Chapter 167
Chapter 167
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Translator: Vine
Chapter: 168
Chapter Title: Saito Riku's Assault
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"Saito Riku, that bastard's got something shady about him, right?"
Kim Jimin, the eldest of the debut group gathered in the recording studio, spoke up.
Namgoong Jin nodded in agreement.
"I called him out for sucking at dancing, and he glared at me... Whoa, I was totally freaked out. Dude was intimidating as hell."
"But is Hangure really that scary just from that? Show, for real?"
At those words, Show shuddered as he replied.
"Hangure? Terrifying. They're legit bad news. Stabbing someone with a knife is child's play to them."
Everyone fell silent for a moment. Truth be told, the scariest part was that they'd been living alongside a guy like that pretending to be nice.
The acting skills required for that were downright chilling.
"He stayed in Korea talking about revenge and crap, so everyone stay sharp. Cops are looking for him, but who knows what could happen in the meantime."
Yoon Habin stepped up and spoke, and everyone nodded.
"Speaking of, isn't it about time for PD to show?"
Speak of the devil.
No sooner had Jimin finished than the studio door opened, and Yeonwoo appeared.
"Hey, hyungs!"
"You're here, PD!"
"PD, you've arrived!"
The debut group members greeted Yeonwoo politely.
Over the past sessions training under him, a clear hierarchy had taken root.
"Yeah, hyungs, we've got a guest today, cool if they hang out?"
"A guest?"
"It's fine with us."
Yeonwoo nodded like he'd expected that and stepped out the door.
"[What're you doing? Come on in!] Wait, why's the boss here?"
"Oh man, President Yuin, you gotta give us a heads-up for a guest like this!"
Hearing the voices from outside, the members exchanged glances.
"Isn't that CEO Ko Sinkun?"
"Man, our PD's English is seriously on point."
"He's famous for it."
"You haven't seen our PD on TV or videos? He was on that American show, and his English was no joke."
"Wonder if we'll ever head to the States someday."
"Who knows."
"So who's the guest?"
While they wondered about the commotion outside, Yeonwoo returned with someone.
A tall blonde woman.
"Whoa, whoa, Olivia Snow?!"
The debut group's jaws dropped at Olivia Snow's entrance.
Yeonwoo was young and from the same company, so there was some bond, but Olivia Snow was a global star they'd only ever seen on TV since childhood.
Having her right there in front of them was mind-blowing.
"[Hi, everyone?]"
"Uh... uh...."
As the debut group froze up, Yeonwoo clapped his hands sharply.
"Hyungs, snap out of it! We've got recording to do!"
Only then did the debut group come to their senses at Yeonwoo's shout.
"Who wants to go first?"
Seeing them like that, Yeonwoo asked, and the members eyed each other warily. Recording in front of two Billboard stars was intimidating.
Yeonwoo watched them quietly before turning to Kim Jimin.
"Jimin-hyung first."
"Me? M-me? Really?"
"You handle most of the high notes, so it'll be easier to start with you."
With that, Yeonwoo promptly shoved Jimin into the booth.
"Alright, we'll save the chorus for last and do the other parts first. Cool?"
-......Yeah.
Yeonwoo tilted his head, eyeing the stiff-as-a-board Kim Jimin with mild displeasure, when Olivia Snow chuckled and said.
"[Master's like that during recording? That's not good. They'll be tortured with songs for hours.]"
"[Song torture? When did I ever torture anyone?]"
Grumbling, Yeonwoo shot a sharp glare at Jimin through the booth glass.
The debut group might not know how grueling recording with Yeonwoo could be, but they knew better than anyone how strict he got with that look.
Jimin, who'd frozen in front of Olivia Snow moments ago, snapped to attention and dove into the recording.
But even the Grammy queen didn't wrap up in one take with Yeonwoo.
There was no way Jimin's singing satisfied him. For an hour, two, no, four hours straight—minus breaks—Jimin couldn't leave the booth.
"[If it's gonna take that long, shouldn't the others come back another time?]"
Only at Olivia Snow's exasperated comment did Yeonwoo finally glance back.
"Oh, feels like Jimin-hyung's not finishing today. You other hyungs wanna head out?"
"No way. Can't just leave him suffering alone."
"Yeah."
Yeonwoo nodded, looking pleased.
To pure-blooded American Olivia Snow, the scene was utterly baffling. Why wait around if you're not even recording?
That day's session dragged on until 10 p.m.
No further was possible.
Why?
Yeonwoo and the entire debut group were minors, and post-10 p.m. activities required parental consent.
It wasn't that urgent, and Jimin's vocal condition needed consideration, so recording wrapped at 10.
"Good work, Yeonwoo."
Jaehoon, who'd stuck around till the end, patted Yeonwoo's back.
"Where's auntie?"
"Meeting ran long; she said go ahead."
"Mm, got it."
