Chapter 105. On the Stage…

Translator: Synopsis

Returning to his office, KangYoon told Jung HyeJin to gather everyone practicing to the studio. KangYoon also headed to the studio along with Lee HyunJi.

10 minutes later.

With the exception of Kim JaeHoon, as well as manager Kim DaeHyun who was with him, everyone else gathered up at the studio. Professor Choi ChanYang, who was looking after Kim JiMin’s vocal training was there as well.

“Professor, you can be at ease.”

Said KangYoon to Choi ChanYang who was about to get off his seat. He stood next to Kim JiMin with an awkward smile. Actually, he was curious as well – about how an entertainment company runs. He participated in this meeting just in case this may become of help in his future classes.

‘Why are we all gathered up here?’

‘If you don’t know, why do you expect me to know?’

‘You’re no fun.’

Kim JinDae replied jokingly to Lee ChaHee’s question, but was ignored instead.

This was the first time everyone in the company gathered after the time Kim JaeHoon entered the company. Everyone was nervous because they might hear something heavy, while KangYoon took out the tickets that Jay Han gave him.

“I gathered you all up here to show you these.”

Lee HyunAh accepted them from KangYoon.

“Korea ONE STAR? Special seats? There are special seats for that thing!?”

Not just her, everyone else of White Moonlight was shocked. This was an invitation, and there was seating as well. Since Korea ONE STAR was open to the general public, the tickets were enough to shock them all.

Lee HyunJi added.

“Jay Han gave those to the president in appreciation. Viewing a large stage should be of help, and rest, to everyone. So you’re gathered here to reschedule your timelines.”

“Ooh.”

Everyone understood then. Everyone else other than White Moonlight didn’t even have to reschedule anything.

KangYoon spoke while looking at White Moonlight’s schedule.

“Let’s skip this Friday’s concert. We might have to pay a little bit of cancellation fee, but it’s better than missing something like this.”

When KangYoon said that, Lee HyunAh replied.

“We don’t have to pay the cancellation fee if another band takes our place. Shall I look into it?”

“Oh, yeah. You’re right. Then, can you take care of that?”

“Leave it to me. 8p.m. spot, right?”

“Yup. You guys will be short on time if you do the concert. Just take it as a day off.”

“Okay.”

They might be able to proceed with the concert if they pushed it, but KangYoon didn’t do that. This was different to Kim JaeHoon’s circumstances.

But then, Kim JiMin asked as though she had thought of something.

“Sir, what of JaeHoon-oppa then?”

“I looked at his schedule, and he’s going to be nearby at that time. I think I’ll just tell him to come.”

Just as Kim JiMin was about to ask something else, Lee HyunAh patted and rubbed on her head.

“Wow, pretty. Looking after your oppa now?”

“Ah, hey.”

Everyone burst into laughter seeing the two act like sisters.

***

These days, the entertainment industry was a hot potato.

Waves of disturbance arose from actor Hyun MinWoo’s foreign gambling incident, while President Yoo MinSung was living very discomfortably every day.

– GOD DAMMIIIIIIT!

No object was safe inside the president’s room at his company.

The workers there all bit their lips in terror.

“Vice-chief, I might get a heart attack at this rate.”

“Ms. IHan, I understand what you mean, but…….”

“I apologize. I think I’ll quit the company after today.”

The female employee couldn’t win against her boss’s madness and ended up resigning. She poured out insults as she left.

Regardless, the president’s office was still full of loud voices.

“Whew, I should quit soon too….”

Just as the female employee left, the door suddenly burst open and two men entered. The two just showed their identification and asked.

“We’re from Gangnam police station. Are you perhaps Mr. Yoo MinSung?”

He gulped. Then he pointed towards the president’s office, where sounds of things breaking could be heard frequently. The two men entered the room without saying anything.

“What the, who the hell are you two? huh?”

The male employee quietly packed his stuff. He judged that there was nothing left here for him. She was right. Screw salary, staying at a shitty company like this was sheer stupidity.

“Hey! Where are you all! Get these guys off me! Hey!”

Shouted President Yoo MinSung as he was dragged away, but there was no one left there to listen to him.

***

Everyone at World Entertainment got on a van in order to go watch the final stage of Korea ONE STAR. Kim JinDae spoke when KangYoon naturally got on the driver’s seat.

“President, I’ll be the one to drive.”

“It’s fine. Where do you see a president making their entertainer drive?”

“But you’re the president….”

“I said it’s fine. Get on.”

KangYoon turned on the car saying that he was fine. Lee HyunJi got on the assisstant’s seat, while the back seats were filled with the entertainers of the company, Jung HyeJin and professor Choi HanYang. There were almost no empty seats at all.

“Still quite small I see.”

Spoke Lee HyunJi while looking through the rearview mirror. She still found the company rather disappointing in terms of scale. However, KangYoon consoled her.

“The scale will get big soon. What’s important is the infrastructure.”

“That’s true.”

