Chapter 13: I Became the Older Brother of a Top Star

The aura that Yun-a exuded yesterday seemed to go beyond just being beautiful.

Moreover, although I had absorbed many auras until now, this was the first time I felt such a strong impression.

It was probably due to Yun-a's musical talent.

'If I could help her develop that further?'

Yun-a is destined to become a top star.

However, the honor of being a top star was limited to Korea.

While she had gained some recognition in Southeast Asia, she was not yet at the level of a global pop star.

Then,

'Could it be possible in this life? Not just in Korea, but the world's top star.'

I thought that if she pursued only her own music without being bound by a management agency, and lived the life in the entertainment industry that she wanted, she might be able to aim for an even higher position.

The moment she debuts in the entertainment industry, she will have to survive in fierce competition, and she will be attacked from all sides.

That is the fate of a top star.

But if I were by her side,

Not as the bad older brother Jeong Yun-sung, but as a real older brother Jeong Yun-sung who truly cares for her,

Could Yun-a soar even higher?

"Yun-sung. Yun-sung?"

I snapped back to reality at the sound of PD Kim's voice.

"What were you thinking about? You didn't even respond when I called you."

"Ah-. I'm sorry."

"Haha. No, it's fine. Listen to this."

The melody PD Kim played was centered around a refreshing beat that could cool down a scorching summer.

"How is it? Is it good?"

"It doesn't seem bad."

"By saying it doesn't seem bad, you must mean there's something you don't like about it."

As I felt before, this guy is quick to pick up on things.

"What do I know? Besides, this isn't even finished yet, right?"

"You're right. It's still in the middle stage. That's why I wanted to play it for you. After all, the girl group was formed thanks to you."

What PD Kim was playing for me was the debut song's melody for the new girl group.

Since I absorbed the aura when I came in, I had no trouble judging the music.

However, there were a few parts in the melody PD Kim played that bothered me.

"Hmm. How about we change it like this?"

I operated the music editing equipment and software, which I had never touched in my life.

"Uh?"

PD Kim stepped back, taken aback.

I handled the program with the skill of someone who had been a producer for years.

"In my opinion, this part should be changed like this."

I didn't just do it my way.

I tried to respect the other person while preserving the essence of the music as much as possible.

"Hmm."

PD Kim listened to the changed melody and said,

"Wow."

He let out a short exclamation of admiration.

"This isn't bad, is it?"

"By saying it's not bad, you must mean there's something you don't like about it."

He waved his hand at my joke.

"Huh? Haha. No, this is really good. There were a few awkward parts, but you changed them well. How did you figure it out so quickly?"

This is all thanks to PD Kim's aura.

Since he created the song, I naturally understood its structure through the aura.

Moreover, since my talent was amplified when I absorbed the aura, I could catch the parts he missed.

"But Yun-sung."

"Yes?"

"Have you ever edited music before? You know, you can't just touch this equipment without training."

I can handle this equipment thanks to the music knowledge I gained from absorbing PD Kim's aura.

But I couldn't say that, so...

"I just played around with it a few times as a hobby. My dad is the CEO of a management agency, so I had some opportunities to touch it."

"Is that so? I guess you had a lot of opportunities to get familiar with this stuff from a young age because of your dad. But you're so skilled. I thought you were a professional."

"Heh. No, not at all. I was just pretending."

But I probably handle this equipment better than this guy now.

The talent amplification is a very powerful ability.

"Anyway, I'll review and refine the changes you made."

"Yes. Thank you for taking it seriously, even though it was just a kid like me who made the changes."

"Ah, don't be silly. I'm serious about music. Age doesn't matter. When have you ever seen talent care about age? I should humbly accept any help I can get."

That's a relief.

He seems to be the type who is open to new things.

"Then, let's move on... Wait a moment."

While PD Kim was looking for something, I glanced behind me.

From behind,

"Ugh-."

I heard a groan.

Yun-a was frowning as she fiddled with her phone.

What stood out was her puffed cheeks from the candy in her mouth.

'She's playing a game again.'

Just by looking at the aura, I could tell what Yun-a was doing.

Yun-a plays three different mobile games, and each one produces a different aura in size and texture.

This one is clearly,

"Playing Soccer Manager?"

"Umm... yeah."

As the aura shows, Yun-a isn't very good at this game.

She has talent, so the aura comes out, but it's only a small amount.

Soccer Manager is a game where you become the coach of a professional team and manage the squad and strategy, and for some reason, it doesn't seem to suit Yun-a.

But she seems to really love soccer, given how persistently she plays.

After all, she watches highlights of overseas professional matches.

"Ugh. It's frustrating. Why can't they play better? I want to play myself."

But loving soccer and being good at it are different things.

Yun-a gave me a pitiful look and handed me her phone.

"Can you take a look, brother?"

"But I'm not good at this either?"

"You were much better than me the last time I saw you."

That's because I was using your aura.

"Let me see."

I couldn't refuse Yun-a's request.

I just wanted to do whatever she wanted.

Maybe it's because I've been a manager for so long, or maybe all older brothers are like this.

Brothers with younger sisters might curse me for being so soft.

