Chapter 164: Yuringi, Too...?
Translator: RaidenTL
Chapter 164: Yuringi, Too...?
[RKRO: Isn’t this Han Taemin?]
[Who’s Han Taemin?]
[You know. The celebrity who went on Youtube and said he was a fan of Luka-tan.]
[His voice sounds similar, but idk?]
[But based on the way he talks, it seems like it could be him.]
The comments made my hands sweat.
Sitting next to me, Doah didn't look too happy either.
"...Have I been found out?"
"No. I think it's just rumors for now."
"Haaa..."
Doah, chewing her nails nervously, plopped down on the bed.
"It'll be okay, right?"
"...Probably?"
To be honest, I never imagined I'd be identified as Han Taemin because of this.
It's not like I showed my face, and how much could I have possibly talked about it in public?
The lines from my first web drama don't count since they were part of a script.
All there is is that 15-minute-long video from Youtube.
But these members of the Pink Army were so persistent they were even making comparison videos.
"But... if they find out you're Han Taemin..."
I was nervous too, but I didn't want to make Doah anxious.
"Hey. It's not like I went around telling everyone we're dating. It won't affect Luka's streams at all. There's nothing wrong with me being your fan."
"That's not it. It's just... you'll be talked about everywhere again, and people might recognize you, and that'll be hard for you..."
It was true that when my 100 Questions video was trending, a few people recognized me, but not anymore.
Humans are forgetful creatures.
I was sure I had long since been forgotten by the public.
"Hey, hey. Anyone dedicated enough to watch the CLOSER collabs probably doesn't leave their room anyway."
"...But you leave your room."
"What are you talking about? This is my room."
I leaned down to meet Doah's eyes and held her hand tightly.
"Even if they play detective and figure it out, there's nothing they can do to me."
That was a fact. What could they possibly do?
So what if I'm Han Taemin from the web drama and RKRO, the composer of Summer Records? What are they going to do about it?
I figured it would end with a simple, "Wow, so that's how it was."
If anything, I was more worried about what the company would say to Doah.
"Oh, right. I had something to tell you."
I still hadn't told her about the call I got during the day. I sat down next to her and told her about it.
"So, did you get an email from that Ashblock person?"
"No. Not yet."
"And he didn't say why he wanted to see you?"
"Nope. I have no idea either."
"Well, check now. It might have come."
"Nah. I checked 20 minutes ago and there was noth—"
...What the. Why is it here?
[Hello. This is Ashblock, a composer from Bitdam Entertainment...]
- 5:21 PM
Doah, who was looking at my phone screen with me, glanced up with a triumphant expression.
It was such a small thing, but the moment felt strangely embarrassing.
"Hurry up and open it. I'm curious!"
Doah exclaimed, slapping my arm.
I was just as curious, so I quickly tapped the screen.
[Hello! This is Ashblock, a composer from Bitdam Entertainment.]
[I apologize for the intrusion, but I received your contact information from an acquaintance. Thank you for allowing them to share it.]
[I very much enjoyed your winning song from the recent CLOSER competition. I'm writing to ask if you would be interested in working with our team, should you not be affiliated with any company.]
[Please reply to this email, and I will provide you with more detailed information.]
Doah blinked, a dumbfounded look on her face.
"...Oppa."
"...Yeah."
And I was sure I looked the same.
"Do you know what kind of company Bitdam Entertainment is?"
"No? I don't."
I wasn't joking; I genuinely had no idea.
I only knew the name Ashblock because people were making such a fuss about him being the dark horse of the competition.
There was no way I'd know the names of people who compose idol songs.
I don't even know the idols' names, so how would I know their composers?
"Haaa... Sometimes you're like a caveman, Oppa."
"A caveman can't watch VTubers."
When I replied in a dead-serious tone, Doah shook her head as if she'd had enough.
"Bitdam is... well, how do I explain it... It's like a company with singers' singers? A place with a lot of artists' artists."
"Really?"
"Yeah. So, rather than being a huge agency with super popular idols, it's smaller but famous for having a lot of people known for their musical talent."
"Like who?"
I was shocked by the names of the artists she mentioned.
Because, just as she'd described, their careers were absolutely incredible.
"...And they want me?"
"That's why this is so amazing!"
"...Why?"
