Chapter 122
Chapter 122
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Translator: uly
Chapter: 122
Chapter Title: Once Again, Writer
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"I'm looking into it myself because I'm curious too, but surprisingly, there's zero information out there. No one knows a thing—not even their gender, age, or background. The name only surfaced for the first time with Elder's album."
"They could be a rookie. Elder popped up out of nowhere like a comet, after all."
"Or maybe not. Plenty of people use pseudonyms. Hiding like this makes me think it's probably a pen name."
"That doesn't matter. What matters to us is that Cain's blowing up right now. They've got real talent, too. And they can generate buzz? Like, 'Cain, who wrote for Elder and Bini, now picks Rubis!' Something like that."
He was already a lyricist who'd hit back-to-back home runs.
Not just in hip-hop, but idol tracks too.
Proving he could transcend genres, a three-peat wouldn't be surprising at all.
"I've thought about it, but no one around me has Cain's contact."
"Why not? You've got Elder and Bini. If there's no direct line, just ask their labels or PriOs's agency."
"I've already checked. Both places say they've never met anyone named Cain."
"What?"
Kim Man-sik's face went blank for a moment.
He'd never dreamed the veil would be this thick.
"As far as I know, the only way to meet Cain is through Elder or Bini. But word from PriOs's manager is that Bini avoids talking about Cain as much as possible. Even their agency asked her to make an intro to the lyricist, and she shot it down flat."
"Why? She's at the peak—shouldn't she be name-dropping like crazy?"
"No idea. Nobody does."
"Huh!"
Kim Man-sik looked exasperated.
But his mind was spinning fast.
"Should we reach out to other lyricists for now?"
"Yeah. We need lyrics for the album tracks anyway. But priority one is Cain. They're on fire right now, so we have to snag them. This album has to blow up."
"......"
Park Woo-kyung held back his response.
Even he couldn't magic up someone hiding this well.
But Kim Man-sik was firm.
"Go straight to Elder if you have to, or corner Bini and ask. Find Cain and bring them in. No excuses. Got it?"
"......Yes, sir."
"Do whatever it takes."
"......I'll do my best."
Park Woo-kyung's face darkened.
He had no clue where to start.
'Guess I should hit up Bini first.'
Unlike Elder, who went radio silent during breaks, he knew plenty of folks at Apple Entertainment, PriOs's agency.
So Park Woo-kyung decided to head there first.
"What are you waiting for? Move!"
"Ah, yes, sir."
The sharp prod snapped Park Woo-kyung back to reality.
He bolted out of the rep's office.
Even so, Kim Man-sik couldn't hide his dissatisfaction.
"Solid worker, but no initiative."
He handled assigned tasks fine, but he didn't hustle on his own.
Kim Man-sik clicked his tongue at the empty spot where Park Woo-kyung had stood.
"Hope he finds them quick."
Skimming Bini's interview article, Kim Man-sik muttered to himself.
He scowled hardest at the part thanking Cain for "The Start of Goodbye."
It made no sense—offering money on a platter, yet hiding away.
If he'd racked up those hits, he'd be shouting his name from the rooftops.
"Before someone else swoops in."
If he had his eye on them, others probably did too.
Everyone was fishing in the same pond.
This industry was tiny like that.
"So hurry up, Manager Park."
* * *
For the first time in ages, Bini wrapped up a schedule at evening instead of dawn and headed back to the dorm, her face lit up with a grin.
Her hands were full of treats, and she could already picture her sisters' delight.
"I'm home!"
"Whoa, our star soloist's back!"
"The queen of girl solos, Bini has arrived!"
"Our maknae's killing it solo!"
"Yeah, but she's the first to hop up on the stove ledge too. Hehe!"
No sooner had she stepped in than the four others, huddled in the living room, rushed over.
But their eyes on Bini weren't innocent.
They brimmed with proud mischief.
"What was that last bit?"
"What? Just teasing our sly little dater."
"D-dating?"
Bini played dumb.
But PriOs members weren't buying it.
They just grinned knowingly at her.
"We know everything."
"Secrets don't last in this biz."
"Truth always comes out. Clouds don't stop the sun, y'know."
"I got spicy chicken feet and pig's feet. Let's eat!"
Bini shoved her haul at the members, who spoke like they had her all figured out.
Normally, they'd squeal in joy.
Not today—even over their fave spicy chicken and pig's feet.
