Chapter 11

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Translator: 8uhl

Chapter: 11

Chapter Title: Secret Recording

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I cleared my throat awkwardly. It was embarrassing being in the quiet practice room with someone else there.

Park Min-ha, who had settled in one corner, was gazing at me with her big eyes sparkling.

'Does she like singing?'

Well, she was currently hosting a late-night radio DJ ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠slot. It'd be hard not to develop an interest in music while doing radio.

Even if it wasn't that and there was some other reason, it wasn't going to hurt me. Getting closer to her now would be much more beneficial.

If I could just take a photo with her like I did with Jae-yoon and post it to rack up likes...

Of course, that required getting friendly first.

I flashed a bright smile and made my request to Park Min-ha.

"If anything sounds off while I'm singing, please let me know."

"Pardon? Oh, sure! Of course."

Park Min-ha nodded vigorously, then seemed to catch herself. "Ah, no! I mean, it's not like it's obvious or anything...!" She waved her hands frantically.

My gaze lingered unwittingly on her flushed cheeks. No wonder she was so popular. Even her smallest gestures drew people in.

Realizing I'd stared too long, I quickly hit play on the backing track.

"I'll start practicing now."

Then, to immerse myself deeper in the emotions, I closed my eyes slightly.

Was it because a famous celebrity was listening to my singing? I felt a mix of tension, excitement, and thrill.

'Focus. Just focus.'

Forgetting anyone was watching, I sang each syllable with care. And with that, I finished the song.

"Wow!"

Before I could even open my eyes, applause and admiration rang out.

I turned my head to see ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠Park Min-ha staring at me with eyes wide as saucers.

"You sing so well."

Her sincere praise left me a bit embarrassed. After all, it wasn't purely my skill—it was boosted by "Ho, Not Bad."

"Haha, no, not really."

"No! You really do!"

She raised her voice a bit, then quickly added, "I'm not mad or anything."

"Of course. I didn't think you were."

Having someone praise my singing felt amazing. Especially when it came from someone famous.

The backing track started up again. This one had a slightly brighter vibe than the last.

After that, we just kept going without talking. In the quiet early morning hours, with someone quietly appreciating my songs beside me, I could concentrate even more.

How much time had passed?

'Already?'

The remaining time on "Ho, Not Bad" was under ten minutes. Time to wrap up.

"Senior, don't you need to head back?"

"Huh?"

"It's past 3 a.m. already."

"Oh..."

Park Min-ha checked her phone and made a regretful face.

"It's not because of me that you couldn't leave earlier, right? I didn't mean to overstay just to listen..."

"Absolutely not! I was planning to practice anyway."

Since I'd granted her request, now it was my turn. Before she left, I'd ask for a quick photo.

'She'll agree to that much, right?'

But before I could ask, Park Min-ha spoke up first.

"Well then..."

She trailed off, hesitating to continue.

Just as I thought I'd have to bring it up myself, she spoke again.

"...Could you maybe practice one more song? For the finale?"

I glanced at the time. Plenty for one more song.

"I was just about to do one more anyway."

No sooner had I finished than Park Min-ha beamed.

"Then I'll stick around for that one too."

No real issue there. I nodded and started the backing track again.

For this final one, with the item effect still active, I'd pour all my focus in.

That's when I noticed Park Min-ha pulling out her phone and fiddling with it out of the corner of my eye.

'Not now. Last one—gotta concentrate...'

I closed my eyes and tuned into the track.

Ding.

A faint mechanical beep sounded from somewhere. But it wasn't loud.

Staying focused on the track, I cleared my mind and began singing.

"...Hey, Min-ha!"

Park Min-ha pulled out her earbuds at the sound of her name.

"Did you call me?"

"What were you listening to that you didn't hear me calling?"

Nam Ha-jeong, the main writer for CBK Radio's Park Min-ha's Languid Nights, asked with a sly grin.

"Oh, a song."

"A song?"

Ha-jeong's curiosity piqued at Min-ha's unusually cheerful demeanor.

"That good, huh? Mind if I check out what my girl's into?"

"Uh..."

Normally, Min-ha would eagerly offer, "Want to listen together, Writer?" But today, she visibly panicked.

Ha-jeong narrowed her eyes suspiciously.

"Got a boyfriend or something?"

"No!"

Min-ha waved her pale hands in shock. It was adorably cute. Ha-jeong resisted the urge to tease more.

"Then what? Can't even tell me?"

