Call it a blessing in disguise.
There was no need for any other words to describe Hwang Ji-hyuk’s current situation.
“Wow…. You’re really good at singing.”
“Who taught you?”
Despite it being the first time seeing the sheet music and lyrics, there was no hitch. Ha Eun’s ability to flawlessly handle the featuring part just by repeating the guide recording a few times was impressive.
“Ji-hyuk, do you not need any feedback?”
“I’m too busy enjoying it. I don’t think there’s anything to give feedback on, to be honest.”
By this point, it was puzzling. Why hadn’t Daulby considered recruiting someone as talented as Ha Eun?
If only he had introduced Ha Eun a little earlier, he wouldn’t have gone through such emotional turmoil.
Not knowing that Ha Eun had been reluctant to engage in singing activities, Hwang Ji-hyuk couldn’t help but feel regret.
However, as it had already become dark outside, even he couldn’t hold onto Ha Eun any longer.
“I’ll finish recording the remaining parts next time. Is that okay?”
“Oh, yes. See you next time!”
With that, the heavy door of the studio, just released from Ha Eun, gently closed.
It was right after that he started to loop and listen to the recording of the final song featuring Ha Eun.
Imagining Ha Eun standing on stage, he began to conceptualize the performance for the final round including “Singer Pinocchio”.
After all, stage performances are also part of the evaluation.
Even with the twist that the rookie singer Pinocchio was actually a famous actress, the performance might already be sufficient.
“The mindset of trying to win with the popularity of the featuring artist is a thief’s mindset.”
Hwang Ji-hyuk, the main character of this final round, wanted to do his best as well. If things went wrong, it could easily turn into featuring Hwang Ji-hyuk instead of featuring Pinocchio.
In the end, Hwang Ji-hyuk left Daulby’s studio around 4 a.m.
Yet, he was not tired at all.
“I’m so excited I could burst.”
He couldn’t stop imagining the final stage that he would share with Ha Eun. The worries and concerns that had filled his mind just a day earlier had long since vanished.
With Ha Eun set to feature in Hwang Ji-hyuk’s <SIT ON THE MONEY> final song, her schedule had gotten a bit busier.
There was a lot more to do than just recording the featuring part.
This was Ha Eun’s first time performing as a singer on stage.
While there was no need to prepare choreography, she needed to practice her stage positioning in advance.
“Her first debut stage is a live broadcast…”
Mistakes on a live broadcast, like at the finals of <SIT ON THE MONEY>, would lead to a catastrophe. The consequences were far different from NGs on a drama set. When an NG occurred while filming a drama like <The Moonlight Parted by the Clouds>, they could simply start over, but an NG on a live broadcast was an accident. A broadcast accident would surely become a screenshot or a meme on the internet.
In other words, it meant that the image of “Lee Ha-eun” would also plummet.
Thus, practicing with the dancers who would perform alongside Ha Eun on the final stage was essential. They couldn’t let the movements of Ha Eun and the dancers get tangled on the day of <SIT ON THE MONEY> finals.
However, somehow, the number of people who had come to know that Pinocchio’s true identity was Ha Eun had increased to nearly ten.
Glimpse.
Glimpse, glimpse.
“…This is overwhelming.”
She had to face gazes that were half bewilderment, half surprise. While no one was openly revealing Pinocchio’s true identity, the curious looks regarding Ha Eun’s presence were still hard to get used to.
Nevertheless, things were generally going smoothly. The meeting with the PD for the finals performance with Ha Eun as the featuring artist had also concluded successfully.
However, she was still worried about how much more exposure Ha Eun’s “voice” would receive due to this final round.
“At the very least, I should inform some people…”
The officials from the fantasy realm. In particular, she decided to inform Jee Hye-min in advance about Ha Eun’s participation in the <SIT ON THE MONEY> final stage.
Strictly speaking, it was Diah who had signed with Jee Hye-min. Legally, actress Lee Ha-eun had no connection to him.
However, since Ha Eun’s appearance in the finals could also affect Diah, she thought it appropriate to seek understanding from Jee Hye-min, the overall person in charge of the fantasy realm.
Setting up a meeting with Jee Hye-min was a continuation of that line of thought.
Well, while it was called a meeting, in reality, they had just planned to talk at Hye-min’s home for a couple of hours.
And so, time passed.
Finally, on the day of the appointment with Jee Hye-min, Ha Eun exclaimed, “Oh? What is this?”
“Oh, that’s because… I just wanted to bring something since I didn’t want to come empty-handed.”
Ha Eun brought a fruit gift set, something one would typically give during holidays, and handed it to Jee Hye-min.
Of course, Ha Eun’s gift was appreciated. It was just that it seemed a bit too mature for her young age, which caused a little surprise.
Anyway, since they had promised to talk, she decided to ask what Ha Eun wanted to discuss.
“Is it something serious?”
“Um… That’s a bit vague.”
“?”
Ha Eun pulled out her phone from her pocket shortly after.
She began searching for something, and then started to play a song that seemed quite familiar.
For some reason, her cautious expression seemed as if she was looking for approval from Jee Hye-min.
“Hey? Isn’t this Daulby’s song?”
At that moment, as Jee Hye-min recognized the identity of the song Ha Eun was playing…
“Then, do you know who featured on it…?”
A question that didn’t quite match the mood came from Ha Eun.
