Chapter 336: Chapter 337:

The album’s track work progressed smoothly.

An astonishing pace.

It was so swift that I wondered if it was even possible for album production to be this effortless.

“Wow.”

The youngest member’s mouth hung open in surprise.

“I’ve never seen an album production go this smoothly, without anyone crying, suffering, or cursing.”

“Hold on.”

I paused.

“Did you just say ‘cursing’? What are you talking about?”

“Huh?”

“…”

“Must’ve been your imagination, hyung?”

Watching the youngest member awkwardly change the subject, I narrowed my eyes.

But his words were true.

“It really is the smoothest project I’ve ever worked on.”

“Is that so?”

“Yeah, must be because we’re working with the producer.”

The man with the intellectual look smiled.

Without realizing it, my address for him shifted from ‘senior’ to ‘producer,’ and it couldn’t be helped.

It was admirable.

“This part feels like a deep blue spreading out, but I’d prefer it to be a bit lighter.”

“You mean you don’t like the harmony.”

It was amazing how well he understood my unique way of expressing music.

He offered alternatives that were spot on, a whole new world to me.

Tears welled up in my eyes without my knowing.

“Thank you so much for coming.”

“Crying?”

“Not crying, just overwhelmed with emotion.”

I was overjoyed as if I had found a companion in music.

If I were to rate my fondness for the person before me, it would exceed the maximum.

With a fluttering heart, I spoke.

“I’ve always struggled to explain myself to others because I’m weak in theory.”

“It must have been tough. Talking about colors when no one understands what you mean.”

“…”

Following Rihyuk’s lead, the younger members mimicked my expression.

Junghyun snapped his fingers.

“Don’t you feel the rhythm is slightly off? Focus, Junghyun. Stop eating jelly and pay attention. Hey, focus.”

“Anyway, I don’t like it, so we’ll do it again. You don’t know why I’m not satisfied?”

“What’s wrong with it? Tell me exactly.”

Ha Seung Ju burst into laughter at the surprisingly realistic acting.

“Most groups are terrified of their composing members, and you guys are no different.”

“Yeah. We all live like puppets under Woo Joo hyung.”

“Jiho, puppets?”

I couldn’t help but let out a disbelieving chuckle.

Then, with a few words, I gestured for the younger members to stop talking.

Ha Seung Ju exclaimed in admiration, “You really are like puppets.”

“Ah.”

Ha Seung Ju laughed joyfully.

“Just kidding. Just kidding. I said it because your team’s atmosphere is so relaxed and nice.”

“That’s a relief.”

“It’s been a long time since I’ve felt such a good vibe.”

The producer seemed elated, perhaps reminiscing about his past musical activities.

Then Bi Ju said with a smile,

“It’s really amazing. Even after living with Woo Joo hyung for two years, we still don’t fully connect on everything about music.”

That was true.

We had adapted to each other’s musical tastes, inclinations, and styles. It wasn’t a 100% smooth communication.

“But with the producer, it’s like we’ve been working together for a long time…”

“Oh, that.”

He looked at me, scratched his chin, and smiled.

“I’ve worked on an album with Myung Ju hyung before, that is, with Woo Joo’s father.”

“Oh.”

“I was called over not just for official work. Sometimes he’d come to my house… or call me in the middle of the night… or invite me out for a meal, and it turned out to be a hotel restaurant with a piano…” 𝑅

“Ah, I see…”

“But it’s a good memory.”

Our eyes blinked in surprise at the sight of the other’s tearful face.

He smiled gently.

“Anyway, your working style was similar to the universe now.”

“That’s fascinating.”

Was it when I was very young?

Except for the times when Dad played the piano and sang from a children’s songbook, I hadn’t really learned anything about music.

Yet, to hear that my working style resembled his was intriguing.

It made me wonder if music was also a kind of inheritance.

Curiosity arose, but with no one to resolve my questions, I organized my thoughts and moved on.

“That’s all for the tracks included in the album.”

I swirled the mouse and entered the folder set aside for the title track.

“I’m going to play you the song prepared as the title track.”

“It’s finally coming out.”

“Yes. In the past, Rihyuk and I created a song called ‘Night Sea.’”

“I’ve heard it. The melody was beautiful.”

Night Sea.

A duet based on memories of falling asleep on my grandmother’s lap as a child.

A song filled with gratitude and longing, singing of those times.

“One of the melodies derived while creating ‘Night Sea’ didn’t fit the theme, so we couldn’t use it.”

I hovered the cursor over the file and turned to Rihyuk.

