The Road To Glory [EN]: Chapter 791

< Episode 79: The Land of Eternal Happiness >

“So, are you just going to keep letting him do that?”

“Letting him do what?”

“Your son. He’s really making a name for himself these days.”

Korea University, College of Natural Sciences, Building 500, first floor.

Freshmen in their college jackets chattered as they entered, then froze upon seeing a familiar face.

They quickly backpedaled.

The owner, hearing the bell, came out and tilted his head.

‘Am I feeling weak these days? That’s the third time today.’

Then, the owner brought a bowl of fruit to the middle-aged men.

“Professors, please enjoy.”

“Oh my, so much. Thank you, sir.”

The professors from the College of Natural Sciences, who had gathered after a long time, leaned back in their chairs and stuffed themselves with the day’s special. They had to prepare for exams and assignments, but they were taking their time, saying this was also to make a living.

What kind of assignment would satisfy all the students? It was a constant worry, but right now, they were more curious about the family affairs of their fellow professor.

Especially since that fellow professor’s son was a famous celebrity these days.

“I told him he could do whatever he wanted for a year, so I have to keep my promise.”

Professor Noh Yoon-hyun’s nonchalant words made one professor put down his fork after cutting his meat.

“It’s still amazing. I didn’t think you’d really not send him to school. Besides, Hae-il originally wanted to go to Korea University, right?”

“The university is one thing, but high school was unexpected.”

“Well, Professor Noh wouldn’t be doing this without a plan, right? He must have considered the GED [General Educational Development test, an alternative to a high school diploma].”

Professor Noh Yoon-hyun rinsed his mouth with a glass of water.

Meanwhile, quite a bit of conversation flowed.

“But does he really need to go to university? He’s achieved something more difficult than getting into Korea University. Hae-il should just keep going as he is. After watching the broadcast, he should pursue music. If I were you, Professor Noh, I would have done the same.”

“Absolutely, you’re right. If my son did as well as Hae-il’s little toe, I would have allowed it.”

“What does your son want to do? How old is he?”

“A pro gamer. He’s almost thirty, so he told me not to interfere with his life.”

“I know ‘half-twenty-five,’ but what’s ‘half-thirty’? Seriously…? Oh dear.”

“That’s how kids talk these days.”

The professor sitting across from Professor Noh leaned forward slightly and asked.

“So, are you really not sending your son to university?”

“Why are you so obsessed with someone else’s son’s university?”

“No, it’s just that I heard something. Listen carefully, Professor Noh. I happened to meet a professor from the College of Music, and they were talking about Hae-il. They were wondering if he wasn’t applying to Korea University.”

“Isn’t our school’s College of Music focused on vocal music?”

“Does Hae-il only sing well? There’s something else. Composition.”

“Oh, the composition department is eyeing Hae-il?”

“They’re competing with the Korea National University of Arts right now! They’re not even considering who will give them the rice cake [a metaphor for who will provide the best benefits or opportunities]. That’s why I’m asking. If your son just takes the GED, he can practically go anywhere, right?”

“…Well, I have something in mind.”

At Professor Noh Yoon-hyun’s answer, Professor Heo across from him opened his eyes wide as if he knew it all along.

Looking at Professor Noh Yoon-hyun’s actions of sweeping away overseas exchange university pamphlets, he was definitely not someone who would give up on university.

It wasn’t just about being obsessed with university. Rather, he was someone who knew how to efficiently use the merits and power relations that university brings.

“University would be a good fence, though.”

“Of course, of course.”

Professor Heo nodded with his toad-like face.

“Hey, but did you receive something from the music professor? Why are you recommending Hae-il’s university so much? That’s a violation of the Kim Young-ran Act [a South Korean anti-corruption law].”

“An autograph can’t be valued, so it’s okay. Thanks for the concern. So, Professor Noh, think about it carefully. Korea University’s College of Music! What a wonderful name. Well, even if he doesn’t come to school because he’s a celebrity, the name itself is enough, wouldn’t it be?”

“Korea University is good.”

Professor Noh Yoon-hyun nodded with a faint smile.

Professor Heo, who received an autograph instead of money, smiled along, feeling a positive signal.

