Chapter 40
Chapter 40
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Translator: Vine
Chapter: 41
Chapter Title: Yeonwoo's Resolve
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After Shuji, who had watched over Chae Hayeon alongside Yeonwoo, left for his accommodations, Jiyeong returned from handling business outside and asked in surprise at her mother's words.
"So, the JOP president said Teacher Yeonwoo's class teacher would make it big in Japan?"
"Yeah, he was really eyeing her."
"That much? When I watched videos of her on YouTube with Yeonwoo before, she didn't seem quite that good."
"No, she was pretty impressive."
"Oh...!"
Even if the music scenes in Korea and Japan were different, they couldn't ignore the potential recognized by someone of Shuji's caliber.
"He wants to turn Yeonwoo’s teacher into a singer. Should we really give it a shot?"
"No, that inspiration of his wants to debut her in Japan. He thinks she'll make it there, not in Korea."
"Really?"
"Her vibe is similar to the most famous singer in Japan back in the '80s."
"Seiko Matsuda?"
"There was one singer who could stand shoulder-to-shoulder with her. That one."
"Oh, I've heard the name somewhere. Anyway, retro stuff is trending in Japan these days, so debut her with that concept?"
"Exactly."
Jiyeong found herself even more intrigued by the idea.
So what if she couldn't debut in Korea?
If the person herself was okay with it, debuting in Japan wouldn't be bad at all.
Why else would Korean idols and singers be so eager to break into Japan?
The market was bigger and more lucrative than Korea's.
With China practically off-limits now, Japan's value had only risen further.
These days, Korean agencies were even launching idols directly for the Japanese domestic market.
If she could be an idol, there was no reason she couldn't be a singer.
Especially as a JOP artist—no less.
Whether in Korea or Japan, being under a major label carried huge weight.
"I'll ask Yeonwoo tomorrow when he wakes up."
And the next day.
As usual, after picking him up from kindergarten, Jiyeong and Yeonwoo entered the studio and chatted over snacks.
"Grandpa Shuji seemed like he wants to debut Teacher Yeonwoo’s class in Japan—what do you think, Yeonwoo?"
Yeonwoo, who had been reverently gazing at his egg tart and was about to take a bite, paused and looked firmly at his aunt.
"No."
"Huh?"
"Even if I go to Japan, I'll make her debut in Korea."
"No, why? Grandpa Shuji said she wouldn't make it in Korea."
Yeonwoo shook his head.
In that moment, Jiyeong could tell—Yeonwoo was starting to get stubborn.
Those pursed lips, wide eyes, and cheeks flushed with a fierce(?) determination.
It was the face he made when he dug in his heels.
"Grandpa Shuji is the top guy in Japan for scouting and raising singers, even if he says that. It wouldn't hurt to listen to him."
"I'm the composer who made Uncle Kim Beomsin number one, too."
"Uhmm...."
Wasn't that only possible because your songs were insanely good? she wanted to say, but ultimately, that was down to her skills as a producer, so she had no comeback.
"Fine, then let's do it your way. We'll set up the company, get investment from Grandpa Shuji, and debut her!"
What was there to agonize over?
And so what if it flopped? Failure is the mother of success—Yeonwoo needed to experience that at least once!!
"But debuting Teacher Chae Hayeon as a singer in Korea will have to wait."
"Why?"
"Setting up Grandpa Shuji's company's Korean branch will take time first. Then the investment will come through. Only after that can we start raising singers."
Yeonwoo puffed out his cheeks.
"More grown-up stuff again?"
"No helping it. Until then, we'll do other things to get even more famous."
"Do we have to get famous?"
"That way, when Teacher Chae Hayeon becomes a singer later, more people will notice. You know what that means, right?"
"She can become a famous singer faster?"
"Exactly."
Yeonwoo seemed to deflate like a punctured balloon.
He'd thought he could debut Teacher Chae Hayeon as a singer right away.
Grown-up circumstances were apparently more complicated than Yeonwoo had imagined.
But he didn't want to give up here.