Then, the main vocalist who would take the lead in the next album, Ha Seung-ju, was briefed.

“Our album theme we’re aiming for this time is ‘Journey.’ A trip taken during the winter season.”

The image we decided on was a train journey in winter.

Railroads covered in heavy snow.

The atmosphere was like embarking on a journey by train.

The initial title track had the ambiance of visiting a small village with soft snow falling.

“In such a place, we want to reminisce about things that have passed or been lost.”

“Ah. I understand the feeling.”

“For example, a hometown now submerged underwater due to dam construction, inaccessible. Or places of memories that have vanished. Or a point in the past you wish to return to but cannot.”

The goal was a song that sang the theme gently and then exploded in the chorus.

Ha Seung-ju nodded as he listened to Rihyuk’s explanation.

“I like the theme.”

“This actually came to mind when Rihyuk got emotional about his teens ending and wrote an essay.”

“…You don’t have to tell the producer everything, you know.”

While Rihyuk playfully stepped on the youngest member’s foot, the other let out a small laugh.

Then he spoke.

“Considering the album’s tracks, the composition is quite good. It starts calmly and ends with a festive atmosphere.”

“Yes. Like meeting people at a travel destination and gradually increasing the party, we aim for a progressively cheerful mood.”

Initially, it felt like a solo journey, but by the return, it was a lively chatter with companions on the train.

Or a joyful song that could resonate through a city filled with Christmas spirit.

Thus, the last track of the album was planned to be a song with a Christmas carol vibe.

It was the song we were currently putting the most effort into, along with the title track before us.

“Let me play it for you.”

“Is the title ‘Piraruku Song’? Like the name of some instrument, like a ukulele?”

“Ah. It’s just a temporary name.”

As a slight blush rose on Rihyuk’s cheeks, ‘Piraruku Song_ver 6.3-52’ was played.

“…”

The producer closed his eyes and listened intently.

The song began with a piano performance.

Each note left an echo as it faded away.

Like the sound of white snow gently falling from a dark night sky.

I, too, was immersed in distant memories.

Again

It’s snow removal time again

My voice echoed faintly, like a distant memory.

To Ha Seung-ju, whose eyes and lips twitched for a moment, I said,

“The lyrics are just matched to the syllable count, so don’t worry about them.”n/o/vel/b//in dot c//om

“Is that so?”

Ha Seung-ju refocused.

Steward

Why do you look at me

Lyrics written while reminiscing about a snowy day in the past.

The song continued.

A village where snow falls.

As evening came, the lights from street lamps and houses began to brighten one by one.

Against such a backdrop, ‘your’ footprints remained in the snowfield.

Soon, the footprints were covered and disappeared under the snow.

Reflecting this, the melody left a faint afterimage with each verse as it faded away.

And then the chorus.

“…”

Calling ‘your’ name.

And the melody that followed was of turning back, placing a hand on ‘your’ shoulder, and wrapping you warmly.

Rihyuk’s powerful voice filled the chorus with emotion.

One by one, one by one-

Day by day, day by day-

Though the lyrics weren’t set, the high and soft voice that sang ‘day by day’ tickled the ears.

After the song ended.

“How is it?”

We asked the producer, who didn’t respond.

He just tapped the table rhythmically with his fingers, feeling the beat.

The other finally spoke.

“…Nothing.”

“What?”

He turned to us with a smile.

“I was going to give feedback, but there’s nothing to say. It’s perfect.”

“Really?”

“Yeah, there’s nothing missing. Which version is this, 6.3-52? It’s perfect.”

“There are bits and pieces missing here and there, probably around the 200th version.”

My counterpart nodded in agreement.

“…It’s worthy of being called perfect.”

Ha Seung-ju expressed great satisfaction.

“Really, minus a few points worth noting, it’s perfect. It’s good enough to be released right away, pleasant to the ears.”

“Wow…”

“Let’s change the lyrics soon, though.”

He laughed, having noticed my inability to write lyrics since the impromptu composing sessions at our music cafe.

We laughed along, wholeheartedly agreeing.

Different from our other songs, Ha Seung-ju spoke while looking at a note with only a few brief points jotted down.

“If there’s one thing to point out…”

His sharp gaze pierced through his glasses.

“There’s a faint shaker sound in the middle, isn’t there?”

“Yes, that’s right.”

“The sound seems a bit off. Like it’s somewhat hollow inside?”

We swallowed hard.

“Wow…”

“What’s wrong?”

“No, it’s just too accurate.”

I pulled a shaker out of the desk drawer in the studio.

