Chapter 147
Chapter 147
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Translator: Vine
Chapter: 148
Chapter Title: A Dazzling Duet with Olivia Snow
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The audience went wild at her confident entrance.
But Chae Hayeon, welcoming her, felt like she could barely breathe.
What was it? An aura like no other?
As Chae Hayeon stared at her in a daze for a moment, Olivia Snow waved leisurely to the audience with a relaxed smile.
[Hello? I'm Olivia Snow.]
Olivia Snow greeted the crowd in Korean she'd memorized from her last concert. (When it came to greetings, she could do at least ten languages.)
[Wow, your Korean is incredibly fluent.]
Chae Hayeon finally snapped out of it and spoke to her.
Olivia Snow listened to the real-time translation coming through her earpiece and replied.
[A little? I know it. Learned it here from Yuin.]
[Yuin seems to know English well too?]
[He knows a bit of Japanese and English.]
[A little? No, no, a whole lot.]
Chae Hayeon was amazed at how Olivia Snow had picked up on her conversation with Yeonwoo like a ghost.
An eight-year-old fluent in three languages.
Wasn't that genius in its own right?
[That's truly impressive. Does Yeonwoo have any special tips for mastering English and Japanese so well?]
[I can't write it well. I just listen to conversations and remember the sounds. Once I hear music, I never forget it, and conversation's similar. Accents too—I figure out how to make the sounds just by hearing them and can speak them right away.]
After exchanging stories about Yeonwoo's English and Japanese learning methods, Chae Hayeon looked out at the audience.
Though focused on the conversation, some were already fidgeting in their seats.
They were clearly eager for the duo's performance.
[Alright, now let's kick off the grand finale of today's Yuin special with these two.]
Yeonwoo's eyes met Olivia Snow's.
She grinned and nodded.
Even in that smile, a green fairy popped out.
She really fit this album's theme perfectly.
Thinking that, Yeonwoo sat at the piano.
And so the piano version of From Cracker began.
Her story started from the life of a white girl in the slums, becoming famous through song, turning into a singer, and rising to global stardom—the journey captured in her song blended with Yeonwoo's piano, spawning blue fairies, yellow ones, and green ones that radiated light, filling the entire venue.
Playing the piano, Yeonwoo watched the scene in awe.
The green light was especially intense, but it was the strongest glow he'd seen in any performance so far, saturating the hall.
Olivia Snow might not be the most technically superior musician, but she was undeniably a world star.
Yeonwoo thought he shouldn't overshadow her on this stage.
He stopped watching the fairies and focused on the piano and Olivia Snow's voice.
'Master.'
Olivia Snow felt Yeonwoo's playing embracing her voice.
No one knew this song better, understood her lyrics more deeply—his accompaniment was incomparable to any other musician.
'Do whatever you want.'
It felt like he was saying that, so Olivia Snow immersed herself in the music and poured everything into her singing.
Reaching the climax and singing the final notes, Olivia Snow gazed at the audience in a trance-like haze.
Just 500 people.
But seeing all 500 possessed, entranced by her, sent thrilling chills down her spine.
Olivia Snow turned back to look at Yeonwoo seated at the piano.
"Master."
"Yeah?"
"[I think I just sang the best song of my life.]"
Yeonwoo grinned.
"[Of course. I was with you.]"
Olivia Snow burst into laughter.
As cameras captured the pair's warm moment, Chae Hayeon delivered her closing remarks and stepped off.
Chae Hayeon's Late Night usually ended with an encore performance at the final artist's discretion.
Yeonwoo knew this well.
"[Go wait downstairs. I'll play two more pieces for the encore.]"
Olivia Snow asked at Yeonwoo's words.
"[They do encores on this show?]"
"[Up to you?]"
"[Then I want to do one too. Got an MR?]"
"[What song? I'll play it for you.]"
"[Just like that?]"
"[What's the problem?]"
She wanted to say don't lie, but after all their time together, she knew this kid had no limits in music.
"[Alright, let's go.]"
"[Okay!]"
Yeonwoo nodded and sat at the piano.
People starting to leave, thinking no encore, sat back down as Olivia Snow grabbed the mic again and took center stage.
"[Encore time! I'll start with the song I always sing at my concerts!]"
She signaled Yeonwoo, who flashed a mischievous smile and began playing.
"Jazz?"
Yeonwoo nodded.
As if reclaiming her roots, he played the song she'd requested in a jazz arrangement.
Olivia Snow laughed in disbelief but played along with his antics.