"It says so right there. They want to scout you because you're good at making songs!"
The question mark floating above my head only grew larger.
No matter how I thought about it, I couldn't shake the question, "Why me?"
"What should I do?"
I probably looked incredibly stupid right then, but I really did feel like I had a screw loose in my head.
"Um... Oppa. If you're interested in making music, how about you reply?"
Unlike my dazed self, Doah asked me cautiously.
"But... I want you to do it because you want to... Not because I like it or anything. Just because you, Oppa, want to..."
"Doing it just because it seems like I'd like it, like last time... I don't want that..."
A shadow fell over Doah's face as an unpleasant memory seemed to surface.
I reached out and stroked her hair.
"I won't. You think I'd do that again? I'm not an idiot."
"...But you are an idiot."
"Why am I an idiot?"
"You don't even know Bitdam. You're an idiot."
I had no comeback for that, so I just smiled and scratched my head.
"Hey~ Isn't it enough to just know YM and CLOSER, ma'am?"
"You know all the anime songs by heart. You should listen to some Korean music too, Oppa."
"No. I'll do what I want."
I looked over the email one more time and sent a reply right then and there.
*
Did all these music entertainment companies agree to set up shop in the same neighborhood?
The Bitdam office was located in an alley right across from the YM building.
I couldn't shake the feeling of displeasure the entire bus ride over.
But what could I do?
He had contacted me saying he was too busy with work to meet far away, so I didn't have a choice.
And in a way, he could become my senior colleague or team leader, so it wouldn't look right for me to be telling him where to meet.
And so, I arrived in front of the building.
I had expected a massive skyscraper, but that wasn't it.
It was a four-story concrete building.
The space felt open, with a staircase clearly visible through a large glass window.
He had told me to call when I arrived, so I took out my phone and pressed the call button with a trembling heart.
[H-Hello?]
[Ah, yes. Lucario-nim! You're here?]
I had expected him to call me RKRO, so the sudden use of my Twitch ID made me cough.
[Ahem... Ah... yes... I'm right in front of the entrance now...]
[Oh, you are! I'll be right down!]
After waiting for about three minutes, the person who emerged was much more...
Much more of a portly, middle-aged man than I had expected.
I could accept the jeans and sweatshirt, but the three-stripe slides were just...
Is this really a company?
"Ah! Lucario-ssi?"
Ashblock-nim beamed when he saw me.
The first thing that stuck in my mind was his prickly, unshaven chin.
"Ah... yes..."
"Wow. You're so handsome, I thought you were one of the trainees wandering around the neighborhood."
Well... I wasn't a trainee, but I did something similar for a short while.
Unsure how to respond, I just gave a bitter smile.
"Come on in! Have you eaten?"
"No, not yet."
"Ah, I was about to order jajangmyeon. Want to join me?"
"Yes... yes... Jajangmyeon sounds good."
"There's this amazing place I always order from."
This feeling went beyond the distinction between an extrovert and an introvert. It was...
This guy is just like my uncle!
I had been wondering why he felt so overly familiar, and I realized there was someone exactly like him in my life.
He led me to his personal studio, located in the innermost part of the second floor.
The afternoon sun shone down on a keyboard that looked incredibly expensive.
"Come in!"
"Okay."
He plopped down onto a plush-looking chair and offered me the seat across from him.
"You must be tired from the trip. Where do you live, by the way...?"
"Oh, I'm from..."
After some conversation that had nothing to do with music, he moved on.
"Jajangmyeon or jjamppong?"
"I'll have jjam—"
"The jajangmyeon here is delicious, so just get that."
...Then why did you ask?
The more I see him, the more he's the spitting image of my uncle.
After ordering a hearty combo meal, he finally got to the point.
"What do you think of Summer Records, Taemin-ssi?"
"I think it was just a case of... getting lucky..."
Ashblock-nim let out a hearty laugh and wagged his index finger.
"Too much modesty. That's a chord progression that not just anyone can come up with."
"Excuse me...?"
"Music theory. Have you ever studied it?"
"...No, I haven't."
He was silent for a moment, then looked at me with a very serious expression.
"Hoo... Taemin-ssi."
"Yes."
His seriousness made me nervous, and I swallowed hard.
"Should I order some yuringi, too?"
Well, it sounded delicious, so I nodded.