Chapter 192 : Is This What You Call Build-Up?
Chapter 192: Is This What You Call Build-Up?
These days, Moon Jungbae felt a little hurt.
By Seo Taeyoon and CEO Kim Minsoo.
It wasn't unusual for the two of them to stick together.
But lately, it had become excessive.
Whisper, whisper.
Whenever he tried to join them, they'd jump in surprise and awkwardly pretend they hadn't been talking at all.
'Well, they did say they were working on something important with KW Hotel.'
He gulped down the iced coffee in his hand. The cold sent a sharp ache through his head.
Maybe he was getting old.
Seeing how even little things like this made him feel left out.
They were working on something big.
He knew he should simply trust them and be understanding.
'...Still, I can't help being curious.'
Holding his nearly empty coffee cup, he wandered aimlessly around the hallway outside Taeyoon's studio.
At the very end of the Backstage hallway.
The largest room.
With blinds covering every window, it looked more like a cave than a studio.
Did Taeyoon even know?
That room actually received the most sunlight in the building.
It would be nice if he'd come outside while the sun was still up.
Ever since the analog turntables had arrived...
Taeyoon had been spending noticeably more time locked inside the studio.
Thinking that, Moon Jungbae stood by the doorway for quite a while.
Holding nothing but a cup full of melted ice from Cheongseong Vocal's drink, standing alone at the end of the narrow hallway...
He looked strangely pitiful.
'Maybe I should at least tell him to head home early. Or ask if he wants some late-night food.'
No.
He couldn't interrupt someone who was concentrating.
Just as he forced himself to turn away once again—
"Hm?"
Through the door, left open just a hand's width, soft light spilled into the hallway.
Thump. Thump.
From inside...
Very quietly.
Very low.
Very carefully.
Something began to resonate.
At first, he didn't think much of it.
He assumed it was simply a new song being mixed.
Yet...
His feet refused to move.
As though the soles of his shoes had been glued to the floor.
Standing perfectly still, he quietly listened to the rhythm drifting through the doorway.
It was clearly a rhythm he'd never heard before.
Yet it didn't feel unfamiliar.
"What is this?"
A vivid synth riff spread through the air.
Then the bass entered.
The drums followed.
"...!"
A single melodic phrase completely filled the space.
On days when your feet feel heavy, just go home.
Put down your plans and your ambitions.
Don't force yourself to smile. Get angry, curse if you want. Tonight, just be yourself.
In that instant, the coffee cup slipped from Moon Jungbae's hand.
<To Tomorrow's You>
It was a song he'd long forgotten.
The title track from Cheongseong's final album.
Their first performance had also become their last.
The song they had never been able to sing again.
A masterpiece still remembered today as a song that comforted people.
"How did he..."
The song was alive.
More beautiful.
More vivid.
More refined.
The rough sound of the past had transformed into minimalist disco layered with retro synths.
It had disguised itself as danceable emotional pop house that sounded as though it could have been released today.
The gloomy tone was gone.
Instead, it had been reborn with a youthful atmosphere that naturally made listeners nod their heads beneath faded lights.
Hearing his own voice layered over such a modern beat from outside the room...
It actually sounded surprisingly good.
'No, but... how in the world did he come up with an arrangement like this?'
It was magnificent.
Absolutely breathtaking.
It was almost impossible to believe it was the same song.
Moon Jungbae's hand hovered over the doorknob several times.
But in the end...
He couldn't bring himself to open it.
He was afraid the warmth leaking through the crack would disappear the moment he did.
'That brat really knows how to move people's hearts.'
His chest swelled with emotion.
He wanted to rush inside immediately and thank him.
But today...
He decided to quietly keep those feelings to himself.
Someday, when this song finally reached the world.
On that day...
He would quietly stand at the very back of the audience and truly experience it.
Time continued to pass.
At last, the decisive day arrived.
There were no eternal secrets in this industry.
On the very morning Taeyoon invited the employees of KW Hotel to Sierra...
The news leaked out through unexpected channels, and online media began buzzing from early morning.
Everyone already knew that KW Gangnam Hotel's club had long since fallen behind the times.
[ KW Tourism Development Announces KW Hotel Club Remodeling. ]
[ KW Gangnam Hotel Appoints "Kim Minsoo" as Head of the TF Team. ]
[ Industry Buzzes Over 'KW Hotel Club Renewal'—Why? ]
It certainly wasn't every day that such a bold decision was made.
↳ Who even goes to hotel clubs these days? ㄷㄷㄷㄷ
↳ 50 billion won ㄷㄷㄷ Just give that money to me instead ㅋㅋㅋㅋ
↳ KW Hotel is way too outdated. Even after the renovation, the club still doesn't fit.
