Chapter 16
Chapter 16
Translator: Penny
Chapter 16
To be honest, we hadn't touched the music file since we started promoting.
If I had to make excuses, it's because our song blew up, which automatically increased our schedule. By the time we got back to the dorm, we were so exhausted we'd collapse into bed immediately.
There was no way we could drag ourselves to the studio in that state.
Of course, back when we were frantically trying to recreate the sound for our debut song, we would have dragged our heavy bodies to the studio no matter what.
But now that we had the final music file in hand, we'd gotten a little complacent.
That damn complacency, fueled by the fact that we had time until the next activity meeting, played a big part in this.
Damn it, the CEO is only this annoyingly diligent when it comes to things like this.
I gritted my teeth, picturing his face—that friendly smile that could turn people's insides upside down.
Instead of wasting energy, effort, and money contacting that damn composer, we should have just made a scheduler!
But even if I regretted it now, the song was already being produced.
All I could do now was perfect the audio to completely obliterate the title track of our CEO's disastrous 2nd Mini Album.
That song was even worse than "Come to My Universe."
Thanks to that, both our debut album and 2nd Mini Album were treated as non-existent even after we became famous.
While we occasionally had to perform "Come to My Universe" due to its status as our debut song, the subsequent track was strictly forbidden from being mentioned.
We had barely escaped the flop idol group route with "One Chance," and we couldn't afford to plummet back into obscurity with such a terrible song.
"Everyone, gather around for a quick meeting."
After gathering the members, I scribbled boldly on a notebook with a computer pen:
First Reve Meeting
Subtitle: Title Track for the Next Album
Considering the divided opinions during the previous discussion about extending promotions for "Come to My Universe," I decided to hold a meeting this time to avoid a repeat.
Even though I was certain my approach was the right one, pushing my agenda would inevitably lower my Original Intent Score, as it would be seen as fostering discord among the members.
It was my mistake not realizing that some people defy common sense.
"What's this meeting about? The title track for the next album?"
Ryu Jaehee, who had scurried into the living room first, blinked as he read the clearly written words on the notebook.
"You called us here just to decide on the title track? But the songs are already out? Hyung, have you heard them? What are they like? Are there any good ones?"
"I only heard that the CEO contacted a composer," Gyeon Hajun added, nodding in response to Ryu Jaehee's machine-gun-like questions.
I nodded and opened my mouth. "The songs aren't out yet, but the composer they contacted is the same person who wrote all the tracks on our debut album."
Ryu Jaehee's face instantly paled, and he stammered, "D-debut album... You don't mean... Come to My Universe? He's writing songs for our album again?"
"Yep."
As soon as I nodded, Kim Dobin clutched his head and wailed as if the world had ended.
"We're doomed... doomed! After 'One Chance' hit, I thought we finally had a chance to escape flop idol status...!"
"No, Hyung! Maybe he'll suddenly get divinely inspired and churn out a masterpiece!" Ryu Jaehee desperately shouted, shaking the utterly distraught Kim Dobin.
Is he trying to calm Dobin down, or just escape reality himself?
Doesn't anyone else smell that wishful thinking burning?
"Eden Hyung, this is actually possible, right?" The youngest member turned to me, his eyes pleading for reassurance. I scratched the back of my head.
"It's... possible."
And it was true.
The composer of "One Chance," the song that propelled Reve to viral fame through 직캠 역주행, was the same guy who wrote "Come to My Universe."
I poured cold water on Ryu Jaehee and Kim Dobin, whose faces had brightened as they enthusiastically spun their "happiness circuits."
"The problem is that the probability of that song being on this album approaches zero. Zero. It's guaranteed to flop. I know from experience."
Even though it happened seven years ago by my standards, I still vividly remember how our excitement about escaping Come to My Universe was crushed when we were presented with an even worse song.
After our debut album flopped so badly, I thought they'd be more careful with the next release. Ah, they were more careful with the money they spent.
3.5 million won, you fucking bastards.
"It'll probably take that guy about three years to get some musical inspiration and compose a masterpiece. Though there's no guarantee he'll keep churning out hits after that."
During our reverse-running success, Seo Yehyeon's visuals accounted for 80% of the credit, but our comeback track, "One Chance," still contributed about 20%.
With its complex verses and addictive chorus.
That's where the tragedy began.
Just once, our CEO succeeded in an impossibly difficult gacha pull. Convinced that the composer would deliver another chart-topping hit, he kept commissioning songs from him.
It wasn't even like winning the lottery jackpot. It was more like someone who'd won second prize once, now throwing money away, convinced they'd hit the jackpot next time.
And "One Chance" was the composer's magnum opus—his greatest and final masterpiece.
He never produced anything of that caliber again.
While idol groups performing my songs were topping charts and earning critical acclaim...
We barely managed to snag a music show win with our terrible songs, relying solely on our fans' support.
On the charts, we exchanged a fleeting glance with the top 10 in the early morning hours before plummeting back down.
We were relentlessly panned by critics—in short, we endured countless hardships.
