get-shopping Chapter 153: Acceleration (2)
Chapter 153: Acceleration (2)
Manager Kim Ki-baek, wearing a long padded coat, was walking down the hallway along with several A&R team staff members. It was because the Japanese lyrics for Vanguard’s debut songs had been completed, and Manager Kim Ki-baek had summoned the A&R team for it.‘We have to hand it over to the A&R team anyway, so going together shortens the route.’
It was to handle everything at once rather than making two trips. Soon, the A&R team staff asked about Rojun.
“The ‘Vanguard’ members have entered intensive dance training, but how is Rojun doing?”
“Hmm- he’s doing well.”
“The choreography team seemed a bit worried, though.”
“You all know Rojun’s energy, right? I don’t think there’ll be any problem this time either, for me.”
“Well, that’s true, but……”
The A&R team and the in-house choreography team still seemed to be having a hard time adjusting, probably because they had never dealt with a disruptor like Kang Rojun before. Since the founding of GN Entertainment, had there ever been an idol who managed everything so independently, all by himself?
‘There’s no way there was.’
Kim Ki-baek himself had transferred into GN Entertainment, but it wasn’t hard to guess. Even looking across the entire entertainment industry, there was no member quite like Kang Rojun.
It was then.
When they had gotten close to one of the studios.
-♬♪
A faint keyboard sound could be heard. Not just Manager Kim Ki-baek, but also the A&R team staff. Kim Ki-baek tilted his head first, followed by the staff exchanging confused glances and questions.
“What is that? Don’t you hear the keyboard?”
“I do. Sounds like it’s coming from the studio.”
“The studio? Is there someone other than Rojun in there? Si-hoo?”
“Probably not. Si-hoo is in dance practice right now.”
That made sense because the place they were headed to was the studio Kang Rojun frequently used. The keyboard sound became even clearer right in front of the studio. Manager Kim Ki-baek had a puzzled expression.
‘……They’re good.’
From the melody brushing past their ears, it was clear it wasn’t just random playing, it was a fairly skilled level of keyboard performance. That was when Manager Kim Ki-baek became convinced that there was someone else inside the studio along with Kang Rojun.
‘Did Rojun invite someone?’
The producing team? Or could it really be Si-hoo? But he hadn’t heard anything about it. It wasn’t panic, just puzzlement. Rojun had never asked anyone for help when working. Then, Manager Kim Ki-baek recalled the conversation he had with the producer that morning. It was something about how Kang Rojun might eventually need a keyboard while composing.
‘No way- did he start learning the keyboard in the middle of all this??’
Manager Kim Ki-baek glanced at the A&R staff behind him and slowly brought his index finger to his lips. A signal to stay quiet. Then he very slowly opened the studio door.
A door gap about the size of a fist appeared. Soon, the keyboard sound hit their ears more strongly.
-♬♪
The song was ‘GreenBee’. Though it had a slightly unfamiliar feel because it was being played on a keyboard (piano), the more they listened, the clearer it became that it was definitely ‘GreenBee’. Soon, Manager Kim Ki-baek rolled his eyes through the door gap and slightly opened his mouth. A rather surprised expression. The A&R team staff behind him reacted the same way.
The reason was simple.
Inside, there was no one else except for Kang Rojun, and the one playing the keyboard attached to the studio was none other than.
‘Rojun?’
It was Kang Rojun. Black-haired Rojun was calmly playing the keyboard with a composed expression. With the perfect performance combined with that absurdly handsome visual.
“……”
“……”
“……”
Manager Kim Ki-baek and the staff, staring at Kang Rojun through the crack of the door, were dumbfounded. They were all unconsciously captivated by Rojun’s playing. Questions started to arise about a minute later. Even though Manager Kim Ki-baek was witnessing Rojun’s skilled keyboard performance, he could barely believe it.
‘W-what. He can play piano too?? It wasn’t just the guitar?’
Was he just pretending for a moment? That didn’t make sense either.
‘He’s good. Then why hasn’t he used the keyboard until now??’
The A&R team staff also had tangled expressions on their faces.
At that moment.
“Ah.”
Manager Kim Ki-baek let out a short word. The keyboard sound stopped, and Rojun had turned to look at them. Making eye contact with Rojun, Manager Kim Ki-baek opened the studio door and began with an apology.
“…Sorry, Rojun. I heard the keyboard from the studio, so I opened the door without thinking.”
