Raising a Neglected Singer-Songwriter - Chapter 26



Only Krnovel

26. A precious person in a shabby place

Come back to Korea.

Cha Seong-jun, who was heading to the bathroom, stops in his tracks.

The cause was an unexpected phone call.

– Hello, this is the Flexnet ‘Who’s the King’ team. Are you Cha Seong-jun?

‘Who’s the King’.

This is a singer-songwriter audition program that I applied for a while ago.

And there was only one reason for him to call you.

– Hello. We are contacting those who passed the first round. Congratulations!

The self-composed song, which was submitted in a hurry under deadline pressure, passed the first round of screening.

I already knew from the comments on Sound Sky that my songwriting skills were popular with the public, but this phone call confirming my acceptance made it even more certain.

I left the office and went to a quiet place to make a call.

Then, Flexnet gave a brief explanation over the phone.

– The first recording is scheduled to take place this Saturday at JBS Broadcasting Station…

The audition date and location, as well as the basic precautions such as prohibiting illegal filming within the audition venue and not posting the fact that you passed the first round on social media.

There will be a considerable amount of waiting time, so advice is to take good care of your condition.

Next, when we reached the description of the recording, the person in charge emphasized it strongly.

– We’ll have a short orientation and then start recording right away. Once you go up on stage in order, the judges will evaluate you. You’ll be performing the vocal song you submitted when you applied, so don’t forget to bring your MR or instrument!

The call ended with a request to arrive on time for the recording, along with a message that more detailed information would be sent to the email and text message listed on the application form.

When I checked the text, it contained the instructions I had heard over the phone.

+

[Who’s the King 1st Preliminary Round Guide]

Thank you for supporting Flexneck .

The schedule for the first preliminary round is as follows. Please check it and be sure to attend.

+

“Wow… This is really real.”

As I was reading the detailed instructions, I suddenly had a strange feeling.

What should I say… I feel like I’ve really entered the path of becoming a singer-songwriter.

Up until now, it was just about raising your abilities as if you were playing a game.

Starting with Yuna’s cover song project contract and the call from this audition, it feels like the real events for becoming a singer-songwriter are underway. And at a fairly fast pace.

Perhaps the moment you appear on an audition show will be a turning point in your life.

At the same time, one concern crossed my mind.

This is something that has been on my mind since I first started writing my application.

‘Can I really participate in an audition while working at a company?’

Since a close colleague of mine happened to be in the HR department, I decided to ask him about it.

Cha Seong-jun returned to his seat and immediately sent a message.

– Mr. Kim Byung-chan. Are you busy? Can I ask you something?

– I was really busy yesterday… Fortunately, I have some free time today. What do you want to ask?

– This might be a little odd, but is it okay to go on an audition show while working at the company? Are there any company regulations regarding this?

– Huh? An audition all of a sudden? What, where would a singer like me go for an audition?

– No, I was just thinking about quitting the company if I don’t get promoted this time, and I was thinking about all sorts of stupid things, and then I suddenly became curious.

– Hahaha, this is such a stupid idea. Anyway, wait a minute, I need to look it up too. Hmm… I see that there is a clause prohibiting working multiple jobs, but there aren’t any regulations regarding auditions.

Actually, it’s even stranger that a normal company would have such a rule.

Still, I asked my colleague to get a rough idea.

– Then what do you think? Is it possible or impossible based on the HR team’s experience?

– It’s ambiguous, but… as long as you don’t do anything that damages the company’s reputation while on air, it should be okay. Maybe you just need to get approval from your team leader or department head.

Those words made Cha Seong-jun decide.

‘For now, I’ll try participating in the audition.’

It wasn’t clear whether I would be able to get permission from the team leader, but I gave it a try anyway.

Because it would be a waste to waste this hard-earned opportunity.

Moreover, since the program launches in December, even if you participate in recording right away, it will take several weeks for it to air.

Even that part can be edited out if it’s eliminated early or not fun.

So, I thought I would look at the situation and then go and report it to the team leader, whether I should do it or not.

But if you don’t fall and keep going up higher······

‘That’s when I really have to think seriously about whether or not I should continue working at the company.’

This was a situation that I had to face at some point if I wanted to be a singer-songwriter.

Anyway, I decided to think about it later because it was a headache.

After that, I ended the messenger conversation with my colleague with the usual conversation about having lunch sometime next time.

Heart pounding

My heart began to beat with a mixture of half fear and half excitement.

*

*

*

And the next day, Tuesday.

D-day has arrived.

That is, the day Yuna decided to visit.

After work, I went straight to the recording studio and started preparing to greet guests.

First, I used the vacuum cleaner I brought from home to suck up food crumbs, and then I wiped away the dust with a wet tissue.

The mini air purifier I bought for ventilation has been running at full capacity since the day before. Thanks to this, the interior condition is quite comfortable.

“I think this is about right···.”

Finally, it was a time when the warm laundry scent of Febreze was endlessly radiating.

Brrrrrr-

The phone in my pocket vibrates.

– Please open the door.

I looked at the glass on the soundproof door and saw sunglasses covering half of my face, peeking inside.

As I hurriedly opened the door, a distinguished person entered the shabby place.

“Hello, brother.”

