Chapter 85
Chapter 85
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Translator: Vine
Chapter: 86
Chapter Title: Farewell in Japan and Premiere Night
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Yuri and Annosuke looked at the boy with faces full of regret.
“Do you really have to go?”
“Just stay with us.”
The boy Yeonwoo, despite being over ten years older, grinned at the two who looked just like puppies reluctant to leave their mother.
“I have to go when it’s time.”
“You’re so heartless?”
“But there are people waiting for me back in Korea too. Dad’s there.”
Yuri was reminded anew that Yeonwoo was just a kid.
It wasn’t right to keep a child separated from his parents like this.
She’d felt anxious after just a week away from her family at that age.
“I guess you’re right. Your dad must be waiting.”
“Yeah, and now they’re going to scout new singers in Korea too. Just like you guys.”
Annosuke teased playfully.
“But you won’t forget we’re the number two singers, right?”
“Of course. And why talk like we’ll never see each other again? I’m busy now, but I can come to Japan anytime. Or you can come to Korea. Or I can come back here.”
“That’s true, but… it just feels weird going from being together every day to suddenly apart.”
Yeonwoo just smiled.
“Yeonwoo, time to go now?”
At his grandmother’s voice calling from behind, Yeonwoo turned to the two.
“I’m really going now! See you next time!!”
“Yeah!”
“You’re really leaving?!”
Leaving the reluctant pair behind, Yeonwoo ran straight to his grandmother without looking back and climbed into the vehicle JOP had prepared.
“Heartless kid, doesn’t even look back.”
“Yeah.”
The two stood there, gazing wistfully until the car disappeared from sight.
“He’s really gone.”
“Yeah.”
As emptiness settled in their chests and they stood dazed, their manager who’d been watching stepped forward.
“This isn’t the time. We’ve got our schedule.”
“Yes!”
Though rookies, the two were riding a wave of popularity with packed schedules.
Pushing aside their regrets, they followed the manager to their car.
Busy now, but looking forward to the day they’d see Yeonwoo again soon.
* * *
When Yeonwoo revealed his identity at Yuri & Annosuke’s debut showcase, Japan had erupted—and Korea was no different.
Truth be told, Yuin’s identity hadn’t sparked much curiosity in Korea.
Koreans tended to focus more on the singers performing the songs than the songwriters behind them.
No matter how great the song, composers or producers rarely gained fame or recognition unless they showed their faces on TV or major YouTube channels.
Yuin’s name had spread somewhat because he’d given songs to rookies to beat mega girl group Ladies, revived has-been Kim Beomsin, brought back voice-wrecked Yoo Jaehyuk, and unusually elevated a YouTube singer to major leagues.
But things were different now.
It felt like a reverse import: clearly a Korean producer, but collaborating with Japan’s most famous Himari, captivating the Japanese isles, so Korea was belatedly buzzing about Yuin.
A producer Japan’s going crazy over is Korean? And a kid genius at that?
-Order one genius child prodigy Korean pride here.
-Boss, pour me one too.
-Kyahhh, I’m drunk.
-Japan’s sucking up to this genius like crazy.
-And it’s a Korean boy lol.
-Y’all don’t have geniuses like this, huh?
The so-called Korean pride surge.
-Yuin’s a kid? Insane.
-Wtf;;; Did Mozart really reincarnate?
-Music galleries, composer communities are losing it lol. They were hyping Yuin as the real deal, turns out he’s 7 lol.
-Why the meltdown? Oh, right, 7 years old is meltdown material.
-Yeah, but people vaguely thought 20s-30s even for a genius, now 7 and reality’s hitting hard with self-loathing.
-Fr;;; I’d feel the same;;; Most are stuck as perennial trainees unable to debut major, hyping this kid as surpassable genius, then boom 7 years old;;;;
-My composer friend says he wants to die.
-Mine’s quitting for delivery gigs ㅠ
-But this kid’s the real genius. TV kids at best get music prof nods, he’s raking cash in Korea and Japan already?
-Lineup of songs given/produced: his kids dominate Mango charts to events.
-Fr lol.
-Hey, didn’t Yuin do something else?
-Oh right.
-Said he’s music director.
-That drama’s coming soon, right?
As Yuin’s stock skyrocketed, attention shifted to his other project.
Something not yet revealed to the world: the drama *High-Teen Rock ‘n’ Roll*.
A pre-produced drama, it had been filming steadily and was set to air on TVM in August.
“Scene 38, here we go! Get ready!!”
The set atmosphere was good.
