Initially, PD Yong Soo Chul showed a positive response to the idea of a duet with a KK member. It was completely understandable, considering that what he wanted out of working with Do Wook was to make something ‘viral’.

However, when he heard the name of the member Do Wook nominated, his initial response was to tilt his head. It meant he didn’t like the idea.

“With Tae Hyung…”

“Yes.”

“Doesn’t Tae Hyung have a younger image? And pretty shy. I think I heard he has an image that…evokes motherly feelings. And the image I got from seeing Tae Hyung in person is like that too.”

“That’s definitely the case.”

“Then why…”

PD Yong Soo Chul furrowed his brows. His expression looked very threatening as he racked his brain.

Hyun Ji, who had a pleased expression when she heard the name Park Tae Hyung, promptly became mindful of PD Yong Soo Chul and tried to keep her expression in check.

“If she works with someone with an image like Tae Hyung, I think there will be a synergic effect…”

PD Yong Soo Chul had an expression urging Do Wook to continue.

“Furthermore, Tae Hyung changes once he’s on stage. You know that too.”

Park Tae Hyung had always cautiously greeted him whenever they ran into each other, like at the recording studio or company hallway. He was a member that never made a big impression.

However, Yong Soo Chul knew to an extent that, on stage, Park Tae Hyung danced with a different look in his eyes, carrying out the concept better than anyone else.

“Mmm. That IS true.”

“And trying to pull off this kind of concept by yourself is too…”

“Too?”

Do Wook picked his words carefully. It couldn’t be something that insulted Hyun Ji who was here with them.

Do Wook truly thought highly of Hyun Ji’s skills.

Her singing skills were a little lacking compared to her pretty appearance, but her dancing skills, if nothing else, were remarkable enough to immediately captivate people.

Hyun Ji demonstrated a performance that was as powerful as any good male singer’s. She was also outstanding at controlling the stage.

As such, it was a waste to have her wear a practically naked stage outfit and only emphasize the ‘sexy’ image.

Of course, emphasizing only a sexy image was a matter of planning by PD Yong Soo Chul and One Minute’s company, but another reason was that the vibe Hyun Ji gave off was very similar to that.

You couldn’t ask Hyun Ji to change her vibe, so it was necessary for the plan to refine that image. That was a task a company or producer could do.

“I think Hyun Ji might get stuck with just the sexy image.”

“Sexy is exactly the image I want.”

As expected, PD Yong Soo Chul definitely had his own firm position.

“I think this is an opportunity to show an outstanding performance beyond that. Not just simply sexy…”

PD Yong Soo Chul thought about what Do Wook said as he rubbed his scratchy beard.

Hyun Ji, who had been listening quietly, spoke up,

“He dances really well, right?”

Do Wook nodded his head.

“Yes. I think that if Tae Hyung and you perform together, it’ll be a high-quality performance.”

PD Yong Soo Chul replied, his expression still sour,

“It’ll have a similar vibe to the performance you recently gave then.”

“I think it’ll have a little more powerful vibe. Since the dancing will inevitably be the focus.”

“I’m having a hard time picturing it.”

Do Wook had an expression as if he understood. Do Wook wasn’t planning on forcefully convincing PD Yong Soo Chul.

He just wanted to convey to Yong Soo Chul that that was the kind of performance he was picturing. The choice was up to Yong Soo Chul.

“It’s just my opinion.”

Once Do Wook backed off a bit, Yong Soo Chul’s expression became more contemplative.

“Even if you say you’re ok with it, the company’s and Tae Hyung’s opinions are important too…”

It was Do Wook who was speaking, but Yong Soo Chul already knew Do Wook’s position within KK.

If it were a project Do Wook was pushing, it was very likely that it’d be successful. He also knew that Do Wook wouldn’t have brought it up in the first place if the conditions or workload didn’t make sense.

“Do you truly think that a two-person duet would be better than Hyun Ji’s solo, Do Wook ?”

“We don’t know what the results will be, but I think that that will be much less of a risk to you, Mr. PD.”

He was right. Before he knew it, PD Yong Soo Chul was agreeing with Do Wook.

“Ah, also,”

Do Wook added as if he just remembered.

“I think calling it a duet was a little inaccurate. The correct thing would be Hyun Ji’s solo featuring Tae Hyung.”

“Mr. PD! I think it’ll be good~!”

Once PD Yong Soo Chul showed signs of agreeing with Do Wook, Hyun Ji quickly added.

