Chapter 142
Chapter 142
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Translator: uly
Chapter: 142
Chapter Title: Good People
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Even as Woo Ji-hyun responded indifferently, Ha Yu-seon and Yoon Mi-rae didn't drop their suspicious looks.
They hadn't debuted yet, so they weren't getting full camera massages or intensive skincare and treatments, but that didn't mean the fresh, girlish charm unique to young women had vanished.
Especially since age could be a real bully.
That was why uncle fans dropped off exponentially once a girl group hit their seventh year—they weren't wrong to eye Woo Ji-hyun like that.
"Everyone says that."
"Then they go chasing after young girls."
"You're plenty young yourselves."
"I've already hit mid-twenties. I wanted to stay twenty-two forever."
Ha Yu-seon pretended to wipe away a tear.
Of course, it was all an act, so Woo Ji-hyun didn't even blink.
No—even if real tears had fallen, he wouldn't have budged.
"I'm already twenty-nine. Don't talk about age in front of me."
"Right. Mentioning age around us is basically an insult."
Park Eun-su chimed in, narrowing her eyes after Woo Ji-hyun.
Every year felt like a burden at their age.
"Alright, shall we talk business?"
"Yes, sir. Oh, we've done the first recording of the track. With the revised lyrics you provided."
"Just the first?"
"Yes—listening in the studio might give it a slightly different vibe. Plus, we tweaked the arrangement a bit. The girls were insatiable."
Park Eun-su shot a glance at Ha Yu-seon and Yoon Mi-rae.
But the two stood tall, unapologetic.
"We want to taste mega-success too!"
"If this blows up, we can drop solo albums!"
"Big dreams. I like it. People need dreams, after all."
Unlike Park Eun-su and the rest of the agency staff tilting their heads, Woo Ji-hyun genuinely cheered them on.
The duo grabbed his hands in unison, beaming identically.
"We're touched, oppa."
"But your speech is still so old-man. Fix that, and you'd be perfect."
If Yoon Mi-rae hadn't nitpicked the weirdest thing, Woo Ji-hyun might've actually felt great.
But it also snapped him back to reality.
"No touching. Weird articles will pop up. I want to live quietly, long, and prosperously."
"This is our agency HQ, oppa. That's a bit overkill."
"Whatever. Fine on the track. But why call me in person? You could've just sent the arranged version via phone or file like last time."
"Well..."
Woo Ji-hyun fixed Park Eun-su with a straight look.
Even under his gaze, she hesitated to speak.
Everything he said was spot-on, after all.
"May I explain that part?"
Click.
The conference room door swung open as a man entered.
He was a dapper, impeccably groomed middle-aged man who instantly evoked "gentleman"—flashing a smile that could melt most women as he approached Woo Ji-hyun.
"D-Department head!"
"Pleasure to meet you. I'm Cha Woo-young, head of the Management Division."
"Ah, yes. Woo Ji-hyun."
Cha Woo-young nodded politely to a startled Park Eun-su, who had shot to her feet, then extended a courteous hand to Woo Ji-hyun.
Woo Ji-hyun shook it without missing a beat, proper as ever.
At the same time, he sensed things were about to get complicated.
Heads of divisions didn't show up without reason.
"Looks like I've put Cain here out somewhat. Ha ha ha."
"Hard to believe you just came to say hi, Department Head Cha."
Cha Woo-young's face twitched awkwardly for a split second before he chuckled and continued.
But Woo Ji-hyun didn't deny it.
No point—everything was already out in the open. Denying it would just be ridiculous.
So he owned it coolly.
"You're right. Park Team Leader could've handled it, but showing some sincerity seemed proper. Plus, I really wanted to meet Cain in person. Oh—what's your preferred title? Personally, I love Woo Ji-hyun's writing. Huge overseas soccer fan too."
"Call me whatever's comfortable. Cain refers to me anyway."
"Got it."
With a smooth greeting, Cha Woo-young took the seat right in front of Woo Ji-hyun.
Subtly claiming the spot Park Eun-su had occupied moments ago.
She didn't mind a bit.
If anything, she looked relieved as she sat beside him.
"You two, sit."
"Yes, sir."
Unlike when it was just her and Woo Ji-hyun, Ha Yu-seon and Yoon Mi-rae sat demurely on either side of him now.
