Chapter 54. Causing an Incident at a Music Circle (1)

Translator: Synopsis

(T/N: New chapter after so much wait! Thanks for the wait guys and girls! So much hype)

Sunday after the recording.

KangYoon went to Hallyeo Arts University as he had promised with Professor Choi ChanYang.

“Is it here….”

As one of the biggest arts university, its scale was quite considerable. Seeing many students going to college to practice for other activities, KangYoon thought that they were amazing. He immediately went to the student council building where the practice room was.

“Welcome.”

KangYoon could meet Professor Choi ChanYang in front of the student council building. The two immediately went to the underground practice room.

Entering the practice room, 5 people comprised of both genders were practicing with microphones and instruments.

‘Black….’

That was the first thing that came into his view. The blue musical notes that everyone created were making a sticky black light. The song they were playing definitely wasn’t some kind of strange music. It was a sort of ballad, but KangYoon’s expression creased as far as it could from the get-go.

‘Uugh…….’

Influenced by the black light, KangYoon felt as if his strength was draining. It was as if he was being pulled into a swamp. It was as though their playing was gnawing his life force away. That was how KangYoon felt.

‘This isn’t good. I can’t bear to listen.’

KangYoon couldn’t endure it and exited the room, then Professor Choi ChanYang followed him out in surprise.

“What is it? Do you feel unwell?”

“Ah…. No, it’s nothing. I suddenly feel nauseous….”

He could never say that it was because of some black light. The black song he was met with in a defenseless state did indeed drop his physical conditions down. Professor Choi ChanYang was surprised and brought him a cup of water and made him rest a little. KangYoon recovered.

‘What the hell….’

Even KangYoon himself was surprised while he was resting on the chair prepared in the corridor. He never knew that the black light could negatively affect him so much. His body was still reacting to it. It was as if his life force was being scooped away. It was a feeling he never wanted to experience again.

Having barely collected himself, KangYoon entered the studio again with Professor Choi ChanYang. When they entered, the five had already finished playing and were discussing the score.

“Everyone, can I have your attention for a moment?”

When Professor Choi ChanYang spoke out to them, everyone looked back. He introduced KangYoon to everyone. Of course, as they had discussed this beforehand, they left out the story about how he was from MG Entertainment. He only told them that KangYoon worked in the same industry.

KangYoon and Professor Choi ChanYang started watching the students discussing.

“Like I said, we need a minor-like feel here.”

“No, that’s wrong. We need to liven it up a little more here. If we make it minor….”

KangYoon could immediately realize why the music had a black color.

‘Too many captains drove the ship into a mountain.’

Putting all sorts of chords and melodies in would have resulted from a gray to black color. KangYoon was just a collateral damage in that experiment.

‘But it looks fun.’

KangYoon watched the process as they created music together with interest. Though, he still couldn’t understand half of what they were saying with diminished chords and augmented chords. However, it did look really interesting to see the process of creating music. It had a different charm to the composition of pros.

However, that didn’t last long.

‘Urgh…. That damn black….’

KangYoon felt shivers all over his body when a music made with a one whole hour of discussion turned black. It was not a good feeling at all. Professor Choi ChanYang also shook his head in dissatisfaction.

After playing it two or three more times, they came to the conclusion that this was no good and started discussing again. This time, Professor Choi chimed in a few times as well.

“Why don’t we remove the sharp here?”

“Oh, really?”

They erased a sharp on the score after hearing Professor Choi’s words and tried other keys. The other people also commented as well. Kim HeeJin played the melody with a classical guitar. They decided on a melody that everyone was satisfied with.

However, everyone tilted their heads when the voice was inputted as well.

“This doesn’t sound right. I guess we don’t have any luck today.”

Moon MiYoung grumbled while standing up from the drums. After that, Kim HeeJin, who was the bass, also commented.

“You’re right. Today’s weird.”

On one side, KangYoon felt like he was going to die.

‘Ugh…. I’m drained of any strength.’

With no one knowing, the black light from the music was draining KangYoon’s energy.

.

.

.

The composition-jam session ended, and everyone headed towards a nearby bar. Since it was Sunday and the bar was near the university, there weren’t many people. Thanks to that, KangYoon and the others could enjoy a quiet drinking time.

“So, how was today, Mr. KangYoon?”

When the drinking time got ripe, Professor Choi ChanYang asked KangYoon with a slightly reddened face.