She said it in a cute way, but Hyun Ji was also a singer, so she had some greed. At first glance, if they had Park Tae Hyung come in instead of a solo, the hype would become bigger, and it was an opportunity to demonstrate a lot of things through the performance.

***

Do Wook, who had returned to the dormitory, privately asked Park Tae Hyung to come to the living room. The other members were either out of the dormitory taking care of personal business, or resting in their own rooms.

Do Wook thought that it was important to ask Park Tae Hyung’s opinion first.

Currently, Park Tae Hyung’s recognizability was a little weaker compared to the other members like Do Wook himself or Jung Yoon Ki. He planned on really raising Park Tae Hyung by having him involved in Hyun Ji’s album.

‘Park Tae Hyung definitely has the capability to do it.’

Park Tae Hyung had a puzzled look on his face as he sat down.

“Is something wrong?”

“No. I just have something to ask you. It’s been rough recently, huh, preparing for the award show. Performance?”

“Huh? No…it’s fun being on stage.”

Do Wook smiled. Park Tae Hyung shone the most when he was dancing on stage.

As Do Wook listened to Park Tae Hyung’s response, he started to think that maybe the answer was already set. It seemed like there was no way Park Tae Hyung would turn down a new opportunity to perform.

“Do you know One Minute’s Hyun Ji?”

“Hmm? Yes. The group PD Yong Soo Chul made…right?”

“Yeah. I was told Hyun Ji is releasing an album.”

With that, Do Wook started explaining to Park Tae Hyung.

He also explained the type of performance he was picturing. Park Tae Hyung expressed that he was a little hesitant because he wasn’t sure if he’d be able to do it well, but still wanted to try it.

In the past, he probably would have stepped away from it, but now Park Tae Hyung was filled with confidence as KK’s Park Tae Hyung.

After explaining things to Park Tae Hyung, Do Wook discussed this matter with Album Production Team Leader Shim Joon and Manager Oh Baek Ho.

They all reacted positively. However, they brought up that they didn’t think PD Yong Soo Chul or Hyun Ji, who had been planning a solo album, would be happy about featuring Park Tae Hyung.

It was because the spotlight would definitely be shared. However, there was nothing to worry about in that aspect.

It was the first solo, so PD Yong Soo Chul was already focused on ‘popularity’. PD Yong Soo Chul had reached a decision to a certain degree.

The other possible problem that was brought up was the issue of a scandal.

It was the aspect they were most careful about while preparing for Do Wook and Lee Jin Ri’s performance. Do Wook smiled at Manager Oh Baek Ho’s question.

It’d be apparent once they were seen together later, but Do Wook was certain that there wouldn’t be a scandal involving the two of them.

Anyways, Do Wook worked quickly on this. He worked fervently on the song, going back and forth to PD Yong Soo Chul’s workshop. Hyun Ji and Park Tae Hyung also sometimes came to the workshop and shared their opinions.

Above all else, the two of them put effort into preparing the choreography for the performance. PD Yong Soo Chul even recruited Lee Jin Ri’s choreography team, who could be considered the best in the field.

***

The New Year came once again.

As L Duty Free Shop’s new model, a picture of KK giving a New Year’s bow wearing hanbok was released and the fans couldn’t contain their happiness.

-If you gave a New Year’s bow, you should get New Year’s money…why aren’t you taking the money…I have cash in my hands…

-Ahh they’re so cute in the hanbok T.T

-Am I the only one getting older when they don’t?

-I want to have a son like KK…

-Do you even have a husband?

-Before that, do you even have a boyfriend?

-Key Ring people are mean!!!

-School uniform, chicken, and duty free store. KK’s popularity is incredible~~~

-Do Wook in hanbok; he looks like a scholar from the Joseon Dynasty

-At least the eldest son of a noble family

-Royal family

-Do Wook is a historical drama T.T

At the same time, for fans who were waiting for KK activities, there was one more piece of confusing news. It was the news that Park Tae Hyung would be featured in One Minute’s Hyun Ji’s solo album title song.

When they heard that it wasn’t simply featuring him, but that they would be doing the music broadcast performance together during the active period, the fans had a lot of thoughts.

Park Tae Hyung had had significantly less independent activities compared to the other members, so it was happy news for his fans who had been waiting for activities from him.

However, they were honestly worried since it was a performance with a member of a female idol group, and Hyun Ji no less, who was known for dripping sexiness even among female idols.

Still, it was revealed at the same time that Do Wook would be involved in producing, so the fans looked forward to the two people’s performance. For now they would have faith and wait.

Amid the expectations and concerns, the day of the first broadcast of the two people’s performance release was closely approaching.

