— I’ll be killing it tonight.
Do you know how long he had been howling this single sentence?
— I’ll be killing it tonight.
He thought it would be over quickly since he was told it was just a simple favor.
— I’ll be killing it tonight.
That was both arrogance and a delusion.
“Please, just kill me instead.”
After repeating those words for three hours, Jamal reached the conclusion that it would be better for him to be killed than to ‘kill the night.’
“Let’s go one more time.”
However, Hyunseung, sitting behind the booth glass, didn’t care and simply gave a hand signal over his head.
Oh, man.
It would have been better if there were a melody or even a flow to it.
But this was…
It was even harder because he had to repeat the same words at a level that felt like he was just browbeating someone.
He didn’t even really know what the boss wanted.
Just more, more, more.
He was just told to shout even louder, and man, it was tough.
“Whew…”
Jamal, looking miserable, reached for a water bottle, but…
“Don’t drink too much water.”
“Yes, sir…”
Even that was immediately shut down.
Well, what else could he do?
If he’s told to do it, he does it; if he’s told to jump, he asks how high.
First, do not have expectations of Hyung-nim.
Second, do not feel hurt by Hyung-nim.
Third, do not wish for anything from Hyung-nim.
Fourth, do not be a nuisance to Hyung-nim.
Fifth, do not talk back to Hyung-nim.
Sixth, obey Hyung-nim’s orders.
Seventh, do not cry in front of Hyung-nim.
Eighth, do not do anything that would tarnish Hyung-nim’s reputation.
Ninth, eliminate anyone who harasses Hyung-nim.
Tenth, live with the resolve to die for Hyung-nim.
Jamal recited these Ten Commandments to himself like a mantra as he adjusted his posture once more. However, his throat was already as hoarse as it could get.
— I’ll be killing it tonight.
“Again.”
— I’ll be killing it tonight.
“One more time.”
— I’ll be killing it tonight.
“Like you’re really going to kill someone.”
At this rate, he’d probably only be able to shout a few more times before it was all over.
Yeah.
Even just listening to the metallic rasp breaking through right now, wasn’t it obvious?
— I’ll be killing it tonight.
A murky, sharp scream that sounded like he might vomit blood at any moment filled the booth.
At that moment.
“Okay.”
Like a miracle, Hyunseung gave the signal over his head.
Really?
He gave the okay to that voice just now?
“Bo-boss?”
Jamal opened the booth door slightly and called out to Hyunseung cautiously.
“For real, really, can I actually leave now?”
Despite how much he had wanted to get out while he was inside, now that he was told he could, he found himself unable to step out easily.
“Yeah. Just deliver this one last thing properly.”
Hyunseung requested, gesturing with his chin toward a box.
Sip.
Jamal followed Hyunseung’s gesture and looked at the box.
It looks suspicious no matter how I look at it.
He then looked back at Hyunseung with narrowed, suspicious eyes and pried.
“By the way, who am I supposed to give that to?”
“Just leave it with the lobby staff at Unice Music Group.”
Seeing Hyunseung answer so vaguely, Jamal narrowed his eyes even further.
Wait.
A man who was soon to be the owner of Unice Music Group was asking him to deliver a mysterious box, not even documents.
Could it be?
Reflecting on his own past, there was only one answer.
“You’re planning to terrorize Unice Music Group, aren’t you?”
“What?”
“Actually, the merger is just a fake-out, and you’re planning to quietly eliminate the competition, right?”
Jamal clenched his fists with a determined expression.
“I will gladly participate. For the sake of Hyung-nim, even if I have to put my life on the line…”
“Your life isn’t on the line, so stop overreacting.”
Hyunseung cut him off, clenching his fist as if he were about to hit Jamal.
“It’s nothing big. I’ll tell Sarah Stewart to be in the lobby, so just give it to her.”
At those words, Jamal’s eyes widened as he muttered, “Sarah Stewart?”
“It’s because I want to be by your side.”
Remembering the conversation he had eavesdropped on before, he smirked.
“Ah, I see. I understand everything now.”
“Wh-what do you understand?!”
“I’ll take care of everything.”
“Don’t do anything.”
Hyunseung cut him off firmly, but.
“No, I will do anything for Hyung-nim.”
Nothing reached Jamal’s ears.
“Even if I have to put my life on the line.”
He simply raised his two fists, veins bulging, high into the air.
Sarah Stewart suddenly burst out of her studio, only to stop and go back inside to check her face in the mirror.
“Maybe I should have at least put on some lipstick.”
Since she had been working, her face was plain without a hint of makeup and her hair was tied back messily, making her look unkempt.
“No, wait a minute.”
Why was she even checking her face?
“Forget it, let’s just go.”
Less than three seconds after turning away with that thought, Sarah stood back in front of the mirror.
She took off her glasses, untied her hair, and smoothed it down with her hands.
“This should be enough.”
Then she finally left the studio and headed for the lobby.
Step, step, tap, tap, tap!
Sarah’s brisk walking pace gradually turned into a run, and she arrived at the first-floor lobby in an instant.
“Huff, huff.”
The reason she had run so fast was because of a single text message.
[ I’m leaving some misutgaru at the lobby, so go pick it up. ]
Hyunseung, who hadn’t contacted her once, to the point where she had to find out through news articles that the merger with Unice had been decided and that he was to be the next CEO… He had suddenly reached out.
