In This Life, The Greatest Star In The Universe

Chapter 9

3 a.m.

The practice room was so quiet that I could hear the sound of the clock ticking.

I was drawing a musical score.

I listened to the song with my ears and wrote the notes with my hand.

What should I put here? Guitar? Keyboard?

It was not an exaggeration to say that I could do the arrangement.

I studied, but also learned the basics from various producers when I was at TJ Entertainment.

I took a sip of the chocolate drink.

This should be enough for the outline.

Dozens of A4 papers scattered around me.

They looked messy, but they were arranged in a certain order.

A kind of mind map, I guess.

I focused on the A4 papers as if I was inputting them into my head and closed my eyes.

First, I have to make the stage.

Our stage was the auditorium of a high school.

A barren field.

In my vast mind, a model of the auditorium that I searched on the internet was erected.

The stage was still dark.

I installed the instruments.

Guitar, bass, keyboard, drum, saxophone, cello, etc.

Now lets put some people on it.

The lights came on the stage on the barren field.

1st Kim Bi-ju.

2nd Kim Jung-hyun.

3rd Seo Ri-hyuk.

4th Wang Ji-ho.

5th Seon Woojoo.

The trainees came in one by one and started singing on the stage.

The first performance was without accompaniment, just the lyrics.

What is this?

When I combined the five voices in my head, I was surprised.

It was because of the harmony that the five voices created.

They had similar but different vocal ranges and made a beautiful harmony.

This is why Director Jo picked me.

I felt like one of the mysteries I had been holding was solved.

Director Jo Kyu-hwan probably heard my voice on the TV interview and imagined this harmony.

A perfect harmony.

But the admiration didnt last long.

I had to do a new work now.

I moved the instruments in my head.

No.

It was more like they moved naturally than I moved them.

I repeated the work while improvising in between.

Every time I made some progress, I opened my eyes and checked the time.

3:30 a.m.

I closed my eyes and went back to work.

4 a.m.

I continued until I got something perfect.

5 a.m.

When I finally finished the final arrangement, I started to transfer it to a piece of paper like a possessed person.

It took a long time to make the final work, but it was quick to transfer it.

Its done.

What I saw in front of me was just a paper version.

To make the finished product as I promised the kids, I had to go up to the studio and turn on the computer.

But there was no one in the company right now, and I was not in a mental state to do such work either.

Im tired.

Sleepiness poured over me like a waterfall.

I fell into the temptation of sleep naturally.

***

5:30 a.m.

Jo Kyu-hwan, the production director of Lemon Entertainment, got out of his car and inhaled an Americano.

A caffeine-packed drink that he made himself.

As he took a sip, he felt his mind wake up.

Ah, Im hungry.

I slept a total of 10 hours in the last week.

It was a murderous schedule.

I finally got some sleep at home, but the nerve cells in my body were still begging me to let them rest.

Ill sleep well after Chan-hyuks album is done.

As I left the underground parking lot and headed for the stairs, I stopped for a moment.

Whats that?

There was a light coming from the hallway where the practice room was.

Who stayed up all night?

Curious, I approached the place.

There were only five trainees left after Scarlet debuted.

Among them, there were only two who would stay up all night.

Is it Bi-ju? Or Ri-hyuk?

The immature youngest and the laid-back Jung-hyun were out of the question.

Expecting to see their faces, I found an unexpected face under the practice room window.

Seon Woojoo?

He was the new face I had cast.

Why did he stay up all night without going home?

As I tilted my head, I saw a strange sight.

Piles of manuscript paper scattered around.

I carefully entered the practice room and found papers with dots shaped like notes.

I knew right away.

It must be because of the end-of-year evaluation assignment.

I frowned for a moment and looked at the contents.

It didnt take long for me to figure out what rule he had used to arrange the papers around.

Wait a minute.

I felt a sudden surge of wakefulness.

Wheres the finished product?

I found it right away.

Seon Woojoo, who held the finished product tightly in his hand like a baby.

I was worried that he might wake up, but I was more curious as a musician, so I took the paper out of his hand.

Lets see.

