Chapter 204
The Olympic Sports Complex was one of the biggest indoor sports facilities in Korea .
However, it had been a long time since it was built, so the acoustics weren’t that great, and there was also the matter of light bleed as well .
Despite all these disadvantages, it was a place beloved by many singers for holding concerts .
“It’s been a long time since I last stood here . ”
Kim JaeHoon was standing on the floor beneath the stage and exclaimed as though he was joyful .
Behind him, Lee HyunJi, smiling awkwardly, felt apologetic .
“We wanted to do a concert in the Multipurpose Hall of the Central World Cup Stadium, but that was fully reserved . ”
“I don’t really mind the place . I really like it . ”
He had heard from KangYoon that he had contracted all the subcontractors for the concert before he went to America .
Since he had prepared meticulously as well, what was remaining was whether the tickets for the concert would sell out or not .
“So the ticketing begins in a few days . ”
“… . . ”
Kim JaeHoon gulped in nervousness when Lee HyunJi said that .
How many people would come and listen to his songs?
This wasn’t only a matter of profit . His pride as a singer was on the line as well .
Seeing him so stiff, Lee HyunJi tried to calm him down .
“Mr . JaeHoon . It will go well . don’t worry . You don’t need to be so nervous about it . ”
“Hahaha . Okay . ”
Kim JaeHoon nodded his head while feeling the warmth of Lee HyunJi’s hand on his back .
***
“Do you need anything else?”
A pretty stewardess asked KangYoon at the bar lounge, but he shook his head saying that it was okay .
“It’s fine . Thanks for telling me . ”
This was the first time in KangYoon’s life that he was using a first-class seat in a plane so he asked the stewardess some questions, and she answered like a professional .
Just as when KangYoon was about to turn around and go back to his seat, the stewardess carefully asked KangYoon .
“Uhm…”
“Is there anything you need?”
“Uhm… I’m sorry, but can I ask you for an autograph?”
“Okay . Do you have any paper?”
KangYoon took out a pen from his chest pocket, but she didn’t have a paper on hand . KangYoon contemplated a little before taking out a business card from his wallet and signed his name there before giving it to her .
“…Thank you . ”
Receiving the autograph, the stewardess’s eyes shone .
This was an incredible gain .
Regardless, KangYoon smiled as he spoke .
“Then, best of luck with your job . ”
After the conversation, KangYoon returned to his seat .
However, just as he sat down, JooAh started poking at him .
“Hey . ”
“What is it?”
“Ugh . ”
KangYoon didn’t understand why JooAh was doing this .
Was giving an autograph something bad?
KangYoon titled his head .
“Is it because of the autograph? The business card was because there was no paper . ”
“I know that, but… *sigh*, you’re clueless when it comes to things like this . ”
“What do you mean?”
Clueless?
KangYoon blinked several times dumbfoundedly, but JooAh did not answer .
“Something like that . ”
JooAh did not mention that the stewardess with KangYoon’s business card was taking glances at him .
‘Doesn’t he know that men that fly first class seats give business cards to stewardesses they’ve taken a liking to?’
From the look of that stewardess, she was definitely on cloud nine .
‘If JinSeo found out… urgh . ’
Just as JooAh shivered, KangYoon spoke in a nonchalant voice .
“It’s the company business card . ”
“What was that?”
“That business card doesn’t have my personal number . It’s just a business card that only contains the company number . ”
Only then did JooAh nod in acceptance .
Experiencing a few hiccups midway, the flight safely arrived at the airport .
KangYoon and JooAh quickly went through customs and stepped on American land .
HeeYoon naturally came to meet the two, and after a brief greeting, JooAh left saying that she had some business to attend to in MG Entertainment’s American branch .
KangYoon headed to HeeYoon’s house with a rental car .
Inside the car, HeeYoon talked to KangYoon about a lot of things joyfully . She talked about her college life as well as the songs, and KangYoon reacted to her suitably here and there .
“…So Reina has started her activities for real . ”
KangYoon’s eyes widened when he heard about one of HeeYoon’s friends, Reina . ”
“She’s still a minor role actor . But she did also say that she was rising fast . Apparently, it would usually take more than four years to get a minor character role . ”
“Reina should do well . ”
“Right?”