Though they toyed around with the performance and vocals, the audience watched in rapt ecstasy.
And so Chae Hayeon's Late Night came to a close.
* * *
[Late Night Hits All-Time High 14.5%]
[Late Night Music Series Record Ratings: Avg 12.4%, Peak 16.1%]
[Yuin and the Singers: Fantastical Synergy on Display]
Yeonwoo's broadcast debut, Olivia Snow's first Korean TV appearance, and the ultra-luxury guests from the Yuin special—Chae Hayeon's Late Night shattered records, even including past programs.
But it didn't end there.
The broadcaster uploaded pre-edited clips to their YouTube channel right after airing, skyrocketing to trending instantly. Yeonwoo and Olivia Snow's From Cracker hit 1 million views in a day; their unaired encore reached 3 million; Yeonwoo's solo star and Sun piano versions clocked 2 million each.
The Yuin special drew viewers worldwide like moths to a flame—a pure goldmine, a golden goose.
Amid it all, Yeonwoo and Olivia Snow headed to Japan.
Their popularity there outstripped Korea's.
Olivia Snow's fandom was at least ten times bigger in Japan than Korea.
Her popularity was relatively low in Korea compared to other countries, but Japan loved her to an extreme in Asia.
Even Olivia Snow was shocked, though.
"Oji-sama!!!"
"Yuin-chan!! Look here!!"
"Kyaaaa!"
Among the fans flooding the airport, more called for Yeonwoo than her.
By now, Yeonwoo was riding a near-syndrome level of popularity in Japan.
His album sales were insane.
15,000 copies in Korea so far, but Japan had blown past 1.5 million, heading for 2 million.
Of course, JOP HQ's inclusion of Yeonwoo's photocard was a huge hook beyond his music, but in just four weeks, it was an explosive trend.
Notably, his piano piece star was especially beloved there over other countries.
Right below Olivia Snow's From Cracker at #1 on Melboard Japan Hot 100, star sat at #2.
For Japan, a pure instrumental pulling this was rare, making even terrestrial news.
Newspapers, magazines, and broadcasters swarmed with cameras to capture Yeonwoo and Olivia Snow.
Unable to dodge, they hastily set up a press area at the airport for brief interviews.
Drained more than expected from the airport chaos, Yeonwoo collapsed upon reaching the lodging.
Seeing this, Oh Jaehoon asked worriedly.
"Tired? How about simple delivery for dinner tonight?"
Yeonwoo bolted up.
"Can't do that. I've been craving ramen since before coming to Japan. We're having ramen."
"Ramen? Okay, I'll ask the company to book a ramen spot."
"Book it?"
"Yeah, if we go out now, reporters and fans will follow. It'll bother you, Olivia Snow, the shop owner, and other customers."
"I see..."
How did it come to this?
Yeonwoo still couldn't grasp his escalating fame.
"Alright, what kind of ramen?"
Japan has endless ramen varieties.
Yeonwoo's favorite was tonkotsu-style, thanks to Himari's introduction...
"But Sapporo miso sounds good too... clear shio... oh, or tori paitan..."
Then it hit him—he was exhausted.
"Jiro-style ramen...!"
Jiro-style ramen originated at Ramen Jiro: thick noodles, chunky meat, heaps of garlic and bean sprouts.
A stamina ramen trend in Japan.
"Today, Jiro-style it is."
Rehoon chuckled at Yeonwoo's serious ramen-picking face, so cute, and nodded.
"Got it. I'll get them to book it now."
Oh Jaehoon relayed to the company that Yeonwoo wanted Jiro-style, and they secured a spot fast.
The original Jiro-style shop, no less.
You'd think a trailblazing shop would have pride, but they booked easily because...
[Whoa, Prince!! We missed you! Thanks for coming to our shop.]
[Welcome! Oh, forgive my wife's reaction. Both of us are huge Yuin-chan fans.]
The owner and his wife, active fans of Yeonwoo.
[Thank you for liking me.]
Yeonwoo bowed politely to the ecstatic couple.
"Ka, kawaii...!!"
Charmed further, they rewarded him with massive ramen heaps.
[Master, can you finish all this?]
[Can't? I can.]
Yeonwoo loved gourmet food and had become a big eater.
Boasting unbelievable portions for an eight-year-old, he devoured nearly all the special ramen, posed for photos, signed, and left.
The story spread via Japanese media, hitting news as Yeonwoo & Snow's first official Japan activity.