Chapter 14

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Translator: 8uhl

Chapter: 14

Chapter Title: 하트 받는 탑스타-14화

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Translator: 8uhl

Chapter: 14

Chapter Title: Languid Night Radio

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My guest appearance was on the second part of Park Min-ha's Languid Night.

I thought I had plenty of time to relax, but I was dead wrong. The first part flew by in the blink of an eye.

Just before the first part wrapped up, I followed the staff's instructions and got everything set up.

Kim Han-soo grabbed my shoulder ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠as I was about to head into the radio booth.

"Don't get nervous. Even if you make a mistake, it's fine—just stay calm."

"Do-jun, come on in!"

Before I could even respond to him, the youngest writer urged me on, and I hurried inside.

The moment I crossed the threshold between the waiting room and the radio booth, all sorts of thoughts flooded my mind.

Can I really pull this off?

What if I go on the radio and there's zero reaction? What if it doesn't spark any buzz? What if I mess up the song? What if my voice cracks out of nowhere? What if I forget the lyrics?

Every negative scenario played out vividly in my head.

The tension I'd felt riding here in the car was nothing compared to this. My mouth was drying out so fast from the nerves that it hurt.

Should've popped another calming pill.

The second I sat down, I cracked open a bottle of water and took a sip. Then two, three, four sips.

Enough already.

My throat was still parched, but chugging more wouldn't help. Worst case, I'd end up needing the bathroom mid-show.

As the first part ended, the youngest writer who'd come in with me ran through the precautions one more time—from adjusting the headset to what to do if something went wrong.

I followed her instructions in a daze, and before I knew it, everything was set. She encouraged me not to be nervous and headed out of the booth.

Cold.

The headset felt chilly against my neck when I looped it on, which ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠actually helped snap me back to reality a bit.

Click.

Finally, the radio booth door shut completely. The unfamiliar space and scent cranked my tension to the max.

"Whew."

I let out a short breath to try and steady myself, and Park Min-ha, who'd been watching me, spoke up.

"Feeling pretty nervous?"

"Pardon? Yeah... I thought I was fine, but it hit me all of a sudden."

Normally I'd have brushed it off, but right now, I didn't have the luxury.

It was a small mercy that this was radio—no one could see my pale face.

Park Min-ha gave a sly smile.

"Don't worry too much."

"Ahaha, thanks."

I forced a grin, but that didn't make the anxiety vanish.

The clock on the booth wall ticked down by the second.

Twenty seconds until part two started.

Park Min-ha kept encouraging me right up to the end.

"You sing great. The listeners will love your songs just like I do. I guarantee it!"

She clenched her pale fist and flashed a smile. Thanks to her, my nerves eased a little.

Her guarantee that the listeners would like it felt like swallowing another calming pill—the pressure melted away.

Ten seconds left. The PD signaled from outside.

"Oh! Time to put on the headset."

I followed her lead and slipped mine on. It felt lighter than before.

Am I gonna die of nerves?

I could buy a bit more time with coins, but I didn't have much left anyway.

Seeing that made the last of my tension evaporate.

At minimum, I had to make a huge impact this time so other places would invite me too. That was the only way to last longer.

"Okay, 5, 4, 3…!"

The signal for part two blared.

'Ho, Not Bad'—use one.

"You've been waiting, right? Let's kick off part two."

The item's effect kicked in just as Park Min-ha's languid yet soothing voice flowed through the headset.

"Time flies, huh? Some of you might be asleep by now, but others are still wide awake."

At that moment, messages exploded up the monitor in front of me.

- I'm still up.
- Aren't you sleepy, PD?
- Gonna listen till the end before bed!

"3670, I'm not sleepy yet. I'm a total night owl myself."

Park Min-ha smoothly picked one from the flood of messages and kept going. Her vibe was worlds apart from what I'd seen outside—totally captivating.

I was zoning out staring at the screen when she signaled me with her eyes.

"So, for all you night owls like me, we have a special guest today. Making his debut soon with the idol group B.O.Y—Lee Do-jun. Hello?"

"…Ah, hello. This is Lee Do-jun of Beside of You, B.O.Y."

My response was a tad late. I glanced outside instinctively, but luckily, no one on staff reacted oddly.

"Whoa, new guest and the messages are pouring in. 'What's B.O.Y?', 'Guest! Guest!', 'Do-jun, how's PD doing right now?' Why ask the guest about me? Ask me directly."

She bantered with the messages like the listeners were right there, then tossed the ball to me.

"Shall we hear a song first before we chat?"

…What?

I was already on edge, and suddenly system windows poured out in front of me.

Quest Window

Come on, warn a guy ahead of time! This is live—live!

I skimmed it as fast as I could. Favor, meaning…

"Ready, Do-jun?"

"Ah, yes!"

At her words, I jumped up and moved to the mic. Meanwhile, the system ignored me and kept popping notifications.

Damn it…

No wonder the system had been so quiet for my debut radio spot, even giving gifts for just signing the contract.

No, wait.