"For now... can't we at least have her practice in our studio?"
"Hmm. I'll talk it over. That satisfy you?"
"Yeah, for now."
Then Yeonwoo stood up from his seat.
"Where are you going?"
"Gonna make a song!"
"Alright?"
"Yeah, gotta get famous quick."
With that, Yeonwoo went into his room, but he didn't make a song.
He opened YouTube and scouted countless singers.
Truth be told, he already had 15 songs completed—rearranged and finalized after getting inspiration from meeting Himari.
But at this point, Yeonwoo had realized that songs weren't everything.
A good song needed good lyrics and a singer who matched it perfectly to truly shine.
Shuji's fairy had taught him that.
Come to think of it, Yeonwoo hadn't made anyone succeed entirely on his own.
He'd given Kim Beomsin the song to reignite his career, but Kim Beomsin's role in crafting great lyrics and perfecting them through effort had been huge.
And what about Hadass?
All Yeonwoo had done for Hadass was write the song—nothing more.
Ellis, the brilliant producer, had selected five BSK trainees, found the perfect song, and made them a success.
Yeonwoo had merely contacted her with a good song.
Sure, he'd later borrowed Kim Beomsin's fairy power during recording to advise them.
But all these elements coming together made him want even more to raise his own singer.
And since that wasn't possible right now, Yeonwoo was wandering in search of a singer who matched the songs he'd made.
Ideally, one where yellow fairies would burst out wildly and shine so brightly it hurt the eyes.
That was when it happened.
"[Yeonwoo-kun!! Yeonwoo-kun, where are you?!]"
Familiar Japanese came from outside. It was Grandpa Shuji.
Yeonwoo opened his room door and peeked his head out.
"Grandpa Shuji?"
The massive Shuji spotted Yeonwoo and strode over.
"[Yeonwoo-kun, I heard you want to debut your teacher in Korea, not Japan?]"
"......?"
Yeonwoo tilted his head.
"Oh no...!"
He'd forgotten the interpreter again today.
* * *
"Hey, we'll hit 30,000 subscribers soon."
At Jo Soyeon's words, Chae Hayeon perked up her ears.
"It's doing well?"
"Nah, just saying."
"...Should we quit?"
"Quit what!!"
Jo Soyeon snapped at that, then grabbed Hayeon's shoulders and shook her.
"This is how it happens—one moment the algorithm picks us up and boom! Hitting 30k subscribers with zero promo or algorithms? To outsiders it might seem fake, but it's huge! 30,000 people gathered just to hear your voice!"
"O-okay, I get it, let go."
Jo Soyeon huffed and released Hayeon's shoulders.
"You're too quick to give up. You quit singing right after graduation to teach at a daycare."
"...I knew it wouldn't work."
"Blindly following your professor's word is a problem too. Whatever he said gospel?"
"Not exactly, but...."
Frustrated and snapping for a second, Jo Soyeon quickly cooled down.
Truth be told, Chae Hayeon wasn't the type to give up easily. Her family situation had forced her hand.
"Anyway, just wait. It'll blow up. If I ditch you then, you know?"
"How could I do that to you?"
The two, whose moods had lifted, burst into giggles just as Hayeon's phone rang.
"Hm? Call coming in. The director?"
"Why would my mom?"
"Nah, who is it?"
"Some pissed-off parent?"
"Probably not... Hello?"
Sometimes parents called urgently if a kid got sick after drop-off or something came up, so Hayeon couldn't ignore it and answered.
-Hello, Teacher Han Chae Young?
"Yes, sorry, who is this?"
-This is Yeonwoo's aunt, Shin Jiyeong! I gave you my card before.
"...Yes, Sunbae-nim!!"
-Sunbae-nim?
"I'm XX class from your year in the same department, Sunbae-nim."
-Wow.... You're from our school. I had no idea.
"Wh-what brings you to call, Sunbae-nim? Is something urgent with Yeonwoo?"
-Oh, no, it's not about Yeonwoo.
Not about Yeonwoo?
