Chapter 191
“h.e.l.lo, everyone? I’m Lee HyunAh from the cla.s.s of ‘06 of the composition department . ”
Lee HyunAh’s crisp voice rang out through the hall and the cheers died down in an instant .
The fact that she was standing on stage for something other than singing pressured her a lot .
The students were all filled with expectation while the professors and the chancellor had the ‘Let’s see what you have to say’ att.i.tude .
‘Fuu . ’
Lee HyunAh sighed briefly to shake off her nervousness and grabbed onto the mic .
“First up, thank you for inviting me to such an honorable place when there are many other seniors in the industry that are better than me . I may be lacking somewhat, but I hope I’ll be able to spend a good time with you today . ”
“Ooooh–!”
The audience replied with applause filled with an expectation of her formal greeting .
KangYoon made a satisfied smile after seeing that Lee HyunAh was no longer nervous anymore .
‘Sheesh, there’s nothing for me to worry about even though she dragged me all the way here . ’
KangYoon chuckled .
It was funny when he thought about it . Lee HyunAh wasn’t someone who would get stage fright anymore after all the stage experience she has .
Although he was asked to come, he felt like a fool for tagging along all the way here .
Lee HyunAh started talking about how she had become a singer amidst the attention of many people .
“…Actually, I never thought that I would become a singer . And that doesn’t mean that I was pa.s.sionate about composing either . If I had to choose something I liked, then it would be singing, I guess . I didn’t want it as a job but as a hobby . It’s funny that I think like this even though I’ve enrolled in college, right? Anyway, I’ve enrolled in the department of composition and ended up joining a small club called ‘Recovery’ . Right now… should be about the 5th gen . Does anyone here belong to Recovery?’
5 people, a mix of men and women, raised their hands from one corner .
Seeing her juniors, Lee HyunAh smiled .
“Oooh, it’s nice to see some of my direct juniors . Should this sister treat you guys to something good after this?”
“Hahahaha . ”
Lee HyunAh’s light joke made the mood lighter .
‘Sheesh, she’s completely made to be on stage . ’
KangYoon put his hands on his chin while chuckling .
Lee HyunAh calmly continued to talk .
She talked about how she met KangYoon, the president of her current company, at the band Recovery; and how she went to the College Pop Festival and got 3rd place . She also talked about how that became a trigger for her to create her own band and that she started activities after that .
The students clapped when she talked about how the band was finally formed after some hardships . They knew how hard it was to form a team .
“Thank you . ”
When Lee HyunAh bowed, people cheered even louder .
The talk continued .
She talked about how she met KangYoon during her activities as an indie band and how she joined World Entertainment . She also provoked the interests of the audience by talking about some of the episodes that took place until now .
All of the audience clapped when she talked about how she went to KangYoon, asking him to accept the entire band .
Lee HyunAh made an awkward smile and spoke .
“…Actually, I was a lucky case . Other than me, there were many people who left their teams to join entertainment companies . It’s a tragedy . I can’t say where, but there was a place that offered me to join them before I went to World . Thankfully, I was able to avoid the tragedy thanks to the president . ”
Lee HyunAh calmly continued .
“Actually, it would be a lie to say that I didn’t want to join a company by myself . However, that worry didn’t last long . My current company allows me to play the music I want to my heart’s content . My juniors, World is awesome . Come to World . ”
“Hahahaha . ”
The students all burst out laughing hearing her promotion .
‘That girl…’
‘*Giggle*’ .
KangYoon abruptly stood up due to her actions while Professor Choi ChanYang grabbed his arm with a smile . The chancellor also laughed .
Lee HyunAh’s story alternated between heavy stories and jokes and neared its end .
“…After we released the OST alb.u.m, we finally entered the major band industry . Thanks to that OST, we’re being called to many places in the country and not just our regular stages . The current Lee HyunAh is living such a life . Phew, I guess that’s all from me . Thank you, everyone . ”
“Waaaa—!”
The students all applauded .
