Godsent Top Star [EN]: Chapter 45

The Enchanting Voice (2)

2021.12.15.

“I told you to drop the formalities. If you don’t want to call me ‘hyung’ [older brother or male friend, a Korean honorific], just drop the honorifics. I’m not uptight about that stuff.”
“Of course. You’ve lived abroad for so long. Yeonwoo, don’t call him ‘hyung’.” Even in this situation, they’re bickering. Well, it doesn’t seem too bad to watch. They’re bickering, but it actually makes them seem closer. ‘Is that what friends are like?’ They have a sense of ease that only comes from knowing each other for a long time. If they knew what I was thinking, they’d desperately deny it. But to Yeonwoo, they just look like the best of friends. They exchange words back and forth, but it’s clear that they don’t genuinely hate or despise each other.
‘Come to think of it… is Lee Jooha the first relationship I’ve labeled as a friend?’ It’s a relationship I was half-forced into, but looking back, it doesn’t seem so bad. I always felt like I was floating alone, like duckweed, because of my unique abilities. Looking back on my life, I’ve never had a relationship like this before. ‘Kwon Seonghyun was the first person who didn’t freak out or hate me after finding out about my abilities. It doesn’t even seem to bother him.’ In a way, Kwon Seonghyun is the first person, besides those around Yeonwoo who already know him, to treat me without any prejudice. The people who visit my mother’s shrine, and even Han Soohan, who gave me my first request, treated Yeonwoo not as an equal, but as a distinguished guest. But Kwon Seonghyun is a little different. When I’m with Kwon Seonghyun, I can understand what ‘normalcy’ is. [The winning side is my side! Of course, I’m on our actor’s side! Actor, fighting! Only the winner can have Yeonwoo!] Aside from the babbling spirit medium, these two are probably the only people who would treat me so casually.
‘I don’t know what Lee Jooha did to already have the highest favorability rating, but whatever.’ Anyway, Yeonwoo only has one thing to do now: clean up this mess. The amazing thing is, “Both of you, stop it.” As soon as Yeonwoo finished speaking, both of them shut their mouths at the same time. Lee Jooha was even in the middle of talking. After a moment of subtle silence, Lee Jooha rubbed his arm vigorously. “Wow, I got goosebumps. I forgot everything I was going to say as soon as I heard that. So what I heard yesterday wasn’t just my imagination.”
“Yesterday?”
“Yeonwoo was on our radio show yesterday. The way you delivered your closing remarks was amazing!”
Kwon Seonghyun frowned, seemingly displeased with the crude expression. Regardless, Lee Jooha continued to speak. “When you said good night, I had a feeling, so I went straight home and went to bed. You know I have insomnia, right?”
“It’s hard to forget you throwing a fit because you couldn’t sleep.”
“Ah, you’re still bringing up something from when I was a kid. Anyway, that special thing… I fell asleep.”
“What?”
“I listened to Yeonwoo’s voice yesterday and went to bed thinking it wouldn’t work, but I fell asleep in like three seconds! Isn’t that amazing?! Want me to tell you something even more amazing?”
“What is it?” Kwon Seonghyun, who was usually colder, seemed intrigued by Yeonwoo’s story and asked, trying to appear nonchalant. “Our radio show’s listener board is going crazy today,” Lee Jooha said. “All the listeners who were listening to our show fell asleep as soon as the radio ended.”
***
“It’s famous that many of our viewers suffer from insomnia. But they all fell asleep. Isn’t that amazing?” Lee Jooha once again held out his muscular arm. “Look at this. I got goosebumps again. It’s been so long since I slept so soundly, I was shocked when I woke up. But when I looked at the message board, there were so many people who had the same experience as me. Wow. If this isn’t a special experience, what is it?” Kwon Seonghyun frowned at the boastful conclusion. But even so, he didn’t criticize him for lying or exaggerating. Of course. “…It is special.” Because Kwon Seonghyun had personally experienced Yeonwoo’s specialness more than anyone else. But for some reason, he seems depressed. I wonder why he reminds me of an abandoned puppy.
