Chapter 58
Chapter 58
God of Music Chapter 58 . First Appearance (1)
– Although we did create the base, it was you who finished the song . I really should have asked for permission beforehand, but there was no time, so… . I’m sorry .
“Not at all . It’s a good opportunity . I will also go to cheer them on if I have the time . ”
After finishing the call, KangYoon turned around to Lee HyunAh who was just looking at her phone .
“Apparently, you’re going to a competition with your song . ”
“A competition?”
Although Lee HyunAh was doing something else, she was still listening . From the moment KangYoon was surprised too when the word ‘competition’ was mentioned, she knew that it wasn’t such a light topic .
“Apparently, you are going to the College Pop Festival with the song you composed . ”
“…… . ”
“HyunAh?”
“…… . ”
Seeing Lee HyunAh still unresponsive, KangYoon called out to her a few more times . He tried pushing her and poking her as well, however, there was still no reaction . After a blinking a few times, she…
“EEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEHHHHHHK????”
Screamed out . Although there was no one around to see her, KangYoon still looked around .
“You freaked me out . ”
“C, C, C, C, C, College Pop fest?!” (E/N: CCCCC-Combo breaker)
“Yup . It looks like the professor liked it . ”
“We’re going there?! With my song?!”
She felt something waving towards her heart . Confusion, panic, joy, it was hard to describe it with just one word . KangYoon tried explaining the things he heard from Professor Choi ChangYang .
“College Pop Festival is a big competition that’s been running for over 30 years though! There will be a lot of people attending too… . ”
“So what? Original composition, check, band, check . You meet the criteria though?”
“Aah… . I don’t know what’s going on . ”
She just lowered her head and didn’t raise it back up . The coming storm wasn’t easy for her to endure . KangYoon patted her back as he consoled her .
“The basics are the same whether you go to a big competition or a small competition . Preparation is everything . If you prepare well, there will be a possibility . I’m not sure if the Professor knows or not, but this means that your song is good . Isn’t that a good thing?”
“…… . ”
“Well, if you keep chickening out like you did today, that will all be for naught . ”
Of course, KangYoon’s consolation came with some sharp words .
Lee HyunAh resolved herself while feeling the warmth on her back .
***
“Where’s this?”
“Wow… . ”
Jung MinAh and Ailee Jung couldn’t hide their surprise after seeing the underground studio . Seo HanYu and Lee SamSoon felt the same way .
“Young’uns… . ”
Christie An poured them some cold water .
“You’ve only come here once too . Don’t boast . ”
“How can zero and one be the same?”
Jung MinAh and Christie An quarreled while Han JooYeon sighed . Just as the quarrel was about to become a fight for the strongest, KangYoon, Composer Loin and Producer Oh JiWan came in .
“Hello!”
Producer Oh JiWan replied with a smile after hearing their vivid greetings .
“Kids sure are good . ”
“Uu, oppa . You really are… . Hey, you’re drooling . ”
“Soonie, you like the boys too . ”
Producer Oh and Composer Loin were also preparing to fight against reality . Of course, just preparing .
Like that, everyone prepared for the song selection and the recording . The booth in the studio already had 6 microphones as well as other devices set up .
KangYoon told the girls of the things that they were going to do and made them enter the booth .
“Let’s start with the first one . ”
Producer Oh started setting Han JooYeon’s microphone since she was at the far right . Unlike JooAh, these girls had no preset settings so they had to set the microphones on the go .
“Ah-ah . Mic test—My hometown – . ”
With Han JooYeon’s as the beginning, all the microphones were starting to get set . Producer Oh was satisfied, saying everyone’s voice matched each other’s well . KangYoon watched the process from behind .
Since there were 6 of them, it took quite a long time to set . Although the setting took a long time, KangYoon put a lot of attention into it since this would eventually be recorded .
“Shall we start?”
Producer Oh asked KangYoon as soon as the settings were done . When KangYoon’s order came, the MR started flowing out of the speakers . Since they hadn’t separated the song into parts yet, they decided to sing it all together .
The girls counted down the beats and started singing .
– One day – at the park at night— playing on the white – horse rocker – –
The first song was ‘Our Story’ . KangYoon concentrated on the musical notes that came out of the girls .
‘It’s not bad . ’
The song progressed but there was nothing that caught his eyes . The light mood and the girls’ voices filled with vitality was creating a good mood .
‘What is the reason that this failed in my previous life?’
