Free Web NovelI should have picked that one!
That one!
My juniors bit their lips or covered their mouths, stifling laughs at the regret etched on my face.
“You said you chose well, though?”
“......”
I couldn’t hear the maknae’s teasing. freewebnovёl.ƈom
“Deoksun-ah” of all things.
If I’d drawn that, it would have been epic—screen time plus Grandma Kim Deok-soon.
A chance to catch two Deoksuns, two rabbits at once!
As we walked back to our seats, Junghyun and Bi-joo silently patted my shoulder.
“...Huh? Why the sad face all of a sudden?”
At Risa’s question I smiled and replied,
“It’s nothing, sunbaenim.”
I straightened my drooped shoulders and grinned.
Unless it was a personal live with fans, there wasn’t time or atmosphere to share private grandmother stories.
I shook off the disappointment and joined the post-performance chat.
As the song replayed, everyone marvelled.
“It truly is a hidden masterpiece. I know a lot of No Jae-hyun’s songs, but this one is so obscure.”
“The soul and R&B elements in here are amazing, even now. Wow he was ahead of his time.”
“Woo-joo-ssi, did you know this song?”
I nodded.
“I’ve heard it before. I don’t know all the details, but....”
My answer prompted each junior to share their impressions—warmth, sadness, and so on.
Like the other singers, they loved the melody and emotion.
But then—
“It’s hard, isn’t it?”
Cha Woo-hyun calmly stroked his mustache and said,
“You’ll really struggle. This isn’t an ordinary song.”
“It’s extremely difficult.”
Song Bohyeong agreed.
“From the theme—reflecting on a life lived—it’s an emotion young people can’t easily express. Plus No Jae-hyun’s signature syncopation. It’s tough to tackle.”
“Huh, tough, huh. Want to swap with me?”
I burst out laughing at Risa’s pleading, sorrowful eyes as she spoke about the children’s song “Ttorongttorong.”
I laughed and said,
“As the seniors said, it won’t be easy. Thinking about having to rearrange this....”
It really was a tremendously difficult song, both internally—syncopation, emotion—and externally under the show’s concept.
Challenge, Song Discovery Unit! aims to revitalize little-known old songs in a modern style.
That made the name No Jae-hyun a double-edged sword.
Among the original artists featured today, he has the highest recognition, so it drew attention.
In terms of buzz, that’s good.
But being so famous meant the audience would judge more strictly.
His legendary status meant that any shortfall would invite harsh criticism.
All the more reason to be nervous.
“Ugh, that’s tough.”
Jo Yuri joked,
“Too hard—you might give up halfway, no?”
She smiled kindly.
“I hope you all do well.”
“Thank you.”
I smiled outwardly, but inside I was boiling.
Though harmless on its face, it was a provocation.
Suggesting we’d quit halfway implied she didn’t see us as equals.
She could never have said that to Cha Woo-hyun or Risa.
I met her gaze and smiled,
“Thank you. We’ll work hard.”
I was grateful—truly.
Thanks to that, my nerves about the song vanished.
In place of tension and fun arose fierce competitiveness.
Since competing against Street Boys before debut, it’d been a long time since I wanted to crush someone like this.
Though the members wore “for TV” smiles, their eyes blazed.
“I will win.”
“I’ll practice like a dog.”
While we fired up our fighting spirit, Risa propped her chin on her hand and changed the subject.
“I’m excited. Just thinking about hearing the behind-the-scenes on these songs makes me look forward to it.”
“Me too. I’m thrilled.”
What remained was two weeks of individual practice filming.
But unlike other competitions, this show included meeting the original artist.
Meeting the song’s singer, composer, or lyricist to hear the song’s backstory.
Rather than using the song simply to showcase skill, the concept was to highlight the narrative within each piece.
As we each looked forward to meeting an old senior singer or composer, Song Bohyeong, dusting off sparkles from his outfit, asked,
“MC-nim, can I ask something?”
-Yes, please.
“There are six songs. What happens to the one that isn’t chosen? Is it just not performed?”
Everyone was thinking it.
Each song was precious. It felt sad that one would drop out just by luck.
-Oh, that is a good question.
Baek Sang-jung smiled knowingly.
-You’re feeling sorry for the unpicked song, right? Among the six, one will be buried.
The cast nodded.
-So the production prepared something. The excluded song—like Famous Deok’s “Deoksun-ah”—will be performed as a special stage by the participant who wins first place in that round.
My eyes widened more than anyone’s.
What?
A special stage?
