Chapter 156
Chapter 156
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Translator: Vine
Chapter: 157
Chapter Title: Mark Miller's Last Stage
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“Mark…… Miller……!”
“Oh, Mark Miller!”
The two of them called out his name at the same time.
Mark Edward Miller.
He was a legendary American singer who had been active since the '60s.
He sang in a wide range of genres, from pop and jazz to country, and was also famous as a composer of diverse music.
He had won multiple Grammys and was such an important figure that he had to be mentioned whenever discussing country or jazz.
“[This guy…… shouldn’t we call him a legend instead of world-class?]”
Olivia Snow couldn’t understand why Mark Miller was listed as world-class.
He was more than world-class—he was someone who would be remembered forever in America.
“[Putting him in world-class is an insult. Any dog or cat can be world-class these days.]”
Olivia Snow’s words made a certain sense at first glance.
She had no intention of disparaging the singers here, but honestly, in America, gaining any popularity basically made you world-class.
It was like how a successful idol in Korea at least got popular across Asia.
Olivia Snow grumbled and had Yeonwoo pull up the mid-tier singer document.
“[Come to think of it, these people here are world-class too. They’re just has-beens now.]”
The people in the mid-tier singer category had once made waves on the American and Melboard charts.
Yes, most of the people in the world-class document would end up here in the mid-tier singer document—or more precisely, the has-been document.
Many people achieve dazzling success, but as time passes, they become has-beens. And gradually, they’re forgotten.
No matter how much they dominated an era and made their names known, there were countless such singers.
And yet, among them, some create timeless masterpieces that are loved even after decades, remembered and cherished forever.
Those are the legends.
Michael Jackson was one, Elvis Presley was another, and so was this man right here—Mark Miller, still alive even at 100 years old.
“[Sis, hasn’t it been a while since he last performed?]”
“[Yeah, decades, right? Maybe he comes out occasionally for a lifetime achievement award? What’s in the proposal?]”
Yeonwoo read the proposal.
“[They want you to join him for his final stage……?]”
Olivia Snow gasped at those words.
“What?!!!!”
“[Whoa…….]”
“[We have to go. We absolutely have to. You’re going, right?]”
Olivia Snow was reacting more intensely than Yeonwoo himself.
And she had every reason to.
It was a chance to share the final stage with a great singer who had dominated an era.
Was there any greater honor?
On top of that, the lineage was clear.
Just as Yeonwoo had started his music career with jazz as his foundation, Mark Miller had done the same.
This stage would be proof of bloodline, a certificate that he was carrying on Mark Miller’s legacy.
“[But there’s a condition? You have to perform for him first.]”
“[Hmm, it might feel unpleasant, but it could also be perfectly natural.]”
“[You think so?]”
Yeonwoo thought for a moment, then suddenly jumped up from his seat.
“[Why?]”
“[Gonna tell someone who’ll like this even more than me!]”
“[What? Are you doing it or not?]”
“[Of course we are! I’m off to brag right now!]”
With that, Yeonwoo dashed toward the master bedroom.
Unlike his hurried footsteps, Yeonwoo knocked carefully on the door of the master bedroom.
Knock knock knock.
“Is that Yeonwoo……? Come in.”
This was usually the time when Heo Ok took a 30-minute nap.
Her body wasn’t in great shape physically, so if she didn’t nap then, she’d be drowsy by evening.
She could just sleep at night, but that would throw her schedule completely out of sync with the family, so she had started taking naps.
“Grandma! You’re awake?”
“Yes, it’s about time to get up. What’s going on?”
“I think I need to go to America!!”
“Again?”
How long had it been since they’d come back from America, and now he was talking about going again?
On top of that, they’d just returned from Japan a few days ago because of Yuri & Annosuke, even though it was only a 3-day trip.
“I got an offer for a collaboration.”
“A collaboration?”
“Mark Miller proposed we do his final stage together!!”
“……Ma, Mark Miller?!”
Even Heo Ok, who was always so calm, showed a strong reaction.
“R-Really?”
“Yes!”
“Oh my god…….”
Heo Ok clasped her hands together over her chest, her face full of disbelief.
Like a schoolgirl.
And she had every reason to react that way.
To her, Mark Miller was an idol, a star.
“Should we set the schedule and go right away, Grandma?”
“Are you sure you’ll be okay? Won’t you be tired?”
“I’m fine. I’ll tell them we’re in!”
Seeing his excited grandmother only made Yeonwoo more excited, and he called the company.
JOP was surprised by Yeonwoo’s decision to accept Mark Miller’s random proposal out of so many others, but on the other hand, they thought, well, that’s jazz for you.
* * *
The Yeonwoo family, accompanied by Jihoon and Heo Ok, boarded Olivia Snow’s private jet in strict secrecy and headed back to America.
The journey wasn’t easy.
Montana wasn’t a densely populated area, so there were no direct flights from Korea.
They had to stop at San Francisco airport to refuel before heading to L.M. Clayton Airport in Montana.
And it didn’t end there—they took a car from the airport and drove for about three hours to his house by Fort Peck Lake.
“Grandma, the whole world here is forest. Have you ever been here, Grandma?”