As the song reached its climax, KangYoon was wondering about this . The white light was in no way, weak, and the musical notes from the girls weren’t strange either . It was literally just, ‘not bad’ .
“Wow, this is a good one . ”
“Of course, it’s Team leader’s request after all . ”
Composer Loin smiled after hearing Producer Oh JiWan’s words . She seemed satisfied about the praise .
Like that, the first song ended without a hitch .
– Team leader, was our song okay?
Han JooYeon asked from inside the booth . KangYoon answered to her through the microphone .
“It’s not bad . I think your voices fit well too . Shall we go over the next one then?”
– Yes .
The girls were in great condition as well . Everyone seemed to be full of energy . When the next song was prepared, Producer Oh gave a signal and the girls prepared to sing .
The second song ‘Together’ began .
– When I open my eyes the fresh – sunlight—greets me – and the expectation—for today—
This was the same as well . Although the vividness was completely different from the previous song, the light wasn’t that different . The white light was constant until the very end . Both Producer Oh JiWan and Composer Loin listened to the girls’ voices until the end with their eyes closed .
After the 3-minute song ended and the girls left the booth, KangYoon gathered them .
“Let’s do it by parts this time . ”
“What?”
Parts so suddenly? Everyone was confused at KangYoon’s words .
“With all of you singing together, it feels like a choir instead . I can’t get the exact feeling . Let’s do it by parts this time . Miss Loin wrote the parts right?”
“Yes . ”
“So HanYu will be up first . Let’s… . ”
KangYoon distributed parts to the girls just as Composer Loin had intended to . The parts where he thought that it didn’t fit, he changed or put two together at once . After distributing the parts for both songs while listening to the girls’ opinions as well, he sent the girls inside the booth again .
“Start . ”
With KangYoon’s signal, the song started again . This time, Seo HanYu’s voice flowed out first .
– One day – at the park at night— playing on the white – horse rocker – –
Seeing that the notes were different from the first time, KangYoon focused a little more . Seo HanYu was generating a yellow musical note and the light was slightly stronger than before . This was because the song had to have a softer start but was too strong with the six girls singing together .
After Seo HanYu’s verse ended, Lee SamSoon caught it next .
– If my feelings are indeed – love – Please cherish – this me as well—
Lee SamSoon’s voice was neither high nor low but had power . She was the perfect one to raise the mood . Thanks to her influence, the white light started being strengthened after her musical note was mixed into it . KangYoon recorded it down and kept watching the girls .
‘Our story’ was a good piece . He even wondered why this song failed in his previous life . Although the members had changed, he didn’t know that this song would fit them so well .
The song ended, and while Composer Loin and Producer Oh JiWan were high-fiving each other, KangYoon urged them onto the next song .
“Yes, yes . ”
Producer Oh JiWan played the MR for the next song ‘Together’ next . This time, the first verse was taken by Ailee Jung .
– When I open my eyes the fresh – sunlight—greets me – and the expectation—for today—
Since the start of this piece was low-pitched, her low voice was emphasized . Even the other girls were surprised . Producer Oh also seemed to be surprised after seeing the number of bars represented on the machine .
‘Ailee definitely has a good low voice . ’
KangYoon was satisfied with the low voice that was a little like jazz . It was worth it to specialize their characteristics until now . With good results being shown off, he felt quite good .
The next off was Han JooYeon .
– The smile that makes me shy – without me knowing – I think there will be good things –
Han JooYeon did well in the high-pitch but also did well in raising a low verse to high . However, KangYoon also thought it was slightly disappointing . He thought about how it would be if Jung MinAh did that part . He was worried about the other members if Han JooYeon was being too emphasized . It was a bit like balancing the dance so that Jung MinAh wouldn’t crush them all .
The light from the girls was strong . The white light from ‘Our Story’ was quite strong as well . And this song was on par with it too . When Christie An emphasized the climax, the brightening white light made KangYoon fall into a dilemma .
– Let us think about – the good things-
The song finished with everyone singing together . The strong light eventually faded and KangYoon told the girls to come out while saying that they did well .
“Wow, Soonie . Both are great . ”
“Yep, though, I did have to wrack my brains for these two . But the rewards are worth it if it’s this team . And hey, did you just call me Soonie again? Do you want to fight?”
“Lol . Looks like we’ll get some pretty money this time . ”
Composer Loin imitated counting money like an evil man before acting like she would attack Producer Oh JiWan .
