Chapter 164: Listen to My Song (3)
Chapter 164: Listen to My Song (3)
After Seo-yeon’s concept for Masked Singer was finalized as "Vorpal Rabbit," PD Shim Kyung-hoo spoke.
"I’ll get back to you with the detailed schedule once it’s set!"
With those words, he disappeared.
He seemed incredibly pleased that Seo-yeon was participating in Masked Singer, as his footsteps were exceptionally light as he walked away.
However, there was one important thing.
"I should probably keep up with Masked Singer for a while."
Of course, Seo-yeon had seen Masked Singer before.
In her past life, that is.
But even though Seo-yeon had consumed all sorts of visual media, she hadn't watched Masked Singer very often.
That was because a show where people sang while wearing masks wasn't particularly helpful to her.
The reason Seo-yeon watched so much media was, first and foremost, to memorize the emotions expressed within them.
Naturally, since their faces were covered by masks and the songs didn't resonate with her emotionally, Seo-yeon had done nothing more than skim through Masked Singer on fast-forward.
The most she could learn from it were the faces of the panelists as they acted surprised.
Their shocked expressions.
The look in their eyes when they were moved by a song.
That was about all she could get out of it.
She had stopped watching it entirely once it devolved into a "laundry program" for celebrities to wash away their scandals.
"Oh, sweetie. Are you watching Masked Singer?"
"Yes."
Today was the weekend.
Seo-yeon had been watching Masked Singer since morning.
After all, it was a program she would soon be appearing on, so she couldn't afford to make any mistakes.
Furthermore, ever since she had begun to truly feel emotions, the way she felt while watching the show was markedly different.
She could finally understand why Masked Singer was such a popular program.
The identity of those who sang unnervingly well turned out to be so-and-so!
There was a definite sense of catharsis in that.
I think it would be good if Lee Ji-yeon went on it too, not just me.
Actors or comedians with low recognition often appeared in the mix.
Of course, Ji-yeon wasn't exactly unknown.
She had played a fairly recognizable role in a drama on a general programming channel.
She hadn't been a popular figure at Yeonhwa High School before Seo-yeon’s rise to prominence for nothing.
Still, appearing on the show would certainly be helpful.
"Honey, come over here and look at this."
When Young-bin, who had been lounging around because it was the weekend, appeared in the living room scratching his stomach, Sua beckoned him over.
At the word "Honey," Young-bin’s eyes narrowed as he scanned his surroundings.
It was a strangely wary look.
It was a behavior he had displayed regularly ever since filming Golden Duckling.
"There are no ca—cameras today. Really."
When Sua said that, perhaps feeling a bit guilty, Young-bin finally threw himself onto the sofa.
Then, still half-asleep, he began to nod off.
"Oh, honestly."
Sua seemed displeased with Young-bin’s reaction.
After all, Sua was a devoted fan of Masked Singer.
Sometimes, Dad seems strangely awkward with the word 'Honey.'
In truth, Seo-yeon knew.
When Sua called Young-bin, she usually used the expression "Young-bin Oppa."
They probably called each other that back when they were dating.
Seo-yeon, who had been looking back and forth between the two, turned her gaze back to Masked Singer.
She had heard that a new contestant had made it all the way to the King’s Match today.
The contestant was a woman wearing a black crow mask.
Her outfit was covered in feathers, making Seo-yeon wonder how hot she must be.
Aside from that, her attitude felt incredibly lethargic.
It gave off a strong vibe that she had been forced to come out even though she found it bothersome.
Because of that, the MC of Masked Singer, Song Byung-soo, tried his best to liven things up, but it wasn't as easy as he hoped.
Did she not want to come on the show?
It felt that way.
Naturally, a quick glance at the online communities showed that the reaction wasn't great.
With reactions like that, it felt like she would be torn to shreds once her identity was revealed.
Even to Seo-yeon, that kind of attitude didn't look good.
Seo-yeon was the type to always approach everything with sincerity.
Naturally, she didn't like it when someone did things half-heartedly.
However.
"Then, we look forward to a wonderful song!!"
With Song Byung-soo’s shout, the music began to flow, and Seo-yeon found herself naturally becoming absorbed.
The song was quite old.
At least ten years old.
It was an opening that Seo-yeon couldn't help but be very familiar with.
It was an arrangement of the OST from The Moon That Hides the Sun.
What was originally a ballad had been mixed with a cheerful metal sound.
The Crow picked up a guitar that everyone had assumed was just a prop.
It was hard to see because of the feathers, but it seemed she wasn't wearing gloves.
Presumably, it was so she could play the guitar.
At that sight, everyone’s eyes were drawn to her.
The Crow leaned into the microphone stand.
And then.
"!!"
For a moment, Seo-yeon doubted her ears.
