Chapter 7: A Voice in the Night

The Moon family spared no expense for little Ha-neul's 5th birthday party. Hosted at a luxurious 5-star hotel, the event was filled with balloons, elaborate decorations, and a performance by La Vie Belle, the company's rising K-pop girl group. Guests mingled in the grand ballroom, sipping on high-end drinks and enjoying the lavish spread.

Moon Woo-seok arrived at the venue, greeting staff and family with his usual composed demeanor. He adored his nephew, and though he rarely indulged in personal events, this was one he wouldn't miss. As he made his way to the ballroom, he heard something unusual from the hotel lounge—a voice.

The song floated out into the hallway, stopping him in his tracks.

"And though the night feels long,

The stars still hum their quiet song.

A love lost in the waves so deep,

In my heart, it will forever keep."

The voice was mesmerizing—deep as the ocean, with a rasp that felt like whispers echoing inside a hollow tunnel. It was raw yet refined, sending a shiver down his spine. Woo-seok turned his head toward the lounge, curiosity sparking in his usually composed eyes.

Forgetting his destination for a moment, he followed the sound. Inside the lounge, a man stood under a dim spotlight, wearing a cap, sunglasses, and a face mask that concealed most of his face. His posture was relaxed yet purposeful, and his fingers gripped the microphone like it was an extension of his soul.

"Through the silence, through the rain,

I'll find my way back to you again.

Even when the road feels cold,

Your memory burns brighter than gold."

Woo-seok stopped near the entrance, letting the song wash over him. The man's voice was unlike anything he'd heard in years. It carried emotion so potent it could silence a room and make you forget to breathe. So unusual, it made him calm.

The performance ended with a gentle strum of the guitar, and a soft applause came from the small lounge audience. Woo-seok, still stunned, stood frozen as the man bowed slightly and hurriedly left the lounge before anyone could stop him.

By the time Woo-seok came back to his senses, the man was gone. He rushed to the lounge staff, his voice unusually urgent. "Who was that? The man singing just now—who is he?"

One of the staff members scratched her head. "Oh, him? He's not our regular singer. Our original lounge performer had an accident tonight, and this guy offered to substitute for him. A miracle, really."

"Where is he now?"

"He just left," she replied, shrugging. "We don't even know his name. He just showed up and offered to help after hearing what happened to the original singer."

Woo-seok frowned. The staff's lack of answers frustrated him. He thanked them curtly and returned to the ballroom, his mind still lingering on the man. The voice... the presence... it felt oddly familiar. Could this be the man from the viral video he had been investigating earlier?

---

Seo-woo walked through the hotel corridors, his cap pulled low over his face. He'd taken a risk sneaking out in the middle of the night, but he needed the money. Singing in the park had made him realize that his voice, though not what it used to be, could still move people.

As he stepped outside into the cool night air, Seo-woo noticed an ambulance parked at the hotel's entrance. His curiosity got the better of him, and he approached a small crowd gathered near the emergency vehicle.

"What happened?" he asked one of the onlookers.

"Apparently, the hotel's lounge singer had a bad allergic reaction," the person whispered. "They said he ate some dessert with peaches in it and didn't realize."

Seo-woo winced in sympathy. Though he felt bad for the singer, he couldn't deny the opportunity it had given him tonight. He hadn't planned to sing at the hotel lounge tonight—it was pure coincidence. As he passed the staff talking about their singer's sudden allergy attack, he had overheard their desperation. Without much thought, he had offered to step in.

While singing in the lounge, he saw a familiar figure entering the hotel. "What the—why all the people, why CEO Woo-seok is here?" he said internally. He added, "I need to finish this miracle temporary job."

Now, his time as a "miracle substitute" was over, and his golden voice's activation was ticking away. He had about an hour left before it faded again. After finishing the last song, he rushed to the staff room and got his salary – 250,000 won.

He glanced back at the hotel briefly before heading home, completely unaware that he had just left a lasting impression on the most powerful man in his former company.

Back in the ballroom, Woo-seok stared out the window, the voice from the lounge still echoing in his head. He clenched his jaw.

"I'll find you," he muttered under his breath. "No matter who you are."

---

The morning started with the usual hustle as Seo-woo gently shook his triplets awake. Seo-jun, always the most responsible of the three, groaned and rubbed his eyes. Seo-min mumbled something about wanting five more minutes, while Seo-jin rolled over, pulling his blanket over his head.

"Come on, boys," Seo-woo said with a smile. "You'll be late for school if you don't get up now. I made breakfast—your favorite!"

The mention of food worked wonders. Soon, all three boys were up, dressed in their neat little uniforms, and seated at the small dining table. Each plate held an egg sandwich, a sausage, and a glass of milk.

"Eat up," Seo-woo encouraged, ruffling Seo-jin's hair. "Big brains need fuel."

The triplets ate quickly, their chatter filling the cozy kitchen.

"Dad, what are you going to do today?" Seo-jun asked, looking at his father with a curious but serious expression.

Seo-woo smiled at his eldest. "I'm going to find work. Don't worry, I'll figure something out."

Seo-min tilted his head. "But don't you have to hide your face? People might recognize you, right?"

Seo-woo nodded. "That's why I'll be extra careful." He forced a reassuring grin, not wanting to show his sons the anxiety bubbling underneath.

After breakfast, Seo-woo walked the triplets to their kindergarten. They held his hands, Seo-jun on the left and Seo-min and Seo-jin on the right. It was a crisp morning, and the streets were bustling with parents and children heading to school.

As they walked, a window prompt suddenly appeared in front of Seo-woo:

[New Quest Alert!]

Compose an original song that will resonate with the masses.

Reward: +10 Charisma, +5 Parenting, a surprise perk

Seo-woo froze mid-step, staring at the floating text in front of him.

"Dad?" Seo-min asked, tugging on his hand.

Seo-woo blinked, realizing he had stopped walking. He quickly slapped his own cheek, hoping the prompt would disappear.

"Dad, what are you doing?" Seo-jun asked, raising an eyebrow.

"Uh, just waking myself up," Seo-woo said with a sheepish chuckle. "It's too early for me too, you know."

The triplets exchanged confused glances but didn't question him further.

Seo-woo's mind raced. Why didn't I think of composing songs before? He had the skills and experience, and the music industry was always looking for fresh, original work. Composing could be the perfect way to earn money while staying under the radar.

When they reached the kindergarten, Seo-woo crouched down to look at his sons. "Be good today, okay? I'll pick you up later."

"Okay, Dad!" Seo-jin said, giving him a quick hug.

Seo-min nodded and smiled. "Good luck finding a job, Dad."

Seo-jun, ever the leader, gave his father a serious look. "Don't overwork yourself. We'll help if you need us."

Seo-woo's heart warmed at his eldest's words. He kissed each of their foreheads before watching them run off to their teacher, waving back at him with bright smiles.

On his way back home, Seo-woo's thoughts were laser-focused on the new quest. As soon as he stepped into their small rental house, he clapped his hands together.

"Alright, let's do this!" he said aloud, determination lighting up his eyes.

He rummaged through an old drawer and pulled out a battered notebook filled with his past scribbles. Lyrics, melodies, and half-finished ideas stared back at him.

Seo-woo sat at the table, his pen in hand, and closed his eyes for a moment. He imagined a song that could touch hearts, a melody that could linger in someone's mind long after hearing it. His fingers began to move, sketching out notes and words.

For the first time in years, Seo-woo felt a spark of hope. If he could succeed in this, maybe, just maybe, he could turn things around for himself and his sons.

Time to compose a masterpiece.