Chapter 34
Chapter 34
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Translator: uly
Chapter: 34
Chapter Title: The Surprise Studio
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“A gift?”
What gift is he talking about?
I scanned the area for a present box or something, but there was nothing.
The managers were empty-handed, and so were my kids.
“I don’t see anything with my own eyes.”
“It’s not here. We have to go somewhere else.”
Their eyes gleamed with some kind of conspiracy.
On top of that, our team rapper was holding an eyemask in his hand. When I looked at him, he grinned and held it out.
“…You want me to wear a blindfold too?”
“It’s a surprise gift, hyung.”
“You’re full of surprises in all sorts of ways.”
I gave a half-hearted reply and put on the blindfold.
Darkness enveloped my vision.
All I could sense now was the cool air of the recording studio and the chatter around me.
“Alright, let’s go, hyung.”
I stood up at the sound of Bijoo’s calm voice.
Someone grabbed my arm and led me along. It felt sturdy, so it had to be Junghyun.
Ji-ho’s laughter rang out too.
“You look just like Lee Shin with that on, hyung.”
“What’s that?”
“It’s a character from a game, but older like you… Ow…!”
I couldn’t see, but I could tell where he was from the sound and flicked his forehead.
Ri-hyeok burst into delighted laughter.
The youngest groaned in pain, then spoke in disbelief.
“You’re not a bat or anything—how do you hit someone without seeing?”
“You still expect logic from this guy’s antics? Last time he knocked out the CEO and the manager.”
“Knocked out?”
I furrowed my brow.
“That makes me sound like a bad guy.”
Just then, Manager Yoon Seok-hwan’s voice drifted in faintly.
“I went to the hospital the next day, Woojoo.”
“…Sorry about that.”
Low chuckles rippled through the group.
Conversations like, ‘That time was no joke.’
Recalling the incident where my Motion Mimicry Ability had kicked in unconsciously, it hit me anew.
Ever since I got the Motion Mimicry Ability.
My sense of balance and perception had improved overall.
Even blindfolded, I wasn’t losing my footing at all—I could walk steadily.
“Why are you walking so steadily? Is the blindfold on right, Junghyun hyung?”
A large hand fumbled over my eyes.
“Seems like it is.”
“Really? You’re walking too normally….”
“Wanna check?”
“No way. Last time I put my hand on his shoulder, the manager got wrecked.”
“Ri-hyeok hyung, the manager looks super sad right now.”
I couldn’t see it, but I could picture the expression so clearly that I burst out laughing.
That’s how we made our way to the lobby, blindfold and all.
A click sounded—someone had pressed the elevator button.
“How’s it feel walking with your eyes closed, Woojoo hyung?”
“Not bad.”
“On a scale? Could you walk without us holding on?”
I laughed and replied.
“I’m confident I could find my way better than Bijoo.”
“Hyung.”
Everyone cracked up at Bijoo’s plaintive call.
The story of Bijoo getting lost in the broadcasting station on their first music show outing was legendary at the company.
The elevator arrived, and we moved again.
That’s when I voiced the question I’d been holding.
“If we’re going back to the second floor, why take the elevator?”
“……”
A brief silence.
“See? I knew he’d figure it out.”
Everyone murmured at Ri-hyeok’s words. The maknae tried to cover.
“This isn’t the second floor, hyung. Right, guys?”
“Yeah. This is the third floor.”
“Exactly. No need to assume it’s the second floor.”
I snorted at the nonsense.
I didn’t take off the blindfold until we’d walked down the second-floor hallway, passed the recording studio from earlier, and entered a different room.
This seemed like a new place.
I’d only been in two rooms on the second floor.
The main recording studio where I took lessons with Executive Director Jo Kyu-hwan, and Daisy’s workspace from Scarlett where I’d carried stuff in early January.
But this room was different from both.
Finally, I removed the blindfold.
“Ta-da! We’re here!”
My eyes adjusted to the bright light, taking in an unfamiliar sight.
