Midnight Ballad at the Live Cafe

The setting of this novel is Earth in a parallel universe.

Even at half past three in the morning, several late-night cafes stood lined up along the national highway just outside Seoul.

"Whoa... they're open at this hour?"

"Owner. Over there... those are all motels. People might come here purely to enjoy the cafe, but at this hour it's probably..."

"Ah... that makes sense."

I nodded.

A motel rather than a proper hotel felt unclean, so I had no desire to go there.

"Then shall we act like an illicit couple and grab some coffee?"

"What? Hehehe. Yes. After all, ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠we filed the marriage registration, but the age difference shows. Owner will definitely look like a host-club guy, and I'll look like a rich married woman."

"Heh... let strangers misunderstand all they want."

I drove slowly into the parking lot of the largest-looking cafe.

"Honey."

Jeong-mi's voice came out thick with nasal sweetness. Seeing her practice the act even before we got out of the car, I pinched her cheek and stretched it.

"What is it, my pretty one..."

"Aaah!!! Owner. That doesn't seem right. And just now you were so serious it gave me goosebumps."

Acting. Recalling the host-club guys I'd only ever seen in movies and putting on the performance, it seemed to hit Jeong-mi that way.

Click.

I stepped out, opened her passenger door, and once she was down she linked her arm through mine and leaned her head against me.

"From tomorrow on no one will whisper about us while staring, right? H-honey?"

"Of course. I'll look early-to-mid twenties, you'll look mid-to-late twenties, so we'll feel like a real couple."

Worried someone might pick a fight, she pulled our marriage certificate out of the glove box—when had she even put it there?—and tucked it into her bag to prove we were married.

It's true that Jeong-mi looks pretty and rich.

Becoming a Miss Korea runner-up wasn't something just anyone could manage. She had also graduated from art school, and the bearing of at least the middle class was ingrained in her body.

Forgotten Live Cafe.

The sign said it was a live cafe, but I figured there was no way they would still be performing at this hour. Holding Jeong-mi's arm tightly, I stepped inside.

A staff member in a neat uniform guided us, yet somehow the sound of an acoustic guitar and music drifted through the air.

"They're performing even at this hour?"

"Ah. The owner sometimes does sets in the late-night hours."

A clear voice, quite high-level singing ability—but if it was an original, the song itself was rather poor.

"Honey, why?"

"No. Let's sit first."

The seat the employee led us to was by the window, so we could turn and look outside or face the stage inside.

What is this seventies sensibility...

Neither ballad nor folk nor trot—the song was so bad it made me frown.

"One iced americano, and you?"

"Me too."

When I ordered one she ordered the same. The employee collected the menu again, bowed, and disappeared.

"The song is good."

"Hm?"

Well... our world is definitely ten to twenty years behind. Even though it's the same 2003.

Over there, dance, hip-hop, ballad, and rock had all developed in rich variety.

"Why, you don't like it?"

"Just... not my taste."

Looking around, about five couples had come at this hour. The music was bad enough that I hadn't planned to study the stage, yet while scanning it I was startled.

On the dark stage a woman whose silhouette was only faintly visible was playing an acoustic guitar and singing. But she occasionally lifted her head, and with my 6.0 vision her face was far too clear.

"Lee Ju-hyeon?"

"What? Really? For real?"

"Yes... our owner is indeed the singer Lee Ju-hyeon."

A passing server answered Jeong-mi's surprise by confirming that the owner was Lee Ju-hyeon.

She who had briefly thrived with ballads in the nineties and then vanished from the entertainment industry over contract troubles with her agency. A beauty not yet in her thirties was pouring a gloomy song out with a gloomy expression.

"Ah... so she got blacklisted by a major agency... looks like she couldn't even get proper songs..."

"What? I think it's good?"

"It's too monotonous. The genre is unclear too."

Lee Ju-hyeon's singing ability covered for it, but the song itself was definitely a mess. And fortunately, no blue light hovered above her head.

Before long the song ended. Lee Ju-hyeon closed her eyes for a moment and caught her breath.

"Haa... I'm glad to see everyone who came to find me today. You've been here about fifteen minutes. At this hour..."

Waa... clap clap clap.

Hmm... so the others knew and came. That it was Lee Ju-hyeon.

Jeong-mi and everyone else clapped with cheers the moment she bowed her head. I clapped as well so I wouldn't stand out, and she smiled brightly.

Small face, a mouth a little large for it, and fair skin. Having lived only among modern beauties, she still ranked as quite a beauty.

"I sang about four songs without rest today. If anyone has a request, I'll sing one last song for you."

Her hit songs poured out one after another, but only the two of us sat blankly. Then at some point Lee Ju-hyeon's gaze locked onto us, and everyone turned to look back.

