Chapter 57

So, one evening, a new song was written.

"Is the atmosphere a bit too heavy?" When the sky finally began to show the first light of dawn, Yoon Hyun put down his pen, the computer playing the song he had just composed, and he hummed it intentionally or unintentionally.

"In that case, we need to find someone who hasn't gotten married to sing it with me!" Yoon Hyun thought for a moment, "And it should be someone older. Although there are many such people in the Korean music industry..." He thought of Kim Jong-kook... and then decided not to.

Then Yoon Hyun decided to start using Naver's search capabilities...

As a former otaku, he was incredibly skilled at using search engines...

However, just as he was happily looking at various strange histories and gossip about his seniors, a person mentioned in a news article opened up his memories.

"Unnie Tae-hee? Maybe I can ask her." Yoon Hyun looked at the name, muttering to himself. "I just don't know how good Unnie Tae-hee is at singing. This song isn't easy to sing..."

But since he thought of her, why not give it a try?

After a three or four-hour nap, Yoon Hyun got up and called Kim Tae-hee.

"Hello! Hyun! It's so rare for you to call me!"

"…Why do you say that, Unnie Tae-hee? I'm embarrassed."

"You know you're embarrassed! How long has it been since you last contacted me? Were you waiting for me to call you?"

"I'm sorry, Unnie Tae-hee, I was wrong."

"Go on, you wouldn't think of me if you didn't need something, so what is it?"

"Unnie Tae-hee, we've known each other for so many years..."

"Don't try to get close, just get to the point!"

"Alright... I just wanted to ask if Unnie Tae-hee's schedule is full recently."

"Not too bad, two CFs, and an audition for a drama. What's up, do you have a job for me?"

"I want to invite you to appear on the variety show I host, is that okay?"

"Variety show? 'Infinite Challenge'? I've been on it once..."

"You've been on it?"

"Once... Oh, that was before you debuted..."

"Unnie Tae-hee, you make it sound like you're really old..."

"Hey! Yoon Hyun, are you asking for death? But I really don't do variety shows much..."

"Unnie Tae-hee, this is the 'Infinite Challenge' Music Festival. I wrote a song and need someone to sing it with me. I can't find anyone else, so I'm counting on you..."

"So you only think of me when you can't find anyone else?"

"Unnie Tae-hee, you're my last resort! You know, like when we were kids, after losing a fight and getting hurt, our first reaction was to go home to mom..."

"Hey! If you mention my age again, I'll hang up!"

"Don't! Unnie Tae-hee, please help me!" Yoon Hyun pleaded in a crying voice.

"...It's been years since you last pleaded with me..."

"Also, Unnie Tae-hee, I've been in the industry for so long, and we've never had the chance to work together. I really cherish this opportunity."

"To work together, we should do a drama or a movie! By the way, the drama I'm auditioning for is pretty good, with a big budget..."

"Unnie Tae-hee, I'm not really interested in acting in dramas anymore..."

"What if I ask you to act with me? As my co-star, how about that?"

"...Can I say no?"

"Then I think my singing is really not good enough to show..."

"Unnie!"

"Hyun..."

"Alright, Unnie, you win."

Yoon Hyun finally gave in.

Actually, he didn't necessarily have to sing with Kim Tae-hee, but once the idea popped into his head, it grew like wild grass.

So, he had to sign an unequal treaty. Kim Tae-hee would appear as a guest on the 'Infinite Challenge' Music Festival, and in return, Yoon Hyun would be recommended by Kim Tae-hee to audition for the drama she was going to try out for, which he didn't even know the name of or the script for.

After setting a time to practice the song together, Yoon Hyun informed the 'Infinite Challenge' production team that he had found a partner and that the song was ready. They could come to his recording studio at the agreed time to shoot some pre-production content.

"Yoon Hyun-ssi, can you tell us who your guest is?" The PD was curious.

"About that... you'll know when you come. But I should warn you, she might not have time to attend our mid-term check-in..." Yoon Hyun gave a heads-up.

"So busy... she must be a big star!" The PD got excited.

"Also, I suggest you keep it a secret. Announcing it too early might have the opposite effect." Before calling the PD, Yoon Hyun had watched the episode of 'Infinite Challenge' where Kim Tae-hee appeared as a special guest. At the time, almost all the men at MBC had crowded the recording site. Although her popularity had declined in recent years due to a lack of outstanding works, the name "Kim Tae-hee" was still a golden brand.

"Got it, I'll be careful." The PD promised.

Then, when the PD and Kim Tae-hee met Yoon Hyun's "Unnie Tae-hee" at his recording studio, the PD was stunned.

"This song..." Kim Tae-hee read the lyrics, a bit angry.

"I was nagged by my mom to write this song." Yoon Hyun quickly explained.

Kim Tae-hee was taken aback, then laughed.

