Yoon Jaeyi slung her guitar case over her shoulder and left the house to squeeze in last-minute practice for the next live round that was now just around the corner.
Tap, tap.
After walking down the alley for a while, she looked back. At the end of the uphill road, she could see the shabby house she called home. The day she would part from that house and this neighborhood was drawing near.
Not long ago she had signed a contract with LS Entertainment, something she had only dreamed of, and on top of that she had suddenly received a signing bonus in the hundreds of millions of won.
The instant she saw an amount in a unit she had never even imagined, ironically the first thing that came to mind was a house.
A house with a washbasin in the bathroom…
Oh, right, it may be greedy but a shower booth as well…
To some people, those are the minimum elements a home ought to have, but for her even that had been a dream.
In South Korea, a capitalist country where she had to survive alone without parents or guardians, that was how it was. She had never even looked at deposits; she always moved from one monthly-rent place to another, and the best she could find was a semi-basement room or the rooftop of a hillside shantytown.
Because there was no washbasin or shower stall she had to draw water in a basin and squat to wash. That was why Yoon Jaeyi obsessed over having a washbasin.
In any case the very fact that she could even imagine a place with a washbasin was thanks to HS, who had given her a chance. To repay him, she felt it was still not enough even if she poured every minute into practice. For now, the only reward she could offer was to prove on stage that his judgment had been right.
For the moment, she told herself to focus solely on the TOP 5 qualifying round that lay ahead. As for the house, once the program ended, she planned to hit the pavement and look properly.
Tap, tap.
With a face that said she meant to spend the night at the practice room she headed downtown.
Hmm-hmm.
Humming to herself, Yoon Jaeyi kept glancing at her phone screen and grinning.
[ TOP 100 ]
- I’ll Lend You My Shoulder – Yoon Jaeyi (K-Singer Star)
The songs from the TOP 11 had been released exclusively on Apple Music, and in just one day her track had taken first place on the real-time chart.
Of course, the show’s publicity power helped, and at the next update she might slide down again, but she was overjoyed. Whatever else, it proved that people were listening to a song she had sung.
Heh…
She took a screenshot of the chart and smiled in satisfaction. Before she knew it, she had reached the city center.
Where was it supposed to be…?
But since she had never roamed around downtown, even finding the studio she had booked was difficult.
DJ Studio, DJ Studio…
Muttering while looking at the map, she suddenly heard voices.
“Hey, isn’t that Yoon Jaeyi?”
“It looks like her.”
“She is the one from K-Singer Star, right?”
Passers-by who recognized her began to murmur.
“I actually have paper and a pen in my bag, should I ask for an autograph?”
“If we can, a photo too.”
“You never know, she might become a huge star later.”
The pedestrians gradually closed the distance toward her.
“Excuse me.”
Minding her phone, Yoon Jaeyi looked up. “Me?”
“Yes, you are Yoon Jaeyi from K-Singer Star, right?”
She nodded to the woman whose eyes were sparkling with anticipation.
“Ah, yes, that is me…”
“Wow, it really is her. I’m a real fan. I watched every single episode because of you.”
“Th-thank you.”
“Your latest live stage was totally killer. I must have watched the clip thirty times.”
After fussing over her, the women held out an A4 sheet and a pen.
“If it is all right, could we get your autograph?”
“My autograph? I do not actually have one yet…”
“Oh, then could you at least write your name?”
“Yes, I will.”
A bit dazed, she took the pen. Never had she imagined someone would ask for her autograph, never dreamed she would give one. Though she had seen herself on TV and occasionally checked articles or posts, it felt strange that people in real life recognized her.
“If possible, could we also take a photo…”
“Ah, sure, sure.”
“I’ll take it, one, two—”
With the brightest smile she could manage she posed for the photo with the fans. She could not remember when she had last smiled so broadly.
“Hey, that is Yoon Jaeyi.”
“Wow, amazing.”
“I love your voice.”
Other passers-by flocked over and surrounded her.
Click, click.
Hands reached out from all directions, shaking hers and snapping pictures.
“Isn’t she the contestant HS saved with his super-pass?”
“Yeah, that is Yoon Jaeyi.”
“HS really does have an ear for talent.”
