Chapter 45
Chapter 45
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Translator: uly
Chapter: 45
Chapter Title: Enchanting Voice (2)
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“Speak casually, like I told you. If you don’t want to call me hyung, just call me whatever. I’m not that picky.”
“Yeah, right. You’ve been living abroad for so long, after all. Yeonwoo-ssi, don’t call me hyung.”
Even in the middle of all this, the two of them were busy bickering.
Well, watching them, it didn’t look all that bad.
They were squabbling, but somehow it made them seem closer.
‘Is that what friends are like?’
There was a relaxed ease between them that only came from a long history together.
If they knew what he was thinking, they’d probably deny it desperately.
But in Yeonwoo’s eyes, they looked like the best of friends.
They traded barbs back and forth, but there was no real hatred or disgust.
‘Come to think of it... Is Lee Juha the first person I’ve ever called a friend?’
It was a relationship that had been half-forced upon him, but looking back, it didn’t seem so bad.
He remembered always drifting alone like duckweed because he was different from everyone else.
Even reflecting on his life so far, he’d never had a connection like that.
‘Kwon Sung-hyun was the first one who didn’t recoil or show disgust even after learning about my abilities. He doesn’t even seem to care about that stuff.’
In a way, Kwon Sung-hyun was the first.
The first person who treated Yeonwoo without any preconceptions, aside from those around him who already knew him.
Of course, the people who visited his mother’s shrine didn’t count.
Even Han Suhwan, from the first request he’d fulfilled, had treated Yeonwoo not as an equal but like some noble figure.
But Kwon Sung-hyun was different.
Being around Kwon Sung-hyun made him understand what ‘normal’ felt like, rather than ‘special.’
[Winner takes all, my side! Of course I’m on our actor’s side! Fighting, actor-nim! Only the victor gets Yeonwoo!]
Excluding the Child Spirit spouting nonsense, the people who treated him this casually...
‘Probably just these two.’
He had no idea why Lee Juha had maxed out his affinity so quickly, but whatever.
Anyway, right now, Yeonwoo had one job: clean up this mess.
What was strange was that the moment he said,
“Both of you, stop it.”
The two of them shut their mouths at the same time.
Lee Juha had even been mid-sentence.
After a brief, awkward silence, Lee Juha rubbed his arms frantically.
“Whew. I got chills. The second I heard that, I forgot everything I was about to say. So it wasn’t just my imagination yesterday.”
“Yesterday?”
“You know Yeonwoo was on our radio show yesterday. At the end, when he did his closing remarks, his voice was killer.”
Kwon Sung-hyun frowned, clearly displeased with the crude wording.
Ignoring him, Lee Juha kept going.
“It hit me right when he said goodnight, so I went home, lay down... You know I have insomnia, right?”
“If it’s about you throwing a tantrum because you couldn’t sleep, it’s hard to forget.”
“Ugh, still milking something from when we were kids? Anyway, that special thing... I fell asleep.”
“What?”
“After hearing Yeonwoo’s voice yesterday, I figured what the hell, lay in bed, and passed out in three seconds flat! Isn’t that insane?! Want to hear something even crazier?”
“What?”
Even Kwon Sung-hyun, who’d been icier than usual, perked up at the mention of Yeonwoo and asked, pretending to be nonchalant.
“Our radio listener board is blowing up today.”
Lee Juha said.
“All the listeners who tuned in... They all said they passed out right after the show ended.”
***
“Our listeners are famous for having a ton of insomniacs, right? And they all conked out. Isn’t that wild?”
Lee Juha stuck out his thick, muscled forearm again.
“Look at this. Goosebumps again. I slept so deeply it’d been forever, and I woke up totally shocked. Then I checked the board, and tons of people had the same experience. Whew. If this isn’t special, what is? Right?”
Kwon Sung-hyun’s brow furrowed at the boastful finish.
But even so, he didn’t scold him about lying or exaggerating.
Of course not.
“...It is special.”
No one had experienced Yeonwoo’s uniqueness more personally than Kwon Sung-hyun.
But for some reason, his expression looked gloomy.
Like a puppy that’d been abandoned.
“Right? And that voice—it felt just like when Yeonwoo told us to stop earlier. How do I put it? An irresistible tone? Like you have to obey? It’s forceful but endlessly gentle, like it’s coaxing you?”
“I have no idea what you’re talking about.”
Maybe it was the musician’s sensitivity, but it was a vague, cloudy explanation.
Seeing that neither Kwon Sung-hyun nor Yeonwoo got it, Lee Juha sighed.
“What I’m saying is, it was a voice that made you feel like it would come true exactly as said.”
Most people would say, ‘Is that even possible?’
But...
[Yeonwoo, looks like it really worked. It’s like it had the same effect as an incantation...? Huh...? What’s with that face? You already knew?]
Of course, Yeonwoo had already suspected as much.
[Congratulations! You have secured a large amount of lifespan.]
[Would you like to harvest the corresponding lifespan?]
[Congratulations! You have secured a large amount of lifespan...]
If it hadn’t worked, he wouldn’t have suddenly been flooded with lifespan again.
The familiar ding-ding-ding of notifications hadn’t stopped since he woke up that morning.
‘I had a hunch, and it paid off.’
The alerts filling his vision had already confirmed it.
‘The drama’s still bringing in lifespan steadily because of its effects... But this sudden flood all at once? Only one reason.’
Yesterday’s gamble had hit.
Of course, he’d anticipated some success.
The drama had smashed nearly 50% ratings, so even after it ended, reruns and replays brought in a nice trickle of lifespan.