KangYoon thought back to Reina from when she visited Korea with HeeYoon .
She had both the talent for singing and acting . Moreover, she was hardworking as well .
He believed that she was more than talented enough to become big .
He stepped on the brakes as he approached the traffic lights that had turned red .
“Reina sometimes talks about you . She wants to see you in Korea once she becomes big . ”
“Really? But how big is ‘big’?”
“Hmm… A main role at the Broadway Musical?”
“Then I guess I’ll have to wait ten years at least . ”
“Really?”
KangYoon accelerated after the lights turned green .
After driving for quite a long time, the two arrived at HeeYoon’s house .
Parking the car outside the house, KangYoon entered the house and unpacked his luggage .
“…Yes . Alright . Please take care of the company . ”
After calling Lee HyunJi, KangYoon lied down on the sofa .
‘Looks like I should hurry with JaeHoon’s concert once I get back . The special equipment team seemed worrying . ’
Fatigue overwhelmed him due to jet lag .
However, even though he had closed his eyes, thoughts about Kim JaeHoon’s concert swirled in his mind .
Thinking about how he put less effort into his concert due to the matters with Hidden Catch, the thoughts about the concert didn’t leave his mind .
‘That space needs special attention to acoustics . I’ll only be able to produce a good sound if I invest two days of time into acoustics at least . Also…’
***
“Take — me away–”
“Zzz…”
The sound of a knife hitting the chopping board as well as a beautiful voice woke KangYoon up .
“How– was — your day–”
“Your day—”
He heard familiar voices .
KangYoon opened his eyes hearing the familiar voice .
‘Hm?’
When he did, he saw two ladies with aprons on, HeeYoon and JooAh .
Doenjang-jjigae was boiling on the stove, while HeeYoon was chopping spring onions on the chopping board .
The notes the two girls created were producing bright white light .
‘How nice . ’
The refreshing sensation from the white light made KangYoon wake up .
Feeling movement behind her, HeeYoon turned around to see him .
“Huh? Oppa, you woke up?”
“Uh, yeah . JooAh’s here?”
“Sure I’m here . I’m going to sleep here as well . ”
“…Fine . ”
Since they were going to sleep in separate rooms, KangYoon allowed it .
Dinner was a doenjang-jjigae meal .
Giving JooAh, who was eating gluttonously, some water, HeeYoon showed off her maturity .
When their bowls of rice were almost empty, JooAh sighed with a serious expression .
“Oppa, can I ask you for a favor?”
“Is it the one you talked about last time?”
“…Yeah . ”
JooAh didn’t mention her ‘favor’ during the flight either .
A favor that required a first-class plane ticket?
KangYoon waited for her words with a likewise serious expression .
After hesitating a little, JooAh started speaking with a stiff expression .
“…I’m going to audition for Unite Music . ”
“Unite Music?”
KangYoon’s eyes widened .
Unite Music was a colossal entertainment company in America . It was one of the top four . They were a huge capital in the music market .
“I sent them a video of me half a year ago, and I was contacted a while back . They asked me whether I’m willing to participate in an audition . ”
“So you grabbed the opportunity . Congratulations . ”
“Yes, and so…”
JooAh paused for a moment before speaking with a firm tone .
“Can you watch me practice tomorrow? You know, everyone does it better when you watch them . ”
KangYoon’s eyes shook at JooAh’s words .
She didn’t know that KangYoon’s ability to see musical notes, but she was aware that KangYoon brought out the best of any artist .
Not seeming to notice his surprise, JooAh grabbed KangYoon’s hands desperately .
“Oppa…”
KangYoon sighed briefly .
She was practically saying that she wanted to succeed going to America, which they had failed last time .
‘It’s not that I don’t know her skills, but…’
In Korea, JooAh was the first one that came to mind when it came to dancing . Her dance just had that much charm .
However, would her dances work in America as well?
‘Silver? No, as an east-Asian, it needs to be gold at least . ’
That much was necessary in order to bridge the cultural gap and the bias that stemmed from it .
KangYoon believed so .
“When’s the audition?”
“In two days . ”
There wasn’t long left either .
KangYoon clutched his forehead .