Both Producer Oh JiWan and Composer Loin had a good feeling about this project .
“You did two songs . How were they?”
When KangYoon asked the girls, everyone answered in the same voice .
“They were both great . ”
They seemed to still be deluded about ‘their own song’ and they seemed to like both . KangYoon understood how they felt but still cool-headedly told them .
“We need to set on a title song . In the showcase, we’ll do both, but we do need to choose one for the cover piece . Which song do you think is better?”
“Hmm… . ”
However, no one chose easily . They liked both . It felt like they finally wore clothes that fit them after wearing someone else’s for all this time .
While everyone looked at each other and were indecisive, KangYoon was thinking about it himself as well .
‘Is it because the team members have changed from my previous life? Our Story isn’t bad either . ’
KangYoon predicted that ‘Our Story’ would be clearly bad and ‘Together’ would be clearly good . However, they were actually neck-and-neck . With that being the case, deciding after considering the dance routine, the lighting, and the theme of the debut was one way to decide this .
“Girls . ”
When KangYoon called out to them, everyone focused .
“Let’s do it this way . Let’s practice both, and decide on the title song later . Practicing both will be advantageous for events later too . What do you think?”
“Okay . ”
Jung MinAh answered first . The others replied as well .
“Then let’s go into recording after a little bit of rest . Producer Oh, shall we rest a little?”
“Okay . ”
With KangYoon’s words, everyone turned into laundry and hung themselves on chairs and sofas . In fact, the girls had built up a lot of fatigue .
***
The girls were finally all revealed . All the members were revealed in different ways, and the reactions were different as well . Even though they hadn’t debuted yet, a fan club was made, and with various news articles coming out on the internet, reactions started appearing . A fan club for trainees was something unexpected by everyone .
Of course, they had anti-fans as well . The anti-fans made various rumors saying that they didn’t like this girl for this reason and that girl for that reason . However, the company meticulously managed their personal lives and practically forbid any social network activities, the source of all rumors . Most of the rumors were baseless as well . Any photos of them were from TV programs or their everyday life at school or their graduation album so the rumors didn’t last long . KangYoon’s contribution to this was big since he managed all of this .
The day Jung MinAh won the dance competition, Jung MinAh was revealed in the MG Entertainment home page and the profiles of all 6 girls were tied into one . And the 6 girls were officially named ‘EDDIOS’ . There was a link to the fan café as well where photos about their practice rooms and other simple things were being uploaded . The fans started advertising the group known as EDDIOS by themselves while the anti-fans also started a war with a few set of materials . Everyone was busy making popcorn to watch, while the media wanted their own share of interviews and articles as well . It was literally becoming a hot issue .
KangYoon successfully made the girls into a hot topic as he had intended and put a lot of mind into the PR team .
“… . Then please watch the internet like you’re doing now . ”
“Yes . ”
“You do know that today’s work ends early right?”
“Don’t worry . ”
After the meeting with the PR team, KangYoon headed to the roof . Working all day made his body crave for some nicotine . However, when he arrived at the roof, his phone started ringing instead . Since it was an unknown number, KangYoon thought of rejecting it but received it anyway .
“Yes, Lee KangYoon here . ”
– KangYoon-oppa? It’s me, Lee HyunAh .
“HyunAh?”
It was Lee HyunAh from the band . He didn’t tell her his number, though, KangYoon was confused .
– I asked for your number from the professor . I’m sorry . I know I shouldn’t have done this… .
“What’s up?”
Professor Choi wasn’t someone that would tell others his number so easily . So, if he did, there had to be a good reason for it .
– We passed the preliminaries for College Pop fest . I called you since I wanted to tell you quickly .
“Really? Congratulations . Did you really pass the preliminaries?”
KangYoon was honestly surprised . College Pop Festival was a competition where all sorts of talented young musicians competed from all over the country . There should have been numerous teams from all over the country, but they still passed . KangYoon was really surprised .
– I still can’t believe it . We were going to tell you if you came last week, but you didn’t . So, I thought I should give you a call .
“Really? Thanks for telling me . The finals… . Congratulations . ”
– Thank you . I heard you were busy nowadays . But still, please make some time for the actual performance .
KangYoon said okay and finished the call .
‘That’s great . The finals, eh?’
A slight help resulted in the finals of the College Pop festival . KangYoon felt weird the more he thought about it .
