Chapter 45

After finishing the song, Namhun checked the score sheet and was stunned.

It had felt different from practice—more immersive, somehow.

But he hadn't expected a 98.6.

It was his highest score since ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠the day he'd unlocked Illusion.

He'd lost points on condition, just as he'd feared, but the performance bonus had covered it nicely.

So a perfect score really is 100, huh.

Namhun stayed kneeling as he was.

He couldn't stand until the MC gave the signal.

But the MC was so entranced by his performance that he'd forgotten to proceed.

"Sniff... hic."

Moments later, the bride's soft sobs broke the hush in the hall, her head bowed.

The groom wrapped her gently in his arms, and the guests erupted.

Woooah!

"Kiss her! Kiss her!"

The groom's mischievous friends seized the moment and shouted.

The groom, as lost in Namhun's song as the bride, unconsciously cupped her face and lifted her chin.

Then he kissed her.

"...?"

Kneeling there, Namhun could only stare blankly.

Come on, a kiss now? What am I supposed to do?

But there was nothing for it.

He just had to endure.

The kids shouldn't see this... Sera will handle it, right?

Of course, Yoo Sera was thoroughly betraying his expectations.

"Yuyeon, you're in middle school now. Time you learned about kissing. Watch closely."

"What?!"

At Sera's words, Yuyeon whipped her head away in panic, but Yesol's eyes sparkled instead.

"Unnie, what's a kiss?"

Even Sera drew the line at explaining kissing in detail to an elementary schooler.

"...It's an adult peck."

"Really? Unnie, kiss me too!"

Even a kid shielded from TV and smartphones could sense the romantic vibe from the bride and groom's kiss.

Everyone in the audience was delighted, after all.

Naturally, Yuyeon turned away, hugging the twins to block their view.

"Unnie, peck."

"...Yesol, I'll do it later. Be quiet for now."

What felt like an eternity to Namhun finally ended as the kiss broke.

Only after the couple fully parted did the MC snap out of it and grab the mic.

"Uh... 'Just Today' was the bride's favorite song... And next, we'll hear 'Forever Only You', the title track from singer Namhun's first album, performed as the blessing."

"Forever Only You? What's that?"

"Oh! I know that song!"

Yuyeon just felt baffled listening to the guests buzz.

Singer Namhun?

Even more shocking, some people actually recognized him.

"Yeah, it's Namhun. That's him! I wondered who the unknown singer was for the blessing."

People recognizing her brother.

He really was a singer.

She'd accepted the facts in her head, but her heart still couldn't quite believe it.

—Heyyy~ Shark song, lemme teach ya~

—Baby shark... doo doo, duh—duh-duh... duh-duh-duh....

—Stop... don't sing it....

Bad memories lingered too strongly.

Watching it all, Yoo Sera smiled slyly.

Shocked over this much? It'll be fun to show her even bigger surprises later.

Like his first place in the violin division at the Queen Elizabeth Competition.

Of course, she'd need proof—photos too—for Yuyeon to believe it.

Sera felt zero guilt about exposing Namhun's hidden history.

He'd personally asked her to teach his sister how awesome her big brother was.

Sharing his greatest achievements was only natural.

Meanwhile, singing ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠"Forever Only You", Namhun felt a strange disconnect.

It was his song—he'd sung it hundreds, thousands of times.

He'd even gotten a perfect score at Kang Seokho and Seong Yujin's wedding.

But today, he just couldn't immerse himself fully.

Nothing like "Just Today" moments ago.

[Forever by your side... I'll stay!]

Fortunately, thanks to circle practice with Joo Sung-chul, he nailed the final high note more stably than before.

Is this from the falsetto drills?

Focusing on smooth transitions to high notes had widened his range a bit.

It used to strain him in the original key; now it was effortless.

"...I sincerely congratulate the two of you on your marriage."

Yeah, my abilities are definitely growing.

He pulled off the mic-to-flower trick again today.

No bonus at Yujin's wedding, but even without the same symbolism, he got +1 this time.

Whatever, moving on.

Namhun reviewed the stage via the score sheet.

‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠

Proficiency dropped from pushing immersion—breath control slipped.

Same for expressiveness.

A couple small technical slips.

Condition was unavoidable.

Audience reaction got a boost from the previous song's afterglow.