“Of course not. I didn’t even know a place like this existed. America’s land is no joke, huh.”
“It feels so much colder coming from Korea.”
Montana, mostly mountains and forests, was far chillier than Korea.
At Yeonwoo’s words, Jihoon startled and bundled up Yeonwoo’s clothes tighter before asking Olivia Snow.
“[Ollie, do popular singers usually live in places like this?]”
“[No way. Well, tastes differ, but living somewhere with no infrastructure like this is rare.]”
Even though they’d come comfortably, after such a long trip, everyone felt like their butts were about to burst by the time they arrived at Mark Miller’s house.
“Oh my god…….”
“He lives here?”
They hadn’t even gone inside yet, but the front gate alone was magnificent.
When they contacted from the gate, it opened automatically after a moment.
The group rode for 10 minutes into the property.
“How big does a house have to be to take 10 minutes to get there…….”
“Even if land’s cheap, this is…….”
“It’s waaay bigger than our apartment complex.”
Passing through denser forest paths, they finally arrived at a building used as a parking lot.
Getting out and looking ahead, they saw several buildings that seemed to be the house.
And…….
“We have to take a cart to go further.”
They boarded a cart like one from a golf course and rode for another 10 minutes.
Passing more grand buildings, the group was shocked once again.
At the end of the cart path stood a humble log cabin.
It wasn’t shabby at all, with dense forest a short distance away and a naturally landscaped artificial lake, but the house itself looked modest.
Olivia Snow made a bizarre face and said.
“[Mark Miller’s in here?]”
“[Yes. But once more, you are absolutely forbidden from revealing any information about him until his final stage.]”
Everyone was surprised by the words of the man who had guided them on the cart.
“[You’re his grandson?]”
“[Yes.]”
He gave a curt reply as if he had nothing more to say and led the way to the log cabin.
Creeeak.
They entered with the sound of old hinges.
Yeonwoo quickly scanned the surroundings.
It was unusual.
There were countless blue fairies, but they had lost their light and were sprawled around like exhausted old men.
It was the first time Yeonwoo had seen regular fairies—not clones—looking like elderly men.
And their almost ash-gray color—what was that about?
Just as he wondered what was going on.
“[Grandpa, I’m back.]”
At the grandson’s words, everyone’s eyes turned to one spot.
A rocking chair by the fireplace.
There sat the great singer who had led an era, looking utterly unimpressive.
“Oh my god…… Mark Miller…….”
Grandma was speechless.
Mark Miller, exactly 100 years old, was covered in age spots, with a beard and eyebrows as white and long as an old sage or wizard from a fantasy movie.
His hair was also long and flowing, making him look just like a wizard from the movies.
“Mm…….”
The grandson let out a sigh at his grandfather’s lack of response and turned to the group.
“[As you can see, the great singer Mark Miller is no longer here. He has dementia.]”
Olivia Snow’s face darkened at those words.
“[Hey, how’s a dementia patient supposed to do a final stage? You want us to perform with him? Are you kidding me right now?]”
The grandson replied to Olivia Snow.
“[I’m sorry. But it was Grandpa’s request.]”
“[A dementia patient’s request?!]”
“[A while ago, I played that ‘star’ performance from the Today Morning Show for Grandpa.]”
“[And?]”
“[He reacted to it, and his mind came back for a moment.]”
Everyone looked at Mark Miller in shock.
“[That’s when he said it. ‘Let me perform on stage with that kid.’]”
“[No…….]”
Was this possible?
A dementia patient regaining his senses and asking to perform on stage?
“[I may not be in the music business, but I respect Grandpa more than anyone. Please…… can’t you grant his request?]”
As everyone showed reluctance at the grandson’s plea, Yeonwoo approached Mark Miller.
……!
There it was.
Mark Miller’s clone.
It was ash-gray and on the verge of dying, but it was there.
Yeonwoo observed the clone, then looked back at Mark Miller.
Gazing at the man with his vacant eyes, Yeonwoo turned his attention elsewhere.
To the spot with an especially large number of sprawled fairies—the piano.
Seeing the upright piano he kept encountering in America, Yeonwoo stepped up to it, leaving the adults to their conversation.
Whether it was genuine love for his grandfather or the caretaker’s sincere affection, the old, worn piano was spotless, without a speck of dust.
Yeonwoo recalled Mark Miller’s songs.
‘If it’s Grandpa Mark Miller, it has to be this one.’
Yeonwoo lifted the keyboard cover and began playing one of Mark Miller’s many hits, ‘Midnight in Blue.’
It was a piano-centric song to begin with, and the piano version was well-known—he’d heard it many times, so it wasn’t difficult.
A graceful performance unfolded from Yeonwoo’s hands.
Then, the fairies sprawled on the piano began to stir.
Their near-ash-gray bodies gradually turned blue again, starting to emit light.
The fairies, who hadn’t eaten or drunk, seemed to regain their vitality just from hearing the music.
And…….
“M, Moonlight drinks bourbon…….”
Someone sang along with the performance in a deeply hoarse voice.
Everyone turned in shock.
At the end of their gazes……
The previously motionless rocking chair began to move, and Mark Miller was humming his own hit song.