Chapter 182
Chapter 182
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 182
Chapter Title: I'm Glad I Asked Ji-ah Unnie!
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We quickly bought the food and returned to where we'd laid out our mat.
On the way there, both our hands had been completely empty.
But on the way back, they were stuffed full of stuff.
"D-Da-jeong, are we really going to eat all this?"
As we got back and started setting the food out on the mat,
Ji-ah unnie asked in a voice mixed half with worry and half with shock.
It was that much food we'd bought.
"Don't worry!"
"Well, our Da-jeong's always been a big eater anyway. Dig in."
"Hehe, got it!"
I raised my hand high with a super confident look on my face.
Unnie nodded in agreement and kept setting things up.
The spread that was laid out was incredibly abundant.
Starting with the Han River ramen I'd been dying to try the most.
There was pizza, California rolls, sweet and spicy chicken, tteokbokki, and fried stuff too.
But honestly, there were a lot of menu items, though the portions themselves weren't huge.
I'd bought a variety because I wanted to try a bit of everything, keeping amounts small.
Of course, even accounting for that, it still looked like at least enough for four people...
Yeah, no problem.
I trust my stomach!
"Ah, but this breeze feels so nice. I can't even remember the last time I came out for a leisurely picnic like this."
"Do you come to the Han River often, unnie?"
"Yeah, I used to come sometimes with friends back in the day. But once I started streaming, I just couldn't find the time."
"Ah..."
Yeah, that makes sense.
From an outsider's view, being an internet broadcaster seems like an easy, sweet gig.
But in reality, there's surprisingly a ton to handle, so free time isn't abundant.
Even for me, setting aside Blue Oshi channel uploads as a hobby.
Confirming work from the LUDongbu team and handling this and that.
Time flies by, and there are countless times I end up scarfing down meals in a rush.
And usually, we end up flipping day and night, which really takes a toll on health.
Of course, our group doesn't have many like that.
Maybe just me and Yuna?
Even including more, up to the President at most.
The real night-owl cases are Yuna and the President.
I do work late into the dawn sometimes.
But I try to wake up as early as possible, so it's ambiguous.
"Still, it's nice to get a change of pace coming out alone with Da-jeong for once. Alright, shall we eat?"
"Yes!"
I was thrilled that she'd chosen me for this precious time.
I replied energetically without thinking and immediately grabbed the wooden chopsticks.
My first target was the ramen that had been tempting me with its red broth and slick noodles.
Ramen's gotta be devoured before it gets cold!
Slurp-
I scooped an appropriate amount onto the plastic plate and inhaled it in one go.
The spicy broth's aroma and the perfectly chewy noodles filled my mouth.
It's just ordinary ramen, nothing special if you think about it.
But it tastes weirdly amazing.
"How is it, the Han River ramen you'd been looking forward to so much?"
"It's delicious! Somehow way better than when I make it at home."
"Right? That's what I think too. Home ramen just doesn't taste like the stuff you get out here."
Ji-ah unnie agreed with me and slurped her ramen too.
She nodded with a satisfied look, like that's exactly it.
See? My Han River ramen choice was spot-on!
After demolishing the ramen in no time, I eyed my next target.
This time, the sweet and spicy chicken glistening with brown soy sauce, tempting me.
Crunch-
"Mmm...!"
"That good?"
The juices bursting out and the crispy batter the moment I bit in.
I let out an involuntary gasp of admiration, and unnie smiled as she asked.
Come to think of it, unnie and the President often smile like that watching me eat.
"Yesss, it's super good! You eat some too, unnie!"
"Got it. Guess I'll try the sweet and spicy chicken this time."
At my urging, unnie picked up a piece with her chopsticks and brought it to her mouth.
She seemed pretty satisfied too, letting out a savoring "Mmm."
Looks like my taste buds didn't fail me.
Alright, pizza next.
Man, this one's weirdly light on toppings.
Not light, really—cheese is all I can see.
I picked up the pizza unnie had chosen and examined it from all angles, intrigued.
