After Kim Woohyun’s wedding ended.
“Jayble.”
Spotting Jayble walking with his arm affectionately wrapped around Michelle’s shoulders, Hyunseung immediately called out to stop him.
“Well, well, look who it is.”
Who else could it be? Why is he using such an uncharacteristically cheeky tone?
“If it isn’t our Michelle’s boss?”
Is he acting like that because he’s in front of Michelle?
“Long time no see.”
Hyunseung exchanged a brief, polite nod with Michelle standing beside him before extending a courteous greeting to Jayble.
“Indeed. I heard the news that Min Hyunseung had returned, but I never imagined you’d show your face in such a crowded place. Seems like you’ve had quite the change of heart while you were away.”
It also felt like Jayble had gotten considerably greasier during the time they hadn’t seen each other.
“It seems the relationship between you and Michelle has also undergone quite a change while I was away.”
To reaffirm their relationship to Hyunseung once more, Jayble pulled Michelle tightly against his waist.
Michelle looked slightly surprised, but she didn’t seem to mind.
After hitting on her like that…
I guess he finally won her heart.
“In a way, it’s thanks to you, so should I be expressing my gratitude? If we end up getting married, I’ll make sure you’re the first to know.”
To be honest, while their relationship was a bit surprising, it wasn’t interesting enough to make Hyunseung want to hold them back.
It was just that…
The moment he saw Jayble, a rather good idea had crossed his mind.
“If you have time, how about a cup of coffee?”
“As you can see, I need to spend some sweet time with Michelle, so I don’t have time for a cup of coffee.”
It’s going to be a problem if you’re this uncooperative.
“Even if you don’t, since VINCIS and ON are in a collaborative partnership, I’d appreciate it if you could spare some time.”
At those words, Jayble flinched and glanced at Michelle.
There was no way Michelle understood the conversation flowing in Korean, but she was exceptionally quick-witted.
Sensing something unusual from their expressions, she subtly stepped aside as if telling them to speak freely.
Before long, Jayble watched Michelle’s retreating figure with regret before opening his mouth.
“Considering I’m giving up a date with a lady, this had better be worth my time.”
Unbelievable.
“Yes, it will be.”
I’m giving up a date with a lady too…
“If you’re the Jayble I know, there’s no way you won’t find it worthwhile.”
Jayble followed behind Hyunseung, glaring at the back of his head.
If not for this punk, he would have been spending time with Michelle, whom he hadn’t seen in ages, in a lovely atmosphere.
Everything was ruined.
Normally, he wouldn’t have left Michelle behind, but with Hyunseung bringing up their business partnership, he had no choice but to follow.
Furthermore.
Even if Jayble wasn’t the type to care about others, this was none other than Min Hyunseung.
He had also wanted to ask for what reason Hyunseung had vanished off the grid for the past year.
Especially seeing how the gaze Hyunseung held when asking for his time wasn’t ordinary, it didn’t look like he just wanted to exchange trivial pleasantries.
Above all else, since Michelle had tactfully stepped aside first, it had become a situation where he couldn’t refuse to follow.
Seriously, our Michelle has such great intuition and sense, doesn’t she?
“Wait a minute.”
Jayble, who had been walking endlessly while thinking of Michelle like an utter fool in love, called out to Hyunseung. He had followed along under the impression that they were just getting coffee.
However, the place they had arrived at was a studio.
“Why are we here?”
And it wasn’t just any studio. It was a large-scale studio rumored to be incomparably massive in Seoul.
It was usually reserved for orchestra recordings or project albums involving a massive influx of vocalists.
Jayble had only heard about it; this was his first time actually visiting.
“The capsule coffee here is delicious.”
“What’s with the lame joke all of a sudden?”
“I’m not joking, it really is delicious.”
As if he were completely serious, Hyunseung walked over to the lounge equipped with a coffee machine and a water purifier.
“The ice dispenser on the water purifier works well, too.”
With a bright smile, he dispensed ice into a disposable cup.
“Wait, you rented this giant studio and invited me here just to brew coffee from a machine?”
“Yeah, if that were really the reason, that would be completely backwards.”
Jayble stared daggers at Hyunseung, who was nonchalantly brewing coffee, before bursting into laughter.
Is this bastard mocking me?
It was true that he resented Hyunseung for not only stealing his date but also spouting nonsense.
Even so, he didn’t purely hate or dislike him. Right, deep down, a part of him had missed the guy.
Ah.
Not that he missed him terribly, but maybe just a tiny bit?
“Tell me the real reason you called me. You might be able to see Michelle every day, but we’re long-distance, so I can’t see her often. Every single minute and second is precious to me.”
Besides, he knew Hyunseung hadn’t called him just to drink capsule coffee.
“Don’t worry. You’ll be able to see her often for a while.”
“What?”
“Michelle is my secretary, and I’ll be staying in Korea for the time being.”
Of course.
“Then, make it quick. Tell me what you’re planning to do in Korea from now on, and what you need me to do.”
There was no way the guy would have called him for no reason.
“Make it quick, huh…”
After Hyunseung muttered briefly.
“Would you like to take a look at this?”
He led Jayble into the control room.
On the workstation monitor, a program and a file explorer window were open.
