Chapter 7

“Of course, it is good as it is now, but let’s do it once more . Producer Oh, in my opinion, it would turn out better . ”

“If team leader says so…”

Producer Oh JiWan’s reaction was sour, but he didn’t seem to oppose it that much . It was because KangYoon never said he was bad or criticized him in any way . After Producer Oh JiWan agreed, KangYoon picked up the microphone .

“JooAh, can you do it once more?”

“Ok . ”

After JooAh’s permission came, KangYoon gave the sign straight away . This time, KangYoon interfered lightly .

“Producer, I think JooAh’s voice feels a little too big . When she pronounces ‘sute’, her pronunciation vibrates a little bit . I’d like you to edit this part . ”[1]

“Is that so? Shall I adjust the high-tone since that part has a high melody?”

“That’s your area of expertise, Producer Oh, so I will leave it to you . ”

Of course, KangYoon could do it himself, but he didn’t interfere with the details . Producers, at their heart, were people who do art . They were prideful people . It was not good to meddle in their affairs too much . KangYoon was someone who had 10 years of experience, so he knew this fact very well .

The recording proceeded with Producer Oh JiWan adjusting the tones . JooAh was absorbed in her singing with her eyes closed, and the people outside also wrote what they needed while appreciating her singing coming out of the speakers . Each of them did their own work, whether it was coming up with a concept or thinking up ways to advertise this .

‘Phew . Now the grey disappeared . ’

KangYoon was relieved at the scene with no grey light . When he saw the delicate white light growing stronger, KangYoon could finally sigh in relief .

“Huh, why did I skip this part when it could get so much better? Team Leader, it’s at least a hundred times better than it was previously . This, I have learned something from you today . ”

After the recording ended, Producer Oh JiWan took off his hat and scratched his head . Recordings always left some disappointments . However, days like today, when he was refreshingly satisfied, were rare . He was the one to record JooAh’s albums until now, but it was the first time something like this happened, so he smiled awkwardly . He thought he had the best grasp on JooAh’s voice… But today, he accepted defeat .

“No, I just gave a small push . It was Producer Oh who did the work . I have a great feeling about this song . Shall we rest a bit?”

“Shall we? Well then, rest up, everyone . ”

When Producer Oh JiWan declared it was resting time, the studio members who were controlling the various machines in their positions sang in delight, and the other staff left with a cheer .

.

.

.

“Would you like a cup of coffee?”

Chairman Won JinMoon offered KangYoon, who was looking at paperwork in the corner, a can of coffee .

“Thank you, Chairman . ”

“Everyone’s resting, but you are not letting go of work… May I?”

“Of course, please sit . ”

KangYoon covered the paperwork he was looking at when Chairman Won JinMoon sat down next to him .

“Do you know the rumor about you?”

“A rumor, sir?”

“Work-man . You’re known for carrying paperwork with you, whether it’s in the resting lounge or in the office, so people call you work-man . ”

“It’s certainly better than mymy . ”[2]

KangYoon laughed . It meant that he was working hard, so he didn’t mind it .

“Has it been four months since you came to this company?”

“It has been that long already, huh . I came in during the summer, so there’s not much left of this year . ”

“Yes . So when is the album coming out?”

“I am thinking December, around the second week . ”

“So there’s not even two months, even if we count this month . You must be busy . Isn’t it fine for you to release it next year? Is there a reason for you to release it within this year? I think you’re aiming for the Christmas season, but you will have to compete with the big singers of Japan . ”

Do you stand a chance against the big singers of Japan? – This was his meaning . However, KangYoon confidently replied:

“It’s alright . Instead, we will only see results if we release it then . ”

“Can I ask you for the reason?”

KangYoon hesitated a bit .

‘Like the chairman says, two big singers came out . The male idol group Eiden and the female idol group Hydrea . However, the two leaders of these groups get mixed up in a scandal, a big scandal where they get photographed in front of the hotel . So they ended up ruining the Christmas marketing and delayed their comeback stage too . The singers who prepared comebacks at a later time, while thinking that these two were going to have their comebacks, were all dumbfounded and made a comeback hurriedly, but Christmas ended up being blank . We are using this opportunity . ’

KangYoon’s strategy was like this . Of course, doing things like reporting the scandal himself as a noise marketing strategy was a no-go . That would negatively affect him in the long term . Making enemies was not a good choice when considering the future . Anyway, he couldn’t say he knew the future, and even if he did, wouldn’t he just be treated like a psycho?

“You’re not thinking of competing with groups like Eiden, and you’re not letting go of the fanbases of women in their 20s and 30s, right? Hmm . I don’t have anything to say since I gave you all the rights, but I want to listen to the reason in the director’s meeting . Can you do it?”

“I understand . ”

“I will expect good things . Right now, my expectations are very big . I mean it . ”

I am curious but I will hold back for now . Instead, I expect acceptable results – this was the hidden meaning behind Chairman Won JinMoon’s words . It was a pressure mixed with expectations . KangYoon answered straight away, knowing that fact . Chairman Won JinMoon seemed satisfied with KangYoon’s answer as he tapped KangYoon’s arm and stood up from the seat .