I jolted...... ah. My neck tensed. I placed a hand on my throat and stared with wide eyes.
“MC-nim!”
I raised my hand.
“The first-place bonus?”
-Yes, after all rounds of Song Discovery Unit! conclude, at season’s end there will be a concert-style special stage. The remaining songs go to the round winners.
In short, after finishing all rounds—Round 1, Round 2, and so on—at the final episode, they’ll use the leftover songs for stages.
-Your performance will determine the final concert lineup!
The singers’ eyes went wide.
-If someone wins five rounds, they basically get their own solo concert in the finale. Meanwhile, someone else might not get any stage.
Everyone swallowed hard.
Not having a finale stage meant never ranking first—a blow to any singer’s pride.
Yet the reward was tempting too.
But for me, one thing mattered above all...
“I will win the first round.”
I could not miss this chance.
To perform “Deoksun-ah” as the special stage.
I pictured myself holding the mic in a future where petals fluttered around.
Absolutely!
Kim Deok-soon—no, that song is mine.
Immediately after the first recording, the broadcast date was set.
February 4.
Ten days from now, on Wednesday—that was the first competition date.
“Short notice.”
Seok-hwan hyung clicked his tongue while adjusting schedules in the office, then cast me a worried look.
“Think you’ll be ready in time?”
“I can do it.”
I nodded.
“If I try, it’s possible. It’ll be tough, but I can grind the juniors a bit....”
“Grind?”
“You heard wrong. Just cut sleep time and practice more.”
“That might kill you.”
He sighed, looking at his diary.
We’d have to film the “Idol Sports Day” special at TBC. It’s a Lunar New Year sports show.
All active idols gather to compete in athletic events.
Though officially called Idol Sports Day, fans call it the “Idolympics.”
Regardless of ratings or buzz, it’s notorious among fans.
Competing idols juggle an insane schedule and often get injured.
Our company worried too.
“I’m very concerned. That’s why we normally avoid shows that strain your bodies....”
“I’ll see it as an opportunity.”
I smiled.
“We can’t skip it even if we wanted to. If we do well, we’ll make an impression on viewers.”
“In theory, yes.”
“Don’t worry too much, hyung. We’re pros now. We’ll manage our condition, so no worries.”
“......Alright.”
Seok-hwan hyung sighed briefly.
His big worry was overlapping a physically taxing show right before a competition with top singer seniors.
If we got injured, we might lose a round.
He adjusted his glasses.
“In any case, let’s prepare well, okay?”
“We’re talking basics with the A&R team. We’ve set the general direction.”
“......Oh dear, they’ll be exhausted.”
I narrowed my eyes.
“Huh? What?”
“Nothing.”
I smirked at the manager feigning innocence.
“We’re almost done preparing, but not finalized yet. We have to meet No Jae-hyun for filming. Talking with him might change my ideas on the song.”
He nodded.
Then, “Oh,” he said, sharing a detail.
“By the way, the Song Discovery Unit shoot is set for next week... sorry, but you’ll be flying again.”
“...W-what?”
I looked panicked.
“Why? How come?”
“Because Mr. No Jae-hyun lives where you have to take a plane.”
I stared blankly.
“Where does he live? Abroad?”
“No.”
Seok-hwan hyung answered.
“Jeju Island.”
“...I see.”
After a long pause, I parted my lips.
“Can’t we take a boat?”
Tap tap. Tap tap.
-How to take a boat to Jeju
Tap.
-Jeju ferry schedule
-Why does the ferry take so loooong
-I hate planes
Tap tap.
My fingers flew over the phone.
On the portal site’s recent searches, words like “Jeju,” “ferry” filled the suggestions.
I looked up to see the little head on my shoulder.
“What are you looking at?”
“I’m checking boat options to Jeju.”
“Really? You can get to Jeju by boat?”
“Maknae, do you know how our ancestors crossed between mainland and island...?”
“Ah, right.” The maknae nodded and I laughed.
Bi-joo asked,
“It must take forever by boat, right?”
“Twelve hours from Busan. If it leaves at 7 PM, it arrives the next morning.”
“...Then that’s tough.”
Bi-joo smiled and said, “Here, eat this.”
Junghyun fed me an energy jelly, pitying me.
Ri-hyeok clicked his tongue.
“What good is googling now? You’re at the airport.”
“.......”
“Just close your eyes and get on.”
He was right.
We were at Gimpo Airport, past the departure gates, standing in line to board.
Every time the line inched forward, I grew more anxious.
Each glimpse of the plane’s engine made my heart pound.
