Chapter 23

Returning to Korea, Yoon Hyun didn’t have time to rest properly before being summoned back to the set of "Cafe Prince."

This urgent summons wasn’t necessarily a bad thing; at least on the way to the set, Kim Soo-yeon told him it was for a good reason.

Just as Yoon Hyun left Korea to struggle on a deserted island for two days, "Cafe Prince" officially premiered on MBC.

The ratings for the first episode were promptly released: 15.5% in Seoul and 14.4% nationwide. This was undoubtedly a splendid achievement, especially considering that, apart from the lead actress Yoon Eun-hye, who began to gain recognition in the drama world after her role in "Goong" in 2006, the entire cast was essentially made up of newcomers.

Almost immediately after the first episode aired, Yoon Eun-hye, playing the cool and stylish female lead, Go Eun-chan, topped the search charts.

This sudden success left the entire crew somewhat dazed.

So, when Yoon Hyun returned to Korea, Director Lee Yoon-jeong personally called him the next morning to summon him back to the set.

Looking at the still weary Yoon Hyun, Lee Yoon-jeong felt an urge to call and scold the producers of "Infinite Challenge."

"Director, did you call me here so urgently because you need to catch up on filming?" Yoon Hyun remained humble in front of Lee Yoon-jeong.

"Have you heard about the ratings?" Lee Yoon-jeong nodded and asked Yoon Hyun.

"I know. Unnie Eun-hye’s performance was so outstanding, it’s natural that the audience likes it. As an actor, I also really enjoy her performance in the drama." Yoon Hyun spoke with neither arrogance nor humility, as if the show’s success was entirely due to Yoon Eun-hye, but his eyes were filled with sincerity.

Lee Yoon-jeong stared at Yoon Hyun’s eyes for a long time before nodding. The reason she summoned Yoon Hyun so urgently was to prevent him from doubting himself due to Yoon Eun-hye’s popularity and lack of standout performance, which could affect the subsequent filming. After all, as the male lead, Choi Han-jo’s standout moments were in the middle and later parts of the drama.

Since Yoon Hyun had a calm attitude, Lee Yoon-jeong was no longer worried.

Thus, the new day of filming naturally began.

Yoon Hyun once again took on the role of a TV actor and a spectator of the crew’s activities.

However, just a day later, a call from "Infinite Challenge" came to Yoon Hyun’s phone.

"Hello, Yoon Hyun-ssi, there’s a new special episode of 'Infinite Challenge' to be recorded tomorrow. Please arrive at MBC headquarters by 8 AM tomorrow."

"We just finished a special episode, why are we recording another one?" Yoon Hyun was a bit depressed.

"Since this special episode might last for about a month, we need to prepare as soon as possible. Please make sure to arrive on time tomorrow morning." After saying this, Kim Tae-ho hung up without waiting for Yoon Hyun’s response.

Yoon Hyun was left standing there, stunned.

The next morning, Yoon Hyun arrived at MBC headquarters early. With the experience from last time, he knew that the MCs of "Infinite Challenge" had a habit of being late, so he didn’t arrive too early.

This disappointed PD Kim Tae-ho, who sighed, "It takes three years to learn good habits, but only three days to learn bad ones."

At the start, Jung Jun-ha and Yoo Hong-jeong were not present, leaving only five people.

Yoon Hyun was a bit confused and just focused on his role as a supporting character.

After Yoo Jae-suk explained, Yoon Hyun learned that before he joined "Infinite Challenge," the MCs had accepted a challenge, and the loser had to get a perm. The loser was Yoo Hong-jeong.

"Did Yoo Hong-jeong really get a perm?" Yoon Hyun was a bit surprised.

"This is 'Infinite Challenge'! Real variety show!" Yoo Jae-suk proudly replied, "Infinite!"

All the MCs, including Yoon Hyun, responded, "Challenge!"

At that moment, from the back, Jung Jun-ha dragged Yoo Hong-jeong, who was wearing a cape like a boxer, toward the group.

"Hey! Don’t do this!" Yoo Hong-jeong was still shouting desperately.

The scene immediately became lively, and finally, under Yoo Jae-suk’s command, the cape was removed from Yoo Hong-jeong.

Almost everyone burst out laughing. His head of golden hair was now a mass of small curls.

"Hey, I really envy Yoo Hong-jeong-ssi, with that face," Yoon Hyun commented, "To be able to match this hairstyle so poorly is really impressive!"

After a burst of laughter, the recording began.

"Today’s theme is: Special Episode: Gangnam Style Song Festival!" PD Kim Tae-ho said behind the camera, "Everyone has to sing their own original song at the festival."

"What is this?" The scene immediately erupted.

"Who else can write songs besides Yoon Hyun-ssi?" Jung Hoon-don was furious.

The scene quickly descended into chaos. Haha and Yoo Hong-jeong, known for their thick skin, immediately approached Yoon Hyun, begging him to write songs for them.