But nothing like this bomb dropping all at once since the finale.
‘First time since the drama. Radio, huh... The amount’s smaller than I thought.’
Still, for a late-night radio show, gathering four months’ worth in one go was impressive.
Efficiency per listener was solid.
Probably because it hit desperate insomniacs right where they needed it.
‘Influence.’
A word with endless possibilities.
He’d gambled on the potential, but he hadn’t expected it to work this well.
“What’s with the calm reactions?”
Lee Juha, who’d been making a huge fuss, looked indignant at how composed Yeonwoo and Kwon Sung-hyun seemed.
“If you’re going to be Yeonwoo-ssi’s friend, you’ll have to get used to it.”
“Huh?”
“Specialness is always going to feel new.”
“This guy’s spouting cryptic crap again. Figures, geniuses are always so high and mighty. Don’t keep it to yourself—share with me too, what’s it gonna hurt?”
“Why should I?”
Lee Juha grumbled, but Kwon Sung-hyun brushed him off like he was barking at the wind.
Ignored, Lee Juha sulked and turned to Yeonwoo.
“Oh yeah, Yeonwoo. Our writer wants me to book you again.”
“Huh?”
“She called it your ‘drug voice.’ Isn’t that epic? She didn’t come up with the nickname—the listeners did. It’s super rare for a first-time guest to snag one, and she was raving about how amazing you are. I agreed, of course!”
The praise flowed so innocently.
What was amazing was there wasn’t a trace of jealousy or malice.
Just pure goodwill.
[This guy’s a real weirdo. Makes me feel stupid for being wary... Well, anyone our actor-nim keeps around can’t be bad.]
Like he was friends with Kwon Sung-hyun, calling him a weirdo—and now he was picking up the same vibes.
‘Lucky... or not?’
Yeonwoo knew how rare people like this were.
Envy. Jealousy. Greed.
It was hard for anyone living in this world to be free of those emotions.
How many could see someone else excel without resentment?
Wary of and rejecting the abnormal or unfamiliar was human instinct.
But Yeonwoo, sensitive to malice and negativity, could tell.
He felt none of that from Lee Juha.
‘If he wasn’t this type, I wouldn’t have granted that cringey ‘friend’ wish even if it meant bonus stats.’
He wouldn’t have even bothered asking if he had a wish.
“They want you back. You thinking about it? I had fun broadcasting with you, so I’d love it if you did. Not because I want good sleep or anything. Got it?”
[Total lie, he wants the sleep.]
“Absolutely not, so don’t misunderstand?”
[That’s exactly it. Why’s he so pure? Ugh, he was annoying me so much I almost wanted to curse him with sleep paralysis, but now I don’t even have the energy...]
“What do you say? Up for it?”
He looked like he’d keep pestering if Yeonwoo didn’t answer.
“Well... I’ll think about it.”
“I told you to drop the formal speech. Our writer noona was dying for it. She was freaking out that someone else might snag you after yesterday’s show, so that’s why I rushed over. Oh, and the amazing sleep too. But.”
Lee Juha paused.
“If it’s a hassle, you don’t have to. She’ll be bummed, but you’re my friend first. Right?”
Then he grinned.
“Isn’t it usually... the other way around?”
“Yeah, but dragging someone out who’s not into it feels weird. Don’t you think? I tried convincing you hard, so it’s your call, Yeonwoo.”
A straightforward answer.
“Of course, I’d love it if you came. Oh. Wanna just move into my place?”
“Huh?”
The conversation took a weird turn.
“Hold on.”
Kwon Sung-hyun, who’d been quietly listening to the booking talk, scowled and spoke up.
Ignoring him, Lee Juha looked around the place and continued.
“My place is huge. I’ll give you a whole floor, so live there and just say ‘goodnight’ to me once at night. No rent, no utilities, nothing.”
“Lee Juha. Are you sane?”
“That’s my line. Hey, Kwon. Spend some money. Why are you leaving Yeonwoo in this cramped spot? No studio? Come on.”
“...?”
Why was the fire suddenly aimed there?
“You found a massive gem in Yeonwoo—take care of it properly. What’s the point of neglecting it? Hoarding cash to swim in it or what? A voice like his needs to be heard by the world. How does sticking him here without a studio even make sense?”
This place? The officetel he thought was plenty luxurious suddenly became ‘this dump’ in an instant.
It was spacious enough for one person. Not even a studio—it was a full-option place over 30 pyeong with a separate dressing room and bedroom.
Yet.
“Only if Yeonwoo-ssi accepts.”
Kwon Sung-hyun replied quietly.
But the creases between his brows said he was pissed.
Yeonwoo had pretended not to hear his subtle hints a few times, and it looked like he’d been bottling it up.
“No way? Yeonwoo, he’s not your agency guy?”
Lee Juha asked, wide-eyed and dramatic.
“Well...”
Now the talk had shifted to agencies.
Kwon Sung-hyun, already touchy about Yeonwoo’s agency situation, had deeper furrows in his brow.
“Then come to my agency. I don’t know your direction yet, but you’ve gotta do music—no doubt. We can push that hard. I’ll set up full gear, make a killer studio... Urk!”
Thwack!
A heavy, precise thud echoed.
Lee Juha, chattering away excitedly, staggered wildly.
“Kwon! Did you just kick me? You kicked me?”
“You were talking nonsense.”
Kwon Sung-hyun smiled brightly.
He didn’t look at all like someone who’d just stomped someone’s shin hard.
“Know when to quit the bullshit. Right, Lee Juha?”