Chapter 69: I Became the Older Brother of a Top Star

“Phew—”

“Just a little more effort.”

“Ugh. It’s too hard.”

“We’re almost there. Come on, hold my hand.”

“Really, you’re a physical monster.”

I held Yuna’s hand and climbed the hill.

“Huff, huff. Yuseong. Hold onto me and climb up too.”

“...”

Father also asked for my help.

Then Mother said, exasperated,

“Really, you suggested we come here, and now you’re the first to give up?”

“I didn’t know it would be this hard.”

“That’s why I always tell you to exercise more. I can’t believe it. From now on, you have to go running with me every morning.”

“Ugh.”

Mother, like me, often exercised.

Pilates, yoga, fitness, and more.

“Just a little more effort.”

It was still dark in the early morning.

We held our lanterns to light the way as we climbed.

And soon,

“Finally!”

We reached the summit.

“Hooray! We made it! Big brother, we did it.”

“Yeah. Well done. You worked hard.”

“Ah! Honey, we made it...”

“Shut up. It’s not that high, why are you making such a fuss?”

“Sigh. That’s too much.”

“Look at all the sweat you’re drenched in.”

Mother grumbled as she wiped the sweat from Father’s forehead.

I often think that if there’s such a thing as tsundere, it must be referring to my mother.

“Thank goodness. I thought we wouldn’t see the sunrise after all this effort.”

The reason we climbed this peak today was to see the first sunrise of the new year.

‘I haven’t seen one since my military days.’

In my previous life, I was on coastal guard duty, so I saw the sunrise every morning, and it got quite monotonous.

They say you absorb the essence of heaven and earth when you see the sunrise, but after being on the coast for over a year, I feel like I absorbed all the essence I needed then.

“But it’s so dark. Is the sun really going to rise at this time?”

“Yes, it usually is.”

The time just before the sun rises is the darkest.

So, as the self-help book says, if you just hold on a little longer, the sun will rise brightly, and you should believe and endure.

“Oh! It’s rising!”

We could see the red sun slowly rising above the horizon.

I saw it so many times in the military, but seeing it again here felt different.

It made me feel that the new year, which was dark and suffocating, could now be enjoyable and fulfilling.

“Happy New Year.”

“Hehe. You too, Dad and Mom.”

It’s probably because I’m with my family.

I looked at the rising sun and made a small wish.

That our family can be together here next year.

That no one gets hurt, sick, or dies.

‘It’s really not long now.’

Father and Mother’s last wedding anniversary.

* * *

Singer Hwang Juyong, as promised, gave me a song.

He came to our agency to record it.

‘His voice is definitely good. His aura is good too.’

But having a good voice doesn’t mean the song will be perfect.

I listened quietly to the song Hwang Juyong was singing and then cut him off.

“Brother, I’ll start over from the beginning.”

“Huh? You just sang one line... Oh, no. Let’s do it again.”

Hwang Juyong, who had been in the recording studio for two hours, followed my instructions without a word.

Just like I did with Yuna, there were no exceptions for Hwang Juyong.

To improve the song, you have to keep pushing until you get the best result.

“Shall we take a short break?”

“Ah, sure. Let’s do that.”

After another hour, Hwang Juyong was able to leave.

The PDs chuckled and handed him water and snacks.

“Can you handle it? If you want to run away, I’d understand.”

“Haha. No, I can handle it. It feels like I’m in a dream.”

“Really?”

“Getting this popular and working with a famous composer on a song was my dream. I feel great that I’m achieving it now.”

The PDs laughed even harder.

“Hey, Yuseong. Did you hear that? Mr. Hwang Juyong says it’s fine to push him more.”

“Actually, Yuseong is being a bit too lenient today.”

“Huh.”

But I didn’t hear their words.

“Yuseong. Jung Yuseong?”

“...Yes? Ah, yes.”

“What’s wrong? What have you been thinking about all this time?”

“Yuseong seems to be more quiet and sharp today.”

“Hmm. Could it be a late puberty?”

If they can feel it, I must be more sharp today.

It’s because Father and Mother’s wedding anniversary is only a week away.

I’m the only one who knows their future.

That’s why I keep thinking about it.

‘I’ve already decided what to do, but...’

Even with a plan, I can’t stop thinking about it because I don’t know how things will unfold on the day.

“Big brother, look at this.”

Then Yuna handed me a sheet of music.

It was her original song that she made to sing for our parents’ wedding anniversary.

“What do you think?”

“It’s much better.”

“Really?”

“Yes. At first, it was really bad.”

“Ouch. That’s a harsh truth...”

“I’m joking. It was good from the start, and it’s well-polished now. If you perform it well, it will be great.”

The PDs became interested.

