Chapter 141

As is customary for numerous companies at the beginning of the year, LUX was busy as well.

There were many tasks to accomplish, such as rigging the 3D avatars of the members from the first season and creating the first group song, along with recruiting for the second season.

Therefore, verifying the authenticity of a strange application email claiming to be the famous actress Min Da-yeon had to be pushed down the priority list.

After all, the recruitment period for the second season of Fantasia was until February.

“Well, I can just ask Ha Eun to find out if it was a fake or not.”

“It would be fun if it’s the real Min Da-yeon, noona.”

“Would it?”

Thus, time passed.

On the last day of January, when white snowflakes were fluttering.

At the same time, it was the day when the first group song recording of the Fantasia members was scheduled.

-Creeeak.

“…Is Ha Eun here yet?”

“Yes, Yena arrived first.”

Yena, who had arrived three hours before the scheduled time, quickly entered the recording studio.

She wanted to finish the recording as soon as possible and escape before Ha Eun arrived.

‘If I get caught by Ha Eun, I won’t be able to go home today.’

Yena still vividly remembered the torment she endured from Ha Eun during the recording of Yuna’s cover song.

She had nightmares a few times because of Ha Eun, who had tortured Yuna relentlessly, recording even the guide vocals herself.

Of course, she knew that Ha Eun was an outstanding singer.

She was well aware that thanks to Ha Eun’s training, Yuna’s first cover song received good reviews.

However, at least when it came to singing, Yena didn’t want to be associated with Ha Eun ever again.

The lessons from Ha Eun, who was just an ordinary person and not a professional singer, were far too harsh.

Especially, she never wanted to meet those chilling dark sunglasses again…

-Creeeak.

“Hello.”

“Kyaaaaaaah!!!”

Almost simultaneously, bang!

Yena, who was about to start the first recording, toppled backward right in the middle of the recording studio.

There was still a considerable amount of time until the scheduled time for the Fantasia members.

No one among the Fantasia members had been informed that Yena was already in the studio.

However, it was an undeniable truth that the person greeting the composer outside the recording studio was Ha Eun.

Regardless of why Ha Eun showed up at the studio earlier than the scheduled time, it didn’t change the fact that Yena had run into Ha Eun.

“But who just fell in the recording studio?”

“It’s Yena.”

“Huh? Yena unnie?”

“Yes.”

Yena trembled at the conversation between Ha Eun and the composer, which was transmitted through the recording studio headphones.

Just seconds later, the sound of footsteps approached.

Once again, the footsteps.

The familiar presence for Yena didn’t stop even after it reached right outside the recording studio.

Then, the eerie dark sunglasses appeared in front of her after all.

“What’s going on? Why do you look so scared?”

“Y-you’re the reason! Why are you wearing sunglasses again?”

“Oh, well. Hye-min unnie said to come as an instructor today instead of the youngest—”

“Ugh…”

And just like that, her head dropped weakly at the terrifying news she couldn’t take.

Unfortunately, she couldn’t foam at the mouth.

Soon after, Yena was dragged outside the recording studio by Ha Eun, who had subtly grasped Yena’s wrists.

Then, turning to the composer who produced the group song for Fantasia, Ha Eun asked if she could start recording first.

“I think it would be better to record the guide vocals first. I’ll get Yena’s feedback after I record.”

“Oh, yes. Please go ahead.”

Knowing Ha Eun’s singing ability well, the composer didn’t reject her suggestion.

Of course, this was a thunderous shock for Yena.

Yet, from Ha Eun’s perspective, she couldn’t quite understand Yena’s reaction.

After all, Ha Eun came early to the studio to record the guide vocals in advance before the other members’ recordings.

In other words, running into Yena was purely coincidental.

Perhaps that’s why.

“I didn’t expect you to be this passionate. I see you in a new light.”

Ha Eun, mistaking Yena’s early arrival for genuine enthusiasm for the group song, looked at her with an admiring gaze.