“The Chairman’s a chairman, alright . He gives me pressure this way . ”

KangYoon muttered to himself as he saw Chairman Won JinMoon’s disappearing back . Superiors were always uncomfortable to be with . He headed back to the studio for the recording .

JooAh’s recording for the album continued for a long time . The lights KangYoon saw were mostly white, but there were some grey lights from time to time . From problems with pronunciation to problems with the voice, the guitar, the microphone, etc… There was a variety of reasons for grey light to appear . Of course, when something trivial happened, Producer Oh would solve it himself while KangYoon advised from time to time, and the song was finished .

By the time another song was finished recording, it was already past midnight .

“Thank you for your hard work…”

JooAh, who came out of the booth with sweat all over her body, spoke with a feeble voice . Not only her, but everyone was exhausted .

“Thank you for your hard work, everyone . Let’s end it here today . ”

When KangYoon proclaimed, everyone sang in delight, and the studio became empty in no time .

“Thanks for your hard work… Phew . I can’t do a recording tomorrow…”

“You’ve worked hard . Is your throat bad?”

“No, it’s not that . I just spent too much energy… It’s the first time this happened…”

When KangYoon asked while passing her a bottle of water, JooAh drank with big gulps and replied .

“Let’s rest tomorrow and resume recording the day after . Producer Oh should rest too tomorrow and let’s resume working the day after . ”

“Can we do that?”

“For work like ours, efficiency is very important . Let’s rest up when we can and resume with vigor . ”

When he said that, Producer Oh cheered with a haggard face, packed his clothes, and ran straight out . Nowadays, the poor guy didn’t even return home once . This kind of rest was literally honey to him .

“Oppa, in this situation, aren’t you supposed to drive them more? Everybody does that normally . ”

“Doing that doesn’t help . Working while exhausted doesn’t bring out any efficiency, and people should rest to charge up their energy to work . They don’t do well by just working thoughtlessly . ”

“Wow, is it like that? You’re quite different to the people I worked with until now, I think?”

“What about me?”

“I am very comfortable . The other unnis and oppas also say that . Oh, that doesn’t mean we’re looking down on you, you understand, right?”[3]

The planners who directed albums until now were all workaholics who were crazy about working . However, KangYoon was different . Of course, he did a lot of work himself, but he didn’t urge the other staff to work . The staff all felt comfortable with their work so their efficiency increased . The KangYoon JooAh felt, was like that .

“To say it nicely, I’m good . JooAh, it’s late . Go home now . ”

“Ok, ok . Oppa, however this album turns out, let’s work together . This is not a joke . Ok?”

“Ok . Go home already . ”

“It’s for real . It’s a promise!!”

JooAh had a really good impression of KangYoon . There were a lot of people who praised her until now, but KangYoon was the first one to understand her so well and lead her . If it’s this person, she felt like he would give a satisfiable result, whether it was a success or a failure .

JooAh, who was waving at KangYoon, was dragged by the manager who came to pick her up and went to the dorm .

“I should leave now too . ”

It was very late . KangYoon hurried home .

***

A new morning came .

He needed to go to work quickly, but the time when he should leave was getting delayed .

“Oppa, I’m alright so go to work . ”

HeeYoon, who was undergoing dialysis while lying on the hospital bed, worried about her brother who couldn’t even go to work at the right time . However, KangYoon smiled at his sister while brushing her head .

“Today, they said to come to the hospital with a guardian . Oppa should of course come . ”

“But oppa’s very busy . You came back at dawn last night . ”

“Hey . ”

KangYoon brought his index finger to HeeYoon’s lips . It was an indication for HeeYoon to not speak anymore .

“Even if work is important, there is nothing as important as you, HeeYoon . You just need to get healthier, ok?”

“Ok, I’m sorry…”

“That again, I said to not say sorry, right?”

“Ok, I won’t . ”

If one underwent dialysis, then s/he couldn’t move for 4~5 hours . Their face would get paler too . KangYoon’s heart would tear whenever he saw his already-pale sister in pain . However, he didn’t show his pain on the outside . Since, should HeeYoon see his pain, she would shed tears…

“Oppa, I’m sleepy . I will sleep for a bit . ”

When HeeYoon fell asleep, KangYoon went to see the doctor .

“The numbers are stabilizing a lot . You’re keeping the dialysis appointment date, and above all, I think the lack of stress has contributed a lot . ”

KangYoon carefully went over the graphs that the doctor showed him . It was about his sister . Although he had no medical knowledge, he could judge whether something was good or bad . He cared for HeeYoon that much .

“Please let her eat the medicine regularly, and keep the dialysis appointment dates…”

The doctor’s words weren’t that different from usual . His point was to keep eating the medicine regularly and keep the appointments . However, what was different from usual was the hope that HeeYoon was getting better . KangYoon calmed down with those words alone .

‘Don’t worry . This time, I won’t let you pass the days in vain . ’

Looking at his sister’s white face, KangYoon resolved, and resolved again .

To protect HeeYoon whatever the cost .