"Nice try dodging."
"Our innocent maknae's gone; now we've got a cheeky fox."
"I miss pure Bini."
"......Can we talk inside? I'm still in the entryway."
Relentless teasing wore Bini down, and she threw up her hands.
No point; it'd loop forever like a Möbius strip.
"About time."
"We've got other questions too."
"Like what?"
Freshly shoeless and in the living room, Bini turned to Ha Yu-seon, the eldest and leader.
The vibe wasn't just dating rumors.
But her question got ignored.
"How long with Elder oppa? Since last year?"
"Real talk—did you start when you were underage?"
"I have no idea what you guys are on about."
"Really now?"
The twins, Mi-rae and Na-rae, spoke in sync.
They closed in on Bini with cryptic smirks.
Swish.
"Huh?"
"Then what's this pic, hmm?"
Mi-rae thrust her smartphone at Bini, dragging out her words.
She eyed Bini's wildly shaking pupils like a prankster.
"Where'd you get this?"
"From me, duh. I took it. I've got friends in Elder's villa. Spotted you while visiting, snapped it quick. From hiding! Hehe!"
"No way. What a coincidence......"
"Managers don't know yet. But paparazzi might."
Ironclad proof left Bini no room to deny.
It was too clear-cut.
"So, when'd it start?"
"......Last year."
"Oh my. Naughty kitty after all?"
"I clocked our maknae's vibe. Foxiest fox there is—I called it."
Members minus leader Ha Yu-seon piled on the teasing nonstop.
Like a cartel ganging up.
"While we're aging out of dating......"
"Unnie, drop the sageuk talk first. Drama's messing with your speech."
"How's this? Nailing the character. Perfect for showbiz. Pretty girl like me doing sageuks, old-timey talk—total buzz, right?"
"Just snap bikini pics. Exposure stirs more hype."
At her twin sis's words, Mi-rae looked tempted for a sec.
Her killer curves stayed bundled up daily; airing them out sounded freeing.
Summer was coming too.
"Unnie, don't waver at Na-rae unnie's words. Why no sexy concept from our agency? One go, and we're done. Straight drop-off. Sexy’s the last resort—boss said so."
"But ain't it sad, wrapping up this pretty bod at our age?"
"Just date. Secret and sneaky, like our maknae. No one knows."
"Now that's music to my ears."
Lee Mi-jeong's line got a sageuk queen response from Yoon Mi-rae, all haughty tone.
Bikini appealed, but so did this.
"Take your dating stories to your rooms. We've got interrogating to do."
"Nah! Later!"
"Me too!"
Ha Yu-seon cut into the tangent.
With second-in-command Yoon Mi-rae lost in la-la land, she had to step up.
Discipline? Nah, not expecting that.
But some vibe control? Total miscalculation.
"Bini."
"Yeah, unnie."
"We're dying to know. Super, mega curious about your secret romance saga."
"......Can I sum it up quick?"
Swish.
Before Bini finished, Yoon Mi-rae and Yoon Na-rae flanked her.
Cops escorting a perp, gripping her arms tight.
Lee Mi-jeong looped her waist from behind.
"Story time? Oh, and Cain-nim too."
"Why them?"
"I'm forming a unit. Agency greenlit today. Me and Mi-rae, vocals & rap."
"Asking for lyrics?"
"Yeah."
Cain's name clicked it for Bini instantly.
She realized again how many hunted Woo Ji-hyun.
"The Start of Goodbye" soared, spiking interest in him.
"But why ask me?"
"Look at this sly maknae. You're the only ones with direct lines to Cain-nim besides Elder oppa. Can't just call my dongsaeng's BF outta nowhere. Leaves you."
"......"
Bini rolled her eyes every which way.
But sisters had her pinned from all sides—no escape.
One option left.
"No right to silence, dongsaeng. Set it up nice and smooth? For your poor unnies?"
"Yeah. Let us taste that hit life!"
"Sigh. I'll ask."
"Just ask?"
Ha Yu-seon frowned.
Not the answer she wanted.
"He's not someone I can push. Lyricist's not their main gig, so requests only—no forcing. They'll bail if pushed. And they've got skills to thrive solo with just Elder oppa."
"Whoa."
Yoon Mi-rae gawked, but Ha Yu-seon's face turned serious.
This changed things—no room for "let's collab" demands.
She bit her lip, deep in thought.