Chapter 204. Graduation Ceremony, A Renewed Heart (1)

The Olympic Sports Complex was one of the biggest indoor sports facilities in Korea.
It had 20,000 seats, was sufficiently wide for a concert, and the facilities were evenly spaced out through the building so it was loved by many singers.
However, it had been a long time since it was built, so the acoustics weren’t that great, and there was also the matter of light bleed as well.
Despite all these disadvantages, it was a place beloved by many singers for holding concerts.

“It’s been a long time since I last stood here.”

Kim JaeHoon was standing on the floor beneath the stage and exclaimed as though he was joyful.
Behind him, Lee HyunJi, smiling awkwardly, felt apologetic.

“We wanted to do a concert in the Multipurpose Hall of the Central World Cup Stadium, but that was fully reserved.”
“I don’t really mind the place. I really like it.”

He had heard from KangYoon that he had contracted all the subcontractors for the concert before he went to America.
Since he had prepared meticulously as well, what was remaining was whether the tickets for the concert would sell out or not.

“So the ticketing begins in a few days.”
“…..”

Kim JaeHoon gulped in nervousness when Lee HyunJi said that.
How many people would come and listen to his songs?
This wasn’t only a matter of profit. His pride as a singer was on the line as well.
Seeing him so stiff, Lee HyunJi tried to calm him down.

“Mr. JaeHoon. It will go well. don’t worry. You don’t need to be so nervous about it.”
“Hahaha. Okay.”

Kim JaeHoon nodded his head while feeling the warmth of Lee HyunJi’s hand on his back.

***

“Do you need anything else?”

A pretty stewardess asked KangYoon at the bar lounge, but he shook his head saying that it was okay.

“It’s fine. Thanks for telling me.”

This was the first time in KangYoon’s life that he was using a first-class seat in a plane so he asked the stewardess some questions, and she answered like a professional.
Just as when KangYoon was about to turn around and go back to his seat, the stewardess carefully asked KangYoon.

“Uhm…”
“Is there anything you need?”
“Uhm… I’m sorry, but can I ask you for an autograph?”
“Okay. Do you have any paper?”

KangYoon took out a pen from his chest pocket, but she didn’t have a paper on hand. KangYoon contemplated a little before taking out a business card from his wallet and signed his name there before giving it to her.

“…Thank you.”

Receiving the autograph, the stewardess’s eyes shone.
This was an incredible gain.
Regardless, KangYoon smiled as he spoke.

“Then, best of luck with your job.”

After the conversation, KangYoon returned to his seat.
However, just as he sat down, JooAh started poking at him.

“Hey.”
“What is it?”
“Ugh.”

KangYoon didn’t understand why JooAh was doing this.
Was giving an autograph something bad?
KangYoon titled his head.

“Is it because of the autograph? The business card was because there was no paper.”
“I know that, but… *sigh*, you’re clueless when it comes to things like this.”
“What do you mean?”

Clueless?
KangYoon blinked several times dumbfoundedly, but JooAh did not answer.

“Something like that.”

JooAh did not mention that the stewardess with KangYoon’s business card was taking glances at him.

‘Doesn’t he know that men that fly first class seats give business cards to stewardesses they’ve taken a liking to?’

From the look of that stewardess, she was definitely on cloud nine.

‘If JinSeo found out… urgh.’

Just as JooAh shivered, KangYoon spoke in a nonchalant voice.

“It’s the company business card.”
“What was that?”
“That business card doesn’t have my personal number. It’s just a business card that only contains the company number.”

Only then did JooAh nod in acceptance.
Experiencing a few hiccups midway, the flight safely arrived at the airport.
KangYoon and JooAh quickly went through customs and stepped on American land.
HeeYoon naturally came to meet the two, and after a brief greeting, JooAh left saying that she had some business to attend to in MG Entertainment’s American branch.
KangYoon headed to HeeYoon’s house with a rental car.
Inside the car, HeeYoon talked to KangYoon about a lot of things joyfully. She talked about her college life as well as the songs, and KangYoon reacted to her suitably here and there.

“…So Reina has started her activities for real.”

KangYoon’s eyes widened when he heard about one of HeeYoon’s friends, Reina.”