For the public, there was a lot of anticipation, since it had been a while since they had seen a man and woman’s combined performance. Also, there was already significant anticipation over KK’s music.

There were a series of articles saying that ‘Very Sorry’ was the representative song that Do Wook and Brave Only Child worked on together, and the public who knew ‘Very Sorry’ well was looking even more forward to the song Hyun Ji would come out with.

***

“It’s one of the most anticipated performances of the night! One Minute’s Hyun Ji and KK’s Park Tae Hyung working together! There’s so~ many people looking forward to it!”

“That’s right! It’s very hot on site right now too!”

“Kyaaaa―!”

“Wooooooooooow! Hyun Ji! I love you!”

On set of the SVS ‘Life Song’ live broadcast. It was right before the two people’s performance started. Park Tae Hyung and Hyun Ji were on stage, listening to the MCs’ remarks and preparing for their performance.

The One Minute members and PD Yong Soo Chul, who had gathered to cheer on Hyun Ji, as well as Do Wook, Jung Yoon Ki, and Suk Ji Hoon, who had come to the waiting room to cheer on Park Tae Hyung, were fixated on the waiting room monitor.

“Let’s bring them out now! Double quick (Double-quick)*!”
(TL note: The first “Double quick” was said in Korean, the second one in parentheses was said in English)

Different from KK performances, there were male voices mixed in the cheering. The stage lights switched on along with the cheering and the two people’s performance started.

Co-written and co-composed by Brave Only Child and Do Wook, ‘Double quick (Double-quick)’ was a quick tempo pop dance song.

Originally, PD Yong Soo Chul wrote the lyrics with the theme of a woman who seduced men, but since Do Wook came onboard and a role for Park Tae Hyung was created, the lyrics became a double message of trying to seduce each other while being competition to see who was faster and better.

At the same time, Do Wook slightly transformed PD Brave Only Child’s characteristic fast and repetitive beat and made it a much more sophisticated and luxurious dance song.

I’m heading towards you quickly, double, double quick!

Gazing down on you―

My gaze on you―

As they swept across the stage as if they were confronting each other, the two of them continued their powerful dance.

It was an interesting performance where their individual sexiness was highlighted, but it didn’t feel like they should get together. The concept became like a competition, so they were able to avoid that subtle undertone.

Neither of their singing skills were particularly outstanding, but it was live with a certain degree of AR overlaid so there were no problems at all with enjoying the performance.

When Hyun Ji did a wave while wearing high heels and flicked her hip, everyone’s jaws dropped.

It was sexy, but people were calling it ‘cool’ at the same time.

When Park Tae Hyung, who gave off the impression of being innocent like a youngest sibling, changed his expression each second and tried to overpower Hyun Ji, KK fans covered their mouths with their hands and were amazed.

Especially when he pulled his bangs back and looked at Hyun Ji, everyone wondered if Park Tae Hyung had always had that side to him.

It was a song that made you want to move your body. Brave Only Child and Do Wook both had a sense of what would be popular, so it was an expected result.

An unforgettable performance on top of that.

Once the performance ended and there was a close-up of the two of them catching their breath, everyone started cheering.

“He definitely changes once he’s on stage.”

Yong Soo Chul, who had been watching, praised Park Tae Hyung.

“He has a dual personality.”

“Oh Yoon Ki!”

Jung Yoon Ki and Suk Ji Hoon feld proud of their fellow member Park Tae Hyung’s outstanding performance.

Do Wook was also happy that his decision wasn’t wrong.

Park Tae Hyung and Hyun Ji soon opened the door and came in. The two of them also felt in their body that it was a successful performance.

“Good job, you did great”

“Congratulations on your solo debut~!!!”

The KK members and One Minute members gave their congratulations.

The One Minute members even gave Hyun Ji the flowers they had prepared. One of the members gave flowers to Park Tae Hyung too.

The KK members, who hadn’t prepared anything else besides planning on taking Park Tae Hyung out to eat barbeque, were a little embarrassed and just patted him on the shoulder or gave him a hug.

Park Tae Hyung smiled brightly, holding the flowers.

“Once the broadcast is over, I’ll take you guys out to eat.”

Park Tae Hyung thanked Jung Yoon Ki.

Do Wook was about to say something too when he received a text from Manager Oh Baek Ho.

He always had a lot of people contacting him, so Do Wook had set up a separate ringtone for texts from people at the company.

[Do Wook, it looks like you’ll be going to New York.]

—

<< Previous Chapter | Index | Next Chapter >>