Yoon Hyun pretended not to hear, keeping his eyes on his nose and his nose on his mouth.

Haha and Yoo Hong-jeong, feeling helpless, joined the chorus of complaints against the production team.

Finally, under the pressure from everyone, the production team brought in the renowned lyricist and composer Yoon Il-sang and Ahn Jeong-hoon, whom they had contacted in advance.

The MCs then began to flatter the two writers.

The song festival officially began.

The entire filming lasted only about 3 hours, leaving Yoon Hyun, who had taken a day off, a bit at a loss.

"Are you going to film some preparation and writing process for the songs?" Yoon Hyun directly approached his dedicated PD, Kim Tae-hee.

"Yes. So, Yoon Hyun-ssi, is your song already prepared? Is it the one you wrote on the deserted island?" PD Kim Tae-hee was clearly prepared, "If so, we can directly film you writing and preparing the song, which will reduce the pressure on your filming schedule."

"Although it’s not that song, I think I’m almost ready." Yoon Hyun thought for a moment and selected a song in his mind.

"Then we can continue filming now." PD Kim Tae-hee was excited and signaled Yoon Hyun’s dedicated cameraman to prepare.

"Let’s go to my company." Yoon Hyun smiled and gestured for his manager, Kim Soo-yeon, who was waiting on the side, to follow.

In the car, Yoon Hyun sat relaxed, while PD Kim Tae-hee took the opportunity to ask questions to supplement Yoon Hyun’s screen time.

"Did you prepare this song a long time ago?" Kim Tae-hee asked.

"Well, this song is actually the second one I wrote independently when I was learning to write songs. I just felt it would be very suitable for this special episode, so I decided to use it." Yoon Hyun answered seriously.

"Do you have a lot of confidence in this song?" PD Kim Tae-hee continued.

"Confidence, not really, but it should meet PD Kim Tae-ho’s expectations." Then Yoon Hyun sat up and pointed at the camera as if speaking to someone, "PD Kim Tae-ho! Isn’t your goal just to create a theme song? Why go to such great lengths? Another special episode, a song festival, it’s too much! Do you want me to tell everyone your little plan and have them deal with you?"

PD Kim Tae-hee and the cameraman were instantly petrified.

Kim Soo-yeon, sitting in the passenger seat, laughed until her stomach hurt.

PD Kim Tae-hee and the cameraman followed Yoon Hyun into the recording studio at LOEN Entertainment.

"Yoon Hyun oppa! Aren’t you supposed to be filming 'Infinite Challenge' today?" Yoon Hyun was startled when he opened the door and saw Lee Ji-eun singing in the recording studio. Lee Ji-eun was also startled and almost shouted.

"I am filming. What are you doing here?" Yoon Hyun noticed that Lee Ji-eun was using his recording studio to practice singing while he was away.

"I..." Lee Ji-eun was a bit embarrassed, like a cute little thief caught in the act.

"Perfect, since you’re here, help me out!" Yoon Hyun grabbed the girl, who was trying to sneak away along the wall, without any courtesy.

"What do you want me to do, Yoon Hyun oppa?" Lee Ji-eun lowered her head like a student waiting to be scolded.

"I’m preparing a special episode of 'Infinite Challenge' called 'Gangnam Style Song Festival.' We’re filming now. This shot, you just greet everyone." Yoon Hyun introduced her in a very owner-like manner and pointed to the camera behind him.

"Hello, everyone. I’m a trainee at LOEN, Yoon Hyun oppa’s junior and student, Lee Ji-eun." Lee Ji-eun politely greeted the camera.

"Now, I’m going to record a song. Honestly, this song is very suitable for 'Infinite Challenge'... this kind of..." Yoon Hyun glanced at the cameraman and PD with a look of disdain, "a program with absolutely no musical talent."

"Ha..." Lee Ji-eun couldn’t help but laugh and wanted to apologize to the camera, but Yoon Hyun stopped her.

"I’m telling the truth, no need to apologize." Yoon Hyun said with disdain, "But the soul of this song isn’t entirely in the music, but in the dance. I was looking for someone to dance with me before I came here. Since I met you, you’re in."

"Yoon Hyun oppa, I’m not very good at dancing..." Lee Ji-eun said with some hesitation.

"Hey, who in the company knows you better than me? If I say you can do it, you can do it." Yoon Hyun waved his hand carelessly and continued, "Go get some sheet music and a pen, I’ll write down the melody."

"Yoon Hyun-ssi, you haven’t written down the melody yet?" PD was a bit confused.

"It’s all in my head, I can write it down anytime." Yoon Hyun pointed to his head with a look that said, "How can you ask such a stupid question?" "This is my second completed song, but it’s the one that sparked my interest in learning to write music. I started learning to write music because of the inspiration from this song."

PD and the cameraman were speechless.

Soon, Lee Ji-eun brought the sheet music and pen, and Yoon Hyun started writing the melody on the table.

