Chapter 154: Checking the Performers (3)
Translator: RaidenTL
Chapter 154: Checking the Performers (3)
The Jeong Seong-bin on the screen felt different from how he usually appeared during Spark’s promotions. The outfit, a combination of ivory and white, suited him perfectly.
Beneath him, a caption appeared with a warm, soft effect.
『The grand transformation of a beautiful boy singing of youth begins now.』
“What’s with that caption?”
Choi Je-ho looked appalled. The phrasing was a bit old-fashioned, but it wasn't exactly wrong.
“Why? Seong-bin is a beautiful boy.”
“Could we, uh, just skip this part…?”
Jeong Seong-bin hung his head low. His ears were beet red.
While the person in question couldn't even look up, the song title appeared at the feet of Spark’s top-tier "beautiful boy" vocalist.
It was Jang Jun-hu’s debut song, 『First Step』.
It was a story about a man who experiences the joy of loving someone for the first time, only to face their first argument and eventual breakup.
Ironically, the reason this song became a hit was its cliché storyline.
Because it was such a common story, many people found themselves singing 『First Step』 at noraebangs after a breakup.
Its simple structure and moderate vocal range also helped make Jang Jun-hu, who was a rookie at the time, a well-known singer.
Back when I was a trainee, I had once chosen an obscure song by a famous singer to play it safe, but Jeong Seong-bin didn't need such tricks.
The simple melody of an acoustic guitar began to flow.
『That spring, I met you
My cheeks stained the color of cherry blossoms
In summer, with a childish heart
I ran and hid behind a tree
In autumn, even the trees
And my heart burned only red
On a winter day, by your side
I came close and lay down
Your gaze fell softly upon me, like snow』
He already possessed dazzling skill.
He could boldly aim for the flag planted at the very peak of the enemy camp.
Seong-bin’s clean yet soft vocal tone evoked memories of a first love that had never even existed.
Perhaps this was what fans meant when they used the word ‘soft and fluffy.’
『The steps you and I took
Became prints upon our hearts
Piling up layer by layer
Looking only at each other
We walked and walked for so long』
Yet, within that softness, there was a firm strength.
It was the stability provided by years of built-up fundamentals.
Jeong Seong-bin was someone who had polished his basics better than anyone. That strength of his had provided listeners with a reliable sense of comfort, from his days in Awangsil until now.
This was the guy who, even as a middle schooler, had challenged the established singer Jang Jun-hu with his sheer talent. There was no way someone like Seong-bin would struggle with the intro to one of Jang Jun-hu’s songs.
When Jang Jun-hu sang this song, he must have been in his late twenties or around thirty. His voice lacked the freshness to sing of first love, and he lacked the maturity to truly reminisce about the past.
But what about Jeong Seong-bin?
While having the young age and pure face that suited the word ‘first love’ perfectly, Seong-bin possessed a level of maturity that even the Jang Jun-hu of that era lacked.
It was only natural. Over the years, Seong-bin had recorded the guide tracks for all of Jang Jun-hu’s songs about love and heartbreak as the man aged.
Because he didn't want to be scolded, because he wanted to do better. Because he wanted to keep singing and, eventually, debut.
After years of singing while swallowing his resentment with that mindset, how could he not have developed such depth? In a way, Jang Jun-hu had handed Seong-bin the very sword that would be used against him.
‘He’s good.’
If he was this good, why didn't he say anything after the filming? If he’d even just curled the corners of his mouth up a little, I would have given him a victory toss myself.
I stole a glance at the seat next to me, but Seong-bin was busy fanning himself with his hand.
Did he mess up the latter half? Or was he embarrassed because the performance was good but the result was bad?
All sorts of thoughts crossed my mind, but I snapped out of it and focused on the stage again. The music was reaching its climax.
The camera zoomed in on Seong-bin’s hand holding the microphone.
Blue veins stood out on the back of his hand.
His fingertips were red, and as the camera panned up, his neck, the tip of his nose, and his lips were…
『I ran away
To a place the waves couldn't reach
To the distant sandy shore
Leaving you behind to be washed away
My steps are cold
The snow is falling』
Red.
