Chapter 79 - This Is Enough for Repayment, Right?

“You've got some skills. Where on earth did you find such a pretty girlfriend? I'm envious, so envious.”

Yoon Si-kyeong grumbled, glaring sideways at Baek Hyeon-woo.

“Yeah, alright, alright. I just have to go do the rehearsal and then the main broadcast properly, right.”

Muttering that, Yoon Si-kyeong turned his gaze to Seo Na-eun.

“You came all the way here because you wanted to hear my songs?”

“Ah, yes! I really...”

“Tell your boyfriend thank you. Because I recovered my condition thanks to your boyfriend.”

“Huh?”

“I'm going to sing really hard today, so think of it as a present from your boyfriend.”

Leaving the bewildered Seo Na-eun, who couldn't figure out what was what, aside, Yoon Si-kyeong glared at Baek Hyeon-woo once more.

“Hey, this is enough for repayment for fixing my knee, right?”

“It's more than enough. Please give us a good performance.”

“Hmph…”

Yoon Si-kyeong scoffed and left.

Checking his Mental Condition, it was in an even better state than before.

Now, he wouldn't have to worry about the performance.

“H-Hyeon-woo-ssi, what on earth happened? How come with Yoon Si-kyeong sunbae-nim...”

“Sorry, I should have gotten an autograph.”

“Th-That's not what's important...”

“Still, we'll be able to see him again soon, so I'll ask for an autograph then.”

“Pardon?”

He had just treated the rectus femoris and gotten rid of the knee pain, but by tomorrow, it would probably hurt again.

Because unless you completely pull out the root with repeated treatments, it's bound to relapse.

Then Yoon Si-kyeong will look for Baek Hyeon-woo again.

“I've given him my business card, so he'll probably contact me first.”

The permanent fixture of the Korean summer season, WAVE.

The connection with their main vocalist will be a help in Newstarz achieving 1st place on a music show.

An idea was already popping up in Baek Hyeon-woo's head.

……

“Hey, Yoon Si-kyeong! Where have you been!”

WAVE's leader, Jeong Tae-joon, shrieked.

He had been looking for Yoon Si-kyeong ahead of the rehearsal, but had finally given up and just returned.

“I was hungry, so I went and ate some cup ramen.”

“If you wanted to eat cup ramen, you could have just told the manager to go buy it! That's what the manager is there for!”

Hearing Jeong Tae-joon's roar, Yoon Si-kyeong looked at the manager who was nearby, making a troubled expression.

“Yeah, a manager is originally someone who does that kind of work.”

“What are you talking about?”

Yoon Si-kyeong was in the middle of thinking about Baek Hyeon-woo, whom he had met earlier.

Originally, a manager is a person who cleans up after celebrities.

Not a person who fixes a painful spot in one go, or who gives advice to work with a professional mindset.

“That guy, what on earth is he...”

“Did you have a drink too, besides the cup ramen?”

Watching Yoon Si-kyeong talk to himself, Jeong Tae-joon made a dumbfounded expression.

“Si-kyeong-ssi.”

At that moment, a woman with a ponytail who was watching from the side cut in.

It was PD Kang Eun-jeong, who directs MBS's 'Music Big Show'.

“We were going to do the WAVE rehearsal without you, Si-kyeong-ssi, but since you've returned like this, I guess you can just do it together. There's no problem with doing the rehearsal, right?”

“Don't you worry.”

Yoon Si-kyeong answered with a shrug.

“I've memorized both the lyrics and the choreography, so there's no problem.”

Jeong Tae-joon made a surprised expression at the words that he had even memorized the choreography.

Because until now, Yoon Si-kyeong had not participated properly in practice.

“Good. I'll count on you then.”

“Ah, PD Kang-nim.”

Yoon Si-kyeong threw a question to Kang Eun-jeong, who was nodding with a satisfied expression.

“Do you by any chance know a manager named Baek Hyeon-woo?”

……

The 'Music Big Show' summer special had a different atmosphere from a regular music show stage.

Because it was a part of the Super Marine Festival, it had a noisy, festive atmosphere.

“Is everyone enjoying the summer!”

“Yes…!”

“Good!”

