Chapter 10
Chapter 10
Translator: Penny
Chapter 10
"Wow, holy shit!"
Is this for real? I leaped to my feet, shouting in disbelief.
I frantically played the file, and the melody of the song—a tune that had only existed in my memory—poured through the headphones. It felt like a dam had burst, clearing a long-blocked channel.
"What's wrong? Did the song get deleted? You know you should save regularly, right?"
"Well, if it's that song from earlier, it's not a big deal if it's gone... Maybe it's better to just reset and rewrite it?"
Ignoring the snickering of my crew hyungs, who were laughing because it wasn't their problem, I slumped back into my chair and replayed the song from the beginning.
System, you actually came through for once. I'm sorry for always cursing you as a fucking useless system that never helps with anything.
I silently expressed my heartfelt gratitude and apology, tapping my desk in rhythm with the music.
Perhaps because it was one of the first songs I completed, listening to it now with my current level of skill, I could hear areas that needed tweaking.
Checking the other tracks in the folder, I easily had four songs ready for the album.
During the preparation and promotion of the follow-up single, I had even braced myself for all-nighters. Now that the workload had suddenly decreased, I felt like I'd received a gift. Excited, I gulped down a cold beer.
Excessive alcohol consumption detected.
Original Intent Score -1
Hey, it's just three cans of beer! Forget about this being helpful, damn it. Don't you know moderate drinking can actually boost creativity? Huh?
My Original Intent Score was already teetering on the edge after a fight with the members. Don't deduct points for something like this, okay?
I took off my headphones and played the music again. Humming along to the melody that filled the studio, I stopped the song after the first verse.
As I spun my chair around, my hyungs, who had been nodding their heads to the rhythm, all turned to look at me at once.
"How's this version?"
"Did you get possessed or something? How did you revise this so much in less than ten minutes?"
"Hey, this is way better than before, way better."
It wasn't divine grace, but if I had to call it something, it would be the System's blessing. Of course, the System didn't write the lyrics itself; it just brought back something my past self had done. Still, I'd take what I could get.
I pulled out the USB, slipped it into my coat pocket, and stood up from my chair.
There was no point in staying any longer. I couldn't drink any more, and with these guys hogging the studio, I wouldn't be able to work anyway.
"Leaving already?"
"Yeah, you guys have fun."
Yongcheol Hyung let out a hollow laugh mixed with a playful jab. "Anyone would think this is your studio," he said as I left the room.
Not quite drunk, but pleasantly tipsy, the alcohol had warmed me up. After days of struggling with a blocked verse, I'd finally cracked it. And I was meeting up with my close hyungs for the first time in ages, our friendship still intact.
All of this combined had long since washed away the foul mood I'd been in when I left the dorm. Right now, I felt like I could even generously forgive Seo Yehyeon's provocation.
"I'm back," I announced as I entered the dorm, but no one greeted me. Why did this remind me of the last time everyone had completely ignored me before my regression?
I slammed open the door and shouted, "Hey, come out and let's talk! We have schedules tomorrow too, we can't keep living like this!"
"Anyone listening would think that bastard hasn't done anything wrong," Yongcheol Hyung muttered.
As Seo Yehyeon mumbled, seemingly for my benefit, while getting out of bed, I barely managed to suppress the reflexive surge of anger that threatened to erupt.
Right, I need to treat this guy like a newborn fawn—with extreme caution.
I have to be so careful not to scratch that glass heart and fragile ego of his.
The youngest members stumbled out of their rooms, and the five of us huddled together in the cramped living room.
The atmosphere remained as heavy as it had been before I stormed out of the dorm. I cleared my throat a couple of times before speaking.
"Alright, let's try having a conversation."
"Who was it who ruined the mood and ran out of the dorm?"
Patience, I need patience. I barely managed to swallow down the rising anger at Seo Yehyeon's still-bitter words.
"Both of you stop fighting. We're supposed to be talking."
"We haven't even started fighting yet."