“It was good. Good times is what came to my mind.”

“Hahahaha.”

Everyone burst out laughing.

“Oppa, was our song okay?”

Moon MiYoung realized that KangYoon was avoiding the answer so asked directly. KangYoon was put into an awkward spot.

“Hmm…. It was good.”

“Really? Hm. I think your expression is saying the opposite.”

“Hey, MiYoung. What’s up with you? You’re putting him in a tight spot.”

Moon MiYoung had a slightly mischievous side to her. When Kim HeeJin scolded her, the friends started quarreling. KangYoon laughed while looking at them. It was good to look at youngsters in their prime.

Professor Choi ChanYang wasn’t that talkative in that get-together. He left the students to discuss music on their own, and only threw one or two lines when he needed to. He was also the motivation that made the students not scatter and stay together.

‘Mm?’

KangYoon discovered a person who distanced herself when the topic turned into a discussion about the music. It was Lee HyunAh, the vocalist. Everyone was on hot wheels about the music, but only she looked far from interested.

‘Does she have no interest in the band?’

She didn’t speak much about the score even in the practice room. Despite that, she really sang well. She had a good voice, but the black light made KangYoon confused.

A little bit of time passed and the drinking time ended. Everyone had reddened faces and men and women went their separate ways. From the number of bottles on the table, all of them had binged on the alcohol.

Of course, KangYoon and Professor Choi didn’t.

“These kids…. I’m somewhat embarrassed.”

“Not at all. It was very fun today.”

KangYoon separated from Professor Choi and headed to the station to take the subway home.

But someone tagged alone.

“Excuse me, oppa.”

“Mm? Your name was….”

“Lee HyunAh.”

Lee HyunAh grumbled at him for not remembering someone he had met today. KangYoon only laughed it over. The two people were going the same way so they went together.

“I know who you are.”

“You know me? Did we meet somewhere before?”

“TheACE.”

“Huh?”

Lee HyunAh showed him a Twisser screen. KangYoon could be seen controlling the mixer in TheACE’s street performance.

“Ah…. There were such things floating around.”

“I am a fan of TheAce. I even know their manager’s name…. but just one person, you, I don’t have any information on. So it was a guy named Lee KangYoon.”

She seemed to have come to a realization. Lee KangYoon was practically a classified existence even within the company. The fans would find out even the manager’s name, but it was hard to find any info on him.

“The internet sure is scary. So, are you going to tweet about me?”

“What good is it if it’s just you? Weren’t you TheACE’s manager?”

She had a misunderstanding. She basically implied “What did you do with TheACE?”.

“The manager changed.”

“Aah, TheACE sure has it hard nowadays. It must be hard for them. I heard they can’t even get proper sleep nowadays.”

“Probably.”

“It sounds like you’re talking about someone you don’t know…. Are all managers like this?”

“Hahaha, you’re the real deal, eh?”

The conversation with Lee HyunAh was fun. She was full of vitality, and she had a cute side to her as well. Thanks to that, KangYoon’s way home wasn’t so boring.

However, there was a reason she tagged along with KangYoon.

“Oppa, how was our song?”

“It was good, why?”

“Lies. I know already.”

What did she know? KangYoon wondered.

“Your expression said it wasn’t. I saw you creasing your face when we sang.”

“…….”

“Was it… that bad?”

He wondered why they met eyes during practice, and it seemed to be her watching him. KangYoon deeply sighed and spoke honestly.

“There are too many captains. I think you’re trying to put too many things into one song.”

“Do you think so too?”

“I’m no musician so I wouldn’t know for sure. But yeah…. A little.”

KangYoon didn’t delve far into it. He didn’t want to tick off their pride after all. However, she understood his words and nodded her head.

“You’re completely right. With everyone being in the Composition department…. Phew, nowadays, I think the first version of the song might have been better.”

“But I still think it’s fun. Perhaps you will make a masterpiece.”

“I don’t think it’s fun though.”

Lee HyunAh shook her head.

“There are no emotions, and every day is a continuation of messed up discussions about the music…. I don’t feel any fun in this. I might end up quitting like this.”

“Hm….”

“Can I really continue doing this?”

KangYoon was put in a tight spot instead. How did he have to answer this? How could she talk about such a serious thing with a person she just met? KangYoon just spoke honestly.

“What good would come out of asking someone you just met today?”

“But even so…. I thought you might have felt something today.”