A plastic bottle filled with rice.

Holding up the makeshift instrument, I explained.

“We only added the shaker in the most recent version. Haven’t had the chance to adjust it yet.”

“Ah, I see.”

“As you can tell by the scant amount of rice…”

The woefully insufficient quantity of rice.

Glancing at someone avoiding my gaze, I said,

“Junghyun ate it.”

“Never thought he’d eat raw rice.”

That was the sole flaw in the song, otherwise deemed perfect by the producer.

And at our earnest explanation, laughter erupted from the other side.

The album project we officially started progressed smoothly.

The A&R and producing teams worked at an astonishing pace, and the results were exceptionally good.

It was as if honey dripped from the eyes of our company’s staff when they looked at the producer.

But as the producer set the overall framework, I was in charge of the details.

“Ah, my goodness…”

I approached Mr. Baek Sang-gyo, who sat in the studio chair with weary eyes.

“Sir, you must be tired. Let us massage your shoulders.”

“No need! What’s with the shoulders… Ah, my goodness. This is paradise. Heaven.”

“Thanks to you, sir, we believe this album will be a huge hit. We respect you.”

“Heh heh heh…”

Whenever the teachers who came to work on the tracks felt exhausted, we soothed them with our massage skills.

Many were of the older generation, after all.

But despite their fatigue, their passion for music was immense, and they were of great help in many ways.

Their long years of experience and accumulated knowledge were impressive.

Every time they pinpointed something I hadn’t thought of, I couldn’t help but marvel.

“Sir, here’s some apple juice my mother sent.”

“Oh.”

“I’ve brought some sliced apples. Would you like to try some?”

“Oh, wow…”

“I felt like I’ve been giving you too much fruit, so I bought some snacks. Sir, here’s an apple pie.”

“…Cough!”

Aside from the episode where one teacher choked on an apple and had to go home early, it was a peaceful time.

The various departments of the company worked together seamlessly.

It seemed likely that the album could be released by the end of December or early January.

-TNT, NewBlack’s trip to Hong Kong confirmed… ‘2015 KMA’ first lineup announced

-In 2015, the ‘rising trend’ NewBlack, will they win the grand prize at KMA?

-TNT, NYX, and other TJ Entertainment groups to make a full appearance at this year’s KMA… ‘Dramatic agreement’

The music industry buzzed with talk of the K-Net Music Awards in Hong Kong, set for early next month.

After the lineup was revealed, articles predicting who would win what awards flooded in.

I’m not sure which awards we’ll receive, but there’s talk that we have a high chance of winning the ‘Song Award’ at KMA.

Regardless of the awards, we were in charge of the ending for the second part of the three-part ceremony, so we practiced diligently.

“I hate dancing.”

“Go practice. Piraruruku.”

“I hate you.”

“Bijoo, drag them away.”

Screams echoed nonstop in the practice room as we prepared for a performance filled with intense dance routines.

Meanwhile, we also prepared events for our fans, the Soufflés.

November 29th this year.

It marked the 500th day since the name Soufflé was born.

“Ta-da!”

“Everyone, the second Soufflé Week is coming up. Is that an egg ghost behind you? It’s Rihyuk.”

We promoted Soufflé Week every time we went live on the Y app.

Last year, we held a fan meeting, released the fan song “Starlight,” and spent the week hosting various events.

Given the timing, it was difficult to organize a major event.

So, we decided to run various small events using live broadcasts like the Y app.

“And before we start the second Soufflé Week, we’ve prepared something for you!”

“Please look forward to it!”

There was one thing we had always wanted to do before starting Soufflé Week.

We sent a teaser to our fans during the live broadcast.

“If you’re curious, check the major subway stations in three days.”

On the day promised by NewBlack.

As someone descended the subway stairs, their footsteps were light and cheerful.

‘I wonder what the kids have prepared.’

There was speculation on fan cafes and social media, most guessing it was probably an advertisement.

‘An advertisement prepared by the kids…!’

I thought it might contain a message for the fans.

My heart raced.

A Soufflé, wandering around the subway station, swiped their card and passed through the gate.

‘It doesn’t seem to be upstairs.’

It was while roaming around the subway station lined with screen doors.

“Pfft.”

“What’s this?”

Hearing ‘What’s this?’, a Soufflé moved, guided by the intuition that it was our kids.

Passersby were smiling at some advertisement.

When Soufflé saw the ad amidst the crowd, they couldn’t help but pause.

Soufflé, thank you for being with us for 500 days

Below was the touching phrase ‘Forever onwards,’ but the problem was the image.

