Chapter 214
Chapter 214
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Translator: Ryuma
Chapter: 214
Chapter Title: A Humbling Experience
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♪♬
I am on your whispered lips
And you are in the dark sweetness
(You're my only one way)
Time flows for us
I’ve been tamed like this
If you leave me now
(You're the only one babe)
♪♬
The Earl Grey members stared blankly at Min-jun, who was effortlessly hitting the endlessly high chorus, and Choi Yoo-jun, who was adding ad-libs and harmonies with perfect timing, as if it were a professional arrangement of the original song.
Seo Bang-il—
‘What kind of managers are they?’
Yoon Woo-sung—
‘This is so embarrassing…’
So Joong-han—
‘…It’s perfect, without a single note out of place. Hyun-seung picked this song on the spot, so they couldn't have practiced… How are they doing that?’
Jang Hyun-seung—
“Cough, cough.”
‘This can’t be real. They’re both singing from C5 to E5 without any strain? Without even warming up their voices?’
Starting from the rooms on either side, the karaoke machines began to turn off one by one, until soon the entire karaoke bar fell silent, save for Min-jun’s room. Everyone was listening intently to Min-jun and Choi Yoo-jun's duet.
♪♬
My empty heart collapses
Tell me this at least before you go
The lips that whispered love
To my heart!
♪♬
Min-jun and Choi Yoo-jun looked at each other, drew in a final breath, and unleashed it in perfect sync.
♪♬
(E5) You're my only one love-!
(G5) You're my only one love-!
♪♬
Choi Yoo-jun’s E5 and Min-jun’s G5 blended together, erupting in a thrilling, harmonized shout in a perfect minor third.
It wasn't a grating, metallic scream, but a clear, powerful sound.
Jang Hyun-seung collapsed into his seat, while the other Earl Grey members stared wide-eyed, tearing at their hair.
…A moment later.
The instrumental faded, and Min-jun and Choi Yoo-jun’s perfect duet came to an end.
“…Woooooah!”
At the sudden cheer from an audience, everyone’s eyes turned to the door.
Beyond the doorway, a sizable crowd was peering into the room, cheering wildly. However, they soon realized their own spectacle and quickly dispersed.
So Joong-han—
‘…Perfect control. I have no choice but to admit it…’
Yoon Woo-sung—
‘They both have energy to spare. That’s not their limit.’
Jang Hyun-seung—
‘Choi Yoo-jun is, at best, on my level… but Director Min-jun is at least two tiers above me. He’s beyond the domestic level…’
Seo Bang-il—
‘With such incredible talent, why are young people like them working as managers?’
The Earl Grey members weren’t the only ones impressed by their singing.
Choi Yoo-jun’s eyes were glistening with emotional tears, moved by the impromptu vocals that had seemingly poured out of him.
‘…How did I do that? Was I… capable of this?’
As Min-jun sat down, Choi Yoo-jun quietly followed suit.
As time passed, the dumbfounded expressions on the Earl Grey members’ faces shifted to embarrassment, and then to curiosity.
“…Why on earth are you working as managers?”
So Joong-han’s words were now laced with the utmost respect.
“As you already know, I was the main vocalist of the final debut team, but it fell through. I left on the condition that I wouldn't debut.”
“Then why is Manager Choi Yoo-jun so…”
“Yoo-jun was also a trainee. Unfortunately, he didn’t make it into the debut team.”
“Haaaah.”
The Earl Grey members let out a collective, astonished sigh. Their cocky demeanor from a few minutes ago was completely gone.
“What do you think of our singing, two former idol trainees? Hyun-seung.”
“…You’re amazing. I’m ashamed.”
Min-jun poured drinks into the somber Earl Grey members’ glasses.
“Drink up.”
As if on cue, the Earl Grey members simultaneously downed their shot glasses.
“…Kuh.”
Watching Min-jun, who was perfectly equipped with everything from business acumen to the fundamental skills of an artist, they now completely understood why Choi Yoo-jun had been so offended.
No, Choi Yoo-jun’s words hadn't been enough. Seeing it firsthand, his skills far surpassed any description.
“……”
“……”
A long time passed after they set their glasses down, but no one spoke.
A perfect silence. Completely overpowered by Min-jun and Choi Yoo-jun’s singing abilities, the Earl Grey members silently stared into their empty glasses.
Min-jun broke the silence.
“Belting with a strained voice that scratches your vocal cords won’t last long. At the earliest, your voice could be ruined tomorrow. At best, it’ll last ten years. You’re all just twenty-three now. Wouldn’t it be a shame to become has-beens in your early thirties?”
The Earl Grey members had completely forgotten that Min-jun was younger than them. He now seemed like a senior, or even a teacher.
