Chapter 111
Chapter 111
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Translator: Vine
Chapter: 112
Chapter Title: Yoo Jaehyuk's Smile
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Yoo Jaehyuk was the owner of an incredible one-track mind.
His face barely showed any change of expression no matter what happened, and the only time it had gotten even a little more colorful lately was when he was facing fans on stage.
Of course, even that was just him putting on an act for the fans.
But whenever he faced Yeonwoo—or Yeonwoo's musical talent—his expression inevitably cracked every single time.
It was the same right now.
Yeonwoo was talking about rock on the guitar.
He was only seven now.
A kid who would be in first grade if he went to school.
Sure, he'd be turning eight by the end of the year soon, but seven or eight...
"This is good enough to take over guitar duties for our team, huh?"
"Really?"
Yoo Jaehyuk froze for a second.
He hadn't expected Yeonwoo to light up like that.
"W-Well, yeah. In terms of skill, you're more than ready."
"Just skill?"
"It's not realistic in practice."
At that, Yeonwoo instantly looked crestfallen as he asked.
"Why not?"
"You're still too young."
"Does being young mean I can't do anything?"
Yoo Jaehyuk shook his head.
"It's not that you can't do anything. Yeah, you could probably join us for one or two events as a special guest. But for something like a joint concert, I'd rather you didn't come if possible."
"......!! But I went to that festival before!"
As Yeonwoo protested like it made no sense, Yoo Jaehyuk continued.
"There weren't any hardcore bands that time. Rock has a lot of aggressive bands that aren't good for a kid's sensibilities."
The rock festival in Incheon had been relatively commercial and mainstream-minded.
In simple terms, no heavy metal bands—or anything harder—had performed at all.
Deeper rock shows with those kinds of acts really weren't good for a child's well-being.
The powerful speaker sound alone wouldn't be good for a kid's ears.
Yeonwoo thought to himself that it was another adult world thing and pouted.
Seeing him like that, the flustered Yoo Jaehyuk said.
"W-Well, what I mean is, I'll use you for guitar sessions when we record. If you want. We don't have a guitarist yet, right?"
"Really?"
"Of course!"
"Awesome!! Next time you uncles make a song, I'll definitely play guitar for it. Promise."
When Yeonwoo stuck out his pinky, Yoo Jaehyuk hooked his own pinky around it.
"Yeah, since you're here anyway, play some more guitar for me. It's good because you play so well."
Yeonwoo nodded at that and got more serious.
He pulled out the amp and effects pedals he'd bought with his own money and set them up.
Still not fully skilled at handling them, he finished setting up with help from the fairy and Yoo Jaehyuk, then sat in a chair, rested the guitar on his lap, and started playing.
Yoo Jaehyuk's ears were delighted by Yeonwoo's original style, blending Wes Montgomery's technique with Jimi Hendrix's playing.
Before he knew it, a warm smile had crept onto Yoo Jaehyuk's lips.
He'd never once smiled warmly—not during his childhood dreams of becoming a rocker, not when he was a rocker proudly talking about rock pride and carrying that weight, not even during the time his voice gave out and he practically went into hiding.
Was it because he was getting older?
Or was it because that shining talent was just so beautiful?
At the very least, in front of Yeonwoo, Yoo Jaehyuk had learned to talk a lot and smile.
"You play great, Yeonwoo."
He could even give real praise.
And just like that, Yeonwoo was influencing someone without even realizing it.
* * *
December was already drawing to a close.
With Christmas right around the corner, Kim Beomsin's house was still ranked at number three on the Melboard Hot 100.
There had been hopes in Korea that it might even hit number one, but it didn't pan out.
The artists at one and two were just too incredible.
The singer who had now solidly held the number one spot for several weeks, completely overtaking number two, was Olivia Snow, currently considered America's top diva. Number two, Elkind Logan, was one of the most famous rappers in the hip-hop scene.
Both were artists whose albums were guaranteed to debut on the Melboard Hot 100, and if they didn't crack the top ten, people called the album a failure.
That didn't mean the artists below third were no big deal, though.
Some had been on the Melboard Hot 100 for a long time and naturally slipped down, but there were also singers who could stand shoulder-to-shoulder with the top two, plus hot new rising stars in America.
Against all that, Kim Beomsin was following up "Home" with a new single to solidify his name in the American and global markets.
It was what Yeonwoo had intended, but even if it wasn't, now that he'd entered the Melboard charts and gained worldwide fame, it was only natural to want to hold onto it.
Of course, it wasn't easy.
Among Korean artists who'd cracked the Melboard Hot 100 top ten—even the charts themselves—plenty had ended up as one-hit wonders by Melboard standards.
Broaden it a bit to genre-specific Melboard ranks, and there were tons of Korean singers [idols included] who'd flashed bright for a moment and then vanished from Melboard.
Well, exaggerating a little, you could say there were none except for one legendary idol group.
Kim Beomsin was attempting to plant his flag on that Melboard chart.
"Confident?"
If someone asked.
"Not at all."