In KangYoon’s view, Lee HyunAh was like a little child that wanted to grab anyone nearby and speak to them about everything. A child looking for answers, maybe? But KangYoon did feel that he had to be serious about this and avoided answering hastily.

“Feel something, eh? Now’s the process of making the song itself, isn’t it? There’s no way it’s so easy to do that.”

“It’s a problem because we’re like this every day. Day after day…. Haa, that’s not it. Sorry. I keep talking about useless things.”

Seeing KangYoon not reacting to her so easily, Lee HyunAh switched topic, KangYoon felt that she was just like the others around her age and went over to the topic as well. Talking about the latest celebrities, they could discuss naturally.

‘I still wish he gave me some answers though….’

Even so, Lee HyunAh seemed to be disappointed in KangYoon and could not hide it.

***

The busiest team in MG Entertainment nowadays was undoubtedly the PR team.

With Min JinSeo on the rise, the PR team became busy for an aggressive marketing style, and with TheACE using SNS as marketing, even more, was added to the workload. Following that….

“Aah…. It’s Han JooYeon this time!!”

Vice-chief Goo DoMin of the PR team had the urge to just throw all the documents on his desk into the sky. Work seemed to be increasing the more he did them. With the five-day week policy being implemented, the conception that Saturdays and Sundays were holidays were being spread around, but that was a distant story for the PR team.

“Vice-chief Goo, did Han JooYeon’s videos all get onto the search engines?”

“Yes, we’ll get the articles published soon too!!”

Vice-chief Goo was even fed up with Chief Ji ManHoon and went to the new employee Lee HeeSeon. She was a beauty with a cat-face, but that wasn’t of any concern right now.

“Hey!! What’s this!! This photo is the wrong one!!”

“Sorry? Wait for a sec…. Ehh?”

Employee Lee HeeSeon widened her eyes after seeing Han JooYeon’s photo being switched out with Ailee Jung’s.

“Phew…. Are you crazy? If team leader finds out, we’ll all be screwed over.”

“I’m so sorry!!”

The things he would have kindly looked over normally wasn’t so easily looked over right now due to his temper. That was how tense the atmosphere was in the PR team.

When the PR team was focusing on work without being able to go home, KangYoon arrived.

“Team leader!”

Seeing KangYoon, Chief Ji ManHoon tried to tie his top button on the shirt and the tie, but KangYoon held him back.

“It’s fine. Everyone’s working hard.”

KangYoon held out some food. It was a special-made sushi for them who had remained even after all the other teams went home.

“Thank you, team leader!”

Employee Lee HeeSeon was hungry all this time and tried to extend her hand to the vinyl bag before being stopped by Vice-chief Goo’s glare. However, KangYoon just laughed.

“Please enjoy your meals. Thanks to everyone’s hard work, Han JooYeon’s being advertised well. The official compensation would be done after the girl group debuts as a whole, but I’ll tell the higher-ups about the PR team especially.”

“Hooray to the team leader!”

Naturally, the PR team went up in cheers. Last time, they had also been rewarded with a luxurious overseas trip thanks to TheACE. Their work was hard, but the rewards were compelling so they were really motivated.

“Then please enjoy your meals.”

KangYoon immediately headed to his office after that. Seeing his back, Lee HeeSeon’s eyes were filled with hearts.

“Team leader is so cool…. Does he have a lover; I wonder….”

Then, Vice-chief Goo DoMin pulled her out of her delusions.

“Hey hey. Stop dreaming. He’s the guy that doesn’t even glance at Min JinSeo or JooAh when they work together.”

“Vice-chief, celebrities are like dolls though. They’re distant from us too….”

She was right. They were employees of the same company, but there definitely was some distance between them.

“Pff, do you think the team leader is the same as us?”

“That’s….”

“That’s why you have all sorts of weird photos. You put in JinSeo’s photo instead of JooAh’s last time, didn’t you?”

“Why does that come up now….”

The other employees enjoyed their midnight meals while listening to the banter between the grumbling higher-up and the thick-nerved employee

***

“Fuaaaah…….”

Maths class.

Jung MinAh was busy supplementing her fatigue from practice. This was the most boring class for her. Especially with maths, functions, formulae or ‘Ekks’ whatever made her eyelids really heavy.(E/N: ahhh maths)

Now was no different.

“That why the value of X is…. Ah, again….”

