Chapter 48
Chapter 48
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Translator: Vine
Chapter: 49
Chapter Title: Sing Perfectly and Claim the Song
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[Hang in There, Today Too
Hyungnim Class Teacher
Composed by. Yuin
Lyrics by. Chae Hayeon, Jo Soyeon
Produced by. Yuin]
It was as if the song had been made just for office workers, and it quickly climbed the YouTube trending charts. Riding that momentum, it started steadily rising on music streaming charts as well, hitting #67 on the weekly Mango Player chart in its first week.
Sure, you could say #67 on Mango's weekly Top 100 wasn't that impressive, but in the cutthroat music industry—a red ocean where countless singers debut or release new tracks every single day—cracking the Top 100 was a massive achievement.
And that was for a YouTuber singer(?) who had never even appeared on TV once.
But Yuin's success story didn't stop there.
Word of mouth spread, dubbing it the ultimate "off-to-quit-work" anthem. In its second week, it reached #21 on the weekly chart, then dominated the real-time charts multiple times in the third week, securing #9 weekly.
Communities and YouTube comments exploded, but the biggest buzz was in the composer wannabe and pro composer forums.
-Check out Yuin's class ㄷ
-Taking an unknown newbie straight into Mango Top 10 prestige ㄷㄷ
-No way, is Yuin insane;;;; What's with that chord progression;;;
-City pop but ignoring classic city pop chords lololol
-But not chasing current trends either lololol Seems like only this guy still emphasizes melody
-Just a genius ;;;
-Every track he's dropped has been a hit
-Newbie but doesn't feel like one;; How's a rookie handling tracks like this?
-Veteran composer just changed nicknames? Lololol
-How do you even know if they're a newbie lololol Bunch of copy-paste scrubs using random internet chords lololol
-Fr real lololol You think you scrubs can judge Yuin? Mass-produced composer trash ㅉㅉ
-Those two above lololol Who are you to talk lololol You guys copy-paste like crazy too
To the young composers frequenting this forum, Yuin was like a freak of nature.
While everyone else mass-produced tracks by copying and pasting trending chord success formulas, Yuin was hitting grand slams with four straight tracks using unheard-of new chords—and even melodies without money chords.
Some pegged him as an established composer in disguise, but no one could guess who, since even vets didn't drop such experimental stuff.
Others just called him a natural-born genius.
Closest to the truth, but no one imagined it was a kid about to start elementary school.
Anyway, with pros and wannabes paying attention, Yuin's value—more precisely, his song prices—skyrocketed daily.
Producers were flocking to Shin Jiyeong, the only one showing her face at SSHIN, bundles of cash in hand to snag a track.
But Yeonwoo wasn't handing songs to other labels.
Too full?
Yep.
Yeonwoo had started out thinking anyone would do as long as they sang his songs on TV, but now his standards were sky-high.
Not just anyone—he wanted singers worth giving to.
Not simply good singers.
Singers with top-tier vocals like Kim Beomsin at Korea's peak, idols like Hadass who nailed perfect harmonies in groups, or unique voices like Chae Hayeon's.
He wanted singers with at least one "weapon" that could inspire him.
Even so, places kept approaching with song requests, like they were testing the waters.
Dozens of labels, big and small—even ones he'd never heard of—contacted Jiyeong.
She was shocked at how many labels existed in Korea.
"Yeonwoo, stop being so picky and take at least one request. Too many people want songs."
Jiyeong finally vented to Yeonwoo.
"Auntie, if you give away a song and it blows up, even more will come begging, right?"
"No, after this, prepping the next track takes time, so we'd get a few months' break from calls."
"Doubt it…."
"Aaah, fine. Should we hire someone to handle this instead? Wait, we're becoming a JOP subsidiary label soon—maybe redirect requests to JOP?"
Yeonwoo, watching Jiyeong fret, suddenly remembered something and rummaged through his computer.
"Huh? What're you doing?"
"Auntie, if it's that bad, give these two tracks to whoever calls."
"Huh? Really okay?"
"Tell them if they can sing it, it's theirs. And say you need a break after making these."
Jiyeong eagerly played the two music files Yeonwoo showed her, one after the other.
Her mouth dropped open as she listened.
"One's a ballad-ish, the other's dance."
"Yeah."
"But Yeonwoo."
"Yeah?"
"Can... a human actually sing these?"
The tracks were incredible, pure Yuin: earworm catchy without chasing trends, leading them instead.
The issue? Both way too hard.
The ballad demanded off-beat singing in the climax, plus insanely high notes.
High enough that she wondered if any Korean singer could handle it—especially with the rhythm.
The second was idol-hit potential, but off-beats, blistering tempo, intricate phrasing—could anyone choreograph and dance to it?
Even imagining it, she'd lose the beat or collapse from exhaustion.
"No one can, so they'll leave us alone for a bit."
"Think so?"
A sudden idea hit, and Jiyeong grinned mischievously.
"Wanna upload these and do a challenge?"
"Challenge?"
"We made our official YouTube channel, right? Post: 'Sing this perfectly, and you get the song.'"
SSHIN had an official YouTube account now.
Just a few videos: Cold Night, Fly High, Rising—BSK-approved covers by Kim Beomsin and Hadass—plus Chae Hayeon's Hang in There, Today Too.
Subscriber count hit 70K fast, thanks to crossovers from BSK and Hyungnim Class Teacher channels.
"Just the tracks? How do they follow along?"
"Write lyrics, use AI vocal for guide."
"AI vocal program's what?"
"AI's like... a computer?"
"The computer sings instead?"
