Chapter 47
Chapter 47
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 47
Chapter Title: Guitar Practice Under the Spotlight
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Since he’d asked me to write my name, I scribbled "Miro" on the hat.
“Is that name by any chance…?”
I’d been about to write the composer’s name after it, but for the life of me, I couldn’t remember it. I always just called him Composer-nim.
“It’s Kang Woo-hyun.”
“Ah, got it…”
And so, at the composer—no, Kang Woo-hyun’s request, I signed the hat and handed it over.
“Thank you.”
He took the hat and carefully placed it on the table.
“Do you usually collect stuff like this?”
His movements were so natural that I asked, and he scratched his head a bit embarrassedly before nodding.
“You noticed, huh? Truth is, I’ve been getting autographs from the singers I’ve worked with and decorating my place at home with them.”
“Should I get Hyun-su’s autograph for you too, then?”
“You mean Slim Gold? Haha, no need to go to the trouble.”
“Oh… so Hyun-su’s not quite there yet?”
“What kind of trash talk is that? If we end up collaborating later, I’ll get it directly.”
“Ahaha… Well, truth is, I’m heading to Hyun-su’s studio today, so I figured I’d ask.”
“You’re going today?”
“Yeah, I’ve hit a wall with my guitar practice.”
I felt like I’d completed about 80% of the song, but I’d left my guitar back at my parents’ house. Since I was out anyway, I planned to swing by Hyun-su’s studio, borrow a guitar, and practice a bit.
At the mention of guitar practice, the composer’s eyes lit up.
“You play guitar too?”
“Yeah, just started practicing…”
“I’ll give you the guitar sheet music for it, so practice it whenever you have time, yeah?”
“Huh?”
“A singer-songwriter performing their own song on guitar always shines.”
He got up from his seat with noticeably more energy and fetched the guitar sheet music for the new song we’d agreed to do.
“There’s already guitar sheet music?”
“I was actually thinking of suggesting it first, but I hesitated since it might be too much. Funny coincidence, though.”
Coincidence… It didn’t feel like much of one to me…
“Uh… it looks kinda tough?”
Even at a glance, the sheet music screamed high difficulty.
“It’s a bit complex because of the guitar arrangement, but practicing this won’t be a loss for you.”
True… It’s good to master anything, right? Plus, being able to play your own song on guitar is pretty impressive…
“Not saying you have to nail it right now. Just practice it slowly when you’ve got time.”
When he put it like that, it was hard to flat-out refuse.
“Yeah, sure… I’ll take it.”
“Good choice.”
I could always mess around with it later when I had free time. Not like I’d use it anywhere…
I was planning to practice guitar anyway, and now I didn’t even have to pick a song, so I decided to think of it positively.
After chatting a bit more about the new song, I left the composer’s studio.
I hopped back on the subway and headed to Hyun-su’s place.
It wasn’t far, so I got there quick…
“What’s this?”
A ton of people were gathered in front of Hyun-su’s studio, each holding their own gear.
I texted Ayoung to ask what was up, then approached. A young guy in a hat came over.
“Uh… what’s going on?”
He’d been striding toward me but paused when he saw me, switching to a politer tone to ask my business.
“My friend’s studio is just up ahead. What’s all this?”
“Hmm… one sec.”
Since he was being polite, it was easy to respond. The young guy rolled his eyes thoughtfully, then went back to the crowd and brought over a middle-aged man.
“Nice to meet you. I’m PD An Yeong-uk.”
PD? A producer?
Hearing that jogged my memory of a text from Hyun-su before.
‘He said something about filming a variety show, right?’
Was it one of those observational ones that filmed on location instead of at the station?
“May I have your name?”
This PD was weirdly polite.
“Uh… Kim Suhyun.”
He’d asked nicely, so I answered, but the vibe felt off somehow.
“You’re… a friend of Slim Gold’s?”
“Yeah, pretty much…”
I’d just come to learn some guitar, but bad timing?
Should’ve texted ahead.
“Uh… if you’re filming, I’ll head out.”
“No, no! Come on in! As you can see, it’s observational variety, so friends are more than welcome!”
When I said I’d leave, the PD waved his hands frantically, way over the top.
“Ah… I’d rather not be on camera.”
“Hmm… are you a trainee? If it’s a hassle, we’ll edit you out.”
“No, it’s not that… I’m just a regular person, and I was in the area anyway, so I’ll just head back.”
No way I was learning guitar smack in the middle of a shoot.
But the PD waved his arms in distress.
“We want to capture hot singer Slim Gold’s natural daily life these days, so we won’t block a friend’s visit. Couldn’t, even if we wanted to. We’ll just edit you out or mention ‘a friend dropped by,’ so no bother at all.”
“Riiight…?”
“Yeah, you’re not causing us any trouble, so don’t worry.”