Ji-ah unnie, who'd been watching me, opened the lid on a small plastic honey container nearby and said,
"Da-jeong, that pizza's even better dipped in honey."
"Honey? You dip pizza in honey?"
"Yeah. It's gorgonzola pizza—the salty flavor pairs great with honey."
There's pizza like that too.
The classic sweet-salty combo, huh.
Then I'll happily take unnie's advice and try it dipped.
I dipped the tip in honey with a plop and popped it in my mouth.
I pulled the bitten pizza away, cheese stretching like taffy.
The nutty, salty cheese and sweet honey blended perfectly in my mouth.
Ooh, this is good too.
Especially the crust—crispy like a cracker.
Topping-heavy pizzas are great of course, but this one's refreshingly light in its own way.
"How is it? Good?"
"Yeah, delicious! I had no idea cheese and honey went this well..."
"Right? But apparently real Italians don't eat it like that."
"Really?"
Kinda like the pineapple pizza crowd.
Why not? It's plenty good.
Maybe Italians just don't eat much honey to begin with?
Anyway, feeling happy about trying another new, tasty food today.
I immediately pulled out my phone and jotted down the pizza's name in my notes app.
Gorgon pizza, right?
What a monster-sounding name.
"Huh? Da-jeong, what's that you're writing?"
"Oh, this? It's my chat memo pad. Whenever I eat something delicious or have a fun experience, I note it down to tell the Cherries about later."
Unnie showed interest, so I showed her the screen as I answered.
It had all the new foods I'd tried so far, or new things experienced with the members.
Kinda like a small, simple diary.
"Pfft, that's too cute. Do the Cherries know?"
"No, probably not. I've never told them."
No real reason to mention it, so I'd never shared.
I shook my head, and Ji-ah unnie's eyes lit up faintly.
Did she get interested too, maybe?
I tilted my head and kept working through the next foods one by one.
Maybe because we were eating by the open river.
Or the food just tasted good.
Or because I was with Ji-ah unnie—who knows.
Every single dish made my taste buds tingle irresistibly.
Thanks to that, the stuffy mood from the recording not going well vanished in an instant.
Noticing my much lighter heart,
Ji-ah unnie, while cleaning up with me, cautiously spoke up.
"Come to think of it, Da-jeong."
"Yes, unnie."
"You said earlier the recording wasn't going well and you got scolded. Mind telling me which part? I'd like to help if I can."
"Ah, that..."
At first, I'd been excited at the thought of getting Ji-ah unnie's advice.
But now, I hesitated a bit on whether to be honest.
Because this was my first original song, I wondered if I should push through with my own strength alone.
But thinking it over, that wasn't the case at all.
I'd gotten help from the composer refining the lyrics from the start.
And just the recording so far—I couldn't have done it alone for sure.
So I reminded myself that accepting help wasn't shameful at all.
I picked up my phone from the mat and showed unnie the sheet music.
It was tense since, aside from the President, I'd never shown it to anyone at the company.
"H-Here. The composer said it felt too forceful..."
"Too much force, huh... Hard to tell just from this. Mind if I hear the song, if it's okay?"
"Ah, the recording's not done yet. But the guide version is fine if..."
I was about to offer the guide recorded in someone else's voice.
But unnie shook her head firmly.
"No, I'd like you to sing it, Da-jeong. I want to know what it feels like."
"Me... directly?"
"Yeah."
Her words made me hesitate for a second.
Singing in front of Ji-ah unnie, Blue LUV's undisputed top vocalist.
I figured as long as she didn't laugh or cringe, it'd be fine.
But seeing her gentle gaze made those thoughts vanish.
Unnie wouldn't mock me.
She's saying this to help me.
And here I am getting scared for no reason.
I felt pathetic and let out a small chuckle.
"Should I sing the whole thing?"
"Yeah, please."
"Okay."
I gathered my emotions and played the MR on my phone.
Good thing no one's passing by—I can sing without holding back.
♪~
As the song started,
Ji-ah unnie closed her eyes and listened intently.
No grimacing or smiling—just seriously taking it in.
"I've thrown away all my weak heart. Now I won't hesitate."
