God of Music Chapter 135

(T/N: According to a website, producer ranks goes as follows: CP (Chief producer) – PD (producer/program director) – AD (assistant director). So, a producer is higher than an assistant director… in this story anyway.)

Behind the stage, as the program recording was in progress, KangYoon ran into producer Jung GwangJin of Music Camp. He grumbled as soon as he saw KangYoon.

"It's the first time we had to set up all instruments like this ever since I became in charge of Music Camp."
"I very much appreciate your efforts, producer."
"Well, it's about giving and taking anyway."
"Yes, of course."

Producer Jung GwangJin left behind a very abstract line at the end. He implied that KangYoon should help him back out if today's matters went well. This couldn't be helped as various artists belonging to big companies had very stubborn attitudes.

"Over there! What's that box!"

Walking away, producer Jung GwangJin shouted at an assistant director.
The backstage was very busy.
There was now 10 minutes until Kim JiMin's debut stage.
KangYoon had a look at the order of contents just to final check on things. He even went up on the stage where the rehearsal had taken place.
He was coming down the stage when one lady approached him.

"KangYoon-oppa."

It was Ji HyunJung, the main vocalist of DiaTeen. KangYoon waved his hand.

"HyunJung. It's been a while."
"Hello? It has been a long time. How have you been?"
"I'm doing okay. Are you here for Music Camp today?"

Unlike Ji HyunJung's cheerful expression, KangYoon slightly panicked upon seeing the main vocalist of DiaTeen. From what he knew, DiaTeen should be in their resting period after a period of activities. He was worried that president Choo ManJi pulled some strings somewhere.
However, contrary to what KangYoon thought, Ji HyunJung's presence here had nothing to do with Music Camp.

"I was here for a radio recording, so I'm just visiting by."
"Oh, really?"

When KangYoon sighed in relief, Ji HyunJung giggled.

"Oppa, you were relieved right now, weren't you?"
"Yeah. DiaTeen appearing today would've given me an endless headache."
"I felt this last time, but you're really honest, oppa. Don't worry. I don't think we'll do any activities in Korea for the foreseeable future. The company wants us to go overseas rather than stay."
"That's good news for us."
"Hm? You're already acting like an enemy because Eddios is with you?"

Seeing KangYoon joking with her, Ji HyunJung raised her eyebrows a little. DiaTeen and KangYoon had gotten closer while they were working on the album. Of course, work was another matter altogether.

– Miss Nael, please get ready.

He was talking with Ji HyungJung when he heard a broadcast.

"Huh? Isn't she the girl from GNB?"
"Yeah."
"That sounds fun. Looks like I was right to come here today."

When Yoo NaYoon and the back dancers stepped onto the stage, Ji HyunJung stood next to KangYoon with an expression full of curiosity. She looked like a girl that had found an interesting toy.

"Aren't you going to be late for your next schedule?"
"I'm watching a future competitor, aren't I? The president won't say much about it."
"You are quite easy-going yourself, aren't you?"

KangYoon clicked his tongue, but Ji HyungJung only stuck out her tongue coyly.
The two directed their eyes to the stage. The stage seemed ready as the lights went off and the audience started cheering.

"Without a sound – your eyes look at me – I whisper no –"

Yoo NaYoon's voice was very clear and crisp. At the same time, she showed a very powerful performance dance with the dancers on stage. The semi-cropped T-shirt of hers gave a glimpse of her belly here and there, and her sexy waistline emphasized her dance.
KangYoon's eyes were also filled with white light. The snappy performance was very welcomed by the audience.

"She's really good at dancing."
"You're right."

The two exchanged opinions. Yoo NaYoon, on the stage, was flying with a little exaggeration.
Like that, the first song ended. The second song was somewhat softer than the first one.
The first one was themed around powerful popping moves, and the second had more of the feminine sexy beauty.
Yoo NaYoon's performance livened up the mood as time passed. Her long legs and thin waistline caught the eyes of the male audience immediately, and the synchronized dance with the back dancers was flawless.

'Amazing.'

KangYoon couldn't help but admit. The performance was giving out a very strong white light. The white light shrouded the stage and from some time onwards, Ji HyunJung next to him was looking at the stage slack-jawed.
When the song entered its peak, there was a solo part at the center of the stage. Yoo NaYoon suddenly snapped her body and showed a popping dance. The stage lights focused on her, and the various stage devices changed accordingly as well.

