The Unexpected Wedding Surprise

Was it Namhun who sang the wedding song?

Doesn’t seem like it.

The guests, buzzing with excitement over the big event, started arguing about who had sung the song.

Those who knew him searched high and low after the song ended, but he was nowhere to be found.

That was only natural. The person who had planned the surprise was Kang Seokho, who had discreetly slipped him out of the hall the moment he started taking photos.

Namhun, now the center of attention, sat in the private room and replayed the vision he had just seen.

What on earth was that?

The sudden letters floating in the air had been beyond strange.

The vision faded quickly, yet the memory remained crystal clear.

It wasn’t like some game stat screen.

Yet every single number being 100 left him uneasy.

Does that mean the ones above it are scores too?

While Namhun pondered the sudden vision, the door to the private room burst open and someone stepped in.

It was a face he knew all too well.

Yah! Sera! What the hell is this?

Seated with a cheeky grin, Yoo Sera looked straight at Namhun.

Why?

Why… why did you go through all this trouble?

Yoo Sera met his gaze steadily.

You wanted to sing, didn’t you?

At those words Namhun pressed his lips tightly shut.

He hadn’t actually been thinking about it.

He had been too busy just surviving in real life.

But while singing the wedding song he had finally realized something.

He could never give up singing.

Yoo Sera had been watching him closely for a long time and had already noticed the feeling he didn’t even know he carried.

Otherwise there was no way you’d suddenly become a vocal trainer.

If you cared about money, you should be investing your time in something else.

She wasn’t entirely wrong.

Even if he worked for a big entertainment company as a famous trainer, the money he received at the academy right now barely covered the minimum wage.

…He really is something.

Seeing Namhun’s complicated expression, Yoo Sera smiled gently.

It was she who had introduced him to Kang Seokho and Seong Yujin.

She was the one who had convinced Seokho to invite Namhun for the wedding planning.

There had been no special reason.

She simply wanted to see Namhun sing again.

For Seokho’s sake, and for Namhun’s.

Kang Seokho and Seong Yujin had arranged the surprise wedding song stage.

I never imagined it would cause such a huge stir.

The talent Namhun displayed in the hall had exceeded Yoo Sera’s expectations.

No, even so… what do we do? The sacred wedding has turned into complete chaos.

Weren’t you there? Everyone was enjoying it.

If it was fun, then it was fun.

That’s exactly what the director wanted anyway.

The reaction in the hall had definitely been warm.

Still, I feel a little sad.

If he’s recovered this much, why didn’t he tell me first?

Then I’d have to hear the ball-brother story from someone else.

Ball-brother? What kind of ball-brother is that without balls?

Yoo Sera shot up from ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠her seat and planted her hands on her hips.

Do you know whether I have balls or not?

Caught off guard, Namhun scanned the empty room out of instinct even though he knew no one was there.

Seeing his reaction, Yoo Sera let out a soft laugh.

If you didn’t see them, keep your mouth shut.

Hey… Sera. Please, fix your language habits.

I’m scared people will hear you.

No one’s around. What are you talking about?

Haa. People need to know that this guy has absolutely no sense of propriety.

I’m not proper, but I’m generous enough to give lessons to Yuyeon for free.

With his biggest weakness suddenly exposed, Namhun had nothing left to say.

…True.

Why didn’t you tell Yuyeon that I used to sing opera?

Yuyeon said you couldn’t sing at all, right?

If I had known you’d recovered, I would have told her.

I just didn’t want to scratch an old wound.

Now that I think about it, that’s exactly right.

When it comes to opera, the conversation naturally turns to our parents.

That’s true.

By the way, since we’re talking about Yuyeon… are you going to send her a gift?

Why?

She seems a bit uninterested in the violin lately.

She doesn’t seem to enjoy practicing.

Really?

When the topic turned to his sister’s future, Namhun’s expression grew serious.

Yuyeon, Yesol, and Yejun were his entire world.

You said she has talent, didn’t you?

She inherited the proper blood from her mother.

Namhun’s father was a tenor and his mother a violinist.

Namhun had inherited their talents and shown genuine musical ability.

In his teenage years he swept every competition he entered and was hailed as a prodigy.

Yoo Sera had been close to him since childhood as the daughter of her mother’s friend.

They had even lived together around the time of middle-school entrance exams.

In short, they were like siblings.

He could ask her to give Yuyeon free lessons without hesitation, ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠and she would accept without question.

Is it hereditary that she’s going down a different path?

What?

Don’t you remember how you used to run away from practice back then?

…

Frustrated with the sheer volume of practice, Namhun ran away during puberty and fell into breakdancing.

Then Jo Wonhyeong noticed him and recruited him as the idol group Evil Spirits.

Anyway, you should talk to Yuyeon.

In my opinion, something’s going on with her.

It’s a woman’s intuition.

Earlier you said you had balls.

Now it’s a woman’s intuition?

I’m not joking. It’s the real thing.

Seeing his serious face, Namhun nodded.

Okay. I’ll ask her.

