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 extremely strong fandom? No.

Does she have high name value? No.

Has she already swept the charts before as a music powerhouse? No.

Most others rise gradually, riding on word of mouth.

Or, sometimes, a sudden boost from variety shows or other external factors.

Some even just set their sights on entering the chart at all.

It’s the same 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 home.

I grabbed a taxi without a second thought.

After the stage,

I couldn’t remember 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 me with her eyes, I waved back.

I mechanically shook the lightstick, mimicking the gestures of the other fans.

‘What else was there?’

Ah, this I remember vividly.

During the final Q&A, when she looked at me and said, “It’s thanks to the composers who gave me 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 time.

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 me.”

“I did turn them off. I came 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 menace, wearing that mischievous grin.

Ever since he found out Sierra’s DJ Blackhole was me,

he teased me 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 something important today.”

“Hey, hey, sit down for a sec.”

Pouring me some juice he’d bought, hyung asked,

“Don’t tell me 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 me 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 me 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 me to look forward to it. Then of course it’s . And…”

“Yeah.”

“You’re the one who made Lunatic Beat. I knew the moment 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 me these days? Do I look like someone you want to yell at?

As if he couldn’t hold back, Hyung fired off words in rapid succession.

“On my way home, 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 come home. 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 comeback 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 comeback at the same time as Han Yujin was probably a calculated move.

Lee Hyoeun was a singer armed from head to toe with sexiness and allure.

“They timed it on purpose to match Han Yujin’s comeback.”

“Because they thought Han Yujin would flop again this time?”

“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 volume, 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 assumed 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.”

“Something called ‘fatal’ or whatever. No one expected Han Yujin to bring out something 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 Entertainment immediately, how he was dying from overwork, how working with certain people again would make him less than human—

But he was someone who treasured his company’s artists and songs more than anyone.

After all, you can only swear about something 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, come 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 Entertainment?”

It was one of the Big 3 agencies.

If they had accurately assessed Han Yujin and rolled out a competing artist, that meant they had confidence.

Hyung replied simply,

“Gloomy faces.”

Then he added,

“Get this— even the chairman came down in person.”

“To tell them to find a better song?”

“No. To tell them to grab Writer STaY immediately. To track them down and bring them right to his office no matter what. That’s why no one can go home— they’re all wracking their brains.”

“How did you get off work then?”

“Me? I said I was meeting Blackhole, and they told me to go quick. What? Why are you looking at me like that? Did I lie? I’m meeting him right now.”

Fair enough.

“Blackhole and STaY are the same 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 me like that?

“Nope. Even if you look at me 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 some 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 me? I may not look it, but I’m pretty good at guessing rankings.”

“…Really?”

“Yeah. I watch every time a new album comes 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 medley views.

“There’s a pattern. The reaction and the ranking usually match. At this rate, it’s worth expecting something 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 time 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 me 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 times.

I waited in silence for the chart update time to come.

The moment the living room’s LED clock hit the exact update time, 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 moment, but now…

A wave of emptiness hit me.

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 me?”

“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 me 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 meditate when—

“Uwaaaah!”

What now?

Hyung yelled again.

“Quiet. I’m meditating.”

“To hell with meditating. 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-time chart was open on the screen.

[Maron Real-Time 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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