A small room with a recording booth attached.
About the size of our dorm living room.
There was a sofa, and a desk loaded with audio equipment and speakers had a laptop set up on it.
“…What is this?”
Executive Director Jo spoke to my bewildered self.
“With ‘Something’ blowing up and all, the company was divided on what to give you as a reward. A meal felt too cheap, and cash seemed off too.”
“So this is….”
“Yep. Your personal workspace.”
My jaw dropped slack.
I looked around again. The soundproofing gear and equipment suddenly felt so surreal.
…This is my workspace?
Seeing my doubtful eyes, Executive Director Jo asked.
“You look like you don’t believe it.”
“It’s too big for a surprise gift. This isn’t a hidden camera prank with a real present elsewhere, right?”
Bijoo reassured me.
“We didn’t believe it at first either, but this is real, hyung.”
“Real?”
“Real. I swear on Ri-hyeok hyung.”
“Why drag me into it?”
Grumbling Ri-hyeok added his piece.
“Trust us for once. This is really your workspace.”
“But I haven’t done anything yet to deserve it….”
Executive Director Jo said.
“No need to feel burdened. It’s not free—it’s an investment in your potential. The CEO and all the execs unanimously approved it.”
That made sense.
In a daze, I examined the equipment one by one.
There was a synth I’d drooled over online, speakers from a brand famous for sound quality.
The recording booth’s soundproof glass looked bunker-solid.
Taking it all in, I muttered.
“This isn’t a dream, right?”
I asked Manager Yoon Seok-hwan.
“Hyung, say something to wake me up from this dream.”
“You haven’t turned down that military variety show yet.”
“Not a dream, then.”
Laughter filled the room as I toured the workspace.
It wasn’t big—in fact, it looked small.
But to me right now, it was wider than any room, beautiful like a flower field.
My chest tightened with emotion.
“This really is my workspace.”
“To be precise, it’s yours and everyone’s. Like it?”
I nodded silently.
Min-gi hyung filmed my reaction with a camera, and smiles spread across Seok-hwan hyung’s face and the members’.
“How’s it feel, hyung?”
I just smiled at Bijoo’s question.
Because it was a feeling words couldn’t capture.
* * *
Some might say a small room is no big deal, but it meant everything to us.
It carried symbolic weight.
Proof of recognition.
Evidence that the company saw us as more than basement practicers—we were finally artists worthy of investment.
That’s why we were all moved.
“Let’s eat!”
We gathered around the pizza Executive Director bought before leaving, chatting animatedly.
“Getting our own workspace… Still can’t believe it.”
Bijoo’s words had the maknae nodding, tomato sauce smeared all over his mouth.
“Yeah. Now we have our own space. Honestly, I wasn’t even jealous when Scarlett noonas were debuting first, but when they got a workspace? Super envious.”
“Wipe your mouth, Wang Ji-ho. You weren’t jealous at Scarlett’s debut?”
“Yeah, we talked about it all day back then.”
Junghyun nodded at Ri-hyeok’s jab.
Ji-ho looked to Bijoo for help, but our main dancer just smiled silently and brushed pizza crumbs from the maknae’s mouth.
“Anyway, point is, we have our own workspace now.”
“Yeah, feels great.”
“Like we’re finally recognized.”
“Not bad at all.”
As the dongsaengs chimed in agreement, the word ‘workspace’ jogged a forgotten memory.
‘Speaking of work… about this album.’
I relayed what Executive Director Jo Kyu-hwan had said earlier.
Prioritizing good songs over fan growth.
And putting my song on the debut album.
“So I need your help.”
I said.
“Composing alone seems tough. Like how Jang So-won sunbae got our help on ‘Something,’ I want to collaborate with you guys this time. What do you think?”
“Sounds good, hyung.”
Junghyun thrust out a fist.
“I’ll handle the rap parts for sure.”
I grinned and bumped it. The other members nodded eagerly too.
“Especially Ri-hyeok and Junghyun—I’ll need a lot from you two.”
