Chapter 37
Chapter 37
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Translator: Ryuma
Chapter: 37
Chapter Title: A Sudden Schedule and a Final Feast
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The equipment in the studio was incomparable to my laptop.
With a variety of plugins, virtual instruments, and fast encoding, the work was genuinely enjoyable. I applied the designs I had only sketched out in my head, experimenting with different effects for each.
♪♬
The final product flowed from the monitor speakers that CEO Park Jae-yong cherished.
As expected of high-end speakers, I could follow each individual track without a single exaggerated sound. On listening speakers that emphasize the mid-low range, the drums or bass would have drowned out the other instruments.
A smile formed on my face as the quality progressed toward what I wanted. I was in the zone and wanted to keep riding the wave, but…
What time is it?
Three hours had flown by while I was absorbed in my work.
“What? Are you done already?”
“No, I just need to use the restroom…”
“…Go ahead.”
The Director seemed to be jotting something down on her tablet with an air of indifference.
I left the studio and headed for the restroom. It was already 10 p.m., a time when everyone except the trainees would have gone home.
“Oh! Good evening.”
“Yes, hello.”
The security team that had stopped me on my first day had switched to the night shift and was starting their first patrol.
Their nightly duty was to go to each checkpoint, tap the theft and fire prevention card, and turn off the lights in unoccupied areas.
“Do you know how many trainees are still here?”
“There are seven left.”
“Ah… I see.”
“……”
“Well, have a good night.”
“Yes, sir! You too, Manager!”
I returned to the studio.
Through the small window, I saw the Director touching the master keyboard with a flustered expression.
“Is something wrong?”
“…”
The Director tried to maintain her poker face, but I could clearly see her panic.
“What’s the matter?”
“I swear I didn’t touch anything but the keys.”
The Director said, pointing at the master keyboard.
“Is it broken?”
“I don’t know. It’s not making any sound.”
“……”
“This is expensive, right? I really didn’t touch anything but the keys…”
Her usual charisma and cool demeanor were gone, replaced by a nervousness that reminded me of a fresh-faced rookie just starting their career.
I suppressed a laugh and put on an expression as if this was a common occurrence. I didn't want to hurt the Director's feelings.
“…It’s fine. It’s not broken, Director.”
“Really? Then why isn’t it making any sound?”
Our Director really needs some lessons from me. She’s an expert in financial and artist management, but how can she be so clueless about equipment?
“A master keyboard won’t make any sound unless it’s connected to a computer and an instrument is assigned to it.”
“Really? Why is it like that?”
It’s natural for people not to know things they haven’t learned. The problem is not knowing even after being taught.
“A piano makes sound when the strings are physically struck, right?”
“Yes.”
“And you know that a synthesizer works by sending an electrical signal to its built-in instrument programs, don’t you?”
“Uh-huh.”
Her response wasn’t very confident.
“But this master keyboard is designed to make sound only when it’s connected to a computer and an instrument is activated. It was made for composing MIDI tracks, so it doesn’t need built-in instruments.”
“…Is that so?”
The Director’s face turned red.
Even if she can’t compose, I should at least teach her how to use a keyboard.
“Here, you select a virtual instrument like this… now try playing.”
To ease her embarrassment, I set up a virtual acoustic guitar on the master keyboard.
*Strum, strumming* ♪♬
“It sounds just like a real one.”
The Director played the master keyboard as if she found it amusing. It was the melody of the only solo song she had ever released.
♪♬
*Strum, strumming, strum, strum*
As if her earlier embarrassment had vanished, her face filled with nostalgia. Glimpses of her deep passion for music shone through.
Just then, her phone rang.
*Vzzzzt.*
“…Yes, Manager Ji… Is that so? Ah… We should probably take it, right? Yes, go ahead. It’s a good thing, after all.”
The Director glanced at me during the call.
“Yes. Thank you for your hard work so late… I understand.”
After hanging up, the Director looked at me again.
“What is it?”
“We’ll have to bring the Answer girls back a day early. They’ve been booked for an event.”
