Chapter 20
Chapter 20
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 20
Chapter Title: Vocal Lesson
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After the year-end evaluation, I had to move straight up to the debut team.
‘That’s how I can settle into Zenith.’
If asked why, it was a gut feeling. I couldn’t shake that sense.
“Dowon, aren’t you still in your second year of middle school?”
“I’ve got time on age. But debut is different.”
After Zenith, Friends Entertainment didn’t release another boy group for six years.
‘It might not be too late.’
But there was no guarantee I could hold out until then.
‘I’ve had enough of obscurity.’
After doing one shoot where my face was shown, my impatience only grew. I wanted to get on stage quickly. I wanted to see dozens of cameras.
“Uh, feeling a bit flustered?”
“You said you’d do it too, hyung. Might as well go all in.”
I met his gaze.
“I’ll make you use it quick. So please, help me out.”
Kang Minje’s eyes wavered. He pondered for a moment, then finally cracked a small smile.
“From the moment we met again until now, you keep surprising me.”
Whatever.
“Got it. If it helps, I’ll teach you anything.”
I flashed a big grin on purpose. Kang Minje quietly held out his empty radish soup bowl.
“For now, can I get a little more?”
If he was teaching me vocals, what wouldn’t I do? I quickly refilled his bowl.
“Hyung, you really love radish soup.”
“Ah……”
Kang Minje picked up his spoon again and said,
“That’s right.”
What was?
“I love radish soup.”
Damn. What the hell.
“Something happen?”
“Yeah. I’d forgotten about it all this time.”
He said it wistfully. Goosebumps rose, and I quietly looked away.
‘Crazy bastard.’
Why get all emotional over radish soup.
But I couldn’t show it, so I just swallowed my rice quietly. I wanted to get away before he got even more sentimental.
Kang Minje didn’t say another word. Thank goodness for that.
***
Kang Minje took me to his personal studio. I opened the door and was a little impressed. It was packed with all sorts of unfamiliar machines.
“I don’t use them all the time.”
Kang Minje sat down familiarly. I quietly put on the headset.
“The song’s called ‘Once Again,’ right?”
“Yeah.”
“There’s a track for it. I arranged it myself.”
That surprised me.
‘I’ve heard arranging is harder than composing.’
This guy really had talent.
“Wow, hyung, you’re really good at lyrics and composing too?”
“Huh? You didn’t know?”
What?
“I live off the royalties.”
Bragging?
“You haven’t heard about me? Every trainee knows.”
“Didn’t ask.”
Waste of time.
Amused by my answer, Kang Minje chuckled a bit.
“If you’re curious, just ask me directly.”
The most reliable source was right in front of me—why go around for exaggerated rumors?
“Does that work?”
“Yeah. So let’s get started quick. You’re busy too, hyung.”
“Right. Okay, put on the headset. I’ll play it—sing along.”
I’d memorized the lyrics ages ago. I put on the headset and sang the whole song through. Kang Minje didn’t critique. He just rested his chin on his hand and listened.
The song ended. Kang Minje tilted his head.
“Dowon, you sound like a regular person who sings pretty decently?”
Damn.
“Yeah, what should I do?”
“Hmm, the problems start from the beginning. You need more chest voice in this section. And the tempo was a bit fast. Following the song is an issue, but the crack on ‘Your~ thoughts~’ is a big one. Plus, your breath is short. You doing basic training right? We’ve got tons to fix section by section, but overall, we need to sort out your breathing first.”
I raised my hand to stop him.
“Hyung, hold on.”
Kang Minje looked up.
“Oh, was I too harsh?”
“No. Got a pen?”
He nodded and handed me a ballpoint.
“Keep it.”
“Thanks. Let’s start from the beginning again.”
His eyes blinked.
“Say it slow again. Concise.”
Annoyingly picky, but insanely detailed. Way sharper than those time-wasting vocal coaches.
‘I’ll fix it!’
If this could level up my vocals, what wouldn’t I do? I looked at him with blazing eyes. Startled, Kang Minje’s mouth twitched into a grin.
‘Why the hell are you smiling?’
Say it again quick!
“You’re fun, as always.”
This jerk.
“Alright. Let’s go slow from the start. Dowon.”
A faint smile played on Kang Minje’s lips.
“Take notes again.”
Mocking or praising?
‘Not my problem.’
What mattered was gaining experience from his critiques. I focused on his voice. Soon, he repeated slowly.
“Abs are weak. Breathing’s sloppy. Study head and chest voice. No head voice for now. Let’s build from here. Start from the beginning. Tempo a bit late. First note half a step flat.”
I scribbled it down fast. Kang Minje paused a bit, then continued. I swallowed hard.
Honestly, it stung, but it wasn’t the worst. Private tutoring like this was top-notch.
***
I wiped sweat in the dorm living room while doing sit-ups. I knew abs were key, but why hadn’t I trained them? Time was too precious.
Kang Minje’s notes came to over a hundred. A four-minute song with a hundred issues. That guy was ruthless.
‘But I can see the path now.’
