164 - I Unknowingly Rejected My Favorite

EP.164 #164. Was it really him? [RKRO Isn’t this Han Taemin?] [Who is Han Taemin?] [You know, that celebrity who said he was a fan of Luka on YouTube.] [The voice sounds similar, but who knows?] [But the way he talks kind of matches.] Comments that make your palms sweat. Doa, sitting next to me, didn’t look too cheerful either. “...Did they find out?” “No, it’s just rumors.” “Hmm...” Doa nervously bit her nails and plopped down onto the bed. “It’ll be okay, right?” “...Probably?” Honestly, I never imagined this would lead to them discovering I was Han Taemin. It’s not like I showed my face, and it’s not like I was loudly broadcasting my identity. My lines from the first web drama shouldn’t count, and the only video of me on YouTube is about 15 minutes long. But these internet sleuths made comparison analysis videos, showing just how determined they were. “But if people find out you’re Han Taemin...” I was a bit anxious myself, but I didn’t want to worry Doa. “Hey. It’s not like I’ve been spreading rumors about us dating. It won’t affect Luka’s stream at all. There’s nothing wrong with me being a fan of yours.” “That’s not it. I’m worried people will start recognizing you everywhere, making things difficult.” Back when my Q&A video was trending, some people did recognize me, but that’s old news now. People tend to forget easily. I’m probably already forgotten by the general public. “Look, anyone invested enough to catch a closer collab wouldn’t even leave their room.” “...But you do leave your room.” “What are you talking about? We’re literally in my room.” I leaned forward to meet Doa’s eyes and held her hands tightly. “Even if they turn into detectives and figure it out, what can they do to me?” This was the truth. What could they possibly do? Even if I am Han Taemin from the web drama and RKRO from Summer Records, what could they really do about it? I figured it would just end with a “Wow~ so that’s how it was~” kind of thing. My real concern was whether the company would give Doa a hard time. “Oh, right. I had something to tell you.” I hadn’t yet mentioned the call I received earlier, so I sat down beside her and explained about the call. “So, did you hear from that Ashblock person?” “No, not yet.” “Did they tell you why they’re reaching out?” “Nope, I still don’t know.” “Then check now; they might’ve sent something.” “No way. I checked 20 minutes ago, and there was no...” ...What the heck. There is something. [Hello, I'm Ashblock, a composer from Bidam Entertainment...] -5:21 PM Doa looked up at me with a triumphant expression as we both stared at the phone screen. At that moment, I couldn’t help but feel embarrassed over nothing. “Quickly, read it. Aren’t you curious?” As Doa nudged my arm excitedly, my curiosity matched hers, and I quickly touched the screen. [Hello! I'm Ashblock, a composer from Bidam Entertainment.] [I took a leap of faith to acquire your contact information from your associate, and thank you for permitting me to reach out.] [I was thoroughly impressed with your winning entry in the recent closer contest. If you're currently unaffiliated, we’d love to consider a collaboration with our team.] [Please respond via email, and we’ll provide detailed guidance.] Doa’s eyes blinked wide with a dumbfounded expression. “...Oppa.” “...Yeah.” I was in much the same boat. “Do you know what Bidam Entertainment does?” “Nope? I honestly have no clue.” I wasn’t kidding; I genuinely didn’t know. I only learned about Ashblock because people made such a fuss about them being the dark horse of the competition. It's not like I’d know the names of composers writing music for idols. I mean, I can’t even remember idol names; how would I know their composers? “Ugh... sometimes it’s like you belong to another era.” “Cavemen don’t watch VTubers.” I responded earnestly, to which Doa just shook her head as if she were exhausted. “Bidam is... how do I explain this? It’s like a gathering of singers among singers, or artists among artists.” “Really?” “Yeah. Instead of being a giant agency with popular idols, it’s a smaller outfit known for talented musicians.” “Like who?” The names she mentioned were enough to surprise me. Because true to her description, the careers of their artists were incredibly impressive. “...But why me?” “That’s why it’s amazing!” “...Why?” “Did you not read it? They want you because you compose great music!” The question mark above my head only grew larger. No matter how much I thought about it, I couldn’t shake the feeling of ‘Why me?’ “What should I do?” I probably looked particularly dim-witted just now, my head feeling like it was missing a few screws. “Um... Oppa, if you’re interested in making music, why not reply?” Unlike me, Doa was cautiously inquisitive. “But... I want you to do it because you love it, not because you think you have to, like last time.” A shadow crossed her face as if she recalled some unpleasant memories. I reached out and gently patted her head. “Of course not. I wouldn't do that again. I'm not that much of an idiot.” “...You are an idiot.” “Why would you say that?” “Not knowing Bidam makes you an idiot.” With that, I had nothing to say and just scratched my head with a laugh. “Come on~ Isn’t it enough just knowing YM and Closer, my dear teacher?” “You can remember every anime song but can’t listen to some Korean ones? Oppa.” “No thanks. I have my preferences.” Revisiting the email once more, I decided to send a reply on the spot. * * * Did all music entertainment companies strike a deal to set up in the same neighborhood? Right across the street from the YM building was the Bidam office, tucked into a side alley. Riding the bus there, I couldn't shake off a feeling of disdain. But what choice did I have? They mentioned that they were quite busy with work and wouldn’t be able to meet if I didn’t come down. Besides, it wasn’t quite my place to make demands when I could be dealing with a potential senior or team leader. When I reached the building, it wasn’t the massive skyscraper I’d imagined. Instead, it was a modest four-story concrete structure, the staircase visibly spiraling through large windows. They had asked me to call when I arrived, so I took out my phone and pressed the call button with a nervous heart. [H-hello?] [Ah, yes. Hello, Mr. Lucario! Have you arrived?] I choked on a cough when I heard my Twitch ID instead of RMRO. [Ahem... Yes... I'm at the entrance now...] [Oh, great! I’ll be right down!] After about three minutes, someone came out. It was someone who was rather more rotund and friendly-looking than I expected. While a sweatshirt and jeans made some sense, the three-stripe sandals were... Really? At a company? "You must be Mr. Lucario?” The man, Ashblock, greeted me with a wide smile, the scruffy beard marking a memorable first impression. “Uh, yes.” "Wow, I thought you were another handsome trainee wandering around the neighborhood." Well, technically not a trainee, but I had dabbled in something similar. I gave a wry smile, not really in the mood to explain. “Come on in! Have you eaten?” “No, not yet.” “Oh, I was about to order some black bean noodles. Would you like to join me?” “Yes... Yes, I do enjoy black bean noodles.” “There’s this amazing place that I order from all the time.” This familiarity went beyond distinguishing between an insider and an outsider—he felt just like my uncle! As I pondered why he felt so familiar, I realized he exactly mirrored someone in my own family. Following him, we arrived at a personal studio nestled deep on the second floor. The afternoon sun cast a glow over an expensive-looking keyboard. “Come in!” “Yes.” Sinking into a comfortable chair, he gestured for me to take the opposite seat. “Thanks for coming all this way. So, where do you live...?” “Well, I’m based...” After small talk irrelevant to music, the conversation finally steered to the main topic. “Black bean noodles or spicy seafood noodle soup?” “I’m more of a spicy…” “The black bean noodles here are killer, so just go with that.” ...Then why ask? He was just like my uncle. Once he ordered a satisfying set meal, he got to the point. “What do you think of Summer Records, Taemin?” “I believe it was just a stroke of luck...” Ashblock burst into laughter, wagging his finger playfully. “You’re being too modest. That’s not a chord progression just anyone can come up with.” “Pardon?” “Have you studied music theory?” “...No, never.” He was momentarily silent, staring at me with an intense expression. “Phew... Taemin.” “Yes?” His seriousness made me a bit tense, my throat gulping in anticipation. “Would you like me to order the Yurinji (crispy chicken in garlic sauce) too?” Since it sounded tasty, I nodded in agreement.