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Honestly, I’m confident.

Well, I’ve got some experience under my belt, right?

I don’t expect to pass on the first try, but if Hyeon-su gives me feedback, I’ll fix things up quickly and finish the recording.

…Of course, it was pretty tough when I practiced a bit after yesterday’s broadcast, but it’s not to the point where I can’t sing.

To be honest, if I hadn’t recorded “Turning Point” with Composer Kang Woo-hyeon, it would have been really hard.

So, I started recording in the separate recording studio at Hyeon-su’s Workshop.

Now that I think about it, how long has it been since I recorded here? The last time was Wonderland, so it seems like quite a bit of time has passed without me noticing.

“Okay, you memorized the song, right?”

“Of course.”

“Well, let’s get started.”

With Hyeon-su and Lee Hyun-jun watching, I began my recording session.

“Alright, let’s try the ending again?”

“Okay.”

Well, I immediately got an NG, but I didn’t expect to nail it on the first go anyway.

“Can we have a calmer feeling at the beginning?”

“Sure.”

The second time… I felt like I made a small mistake while singing, too.

But…

“Let’s raise the tempo a bit more in the middle.”

“Do you understand the song? Honestly, it’s closer to a musical.”

“Think of it as acting! You’re doing great!”

“You did well, but I think it would be better if we did it again.”

“Put a bit more strength in your voice. Let’s go again.”

Ah.

I had forgotten.

No, it was right to say I had been overconfident.

Just as I had grown since Wonderland, so had Hyeon-su’s feedback.

“Again!”

“Gah!”

“Save your voice!”

“Ugh!”

“It hurts my ears!”

By the time the recording wrapped up, I was even more drained than during dance practice, and I stumbled out of the recording studio.

Thud.

I collapsed onto the sofa right in front of the studio, causing Lee Hyun-jun, who had been sitting beside me, to jump up in alarm.

“Wow.”

“Am I dirty?”

“No, I’m just surprised… But you sing really well?”

“Did you hear that?”

“Well, yeah. I was quite shocked. Seriously.”

Hmm, judging by his expression, he really seemed surprised.

While I was secretly pleased with that look, Lee Hyun-jun, who had been pondering for a moment, asked a question.

“By any chance… were you a trainee? Even if you’re not doing it now.”

He keeps asking about idol trainees. Is it because he’s an idol himself?

“I’ve never done anything like that.”

“Really? What about being scouted?”

“I turned them all down.”

How many business cards did Kim Soo-hyun (Female) toss in the trash?

“…So you never even considered being an idol?”

“No, I feel more at ease staying in my little room.”

Being an idol trainee… that’s totally out of the question.

An idol trainee would have to do dance lessons like I did today and receive this recording feedback daily, wouldn’t they?

Diet control and the anxiety of whether or not they could successfully debut on top of that.

I can’t do it.

It’s just better for me to comfortably broadcast from my little room.

“Well, I’m a bit envious.”

“What do you mean?”

“Living life freely, while singing to your heart’s content.”

What does that even mean?

I looked at Lee Hyun-jun, who was leaning against the sofa, and his serious yet somewhat bitter expression caught my attention.

In a nutshell, it was a complicated look.

Is being an idol that tough? Well, it must be tough, I guess.

But still, for someone like Lee Hyun-jun, he must have countless fans welcoming him every time he goes to a performance hall.

By the way, who was it that I met last time? That ballad singer, Lee Kang-jun, who was obsessed with charts? He’d surely envy him.

“Don’t think too complexly.”

I had little to say to him in that regard.

“Yeah?”

“Humans are like torches burning through one life; you’re blazing bright right now, aren’t you?”

“What’s that….”

“You’re shining brightly, selling a million albums, so why the serious face? Just enjoy it.”

Upon hearing my words, Lee Hyun-jun made a strange expression.

“A torch? Did you read that in a novel or something?”

Wait, what? Isn’t this supposed to be a touching moment?

“I just borrowed that line from Moon Chang-sik.”

If I kept going like this, I’d end up sounding like a weirdo, so I quickly backtracked.

Thinking about it, even if it’s the same corny line, it could be interpreted differently coming from Moon Chang-sik compared to me.

Moon Chang-sik, you rascal! Trying to brand me a weirdo….

“Moon Chang-sik? Wait, are you talking about the Moon Chang-sik I know?”

“Moon Chang-sik? If you’re referring to the actor Moon Chang-sik, then yes.”

A senior? I wondered if Moon Chang-sik had been an idol too, narrowing my eyes slightly as Lee Hyun-jun continued.

“I’ve also done a few minor roles in some projects, so I’m a junior as an actor.”

“Ah, so you’re an idol-actor type?”

“Honestly, after retiring, I have a little dream of becoming a great actor.”

“Hmm.”

I looked at Lee Hyun-jun’s appearance as he spoke.

He’s handsome, but if you ask if he looks like an actor, I’d say it’s a bit ambiguous.

“Why are you staring so pointedly? It’s a bit uncomfortable.”

I wondered if I should say something that popped into my head, but it might be rude, so I hesitated.

“Can I be honest?”

“What do you want to say… go ahead and say it.”

Well, if he permits, it’s different.

“Your face is so stunning, you probably can’t pull off various roles.”

“What’s that… uh, is that a compliment?”

“It might be a compliment as an idol.”

“What about as an actor?”