I shot Gyeon Hajun an indignant look, protesting his attempt to keep Seo Yehyeon and me separated. Then, I slammed down the convenience store bag containing the soju I'd bought before returning to the dorm.
"Youngest, fetch some cups."
This kind of talk definitely needed alcohol. Ryu Jaehee glanced nervously between Gyeon Hajun and me.
Before I could snap, "Whose side are you on?" Gyeon Hajun sighed and gestured for the cups.
Soon, the drinking session was fully set up, complete with snacks Manager Hyung had hidden away as appetizers. The two youngest members, still underage, were given non-alcoholic cocktails to join in the mood.
It was the most painfully boring drinking session imaginable—no toasts, no conversation, just the clinking of glasses. The suffocating atmosphere was made even worse by the contrast with the lively gathering we'd just had in the studio.
Amidst all this, Seo Yehyeon was showing remarkable tenacity, refusing to touch any of the snacks and downing shots of straight soju.
No sooner had he taken a sip of soju from his cup than the System pounced, deducting from his Original Intent Score.
Excessive alcohol consumption detected.
Original Intent Score -1
Hey, System, this drinking session is essential for team bonding and rebuilding relationships, okay?
Let's show some flexibility here. You were quick enough when we were spinning the Random Tickets, weren't you?
Whether my argument worked or not, the Original Intent Score didn't decrease when I took another sip. Only then did I relax and start chugging the soju.
Feeling the alcohol kicking in, I glanced at Gyeon Hajun and Seo Yehyeon's flushed faces before opening my mouth.
"First, is there anyone here who's upset with me because of today's internal meeting?"
I expected only Seo Yehyeon to raise his hand, but surprisingly, everyone did.
Hmm, so the Original Intent Score isn't deducted based on the number of people upset with me, but simply for the act itself, regardless of how many are affected? That's one thing I like about this system.
If it weren't for that, I would have regressed a hundred times over by now.
Seo Yehyeon, his brow furrowed deeply, asked sarcastically, "Do you even know why we're upset with you?"
"What do you take me for? Of course I know."
Leaning back against the sofa from my seated position on the floor, I grinned leisurely. This means I've already seen the answer key.
"You're upset because I unilaterally pushed forward with the follow-up single activities without consulting you, right?"
As soon as I finished speaking, an even deeper silence settled over the already quiet dorm.
What? Was that the wrong answer...?No way. My members aren't petty enough to get upset over something like this, right?
"You knew...?"
Gyeon Hajun's murmur, dripping with surprise, made me choke on my drink and cough violently.
I'd guessed the right answer, but I felt no joy whatsoever.
How am I supposed to lead these fragile-minded guys to the A-list?
I rubbed my face dry, agonizing over how to respond.
Should I play the perceptive but morally bankrupt leader who knew all along but still ruined the dorm's atmosphere by storming out? Or should I become the clueless but genuine leader who belatedly realizes his mistake and earnestly reflects on it?
I recommend the latter.
The System intervened, as if unable to bear my increasingly electronic-leaning heart. It felt like a cheat code in a dating sim, rescuing a player who kept choosing the bad ending routes.
"No, I didn't realize it when I said it, but after getting some fresh air and thinking it over, I realized I was being too autocratic. I should have asked for your opinions too."
Of course, even if I had asked, we would have ended up promoting "My Universe" anyway. But who in their right mind would want to keep performing such a disastrous song like "Come to My Universe"?
Kim Dobin raised his hand and spoke up.
"I actually wanted to keep promoting 'Come to My Universe.'"
There really was a moron who wanted to promote a song with no future?
You idiot! Your part is 'Stars twinkle, eyes twinkle too.' You seriously want to keep singing that? Are you being serious?
Stunned, I stared at Kim Dobin. He slammed his cup down with a thud, sighed heavily, and said, "Honestly, it's impossible to choreograph a new dance and rehearse for the stage in just a week."
"What's impossible about it?"
