Chapter 40
Chapter 40
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Translator: uly
Chapter: 40
Chapter Title: This Life is Space Star 40
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The song ended.
I experienced a bizarre silence unlike anything I'd ever felt before.
Why were they all acting like that?
“…….”
I scanned the faces of the A&R Team staff.
There was an engineer tweaking the sound source, composers, and other staff handling various tasks.
People with all sorts of unique personalities.
But right now, the expressions on their faces were all the same.
They'd been like that since the song started.
Like they'd witnessed some incomprehensible phenomenon.
I was tempted to use my Motion Mimicry Ability to copy those expressions right there. That way, I could figure out what emotion they were conveying.
The only emotion I could read in the room was the confusion from my younger members.
Frustrated, I parted my lips.
“Um… what did you think?”
“Hm?”
The staff blinked at my words.
“Uh, well…….”
“This song…….”
But they all trailed off before finishing.
Maybe it wasn't what they expected. As they narrowed their eyes, pondering an appropriate reaction—
“It’s well made.”
It was Executive Director Jo from the head seat.
“Way better than I anticipated. Sure, it needs some revisions, but for a first-time composition, it’s really impressive. Good enough to include as a B-side on the debut album without issue.”
“Ah, thank you.”
“Giving feedback on the track here doesn’t seem right. I’ll pass it along later. Gotta hear from the team too.”
Executive Director Jo Kyu-hwan’s gaze shifted to the A&R Team Leader beside him.
A silent exchange passed between the two men.
The A&R Team Leader nodded, and our producer spoke up.
“Alright then…….”
His tone pretended normalcy, but I sensed something beneath it.
“Good work, everyone. New Black, you can head out first. We’re starting the meeting now, and it’ll probably get sensitive.”
* * *
As the New Black members left with uneasy faces, the conference room fell silent again.
Of course Seon Wooju couldn’t read the mood.
It encompassed both positive and negative.
On the positive side, the song was just that good.
In album production, they evaluated and reviewed tracks from composers daily.
That naturally honed their sense of what made a good song and what suited a singer.
To them, Fireworks was a raw gem.
True to Wooju’s goal of drawing in potential fans, the track was meticulously crafted for easy listening.
It was enjoyable on repeat, but above all, easy on the ears.
Plus, the chorus was addictive.
Dismantling the original source instead of just tweaking it had been a brilliant move.
If he’d tried to preserve it as-is, Seon Wooju would’ve failed like the senior composers before him.
But like a skilled chef, he’d used it as an ingredient for an entirely new melody.
The original source was as unrecognizable as dried chilies in pasta—mushy and formless.
Yet its addictive bite lingered, like a spicy aroma.
Even now, some were humming the chorus in their heads, craving another listen.
Easy listening with high addictiveness.
Was there a better summer seasonal track?
Of course, the rough tuning, odd instrument choices, and somewhat dated bridge needed immediate work, but the framework was outstanding.
And that was the problem.
The reason everyone here felt conflicted was the quality of Seon Wooju’s song—it was too good.
Good was good.
The issue was it was so good it derailed their plans.
The A&R Team had been internally planning the album since New Black’s music show debut with Jang Sowon.
They’d outlined the basics.
The documents on the table contained exactly that.
Everything decided from the start.
The business rationale outweighed training Seon Wooju in composition when Jo and the A&R Team assigned him a self-composed track.
It was a goal, but not the main one.
An agency was a profit-driven business.
What were the odds a beginner composer would nail a great song?
Expectations started at zero.
They just needed the “Composer Idol” image to promote after Something, for the debut album hype.
So they were lenient—whatever the track turned out like.
B-sides rarely got listens anyway, and the title track was outsourced to a famous composer.
If not for Seon Wooju’s Fireworks.
‘The song’s too good for no reason.’
They expected something listeners might shrug off as “not bad.”
Smooth, album-fitting filler.
But Fireworks wasn’t just good—it perfectly matched New Black’s color.
And it was intense.
Worst conditions for a B-side.
You couldn’t cast a better-looking actor than the lead in a supporting role.
So, three options:
1. Release as a separate digital single.
2. Keep as B-side.
3. Scrap plans and restructure the album.
The A&R staff leaned toward 1.
