Chapter 426
Translator: RaidenTL
Chapter 426
“I’m gonna die…”
The words slipped out of Kim Seong-hyeon’s mouth as he stared blankly at the passing scenery. Realizing what he’d said, he hunched his shoulders and clamped his mouth shut.
He hadn't even managed a proper meal all day. After barely finishing a music video shoot on time, he was currently in transit to a pre-meeting for the song camp, which was also doubling as a company dinner.
Throughout the drive to the venue, the van was filled with pained groans that sounded like a dissonant choir. Their schedule had been exceptionally grueling.
At the moment, the road manager, unable to watch them suffer any longer, had pulled over at a rest stop to grab some snacks for them.
Kang Yi-chae’s eyes glinted the moment he spotted the shriveled-up Kim Seong-hyeon. There was no way he would let such delicious prey escape. He quickly reached under his seat and pulled out a ukulele.
“I’m gonna die-eee…”
He plucked the strings, mimicking Seong-hyeon’s words in a sing-song voice.
“Kang Yi-chae, put the ukulele down while I’m still being nice.”
“Put the ukulele down while I’m still being nice~…”
“I’m not going to say it twice.”
“Oh my, I think you’ve already said it twice… Gack!”
Yi-chae, who had been needling him relentlessly, finally got smacked on the back. He writhed his entire body as if in agony, yet he hugged the ukulele tightly to his chest as if to protest the injustice. Seong-hyeon glared at him.
“Kang Yi-chae, do you think this is Hawaii? Didn't you see the kids in the debut team avoiding us earlier at the office?”
“Excuse me? Why is that my fault?!”
“If a senior is playing the ukulele and singing a love serenade and they run away, of course you’re the reason!”
“I thought it was quite sweet,” Yi-chae retorted shamelessly. Then, his expression suddenly shifted into a bright, chatty one. “Besides, this is my own way of trying to relax before we start the song camp.”
“…With a toy you bought at a grocery store? At this rate, you’ll be doing the hula next.”
“Oh…? That’s not a bad idea. Should I learn?”
Seong-hyeon clutched the back of his neck. It looked like he was about to pass out from the stress.
Beside me, Seong Ji-won, who had been quietly reviewing choreography on his phone, looked at Yi-chae with a slightly puzzled expression.
“What’s gotten into Yi-chae? Is there something on your mind?”
“…Uh…”
Yi-chae, who had been joking around until now, hesitated for a moment before muttering softly.
“…Yeah, there is something.”
“Hmm?”
“Baek Ji-jun…”
At that unexpected answer, my gaze naturally shifted toward Yi-chae.
Baek Ji-jun. He was certainly a singer-songwriter considered a leading figure in emotional ballads, but even so, I had never worried that Kang Yi-chae would be intimidated by him.
After all, this was the Kang Yi-chae.
Judging by my experience with him over the years, he wasn't the type to get nervous unless his opponent was someone truly formidable—at least on the level of Im Hyeon-su.
However, as if to shatter my thoughts, Yi-chae stroked the ukulele and added in a small voice.
“…That guy, sometimes he’s better than me.”
“Well… yeah, Baek Ji-jun is amazing.”
“To me, you’re way cooler, Hyung!!!”
As the members chimed in one by one, trying to cheer him up, I felt a strong sense of déjà vu.
The image of Im Hyeon-su reaching for a pack of cigarettes after hearing the fan song Yi-chae had written flashed through my mind.
By the time the road manager returned with his arms full of food, Yi-chae’s face had returned to normal. But as the van sped down the Gyeongbu Expressway, he remained on my mind.
“Ah, we’re here.”
About an hour later, the car stopped in front of a restaurant that looked like a renovated two-story house located next to Cheonggyesan.
Through the first-floor windows of what appeared to be the main building, I could see the staff boisterously enjoying the dinner. A few people were gathered at outdoor tables, likely out for a smoke.
As soon as we stepped out and entered the restaurant, greeting those we encountered, PD Jeong Jun-hwan came rushing out to meet us.
“Kang Yi-chae! The Dawn!!”
Until just a few days ago, PD Jeong Jun-hwan had been cold and sharp as a blade despite his smiling face. Now, he seemed like a completely different person, beaming with pure joy.
“I know how busy you are, thank you so much for coming all this way—!”
He had clearly been looking up every single article about The Dawn joining the song camp. He was ecstatic seeing the project gain more traction than expected.
I ignored his obvious ulterior motives and responded with a smile. PD Jeong patted the members on the back and guided them to their seats.
“Make yourselves comfortable, really. And Seo Ho-yun, a moment…”
I followed PD Jeong’s gesture to a vacant table slightly removed from the members.
PD Jeong plopped down into a chair, hunched his large frame as if trying to make himself smaller, and whispered to me in a voice full of excitement.
“Seo Ho-yun, the reaction is already insane.”
He looked happy. Just a few days ago, he was trembling with rage in his texts and calls.
I sat across from him and poured him a glass of beer. He downed it in one go, and while keeping an eye on his surroundings, his mouth didn't stop moving.
