Chapter 132. The Princess’ Debut (2)

Translator: Chamber

Editor: Illidan

It had been a month since Eddios had joined World Entertainment.

KangYoon had sent all of the members to their respective homes before the duet with Han JooYeon and Lee JunYeol at Christmas.

This was because he noticed that the girls had become wary and fatigued after their lifestyle in America. As Christie’s parents lived in a different state to hers, he even got her a plane ticket. The members all cheered and praised KangYoon for being so generous.

After that, Han JooYeon had returned first and showed a good side in the Christmas event.

After that, the other members started returning one by one and they were given a place to live and a practice room inside Lunas. Although it was nothing compared to the large facilities that MG had once provided them with, it was very minimal yet practical. The members were very satisfied.

A new year.

They had met the new year inside their new living quarters.

Seo HanYu, as always, was the first to wake up.

“*Yawn*…”

She yawned before getting out of her blanket.

“This unni is still as ever…”

Next to her was Christie, drooling with her blanket kicked over to one side. Seo HanYu smoothly covered her sleeping unni with her blanket. Then, Christie immediately rolled around in the blanket, wrapping herself up in the process.

“..Mmmmm.”

Leaving her, who had no intentions of exiting dreamland, behind, Seo HanYu went to the living room on her tip-toes.

Over there, she could see Jung MinAh was stretching herself out while rubbing her eyes.

“Unni, you’ve woken up?”

“Yeah. Have you slept well?”

Jung MinAh and Seo HanYu helped each other do some stretching. The two grabbed each others’ torsos and twisted their waists. They were well coordinated with each other, and all of their motions looked natural.

“Was there anything uncomfortable when you slept?”

“No, it was warm and not cold. I was worried since I heard the building is quite old, but it seems like my worries were for naught.”

“It’s something that he prepared, so there’s no way such a thing can happen.”

While stretching, Jung MinAh talked about a lot of things. She especially took a liking to her new company and showed a lot of faith. Seo HanYu also liked her new, comfy environment.

“Well, if it’s him… The practice room here is good as well. It might be small, but it’s practical. I don’t feel that much of a difference from the time I was in MG.”

“I just feel at ease here. If it’s him, he will have good plans in store for us. Look at JooYeon. Her stage last time received good feedback. I heard SamSoon was going on TV soon as well. HanYu, you must be next, right?”

“Ri…ght?”

Seo HanYu was expectant. It would be a lie to say that she wasn’t greedy for action.

Jung MinAh knew how she felt. She grabbed the youngest girl’s two hands.

“Just wait for your chance. There will definitely be something.”

“Yes, unni.”

Jung MinAh stretched Seo HanYu’s arms out and gave her some encouragement. Seo HanYu also harbored a form of expectation after hearing the leader’s words.

***

World Entertainment, plan meeting.

This was the first plan meeting since HeeYoon had come over to Korea. HeeYoon was unable to hide her excitement in participating in the planning meeting.

However, unlike what she thought, the process wasn’t so easy.

“Country?”

“Didn’t you say folk at first? I went with a chord progression more suited to folk….”

Folk and country were two subgenres stemming from the Blues genre but had different themes. HeeYoon wondered why the song suddenly changed themes into a country theme. This was reasonable as she was the main composer.

KangYoon explained to HeeYoon, who used a polite manner to speak to him as this was a formal meeting.

“My opinion is that JiMin’s voice is more suited for a country style. Rather than wasting her powerful voice on a soft folk song, I think we should go with a more rhythmical one like country.”

The singer’s voice did not suit the genre. This was the reason.

HeeYoon thought about it before speaking.

“Okay, I’ll get that to work. Before that, though, I want to listen to JiMin’s voice. I think only then I can get a grasp on how I should go about it.”

When KangYoon glanced at Kim JiMin, she stood up from her seat. She then did a few vocal exercises before singing the song she was given.

“Aaaah—-”

As there were no lyrics yet, she simply hummed the melody.

HeeYoon listened to Kim JiMin’s song until the end and fell into contemplation. KangYoon gave her plenty of time to think. Soon, she had cleared up her thoughts and spoke again.

“Okay, I’ll rearrange it into a more country-style. As you said, president, we will not be able to make full use of her powerful voice with a folk song. I think I should get to creating a more powerful song.”

“Please.”

After the conversation with KangYoon, HeeYoon approached Kim JiMin and hurled questions at her.

“What does it remind you of?”

“Sorry?”

Kim JiMin fell into panic due to the sudden question. Such a vague question was enough to make her feel confused. KangYoon, who had caught what she meant to ask, spoke instead.