They didn’t want to trash months of work.
But that would wreck the “Composer Idol” promo plan.
Option 2 carried risks too.
Fans hearing the album might react: “Is the company crazy? Why push something else as title over this?”
As everyone pondered silently, the A&R Team Leader sighed.
“We asked for a B-side, and he brings a title track.”
Laughter erupted here and there.
They all felt the same.
Yoon Seok-hwan Manager spoke first.
“To me, the quality’s solid, and it fits the kids’ vibe… But since A&R worked hard on the album planning these past months, you should decide the track’s fate.”
“We’re in a bind now too…….”
The A&R Team Leader looked to Executive Director Jo.
“Best if you tie it up, Director. You always make the right calls.”
Everyone nodded.
In Lemon Entertainment’s key decisions, Jo Kyu-hwan always chose best.
What would it be this time?
All eyes turned to the producer, legs crossed in thought.
Five minutes passed.
Finally, Executive Director Jo shifted.
“Looks like…….”
His gaze landed on the planning docs.
He flipped the paper decisively, as if resolved.
“We need a full review.”
* * *
A week had nearly passed since presenting the song at the A&R meeting, but no word from the company.
Even Executive Director Jo Kyu-hwan, who promised feedback, was silent.
I considered asking the A&R Team, but they seemed swamped with meetings—not the vibe.
Probing Seok-hwan hyung got nothing; he kept it secret for some reason.
Min-gi hyung was…
“Thanks! I’ll dig in good!”
Grinning ear-to-ear over snacks from Senior Jang Sowon.
That guy.
Should’ve been Sugarfish’s manager, not ours.
This was the waiting room.
Today’s recording: [Midnight Music Show].
Airing every Sunday evening, it aimed to unite generations with diverse music.
Trot singers and idols alike appeared, one of PBS’s flagship long-runners.
This slot came from Music Cafe buzz.
The PD loved Between and requested us.
Heard the Music Cafe PD and Senior Ha Seung-ju recommended us too.
It was earlier than planned, but got pushed to now somehow.
Eh.
Mid-season timing, but being back at the station felt good.
My head was still buzzing about the song, though.
Leaning blankly on the sofa, fluffy desserts in plastic bags floated before my eyes.
“Hyung, look! Soufflés. Souff-lay~”
“Yeah.”
“It’s Soufflé, I said.”
“Sounds tasty.”
“What? No reaction? Souff—”
The maknae poking my side excitedly turned to Ri-hyeok.
“Leave him. Ajusshi’s in a mood lately.”
“Oh.”
Ji-ho shut his mouth, convinced.
He slumped like a sad puppy for a while, then Jang Sowon, chatting with Min-gi hyung, asked.
“Why’s our baby maknae so down?”
“It’s ‘cause, sunbae. Woojoo hyung ignores my teasing lately. Teasing with Soufflé was my life’s joy…….”
“Why’s the leader in a funk?”
“I’m fine, sunbae.”
I tilted my head and smiled at her.
“The kids are framing me.”
“Wow, look at that smile. Won’t give us one like that.”
Ji-ho pointed accusingly, like ‘Look at that shameless face!’ as Jung-hyun munched bread.
“I can’t remember the last time Woojoo hyung smiled at us.”
“Hey, Kim Jung-hyun, you too…….”
“You know I can’t lie, hyung.”
Fair point.
Had my face been that bad lately? Looking around, no one disagreed.
Felt embarrassing.
Said I was grabbing drinks and left the waiting room.
“I’ll come too.”
Walking the hall with our beaming main dancer, I asked.
“Have I been looking bad lately?”
“Just kidding around.”
“Half-serious, felt like.”
“Hm… Truth is, since you started composing, you’ve been stressed. Not blaming you. Everyone gets cranky when worn out.”
“Hearing that from you makes me feel like I messed up big.”
If even he said it, maybe I had.
The studio ramped up the pressure.
Gotta deliver results after earning it.
No one hyped me, so I stressed solo.
It birthed a good track, but I obsessed.
“Don’t take it too hard. Half-joke, half-worry for you.”
“Me?”
“Locked in the studio daily. Hollow eyes, gaunt cheeks. You’d deny it, but yeah. Worried if you were okay.”