The sound of turning the paper echoed with his faint breathing.

I stared at the paper until the ice in the Americano melted completely.

Then I smiled.

Look at this.

My eyes were filled with joy as I looked at the young man sleeping.

***

I had a dream.

I was on a tourist bus with the pigs, going to Pyongyang for a pork belly party, when the driver suddenly let go of the steering wheel.

In the dream, I was startled and pointed at the steering wheel.

Hey, driver! The steering wheel-

From now on, I will take you safely to your destination.

Then EDM started playing.

Sloshing.

The driver and the pigs cheered and danced, shaking the bus.

I screamed in fear as the situation seemed to tip over at any moment.

Uh-oh!

I opened my eyes with cold sweat and saw the practice room.

Huh

It was a total nightmare.

The stress I had yesterday was bigger than I thought.

I felt empty in my hand as I struggled for a while in the aftermath of the dream.

Huh?

Where did it go?

As I got up to find the score I had written, something that had covered my body slid down.

A cashmere coat.

It looked like it would cost hundreds of dollars at a glance.

Whats this?

No wonder I slept so warmly.

I was confused by the mystery of the unidentified coat and the missing paper, when a message came at the right time.

The sender was Director Jo Gyu-hwan.

-Come to the recording studio on the second floor when you wake up.

-PS. Bring my coat too.

The director took it.

I muttered like a sleep talker and brushed back my messy hair.

Then I carefully took the expensive-looking coat.

It felt like the moment when King Sejong covered Lady Shin with his dragon robe. I could imagine how burdensome she must have felt.

By the way, why did he call me?

***

The second floor of Lemon Entertainment was full of recording studios and complex equipment.

It seemed to be the working space.

It didnt take long to find the recording studio that Director Jo mentioned.

[On Air]

As soon as I went up, I saw the bright sign of the practice room On Air.

Knock knock-

Someone answered my knock.

Come in.

I opened the door and saw a familiar scene.

The recording studio that I had seen enough at TJ Entertainment.

Director Jo was looking at some papers and clicking his pen on the table, and a man was singing passionately in the recording booth.

Huh? That guy.

I looked closely and recognized him as Yoon Chan-hyuk.

A singer who debuted as the winner of the K-Net audition program.

He was one of the strongest players in the music market with his top-class vocals.

It was strange to see someone I had only seen on music shows in real life.

Director Jo glanced at me and pressed the talk back button.

Chan-hyuk, lets take a 10-minute break.

-Why?

Just take a break when I tell you to. You kid.

Yoon Chan-hyuk came out of the booth with a reluctant expression, as if he was joking.

Wow, he looks exactly like he does on TV.

The singer, who reminded me of a friendly neighborhood brother, showed curiosity about me.

Hyung, who is this?

Hes a new trainee who just joined. Say hello.

I bowed politely.

Hello, senior. Im a new trainee, Seon Woojoo.

Aw, dont be so formal. Just call me hyung. Senior sounds weird.

Yoon Chan-hyuk, who was humming, looked at Director Jo.

By the way, why did you call him?

Well. I have something to talk to him personally. Sorry, but can you give us some space?

For how long?

Just a cup of coffee.

10 minutes?

Maybe a little more.

No, hyung.

Yoon Chan-hyuk shook his head.

I have to record when Im in the mood. You know that. Ill be back in 10 minutes.

Hey.

Hmm hmm.

Hey, Yoon Chan-hyuk!

Im singing in the rain~ Im singing in the rain~

Yoon Chan-hyuk sang and waved his hand cheekily.

Director Jo clicked his tongue.

They looked more like close brothers than a producer and a singer.

You two seem very close.

Close, my ass.

Director Jo shook his head as if he was annoyed.

Do you know how much I suffered to make him a human being?

I quietly smiled, reminded of a grandmother who would say, I had a hard time raising you.

Did you sleep well?

Yes, thanks to the coat you gave me.

Good, Im glad.

When I sat on the sofa, he took out something from the table drawer.

It was the sheet music I made.

This is yours, right?

Yes.

Then let me ask you a few things.

