The Challenge (Part 2)
The name Guitar Hero carried a value that transcended imagination.
Every video he composed songs for exploded with overwhelming views, as if the music itself had a mind of its own.
More than that, his songs were resonating not just in Korea, but across the world, spoken of in circles no one else dared touch.
Countless celebrities were desperate to receive a song from him, practically begging for a chance to work with the man behind the legendary pseudonym.
Yet here they were.
Kim Dohan’s hand trembled as he clutched the business card, the printed words on it radiating a threat that chilled the air.
The man standing before him was none other than the greatest composer in the world, the one whose influence shook every corner of the global industry.
Kim Dohan’s face gradually drained of color.
Park Siwoo watched the transformation with a calm, almost lazy smile, then spoke softly.
“It seems the traffic is heavier than usual.”
Was this his escape route?
Kim Dohan blurted out the question without thinking.
“Y-yes, sir. Even though it was heavy, the car didn’t move an inch.”
At those words, Park Siwoo let out a quiet laugh.
“Is that so? But our manager said we’d arrive within ten minutes, didn’t he?”
“T-that’s…”
Kim Dohan froze, mouth agape, suddenly reduced to silence.
He had assumed the producer was a rookie and had let his distaste show openly.
If only he had known the man was Guitar Hero, he would never have opened his mouth in the first place.
Regret came too late.
Park Siwoo shrugged.
“We have our own schedule, so it looks like we won’t be able to shoot the challenge with Floor after all.”
“W-what do you mean?!”
Kim Dohan’s eyes widened in shock.
This was absolutely impossible.
But it was possible because the producer was Guitar Hero.
If he said no, who could stop him?
“P-please, Producer-nim, just this once. We were in the middle of our break and came right away.”
Kim Dohan’s voice cracked with desperation.
Park Siwoo answered in a voice colder than ice.
“Do you think the people who know that are thirty minutes late?”
“You haven’t considered the feelings of the Neon Heart members?”
“That’s not—”
“Let’s go. I’ll formally report this to Team Leader Kim.”
“P-please, Producer-nim, I’m truly sorry. I was wrong for picking a fight with a big shot. I really didn’t know you were Guitar Hero.”
Park Siwoo gave a hollow laugh.
“You think that’s an excuse?”
“…”
Despair settled over Kim Dohan’s face.
Just then, a woman with flowing white hair entered the rehearsal room, her voice cutting through the tension.
“Producer-nim, did you call for me?”
The moment she stepped inside, the atmosphere of the practice space cooled noticeably.
Her presence was sharp, almost icy.
“Who… who is that?”
Kim Dohan swallowed hard, voice thick.
“Kim Yuna?”
Kim Yuna turned at the sound of her name, sweeping Kim Dohan from head to toe with a gaze as cold as frozen steel.
She said nothing, simply turning away as if he no longer existed.
The nickname Ice Princess fit her perfectly.
Of course, Park Siwoo offered no further comment at the moment.
Ignoring Kim Dohan’s pale face, he turned to Kim Yuna.
“Do you know the challenge choreography?”
“The one that Yena-senpai danced?”
“Yes.”
“I do.”
“Then let’s start right away.”
Before he could continue, one of the Floor members spoke up.
“Wait, hold on! What about us? This isn’t fair, right?”
Before Park Siwoo could even respond, Kim Yuna answered first.
“So you’re pushing our schedules back just to film this?”
“Senior, it’s not like that—”
She quickly realized the truth. The veteran knew exactly what had happened.
“You’re the ones who showed up late, aren’t you? Why are you acting like spoiled brats? When you throw a tantrum, we’re supposed to give in?”
“That’s—”
“You still think we’re kids?”
“…”
Kim Yuna smiled thinly as she watched the Floor members clamp their mouths shut.
She walked over to the distant Kim Dohan, each step deliberate.
One corner of her mouth curved upward.
“Stop interfering. Let’s go. Our Producer-nim isn’t a man who has time to waste.”
“…”
Kim Dohan bowed his head completely.
“Everyone, let’s head back.”
“Eh? Manager, you’re really leaving?”
“…”
He left without a word, head lowered, and the Floor members followed in bewildered silence.
All of them looked utterly confused.
They had no idea why the producer had been so furious.
Wrong manager, huh.
Park Siwoo turned his head.
At that exact moment, his eyes met Kim Yuna’s icy gaze.
“You suddenly called and I rushed over, but was it because of this?”
He had no intention of doing so.
Of course, he hadn’t expected Kim Dohan to handle it perfectly on his own, but Park Siwoo simply shrugged instead of answering.
Kim Yuna pouted.
“I’m Kim Yuna. Ice Princess, Kim Yuna.”
“I know.”
