Chapter 7

Of course, it is good as it is now, but lets do it once more . Producer Oh, in my opinion, it would turn out better .

If team leader says so

Producer Oh JiWans reaction was sour, but he didnt 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 JooAhs permission came, KangYoon gave the sign straight away . This time, KangYoon interfered lightly .

Producer, I think JooAhs voice feels a little too big . When she pronounces sute, her pronunciation vibrates a little bit . Id like you to edit this part . [1]

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

Thats your area of expertise, Producer Oh, so I will leave it to you .

Of course, KangYoon could do it himself, but he didnt 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, its 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 JooAhs 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 JooAhs 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 .

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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 .

Everyones 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 . Youre known for carrying paperwork with you, whether its in the resting lounge or in the office, so people call you work-man .

Its certainly better than mymy . [2]

KangYoon laughed . It meant that he was working hard, so he didnt 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 theres not much left of this year .

Yes . So when is the album coming out?

I am thinking December, around the second week .

So theres not even two months, even if we count this month . You must be busy . Isnt it fine for you to release it next year? Is there a reason for you to release it within this year? I think youre 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:

Its 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 .

KangYoons 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 couldnt say he knew the future, and even if he did, wouldnt he just be treated like a psycho?

Youre not thinking of competing with groups like Eiden, and youre not letting go of the fanbases of women in their 20s and 30s, right? Hmm . I dont have anything to say since I gave you all the rights, but I want to listen to the reason in the directors 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 JinMoons words . It was a pressure mixed with expectations . KangYoon answered straight away, knowing that fact . Chairman Won JinMoon seemed satisfied with KangYoons answer as he tapped KangYoons arm and stood up from the seat .

The Chairmans a chairman, alright . He gives me pressure this way .

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

JooAhs 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 . Lets 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 cant do a recording tomorrow

Youve worked hard . Is your throat bad?

No, its not that . I just spent too much energy Its the first time this happened

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

Lets rest tomorrow and resume recording the day after . Producer Oh should rest too tomorrow and lets resume working the day after .

Can we do that?

For work like ours, efficiency is very important . Lets 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 didnt even return home once . This kind of rest was literally honey to him .

Oppa, in this situation, arent you supposed to drive them more? Everybody does that normally .

Doing that doesnt help . Working while exhausted doesnt bring out any efficiency, and people should rest to charge up their energy to work . They dont do well by just working thoughtlessly .

Wow, is it like that? Youre 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 doesnt mean were 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 didnt 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, Im good . JooAh, its late . Go home now .

Ok, ok . Oppa, however this album turns out, lets work together . This is not a joke . Ok?

Ok . Go home already .

Its for real . Its 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 its 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, Im alright so go to work .

HeeYoon, who was undergoing dialysis while lying on the hospital bed, worried about her brother who couldnt 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 oppas very busy . You came back at dawn last night .

Hey .

KangYoon brought his index finger to HeeYoons 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, Im sorry

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

Ok, I wont .

If one underwent dialysis, then s/he couldnt move for 4~5 hours . Their face would get paler too . KangYoons heart would tear whenever he saw his already-pale sister in pain . However, he didnt show his pain on the outside . Since, should HeeYoon see his pain, she would shed tears

Oppa, Im sleepy . I will sleep for a bit .

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

The numbers are stabilizing a lot . Youre 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 doctors words werent 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 .

Dont worry . This time, I wont let you pass the days in vain .

Looking at his sisters white face, KangYoon resolved, and resolved again .

To protect HeeYoon whatever the cost .