Talk of HS inevitably followed her name.
Yes, that made her feel she had to do even better. The moment she slipped, the name HS would be tarnished, and she would disappoint the man who had trusted her.
She suddenly recalled something he once said.
Even in despair, an opportunity comes out of nowhere.
He had said that when she told him her life had changed too suddenly, like a dream.
Living long enough, I learned that.
Just as he said, days like a ray of miracle had appeared out of despair. To turn that single chance into her own was entirely up to her.
Filled with elation, she adjusted the guitar on her back, fixed a determined look, and shouted to the crowd.
“Thank you so much for your support, everyone!”
She did not know when she had last raised her voice like that, but power welled up from deep in her gut.
“However, I am short of time and have to go now. I am really sorry.”
Repeating her apologies she dashed toward the practice room.
The day of the TOP 8 live broadcast dawned.
“Hyunseung, let us go.”
“If I tweak this a bit more, it will be done.”
Kim, the manager, looked at the back of Hyunseung, who was wearing headphones and working hard, and muttered that the kid was incorrigible. There was still a little leeway, so he sat back on the sofa to wait.
He had no idea what exactly the man was working on, but from the constantly multiplying tracks he could tell it was something big again.
What on earth is he creating this time…
Manager Kim had come to call his pieces “works.” Regardless of commercial success, he now understood how much time and effort Hyunseung poured into every track. Of course, because talent backed it up, success was virtually guaranteed.
Knock, knock, knock.
Someone rapped steadily on the studio door.
“Who is it?”
Kim opened the door and found Executive Director Park standing there.
“Oh, Director Park, what brings—”
“Good, you were here.”
“Yes, I was about to take Hyunseung to the shoot.”
“Perfect timing.”
Director Park pulled the shoulder of Kang Hajun, who had been standing behind him, and pushed him inside.
“Could you take our boy along as well? I got tied up with an important meeting.”
Half shoved into Manager Kim’s arms, Hajun gave an awkward smile.
“Hello…”
“Yes, I will take him.”
With Kim and Kang’s shoulders in his big hands, Park added that he felt reassured leaving the lad to Kim, then hurried off.
Boom.
When the door shut, Hyunseung looked round and spoke.
“What, why is he here again?”
“H-hello…”
“Director Park asked us to bring him along.”
“Ah, I see. These days Director Park is practically his parent. And you are my parent, manager.”
“Me? Why am I your parent.”
“Then a grandparent?”
Knowing arguing would only hurt himself, Kim shook his head and urged them to leave.
“Now that Hajun is here, let us get going.”
“Hold on.”
“Traffic will be bad, we have to go.”
“I am almost finished.”
While they spoke, Hajun peeked at the monitor, curious what track was up.
Kim voiced the curiosity.
“What are you working on?”
Instead of answering, Hyun-seung moved his hands faster.
Tap tap tap on the master keyboard.
At last, he hit save and turned his head.
The competition song for the final.
Hajun’s eyes widened and went back to the screen. That was the song…
Right, he remembered hearing that the two top producers, Jable and HS, would each provide a new song for the final, to be performed by the TOP 2.
Whoever won the semifinal would get first pick between the two songs, a point of great importance to Hajun.
“Then I will definitely sin… oh.”
He blurted out half his thought and clamped his mouth shut.
“Manager, did you feed him something weird?”
“Not me.”
“Where did you pick up that way of talking?”
“Your fan café.”
“Did you not say we must hurry? Let us go.”
“Ignoring me?”
Running a hand through his hair, Hyunseung sighed. Very soon he would have to log in and message the café master.
Please ban user kimwoohyun85.
Lee Yuju had dozed in the agency’s basement studio rather than the dorm; she did not want to sleep at the contestants’ lodging and used practice as an excuse.
Sigh…
The live TOP 8 would air in a few hours, yet she was tired and under-rehearsed, which left her heavy inside. Still, like most people faced with unpleasant tasks, she found herself killing time. In the dark studio, she was just staring at her phone.
[Spill: the real story of K-Singer Star’s Yoon Jaeyi]
On a community site she frequented she saw a post that caught her eye.
