Chapter 173

‘Unni, what is it?’

When Kim JiMin asked in worry, Park SoYoung returned to herself .

‘Ah, it’s nothing . It was just too much of a shock… that someone that amazing is going to be playing my song . You’ll be standing on stage with her, aren’t you nervous?’

‘I’m nervous as well . I’m still thankful though, that he gave me this chance…’

Kim JiMin was touched since she was going to play with one of the highest authorities in this industry .

Actually, she was almost thinking that KangYoon had just dumped everything to Park SoYoung and did not do anything himself, but he did not disappoint her after all .

After looking at the score for quite a long time, Gye HyoMin put the score down with a satisfied smile .

“I’ll have to play this to be sure, but I think the melody is quite good . ‘Streetlight’ is one of my favorite songs, so I would have been really sad if she ruined the song . ”

“Didn’t I tell you that you can look forward to it?”

“Indeed, that was the case . ”

With Gye HyoMin’s compliment, Park SoYoung loosened a little .

Seeing her satisfied, KangYoon spoke .

“Let’s pause here and why don’t we go out for a meal? They say a full stomach makes everything better . ”

“Fufu, is that so? Then what about the keyboard…”

“I’ve readied one already . ”

When KangYoon said in confidence, it was Lee HyunJi that asked him with a confused expression .

“Wait, weren’t you going to do the practice at the studio? I’m not sure if a grand piano can fit in it . ”

KangYoon shook his head at those words .

“I had the piano placed in Lunas . ”

“Oh, so that’s why Lunas’s schedule was empty for today and tomorrow…”

When Lee HyunJi realized what was going on, KangYoon smiled in satisfaction .

“Yes . It’s for JiMin’s practice . ”

“Oh, so today is the practice with Miss HyoMin, and tomorrow, the rest of the orchestra is coming?”

“Yes . I think we will be able to do enough practice like that . Though, it will be a little tight . ”

***

KangYoon’s house .

Kim JaeHoon’s room, shut tight, leaked a faint melody and some high-pitched notes .

“Aaah—”

High notes that were very difficult for men to sing, kept flowing out .

However, Kim JaeHoon turned his head to the phone on his desk with dissatisfaction .

“HeeYoon, the pitch is a little too low . Can’t you raise it a little?”

When he said that, a surprised tone replied to him .

[What? Isn’t this plenty high? This is C5 you know?]

“It’s lacking a little power . Or just raise the key by one tone . The melody and the rhythm are really good, but I think it’s lacking a little substance . ”

Kim JaeHoon expressed his disappointment with the music . However, HeeYoon’s words from the phone weren’t that positive about his opinion .

[Being capable of singing high pitch was a standard of skill only in the early 2000s . It’s no longer the standard of singing skill anymore . I’ll try to look into other ways rather than raising the pitch . ]

“No, I think it will be better for this song to raise the pitch a little . It’s not like I’m asking you to switch to a different key . ”

[Oppa, I heard from my oppa that you’ve injured your throat before at your previous company . ]

Despite HeeYoon’s reluctance, Kim JaeHoon did not relent on his decision . No, he went even stronger .

“It’s fine . I did C5 in the last song as well . It will be fine as long as it’s not an F or a G . ”

In the past, he did F5s and G5s as well . However, he had to sing those notes constantly at every event, so his throat naturally couldn’t take it .

[My brother will definitely say something about this when he’s doing the arrangement . I don’t want to agree to this…]

KangYoon knew of Kim JaeHoon’s condition better than anyone else . There was no way he would allow such a high-pitched song .

Then, Kim JaeHoon thought about it for a moment before speaking with a grin .

“I’ll tell him that I’ll do the rearrangement for this song . He won’t be able to help it if the song is finished . ”

[Oppa, that’s not good . Even if you do that… . ]

HeeYoon tried to restrain him, but Kim JaeHoon shook his head .

“It’s a digital single anyway . Both JiMin, Eddios, and White Moonlight are doing something, so I should do something on my part as well . Shouldn’t I tell the world that there’s Kim JaeHoon at World Entertainment?”

[Ah, oppa . But this still is…]

“Trust me for this one thing . Please? I beg you . ]

HeeYoon was in a dilemma .

‘I’ll have to tell oppa about it . ’

“Okay . Please wait for a little . ”

“Thanks . ”

Kim JaeHoon, unaware of what HeeYoon was thinking, was all smiles .

However, HeeYoon, who was on the other end, felt a heavy burden on her shoulders .

***

“Whoa?”

Gye HyoMin was surprised when she entered Lunas, or to be exact when she saw the grand piano that was in it .

“Starshures? This is the piano I use . ”

Walking around the glossy black grand piano, Gye HyoMin couldn’t hide her smile . She was worried that she may have been given a crappy piano since this was an urgent call for her . She was planning to have her own piano at her residence delivered if that was the case, but now, it seemed like her worries were for naught .

KangYoon smiled as he looked at her satisfied .

“I’m planning to send this over to the TV station the day before the recording and tune it there . It will be used on the program itself . ”

“You’re the best, team le, no I guess you’re the president now? Hahah . This is great . I was worried for nothing . ”

She cheerfully sat down in front of the piano . She lightly stretched her hands and wrists before beautiful sounds started filling Lunas along with a bright white light .