Yeonwoo headed to the underground parking lot with Jaehoon and Olivia Snow.
The security team guarding JOP HQ immediately surrounded Yeonwoo, escorting him to the car.
Yeonwoo, not fully grasping the gravity, wondered if it was overkill, but Olivia Snow—having heard about Saito Riku—insisted it was par for the course.
"[In Japan, America, everywhere from now on, this is how you'll roll.]"
"[Really?]"
"[You haven't wrapped your head around it yet, huh? That's star life.]"
Truth be told, Yeonwoo was lucky.
Living in an old apartment complex where anyone could come and go kept fan interference minimal.
His fans, respecting his youth, even stalkers just snapped pics from afar.
No guarantee against sasaeng fans forever, but for now, nothing he'd call real harm.
Today was no different.
Under Jaehoon and security's watch, Yeonwoo safely boarded the car.
"Alright, home time."
Jaehoon drove off with Yeonwoo and Olivia Snow aboard.
Exiting the lot, through the alley, onto the main road.
"[Recording like this tomorrow too? Taking forever.]"
"[No choice. Hyungs still got a ways to go.]"
"[What? Then don't debut!]"
"[Nah, my standards are too high. By that logic, you couldn't debut either. Your first album....]"
"[Stop. I hate my debut album too.]"
"[Good thing, then....]"
Watching them bicker in the rearview, Jaehoon smirked and kept his eyes forward.
"Huh?"
A bike sped from the opposite direction.
Problem was...
"This is one-way. Tsk tsk...."
A bad driver ignoring traffic laws?
Jaehoon frowned and clicked his tongue as the motorcycle closed in fast.
Then his face hardened.
The helmetless rider was none other than Saito Riku.
Jaehoon quickly scanned him.
Something in his hand.
"Brick...!"
No clue where he stole the bike or grabbed the brick, but this wasn't the time.
"Both of you, duck!!!"
At Jaehoon's thunderous yell, Yeonwoo went "Huh?" as Olivia Snow instinctively half-stood, shielding him and ducking.
Crash!!
A brick smashed the front passenger window, another the rear, shattering them.
Thick tint kept them from total obliteration, but glass shards rained inside.
Screech!
Brake sounds followed, and through the broken window, a figure appeared.
Saito Riku, radiating murderous menace unlike his usual dopey face, reached in, yanked the inner handle, and popped the door open.
"[You dare kick me out? Damn JOP....]"
Saito Riku snarled at Yeonwoo in thick Kansai dialect.
Best revenge on JOP for ousting him over his past? Mess up their star maker, Yeonwoo, who put them on Japan's map and Korea's radar.
Recent scouting showed sloppier security than expected.
So Saito Riku prepped for this: stole a bike, camped near JOP HQ, waited.
And...
"[Smash your precious ears and fingers, and JOP's done. Right?]"
At his vicious words, Olivia Snow covered Yeonwoo's ears and eyes, glaring fiercely.
Then.
Thud!
Jaehoon, scrambling out late, charged and tackled Saito Riku.
Hoisting him by the waist, slamming him down, Jaehoon flipped him prone, pinned his back with a knee, wrenched an arm back, and subdued him in seconds.
"[Olivia! Call the cops...!]"
"[Cops? Dial 911?]"
"Y-yeah! Yeonwoo, call the police, tell 'em to come here! Location..."
Jaehoon spotted it on a nearby pole and relayed to Yeonwoo.
Stunned by the chaos, Yeonwoo hit the emergency call on his smartphone and reported it.
"[Let go! Get off me, you bastard!]"
"[Saito, better stay still. Resist, and that arm snaps.]"
Saito Riku froze at Jaehoon's icy warning.
Force was twisting his arm.
Moments after Jaehoon pinned him, police arrived and hauled Saito Riku away.
"[Car's trashed.... Gotta head to the station for a statement. I called President Shin Jiyeong. Cops'll stick with you till she gets here, then go together.]"
After Jaehoon left with the police, Olivia Snow comforted Yeonwoo, left with the remaining officers.
"[Master, you okay? Pretty shaken?]"
"[Yeah, a bit? Kinda threw me... Never thought this'd happen. Is this common?]"
"[Nah... Not this level.]"
"[Guess I got the uncommon experience.]"
Yeonwoo scolded himself for being complacent.
Suddenly understood the company's desperation to protect him.
They'd warned Japan was worse than Korea, hence the seriousness.
Come to think, a Japanese guy harmed him here in Korea.
No hate for Japan, but time to stay vigilant everywhere.
"[Your manager's a beast at fighting, huh? Not just for show.]"
"[Knew he was black belt, but not this good. Gotta ask him to teach me self-defense next time.]"
As Yeonwoo resolved, Jiyeong's car appeared in the distance.
Relief washed over him, and he slumped to the ground.
He seemed fine, but for a kid like Yeonwoo, it was too much.