Chapter 114
Chapter 114
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Translator: uly
Chapter: 114
Chapter Title: Writer Again
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Woo Ji-hyun echoed her words, genuinely baffled.
It made no sense to him, logically speaking. He was basically a novice lyricist.
Of course, Elder's latest album had surprisingly done well, against all odds.
But that was nothing more than a fluke.
"You're right. Good lyricists are rare. But even they don't always deliver hits. I went through hell with my slump, remember? Besides, you've got your own unique vibe. A raw, fresh edge to it. I think it'll blend perfectly with Binnie."
"I still think it's too much of a gamble."
"No, it's not. I put a lot of thought into this. Oppa Elder's album was amazing. Especially the title track, Ordinary Unrequited Love. It hit me right in the chest. Like it was clawing at my heart. It's got that straight-up guy energy, but weirdly, I connected with it as a girl."
Binnie leaned forward toward Woo Ji-hyun, her face lit up with sincere admiration.
Deep down, she wanted to grab his hand and plead her case, but her boyfriend was right there, so she held back.
She knew a hundred and one ways to charm a guy, but sadly, none were options now.
So Binnie pivoted to her aegyo playbook.
"Haha, you're leaving me flustered here."
"Oh, drop the formalities. You're way older than me, oppa."
"I'm the same age as Elder, though?"
"That's exactly why. Hehe!"
Binnie flashed a natural eye smile.
And it landed perfectly.
When the group's visual center turned on the charm, not even Woo Ji-hyun stood a chance.
"Uh, yeah. I'll loosen up once we're closer."
"Then we should hang out more."
"No solo meetups. Elder has to tag along."
"Obviously."
Elder smoothly wedged himself into Binnie's seamless segue.
No matter how tight he was with Woo Ji-hyun, meeting his girl one-on-one was a hard no.
"That'd make me uncomfortable too. You're stunning."
"Hohoho!"
"And turning legal this year, no less."
Woo Ji-hyun put extra weight on "legal."
Elder's face went rigid.
"Why stress that? Age is irrelevant in love."
"Handcuffs, however, exist."
"Ahem!"
Woo Ji-hyun grinned and thrust both hands forward.
Mimicking handcuffs locked tight.
Elder averted his gaze, looking uneasy, while Binnie giggled mischievously.
"No girlfriend? I could set you up. Plenty of sweet, innocent types out there. The industry's got its share of sleaze too, though."
"Why go there?"
"Better to know. Especially for a writer like you. Bet you're dying to hear the real dirt."
"Can't argue."
Woo Ji-hyun snapped up the bait Binnie dangled so subtly.
His next project leaned heavily on the entertainment world.
Which was why he planned to link up with Elder solo after wrapping God of Martial Arts, Return.
For those gritty insider stories.
"Hoho! Now we're talking for real."
"Uh..."
"Deal or give-and-take sounds so dry. Mutual aid instead? I could teach you everything about idols, Oppa Ji-hyun. But this isn't leverage. I'm desperate here. I really want you on this album with me."
Binnie chose her words with care, mindful not to bruise his ego.
He had a day job and zero reason to need the gig.
She knew he was a top dog in genre lit, even if details escaped her.
So Binnie humbled herself—not as a star idol, but as a solo artist.
"I get you. But one thing first."
"Yes! Shoot!"
"You're hyping me up way too much. I'm not some prodigy. Elder's was pure luck."
Woo Ji-hyun laid out his honest take.
Both of them were inflating him beyond reason.
"I see it different. You've got talent. And a edge over those cookie-cutter lyricists. Binnie didn't nag me to hook you up for kicks."
"Not feeling it."
"No sweat. Just listen to the track and slap on lyrics. Piece of cake. Like Ordinary Unrequited Love—stream-of-consciousness scribble. Took under a minute a verse."
"...Not your album, so you're cool being reckless?"
Woo Ji-hyun huffed a dry laugh at Elder's carefree "scribble away."
Felt like zero skin in the game.
Binnie's reaction cracked him up, though.
She bobbed her head hard beside Elder, fully on board.
"Exactly. Pour out your raw feelings, Oppa Ji-hyun, whatever flows. We'll tweak it."
"First-take perfection's a myth. Revisions are your daily grind, like editing ours."
"That's the issue. It clicked with Elder, same dude vibes. But you're a woman, Binnie. Guy perspective and girl lens? Night and day. Like a pulp hack pivoting to romance. Readers sniff out the dude author instantly."
Truth was, Woo Ji-hyun dug lyric-writing.
Fresh territory beyond novels, plenty to absorb.
But no ego trip off it.
He knew his lane, plain talk.
*Luck's a one-shot deal. Beginner's luck at best.*
Lady Luck didn't double-dip.
Big breaks hit once and ghost.
He figured his had come and gone.
"Pay the holdup?"
"Come on. I'm top-shelf in my world. Cashflow's fine."
"Settlement incoming? Nice chunk."
"Not tallied yet. Bonus vibes."
Woo Ji-hyun shrugged.
Pure windfall, not the goal.
"Bonus ain't peanuts."
"How much we talking?"
"Why else upgrade to this ritzy villa after three years? Cashflow magic."
"You compose, tour nonstop, ads galore. I'm small fry."
Elder wagged a finger, eyes twinkling mischief.
Lyric cut had to pale next to his solo-producer haul.
But no pittance either.
Album crushed.
"Nah. Not my level, but solid. My biggest seller ever. Stings admitting. Binnie had reasons pushing this."
"Big shoes."
"Not a no?"
"Lyrics are fun. Novel flavor's distinct. Rare shot. Your hype's the snag."
"So what if it flops? No contract rush. Stars like Binnie can't hijack full albums. Just sway picks hard."
Binnie nodded along with Elder.
Woo Ji-hyun eased up some.
"Sketch a draft then."
"You're in on my pitch?"
"Kinda. Vibe the demos first. Sucks? We bail clean."
No pressure appealed.
No forcing verses.
Nor major letdown for them.
"Yeah, play around. Forced hits flop. Blockbusters spark from flashes—composing or lyrics. Loosen up, chase your thrill."
"Core of it."
"Mmm."
Binnie shot them a shady side-eye amid the back-and-forth, but it flickered out.
No flat-out rejection? Good enough.
Half-baked artist herself, anyway.
No Elder genius, but she dabbled composing, lyrics.
"Melodies first? Ballads, hip-hop, EDM, mix bag..."
"Oppa?"
Elder jolted mid-excited genre rant.
Binnie's icy tone snapped him alert.
"Ahaha. Binnie's faves to kick off."
He'd nearly queued his fresh tracks unwittingly, awkward grin as he tabbed her folder.
Ten files jumped out at Woo Ji-hyun.
"Not slotting all ten. Curated these as keepers. Narrowing to three, four studs."
Binnie jumped in as the folder bloomed.
Fretting overload vibes.
Woo Ji-hyun shrugged it off, unfazed.
"Figured. Elder's no hog."
"Duh. Not that greedy."
"Rep's shifting. Today onward."
"Hahaha! Chill between bros. Collab killed it."
"You hogged the glory. Mine pending."
Elder zipped it.
Nailed too true.
He fired up track one instead.
"What's this? No hip-hop, no ballad?"
"Nailed it. Vocals plus rap. Idol roots, tweaked arrangement."
"Dual wield?"
Woo Ji-hyun queried Elder, eyes on Binnie.
Her call, really.
"Yeah, my man's vocals and rap beast. Jack-of-all."
"Ugh!"
The unprompted "my man" hit Woo Ji-hyun like bad takeout.
Corny delivery sealed the nausea.
"What? Mood killer?"
"Instinct."