Kim Beomsin could say it proudly. And if they asked why challenge it anyway.
"Gotta go for it even if I can't eat it, obviously. I've got nothing to lose. It's all gravy."
He had nothing to lose.
He'd made plenty of money back when he was young. He'd started a company with it, and now one well-raised idol was bringing in cash hand over fist.
Fame?
He'd been one of the Four Heavenly Kings once, heard the title Ballad Emperor, been called washed up, then made a comeback and become the first vocalist to enter the Melboard charts—at number three, no less.
What more was there to lose at this point?
Hell, not challenging now would get him called a coward.
With that mindset, he finished recording the second Melboard-targeted track.
The title was 'Rhythmical'.
"When are you releasing it?"
"Right now is perfect timing."
Ellis, in the middle of it all, thought they should drop this single immediately.
While one and two were still holding strong even at week 25, there was a track climbing the ranks even faster than Kim Beomsin.
A hip-hop track that had just hit number five in its mere second week.
If Kim Beomsin was a veteran rookie, this artist was a monster newcomer to the American hip-hop scene.
With just their second single, their genius musicianship had hip-hop fans in America—no, the whole world—in a frenzy.
Anyone could see this person was going to push out Kim Beomsin, not to mention the current one and two.
Ellis figured they should release when this artist climbed high enough to push other ranks down.
Why release now when someone's blowing up?
They weren't aiming for number one anyway.
With Kim Beomsin's current momentum, no one else could compete except this guy.
With Christmas right ahead, there were carol releases, but no one dropping a full new album.
At least not until January.
It was like an empty house, in a way.
Of course, on a global scale, it wasn't completely empty.
"Forget empty house crap. Snap out of it, Hee-yeon. We're outsiders here. No more, no less—just ride the current fame to number 50, or push it to 30 if we're greedy, and call it a win."
Ellis was puffed up with dreams even though it wasn't strictly her gig, but Kim Beomsin stayed pretty level-headed.
"You always act so cocky, but why so cold now?"
At Ellis's question, Kim Beomsin smirked.
"That's just talk. I never get my hopes up for album releases anyway. That way, you don't get hurt as bad."
Kim Beomsin had once been in that phase where he believed his albums would always hit number one, full of confidence.
But after his peak, not a single album had succeeded, so he'd long since let go of expectations and self-assurance.
"If it does well, great—lucky break, happy vibes. If it flops, oh well, that last one was the lucky one. Got it? No pressure."
"But still..."
"Oh, right. Tell Yeonwoo too. If the kid gets hyped about his song hitting Melboard and then gets let down... man, that'd suck."
At Beomsin's words, Ellis pictured Yeonwoo with a sad, downcast face and felt bad.
'Cute... no, that's not the point.'
Cuteness aside, how disappointed would Yeonwoo be.
Thinking of the heartbroken kid made her chest ache.
"I'll definitely pass the message to Yeonwoo."
"Yeah... Huh? Isn't it daytime in Korea right now?"
Ellis checked her watch.
Like most in the industry, the two nocturnal types were up even at 4 a.m.
"Yeah?"
"Give him a call. I haven't thanked him personally for the song."
"No contact?"
"I deliberately didn't get it so I wouldn't keep bugging him for more tracks."
"Oh...?"
"Hey, I have some sense beyond greed."
Ellis let out a chuckle at Kim Beomsin's words and pulled up Yeonwoo's number.
"Uh... not sure if he'll pick up."
She cautiously hit call, and after a few rings.
-Auntie Ellis?
"Y-Yeah, Yeonwoo!! You busy?"
-No, it's fine. You're in America?
"Yeah, America."
While Ellis was on the call, Kim Beomsin fidgeted in his seat.
"Hee-yeon, speaker, put it on speaker."
At his whining, Ellis nodded and switched to speakerphone.
"Um... we finished recording the song you gave us, so we're planning to release it as soon as possible."
-Oh, cool. How'd the recording go? Send me the file! I'm curious.
"Of course. Sending it right now."
As Ellis spoke and Yeonwoo said thanks, Kim Beomsin jumped in.
"H-Hey, Yeonwoo? It's Uncle Beomsin!"
-Hi!
"I got the song you gave me this time. And the 'Home' one before. Thanks to you, I'm a Melboard artist now, huh?"
-Your voice is great, Uncle, that's why it worked.
"Haha, you think? Thanks. Uh... about this new song? When it drops in America."
-Yeah.
"If it doesn't do well, don't get too upset, okay? Watching from here, Melboard charts aren't just about skill—luck and timing play a huge part. If it flops, it's not your fault, got it, Yeonwoo?"
Kim Beomsin tried to soften it as much as possible: don't expect too much, don't get disappointed.
Yeonwoo went quiet for a while.
Was the kid not getting it?
As Kim Beomsin opened his mouth to try again.
-It's gonna do well.
"Huh?"
-I made it to do well.
Yeonwoo brimmed with confidence.
Was it childish bravado? Naive ignorance of the world?
But with everything Yeonwoo had already achieved, Beomsin couldn't say a word.