Huh… makes sense, but why’s he so desperate?
Wouldn’t it be easier for them if I just went home—no editing needed?
“Or how about pulling a hat low like this?”
The PD demonstrated by tugging his own hat down.
“Like this, and the broadcast only shows your mouth or nose.”
Hmm… that might actually work…
I was seriously weighing leaving versus staying when a familiar face emerged from inside.
“I heard a friend showed up… Huh… Sis?”
It’d been a while since I’d seen Hyun-su, and he looked different.
His hair was styled with more volume and flair than the bleached, limp look before, and his face even seemed made up.
Was this the taste of success?
“What brings you here?”
“Uh…”
“Hey! Why don’t we chat inside first?”
I was about to greet Hyun-su when the PD quickly ushered us both deeper into the studio.
And just like that, I ended up inside, though it wasn’t bad.
I’d planned to come anyway, and if it didn’t mess up the shoot…
“Go on, you two chat freely inside.”
The PD had led us in but slipped away among the staff. It drew a wry chuckle, but he wasn’t unlikeable.
Might as well learn a bit since I was here.
“Got a hat?”
“Huh? Oh… yeah, over there…”
Where Hyun-su pointed was a coat rack with a simple black hat hanging on it.
“But it’s the one I wore yesterday.”
“So? Looks clean enough.”
Big deal.
I’d just taken off and signed the one I’d been wearing.
“You’re not wearing it now, right?”
“Nah, just came from the salon.”
“Salon?”
So the hair and makeup were capitalism’s power after all…
“The PD said to glam up as much as possible.”
I couldn’t help but chuckle at that.
Didn’t they say natural daily life?
The PD’s contradictions were starting to make sense.
Was I just that captivating?
He probably wanted to sneak even a glimpse of me on camera to boost ratings.
Read in a book once that PDs were rating-obsessed demons.
“Mind if I borrow it?”
I snatched the hat from the rack and pulled it low over my head.
Luckily, it was big enough that tugging it down hid half my face.
“So, what brings you today?”
Once I had the hat fully on, Hyun-su—glancing at the camera—struck up a conversation.
Didn’t notice on variety shows, but man, the cameras were right there.
“Came to learn guitar from Ayoung unnie, but timing’s off.”
“Guitar? Oh, right, you mentioned learning before.”
“Yeah, I can play a bit now, but I’m stuck.”
“Didn’t bring yours, though?”
“Guitar? Right there.”
I pointed to a flashy guitar propped neatly in the corner.
“Hyuk hyung’s?”
“Yeah, got permission last time.”
He’d said at the drinking party to use it anytime, guaranteed.
Though he was drunk, and Ayoung had twisted his arm a bit.
“Where’s everyone else?”
“Oh, they went to grab stuff. Be back soon.”
I’d met the band at the last dinner.
Drums: Kang Ayoung.
Guitar: Kang Hyeok.
Bass: Mincheol, keys: Youngjun, I think?
Names might be right even if faces were fuzzy.
I picked up Kang Hyeok’s guitar. Definitely heavier, with more presence.
Flashier yet lighter—different materials?
“But you’re learning from Ayoung noona? Her main’s drums.”
“She’s still better than me.”
“Why not Hyuk hyung for guitar?”
I shook my head at Hyun-su, who was wordier than usual, camera-conscious.
“Hyun-su, that’d just burden him.”
“Huh?”
“Teaching guitar to a beauty like me? Most guys end up lovesick.”
Hyun-su’s face twisted at my shamelessness, but I pressed on.
“You gotta stay sharp too, Hyun-su. Falling for this sis means no escape~”
Weren’t thousands of Mirodan fans gazing only at me right now?
“Ah… yeah.”
“I’m not even thinking dating, so I don’t leave openings.”
“I… see?”
Hyun-su was fine.
Guy only had eyes for music, barely noticed his surroundings.
Plus, he was underage? Two years younger, sure.
Ignoring his furrowed brow, I strummed Kang Hyeok’s guitar lightly.
“Whoa…”
Pricey stuff felt worlds apart from mine.
“What song you practicing?”
“Hmm… wanna hear?”
Famous Japanese band tune—he might know it. Kinda matched Hyun-su’s style too.
“Watch closely now, and… don’t tell a soul…!”
“…Why?”
“You’d just make me Guitar Hero~”
“…From some manga?”
“This is why today’s kids…”
A generation that didn’t know the line had arrived.
This is why the young ones…
“We’re not that far apart in age…?”
“Shut it! Don’t sass your elders!”
I was about to properly play for the romance-lacking kid when—
Clunk!
“We’re back!”
The studio door flew open as Ayoung and the band piled in.
“Huh? What’re you doing here?”
Ayoung, swinging a white plastic bag in one hand, entered and widened her eyes at me already seated and fiddling with the guitar.