Chapter 138
Chapter 138
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Translator: Vine
Chapter: 139
Chapter Title: Olivia Snow, the Next-Door Neighbor
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The recording session with Hadassah didn't wrap up that very day. It only concluded after her voice recovered a few days later and they re-recorded.
In the meantime, Olivia Snow had also been recording, taking turns with Hadassah.
"[I don't think I can ever record with you again.]"
Even Olivia Snow was left sticking out her tongue at Hadassah's strict, near-perfectionist producing style.
But it wasn't without its rewards.
Olivia Snow had no intention of advertising that she'd learned something from an eight-year-old kid, so she kept quiet. Still, just watching Yeonwoo's producing taught her a ton.
And on top of that, true to his word, Yeonwoo gave her some in-depth advice on her own music.
That's how Olivia Snow realized Yeonwoo's musical world was deeper than she'd imagined—heck, on a level she couldn't even comprehend.
As a result, the way they addressed each other changed.
"[Master, does that mean my recording's done now?]"
Olivia Snow, who could pass for a character from an old Hong Kong triad movie, started calling Yeonwoo "Master."
"[Snow Sis, you're done now.]"
Yeonwoo called Olivia Snow "Snow Sis." The reason? Her name was Snow, plain and simple.
"[You're heading back now, right?]"
As they chatted with Olivia Snow—which was sharpening Yeonwoo's English conversation skills in no time—she shook her head at his question.
"[Nah, I'm gonna stick around in Korea for a bit.]"
"[...No more activities?]"
"[After a world tour? Time to chill. I'll be in Korea for a while. Even found a place.]"
"[You got a place...? ]"
Olivia Snow nodded and said.
"[Don't freak out, Master.]"
"[Don't freak out?]"
He wasn't sure if he'd freak out, but it sure made him uneasy.
"[I bought the house right next to yours! Your new neighbor is me!]"
"[...Wait, why?]"
"[Because I like you, Master?]"
It wasn't just the Master. His grandmother Jade, his dad Jihoon, Jiyeong—they were all great too.
It was like the perfect family template she'd always dreamed of.
And the surprisingly modest house appealed to her too.
After hitting it big, she'd bought lavish mansions in New York and LA (Stars of Olivia Snow's caliber almost never lived in small homes.) along with villas and studios, partly due to resentment from her childhood. But the coziness of a small house gave her a sense of stability.
Sitting in the living room meant bumping into Yeonwoo's family—people she'd grown to love—all the time.
They'd chat casually, gossip for hours at the drop of a hat, and share meals at a tiny table where their shoulders brushed.
Living in her own place would've made that impossible.
It was just too big; they might not even run into each other.
For her, these were experiences she'd never had. They felt fresh, happy, fun.
Wanting to hold onto that happiness, she decided to live close to Yeonwoo during her break.
Right next door.
"[Quit making that disgusted face. I asked Jade, and she said it was fine.]"
"[Grandma did?]"
"[Yeah. Told her it was a surprise for you, and she kept the promise.]"
Yeonwoo let out a sigh.
Next door, though.
That house belonged to an elderly couple even older than Grandmother Heo Ok.
No way they'd sell, planning to spend their remaining years there.
"[Threw in an extra 100 million, and they loved it. Something about their grandson's study abroad funds, Jessie said.]"
"[Oh... ]"
Classic Americans, showing capitalism in action.
Money made anything possible.
"[Guess there's no helping it.]"
Yeonwoo pretended to hate it, but he actually liked that Olivia Snow would be living next door.
She was a fun friend.
Yeonwoo was learning a lot from her too.
As a star, she influenced him in many ways.
He was starting to get a sense of how to handle stars.
Or beyond that, she was just fun to hang out with.
"[So, where to for lunch today? Jade's cooking?]"
Yeonwoo shook his head.
"[Asking her to cook every day would wear Grandma out.]"
"[True. Jade always makes such hearty meals. Then I'll treat you, Jade, and Jihoon to lunch!]"
"[Ooh, expensive stuff it is.]"
Olivia Snow burst into giggles at that.
"[You got it. Name it.]"
Yeonwoo didn't even need to think.
"[Short ribs, then.]"
"Galbi?"
Yeonwoo blanked for a sec on the English for galbi and thumped his own ribcage.
"Oh, ribs? [Love me some galbi.]"
"[Beef, pork—the works.]"
And so Yeonwoo and Snow headed home, picked up Jihoon and Grandma, and found a nearby galbi joint.
Not some legendary spot, but the side dishes were neat, the meat quality solid, and above all, the doenjang jjigae and cold noodles were delicious—Yeonwoo's favorite.
"[This how they do galbi in Korea? Cutting the bones?]"
Seeing galbi totally unlike American ribs, Himari watched Yeonwoo's family eat.
Everyone had their own style.
Heo Ok ate hers with pristine white rice.
