Chapter 155
Chapter 155
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Translator: Vine
Chapter: 156
Chapter Title: Chance Encounters
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Yuin's mini-album *STAR* held the number one spot on Melboard 200 for 13 straight weeks, and *From Cracker* topped Melboard Hot 100 for 14 consecutive weeks before dropping to second place the following week. It was a bit disappointing that the hopes for the longest-running number one in Melboard history had come to a somewhat anticlimactic end.
Yuri & Annosuke made their comeback in Japan with their full-length debut album.
Yeonwoo had composed all 15 tracks, with Nanase serving as the executive producer. She had assembled the best lyricists and top producers from every field to create this masterpiece.
The album's title was *Coincidence*, and the lead single was "Even If We Happen to Meet on the Street (Tamatama Michi de Deattemo)."
Koreans might find the title overly Japanese and cringeworthy, but when pronounced in Japanese, it created an oddly addictive lyric.
In Japan, "by chance" is expressed as "tamatama."
Tamatama, kimi ni deatta
*(Tamatama, kimi ni deatta)*
By chance, I ran into you
Tamatama, me ga atta dake
*(Tamatama, me ga atta dake)*
By chance, our eyes just met
Tamatama, mune ga kurushikute
*(Tamatama, mune ga kurushikute)*
By chance, why does my heart ache so much?
The repetitive lyrics and sound stuck in people's ears, while the heartfelt emotion swept through the nation.
[Yuri & Annosuke's "Even If We Happen to Meet on the Street," composed by Yuin, claims the top spot in record time upon release!]
[Addictive sound, lyrics, and fantastic harmonies fuel the hype.]
[Yuin conquers Japan once more, following her solo album with Yuri & Annosuke's debut.]
Reactions poured in from Korea at the same time.
A lot of people were curious just because Yuin had created it, so they gave it a listen.
It climbed to 13th on the daily charts on day one, then shot up to 5th the next day thanks to the addictive repetition in the lyrics and melody. By the third day, it had reached second place.
But it never quite hit number one.
*From Cracker*, another Yuin track, was still holding strong at the top in Korea.
*From Cracker* had dominated Mango Player's weekly chart—Korea's leading music platform—for an astonishing 18 weeks, claiming the record for the longest-running number one (previously held by an NGS song at 16 weeks). It was also the first track ever to top every Korean music platform simultaneously for 18 straight weeks.
Even in Japan, *From Cracker* clung to second place despite the Yuri & Annosuke frenzy, holding the record for the longest run on Melboard Japan Hot 100 as well.
A composer and producer whose every release hit number one—and whose own album had conquered Melboard to boot. A true monster.
Interest in him was spreading from Korea and Japan to the entire world.
On top of that, Olivia Snow kept hyping him up like a salesman, calling collaborations with him an honor. That had top American artists taking notice.
Some had even drawn their own conclusions and started sending proposals to Yeonwoo.
But Yeonwoo had dumped the whole lot back on JOP.
Hundreds of emails were just too overwhelming.
Thanks to him, JOP's Korean branch was pulling all-nighters out of nowhere.
Yeonwoo had told them to take their time—no rush, just review the proposals and get back to him. But JOP was fired up, convinced there might be a gem or a lottery ticket in the pile.
"So, anything good?"
Ko Shinkun, head of JOP's Korean branch, asked the planning team leader who had just walked into his office.
The team leader silently handed over a binder.
Ko Shinkun, who suffered from presbyopia, preferred paper documents with large print over computer screens.
"Let's see... Huh?"
Ko Shinkun spoke Korean fluently, but his gestures and exclamations were pure Japanese.
He tried to hold back after moving to Korea, but he couldn't help blurting out "Ehh?!" as he pulled out his reading glasses.
"Is this for real?"
"It's real."
"It's like they won a Grammy or something."
The report he received was packed with names that could have graced a Grammy stage.
"No one else measures up to our CEO Yuin, all things considered."
"Can't argue there."
Artistic merit? Check. Mass appeal? Check. And as an 8-year-old genius boy, he had star power and box-office draw to spare.
The money-hungry Americans (that's how Ko Shinkun saw the U.S. music industry) had every reason to drool.
"But they're all has-beens, every last one."
"You think so?"
"Look—most of 'em are washed up or on the verge. What's this? Isn't this one already shelf-worn enough for the convenience store dumpster?"
As he said, a closer look revealed mostly fading stars desperate for a comeback, or ones teetering on the edge.
"Should we toss 'em?"
"...Nah. You know Yuin. He might be able to reform these folks and make something of 'em."
He'd done it with Kim Beomsin. And Yuh Jaehyuk too.
No reason it wouldn't work with American singers.
If they showed potential, Yeonwoo was the type to revive them.
"Send them all over. But categorize clearly."
"Got it. 'Has-beens' sounds harsh, so we'll call this group 'mid-career artists.' Then rising stars, world-class, unknowns— that sort of thing."
"Yeah."
Ko Shinkun nodded, and the team leader compiled summaries of the lists and proposals, firing them off to Yeonwoo's email.