I finally learned what basics really meant. Matching every detail was tough, but overcoming this gave hope for progress.
‘I can do it.’
If it works, it works.
I kept doing sit-ups. My abs ached, but I didn’t stop.
That’s when the manager looked down from above.
“What’re you doing?”
“Can’t you, huff, tell?”
The pudgy manager tilted his head.
“Why sudden abs training? Get an abs CF gig?”
“Trying to, sing, better.”
“Puhahaha!”
The manager slapped his belly laughing.
“You ambitious nut. Singing’s all talent.”
“Isn’t, that true, for everything?”
“Dance is different. If you’ve used your body, you can kinda keep up. Opposite of talent, sure. But singing? Tons can’t no matter what.”
He looked at me pitifully.
“Short-term? No way.”
I narrowed my eyes. Sweat dripped from my chin to the floor.
‘For normals, yeah.’
I glanced at my smartphone nearby.
‘Three recoveries a day—what’ll happen?’
Untested, but promising.
I said to the manager looking down.
“Huff, wanna bet?”
He crossed his arms confidently.
“On what?”
“If my, vocals improve, noticeably, and I make debut team……”
My abs pulled hard. Couldn’t rest.
“You buy rice.”
He stared, then scratched his head.
“More modest than I thought.”
“Hotel buffet.”
“Gack! The one I can’t even take Mira to often!”
I grinned.
“No confidence?”
“Oh? You’re on, ambitious nut!”
Weak to taunts.
“Deal then.”
Arms crossed, he strutted off. I kept the abs going.
‘Two weeks from now’ll be fun.’
Gonna push to death, but not bad.
‘Now I know Cheat levels with experience.’
Abs gave out. Couldn’t go up anymore. I gritted and did one last.
“It’ll work.”
If it works, it works.
I tapped Cheat again.
[Cha Dowon Vocal Ability]
[C. Change?]
[To B]
[Impossible in current body state.]
How many abs do I need?
‘Oh, maybe this?’
[Cha Dowon Abs]
[Cannot modify.]
‘What’s the damn criteria.’
Lying on the living room floor, I poked at Cheat. Black screen, white text—no answers.
***
[Cha Dowon Vocal Ability]
[C. Change?]
[To B]
[Impossible in current body state.]
One day passed.
[Impossible in current body state.]
Two days passed.
[Impossible in current body state.]
Three days, a week flowed by.
[Impossible in current body state.]
Nearly ten days in.
[Changed.]
[Side effect: Fever for four days.]
Unfortunately, month-end eval was tomorrow.
***
Fever blurred my vision. I blinked, sitting in the practice room corner. Dance turn was far off.
Body slumped hard.
‘Underestimated the side effect.’
Prep better next time. This was unexpected.
I rested my chin, staring ahead. Trainees danced before me. Judges sat watching.
Fat president, choreographer, vocal head. Unknown woman in the center.
‘Chief director her?’
30s woman with fitting bob, black pantsuit, watching the dancing trainees.
‘Was she at auditions?’
‘Kinda remember, kinda not……’
I exhaled hot breath. Fever muddled thoughts.
‘Good it’s just low-grade……’
High fever, I wouldn’t be here. Thermometer said 37 degrees.
Honestly, super healthy—rarely had fevers.
‘Not even many colds……’
Vision blurry, condition tanked.
I touched my throat. B vocal price was steep.
‘No free lunch, huh.’
Vision blurred again. I barely breathed out.
Then someone poked. Turned weakly—beloved senior.
“Quiet today, punk?”
Ah, picking a fight.
Chin on hand, I smiled faintly.
“Oh? Smiling?”
No energy to talk. Judges here—no funny business. Knowing that, I leaned against the wall, eyeing him.
“Looking good.”
Bark away. No energy to waste on you.
“You think one MV makes you hot shit.”
Ah, MV. Forgot.
‘Releasing tomorrow?’
This jerk reminded me.
“Punks like you fill this place.”
Is that so.
“Stop acting high and mighty!”
I slowly wiped my smile. Drowsy, eyes closed on their own.
“Hey! Ignoring me?”
“What?”
A judge turned. The capable black-suited woman.
Beloved senior backed off awkwardly.
“What’s going on?”
“He says stop acting high and mighty.”
I pointed lazily, smiling slow. Chief director eyed him and me alternately.
“You got the skills to act high and mighty?”
Huh, you? I whispered softly.
“You’ll see soon enough.”
She laughed in disbelief.
“Yeah? What’s your name?”
“Cha Dowon.”
Her eyes widened.
“Ah, the kid from Yumi’s MV.”
I nodded slightly.
“Right. I’ll remember. We’ll see if you’re all talk.”
“An honor. I’ll do my best not to disappoint.”
She shook her head like I was hopeless.
‘Doesn’t believe me.’
It’s true.
Kinda disappointing.
First was group dance. Then individual dance eval, followed by vocals.
‘Came in last, so vocals at the end.’
I touched my forehead. Hot to the touch.
‘I can do it.’
This fever’s nothing.