With everyone excited, the car departed. It had been a long time since everyone had gathered up together, so the van was filled with chatter. Kim JiMin and Lee HyunAh were especially talkative. Kim JiMin asked Lee HyunAh a lot about musical stuff, and Lee HyunAh did her best to tell her what she could.

At the front, KangYoon and Lee HyunJi were discussing about what to do in the future. Lee HyunJi spoke while looking at the timeline on her phone.

“Looks like we’ll get our concert hall earlier than we think thanks to JaeHoon’s efforts.”

“About two months, right?”

“If we push it, then even earlier is fine. There’s a good place out right now. I’m considering paying the contract fee, so have a look at it later.”

“Got it.”

The venue for the final stage of Korea ONE STAR was about 30 minutes away by car. Since they received invitations, parking was not hard. KangYoon and co. parked at a place where celebrity vans (T/N: Vans with really dark windows…) didn’t enter via the front door, but they went through the back door which were used by organizers and entertainers.

“Wow….”

Kim JiMin’s jaws dropped at the enormous scale. This stage was probably enough to host 10,000 people at minimum. White Moonlight was the same in their shock.

KangYoon lead everyone and sat at the front where the special seats were.

Not long later, Kim JaeHoon and manager Kim DaeHyun arrived as well. As though it was timed, the other seats started being filled as well.

Time passed like that until the lights lighting the seats darkened and the stage lights turned on.

“Ladies and Gentlemen! Welcome to the final stage of Korea ONE STAR!”

“(cheering)”

The cheering of 10,000 people was a scene in itself.

‘Wow.’

Kim JiMin felt electrified even though the cheers weren’t directed at her.

As expected of the final stage, all the stages were splendid. Although this was the ‘final stage’, there were consolation stages for those who dropped out earlier, as well as from the judges.

‘So cool.’

Kim JiMin enjoyed what she saw. She found it very fun to watch the stages while whispering with Lee HyunAh next to her.

After all that, the finals for Korea ONE STAR finally began.

“…Let us finally meet; the strongest competitor who rose from 1st on the dropout list to the top of the lineup! Everyone’s favorite! The magical voice from the US! Jay HAAAAAN!”

“(Cheeering)”

Enormous cheers erupted just for one person. This was incomparable to what other people received before this stage.

Kim JiMin’s heart thumped. She naturally knew that this was not directed at her, but her heart was jumping anyway.

‘If only I could be there….’

It was such a pity. If she didn’t drop out, but was picked, she could have been the character on that stage – she gripped her fists subconsciously.

A charming voice tickled her ears, but she couldn’t listen to it closely.

– I loved you— but you—

“I LOVED YOUUUU—“(audience)

Regardless of what she felt, the rest of the audience sang along with the magical voice and became one. The familes of World Entertainment had all become one with the audience.

“He’s good.”

“Tell me about it.”

Both Lee HyunJi and KangYoon praised the stage. Kim JaeHoon also praised. Though, they didn’t scream like the rest of the audience. Perhaps this was a part of their job. The band members of White Moonlight were all excited and promised to get signatures later. Though, Lee ChaHee shut them all down saying that it bothered her….

After the song, the judges were full of compliments; say nothing of the scores. As expected of the finals, the scores were above the top.

The following stages were the same. They couldn’t be called ‘amateur’ singers anymore.

‘If only I could be on that stage….’

Kim JiMin’s eyes were on fire as she watched them.

***

“And the winner! Is! JAAAAAAY HAAAAN!”

Along with a loud fanfare, Jay Han was congratulated as the winner by the other competitors. His eyes were full of tears. While everyone cheered in congratulation, he had a hard time grabbing the microphone due to the sudden surge in emotion.

“Oh… Th, thanks everyone.”

After that, Jay Han couldn’t continue easily.

This was his victory, and now that he achieved it, he felt as though power drained from his feet. The presenter urged him on, while the rest of the audience consoled him. Only then did he calm down. He was able to grab the microphone again.

“F, first. I thank my….”

Talking about the people he met on his journey here, as well as his parents, he wiped the tears on his face. He couldn’t talk easily as though his heart was still jumnping, when he dragged on for too long, the presenter was about to cut him off. At that time, he suddenly thought of something and quickly added.

“Oh, yeah! A very important person! The composer that enabled me to take victory! Composer Lee KangYoon! You’re the best! Oh yeah! I love you! THanks so much!”

At those words, the members of World Entertainment all took a glance at KangYoon. KangYoon blinked several times in embarrassment.

“Huh?”

“Oho?”

The one who spoke first was Lee HyunAh.

“I knew that your sonsgs were good… but it feels different hearing that from another person. Fufu.”

Kim JaeHoon wasn’t that much different to Lee HyunAh. He knew that KangYoon’s songs were good from working with him, but now that other people approved of him as well, his eyes changed.

“I knew it, I wasn’t wrong about him.”

For singers, the desire for good songs was beyond imagination, they all looked at KangYoon with burning eyes.

KangYoon scratched his cheek in awkwardness.