“What kind of event gets booked in the middle of the night just a few days out?”
“A fill-in, what else? It’s in Daejeon, so it’s convenient for them to go straight there on their way back up.”
“…What about their makeup and outfits?”
“It’s not an important music show, so have them do it themselves. They’ve done it a few times. We can just bring the outfits with us.”
“Okay… Ro-si should join them too, right?”
“Of course. Re-record Ro-si’s vocals for the new track. We’ll be using it from now on.”
It was a sudden schedule that cut their sweet vacation short, but it was a great opportunity to quench the members’ thirst for work.
Events were always welcome.
***
I pulled an all-nighter at the company working on the song.
Thanks to that, I was able to complete many of the parts I had planned out. Even in my early-twenties body, a bit of fatigue was unavoidable.
Should I go to the sauna and get a little sleep?
I suddenly craved the warmth of the water.
“Need a change of clothes?”
“Just a bath.”
It seemed many people came here to sleep at this hour.
When I entered the men’s locker room, the gazes that had been indifferent turned to me one by one as I started to undress. Suddenly, the middle-aged men began walking unnaturally, their chests and shoulders puffed out with effort.
*Do you really think muscles you don’t have will just pop out like that, sirs?*
As if to make a point, I started doing 100 push-ups.
I hadn’t been able to do them much lately because of song production, but you could never build a body without a strict diet and grueling workouts that left you gasping.
Some people think you can just take drugs and muscles will magically appear, but looking at the seniors who debuted before me, that wasn’t the case.
You have to work out like crazy even while on drugs to build a body. Of course, you should never take them as they eventually ruin your body… but anyway, there’s nothing easy or simple in this world.
*Shwaaaaaa.*
As I opened the door to the bathhouse, the familiar steamy scent of the sauna put my mind at ease. After a shower, I stepped into the emerald-green hot tub where air bubbles were fizzing up.
“…Haaahhh.”
As warmth spread through my cold body, it felt like every severed nerve was reconnecting. The stress that had been accumulating since my return to the past seemed to melt away in an instant.
I spent thirty minutes in the tub, practically asleep.
By the time I finished my bath and stepped outside, the dark dawn sky was beginning to brighten.
My still-damp hair seemed to add to the refreshing feeling. At this rate, I could probably go another day or two without sleep.
I usually stuck to my diet, but right now, I was craving ramen and kimbap.
“One ramen and one kimbap, please.”
“Okay. Here’s the kimbap first.”
I popped a piece of the kimbap into my mouth.
A rich sesame oil aroma filled my mouth. It wasn’t the imitation-flavored oil commonly used in restaurants, but the deep fragrance of real sesame oil.
*Crunch.*
The pickled radish in the kimbap was also made with care.
Many kimbap places use pickled radish straight from the package. When you bite into such kimbap, the sour pickling liquid squirts out, ruining the balance of flavors. But here, they must have squeezed the liquid out, as it had a firm texture without disrupting the taste.
There are quite a few hidden gems like this place around us, restaurants that elevate the quality of their food through unseen efforts. It’s just that the customers don’t always notice.
“Enjoy your meal.”
Finally, the ramen arrived.
The spicy, hot steam from the ramen wafted onto my face.
“Fwooo.”
I lifted a large mouthful of the hot noodles and blew on them. A huge cloud of steam scattered over the table.
This technique causes the escaping steam to carry away heat, and the resulting evaporative cooling instantly makes the noodles chewier.
*Slurp!*
The chewy texture of the noodles blew away even the last dregs of stress that the sauna couldn’t wash away. I placed a piece of kimbap on my spoon, dipped it into the ramen broth, and brought it to my mouth.
I felt a small sense of happiness.
“That was delicious. The kimbap was really good.”
“It’s a recipe I’ve worked on. Thank you for enjoying it.”
I could feel the owner’s sincerity, and I left the restaurant in a good mood.
“?”
Just then, Lee Yoo-ah and Ro-si got off a bus together, arm in arm.
It always amazed me how quickly girls became friends, holding hands or linking arms.
