The Musician Who Shot to Fame on a Reverse Trend (2)
Afternoon, 2 p.m. Sunlight sneaking through the curtains tickled my eyelids.
"Mm…."
The living room was dead silent when I stepped out. The kitchen table held the same tidy scene as yesterday.
Mom must've crashed at the hospital again.
Being hospital director might sound glamorous, but it's grueling work wrestling with life and death. Her empty spot felt familiar yet oddly poignant.
I gulped down cold water from the purifier. Only then did my brain finally kick into gear.
I grabbed my phone from the nightstand.
"…The hell."
The moment the screen lit up, a flood of notifications hit me, drawing out a hollow laugh. Twelve missed calls—all from unknown numbers. But the names on the follow-up texts were all too familiar.
Five years ago, that place had callously kicked me to the curb.
"Can't afford to keep you, my ass. What do you want now?"
No sooner had I set the phone down than it buzzed again.
I hit accept without hesitation.
[Ah, Jiyeong! Finally!] Park Manager's voice on the other end was buzzing with excitement.
"What's this about? I'm not a singer anymore."
[Let's talk face-to-face. Can you come to the office? Or should I head your way? The CEO's been asking for you non-stop…]
Desperation laced his tone. It was the kind of attention I'd once craved, but now it just annoyed me.
"Kinda busy right now."
[Please, Jiyeong. Just 30 minutes—no, 10! Ah, I'll send cab fare right away so you can get here comfortably.]
Before he finished, a banking alert popped up at the top of my screen. They'd kept my old account on file.
[Deposit: Luminus Entertainment - 100,000 won]
"…."
100,000 won for cab fare? A taxi from Gangnam to my place wouldn't even run 30,000. They were trying to buy my goodwill with cash.
Reincarnated or not, money's logic was crystal clear: Toss it when it's worthless, cling when value appears.
"…Fine. I'll be there in an hour."
[Yes! We'll be waiting!]
I hung up with a sigh and stared at my reflection in the mirror. Even fresh out of bed, disheveled, the woman gazing back was dazzlingly beautiful.
Five years ago, singing with this face got me nowhere. The company nitpicked—vague image, weak voice—every excuse in the book until they cut me loose.
But at contract termination, I'd driven home one condition: All music revenue, copyrights, and neighboring rights belong to Han Jiyeong personally.
They'd signed off eagerly, figuring a flop track from a has-been was worthless anyway.
"One little wiggle on the charts and they lose their minds."
I chuckled, picturing Park Manager's frenzy. A reverse trend? Not just anyone pulls that off. Most fizzle out after a brief blip at the chart's tail end.
No way it hit #1 overnight. Impossible.
Idols backed by major labels dominated those boards. A no-name's five-year-old flop breaking through? Tougher than winning the lottery.
"Still, gotta show my face. Took the money. Wonder what they want—re-sign me?"
That 100,000 won was no-show insurance, working like a charm. I rummaged through my closet leisurely.
Twenty years in this woman's body. It was alien and bewildering at first, but now it fit like a glove. Hell, I was enjoying it.
I picked an outfit in front of the mirror. Model proportions made anything look editorial. Black crop top, skin-tight jeans, rugged leather jacket on top.
At 173cm with legs for days, I radiated more star power than actual celebs.
"Not bad."
A swipe of tinted balm on my lips, and I headed out.
Right in central Gangnam, the familiar Luminus Entertainment Building loomed. Five years ago, I'd left through that front gate, tears streaming, bags in hand.
Hasn't changed a bit.
As I approached the cold marble facade, a voice piped up beside me.
"Gasp! Ah, hello, sunbae-nim!"
I turned to see a young girl bowing at a perfect 90 degrees.
I tilted my head, baffled. "Sunbae?"
She snapped up, eyes widening as she got a close look. "Ah! Sorry! I mistook you! I thought you were Velvet Night's Ria…!"
Velvet Night—the top-tier girl group. She mistook their visual center for me.
Mischief sparked. I smirked faintly, playing along. "I am Ria. Bright kid. Good manners."
"Yes?! Ah, really? Whoa…! Y-You're way prettier in person! I'm a huge fan!"
Her face flushed beet red, flustering adorably. I couldn't hold back a giggle. "Kidding. Not her."
"Huh? Oh… yeah, figured. Sorry, I got so nervous…."
Her crestfallen pout was cute. I eyed her curiously. "Trainee?"
"Yes! Kim Naeun, third-gen trainee! I'll work hard!"
She introduced herself unprompted, full of spunk. Staring at me, she clenched her fists. "Um! If you debut someday… hire me as a backup dancer? Never seen anyone with your vibe!"
Backup dancer? I wasn't even singing anymore.
"Sure, maybe. If the chance comes."
I brushed it off and headed inside. "Thank you!" she called after me.
Trainee life…
Hands in my leather pockets, I mused. She was hustling hard. I'd been there once—dreaming of spotlights, believing the world would hear my voice.
But not anymore. I was just Han Jiyeong, unemployed and loving it.
I steeled myself in the elevator mirror, face icy. Park Manager, the CEO—no sweet talk would sway me.
Ding. Doors opened to the flashy Luminus lobby.
Something was off. Staff stared as I entered— not just admiration, but shock, awe, even reverence.
The massive front monitor displayed the real-time music chart.
"…Huh?"
No way.
"…Photoshop?"
A disbelieving laugh escaped me.
"Han Jiyeong! That's you, right? Man, it's been ages!"
Park Manager came barreling over as I gawked at the chart. He skidded to a halt, mouth agape, scanning me head to toe.
"Whoa… Unrecognizable. You were pretty before, but now? Total vibe shift. Your height's almost mine, right? Thought you were a model—model!"
He circled me, gushing. At his mid-170s height, my 173cm plus heeled boots must've overwhelmed.
I had zero interest in humoring him.
"Ah, yeah. Hi."
Dry greeting done, I cut to the chase. "Where's the CEO? You didn't drag me here just to chat, did you?"
"…Huh? Oh, right! No way—he's waiting on pins and needles inside."
My bluntness flustered him visibly.
Don't get it twisted. I'm holding the cards.
Luminus wanted me for one reason: Every right to that #1 hit, On the Road, was mine alone.
They were stuck watching the bear do the tricks while the handler pocketed the cash. Desperate to jam a straw into that revenue stream with a new contract.
"This way. To the CEO's office."
Tailing him down the hall, I caught whispers from passing staff.
"That's Han Jiyeong? Insane… She a celeb?"
"Beauty on another level. Why'd she flop five years back?"
Their praise tickled my ears, amusing. I'd died betrayed in my past life—knew how fleeting attention was, how icy business got.
Park Manager knocked. "CEO, Han Jiyeong's here."
"Send her in!"
A booming voice replied instantly. Inside, Kim Taesung, head of Luminus, shot up from his desk.
"Ooh, Jiyeong! Come in! Sit—best seat in the house!"
Grinning like a long-lost dad, he welcomed me. I straightened my jacket, then sank into the offered sofa—arrogantly, leisurely.
"Long time, CEO."
Legs crossed, I fixed him with a stare.