Yes.

What is it?

Have you ever learned music?

What do you mean by that

I mean, have you ever learned music professionally? For example, harmony, music theory, and so on.

Ah, yes.

I recalled my past and answered.

I learned a bit at my previous company.

TJ Entertainment?

Yes. The producers there taught me some things. Like how to use MIDI or write beats.

No wonder your basics are solid.

Director Jo Kyu-hwan stroked his chin.

Your arrangement shows that you can play some instruments too.

Thats right.

Piano?

Yes. I practiced a lot when I was preparing for a concours in elementary school.

Anything else?

A little guitar.

The producer strokes his chin.

You did this in one day. This level of arrangement.

Yes, but as you can see, its rough.

No, no. You did great. If I were a college professor, I would have given you an A.

Is that so?

Did you hear a lot of compliments on your talent for composing?

I heard some at my previous company.

It must have been more than some. Youre so modest.

I felt awkward by the praise from a famous composer, when he said something totally unexpected.

Woojoo.

Yes.

Do you want to learn composing from me?

Excuse me?

I blinked in confusion.

What did he just say?

Are you a bit surprised?

Its just that I see potential in you from your arrangement. Of course, youre still a rough gem, but I think you can become a beautiful jewel with some polishing.

He asked me in a casual tone.

How about it? If you learn well from me, you can go out as a composer-idol later.

Ill do it.

Huh?

Ill learn composing.

What the hell.

A legend in the industry was offering to teach me his super skills.

Who would refuse that?

I had to accept it before he changed his mind.

Maybe he thought I would need some time to think, Director Jo paused for a moment.

Well, thats good. Then.

He handed me a USB.

Take this first.

What is this

Its your arrangement that I transferred to the computer. I tweaked it a bit.

Wow, thank you.

I bowed 90 degrees without realizing it.

If I had done it by myself, it would have taken me until tonight, but the task was done in an instant.

Then, lets see. To teach you composing, my schedule is

As he looked at the calendar filled with letters like a curse, and tried to coordinate the schedule for learning composing, our conversation was interrupted by a ballad singer with a burning passion.

What? Youre not done yet?

We both laughed at the ballad singers eyes that seemed to say Recording! And more recording!.

***

Im afraid that loving you will become my scar

Yoon Chan-hyuk, who was immersed in singing in the recording booth.

Jo Kyu-hwan nodded his head and gave some directions.

Chan-hyuk, this is a stylish song, so you have to sing it more delicately.

-I got it.

He quickly changed his singing style as if he understood the direction.

Hes a pro indeed.

But what Jo Gyu-hwan was really focusing on right now was not Yoon Chan-hyuk.

He recalled the conversation he had with Manager Yoon Seok-hwan this morning.

Woojoo? Whats that?

Manager Yoon Seok-hwan, who was looking at his smartphone in the company lounge, asked.

Why are you suddenly talking about Woojoo

I saw this last night.

Sheet music?

It looks like he arranged the song for the year-end evaluation by himself.

Jo Gyu-hwan tapped the staff notation.

Ive seen idols compose songs, but never arrange them. You know, arranging is much harder than composing. You cant do it without musical knowledge.

Oh, right.

Yoon Seok-hwan said.

He had a knack for that since the beginning. TJ knew that and took special care of him. They even assigned him a famous producer.

He must have been a promising talent.

How else could he survive there without being able to dance?

Dance? He dances well.

Thats because you saw him recently. He used to be terrible. He looked like a log trying to split a bamboo.

A bizarre scene came to his mind.

Well, anyway, when he left, the company was sorry. They even thought about bringing him to the A&R department. He can play instruments, and he has a lot of talent.

But?

He said no. He said he only wanted to be an idol.

Hes an unusual guy.

Jo Gyu-hwan, who was quietly smiling, caught something in the others words.

Wait a minute. He can play instruments?

Its all in the genes.

Genes? What do you mean?

Oh, you dont know who Woojoos father is.

Yoon Seok-hwan told him a name of three syllables.

And Jo Gyu-hwans eyes widened.

It was a name he knew.