Chapter 130 : Pretending Not to Know, Then Ta-da!
Chapter 130: Pretending Not to Know, Then Ta-da!
Kim Minsoo, as I knew him, had sharp ears.
Sharp enough to match wits with my hyung.
It was the same back during Ancora.
I tried to hide it, but the moment he heard the song, he instantly figured out I was Stay.
So I naturally assumed he would catch on this time too.
Even if Do Gibong was a bit emotionally intense, he wasn’t the type whose voice changed drastically when singing.
So I figured Kim Minsoo would obviously know that the vocalist was Do Gibong.
But why did he sound like one of those judges on audition shows? He wasn’t that kind of person.
I glanced at Do Gibong out of the corner of my eye.
He was spaced out.
He stared blankly into space with the expression of a senior in high school holding their mock exam results.
Don’t tell me… he’s sulking?
Just as that concerned thought crossed my mind.
“But you know,”
“……Yes.”
“I did think this. Would the song have been this perfect if Junhyun had sung it alone?”
Oh? Was this finally a proper evaluation?
Even I perked up my ears.
“It definitely started with Junhyun. He has a voice that naturally draws attention. But... if it had been just him, it might’ve come off a bit dry. Right, Taeyoon?”
I jumped in immediately.
“Exactly. Junhyun’s calm tone got completely blanketed with an excess of emotion, which made it surprisingly convincing. I guess you could say they’re harmonious?”
A natural back-and-forth.
Snap!
This time, Kim Minsoo flicked his fingers with delight and added,
“Right! It sounds like Junhyun is leading, but if you listen closely, that’s not it. It’s more like Junhyun is riding on the emotional timeline built by the other vocalist. Damn, it’s good. So good.”
He sounded genuinely moved.
Kim Minsoo expressed his impressions with various enthusiastic interjections.
“Stay was the planner, but the two vocalists really completed it.”
It was his specialty.
That flurry of compliments hovering somewhere between pure nonsense and cold hard truth.
As expected, Do Gibong’s expression changed.
Like a teenager in puberty, he turned beet red, shifted from a relaxed posture to a polite one, and even covered his mouth like a shy girl.
Still, it was kind of sweet.
Until—
“So in the end, it couldn’t have worked without both of them. That combo is just insane.”
The moment Kim Minsoo finished speaking…!
“Gasp…!”
Do Gibong let out a breath, his face lit up with emotion. The corners of his mouth shot upward uncontrollably.
And then—
“Hooah…”
He gazed at Kim Minsoo as if entranced.
The same guy who used to act all cool, saying his song hitting number one on the Maron Chart was just luck.
Now he was making exaggerated expressions he’d never shown even on variety shows.
I couldn’t bear to watch, so I turned my head away.
And there he was—Kim Minsoo.
“……”
He was smiling subtly.
Following his gaze, I saw Do Gibong on the verge of tears.
Hyung, are you crying?
…was what I wanted to say, but I barely held it in.
If I said that, he might really burst out crying.
Well, whatever. Even I felt proud listening to it.
So how must he feel?
This meant that—
He had seen potential in the very voice that once got him rejected.
But wait a second.
Just a moment ago, it was hard to tell if he even recognized Do Gibong’s voice.
But seeing him smile like that made it obvious.
This was—
Yeah, a build-up. That’s what it was.
Pretending not to know, then ta-da! to move hearts.
Jeez, CEO Kim Minsoo…
I couldn’t help it anymore. I turned to him and asked,
“When did you know?”
I was genuinely curious.
Was it after hearing the song, or did he know ever since we sat at the café?
Do Gibong must’ve felt like the cat was out of the bag because he chimed in too.
“CEO, you really surprised me. I was scared you’d harshly criticize it without knowing it was me. I wouldn’t have known what to do.”
But Kim Minsoo just smiled gently instead of answering.
So CEO-like, so stylish, as if saying it was no big deal.
“Wow…”
Nod.
As expected.
That’s a CEO for you.
No need to ask further at this point.
Do Gibong X Baek Junhyun combo officially confirmed!
Even though it was just one arrangement—
I had prepared two more songs just for these two.
I pretended not to know, pretended to be nervous.
Drooping my eyes slightly, I asked Kim Minsoo,
“Then… will you release the album?”
“That was already decided.”
“Hmm?”
“Stay is amazing at everything. We’ve gotta get the contract going right away. But wait—since it’s a duet, did you come up with a group name?”
Now that was a welcome question.
Surprisingly, I had already thought of a few group names after seeing Do Gibong and Baek Junhyun sing together.
“I came up with one.”
“Ooh. If it’s made by the producer, it’s gotta be good. What is it?”
I answered confidently.
“How about Double Line?”
“Double Line… what does it mean?”
“Literally.”
Double line—two lines.
It symbolized two different timelines and emotions intersecting to complete a single song.
Since both of their tones were emotional, I avoided flashy or artificial names.
It was intuitive and easy to abbreviate.
“Oh? I like that.”
“Double Line? Shortened to ‘Deobla’? That’s got a ring to it. What do you think, Junhyun?”
“Taeyoon, you’re good at naming things too, huh.”
Thank goodness.
Everyone seemed to like it.
“Great. The group name is set. While we’re at it, should we record today?”
“I don’t think the recording engineer is here today?”
“Really? Then I guess it’s time for me to show off some skills.”
“Whoa. CEO, you can do recording too? Just admit it—what can’t you do?”
In response, Kim Minsoo brushed back his bangs and replied,
“Pretty much everything?”
Damn. That’s a real CEO right there.
And just like that, the Double Line project officially began.