“…”
“You don’t need to say it.”
Her words were crisp, almost playful.
She brushed past him and walked away.
Though irritated, he had to admit she was impossible to ignore.
Park Siwoo approached Seol A-yeon, who had been watching him with wide, stunned eyes.
“A-yeon, are you okay?”
Truthfully, the one who had suffered the most during those thirty minutes was Seol A-yeon.
She had never once stopped practicing, dancing even while waiting.
She had refused to rest even for a moment, beads of sweat forming on her forehead.
Seol A-yeon wiped the sweat from her brow.
“I’m fine, really.”
“Good. Then let’s start the challenge right away.”
The moment the shooting was about to begin, his phone rang.
Seeing the caller ID, Park Siwoo excused himself and stepped into the empty side room.
“Hello?”
The moment he answered, Team Leader Kim spoke frantically.
“Park-nim, why did you say you’re not shooting the challenge with the kids?”
“It just… turned out that way.”
“Just turned out that way?!”
“The manager on your side was thirty minutes late.”
“Thirty minutes?!”
“That’s why Guitar Hero got angry.”
Park Siwoo’s words seemed to have cut the line. The other end fell silent.
A moment passed.
“Guitar Hero got angry…?”
“Yes.”
Park Siwoo nodded.
At the same time.
“You son of a—”
Crude curses filled the line, then it went dead.
Park Siwoo chuckled to himself.
Kim Dohan had to have learned his lesson the hard way.
***
Kim Dohan’s phone began to ring loudly.
He didn’t want to answer, but he took the call with tears in his eyes.
“Hey, you bastard, are you out of your mind?!”
Profanities poured out immediately.
Kim Dohan swallowed hard.
“I’m sorry.”
“You were told to get close to Guitar Hero, and instead you picked a fight? You have no idea who Guitar Hero is?”
“…”
“The country’s best composer. The absolute best! The CEO himself has been eyeing that man, and now we’re getting Guitar Hero at our company? Huh?”
“I’m sorry.”
“You won’t get a promotion this time. You won’t even get to stay as team leader!”
Click.
The line went dead.
Kim Dohan buried his face in his hands.
***
After hanging up, Park Siwoo returned to the rehearsal room where the Neon Heart members were exchanging greetings.
He had worried that Kim Yuna might start arguing, but she was behaving herself.
Still.
“Nice to meet you. I’m Seol A-yeon.”
“I’m Kim Yuna.”
The atmosphere between the two women felt sharp and tense.
Was something wrong?
They had just met, after all.
Park Siwoo hesitated for a moment, then shook his head.
A woman’s heart was not something a man could easily understand.
“Ah, you’re here?”
“You’re here, Producer-nim?”
As they moved closer, both Seol A-yeon and Kim Yuna spoke at the same time.
The two women exchanged sharp glances, their auras colliding.
The tension was thick, so Park Siwoo quickly spoke up.
“We’ll film the challenge. Kim Yuna and A-yeon in the center, and the others surrounding you two.”
Park Siwoo’s words made the Neon Heart members nod.
But.
“You’re calling us only by name, not like with Kim Yuna.”
“Eh?”
“No.”
Seol A-yeon shook her head and walked back to her spot.
“I’ll take the video.”
The dance trainer at her side opened his mouth to speak, but Seol A-yeon’s statement left no room for response.
“Please.”
“What?”
She took Park Siwoo’s phone, opened the YouTube app, and pressed the Shorts creation button.
“Okay, let’s do this. One, two.”
The song began to play.
Kim Yuna and Seol A-yeon started dancing in perfect sync.
Kim Yuna’s dance was flawless, almost breathtaking.
Even when her movements were seductive, they had an elegant, refined feel thanks to her precise details.
Seol A-yeon’s dance was still slightly imperfect, but the effort and sincerity in every step made her look adorable rather than awkward.
The video ended.
“Not bad,” Park Siwoo said, giving a thumbs-up.
Kim Yuna answered in her usual cool tone.
“Of course. Who else would dance this well?”
That personality of hers.
“Thank you.”
“If you’re grateful, then write a song soon.”
“I’ll think about it.”
“…”
Too much.
Park Siwoo turned to Seol A-yeon, who had pouted in protest.
“You worked hard too, A-yeon.”
“Yes!”
Her energetic reply made her look like an adorable puppy.
Park Siwoo almost reached out to stroke her pink hair, but caught himself at the last second.
He let out a relieved sigh.
Then he clapped his hands loudly to gather everyone’s attention.
“Great job, everyone. That’s it for today.”
“Thank you.”
With greetings exchanged, the day ended.
Back at the company, Park Siwoo edited the video lightly and uploaded it to YouTube.
The next day.
The video had already surpassed fifteen million views.