It was two days before Baek Ye-rin’s first concert.
Ryu Won visited the Daehan Indoor Arena.
It was to observe the ongoing rehearsal for Baek Ye-rin’s concert. And there was another reason as well.
“We’re planning to outsource the concert management and stage direction to external sources and our team, right?”
“Yes. I have no experience with stage directing whatsoever. My involvement might even be counterproductive. But I want to direct the final song that Ye-rin will perform.”
Kang Beom-jun shrugged at Ryu Won’s response.
“Do as you please.”
This was roughly the gist.
To be honest, Ryu Won had never been particularly interested in stage direction up to this point.
He had been too focused on composing songs.
But now he had some free time, and he wanted to personally oversee the direction of the final song Baek Ye-rin would perform at this concert.
“So, do you have any vague ideas in mind? Maybe something came to mind when you checked the venue?”
“Not really.”
“Hmm… You saying that makes it all the more clear.”
Kang Beom-jun looked somewhat surprised.
After all, who was Ryu Won?
He was a genius composer whose twenty-five songs all ranked high within the Top 100. Even Baek Ye-rin recognized and respected him as a genius. Moreover, Ryu Won possessed the remarkable ability to implement his unconventional ideas and had a tenacity to dive into any challenge involving a girl.
The very notion of him being inexperienced or struggling at something was slightly surprising to Kang Beom-jun.
“No, I just want to stick to the stage direction I had in mind when I first composed the song. Even with the representative appearing, and this grand stage, I think adding anything else might dilute the emotional impact.”
It seemed one always had to listen carefully to what Ryu Won said until the very end.
Ryu Won then began to explain in detail to Kang Beom-jun the stage direction he had conceived. After all, from Ryu Won’s perspective, it was Kang Beom-jun who would ultimately be responsible for communicating with the stage director.
And as Kang Beom-jun listened to Ryu Won’s explanation, his eyes gradually grew wider in appreciation.
This might be another of his hidden talents…
‘Could it be that he’s actually talented in stage direction as well?’
Ryu Won felt a sense of discovering a new talent in himself.
During the break of the concert rehearsal, Baek Ye-rin sneaked over to where Ryu Won and Kang Beom-jun were seated among the audience.
The three of them sat side by side, chatting as usual. The topic of their conversation revolved around Baek Ye-rin’s newly formed fandom.
“The fan club name, wasn’t it ‘Yerim’?”
“Yes. Originally, the fan cafe was established first, and they voted for the fandom name.”
The most popular choice from the vote was the shortened version of “Yerim,” meaning Goddess Ye-rin.
“I think it’s a pretty good fandom name. Of course, what the main person thinks about it is another matter.”
“Ah, but to me, hearing that a fandom for her has formed is just amazing. Oh, and according to Harri unnie, they’ve already even established cheers corresponding to each song.”
There’s an old saying: “When in Rome, do as the Romans do.” Similarly, when you travel to a new country, it’s a good idea to familiarize yourself with their culture. In that sense, learning the cheers is a way of studying as a fan.
You don’t have to learn them necessarily, but knowing them beforehand can be a nice touch.
Ultimately, a concert is an event co-created by the star of the stage—the singer—and the audience and fans who play the role of the supporting actors.
At that moment, Kang Beom-jun suddenly said with a puzzled expression,
“Yeah. Usually, the marketing department makes the cheering guides, but someone from your fan cafe quickly came up with them. They were so good that we had no choice but to immediately adopt them.”
“I heard about it from Harri unnie. That person’s username was definitely ‘RW0927,’ right?”
“That’s right. I remember that name now… but thinking about it now, something about it feels strange.”
“I know, right? RW is probably the English transliteration of their name.”
“0927 seems like a birthday to anyone who sees it. It feels like there might be someone near us fitting those characteristics, but… something doesn’t feel right about it.”
Kang Beom-jun and Baek Ye-rin looked at Ryu Won simultaneously.
Ryu Won was nervously fidgeting with his legs as if something was bothering him.
Perhaps the expression “a thief’s heart races” fits such situations perfectly.
“Ryu Won, just out of curiosity, when’s your birthday?”
“Oh, I remember that. It’s definitely September 27th.”
“Hmm, is it? Ye-rin, how about we check the posts by that person on the fan cafe? I’m really curious.”
“That’s a good idea.”
“Hey! Both of you, stop teasing me!”