“You asked why you needed the vocal techniques used by pale-faced idols, right? Chest voice, head voice, nasal voice, where your resonance point is—that all comes later. In the end, sound comes from the vocal cords.”
The Earl Grey members nodded unknowingly. They had begun to trust Min-jun's words.
“Idol-style vocal training is also about learning respect for the music. You have to be able to perform the different emotions that each song requires.”
Just then, breaking the heavy silence, Jang Hyun-seung cautiously spoke up.
“Um… I’m asking this out of pure curiosity, but shouldn’t idols and regular singers be considered different categories? That’s what I’ve always understood…”
“Says who? Does the public see it that way?”
“I… I don’t understand what you mean. We’re a band.”
“Do you not understand what a special debut stage on a music show means? Do you think the viewers of music shows are expecting a traditional band that just strikes poses?”
“!”
Jang Hyun-seung and the other Earl Grey members looked as if they’d been struck by a realization.
“The vocal trainer will teach you the most advanced vocalizations and expressions that fit the current trends. With a sound that protects your vocal cords as much as possible and appeals to the fans.”
A deep sigh escaped from the Earl Grey members.
“I want to talk to the Director alone for a moment. Could you guys give us some space?”
At So Joong-han’s serious request, the Earl Grey members nodded and stood up from their seats.
As soon as the members were out of the room, So Joong-han picked up the liquor bottle with both hands and offered it to Min-jun, a gesture to pour him a drink.
The moment Min-jun smiled and accepted the glass, the heavy emotions So Joong-han had been suppressing crashed over him like a wave.
“……”
At his encouragement, the nation’s top prospects had veered off their successful paths, cutting ties with their parents.
His poor choice of agency had led to a grueling schedule of wasted time that left them with nothing.
The burden of having to be an unwavering pillar for the members who had trusted and followed him, even as he considered quitting dozens, hundreds of times…
Min-jun could see it all in an instant. So Joong-han, who seemed selfishly prickly on the surface, was actually carefully observing each member, trying to read their thoughts and striving to represent their positions first.
…He was struggling with guilt. Min-jun nodded, understanding So Joong-han’s unseen, suffocating circumstances.
“Can we really succeed?”
So Joong-han finally managed to ask. Min-jun decided to answer him honestly.
“Yes. As long as you set the right direction.”
A faint smile touched So Joong-han’s lips at Min-jun’s words before his expression turned serious again, and he bowed his head deeply.
“I apologize for everything up until now. Please don’t hate us too much… and please lead us well.”
It was a heavy, sincere plea from So Joong-han.
“You’ve worked hard.”
Min-jun’s short remark sent a thrilling shiver through So Joong-han’s entire body. It felt as if Min-jun had seen right through his past.
He felt an unprecedented aura emanating from Min-jun, enveloping him. It was a strange, yet warm and comforting feeling.
And then…
*Drip. Drip, drip.*
So Joong-han couldn't lift his head. The heavy burden he had been carrying for so long came crashing down, pouring out in a flood of hot tears.
“……”
So Joong-han’s shoulders shook as he thought. His head felt heavy, but his heart felt incredibly light.
“…Thank you. Thank you.”
Watching So Joong-han repeat the words like a mantra, Choi Yoo-jun rubbed the bridge of his stinging nose.
He looked, he thought, like a sinner who had been granted divine grace and absolution—infinitely at peace.
* * *
A live stream began from Answer’s dorm.
-Huh? Did it start?
-There’s still time left, isn’t there?
-lol Yi-na started it by herself.
-Gotta record this lol
Yi-na, her wet hair wrapped in a towel, stared at the camera with a pout before speaking.
“The world is so unfair.”
-Golden Dragon: Why why? What’s unfair?
“In the past, people got married after turning 10 and became mothers at 15, right? So why can’t 18-year-olds be sexy now, or drink alcohol…”
-Ahhh I have a lot to say about this but.
-lol A complaint anyone who’s been 18 can relate to.
-Golden Dragon: I can respect this concern. It can’t be helped at that age.
“You can vote, get married, get a driver’s license, get a job, watch R-rated movies, and enlist in the military. Doesn’t all of that mean you’re recognized as an adult?”
-Now that you mention it, it makes sense, but alcohol causes a lot of accidents.
-But why the sudden topic?
-Today is Yi-na’s counseling session I see lol It’s always new and refreshing.
“You know our manager oppa, right? The handsome one.”
-They’re both handsome though.
-Golden Dragon: JD Enter has a lot of handsome and beautiful people.
“The PD-nim.”
-Golden Dragon: Which PD-nim?
-If it’s a PD, she must mean Min-jun, right? She can’t be talking about the CEO.