That was why she decided to pay close attention to Yena’s part in the group song.

“─────♪”

After that, the clear tone unique to Pinocchio resonated in the studio for quite a while.

Approximately four minutes of the group song was recorded solely with Pinocchio’s voice.

However, there would ultimately be a total of five voices divided for recording.

“──♪───♪”

-Drop.

“Um, composer? This part is Mai. So, it’s in Misol unnie’s part, right?”

“Yes. Right after this is Eun-hye’s part.”

“Hm… Then it’s better to go for chest voice rather than falsetto.”

After multiple rounds of feedback, Ha Eun finally finished recording various versions and came back outside the recording studio to talk to Yena.

The dark sunglasses that had nearly driven Yena to the brink were still on.

“1. Practice with the guide vocal version. 2. Practice with the completed version. What do you want to do?”

“3. I’ll come separately later to record…”

“There’s no such option.”

Since the beginning is half the battle, let’s just give it a try.

With Ha Eun’s calm voice as usual, Yena ended up entering the recording studio.

Eventually, she heard the melody of the group song “Illusion” through the headphones in the studio.

Ha Eun’s clear voice, which had filled the studio until just moments ago, was now echoing too.

“♪──♪─♬♪───♪”

‘…It sounds like a solo by Ha Eun.’

Perhaps it was because Ha Eun had already been recognized for her singing ability.

The quality was such that it could have been released as a solo song by the singer Pinocchio rather than a group song for Fantasia.

To be honest, Yena still lacked confidence that she could sing better than Ha Eun’s guide vocals.

Still, she had to open her mouth and sing along because it was her part, not Ha Eun’s.

“♬─♬───♬♪”

The lyrics also fitted better with Yuna, the Demon King, rather than the spirit Diah.

What was contained in the guide vocal was closer to the fierce charisma of the Demon King ruling over everyone than to the innocent charm of a young spirit.

‘In situations like this, it seems I know more about Yuna than I do…’

Even the emotions embedded in the song were aligned with each member’s RP.

As they transitioned from Yuna’s part to other members’ parts, the volume and tone of the guide vocal also changed immediately.

“Uh, Ha Eun. Um… How is it?”

“It’s good! It’s worth the teaching.”

Ha Eun’s expression didn’t seem particularly bad.

The composer, who was sitting right next to Ha Eun, also complimented Yena for singing well.

‘…Was I too scared?’

Just then, while Yena was surprisingly relieved by the better-than-expected responses.

-Beeep.

“Unnie. Can you sing the last part a bit louder? Like, with more accent?”

As usual, Ha Eun’s calm voice delivered a detailed adjustment request.

Simultaneously, Yena’s heart sank.

“W-why? Was it weird?”

“No, it’s not that it was weird. It just seems like it would sound better if you sing the last highlight part a bit louder.”

It seems like it would sound better.

That phrase which had tormented Yena severely in the past sent chills down her spine.

The nightmarish memory of repeating the same part, captured by the phrase “a bit better,” slowly resurfaced.

Yet Ha Eun, who was waiting for Yena’s singing to start again without a care in the world.

Yena then turned to the composer, hoping for last-minute salvation instead of Ha Eun.

“Um, do you think it would sound better if you sing the last part louder, composer?”

“Hmm… I think it would be better to sing louder first and then compare.”

Ultimately, Yena couldn’t escape the recording studio.

Thus, in the end, she had no choice but to sing the last highlight part a bit louder as per Ha Eun’s words.

However, for some reason…

-Beeep.

“It definitely sounds better when you sing it stronger.”

“Then, is it over—”

“Oh, wait a minute. I think there’s a slight mix of breath in the beginning of your part.”

This time, due to feedback on the beginning part,

They began adjusting the dynamics and even fine-tuning slightly off beats explicitly.

-Creeeak.

“Hello~.”

Ultimately, Yena had to stay trapped in the recording studio until the promised time.

In other words, she had been stuck with Ha Eun for three straight hours.

