Chapter 120
Chapter 120
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 120
Chapter Title: A Karaoke Anthem
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The lobby echoed with Lee Kang-jun's song—a ballad.
"Hmm."
It was good to listen to.
Lyrics that brought to mind a parted lover, parts clearly divided between low and high notes, and a highlight that let out a refreshing shout.
No wonder it topped the karaoke charts.
It was exactly the kind of song you wanted to belt out.
Though for a playlist... well, it wasn't really my taste.
My taste ran toward the band tracks I'd been hearing nonstop in Hyun-su's studio earlier.
"What's the song called?"
"'Meeting You.'"
"I'll remember that."
"Oh... did you like it?"
My words made Lee Kang-jun's face light up noticeably.
Was he the type whose emotions showed right on his face?
"Honestly, it just seems like a great song to sing. I'll try it out next time I hit karaoke with friends."
"Ahaha, right? That's exactly what I aimed for."
"Huh?"
He said it like it was no big deal when I asked what he meant by "aimed for," scratching his head sheepishly.
"Well, these days, ballads really struggle to climb the popularity charts."
...Yeah, that tracked.
The charts were basically fandom battles now.
The more famous you were or the bigger your loyal fanbase, the easier it was to chart.
Balladeers with less recognition or smaller fandoms naturally had it tougher.
"So! I targeted the karaoke market."
He said proudly, pulling out his phone to show me the music site's rankings.
His energy had spiked out of nowhere. Was he always like this?
"Let's see... oh."
"I went all-in on ads everywhere to promote it, and it cracked the top ten."
Sure enough, in the rankings he showed off so proudly, his song sat comfortably at number nine.
That was seriously impressive.
From one to eight were all idols... well, not quite. Hyun-su had one at seven.
Hadn't his album been out for a while? Still holding strong.
Anyway, he had every right to brag.
How many singers faded away without even cracking the top hundred?
This put him in the top one percent, easy.
"That's really impressive."
Not that I was about to idolize him or anything.
Maybe I was just too chill?
Lee Kang-jun, who'd matched my vibe earlier, looked a bit awkward and settled down.
"Anyway, riding this wave of popularity, I ended up working with composer Kang Woo-hyun by chance."
Ah, so that's how it happened. A new song, huh? Wonder when it'll drop.
"If you finish the track, when do you think it'll come out?"
"Hmm... aiming for early next year."
"I see."
He seemed pretty focused on the charts...
I glanced at the composer.
Wasn't my song also slated for early next year? Was it okay to release together?
No, wait—Hyun-su's album was early next year too.
I'd never worried before, but... would my song get buried?
And the composer might not even know when Hyun-su's was dropping...
"If you're thinking about Slim Gold, I know about it."
"You follow the industry?"
How'd he read my mind? And how'd he know Hyun-su's schedule?
"Word's spread everywhere that he's dropping a new album. Plus, didn't you just say you stopped by his studio on the way here?"
"Ah... so you pieced it together?"
"Inference."
Man, Hyun-su had guts.
Rumors all over the industry, and he was still that confident?
Was that the same high school kid I'd met at the cafe? What a presence.
"Wait, Slim Gold? He's dropping a new song?"
Lee Kang-jun, who'd been listening in, spoke up in surprise.
"You didn't know, Kang-jun?"
"Really? Oh man..."
Looked like he genuinely hadn't.
Fair enough... it'd sting a bit.
I'd heard Hyun-su's form was insane earlier, so any fellow artist would probably steer clear...
"...I'm really looking forward to it."
But that's not what came out of Lee Kang-jun's mouth.
"I actually love Slim Gold's songs. Can you believe he's still in high school? The talent is unreal. I'm so jealous."
That one-sided admiration didn't scream "rival in the industry."
Hyun-su... how far had he gone? Was he more respected than I'd thought?
Maybe I'd hopped on a rocket-ship stock.
"Anyway. Mind if I ask what you do, Suhyun?"
Lee Kang-jun's attention turned to me.
Probably curiosity piqued from hearing I'd swung by Hyun-su's studio.
"Me? Oh, just a friend of Hyun-su's."
No need to spill what I did; that should satisfy him.
"A friend? Are you close?"
"Yeah, somewhat?"
Close enough, right?
"Wow... I'm jealous."
"You think?"
Yeah, someone like Hyun-su would be prime networking in this biz.
"How'd you even get close?"
"Huh?"
"He's famous for being polite and keeping firm boundaries."
"Hyun-su?"
News to me.
I glanced at the composer, who nodded without changing expression.
"He even turned me down once when I suggested we work together."
"Huh?"
"He said 'next time,' but that's a rejection."
What?
"He was singing your praises to me. Something about the depth of your songs, how he's just a normie compared to you."
Hadn't he worried even back then that the composer might think poorly of him?
But he'd flat-out rejected a collab behind the scenes? That was rude to a senior...
"Hahaha, really? What an honor."
The composer just laughed heartily, clearly pleased.
Like Miyeon Lady thrilled to hear Zhuge Liang say her medicine beat the golden millet.
A smile from someone whose approval he valued.
And Lee Kang-jun was staring at the composer with envy, which was throwing me off.
Wait, wasn't the composer the higher tier?
Was I missing something about this world?
"Um... is Hyun-su really that big a deal?"
I had to ask to clear it up...
"...?"
"What did you just say?"
I'd only dug myself deeper.
No, I knew he was great, but wasn't this a bit much?
"I mean, he hasn't even been debuting that long, right?"
"That's why it's more impressive."
The composer pointed at Lee Kang-jun beside him.
"Kang-jun here's in his sixth year. Broke out at eighteen on an audition show."
Started at eighteen, instant name recognition... damn, solid launch.
"Oh, you know about me?"
"I always research the people I collab with."
"Honored."
Researching collab partners was pro-level.
I resolved to do the same as I listened intently.
"Anyway, how many times do you think Kang-jun charted after that show?"
"Charts? Hmm..."
Probably meaning top hundred landings.
Maybe... two or three? Auditions had pull back then.
"Like, three times?"
Lee Kang-jun gave a wry smile.
"That would've been nice."
"Ah."
He hadn't.
"From what I know, he rode a minor hit from the show to a few gigs, then faded."
Hey, don't say it like that...
I glanced over; Lee Kang-jun looked downright gloomy now.
But the composer kept digging mercilessly.
"Then he dropped an album with connections from the show—modest sales, no chart action."
"...That one was so close."
"After that, he's done lyrics, comps, features, but this is his first solo chart entry. In six years."
Ah, that explained it.
Why he was so hyped and proud.
Six years post-audition in obscurity, now finally breaking through.
No wonder he was thrilled.
Though his idol era was getting dragged out, leaving him looking miserable.
"But a nineteen-year-old kid writes, composes, sings the whole album solo—no audition—and charts it. On the popularity charts."
The composer added:
"With band music, which is niche in Korea now."
Hearing that, Hyun-su's solo success hit different.
And I got why band legends loved him.
This was before his 'Wonderland' album, right? They'd spotted his talent early.
Superhuman.
"Plus, he's blowing up young, polite, no scandals—total prospect."
The composer smirked faintly.
"So? Does that friend seem a bit more impressive now?"
"Yeah, and... a little intimidating."
"Which part?"
Obvious.
"I'm featuring on one of his album tracks this time, and I had no idea it was this level."
My shoulders sagged under the weight.
Hyun-su, you madman.
You're that big in the industry—why put this pressure on a near-nobody like me?
I'd meant it as honest pressure, but the composer gaped in admiration,
And Lee Kang-jun...
"Uh... uh."
His jaw dropped as he stared at me.
What an honest face.