The booming voice of WAVE's leader, Jeong Tae-joon, who had gone up on stage, vibrated the event venue.

“Actually, we almost couldn't perform today. Because this bastard Yoon Si-kyeong deserted before the performance, saying he was going to eat cup ramen.”

“Ah, hyung, if you come to the beach, you have to eat cup ramen.”

“Eat it in the waiting room!”

As Jeong Tae-joon hit Yoon Si-kyeong on the back while doing their banter, laughter burst out from the audience.

“I've come after eating a hearty cup ramen, so I will sing hard with that strength. 'Summer Summer'!”

“Wow…!”

The performance of the dance track 'Summer Summer', which was full of a summer atmosphere, began.

Over the exciting sound composed by Jeong Tae-joon himself, Yoon Si-kyeong's cool and refreshing vocals burst out.

“And so I ran to the sea. Because it was summer~”

It's not like he's using any special techniques.

It's not like he's belting out high notes to the point of his throat bursting.

But listening to him makes you feel good and excited.

He's singing with a comfortable expression without any strain, as if he's just humming to himself, and it's better to listen to than singers who sing with difficulty, straining their throats.

While experiencing the live song of Yoon Si-kyeong, who is considered one of the best vocalists in the country, Baek Hyeon-woo felt his horizons broadening.

‘There are really so many amazing singers in the world.’

A while ago, Newstarz defeated N.A.N on 'The Idol' and won.

However, at best, they had only taken first place in a competition among a few girl groups.

There are a tremendous number of singers who sing better than Newstarz.

‘Newstarz will have to improve their skills more too.’

He was newly reminded of the thought that he had to make Newstarz grow more.

He wanted to make them into top-class domestic artists who wouldn't be embarrassing no matter where they were presented.

“……”

Suddenly turning his head to the side, he saw the sight of Seo Na-eun watching WAVE's performance with concentration.

Rather than simply enjoying the performance of a singer she liked, it was an atmosphere of researching and studying, as if to learn even one more thing.

Watching that, Baek Hyeon-woo finally understood why Seo Na-eun had said she wanted to come here.

‘So that was it.’

After taking on the joint main vocalist role in the last final episode of 'The Idol', Seo Na-eun also thought that she had to improve her own vocal skills.

That's why she had said she wanted to go see the stage of Yoon Si-kyeong, who is considered one of the best vocalists in the country.

To get some kind of hint from the singing of Yoon Si-kyeong, who sings naturally with the strength taken out of his shoulders.

‘Maybe what Seo Na-eun needs most is that kind of image.’

Both PD Seo Dong-cheol and Trainer Tae Jong-soo had pointed out that Seo Na-eun puts too much strength into her shoulders.

This is because her sense of responsibility as the leader of Newstarz is too strong.

Meanwhile, Yoon Si-kyeong is a completely opposite style from Seo Na-eun.

If she receives a good influence from Yoon Si-kyeong's style of singing freely... Seo Na-eun might be able to grow one step further.

“Thank you! We love you!”

“Enjoy the summer! Wow!”

WAVE, who finished their performance while receiving a tremendous cheer, came down from the stage.

Just as he had promised earlier, Yoon Si-kyeong really showed the best stage.

“It was good, right?”

“Yes, it really was.”

Seo Na-eun nodded with a flushed expression.

Soon, another singer came up on stage, and a new song flowed out.

“Hyeon-woo-ssi.”

“What?”

“Why didn't you clear up the misunderstanding earlier?”

Asking in a cautious voice, Seo Na-eun looked at Baek Hyeon-woo's face.

“Earlier, when Yoon sunbae-nim misunderstood me as your girlfriend, Hyeon-woo-ssi...”

At that time, Baek Hyeon-woo didn't correct Yoon Si-kyeong's misunderstanding and just let it slide.

It was because he wanted to send Yoon Si-kyeong to the rehearsal quickly, but there was another reason too.

“Because I thought it would be troublesome if I explained it clumsily and it reached the ears of the broadcast officials.”

“Ah…”

If a rumor spread that Baek Hyeon-woo and Seo Na-eun had come to the summer sea just the two of them, a troublesome situation could arise.

It was better to just pretend she was an ordinary girlfriend.

“If I explained it properly there would be no problem, but if it gets strangely twisted, a headache could happen.”

