The Challenge Accepted
Park Siwoo had never witnessed such passionate cheers on debut day for any group. What was even more astonishing was that the fans screaming the loudest were from ENTRA.
ENTRA fans had always been notorious for lacking manners. It was their longstanding tradition to silently criticize any group they did not like.
Yet.
“Waaah!!!” “Like!!!” “Sister, you’re so pretty!!! Kyaaah!”
Those very ENTRA fans were shouting themselves hoarse.
It was as if Neon Heart’s songs had seized their hearts in a single breath.
“Hoo.”
Lim Eunha let out a soft sigh.
If the album tracks already elicited this level of response, the main song would undoubtedly be even more explosive.
Lim Eunha gazed at Park Siwoo with sparkling anticipation.
“Hero-nim, there…”
She stopped mid-sentence.
Park Siwoo was still intently studying the footage of Neon Heart he had just recorded on the monitor.
Lim Eunha swallowed hard.
It was precisely this kind of dedication that had allowed her to succeed at such a young age.
She approached him cautiously and asked,
“How does it look?”
“Not bad at all. What do you think, PD?”
“I think it’s fine too. The camera work is excellent, and your expressions are natural. We can start recording right away.”
At those words, Park Siwoo offered a satisfied smile.
At that moment, the Neon Heart members descended from the stage.
They were drenched in sweat after a brief break.
“Makeup team!”
Lim Eunha’s urgent shout sent the makeup staff dashing over.
They quickly inspected the members’ appearances.
“Seungjin-ssi.”
“Yes, Producer-nim.”
“Instrument-wise, it seems ready to go as is. It looks good.”
“Thank you.”
“And A-yeon-ssi.”
“Yes, PD-nim?”
Because she was applying powder around her nose, Seol A-yeon’s speech came out slightly muffled.
Realizing it herself, she blushed and answered again.
“Yes, Producer-nim.”
“A-yeon-ssi, it would be good if you added a little more sparkle.”
“Yes. Smile at the camera or wink.”
Park Siwoo added,
“Definitely, there was still a hint of flatness.”
“Ah, yes. I’ll do that.”
Seol A-yeon beamed and nodded vigorously.
“Even now it’s already perfect. Just do it when you feel like it, A-yeon-ssi.”
“Yes, Producer-nim.”
“Then, shall we begin recording immediately? Everyone, please return to the stage.”
With the feedback session now complete, Lim Eunha declared.
The Neon Heart members made their way back to the stage under her instruction.
“Video team, please prepare. Sound team, ready?”
Lim Eunha said into her headset.
The nodding confirmed everything was set.
She gave the signal to Neon Heart, and the lights dimmed.
The song began with the opening drums.
* * *
At that exact hour.
On YouTube, one video had just been uploaded.
It was the recording footage from the Music Think set.
Normally, Music Think prohibited recording in the studio.
Yet occasionally, fans with no sense of shame would secretly film and upload it.
[Music Think Pre-Recording, Caught in the Act by the Legendary Producer]
The title was straightforward.
Because it was the location where all the handsome and beautiful people of the nation converged for the music recording.
Most viewers clicked assuming it would be nothing more than a boring behind-the-scenes clip.
And then they were shocked.
The man in the video was, quite simply, breathtaking.
His features were so superior that even the eyes of die-hard idol fans who had seen countless handsome men were left utterly satisfied.
The sharp eyes, the prominent nose, the squared jawline—even from a distance in low resolution, they were unmistakably crisp.
The camera focused on a face that could have struck idol cheeks with just a glance.
Soon, through multiple eyewitness accounts, it was revealed that he was the producer of Neon Heart.
“Neon Heart is going to be great. Having a producer like that.” “Neon Heart is what kind of group?” └[Today’s the group debuting their album. They were in the middle of a challenge. As a fan club, I listened to the song in advance. It’s truly legendary. You have to listen. Keep listening. Loop it forever.] “Earlier today I was at the pre-recording for Neon Heart, and it’s really legendary. The vocals are so good, and the lyrics are so moving.” └[No way… Is there actually a band that’s this passionate about instruments…? The ENT RA songs were so terrible that they made it look even better. And the producer is seriously handsome.] “Aaaaah producer-nim please take me away with you…”
In just ten seconds, the video exploded with comments.
Due to a report from the Music Think side, the video was quickly taken down, but the public’s interest refused to fade.
Photos of him circulated through various communities.
At the same time.
[Neon Heart’s album is dropping tonight? The composer is Guitar Hero.] “Hah.”
Interest in Neon Heart surged.
* * *
After the stage ended.
Park Siwoo and Neon Heart returned to the waiting room.
They had to remain until the editing was finished.
‘It’s lunchtime.’
The time had flown by as they filmed and coordinated.
“Everyone, let’s eat lunch. Thank you for your hard work today.”
“Yes…”
Seol A-yeon answered weakly.
Her energy had drained after her first recording.
“How about we order delivery?”
Park Siwoo shook his head at Cha Seungjun’s suggestion beside him.
