章 12: Scoring dinner with her idol
"Hi, I'm back with another live singing session!" Ji-ho smiled at the camera.
~ Young-mi!
~ What's your opinion about the apology video?
~ Did Iris really spill coffee on you?!
~ Sun Young-mi, go die!
~ I want to hear wildflower again <3
Ji-ho ignored all the comments that were asking her about the apology. She instead called out a few names that she recognised from yesterday and greeted them personally.
"Anyway," she said to the viewers, "I was lonely singing by myself so I thought why not duet with someone. I chose the song April forever, by Lara and Min-ho. I'll be singing Lara's parts and Min-ho gets to keep his lines."
It was another difficult song that demanded vocal gymnastics. Ji-ho specifically picked the song to show off her technical skills. It was the least she could do when people would eventually begin comparing her to Iris.
_____
"Fucking slut Sun-!" Iris shouted in her room while throwing a vase at the wall. "Young-" she pushed a line of cosmetics on her vanity to the floor. "MI!!!"
"Can you stop screaming for one second?!" Blue looked away from his laptop and stared at the hysterical girl that he could no longer tolerate. "I'm trying to get some work done here, Iris."
"Don't you care about me at all?" Iris sobbed. "I've been humiliated, forced to apologise to that washed up bitch who-"
"Who asked you to antagonise her then?" Blue responded coldly. "You started it, now you end it."
Iris stared at him like she couldn't believe what she was hearing. Why was everyone on Jessica's side? First, it was Lee Tae-Hyun, and now her own boyfriend.
"You want her back," she accused him. "That's why you're supporting her, and not me, your girlfriend!"
"Are you crazy?" The irritated man asked her. "I don't have time for this, Iris."
He began packing his laptop to leave the house. Iris had gone crazy and this wasn't like her regular childish tantrums. This was a full-blown adult tantrum that he couldn't handle.
____
Ji-ho was done singing for the day when she received another dragon from her beloved golden thigh. Her smile was wide and infectious. Who wouldn't be happy to receive such a fat gift?
"Thank you, Seung-ho!"
~ So rich!
~ Could this be THE Seung-ho?
~ Young-mi already has a patron and I'm so happy knowing this.
~ How can it be THE Seung-ho?! As if he would have time to watch Jessica's stupid karaoke.
~ Today's singing was also very good ah. Why didn't you sing like this when you were a part of Genesis?
Ji-ho shut off the live feed after saying goodbye to the viewers. It had been a productive day so she left the studio feeling energised. Taking out her cellphone, Ji-ho then dialled Lee Tae-Hyun's number, hoping she wasn't disturbing him.
"Hello," his calm voice answered on the second ring.
"Mister Lee, it's Young-mi," she replied politely. "Is this a bad time to be calling you?"
"Not at all. You've made me wait for a long time, miss Sun. Are you satisfied with the apology?"
The sky was dark and a million stars were twinkling down at the smiling Ji-ho. The apology could have sounded more sincere but she was satisfied. "I am. I also apologise for just leaving without a word when I should have stayed and honoured our meeting. I allowed my temper to make my decisions, and I am sorry for it."
"I'll forgive you if you tell me you're free right now."
"Ah~ mister Lee, I actually had to go to the dry cleaner's but I'll make an exception for you," she answered cheekily. Ji-ho could speak so freely because Tae-Hyun was speaking informally to her.
"Good. I'll send a car to pick you up. Where are you?"
Ji-ho told him the address of the studio and waited at a nearby cafe.
____
The great producer's office was on the 7th floor of the company's building. As soon as Ji-ho entered through the doors, her heart did a little jump because she couldn't believe she was actually meeting Lee Tae-Hyun in his office at S.S. The past her would have burst a lung from excitement if she knew what the future Ji-ho would be experiencing.
"Young-mi, take a seat."
Producer Lee was wearing a black silk shirt today, sleeves folded halfway up his arms.
"I happened to catch your live," he told her. "I'm impressed by what you're able to do with your voice. Have you had classical training?"
Ji-ho wasn't surprised that someone of his calibre had caught that so easily.
"Just some self-teaching here and there," she airily replied. Ji-ho had no explanation for why Jessica had become such a good singer not even half a month into ditching Genesis.
"I see."
Ji-ho thankfully didn't have to field too many personal questions about her past and her talents. The producer was unobtrusive and only asked the bare minimum for him to gauge the direction in which to proceed with her career.
"Hungry?" He asked her after they'd spent some time discussing music.
"No I'm alright," Ji-ho responded but then her traitorous stomach growled just loud enough for them to both hear. "Let's pretend that was the sound of your fan malfunctioning," She told him with a straight face.
"I don't have a fan."
"I'm your fan."
Tae-Hyun couldn't help but let out an amused chuckle at her stupid pun. Sun Young-mi was not at all what he had expected. She was a breath of fresh air that his label was in dire need of.
"Sun Young-mi, I'm really glad you left your old company."
"Truly?" She asked, feeling embarrassed but happy.
He nodded. "Truly. Now let's fill your malfunctioning stomach, Young-mi. Consider it a welcome treat since we're going to be working together."
In her mind, Ji-ho was giving herself a solo ovation. How many people could boast about going to dinner with Lee Tae-Hyun?! How many??
"It would be rude of me to turn you down, Producer-nim," she said with a growing smile. "So I won't be polite today."
_____
Ji-ho and Tae-Hyun walked across the road to get to the luxury restaurant called Silver Fir. It catered to only the rich and famous because the prices on its menu were beyond the pockets of ordinary people like Ji-ho.
"It must be convenient to work right across this place," she said to him as they took their seats next to a glass wall that overlooked the city.
"Not when I'm trying to watch my weight," he replied.
Ji-ho did a once over of his flat tummy and toned profile. "Producer nim, are we having humble pie for dinner?"
Lee Tae-Hyun found himself smiling again, something that didn't happen too often when he wasn't around his friends.
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