"Yoon Hyun oppa, what are you writing...?" Lee Ji-eun, who wasn’t familiar with sheet music, was a bit overwhelmed by Yoon Hyun’s writing, which looked like alien code.

"Ji-eun, you should know that oppa isn’t very good at playing instruments, right?" Yoon Hyun said as he wrote.

"No, oppa’s guitar playing is very good." Lee Ji-eun said with a comforting tone.

"...Don’t be polite with me. You play guitar better than me. Because I’m not good at playing instruments, I use a computer to synthesize most of my demo tracks. Later, I realized that instead of writing sheet music and then converting it into computer input, it’s better to write it directly as computer input..."

"But can Yoon Hyun-ssi hum the melody from your sheet music?" The usually silent cameraman couldn’t help but ask.

"It’s all sheet music, just with different coding rules. If you’ve learned computer programming, you’ll understand what I’m doing..."

At this point, the PD added "Boastful Seoul University Master" to the screen...

Soon, Yoon Hyun finished writing the melody and opened the computer in the recording studio to generate a demo.

Watching Yoon Hyun’s fingers fly over the keyboard, the PD added: "Such dexterity, and he doesn’t even play the piano..." Soon, the demo was complete.

Then, a song with a strong electronic music style started playing in the recording studio.

Lee Ji-eun, who had been watching quietly, couldn’t help but start moving her body...

"This is a great dance song." Lee Ji-eun looked at Yoon Hyun with admiration. "What’s the name of this song?"

"‘Gangnam Style.’" Yoon Hyun also started moving his body. After the song played through once, Yoon Hyun corrected a few mistakes, and the music preparation was basically complete.

"Do you want to help me with something, cameraman?" After revising the song, Yoon Hyun listened to it again and found it was basically fine.

"Me? Help with what?" The cameraman was a bit confused.

"This song needs some harmonies, you can do it!" Yoon Hyun smiled.

"Me? Can I do it?" The cameraman was a bit nervous but eager to try.

"It’s not a complicated part, just some ‘hey,’ ‘ha,’ and some parts to sing with me. If you’re interested, that’s enough." Yoon Hyun saw the cameraman’s interest and decided to go with it. He then turned to Lee Ji-eun, planning to say something, but suddenly remembered something and picked up his phone to make a call.

"Yoon Hyun-ssi, why are you calling me?" The person on the other end was Lee Ji-hyun.

"Ji-hyun-ssi, what are you doing?"

"Me? I’m at the dorm. What’s up?"

"Remember when we went to an audition two years ago, and I said I wanted you to help me write a song, and you told me to ask my sister?"

"Ah, I remember, I even called you oppa back then!" Lee Ji-hyun said with a teasing tone.

"Um... I’m not talking about that. Talking to you that day sparked my interest in learning to write songs, which led to 'Cute Song' and 'Baby.' But the song I wrote for you was never completed..."

"Did you finish it now?" Lee Ji-hyun’s tone carried a special meaning.

"Yes, you know I’m recording 'Infinite Challenge,' right? I plan to perform this song on a special episode of 'Infinite Challenge.' I need two dancers, and I’ve already asked Ji-eun. I think the other spot should be yours. Are you available?"

"..."

The other end fell silent.

Yoon Hyun was a bit awkward because the camera was still filming.

"Yoon Hyun-ssi, thank you." Lee Ji-hyun’s voice became a bit muffled, "But shouldn’t I listen to a song written for me from the audience? So, I’d rather not come."

"Oh..." Yoon Hyun’s tone carried a suppressed disappointment.

"I can recommend someone to you. Dinosaur. She’s a great dancer." Lee Ji-hyun, probably sensing Yoon Hyun’s disappointment, immediately recommended Park Ji-yeon...

Yoon Hyun could only hang up with Lee Ji-hyun and call Park Ji-yeon.

"Pervert, why are you calling me? Are you trying to ask me out for something naughty?" Park Ji-yeon answered the phone without any hesitation...

"..." Yoon Hyun felt like finding a hole to crawl into.

"Ah!" A scream-like shout came from the other end.

"What are you doing?" Yoon Hyun decided not to waste time on the phone with this girl.

"I’m practicing dancing at the company. Oh, right, pervert, I mean, Yoon Hyun oppa, I got second place in the model competition I participated in!" Park Ji-yeon sounded like a child showing off a good grade to their parents.

"Come to my recording studio at LOEN now. I’m waiting for you." Yoon Hyun hung up.

Ignoring the strange looks from the PD, he told Lee Ji-eun, "I’m going to record the backing vocals now. Listen and get familiar with the song."

Then he went into the recording studio.

The PD and the cameraman, who weren’t very familiar with music, couldn’t really understand the backing vocals.

The cameraman, guided by Yoon Hyun, also went into the studio and sang a few lines, not even knowing what he was singing.

"What, Sexy Lady? Is this an English song?" The PD