Chapter 164
Gaeul continued her relentless training.
Focusing solely on minimal hydration and condition management, she sang, tuned, and sang again, as if she was sharpening herself like a single blade, preparing for Lena Shin’s upcoming busking performance.
“I’m going to chase the stars in the sky until I can’t breathe anymore.”
The rented studio echoed with her constant singing.
It was undeniably sweet. The technique was impressive. The most astonishing part was that it was gradually improving.
Whether Gaeul’s concentration was increasing day by day or she was truly erasing everything but singing from her mind, her song became purer and more refined that way.
Perhaps with Gaeul like this, she could really aim for victory against Lena Shin.
“Cough…, haah.”
“Your throat is expendable. How about taking a break and practicing a bit more?”
“I’m… it’s okay. Just a little bit more, I want to practice a bit longer. I feel like this isn’t enough.”
“….”
However, I didn’t view that positively.
“….”
This might be a thought that a manager shouldn’t have.
Instead of pushing the artist, here I was thinking such things while watching her practice precariously.
But still, I didn’t want to just stand by.
“Team Leader Cheon Jong-hoon, it’s me.”
I wanted to be not only a manager for Gaeul but also a guardian.
-What’s up?
“I have something I need help with.”
*
Having finished most of the preparations, I returned to the studio where Gaeul was practicing intensely.
And in the small gap after she finished one song and was hydrating, I spoke up.
“Gaeul, can I ask you for a favor?”
“A favor?”
I took out the score I had prepared and handed it to Gaeul.
“This is a song I prepared. Want to give it a try?”
“You prepared this, Team Leader Seon? Is it an original song?”
“That’s right. Though it’s a song where I received help from two people.”
Having been learning professional mixing techniques from Cheon Jong-hoon, I honestly felt that I lacked the skills and knowledge to create a perfect song entirely on my own. So, I had asked for his help in the production process.
Since I was the one asking, I thought I might as well flatter him a bit, and so I painted the skill with some polish which made Cheon Jong-hoon happily and enthusiastically help me with my production.
As I sprinkled some glitter on his talent, Cheon Jong-hoon pretended not to care while happily helping me with my production.
…
It’s a bit awkward to say this, but this guy also had a knack for being a bit of a pushover.
During all of this, James Oh, who noticed we were producing a song, barged in saying, “Why are you doing something so important with an outsider when you have coworkers and partners?” Thanks to that unexpected intrusion, we ended up creating a track with the dream team of the current best producer and the future best producer in ten years!
“How is it?”
Gaeul, staring blankly at the score I handed her, trembled a little as she spoke.
“…You want me to sing this right now?”
“Just think of it as a casual run-through….”
“….”
“Is that a no?”
Honestly, this was a pretty overwhelming request for Gaeul. Asking her to sing a song she hadn’t even been told about, with just a score and an accompaniment, in front of a boss like me, isn’t exactly the most pleasant situation.
If I had given her time to prepare, it might have been different, but throwing in the condition that it has to be right now? She’d wish she could just say no.
Still, I believed in Gaeul’s talent. Plus, I thought the rapport we had built would compel her to consider this request.
…We’re friends, right, Gaeul?
Yet, feeling the anxiety of potential rejection, I put on a pitiful act and looked at her earnestly, and she blushed enough to show it as she spoke softly.
“…Brother Taeyang, how can I refuse if you ask like that?”
“Haha, maybe I was a little sneaky?”
Gaeul chuckled softly and said, “I’ll do it. But please give me a moment to familiarize myself with the score.”
“Thanks for going along with such a sudden request.”
“…Honestly, I should be the one thanking you. Always.”
What a sweet girl.
“I’ll handle the accompaniment. Don’t worry about the guitar part; just focus on your vocals this time.”
“Got it.”
As I finished tuning the electronic piano in the studio, Gaeul said, “I’ve roughly familiarized myself with it.”
“You caught on quicker than I expected. So, shall we give it a go?”
“…I’ll do my best not to embarrass myself with Brother Taeyang’s song.”
Best?…
Best is good. But that’s not what I’m looking for right now, Gaeul.