Kang Rojun, who had stood up from the keyboard, gave a soft smile.
“It’s fine. You came because of the Japanese lyrics, right?”
“That’s true but Rojun, you can play piano too?”
The other staff also came up beside Kim Ki-baek with wide eyes. It was a bit burdensome. Rojun mumbled inwardly but acted like it was nothing.
“Yes. Just a bit. It’s been a while since I played, but it wasn’t bad.”
That comment was pretty good, right? Rojun gave himself a small mental compliment, while Manager Kim Ki-baek let out a weak laugh.
“Not bad? No, it wasn’t just that. You were incredibly good.”
“Thank you.”
At Rojun’s unexpectedly simple response, Manager Kim Ki-baek was momentarily at a loss for words. That pause lasted a few seconds. Then he spoke again.
“That song you just played on the keyboard, it was ‘GreenBee’, right?”
“Yes.”
“By any chance, can you play the other ‘Vanguard’ songs too?”
“Sure.”
“Could we hear one?”
“No?”
“Ah.”
Kang Rojun, smiling with his eyes, sat down at the keyboard.
“Just kidding.”
He moved his fingers without hesitation. After that, Kang Rojun played the first verse of ‘Windveil’ and ‘Flying Bell’, debut songs of ‘Vanguard’, on the keyboard. Once again, Manager Kim Ki-baek and the staff were too stunned to do anything but listen.
‘What is this kid’s talent, really??!’
‘Wow- it’s not just that he’s decent… this is an insane level.’
‘With that face and now even playing piano, the destructive power is ridiculous……’
By the time the souls of the A&R team staff were beginning to melt away, Kang Rojun’s performance came to an end. Still seated, he turned his head, and then suddenly, Manager Kim Ki-baek.
“Rojun, this is too good to be used only for composing.”
Placed a hand on Kang Rojun’s shoulder.
“How about showing it off at the ‘Vanguard’ show-con?”
Behind him.
The A&R team staff reacted dramatically to Manager Kim Ki-baek’s idea, and although it was a situation Rojun hadn’t considered, it didn’t sound bad.
‘Well, I already played guitar with Si-hoo hyung during ‘Produce That 100!’ It might be kind of fun?’
Thanks to that, Rojun’s answer came quickly.
“Sure. I’m fine with it.”
Manager Kim Ki-baek gave a double thumbs-up.
“I’ll add it to the cue sheet.”
Then Manager Kim Ki-baek began a deeper discussion with the A&R team. After also confirming the Japanese lyrics Rojun had written, they finally left the studio. Now, Rojun’s keyboard skills would soon spread quickly throughout the entire company.
Meanwhile, Kang Rojun.
“Piano performance at the show-con-”
He imagined the vast stage at Gocheok Dome. A chill ran through him along with a sense of tension. Unconsciously, he opened and closed his hands repeatedly and then shifted the focus of his thoughts. He pulled out his phone. Before Manager Kim Ki-baek had arrived, the ‘AI Simulation’ app had sent many notifications.
First:
-[User: Kang Rojun / Age: 24 / Height: 186 / Desired Occupation: Idol / Coins Owned: 1,193]
-[Passive: Overwhelm / Limit Breakthrough]
-[Title: (Evolved) All-round Entertainer / (Evolved) World Star / Global Genius+2 / Instrument Master+2]
-[Side Jobs: [1] Screenwriter, [2] Actor, [3] Lyricist, [4] Composer, [5] Producer]
-[Global Languages: [1] Japanese, [2] English]
-[Instruments: [1] Acoustic Guitar, [2] Piano]
Because he had learned piano, his title ‘Instrument Master’ had increased by +1. Piano was also added to the list of instruments. From now on, the coins Kang Rojun would earn for completing daily missions would be 19.
‘Almost 20.’
In addition, there was a significant change in Rojun’s stat for ‘Composition’.
-[Composition (60.1/150)]
It had jumped up by about 15 points in one go. That was clearly due to the piano training. After briefly checking his status, Rojun let out a small laugh.
‘Come to think of it, a lot of things have increased.’
He placed his hands on the keyboard again. Just like when he learned guitar, it was fascinating to now be able to handle an instrument at a skilled level that he couldn’t even touch just a few minutes ago. Immersed in the keyboard for a few more minutes, Rojun finally.
“Time to move on to ‘Song No. 3’.”
Resumed composing the previously paused ‘Song No. 3’.
