

  ‘They are on a different level alright.’


  Unlike women working in normal bars, she exuded ‘high class’. She was a little short, but the atmosphere around her made her feel like someone illusory.

  KangYoon greeted her and sat down.

  After they talked about recent matters, they started talking about real things.

  “I was surprised that you wanted to meet me in a place like this.”


  “I wasn’t able to meet you even though I said I’d treat you to a meal… I felt sorry so I revealed my secret place. This is the best place for a conversation.”


  “Is that so?”


  KangYoon made a bitter expression.

  A lady listening to a man’s stories.

  Such a place or person was very rare indeed. KangYoon understood where Namhoon was coming from.

  When Namhoon waved his hand, Lala mixed a few drinks to make a cocktail. There was no fancy show or anything, but the blue-colored cocktail in the pretty glass was very beautiful.

  “Thank you.”


  KangYoon toasted Namhoon and slowly drank the cocktail.

  The bittersweet taste was first-class.

  Drinking, Namhoon started talking about the collaboration stage with Jung TaeSung.

  “That stage was one of the best stages in my life. It’s been ages since I was cheered so much by the younger generation… It felt like I was young again?”


  “Oh please, you’re still in your prime. Such an energetic stage isn’t something just anyone can do.”


  “Hahaha.”


  Namhoon grinned a little before looking at KangYoon in the eyes.

  “President Lee. Thank you so much for this. It feels like this phrase is long overdue.”


  “Sir.”


  “Many things changed after that stage.”


  His stage had no change until now.

  Although he was a veteran with nearly 40 years of experience, the endless loop of the same things over and over again made him exhausted. He even thought of retiring.

  However, KangYoon’s production of the collaboration stage with Jung TaeSung changed his mind entirely.

  “Hahaha. I still dream of the stage that day. A stage filled with passion and with youth! I think I can last 10 more years with this. What I gained that day is my confidence. Really, thank you so much.”


  Namhoon grabbed KangYoon’s hands.

  KangYoon shook his head saying that it was okay.

  “I believe that your energy had piled up until then and was expressed in that stage. It was me instead, that learned so much after seeing you dream about a new stage after 40 years. The passion for seeking new things even after 40 years of singing. That isn’t something that anyone can have.”


  “Young people sure have their way with talking, alright. Haha.”


  KangYoon shrugged his shoulders.

  The two had a good mood between them.

  Sometimes, Lala chimed in on the conversation and poured them drinks, and the mood on the 2nd floor was becoming softer.

  Amidst that mood, KangYoon carefully asked.

  “Sir, excuse me for asking this but… can I ask you for a favor?”


  “A favor? Please do tell.”


  When Namhoon asked back with curiosity, KangYoon thought about it for a moment before speaking.

  “Recently an aspiring trot artist just entered our company as a trainee.”


  “Oh, trot, you say?”


  Namhoon’s eyes turned into that of surprise and joy.

  Unlike the case of idol trainees, it was very rare to find new talent in the trot field. Although there were many trot singers, the ones that were known by the public were all veterans of the field.

  “Yes. Is there anyone that could train…”


  Namhoon spoke as though it was nothing.

  “How about me?”


  “What?”


  At that moment, KangYoon’s eyes widened.

  “You, sir…?”


  “Of course. What is it? Am I not enough?”


  KangYoon shook his head in surprise.

  Namhoon, who had survived in this industry for more than 40 years was more than enough as a teacher.

  “There’s no way that’s the case, but…”


  “But?”


  KangYoon hesitated for a moment before jokingly replying.

  “How much money would I have to spend to get someone like you to teach someone else? You have a lot of reputation to your name.”


  “Money? This is about raising a future trot singer. Money’s no problem.”


  KangYoon’s eyes widened even further.

  Money was important, yes. Receiving education without compensation meant it would feel difficult to feel responsible for it. It was better to invest more money instead.

  KangYoon was thinking when Namhoon added.

  “Before that, I should meet this trainee to see what he or she is like.”


  “Indeed.”


  “An aspiring trot artist, huh. I’m looking forward to it already. Haha.”


  KangYoon’s words were more than welcome in Namhoon’s perspective since the trot field always thirsted for talent.

  They decided to meet at a later date.

  ***

  ‘Haa…’


  Kim JaeHoon was looking at the ceiling on his bed.

  ‘Such a pity.’


  A few days ago.

  Ever since he was rejected by KangYoon about his song, Kim JaeHoon had to delete all the files related to that song on the computer. As KangYoon had told him that there will be a problem with the contract if he decides to practice that song, Kim JaeHoon felt very afraid.

  ‘…He’s always scary at times like those, tch.’


  Kim JaeHoon grumbled and did not leave his room.

  He didn’t want to do anything; no music, no activities, nothing.

  This was his way of retaliating. However, KangYoon did not bat an eyelid despite knowing it.

  ‘I should just practice…nah’


  Kim JaeHoon was spending his time repeating standing up and lying back down again.

  However, it felt very boring to just spend time doing nothing.

  As he felt bored looking at the ceiling all the time, he turned on the computer.

  – The no.1 role model of trainees. JooAh.

  – Min JinSeo’s appearance paralyzes Chinese airport.

  – Hello Tint’s leader, Ria, and her breathtaking bikini look

  When he opened the internet, the first articles he saw were related to people of MG Entertainment.

  ‘Damn those journalists…’


  Kim JaeHoon stopped after he was about to click the ‘breathtaking’ and whatnot article. He knew that it was just a single photo and nonsensical contents.

  At that moment, his phone suddenly rang.

  [JaeHoon-oppa. I sent you the score and the music file to your email. Please call me after you look through them.]

  It was a message from HeeYoon.

  Kim JaeHoon hurriedly opened his email account. There were a score and a music file on the attached files.

  He downloaded the music on his computer and opened it.

  ‘This…’


  After listening to it, Kim JaeHoon’s eyes glimmered.

  ***

  Pudong International Airport.

  Otherwise known as the New Shanghai Airport, KangYoon had arrived at this place and was about to leave through the door.

  ‘China, huh…’


  KangYoon fell into contemplation as he left the airport.

  In the past, he had failed over and over again, but now, he was in Shanghai, about to make his music known to China. He was glad that he was improving.

  KangYoon checked on the time.

  ‘The director told me someone would pick me up.’


  Lee HyunJi had told her that someone would pick him up if he went to zone E3 at the parking lot. As he considered himself alone for this, this was very fortunate for him.

  ‘Who is it, I wonder.’


  Lee HyunJi only told him that it was a friend of hers and did not tell him who it was.

  KangYoon, feeling curious, headed to zone E3 as he was instructed.

  ‘Is this the place?’


  It was a normal parking lot. Outside, there were many roads that connected to the city.

  KangYoon quietly waited for a person to pick him up.

  10 minutes, 20 minutes…


  He waited for 30 minutes now, but the cars all went past him and seemed to have no intention of picking him up.

  ‘What’s making him so late?’


  He didn’t have that much time to spend in China.

  As he wanted to save on time as much as possible, he became nervous.

  Just as KangYoon picked up his phone without being able to wait, a red sports car speeded towards his direction from afar.

  ‘What the hell is he doing inside an airport?’


  KangYoon frowned after seeing the rough driving.

  However, that car stopped right in front of him! Then, the door opened and a lady appeared.

  ‘Sir.”


  “J, Ji… JinSeo?”


  KangYoon’s eyes widened as he had never imagined this to happen.

  When he looked shocked, the lady chuckled as she found this situation funny.

  “Get on. Let’s talk as we go.”


  The lady that called KangYoon ‘sir’.

  It was none other than Min JinSeo that had come to pick him up.