Chapter 41

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Translator: MadScientist

Chapter: 41

Chapter Title: Oppa, Do You Have Some Time...?

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"Oppa, do you have some time now...?"

The viewership ratings for Fixer from Hell, which had faltered momentarily after Jung Woo-jin's sudden appearance on Visible Radio, surged once more.

The ratings, which had been steadily declining after Jung Woo-jin's exit, twitched upward just from his association with the name alone—even though he no longer appeared on screen.

The media had no intention of letting such an opportunity slip by. They dove headfirst into a frenzy, competing to squeeze out every last click using "Jung Woo-jin"'s name.

While the other members had hustled through variety shows to promote the drama, Jung Woo-jin delivered the most tangible results. Meanwhile, he was chatting with Im Eun-ha outside the darkened radio booth.

"Woo-jin oppa, you know we've hit record-breaking viewer numbers, right?"

Im Eun-ha's face flushed with excitement as she chattered away.

She was quite the talker, and the conversation shifted from her Visible Radio appearance to the movie Boy-Girl Best Friends.

"So you're preparing an OST track for Boy-Girl Best Friends too? That's awesome."

"Yeah! I got the song a little while ago and I've been practicing. Wanna hear it, oppa?"

"Sure? I'd love to."

Im Eun-ha hesitated for a moment, then shyly scraped her foot against the floor as she asked me.

"Um, so... do you have some time now, oppa...?"

She tilted her head coyly, brushing her hair aside with a sly glance. It was easy to see why ancestors warned of being bewitched by foxes.

"If Eun-ha's asking, I'll make the time even if I don't have it."

Of course, I was the hunter who devoured foxes.

Im Eun-ha led me to her private studio.

She opened the door, flicked on the lights in the dim space, and turned back to me with a grin.

"Come on in, oppa! This is my studio!"

She stomped her foot lightly and beckoned me inside.

At this point, a reasonable suspicion arose that Im Eun-ha might be laying a trap for me.

I'd expected she'd take me to her agency's recording studio or something similar, but the place was empty except for the two of us.

As I followed her gesture into the studio.

"Oh? It's bigger than I thought."

Once I stepped in, it became a space just for me and Im Eun-ha.

I closed the studio door and watched her excited, quick steps as she headed somewhere.

"Oppa, oppa! Over here! Sit here and listen comfortably! I've already set the volume and effects, so no need to touch anything. Oh, this! Try on these headphones."

"Okay."

"Perfect! Just press this when I give the signal later!"

I ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠followed her instructions obediently.

Sinking into the plush, 360-degree swiveling chair, I slipped on the headset. Im Eun-ha fiddled with the equipment before entering the booth connected to the window.

In the recording booth bathed in soft orange light, she donned her headset and waved at me.

[Oppa Woo-jin! Can you hear me okay?]

Her voice came through the headset—not too loud, but clear enough. It was slender yet carried a magnetic individuality that drew people in.

I flashed an okay sign with my thumb and forefinger circled. She nodded, a smile playing on her lips.

[Press it, oppa!]

I hit enter on the laptop as she instructed, and a wistful MR track began playing through the headset.

The moment Im Eun-ha locked eyes with me and opened her mouth.

"By now, I should have forgotten... but why does your shadow still linger in my heart? ♬"

Just the first phrase.

And I was already electrified by that single line.

The acquisition message rang out, but her voice filled my ears completely.

It was like the old saying about being half air, half sound—it fit perfectly. The soft, whispering hum tickled my ears as it flowed seamlessly.

I'd heard Im Eun-ha sing before, both in her group days and as a solo artist dominating charts with every release.

But unlike the polished album tracks, her raw voice in this booth hit with raw presence, sending shivers straight to my eardrums.

And above all.

Thanks to the newly acquired talent, I couldn't help but marvel at her solid vocal foundation.

The unwavering pitch, the dynamics from strong and weak beats, the smooth connections between vowels, the perfect fade-outs with breath control.

You see as much as you know, and it rang true.

"If back then, I'd been a little more selfish. What if I'd confessed? ♬"

Shivering at her solid vocals, I imagined myself singing it.

It would've been impossible before, but now it felt possible. Not quite like her, but I could mimic it a bit.

As I stared blankly at her, she met my gaze from the booth, singing without looking away.

Under the orange light, her cheeks looked incredibly flushed.

When she finished, she set down the headset, opened the booth door, and stepped out. She'd been in there for maybe seven minutes at most, but it felt like an hour to me.

Her cheeks, red as if pinched, and she fidgeted with her fingers shyly.

"H-How was it?"

"Wow... It gave me chills. Hearing it live makes it even better."

"R-Really? I could... let you hear it like this sometimes..."

"Haha. For real?"

"O-Of course...!"

She pulled a chair over and sat beside me. I glanced at her face, adjusting my pants that were straining at the seams.

It was a complete collection of singing-related talents—all B-rank or higher.

I wanted them. Im Eun-ha's talents, everything about her smiling bashfully at me.

All of it.

So.

"Can I try singing that song just now in a guy's key? It'd be great if you added harmonies, Eun-ha."

"H-Huh? You, oppa?"

"Yeah."

She seemed flustered for a second but quickly started fiddling with the laptop and gear.

"Then come here, oppa."

She grabbed my wrist and pulled me into the recording booth.

"Stand here. Put on this headset."

A moment later.

Im Eun-ha and I stood side by side in the booth, sharing the single sheet music.

"Ready? I lowered the key on the pre-recorded MR, so it might sound a bit off. But it should be listenable."

I nodded, and the MR kicked in.

I'd never been to karaoke, couldn't read sheet music properly, but the notes from earlier were crystal clear in my mind.

The moment the MR played, the exact pitch formed in my head.

Thanks to Im Eun-ha's Solid Rhythm Sense (B), I opened my mouth right on cue.

"By now, I should have forgotten ♬"

Relaxing my body and murmuring the first line softly.

A strange pleasure vibrated through my vocal cords, shuddering down my body.

"But why does your shadow still linger in my heart? ♬"

By the time I sang this far, I realized I wasn't hearing her voice and glanced sideways.

There stood Im Eun-ha, eyes wide, mouth agape, frozen as she stared at me.

I signaled her with my eyes, and she snapped out of it, glanced at the sheet, then joined in seamlessly.

Sharing the same talent origin, our vocals blended smoothly. And as expected from a pro singer, she added ad-libs.

"If back then, I'd been a little more selfish. What if I'd confessed? ♬"

"If back then~~~ ♬                                            I should've confessed~~~ ♬"

The seemingly endless song faded out.

Im Eun-ha and I locked eyes, cutting off the final phrase in unison.

"......"

"......"

Im Eun-ha had a slightly dazed look in her eyes.

As I removed my headset and stepped toward her, her glossy lips—shiny like lip gloss—parted slightly.

"Haa..."

I grasped the back of her head with my left hand, pulling her gently, her hot breath drawing her lips ever closer.