Jihoon topped it with green onion salad and such on lettuce for a wrap, shoving it in one bite.
Yeonwoo paired his with radish wraps.
After much deliberation, Olivia Snow decided to just go for the galbi plain.
Olivia Snow's eyes lit up.
"[N-new world! This flavor!]"
Olivia Snow was hooked on galbi. A different delight from the samgyeopsal she'd had before, tickling her tongue.
"[That good?]"
She nodded vigorously at Yeonwoo's question.
"[Rare taste in the U.S., I guess? Korea's flavors are so varied, but not heavy like America's.]"
Truth be told, Olivia Snow wasn't big on typical American foods.
One and all, greasy, salty, heavy. She thought she ate salty in Korea, but America—not to mention Japan—was saltier still.
Add grease on top, and for someone like Olivia Snow who had to watch her figure, it was a burden.
But look here.
Korea was light.
With galbi like this, she could eat pounds and not gain a thing.
And so she devoured it like mad.
* * *
Olivia Snow wrote her own lyrics, Hadassah had Ellis handle hers,
And Ishi-eun got Jiyeong on lyric duty.
Once Ishi-eun had the MR, lyrics, and guide track, her face broke into a huge smile just listening to the guide.
It was just that good.
Was it overwhelming?
Sure, but she had no worries about not being able to sing it.
Frankly, the song made for Ishi-eun was ridiculously easy.
Tailored perfectly to her cheat-code voice.
Hadassah—who'd belted super-high-difficulty harmonies—or Olivia Snow—who'd recorded endlessly under brutal standards—might've screamed discrimination. It was that easy.
No need to complicate it and ruin her voice.
But when Ishi-eun showed up at the studio for her recording, Olivia Snow actually got pissed.
"[What the hell! Why's hers so easy? Discrimination? If you're putting an easy song like this on the album, make mine easy too!!]"
"[Snow Sis and you are different, sis.]"
"[Discrimination?! These days, white people really get discriminated against. I've never discriminated against other races, so why do I have to pay for my ancestors'... ]"
Seeing Olivia Snow freak out and Ishi-eun go pale, Yeonwoo clamped her mouth shut.
"[Snow Sis, quit the nonsense. You're scaring everyone.]"
"[What? Why? I'm not some U.S. soldier invading Ganghwa Island or anything?!]"
"[What're you even talking about?]"
"[Never heard of the Shinmiyangyo? Study some history!]"
For the record, Olivia Snow had studied up on Korean history involving America and Europe.
In a world where one wrong word or move as a white person could spell disaster.
Not necessary to this degree, of course, but it was part of why she was loved worldwide.
Just try badmouthing America mid-concert in Korea by bringing up Shinmiyangyo.
Who wouldn't love that?
Image-making was key for stars.
"[Anyway, so her voice is that good, huh?]"
In that sense, Olivia Snow saw Ishi-eun as far from star material.
For starters, no exhibitionist vibe—the bare minimum.
Stars gotta be desperate for fan love.
But Yeonwoo said her voice was killer. Said if she acted with it, people would go nuts (he said they'd like it, but Snow interpreted it her way).
Really now?
"[I'm Olivia Snow. You know me?]"
"Y-Yes. Uh... Y-You're my, my f-favorite singer-songwriter."
Olivia Snow heard Ishi-eun's shaky English and her eyes went wide as she looked at Yeonwoo.
Yeonwoo's face screamed, See? Told you.
No East-West or racial divide needed.
It was a voice like honey slathered on vocal cords and sprinkled with flowers.
No need for technique or volume—just pure beauty.
If God existed, you'd wanna protest the unfairness.
"[Ahem. So, when's the recording?]"
"[Now.]"
Yeonwoo casually sent Ishi-eun into the booth.
"Sis, don't be too nervous. Just sing light and easy. Ignore this Snow Sis here."
-That's not easy...
"Hadassah Sis pulled it off. You can too. Or just close your eyes and go for it!"
At Yeonwoo's words, Ishi-eun really squeezed her eyes shut.
As always, she pictured the theme Yeonwoo made for her, shaking off tension and diving in.
Her voice started flowing from the booth, and Yeonwoo watched her fondly.
He liked the voice, sure, but he was proud of how she'd quickly relaxed and immersed herself in this situation.
No more freezing up in front of cameras or gripped by fear like before.
Who fit "rising star" better than this woman overcoming obstacles and drawing public eyes?
"You're doing great!"
That's why Yeonwoo showered her with praise.
Totally different from his approach with Olivia Snow and Hadassah—enough that Olivia Snow stared at him in disbelief.
But.
"That part's a bit lacking, though."
He wasn't going easy. Yeonwoo demanded perfection from Ishi-eun too.
"Ah, sis, not that one."
"[Yup... that's the master for ya.]"
An hour turned to two, two to three, with nonstop feedback from Yeonwoo. Olivia Snow finally nodded in satisfaction.