With Kim Minsoo’s full support.
“Was it obvious?”
“Huh? It really was? I think I was the only one who noticed.”
“Phew… Taeyoon saved me there.”
That’s right.
Kim Minsoo didn’t know.
He had just been staring off into space, lost in thought, then smiled.
He had never even imagined that Do Gibong was one of the duet members.
At least, not until Taeyoon asked, “When did you find out?”
Simply put, Taeyoon had given him a hint.
“Taeyoon is really thoughtful. Don’t you think?”
“Exactly. He probably thought I might slip up, so he jumped right in with, ‘CEO! You’re not still clueless, right?’”
Kim Minsoo figured Taeyoon’s hint had helped him get past an embarrassing moment smoothly.
“You didn’t know either, did you?”
“Mr. Do Gibong is a really cold person.”
“Right? Who would’ve guessed that voice could come from that face?”
“Is our CEO losing his edge?”
“Ugh. This isn’t about instincts.”
“Then what is it?”
Kim Minsoo paused for a moment.
No matter how diverse someone could be, there was always a predictable range.
But Do Gibong… had gone beyond that.
Taeyoon had once again drawn out a new side of someone.
So naturally.
Like always.
“I thought he was just a star composer. But seeing him today—he’s a real singer. He’s got soul.”
“It’s strange. He’s so different from what I’d heard.”
“Rumors? What kind of rumors?”
As if worried someone might overhear,
Yoon Seonghan lowered his head and whispered.
“A ruthless money freak? Heard he doesn’t do anything that doesn’t make money.”
“That’s it?”
“He’s super picky about people, too. A self-proclaimed lone wolf… maybe even a voluntary outcast?”
“Strange. Sounds exactly like the rumors.”
“Eh?”
A question mark floated over Yoon Seonghan’s head.
Along with a look that said, What’s the CEO talking about this time?
“He’s working with Stay—what else would that be if not something profitable?”
“Oh… that makes sense.”
“That song? Even I wanted to sing it.”
“…That’s a bit much.”
“Anyway, I owe Taeyoon one. Ugh, I was dizzy just thinking about it.”
“Sometimes the kid’s got a really sweet side. He pretends not to know anything, but in three seconds flat, he’s solved the whole situation.”
Kim Minsoo nodded happily.
Seo Taeyoon, that cheeky brat.
To help him dodge such an awkward moment like that.
What kind of gift would express his gratitude?
That was all that filled Kim Minsoo’s head.
Who was it again?
Ah, right. One of those entertainment company uncles.
Every time he saw me, he’d flash a dad-smile and say, “A pumpkin rolled in all by itself.”
And whenever he said that, I always thought—
Is it really that big of a deal?
All I did was make a song.
Was that enough to make someone feel that pleased?
Wasn’t that a bit much?
I figured, maybe that’s just how people get when they’re older.
But now…
…I was doing the same thing.
“Taeyoon, shut your mouth. You’re drooling. If you damage the monitor, you better pay for it.”
“There’s honey dripping from your eyes, though?”
“You like it that much?”
“Yes. More than usual.”
What I was watching was none other than Double Line’s behind-the-scenes recording footage.
Junhyun and Gibong-hyung singing in one voice.
And me, standing in front of the console.
I didn’t know how many times I’d replayed it.
It was a bit embarrassing, but this was, in a way…
Basically, it was my own creation from beginning to end.
Watching Baek Junhyun and Do Gibong sing made my shoulders rise with pride.
“Taeyoon really seems like a true producer now. You handled the recording so smoothly.”
“They just sang so well. I didn’t do much.”
“Seems like you’ve got ambition.”
“This is ambition?”
“Yup. You kind of remind me of myself. I was the same at the start. Watching the kids I picked sing from below the stage… it felt amazing. That’s all I could say.”
That much, I understood.
Han Yujin, UTAR, Signum, Tae Sihyun……
But Double Line was different.
I started to get why those entertainment company uncles were so obsessed with discovering new talent, and why they paraded their chosen trainees around like prized possessions.
Maybe it was silly, since the only thing I’d ever raised was a hamster…
But still.
My baby turned out so well. So pretty.
Let’s go even bigger. I’ll write you a better song next time!
That’s all I could think.
As I stared intently at the screen, Kim Minsoo spoke to me.
“By the way, Taeyoon. The other songs turned out great too.”
“Oh, they’re all finalized?”
“Yeah. Gibong wrote two songs too.”
“Wow… Five songs for a debut single.”
“Wanna listen?”
Ooh, this was a new experience.
I was always the one getting evaluated, but I’d never evaluated someone else’s music.
If you could even call this evaluating.
I glanced over the tracklist Kim Minsoo handed me.
[ 01. Crossing Tomorrow (Title) ]
[ 02. Pour Down ]
[ 03. Fade in ]
These were my songs.
If you thought something seemed off, you were right.
I had changed the title of War, War.
Renamed it to Crossing Tomorrow, completely erasing the old tone.
The issue was with Do Gibong’s songs.
[ 04. You Came to Me Like Spring Flowers ]
[ 05. Half-erased Memories ]
“…Are these titles for real?”
Just hearing the titles was enough to make someone faint.
After listening to the songs, I saw Do Gibong in a whole new light.
“His emotions are surprisingly soft and girlish, considering how he looks.”
He was finally letting out all the emotions he’d kept hidden.
You’re wondering how?
He was a natural-born balladeer.
His emotions were so delicate, it was almost overwhelming.
How the heck was I supposed to produce this?
More importantly—
…What if he had never been allowed to become a singer?