LIGHTNOVELWORLD Chapter 141
At the beginning of the year, as is customary for many companies, LUX was also bustling. With tasks like rigging 3D avatars for the first-generation members of Hwansanghyang, producing their first group song, and recruiting for the second generation, there was no shortage of work to be done.
Thus, verifying the authenticity of a strange application email claiming to be from the famous actress Min Dayeon had to be pushed down the priority list. After all, the recruitment period for the second generation of Hwansanghyang lasted until February.
“Whatever, whether it’s a fake or not, I can just ask Ha-eun later.”
“If it’s really Min Dayeon, that’d be hilarious, unnie.”
“Would it?”
And so, time passed and passed. On the last day of January, when snowflakes were fluttering in the air, it was also the day scheduled for the first group song recording of the first-generation members of Hwansanghyang.
“…Ha-eun hasn’t arrived yet, right?”
“Ah, no. Yena unnie came first.”
Yena, who appeared three hours earlier than the scheduled time, quickly entered the recording studio. She wanted to finish the recording as quickly as possible and escape before Ha-eun arrived.
‘If I get caught by Ha-eun, I won’t be able to go home today.’
Yena vividly remembered the torment she endured from Ha-eun during Yuna’s cover song recording. Ha-eun, who even recorded guide vocals herself, had made Yuna suffer so much that Yena even had nightmares about it.
Of course, Yena knew well that Ha-eun was an excellent singer. She was well aware that it was thanks to Ha-eun’s training that Yuna’s first cover song received good reviews.
But, at least when it came to singing, Yena never wanted to get involved with Ha-eun again. For Yena, who was just an ordinary person and not a professional singer, Ha-eun’s teachings were too harsh.
Especially those creepy dark sunglasses—she never wanted to see them again…
“Hello.”
“KYAAAAAH!!!”
Almost simultaneously, with a loud crash, Yena, who was just about to start her first recording, fell backward in the middle of the recording studio.
It was still a long time before the scheduled meeting time for the Hwansanghyang members. No one among the Hwansanghyang members knew that Yena was already in the studio.
However, the fact that Ha-eun was outside the recording studio greeting the composer was an undeniable truth. Regardless of why Ha-eun had arrived at the studio early, the fact remained that Yena had inevitably run into her.
“By the way, who was that person who just fell in the recording studio?”
“It’s Yena unnie.”
“Huh? Yena unnie?”
“Yes.”
Yena trembled like a leaf as she listened to the conversation between Ha-eun and the composer through the headphones in the recording studio.
Not even a few seconds later, footsteps approached. The familiar presence finally arrived in front of the recording studio and didn’t stop. Soon after, the dreaded dark sunglasses finally made their reappearance.
“What’s wrong, why are you so scared?”
“It’s because of you! Why are you wearing those sunglasses again?”
“Ah, that. Hyemin unnie told me to come as an instructor today, not as the youngest—”
“Ughhh….”
With that, *thud*. Yena, who had been sitting on the floor of the recording studio, slumped over at the news that couldn’t have been more terrifying. Unfortunately, she didn’t faint.
Shortly after, Ha-eun gently grabbed Yena’s wrists and dragged her out of the recording studio. Ha-eun then turned to the composer who had produced the Hwansanghyang group song and asked if she could start recording first.
“I think it would be better to record the guide vocals first. I’ll give Yena unnie feedback after I finish recording.”
“Ah, sure. Go ahead.”
The composer, who was already well aware of Ha-eun’s singing skills, didn’t refuse her suggestion. Of course, for Yena, it was like a bolt from the blue.
However, from Ha-eun’s perspective, she couldn’t quite understand Yena’s reaction. After all, Ha-eun had come to the studio early to record the guide vocals before the other members’ recordings.
In other words, running into Yena was purely coincidental. Perhaps that’s why.
“Unnie, I didn’t know you were this passionate. I’m impressed.”
Misunderstanding Yena’s early arrival as enthusiasm for the group song, Ha-eun looked at Yena with a proud expression. That’s why she decided to sing Yena’s part in the Hwansanghyang group song with extra care.
｢─────♪｣
The clear, melodious voice of Pinocchio filled the studio for quite some time. The roughly four-minute group song was recorded solely with Pinocchio’s voice.
However, since the final version would feature the voices of five members.
｢──♪───♪｣
*Click.*
“Um, composer-nim. Is this part Mi-so unnie’s part?”
“Yes. The next part is Eunhye’s.”
“Hmm… Then I think chest voice would be better than falsetto.”
After several rounds of feedback, Ha-eun finally finished recording multiple versions and came out of the recording studio to talk to Yena. The dark sunglasses that had driven Yena to the brink of a breakdown were still on.
“1. Practice with the guide vocal version. 2. Practice with the final version. Which one do you want to do?”
“3. I’ll come back later and record alone….”
“That’s not an option.”
Well, starting is half the battle, so let’s give it a try. With Ha-eun’s calm voice as always, Yena had no choice but to enter the recording studio.
Soon, the melody of the Hwansanghyang group song 『Illusion』 played through the headphones in the recording studio. Ha-eun’s clear voice, which had filled the studio just moments ago, also came through.
｢♪──♪─♬♪───♪｣
‘…It sounds like Ha-eun’s solo song.’
Perhaps because Ha-eun’s singing skills were already recognized, the quality was such that it could have been released as a solo song by Pinocchio rather than a Hwansanghyang group song.
Honestly, Yena still didn’t have the confidence to sing better than Ha-eun’s guide vocals. Yet, she had to open her mouth and follow Ha-eun’s singing because it was Yena’s part, not Ha-eun’s.
｢♬─♬───♬♪｣
The lyrics also suited Yuna, the Demon King, more than Dia, the Spirit. The guide vocals carried not the innocence of a young spirit but the sharp charisma of a Demon King reigning over all.
