Chapter 34: A Guy Who Does What He Says
Climbing the music charts.
In K-pop culture, the term “climbing” is often used to describe a song’s rise in the charts.
It’s because they see the No. 1 spot as the peak.
Moreover, you have to push past already “proven” songs that have staked out the top spots.
It’s no easy feat.
“This is…”
“What’s wrong?”
“The climbing speed is insane.”
“This isn’t climbing.”
“Then what is it?”
“It’s an entrance.”
Naturally, I expected Han Yujin’s album to climb the charts slowly.
That was only natural.
Does she have an extrely strong fandom? No.
Does she have high na value? No.
Has she already swept the charts before as a music powerhouse? No.
Most others rise gradually, riding on word of mouth.
Or, sotis, a sudden boost from variety shows or other external factors.
So even just set their sights on entering the chart at all.
It’s the sa even with a major agency backing you.
But…
“I’m finally seeing hallucinations…”
“Yujin, get a hold of yourself. Open your eyes!”
“This must be… a dream. A fleeting dream. I just want to live inside it.”
There are always outliers who smash existing rules.
No one thought that would be Han Yujin.
After the showcase ended,
I skipped the afterparty and went straight ho.
I grabbed a taxi without a second thought.
After the stage,
I couldn’t rember a single thing about how the second and third songs went.
Because the image of everyone singing my song in unison was playing on an infinite loop in my head!
Every now and then, when Han Yujin smiled and greeted with her eyes, I waved back.
I chanically shook the lightstick, mimicking the gestures of the other fans.
‘What else was there?’
Ah, this I rember vividly.
During the final Q&A, when she looked at and said, “It’s thanks to the composers who gave the perfect-fitting songs, and to the staff who always work hard behind the scenes.”
…And I’m one of them.
A faint smile slipped out.
I just wanted to hear the other songs properly, so I was waiting for the release ti.
Beep beep beep beep.
The sound of the door lock.
It was hyung.
“I told you to turn the lights off when you leave for work… Whoa! You scared .”
“I did turn them off. I ca back and turned them on again.”
“DJ Teacher, you’re not going to work today? Hold the beat!”
“Ah, seriously.”
I shot up from the sofa.
Hyung scrunched up his face in mock nace, wearing that mischievous grin.
Ever since he found out Sierra’s DJ Blackhole was ,
he teased every chance he got with “Hold the beat, hold the beat.”
Well… I didn’t mind. That’s just how hyung was.
“You’re not going to work?”
“I’ve got sothing important today.”
“Hey, hey, sit down for a sec.”
Pouring so juice he’d bought, hyung asked,
“Don’t tell you’re… actually waiting for Han Yujin’s music release?”
I’d been itching to talk about it.
Thinking this was perfect, I answered,
“Yeah, that’s right.”
Then hyung looked straight at and asked again,
“One, two, or three?”
“Huh?”
“The song you made.”
There was no reason to hide it anymore.
“Well, that’s the thing—”
“No, shh. Zip it.”
Just as I was about to answer confidently, hyung swiftly cut off.
“Mind if I guess?”
“Go ahead.”
Hyung answered.
“Number 1.”
“…Why do you think that?”
Even with my surprise, Hyung replied calmly.
“Because it was the best.”
“Really?”
“Seo Taeyoon, you’re the kind of guy who does what he says. You said you’d make a splash, told to look forward to it. Then of course it’s . And…”
“Yeah.”
“You’re the one who made Lunatic Beat. I knew the mont I heard it.”
“Knew it.”
Right. Hyung had a sharp ear.
We’d grown up listening to music together for years.
It was only natural he could pinpoint my taste and style like a sniper. I was just nodding at the thought when Hyung suddenly yelled.
“Seo Taeyoon! Taeyoon! You really went and made a huge splash!”
“Ah, what the— so sudden.”
Why was everyone yelling whenever they saw these days? Do I look like soone you want to yell at?
As if he couldn’t hold back, Hyung fired off words in rapid succession.
“On my way ho, I thought I’d go crazy. I wasn’t even supposed to get off work today, but I made up all kinds of excuses just to co ho. Good thing I’ve been earning points lately, otherwise I’d be stuck there with the rest of my team. The whole company’s in chaos. And it’s not just us.”
“Why?”
“Ugh, you dense thing. Why else? Because of Han Yujin’s showcase. More precisely, your song.”
“The response was good.”
“You went?”
“Yeah.”
“How was it?”
“It was amazing.”
Was I supposed to say more?
I rubbed the back of my neck, embarrassed, while Hyung reloaded his motor mouth.
“You know Lee Hyoeun’s making a coback next week, right?”
I nodded.
Lee Hyoeun.
She had transitioned from a popular girl group to a solo artist.
You could say she had a similar position to Han Yujin.
The difference was, every release Lee Hyoeun put out was a massive hit, while Han Yujin’s first single… well…
Anyway.
Having her coback at the sa ti as Han Yujin was probably a calculated move.
Lee Hyoeun was a singer ard from head to toe with sexiness and allure.
“They tid it on purpose to match Han Yujin’s coback.”
“Because they thought Han Yujin would flop again this ti?”
“It’s rude to put it that way… but honestly, the comparison’s just not there. Lee Hyoeun’s already established, and Han Yujin…”
“And Han Yujin what.”
“They expected her to miss the mark again.”
“Why? How? Seriously.”
I shouted back loudly.
If it’s about volu, I’ve got confidence too.
“Let’s stick to facts. That’s how it’s been so far. People saying, ‘The song’s good, she’s changed.’ Just lots of rumors, but everyone assud it was the usual buzz marketing. You never know until you actually open the lid, right?”
Not wrong.
“But… after the showcase, the atmosphere completely flipped.”
“How?”