Like a press to trap him from escaping—and Cha Woo-young just smiled at the sight.
They seemed awfully close, despite knowing each other such a short time.
'He doesn't see them as women at all. I like that.'
Cha Woo-young grinned inwardly, pleased.
He looked mid-thirties, but he was actually forty-six.
Naturally youthful, plus years in entertainment keeping him around young folks—it made him appear way younger.
"Beverages here."
As the mood grew awkward from Cha Woo-young's sudden arrival, a staffer entered with a tray.
No one had ordered, but curiously, each drink matched their tastes perfectly.
"You ordered iced Americano last time. Bean told me it's basically all you drink."
"Ah, yeah. It's safe and fits my diet."
"Diet?"
Cha Woo-young widened his eyes over his iced tea, puzzled.
With his height and build, a diet seemed odd.
"Better start young. Later, it's too little too late."
"Ha ha. True. But how'd you know?"
"Saw it in my hyungs. Live wild young, suffer old—they crash hard."
"Puhaha!"
Cha Woo-young threw his head back, clutching his stomach in unrestrained laughter.
Woo Ji-hyun's story hit too close to home.
He'd started working out after watching his wild-child older brothers turn into wilted corn husks overnight.
Hearing Woo Ji-hyun say the same, he laughed—and felt an instant kinship.
"I want to live long and healthy. Abundantly, of course. So I'm grinding hard."
"We might be able to help with that."
"Another unit after YU&MI?"
"Ha ha. Plans exist, no firm dates yet. But similar vein. Oh—loved Tteu-bam, the lyrics you wrote. Title threw me at first, but learning it's slang clicked."
"It's niche. Original meaning's common, though."
Woo Ji-hyun nodded understandingly.
Most folks would scratch their heads at just "Tteu-bam."
"But the lyrics? Even better. Witty double meanings, punchy fun. Most shocking: you, a guy, nailing female emotions so real. Usually, male lyricists do male vibes, females do female. Mastering both? Top-tier."
"Don't know much—my singers are Elder and PriOs. Others, just TV."
His humble dodge of the praise deepened Cha Woo-young's smile.
Hard to believe he was even late twenties.
Cha had seen countless young successes turn arrogant and entitled.
Woo Ji-hyun? Night-and-day different.
"You could meet anyone you want. Cain's in huge demand now. I asked Bean first myself. Now they come to me."
"Please take care of me going forward."
"No worries. We won't out you as Woo Ji-hyun. Though secrecy forever? Can't promise."
"After this, I'll lay low on lyrics a while— it'll fade. Music industry's faster than most."
Woo Ji-hyun spoke evenly.
Drawing a line, too.
No Cain gigs for the foreseeable.
Cha Woo-young and Park Eun-su's faces tightened as they clocked it.
"Busy with new novel?"
"Yeah—schedule's slowed my writing lately. Writing's my main gig."
"You could pivot to full-time lyricist and kill it."
"It's all writing, kinda."
Ha Yu-seon and Yoon Mi-rae jumped in to lighten the heavy air.
They were closer to Woo Ji-hyun than Park Eun-su or Cha Woo-young.
"It was a fluke that got me here. Just lucky."
"Department Head Cha's picky as hell. Bad lyrics? No way he'd chase you down."
"True. Half-doubted when Bean said she was working with you. Men's tracks and women's differ—genres too. But Start of the Breakup? Had to meet you."
Cha Woo-young eyed Yoon Mi-rae lightly for spilling his pickiness, then spoke.
Woo Ji-hyun stayed calmly composed through the praise barrage.
"Thanks for the kind words."
"I'm here with one request, not a contract pitch. Planned to propose one, but since you're not keen on lyricist work awhile... shifted to a favor. Though if you're open to signing, I could grab papers now."
Cha Woo-young spoke with utter sincerity.
He coveted Woo Ji-hyun that much as a lyricist.
And he was just debuting—no experience yet.
Potential for greatness was massive.
"Sorry, that's tough. As I said, I'm a novelist at core. Can help Yu-seon and Mi-rae as a lyricist, but contract's too much."
"Understood. Won't push. Respect your call. Just hope we keep this rapport. Not asking for regular gigs—don't misunderstand."
"Got it. So, the favor?"