“I knew it would turn out like this! Even when you asked to change the proposal, even when you threatened to go to TBS if I didn't accept, even when you asked to revise the appearance fees! I just had a feeling! This guy has a devilishly charming star quality! You know the song camp is the number one trending topic right now, right? The Bureau Chief encourages me every single day.”
It seemed he had been taking the recent events quite personally.
The QBS Bureau Chief was the type of man who would sell his own organs if it meant good ratings.
It wasn't particularly surprising, so I simply offered a polite smile and some face-saving words.
“It’s all thanks to you, PD-nim, for generously accepting my proposals.”
“To be honest, I’m a bit scared. This industry is unpredictable until the results are out. I think I’ll only be able to relax once the broadcast starts.”
PD Jeong patted my shoulder, telling me to just enjoy myself for today, when suddenly, the entrance of the restaurant became noisy.
“Oh…?! I didn't think he’d come!!”
PD Jeong craned his neck to look, his eyes widening in surprise before he hurried over. He pushed through the gathered staff toward a man who had just entered. After exchanging a few words behind a friendly mask, he led the man over to us.
“Now, now, I believe this is the first time you’re meeting? Say hello, this is Baek Ji-jun.”
So this was the Baek Ji-jun.
Baek Ji-jun stared at me for a moment before opening his mouth a beat late.
“Nice to meet you. I’m Baek Ji-jun.”
Since he was someone I’d had zero contact with during my days as a PD, I knew nothing about him.
Despite his reputation, he had a youthful appearance. He scanned the room, spotted Seong Ji-won, and reached out a hand with an even deeper smile.
“Your drama OST was truly impressive.”
He then moved on to Jeong Da-jun and Kim Seong-hyeon, offering brief, polite compliments. Finally, when he reached Kang Yi-chae, he suddenly leaned in.
“—Kang Yi-chae!!!”
“…Yes?”
“Whew, huff! I can’t tell you how moved I was when I heard the new NerdyFreak song! How can you be so fresh every single time? As a fan, I’m so proud!!”
Startled, Yi-chae shifted his hips back and blinked in confusion.
“…Uh… you’re… my fan?”
“Of course! My favorite is ‘Dive’ from the full-length album Wish. Though, I believe ‘Stardust’ is the song that played the biggest role in forming your current style! Wow, Baek Ji-jun, you’ve made it. I’m actually meeting Kang Yi-chae in the flesh.”
“Uh…”
Yi-chae, unable to respond like a program with a bugged code, stammered and quickly looked back at the members.
However, Kim Seong-hyeon, Seong Ji-won, and Jeong Da-jun—who had suffered much at Yi-chae’s hands over the past few days—simply sat there with hollow smiles.
I was the same.
I watched as Baek Ji-jun grilled Yi-chae with questions—whether he used samples, if he composed every single chord himself, where he got his inspiration, who his favorite artists were. I exchanged drinks with the staff and then took a moment to step outside.
The lukewarm air, signaling the approach of summer, brushed against my face. The table that had been crowded with smoking staff earlier was now empty. Just as I sat on the edge and pulled out my phone, I heard the voice that had been showering Yi-chae with questions just moments ago.
“Oh, it’s Seo Ho-yun.”
I turned my head to see Baek Ji-jun with a fresh cigarette in his mouth, clearly intending to smoke.
I was about to give a light nod and pass by, but Baek Ji-jun put the cigarette back in the pack and blocked my path.
“I wanted to talk to you anyway. This is lucky. Do you have a moment?”
“…Ah, go ahead.”
“Haha, I wanted to take it slow, but my mouth is itching…”
Baek Ji-jun glanced toward the restaurant as if checking for onlookers before asking cautiously.
“Um, Seo Ho-yun… would you be interested in singing one of my songs?”
My brow furrowed involuntarily.
…What was this now?
“……Your song?”
“Yes.”
The sincerity was plain to see in his serious gaze.
As I remained silent, wondering how to interpret this situation, Baek Ji-jun suddenly waved his hands.
“Ah! Don’t misunderstand! I’m not asking you to take my side in this song camp. I wouldn't be able to look Kang Yi-chae in the eye if I did that.”
After hurriedly adding that explanation, Baek Ji-jun let out a low breath after a short pause.
“…When Cheong-beom Noona was raving about The Dawn, I really wasn't that interested.”
He said he had never been particularly interested in idols.
Im Hyeon-su only raves about Kang Yi-chae.
I wanted to correct him, but for now, I stayed quiet and focused on what he had to say next.
“But then I heard your voice on Please Take Care of the Camera, and it was so my style that I started getting interested in The Dawn… and somehow, I ended up going to the set of Despicable Trial…”
“Despicable Trial?”
“I-I’m not a stalker! I have a friend among the staff, so it was a total coincidence! I went there by chance.”
Baek Ji-jun cleared his throat and added a hasty explanation before continuing.