"It's not that..."

Min-ha bowed her head slightly and whispered.

"I recorded... a junior from the company practicing."

Her voice grew quieter, barely audible by the end from sheer embarrassment. She quickly hid her scarlet face in her palms.

"What?"

Ha-jeong felt an overwhelming urge to hug her. Such pure innocence was rare among celebrities.

She snorted back a laugh. Teasing now would just upset her.

Finally, Min-ha peeked out and confessed softly.

"I recorded my company junior practicing."

It was cute, but the unexpected answer sparked more curiosity than anything.

"Company junior?"

"Yeah."

"Which one?"

"Well..."

Min-ha paused. She realized she hadn't even asked his name.

After a flustered moment, she mumbled embarrassedly.

"I... don't know his name."

"What? What does that even mean?"

To Ha-jeong, it made no sense. How do you record someone without knowing their name?

Her curiosity exploded. She snatched the earbuds from Min-ha and popped them in.

The song started playing.

"...!"

Crude phone audio quality, littered with noise and beeps.

Yet Ha-jeong couldn't pull away.

'Who is that? Does Pida have a singer like this?'

She racked her brain for Pida actors and idols, but no face matched the voice.

When the song ended without a match, she turned to the anxious Min-ha.

"Who is this? Your junior?"

Even narrowing it to juniors didn't help.

Min-ha added softly, embarrassed.

"I think... he's a trainee."

Ha-jeong finally let out an "Ah!" Trainee made sense— she wouldn't know them.

But Min-ha's reactions had been off the whole time. When asked why, the answer was surprising.

"...I recorded it secretly."

"What?"

Stunned, Ha-jeong burst into hearty laughter.

"Hahaha! That's why you're embarrassed? So like you."

"...Don't tease."

Ha-jeong patted Min-ha's head fondly as she pouted, "I know it was wrong too."

"Want to make up for that little wrongdoing?"

"Huh?"

"He's a trainee, right?"

It needed more digging, but it could make for a great story. Felt like fun times ahead after a while.

"Hehe, I'll tell you later. Spoiling it now would ruin the fun."

"Aww, what is it? Writer!"

At that moment, Min-ha had no idea.

That secret recording for her own ears would lead to what in the future.

"Hyung."

Lee Jae-ha sidled up. Calling me "hyung" meant bad news incoming.

Since our cafe chat, our distance had shrunk a bit, but no huge progress yet.

'Or maybe?'

Compared to our rocky first meeting, him calling me "hyung" when bummed out was progress.

"What's up?"

"I keep getting stuck on this high note. How should I handle my vocalization?"

He still used polite speech, keeping some distance. Fair enough.

As long as he wasn't outright hostile, time would handle the rest.

Lee Jae-ha started the track with a serious face, pointing out the problematic part.

"Ah... there?"

I wanted to help and bond more, but the issue was he sang pretty damn well himself. On par with me without "Ho, Not Bad"?

Styles differed completely, but it explained why he was first in the debut lineup.

So, my advice could only be basic. Our techniques weren't the same anyway.

"It's a sudden high note, right? You're tensing your shoulders too much."

He pondered briefly, nodded, and tried again.

Same here—he nodded like it clicked.

"Maybe? I'm trying to relax, but it ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠doesn't work."

After singing, he looked more satisfied than before.

'...Does this actually help?'

I couldn't skip advising—if I said I didn't know, his glare was...

'No joke.'

Like I was holding out on purpose. Couldn't stay silent.

For some reason, he didn't buy it even if I claimed ignorance.

'Ugh, whatever.'

If he was happy, fine.

I looked away from Jae-ha diving back into practice and plugged in my earbuds to listen to my recent recording.

Since that dawn practice, something felt just out of reach.

If I had a status window like in games, it'd be nice to see skill levels for singing and dancing. Instead of useless crap like death timers...

"What the hell..."

"Pardon?"

"Nothing, nothing."

I waved off Jae-ha's puzzled look and hurried outside.

'What is this now?'

A random quest popped up. Fine, success reward okay—but failure penalty?

'-24 hours?'

What nonsense. I wished for skill levels, not this gambling bullshit.

'Ridiculous. As if I'd accept th—'

Ding.

"...?"

I now understood what it meant to be too stunned for words.

I just stared blankly at the floating text, speechless.

Tick.

Tick.

The clock ticked mockingly, time draining away.

...What kind of insane bastard designed this?