Then why call me?
Hayeon's heart pounded inexplicably.
Was it the thrill of talking to such an amazing senior?
Or anticipation for something else?
-Could you stop by my studio after work today? I'd like to talk music.
"Ah, yes, Sunbae-nim! I'll do that!"
Hayeon hung up and looked at Jo Soyeon.
"What is it? Who's this sunbae?"
"Yeonwoo's aunt. She wants to meet."
"Huh? Why? What's up? Something with Yeonwoo?"
"Not Yeonwoo... Oh, right, I didn't tell you. Yeonwoo's aunt is our school sunbae. Famous producer. The one who raised Daydream."
"What? For real? Why would someone like that want to meet you?"
"No idea! But something's up... yeah, something feels off! Yeonwoo th
Seeing Hayeon all excited, Jo Soyeon got hyped too and clapped like a seal.
"Something's definitely up, right? What if you become a singer?"
"Don't jinx it. Work first."
Pushing down her fluttering heart, Hayeon headed to work with Jo Soyeon.
The usual routine began.
She should have been too busy to notice time flying, but today it dragged on strangely.
Still, time marched on.
Just when she was wondering why it was crawling, it was already pickup time—she sent the kids home.
Yeonwoo was among them.
"Hello, Sunbae-nim."
"Yes, Hoobae-nim. After work later... you didn't forget?"
Nodding like she'd been enchanted, Hayeon got Jo Soyeon's help to finish a bit earlier than usual.
She headed to the address on the card.
"It's practically next door."
Staring at the building with the convenience store she sometimes used during overtime, Hayeon soon stepped inside.
The somewhat worn entrance had a SSHIN sign.
Nervously, she swallowed and carefully pressed the doorbell.
The front door opened at once.
Hayeon cautiously pushed it open and peeked in.
"Excuse me... Ah!"
"Teacher!!"
The first to greet her was Yeonwoo.
"Yeonwoo, you're here too?"
"Yes!"
Yeonwoo looked different up close. He was quiet and mature around the kids, but here he was just like any other kid his age.
Beaming brightly, his voice louder and cheerier than usual.
"Come in, Teacher! This is me and Auntie’s studio."
"I can come in?"
"Yes, come on in. This is the living room. We greet guests here, rest, eat—everything."
And Yeonwoo was even chattier than usual, nonstop introducing the studio.
Unlike the rundown exterior, the space called a studio was sleek and modern.
"You're here?"
"Ah! Hello, Sunbae-nim! Han Chae Hayeon, XX class!"
"Oh, cut that out. You're embarrassing me. Sit here."
After seating Hayeon at the table, Yeonwoo and Jiyeong sat side by side across from her.
"First off, I should introduce our company. We're the SSHIN label under JOP's Korean branch—JOP being a Japanese record label and agency."
"JOP...!"
"You know it?"
"My favorite band is under JOP, so yeah."
"Oh, that makes this easier. Remember that old guy you met a few days ago?"
"Yes."
"He's the JOP president."
"...That was Datemura Shuji?"
Hayeon was floored.
She knew her favorite band was JOP, and that Datemura Shuji had scouted and built them up, along with countless other Japanese stars.
She just hadn't bothered looking up his face since her interest stopped at the band. (Unless you watched Japanese news or papers, Shuji's face was hard to come by.)
"I'm joint CEO of the label, Shin Jiyeong, and...."
Jiyeong pointed at Yeonwoo.
"This is my nephew Yeonwoo, and joint CEO alongside me—Yuin."
"Ah, I see... Wait, what?"
Yuin?
Did I hear that wrong?
As if reading Hayeon's mind, Jiyeong said,
"You heard right. Our Yeonwoo is Yuin. Know the name?"
How could she not?
Whether you were in the industry or trying to break in, Yuin was the hottest topic scorching the scene right now.
No way someone like Shin Jiyeong would lie.
Hayeon looked at Yeonwoo with trembling eyes.
Yeonwoo just grinned, clearly amused by her reaction.