Chapter 40

It dawned on the day to record The ACEs song .

KangYoon headed to the studio after he finished checking the budget and some other documents . In the studio, Yoon HyeRin and Kim JinGyun, who arrived first and were warming up their throats, and Director Lee HyunSang .

Hello .

Hello .

KangYoon made a thats unexpected expression when he saw the person in charge of The ACE, Director Lee HyunSang . He was a director rarely seen inside the company . He wasnt seen even in the last Directors meeting .

Hello .

I think its the first time meeting you . Ive just heard about you . Nice to meet you .

Director Lee HyunSang was a man in his forties with a short stature . His gentle looking eyes made him look like an amiable ahjussi . He looked very different to the other directors who looked very strong and stubborn .

Did you warm up yet?

Yes .

Then lets begin right away .

After exchanging brief greetings with Director Lee HyunSang, KangYoon started working . Yoon HyeRin and Kim JinGyun went into the booth . The current time was 5 p . m . They said that this was the time when their conditions were at their best . This was the time they had scheduled beforehand .

As the equipment was already set, it didnt take a long time to record . The recording started immediately .

-I like the warm spring

When Yoon HyeRins voice started resounding throughout the studio through the speaker, KangYoon also started seeing white light along with a purple musical note .

Its a bit weak .

The combination of the song and Yoon HyeRin seemed to be okay . However, it felt somewhat lacking . He wanted a stronger light .

HeRin, shall we try again?

-Yes .

The producer, who was touching the mixer, also requested for a retry as if he was unsatisfied . One couldnt be full with just one bite . Yoon HyeRins singing started again .

-I like the warm spring the beautiful you come to me (T/N: Sorry if the lyrics dont make sense)

KangYoon shook his head while looking at the recording which progressed . It was because he saw a different colored musical note to the purple colored one from time to time .

Lets try again . The warm spring this part is a bit off .

-Yes .

The producer also seemed to feel something was off as he requested for a retry .

-I like the warm spring the beautiful you come to me

The front part is okay . Lets try again with a little less strength in beautiful .

The producer progressed with the recording .

Although the recording went on, KangYoon kept tilting his head . It should have become better after it became jazz, but strangely, it did not seem to get any better . The weak white light that the purple colored musical notes made kept making KangYoon wonder . Although it seemed better than The ACEs previous songs, it wasnt at a level he was satisfied with .

As the recording progressed little by little, it was already night when they listened to the halfway version .

Lets rest for a bit .

At the producers declaration, the members of The ACE came out from the booth, and went outside with Director Lee HyunSang .

KangYoon had a listen to the recorded file with the producer .

Can we use this?

When KangYoon asked, the producer nodded .

It isnt bad . If we edit it, I think we will end up with an okay song .

An okay song

Although the producer said that, KangYoon was unsettled . The weak white light kept weighing on his heart . KangYoon thought about what the reason could be while listening to the recorded file again and again .

-I like the warm spring the beautiful you come to me

-Like a child in magic

The purple colored musical note, and the weak white light . These thoughts kept swirling around in KangYoons head . He kept wondering which part should be better in order of the light to become brighter .

JinGyungs voice sounds a little different . Although its refreshing, it sounds a little sharp .

Its the characteristic of the microphone shes using now . That microphone is weak in mid pitches and has a strong high pitch . As you said that youre recording in jazz style this time, I have prepared that microphone .

At the producers words, KangYoon paid attention to the microphones . Perhaps, wasnt it because the microphone had a bad affinity with the singer? The microphone, which affected a singers voice greatly, was a very important element in recording and in performing .

Lets try changing the microphone .

What? I think the current sound is also okay .

Lets just try it . Are there microphones The ACEs girls used originally?

The ACE dont have their exclusive microphones . Those are for people at JooAhs level

The producer complained as he didnt like KangYoon interfering with his work . However, he couldnt do anything to him . Although it was somewhat unsuitable to go against the person in charge, he kept complaining . Even while knowing that, KangYoon continued with his claim .

Change it to an ordinary one . Lets go with that

I understand .

In the end, the producer became dejected while saying that the equipment he prepared ambitiously was rejected .

Its just an experiment so dont think about it that much . I know that youve worked hard . Shouldnt we try everything?

KangYoon added his last line . There was no need to kill the morale of a hardworking person . However, hardworking and producing results were a different problem altogether . Grabbing both wasnt an easy problem .

The resting time ended, and the members of The ACE went back into the booth again . As the microphone changed, they had to go through the setting again . After they set the tone, the recording began .

-A miraculous dream

Although it was just one line, KangYoons eyes widened . The light had become stronger . Although it was the same purple musical note, the light coming from the combination of the notes had become stronger .

The microphone was the problem .