—Yesterday I ran into Yoon Jaeyi downtown. A crowd recognized her and gathered but even though she must have been flustered she never frowned, signed autographs, took photos, shook hands with everyone. Then she suddenly said sorry and ran into a nearby practice room. So lovely, right? She has personality and grit and she’s pretty. I joined her fan café right away. When the live show airs I’m using every family phone to vote for her. + photo proof attached.
Scroll.
—She’s even more delicate-looking in person. As a woman I find her adorable.
—She seems shy but genuinely kind, you can tell on the show that consideration is in her bones.
—Honestly her skill puts her in first place, but the pre-vote shows Kang Hajun way ahead.
—When I first saw her I thought why did she get the super-pass, but looking back it was genius.
—If HS hadn’t saved her what would we have done; I actually like her voice best of all the contestants.
—I heard she had a really tough life. I hope lovely Yun walks only on flower paths now.
—Tough life? How tough could it be.
Yuju’s smooth forehead crumpled like paper.
Yoon Jaeyi.
To her, Yoon Jaeyi was a thorn in the eye, basking in spotlight as if she were the heroine of the program thanks to HS’s buff.
Why…?
Nothing about her is beautiful.
Her vibe is gloomy.
She’s so timid it is frustrating.
She is not someone who can be a star.
Yuju disliked that Yoon Jaeyi received praise and attention, and felt her own presence fading because of her.
She flicked to the next page in irritation.
[Evidence that K-Singer Star’s Lee Yuju’s personality is trash (captures).]
What…?
Her pupils shook like cracked ground in an earthquake.
What is this…
—Even during group lodging, she felt off. Once she moved into the same room as Yoon Jaeyi she openly showed dislike, guarded attitude. In the TOP 11 live, her scowling was broadcast raw, especially when Yoon was announced second place, she never relaxed her brow. + screenshot.
Scroll.
—I always thought her eyes looked mean, full of poison.
—I heard she got moved for bullying a roommate.
—Did you see her mouth? Looks like she is swearing.
—Not sure? Still witch-hunting without proof.
—How many times are they going to boil this screenshot like old soup?
—Eyes, so what.
Yuju threw her phone onto the wooden floor. Pulling her knees close, she buried her face.
Annoying…
She hated this weakening side of herself.
Everything is annoying…
She had believed she had crossed the threshold to happiness and that only bright flower roads lay ahead, but instead she felt she was sinking into a swamp.
Since she came on K-Singer Star? No… since she signed with JN Entertainment?
After the show’s camp ended, she moved to the company dorm to live with the future group members and get support for rehearsals. She had hoped everything would go well.
Idiot.
Compared with lodging, agency life was harsher and colder concrete.
“Hey, do it right, gonna ruin the group image?”
“Same group as that girl, ugh.”
“At least she’s good tinder. She’ll bring buzz.”
Existing members disliked the latecomer and glared openly.
“Why hasn’t your weight dropped? At your height you need 43 kg not to look fat on camera.”
“Delete and leave all your socials, even private accounts can blow up later, how many times do I have to say.”
“Phone confiscated. Use only the company phone. You must report any outing.”
“No boyfriends, right? If you have one break up now. Your contract bans dating.”
Contract clauses applied against her, confining her.
Yes, she had heard rumors about the industry’s dark side but thought she was lucky and it would not apply. Sweet words, sensational conditions, the prestige of JN Entertainment – she had been blinded and failed to read the contract properly.
Truly…
She had been naïve and foolish.
If you break the contract, you pay ten times the signing bonus as penalty, got it?
And damages to partnered brands will be billed at once, so do not get funny ideas.
She could not undo it; her signature sat in the “Party B” slot and several ads, shows and sponsorships were already confirmed.
There was nothing she could do except grit her teeth and succeed. There was nowhere to complain, nowhere to lean. All she could do was endure.
Bzzzz.
Her phone vibrated, snapping her out of thought.
[Director Kim Woo-seok: Lee Yuju, we need to leave right now. Where are you?]
Yes. Reality meant climbing onto the stage whether she died or survived.
On the screen, her own hate-filled thread continued updating in real time.
Since it had come to this, no turning back. She would claw her way into the TOP 2.
I will never, ever lose to Yoon Jaeyi.
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