↳↳ At least call it "classic";;
↳ But Kim Minsoo?? I feel like I've heard that name somewhere. Maybe because it's such a common name?
↳↳ He's the CEO of KIM Entertainment;;; He's basically a chaebol.
The rumors spread like wildfire.
[ Did you hear about the KW Hotel club renovation? ]
The KW Group has really been working hard lately.
[ I heard KW Gangnam Hotel's club renewal is no joke. ]
Whether it'll be a blessing or a disaster remains to be seen. For now, the stock hasn't moved much.
As all kinds of discussions continued...
A few quick-witted people had already begun predicting what was coming.
[ (Prediction) If Kim Minsoo became the division head... could Blackhole become the main DJ? ]
↳ Oh!!! That's sharp. It really could happen.
↳ Huh??? Blackhole at a KW club? That's insane ㄷㄷㄷㄷ
↳ I heard the budget is huge too. If that's true, Blackhole might actually perform???
↳ I'm going to buy KW Tourism Development stock....
↳↳ You'll be screwed if Blackhole doesn't show up though ㅋㅋㅋㅋ
[ Breaking News. Apparently the entire KW executive board is going to Sierra Club today. Something about an invitation night?? ]
↳ Aren't directors just a bunch of middle-aged guys? How are they supposed to go to a club ;;;
↳ If Blackhole invites them, they probably would.
↳ Blackhole invited the employees from KW Electronics before, so why wouldn't KW Hotel go too?
↳ ㅠㅠㅠㅠㅠ Ah, I wondered why they were preparing for a performance even though the club is usually closed on Mondays. So this is why?
↳↳ Really??? Where do people even get information like this?
↳ I heard only people over forty are allowed. My friend works in the Food & Beverage Division at KW Hotel;;
↳↳ Seriously, only forty and above.... That's crazy. Who even comes up with something like that?
↳↳↳ Blackhole, of course!!
↳ I want to go too.... It sucks that I'm apparently too young to join a club like this.... How do I get hired at KW Hotel?
The response was unquestionably explosive.
Ten minutes before work.
Executive Director Park Sangwoo stood before the dressing room mirror.
He adjusted his hair for no particular reason.
He even tried on several different ties.
Seeing him unusually troubled, his wife approached and asked gently,
"Is something important happening today?"
"Hm? When did you come in? Ahem. Well... yes. But this tie..."
"Isn't that your favorite tie?"
"No, no. It's not that."
What's gotten into him?
He looked like a child who'd secretly stolen dried persimmons and gotten caught.
Watching him panic and stumble over his words...
He looked strangely human today.
He'd been rather tense lately.
Whether he was finally relaxing or whether today was simply special, she didn't know.
But somehow...
The slightly excited expression on his face made her smile.
Did something good happen at work?
Thinking that, she casually dusted off his jacket before turning to leave the room.
Then Park Sangwoo called out.
"Um... Honey."
"Yes?"
"That tie... the one our eldest bought me last Christmas... where is it?"
"Ah... the one that makes you look younger?"
Although she answered naturally, she looked at him suspiciously.
Now this was strange.
He'd always dismissed it as something only kids would wear.
Was he having dinner with younger coworkers today?
No wonder he hadn't come out of the dressing room yet.
She quietly suppressed a laugh.
"Younger? Come on.... Though... does it really make me look younger?"
"Huh? Pfft."
His unexpected question finally made her burst into laughter.
Whenever he occasionally asked questions like that, he no longer resembled the middle-aged man she'd lived with for decades.
Instead...
He looked like the young man she'd once fallen in love with.
If he wanted to look young...
Then she would help him.
Taking a light gray suit from the closet, she advised,
"This color looks much younger and more casual. Your navy suit looks too classic. If you want to look younger, this would suit you better... though I know you don't really like gray...."
Before she'd even finished speaking—
Park Sangwoo quickly snatched the suit from her hands and cleared his throat.
Five minutes later.
Wearing the suit she'd chosen and the tie their daughter had given him...
He looked ten—
No, twenty years younger.
Ah!
Not in appearance.
In spirit.
Throughout the workday...
Executive Director Park Sangwoo couldn't hide the strange excitement bubbling inside him.
'What's gotten into me?'
He'd thought he wasn't paying much attention to it.
Yet unfamiliar words drifted through his mind all day, leaving his heart restless.
Blackhole.
Club.
DJing.
Yes.
It was unmistakably excitement.
Just thinking about going to a club for the first time in his life made him strangely nervous.