Soon, it became QnA time .
The host thanked Lee HyunAh and started accepting questions from the students .
The first question from a girl seated at the very front .
“h.e.l.lo? My name is Lee JiSol and I’m in my first year in applied music . You told us that you went major from being indie, right?”
“Yes . that’s right . ”
“Then what kind of preparations did you do before you went major?”
The first question was a hard one .
This applied to many students who decided on singing as their career .
Lee HyunAh thought about it for a moment before replying .
“What kind of preparations, huh? I don’t think we did anything special to prepare for our major debut . It’s just that…”
“Just that?”
“We kept playing music without rest . I think that’s the most important part . ”
She pulled out the mic from the stand and walked forward .
“I always stuck to the most basic things . No, it’s not just me, but all the members of the band . We practice every day and perform on stage once a week . We also talked about the songs with the president once in a while . We tried to think up of new things and we stuck to the basic rules in order to sing . I guess that’s my secret . ”
Then, the male student seated next to the girl who questioned just now raised his hand .
“s...o...b..e-nim, from what I know, it’s not easy performing once every week, so what did you do when you had no choice but to not do one?”
“We never skipped out on performing . ”
When Lee HyunAh spoke, some of the students looked shocked .
“We had a venue that belonged to the company . Strictly speaking, we were given a better environment than most other bands . This also led us to not being able to use some of the other places at first… but we never skipped out on performance . Actually, this is mostly thanks to the president . He invested a lot of money to build us our own exclusive venue .
“Wow!”
The students exclaimed when they heard that .
What company would go as far as to make an exclusive venue for a band?
The students looked at Lee HyunAh enviously .
“I met a wonderful person . I’m still thankful for it to this day . ”
Lee HyunAh glanced at KangYoon and gave him a wink .
When KangYoon was at a loss on what to do, professor Choi ChanYang grabbed KangYoon’s arm and spoke .
‘Hahaha, HyunAh usually don’t go to that extent . Looks like you’ve gained her respect . ’
‘…It embarra.s.ses me . ’
KangYoon felt awkward due to all the flattery .
***
Kim JiMin headed to the company after changing her clothes from her school uniform .
‘It’s somewhat not nice to practice at home…’
Since her grandma was resting here, it would be discourteous of her to practice her singing at home .
When she opened the studio and entered, she found that the lights were on . .
“MoonHee-unni?”
“Oh? JiMin-s...o...b..e? h.e.l.lo . ”
There was someone there at the studio . It was In MoonHee, who was adjusting the mixer .
“Unni, it’s really fine if you drop the formalities . ”
Although she was a lot older than Kim JiMin, In MoonHee still called her s...o...b..e .
Kim JiMin felt awkward with someone older than her calling her that .
“No, I should maintain order . ”
“I find it uncomfortable . ”
The two talked about that topic for a long time .
In the end, Kim JiMin won the argument .
It wasn’t a 2-3 year difference, but over a decade, so In MoonHee had nothing to say when Kim JiMin said that she found it uncomfortable .
However, Kim JiMin also couldn’t stop her from calling her ‘s...o...b..e’ .
After a squabble, the younger senior and the older junior started to become closer .
“What are you practicing, unni?”
When Kim JiMin asked that while putting the guitar on the stand, In MoonHee tidied up the score and replied .
“Sir Namhoon gave me an a.s.signment . So I’m practicing that . ”
“Oh really? I was planning to play with you if you had some time… would that be too difficult?”
Kim JiMin pouted in pity while playing her guitar .
“…Should I… play around a little?”
“Yes, unni . Your trot was amazing… I want to listen to it again . ”
Trot was a rare genre these days, and it was even harder to find a singer for the genre .
Kim JiMin had fallen in love with In MoonHee’s voice that she heard during the jam a few days ago .
“What should we do then?”
Just as Kim JiMin was looking through the scores in joy, another guest arrived at the studio .
“Ahju~ssi~~~ . ”
A lady came in looking for someone .