“Huh? Why us all of a sudden?”
Ri-hyeok’s eyes widened as he picked at his pizza.
“You two know arranging.”
“Junghyun hyung’s good at it. I’m just basic.”
“You two handled the year-end eval arrangements before I joined.”
Plus, I distinctly remembered him saying.
When I suggested arranging ideas for last year’s year-end eval prep:
-Too advanced. Love the concept, but arranging this alone would take two weeks. Only Junghyun hyung and I can do it here.
Reciting it verbatim, Ri-hyeok looked stunned.
“How do you remember that? Your memory’s insane.”
“Family trait.”
Ji-ho snickered.
“That arranging talk? Hyung was bluffing back then. He only knows basics.”
“Hey, Wang Ji-ho.”
“What? Just stating facts.”
“You’re no help, seriously.”
No wonder he dodged or glossed over composing talk every time.
He really didn’t know much. Our Ri-hyeok.
I turned to the rapper inhaling pizza like a vacuum.
“You’re the last one standing.”
“Yessir, count on me.”
He might seem chill usually, but Junghyun was a capable rapper.
Rappers basically write their own lyrics.
That gave them high music production savvy. Most composer idols were rappers for that reason.
Over pizza, Junghyun and I led the debut track discussion.
“Debut in June, so seasonal summer vibe? Cool, refreshing sound that clears your ears.”
“Nice. Tropical house style maybe.”
“But hyungs, tropical feels girl group-ish? Deep house might suit better.”
“Huh, never thought of it that way.”
“I think catchy melody, not full hook song, but addictive. One listen and you hum it all day.”
“Like ‘Something’?”
“Yeah. Like Jang So-won sunbae’s melody.”
A ‘Something’-level addictive melody…
But that was thanks to Jang So-won sunbae’s ready-made melody.
Could I create something like that?
Honestly, doubtful. Objectively, I could utilize existing stuff, but creating fresh? Not yet.
So, adapt someone else’s base.
“Any basic sources lying around?”
“Company shared folder’s full of ‘em. Tons from A&R Team discards.”
Ri-hyeok’s words made Junghyun go, “Ah.”
Like he’d remembered something key.
“What?”
“Now that you mention it, there’s a solid source in the shared folder.”
“Yeah?”
“Yeah, someone’s half-done thing. Famous story in the company.”
Before he explained, the others went, “Ah.”
“I know that one too. That’s the one?”
“Sounds like it.”
What? What is it?
“What source?”
“So, not sure how long it’s been there, but it’s got this weird vibe. Polish it right, and it’s a hit waiting to happen. But…”
“But?”
“The sound’s just… off. Trim here, that sticks out; trim that, this pops. Endless tweaks, super tricky.”
Ri-hyeok chimed in.
“A&R composers tried, all gave up. Called it trash.”
“That tough?”
Junghyun replied.
“Not hard at first listen… You’ll see when you hear it. Seems easy, but hands-on? Nightmare. I tried once and bailed.”
What could it be?
Let’s hear it. I booted the laptop, navigated the shared folder, and played the file.
Untitled_(1).
Untitled.
I clicked, tense like an athlete before a match.
The melody flowed from the speakers.
At the monotonous notes, I frowned.
Huh?
This is weird for real.
They kept saying weird—what made it weird? Definitely something gripping the ear.
Made you want to loop it.
I got why composers chased it. I wanted to dive in right away.
But the real weird part was my feeling.
When was the last time I felt this?
Thinking back, I knew instantly.
The day I first visited Hwayi Entertainment.
Hearing Jang So-won sunbae’s melody.
Goosebumps on my arms, melody replaying in my head.
Same now?
I closed my eyes, but no supporting theme melody auto-emerged like before.
Still, the more I listened, the surer I felt.
If making a debut album track, this was it.
I looped the same source dozens of times.
Finally, I decided.
“Guys.”
Staring at the ‘Untitled’ filename, I said.
“Let’s give this a title.”