The producer also seemed to be amazed that the controlled tone, different to the previous, sharp tone, as he looked at KangYoon . KangYoon only shrugged his shoulders . The producer started concentrating in work again with an awkward face . As he could hear the suitably adjusted voices from the machine, he could touch the sounds as his heart willed .

-The love- of spring only deepens

The recording progressed with lightning speed until the chorus where the twos voices combined suitably to produce a strong white light . As the purple notes combined to make strong white light, KangYoon was also delighted .

Is this one alright?

Yes, we should have changed it before . I might have ruined the song if we went along with my stubbornness . Im sorry, Team Leader .

Not at all . Please produce a great song .

At the producers bashful words, KangYoon didnt drag on . His such actions seemed to look better in the producers eyes as his eyes shined .

Dont worry . I will answer you with the best song!!

It seemed not reproaching him despite the mistake seemed to be seen well in the producers view as his morale rose high . KangYoon just smiled .

***

JunYeol-oppa!!

Lee JunYeol, who gave his signature to a female fan who ran up to him as he was about to board the van, passed the notebook back while smiling .

Kyaaak!! I love you, oppa!!

However, the fan seemed to be extreme as she hugged Lee JunYeol tightly . Although it was reasonable for him to panic, Lee JunYeol patted the female fans back with a leisurely smile .

Thanks .

*Sob* *sob* Oppa, I love you .

Although it was reasonable for him to get upset, Lee JunYeol kept his manners to the end without losing his leisurely smile . When he got on the van after having calmed down the extreme female fan, even Manager Yu SeungCheol, who was waiting worriedly inside the van, couldnt seem to hide his exclamation .

Wow, hyung . You really changed a lot . The more I look at you, the more astonished I am .

Shut up . You cant even block a fan like that Oh, dammit all . Lets just go .

Lee JunYeol stopped when he was about to say something more . Although he would have gone on a rampage if it was before, he seemed to have become a lot softer as he just passed it off as an accident . Whether he knew or not, Manager Yu SeungCheol kept chatting .

Hyung, really You really changed a lot after that time .

What is?

Your attitude towards the fans changed after youve released this album, and even on TV Hyung, youre so cool . Ur da best . (E/N: top kek)

Shut up, youre so disgusting, even though youre a man

Hahaha .

Although Lee JunYeol was rough to him, Manager Yu SeungCheol knew that this was his way of showing affection . As he knew, he could laugh more .

After the debut stage on the radio broadcast stage, Lee JunYeol changed in regards to everything . There was no need to talk about his attitude in treating songs, and his attitude in confronting fans and other things all changed for the better . Thanks to that, he succeeded in having a comeback with the evaluation of his voice having changed as foothold while gathering more fans .

You didnt set any more schedules like I said, right?

Yeah, yeah . Its the 10th time you asked me that .

I have a good impression of you for the first time . You should know that I will flip everything if you did, right?

Of course I do . Werent you meeting Team Leader KangYoon?

The van Lee JunYeol was on quickly headed to the caf near Shinsa station where they arranged to meet . Manager Yu SeungCheol parked the van on the space where vans could be seen parked here and there, and headed to the caf . However, Lee JunYeol stopped him in front of the caf .

Im going to go alone .

Why?

Just cuz I want to .

Ah, hyung . I know what talk will happen today, and although I also like Team Leader KangYoon, on a story that needs negotiation between the companies, I need to be there .

Shut up, I decide . I will tell hyung to cut your salary if you follow .

In the end, Lee JunYeol went inside alone by force . Manager Yu SeungCheol was about to go in when he gave up while making a bitter smile .

Do those two want to go on a date or something? Wait, JunYeol-hyung, dont tell me?!(E/N: oooooh)

After thinking about absurd things like whether he opened his eyes to a different preference than other people, Manager Yu SeungCheol eventually shook his head . When he thought about it, yesterday, Lee JunYeol played wildly in a club just yesterday .

.

.

.

Inside the caf, KangYoon was tackling the some paperwork .

Befitting of a famous caf, slim models and sometimes, celebrities, were enjoying their coffee . KangYoons figure of tackling paperwork really did stand out amongst them .

Hyung!!

You came?

While KangYoon was biting the pen as if the work wasnt going well, Lee JunYeol had arrived . When he raised his hand, KangYoon high-fived immediately . Now, these two had become closer .

After a brief greeting and talking about recent matters, the real topic began .

Hyung, whats up? You even called me all the way here .

I called you for work .

Work? Oho, an event? What should I do? Im really busy nowadays .

Lee JunYeols eyes contained a playful attitude . KangYoon shrugged his shoulders and continued on .

If youre busy, then forget it . I just want to use some of your fame .

Oho? The hyung-nim is requesting help from the little bro, right? Good, good . Speak to me about it .

Lee JunYeol seemed to be delighted as he urged KangYoon . KangYoon could only smile at the unchanging, ever-lively Lee JunYeol .