Deciding to use an alias that had no connection to himself.
Ryu Won learned a valuable lesson today about naming his online aliases.
“What a nice day.”
The day of Baek Ye-rin’s first concert dawned bright and clear.
A sunny day was always preferable to a gloomy one, even for an indoor concert.
Come to think of it, another month and it will already be June.
Since June technically marked the beginning of summer, it made Ryu Won reflect on how quickly time passed.
Anyway…
“With so many people, will they all fit inside?”
“They will, don’t worry. It’s wider inside than you might think. Shall we go in?”
I escorted Baek Ye-rin’s mother into the concert venue.
The first sight that greeted us was the stage where Baek Ye-rin would perform today.
Equipped with a giant screen and a narrow pathway leading to a cube-shaped platform where the singer would be close enough for everyone to see.
It was truly impressive.
To build such a grand set in a single day in such a large indoor arena was no easy feat.
As I was reflecting on these thoughts, the audience began to trickle in and take their seats.
Before long, all the seats were filled, and just as the concert time approached, the lights on the ceiling began to dim.
Then…
– I want to walk with you.
Down a beautiful cherry blossom-lined street.
The cheerful sound of the guitar began to resonate throughout the hall, followed by Baek Ye-rin’s voice.
Surely, everyone there immediately recognized this song.
“You and the Cherry Blossoms”
The title track of her third album, a song that instantly brings to mind the spring season.
It was the perfect song to herald the entrance of the concert’s main star—Baek Ye-rin.
*
“Hello everyone!”
From the center of the stage, Baek Ye-rin performed a light rendition of “You and the Cherry Blossoms” and greeted her audience with a strong voice.
The audience greeted her with a roar of cheers.
Their faces lit up with excitement despite the loud volume.
After all, this was Baek Ye-rin’s first ever concert, where fans could finally see her up close.
The deafening cheers that echoed throughout the stadium left Baek Ye-rin momentarily taken aback, lifting her microphone once more.
“Wow… I didn’t realize you would greet me this enthusiastically. First, I sang the song ‘You and the Cherry Blossoms,’ how did it feel? …So good? Phew, I’m really relieved. It was my first concert with my first song, and I was a little nervous, but your incredible cheers have calmed my nerves.”
Baek Ye-rin smoothly carried out the concert as if no one could believe it was her first performance.
As if it were her true calling, she naturally interacted with the audience, singing and demonstrating why so many people had gathered here to see her.
Ryu Won made the following comment to Lee Yeon-hee amidst the atmosphere:
“It feels quite fulfilling, doesn’t it?”
“Of course.”
Ryu Won’s comment caused Lee Yeon-hee to smile and nod in agreement.
In reality, this was her first time hearing Baek Ye-rin’s live performance as a singer.
And she was amazed.
Not only was her daughter excellent at singing, the imposing presence she exuded on stage left a deep impression.
That petite figure seemed to fill the stage entirely. She continuously ignited the response and cheers of the vast audience.
Because of this, Lee Yeon-hee felt both joy and a touch of regret.
If only she had noticed her daughter’s talent earlier…
She could have enjoyed more of these happy moments together.
Still, the gratitude outweighed the regret. And that gratitude was directed right at Ryu Won who sat next to her.
After all, if not for Ryu Won’s efforts, they might not have been able to share in this joyful moment.
As Lee Yeon-hee was thinking this, the concert was gradually drawing to a close.
On the other hand,
Ryu Won smiled faintly.
Currently, a total of twenty-five songs were registered under Baek Ye-rin’s name.
If she sang all these songs and added encores, the concert would easily last over five hours.
However, for reasons related to my planning, there was an inherent necessity to reduce the concert’s duration.
After all,
‘This was to conserve her strength for the final song.’
Nevertheless, the audience’s response from the start until now had been nothing short of remarkable, and they had no way of realizing this.
Even with a restrained performance, Baek Ye-rin’s live rendition was beyond anyone’s imagination.
Still, Ryu Won felt an inkling of guilt.
Baek Ye-rin probably shared the same sentiment.
In reality, today’s concert was not an event for the 10,000 audience members present.
It was destined to be a concert for only one person.
Ryu Won often fantasized about being that person. But this time, he simply had to step aside.
Once again, Ryu Won turned his gaze to the stage.
There, Baek Ye-rin was taking a quiet and deliberate breath.
…The time had come.
