Grudges That Won't Quit and Minji's Perverted Game Pick
She really holds a grudge like no other. An idol game show is still an idol show at its core, no matter how much it's framed as gaming. The viewers tuning in primarily want to chat and connect with you, the idol, so the focus has to be on interaction and engagement... I gave Minji that lecture once in the evening and then lightly again the next morning on the way to work. Gotta drill it in deep, or she'll go off the rails again. Games turn her eyes into spirals, after all.
"Got it?"
"Yesss…."
"Good. Now, think about your morning lesson and the content for today. Homework due by lunchtime."
"Hiiing."
I figured I should probably brainstorm ideas with her and pick the content myself, but I held back. Sure, it was nerve-wracking, but it was just one failure—she deserved another shot. My nagging last night and this morning was exactly the right amount of worry.
With Minji's stuff sorted (sort of), I headed to Cheon Bom's studio with Haeun.
"...So Mr. Lee Sejin wants to watch today too?"
"Yep."
As we stepped into the studio, Cheon Bom shot us a displeased look. I get it—me barging in feels a bit off—but it was for Haeun's sake, so what could I do?
"I heard the demo work has been hitting some snags…."
"No snags at all. It's going very well."
"Going well? That?"
"Im Haeun, songs are supposed to be difficult to create."
Cheon Bom fired back confidently at Haeun's indignant retort.
"The more you struggle upfront, the less effort later stages take, and the better the final product. Calling that 'snags' doesn't sit right with me…."
"Don't misunderstand."
I held out my open palm in front of Cheon Bom.
"I'm not here to snoop or suspect anything. I just want to help out."
"Help?"
"Yeah. Having someone watch and toss in opinions can't hurt, right?"
"...Well, sure."
Cheon Bom nodded readily enough.
"Just don't go ransacking the room like last time."
"Wha... That won't happen."
She really holds a grudge like no other.
"Got it... Anyway, Im Haeun, you memorized the revised lyrics, right?"
"Yeah. All of 'em."
"Good. Let's run the harmony with lyrics."
With that, she tapped the keyboard and started humming. Haeun stood behind her, humming along, and they sang together. Then they'd stop midway, tweak things, Cheon Bom would occasionally chew Haeun out, they'd adjust, and sing again….
They work hard at this.
Still, just like Bom said, the quality was improving bit by bit. She was the type who got endlessly strict about her own work—no wonder Haeun thought she was doing it to mess with her….
...Was she?
After watching for a while, something felt off. As the song got better, the difficulty was creeping up too. Sure, better songs could mean higher difficulty.
But this feels like she's deliberately making it harder.
The completion level was rising, but it was getting less considerate of the singer in proportion. She's not messing with her on purpose... right?
How to put it—she was gently testing limits? Pushing to see how far Haeun could go, how much her vocal style could handle, right up to the edge.
No way... She's ramping up the difficulty to torment Haeun, but slyly enough not to get caught—adjusting so the song still improves, securing her excuses while sneakily bullying her like some petty prank?
I snorted at my own thought. Nah, no way. Bom might be a bit nuts, but her heart wasn't that petty.
...Right?
"Stop."
Snapping me out of it, Cheon Bom halted the playback abruptly. She glared at Haeun.
"You need to nail that pitch. Softer—not supporting from below, but dropping lightly from a half-step up."
"Not dropping down but from a half-step up...? What the hell does that even feel like?"
"You should get it when I describe it. And before that, too much emotion. Dryer—dial it back, relax."
"You just told me to put more feeling in!"
"I said a bit more, not drown in it. Just tone it down a touch."
"Urghhh…."
"Hold on."
I stepped in as Haeun hit her limit.
"How about a quick break? You've been at it for an hour straight."
"No need for that, I think."
Cheon Bom looked annoyed at my suggestion, but….
"Grrrrr…."
She glanced at Haeun growling beside me and cleared her throat.
"Ahem, fine. Five minutes."
"C'mon, Haeun, calm down. Let's step out."
Hearing beastly snarls escape her lips scared even me. I dragged the fuming Haeun out of the recording booth and kneaded her shoulders.
"Ow ow ow, what the— that hurts!"