"I have to choreograph the whole thing myself! I even had to completely rework our debut song! Just hire a famous choreographer!"
That immature, thoughtless brat. He's willing to stay on a sinking ship just because he's too lazy to choreograph? And when did he even start drinking?
The kid was practically rolling on the floor, throwing a tantrum, his face flushed red.
I grabbed Ryu Jaehee's hand as it crept toward the soju-filled cup, stopping him cold. Then I downed the entire cup in one gulp. You better not act like this. Wait until you're an adult to drink, you little punk.
"If you keep pushing that damn song just to make things easier for yourself, you can forget about hiring a famous choreographer. You'll have to keep choreographing everything yourself."
Despite my advice, which contained spoilers from the future, he was still flailing around in protest. I lowered my voice, speaking with genuine seriousness.
"So, I'll stay up all night and help you. Let's just push through this one time."
After all, I had plenty of time left since I'd already obtained the USB containing the song. At my words, Kim Dobin's struggling body froze.
"...Hyung, you actually sounded like a leader for the first time just now."
"What the hell, you little brat?"
So you're saying I don't usually act like a leader? My angry outburst made Kim Dobin flinch.
"So, what's your answer?"
"Sorry, Hyung. I was just being a brat. I like 'One Chance' better than 'My Universe' too."
For a "bratty" complaint, that sounded awfully sincere.
I rubbed my forehead and turned to the youngest member, who was still eyeing the alcohol. "Ryu Jaehee, any thoughts?"
"I'm fine with any song as long as it's not 'Come to My Universe'."
"Jun, what about you? Are you okay with promoting as Eden?"
"Well... it's definitely better than our title track."
My gaze shifted past the two nodding in agreement to land on Seo Yehyeon. He set down his cup, crossed his arms, and sneered.
"Too bad. I'm not okay with it."
Fuck. Two idiots on the team. This is going to be a rough road, seriously.
My despair must have been written all over my face, because Seo Yehyeon's smirk vanished, replaced by a deep frown.
"Hey, you know I barely managed to memorize the choreography for 'Come to My Universe' as it is."
Was it really like that...? It's been seven years since before my debut, so my memory's a bit hazy.
But recalling how disastrous his skills were back then, it's entirely plausible.
"I'll help you practice. Is that good enough?"
"You want me to practice while listening to your insults again? Like, 'Even a puppet doll moves its joints better than you' level insults?"
Seo Yehyeon grabbed me and shook me urgently, his determination to never agree with my suggestion unwavering.
"A-alright, alright! No more insults! I'll shower you with praise while helping you practice!"
"You mean it?"
"Yeah, I mean it! If I insult you, I'll give you 100,000 won each time."
Still skeptical, Seo Yehyeon meticulously recorded our agreement before finally nodding in consent to promote a follow-up track after "Come to My Universe."
It's so hard to get everyone to agree on something.
Having finally secured everyone's consent, I used the alcohol as courage to say what I needed to say.
"As you all know, I can be a bit insensitive, right?"
"Is that insensitivity? It's more like you just don't give a damn about reading the room," Seo Yehyeon slurred, interrupting with his twisted pronunciation.
I forced a smile, looking at him.
Patience. Three 'patience' characters can save your Original Intent Score from dropping even a single point.
I glanced around at the members, all stuck in the same boat whether they liked it or not, and grinned.
"So, if anything I do upsets you, tell me right away. I'll try my best to fix it."
That's the only way to keep my Original Intent Score from dropping further. I don't want to regress while we're barely charting.
📝 Translator’s Note:
You may notice that certain lines or phrases in this novel appear both in their original Korean (or Hanja) form and in English translation.
This is intentional — these phrases are classical idioms, divine titles, or poetic expressions that carry layered meanings.
To preserve their original tone and authenticity, the raw text has been kept for reference, while the English interpretation is provided right before or after it. This helps convey both the literal and cultural nuance of the original work.
but if you guys dont want tha raw for future chapters or my future other novels u can just text me on discord and say so discord name Mr.Penny