Somehow, the musical inspiration or sensations in his head felt completely different from before. If he were to compare, previously it felt like the background was a school playground, but now it was like running through a vast field. Moreover, Rojun changed his work setup as well. Before, he had been sitting fairly far from the keyboard, but now it was right next to him, with a laptop or tablet placed in front. To the right was the guitar.
It was the very setup of a true musician.
Rojun alternated between playing the keyboard, picking up the guitar, and placing his hands on the laptop.
Seemed like he was on a composing streak.
“Just adding the keyboard changes the whole quality of the work.”
Nothing makes time pass faster than when things are going well. Riding the flow, Kang Rojun became completely absorbed in composing, and by the time he came to his senses, the clock was already pointing to nighttime.
As a result.
“…I finished it?”
He had completed ‘Song No. 3’.
And then.
-[Hidden Mission ‘Complete a composition using a new instrument!’ has been achieved! 20 coins have been provided as a reward.]
As expected, the reward had arrived.
Two days later, the 5th. GN Entertainment.
From the morning, the ‘Vanguard’ members, who had come to work, gathered briefly in the practice room to listen to a briefing from Manager Kim Ki-baek, and soon dispersed one by one to resume their individual training. However, Kim Ki-baek had a few more things to relay to Kang Rojun.
“Rojun. Um- we got a call from Netflix Japan.”
Since the weather was bitterly cold, Kang Rojun, wearing a black beanie, asked back.
“Is it about ‘Like a Kaleidoscope’?”
“That’s right. It’s about the script reading for ‘Like a Kaleidoscope’. The location will obviously be in Japan, and from what I’ve heard, since there are so many cast members, they’re splitting the script reading into Part 1 and Part 2.”
Script reading. Naturally, Kang Rojun recalled the time of ‘Rental Lover’. How was it back then? It was his very first script reading, so his mind had been all over the place, and because of that, there wasn’t much he remembered clearly.
‘This time I’ll be doing it with Japanese actors?’
Someone else might say it must be nerve-wracking doing it in such an unfamiliar environment, but surprisingly, Kang Rojun wasn’t too fazed.
‘It’ll probably just feel like working with some random Japanese people I don’t know.’
He didn’t know much about Korea’s entertainment scene, so how much more clueless could he be about Japan’s? It just felt a bit awkward, nothing more, nothing less. Around that time, Manager Kim Ki-baek spoke up again.
“The script reading you’ll be participating in is the first session, and it’s on February 22. There could be changes, but it’s unlikely. Changing the date would mean rescheduling all the actors over there.”
“Okay, I’ve done this once before.”
“Right? Back during ‘Rental Lover’. Um- aside from the actors being Japanese, the process will probably be similar. You’ll be attending as both writer and actor, and while I’d prefer to make it an overnight schedule, considering Vanguard’s current situation, we might have to do it in a single day.”
In other words, he might have to fly to Japan in the morning, finish the script reading, and return to Korea the same day. Since he could get some sleep on the plane, Rojun thought it was fine.
“Sure, I don’t mind.”
“Okay- I’ll handle the rest, so you just focus on preparing for the script reading. Oh, and also-”
Manager Kim Ki-baek then handed over a fairly thick bundle of documents.
“For this first script reading, looks like Netflix Japan shelled out some money. The lineup of Japanese actors is impressive.”
Indeed, the stack was filled with top-tier Japanese stars. But to Kang Rojun’s eyes.
‘They’re all unfamiliar.’
They just looked like Japanese Person 1 or 2 to him.
Meanwhile, in the main conference room.
Various executives, department heads, and even CEO Ha Seo-hwan had gathered. At present, CEO Ha Seo-hwan was receiving reports from each department regarding ‘Vanguard’. He was checking the progress of each aspect.
“Of Vanguard’s debut songs, ‘GreenBee’ has been completed, and the rest should be finished by next week.”
Songs, choreography, media strategy, photoshoot, music video, members’ conditions, practice volume, etc., an overwhelming number of topics flowed through the conference room. CEO Ha Seo-hwan, legs crossed, quietly listened without speaking.
“……”
Eventually, all the reports concluded. A brief silence filled the room. From executives to staff, everyone had their eyes on GN Entertainment’s leader. CEO Ha Seo-hwan lightly tapped the table with his index finger, then spoke in a low, weighty voice.
“Then, let’s confirm Vanguard’s show-con for April 5.”