‘I guess I got free PR.’

He was thankful for Jay Han who practically advertised him for free.

After the stage, KangYoon headed to Jay Han’s waiting room with Kim JiMin, this was because Kim JiMin requested KangYoon that she wanted to meet with Jay Han!

“Composer!”

As soon as KangYoon entered, Jay Han gave KangYoon a big hug. KangYoon patted Jay’s back.

“Well done.”

“It’s all thanks to you. I really mean it!”

Jay Han’s voice was still excited as though his excitement hadn’t calmed down.

KangYoon explained that a trainee at his company wanted to see him. Jay Han said okay and told Kim JiMin to sit down.

Kim JiMin asked him a lot of things as though she was curious about a lot of things. Although she was usually quiet, she was unstoppable once she was into something. Despite that, Jay Han replied every single question without becoming impatient.

Listening to their converstaion, KangYoon took out his phone.

‘That should have been all live. Would I get more work? I don’t think I’ll be able to digest all of that. Should I get a support?’

Just as KangYoon was hesitating, Kim JiMin asked Jay Han about what he did in preparation for the final stage. As expected of a girl full of curiosity, she didn’t stop asking. KangYoon cut her off at a suitable point and stood up.

“JiMin. Let’s go.”

“Sorry? But….”

“Everyone’s waiting outside.”

“Oh…. Yes.”

Kim JiMin pouted. However, KangYoon was merciless. Jay Han should be tired after the stage, and it was still amazing that he gave her this amount of time.

“I’m fine.”

“No, let us meet again later.”

“I’ll ask you for a song when I release an album later, okay?”

KangYoon nodded and left the waiting room.

Kim JiMin was silent as she left. As though in deep thought, she didn’t have any expression on her face as well.

“Follow me.”

KangYoon didn’t lead her outside, but inside. Kim JiMin thought that she was about to get scolded for her actions and followed KangYoon with drooped shoulders.

However, the place KangYoon headed was the hall where the stage was being dismantled.

“Go up there.”

“Sorry?”

“I said, try going up there.”

Kim JiMin walked up the stage per KangYoon’s words. Leaving people busy with dismantling behind her back. She looked at KangYoon.

“Look at the audience seats. How is it?”

“It’s wide. And there’s a lot too.”

This was a hall that could hold 10,000 people. Of course it was wide.

“Today, these people all came here to watch the finals of Korea ONE STAR. Such a number of people spent their own time and money to come watch the stage.”

“Yes. There were a lot of people, all cheering….”

Kim JiMin looked down at KangYoon quite calmly. KangYoon watched her with observant eyes.

“Be honest me. You were quite envious today, weren’t you?”

“…Yes.”

“You were jealous, weren’t you?”

“…….”

Kim JiMin bit her lips since KangYoon asked such an obvious question. She couldn’t possibly say that she was jealous of the people who were on stage today. The reason she asked KangYoon if she could meet Jay Han was also because she wanted to know what kind of people got to stand on such a stage.

As though he knew what she was thinking, KangYoon calmly spoke.

“It’s natural for a singer to aspire for such a large stage. The number of audience is the power of a singer. I wish you could become a singer that could host such a number of people as audience without much effort. And I intend to make you one.”

“…….”

“It’s not that I don’t know how you feel. You must be jealous. Jealousy may motivate you, but it may also ruin you. After all, it makes people overdo things. The things you are learning and doing right now are definitely not basic things. No, I dare say that trainees at other companies don’t get learning opportunities like you do.”

Kim JiMin gulped at KangYoon’s words that contained his conviction. Until now, he never told her something like this. Even when he got her a house for her and her grandmother to live in. His words were without exaggeration.

“I am preparing all that I can in order to make the trainee Kim JiMin a top-tier singer. You are doing well right now. I want you to be not shaken by other things.”

After saying that, KangYoon left on his own. He implied her to clear up her thoughts before she followed. At that time, Kim JiMin spoke.

“I’m definitely not unsatisfied with my current curriculum. It’s just…. I was envious… How could I possibly resent you? You’re my savior. It looks like I was in a hurry. I’m sorry.”

“No, you can be in a hurry. It looks like seeing other stages do help a lot, making you think about things like that. Looks like you aren’t an easy one either, eh? Thinking about a 10,000 people stage already.”

KangYoon laughed. Normally, seeing a singer that could host such a large amount of people would terrorize a trainee, not provoke one. Jealousy was something for people in a similar situation. KangYoon didn’t think about this too badly.

When it seemed that Kim JiMin’s thoughts were about cleared up, KangYoon lead her out.

“Well, then. Looks like we made people waiting. Shall we go?”

“Yes.”

KangYoon lead the way out. Kim JiMin followed suit.

‘10,000 people? I’ll definitely do it. On my own.’

Leaving the hall, Kim JiMin had a look back at the stage. Imagining such a large amount of people gathering solely to watch her, she felt excited already.

“Hey, wait for me.”

…Though, she had to run in order to catch up to KangYoon.