“No, I packed bento.”
“Oh? The producer did it himself?”
Instead of answering, Park Siwoo turned his back and carried a large bag over to the table.
He opened the bento inside.
It was a five-tiered lunch box.
“Waaah…”
Cha Seungjun’s jaw dropped.
It was an impressively huge bento.
He looked at Park Siwoo and asked,
“Did the producer pack it himself?”
Park Siwoo paused for a moment. He could not say Lee Yena had packed it.
“Ah, someone prepared it for me. Let’s set it up first.”
“Got it!”
Cha Seungjun nodded and headed for the bento.
The Neon Heart members gradually gathered around the table.
“First…”
Cha Seungjun opened the first tier of the heavy bento.
“Oh my!”
Guitarist Lee Soo-ah covered her mouth with her hand.
The first tier was filled entirely with white rice, beautifully decorated with black sesame.
It formed a heart shape.
Cha Seungjun chuckled.
“It seems the person who packed it likes the producer.”
Park Siwoo shot back,
“That’s unlikely. Just decorations. Let’s finish setting up.”
He hurriedly opened the next tier before anyone could speak.
Each time he lifted a tier, gasps of admiration erupted around them.
From braised short ribs to jeon, chapchae, and grilled crayfish.
The bento was filled with so much care.
By now, even those who had been suspicious had realized.
The person who had packed the bento clearly admired Park Siwoo.
It contained more than the love of parents.
“It smells delicious…”
Lee Soo-ah grinned broadly.
Not only her, but every person in the waiting room found their eyes drawn to the appetizing food.
Except Seol A-yeon.
“……”
She stared at her own bag with a stiff expression.
Inside her yellow eco-bag poked out a small bento container.
She had woken up early that morning and packed Park Siwoo’s bento as well.
But compared to the grand one before her, it looked too modest, and she could not bring herself to open it.
That was why her face looked gloomy.
“A-yeon-ssi?”
Park Siwoo immediately noticed Seol A-yeon’s changed demeanor.
He checked the bag she was looking at sadly.
It was not hard to spot the slightly protruding bento container.
“So that’s it.”
Park Siwoo moved closer to her.
Seol A-yeon opened her eyes wide in surprise and looked up at him.
“A-yeon-ssi, did you prepare anything else?”
“Ah…”
She let out a small sound.
After a moment of hesitation, she nodded lightly.
“Open it. Let’s eat together.”
“No.”
“Huh?”
“I also prepared one for the producer.”
“Ah…”
Only then did Park Siwoo fully understand her feelings.
‘As expected.’
How adorable.
Park Siwoo turned away.
He opened Seol A-yeon’s bag.
Two pink bento containers decorated with little chicks were inside.
“Ah!”
Before Seol A-yeon could say anything, Park Siwoo had already taken one out.
“Eh? You’re not eating this, Producer-nim?”
Cha Seungjun asked.
Park Siwoo replied,
“You all eat a lot. I have to eat this one today.”
He would thank Lee Yena properly when he got home for packing it so carefully.
With that thought in mind, he handed one of the containers to Seol A-yeon.
“A-yeon-ssi’s is this one, right?”
Each container depicted a female chick and a male chick.
He knew the female chick belonged to Seol A-yeon, even if the male one looked a little odd.
“P-producer-nim…”
Her eyes shone with emotion as she looked up at him.
Park Siwoo smiled faintly at her face.
“Thank you. I’ll eat it with pleasure.”
“Yes…”
Seol A-yeon nodded.
And so, a harmonious meal began for everyone.
* * *
After the meal ended.
“Next week there will be a live broadcast, so please prepare accordingly.”
“Yes, PD-nim.”
After receiving the live schedule from PD Lim Eunha, she returned to the company.
Because the general release of Neon Heart’s album was scheduled for tonight.
‘I wonder if it will go well.’
If it were just Neon Heart alone, she would not have been so worried.
They would surely have taken first place in the music rankings.
But with ENTRA’s schedule overlapping, her anxiety had grown.
After all, ENTRA had been building its recognition for years. Neon Heart was at a disadvantage.
Yet there were variables.
First, the album’s composer.
Park Siwoo’s name carried immense weight.
Through his collaborations with Lee Yena and various challenges, that value had skyrocketed.
If it was a work by Guitar Hero, the song would undoubtedly be excellent.
There were bound to be people who would search for it.
Additionally, Neon Heart’s own recognition had not been left behind.
Through the challenges, the band’s popularity had been elevated significantly.
Viewer battles would ultimately depend on the song’s completion.
Even if the composers’ skills were similar, it would not be an issue.
ENTRA was a dance-centric idol group. Neon Heart was a vocal powerhouse band.
“Producer-nim, there’s not much time left.”
Cha Seungjun’s voice snapped Park Siwoo out of his thoughts.
The release time was 7 p.m. The current time was 6:59.
Park Siwoo hurried toward the Neon Heart members gathered together.
At the same moment, their song was officially released to the world.
The reaction was insanely hot.