To avoid repeating this tragedy, I had no choice but to score a massive hit with my own song, making the CEO abandon any thought of buying more tracks from that composer.
"It couldn't possibly be worse than 'Come to My Universe,' right...?"
Worse.
Unable to spoil the future, I clamped my itching mouth shut. Seo Yehyeon, running a hand down his face, lamented, "We'd be better off buying a 7080s hit and remaking it."
We'd once made a comeback with a song by that composer, only to be utterly crushed by a girl group remaking an 80s hit.
Watching the members unknowingly predict the future, I couldn't help but wonder if these kids had regressed too.
No way. If they had, I wouldn't be the only one running around like crazy, busting my gut to save the group.
My momentary panic at the suddenly somber atmosphere quickly subsided.
The youngest member, who had been bowing his head deeply, suddenly snapped upright and asked, "So, we're meeting to discuss how to stop this? Can we share our opinions?"
"No."
"Then why did you call us here? To prepare us mentally?" Seo Yehyeon retorted sarcastically, shrugging his shoulders.
"I just wanted to give you guys a choice. Pick one of the two options."
The meeting was merely a show of goodwill: This Leader is willing to see what you choose.
The answer is already decided. All you have to do is choose.
I raised my index finger, presenting the options:
"Option 1: I'll handle the title track for the next album. Option 2: We'll entrust it to the CEO—"
"Option 1! Absolutely Option 1!"
"11111!"
"Why even ask? It's obviously Option 1!"
"I'm going with Option 1 too."
Before I could even raise my middle finger, they cut me off with a torrent of fervent responses, leaving me flustered.
The lengthy, persuasive speech I'd prepared in case anyone favored Option 2 was rendered utterly pointless.
I glanced between Kim Dobin and Seo Yehyeon, who had previously driven me crazy by insisting we continue promoting "Come to My Universe" instead of the 2nd Mini Album. Then, I asked earnestly:
"Why are you suddenly being so reasonable? You weren't like this before."
"That's different, Hyung. Back then, we only had a week to prepare for promotions. Now, we haven't even started yet."
Apparently stung by being called unreasonable, Kim Dobin furrowed his brows into a deep V shape and argued with wounded indignation.
"I'd rather be worked to the bone... I'd rather endure your harsh words than promote with a song even worse than our debut track."
Unbelievable. Of all the things I've seen in my life, I never thought the day would come when Seo Yehyeon would actually ask me to work him harder. Did he really hate our debut song more than my bluntness?
But why did you insist on promoting "Come to My Universe" back then, you idiot?
"Ugh, I'm gonna die..."
Leaning back in my studio chair, I let out a heavy sigh.
An energy drink can I'd accidentally knocked over lay rolling haphazardly across the desk.
The desk was already piled high with empty cans.
After two straight nights of working without sleep, my vision was blurring, but this damn System kept slashing my Original Intent Score for having "Dead Eyes," forcing me to slap myself every minute to stay focused.
My cheeks burned and throbbed from the constant self-inflicted blows. I couldn't see them, but they must be red and swollen by now.
Rubbing my gritty eyes, I clicked the save button.
Had I ever worked this hard before, even before my regression?
Pressing the space bar to play the track, the melody flowing through the headphones was flawless. Even the verse that had given me so much trouble now sounded far more natural than in previous versions.
"Ha, terrifying. My talent."
I chuckled to myself, pressed the space bar again to stop the song, and took off the headphones.
Now, all that remained was the guide vocal recording to complete the demo.
Normally, I would have entrusted the guide recording to Gyeon Hajun without hesitation. But since I needed to persuade the CEO with the demo track, I decided to get a recording from Ryu Jaehee as well.
The cozy studio was packed with people. Ryu Jaehee's arrival had brought Kim Dobin along for the spectacle, and Seo Yehyeon, unwilling to be left alone in the dorm, had tagged along as well.
"Wow, is this Hyung's studio?"
"No, it belongs to a Hyung I know. So don't go touching things carelessly. If you break anything, you'll have to pay for it, and I'll get yelled at too."
After giving the youngest member a perfunctory warning as he glanced around the studio, they immediately began recording the guide track.
The guide track didn't need to be as rigorous as the final recording. As long as the lyrics were clear and the melody was easily discernible, it was sufficient.
"Jun-a, you can mumble through the rap parts. Just sing the last line of Verse 1—'Turn off your phone and don't go home tonight, all right?'—one tone lower."
"Hook again. The rhythm's slightly too fast."
"Da-da-dan, da-da-dan, match this. Again."
"Jaehee, everything's good, but pronounce 'right night' properly. Why are you just repeating 'all right' twice? Again."
"Right night, you f... 아니, don't pronounce it so rigidly. Say 'rite nite.' Didn't you go to English academy as a kid? Should I cancel your lessons? Again."
Conflict-inducing remarks detected among members.
Original Intent Score -1
Ugh, this is driving me crazy. If we're already having this much trouble with the guide recording, how much will my Original Intent Score drop during the actual recording?
The CEO really has a talent for gathering only mentally fragile guys except for me. A real talent.
📝 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