Late-Night Radio Buzz
Ayoon rewatched the video she'd seen hundreds of times already. The hundreds of comments piling up were proof of its popularity. Even more encouraging was that the comments weren't just a one-time spike—they kept coming in steadily.
In the time it took to read and reply once, a new comment had popped up. Ayoon fired off a lightning-fast response:
She felt a swell of pride at adding yet another fan to the fold.
'But seriously, when's she gonna get back to activity?'
The countless YouTube comments begging [Come on a competition show!] were now met with resignation. Ayoon agreed Suyeon was perfect for those programs, but the real issue was the total lack of activity.
'Any crumbs of news?'
She fired up Twitter on the off chance something had dropped. Ayoon stared at Group Sound's stagnant feed for a moment before closing the app. When would this hiatus end?
The buzz from the 'Busking Busking' and Han Seung High School festival videos had briefly boosted their popularity, but without the band's activity, it fizzled out. Telling new fans, "They used to play Paradox Club once a month..." was pointless when there were no current shows. Ayoon could only sigh.
'I'm worried, but they're probably more stressed...'
As a fan, worrying about her faves was just that—worry. It didn't affect her livelihood. But for the members of the stalled Group Sound, it was their everything. Ayoon decided to trust and wait. They'd come back eventually.
A Twitter DM from a new fan—the high schooler who'd shared the festival video. Grateful as she was, Ayoon couldn't conjure news out of thin air.
'What if I became a big YouTuber? Pitch an ad deal to Group Sound? That could create some hype...'
Ayoon entertained the idle thought as she opened the fan cafe to commiserate with fellow fans in the same boat.
But the fan cafe was the opposite of what she'd expected. It was packed with cheers and excitement—a total shift from the usual gloom.
The dreary vibe from just hours ago had flipped in an instant. Awkwardly, she scrolled back through the posts. The cause was obvious—one post.
It's a late-night show, but stacked guests make it plausible.
She's doing a live too—tune in live!!
After that, posts speculating on the exact show stretched on. Fans had pieced it together from the staffer's 'subtle' hints without spilling the name outright.
'Ah... this singer. Mom likes her, I think.'
The DJ hosting the show was unfamiliar to Ayoon, but a fave for her parents' generation. She wondered if this DJ and their delicate 'Ha Suyeon' would click, counting down the days eagerly.
"Here's the script."
"Got it."
Sookyeong took the script from the writer and skimmed it. As always, it opened with a standard greeting.
Sookyeong flipped through the seemingly fine script, then paused and asked,
"Guest today, right?"
"Yes. Guest starts in Part 2."
She rapidly flipped to the relevant pages. Words like 'Ha Suyeon', 'Group Sound', 'Plastic Nostalgia' dotted the text.
"She sings? What kind?"
"Yes. Uh... what was it? Seonghui! What genre?"
"Pardon? Oh, basically rock and blues..."
"Blues? That's rare. Not easy at her age."
Sookyeong stared hard at the script—full of praise for the guest. But it felt off; she didn't like fabricating compliments. Was this kid really worth it? Curiosity piqued.
"Pull up a performance vid. Can we?"
"She's solid."
After two five-minute clips, Sookyeong muttered,
"That good? I can't really tell."
"You've been off my shows so long you forgot music? This is seriously top-tier."
Sookyeong pointed out details to the puzzled PD: techniques here, picking style there.
"Vocals are decent, but her guitar work is the real deal. At her age, no rivals. Hell, maybe even better than me."
"That good?"
"Please, you..."
Still marveling, Sookyeong tweaked the script herself—mostly Suyeon's intro lines. Then she hit a section and yelped in surprise.
"What? She's Teacher Myeongjeon's student?!"
"Huh? Who's th—"
The puzzled head writer got no answer. Sookyeong's eyes grew distant with memory as she explained to the others.
"Back when I was a kid. Won a singing contest, about to debut... Label said my skills weren't quite there, stuck me with guitar lessons for a year and a half. Learned from him."
"Total master-disciple vibe."
"Yeah. Used to visit back then, but lately no contact... haven't seen him properly."
"Call him too, then?"
At the sub-writer's question, Sookyeong's gaze turned wistful as she glanced over.
"He passed. Last year, I heard."
"Oh..."
"Hurt, since I'd lost touch years ago and missed the news. Last disciple? Hm..."
Sookyeong made more edits, then replayed the performance vids. She zeroed in on the flowing guitar tones amid everything else.
Broadcast day.
"Have a good one."
After dropping her at the station, Hyein vanished back to work. She'd swing by at wrap-up. CEO life that busy? Suyeon muttered idly as she entered the radio station.
Someone waiting at the entrance spotted her and rushed over, hand raised.
"Ha Suyeon-ssi?"
"Ah, yes."
"N-nice to meet you...!"
The guy started trembling like he'd seen a ghost—Myeongjeon. She found it odd but let it slide. People get nervous.
The studio already had a few folks: middle-aged PD guy, older writer lady—head writer, probably—plus staff.
And...
'She's aged, sure.'
Decades since seeing her as a kid, but Myeongjeon recognized Sookyeong instantly. That same piercing, grumpy glare.
"Hello. Ha Suyeon."
"Hi. Choi Sookyeong."
"There were times like that."
"Haha... really? Must've been tough. But I doubt he meant to make you cry..."
"Nah. He totally did it on purpose."
"Heh... doesn't sound like him..."
Sookyeong stated it flatly. Sweat prickled Myeongjeon's back as she replied. Where'd she hear 'Ha Suyeon' was Seo Myeongjeon's disciple? She'd dragged it up out of nowhere, ignoring broadcast prep to trash-talk Myeongjeon nonstop.
"Can't imagine you almost crying, Sookyeong-noona. What kind of guy was he?"
"Total tiger. One wrong note and he'd explode. Hid in the practice room back and cried so many times. You never?"
"Me? Nah..."
"Guess he went full angel mode 'cause you're pretty and young."
Sookyeong snorted. Myeongjeon didn't know where to start debunking the slander.
'I'm Seo Myeongjeon!' Yeah, right. And if she defended too hard? "How do you know that era so well? You weren't even born." Suspicious all around.
"Anyway, one story sticks out. Few months into lessons. That day he chewed me out for sucking. Then the label prez shows up saying it's debut time, end lessons."
"What happened?"
"Boom—he's like, 'Sookyeong's killing it! More guitar and she'll be huge!' Spitting as he begs me secretly. 'Genius guitarist potential, too wasteful to stop now!' On his knees almost... Then prez leaves, and he's back to 'you're far from ready, keep learning.' Heh."
"The type to praise behind your back but hold back to your face," Sookyeong wrapped up nostalgically. Myeongjeon felt heat rising. She barely remembered that, but Sookyeong did? Knees? Must be misremembered.
"That was your master... How was he with you?"
"Eh, just taught me guitar normally."
"Doubt it, seeing her skills. Probably drilled you mercilessly."
Sookyeong trailed off dreamily.
"Didn't sell tons of records, but... Teacher Seo was unreal on guitar. Best I'd ever seen—foreigners included."
She eyed Myeongjeon appraisingly, like testing her.
"So, his disciple Ha Suyeon—how good on guitar? How's the singing? Can't wait to find out."