"Pretty much. It'll nail whatever you want, Yeonwoo. Virtual vocal, so no soul, but."
Yeonwoo finally perked up.
"Sounds fun!"
"Wanna try?"
"Yeah. Who writes lyrics?"
"I'll find a good lyricist."
"You know how to use that AI vocal thing, Auntie?"
"I'll find someone for that too…."
Jiyeong felt like she was creating work just to avoid work.
"Oh, and Auntie, what about Uncle Yoo Jaehyuk? Treatment going well in the US?"
"Oh, surgery went great, recovery's smooth? Earliest next month, latest February, he can sing again."
"Good."
Another reason Yeonwoo held back songs.
He wanted to perfect Yoo Jaehyuk's vocals and have him sing his tracks.
All his current compositions were for Yoo Jaehyuk.
"Ah, another call. When're you growing up, our Yeonwoo? Hurry and debut as Yuin upfront, then no more calls for Auntie, right?"
"I'm starting elementary school now!"
"Still elementary... So sad."
Jiyeong pretended to cry, dodging Yeonwoo's pouting tantrum as she headed to the studio lounge to answer.
* * *
Once decided on the challenge, Jiyeong prepped to record Tracks 1 and 2 amid her chaos.
First up: lyrics.
"I'll do the dance one."
VVX recording was done, choreography outsourced—bit of breathing room—so she'd handle Track 2.
Not her favorite task, but confident in dance lyrics, so self-assigned.
Ballad Track 1?
Who to give it to?
Made to dodge calls, but quality too high—needed a pro lyricist.
She scrolled contacts for top-tier lyricists she knew.
Four A-listers in her phone.
Pinged two ballad specialists.
-I'LL DO IT!!!!!!!!!
One bit immediately.
Kim Yena.
Top lyricist, solid producer too.
Oddly, produced idols but wrote ballads.
"Kid got no work lately?"
Same age as Jiyeong, friends.
Jiyeong called right away.
-Hey! Gimme that track! Please!
"Didn't even hear it?"
-Yuin, right? He's killing it—no brainer. Gotta snag fast!
"...Fine. Listen first. Oh, know any engineers good with AI vocals?"
-Tons. Lemme check?
"Yeah."
Call ended, Jiyeong sent the track.
Soon, Yena's texts:
[Yo... Who made this to torture singers?]
[For Kim Sungyun Jang?]
[Song's insane, but singer'll go insane too?]
[No, vocal cords'll explode]
[Wow...;;; But track slaps]
[Hook me up with Yuin? New album soon]
[Huh?]
[Why read and ghost? You there?]
Jiyeong chuckled at Yena's texts, then spotted the nickname.
"Kim Sungyun Jang."
Post-Four Kings era (Kim Beomsin, Yoo Jaehyuk et al.), the current top four singers' surname mashup.
Undeniably Korea's vocal elite.
"Wonder if even they could sing it?"
Doubtful.
Too tough, even for them—off-beats bad enough, but Yeonwoo's interpretation demanded wild high-note techniques.
"Anyone gonna try this challenge?"
Too hard—no takers, she figured.
Wrong.
Lyrics done fast, AI vocal track from engineer, video via Jo Soyeon—up on SSHIN official channel.
[Sing Perfectly and Get This Song 1
You Who Love Me
song by. ai vocal eve]
[Sing Perfectly and Get This Song 2
Game Changer
song by. ai vocal idol siren]
Slow views at first, as predicted—no buzz.
But clickbait titles drew crowds, trending fast.
Reactions exploded.
-No lololol How to sing this?
-Both tracks nuts?
-Made impossible on purpose lololol
-Know it's hard so used AI lolololol
-Computer-only song ㄷㄷ
-Trolling us? Lolol
-Any singer attempting?
Most: too hard.
Track 1, ballad "You Who Love Me": off-beats hell, climax 3-octave solo with every technique—ultra-nightmare.
Track 2 "Game Changer": tempo warp-speed, vocals split intricate, off/on-beats, group tough solo killer—exhaustion death.
Who'd dare?
-Maybe someone tried backstage lololol
-Tried, failed, no upload lolol
-Honestly, who sings that?
-Nah, but feels doable somehow?
Weird vibe.
Super hard, unworldly—yet addictive, tempting a try.
Yeonwoo's tweak when Jiyeong mentioned challenge: hard but bait-like doable.
And someone bit.
[Perfect. Sing. Claim. Challenge!
You Who Love Me
cover by. Lil Jun]
First challenger: idol Lil Jun.
Hot male idol main vocal, rep for skills.
Result?...
-Is this "perfect"?
-No lololol Where'd you learn that machine-y autotune mess?
-Lil Jun so lame lololololol
-Even missed beats
-Fr? Lolol Couldn't tell lolol
-Missed tons of beats.
-Lololol Kid can't even hit 3-octave tryna this lololol
-Yo take vid down
-Our oppa sings great why hate?
-Oppa voice too good ㅠㅠㅠㅠ
-Lets ask Yuin for this—can't get more perfect kids ㅠ
-Shielding worse ㄷ)
-This is "perfect" lolololol
-Know shame fr
Disaster.
Looked passionate, but obvious heavy processing, beat misses galore.
Thought fans blind, but music nerds everywhere.
Thought it'd kill challenges post-embarrassment? Nope.
Bad buzz = attention. Singers/YouTubers piled in.
Most failed.
Chase pitch? Technique flops below AI.
Chase technique? Pitch drops.
Then.
[Sing and get song?
You Who Love Me
cover by. BSK]
Kim Beomsin joined the war.