It was Jung MinAh, wearing tightly fitting clothes .
Kim JiMin, who was just about to play, took her hands off the guitar .
“MinAh-unni?”
“Hi there, JiMin… Is ahjussi here?”
“The president?”
Kim JiMin shook her head .
Thinking back, she hadn’t seen him today at all .
“Ah, sheesh . His phone is off as well . Tch, I was looking forward to today…”
He wasn’t at the studio nor at his office .
Jung MinAh frowned .
It was unknown how long her rest period would last . She didn’t want to waste this time, so she was uneasy .
…Just where was this man gone?
At that moment, In MoonHee spoke .
“I heard that the president was going to university today . ”
“U, university?”
Jung MinAh blinked several times in surprise .
In MoonHee added seeing that she was confused .
“I heard yesterday that he would be accompanying HyunAh-s...o...b..e to her university . I heard he would go straight home from there…”
“W, wait a minute . You mean… miss HyunAh?”
Jung MinAh’s eyes sparked .
It was Lee HyunAh of all people? Just why!
Feeling a menacing aura from Jung MinAh, In MoonHee took steps back in fear .
“…What? Wh… why are you like that?”
“…Ugh . ”
Without even realizing that In MoonHee was trembling, Jung MinAh trembled for a moment before leaving the studio .
“S, s...o...b..e . Why is MinAh-s...o...b..e like that?”
“…You’ll find out in a few days . ”
Kim JiMin shook his head .
In MoonHee blinked several times as she did not understand her words .
***
“Thank you for your work . ”
All the events related to ‘Talk to your senior’ were finished after a photoshoot with the juniors .
In front of the hall .
KangYoon greeted the professors of the university as well as the Chancellor .
“Here’s my business card . ”
The chancellor gave KangYoon his business card and KangYoon gave him one as well .
“Thank you for today . I would love to treat you to a meal, but there’s an important meeting taking place…”
“Not at all . Thank you for calling us all the way here . ”
The Chancellor got in a car as soon as he finished talking with KangYoon . He left after saying that he would definitely treat KangYoon to a meal next time .
After all the events were over, KangYoon started walking through the campus along with Lee HyunAh and Professor Choi ChanYang .
“The sunset is beautiful . ”
Professor Choi ChanYang smiled softly while looking at the sky .
“The hill looks nice . ”
Soon, the skies started turning dark .
KangYoon nodded while pointing at the hill where the sun was setting .
Lee HyunAh added .
“Our uni looks the best during sunset . ”
“How about sunrise?”
“…I’ve never been here for that so I don’t know . ”
KangYoon’s question made Lee HyunAh stick out her tongue .
The three of them headed to Professor Choi ChanYang’s office on the hill .
In front of the building, Professor Choi ChanYang spoke .
“Then I’ll be right back . ”
When Professor Choi ChanYang went up to get his stuff, the two of them were left alone on the hill .
KangYoon and Lee HyunAh sat down on a bench .
“You’ve done well today . You looked like a proper s...o...b..e today . ”
“Of course . I’m a graduate now . ”
Lee HyunAh boasted in reply to KangYoon’s joke, and the two giggled .
After that, Lee HyunAh spoke calmly .
“Oppa, thank you . ”
“Huh? For what . ”
“…You know… for everything . ”
She had received an uncountable number of things from him .
Would she still be singing today if KangYoon wasn’t here? A singer? Not to mention that she would have never gotten the courage to go to the College Pop Festival, or show everyone her compositions in the first place .
KangYoon had led her by her side at all the important turns in her life .
“Sheesh . It’s natural for the president to take care of his singers . ”
KangYoon smiled awkwardly and tapped on Lee HyunAh’s shoulders .
At that moment, she suddenly grabbed KangYoon’s hand!
“HyunAh . ”
“…It’s warm . ”
Just as KangYoon was at a loss on what to do, Lee HyunAh turned around to look at KangYoon in the eyes .
“I… like you, oppa . ”
The soft winds shook KangYoon violently .