"Yes. Perhaps the couple by the window whom I'm seeing for the first time today—is there a song you'd like to hear from me? Other singers' songs are fine too. I have most of the scores, so I'll bring them, look them over, and sing for you."

Hm? Scores?

"Jeong-mi, give me your handbag."

"Yes."

I opened the bag she handed me and pulled two ballad scores out of the subspace. Then I took them and passed them back to her.

"Would my original songs be okay too? I have the scores."

"What? Yes, first let me take a look, and if they're good I'll sing them."

Even her personality seemed good. She was willing to look at unverified scores once and sing them. She smiled brightly and nodded; Jeong-mi took the scores and walked up to her.

The ballads of Baek Ji-su, a singer from that other world I truly loved. She had apparently been a dance singer before, yet from a certain point only a few ballad scores remained—and every one was a masterpiece.

Especially As If Stabbed by a Knife....

I had once been curious to the point of madness about how she handled that intro. Mishandle it and the entire song would collapse. And the other was I'll Never Love Again.

With Lee Ju-hyeon's singing ability she seemed able to digest both, so I handed those two over. For Hyeon-jin, who was a dance singer, I had already given different songs.

"Please wait a moment, everyone. Let me check these scores a bit."

Lee Ju-hyeon pressed something near the microphone and a strong light poured down on her from above. Jeong-mi handed the scores over, received a handshake, and returned. Lee Ju-hyeon looked at the sheets and fell into thought for a moment.

Ding ding...

She was finding the notes. Then her eyes widened and she looked back and forth between me and the scores.

"Y-you wrote these yourself?"

"Yes. For that score the intro is important. You have to sing it half-narration, half-song—murmuring as if it penetrates everything in the piece."

"Th-this... wait a moment. Hoo... hoo."

Everyone began to murmur. Perhaps the guitar melodies she was occasionally striking to get a feel seemed unusual; they all stared at me, and I scratched my head, embarrassed.

Hmm... should I not do it?

I had wondered whether to release the scenarios and scores at all, but having tasted the culture of another world once, I no longer had the confidence to enjoy this world's culture. And though I could not change everything, I believed that simply throwing out songs or scenarios of this caliber would create many changes. I shook my head.

No. I should do it. Soon an era will come when people just stay cooped up at home. So that people have at least that kind of solace...

"I-I'll sing it now. The title is As If Stabbed by a Knife... it's a bit strange, but... it's a sorrowful ballad."

Murmur murmur.

As If Stabbed by a Knife was indeed a strange title for a ballad. Everyone sat up straight and looked at Lee Ju-hyeon; Jeong-mi leaned against my shoulder. Then the coffee arrived, and I sipped the iced americano while gazing at the stage.

Her expression was flushed, and a hint of greed showed in her eyes.

Whoa... shit... amazing...

Goosebumps raced over me. She casually tossed the line out in her own voice, and it was better than anything I had imagined. Because I already knew the entire song, that single phrase alone gave me the thrill and ecstasy of having heard the whole piece.

"..."

Jeong-mi ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠also seemed startled; her eyes went wide as she stared at the stage, then she glanced at me once, bashfully. I stroked her hair, and she snuggled closer.

The lyrics are a bit weird. I kind of want to change them to something else.

Guns felt too violent. Recalling Cupid's lead arrow, I pulled out a memo pad and rewrote the lyrics there with a bow and arrow.

As if shot by an arrow.... in my pierced chest...

I closed my eyes. The technique of sliding between clear and husky tones, the guitar melody, good lyrics except for a few bothersome parts—my ears were truly being spoiled.

"Honey... I think I know why you were like that earlier. The song is really..."

"Good, right? It's my favorite ballad."

I whispered into Jeong-mi's ear. Only then did she seem to realize I had not composed it myself but obtained it by some means; she smiled bashfully, leaned her head against me again, and tapped her feet to the beat.

Only Lee Ju-hyeon's sorrowful singing voice flowed through the space. Even the employees stood frozen as if time had stopped.

Unlike the intro, the sorrowful lyric "as if stabbed by a knife" rose, the accompaniment continued, then cut off.

Quiet.

Silence.

In this wide live cafe only Lee Ju-hyeon's rough breathing could be heard. I watched her flushed face and the expression where greed and regret crossed.

"Did the guests who came to find me hear it well?"

"Yes!!!!"

Everyone sent applause and cheers again to both Lee Ju-hyeon and me. I stood and bowed my head.

"I... I'm so greedy for it. So I think I need to talk with the composer. For now, everyone, my performance ends here."

"Yes!!!"

They were definitely real fans—every couple. All of them left their seats, looking left and right, shaking hands with Lee Ju-hyeon as she greeted them and clearly enjoying themselves.