"She's not bad."

Although Ji HyunJung said that with a bland tone, she was actually feeling very competitive right now. This newbie's stage had some impact. This Nael's title song 'Trouble' had her very own distinct color to it. It attracted eyes with ample exposure and caught the ears with a catchy song.

'The big companies sure are different alright.'

KangYoon was very surprised. This felt like her company had invested properly in a person with plenty of talent. The company would invest in her more in the future, and it was likely that she would make it big.
However, that wasn't all of his opinions.

'JiMin is not to be looked down upon either.'

KangYoon was sure. Kim JiMin had prepared a lot as well. There was no reason for her to perform any lesser than the one on stage right now. No, in fact, he was confident that JiMin was superior.
Eventually, Nael's debut stage ended and it became Kim JiMin's turn.
Kim JiMin was guided by the assistant director to the stage and she stepped onto the stage with a nervous expression. On the stage, the other instruments and their owners were already set up and were waiting for the start signal.

"Please take care of me."

Before she started, Kim JiMin turned around and bowed towards the instrument session. Although they had rehearsed together, she was even more nervous now that she was on stage.
The instrument players waved their hands.

'This girl is very polite.'
'Let's do this.'

The instrument players looked at each other and smiled. As they had a lot of experience, this kind of stage was daily life to them.

"It's starting!"

Along with the producer's signal, Kim JiMin put her hands on the guitar and closed her eyes. The cool sensation from the strings cleared her mind.
The lights dimmed and the audience's whispers started to die down. The moments of practice she had until now flashed by in her mind.
4, 3, 2, 1.
Along with a light drum sound, Kim JiMin started playing the guitar. At the same time, she put her mouth against the mic.

(T/N: I thought they weren't going to do the guitar…)

"You approached me and whispered in my ears — is this a sweet dream –"

Her plentiful singing voice shrouded the stage. At the same time, the notes dancing on stage started to create one light.

'Nice start.'

It began with white light. However, it wasn't that strong. However, KangYoon believed that this was fine since this song wasn't given much emphasis in the introductory bits.

"I still shy away – but when I see you – my heart flutters still –"

Kim JiMin played some advanced skills on the guitar and sang without trouble while doing that. At the same time, other sounds started being added into the mix. The drums joined with rimshots, while the bass and the synthesizer joined with string sounds.
At the same time, the various notes on the stage started making a strong light.

"Oooh!"

Even though the audience had just seen a powerful rookie's debut stage just before, they were immersed in this song nonetheless. Some fans that had joined the audience seats for some other group, as well as some lucky civilians that had gained tickets started being swayed by the mood.
Along with two taps on the small tom toms from the drum, the instruments came to a sudden halt.
Then, the instruments all burst out again after a slide from the bass.

"Happy Day — let us dream together — I wish –"

The electric guitar also added a little distortion to its sound to bring up the mood, and Kim JiMin also raised her voice as well.
With that, the white light became a lot stronger.

'Good.'

KangYoon had a faint smile on his face. Although she just had her debut, she had already conquered the stage.

"The dream of the two of us — Happy Day –"
"Waaaaaaaaa!!"

After the 1st verse, the audience all stood up and started shouting Eun-ha repeatedly.
Unlike the time with Eddios, KangYoon was unable to create a fandom before the debut, so this was an unexpected situation for him. Some of them would then go on to become Kim JiMin's fans – he thought.
Ji HyunJung looked at KangYoon with an even more surprised expression than when she watched Yoo NaYoon's stage.

"Whoa, Nael's a babe compared to her. She's a total freak!"
"Hey, don't call a girl a freak."

KangYoon lightly told her off, but Ji HyunJung absent-mindedly spoke on.

"…Her voice is really no joke. At her level… none of her peers are a match for her, you know? Moreover, the song was good too…. I should get going. These rookies are so… I'm gonna get some practice."

When Ji HyunJung was about to turn around and leave, KangYoon laughed.

"Watch until the end."
"No. There's a freak rookie so I can't stay still."
"Don't call her a freak. Anyway, tell your president I said thanks."
"Okay, see you later."