"After writing the song, the first person I thought of was Oppa Kim Jong-kook, but I rejected that idea, then I thought of you. I think only a woman with great temperament and intelligence can convey the meaning of this song. Most people would sing it superficially and fail to convey the feeling." Yoon Hyun immediately started flattering her.

"Actually, you're just saying I'm... " Kim Tae-hee pointed to a line in the lyrics, "Past the age of dreaming, right? But the lyrics are really well-written. They touched me."

"I showed the lyrics to IU, and she could sing it, but it felt completely flat. Those young girls don't understand what love is, and they can't read the lyrics of this song." Yoon Hyun continued to flatter her.

The PD and the cameraman were stunned. Yoon Hyun was an incredibly cunning and devious character on 'Infinite Challenge,' and there was no one in the production team he wouldn't scheme against, even the much older Park Myung-soo. But today, he was so gentle! Was this the power of beauty?

"You're just saying I'm old, over and over." Although Kim Tae-hee was in a good mood because of Yoon Hyun's flattery, she still wouldn't let him off the hook. "By the way, I brought the script for this drama. While I practice, you can look at it and see if there's a role you're interested in, so I can recommend you to the director."

"Unnie, is there a role where I just appear for a scene and then get shot to save you?" Yoon Hyun suddenly said.

"...It seems you really want to die!" Kim Tae-hee said threateningly.

"I can die in your arms and confess my feelings before I die, which would count as acting with you..." Yoon Hyun said shamelessly.

"The director's idea is for Lee Byung-hun-ssi to play the lead role. There are three other important male roles: one is my co-star, a colleague who likes me but loves me silently; one is the brother of Kim Soo-yeon-ssi, who acts with her a lot, but I think your image might be a bit difficult for that role... and the last one is a cold-blooded killer, which doesn't require much acting, just being cool and handsome..."

"So your colleague is the one who likes you like Lee Byung-hun-ssi, but loves you silently?" Yoon Hyun said, a bit coldly.

"Do you think you're suitable for that role?" Kim Tae-hee laughed.

"I still think I'm better at getting shot."

"I suddenly feel this song is so hard to sing..."

"But I think it would be an honor to play a secret admirer for you!"

"Good boy!"

The PD was awkwardly unsure what to do. She knew about the drama, but unfortunately, it was a KBS production... Would this part be cut?

So, while Kim Tae-hee went into the recording studio to start practicing the song, Yoon Hyun listened with headphones and flipped through the script.

"Wait, Unnie Tae-hee, you don't need to use such a heavy breath for this line..."

"Wait, this part should be lighter..."

"Don't be so tense, Unnie Tae-hee, relax!"

...

Yoon Hyun soon realized he had no time to read the script. Kim Tae-hee's singing ability was as average as he had feared.

"Maybe I should practice on my own." Kim Tae-hee felt embarrassed and her face turned red.

"It's fine, Unnie Tae-hee, you're already doing well. Your emotional expression and understanding of the lyrics are perfect. It's just some small technical issues. With more practice, it will definitely be a stunning performance." Yoon Hyun said, half comforting and half sincere. Honestly, Kim Tae-hee's grasp of the song's emotions and her quick entry into the role surprised Yoon Hyun. This was probably the advantage of being an actor. As for singing technique... for the difficult parts, he would take the lead, and for the duet parts, she would sing the middle range, which, with her naturally good voice, should be a perfect performance as long as her breathing was good.

Then Yoon Hyun also went into the recording studio and sang with Kim Tae-hee.

Sure enough, with Yoon Hyun's support and taking over the more difficult high and low notes, Kim Tae-hee's middle-range voice, combined with her grasp of the song, immediately showed its charm.

All of this happened in just two or three hours.

The PD, who was filming, was stunned.

They clearly heard how... well, as expected but surprisingly, Kim Tae-hee's first full run-through of the song was.

And now, after just two or three hours, it had become a song that made you want to listen to it again after the first time?

Wasn't that too fast and too easy?

It was like magic! Magic!

When they looked at Yoon Hyun, their eyes were filled with the same reverence as when they saw J.K. Tiger collaborating with Yoo Jae-suk.

After coming out of the recording studio and listening to their duet, Kim Tae-hee became very motivated and felt that she could actually sing...

Then Yoon Hyun corrected a few more minor issues, and the very motivated Kim Tae-hee cooperated well.

Then, the busy Kim Tae-hee left to run her errands.

"I'll leave the script with you. Call me when you're ready, and I'll come to pick it up and take you to meet the director and the writer." Kim Tae-hee said before leaving.

Yoon Hyun nodded. He had just been teasing her to help her relax a bit. Since he had agreed to act, he would definitely prepare well.

If it weren't for the lead role being set for Lee Byung-hun, he would have tried for it.

After all, he had a Best Actor award from the Blue Dragon Awards at home! Lee Byung-hun had only won a few times at the Baeksang Arts Awards...

As he flipped through the pages, the AD started.

As he flipped through the pages, the AD ended.