It’s not like anyone was listening in, but—
Hyung leaned in and whispered.
“They’re saying sexiness can’t even hold up a business card now.”
“Huh.”
“Sothing called ‘fatal’ or whatever. No one expected Han Yujin to bring out sothing new like that. It’s killer. The song, the concept— all of it.”
How should I put it… Hyung was oddly restrained today.
Usually, he’d rant about quitting Tomorrow Entertainnt imdiately, how he was dying from overwork, how working with certain people again would make him less than human—
But he was soone who treasured his company’s artists and songs more than anyone.
After all, you can only swear about sothing if you care about it.
“Phew… it stings, it really stings…”
Hyung gulped down the juice and set the cup down with a clack.
Then, just like before, he grinned and patted my back hard.
“Thinking that my little brother wrote that song… it just feels… damn good.”
“Ah, co on.”
“It’s a thing. You don’t know how much Lee Hyoeun’s grilled people… No, she’s good, really good— but now she’s no match for Han Yujin.”
Now I was curious.
I cautiously asked,
“How’s the reaction over at Tomorrow Entertainnt?”
It was one of the Big 3 agencies.
If they had accurately assessed Han Yujin and rolled out a competing artist, that ant they had confidence.
Hyung replied simply,
“Gloomy faces.”
Then he added,
“Get this— even the chairman ca down in person.”
“To tell them to find a better song?”
“No. To tell them to grab Writer STaY imdiately. To track them down and bring them right to his office no matter what. That’s why no one can go ho— they’re all wracking their brains.”
“How did you get off work then?”
“? I said I was eting Blackhole, and they told to go quick. What? Why are you looking at like that? Did I lie? I’m eting him right now.”
Fair enough.
“Blackhole and STaY are the sa person. And on top of that, it’s my little brother. Wow… I’m losing my mind here.”
Hyung’s eyes were strange.
Why was he looking at like that?
“Nope. Even if you look at like that, I’m not signing any contracts. Go back to work.”
“Are you crazy? I’m just proud, that’s all.”
“I don’t think this is worth such a fuss.”
“Fuss or not— once the song’s released, people will be screaming, jumping, going nuts. I guarantee you it’ll make the Top 20 at least.”
“Eh, no way.”
The song, the performance, the music video—
Everything had turned out great. Perfect.
Still, you have to look at reality straight on.
Once it’s released, charting is a given, but Top 20? That might be tough.
Above the Top 20 are so very formidable singers.
Recently, a lot of new albums from famous idols had been released, and plenty of songs were already locked in place on the charts with Christmas carols for the year-end season.
Don’t drink kimchi soup before it’s served—don’t get carried away and overestimate because of the mood. That was my creed.
“Don’t you know ? I may not look it, but I’m pretty good at guessing rankings.”
“…Really?”
“Yeah. I watch every ti a new album cos out. Think about how many I’ve seen.”
“That’s true.”
New albums pouring out by the dozens each day.
Hyung kept track daily of things like showcase reactions and highlight dley views.
“There’s a pattern. The reaction and the ranking usually match. At this rate, it’s worth expecting sothing from Han Yujin. At least Top 20. This is based on thorough statistics. The company’s watching, too.”
“You sure?”
“I get one wrong out of ten. Most of the ti I’m close enough. Han Yujin’s first album was a bit disappointing… It’s a relief her second one’s doing well.”
Just hearing that made feel good, seriously.
“Seo Taeyoon, your nose is flaring, isn’t it? You’re really happy, aren’t you? You rascal. I’m going to wash up. Let’s check right at the first chart update.”
He patted my back again and went into his room.
And so, the music was released, and I replayed the music video several tis.
I waited in silence for the chart update ti to co.
The mont the living room’s LED clock hit the exact update ti, I hit refresh.
But contrary to Hyung’s bold declaration—
“…It’s not there.”
“That can’t be.”
was nowhere to be seen.
Feeling tense, I scanned the chart slowly upward from 100th place.
Track No. 2, , was at 68th. Track No. 3, , was at 22nd.
Drumroll…
“…Nope.”
Even when I went up to 20th, to 10th place, it wasn’t there.
I’d been sitting like a stone waiting for this mont, but now…
A wave of emptiness hit .
My shoulders drooped.
I was uneasy.
I had been hoping against hope.
But facing reality made my mouth taste bitter.
“Hmph. Out of ten, this had to be the one I got wrong. I’m really sorry!”
“Why are you sorry, Hyung?”
“It’ll climb slowly soon enough. Just wait. What about the other songs?”
“They’re in.”
“What? was definitely the best one. It’s the title track, too.”
Hyung shook out his wet hair and grabbed his smartphone.
“Hey, shake your hair over there.”
“What, why are you snapping at ?”
“I’m not snapping.”
“Our Seo Taeyoon got fish eyes, huh? You thought you’d be full from the first bite, huh?”
Even knowing he was joking to cheer up, I kept snapping back.
I let out a deep sigh and put my phone down.
I needed to center myself.
I was about to close my eyes and ditate when—
“Uwaaaah!”
What now?
Hyung yelled again.
“Quiet. I’m ditating.”
“To hell with ditating. You didn’t check properly?”
He hooked both index fingers under my eyelids and yanked them up.
“Ah, stop that!”
“How far did you check?”
“I dunno, I just scrolled up and stopped.”
“Has this ever happened before? Right now…”
“What is it? Why are you being like this?”
With a trembling voice, Hyung drove the nail in.
“Han Yujin, . She’s in first place right now.”
My eyes flew open.
I snatched his phone.
The Maron real-ti chart was open on the screen.
[Maron Real-Ti Chart]
SUPER RIDE – Han Yujin new
“…It’s real. It’s real.”
I blinked down at the phone, unable to look away.
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