“Anyway. My impression of you was just that your acting was impressive, but before I knew it, I was listening closely to The Dawn’s albums, looking up your broadcasts… the final blow was ‘Clouds and Wings’ that you sang on The Complete Singer. Your voice hit me so hard that I stayed up all night writing songs.”
It felt a bit excessive, so I was about to brush it off as the kind of flattery people usually give to famous celebrities. But then, Baek Ji-jun leaned in slightly and added in a low voice.
“…To be honest, I came on the song camp half because of you.”
“And the other half?”
“Kang Yi-chae, obviously. I fell for him while listening to The Dawn’s music.”
Baek Ji-jun straightened his shoulders and gave a casual smile.
“Well, the point is, I’m asking if you’ll sing my song after the program is over… What do you think?”
Looking at the proposal alone, it wasn't bad.
In fact, it was something to be welcomed. It was an opportunity to work with a singer loved by the general public.
The benefits clearly outweighed the risks.
And yet, strangely, the image of Yi-chae endlessly fiddling with his ukulele on the way to the meeting kept coming to mind.
“Well, yes. It would be nice if that could happen someday.”
“……Oh…”
Baek Ji-jun, looking a bit surprised by my answer, tilted his head and muttered.
“…That almost sounds like a rejection.”
He stroked the cigarette pack he’d been holding before stuffing it into his back pocket.
“Well… I guess I was too sudden. You probably don’t know me very well. I’ll ask again after the show ends.”
“……”
“Because by then, you won't be able to say no.”
With a confident smile on his lips, Baek Ji-jun headed back into the restaurant.
I was wondering what exactly about this man had bothered Yi-chae when, suddenly, the sound of singing drifted out on the night breeze. It was leaking out from the restaurant along with the boisterous noise.
【…—Hey, Hey, Hey! Focus on me!】
Jeong Da-jun and Seong Ji-won were beltng out our third fan song, ‘Name This Feeling,’ to the accompaniment of Yi-chae’s ukulele. Kim Seong-hyeon was tucked away in a corner, covering his face with both hands.
“They’re certainly having a good time.”
Unlike the staff who were enthusiastically responding, most of the cast members were just quietly watching the members, occasionally adding a clap. They didn't openly show their wariness.
I stood with my arms crossed, watching Yi-chae as he began to fiercely pluck the four strings.
【When everything grows distant, I only see you
Swallow the orange light and melt even the pale blue】
Yi-chae had changed a bit recently.
He stopped beating around the bush to test me, he was strangely honest with his emotions, and he laughed with more sincerity.
It was the polar opposite of that winter, when he always seemed calm but you never knew when he might burst.
‘What is he thinking?’
Of the questions Yi-chae had thrown at me ‘that day,’ there wasn't a single one I could answer truthfully. Since the System hadn't shown itself at all since the awards ceremony, I had no choice but to be even more careful with my words and actions.
Yi-chae, who had broken the heavy silence, had left for America a few months later after declaring he would get a song he composed onto the Billboard charts.
Even if that departure was a form of escape, I had to let him go. That was the price of my silence.
After that, I spent several months busy handling the immediate tasks at hand before going to pick him up.
At the time, I was only thinking of ways to coax him, as he was surely angry.
However,
“Have you been well?”
Yi-chae, who had told me to trust him and ask for help, had returned having achieved results that were remarkably close to what he had said.
【My love, I want to see every sky with you】
To be honest, I was a bit taken aback, but my mind raced to adjust my plans. On the way out of the airport, when I asked if it would be okay to form a rivalry in the song camp, Yi-chae, who was getting some fresh air by the window, nodded nonchalantly.
The corners of his mouth, which had looked consistently happy, curved softly.
“Hyung, buy me a piece of candy.”
Even though nothing had actually been resolved, I wondered what kind of change of heart he’d had on his own.
【Beyond the dawn, pull in the sunset】
He avoided topics I might dislike on his own and snatched up desirable prey at the right time.
For now, I knew well enough that the priority was to be grateful and reach our goal, but—.
【From dawn to dawn
with my glow every day and night】
—…I just felt a bit uneasy.
It wasn't that I didn't trust Yi-chae, but rather the fact that the kid was helping me without further questioning. My long-lost conscience kept popping up to demand what the hell I was doing.
【How do you name this feeling
Tell me, you know what this is】
After a small click of my tongue, I stopped tapping my arm and headed back into the restaurant.
【How do you name this feeling
Or should I call you fir—….】
At the end of his intense performance, Yi-chae’s face turned pale as he finally managed to break the ukulele.
I pressed down on the heads of the members, who were flustered and panicking along with him, and plopped down next to Kim Seong-hyeon.
When our eyes met, Yi-chae gave an awkward smile like someone with a guilty conscience and hid the mangled ukulele behind his back.
‘Sorry.’
Your hyung is a hopeless nuisance.
But since we’ve been together for a long time, he must already be fully aware of this reality.
So, since things have turned out this way—,
“Who’s making all this noise?”
“—Da-jun started singing and even broke the instrument!!”
“Whaaat?!!!”
Let’s get down and dirty one more time.