This wasn't even a gift. Lately, the damn thing kept forcing these on me half-voluntarily. I had my pride too…

"Here's 'One Day' by B.O.Y's Lee Do-jun."

With her intro, the backing track started in my headset. Focus here first.

System, we'll settle scores later.

I tuned into the gentle music and began to sing.

He's way more nervous than I expected?

The PD tilted his head watching Do-jun fidget at the mic.

Of course, a rookie basically debuting today not being nervous at all would be absurd.

But Nam Ha-jeong, the head writer, had pushed so hard for him that expectations were high. She wasn't the type to recommend just anyone.

Probably wanted to tease Min-ha a bit too, but…

No pro would book a guest for something that petty.

And the PD himself had nodded along to the rough recording she'd played.

Definitely sings well.

With those expectations, his performance so far was disappointing. Now, he just hoped for no major screw-ups.

"Hard to get out of bed, haven't even started the day."

That's when Do-jun's song kicked off. The PD's ears perked up involuntarily.

Whoa…

From the first line, all his worries vanished. The awe only grew as it went on.

"Tired of 'hang in there,' want different words, but nothing I wanna hear."

"Hiya…"

Someone's gasp echoed the PD's thoughts.

Pida, an agency specializing in actors, pushing an idol? He'd had low hopes, but they'd gone all-in. They'd raised a singer, not just an idol.

"Ha, this…"

As the song built, he was left speechless. A debuting rookie, really?

He had years of radio under his belt, live vocals from countless rookies and vets.

Getting hooked on that initial recording was par for the course.

But.

…Beyond imagination?

Do-jun's skill far exceeded expectations. Like he'd leveled up in those few days.

Each emotion in the song invaded his chest uninvited, claiming space by force.

"Insane."

"I'm gonna cry…"

The staff around him kept marveling too.

If the outsiders were like this, Park Min-ha, hearing it up close in the booth, was blown away. Words failed her.

Even better…?

The practice ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠room version from days ago felt trivial now.

She forgot she was in a radio booth, lost in his song.

His voice had this pull, drawing listeners in. A long-time DJ like her rarely heard anything like it.

So this was what it felt like to become a fan because of a song.

She suddenly wanted him to blow up, to hear more songs.

"…"

Do-jun's song ended.

"…Ah! Listeners, did you enjoy that?"

A brief silence, then Min-ha snapped back ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠and continued. The PD sighed in relief and turned to Ha-jeong.

"No joke, right? As expected of our Nam writer's eye."

No reply. He glanced over.

"Nam Writer?"

Ha-jeong was lost in thought, silent. Best to leave her be—she'd come up with killer ideas after.

Instead, he checked the booth. Do-jun looked relaxed now, chatting naturally with Min-ha.

Better.

Only then did he slump back in his chair. Experience said no disasters after this.

With some breathing room, he asked the youngest writer beside him.

"Reactions?"

"No joke."

Her grinning tone made him check the monitor. Late night, but messages flooded in.

- Voice is amazing.
- What group? Missed it. Tell again!
- Wow, so healing…
- Crying now… Why? Was a good day till this hit, suddenly sad.

All glowing. Anyone meh after that song? Doubt their ears.

"Seriously no joke. Recording didn't capture half of it."

Ha-jeong muttered as Do-jun started his second song, finally snapping out of it.

Now he got why Min-ha had snuck that recording. He'd want it too.

Ha-jeong eyed Do-jun, immersed, and tossed to the PD.

"He said his group debut's still ways off?"

"Yeah, final prep, but it'll take time."

"How about a monthly regular guest for a bit?"

"Regular?"

"Yeah, once a week. No strain, and reactions should be great."

Ha-jeong and the PD's eyes met mid-air.

Thirteen minutes left—wrap-up time. At staff cue, Park Min-ha smiled brightly and started.

"Sadly, time to say goodbye to Do-jun. Hope you all had a great time?"

"Absolutely. You made it amazing. Would love to come back sometime."

"I'd love to have you again and hear more songs. What do you think, Nabam family?"

Messages surged right away. Mostly positive, thankfully.

A few preferred just her voice, but nothing to sweat—normal for a DJ with big fans.

"Do-jun, any last words for the Nabam family?"

"Ah! Thanks so much for the warm welcome. Hope to see you often."

"Just got one: 'Can we hear you sing somewhere else?'"

Somewhere else?

Nothing yet? Idol debut was far off. Goodstar live maybe, but…

Ah!

A flash of inspiration—I jumped on it.

"I'll be posting cover videos on my SNS soon. Come check it out!"

"Ahaha, there you go. Those who want more, take note."

I glanced outside just in case—no weird reactions from staff.

Good.

That should drive some Goodstar traffic, right?

Radio reaches nationwide—prime promo. No clue how many tuned in, but.

"Time to say bye to Do-jun! Goodbye!"

"Thank you!"

And just like that, my first schedule ended. I stepped out of the booth light-hearted when—

…What the hell? How many? Just one?

I'm seriously gonna kill this…

"What?"

What is this?

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