You really dont change . Anyway, a singer under us releases a digital single this time .

Who?

The ACE, do you know them?

No .

Lee JunYeol was honest . He was as always he didnt know non-famous people .

Thats so like you . Anyway, there is a duet singer who didnt go well even after releasing their second album . Were releasing a digital single this time, and I want to request featuring from you .

Featuring?

At the word featuring, Lee JunYeols eyes glistened .

Wow, featuring? Those The ACE kids, what are they like? Are they girls? Are they pretty?

Lets take it as nothing happened here .

KangYoon shook his head and stood up . Then, Lee JunYeol grabbed his arm .

Ayy, hyung . It was just a joke . But what kind of song is it that you even need a featuring?

Its a slow jazz . The singers are a female duet . I need a male voice with a solid, plentiful voice range, and so, I was planning to get your help .

You came to the right man .

Lee JunYeol poked his own chest with his thumb while saying leave it to me .

I will pay you properly so you dont need to worry about that .

Hey, dont be like that between us . You can just make another stage for me another time .

Thats a loss for me though .

Kyahahaha .

Lee JunYeol laughed heartily . KangYoon gave him the USB with the song, and told him the recording schedule .

So I just need to be there at that time, right?

Yes .

You came to the right man . I wont make you regret it .

Lee JunYeol stood up while saying that there was a schedule . He also paid on his way out . KangYoon also laughed heartily while looking at the brash Lee JunYeol .

Thats the featuring taken care of, and now, its time to strategize the promotion .

If it was difficult to go on a broadcast, then he needed another strategy . KangYoon headed to his office to work .

***

Saturday .

Unlike her friends who remained at school for self-study, HeeYoon, who went home early, met an unexpected person in front of the school gates . (T/N: Students usually have self-study after school ends, and this is 2008, so going to school on a Saturday was the norm in Korea around this time)

Oppa!!

It was her brother, Kangyoon . As she saw KangYoon, who could only be seen late at night nowadays, she ran up to him and embraced him in delight .

There, there . Is it fine for a fully grown girl to do this?

Whats wrong? I dont have an owner yet . (E/N: a husband? A spouse?)

After hugging HeeYoons thin body once, KangYoon got on the car with HeeYoon .

Huh? A car?

Its a company car . I came out because of work . Since Im going to universities, I should show you around .

Universities?

When HeeYoon fastened her seatbelt on the passengers seat, KangYoon started driving slowly . Befitting of a veteran driver, who never got into an accident in his 7 years as a manager, the car KangYoon drove had little shaking .

I think its the first time I got onto a car you drove .

We will buy a car soon . At that time, lets go to many places .

You dont have to go overboard . Im alright .

HeeYoon always felt sorry for his brother who always tried to do something for her . She kept thinking that she wanted to do something for him too .

The place KangYoon and HeeYoon headed to was a university in Dongjak district . (T/N: Hey, my uni is in Dongjak district) KangYoon, who paid expensive parking fees for the university parking lot, started looking around various places .

Oppa, why did we come here?

Was there a need for KangYoon to come to a university? KangYoon said he came here for work, but since he kept looking around the place slowly, HeeYoon was curious about his reason .

I want to see where the students gather . But since its a Saturday, its hard to find . Oh, its that place .

KangYoon pointed to a fountain which could be spotted easily from the shops inside the campus and had shades around it . (T/N: Wait, fountain? Isnt that my uni?) . With the fountain at the center, a lot of the people went around, on the shades, people, who looked like campus couples, were chatting with liveliness .

Oppa . I think it will be fun to perform at that place .

Really?

Yeah, quiet music can be heard, and lovers would kiss Kyak!!

. .

KangYoon lightly smacked HeeYoon on the forehead as she was drift to a mountain .

However, the place HeeYoon mentioned was a good place to perform . KangYoon picked up the camera and took a photo immediately . It was the so called ideal spot marking

Oppa, what are you planning to do there?

KangYoon only smiled at HeeYoons question .

Wow Is that the library? Look at those people . They must study really hard .

Eventually, HeeYoon became absorbed in the large facilities of the university and its people . While looking at HeeYoon who was looking at the people with eyes full of envy, KangYoon asked .

Dont you want to go to a university?

University? Of course I want to go . But you know Im not good with studying . I dont even know what I want to do .

It doesnt matter how long it takes you, so try studying . Of course, you know that your health is the priority right?

Yeah .

Although she was becoming healthier, she was far from being completely cured . HeeYoon wanted to become healthy as soon as possible and wanted to have an ordinary life the students there . She also wanted to stop being a baggage for his brother and wanted to share his burdens .

Lets go .

Whether he knew of HeeYoons thoughts or not, KangYoon grabbed HeeYoons hand and lead her to the car . While going to the next university, HeeYoon fell into thought .

While imagining her own figure, spreading her dreams in a university campus .

***