“She’s still a minor role actor. But she did also say that she was rising fast. Apparently, it would usually take more than four years to get a minor character role.”
“Reina should do well.”
“Right?”

KangYoon thought back to Reina from when she visited Korea with HeeYoon.
She had both the talent for singing and acting. Moreover, she was hardworking as well.
He believed that she was more than talented enough to become big.
He stepped on the brakes as he approached the traffic lights that had turned red.

“Reina sometimes talks about you. She wants to see you in Korea once she becomes big.”
“Really? But how big is ‘big’?”
“Hmm… A main role at the Broadway Musical?”
“Then I guess I’ll have to wait ten years at least.”
“Really?”

KangYoon accelerated after the lights turned green.
After driving for quite a long time, the two arrived at HeeYoon’s house.
Parking the car outside the house, KangYoon entered the house and unpacked his luggage.

“…Yes. Alright. Please take care of the company.”

After calling Lee HyunJi, KangYoon lied down on the sofa.

‘Looks like I should hurry with JaeHoon’s concert once I get back. The special equipment team seemed worrying.’

Fatigue overwhelmed him due to jet lag.
However, even though he had closed his eyes, thoughts about Kim JaeHoon’s concert swirled in his mind.
Thinking about how he put less effort into his concert due to the matters with Hidden Catch, the thoughts about the concert didn’t leave his mind.

‘That space needs special attention to acoustics. I’ll only be able to produce a good sound if I invest two days of time into acoustics at least. Also…’

***

“Take — me away–”
“Zzz…”

The sound of a knife hitting the chopping board as well as a beautiful voice woke KangYoon up.

“How– was — your day–”
“Your day—”

He heard familiar voices.
KangYoon opened his eyes hearing the familiar voice.

‘Hm?’

When he did, he saw two ladies with aprons on, HeeYoon and JooAh.
Doenjang-jjigae was boiling on the stove, while HeeYoon was chopping spring onions on the chopping board.
The notes the two girls created were producing bright white light.

‘How nice.’

The refreshing sensation from the white light made KangYoon wake up.
Feeling movement behind her, HeeYoon turned around to see him.

“Huh? Oppa, you woke up?”
“Uh, yeah. JooAh’s here?”
“Sure I’m here. I’m going to sleep here as well.”
“…Fine.”

Since they were going to sleep in separate rooms, KangYoon allowed it.
Dinner was a doenjang-jjigae meal.
Giving JooAh, who was eating gluttonously, some water, HeeYoon showed off her maturity.
When their bowls of rice were almost empty, JooAh sighed with a serious expression.

“Oppa, can I ask you for a favor?”
“Is it the one you talked about last time?”
“…Yeah.”

JooAh didn’t mention her ‘favor’ during the flight either.
A favor that required a first-class plane ticket?
KangYoon waited for her words with a likewise serious expression.
After hesitating a little, JooAh started speaking with a stiff expression.

“…I’m going to audition for Unite Music.”
“Unite Music?”

KangYoon’s eyes widened.
Unite Music was a colossal entertainment company in America. It was one of the top four. They were a huge capital in the music market.

“I sent them a video of me half a year ago, and I was contacted a while back. They asked me whether I’m willing to participate in an audition.”
“So you grabbed the opportunity. Congratulations.”
“Yes, and so…”

JooAh paused for a moment before speaking with a firm tone.

“Can you watch me practice tomorrow? You know, everyone does it better when you watch them.”

KangYoon’s eyes shook at JooAh’s words.
She didn’t know that KangYoon’s ability to see musical notes, but she was aware that KangYoon brought out the best of any artist.
Not seeming to notice his surprise, JooAh grabbed KangYoon’s hands desperately.

“Oppa…”

KangYoon sighed briefly.
She was practically saying that she wanted to succeed going to America, which they had failed last time.

‘It’s not that I don’t know her skills, but…’

In Korea, JooAh was the first one that came to mind when it came to dancing. Her dance just had that much charm.
However, would her dances work in America as well?

‘Silver? No, as an east-Asian, it needs to be gold at least.’

That much was necessary in order to bridge the cultural gap and the bias that stemmed from it.
KangYoon believed so.

“When’s the audition?”
“In two days.”

There wasn’t long left either.
KangYoon clutched his forehead.