“Hmm… by the way, Hyeon-su isn’t coming out, is he? It’s about time.”

“Oh, so that was criticism.”

“Hahaha, that’s not it.”

Rather than outright criticism… well, there are roles that need flashy appearances too.

In fact, that’s a good thing. Looking like a protagonist, after all.

“By the way, how do you know Moon Chang-sik?”

At that moment, Lee Hyun-jun brought up Moon Chang-sik.

Thinking back, I had casually mentioned him while backtracking…

Hmm, I was told to keep the movie-related stuff a secret, right?

I doubt Lee Hyun-jun would spill the beans anywhere, but still, since it’s on the contract, I had to be cautious about what I said.

So, what can I share about my relationship with Moon Chang-sik…?

“I briefly learned acting a while back.”

“…Are you joking again?”

Yikes, he doesn’t believe me.

Well, I can’t believe it either.

What could that guy possibly gain by teaching acting to someone as ordinary as me?

“You don’t have to believe it.”

“Is it real?”

“Well… do you want me to get a signature?”

“What?”

“Moon Chang-sik’s signature. Everyone loves getting them.”

“Do you know I can’t live without my own signature?”

“Then could you give me one?”

“Forget it. Don’t say things you don’t mean.”

…That was serious.

Looking at it, it seems like the Celestial Realm members might know a bit about Lee Hyun-jun, so I thought of asking for a signature, but if he doesn’t want to, there’s nothing I can do.

“Everyone, what are you doing in front of here?”

At that moment, Hyeon-su came out of the recording studio.

He said he’d be coming out to tidy up, but it took longer than I expected.

“Is the recording for the new song done?”

“Oh, the Calm Lake one is finished.”

As soon as Hyeon-su came out, Lee Hyun-jun immediately turned his head and spoke to Hyeon-su.

…Was he that much averse to talking to me?

“Uh? Does this guy have more recording to do?”

“Oh, there’s one left.”

Now that I think about it, there was still one more recording to do in Hyeon-su’s Workshop.

“Are you free, Hyun-su? Do you want to just record the remaining one today?”

“Is the featuring song ready?”

“Yeah, I’ll do Hyeon-jun first.”

“Hmm… still, I’ll pass. I can’t do it anymore.”

I’d want to do it if I could, but now my energy is running low.

To think I planned to do both dance lessons and recording today, was Kim Soo-hyun (Male) insane this morning?

“Well, what are you planning to do? How about watching Hyun-jun’s recording? It could help.”

“Help?”

“Yeah, seeing more of it can be helpful.”

“Hmm.”

If it would help…

Besides, even though Lee Hyun-jun looks like that, he’s a top idol.

Seeing someone like him record up close isn’t a chance that comes easily.

But since the recording wouldn’t finish in just ten minutes, I wasn’t confident that I could watch for several hours while sitting still, so I was thinking about it.

“What are you pondering?”

Lee Hyun-jun, who had been listening to the conversation, chimed in.

“Yeah?”

“You do well, but I’m no slouch either. Let’s give it a shot.”

“Is that so?”

Of course, he’d do well, but still, hmmm.

“Hey, I heard that Soo-hyun is doing a featuring too; how about a bet?”

Did he mistake my pondering for something else? It seemed like Lee Hyun-jun, suddenly brimming with competitive spirit, made a suggestion.

“Yeah?”

“After the album releases, we’ll see who’s better.”

Who’s better?

Well, okay, I’m up for a bet since I like them too, but….

“Um… who gets to judge that?”

“Listeners?”

“Are you joking right now?”

If it’s listeners, then obviously the million fandom of Lee Hyun-jun’s group would flood in…

It’s not like I’m shooting a historical drama, so there’s no way I can compete.

“Then let’s put it to a vote among experts instead.”

“Yeah?”

“There must be others involved in the album, right? We can ask them to vote fairly.”

That sounds doable…

It would probably just be Hyeon-su or the band members, along with other featuring participants.

They’re all musicians, and I couldn’t suspect their voting integrity.

“Alright, what shall we wager?”

“Let’s go with a simple wish bun.”

“Oh, can I also get unlimited re-fills of Hanwoo for life?”

“…Let’s avoid anything excessive.”

“…Then one year?”

“That’s acceptable.”

Wow, one year of unlimited Hanwoo?

Sure enough, their financial prowess is something else.

“Alright then, let’s wager.”

It didn’t seem like a huge commitment, so I casually accepted.

“Then let’s see how this plays out. You’ll end up regretting this wager.”

After I accepted, Lee Hyun-jun said that and headed into the recording studio first.

“Hahaha, it might seem sudden, but please understand. Hyun-jun has a strong competitive streak, but I think it’ll be a good challenge!”

“Really?”

“Yeah, that competitive spirit can be a good driving force.”

With that, Hyeon-su also entered the recording studio, and I went in as well.

Lee Hyun-jun, who had entered the studio ahead of me, stood in front of the microphone with a calm expression.

…So that’s what makes him look like a true idol.

He is an idol, after all.

“Alright, let’s start.”

“Yeah.”

And after the recording began.

“Wow….”

I understood why he called himself a vocal powerhouse.

“Still, I’m above you, Hyeon-su?”

“….”

“Answer me.”

“Um, Hyun-jun, let’s try that again!”

“Hey.”

…To be honest, I think I’m sweating under pressure.

 

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