Crypto Windfall Shatters the Menhera Fantasy
Marketing buildup through the Blue Lemon Sky YouTube channel was steadily stacking up. Now it was time for the real recording work.
"We need to book a studio for recording, hire a sound engineer, and if we're aiming for the charts, we've gotta go with total pros and top-tier facilities. But that kinda money isn't pocket change."
Kang Saero looked worried, but when it came to cash, I had something to say.
"What? You got a ton of money?"
Even as I boasted confidently, she stared at me like she couldn't believe it. Fair enough. How much could a high school freshman really have? Maybe some saved-up New Year's money or generous allowance from parents. That wouldn't cut it. Music production was no joke.
Studio rental, mixing and mastering engineer fees, digital release and marketing costs. To get proper quality, millions of won vanish in a blink.
"How much you got?"
Under her suspicious glare, I silently pulled out my smartphone and opened the banking app, shoving the screen in her face.
"......"
Her eyes widened more and more. She started counting the digits at first, then her mouth dropped open. Hilarious.
"What the—your family's loaded?"
"Nah. I earned it."
"You? From a part-time job? What job pays this much?"
She could make that face too? Feeling playful, I crossed my arms like a quiz show host.
"Take a guess."
Late 2010s. A high schooler with nothing suddenly makes ten million units from this. What is this?
"Ding ding ding!" Kang Saero shot her hand up.
"What's the answer?"
"Rental boyfriend!"
"?"
Joke? Or serious? Her arm shot across the table and grabbed my hand.
"But seriously, don't do that stuff. Going down that dark path'll make your menhera worse."
Her parents were both celebs. Loaded, pretty, probably sheltered from the ugly side. Was it the delinquent vibe? She was spicy.
But no means no.
"It's not that."
Time to deploy the straight-face I'd practiced in the mirror.
"Sorry. Just kidding."
"......"
"Sorry! Don't be mad!"
Pretending to be pissed worked like a charm. She jumped up, grabbed my shoulders, shook me like crazy, and apologized in that cutesy voice. Before the misunderstanding deepened, I cleared it up quick.
"Not that. Investments. Crypto."
"Minors can't invest."
"Plenty of ways around it."
Timing was perfect, sorta. Crypto regs were still a bit lax back then.
"Plus I got lucky—stuff I'd thrown in ages ago skyrocketed recently."
Couldn't mention regressing, so I blamed luck. She alternated between the screen and my face, still dazed.
"If you don't mind, spot me a million won."
"No way."
Doesn't mean I'd blow it all. Bigger things to save for.
NVIDIA. Gotta hoard that seed money for the graphics card stock bonanza.
I pocketed my phone and got back to business.
"Anyway, money's sorted, right?"
"Uh? Yeah."
"Cool. Let's talk quality."
I slid the laptop sideways so we could both see, angling it. Kinda awkward for controls, but best for musical bonding.
MIDI. Note blocks, basically. DAW screen packed with 'em. I moused over, hit play, and we listened again amid the cafe din. Kim Seryeon's Blue Lemon Sky. Japanese Vocaloid version (demo).
"How was that?"
"Backing track's kinda audible, but vocals? Nada."
"Right?"
"Vocaloid thing?"
"You gotta punch through this. Planning to tweak the arrangement for it."
"Hey! How many people in this cafe—you think it'll cut through?!"
Silence crashed down. Only her dense, packed voice rang out.
You know that moment? When a couple argues in a cafe. They're tuned to the ambient noise—chatter white noise from the crowd. Their voices ramp up, content gets reckless 'cause the din swallows details.
Then—quiet. Everyone hushes like on cue. Laughing aunties stop. In that void, her bright girly voice echoes alone.
Total cringe fest. This was it.
A dumb syllable slipped from her lips.
"Ah...?"
She scanned around, piercing the hush. When her eyes swung back, I gave her a thumbs-up.
"Whoa. That was awesome just now."
Genius vocalist for sure. Voice sliced right through. For an aspiring pro singer, ultimate praise.
But Kang Saero? Not thrilled. Celeb kid, praise overload? Instead, she bolted up, yanking my sleeve like we had to flee.
"Ears burning!!! Let's gooo!"
She dialed it down, aware now, but it still stabbed my ears. This was it. Piercing cobalt blue. Recording sessions ahead would be a blast.
Girls like rich guys. Not shallow—common sense. Rich is good. Poor? What's the upside?
World's rule. Yet Kang Saero defied eons of evolution.
Thud.
Home at last. She flopped onto the bed. Socks chucked under it, clothes flung, burrowed under covers in undies. No tidying mood.
She procrastinated anyway, but now? Drained.
"Ah."
Truth? She'd hoped. Handsome guy, me comforting him. No one else—just me. Total fantasy.
Male lead crushed by woes, turns fragile menhera after filming gritty roles. Cold, mysterious, flawless in public. Super competent too.
But sweet only to her, smiles for her, shows weakness sometimes. Fantasy!
Once, she thought him perfect. Kim Seryeon embodied it.
Mysterious? (O) Famous in middle school for solo outdoor music sessions.
Smiles only for her? (△) Iffy, but fine. Quiet kid—no friends but her. Probably.
Broken, tormented menhera? (?) The snag.
Real talk: hot pretty people rarely go menhera. She knew, so compromise ready.
Classic friends-to-lovers fine. Broke? Okay too. Dirty thought, but hey—dirt-poor types don't get handsome menhera.
But nope. He was menhera. Kim Seryeon, of all people.
Accidental notebook peek confirmed.
- It hurts it hurts it hurts.
- Why me hurting alone? Wanna revenge the world, Johansson.
- Hehehehe, grab my hand Kim Seryeon, you're weak, can't do shit solo, gotta borrow my power.
Who writes that sane? Total menhera.
But also... accident? Really?
Faked it to show weakness to his most trusted...?
'Hngk.'
Face in pillow, held breath a minute. Too much.
Then plans formed. "Broke male lead upgrade." Her fam rich. Only perk, but a perk.
Help sincerely, cherish, hug, comfort, hold hands. No skimping cash, buddy vibe evolving slow.
Then... then...
'Hnnng.'
Pillow again, breath held 2:30. But it crumbled.
Account balance reveal moment.
Handsome? Talented? And rich?
'Then why the menhera?!'
Logically? Great. Friend's good fortune.
Kim Seryeon precious. Super precious kid. No disasters—blessing.
Still, she deflated. Her perfect script... her broke pretty boy rearing!!!
'Such a shame...'
Kang Saero, 17. Fresh arts high first-year. Age for endless blanket-kicks on fantasies.
But sweet delusion didn't last.
Thud!
Main bedroom door slam echoed down hall to her room. Dull, cold. Like a frozen winter violin body shattering.
Footsteps. Dragging, sobbing—like a detuned broken violin.
"Saero-ya..."
Mom's voice at her door, muffled through crack.
Mom was sensitive, fragile. Post-retirement, clung to classics for new life. Didn't pan out.
"Hic..."
Ex-celeb couples rarely end well. Loaded, looks, talent—and still menhera cases exist.