Finishing his last cigarette, KangYoon headed not to his office but to L Hotel . This was the day he was going to showcase the girls in front of the company people and other related personnel .
“Welcome . ”
Having arrived at the hotel, KangYoon was guided politely to the Crystal Room where the showcase would occur . There were already round tables for customers, and there was also a stage for the girls to perform on . Since it wasn’t time yet, there was no food on the table .
KangYoon headed to the waiting room where the girls were at .
“Huh? It’s ahju… . –der . ”
“What the hell does that mean . ”
Jung MinAh greeted KangYoon first . The girls were busy undergoing makeup . Since there were so many girls, they had called outside external makeup artists as well as bringing their own . From their hair to their costume, they were undergoing a full transformation . Next to them were high-heeled shoes that were asking to be worn .
“Ah, I’m nervous… . ”
When Seo HanYu spoke out, Christie An replied in a chic voice .
“That’s so not like you . ”
“Sheesh, unni . Even I get nervous . ”
“Lies, that invincible Seo HanYu gets nervous?”
The practice room was very noisy, but there was a strange tension in the air . KangYoon grabbed everyone’s attention and spoke calmly .
“We’re finally in orbit now . You’ve practiced hard until now, didn’t you?”
“Yes… . ”
“There will be a lot of people . From the people from our company to news reporters . Today’s matters will be sent out and many people will start talking about you . ”
“…… . ”
Everyone became nervous after KangYoon said that . Being talked about by other people was a scary thing . Ailee Jung especially seemed to be scared as she was shivering slightly .
“We haven’t even debut yet, so it might be a little hard on you with many things going around . You may feel it’s a little cruel . Why are they saying such things when we haven’t even had our debut yet? You might want to swear at them . But from this moment onwards, it’s real . I want you girls to accept reality as it is . ”
“…… . ”
The girls all nodded their heads . The noisy atmosphere of before was completely gone . The heavy atmosphere pressured their shoulders .
At that time, Jung MinAh spoke .
“You’ll always be on our side, won’t you, ahjussi?”
“…… . ”
“Right?”
Jung MinAh stared at KangYoon . No, it wasn’t just her . Everyone was asking that with their eyes as well .
“Why are you asking the obvious?”
“Then that’s fine . I know that you’re stronger than a million anti-fans, ahjussi . ”
“How does that work? And stop calling me that . ”
“Ugh… . ”
The girls giggled thanks to Jung MinAh . Thanks to that the heavy atmosphere lightened in an instant . KangYoon was surprised to see such a side to Jung MinAh but was proud of her nonetheless . Though… .
“Ouch!”
He did give her a smack .
***
“Oh my, Chairman . ”
“It’s been a while, President Kang . ”
Calm music faintly flowed in the background, and Chairman Won JinMoon was greeting a big man . He was President Kang ShiMyoung of Yerang Entertainment, one of the four big management companies in Korea . Unlike Chairman Won JinMoon in his suit, he was wearing ripped jeans and a sleeveless T-shirt .
“Did you say it was EDDIOS? It seems like there’s a big interest in the kids this time . The fan club is considerably big even though they didn’t debut yet . ”
“Hahaha . Let’s sit down first . ”
Chairman Won JinMoon lead President Kang ShiMyoung to the seats . With the two seating together, not many people could approach them . However, there was someone who did .
“Haha, welcome . President Choo . ”
President Choo ManJi politely greeted Chairman Won JinMoon and sat next to him . He was the president of yet another one of the four big management companies, Yoonseul . Unlike President Kang ShiMyoung, he had a skinny figure .
With three bigshots on one table, not many people tried to approach them . The vice-president of the final one of the 4 big management companies, GNB Entertainment, approached them and told them that the president was currently overseas and couldn’t attend this event and sat down and the atmosphere became even heavier .
With the tables being filled and the atmosphere running to its climax, the broadcast sounded out .
[Dear esteemed guests . The showcase of the new girl group, EDDIOS, from MG Entertainment will happen soon . Please be seated . I repeat… . ]
President Choo, who was conversing all this time, raised the glass of white wine .
“Chairman . I have high expectations for today . ”
President Kang also spoke with a smile .
“I’m also looking forward to it . What kind of kids are they?”
Chairman Won JinMoon replied with a benevolent smile .
“Let’s not do this . Hey, it’s beginning . ”
With his words, the surroundings darkened and the lights on the stage started being turned on one by one .