LIGHTNOVELONLINE Chapter 85
I put the proposal on hold for now.
Well, it’s something that requires a bit of thought to decide on the spot, right?
Of course, Moon Chang-sik mentioned that he needs an answer within a week to proceed with the filming, so it’s not like I have all the time in the world…
For now, I think I should seriously ponder it.
On another note, if I appear on TV, Chief Kim would be thrilled.
Then I’d have nothing to say to my relatives. I’d be stuck between a rock and a hard place.
While mulling over this, I had lunch in the workshop and stepped outside.
Should I just head home like this?
No, I thought it would be worthwhile to consult my friend who ventured into this field first.
With that in mind, I headed straight to Hyeon-su’s Workshop.
It wasn’t a long distance, so I arrived quickly, but I felt a bit anxious.
It just finished lunchtime, I wondered if anyone would be around.
Maybe I should have sent a text before coming?
Well, I didn’t take long to get here, so if the workshop’s door is locked, I could just turn back home.
Alternatively, I could consult someone else.
As I walked along the street, feeling the refreshing breeze despite it being noon, I arrived at the building housing Hyeon-su’s Workshop.
I entered the building, went down to the basement, and pulled the door of the workshop. Thankfully, it opened smoothly.
Great, it means someone is here.
Once inside, I spotted a blonde figure sitting on the sofa.
“Hey.”
“Um? Oh, it’s been a while since you’ve come by?”
It was Slim Gold.
Hyeon-su was sitting on the sofa, jotting down various things in his notebook.
“Where’s everyone else?”
“Nobody’s here today. Everyone had things to attend to.”
“Oh… So you’re still getting work?”
“Of course! They’re all famous folks.”
Well… I knew he was talented, so I figured he might get called up from various places.
I took off my coat and sat on the opposite sofa.
“So you’re all alone today? Speaking of which, what about school?”
I just remembered that it was a weekday.
A senior in high school being in the workshop during the day, huh? Isn’t he supposed to be studying?
“I only have classes in the morning and then I’m out. The school has been accommodating.”
“Oh….”
“Besides, isn’t it more important for me to do this than to study?”
That part was true. If Hyeon-su studies and goes to university, the band musicians who are getting a push now would surely protest.
“Still, you should gather some memories at school; you won’t get your school days back.”
Looking back, the days of spending time without a care in the world were indeed precious.
Yet, the school lunch in front of me felt like it was robbing me of those memories… Tsk tsk, I hope he doesn’t regret it later.
“Even if I want to make memories, the kids treat me a bit awkwardly. They come for signatures and all.”
“Uh…”
Hmm… There’s that issue.
It’s something I can’t fix even if I want to.
So what should I do?
I might as well let it slide.
“When do you plan to release your next song?”
“My next song? I’m just starting to plan, so I’ll probably start working on it soon.”
As expected, being devoted to music, he’s already mapping out his next plan.
“Do you have a concept set for this one?”
Since there was a solid concept last time, I wondered if there was one this time too.
“Well… I have some feelings about various things, so I have to combine them well.”
“Wow… You sound like a pro.”
It would be great if he could also do an original track for Miro with that professional vibe… No, wait. I’m not in a position to ask for anything extra right now.
“So, why did you come by this time? It doesn’t seem like you came just to practice guitar.”
“Hey, do I really need a reason to come?”
“Well, that’s usually the case?”
Sharp! Is it because he started young in the entertainment industry? He doesn’t sound like a typical kid at all.
I can’t believe he’s just two years younger than my cousin, Kim Nam-seok (17).
“Actually, I came because I have a dilemma.”
“A dilemma? You have dilemmas?”
When I mentioned having a dilemma, Hyeon-su looked a bit surprised, his eyes wide with disbelief.
Is this guy for real? Should I sock him one?
“What’s with that expression?”
“No, I thought you lived a life worry-free?”
“Are there really people like that?”
“I thought there were. Until just now.”
Wow, he sure talks smoothly.
It feels like just yesterday when he spilled a drink on me during our first meeting, but now he’s giving me sass.
“Anyway, something happened earlier…”
Since I did come because of my dilemma, I told him about what had transpired back at the workshop.
That led to some talk about new songs, and when he heard that, he looked at me in surprise.
“You’re working on a new song?”
“Ah, it’s just that the song is really good.”
“You would’ve said you’d never do it.”
“Life is full of surprises, you know.”
“Then can I expect you to do a feature with me later?”
A feature? Do I even need one now?
Back then, I couldn’t find anyone, and now it seems like major artists would probably ask me.
“By now, wouldn’t you be able to ask someone better than me?”
I thought it was a reasonable response, but Hyeon-su looked at me like I was crazy.
