Chapter 174 : The World Is Wide, and Geniuses Are Many
Chapter 174: The World Is Wide, and Geniuses Are Many
At first, I felt relieved.
Why?
‘The track… changed?’
It wasn’t Stay’s song.
There was no way I could’ve forgotten it.
Just knowing it wasn’t <First Spark>, the one that went up against Daebak Sound, gave me a strange sense of triumph.
But then—
‘Something’s off.’
It was an advertisement video that only played once, but I instantly sensed something was wrong.
First of all, the ad’s theme.
I checked the bottom of the screen.
If it was a track produced specifically for the ad, the BGM’s title and artist info would be displayed.
[ <Take a Bow> – DJ Blackhole ]
Seeing it written out made it feel even stranger.
No matter how famous a DJ might be—
Could a DJ even make a song like this?
This was the kind of vibe that only came from someone with at least ten years of beatmaking experience. Was Blackhole older than he looked?
Even the title wasn’t ordinary.
Take a Bow.
Both Madonna and Rihanna had released songs with that title and had massive success.
To step into the ring with a song of the same name? That took more than just confidence.
On top of that—
‘He writes better music than Stay?’
…That thought actually crossed my mind.
Time in the industry hadn’t gone to waste.
This wasn’t just some background music for a commercial.
It was a kind of proclamation—an artist staking their identity.
To dismiss it as a young DJ’s fleeting success would be a mistake. The track’s depth and completeness were on another level.
It brought back the same awe I felt when Stay first appeared.
The world is wide, and geniuses are many.
When he featured on Lee Jeongin’s track, I just assumed he was a well-known DJ… But if he wrote a song like this, that changed everything.
Even if we missed out on Stay, we couldn’t afford to lose Blackhole!
With that resolution, I replayed the video in my head.
[ Every moment has a rhythm. ]
Right, even his voice had been cool…
“…Huh?”
Wait a minute. I’d definitely heard that voice somewhere before…
A shiver of unease crept up my spine.
‘What is this?’
There was no time to sit around.
I hurriedly logged into KW Electronics’ official YouTube channel.
I had to see how the public was reacting.
Maybe people didn’t care. Just some DJ, right?
But then—
[ Orbit: Design Your Day (with DJ Blackhole) ]
The video had already been released in multiple versions and was blowing up with explosive popularity.
[ Comments ]
↳ First time ever watching a commercial all the way through.
↳ Where the hell did DJ Blackhole come from? Freakin’ monster ㄷㄷㄷㄷㄷ
↳ Calling it now. KW Electronics is taking over Gu-tup Electronics this year. Let’s go stonks~~~~
↳ Took them long enough to stop making boomer ads and finally get it together.
↳ A DJ in a big corporation’s commercial… That’s actually smart.
↳ KW Electronics, release the commercial music already… I’m asking nicely.
↳ That voice—what even is that.
↳↳ For real, I’m dying to see his face ㅠㅠㅠㅠㅠㅠ
↳ That rumor about him being ugly is crap. My sister’s friend works at KW and keeps saying he’s insanely good-looking;;;
↳↳ Even from the silhouette alone, he’s perfect.
↳ (Top comment) Just from the top of his head, you can smell the hotness.
↳↳ LMAO "top of the head" ㅋㅋㅋㅋ But it’s true though.
↳ I wasn’t interested in the Orbit Phone, but now I’m sold. Should I switch next time? The DJing app looks fun.
The view count wasn’t just rising—it was sky-rocketing.
Already in the millions, racing toward ten million views.
And the number of likes? Overwhelming.
This wasn’t just a viral hit—it was a seismic shift in the ad industry. The birth of a supernova.
“What the hell…”
The voice and music were so overwhelming, I had to pause the video.
Then I kept browsing the public’s reaction.
[ Rhythm That Overwhelms the World, Orbit X Blackhole: Take a Bow (Full ver.) ]
↳ Ahh… I’ve been listening to the full 3-minute version for over an hour now.
↳↳ First time I’ve ever replayed a commercial insert song.
↳ Wow, this is the most memorable track I’ve heard recently. Didn’t know DJing could be this cool.
↳ Now I have to buy the Orbit.
↳ As expected from a major corporation… Thinking of switching to Orbit after watching this ad.
↳ “Every moment has a rhythm” << that line is hot as hell. Is that really Blackhole’s voice? Blew me away.