“She’s asking you what you felt while singing.”

“Oh… uhm.”

She scratched her head.

“The lyrics aren’t out yet, so I’m not sure.”

“Pfft.”

Lee HyunJi, who was listening all this while, suddenly laughed. KangYoon also covered his mouth.

“It looks like we left out the most important thing. HeeYoon, when are the lyrics coming out?”

“I haven’t made any lyrics yet. I was planning to make one together with the singer this time.”

Hearing that, KangYoon spoke for a moment before speaking.

“You can do that now then. JiMin, why don’t you have a go at composition as well?”

“Me? Can I?”

When she asked in a worried tone, HeeYoon said that it was naturally okay.

“Of course. Let’s create a good song together.”

“Okay. I’ll try my best.”

Since the general outline was decided, there was now a direction to this meeting. The meeting was mainly about the changes brought by the change in genre. For example, the stage layout. After they outlined the general changes, the meeting ended.

Although the meeting had ended, HeeYoon and Kim JiMin were stuck together. HeeYoon looked at Kim JiMin grabbing a guitar with curious eyes. When she started playing the guitar, she started giving instructions on how to do the chords. She also changed the main melody as she did so.

The two started composing like that.

‘Looks like they’re getting along well.’

KangYoon quietly left the studio in order to not disturb them. It would be idiotic for him to interfere anymore.

The place he headed towards was White Moonlight’s practice room. They were in the midst of practice as always when he went there. However, there was a guest amidst them as well.

“Hello? Happy new year!”

It was none other than Park SoYoung. She greeted KangYoon cheerfully.

“Welcome. Oh.”

KangYoon told her that HeeYoon was in the basement.

“Really?”

“Go ahead.”

As soon as KangYoon had finished speaking, Park SoYoung left the practice room.

“How quick.”

Seeing that, Lee HyunAh pouted saying that she had abandoned her. Of course, it was a joke.

White Moonlight had a lot of freedom with their practice. KangYoon didn’t interfere with them that much. This was his method of managing bands, which was much more liberal compared to other forms of managing artists in the industry. However, there was the precondition that they abided by the bottom line.

After watching them practice for a while, KangYoon called them over for a moment. Hearing their boss’ call, all of them sat down in front of him with nervous expressions.

“I’ll try to get you a stage on TV during the first half of the year.”

“What?”

Everyone widened their eyes at the news. They always heard rumors about going major, but now there seemed to be some evidence.

“Is there anything we need to do especially?”

Lee ChaHee asked. KangYoon shook his head.

“No, you just need to keep gaining more and more audience like you’re doing now. Your lessons are going well, right?”

“Yes.”

One way the band members were getting their income was through personal lessons. Their title as a famous indie band worked quite well. Moreover, the company was all up for it and gave them some advertisements, so everyone was quite well off. Though, some of the profits went to the company in the name of ‘personal activities’.

Everyone shook their heads when KangYoon asked them if they needed anything. KangYoon then stood up and left the practice room when Lee HyunAh followed him out.

“Oh, is there still something?”

“Here, take this.”

Lee HyunAh gave him something. It turned out to be some plain ricecakes. (T/N: The same kind of ‘tteok’ in ‘tteokbokki’)

“What’s all this?”

“My household runs a ricecake house. It was freshly made this morning. Please have some.”

“Thanks, this looks nice.”

KangYoon headed to his office with a smile. Lee HyunAh warned him though.

“You have to eat it alone!”

KangYoon burst out laughing when he heard that.

***

“HeeYoon!”

Reina cheerfully greeted HeeYoon after she came back from tackling music with Kim JiMin all day.

[Reina, have you been well?]

[No, JaeHoon wasn’t here and I was bored.]

[You should’ve gone outside.]

[There’s no fun in going alone.]

HeeYoon couldn’t help but feel sorry for her friend. She would have shown her new friend around, but with work in the way, she couldn’t exactly do that. Kim JiMin was the first non-professional artist that World had raised from scratch. She was very important, and she needed just as much attention from her.

Reina was expecting a guest-house like atmosphere, but now, she was just running the house with KangYoon, Kim JaeHoon and even her friend HeeYoon absent. She was very bored with having to watch TV or browse the web on the PC all day.

HeeYoon took Reina to the kitchen. Although it was almost 9, they hadn’t had dinner yet. HeeYoon sat her down by the table and prepared dinner.

The two were having a simple dinner at home when they heard a noise from the front door. Soon, a male voice could be heard from the door.

“HeeYoon, you home?”

It was KangYoon.

Hearing her brother’s voice, HeeYoon left the kitchen to greet KangYoon.