It was something that would never happen between guys. No, even lifelong best friends wouldn’t hold hands or link arms.
I was about to call out to them happily but hesitated for a moment.
*Who do I call first?*
It was a surprisingly complicated question.
I followed them from behind.
When I was about two meters away, Lee Yoo-ah, sensing something, turned around first.
“Good morning.”
I said, as if I had been waiting.
While Ro-si smiled, Lee Yoo-ah’s expression seemed to stiffen slightly.
“Hello.”
“Did you spend the night at the company?”
Ro-si and Yoo-ah asked at the same time.
How did they know I stayed at the company all night?
“…How did you know I stayed at the company?”
“…Your hair is wet, and your face is all clear and bright…”
I guess it was obvious I’d just come from a sauna. Still, that’s pretty sharp of them. Her expression seems a bit sulky, too.
Sensing the slightly awkward atmosphere, I looked at Ro-si.
“Ro-si, warm up your voice this morning.”
“Yes! I will!”
“……”
It’s great that she doesn’t question my instructions, but shouldn’t you be a little curious so the conversation can continue?
“Aren’t you curious why I’m telling you to warm up?”
“I am curious!”
She was as disciplined as a soldier.
“…We’re going to record your live doubling track today.”
“…What’s that?”
Surprisingly, Lee Yoo-ah didn’t seem to know either, as both of their eyes widened.
“It means we’re going to mix a live-style recording into the event’s AR track.”
“Ah… So, am I now with Answer…?”
When I nodded, Ro-si looked incredibly happy.
I made some coffee in the office and went to the break room.
I had read an article that said coffee is effective when you need to take a power nap of less than an hour. If you drink it before sleeping, the caffeine invigorates your body, making you feel refreshed upon waking.
- *Call me when you have time.*
As soon as I sent the text, Seol-ah called.
“A sudden schedule came up, so you’ll have to come back early tomorrow. Is that okay?”
- *Suddenly? What kind of schedule is so last-minute…*
“The Director says it’s a fill-in gig. But the pay is pretty good. Five million won, the highest Answer has ever gotten.”
- *…Wow.*
For Seol-ah, that was a huge reaction.
Until now, most of Answer’s schedules were for promotional purposes and paid next to nothing. The highest they’d ever been paid was 3.5 million won for the Gangwon Provincial Games, which they got through an event agency.
“The event is at the Yuseong Hot Springs Complex at two p.m., and there’s no rehearsal. You need to be there by one, so I’ll pick you up at seven.”
- *We’re not going to the salon, right? Should we just have our makeup done?*
“Yes. I’ll bring the outfits.”
Seol-ah tried to sound calm, but her voice was buzzing with excitement.
*I think your happiness is just beginning, girls.*
***
Answer moved to the Seomjin River to enjoy the last day of their vacation.
“Haaah! The smell of coffee and bread!”
They went to a famous cafe overlooking the river, had coffee and bread, and took pictures as they walked around. The three stunning girls drew eyes wherever they went.
After taking individual photos in a bamboo forest, the members started to feel hungry.
“I’m hungry even after eating bread.”
“Bread is a snack,”
Seul-bi declared confidently in response to Yi-na’s comment.
“Unni! Isn’t this place famous for jaecheop soup?”
“…Do you have a map of all the best restaurants in the country in your head?”
Seol-ah asked, dumbfounded.
“I’m not a genius or anything… I just looked it up since this is your hometown, Unni.”
“What the heck.”
Yi-na made a face at Seul-bi’s words.
“There’s a good place, but… it’s not the kind of atmosphere you guys would like. It might look a bit messy.”
“Come on~ That’s how all the best places are. Let’s go, Unni. I want to try it.”
Unlike Seul-bi, Yi-na had a bad feeling.
*I hate dirty places…*
Just as Yi-na had feared, it wasn’t a restaurant that young women would typically enjoy.
“…Ugh… I don’t like it. The tables look sticky, and I bet it smells.”
“Hey! Don’t ruin the mood. Just try it first.”