“There’s no good or bad in singing; it’s all about individual colors.”
Oh… That sounds like something a genius musician would say.
Is Hyeon-su a genius musician? Anyway, that’s a really nice thing to say. I’ll have to remember that for when I’m on broadcast later.
“Really? Well… if you need my color, I could do it a couple of times.”
Since I received a lot of help from Hyeon-su, I’m open to doing him a favor.
If he asks, I would do it.
Unlike before, I’ve also grown while recording new songs with my composer.
“Anyway, enough about the new song. About Moon Chang-sik? Did he suggest a minor role?”
But even though I mentioned Moon Chang-sik, Hyeon-su looked a bit confused. Couldn’t be…
“You don’t know who Moon Chang-sik is?”
“No? Should I?”
Wow.
I’m not the weird one here, huh?
He doesn’t watch TV either, it seems.
Feeling a bit of kinship, I quickly searched for Moon Chang-sik on my phone and showed it to Hyeon-su.
“Here, this is him.”
“Oh… I’ve heard of this movie. He’s a famous person.”
Once Hyeon-su saw the list of movies starring Moon Chang-sik, he finally realized how great he is and was in awe.
“Right? But how come you do all these variety shows yet don’t know Moon Chang-sik?”
“Well, I just go where I’m told and film. And from what I see here, he doesn’t seem to do much variety.”
That’s a bit surprising; don’t actors usually go out and promote their works with every project? Then again, considering Moon Chang-sik’s personality, he seems more inclined to act than to jump on variety shows.
“Really? Don’t actors usually go on variety shows for promotion if they have more projects?”
“Uh, it seems like he does maybe one or two.”
Ah, so even an actor of Moon Chang-sik’s caliber finds variety shows essential for promotion.
“Anyway, so you’re struggling over whether to take on the minor role?”
“Yeah, I feel like it might be a bit too complacent.”
“Well, that’s your choice; it doesn’t seem like complacency to me.”
“Is that so?”
Now that I think about it, maybe I am making a big deal out of nothing.
Is anyone really going to recognize me just for taking a minor role?
Even if it becomes a hot topic, it would probably just circulate online, no one would recognize me in public anyway.
“If it were you, Hyeon-su, would you do it?”
“If it meant my song would get promoted? Honestly, there’s no reason not to. If a leading actor pushed for it, it probably wouldn’t be a bad deal.”
Promotion… promotion.
That reminds me about my new song.
Since the composer is so enthusiastic about marketing, maybe I should also step out and promote it?
In a way, isn’t it my song too? I feel like I shouldn’t be pushing all the responsibility onto the composer.
“Well, think it over a bit more. There really are no choices without regret, you know? Whatever you do, there’ll always be something that feels lacking, so you just try to choose the one that feels less regrettable.”
…But is he really 19?
His words flow smoothly like a river of wisdom.
I don’t remember him being this articulate, but it seems his time on variety has improved his speaking skill.
“I got it. I’ll think it through and let you know once I have an answer.”
In the end, I couldn’t come up with a solid answer at Hyeon-su’s Workshop either.
Hmm… Should I just think about it alone?
With my unresolved dilemma, I returned to my neighborhood, and suddenly remembered one more person.
Speaking of which, what’s Maho up to?
Since her house is nearby, should I drop by?
While all the members of the Celestial Realm Project are generally nice, if I’m burdened with this greedy thought process, someone might end up with a bad mindset, which is why I hadn’t brought it up until now, but with Maho…
She really does love just staying at home.
To be honest, it seems like she lacks ambition.
Living in contentment feels so much like Kim Soo-hyun’s personality, right?
Just a bit gentler, though.
With that thought, I turned my steps toward Maho’s House.
She had said I could drop by anytime, so…
Although she might have just said that casually, she did say it nonetheless.
I went directly to Maho’s studio apartment building and called her from outside the main gate.
[Oh, hello? What’s up?]
“Sis, I’m in front of your house, could you open the gate?”
[Huh??]
Hearing me say I’m at her house, she clearly showed signs of fluster.
Come on, we’re both women; there’s nothing to prepare, right? Just open the door already, please.
“I came because I have a dilemma.”
[You have dilemmas? Wait, more importantly… I’m live on broadcast right now?]
What? Was she live on air?
I should have checked that beforehand, but I totally forgot.
“Um… Is it an important program?”
[It’s not really, just chatting? I’m trying to take a look at some cafés.]
Okay, so that’s how it is…
What a coincidence, chatting on broadcast is kind of Miro’s specialty, isn’t it?
Just what I needed.
“Then let’s do it together! But only if you help me out after it ends.”
I’ll properly bring some entertainment to her broadcast today.
But first, I’ll need her to help me with my dilemma.