043. Radio Appearance (2)
It feels like a large carnivore is ambling over.
“Why did you come dressed like that again? I told you to dress like a human being!”
“Ah, it’s hot. What do you want me to do?”
Smack!
His personality does not seem vicious, though. The radio writer casually slapped the arm of the man whose shoulders were completely bare.
“I told you if you come dressed like that you look like a gorilla. Fine, you have a lot of muscle. But do you not manage your image?”
“It is radio anyway. What does it matter what I wear. Right?”
The follow-up question was thrown to Yeonwoo.
“Well, it does not particularly matter.”
Yeonwoo lifted one shoulder. He was surrounded by beings who walked around missing entrails and eyeballs, and some with limbs gone. A normal human in a sleeveless shirt was more than acceptable.
“See, even the guest says it is fine. Noona, you worry too much.”
“Haha… Mr. Yeonwoo, sorry. He is a workout maniac. Sometimes he runs around half-naked like this. What he wears is odd, but he is surprisingly normal, so do not worry.”
“Nice to meet you. This is our first time, right?”
The man suddenly held out his hand.
“I am Lee Juha. Twenty-three years old. My job is…”
“You are a singer.”
“Oh. You know me?”
“Yes, well…”
- Name: Lee Juha (25/male)
- Occupation: Singer-songwriter who moves the soul
- Alignment: Chaotic Neutral
- Specialties: Perfect pitch [A), A voice that moves the soul [A+]
- Affection: Medium
- Current physical condition: Optimal
- Current emotional state: Interested
*** There are items currently unavailable for viewing.
*** Detailed information on this individual is obscured.
*** Additional harvestable stat: Enchanting vocal cords [A]
The moment they shook hands, a status window rose before his eyes. It was impossible not to notice.
Enchanting vocal cords?
There was an additional harvestable stat attached. Since harvesting an ability from Writer Min’s son, this was the first time he had seen a new harvestable stat. And it was an A-rank stat at that.
Tsk.
Judging by the abilities and the fact he was a singer, he could guess what that “enchanting vocal cords” meant. He wanted it. He wanted it very much.
If only he would give me a commission.
Unfortunately, there was nothing floating above Lee Juha’s head. Clicking his tongue, he glanced at the air above Juha’s head, and Juha spoke.
“I am not a scary person. I do not keep company with idiots who act tough and play hazing games, so do not worry about that.”
“Hey, mouth. Mouth. Watch your mouth.”
“Why. The broadcast has not started yet. Anyway, I heard you are a rookie, so you look nervous. You do not have to be. Our show is famous for being free-form. Even if you make a mistake, I will cover for you, so do not worry.”
“He might look a little loose, but he runs the show quietly and well. The program is famous for being easy to listen to.”
Sighing, the writer slapped Juha’s arm again as she spoke. She scolded him, yet fussed over him in a way that felt like real siblings. The funny part was that even now Juha’s voice sounded quite good.
It would be great to take that extra stat.
Gain exposure and grab an extra stat. That would be killing two birds with one stone.
“Noona, are you mixing in personal feelings because you are too much of a fan?”
“What are you saying right now? Get inside. You must not make mistakes today, so check the question list and everything thoroughly in advance. This is unfamiliar for Mr. Yeonwoo, so take good care of him. Show him how to use the app and the program, too.”
“Yes, yes. Got it.”
The radio booth felt different from a film set. Soundproof walls that blocked any bleed, large microphones set up in front of laptops, all of it evoked a professional recording site.
“You can use these headphones, and speak into this microphone. You do not have to stick right up to it, so feel free to speak in a comfortable posture. The radio flow is largely managed by Juha as he moderates, but we writers will cue timings from the front, so please refer to the cue sheet. And the program…”
The head writer who had accompanied Yeonwoo explained each point kindly, one by one. Watching that, Lee Juha clicked his tongue.
“Noona, are you not getting a bit too personal satisfaction out of this? You have been laying it on thick since earlier.”
“Let us keep it down, Juha.”
“The best way is to bump into things one by one and learn directly. I will take charge of Mr. Kang Yeonwoo, so why do you not wait outside for a bit.”
After she gave his arm another smack and left the booth, Juha spun his chair and faced Yeonwoo.
“Are you really close?”
“Pardon?”
“With Kwon Seonghyun. Are you really close with him? To be honest, I am not that close with that guy.”
“Pardon?”
“Maybe you know, maybe you do not, but we are the same age. He started as a child actor, and I debuted around the same age with the whole musical genius, child prodigy buzz and blew up. Maybe because we are the same age, they keep putting us together, but our personalities do not match.”
Saying it was a creepy memory even to think about now, Juha gave his thick shoulders a shake.
“That kid kept using honorifics and keeping distance so precisely, and how are you supposed to deal with that? But weirdly, on a broadcast he is meticulous. He pretends to be friendly to the right degree. Anyway, he and I really do not match. Still don’t. As much as I think he is not my type, he probably does not like me either. Or should I say he finds me unsatisfactory.”
That much was true.
His everyday personality is a cheeky punk, but…
That was the first time Yeonwoo had heard Kwon Seonghyun refer to someone as a punk.
Now that he thought about it, he had been smiling, but the mood had not been great either. So that was why.
Personally, they did not get along, but it seemed they recognized each other’s abilities in a delicate way.
“Normally he would not bother dealing with me, but our writer noona can be pretty persistent. I figured I would be cut immediately since you and Kwon Seonghyun look super close, but seeing you here like this is really surprising.”