-Golden Dragon: Isn’t the CEO pretty decent too? Probably the best among agency CEOs?
-You’re kidding, right? He’s gotten fat lately.
-Golden Dragon: You must not have seen CEO Park Jae-yong with his shirt off. He’s gained weight but he’s still pretty muscularly bulky.
-LMAOOOOOOOOOOOOO why would you see the CEO with his shirt off lolol
-It’s obviously the Fire Emblem debut team manager lol Golden Dragon is funny lol Making me imagine the CEO shirtless lol
-CEO Park Jae-yong. You can’t do this here.
-Golden Dragon: I’m not Park Jae-yong?
-lolololololololol he’s really committed to the concept
-lolololol
“Yeah yeah! That oppa is a real genius. So he became a Director this time.”
-Golden Dragon: Hmm, well, JD has a lot of talented people.
-Whaat? No matter how popular he is, a Director is a bit much.
-This is why JD Enter can’t become a major corporation. No matter how good he is at his job, how long has it been for him to become a director?
-Golden Dragon: If you’re good at your job, you can become a director. What’s the big deal?
-Still, isn’t he in his mid-20s at most? That’s a bit extreme.
“Anyway, they’re having a celebration party, and I’m the only one who’s not allowed to drink again. I mean, legally, can’t you drink if you have a guardian present? They’re just drinking by themselves!”
-Aww, that must be disappointing lolol
-Isn’t this a little bit the unnis’ fault? Seems like they could secretly give her a little.
-But realistically, if Yi-na gets drunk and feels the vibe, it could be a disaster.
-Golden Dragon: The unnis are doing a great job.
Yi-na’s cheeks puffed out completely.
Just then, Seul-bi’s face, cheeks still flushed, appeared huge on the camera.
“Ack! Unni! She started the broadcast!”
-lololololololol what was that just now lolol
-Whoa, that was a surprise lol Seul-bi
*Thump thump thump thump.*
The faces of the flushed Answer members came into the frame.
“Ugh, hello, everyone!”
As she greeted them, Seol-ah scanned the past comments to see if Yi-na had made any mistakes.
-Seol-ah noona, the uniform suits you so well!
“Ah, thank you.”
Seol-ah stepped back and saluted.
“Safety! Answer’s Chae Seol-ah has been appointed as an Honorary Fire Lieutenant! Safe! Ty!”
-Ooh, it suits you well.
-The uniform is cool. But aren’t you standing on your tiptoes a bit too much? lol
-Golden Dragon: lol Even without standing on your toes, you have great proportions, so you look pretty.
“Ah. I thought it would look prettier this way.”
Embarrassed, Seol-ah lowered her raised heels just a little.
-Golden Dragon: By the way Seol-ah, I saw on social media earlier that you said your body was cringing. Why was that? I was curious.
“Ah… It’s nothing much, but CEO Park Jae-yong said he needed to get an interview for our honorary firefighter appointment… Is it okay to talk about this?”
-Ahhh if you started, hurry up and tell us!
-It’s a letdown if you build up the anticipation and it turns out to be nothing.
“Ah! I’ll just tell you. The CEO seemed to have prepared for an interview, but none of the reporters were asking for one.”
-Lmao and he’s a pretty famous celebrity agency CEO lol
-I can picture it.
-Golden Dragon: To promote his own artists?
“The CEO needed to do it quickly, but since no one was calling for him, he called over a man holding a camera. Asked him if he needed an interview. But the man looked bewildered and said, ‘I’m with the Ministry of the Interior and Safety?’”
-Golden Dragon: Oh no, the CEO must have been so embarrassed.
-Whoaaaaa lololol that’s epic
-Wow my own body is cringing
-So embarrassing lolol he’s with the Ministry of the Interior and Safety
-What’s the Ministry of the Interior and Safety?
-He probably means the Ministry of the Interior and Safety? A civil servant.
-Wow, just hearing it is embarrassing, what did you do?
“I was so embarrassed in that moment that my manager and I ran away without looking back.”
“Ahahat!”
“Kyahaha.”
-Golden Dragon: Ah, so Ro-si can laugh like this too.
-lololol what a mess
-I can just imagine the CEO left all alone lol
-Why is that guy still like that at his age lol
At Seol-ah’s reenactment, the Answer members and their fans burst out laughing at the same time.
“On the way back to the company, he said he never thought we’d do that, that he was disappointed.”
-Jae-dragon never changes.
-Golden Dragon: Ahh.
At first, Seol-ah had been worried about CEO Park Jae-yong, but as the reactions were good, she excitedly continued to share the story that could have been embarrassing for him.
For both the fans and the members of Answer, it was the most enjoyable day since they had started doing live streams.