Her friend next to her tried to wake her up but the maths teacher shook his head. She was a student he had already given up on. With her sleeping like an ill chicken throughout all of his classes, she was like an archenemy to him. In fact, he didn’t even remember Jung MinAh’s face that well.

“She’s sleeping again.”

Christie An looked at her as if she was looking at a pathetic person. Unlike English, her eyes were glistening and the pen in her hand was gripped tightly. The maths teacher seemed to receive energy from looking at her and continued on with the class.

“*Snoooore*….”

“…….”

However, Jung MinAh eventually ended up snoring as well which made the math’s teachers patience snap.

“Hey!! Jung MinAh!!”

“…….”

In the end, Christie An shook her up.

“Ah…. Why….?”

Christie An pointed towards the blackboard while looking at Jung MinAh who couldn’t hide her exhausted eyes. Then, Jung MinAh became awkward and scratched her head.

“Get out!”

In the end, Jung MinAh was punished by standing in the corridor.

“Uu….”

Jung MinAh yawned even in the corridor. This sleepiness was uncontrollable. With practice being so harsh nowadays, no amount of sleep made her relieved. Thanks to that, her house gave her some oriental medicine for her stamina, but stamina wasn’t something that recovered so easily. (T/N: Again, inconsistency from the author here. I thought she was an orphan, what the heck)(E/N: Readers, discuss?)

“Aah…. That ahjussi, he drives us too hard….”

“I what.”

“Just saying…. The practice is so…. Whoa?!”

She replied subconsciously, but the real deal appeared in front of her; it was KangYoon.

“A…. Ahjussi! How…. How are you….”

“What are you doing in the corridor?”

“Sorry? Oh…. Uh…. I….”

“You got kicked out because you dozed off. Good for you.”

“…….”

KangYoon’s words were the truth so Jung MinAh couldn’t say anything. Rather than that, she was bright red in embarrassment. Being punished in the corridor with no one there left an unspeakable shame on her.

“I won’t say you need to do your best in your studies, but at least don’t get punished. *sigh*.”

“Uu….”

KangYoon felt absurd while looking at Jung MinAh. He came to the school himself in order to ask for permission for their leave since they would get busier from now on. But this was what he was met with….

Jung MinAh also couldn’t lift her head up either. She tried to look good in front of KangYoon at all times, but this blow today was rather large.

“I’m sorry for the kids….”

“Not at all. It’s around the time they do such things.”

The vice-principal behind KangYoon made a benevolent laugh while Jung MinAh was embarrassed to death. KangYoon also acted as if he was calm, but he was embarrassed on the inside.

‘You, I’ll see to you later.’

‘…….’

Whispered KangYoon and disappeared somewhere with the vice-principal.

Christie An, who was looking through the window, bashed her head on the desk in order to stifle her laugh.

***

A day of rest after a hard week.

KangYoon went to Hallyeo Arts university in order to watch the band practice. Heading to the underground floor of the student council building, there was a door with the letters ‘Recovery’s Practice room’.

“Hello?”

“Hello, how have you been professor.”

He entered the door and the students and Professor Choi all greeted him. When KangYoon sat next to Professor Choi, everyone started practicing again.

“Day after day – time after time – what I’m looking for –“

Fancy electric guitar sounds resounded the studio along with Lee HyunAh’s singing. With the drums and bass added in as well as the synthesizer, a heavy yet fun melody started being created.

However, KangYoon’s energy was being drained instead.

‘It’s the same as always….’

KangYoon was directly exposed to the black light. Singing, drum, bass, synth, guitar – all the musical notes they individually created were definitely good. However, it was a black light that came out when they all mixed together. KangYoon forcefully endured it and thought about where the problem lay. He analyzed the score with Professor Choi and he also had his own analysis on the reason why it became like that.

A round of practice ended and the band seemed to be full of dissatisfaction. The first one to speak was the leader Min ChanMin.

“Isn’t the intro chord strange in the 3rd bar?”

Moon MiYoung replied to that.

“Do you think so too? I also thought that.”

“Should we try changing it?”

Everyone gathered and started changing the score. Having changed one part, they had to fix all the rest to fit that as well, and it was a continuation of edits. KangYoon watched their work with interest. Although he couldn’t understand the majority of what they were saying right now, with Professor Choi’s help, he could start understanding slightly.

However, Lee HyunAh was silent, unlike the others who were actively participating.