“Oh, this is a song Yuna made?”

“Let me see it.”

“No way.”

“Why not?”

“Why not? I’m embarrassed. You’ll all mock me.”

“You just said it was good. So, it must be excellent even without seeing it.”

Reluctantly, Yuna showed the PDs the sheet music.

After looking at it silently for a moment, the PDs said,

“...This is good?”

“Yeah. It’s better than I thought.”

“It’s not just good. You’re going to use it for your parents’ wedding anniversary?”

“Yes.”

“Then you’re just going to use it once and be done with it? That’s a waste.”

“Exactly. Why don’t you put it in your second album?”

Yuna’s original song in the second album?

Hmm. It’s not a bad idea.

Often, songs that singers write for their spouses or parents become hits when included in albums.

“It’s a secret from my dad!”

“Of course. We get it.”

“Wow. The boss must be happy. His son and daughter are composing songs for their parents’ wedding anniversary. I’m the one who should be crying.”

I took a sip of water and said to Hwang Juyong,

“Shall we try again?”

“Sure.”

“Just a little more effort. And there’s no need to rush. We don’t have to finish the recording today.”

“It’s because of your schedule.”

“It’s fine. Recording is more important than my schedule. I haven’t scheduled anything until you finish.”

Hwang Juyong looked at me with a grateful expression.

Even as he sang enthusiastically in the recording studio, his grateful eyes didn’t fade. When his gaze started to feel a bit burdensome,

“Yuseong, aren’t you pushing too hard?”

Father entered the studio.

“It’s already this late, and you’re still recording?”

“You’re here?”

“Yes. I was about to go home when I heard you were still here.”

It seemed we should stop the recording here.

“Oh, Mr. Juyong. Nice to see you again.”

“Hello, sir.”

“Yes, thank you for your hard work.”

“No, Yuseong is working harder. I’m learning a lot from him.”

Father shook hands with Hwang Juyong and put his arm around his shoulder.

“Can we let my son off now?”

“Of course, of course.”

“Then see you next time. Aren’t you going home too?”

“We should. We’ve been watching and lost track of time.”

“Right. Go home quickly. Let’s go too.”

We got into the car together.

Father hummed a tune as he drove. Every time I see him like this, I want to become an adult as soon as possible to drive for him.

To prevent a car accident like in my previous life, which led to Father and Mother’s misfortune.

“Father, what do you plan to do for this wedding anniversary?”

“Hmm? Oh, I’ve already thought about it. I plan to go on a trip with your mother. Of course, it’s hard to go abroad. I have a friend with a nice villa. I thought we could go there.”

“Is that villa near Cheongju?”

“Eh? Yes, how did you know?”

“I overheard you talking about it.”

Indeed, the future hasn’t changed.

As far as I know, Father and Mother were in a car accident on the highway near the Cheongju interchange.

I remember this in such detail because in my previous life, Yuna, traumatized by the event, refused to go to Cheongju.

‘How should I say this?’

Father must have planned this a long time ago.

But it’s awkward to suddenly tell him not to go to Cheongju.

‘But I have to do it.’

I have to convince him not to go to Cheongju.

And I want to keep them from going out that day if possible.

I need a plausible excuse...

“Dad! Can we spend this wedding anniversary as a family?”

“Huh? Suddenly?”

“Yes!”

Then Yuna suggested to Father first.

That we should spend this wedding anniversary as a family.

“Well... it’s supposed to be a time for just your mother and me—”

“Don’t worry. I’ll make sure you have your time. We can still celebrate together, like a party or something.”

Yuna glanced at me.

As if telling me to back her up.

I was surprised that Yuna would speak up first, but I quickly regained my composure and said,

“We want to celebrate with you. I’ll cook for you. I’ll prepare a cake and a gift. And I’ll book a nice hotel for after the party.”

“Haha. You kids.”

Father laughed heartily.

“Sure. It’s not necessary to spend the wedding anniversary together. I’m actually grateful that you want to celebrate. Your mother will probably like it too. Of course, we’ll only eat together. After that, you should leave us alone.”

“Of course, Dad.”

I sighed in relief.

At least I’ve stopped them from going to Cheongju.

Is that it? Is everything settled?

It ended more easily than I thought.

‘I didn’t expect Yuna to speak up first.’

Maybe in my previous life, Yuna didn’t suggest spending the wedding anniversary together. Perhaps that’s why they went to Cheongju as planned.

‘Maybe that’s why Yuna was more troubled.’

If she had insisted on spending time together, she might have blamed herself for not saving their lives.

‘Just one day. Just one day is enough.’

Even though they won’t go to Cheongju, I can’t relax.

I’m a bit relieved, but no one knows what can happen.

So, I won’t let my guard down for that one day.