Tears were welling up in Jeong Seong-bin’s eyes.
Even his struggle to keep the tears from falling made him look like a youth who had just let go of his first love.
The way he gripped the microphone with both hands as if not to miss a single lyric, pouring his heart into every single note, made my chest tighten.
I felt it would be disrespectful to even wonder how he could maintain such an emotional line while singing so perfectly.
‘Ah.’
The Seong-bin on the screen took a small breath.
I didn't even need to look around to know. Everyone gathered here was immersed in Seong-bin’s every breath and every line far more than I had imagined.
It was an unbelievable level of emotional expression.
‘I underestimated him.’
I had forgotten what it meant to be the main vocal of Spark—a group where you could be criticized for anything else, but never for visuals or talent.
It was my mistake to have accepted the facts—that he had been recording guides since middle school, had been a trainee the longest, and had double-digit vocal proficiency from the moment we met—as if they were just ordinary data points.
‘My goal was just… to bring Jang Jun-hu down a peg and let Seong-bin wash away his sorrows.’
I had hoped that Seong-bin could erase the man from his own song.
But Seong-bin had easily surpassed my expectations.
Because anyone who saw this stage wouldn't even care who the original singer was.
It was shocking. In a good way.
“Hyung, you’re a genius.”
Lee Cheong-hyeon, his eyes rimmed with red, turned to look at Jeong Seong-bin.
“Our hyung is a genius!”
“Let’s try to stop crying first, Cheong-hyeon!”
Cheong-hyeon seemed truly moved. I felt the same way.
“Quiet down. I can’t hear his comments.”
Kang Gi-yeon scolded Cheong-hyeon and turned up the volume. Having finished his brilliant performance, Jeong Seong-bin was being interviewed by the MCs.
『I heard you and Jang Jun-hu are seniors and juniors from the same agency?』
As soon as the MC asked the question, a familiar curse word drifted from somewhere.
“Dammit…”
Choi Je-ho definitely has a conditioned reflex for swearing. Since the target is Jang Jun-hu, I’ll let it slide this time.
『Yes. Actually, I have a deep connection with Jang Jun-hu sunbaenim.』
“Gasp.”
Lee Cheong-hyeon caught his breath. He hadn't expected Seong-bin to mention it so openly.
『Really?』
『I’ve been doing the guide recordings for sunbaenim’s songs since I was in middle school. So, I can proudly say I know his songs very well!』
『That really is quite a connection. Jun-hu must be so proud to see his junior debut and give such a great performance.』
“Proud, my foot. He’s probably seething with jealousy right now.”
Lee Cheong-hyeon scoffed. This kid’s temper seems to have grown a bit.
“Iwol-hyung, did you leave it all to Seong-bin-hyung because you knew the stage would turn out this well?”
Kang Gi-yeon asked. I glanced at Jeong Seong-bin before answering.
“Not really. I was surprised too.”
Seong-bin avoided my gaze, looking embarrassed. Then, in a voice as tiny as an ant, he made an excuse that the tears welling up hadn't been intentional. I didn't feel the need to explain that it was better because it wasn't intentional.
The broadcast ended with a 17-year veteran balladeer being selected as the ‘Singer of the Day.’
Even in such a fierce lineup, Seong-bin achieved the feat of taking 3rd place.
I was contentedly fiddling with the photo of Seong-bin I’d attached to the slogan when the man himself spoke to me.
“Thank you, hyung.”
“For what?”
I’d done nothing but make a slogan, yet I was suddenly receiving thanks.
When I looked at him, wondering what he meant, Seong-bin smiled and said,
“Do you remember when you sang 『Sitting by the Window』 for the monthly evaluation last year?”
“I remember.”
Wasn't that the first evaluation where I’d lacked skill and faked it by dragging in emotions I didn't have? Looking back, my skill level was enough to make my face turn red with shame.
“I thought about you a lot while preparing for this stage.”
“…You did?”
“I was able to improve the quality of the performance thanks to referencing you. If it weren't for that, it would have been hard to immerse myself so perfectly.”
Seong-bin smiled.
It seemed he had found something to learn from the me of that time. Meanwhile, I was busy self-deprecating when I thought of that version of myself.
