DPI-10

10. Hong Ui-rim (2)

After the dance class ended.

I got the phone number Jeremy was using in Korea from Ga Du-in and called him.

Tu-ru-ru-ru…

“He~llo~~!”

After a few rings, Jeremy picked up. Ah, but something felt a bit strange.

<Jeremy, it’s me. Yeon-oh.>

<Oh! Yeon-oh! My friend!>

His voice sounded very excited. His tongue even seemed to be tripping over his words a little.

<Jeremy, where are you now? I have a favor to ask.>

<A favor? Oh, tell me anything.>

<Um, can I go to where you are right now?>

<Now? To where I am? It’s a place you can’t come to.>

I had a feeling…

“Why? What did he say? Where is he?”

I turned to Ga Du-in, Han Ji-hyuk, and Kang Su-woo with a troubled face and whispered.

“I think… he’s had a drink.”

***

As I expected, Jeremy was drinking at an outdoor table at a pub near the office.

But he wasn’t alone. Ryu Ga-eum, the A&R Director and a longtime friend of Jeremy’s, was sitting with him.

I came to ask Jeremy for a favor, but I suddenly ended up face-to-face with a company executive. The members, who had followed me saying they couldn’t send a minor to a pub alone, were also breaking into a cold sweat in front of the Director.

<Yeon-oh! What’s up? Tell me.>

<Yeon-oh, what brings you here?>

There was Jeremy, looking visibly tipsy, and Director Ryu Ga-eum, who showed no sign of having a single drink. Dealing with a drunk Jeremy was hard enough, but doing something in front of the Director made even a regressor like me hesitate.

“Hello, Director. I, um, came because I have something I want to talk to Jeremy about.”

“Oh, really? Go ahead.”

Director Ryu Ga-eum watched me, her lips curling up as if she found this interesting.

Whatever. I can’t just turn back now that I’ve come this far. I closed my eyes tight and spoke to Jeremy.

<Jeremy, thank you so much for the vocal lesson today. But as you know, my teammate was suddenly sick and couldn’t attend your class.>

<Ah, right. There was a friend who couldn’t come. And Yeon-oh, you were like that too.>

Jeremy grinned with a flushed face and pointed at me teasingly.

<So… Jeremy. Could you give a vocal lesson for him?>

<You’re talking about Hong Ui-rim, right?>

Director Ryu Ga-eum joined the conversation with fluent English. She seemed to know the general reason why we hadn’t attended.

<Yes, that’s right. He has a great passion for singing. If you hear his voice, you will definitely love it. He is…>

<Oh… I’m sorry, but I don’t think I can grant your request.>

Jeremy swayed slightly and gestured with his arms wide, as if to show his current state.

<As you can see, I’m very drunk. I can’t teach in this condition.>

<Then, how about tomorrow before you leave for Busan? I’ll bring him to wherever you are.>

<Oh, I’m sorry, but I’m scheduled to leave early tomorrow morning. Busan is far away.>

“Yeah. It’s a shame he missed a rare opportunity, but there’s nothing we can do. It’s late, so you all should head back now.”

Director Ryu Ga-eum spoke firmly. The atmosphere made it impossible to ask further. Behind me, the older members pulled at my sleeve, suggesting we leave.

‘He enjoyed it so much even after hearing Du-in’s music and rap. I’m sure he’d love it if he heard Ui-rim’s vocals…’

It was the moment I was about to give up and turn around. Han Ji-hyuk muttered regretfully.

“Ah, if only that video had recorded properly.”

‘Video.’

A good idea suddenly popped into my head. I turned back and spoke to Jeremy.

<Jeremy, then won’t you listen to a song by Hong Ui-rim?>

<Listen to his song?>

<Yes, he has the best singing ability in our company. He’d be so happy if you gave him your evaluation.>

<Oh, the best ability? I’m looking forward to that. But how can I hear his song?>

I turned on my phone and searched YouTube. Willow Ent regularly evaluated the Willow-is and uploaded those videos to YouTube. In the most recent vocal evaluation, the song Hong Ui-rim sang had been highly praised by vocal trainer Jo Yun-rim.

I found that video and played it in front of Jeremy. Since the pub was noisy, I turned the volume all the way up. Jeremy focused his glazed eyes on the screen.

In the video, Hong Ui-rim was sitting on a chair holding a microphone. The accompaniment playing was a famous pop song that everyone knew. But in the end, the same song sounds different depending on who sings it.

Ui-rim continued the song comfortably while sitting. Of course, since he was still a trainee, he lacked a fully polished feel. But beyond that, his overwhelming volume and tone had a charm that curiously caught the ear.

Ui-rim’s song showcased him moving freely between chest voice and falsetto. Jeremy was suddenly absorbed in the video.

“Wow…”

A low exclamation escaped Jeremy’s lips. Director Ryu Ga-eum added a word, looking pleased.

<Amazing, right? That kid is a genius. It’s almost a shame he couldn’t come to the vocal lesson because he was sick today.>

<Well, in my opinion, he seems to have a fatal flaw.>

<What?>

<The ending of the notes is unstable in some parts, and the expression of the climax is rough.>

Cynical evaluation I didn’t expect came out of Jeremy’s mouth. Huh, this wasn’t the reaction I expected. To us, it just looks incredibly good, but I guess it’s lacking to an expert?

However, Ryu Ga-eum, who felt pride in the Willow-is’ skills, reacted with a flare of temper.

<What, Jeremy. This kid is only 16. How many kids do you think can sing like this at this age?>

<That’s why, I mean, I think I need to fix those flaws for him.>

Jeremy shrugged his shoulders at Ryu Ga-eum. His face was still red, but unlike before, his eyes were shining brightly.