I was more nervous and uneasy than during the first month-end evaluation when I lacked dance skills.
I kept looking back toward the exit, but I couldn’t leave now......
“Stay back a bit, you guys. I’m not running away.”
“You never know.”
Bi-joo said.
“We’re here as a precaution.”
“That’s right. I’ll protect my bondservant.”
“......”
They surrounded me like penguins encircling prey, afraid I’d bolt away from the plane.
“I’m not running.”
“Then why are you stepping back?”
At Ri-hyeok’s words I cleared my throat.
“It’s part of Masai walking.”
“Don’t lie, just board.”
“.......”
In the end, with sad faces, they ushered me onto the plane.
Walking down the twisting jet bridge like a path through hell, Junghyun placed a hand on my shoulder and smiled kindly.
“If you handle this flight well, I’ll buy Jeju black pork cutlet for you, hyung.”
“Junghyun.”
I asked seriously,
“A big one?”
“A big one.”
“All right, let’s go.”
Ri-hyeok shook his head.
“How old are you, seriously?”
I whispered to Junghyun,
“Don’t get him one. Junghyun.”
“Yes, hyung.”
“Tell him to eat stir-fried squid instead.”
Nearby passengers walking by chuckled—hopefully not at me.
Well, cutlet does sound funny.
But facing something you fear makes you a bit childish.
I was trembling.
If there were a dimensional gate, I’d slip through it and hold Grandma Kim Deok-soon’s hand.
Just thinking that calmed me slightly.
The first round’s ultimate goal: win first place. Then I’d get “Deoksun-ah.”
Thinking that I had to, I felt—
“Ugh.”
...Not one bit calmer.
Shivering on the plane as it powered up for takeoff, I really hated flying.
I’d endured it once for Taiwan, but it was agonizing all over again.
At least this flight was short.
“Hello!”
We greeted the production team waiting at Jeju International Airport—assistant director, writers, and small camera crew.
During the drive to No Jae-hyun’s home in some eup on Jeju, the writer explained,
“He used to live in Seoul, but his chronic illness worsened, so he came to Jeju to recuperate.”
We asked with concern,
“Is he okay for filming?”
“Yes, he personally granted permission. But he can’t film for long.”
“Oh, okay...”
“Today’s shoot will be short and tight.”
While we listened to various instructions, the sound of waves lapping came faintly.
A drizzly day turned bright as we wound along the coastal road and entered a village.
“Wow.”
Under morning sun, rooftops shone in vibrant colors.
It looked like a foreign town.
More like a village of vacation homes built by outsiders than one settled by locals.
“These houses are amazing.”
“Must be all villas. I see some uninhabited ones too.”
We, playful again, whispered to the maknae,
“Jiho, do you have a villa like these?”
“Hmm...”
The maknae, thinking, replied,
“In Gangneung I have one like these, but the one in Busan is bigger. No, maybe the one in Haenam is similar?”
“......”
“Hey, don’t stare like that. They look many but there aren’t that many.”
“Brag much?”
Ri-hyeok scowled as Jiho said,
“Oh, right. I told dad I want to hang out at the villa with hyungs when I have time.”
Hearing that, we teased Ri-hyeok,
“Let the kid brag. You couldn’t stand it.”
“Then no villa for you, Ri-hyeok.”
“Ri-hyeok can stay outside. I’ll set up a mosquito net for you.”
“...Wow, what a mood shift.”
Before anyone could judge, the vehicle soon arrived at a large two-story home nestled in the village’s corner.
No Jae-hyun’s house.
While the crew set up equipment, we took deep breaths and stretched.
“Ugh, I’m nervous.”
“Me too.”
Meeting a figure who’d left a mark on Korean pop music history made my heart race.
“Let’s start filming.”
The ENG camera crew framed their shots, and we nodded, then walked toward the house.
Across the neatly trimmed lawn, along a gravel path, we stopped at the front door. My juniors exchanged looks and nodded to me.
Ding dong.
An immediately irritable voice came from inside.
-Who is it!
Before we could answer, the hoarse voice barked again.
-I said, who is it!
Yet I couldn’t bring my lips to form words.
There was a subtle warmth in that cranky tone.
It felt less tense «N.o.v.e.l.i.g.h.t» and more friendly, somehow familiar.
As though a voice aged over fifty years would sound like that.
“......”
At that thought, we all turned our heads.
Under the gray sky, a stark white face peered at us, frowning.
-What is it? Why are you staring at me!
The uncanny echo of that voice made us blink.