Feeling embarrassed, I looked away.
“You’re the one who thought it through and prepared it. It’s not like I taught you anything.”
“Still.”
“Don't try to give others credit for your hard work. Even if you don't do that, modern society is stingy enough with praise as it is.”
Perhaps because I was embarrassed, my words came out blunt. Feeling awkward for some reason, I hurriedly brushed myself off and stood up.
“But thanks for saying that.”
At my words, Seong-bin beamed. It was a night that felt a bit too sentimental.
Following Jeong Seong-bin’s appearance on ‘My.Singer's.Genre,’ a new song was added to Baek Hae-won’s playlist. Since it was a song for a broadcast, she hadn't expected a digital release, but the track had been released as if they’d been waiting for it.
‘It was… such a good broadcast…’
Perhaps because it was a long-running program, the audio was powerful and the lighting effects were great. She was simply proud of her baby for showing off such a killer performance there.
Above all, ‘My.Singer's.Genre’ had captured Seong-bin’s pure, teary face perfectly!
Baek Hae-won’s post, which featured captures of Seong-bin’s most beautiful moments, was being quoted like wildfire among Sparklers. Videos of his incredible high-note sections were also showing impressive view counts.
≫ My mom, who hated idols appearing on My.Singer's.Genre, did a complete 180 in 3 minutes.
But she keeps asking if he’s really an idol.
So Seong-bin, please just release one traditional ballad.
└ It’s not easy to surpass the original, but honestly, Seong-bin was so good… lol. I went to listen to the original and quietly backstepped. lol
└ Anyone can see Seong-bin swallowed the original song ㅠㅠ I’m dying because our baby is so impressive.
≫ A sorrowful cold beauty crying is cheating.
And he’s even good at singing.
At this rate, he’s going to end up as a Tier 1 male idol main vocal.
└ RT. At this rate, Jeong Seong-bin, you’re going to end up as the #1 male idol vocalist ㅠㅠㅠㅠㅠ
≫ It doesn't look like tears in Jeong Seong-bin’s eyes, it looks like pearls.
Is this okay…?
My heart is… it’s literally trembling?
I’m completely soaked in sentiment from head to toe. If you wring me out, it’ll just pour out.
└ Calm down and go stream the song first.
≫ His eyes, the tip of his nose, and his neck are all flushed, but his eyes are moist… and his expression is so sorrowful…
How can you not love him when he sings of the pain of parting with a face like that??
└ How can you not love him???
└ How can you not love him???????
└ How can you not love him?????????????
≫ It’s a good thing I’m not in politics.
If it were me, I would have torn down all the palace pillars to give him a title, and every time Seong-bin shed a single tear, I would have emptied the national treasury and ended up being beheaded.
└ OP, please, your head is going to fly off ㅠ
└ What did I just read?
Baek Hae-won, who had taken this opportunity to promote Spark to neighboring fandoms, was completely burnt out.
To recover her energy, she lay down on her bed and set Jeong Seong-bin’s version of 『First Step』 on repeat until the digital file wore out.
And exactly 30 minutes later, she bolted upright at a notification on her phone.
There was news from her lovely Spark.
‘It’s not a day for anything to be uploaded, though?’
There was no way she had missed an SNS announcement. Confused, Baek Hae-won hurriedly entered Spark’s MeTube channel.
≫ [Spark] 2X09XX Making cheering tools behind the leader’s back
‘Did they make a placard for Seong-bin?’
She wanted to die because Spark was so cute. It seemed the cameraman had tried to film the kids huddled together doing something, but because their shoulders were as wide as the Pacific, the thumbnail was just a giant shot of their backs, which she also freaking loved.
The setting for this video was, for once, their dorm. There were no neat PPTs.
She wondered why, but then she realized that this was what a realistic idol self-produced content was usually like. She’d almost been fooled because she’d only seen their professional sides until now.
『We each make one and then gather them together later, right?』
『Let’s do that. Let’s make them with our own individual styles.』
Once Kim I-wol gave his permission, Lee Cheong-hyeon picked up the materials.
Soon, the five members of Spark—none of whom were quite normal—began their reckless production of cheering tools.