Chapter 173

Unni, what is it?

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

Ah, its nothing . It was just too much of a shock that someone that amazing is going to be playing my song . Youll be standing on stage with her, arent you nervous?

Im nervous as well . Im 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 .

Ill 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 .

Didnt I tell you that you can look forward to it?

Indeed, that was the case .

With Gye HyoMins compliment, Park SoYoung loosened a little .

Seeing her satisfied, KangYoon spoke .

Lets pause here and why dont we go out for a meal? They say a full stomach makes everything better .

Fufu, is that so? Then what about the keyboard

Ive readied one already .

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

Wait, werent you going to do the practice at the studio? Im 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 thats why Lunass schedule was empty for today and tomorrow

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

Yes . Its for JiMins 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 .

***

KangYoons house .

Kim JaeHoons 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 . Cant you raise it a little?

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

[What? Isnt this plenty high? This is C5 you know?]

Its lacking a little power . Or just raise the key by one tone . The melody and the rhythm are really good, but I think its lacking a little substance .

Kim JaeHoon expressed his disappointment with the music . However, HeeYoons words from the phone werent that positive about his opinion .

[Being capable of singing high pitch was a standard of skill only in the early 2000s . Its no longer the standard of singing skill anymore . Ill 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 . Its not like Im asking you to switch to a different key .

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

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

Its fine . I did C5 in the last song as well . It will be fine as long as its 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 couldnt take it .

[My brother will definitely say something about this when hes doing the arrangement . I dont want to agree to this]

KangYoon knew of Kim JaeHoons 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 .

Ill tell him that Ill do the rearrangement for this song . He wont be able to help it if the song is finished .

[Oppa, thats not good . Even if you do that . ]

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

Its a digital single anyway . Both JiMin, Eddios, and White Moonlight are doing something, so I should do something on my part as well . Shouldnt I tell the world that theres 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 .

Ill 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 couldnt hide her smile . She was worried that she may have been given a c.r.a.ppy 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 .

Im 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 .

Youre the best, team le, no I guess youre 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 cla.s.sical 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 youll 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 .

Gye HyoMins eyes gleamed . Her hands slowly and softly started to move .

The intro of this song was rather calm . However, her song hit one ba.s.s note before powerfully pressing on with the rest of the music . Then finally, she pressed both ba.s.s 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 suns.h.i.+ne

Kim JiMins note and Gye HyoMins piano intermixed to create white light . However, something else could be seen within the white light .

Thats .

Something similar to grey, but something that s.h.i.+ned .

It was a sign of silver . Seeing that after a long time, KangYoons 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, shes improvising .

Thats right, you rearranged for an orchestra so that shouldnt usually happen, right?

Yes . World cla.s.s 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 JiMins 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 JiMins 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 dont have to be so nervous . Why dont 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 .

Theres nothing much to change . Its 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 dont we have a talk?

It wasnt 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 HyunJis face looked as though she was about to cry .

***

A high-cla.s.s j.a.panese 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 s.h.i.+Myoung of Yerang Entertainment were having a meal together .

Thank you for this one . Ill definitely repay you later .

President Han YoungSook spoke softly as she put down her chopsticks . President Kang s.h.i.+Myoung waved his hand though .

Im 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 relations.h.i.+p with the industry or the teams themselves, it wouldnt 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 doesnt ask me for something too big .

Although she was indebted to him, she didnt want to give up too much in compensation . President Han YoungSook became wary .

Theres nothing good trying to get anything with this . The real deal is World . I have to take Eunha down with Nael . Worlds momentum is too fast .

MG, YoonSeul, Yerang, and finally GNB Entertainment . Kang s.h.i.+Myoung 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 weeks Birth of the Masterpiece .

So I hear . This Eunha is an obstacle wherever we go . Every single time, shes

President Han YoungSook shook her head .

Eunha the singer . She was an existence that blocked Naels path ever since the two debuted, and she didnt like this a lot .

Feeling a change in her mood, president Kang s.h.i.+Myoung 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 wont be losing out either . Although we were defeated unknowingly when the two girls debuted, it will be different this time . Youre 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 s.h.i.+Myoung laughed heartily . However, he felt something tugging at his heart .

I dont 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 YoungSooks 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, Im 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 SoYoungs palms were sweaty as she watched all of Kim JiMins 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 ones 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 TVs 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 todays 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 gla.s.ses that hid his sharp eyes .

Welcome, Miss Eunha . You too, president .

h.e.l.lo, 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 youve done for us .

Thank you . For the rehearsal, we can just push it over to one side, but we cant do that for the real thing . Once the stage is over, Ill 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 .

h.e.l.lo, president KangYoon . Oh, JiMin!

NaYOon!

Yoo NaYoon greeted KangYoon with a bow before grabbing Kim JiMins hands cheerfully . Although they were going to be competing today, the two atmosphere between the two wasnt bad at all .

JiMin, have you prepared a lot?

I didnt have the time to . How about you?

Me? Just so-so . Fufu, Ill 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 .

Lets 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 todays recording flew by . After one mock rehearsal and a camera rehearsal, the designated time soon came .

The a.s.sistant 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 .