* * *
Yeonwoo seemed primed to jump straight into Chae Hayeon's album, but he was actually working on something else.
"[You want me to compose the opening for next season's Power Rangers?]"
...Yeah.
"[What's the concept for the new season? Wait—what?! Music Rangers?!]"
Yeonwoo had been commissioned for the opening theme of a new Power Rangers series airing early next year.
It was pocket change compared to his current rates, but for Yeonwoo, Power Rangers wasn't about the money.
"[Got it. Sounds like I'm the only one who can do this new team's opening justice.]"
To Yeonwoo, Power Rangers was his one childish hobby at age 8.
And now they were making a music-themed season.
It felt like fate.
"[I'll throw in an ending theme too. No pressure. But you gotta hook me up with the toys first—figures for all five rangers, transformation bracelets, weapons, robots. Deal? Thanks!]"
Just two songs.
He could whip them up anytime.
In exchange, he'd score the full set of Power Rangers figures, gear, and mecha—first dibs, ahead of everyone.
By Yeonwoo's math, it was a steal.
"[Master, what's up? Where you calling from? Japan?]"
"[Yeah, Japan. Signed on for a new Power Rangers opening and ending.]"
"[What's Power Rangers?]"
Yeonwoo searched it on his phone and showed Olivia Snow.
"[Oh, Power Rangers?]"
"[That's what they call it in the U.S.?]"
"[Probably? Never watched, so not sure.]"
Yeonwoo nodded.
"[But you're doing that? Why?]"
"[Because it's Power Rangers...!]"
Olivia Snow shook her head at Yeonwoo's solemn declaration.
Yeah, he's still a kid.
Right at that age where he'd love it.
She'd almost forgotten, with how grown-up he acted.
"[Anyway, why aren't you heading back?]"
"[Told you, I'm sticking around while my promo's on hiatus.]"
"[Shouldn't you check out your houses in the States?]"
"[Kid, that's what property managers are for. Why would I?]"
Yeonwoo wasn't quite at Olivia Snow's level, but he was rich enough now that no one would laugh if he called himself one. Still, the world of the wealthy was lost on him.
Wasn't being rich just eating whatever you want and buying whatever you fancy?
Not wrong, but Yeonwoo's scale was a bit small.
Anyway, Yeonwoo thought about America.
"[Fair. I couldn't live in New York full-time either.]"
Jazz mecca or not, New York had struck him as dull, boring—a grind for adults.
"[What, judging the whole country off one trip to New York?]"
"[Kinda?]"
"[You have no idea how huge the U.S. is, do you?]"
"[I know the land's big, but...]"
Yeonwoo's knowledge of geography and science topped out at elementary level.
He'd only learned about time zones on this U.S. trip.
"[Look here—that's where we went, the East Coast. New York's this tiny dot. Compare it to Korea; you can see the scale right away, yeah?]"
"[Yeah.]"
"[And this is where I hang out mostly—California. No real winters, nice year-round. They complain about the cold, but it'd feel like a chilly Korean spring.]"
"[Oh...]"
"[Great place to live, tons to do. Paradise.]"
"[For real?]"
"[Sure, crime's an issue. Oh, and lots of Koreans live here. Word is, the Korean food's even better than back home.]"
"[No way?!?!]"
Olivia Snow chuckled at Yeonwoo's excited reaction to the food mention.
The weather in L.A. right now was perfect.
Warm, but not over 30°C, and the ocean was refreshingly cool without being too cold for swimming.
She loved winter but also swimming—an irony—and this was prime time for outdoor water fun.
Olivia Snow planned to sweet-talk Yeonwoo into visiting her L.A. house.
"[Let's go sometime.]"
"[Sure, if you want... Wait—what? Sometime?]"
"[Yeah, I've got Power Rangers music to make now. Gonna create the best opening in Power Rangers history.]"
"[But... you can do that in L.A.]"
"[Really?]"
Yeonwoo was tempted for a second.
"Huh?"
An alert chimed just then, and Yeonwoo glanced over. It was the tone he'd set for HQ staff.
"Oh!"
It was the summarized proposals he'd requested a couple days ago.
"[What? What's that?]"
"[The proposals. Too many emails from people wanting to work with me, so I asked them to sort 'em.]"
"[Cool. Who from? Any from the U.S.?]"
"[Dunno.]"
"[World-class? Any big shots?]"
"[Let's check.]"
Yeonwoo opened the world-class file.
"[Hmm... all below my level?]"
"[Sis, objective or subjective?]"
"[What? I'm totally objective here. Tell any of 'em who beat my award count to step up!]"
"[Awards aren't everything. Pure vocals? Tons better than you. Composition? Plenty outdo you too.]"
"[Gotta dig into my heart like that to feel better?! What about you?]"
"[I'm the best. Your singing's still ahead, though.]"
Olivia Snow grinned at that, then tilted her head at a name in the doc.
"[Huh? Why her?]"
"[Who?]"
Olivia Snow pointed to one name.