“…….”
“So when composing wrapped, we were thrilled. Song was great, but mainly, you’d be back to normal.”
But post-A&R, I’d been touchy.
Bi-ju continued smiling.
“Lately, everyone’s bugging me to talk to you.”
“Say what?”
“Ease up a bit.”
What?
“We wanna climb higher too, same as you. But you’ve done plenty. Like at Music Cafe—without you, we wouldn’t be here. Pre-debut, this is more than enough.”
“…….”
“So relax, shed the burden. Be chill sometimes.”
Bi-ju added playfully.
“And play with us more.”
I felt grateful to him, and the others who wanted to say it.
Yeah, I’d been too self-focused lately.
Pushing the kids thinking ‘they gotta succeed.’
No judging overzealous parents on TV anymore.
No wonder Ri-hyeok gave me looks during those news.
“Thanks.”
“No biggie. Oh, Day-Z’s here. I’ll take this.”
“Yeah.”
I punched the vending machine: black coffee for Jang Sowon, cider for Ji-ho, pine needle drink for Jung-hyun.
Bi-ju beamed at his can.
“They sell this at stations too? Wanted it, but only hospital machines had it.”
“Hospital? Which one?”
Bi-ju flinched.
“…Huh? Hospital?”
“You said hospital.”
“Oh, just a quick visit recently.”
He glossed over oddly, but I dropped it.
Don’t ruin the mood.
Heading back smiling for the members—
Click. Door opened to a rowdy vibe.
“Hyung.”
Jung-hyun, face flushed unusually, called me.
“What? What’s up?”
“Our song, Fireworks.”
“Yeah. What about it?”
“Company decided it’s the title track.”
* * *
“Really?”
Turning to the manager for confirmation, Yoon Seok-hwan grinned and handed me his phone like ‘take it.’
“Hello.”
-Yeah, it’s me. News late?
Executive Director Jo’s voice.
-Finished meeting with the CEO.
“Director, for real? My song’s the title?”
-That’s the call. A&R, management, PR—all weighed in, voted. 40-7. CEO and division head approved after listening.
“…….”
-You there?
“Yeah. Just… overwhelmed.”
A low chuckle from the other end.
-Wanted to hint earlier, but didn’t wanna disappoint if not. Anyway, good work. Congrats.
He mentioned tons of revisions ahead, but I heard nothing.
My song as debut title.
I’d imagined singing it at concerts someday.
But music show stage as title? Never dreamed.
Indescribably euphoric.
I’d been thrilled just getting the studio; this was next level.
Call ended, I flopped on the sofa laughing.
“Hyung! Congrats!”
Ecstatic dongsaengs piled on.
Crushed under weight, breathless, still laughing nonstop.
Chest felt wide open, refreshed.
* * *
With the raucous laughter fading over the line, Jo Kyu-hwan ended the call.
‘Midnight Music Show recording today?’
Their vibe meant stage quality was fine.
Picturing Seon Wooju laughing far at the station, Jo smiled.
He set his smartphone on the desk.
Long fingers tapped the screen, filling the office with Fireworks’ intro.
‘Still good on repeat. Addictive.’
Eyes closed, he savored the melody.
Might not top charts or break records, but it’d have lasting appeal.
Addictive yet not tiring.
Probably the base source.
He recalled a recent chat with Seon Wooju.
-Question: why smash the original source and remake unlike others?
-Oh, it felt off after listens.
-Off?
-Yeah. Everyone said weird at first, me too. Thought fixing it’d be huge. But more listens, weirder. Maybe just me—
Wooju cautiously.
-Like it’s already polished. Pretends raw gem, but not. Like someone failed a jewel, then recut to fake raw. Whoever made the source is genius. Hated the flop vibe, so made it subtly odd.
-….
-Director, why?
Jo slyly opened his eyes, sheepish smile.
Eh. Everyone has black history.
He eyed the folder on his desk.
New Black members’ photos and profiles.
Top: beaming Seon Wooju.
Tapping the face, he smiled.
‘Gotta raise him right.’
Wondered.
How far could this talented kid go, well-nurtured?
Savoring the song, pleasant imaginings swirled.