Because she was bad?
No, quite the opposite.
Because she was too incredible.
The difference in skill was so apparent that the masked singer who had performed right before her seemed like an amateur.
A clean voice.
Usually, a clean voice is said to lack character or be monotonous.
But on the flip side, it has the advantage of being universally appealing.
With that clean voice, she hit natural high notes.
Seo-yeon unconsciously let her mouth hang open at the clearly felt technique.
Unlike acting, it’s easy to gauge someone’s skill in singing just by listening to it.
Even if people said her own acting was amazing, it didn't always resonate with her emotionally.
But Seo-yeon was now showing the very same reaction people had whenever they watched her act.
But I feel like I've heard this somewhere before.
However, since Seo-yeon wasn't the type to listen to music diligently enough to distinguish singers by their voices, she was a bit confused.
She felt like it was among the songs Lee Ji-yeon had played for her recently...
"Oh my."
Upon hearing that voice, Sua’s face took on a slightly flustered expression.
But that was the extent of her reaction.
Seo-yeon and Sua waited until the Crow’s song was finished.
"Wow!! That was reeeeally incredible."
"I was truly shocked."
"Gray Crow, you were so cool!!"
"Gray Crow" was the title used to refer to the person who had just sung.
In response to the universal praise, the Crow merely raised one hand in a casual, swaying posture.
She still seemed bothered by it all.
But when you have skill, even that becomes a character and a unique color.
The communities that had been bashing her just moments ago completely flipped their reactions.
Naturally, following that reaction, the match was a unanimous decision in favor of Gray Crow.
It was a victory so overwhelming it was practically a clean sweep, leaving the opponent’s shoulders slumped.
For the record, this wasn't just any ordinary round.
It was the King’s Match.
In other words, she had literally crushed the previous winner.
"I wonder if a King who will reign for a long time has appeared for the first time in a while."
If you win for a long time, you are moved to the Hall of Fame.
From what Seo-yeon could see, the Gray Crow who appeared today was a performer of that caliber.
Now that she had learned to sing, Seo-yeon could tell at once just how outstanding she was.
"Huh? Oh, yeah. She’s really good."
Yet, Sua’s reaction was quite strange.
Her face looked like she was itching to say something.
It didn't seem like she was in a bad mood, though.
After rolling her eyes around for a bit, she stealthily turned her body to look behind her.
Toward Young-bin, who had been lounging on the sofa until just now.
Young-bin was still lying on the sofa with his eyes closed.
It was impossible to tell if he was asleep or awake.
"How was the song just now? She’s really good, right?"
When Sua asked because she couldn't hold it in, Young-bin opened his closed eyes and let out a slow yawn.
"She was always good."
That was all he said.
As Young-bin immediately began to snore softly and fall back asleep, Sua’s face took on a look of surprise.
As for Seo-yeon.
Always?
The words Young-bin spoke weighed on her mind.
Those words didn't feel like he had simply recognized the singer.
It was as if he had heard her sing countless times.
A sense of trust that this level of performance was only natural.
With those thoughts, Seo-yeon turned her gaze back to the TV screen.
The crown was being handed over to Gray Crow, the new King.
If she keeps the throne...
Perhaps she would see her when she made her own appearance.
The Gray Crow, sitting on the throne with a lethargic posture.
*
While preparing for the new variety show, Seo-yeon frequently visited Hoyeon Studio.
It was to get help from Na-hee for her appearance on Masked Singer.
And conversely, it was also to look over Na-hee’s acting.
Na-hee was also an actress appearing in Sky Garden.
Furthermore, she was appearing as the friend of Lee Yu-ju, the character Seo-yeon played.
"Standing next to you, Seo-yeon, it’s even more obvious when I’m bad."
Na-hee used to say that.
It wasn't just to flatter Seo-yeon; she meant it.
Since they were right next to each other, their acting was bound to be compared.
This was something that could be felt from the atmosphere on set since Dream Future.
When she acted alone, nothing much was said, but whenever she acted with Seo-yeon, there were exceptionally many retakes.
"Since you're appearing together, Na-hee, your presence is being overshadowed. Should we change the scene a bit?"
Kim Pil-seok, the director of Dream Future, had even said such things.
The only saving grace was that after Seo-yeon consistently looked over her acting, those issues had improved significantly.
"Just a bit more, show the character clearly. The emotional line is too thin right now, the emotional line!"
Director Kim Il-soo would shout as he filmed the scene again.
Since there were no more comments about her lacking presence, she had improved quite a bit.
"...What do you think, Seo-yeon?"
"I think your acting has improved a lot."
"No, I mean Sky Garden."
Seo-yeon had finished her singing practice, and Na-hee had finished her acting practice. It was their break time.