“You’re here, oppa.”

“Yeah, when did you come? You weren’t at the company.”

“I left at 8. I’m almost done with the song as well. It’s just as you said. Country seems to fit her better.”

HeeYoon readily took KangYoon’s coat and hung it up. KangYoon felt good being given some service by his sister after a long time. Reina approached them as they did that.

“Y… yer here?”

“Pfft, Reina, you’re speaking in an accent.”

“Ax-sent?”

“-Dialect-.”(Spoken in English)

“Oh.”

Reina nodded her head in understanding.

KangYoon also talked to Reina in English.

[How was your day?]

[It was not bad. Oh, your English is very good.]

Reina was surprised. Although KangYoon’s pronunciation was slightly awkward, it was enough for her to understand.

[I used to live in America for a little bit. Anyway, I should have put in some more thought, but I guess I was too busy for that. Sorry.]

[No, it’s fine.]

KangYoon made a sorry expression, and Reina shook her head. However, KangYoon still couldn’t help but feel sorry.

[My sister’s friend is here, but I’m not doing anything for her. Do you perhaps need anything? You’re in Korea, so you need to do something good.]

[Uhm, can I ask you for something then?]

[Of course, do you need anything?]

Hearing KangYoon’s words, Reina became bright again. She then asked for something.

[Can I visit the company tomorrow?]

[The company? Didn’t you come last time?]

[Rather than that… I want you to listen to me sing.]

[Me?]

KangYoon blinked several times at the completely unexpected suggestion. HeeYoon explained it to him.

“Uhm… I kinda boasted about you while I was there. That you have a good eye for singers.”

“HeeYoon, you….”

KangYoon turned around to HeeYoon. However, HeeYoon spoke as though it was natural.

“It’s true that you have good eyes. Can’t you just… help her out once? It’s a request from me too.”

“…….”

If it was his sister’s request, then there was no reason to refuse. Reina also seemed to have understood HeeYoon’s intentions and gave KangYoon a strong glance.

KangYoon accepted in the end.

[Then come with HeeYoon tomorrow.]

[Thank you so much! Wow!]

When Reina and HeeYoon jumped around in joy, KangYoon added.

[I’m not entirely correct, so just take it as a reference, okay?]

[Yes.]

They didn’t seem to care about that and just cheered on.

The next day.

HeeYoon and Reina had come to the studio as they promised with KangYoon. As promised, KangYoon had already finished setting up and were waiting for the two. JiMin was next to KangYoon.

“Welcome.”

KangYoon told Reina to enter the booth. Reina erased any kind of impishness about her and entered the booth with a dead serious expression. When she was asked if there was any song she wanted, she thought for a moment before speaking.

“The Phantom.”

It was an opera song. The song was grand and had a gradual rise of excitement. It was a song loved by many. KangYoon searched up for the song before finding a soundtrack without a voice.

[Then here it goes.]

After Reina finished exercising vocally, KangYoon gave a signal. When Reina gave the OK, KangYoon played back the soundtrack. Along with a choppy staccato like feeling, the grand music started ringing inside the studio.

“Since once again without you – My power over –”

There weren’t any effects added to the microphone. However, Reina’s voice was very crisp and clear. There was a power behind her voice as well, so despite the low mic input volume, it was more than enough to fill the entire studio.

‘What a sound.’

KangYoon could see a pure white light that Reina’s music notes were creating. Rather than powerful, it felt more pure and clear.

‘There are no effects applied at all, and it’s still this good. She’s amazing.”

KangYoon was honestly surprised. The ringing inside his ears was especially charming. Despite all the ringing though, she was still clearly able to get the lyrics across.

The song lasted around 3 minutes, and Reina exited the booth. Her expression was filled with nervousness because she didn’t know what KangYoon would say.

Regardless, KangYoon just spoke what he honestly felt.

[The ringing was amazing. You have an amazing voice.]

[Thank you.]

[Despite all that ringing, the lyrics are clearly getting across. Are you perhaps interested in doing musicals?]

Reina looked at KangYoon in surprise.

[How did you know?]

[You were very focused on getting the lyrics across when you sang, so I just guessed. Normally, singers on stage don’t focus on lyrics that much. They’d rather focus on their voice.]

[Oh….]

[Your song was good. Can you sing another one?]

[With pleasure.]

Being asked to do another one, Reina started singing another one acapella. It wasn’t that different to before and the lyrics were still very clear, and her voice very loud.

“……”

Seeing KangYoon ask Reina with a lot of interest and in English, Kim JiMin pouted slightly.

(T/N: Come on, JiMin, you had your English lessons. Time to put them to work!)