Taking the First Step
Just like every other day, Namhun sent the kids off to school and headed toward Itaewon, where the circular studio was located.
“With the technique of just bending my wrist now, practicing has become much easier.”
As expected from Wonhyung, it felt like he had simply added one new technique to his skill set, yet he felt an overwhelming urge to push forward.
It meant that this skill carried an enormous weight in expressing the emotions of trot music.
“Just what kind of trick did you use? Did an alien even torture you?”
“Why did I suddenly feel so anxious about this?”
Lately, there had been too many shocking events popping up, so he felt reluctant to reveal that he had learned this from Juseong.
‘I’ll surprise him later.’
He was one of the four masters of the Medley Dynasty, and there was still a day when he and Juseong would cross paths.
When that happened and Wonhyung learned they were familiar with each other, he would be in for a shock.
He was so lost in practice that when lunchtime arrived, he ordered the usual Chinese takeout.
“28,000 won, please.”
Two orders of jajangmyeon and one set of tangsuyuk.
It was almost 30,000 won even for the basic set.
He had not been concerned until now, but the soaring prices struck him anew.
20,000 won could buy a single 20-kilogram sack of rice.
That amount of rice would feed the four of Jang Namhun’s siblings for more than a month.
Chicken was something the kids got only once a month, but every time he heard the current Chinese food prices, Namhun gave a start.
He remembered the prices from about fifteen years ago.
Thinking about it now, he realized he had been eating for free off Wonhyung lately.
‘This is bad.’
Since Wonhyung had always calculated everything, he had never noticed.
During his time with Evil Spirits, Wonhyung had been the team leader.
Now he was the producer, so there was a big difference from back then, when he had used the corporate card.
“Hyung, I’ll pay today.”
Wonhyung let him swipe the card without protest and looked at him with an envious eye.
“What, did you hit the lottery?”
“It’s not that. My wedding schedule for May and June is completely packed.”
“Really? That’s amazing! Good for you.”
Namhun had earned an income that many people would envy in a short time.
But Wonhyung genuinely congratulated him.
That was only fair because work never dried up for him.
Arrangements brought steady income, and sometimes composition requests came in.
K-Pop, ballads, and OSTs—anything went.
And he never took a break.
Whenever he had time, he mastered hobby-level vocals as well.
Even in trot, where study was required, he handled the small things like mixing that an engineer should do.
“By the way, why do you work so hard?”
In the past, Wonhyung had been diligent too, but now it felt like he was being bullied.
At Namhun’s question, Wonhyung smiled bitterly.
“I don’t know… It seems like I got into the habit of working hard because of my debts.”
“You’ve paid everything off now.”
“When there’s work, you have to earn as much as possible. This industry could fold any day.”
Even Namhun, who had experienced the entertainment world, agreed with him.
But Wonhyung was too much of a hard worker.
He went out of his way to take on jobs that didn’t even need to be done.
“They say people are getting married later these days, but you’re already thirty-six, hyung. If you just keep working yourself to death, you’ll end up alone.”
“You’re so pampering, you’re pouring curses on me. I’m already sick of hearing Mom’s nagging, and now you’re doing the same?”
But he was not a confirmed bachelor either.
“Money is fine, but there’s not much saved up. Who would marry a guy like me?”
“There’s a pair for every shoe.”
“Bring me to a blind date instead.”
“Where would I know someone?”
Namhun was about to mention someone when Wonhyung brightened.
“Why? Got someone good enough to introduce?”
“How about Sera? But I already have her number.”
At that, Wonhyung’s face twisted.
“That crazy bastard is saying what now?”
“She’s a bit particular, but she’s serious. Her looks are… she’s pretty everywhere you look.”
Seeing that he really meant it, Wonhyung, who knew them both well, simply felt sorry for Sera.
“Sometimes I can’t tell if he’s sincere or just trying to get close to a person.”
“What?”
“Nothing. Anyway, go to Sera and say she’s pretty once. She’ll love it.”
“Love it? She hit me when I said that before. She was mad I was teasing her.”
“…Why?”
Namhun hesitated for a moment before speaking.
“You’re prettier, so why tease me? We ended up fighting. Elementary school… or middle school? I don’t remember clearly.”
‘When was that? This kid…’
But Wonhyung, who had known her since the Elixir days, could understand her feelings.
He had heard plenty of complaints mixed with alcohol from female idols.
Of course, he had heard many times to introduce his maknae.
He had pushed them all away anyway.
Because Wonhyung had thought the eldest of the Jang family would become a superstar back then.
He had hoped nothing would derail him over a woman.
Scandals had been far too damaging for idols back then.
‘Thinking about it, the world has really changed.’
Now, even if you got caught dating after graduating, it was forgiven.
“Since we’ve eaten, let’s head out.”
“Where to?”
“Sangam-dong.”
“Sangam-dong?”
“Yeah, Prime Tower.”
Prime Tower meant STV Broadcasting Station.
“Why the sudden trip there?”
“Today is Se-ryeon’s debut.”
“Ah… ‘Saljjakung’?”