The cast got along well, so chemistry was solid; no grueling marches meant no petty fights; and the veteran actors Park Seongguk had carefully cast played their supporting roles perfectly, on and off camera. Everything was smooth.
But the key was Lee Sieun.
Stepping onto the set for the new scene, Lee Sieun closed her eyes for a quick deep breath before the cue.
She recalled the Ye-eun theme Yeonwoo had made for her (precisely, for protagonist Ye-eun) before leaving for Japan.
Just like that, the camera fright and negative emotions tormenting her vanished, and she immersed fully as drama lead Ye-eun.
“Cue! Ready, action!”
At Park Seongguk’s call, Sieun opened her eyes and delivered her lines as Ye-eun to the actors before her.
“Guys, hear me out?”
Park Seongguk smiled in satisfaction at Lee Sieun, transformed into a bright, brash teen.
‘This drama’s a hit.’
Around airtime, ride Yuin’s buzz, drop gem-like OSTs and BGM, showcase the team harmony—this drama couldn’t fail if it tried.
Park Seongguk was that confident.
Meanwhile, back in Korea, Yeonwoo dove straight into music director duties, receiving footage.
A music director’s job wasn’t just composing tracks and themes.
Placing OSTs and BGM in the right spots was part too.
Yeonwoo incorporated Park Seongguk’s input and started on the drama music.
Of course, he wasn’t alone.
“Noona, put this in.”
“Got it.”
Yeonwoo gave orders; engineer Wakana handled the work.
“Need one more goofy theme. For when Sieun or the others mess up.”
“Oh? Should I pull some candidates then?”
“Nah, five minutes.”
“…Uh, okay.”
Wakana was speechless as Yeonwoo whipped up a theme on the spot.
She wondered what life was like, making music this effortlessly.
Anyway, as Yeonwoo and Wakana buried themselves in music work, August arrived before they knew it.
The day of *High-Teen Rock ‘n’ Roll*’s highly anticipated premiere.
Usually, everyone—cast and crew—gathers to watch the first episode together.
The *High-Teen Rock ‘n’ Roll* team was no exception.
With two episodes left to shoot, most had come straight from set, so nearly everyone was there.
The venue was a pre-booked theater. Staff vibes were upbeat, but unlike the casual set, a tension hung in the air.
Good premiere ratings meant party and dinner; bad ones, funeral vibes.
But few thought negatively about the premiere.
With Yuin’s buff, hype for *High-Teen Rock ‘n’ Roll* was sky-high—no promo needed.
Actors and crew scanned the room, looking for someone.
“PD, is our music director not coming?”
Someone broke the ice.
Everyone had been glancing around curiously but too shy to ask outright, so all eyes turned there.
Park Seongguk scratched his head under the focused gazes.
“I asked, but not sure? Our director says he’s asleep by 10 or 11.”
“Oh…….”
“Yeah, makes sense.”
Korean kids rise early, sleep early; Yeonwoo was in bed by 10 without fail, up sharp in the morning.
“Must be tough then.”
“Yeah, national treasure talent—we can’t order him around.”
As they smacked lips in regret, someone appeared at the theater entrance.
None other than Shin Jiyeong and Yeonwoo.
“Oh! President Shin!! And our director Yuin’s here too!”
Park Seongguk shot up and rushed to Yeonwoo and Jiyeong.
“Hello, Director.”
Yeonwoo bowed to Park Seongguk.
Amid smiles like doting parents at the adorable kid, Park Seongguk led Yeonwoo to his seat like precious cargo.
“Sit here and watch, Director.”
“Thank you.”
“Ah! Wait, you need a booster seat. I’ll grab one quick.”
People watched in wonder as Park Seongguk dashed out and returned with a cushion.
Yeonwoo, used to such stares whenever exposed, paid it no mind.
“Sieun noona, long time no see.”
“Mm.”
Yeonwoo looked around curiously, spotted Sieun, and greeted her.
“Feeling better now?”
“Yeah! Shooting’s going great thanks to you.”
“Good to hear.”
Nodding, Yeonwoo scanned the room again.
It was his first time at a theater. Movies weren’t his thing.
Watching on a huge screen in the dark.
‘Bet *Invincible Force* would be fun.’
He pictured Red Force unleashing a finisher beyond the screen. Just imagining made his chest swell.
Then.
The drama started right on cue.
Yeonwoo watched quietly. He’d seen it already while scoring, so no big thrill.
Just verifying if his music blended seamlessly for the masses.
No flaws in the music.
As BGM flowed from the massive screen, blue fairies popped out.
At Ye-eun grabbing the mic for her first song—the awaited OST timing—Yeonwoo stared at the screen more intently than anyone.