Ji HyunJung left immediately. Even as she left, she couldn't hide her surprised expression.
After sending her off, KangYoon turned around to Kim JiMin again.
The song had reached its peak.

"Maybe we are of the same mind —-"

Her voice was raised very high. At the same time, the cheers were getting louder as well.

"Full -of — excitement -we may already be in love ——"

Then,
She reached the very peak of the song. The drums played with a fancy beat and decorated the peak with all sorts of effects.

"Waaaa—–!"

This was the best part, and the audience's cheers were at its peak as well. No one cared about being a fan of another person. They were immersed by this rookie called Eunha and cheered in unison.
The white light seemed to have traces of clearness as though it was about to turn silver.

'Silver?'

After the peak, the song returned to the chorus again. KangYoon was surprised by the light from the stage. However, before the white could turn completely silver, the song met its end.

'Damn, such a pity.'

KangYoon clicked his tongue. Although this was a very good debut stage, he felt that it could have gone better.

"Thank you."
"Eun! Ha! Eun! Ha!"
"The next song is…."

Regardless of what KangYoon thought, Kim JiMin prepared her next song. The instruments began playing again, and she started to sing the 2nd song for her debut.
Like that, Kim JiMin showed herself as the singer Eunha in front of the public.

[Personnel Information]

Name: Eunha (Kim JiMin)
Occupation: Singer
D.o.B: May 17th, 1994
Height: 161.8cm
Weight: 44kg
Company: World Entertainment
School: XX High school.

(This is 2012, so… she's 18? Damn, that's young…)

"I still can't believe it. Our dear JiMin is on the information charts…."

Jung HyeJin still found it unreal that Kim JiMin could be searched on a web portal. Seeing that, Lee HyunJi put her hands on Jung HyeJin's shoulders and spoke.

"Get used to it. You'll see a lot of this in the future."
"Really? I can't even get used to JiMin like this. I thought she would always be the cute little sister…."
"It looks like she's grown wings and flew away, doesn't it?"
"Yes."

Jung HyeJin was honest. Lee HyunJi replied in a soft tone.

"That's the difference between a trainee and a proper artist. She herself should be feeling that right now."
"Right?"
"I guess more than you."

Lee HyunJi laughed while looking at a title of a news article on the webpage.

[Frightening rookie Eunha's new 'Speak Happy Day' threatens charts.]
[New singer Eunha rises above the masses with 'Speak Happy Day'.]
[Endless good comments about Eunha's 'Speak Happy Day'.]

"Look at this, oppa. This is all about me.

Inside a van that she still wasn't used to, Kim JiMin searched up 'Eunha' on her phone. When she did, all sorts of articles could be seen. Although it hadn't been that many days since her debut, the news was all about her.
Choi HyukJin, who had now become Kim JiMin's full time manager, spoke as though it was obvious.

"Our dear Eunha is hot nowadays."
"Oppa, please don't call me by my stage name when we're not outside. It's creeping me out."
"Nope. President's orders. I have to call you by the stage name until you get used to it."
"Uuuu…."

Hearing that it was KangYoon's instructions, Kim JiMin couldn't say anything.
Manager Choi HyukJin skimmed over the phone that he got from Kim JiMin before giving it back. Then, he spoke as something was strange.

"Looks like the president doesn't take away phones."
"Do other companies take away their singer's phones?"
"Especially idols, yeah. My previous company didn't allow idols to even possess phones. They said that phones were the cause of dating rumors."
"That's scary."
"Though the trap is that those who want to date will date nonetheless… How are you supposed to stop two young people from falling in love?"

Kim JiMin received her phone as though she was receiving treasure and preciously stored it away. Seeing that, manager Choi HyukJin burst out laughing.

"Hahahaha! I don't think our president is the type to do something like that."
"That's true… but just in case."
"What, you have someone you like?"
"No, I guess none have caught my eye yet."

Kim JiMin was firm about this. Manager Choi HyukJin could tell that she was telling the truth. Although he hadn't been managing her for very long, he was able to tell that she was a very straightforward type. Yes was a concrete yes, and no was a definite no. And this no was definitely a no.
The van headed towards ChunCheon, where the next schedule was.

Chapter end