She gradually approached and sat across from where Jeong-mi and I were sitting, tightly gripping the scores, hesitating as if she did not know what to do.

"Ms. Lee Ju-hyeon? If it's all right, would you like to release an album with that song?"

"What?!!! Really?"

Joy. The face that had been full of greed, hesitation, and tearfulness brightened at once; tears even welled up. Jeong-mi sat up straight at the sight, and I nodded to her.

"Yes. There are more songs. I wrote ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠all of them thinking of Ms. Lee Ju-hyeon, but I never expected to meet you here."

Lee Ju-hyeon suddenly stood and bowed at ninety degrees again and again. I also rose and had to stop her—there were more than ten of her fans present.

"Thank you. Thank... sob..."

"No. Please don't do this. I'm an artist under K&J, so you'll need to contact the company."

The lie came out brazenly, yet she only kept bowing her head while tears fell. When the agency name appeared she seemed even more relieved.

"Yes.. I know. The company where Hyeon-jin and Ms. Hye-rim are. Sob..."

So she knows Hyeon-jin.

"I'll speak to the president. Do you have an agency right now?"

"Ah... no. I don't have one now."

"Why?"

"I won the lawsuit but... sob... Yeju Entertainment's power is strong... so no one would take me..."

"Then come to our agency. Actor management is stronger here, so Yeju Entertainment won't be able to exert much force."

So Mi-jin has work to do.

Yu-ra's mother So Mi-jin was a woman with far more power than I had thought. I had assumed she was merely at the level of a foundation chairperson, yet her connections were splendid from the start. If I gave her the president's seat at K&J, Yeju would not even dare think of harming us. I was certain.

"Jeong-mi. Tell Mi-jin. While she takes charge of the agency's practical affairs, keep Yeju Entertainment or whatever in check."

"Yes. Honey."

At those words Lee Ju-hyeon's pupils trembled hard. Everyone was looking our way and smiling contentedly, so I felt awkward and asked her,

"Is there somewhere a bit quieter? I'm a little embarrassed."

"Ah... there are room-style rooms over there. Let's go."

Ju-hyeon wiped her tears, realized a beat late, and led the way. I followed holding my iced americano cup; Jeong-mi gathered our things. When our eyes met the other guests they all wore expressions that said things had turned out well, then they too looked away.

Once we entered the room and the door closed, even after we sat she remained restless and only stared at me.

"Please sit."

"Yes..."

Looking at her, I asked something I had always been curious about.

"Ms. Ju-hyeon, as a fan—I'm so curious. What exactly was the contract issue..."

"Ah... that. The president of Yeju Entertainment, when I refused the body lobby... he sued me for contract violation over a few CF contracts."

It had never made sense before, but now it did. She had clearly been under Yeju Entertainment—one of the larger agencies in Korea—yet a lawsuit over contract issues had broken out. And a rising singer had vanished as if evaporating around the mid-nineties.

"That's why when Hye-yun was worrying I also recommended she go to Dongra University. The entertainment industry is dirtier than you can imagine."

"Hmm... is that so? Come to think of it, I heard Jeong-mi sings well. Should I give you songs too?"

The trait I had obtained from Jeong-mi. But she only smiled bashfully and shook her head. Her smile looked lonely.

"I don't want to be exposed to the public anymore. I want to live sweetly like this with you."

Ju-hyeon blankly watched us. I smirked and looked at her again.

"Ms. Ju-hyeon, of course we'll have to test, but would you give Jeong-mi here a featuring opportunity? On the condition that she only appears on the album and never goes on stage."

"What? ...Of course. But the skill is..."

"If Ms. Ju-hyeon doesn't like it, you don't have to. I'm not that narrow-minded."

"Honey?"

Jeong-mi had spoken that way, yet it clearly caught on her mind. From Ji-yu the refusal to be a singer had sounded sincere, but in Jeong-mi's words full regret could be felt. So her face was now full of joy.

"Featuring—even like that you have to release an album so you won't have regrets 'then'."

"Ah... thank you. Honey. Really..."

I smirked and tightly hugged the teary-eyed Jeong-mi. Lee Ju-hyeon also blankly watched us; when our eyes met her face ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠reddened.

Hm? Chaehyang definitely wasn't emitted?

Ah...

I smirked, took Jeong-mi's bag, summoned scores into it, and pulled out eight more of Baek Ji-su's songs.

"I was going to find a singer and complete one album if I couldn't find Ms. Lee Ju-hyeon anyway. The rest here are all ballad songs too."

Rustle.

At the spread scores Lee Ju-hyeon's face reddened even more, and now she even avoided my gaze.

This kind of thing is pretty nice in its own way. Like with Da-hyeon, and Ms. Ju-hyeon here too—seducing with songs or scenarios...