Chapter 110
Chapter 110
-----------------------------------------------------------------
Translator: uly
Chapter: 110
Chapter Title: Small Winds Gather
-----------------------------------------------------------------
Part 40
Most people were still fast asleep in the early dawn hours when Elder slipped into his studio in comfortable clothes.
He looked like he'd just rolled out of bed, wearing pajamas and rubbing his eyes as he plopped down in his chair.
"Yawn~!"
Elder stretched out luxuriously, savoring the chair's plush embrace around his upper body.
Then he grabbed the notepad and ballpoint pen that were set aside on his desk.
"Still got some booze left in me, huh."
His head throbbed too much to call it just groggy.
His right temple pulsed so sharply it could've passed for a migraine, so Elder grimaced and rolled his chair toward the mini fridge instead of walking.
"Nothing beats cold water for a hangover. Ice-cold is the best."
He chuckled as he pulled a bottle of mineral water from the mini fridge.
With a mischievous grin, he flipped open the notepad.
He figured he'd work on some lyrics since he was already awake.
Of course, if inspiration struck, he'd lay down a beat too, but lyrics were the priority right now.
"Hmm. What was I thinking when I made this beat...?"
Elder muttered as he played back the beat saved on his smartphone.
It was an old one he'd made ages ago, so the emotions behind it were fuzzy in his memory.
"But why does it feel so cheesy now? Just 'cause it's old?"
"Why are you up so early?"
"Huh?"
Elder whipped his head around at the soft voice from behind, scratching his head in frustration.
There stood a woman in a silk robe, her face still heavy with sleep.
"What time is it?"
"Like, a little past four? But why'd you get up? Go back to sleep."
"'Cause you weren't there. I came out to see where you went. Thought maybe you'd ditched me and headed to Gangnam again."
"...When have I ever left the house without you?"
Elder shot her an incredulous look.
As far as he could remember, not once since they'd started dating had he ever left home first.
He hadn't even gone to the convenience store out front by himself.
"Heh heh heh. Just in case."
"You're still half-drunk. I knew it when you chugged like you were twenty again."
"I'm an adult now, so I can drink however I want."
"Like you haven't before? I've caught you sneaking beers a few times."
Smack!
The long-haired woman darted forward in an instant, pressing her index finger to Elder's lips.
She'd straight-up sealed his mouth to shut him up.
But that motion loosened her robe, revealing her burgundy lingerie in the most tantalizing way.
Along with her flawless white skin.
"You gonna erase those little details now? Unnecessary memories, right?"
"No way. Gotta tease you about 'em forever."
"So what's left then?"
"Hmm. Our memories? But you're seducing me, aren't you? Loosening the robe on purpose."
Elder slyly pushed away the finger on his lips and grinned.
His eyes quickly scanned his lover's porcelain-pale skin.
Yet despite his blatant stare, she just laughed.
Thrusting her chest forward even more.
"Isn't it obvious? I wore this to show you, so yeah, on purpose. You should feel honored, oppa. You know how our fans freak out at the company when my skirt's a bit short? But you're getting the full view of my skin."
"Of course I'm honored beyond measure. In this world, only to me... Wait, not just me, huh?"
"What's that supposed to mean all of a sudden?"
Just when the mood seemed perfect, Elder veered off into left field, making Bini—the visual center of PriOs, one of the top three girl groups out there, still riding high as the trendsetters this year too—narrow her eyes.
She couldn't make heads or tails of what her boyfriend had just said.
"Your exes probably saw it all too... Gah!"
"Why bring that up now?"
"W-We said no violence!"
The words "ex-boyfriend" barely left his mouth before her elbow slammed into his solar plexus.
Dead-on target with perfect precision.
"You're the one who made me hit you!"
"No, it just popped into my head, I muttered it..."
"Then keep it in your head! Why say it out loud?"
"Sorry, sorry."
Elder clasped his hands together like he was praying.
But Bini's flushed face showed no signs of cooling down.
"You're so weird sometimes. Why ruin a perfectly good moment where we could've just... you know?"
"Haha. Slipped out. Muttering's my specialty anyway."
"Seriously..."
Bini let out a deep sigh at Elder begging so cutely.
Then she gathered her wide-open robe and tied it tight with the sash.
Covering herself completely, leaving only her neck and ankles exposed.
"Still gorgeous. Whoever her boyfriend is, he's one lucky guy. Haha."
"Flattery like that doesn't work anymore. Timing's off too."
"Guess I've overused it."
Elder turned his head and muttered under his breath.
She seemed properly pissed now.
"What'd you just say?"