However, expressing this felt so unhip, so I decided to start moving my fingers on the keys instead.
Having lost, I started moving the keys instead of talking.
Right now, this way of communicating seemed more suitable between us.
And then, following my accompaniment, Gaeul cautiously began to sing.
*
“How was it?”
After finishing the song, Gaeul, who seemed to be sorting out her feelings, looked at me as if entranced and said,
“The song was…, yes, it was good.”
“Um…, that’s kind of you to say, but what I really wanted to know wasn’t about the song but how you feel right now.”
“…How I feel?”
I brought up the thoughts I had been having lately.
“Did you enjoy it?”
“….”
Gaeul hesitated, opening and closing her mouth before slowly speaking.
“Is that what’s important? Isn’t the crucial thing how to win this competition with what song we sing?”
“No, that is what’s important.”
“Just one person’s feelings?”
“It’s not just one person. It’s the feelings of the singer conveying emotions to countless people.”
But that wasn’t the only reason.
“And I’m a fan of Yoo Gaeul singing joyfully, not out of responsibility or purpose.”
“….”
“I hope you smile when you sing.”
Amidst tears, anger, or even in a state of emptiness, songs bloom.
But what I cherished most was not the songs that arise from such complex emotions, but rather the pure love for singing that makes artist Yoo Gaeul’s affection seep joyfully through her entire being.
Having put in the effort with Cheon Jong-hoon and James Oh, it was for this reason.
I thought this would be a way to share the sense of responsibility she bore, which also hindered her enjoyment.
“What’s the title of this song?”
“The title of the song is ‘the duty of singing.’”
“Duty of singing….”
“How about using this song in the next match against Lena Shin?”
After a heavy silence pondered over, Gaeul said,
“There’s a condition.”
“A condition?”
What’s that? Is she worried the final product might not be good enough?
Well, I can see why she might think that, as there are still some lacking aspects.
Don’t worry, Gaeul. I won’t sleep until I make it satisfactory enough.
“Don’t worry about the quality of the finished product. Of course, this is just a demo version, and proper mixing hasn’t started yet. I assure you, by the time we record for Music Road, it will be to a quality you can be satisfied with…”
“Uh… that’s not it.”
Oh, it wasn’t.
“You said you wanted me to enjoy singing, right?”
“Exactly.”
Gaeul broke into her signature bright smile after a long time.
“Then, on the recording day, please come up to the stage with me.”
…Me?
*
As the sun rose, Seon Taeyang had fallen asleep right where he was, still pressing the keys on his laptop, continuing the mixing work for ‘the duty of singing.’
Before starting her morning training, Gaeul meant to greet him simply but ended up witnessing him in that state.
Gaeul hesitated a bit, then slowly and quietly walked over to his desk.
Once she reached Taeyang’s side, she noticed a notebook where he seemed to have jotted down some ideas. Thinking this was his private matter, she averted her gaze but couldn’t resist the strong urge to read what was written.
[Yoo Gaeul as a vocal is already complete. She holds up well compared to the top-tier singers currently in existence.]
[Thus, what she needs to soar is only a perfect song.]
[Therefore, I must not compromise. Any flaw in the song will dull the sparkle of the jewel that is Yoo Gaeul. Just like a tiny flaw can lower a jewel’s grade.]
[Don’t settle for feelings of 98% or 99%. If she volunteers to stand next to me, what I must deliver is only 100% work.]
[So that this kind girl won’t be lacking.]
[So that this warm girl can sing and smile.]
“….”
As Gaeul slowly read through the content, she glanced at the weary face of Seon Taeyang, who had succumbed to sleep.
And she pondered.
“Is it even possible not to love someone like him?”
Quietly, as if not wanting to wake him, Gaeul gently caressed his cheek with her right hand.
“It would be impossible.”
She touched his stubbled chin, still unshaved.
“Whether Taeyang is middle-aged, old, or whatever he looks like, at any moment in time…”
She brushed his red lips.
“I would have loved him.”
And then, she secretly planted a kiss on Taeyang’s cheek.
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