"I think this player should be in the lineup here."

"Huh? I thought this one was better."

"You can't just look at the stats. Each player has their own characteristics, and there's synergy between players. If you consider all that, this one might be better."

"Oh, I see. How do you know all this? You don't even play this game."

"I have to know since you don't."

"Hehe. Then I'll have to ask you for help with everything I don't know for the rest of my life."

That would be fine with me.

We've become closer over time, even though we were distant when we were younger.

"Come on! Get in there! Shoot! Shoot from there!"

Because of Yun-a's aura, I was also getting excited, shouting at the players on the small phone screen.

One of the players I put in scored a beautiful goal.

"Goal!!"

We hugged and cheered as if we had made it to the World Cup round of 16.

PD Kim, surprised, blinked and looked at us.

"Ah-. I'm sorry, brother. Were we too loud?"

"I'm sorry."

PD Kim laughed and waved his hand.

"No, it's just surprising."

"Huh?"

"You two really seem to get along well. Usually, siblings just fight when they meet, or they don't even talk to each other."

"Sounds like a personal experience?"

"Don't even mention it. I have a younger sister, and we fight every time we meet. If she were even 1% like Yun-a, we wouldn't fight. Ugh."

He shook his head as if the thought of it made him tired.

So, that's the struggle of a typical older brother.

If I had a younger sister, would I treat her differently than I treat Yun-a?

But that thought was fleeting.

"Huh?"

"What? Why?"

While fiddling with Yun-a's phone, I felt a tingling sensation, as if static electricity had occurred.

The sensation persisted, and suddenly, my aura started to flow out.

My aura was a pure, milk-white color without a single dark spot.

'Why is my aura suddenly...?'

The aura grew larger and headed towards the entrance of the studio.

Then,

Click!

The studio door burst open, and Baek Su-jin greeted me with a bright smile.

"Yun-sung!"

I wondered why my aura suddenly flowed in that direction, and it seemed to be because of the connection between Baek Su-jin and my aura.

Once connected, the auras don't seem to disconnect, and our auras were still linked.

Even though she wasn't using her talent, the auras automatically connected.

And compared to before,

'The texture of the aura feels more alive?'

How should I describe this?

It's like the texture you feel when you touch something with your hands.

When absorbing someone's aura, you feel different sensations.

It can feel like touch, taste, or even smell.

'If I say Yun-a feels like a sweet strawberry candy...'

Baek Su-jin felt like dipping my fingers into calm ripples.

"Yun-sung, come more often. Why haven't you been here in so long?"

"Have you been well, sister?"

"Yes, I've been well. And don't use formal language; just talk casually."

Baek Su-jin looked even brighter than the last time I saw her.

Her aura growing larger must mean her skills have improved as well.

"Um, then... I will?"

"Hehe. Yes. What's with the formal talk between us? But you look even better than the last time. Are you still growing? You seem taller too."

Since I've been in Jeong Yun-sung's body, I've gotten used to talking to women.

Just as Baek Su-jin was holding me and talking about whatever came to mind,

Snap!

"......?"

A lollipop behind me broke into pieces.

Baek Su-jin stopped talking and peeked behind me.

"Oh, Y, Yun-a. Hi?"

"Hello."

"I'm sorry, I didn't see you there. How have you been?"

It felt like a crack appeared on Yun-a's forehead.

But her voice was the opposite.

"Yes, sister. You look even prettier than before."

Baek Su-jin also raised her voice to a higher pitch.

"Thank you. Yun-a, you look like you're glowing. But are you staying here the whole time?"

"Yes, I have to. I need to go home with my brother later."

"Oh, I see."

Something is happening.

They're both smiling, but I can feel a strange tension between them.

"Hmm. Well, let's stop the greetings here."

PD Kim, sensing something, stepped in to separate them.

"I called Su-jin here because of the advice you gave me last time."

"Is it a solo debut?"

"Yes. I was really surprised when I first heard about it from Su-jin. But I thought a solo debut might really suit her. So I prepared a song."

"Wow. So we're all going to listen to it here, PD?"

Saying that, Baek Su-jin sat down and gestured for me to sit next to her.

"Sit here."

Yun-a quickly took the seat.

"Thank you, sister."

"Ah, yeah."

The strange tension between the two was back.

PD Kim cleared his throat and said,

"Ahem. Well, shall we listen to it?"

Wait. Is it okay to listen to the song like this?

Listening to the song is fine, but there's a problem.

When Baek Su-jin came in, her aura connected with mine, pushing out PD Kim's aura from my body.

In other words, I have to listen to this song with Baek Su-jin's aura, not PD Kim's talent in composing.

She has talent for performing on stage, not composing, so it won't help at all.

'What should I do...?'

If I absorb PD Kim's aura again, can I push out Baek Su-jin's aura?

'Wait, what's this?'

But my thoughts were interrupted.

'This aura...?'

As the song started, the auras of PD Kim, me, and Baek Su-jin rose and merged together, just like the S team members on the practice stage.

I looked at the brilliant golden light and thought to myself,

'Synergy effect?!'

Chapter 14