People find strange things surprising. If he knew the child spirit was up on Yeonwoo’s head right now, thumping away with all his might, he would not only be more surprised, he would probably faint. At times like this, it was a shame he was invisible.
[This one will not do. I was curious how decent a person he would be, since every song he releases is a hit, and he badmouths our Actor? Die.]
A curse from a twenty-year-old ghost. Would there soon be an article: Lee Juha suffers sudden cardiac arrest?
“We greet the night together again. It was a bit hot today, was it not? But you cannot skip the one daily walk, not ever. The midnight walk. Let us begin with joy today as well. Our first music is ‘Hungry Hour’ from ‘Midnight Diner.’”
The ON AIR sign lit up and the show began. A baritone a tone lower flowed through the mic. When the intro song ended, the introduction followed.
“Today we have a very special guest. None other than the person who appeared in a drama that is blazing hot right now. A cold Grim Reaper who also bears the warmth to sacrifice himself without hesitation for one person. We welcome Mr. Kang Yeonwoo.”
“Hello. This is Kang Yeonwoo.”
“Oh. Our NightOwls are already going wild. ‘Your voice is so good,’ ‘I can tell you are handsome just from your voice.’ Wow. How can this be? I thought my voice was supposed to be the best one.”
Juha’s hosting was very skillful.
He has at least one decent skill. When it comes to work, he is a guy who knows the line.
Just as Kwon Sunghyun had said.
“The chat is flying by at a scary pace. Yes. I have not seen speed like this in a long time. So you like the new man more than me, huh.”
Contrary to his loose vibe, he had witty pacing and manners that never crossed the line, with an easy generosity. He was famous for treating his fans casually, like his own people. There was a reason he had so many fans.
“Our Night Owl listeners have a lot of questions about Mr. Yeonwoo. Specially, here on Midnight Walk, we will have a solo interview with Mr. Kang Yeonwoo. Mr. Yeonwoo, I hear there is a behind-the-scenes story about how you were cast in this drama.”
“It is not enough to call it a behind-the-scenes, but there is one episode.”
“I am very curious what it is.”
“I did not go to set to act in the first place. I was serving as Mr. Kwon Sunghyun’s temporary manager. Then…”
Not much time had passed since the drama ended. Interest in Yeonwoo was at its height.
At a time like this, you have to share even a little information if you do not want your fans to die of thirst for crumbs.
The interview flowed mostly into stories about Yeonwoo.
“We got a question: ‘What is your favorite drink?’ Mr. Yeonwoo’s pick is?”
“I like a variety, but if I have to choose one in particular, I like mint chocolate flavor.”
“Is that not toothpaste flavor?”
“No, it is not.”
“‘I think our Yeonwoo just clenched his teeth. Juha oppa, stop.’ Yes. I think I should stop. Mr. Yeonwoo is smiling, but somehow it is scary. Ah. It feels like the Grim Reaper has descended. But our Yeonwoo, is that perhaps your nickname? Ah, they say it is. Wow. ‘Our Yeonwoo,’ huh. Shortened to Wuyeon.”
Reading messages, Juha burst out laughing.
“Because he hits your heart hard like a coincidence, they call him Wuyeon. Ah, I lost it. There will be huge disputes over Yeonwoo’s ownership at this rate. Everyone will be claiming our Yeonwoo here and there.”
He also asked about small episodes that had happened on set. After they finished what was basically source-providing disguised as an interview, the listeners’ stories and chat began in earnest.
“Today, specially, our guest Mr. Yeonwoo will pick the stories himself. Anything is fine, just post on the TokTok board. We will send out generous gifts to those selected.”
As he had been briefed, Yeonwoo picked a few submissions and read them. Deep truths you could only confide at midnight. The moments of a day that make you turn back over when you cannot sleep. Or simply things they wanted to say to Yeonwoo. The response to Yeonwoo’s voice as he read each one slowly and carefully was very hot.
“Wow. At this hour, this level of firepower is truly a first. Our writer is surprised too. There is a question: ‘Mr. Yeonwoo, your pronunciation somehow goes straight into the ear when we listen. Do you practice articulation or anything like that?’ Now that you mention it, that is true. We know actors have good projection, but people with good pronunciation as well are rare. Dramas and films are not the news. Since feeling and emotional conveyance are the focus, sometimes the articulation can be a bit lacking. Do you practice separately by any chance?”
As if he would ever do such a thing. Pronunciation that goes straight into the ear. That was the secret of Yeonwoo’s ability.
He could not say that.
“First, thank you for the compliment. I have not practiced separately, but I do try to speak correctly whenever possible.”
“So in a word, you were born with it. A very enviable talent.”
When Juha said that, the chat flooded with ㅋㅋㅋㅋ.
“Night Owls, do not laugh. I am hurt. You are laughing because I once sang guide vocals with weird pronunciation, right.”
As they traded lines, read stories, and played requested songs, it soon came time to close the show.
“Oh dear. It is already time to part today as well. Mr. Kang Yeonwoo, thank you once again for joining us. And Night Owls, it is a shame, but until we meet again tomorrow, let us walk together in our dreams.”
After exchanging goodbyes, Juha did the closing line. And just as it was about to end—
“But it would be a shame to part like this, right. For the last moment, a word from our Mr. Yeonwoo, please.”
Juha threw out an ad-libbed line. It was not on the schedule. Yeonwoo could see the writer outside, counting down, her eyes going round. Are you crazy? Her mouth clearly formed the words. One person was worried, and one person was watching openly with interest.
Just then, a perfect idea came to him.
Yeonwoo gave a small laugh and leaned forward.
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