Yuna takes off her sunglasses and smiles as she greets me.

At that moment,

Ahh …

It feels like the sacred gospel sound effects often heard on the air are bringing light to the dark studio.

Is this… the aura of a top star…!?

Anyway, something beyond imagination has become a reality, so I’m thinking about whether I should take a picture to prove it.

“This is Devoice’s studio.”

Someone else’s voice was heard from behind.

And soon, a handsome man with white skin who looked like an actor came into the studio.

It was MXM Entertainment CEO Baek Seok, dressed in a black suit.

‘Of course Yuna wouldn’t have come alone. She’s a celebrity.’

Still, I never expected that the director, not even the manager, would come in person.

Oh, come to think of it, Director Baek Seok was with you during your personal schedule at Paradise Shopping Mall.

After a brief reminiscence, I said goodbye to the two people.

“Welcome, Yuna and Director Baek.”

“Thank you for inviting me. Here is a small gift for you.”

Looking again, Baek Seok’s hands were full.

First, Baek-seok put down the coffee in his carrier on the desk, opened his white shopping bag, and took out something round.

At first glance, this pecan pie looks luxurious.

“I thought a fruit basket might be too much for you. I brought you a dessert that would go well with coffee.”

“This is Baekje Hotel Pecan Pie. It’s super hot on SNS these days.”

“In addition, this is a limited edition luxury pecan pie with only 100 sold per day as it is individually handmade by a pastry chef with 30 years of experience.”

Anyway, the point was to appeal that it was a fairly precious gift.

The appeal worked.

“Oh my, what is this?”

Cha Seong-jun responds with a smile.

In my heart, my favorability towards Director Baek Seok has risen slightly.

Since I received a gift, I think I should work a little harder on recording today.

“Then how should I show you?”

“Just record naturally like you usually do.”

While Baek-seok and the working-class were having a conversation, Yuna, who had been curiously looking around the studio, including the framed autograph of Yuna hanging on one wall, the microphone, and the speaker, suddenly sat down on a chair.

It was not a sub-chair that had been hastily purchased from ‘Daessoo’, but Cha Seong-jun’s chair in front of the desk where the recording equipment was set up.

“Can I sit down? From what I saw in the video, you were standing up to record. I’ll press the recording button here.”

Meanwhile, Baek-seok sat down on the Daiso chair, and Cha Seong-jun stood in front of the microphone after adjusting the camera to an angle that would not catch the two of them.

Yuna said while wearing a headset on one ear.

“I heard on my way here that the song you’re going to cover today is ‘Dawn’.”

“That’s right. It’s the title song of Yuna’s second album. But is there a problem…?”

“No. It’s just one of my top three favorite songs, so I’m really excited.”

It may not have been her intention, but Yuna put a lot of pressure on me even before we started recording.

Baek-seok, with an embarrassed expression, offered an apple instead.

“Hey, Yuna, why are you burdening Devoice-sama from the start… Haa, I’m sorry. The child is young, so please be lenient and understand.”

“No. Anyway, let’s get started now.”

And the workshop becomes quiet.

Yuna has a concentrated expression, resting her chin on both hands.

Baek-seok, leaning against the wall, also has eyes filled with anticipation.

It was my first time recording with someone watching, so I felt a bit nervous.

“Phew.”

It was a time when I was taking deep breaths to calm my nerves.

Tiring-♪

[A special mission has arrived.]

[Sing a cover song and get recognition from the original singer.]

[Mission Reward: Song Coin X2]

The system sent a mission.

It’s as if he’s encouraging me not to be scared and to cheer up.

Come to think of it, a similar mission appeared when I first met Yuna at Paradise Shopping Mall.

Was it a melody composition tailored to the musician’s taste? Anyway, that was the mission.

It just occurred to me, but it seems like when we meet, an event happens because Yuna is a game NPC.

Then, depending on the affinity, bigger missions may be given in order.

···I think about a lot of things before recording.

But as I started to apply the situation to the game, the tension eased.

Rather, I feel motivated to get the mission reward.

[You gain the ‘Emotion’ buff for 1 hour.]

As usual, he activated the buff he had prepared and spoke confidently.

“Please press the record button.”

Yuna lightly touched the space bar on her keyboard.

“A night when everyone is asleep.”

As Cha Seong-jun slowly pulled away, dawn descended on the small room.

*

*

*

About two hours later.

A black celebrity van with heavily tinted windows is driving down the road.

None other than Yuna’s van. It’s on its way to a radio schedule scheduled for 10pm.

“Yes. I will arrive in 20 minutes. See you soon, PD Choi.”

Baek-seok hangs up the phone after informing the broadcasting station of his arrival time.

Meanwhile, the inside of the van, which would normally be noisy, is strangely quiet.

Baek-seok, who was behind the wheel, glanced at the back seat through the rearview mirror.

“······.”

Yuna’s face is seen staring out the window with her lips tightly shut.

It’s been like that ever since I left DeVoice’s recording studio.

“Yuna, are you okay-”

Baek-seok was about to open his mouth, worried.

“Brother Seok.”

Yuna broke the long silence.

And then.

“I’m planning to release a digital single at the end of the year. How about working with Devoice oppa?”

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