“Right? But that voice, it felt kind of similar to when Yeonwoo told us to stop earlier. How should I put it? An irresistible tone? A feeling that you have to listen? It felt like coercion was involved, but also like a gentle scolding?”
“I can’t understand a word you’re saying.” Is it because of the sensitivity unique to musicians? It’s a vague and incomprehensible explanation. When Kwon Seonghyun and Yeonwoo didn’t seem to understand, Lee Jooha sighed and said, “I mean, it was a voice that made you feel like it would come true, just like that.”
‘Is that even possible?’ That’s what ordinary people would say. But. [Yeonwoo, it seems to have really worked. It seems like you created an effect similar to a verbal command? Huh…? What’s with that expression? Did you already know?] Of course, Yeonwoo had already guessed to some extent. [Congratulations! You have secured a large amount of lifespan.] [Would you like to harvest the lifespan?] [Congratulations! A large amount of lifespan…] If it hadn’t worked, a large amount of lifespan wouldn’t have suddenly poured in again. The familiar beeping notification sound that had been ringing non-stop since I opened my eyes in the morning. ‘I was hoping, and it worked.’ The notification windows that filled my vision already told me. ‘Lifespan is still coming in steadily because of the drama’s effect… but the reason why it’s suddenly pouring in all at once is just one thing.’ Yesterday’s gamble paid off. Of course, it was a gamble that I expected to succeed to some extent. Is it because it was a huge hit drama that recorded close to 50 percent viewership? Even after the drama ended, lifespan was collected steadily and frequently through reruns and replays. But it hadn’t poured in like a bomb all at once like this since the end of the drama. ‘It’s the first time since the drama. Is it because it was a radio show…? The amount is smaller than I thought, though.’ Still, it’s quite efficient for a late-night radio show, with four months’ worth of lifespan collected at once. It’s probably because it had a very appropriate influence on desperate people who needed sleep. ‘Influence.’ It’s a word with truly endless possibilities. I took a chance while predicting the possibilities, but I didn’t know it would work this well.
“What? Why are you all so calm?” Lee Jooha, who had been making a fuss, looked upset when Yeonwoo and Kwon Seonghyun seemed indifferent. “If you’re going to be friends with Yeonwoo, you’ll have to get used to it.”
“Huh?”
“The word ‘special’ will always be new.”
“This guy is talking in a way that only he understands again. You’re still so aloof, as if you’re the only genius. Why don’t you let me in on it too?”
“Why should I?” Lee Jooha grumbled, but Kwon Seonghyun ignored him as if a dog was barking. Ignored, Lee Jooha grumbled and said to Yeonwoo, “Oh, right, Yeonwoo. Our writer is asking me to cast you again.”
“Excuse me?”
“She said you have a ‘drug voice.’ Isn’t that amazing? That nickname wasn’t given by our writer, but by the viewers. It’s very rare for a guest who appears for the first time to leave with a nickname, so she praised you a lot. Of course, I agreed with her!” The praise continued so cheerfully. The amazing thing is that there wasn’t a single trace of jealousy or malice in his words. It was full of pure goodwill. [This guy is really amazing too. I feel like a fool for being wary of him… Well, our actor has kept him by his side for a long time, so he can’t be a strange person, but still. All my energy to say anything has disappeared…]
‘I don’t know whether to say I’m lucky or not.’ Yeonwoo knew very well how difficult it was to meet this type of person. Envy. Jealousy. Greed. It’s hard for humans living in this world to be indifferent to these emotions. How many people wouldn’t be jealous of someone else’s success? It’s also a natural human instinct to be wary of and reject things that are unusual and unfamiliar. But Yeonwoo, who is sensitive to malice and negative human emotions, could tell. He couldn’t feel anything from Lee Jooha. ‘If he wasn’t this kind of person in the first place, he wouldn’t have granted such a cheesy wish like a friend, even if I needed additional abilities.’ He wouldn’t have even thought to ask if I had a wish. “They’re asking you to come back, what do you think? I also enjoy broadcasting with you, so I’d like you to come back. It’s definitely not because I want to sleep well. You know?” [It’s obvious that he wants to sleep well.] “It’s definitely not, so don’t misunderstand.” [That’s exactly it. But why is he so cheerful? Ah, really. I was going to give our actor a nightmare for bothering him. But all my energy to say anything has disappeared…]
“What do you think?” He seems ready to keep bothering me if I don’t answer. “Well… I’ll think about it for now.”