‘She did say she didn’t like it, though, she sure is silent.’

KangYoon was concerned about her perhaps because the things they talked about when they went back home together. She definitely did look like she had something to say, but she seemed to be suppressing it. Everyone didn’t seem to notice and ignored her and drew their own score.

Eventually, they finished working and started playing the song.

“Looking for my dream – I’m off – maybe – the endless road – leaving to my youth—“

Lee HyunAh’s voice was a voice that had a depth to it. It was quite a stark contrast to her cute figure. KangYoon liked her voice. Though…

‘Uu….’

It was hard to adapt to the black light. There definitely seemed to be a problem with the song as it kept releasing black light. However, unlike last time, KangYoon didn’t leave his seat or anything.

‘Professor.’

‘Yes?’

‘Today’s score… can I have a copy?’

Professor Choi accepted KangYoon’s request. KangYoon didn’t forget to relieve him by saying that this will not be used by him in any way.

Like that, the band practice continued for a full day before they went to the bar again.

Perhaps due to the tiring practice, everyone was filled with vitality. With a drink in the mix, everyone started discussing their own opinions. If this was about the song before, this was about their personal stories.

However, Lee HyunAh still didn’t talk a lot. Unlike the time she actively spoke with KangYoon, she showed a very different side. The unnis, Kim HeeJin, and Moon MiYoung tried to drag her back to the conversation, but she always slipped out after a few moment and stayed by herself. Other than talking sometimes to Professor Choi, she didn’t seem that interested in the band.

The gathering ended, and it was time to go home.

KangYoon hurriedly headed to the station since he had to go to work the next day.

“Let’s go together.”

Since Lee HyunAh was going the same way, she tagged along. KangYoon had no reason to refuse so they went together.

They boarded the subway and coincidentally the two could sit side by side.

“I don’t think you’re focused during practice.”

“It’s not interesting.”

“Why are you coming then to the meeting?”

“It’s because of the professor. There’s a lot to learn from him.”

KangYoon immediately understood. Professor Choi always filled in the gaps whenever it was necessary. The band too received his help when they were stuck.

“Aah, but I’m worried because it’s no fun. Their song isn’t that good either….”

“Really?”

“Do you agree?”

KangYoon was slightly pricked. However, Lee HyunAh seemed to be quick-witted and realized that.

“Rather than it’s not good…. It’s not complete.”

“Nah, it’s fine. I sang it and I still didn’t like it. You can be honest here. Though, I might get stoned if I got heard by others.”

Lee HyunAh was very merciless with her own band. KangYoon was curious and looked at her.

“They’re always discussing. Even if we do change, we keep repeating the same mistakes. What good is that? The current piece is just a mixture of all sorts of things. They have all fell into the habit of doing the same things again and again.”

“What do you mean?”

“The song I sang today, for example, can be….”

She repeatedly sang the same phrase to give an example. Like how a note had to become longer and had to become higher, like how the feeling went as such, etc. – she explained to KangYoon. However, she also added at the end that it won’t work unless the entire thing changed.

“So you mean the mood of the song needs to change entirely?”

“Yes. As it is now, it’s nothing more than remodeling an old, unstable house.”

KangYoon agreed with her since he was rendered powerless by the black light all this time. However, he also didn’t like how she was complaining about everything.

“Then how about we do this?”

“Do what?”

“The score of the piece we did today, you have it, right?”

“Yes.”

“You’ll arrange the song and show it to everyone.”

Lee HyunAh strongly shook her head at KangYoon’s words.

“Nah, I want to do it too. But I’m only in the first year. If I say anything to those unnis and oppas, I’ll get scolded for revolting.”

“How can such a thing happen?”

“This place…… is like that. There’s a strong hierarchy too….”

KangYoon was rendered speechless. He didn’t know about college culture that much but still did think that this was no good. Although South Korea was known for its well hierarchized senior-junior relationship, he didn’t know that there was still the same thing today.

“Then what about this?”

“How?”

“Don’t you think you still need to try? You’re in the composition department as well. Rather than just complaining about the seniors, shouldn’t you try at least first?”

“…….”

“Well, if you say no, that’s that.”

KangYoon was about to skip it over when she replied.

“Fine. Can I give I photograph it and just give it to you via e-mail?”

“Yep. The earlier the better.”

KangYoon gave her his e-mail address through a text message

…Never did he realize his actions today will bring about a huge incident.

***