And on top of that, he said he was leaving misutgaru for her.
What does this mean?
Sarah clutched her pounding heart and walked slowly toward the lobby desk.
“Is there anything left here for me?”
Sarah Stewart asked with a feigned calm face.
“Nothing has been dropped off yet.”
At the reply, her heart pounded even harder.
Didn’t that mean he was about to arrive to drop it off now?
Thump, thump.
It was from then on that her heart started beating out of rhythm.
What’s wrong with me?
Sarah clutched the area around her heart and patted it to calm herself down.
Am I… is my heart racing just because I think I might see that guy?
She denied it. No, it’s not. Absolutely not.
“Fuck…”
She muttered curses for no reason and paced around the lobby, but her heart wouldn’t easily calm down.
Why?
She didn’t know why Hyunseung’s face from his fan meeting performance was popping into her head right now of all times.
With this heart rate, she felt like she could use it as a beat to rap to.
Step, step.
Just as she was tapping her feet incessantly with such useless thoughts.
Step, step.
Someone walked in through the revolving doors at the main entrance.
“Sarah Stewart.”
That person called out to her as if they were glad to see her.
“Fuck…”
Upon seeing the person, Sarah cursed under her breath without realizing it.
“Why the hell are you here?”
It was because the person was completely unexpected.
Right.
That guy who followed Hyunseung around like a shadow—Jamal or whatever his name was.
“Still as rude as ever, I see.”
Jamal snorted at Sarah Stewart and muttered to himself.
“Since even that must be Hyung-nim’s taste, I suppose I should respect it.”
“What?”
“It’s nothing. This was heavy, but luckily you were already out here.”
Sarah snatched the box from Jamal’s hand and asked brusquely.
“But why are you bringing this?”
She wanted to add, ‘Not Min Hyunseung?’ but she swallowed those words back down.
“I went to the studio, and he asked me to.”
At the reply, Sarah stepped closer and grilled him.
“You went and harassed him again, didn’t you? You pestered him for a song, didn’t you? Huh?”
“What are you talking about? I went because I was asked to feature.”
“Featuring?”
“Yeah, he said it’s a track for his solo album. Doesn’t that mean Hyung-nim trusts me that much?”
Jamal explained, his shoulders shrugging with immense satisfaction.
“Of course, trust and love are completely different realms, so I’ll leave the love to you.”
He added, his eyebrows wiggling with a sly expression.
However, Jamal’s words weren’t reaching Sarah’s ears now.
She was only focused on two words: ‘featuring’ and ‘solo album.’
“Where is Min Hyunseung right now?”
She then grabbed Jamal by the collar and interrogated him.
“Min Hyunseung, Min Hyunseung!”
Sarah Stewart headed straight for Hyunseung’s studio.
Thump, thump, thump!
She pounded on the studio door, shouting Hyunseung’s name.
Before long, the studio door opened, and Hyunseung stood there leaning against the frame, looking down at Sarah.
“Why is everyone learning Korean so much?”
A mysterious, faint smile played on Hyunseung’s lips.
However, just as she had grabbed Jamal’s collar, Sarah grabbed Hyunseung’s shirt and demanded.
“You, you, why didn’t you call me?”
“For what?”
“I heard you asked Jamal to feature.”
Then, when Hyunseung’s brow furrowed, she let go of his collar and added.
“You’re intentionally not calling me, aren’t you…”
Just then, Hyunseung’s deep sigh reached the top of Sarah’s head.
“Do you carry your phone around just for show?”
Soon after, Hyunseung’s long, slender hand reached out.
“Huh?”
As Sarah blinked her rabbit-like eyes at Hyunseung.
[ And if you’re okay with featuring, come by the studio. ]
She saw the text message that had followed and covered her mouth.
Stupid.
Stupid.
Stupid.
Because she had rushed out in a hurry and lost her mind at the news that Jamal was featuring, she hadn’t even realized a text had come.
“Ah…”
Just as Sarah was grimacing as if she had blown it.
“It’s just one line, do you want to do it?”
Hyunseung’s low voice drifted over.
Nod, nod.
Sarah nodded her head repeatedly.
Whether it was one line or two.
No.
Even a single syllable would be fine.
(T/N: Girl, you are down bad)
“Just give me the lyrics and the guide chords, and I’ll try it right away.”
Sarah suddenly looked at Hyunseung with eyes burning with motivation.
“Alright, it’s short, but I’m going to record several versions anyway. Just listen for reference.”
Receiving the signal, Hyunseung immediately played the cut track.
—♬ ♬ ♬
A beat created by the soft, muffled sound of an electric guitar over a melody laced with a delicate piano line.
—♬ ♬ ♬
The short guide vocal chords recorded over it blended in perfectly.
—♬ ♬ ♬
She hadn’t heard the whole thing, but she could tell it was a smooth, rhythmical, and lovely song.
Even if it wasn’t, I wouldn’t care.
Sarah was already humming along to the notes.
Then, she gestured for him to tell her the lyrics.
However, what came back wasn’t a sheet of music with lyrics written on it as usual.
“Just wanna be by your side.”
It was Hyunseung’s low voice.
“You just have to sing this one line.”
That voice sounded exceptionally sweet.
T/N: Ohmygaaaaaaahhhd
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