“…You should have told me beforehand . ”
“The thing is… I tried to, but both you and I were busy . At first, I thought about doing it on my own, but no matter how hard I thought about it, I don’t think I could make it by myself . Hehe, I’m sorry . ”
JooAh stuck out her tongue in embarrassment .
She looked very cute, but he had plans tomorrow .
“Things aren’t looking good . ”
“…Yeah, a little . ”
“I don’t think I can help you…”
Hearing that, JooAh’s eyes widened .
“…What?”
“I have an important meeting tomorrow . There’s a company I have a meeting with due to some stage equipment tomorrow . ”
“Ah, okay…”
JooAh’s shoulders lowered in dejection .
KangYoon couldn’t hide his sorry feelings either .
“I’m sorry, but I think you’ll have to try this audition on your own this time . ”
“…Really? I guess there’s no helping it . ”
If she knew this was going to happen, she had to mention it beforehand .
JooAh regretted it . Hesitation led to this result .
Despite that, she did not make a big deal out of it .
“I guess I can’t help it . Haha . ”
“I’m sorry, there’s the flight as well… . ”
“That’s fine . We aren’t strangers . ”
JooAh waved her hand .
No one rejected anything she said . Although it had become strange, even MG Entertainment listened to her words .
However, KangYoon was…
“HeeYoon . I’m going to sleep first . ”
“Okay . I’ve laid the mattress out for you . ”
Dejected, JooAh left her food, and dejectedly walked into the room .
HeeYoon spoke to KangYoon after the two of them were left .
“Can’t you help her after your meeting?”
“This meeting will be a long one . Also, it won’t be easy for JooAh to get accepted in the audition . ”
“What?”
HeeYoon asked back as though KangYoon was speaking nonsense, but KangYoon shook his head .
“Cultural barriers are frightening . It’s incredibly thick and tall . As an east-Asian, the only thing that would work is overwhelming skills . Of course, JooAh indeed has incredible skills, but I don’t think…”
“You don’t think?”
“I don’t think she’s at the point where she could overcome that cultural difference . To be exact, her dancing skills alone should be fine, but it won’t be easy due to other physical factors . Her body figure, her atmosphere as well as her origins, etc . There are a lot of barriers she has to overcome . To win against people from America, only overwhelming skill could bridge that gap . ”
“Oh…”
Only then did HeeYoon accept KangYoon’s words .
She looked at the door JooAh just went in with pitying eyes .
***
Two days later .
[Then we’ll call you later . ]
[Thank you . ]
JooAh, who had danced in front of a white man who was twice, no three times as big as her, left Unite Music with sweat all over her body .
‘I knew it, but it’s still hard . ’
Although he said that they’ll call her later, his expression was full of disappointment .
She couldn’t forget the expression when he was surprised about her small stature, and when he smiled bitterly saying that she seemed to lack energy when she was dancing .
JooAh collapsed onto a sofa in the lobby of Unite Music .
“Dammit!”
Her loud cursing made the people around look at her with weird gazes, but she didn’t care .
The disappointment of having missed a great opportunity didn’t go away easily .
‘Let’s go…’
She was about to return after staring blankly for a long time, but just as she was about to, her phone started ringing .
“…Yes, oppa . ”
It was a call from KangYoon .
Unlike before, she accepted the call with a rather awkward voice .
– How did the audition go?
JooAh didn’t want to say that she failed .
She wanted to boldly say that she could pass without KangYoon’s help .
“Of course I did well . Who do you think I…”
– Really?
“……”
Silence pervaded the call for a long time .
I know it already . Be honest about it .
The silence seemed to say those words .
After the period of silence, JooAh snapped .
“Yeah, I failed . I failed, okay? Do you feel good now? Huh?”
– ……
“Why can’t you just let me be… is that so hard to do? You evil…”
JooAh sobbed .
He should’ve helped if he knew it was going to be like this . Just why…
Just as she was about to vent all of her frustration at him, a calm voice sounded over the phone .
– There’s another audition . How is it, wanna do it?
“An au…dition?”
JooAh stopped .
– Do you know who Carrie Cloudia is?
“Carrie Cloudia?”
– It’s an audition looking for her partner… how is it? Wanna do it?
A super popular singer who was ranked 5th on the Billboard Charts, that’s who Carrie Cloudia was . JooAh’s eyes started shaking .