Seul-bi said boldly in response to Yi-na’s whining. As the three entered the restaurant, the gazes of the half-full room turned to them.
“My, my, what pretty young ladies. What can I get for you?”
A woman in her fifties asked cheerfully.
“Three jaecheop bibimbap set meals, please.”
“These young ladies know their food. But what do you do to be so pretty?”
“We’re a rookie girl group called Answer.”
“Oh, my! You’re singers! I thought so. Hey! Three bibimbap sets over here!”
The woman shouted energetically toward the kitchen.
Most of the customers were older, but at the mention of celebrities, they started murmuring, their interest in the members growing.
“It looks like it won’t taste good. And what is jaecheop? The broth is so milky.”
Yi-na, who had been observing the nearby tables, whispered with a pout.
“Be quiet and eat, okay? You can’t get this anywhere else, even if you wanted to.”
At Seul-bi’s growl, Yi-na’s cheeks puffed out. The owner came over with a sheet of A4 paper and a marker.
“Could you sign this for me?”
At the request for an autograph, Seol-ah and Seul-bi’s faces lit up, and even Yi-na’s pout softened.
“How long has it been since we’ve signed an autograph?”
“This is so touching.”
The members signed their names with great care, one stroke at a time.
“Thank you. I’ll have this laminated and put it up. Let me get you something delicious on the house, okay?”
The members reveled in the feeling of being famous. Soon, the side dishes were served, followed by the milky jaecheop soup and jaecheop bibimbap.
“Take your time and eat. I’m making something special for you.”
“Thank you for the food!”
Yi-na’s expression was still skeptical, but Seol-ah and Seul-bi were already sipping the soup with looks of anticipation.
“Whoa! This is amazing!”
The other customers chuckled silently at Seul-bi’s exclamation. After enjoying the soup, Seol-ah and Seul-bi began to mix their bibimbap.
“…What is this… Is it a clam? Is jaecheop a clam?”
Yi-na, who had been stirring the tiny, fingernail-sized clams with her spoon, took a dubious bite.
“!”
A clean, savory flavor that surpassed the refreshing taste of manila clams washed over her, creating a desire to keep eating.
Yi-na was deeply impressed.
“…This is good…”
“…See… I told you not to be prejudiced, didn’t I?”
Seul-bi said with a large mouthful of bibimbap.
Impressed by the soup, the 17-year-old Yi-na began slurping it down like a middle-aged man.
“Whoa! This is insane!”
Now that the soup had won her over, Yi-na was curious about the bibimbap and started mixing her rice. Seul-bi tilted a bottle with a red cap and poured some sesame oil for her.
The nutty aroma filled the air, making Yi-na’s mouth water. She scooped a large spoonful of the mixed rice into her mouth.
The rich sesame oil, likely pressed from roasted sesame seeds from a traditional market, the chewy jaecheop clams, and the fresh, crisp vegetables all came together to create a breathtaking harmony.
“Look at Yi-na closing her eyes and savoring it.”
Seol-ah giggled at Seul-bi’s remark.
“Mmm… It’s so good.”
“Pfft.”
At Yi-na’s tearful-sounding voice, the other two tried hard not to spit out their rice.
“Tsk, tsk, you prejudiced little thing. From this moment on, you shall praise your great elder, Lee Seul-bi. In return, I shall bestow upon you a world of diverse and wondrous flavors.”
Despite Seul-bi’s teasing, Yi-na, moved by the taste, continued to shovel rice and soup into her mouth.
“Service is here.”
It was a large, appetizing-looking semi-dried grilled rockfish.
“Wow! Thank you so much, ma’am!”
“How is it? Is the food to your liking?”
“Yeees!”
The three shouted in unison, and everyone in the restaurant smiled warmly. Soon, a new round of exclamations began as they started eating the chewy, semi-dried grilled rockfish.
The thick, chewy, and savory saltiness of the rockfish was so good it could make you eat several bowls of rice.
The glittering light reflecting off the Seomjin River made the members’ bright faces shine even more brilliantly.