"Your shoulders are rock hard. Loosen up."
"Loosen up suddenly? Ow ow, it hurts!"
I kept massaging her grumbling self by force.
"You're flexible—you shouldn't hurt from this."
"Wh-what... You're pressing way too hard…."
"If it hurts, your body's tensed up tight. Means you're pissed."
"You... You saw all that and you're just now saying it? Did you see how much she's picking on me?"
"Picking on you... Not sure about that."
Knead knead knead.
"Ow ow ow!"
"I get the stress. But the song quality really is improving."
"Taking her side?"
"As if."
I pecked her cheek lightly.
"!?!?"
Haeun froze, cat-eyed in shock. Overreacting much? Bom didn't know our deal anyway, so no biggie.
"Why would I side with her over you, huh?"
"Well... true."
"I want your song to turn out great. Nail this ad gig, get more vocal cred, have fans love you even more... That's the plan."
"…."
"So push a little harder for top results. Don't blow up from stress—it'll mess up the work. Vent in moderation."
"...You won't tell me not to vent at all."
"Can't avoid buildup in this job."
"...Sigh, fine. She's probably not doing it on purpose…."
Actually, yeah, Bom is kinda tormenting you. But if you endure it, you'll squeeze out your best potential.
Might as well turn it into a chance to level up your skills.
Someone once said non-lethal hardships make you stronger. Whether Bom meant it or was just work-obsessed, enduring would benefit Haeun. So, whatever her intent, a bit more patience was best.
"Think positive. Not saying play nice, but do it for your gains."
"If you put it that way, I'll try to hold back…."
"Haeun."
I pressed my forehead to hers.
"You got this. You can handle it."
"Ugh…."
She groaned like she hated it, but our eyes met, she sighed, and cracked a small smile.
"Hoo, okay."
"Good girl."
I massaged her shoulders once more, then scratched her chin gently. Haeun leaned into it like a real puppy for a moment. So cute—I pecked her again.
"Ahem, time to head back in."
Perfect timing—Cheon Bom called from inside.
"You got this."
"Yeah."
I patted Haeun's back, and we went in.
"…."
Cheon Bom frowned slightly at us. What? She seemed more annoyed than before break.
My imagination?
"...Alright, let's get the emotion right this time, Im Haeun."
She switched back to serious mode, facing Haeun. Guess so.
"Got it."
Haeun nodded brighter-voiced, and their session resumed.
And ten minutes later.
"How many times is this now, Haeun? Emotion's off again."
"No, you said make it stronger!"
"Richer, not overkill. Can't you do subtle? Like a fluorescent switch—on or off only?"
"Urghhh…!"
I watched the explosion reignite and wondered, How long can Haeun hold out?
Might need to chat with Bom.
That afternoon at Da'o Entertainment, I called Minji out from the dance practice room after her year-end show rehearsal break.
"Minji. Any ideas yet?"
"...Yeah."
Minji, sprawled as usual, bolted upright at my words.
"Oppa, I... thought really hard about it…."
"Yeah?"
"You said... interacting with viewers is key... so pick the game... carefully first…."
"Meaning?"
"Like yesterday... action games make it hard to read chat... so at least an RPG... or something chill... low control needed... then I can chat lots…?"
Oh, she actually thought it through properly.
"And I can't do funny noob play 'cause I'm good at games... so no klutz concept…."
"Yeah yeah."
I nodded enthusiastically, touched.
"Plus, if it's a game... tied to me somehow... that'd be perfect…?"
"Yeah yeah yeah."
Nod nod nod—fiercer now.
"So I thought of…."
"Yeah yeah yeah yeah."
"Thisss... 'Idol and Ecchi Harem Life 3'…."
"...Huh?"
I blinked at the baffling title I'd never heard.
"What's that game, Minji?"
"Ero— Ow."
I yanked her cheek the second "ero" slipped out.
"Miiin~jiii~ pleeease~ nooo~"
"Aaaahhh it huuuurts so muuuch pleeease... I swear, I sweeeear... it huuuurts…."
She flailed desperately, whipped out her phone, and shoved the screen in my face.
"L-look... th-this... this is iiiit…."