"Nothing. Just scolding myself quietly."
"Really?"
"Of course."
Bini eyed him suspiciously with sharp eyes.
But Elder didn't flinch under her piercing gaze.
He met it with a relaxed smile instead.
"So why're you up so early? You didn't get home till after midnight last night, right?"
"I wrapped up everything and crashed into bed around 1 a.m."
"The way you say it!" Bini's face turned beet red.
The blunt words sent embarrassment surging to the top of her head.
But Elder, who'd said it, stood tall without a hint of shame.
"Better than English phrasing, right? Sounds kinda classy too."
"Not at all!"
"Then say it in English? I love Korean, but if you want, I can—"
"Stop talking!"
Bini pinched Elder's side mercilessly, no mercy.
She knew if she let him go, he'd keep muttering away.
"Heh heh. Okay, I'll stop."
"Please, just know when to quit, oppa."
"But your reactions are too fun. Can't help it."
"Tch!"
Bini smacked her lips as Elder leaned in close with that handsome smile.
Annoying as hell, but she loved him, so one grin like that melted her pout instantly.
'He's so damn good-looking. Annoyingly so.'
Not chiseled like an actor.
But tastes were tastes, and Elder's looks were right up Bini's alley.
That's why she was here with him at this hour, draped in just a robe.
"But shouldn't you get more sleep? You've got a morning schedule, right? Mine's just afternoon radio, but you're full-on all day."
"That's why you should've stayed and put me to sleep. Sucks the energy out and then bails? You know I like falling asleep in your arms."
Bini puffed her cheeks and pouted her lips.
She could be a real spitfire when mad, but right now she just seemed like a fresh twenty-year-old college girl.
Her bare face glowed anyway.
"I need to write lyrics. And I figured you'd rest better alone for today's condition. So I snuck out quietly."
"Lyrics? Oppa, your album promo isn't even over yet. Why lyrics now?"
"Gotta prep ahead. What's the point of free time otherwise? Gotta earn big—buy a house, buildings. And get you gifts, my Bini."
Orphaned young, Elder was hungry for money.
It wasn't everything in life, but he knew damn well it changed your quality of life.
Especially, he didn't want to pass poverty on to future kids, so he was stacking cash steadily.
"Heh. You've made a ton already, right? More than me even?"
"Still not enough. Lots to spend on. And who knows what tomorrow brings."
"True. Me and the members worry about that too. We're hot now, called the trend, but it won't last forever."
Dozens of new girl groups debuted every year.
Fresh faces kept popping up nonstop.
Girl group lifespans weren't long.
That's why Bini and all of PriOs were stressing over it.
"So prep ahead. Earn as much as you can while you can."
"That's why... give me a song too? You make great ballads."
"Solo debut?"
"Yeah, agency's cool with it. I'm no main vocal, but my tone's decent. Wanna try a solo album once. Honestly, I've always regretted never singing a full track solo."
Elder stroked his chin.
Sizing her up not as her boyfriend, but as a producer eyeing a girl idol named Bini.
Recalling all her stats too.
"Solo, huh."
"If it's not right for me, you could write the lyrics. Your lyrics with that special emotion—I think I'd sing 'em better."
"That might be tough. I've been in a slump lately..."
Elder sounded uncharacteristically weak.
Bini looked mildly shocked.
Elder wasn't arrogant, but his confidence was top-tier for a rapper.
"That bad?"
"Yeah, getting over it bit by bit, but right now... tough. I could still make the track."
"Then introduce me to that guy. Cain, the lyricist."
"Huh?"
Elder froze for a second.
The name he'd least expected came from Bini's mouth.
But undeterred by his reaction, Bini pressed on, eyes sparkling.
"That Cain guy writes killer lyrics. I looked him up personally—no one knows him. Not even anyone he's worked with before. You're his only connection."
"Makes sense. This album's his debut."
"You're close, huh?"
"Not super close. Only twice I've gotten that tight with someone since turning twenty."
Bini's eyes lit up brighter.
No info on Cain anywhere, so she hung on Elder's every word.
"What's he like? Prickly? Recluse lyricist type? What's his rate?"
"Hmm. Not a recluse, but not sure if he'd take jobs. He only did my album by pure chance. He's got a day job."
"What?!"
Bini, who'd fired questions like a machine gun, went wide-eyed.
She'd assumed a lyricist hopeful debuting with those spot-on words, but Elder's words said otherwise.
"Rate probably won't matter much. Not our industry level, but he makes bank. Top of his field too. Won't cling to pay. I bought him drinks as a friend, and it was a fluke collab."
"Then that's a problem..."