Responding honestly, Jee Hye-min said he remembered the voice but couldn’t pinpoint whose it was.
Then, just a few seconds later, for some reason, Ha Eun’s expression turned quite serious.
“It’s me.”
“Eh? What do you mean?”
“I’m the one who featured in this song.”
“…What?”
She revealed that ‘Pinocchio,’ who featured on Daulby’s 10th album title track “Tunnel,” was the same as Ha Eun.
To be frank, at first, he thought she was joking.
However, because there was no trace of mischief in Ha Eun’s expression or voice,
“I also got to participate in this <SIT ON THE MONEY> final as a featuring artist for a rapper named Hwang Ji-hyuk.”
The news about her participation in the well-known hip-hop survival program was also understood to be sincere.
However, he still couldn’t grasp why she was sharing this news with Jee Hye-min.
“Oh, um… Congratulations! <SIT ON THE MONEY> is a really famous program, right?”
“…Thank you.”
Her voice was as calm as usual. But her face bore a shadow he had never seen before.
Before he knew it, he opened his mouth.
“Um, Ha Eun, is there something you’re worried about?”
He directly asked why she looked so troubled.
“Actually…”
What followed was Ha Eun’s cautious voice, indicating that her participation in the finals might affect “Virtual YouTuber Diah.”
And it was a heartfelt apology for potentially causing issues with the fantasy realm’s activities.
Strictly speaking, Jee Hye-min agreed that there was a chance that Diah’s true identity could be revealed.
However, after thinking it over, it didn’t seem like that serious of an issue.
“Um, Ha Eun, I understand what you’re worried about… but there’s really no need to feel this guilty.”
He began to comfort Ha Eun.
As a part of that, he suggested a few ways to keep Pinocchio’s identity concealed.
“If you’re really worried about your identity being revealed, maybe you could wear a mask or something?”
“I’ve thought about it… but if I try to hide my identity even on a live broadcast stage, it might draw even more attention.”
Since it was already settled that singer Pinocchio would be performing on <SIT ON THE MONEY>‘s final stage, it meant that Pinocchio would garner attention once more.
Thus, rather than continuing to hide Pinocchio’s identity, she decided it would be better to reveal it confidently.
After all, if done incorrectly, it could backfire.
The only clue to unravel the identity of a ‘faceless singer’ like Pinocchio was her voice.
In other words, as people attempted to figure out Pinocchio’s identity, Ha Eun’s voice would inevitably receive more attention.
Therefore, it was essential to eliminate any reason for Ha Eun’s voice to keep getting noticed.
“It’s better for me as a person to be recognized than my voice.”
“…You’re right.”
Well, either way, he didn’t intend to intervene in Ha Eun’s activities as a singer at all.
After that, he continued to console Ha Eun, advising her not to worry too much about her participation in <SIT ON THE MONEY>. He also added that he would be looking forward to her singing.
“Ha Eun, your featuring part sounded amazing. So don’t waste that beautiful voice. It would be a shame.”
“…Yeah.”
About ten minutes later, a black van belonging to Ju Jung-yun arrived near Jee Hye-min’s home.
As Ha Eun finished her preparations to leave, he waved lightly until she disappeared beyond the front door.
However, it was quite a surprising revelation for Jee Hye-min that Pinocchio’s identity was Ha Eun.
Once again, he started listening to Ha Eun’s song through the Bluetooth speaker in the living room.
Knowing it was Ha Eun’s voice made it sound even better.
It was less than a week until the finals of <SIT ON THE MONEY>.
At the same time, it was a day in August, the third highlight filming day for <The Moonlight Parted by the Clouds>.
“Please bear with the ticklishness for just a moment~.”
As usual, Ha Eun headed to the makeup room but would be wearing a slightly unfamiliar type of makeup instead of her usual look.
Today, the character she was portraying wouldn’t be a warrior but a ‘dancer’.
It was a feminine appearance as a dancer, not the rough exterior of a guard.
Ha Eun’s eyes, enhanced with delicate makeup, exuded a subtle elegance.
Her costume was also a cherry blossom color jeogori and skirt, not a black outfit of a warrior.
Thanks to neatly tied hair, which had previously been undone, only grace radiated back at her from the mirror.
Thus, for the first time since the filming of <The Moonlight Parted by the Clouds> began, she was fully prepared to reveal the beautiful figure of Yeom Wol.
Knock, knock.
The sound of two knocks reached Ha Eun’s ears.
Upon turning, she saw Kim Jin-soo, Da-yeon’s manager.
“Hey, Ha Eun. Can you spare a moment? Just a quick one.”
“Oh, yes.”
There was still quite a bit of time before shooting would begin. Having hung around Da-yeon for a long time, she had grown somewhat closer to her manager, Kim Jin-soo, so she happily accepted the request.
However, what Kim Jin-soo said next was not light at all.
“It seems like Da-yeon isn’t in a good state… She won’t tell me what’s wrong.”
Because it wasn’t taken lightly,
“Since today is Da-yeon’s birthday… can you talk to her and say happy birthday after shooting is over?”
She couldn’t mention that she had been intentionally avoiding Da-yeon. Instead…
“In that case, could you please get a cake? Oh, and please keep it a secret from Da-yeon.”
“I got it.”
She asked him to bring a small cake for a surprise birthday party. Ha Eun had a bad feeling, thinking that she couldn’t leave Da-yeon alone any longer.
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