“I told you to drop the honorifics? The writer is really anxious. She’s so worried that someone else will snatch you away after yesterday’s broadcast that she’s in a frenzy. That’s why I rushed over here. Ah, of course, it’s also because I was so amazed that I slept so well. But.” Lee Jooha paused for a moment. “You don’t have to come if it’s a hassle. The writer will be disappointed, but my friend is more important than the broadcast. Right?” Then Lee Jooha smiled. “Isn’t it usually… the opposite?”
“It is, but it’s a little strange to force someone who doesn’t really want to do it. Right? I’ve done my best to persuade you, so it’s up to you, Yeonwoo, to decide.” A simple answer comes back. “Of course, I’d be happier if you came. Oh. Why don’t you just come to my house?”
“Excuse me?” Suddenly the conversation takes a strange turn. “Wait a minute.” Kwon Seonghyun, who had been listening quietly to the casting offer, frowned and opened his mouth. Regardless, Lee Jooha looked around the house and continued, “My house is really big. I’ll just give you a whole floor, so you can live there and just say one word to me at night, ‘Sleep well.’ You don’t have to pay any rent or other miscellaneous expenses.”
“Lee Jooha. Are you out of your mind?”
“I should be saying that. Hey, Kwon. Spend some money. Why are you keeping Yeonwoo in such a small place? How can he not even have a studio?”
“…?” Why is the fire spreading there? “It was very good that you discovered Yeonwoo, Kwon, but if you’ve found such a tremendous rough stone, you have to take good care of it. What are you going to do with your money? Are you going to pile it up and swim on it? Don’t you know that Yeonwoo’s voice should be heard by everyone in the world? How can you keep him cooped up in a place like this without a studio?”
A place like this. The officetel [a multi-purpose building containing both residential and commercial units], which I thought was luxurious enough, suddenly became ‘a place like this.’ It was a spacious enough space to live alone. It wasn’t even a studio apartment, and it was a fully furnished officetel with a separate dressing room and bedroom, well over 30 pyeong [approximately 1067 square feet]. But still. “It’s only if Yeonwoo accepts.” Kwon Seonghyun answered quietly. But judging by the wrinkles on his forehead, he’s definitely pissed. I’ve been pretending not to hear him a few times when he subtly brought it up, so he must have been holding it in. “Huh? Yeonwoo, you’re not in his agency?” Lee Jooha asked, making a fuss with a very surprised face. “Well, yeah…” The conversation has now moved on to the agency. It’s a topic change that I can’t grasp at all. Kwon Seonghyun is already concerned about Yeonwoo’s agency. The wrinkles on his forehead deepened a little more. “Then come to my agency? I don’t know which way you’re going to go, but I think you definitely have to do music, and I can definitely push you in that direction. I’ll set up a studio with a full set of equipment… Ouch!” Thwack! A heavy yet precise sound rings out. Lee Jooha, who had been talking excitedly, staggered greatly. “Kwon. Did you just kick me? Did you?”
“I was just saying nonsense.” Kwon Seonghyun’s smile is very bright. He doesn’t look like someone who just kicked someone in the shin hard at all. “You should keep the nonsense to a minimum. Don’t you think so, Lee Jooha?”