“…You should have told me beforehand.”
“The thing is… I tried to, but both you and I were busy. At first, I thought about doing it on my own, but no matter how hard I thought about it, I don’t think I could make it by myself. Hehe, I’m sorry.”

JooAh stuck out her tongue in embarrassment.
She looked very cute, but he had plans tomorrow.

“Things aren’t looking good.”
“…Yeah, a little.”
“I don’t think I can help you…”

Hearing that, JooAh’s eyes widened.

“…What?”
“I have an important meeting tomorrow. There’s a company I have a meeting with due to some stage equipment tomorrow.”
“Ah, okay…”

JooAh’s shoulders lowered in dejection.
KangYoon couldn’t hide his sorry feelings either.

“I’m sorry, but I think you’ll have to try this audition on your own this time.”
“…Really? I guess there’s no helping it.”

If she knew this was going to happen, she had to mention it beforehand.
JooAh regretted it. Hesitation led to this result.
Despite that, she did not make a big deal out of it.

“I guess I can’t help it. Haha.”
“I’m sorry, there’s the flight as well….”
“That’s fine. We aren’t strangers.”

JooAh waved her hand.
No one rejected anything she said. Although it had become strange, even MG Entertainment listened to her words.
However, KangYoon was…

“HeeYoon. I’m going to sleep first.”
“Okay. I’ve laid the mattress out for you.”

Dejected, JooAh left her food, and dejectedly walked into the room.
HeeYoon spoke to KangYoon after the two of them were left.

“Can’t you help her after your meeting?”
“This meeting will be a long one. Also, it won’t be easy for JooAh to get accepted in the audition.”
“What?”

HeeYoon asked back as though KangYoon was speaking nonsense, but KangYoon shook his head.

“Cultural barriers are frightening. It’s incredibly thick and tall. As an east-Asian, the only thing that would work is overwhelming skills. Of course, JooAh indeed has incredible skills, but I don’t think…”
“You don’t think?”
“I don’t think she’s at the point where she could overcome that cultural difference. To be exact, her dancing skills alone should be fine, but it won’t be easy due to other physical factors. Her body figure, her atmosphere as well as her origins, etc. There are a lot of barriers she has to overcome. To win against people from America, only overwhelming skill could bridge that gap.”
“Oh…”

Only then did HeeYoon accept KangYoon’s words.
She looked at the door JooAh just went in with pitying eyes.

***

Two days later.

[Then we’ll call you later.]
[Thank you.]

JooAh, who had danced in front of a white man who was twice, no three times as big as her, left Unite Music with sweat all over her body.

‘I knew it, but it’s still hard.’

Although he said that they’ll call her later, his expression was full of disappointment.
She couldn’t forget the expression when he was surprised about her small stature, and when he smiled bitterly saying that she seemed to lack energy when she was dancing.
JooAh collapsed onto a sofa in the lobby of Unite Music.

“Dammit!”

Her loud cursing made the people around look at her with weird gazes, but she didn’t care.
The disappointment of having missed a great opportunity didn’t go away easily.

‘Let’s go…’

She was about to return after staring blankly for a long time, but just as she was about to, her phone started ringing.

“…Yes, oppa.”

It was a call from KangYoon.
Unlike before, she accepted the call with a rather awkward voice.

– How did the audition go?

JooAh didn’t want to say that she failed.
She wanted to boldly say that she could pass without KangYoon’s help.

“Of course I did well. Who do you think I…”
– Really?
“……”

Silence pervaded the call for a long time.
I know it already. Be honest about it.
The silence seemed to say those words.
After the period of silence, JooAh snapped.

“Yeah, I failed. I failed, okay? Do you feel good now? Huh?”
– ……
“Why can’t you just let me be… is that so hard to do? You evil…”

JooAh sobbed.
He should’ve helped if he knew it was going to be like this. Just why…
Just as she was about to vent all of her frustration at him, a calm voice sounded over the phone.

– There’s another audition. How is it, wanna do it?
“An au…dition?”

JooAh stopped.

– Do you know who Carrie Cloudia is?
“Carrie Cloudia?”
– It’s an audition looking for her partner… how is it? Wanna do it?

A super popular singer who was ranked 5th on the Billboard Charts, that’s who Carrie Cloudia was. JooAh’s eyes started shaking.