Finally passing the part the composer had pointed out.
The song reached its climax and faded out.
"Thank you..."
The final part trailed off softly like a murmur, and the backing track ended.
Ji-ah unnie slowly opened her tightly shut eyes.
She nodded slightly, as if she'd finished grasping it.
"Yeah, I think I get what the composer meant."
"R-Really...?!"
Understanding after just one listen.
As expected from Blue LUV's top vocalist—what a difference.
As I looked at her sparkling with expectation, unnie smiled softly and said,
"Probably? Of course, I'm neither the creator nor the singer, so not exactly... But if this opinion's okay, wanna hear it?"
"Yes! I'm all ears!"
"Mm, sit comfy and listen."
I'd switched to a formal seiza pose right away,
but at unnie's nudge, I relaxed back.
"First, I get the song's concept and the message you want to convey. Basically, letting go of all burdens, right?"
"Yes, exactly."
"But to me, it didn't feel like letting go at all. More like getting so obsessed with wanting to let go that the burden feels even bigger."
"Wh-What does that mean, unnie?"
I tilted my head at the hard-to-grasp explanation.
Unnie, realizing her words fell short, apologized briefly and elaborated.
"Easier terms: If you want freedom so bad you suddenly ditch everything and go live in nature, is that true freedom?"
"Doesn't seem like it."
"Why not?"
"Just my thought, but it'd still be bound by the desire to be free. Not real freedom."
"Yeah, exactly. I think your mindset's similar right now."
She patted my head approvingly and revisited the stuck part's lyrics.
"If you've let go, sing it like you really have. Light, relieved. But to me, it wasn't. More like yelling at yourself, I have to let go, I will let go."
"Ah..."
Hearing that, I instantly got the composer's point.
I see.
I'd only thought I have to do it this way in my head.
But I hadn't actually put it into practice.
Even realizing that, I'm not sure I can digest it right away.
If it's the mental state unnie described,
it's not something fixed by just forcing myself.
"Da-jeong, do you clean house often?"
"Yeah, sometimes..."
As I pondered, unnie tossed an out-of-left-field question.
Curious, but I nodded anyway.
Unnie smiled and continued.
"I see. When was the last time?"
"Two days ago, I think."
"Gotcha. What about trash? You threw it out?"
"Yes, I did."
"How'd it feel throwing out the trash? A bit relieved, right?"
"Yeah. Like clearing away something annoying."
Especially gathering all the trash from my room and living room, stuffing it tight into a pay-per-bag,
and tossing it—that feeling is indescribable.
Seeing me nod vigorously, unnie pointed right at me like that's it.
"That's it."
"Huh?"
"Sing with that feeling. Like after cleaning, tossing trash, looking at your spotless house."
"Th-That'd be okay?"
"Why not. Singers can't experience every line in the lyrics. Sometimes you draw emotions from elsewhere."
The unexpected method left me a bit stunned.
But I decided to try singing infusing that emotion, per unnie's advice.
"I've thrown away all my weak heart. Now I won't hesitate..."
Like clearing away something stuffy.
Relieved, light, refreshed...
Without forcing power, a bit brighter than before.
"Whoa! That felt great just now?"
Ji-ah unnie exclaimed and gave a thumbs up.
Even I, singing it, blinked in surprise.
It felt like I sang unbound by anything.
"This should satisfy the composer, right? Sounded great to me at least."
"M-Me too. It felt different from before..."
"Really? Did unnie help a bit?"
"N-Not a bit—tons. Thank you, unnie...!"
At a loss how to express my gratitude,
I just bowed repeatedly toward her like a broken doll, repeating myself.
Ji-ah unnie watched with a warm smile, gently patted my head, and replied.
"No need to thank me. Unnie's looking forward to it too... Good luck with the recording? Tell me if you need more help."
"Yes! I will!"
Her encouragement felt like pure sunshine.
I clenched my fists and nodded vigorously.
And I vowed to myself.
For now, my shortcomings forced this little trick.
But on the day the song comes out, and the first time singing it for the Cherries.
I'll deliver a song born purely from my emotions.