But on a competition stage or better sound system, those slips might've shown—sub-90 territory.

Pros get paid.

So he judged himself coldly.

One realization hit home.

Illusion isn't everything.

With self-awareness, he could've hit these scores without it.

Right. It's a mirror.

Enlightened, Namhun felt heavy amid the cheers.

The score sheet seemed to whisper:

—Even if they cheer like that, you'll know. Where you're lacking.

If he were just Jang Nam, that might've crushed him.

But Jang Namhun, who'd risen from countless hardships, was different.

Knowing my flaws? That's a blessing.

Fix what's lacking.

He'd vanished right after Seokho's wedding, but not today.

"Great singing."

"Ah, thank you."

"I was a fan back in the day. Could you sign this?"

"Oh, sure."

Scribble, scribble.

He picked up his fork, and another person approached.

"Mind a photo?"

"Ah, yeah."

Awkwardly standing, he smiled for the shot.

"... "

"... "

He needed to feed the kids, but constant autograph and photo requests made eating impossible.

Finally, Yoo Sera stepped in.

"Look at you, total celeb. That pretty girl asks for a pic, and your grin's ear to ear."

"She asks for a photo—you want me to scowl? Gotta smile."

"Go to the waiting room. Stop interrupting dinner."

She seemed sulky, but yeah—the siblings weren't eating properly.

He had to cut their steak for them, and even that wasn't happening.

"...Got it."

This was his first time being recognized like this.

As an idol, heavy stage makeup off meant no one knew him.

His Namhun era was short, mostly events over broadcasts.

Uncomfortable. Next time, just sing and bounce.

So he thought—then a text pinged.

Namhun smiled unwittingly.

What insane value.

Even with travel, hourly rate topped 1 million won.

Best day labor was 200k—huge leap.

But trying it, it didn't feel easy.

Today worked 'cause I warmed with 'Just Today' a lot...

Unpracticed unfamiliar songs could dip to 80s.

No easy money in this world.

Heading out at Sera's text, Namhun got snagged by the wedding hall manager.

"Um, singer."

"Yes?"

"Free next Sunday?"

"Next Sunday?"

"Yeah. VIP wedding wants you for blessings. Thought I'd ask while you're here."

"Ah, nothing special next Sunday."

"Cool. Details via Director Kang."

"Got it."

As he turned to go, the staffer grabbed him again.

"Oh, one more. How's your schedule through June?"

"June?"

April now—why June?

"Probably nothing major."

"Then, could you block all May and June weekends?"

"Pardon?"

"Boss invited all the unprepared VIP couples today—they went nuts. ...Sorry, but if you're free, take 'em all?"

No reason to refuse.

Even beyond trot, I need variety.

Debuting without prep meant shaky basics, in a way.

Not lacking talent—just limited styles he excelled in.

From debut to now, he'd leaned on strengths.

Trot was the opposite: heavy technique, emotional excess, showmanship.

Joo Sung-hyung drilled that specifically.

Experience covered some, but he had flaws—not Han Taejin level, but plenty.

He needed more variety.

Patience, Nam.

Help was around: Yoo Sera, Jo Wonhyeong, Kang Seokho, Seong Yujin, Kang Seongdae, Jeong Jaemin...

Today alone, Park Jongsu solved his biggest worry—money.

How much is this?

Sorting with the manager: May-June weekends packed.

Some days, two or three gigs.

Over 20 million won.

Couldn't eat properly, but belly full anyway.

Oh. Text the boss.

Namhun thanked Park Jongsu right away.

The ride home was quiet.

Yuyeon deep in thought, twins dozing off full bellies.

Parking up, Namhun unbuckled.

"Let's go."

Then Yuyeon spoke slowly.

She'd agonized the whole way home whether to say it.

"Oppa."

"Yeah?"

"You were awesome today."

Staring at the windshield, her words stirred a whirlwind in Namhun.

From Yuyeon, it felt all warm and fuzzy.

Past struggles flashing by like a montage.

"Your singing's amazing. And you got #1 on music shows back then?"

Praise from her made him bashful.

"Eh, no big deal. Just lucky for a bit..."

"Oppa."

"Yeah?"

"...Never mind."

Swallowing her words, Yuyeon woke the drooling, sleeping twins.

"Kids, up! We're home!"