<Jeremy, then?>

<If I’m going to give a lesson, I’ll have to change my train time to Busan tomorrow. Ga-eum, please make the reservation. Make it three hours later.>

<What?>

<Jeremy! Thank you so much!>

‘Yes! It’s a success!’

Did they say a genius recognizes a genius? Fortunately, it seemed he felt something after seeing Ui-rim’s vocals. After all, it’s the talent of Hong Ui-rim, a vocalist who will become a top idol in the future.

Thanks to that, a vocal lesson was scheduled at the Willow dorms early Saturday morning. The other Willow-is won’t be able to sleep in, but isn’t it actually a good opportunity since they can see another great lecture on the side?

I returned to the dorm with a happy heart to find Ui-rim still sleeping soundly.

To help Ui-rim recover, I kept activating the ‘Mother’s Hand is a Healing Hand’ skill next to the sleeping Ui-rim and whispered his name…

Whether it was thanks to the skill or the medicine, Ui-rim’s sleeping face looked exceptionally peaceful. My care, having handled many cases of my nephews’ enteritis, also played a part. Feeding him ionic drinks for hydration, putting a warm compress on his stomach… Of course, taking him to the hospital for an IV was likely the most effective thing, but anyway.

Thanks to that, the next day. Ui-rim seemed to have regained his condition to some extent. I could tell by seeing his usual confident face return.

“Ui-rim, I have one piece of good news and one piece of bad news. Which one do you want to hear first?”

“Huh? Um… what’s the bad news?”

“The camera must have turned off while recording Jeremy’s lesson yesterday. So they said they couldn’t record it.”

“What?”

His eyes suddenly widened and his face hardened as he looked at me directly. He seemed very disappointed, as if he had high expectations.

“Ah… seriously? Then I can’t even watch the recording?”

“Yeah…”

“Sigh… I really shouldn’t have gone to the hospital.”

Ui-rim let out a heavy sigh. I bit my lip to hold back a smile and asked.

“Aren’t you going to ask for the good news?”

“…What’s the good news?”

“So, Jeremy Todd decided to come here this morning. To give us a lesson one last time.”

“Waaaaah! Really?”

As soon as he heard me, his eyes started to sparkle. He didn’t look like a kid who had been seriously ill until yesterday.

‘Kid, you’re cute.’

Ui-rim had always seemed more mature than his age and full of confidence. But now, ahead of Jeremy’s lesson, he looked like a child waiting for a ride at an amusement park.

I found his appearance both admirable and impressive—that he had such passion at such a young age.

Jeremy Todd soon arrived at the dorm, placed a chair next to the bed where Ui-rim was sitting, and began to talk.

<You have a truly wonderful voice. There is a soul in your voice, and it has power. It’s a blessed voice.>

<Oh, that’s right. He has a very rich voice.>

“Hyung, what did he say?”

“He says your voice is good.”

“Ah… really?”

Later, Ui-rim didn’t go through me and asked various things directly in short English. Well, he was the confident type from the start.

In that way, Jeremy and Ui-rim continued the vocal lesson while letting each other hear their songs. I also started out joining them since I hadn’t heard the lesson either… but the weight of the lesson gradually tilted to one side.

I also tried singing at Jeremy’s request, but was it the influence of my C-rank singing stat? Jeremy kindly told me my ‘expression is good’ and then made Ui-rim sing again. …Should I try raising my singing stat? I have points…

Anyway, Hong Ui-rim was a vocalist with amazing skill despite his young age. Singing ability, volume, emotion—he didn’t lack a single thing. What was even more amazing was that he improved day by day. A monster with talent added to effort. That was Hong Ui-rim.

‘Well, it’s hard for me to keep up with Hong Ui-rim in singing.’

The moment I gave a bitter smile.

— Ding!

A welcome notification rang.

[Quest: Tell Me Your Worries!! (2)]

▶ Resolve the member’s abnormal condition: ★ACHIEVED★]

[Reward is being issued]

[Reward: My Baby is Good (lv.1)]

The probability of the other person listening to your words increases by 50%.

— Ding!

[Friend List: Interaction with Hong Ui-rim has unlocked his Likability!]

The quest completion window appeared, followed by Ui-rim’s Likability unlocking. It seems Ui-rim’s “abnormal condition” was not just being sick, but the problem of not being able to hear Jeremy Todd’s vocal lesson. The reward skill I received, ‘My Baby is Good,’ was a skill that could be used effectively for persuasion.

The lesson between Jeremy and Ui-rim lasted longer than expected. Rather than a lesson, should I call it a time where they shared and empathized while playing their songs for each other?

Even at a young age, Ui-rim had an extraordinary passion for singing. Even during busy times or breaks, he was consistent enough to attend vocal lessons without fail. He put his whole heart into everything he did on stage, not just singing. Because of that, he always actively appealed his opinions, and as a result, many misunderstandings had built up. That passion also acted as a major cause for the discord in Hexad Carmit.

Perhaps the fact that he was at a young and immature age, and that there was no one to mediate, was also one of the reasons.

Things I couldn’t see before the regression were visible now. The sight of Ui-rim, who seemed stubborn, might actually be an obsession with something he holds dear…

The strong will to hear Jeremy Todd’s lesson. The anxiety that he might not be able to hear it.

In the past, when I didn’t know these things, I just thought of him as a stubborn person who didn’t want to go to the hospital. If a person who understands that heart well appears, he could become a different person than in the past.

I slipped out of the room where Jeremy and Ui-rim were and looked around the Willow dorm. Then I went into my room and opened my diary again.

At this point…

There was now only one former Hexad Carmit member left whose Likability hadn’t been unlocked.

The Willow-i of the lowest rank, who joined as the 6th generation after passing the audition earlier this month. The visual center of Hexad Carmit.

Cha Un.

According to my diary, he was scheduled to enter the Willow dorm this afternoon.