The day seemed to pass unusually quickly.
Before leaving work, he stood in front of the mirror one last time to straighten his clothes.
The gray suit he'd always avoided because it felt too youthful...
Actually looked pretty good today.
Once he finished getting dressed, another thought suddenly occurred to him.
'But... I don't really know much about music.'
He'd never considered himself someone who particularly loved or understood music.
Still...
It would be a lie to say he'd never had a favorite song.
Whether someone had been good at studying or not.
Whether life had been comfortable or difficult.
Everyone carried at least one unforgettable song deep within their heart.
The love song he'd listened to while sharing earphones with his first love before they broke up.
The nameless pop songs on the radio that had comforted him during difficult days when he studied beneath the glow of streetlights shining through the window.
The heavy metal songs that expressed the rebellion he'd never dared to speak aloud.
He had songs like that too.
And Executive Director Park Sangwoo wasn't the only one feeling restless before his first-ever visit to a club.
Each person arrived at Sierra carrying their own excitement and anxiety.
The sight of middle-aged men in business suits standing outside a nightclub was certainly unusual.
Even pedestrians passing by Sierra whispered among themselves.
"Isn't that a club? The one that's always full of young people."
"Yeah. Sierra. It's famous. Didn't you know?"
"No, that's not what I mean. Look."
"What? Why are all those middle-aged guys standing in front of a club? Aren't they government officials? You know... like they're here for an inspection."
"Come on. No way."
Instead of fashionable young people...
Groups of middle-aged men in suits gathered outside.
Their faces revealed a mixture of professional obligation and discomfort with the unfamiliar environment.
"Ahem. Looks like everyone's here."
"Executive Director Park, you're here too. You look especially handsome today."
"Oh, not at all. I look the same as always."
What were they supposed to do?
Just stand here?
As they peeked inside while waiting...
A young staff member approached with a bright smile.
"I'll hand out your wristbands."
"Wristbands?"
"Yes. They're admission wristbands. DJ Blackhole specially prepared these limited-edition ones for tonight."
"I'm grateful they're limited edition... but you're telling us to wear these? Us?"
Park Sangwoo hesitated before extending his arm.
A pink rabbit wristband wrapped snugly around his wrist.
The young staff member smiled brightly.
"Enjoy Blackhole's beats tonight."
Was this how clubs normally worked?
Greeting every single guest personally like that was impressive.
After giving a small nod of thanks...
He stepped inside.
'Wooooow...!'
He barely managed to suppress his amazement.
The soft lights hanging low from the ceiling.
Elegant indirect lighting flowing across the walls.
The deep bass vibrating beneath his feet like an electric current.
Park Sangwoo straightened his shoulders slightly as he looked around.
The executives who had arrived earlier stood awkwardly holding tequila in their hands.
"Executive Director Park!"
A familiar face appeared.
Director Go Daeyeong—the very person who had opposed this project most fiercely alongside him—waved enthusiastically as he approached.
"Isn't the atmosphere much better than expected?"
"Well... it's decent. Far better than I anticipated."
It wasn't like the clubs he'd seen in movies or on YouTube.
The flashy image that usually came to mind when he thought of clubs was nowhere to be found.
Instead, the room was filled with an unexpectedly relaxed atmosphere.
"But there's no music."
"It'll probably start soon."
At that very moment...
The lights went out.
Flash—
The giant screen in front of the stage lit up.
A figure appeared behind the DJ booth.
He might not know other DJs.
But he certainly knew Blackhole.
The face leading KW Electronics as its flagship model.
'How's he going to start?'
Before anyone could even build anticipation...
Without any opening remarks...
The performance began with nothing more than Blackhole raising one hand.
A familiar guitar riff struck everyone's ears.
The opening track was Michael Jackson's <Black or White>.
Naturally...
It was an exciting song.
Everyone's heads began moving instinctively.
But was it enough to exceed expectations?
'Isn't this a little too predictable?'
No.
To be completely honest...
The predictable song choice slightly dampened the excitement.
He looked around.
People were enjoying themselves...
But most seemed to be thinking the same thing.
'There's no way all that talk about retro was just an excuse to play old songs....'
'It's definitely a classic... but if this is where it's going, what was the point of inviting us?'
'Does he even know what Moon Night was?'
Meanwhile...
Some of the relatively younger attendees had much higher expectations.
'Is this what you call build-up?'
'Right. Starting with something familiar makes sense.'
'Why's everyone already jumping to conclusions? This isn't just anyone. It's Blackhole.'
Each person assigned their own meaning to the moment as they watched Blackhole's opening performance unfold.