To be fair, there were moments when Ha Eun came into the recording studio to demonstrate.

However, due to Ha Eun’s endless feedback, Yena’s mental and physical strength were already exhausted.

Finally, after encountering the other members, Yena managed to escape from the recording studio.

-Pat.

-Pat.

-…Thud.

“119, please call 119, Eun-hye…”

Of course, no one took out their phone.

Everyone, apart from Yena, thought it was just drama and didn’t take it seriously.

If it was fortunate that Ha Eun’s attention shifted from Yena to the other members, then that was indeed a relief.

“Since Yena unnie and I are done with the recording, let’s start with Misol unnie next in order.”

At that point, the eldest unnie of Fantasia, Park Misol, entered the recording studio, completely unaware of what was about to unfold.

“Oh, right. Ha Eun, there’s something you need to check. Can you step outside for a moment?”

Jee Hye-min, who had been standing behind Maria, called Ha Eun outside the workroom.

Soon, a new tablet was pulled out of her bag.

“I don’t think it’s the case either, but just in case.”

Then a screenshot of the application documents for the second season of Fantasia appeared before Ha Eun.

The problem was, from the name down to the phone number in the contact field, everything felt oddly familiar.

“…Hye-min unnie, is this really the application document?”

“Why? …Could it really be Min Da-yeon?”

Almost simultaneously, Ha Eun nodded.

The end of her head, which had been trembling for a while, dipped slightly before it rose again.

“Is it really true? It’s not a impersonation; it’s really Min Da-yeon. No, is this Da-yeon’s phone number?!”

“Yes… I think it’s really her.”

Strictly speaking, there wasn’t any significant disqualification aside from the uncertain identity of the applicant.

This meant that now that the uncertain identity had been confirmed as genuine, they couldn’t drop her.

“Ha Eun.”

“…Yes.”

“Da-yeon is an actress, just like you.”

“Yes….”

“She wrote her motivation and RP really well. She sings well too.”

“………………..”

“B-but! If you feel too uncomfortable, we can think about it a bit more—”

-Shake, shake.

“Opportunities should be fair. Factors like blood ties or connections shouldn’t appear in an interview; it would be noisy either way.”

‘…So, what happens to me?’

It was Jee Hye-min, who attempted to pick Ha Eun because she was Da Ramji’s broadcasting manager, D.A.

Of course, in the end, everything else had passed, so Ha Eun was accepted.

Nevertheless, it should never be that someone is eliminated just because they are the closest friend.

Like Ha Eun in the past, Da-yeon decided to go for an interview as well.

Strictly speaking, it wouldn’t be harmful for Hye-min or LUX.

Naturally, this was because it was literally like a pumpkin rolling in from the vine.

Just as the prominent celebrity Ha Eun had held the center for the first season members of Fantasia.

It was also expected that Da-yeon, who had been famous since her child actor days, would hold the center for the second-season members of Fantasia.

“Instead, please make sure we don’t have to meet.”

“Huh? Why?”

“Diah doesn’t know that I’m me.”

If she finds out the truth, both of us would be mortified.

With Ha Eun’s quietly murmured words, Hye-min nodded.

“Oh… I understand what you mean.”

And just as talk related to Da-yeon seemed to be wrapping up.

“Hey, Ha Eun.”

“?”

“Do you know that Da-yeon is No-eul?”

“Yes, I know.”

“Then, if Da-yeon gets accepted, Ha Eun, you’ll be Da-yeon’s plaything for a day.”

Are you okay with that?

With a mildly worried tone, Hye-min’s voice made Ha Eun feel her world go dark.

That was because she knew very well that Da-yeon liked Diah a lot.

Yet, it didn’t change the fact that spilled water is spilled water, and a departing bus is a departing bus.

“…The view count will probably be good.”

In the end, Ha Eun reached a state of enlightenment.

There was no focus in her eyes, which were directed toward the floor rather than Hye-min.

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