“I suppose so.”

Seo Na-eun slowly nodded and turned her gaze back to the stage.

“So that's why you did that.”

In the eyes of Seo Na-eun, who was muttering like that, the light from the stage fixtures mingled in a complex way.

……

After all the performances were over.

Baek Hyeon-woo went to greet MBS PD Kang Eun-jeong.

The reason he was able to get 'Music Big Show' tickets today was because of PD Kang Eun-jeong's help.

“I was able to learn a lot thanks to you, PD-nim.”

“Hehe, was it helpful?”

Kang Eun-jeong greeted Baek Hyeon-woo with a laugh.

“The new song release is soon, let's do well together.”

“Yes, I'll be in your care.”

Newstarz's new song 'After girl' is scheduled to be revealed for the first time on 'Music Big Show'.

HBS's 'Music World' was also considered, but due to scheduling issues, they came to showcase their first stage on 'Music Big Show'.

“The Newstarz new song, you're confident, right?”

“Of course.”

Baek Hyeon-woo nodded.

“1st place is the goal.”

“It won't be easy, will it?”

Although she said that, her gaze was quite expectant.

Because Kang Eun-jeong was also one of the people paying attention to Newstarz's recent rapid growth.

“But Team Leader Baek, did you meet Yoon Si-kyeong-ssi today?”

Kang Eun-jeong abruptly brought up the topic.

“Si-kyeong-ssi told me earlier that he met a person named Baek Hyeon-woo from Haram Entertainment.”

“Yes, we happened to run into each other today and exchanged greetings.”

“Judging by the way he was talking, it felt like Si-kyeong-ssi was greatly indebted to you, Team Leader Baek.”

Saying that, Kang Eun-jeong examined Baek Hyeon-woo's face.

“The fact that Si-kyeong-ssi wasn't late for rehearsal today... wasn't that thanks to you, Team Leader Baek?”

“I did tell him to go quickly.”

“Hehe, there's no way that's all there was to it.”

Baek Hyeon-woo did something.

Noticing that, Kang Eun-jeong smiled.

“Anyway, we were saved thanks to you. WAVE is the most important performer in our summer special, so it would have been a problem if Si-kyeong-ssi didn't perform properly.”

Kang Eun-jeong said, patting Baek Hyeon-woo's arm.

“In a way, we also benefited indirectly from you, Team Leader Baek, so I'll be sure to remember this. Just so you know.”

“Thank you.”

He had made an impression on the 'Music Big Show' PD.

This would also have a positive effect on the upcoming competition for 1st place on a music show.

……

After that, Baek Hyeon-woo and Seo Na-eun spent the rest of the evening looking at the sea.

They didn't go into the seawater, but still, they walked along the sandy beach together and ate a late-night snack.

Soon, the train time approached, and Baek Hyeon-woo and Seo Na-eun took the night train they had reserved and headed for Seoul.

“Hyeon-woo-ssi, thank you so much.”

Seo Na-eun, sitting in the seat next to Baek Hyeon-woo, said with a serious attitude.

“I feel like I've been recharged thanks to you. I'll work hard again starting tomorrow.”

“Yeah, let's do well together.”

After exchanging a few words, Baek Hyeon-woo quickly fell asleep.

He couldn't endure the sleepiness due to the fatigue from being outdoors all day while being hit by the sea breeze.

It was Baek Hyeon-woo who had fallen into a deep sleep, but...

“……?”

Click.

He woke up at the sound of a camera.

Wondering if by any chance he had been photographed being with Seo Na-eun.

However, the one who took the picture was Seo Na-eun in the next seat.

‘Did she take a selfie or something...?’

Thinking it was nothing, Baek Hyeon-woo tried to go back to sleep.

However, when he briefly opened his eyes and stole a glance at Seo Na-eun's phone.

‘Huh…?’

He suspected if he had seen it wrong in his sleep.

On Seo Na-eun's phone screen... a picture of Baek Hyeon-woo, sleeping with his eyes closed, was displayed.

‘Why is she taking a picture of me...?’

He felt a question, but his eyelids were too heavy.

In the end, Baek Hyeon-woo decided to just forget about it and closed his eyes again.