“That’s right. Even if you’re a composer, you should at least go watch her first stage, right?”
Composer.
It felt like an unfamiliar and inappropriate title.
“I’m not a composer.”
“If your name is on the bill, you’re a composer. It’s not like you have a composer certificate or anything.”
Upon hearing that, Namhun felt even stranger.
‘How many years has it been since I last went to a broadcasting station?’
And now it would be as a composer, not a singer. * * *
Namhun arrived at DMC in Sangam-dong and was stunned by the city that had undergone a complete transformation.
“This place too has been a long time… No, I’ve never been to Sangam-dong before.”
Although the tall buildings were similar, this was not Yeouido.
The last time he had performed on a music show was around the time he released “Forever Only You” when he was twenty.
Since then he had only done events, never music shows again, so this was his first time at a broadcasting station in eight years.
“Back then this area was completely empty.”
“Yeah, right next to it was the garbage landfill. Now it’s completely different.”
“Whoa, amazing. There’s no garbage smell at all. Over there is even a park?”
“You look like a frozen human. It’s embarrassing, so let’s stop wandering and go.”
Since they had walked and taken the subway, the two headed slowly toward STV Prime Tower.
“What was the show called again?”
“Punny Music Show.”
“First time hearing it. Did they even have music shows like that?”
“You wouldn’t know, of course. You know STV High Note, right?”
“Yeah, I know.”
“STV High Note is the terrestrial music show, and STV FUN is the cable channel’s music show. Unlike when we were active, there are a lot more music shows now.”
“Really? Since there are more stages, it must be good, right?”
“I don’t know. I can’t tell if it’s good or bad… With more shows, the concentration has dropped.”
“Thinking about it, nowadays music shows only feature idols, right? It’s different from when we were active.”
“It was like that until recently, but lately they’re trying to diversify. Ratings are too low, so they’re doing something. Kids don’t watch TV much these days.”
“Everyone must be working hard.”
Even the broadcasting station that once boasted unlimited power was changing with the times.
“Back then we would bribe the PD and get slapped for not greeting, but now they say that doesn’t happen.”
“The bribes and the slaps were mine, but why are you complaining about latte talks?”
Actually, as a minor, Namhun had avoided the bribes.
But the others hadn’t.
Especially Wonhyung, the leader, had suffered many unfair things.
“Haha…”
“Anyway, I guess now it doesn’t happen in public… but I can’t say it never happens.”
At Wonhyung’s meaningful remark, Namhun frowned.
“What? Even in this day and age, such things still exist?”
“Every place has them. There are people like that and people who aren’t. If you try to eliminate it, it won’t disappear. Good thing the PD here isn’t a problem, so don’t worry. And did your brother-in-law really have a high position? The current variety show directors used to call him ‘hyung, hyung’ and take him everywhere.”
“Yeah, Kang Seongdae’s personality is as strong as his name.”
He was also a former singer, and surviving thirty-plus years in this industry proved he was no ordinary person.
“Anyway, today is for Se-ryeon’s support, but it’s also because of you, so watch carefully.”
“Huh?”
“If you release a song, you’ll have to perform on a music show. It’ll be very different from before, so feel it out first.”
At those words, Namhun scoffed.
“It won’t be that hard compared to before, right? When I was a total rookie, I used to sit on the stairs and watch.”
“Yeah, that’s true. Now there’s a waiting room…”
“Did Se-ryeon go out to the shop early in the morning and come to work? She must be tired.”
“Yeah. I arrived at the broadcasting station around seven. It’s almost time for rehearsal. I timed it perfectly. She’s last in the rotation. The main acts are the idols, and we’re the supporting act.”
“But trot singers have to do music shows too? Honestly, it won’t have much effect.”
At Namhun’s words, Wonhyung chuckled.
“You made it that way.”
“Huh?”
“Because of you, the atmosphere in my place got really charged. I booked a music show promotion to make a big splash.”
“…Really?”
“If this flops, Seongdae hyung might grab you by the collar. You know how much it costs for one music show? You have to go to the shop, prepare the stage. Tens of millions of won disappear like nothing.”
In comparison, there was almost no performance fee.
“No, what crime have I committed?”
“Anyway, Seongdae hyung thought about it, so that’s probably why. Trot singers younger than idols are a first for him, right? She’s only twenty-four. Depending on how Se-ryeon reacts, other agencies might change their promotion strategy.”
“I see.”
While following Wonhyung around during his entertainment career, Namhun hadn’t paid much attention to the business side.
Having Wonhyung by his side was reassuring in that sense.
But Wonhyung was thinking completely differently.
‘First, I have to make trot’s current state clear to Namhun.’
The path for a new trot singer with no achievements was thorny.
He had brought Namhun to the broadcasting station to tell him that fact.
Although he hadn’t said it, Wonhyung was working both in front of and behind the scenes to turn Namhun into a star known to the whole nation, not just a livelihood singer.
He had sensed that Namhun’s latent power was even greater than he had imagined after meeting him again.
But if Namhun could not endure this difficult process, all his plans would be meaningless.