"Will it really be okay? You don't seem anxious at all, Seo-yeon. I’m like this every time I appear in a drama."
What if it fails?
That kind of worry.
But Seo-yeon was relatively free from such concerns.
Because I already know what kind of drama Sky Garden is.
Because that thought was at the foundation, she was relatively less worried.
Of course, to those who didn't know that fact, Seo-yeon’s mental strength seemed impossibly sturdy.
After all, the one most affected by a drama’s success or failure was usually the lead.
As someone taking on her first lead role, Seo-yeon should have been under the most pressure.
"I think it will go well. Truly. More importantly..."
Seo-yeon turned her gaze.
She saw the members of Summer Girl huddled together near the entrance.
"Why are you all standing there like that? We’re all part of the Sky Garden family."
What family?!
Rabin nodded with a smile, but she was screaming inside.
Why does Na-hee keep bringing this monster girl around?
At least she hadn't been doing that weird coin-folding lately.
Before, Rabin would practically have a fit every time she heard the clinking of coins, but recently, she had regained some peace of mind.
"If you hear the sound of coins clinking, do not turn your head."
Such a ghost story had even spread through Hoyeon Studio for a while.
The celebrities at Hoyeon Studio who didn't know the reason giggled, but Rabin, the subject of the ghost story, couldn't bring herself to laugh.
Do you guys even know that fear?
She folds paper cranes out of coins!
"By the way, Rabin."
"Y-yes? What is it?"
"Na-hee Unnie’s contract was until this year, right?"
"T-that’s right?"
At that answer, Seo-yeon let out a "Hmm" and softly curved the corners of her mouth.
Rabin assumed she was smiling.
"I see."
Seo-yeon simply replied that that was all she needed to know.
After all, Summer Girl was far too small a group for Cha Na-hee to stay in.
*
[The world is ruled by those who hold the money.]
[Money is the justice that moves the world!]
The broadcast of Grand Game had officially begun.
A Monday-Tuesday drama.
It was the most important indicator for those who would become Drama Bureau 2.
Naturally, every employee belonging to the KMB Drama Department couldn't help but take an interest in the viewership ratings of Grand Game.
Please succeed, please succeed!!
Please let it be mediocre! No, let it hit rock bottom!!
As a result of those conflicting desires crossing paths.
The viewership ratings for Grand Game were...
[Episode 1 ratings: 12%!! A sign of a massive hit for Grand Game!!]
[KMB’s second consecutive hit following Dream Future!!]
They were updated with very high figures.
Naturally, this was by no means good news for Lee Min-hwa, the PD of Sky Garden.
Furthermore.
"Hello, PD Baek."
"Oh, my. If it isn't PD Lee Min-hwa."
PD Lee Min-hwa cursed inwardly at the sight of PD Baek Tae-soo greeting her affably.
Of all people, she had run into the person she least wanted to see first thing in the morning.
"Congratulations on the success of Grand Game."
"It’s only the beginning; we don't know yet. Nothing is certain."
It was a very meaningful statement.
That said, it didn't feel like he was simply being humble or lying.
He was speaking with total sincerity.
Also, slowly opening his smiling eyes.
"...Sky Garden premieres tomorrow. I’m looking forward to it. So that KMB can hit another base hit."
"A base hit... is it?"
"Haha, a home run would be even better, of course. You seem to be worrying about a lot of things because of the Drama Department, but there’s no need for that."
PD Baek Tae-soo said those words, patted her on the shoulder, and turned away.
At those words, the employees who had been watching the situation with tension finally let out sighs of relief.
They had been worried there might be some kind of friction.
Fortunately, he doesn't seem to have any intention of competing?
Maybe we were being too sensitive.
There were even those who thought that way.
However, PD Lee Min-hwa touched the shoulder PD Baek Tae-soo had just patted.
Her face was smiling, but her eyes were not.
He knows he has the upper hand for now.
PD Baek Tae-soo had the strong backing of the KMB President.
However, he did not ignore the current Drama Director, Ha Tae-oh.
Rather, he was quite respectful.
...He’s certainly not an easy opponent.
But that respect came from a position of power.
If PD Baek Tae-soo continued to succeed until there was no one left above him, would he still maintain that attitude?
Lee Min-hwa wasn't sure.
At the very least, she knew her own situation wouldn't be very good.
Sky Garden has to do well.
The drama was now completed up to episode 5.
Having checked every bit of it, Lee Min-hwa was confident in the drama’s quality.
But whether the drama’s color would appeal to the public... she wasn't sure.
Ju Seo-yeon.
The lead of Sky Garden.
An invincible actress who had never experienced failure in any movie or drama she had appeared in so far.
Though her career was still short, Lee Min-hwa believed.
In the eye for projects that Seo-yeon possessed.
And in the character she played, Lee Yu-ju.