↳↳ If you go to Sierra in Ilsan, you can hear the Signature Sound. Sounds the same lol
↳ Forget skipping—here I am hunting the ad down and replaying it ㅋㅋㅋㅋ
↳ Why don’t they show his face?
↳↳ Honestly, with that level of talent, who cares what he looks like?
Exactly.
Looks no longer mattered.
The public had already fallen hard—for DJ Blackhole, and the song he created.
So what now? Snatch him up—fast.
Even Daebak Sound would be intrigued by this.
Sure, the fact that he worked with Lumière under KIM Entertainment, and that the song was made by Stay, made things a little awkward, but who cared?
Opportunities were open to everyone.
Before I knew it, the movie was about to start.
Lim Geonwoo pulled out his Orbit Earphones and sat holding a large iced Americano, eyes on the screen.
The lights dimmed.
After the emergency exit video ended, the movie was about to begin.
But then—another commercial started playing.
‘What? Don’t they usually start the movie right after?’
Oh, right. Sometimes they tack on big blockbuster trailers.
That was what I was thinking, when—
Boom—!
The very same ad I just watched started playing again.
‘…They’re showing this in theaters too?’
His hand trembled slightly as he watched the ad on the massive screen.
And then—
As the narration rolled out:
[ Rhythm isn’t only in music. ]
He clenched his coffee cup.
The sound of the ice cracking mirrored the unease in his heart.
Why?
‘Stay.’
That name and face flashed in his mind.
Stay’s face overlapped with the silhouette on screen.
When he heard the voice in the YouTube version, he thought it sounded familiar.
And when he watched it on his palm-sized smartphone, he assumed it was just some DJ hiding his face.
But now, watching it on a movie theater screen, everything hit him at once.
‘Don’t tell me they’re the same person…?’
Those eyes above the mask.
Burning with fierce passion, yet staring calmly at everything.
Unshaken by praise or criticism—a stoic strength.
Just like Stay.
It couldn’t be anyone else.
You can’t hide what can’t be hidden.
Only one person had eyes like that—Stay.
“Ha…”
The commercial ended.
I couldn’t take it anymore and shot up from my seat.
“Excuse me. I’ll just step out for a moment.”
I was in no state to watch a movie.
I had to tell CEO Park right away.
What was this feeling bubbling up from deep within my chest?
Jealousy? Or the frustration of losing a battle?
Either way, it didn’t matter.
I wanted to rip off that mask and shove him in front of the public right then and there.
So he wants to hide his identity?
Fine. Then I’ll expose him.
That petty, childish thirst for revenge drove me out of the theater.
I took the red bus from Seoul Station to Bundang.
I had suggested a taxi, but Mom and Auntie had launched a joint attack: “You think money grows on trees?!”
– Bundang is way too far for a taxi!
– There’s a direct bus, just take that.
– That’s right. You need to save money while you’re earning it.
When the two of them teamed up, their attack power didn’t just double—it tripled or quadrupled.
Mom and Auntie sat together in the quiet back row, and I settled in beside them. Just then, my phone buzzed.
[ Yujin Noona ]
A familiar and welcome name.
I slid my finger across the screen and held it to my ear.
“Oh, Noona. What brin—”
I was about to greet her cheerfully, when—
Before I could say a word, her high-pitched voice came blasting through.
—Kyaaaah! Blackhole! Holderbit! I can’t believe it’s the Orbit commercial! That’s insane!
She dumped all her thoughts on me before I even said hello.
That was so like her.
She said she had just wrapped up a Japan tour and was now on a Southeast Asia tour.
We hadn’t been in touch because she was busy, so she must’ve had a lot to say.
—I was shocked when I saw that YouTube ad.
“You were?”
—Why are you so calm?! Don’t you get it? The Orbit ad—that’s the one everyone wants to be in!
“Hehe.”
I just laughed at her words.
Well… I was on a bus. It wasn’t really the place to let my reactions run wild.
—Seriously, that ad came out amazing. I don’t even know how many times I’ve watched it. I even left a comment!
“Not a hate comment, right?”
—Hate comment? I almost did. Why didn’t you show your face? Are you trying to frustrate your poor, aging Noona? Hurry up and reveal it already!
Calling herself an “aging Noona”—we’re not even that far apart in age.
“You already know what I look like.”
—It’s not the same!
Han Yujin went on a passionate rant for a while.