NewBlack, dressed like little chefs.

With their hands stretched high as if in praise.

“What’s that? …Bread?”

“It seems to be bread.”

Indeed, where NewBlack reached, there was bread emitting a brilliant, multicolored light.

It was bread shaped like a cute emoticon version of Soufflé.

Soufflé, with a benevolent expression and arms wide open, floated in the sky.

‘Separately, they look fine…’

But together, they made a poster that was oddly amusing.

Fans, pretending not to notice, flitted around the ad, laughing among themselves.

Only after the crowd dispersed did they take a photo in front of the ad, grinning.

‘Of course, our kids wouldn’t make an ordinary ad.’

Sure enough.

Ads of NewBlack in various poses shouting ‘Soufflé!’ popped up on followed social media accounts.

While chuckling at this,

‘Ah. The smell of bread is nice.’

The tempting scent of fresh bread wafted by, but I resisted.

I had to hurry home to catch NewBlack’s announced live broadcast.

With that thought, Soufflé, face buried in their phone, hurried past the subway bakery.

At the subway bakery.

Past the morning rush, the station had quieted down.

“Hehe.”

“Hehehehe…”

We laughed, bodies shaking, masks on.

“The day of reckoning is here, minions.”

“Yes, yes.”

“Let’s show the Soufflés the true taste of bread…”

Pastry chef Myeong Se-jin, who had been watching us, spoke up.

“Come here.”

“Yes!”

“Let’s go over the checklist one more time.”

She too wore a mask.

Myeong Se-jin, winner of ‘Pâtissier Korea,’ who had run a one-day dessert cafe with us in Taiwan.

This was one of her bakery branches.

“Thank you for helping us today.”

“Don’t mention it. With NewBlack’s help, it’s a win-win.”

“We’ll make sure you benefit greatly.”

The other party smiled at our words.

“Shall we start the business then?”

Today, we were launching a special event for Soufflé Week.

We were selling ‘Soufflé Bread.’

After pondering what to do for the fans, our second, who had a hobby in baking, came up with the idea.

‘How about making a special bread for the Soufflés?’

Thus, with a recipe created by Bijoo and the help of a professional pâtissier, ‘Soufflé Bread’ was born.

Not a soufflé, but bread shaped like one.

A bread easy to make with simple equipment.

“Now, recognize us.”

“Please recognize us.”

At first, we went about business as usual, but soon, a fan wandering the subway station spread the word that ‘NewBlack is doing a day’s work at the subway.’

On a weekday morning.

According to the pâtissier, this branch was the quietest, making it the perfect spot for the event.

“Oh my. That smells good.”

A lady approached, looking at us.

“I had to stop because of the smell of the bread.”

“Oh, yes.”

“Can I buy one?”

“Yes, of course.”

We had enough ingredients to last till the afternoon.

The lady took a Soufflé Bread and walked away, humming happily.

And five minutes later.

“Wow, I thought it was some deluxe manju. How much is this?”

“500 won.”

“Only 500 won? Wow.”

An office worker, apparently out on business, picked up a Soufflé Bread.

We had hoped to be recognized, but it seemed the enticing smell of the bread had captivated them, and they only had eyes for the bread.

Then, two minutes later.

“The people at the office said it’s delicious and asked me to buy more.”

“Ah, yes.”

That’s when it all began.

“How much is this bread?”

“Soufflé bread? That sounds delicious.”

“The part-timer is really tall and handsome. Give me five of those bread, please.”

Customers were coming in, but not the fans we were expecting.

“No…”

I huddled with my siblings for a moment in the back.

“Why is our business doing so well all of a sudden?”

“What’s this?”

“Brother, this isn’t the time. That lady over there is asking if we have more bread. We need to bake more.”

While my siblings were bustling about, I decided it was time to reveal my identity, or we wouldn’t be able to meet the fans and hold the event.

I approached the customers and casually lowered my mask.

“Hello.”

The customers, who were picking up bread, looked up in surprise.

“Oh my.”

“Wait, the special forces’ son? Is that really you?”

“Yes, that’s right.”

I was about to say more with a smile when suddenly…

“Ah!”

The lady who was picking up bread finally seemed to understand everything.

“So that’s what it was!”

“Excuse me?”

“They’ve been advertising the new bread release in the subway like crazy!”

“Really?”

“Yes, that’s right. I was wondering what that advertisement was all about.”

“…Really?”

Even the college student next to us nodded in realization, and both my siblings and I were taken aback.

But that’s not it. It’s not about that.