“Wow…”

Kim JiMin and Park SoYoung gulped . Although they did not know much about classical music, her elegant hand movements and the beautiful sound were enough to mesmerize them .

‘President . ’

‘Yeah?’

Kim JiMin approached KangYoon and whispered .

‘Thank you . ’

He shrugged his shoulders at her thanks .

‘Miss HyoMin is quite picky, so you’ll have to try to get along with her . Do your best . ’

‘Yes . ’

Soon, Kim JiMin stood next to Gye HyoMin who had just finished her warmup . Now, Gye HyoMin spread out the score that Park SoYoung had created and was waiting for her .

“You ready?”

“Yes . ”

“Here we go then . ”

Gye HyoMin’s eyes gleamed . Her hands slowly and softly started to move .

The intro of this song was rather calm . However, her song hit one bass note before powerfully pressing on with the rest of the music . Then finally, she pressed both bass and treble notes powerfully to create a grand effect .

After that, the piano sounds died down and Kim JiMin started singing .

“The unforgettable memories – when I walk down that road – I remember you under the sunshine –”

Kim JiMin’s note and Gye HyoMin’s piano intermixed to create white light . However, something else could be seen within the white light .

‘That’s… . ’

Something similar to grey, but something that shined .

It was a sign of silver . Seeing that after a long time, KangYoon’s eyes shone .

“The autumn with the falling leaves – my memories blur with the cold wind — but I will remember — the time with you –”

The faint piano sounds slowly climbed up the scale .

Park SoYoung was surprised at this part .

‘Wow, she’s improvising . ’

‘That’s right, you rearranged for an orchestra so that shouldn’t usually happen, right?’

‘Yes . World class… truly is different . ’

Park SoYoung exclaimed . She even wondered if her song was really this beautiful .

“In the shade – oh -the memories of love with you — under the streetlight –”

The piano resonated loudly and added power to Kim JiMin’s song . Gye HyoMin also seemed empowered by her singing as she put more and more emotion into her playing .

Although the original plan was to just try singing the first verse, the song continued until the end .

“Your fragrance — the nostalgic streetlight — I – still remember –”

Kim JiMin became deeply immersed in the song and cried a little . Her husky yet clear voice filled the stage and the piano sounds empowered her voice .

“I remember —”

Again, the simultaneous play of low and high notes resonated within before the piano sounds died down . Like that, the sounds slowly disappeared .

“Wow…”

Park SoYoung clapped unknowingly . This was the best piano playing she had ever heard in her life . It enveloped Kim JiMin’s singing softly at times and powerfully led it at other times .

KangYoon and Lee HyunJi clapped as well .

“Thank you . ”

Gye HyoMin said thanks before standing up from the piano . She took the score and approached Park SoYoung . Seeing that, Park SoYoung gulped nervously .

“Miss SoYoung was it?”

“Y, yes!”

“You don’t have to be so nervous . Why don’t we talk a little?”

“Yes!”

Park SoYoung was still stiff since this was one of the greatest pianists in the world about to discuss music with her . KangYoon burst out laughing .

“Learn a lot from her . ”

“Yes . ”

Gye HyoMin grinned hearing the exchange .

“There’s nothing much to change . It’s just that the intro needs to be a little more powerful and the later parts should be a little softer . We need to get the balance right, so why don’t we have a talk?”

It wasn’t every day where she would have the opportunity to learn from one of the greatest musicians in the world .

Park SoYoung became nervous but headed to another room along with Gye HyoMin while feeling appreciative .

“Well then . What do we do now?”

Hearing Lee HyunJi say those words, KangYoon smiled as he replied .

“Well, work of course . ”

“… . . ”

Lee HyunJi’s face looked as though she was about to cry .

***

A high-class Japanese restaurant with faint music in Gangnam .

It was one of those restaurants that lots of people wanted to visit due to it being well-known because of a famous chef but was too expensive to afford .

President Han YoungSook of GNB Entertainment and President Kang ShiMyoung of Yerang Entertainment were having a meal together .

“Thank you for this one . I’ll definitely repay you later . ”

President Han YoungSook spoke softly as she put down her chopsticks . President Kang ShiMyoung waved his hand though .

“I’m thankful instead for you for preparing such a wonderful meal . ”

“This is nothing much compared to what you did, preparing over 30 dancers in such short notice . All of them were very skilled . They all belonged to a famous team . ”

Famous dance teams within the country all gathered for one purpose . There was no need to mention their skills . Unless someone had a special relationship with the industry or the teams themselves, it wouldn’t be easy hiring those teams on such short notice .

“I hope I see something good tomorrow . Leaving business aside, I have high hopes for Miss Nael . ”

“Fufu, thank you very much . ”

The atmosphere was very bright .

Though, the two were thinking completely differently on the inside…

‘I hope he doesn’t ask me for something too big . ’

Although she was indebted to him, she didn’t want to give up too much in compensation . President Han YoungSook became wary .