But how do I even start the conversation?

Talking to a teenage girl was never easy.

Unlike his deep concern for his siblings, the current family situation wasn’t exactly warm.

Raising three children cost a lot of money.

Between work and earning money, there was almost no time for conversation.

Let’s eat first. I’m starving.

Good idea.

Just as they filled their empty stomachs, the door to the private room swung open again.

It was Jo Wonhyeong, the leader of Evil Spirits.

Man, long time no see.

Hyung Wonhyeong…

Jo Wonhyeong stirred up a complicated mix of feelings in Namhun.

Sorry, grateful, resentful.

Wanted to see him yet didn’t want to see him.

That kind of person.

How have you been? It’s the first time I’ve seen you since the funeral.

Looking at Wonhyeong inevitably brought up that accident.

That was why Namhun had deliberately avoided his calls after the funeral.

…Yes, that’s right.

Se… I saw Sera last time, didn’t I?

Yoo Sera had been friends with Namhun for a long time and had worked with many recent mainstream singers, so she had some connection with Wonhyeong as well.

Yeah. Around three months ago.

Noticing them watching him, Yoo Sera quietly moved her seat.

To another table in the private room.

It was her way of expressing that she wanted to listen to their conversation too.

Namhun thought of her like a sister, and Wonhyeong knew that, so he didn’t tell her to leave.

Jo Wonhyeong dropped into the empty seat with a thud.

I never thought I’d see you at the director’s wedding.

Me neither.

Namhun found the encounter awkward.

After finishing the song, his head had been in a mess because of the sudden ability that had appeared.

But he forced the thought aside.

What have you been doing all this time?

Just… living like this and that.

They said you’re a vocal trainer now.

That’s only been a little while.

Maybe about a year now.

Before that my voice wasn’t in good condition…

Wonhyeong could sense that Namhun had suffered through hard times.

In fact, he had wanted to ask Yoo Sera about Namhun’s situation several times, but he hadn’t.

His own circumstances weren’t great, and he had guessed why Namhun avoided contact.

But he had always believed they would meet again someday.

Nam is never going to give up singing.

He had never expected today to be the day.

…So that was it.

He didn’t offer any empty consolation that things had been difficult for both of them.

Because the last time had been difficult for both.

What about hyung? What are you up to these days?

Me? I write songs.

Composition?

More arranging than composing these days.

I’ve written a few idol songs, but they’re nothing special.

Still, I paid off all my debts.

At those words Namhun gave a bitter smile.

He never found him, did he?

I did.

At those words Namhun shot up from his seat in shock.

…What? You found him? Why didn’t you tell me…

Seeing Namhun’s excitement, Yoo Sera turned her head.

She knew too, but she hadn’t told Namhun.

The boss committed suicide.

At those words Namhun slumped back into his seat, stunned.

That’s why I didn’t tell you.

I thought it would be better if you didn’t know.

…Ha, haha.

It was hollow.

The human life. Not only him, but that guy had been sitting on a mountain of debt.

I ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠kind of suspected as much…

Yeah.

He wasn’t a bad person.

Yes, well…

People are multifaceted.

They can be good in one way and bad in another.

Love and hate.

The two of them had felt the same emotion toward the former company owner who had died.

But Namhun’s feelings were closer to resentment, while Wonhyeong’s, who had shared more time with him, were closer to love.

So just forget about it.

Yes… that’s right.

It’s in the past.

What’s the point of chasing someone who’s already dead?

Nothing but to forget.

Compared to Wonhyeong who had covered part of the company’s debt, Namhun didn’t have much to claim as a victim.

His throat had been injured from overwork, but at least he was healed now.

Do you know what the other hyungs are doing?

When the topic of the boss came up, Namhun suddenly became curious about the other members.

He had worked with Wonhyeong during the one-year activities, but he hadn’t seen the others since the group disbanded.

Evil Spirits had disbanded because of conflicts, but it wasn’t like there had been open hostility.

Even if they argued, with their current ages they could have settled it with one fight.

They had been that close.

But back then they were all young.

They didn’t understand that you had to speak to understand the other person’s heart.

Minsu started dancing teams after the disbandment and opened a dance academy five years ago.

He’s still holding on, so isn’t he the most successful among us now?

Woo Minsu had been acquainted with Namhun since their breakdancing days.

They weren’t in the same crew, but they respected each other’s skills.

That’s why they had constantly fought over who the group’s main dancer was every day.

Despite their different styles making it hard to judge superiority, the company boss had picked Namhun.

—Our group’s center is Elixer. Nam is the main dancer.

Probably Minsu started accumulating resentment around that time.

He couldn’t sing or rap well, and he hated having to give up dancing, his only weapon.

At that age pride matters, right?

In this industry, having or not having the main title also plays a big role in image.

At the time Namhun hadn’t understood him.

He was only seventeen.

—Hyung, we’re one team, aren’t we?

Hyung could have given a little.

But looking back now, it was actually Namhun who should have given a little.

Now I look back and realize how stupid I ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠was.