‘When I see this, it feels like she knows Yuna better than I do….’
Even the emotions in the song were tailored to each member’s RP. As the song transitioned from Yuna’s part to another member’s part, the strength and pitch of the guide vocals changed immediately.
“Um, Ha-eun. How… was it?”
“It’s good. My teaching paid off.”
Ha-eun’s expression didn’t seem particularly bad. The composer sitting right next to Ha-eun also complimented Yena, saying she sang well.
‘…Was I just too scared?’
Yena, feeling relieved by the better-than-expected reactions, let her guard down.
*Beep.*
“Unnie. Can you try singing the last part a bit stronger? Like putting emphasis on it.”
Ha-eun’s usual calm voice suggested a minor adjustment. Almost simultaneously, Yena’s heart sank.
“Why, why? Was it bad?”
“No, it’s not bad. I just think the last highlight part would sound better if you sang it stronger.”
Just a little better. The phrase that had tormented Yena in the past sent shivers down her spine. Memories of recording the same part over and over again in a nightmare-like loop began to surface.
Yet, Ha-eun, completely unfazed, waited for Yena’s singing to start again. Yena, clinging to her last hope, turned to the composer sitting next to Ha-eun instead.
“Composer-nim, do you also think the last part would be better if I sang it stronger?”
“Hmm… I think it would be better to try singing it stronger first and then compare.”
In the end, Yena couldn’t escape the recording studio. Thus, she had no choice but to sing the last highlight part a bit stronger, as Ha-eun suggested.
However, for some reason.
*Beep.*
“It definitely sounds better when you sing it stronger.”
“T-then, is it over—”
“Ah, wait a second. I think there’s a bit of breathing noise in the beginning of your part.”
This time, it was feedback on the beginning of the part. Then, it was adjusting the dynamics, and even the slightly off rhythm, one by one.
*Creak.*
“Hello~.”
In the end, Yena was trapped in the recording studio until the scheduled time. In other words, she was held captive by Ha-eun for three hours straight.
Of course, there were moments when Ha-eun came into the recording studio to demonstrate, but Yena’s mental and physical strength had already been drained by Ha-eun’s endless feedback.
Finally, when Yena saw the other members, she managed to escape the recording studio.
*Thud.*
*Thud.*
*…Plop.*
“119, someone call 119, Eunhye….”
Of course, no one took out their phone. Everyone except Yena thought she was just exaggerating and didn’t take it seriously.
If there was any silver lining, it was that Ha-eun’s attention shifted from Yena to the other members.
“My recording with Yena unnie is done, so let’s start with Mi-so unnie now.”
And so, as the eldest unnie of Hwansanghyang, Park Mi-so, entered the recording studio, completely unaware of what was about to happen.
“Ah, right. Ha-eun, there’s something you need to check. Can you come out for a second?”
Jihyemin, who was standing behind Jung Maria, called Ha-eun out of the studio. Soon after, a new tablet was taken out of the bag.
“I also think it’s not, but just in case.”
The screenshot of the application form for the second generation of Hwansanghyang appeared before Ha-eun. The problem was that everything from the name to the phone number in the contact field looked very familiar.
“…Hyemin unnie. Is this a real application?”
“Why? …Is it really Min Dayeon?”
Almost simultaneously, *nod*. Ha-eun’s head, which had been trembling slightly, lowered and then rose again.
“Wait, really? It’s not a fake, but the real Min Dayeon? No, Dayeon’s phone number?!”
“Yes…. It seems like it’s really Dayeon.”
Strictly speaking, there were no disqualifying factors other than the applicant’s uncertain identity. Now that even that uncertain identity had been confirmed, there was no way to reject her.
“Ha-eun.”
“…Yes.”
“Dayeon is an actress, right? Like you.”
“Yes….”
“She wrote her motivation and RP really well. She also sings well.”
“…………….”
“But! If you feel too uncomfortable, we can think about it a bit more—”
*Shake shake.*
“Opportunities should be fair. If things like blood ties, regional ties, or school ties are reflected in the interview, it’ll just cause trouble.”
‘…Then what am I?’
Jihyemin had tried to recruit Ha-eun into Hwansanghyang just because she was D.A., the broadcast manager of Daramji. Of course, Ha-eun ended up being accepted because of other factors as well.
Anyway, it wouldn’t be right to reject someone just because they were Ha-eun’s closest friend. Just as Ha-eun had gone through an interview back then, it was decided that Dayeon would also have an interview.
Strictly speaking, there was no downside for Jihyemin and LUX. After all, it was like a pumpkin rolling into their lap.
Just as Ha-eun, a proper celebrity, had anchored the first generation of Hwansanghyang, they could expect Dayeon, who had been famous since her child actor days, to anchor the second generation.
“But, please make sure I don’t have to meet her.”
“Huh? Why?”
“She doesn’t know that I’m Dia.”
If she finds out the truth, both of us would die of shame. Ha-eun’s muttered words, not quite a soliloquy, made Jihyemin nod in understanding.
“Ah…. I get what you mean.”
And so, just as the discussion about Dayeon was about to conclude.
“Um, Ha-eun.”
“?”
“You know Dayeon is Noeul, right?”
“Yes. I know.”
“Then, if Dayeon gets accepted, Ha-eun, you’ll be Dayeon’s toy for a day.”
Will you be okay? Jihyemin’s slightly worried tone made Ha-eun’s vision go dark. After all, she knew well that Dayeon really liked Dia.
But what’s done is done, and the bus has already left.
“…The views will be good, though.”
In the end, Ha-eun reached a state of enlightenment. Her eyes, which were not looking at Jihyemin but at the floor, had no focus whatsoever.