‘There’s nothing good trying to get anything with this . The real deal is World . I have to take Eunha down with Nael . World’s momentum is too fast . ’

MG, YoonSeul, Yerang, and finally GNB Entertainment . Kang ShiMyoung thought that these four should be the only big companies in the industry .

He did not want an uncertain element like World Entertainment joining the group .

Hiding his intentions, he calmly spoke .

“I heard Kim JiMin was appearing in this week’s Birth of the Masterpiece . ”

“So I hear . This Eunha is an obstacle wherever we go . Every single time, she’s…”

President Han YoungSook shook her head .

Eunha the singer . She was an existence that blocked Nael’s path ever since the two debuted, and she didn’t like this a lot .

Feeling a change in her mood, president Kang ShiMyoung spoke in a soft tone .

“World Entertainment, the one Eunha belongs to, is small, but powerful . They should have prepared something this time . The president there is quite capable . ”

“This time, we won’t be losing out either . Although we were defeated unknowingly when the two girls debuted, it will be different this time . You’re helping me out so much, president Kang, so I need to show everyone that Nael is better than Eunha . ”

“Hahahahaha . I hope that happens . ”

President Kang ShiMyoung laughed heartily . However, he felt something tugging at his heart .

‘I don’t know what that Lee KangYoon guy will do… This is very important . ’

He worried about what to do with World Entertainment as he listened to president Han YoungSook’s confident words .

The war between two artists belonging to GNB Entertainment and World Entertainment respectively was about to begin .

***

After the rearrangement was done, time flew .

Kim JiMin practiced with Gye HyoMin on the day she got her hands on the score and had a rehearsal with the orchestra that KangYoon had hired the next day .

“I heard Miss Gye HyoMin was coming . ”

“Yeah, I’m so nervous . ”

The people in charge of violin 1 and violin 2 exchanged nervous conversations in their rest period . They looked forward to their performance this time . Although this was a pop song rearranged into an orchestral piece, the weight of the name Gye HyoMin was heavy .

Park SoYoung’s palms were sweaty as she watched all of Kim JiMin’s practice .

“Your fragrance — the nostalgic streetlight — I – still remember –”

Kim JiMin also became more and more immersed in it as the violin and the cello became more powerful .

The pleasure of having one’s music be played by a grand orchestra was indescribable .

KangYoon also had a look at the magnificent array of white light in front of him absentmindedly .

‘I wonder what would happen if Miss HyoMin is added to this . ’

KangYoon made a satisfied smile .

The next day, AKA the D-day .

KangYoon and Kim JiMin headed towards KS TV’s public hall early in the morning . They had a lot of things to do regarding delivering the grand piano as well as other things .

When they arrived, the grand piano that Gye HyoMin would be using had arrived already, and the tuner was tuning it . As the tuning for this instrument was very important for today’s piece, KangYoon focused most of his mind in this .

KangYoon and Kim JiMin were watching over the tuning of the grand piano when the producer for ‘Birth of the Masterpiece’, named Lee TaeSung, approached the two . He was wearing horn-rimmed glasses that hid his sharp eyes .

“Welcome, Miss Eunha . You too, president . ”

“Hello, producer . ”

Producer Lee TaeSung spoke seriously as he looked at the grand piano .

“As you requested, the orchestra and the grand piano CAN be used, but the piano needs to be removed right after the stage is done . Your slot is also the first…”

“I am aware of that . We can accept it after all that you’ve done for us . ”

“Thank you . For the rehearsal, we can just push it over to one side, but we can’t do that for the real thing . Once the stage is over, I’ll have my men take it out immediately . ”

“Understood . ”

They got the disadvantage that they were up first due to the presence of the piano, but KangYoon gladly accepted . The fact that they were first put a little pressure on them, but the usage of the grand piano was much more important than that .

After the conversation with producer Lee TaeSung and the tuning of the piano, the two walked towards the waiting room .

Kim JiMin was getting ready for the rehearsal while exercising her voice when the door opened and a group of people entered . It was Yoo NaYoon, who was going to be on stage as well today .

“Hello, president KangYoon . Oh, JiMin!”

“NaYOon!”

Yoo NaYoon greeted KangYoon with a bow before grabbing Kim JiMin’s hands cheerfully . Although they were going to be competing today, the two atmosphere between the two wasn’t bad at all .

“JiMin, have you prepared a lot?”

“I didn’t have the time to . How about you?”

“Me? Just so-so . Fufu, I’ll definitely win this time . ”

Yoo NaYoon glanced at Kim JiMin with a confident expression . Kim JiMin also strained her eyes so as to not lose out .

“Let’s do this then . ”

“Yeah . ”

The two girls burned their fighting spirit .

The recording would begin at 5 in the evening .

The time allocated for the girls and the other cast for today’s recording flew by . After one mock rehearsal and a camera rehearsal, the designated time soon came .

The assistant host that brought up the mood exited the stage and the main host for the program entered the stage .

“Ladies and gentlemen . Welcome to the 14th stage of Birth of the Masterpiece!”

“Oooooh!”

Loud cheers erupted and the recording that would bring a wave to the internet began .