“What is this…?”
Jayble slowly stepped toward the monitor.
Soon, his eyes swept over the audio files listed in the window. Just how many tracks were there?
Even at a casual glance, there appeared to be well over a dozen.
How long had it been since he made his return?
When on earth did he prepare all these songs?
“C-Can I listen to them?”
Completely forgetting about Michelle, who was waiting for him, Jayble asked as he picked up a pair of headphones as if possessed.
Nod, nod.
Hyunseung nodded lightly, indicating he was welcome to listen as much as he wanted, and leaned back comfortably in an empty chair.
Click, click.
Operating the mouse more carefully than ever, Jayble clicked on one of the numbered audio files.
Gulp.
He swallowed dryly. An inexplicable tension washed over him. And understandably so. In a way, weren’t these tracks Hyunseung’s comeback projects?
They were the unfiltered results showcasing what kind of time he had spent during the year he had vanished.
—♬♬♬
Soon, Track 03, selected by Jayble, flowed through the headphones.
“Ha, seriously…”
Covering his face with both hands, Jayble let out a deep sigh.
Meanwhile, Hyunseung stole glances at Jayble, gauging his reaction while pretending not to.
Eventually, Jayble slowly turned his head to look at Hyunseung.
The moment their gazes met in midair.
“You obnoxious bastard, you came back to steal my spot again?”
“No way.”
“Why didn’t you just stay in the States? Why did you come back to stir up Korea again?”
A smile spread across Jayble’s face, which was contorted with a strange sense of excitement.
“Anyway, I guess I should contact Michelle in advance and let her know I’m going to be very late.”
Because listening to the melody flowing through the headphones…
He had a distinct feeling that this time would indeed be well worth it.
Waking up early in the morning and finishing his preparations to go out, Kang Hajun offered a prayer for Hyunseung, just as he always did.
Ever since Hyunseung had dropped out of sight, his prayers had grown even more fervent.
“Today as well, I dedicate all my luck to him…”
And for good reason: before Hyunseung went off the grid, the days Hajun skipped praying for him had gradually increased under the excuse of a busy schedule.
As those days accumulated, Hyunseung had suddenly vanished, leading Kang Hajun to blame himself, believing the disappearance was his fault.
His head knew that wasn’t true.
However, the guilt weighing heavily on his heart turned Kang Hajun into a fanatical devotee. Thus, from the moment Hyunseung disappeared until after his return, he never skipped a day of offering prayers for him.
Even though this didn’t provide any practical help to Hyunseung, he felt somewhat relieved because Hyunseung’s complexion at the wedding looked much better than when he had visited him right after hearing the news of his return.
And then, as if being summoned as a reward for his fervent prayers, a message arrived from Hyunseung. What was more, it was a message that made his heart race.
[ Pack plenty of luggage and come to the address I sent tomorrow. ]
Come here, go there. He had received messages like that before, but packing luggage to come over! This was a first.
Just what on earth was he planning to do? If it were music production, he probably wouldn’t have told him to pack luggage…
Then, could it be that they were actually going on a trip?
“Phew…”
From last night when he received the text until now, Kang Hajun’s heart had been pounding so hard that he couldn’t get a proper night’s sleep.
Of course, he had no idea with what intention Hyunseung had told him to pack luggage.
Still, he contacted his agency and cleared his schedule for the time being. He had expected to be nagged a bit, but he even received a compliant response agreeing to it.
Now, all he had to do was spend time with Hyunseung with a peaceful mind.
Before long, like a student setting off on their very first school retreat, Kang Hajun slung his heavily packed bag over his shoulder with a fluttering heart and stepped out of his house.
[ I’m going on a short trip. ]
Leaving a note on the table for the cleaning lady who visited his house.
He embarked on his journey.
.
.
.
He had thought that even if it wasn’t a trip, he would be fine with it.
“Alright, is everyone here?”
He had thought he felt the same excitement as when he first went on a school retreat, but…
“Thank you for answering my call.”
He hadn’t expected it to truly feel like a retreat.
No.
Rather than a retreat, should this be called boot camp?
Swish.
Looking around, every single face was familiar. Yes, they were ‘Hyunseung’s instruments,’ otherwise known as the Hyunseung Division.
Beside them rested suitcases or bags bulging with luggage.
“I’ll keep the explanation brief. The instruments gathered here will now enter a recording camp.”
Whether they had also arrived without knowing the reason just like him, they were all staring blankly at Hyunseung, who stood in the front row with a cap pulled low over his eyes.
And beside Hyunseung stood Jayble, wearing a sinister smile. Just what in the world was this situation?
“You all know me well, so I won’t explain any further.”
Just as Kang Hajun was rolling his eyes trying to assess the current situation.
“For your information, only the strong instruments will make it out of here alive.”
Adjusting his crisp cap once more like the fierce drill instructor he had feared during his recruit training days, Hyunseung laid down the law in an authoritative voice.
“If you are an instrument that cannot endure it, you may leave right now.”
At those words, Kang Hajun and the others exchanged glances for a brief moment before…
“N-No, sir! We can endure it!”
As if they had rehearsed it beforehand, they answered like disciplined recruits standing at attention.
And so, the recording camp from hell began.
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