About how symbolic the Orbit Phone commercial was.
How people were reacting to it.
I already knew all of it—but it still felt great. The kind of stuff you could listen to forever.
Who doesn’t like being praised?
Though as she kept going, it got kind of embarrassing.
—But why is your voice so quiet? Can’t you talk louder?
“Noona, I’m on a bus right now, so I can’t talk for too long.”
—What?! You’re still taking buses? You don’t have a manager? You’re the Orbit Phone ad model and you don’t have a road manager?! Unbelievable. I need to start my own agency. Want to join Yujin Entertainment?
“Aw, if you’re the CEO, of course I’ll join.”
—You brat. What are you trusting me with? You’re still so naïve, our sweet little Seotay. What am I going to do with you…
First Mom, then Noona, and now even Yujin Noona.
Why is everyone so worried about me?
I’m doing just fine!
“Noona, let’s talk later. I’m headed somewhere with Mom.”
—Oh! Okay, give my regards to your mother. I’ll be back next month, so let’s meet then. You know you’re treating me, right?
“Okie dokie.”
After hanging up, something felt off.
She told me to send her regards to Mom… when had she even met her?
I shoved my phone back into my pocket and turned to look at Mom sitting beside me.
Huh? She was gazing at me with a mischievous smile.
“My son’s so busy. So cool.”
Mom gently patted my back.
That’s how my mom is.
Even though I knew she was probably dying to ask a million things, she’d never ask unless I brought it up first.
She’d always been that way.
When I was younger, I used to feel a little hurt by it.
I wondered if she just didn’t care about me. If nothing I did mattered to her.
But now I knew.
That was just the way she showed love.
By trusting and waiting.
“Mom, actually…”
My aunt, sitting beside us, perked up her ears to eavesdrop.
We had chosen to sit at the back on purpose.
Luckily, some people had gotten off the bus, so it was just the three of us.
In the slightly swaying bus, I began to speak calmly to my mother.
“Actually, I’ve been working a DJ part-time job at a place called Club Sierra…”
I kept explaining for a while.
No matter how musically knowledgeable my mom was, I didn’t think any parent would be thrilled to hear their kid was working at a club.
Maybe that’s why…
Words started tumbling out like excuses.
It’s not that kind of place, it’s wholesome, it’s run by CEO Kim Minsoo from KIM Entertainment—someone trustworthy, they’ve never been late on paying me…
After quietly listening, Mom took my hand and said my name.
“Taeyoon-ah.”
Something in her voice was so tender, I flinched without realizing.
“Yes?”
“Did you enjoy it?”
Did I enjoy it?
Up until now, I’d been all over the place in my explanation—but to that question, I could answer clearly.
“Yes, a lot. It was fun, exciting, and made me happy.”
Just that simple answer—
Made Mom stroke my hand over and over again.
She didn’t ask anything else.
She just held my hand tightly and nodded.
Feeling a bit bashful, I looked out the window.
Cool cars sped past the bus window.
Looking at them, I suddenly remembered.
Oh right—I was planning to buy Mom an SUV, wasn’t I?
After an hour’s ride, we arrived at an apartment complex in Bundang.
Jin Eunha looked around the familiar neighborhood with a wistful expression.
Her younger sister walked up and clung to her arm, fussing.
“This is where you used to live, right? Wow, I heard the prices here skyrocketed.”
A lot of time had passed.
But the neighborhood hadn’t changed.
The corner shop in the shopping plaza had become a convenience store, and the sandy playground had transformed into a stylish new one.
But the memories remained vivid.
Jin Eunha closed her eyes.
The old playground—the sound of little Taeyoon calling “Mom!” while clutching the slide.
Dongyoon and Taeyoon’s bright laughter, and the smell of rice wafting from the pressure cooker.
And…
The small dreams she once shared with her husband.
All of it was still here.
If only they could live here again one day.
Just like before.
‘Ah… What am I thinking.’
It had been so long since she’d been here, she’d gotten lost in troublesome memories.
She brushed away the lingering image of someone from her mind and turned to Taeyoon.
“Taeyoon-ah, why here? Are you meeting someone?”
Then Taeyoon jingled a keychain and replied.
“I told you I’d buy you a house, didn’t I?”
“…Huh? Here?”
“A promise is a promise. Come with me.”
With no idea what was going on, she simply trudged after her confidently striding son.