Then, a word was heard.

“Still, I think Korea is a bit small.”

“?”

Professor Noh Yoon-hyun wore a satisfied smile.

He had never bragged about his child at school, so they sighed at the words that followed.

“To contain my son, that is.”

#

The Midday Show.

It was said to be a talk show hosted by Lucy Midday on TDS Broadcasting. As the name suggests, it airs at one o’clock and is watched by viewers of all ages.

“I’ve never heard of it before.”

“The only talk shows we know are the Ellen Show or Conan Show. But there must be many more than that. It’s America, after all.”

Like the words exchanged between Moon Seo-yeon and Nam Gyu-hwan, Halo had never heard of it either. In the first place, he didn’t know much about popular talk show programs. He doesn’t watch entertainment shows often.

“It’s not a political program. Like any other talk show, it’s a program where they invite celebrities and talk about specific topics. Usually, it’s about current affairs.”

Han Jin-young laid out the information she had found through searching.

“The host’s personality is gentle. She doesn’t swear and is polite. But when she gets excited, she talks faster. Can you understand her well?”

“Mr. Noh Hae-il, how good is your English?”

“The world says he’s not good at it.”

Nam Gyu-hwan spread the rumors.

It was already well known that Noh Hae-il didn’t go to high school, and his middle school classmates said he wasn’t good at English.

“I know the basics.”

“Like ‘Hi, nice to meet you’? I know the basics too.”

“Do you think Mr. Noh Hae-il is you?”

Smack.

Moon Seo-yeon hit Nam Gyu-hwan on the back.

“So, why are they inviting him? That’s the most important thing. Did they hear Mr. Noh Hae-il’s music?”

Nam Gyu-hwan, who hadn’t seen the email, rubbed his sore back and asked.

“They want him to sing a cover.”

At Halo’s words, Moon Seo-yeon tilted her head.

“A cover? A music cover? Has his arrangement skills already spread that far? Anyway, I think it’s a good opportunity.”

On the other hand, Nam Gyu-hwan raised his hand with a strange expression.

“I’m against it. It’s not like they’re asking him to sing his own music, and I don’t think it’s a good idea to make a name for himself as a cover YouTuber on his first American broadcast. Well, it would be different if Mr. Noh Hae-il could sing his new song.”

“Of course, they’ll give him a chance to introduce his music. He’ll have to talk for at least an hour.”

“They said there’s more he sang there, right, Hae-il?”

At Han Jin-young’s question, Halo nodded.

They said they invited other influencers to cover Halo.

“Oh… five YouTubers? Then… there might not be a chance.”

“I’m against it.”

“But isn’t it a good opportunity? TDS is a famous broadcasting station.”

These two’s opinions weren’t wrong.

If they invite multiple guests, he might end up as a background character.

Han Jin-young listened to their opinions quietly, then asked what she was most curious about at the end.

“But what’s the theme of this talk show? It changes every time.”

Surely it’s not the world of influencers, the world of cover singers. It couldn’t be.

“Is that important? I’m agai-.”

“It’s a Halo special.”

At that moment, Nam Gyu-hwan froze with his mouth open.

“So, does that mean they want him to sing what he did at Rendezvous?”

Han Jin-young’s calm voice.

“Yes.”

“Hmm. They really invited him as a cover singer. I don’t like that they invited him as a cover singer, not as a singer.”

“Seo-yeon’s opinion is on hold?”

“Yes, are there any other offers?”

“Gyu-hwan said he’s against it.”

The sound of people’s conversation gradually blurred.

Among them, Nam Gyu-hwan, who heard the word ‘against,’ jumped up.

“Wait a minute!”

Recognizing the silence around him, Nam Gyu-hwan carefully added.

“…I think he should go.”

“Don’t tell me you changed your mind after hearing it’s a Halo special?”

“It’s a good opportunity to increase Mr. Noh Hae-il’s recognition.”

“You said it wasn’t good because it’s a cover.”

“Don’t other singers do covers? A cover is also a means to show off your skills. Yes.”

Han Jin-young, who was watching the two bickering with a benevolent smile, opened her mouth.

“What do you want to do, Hae-il?”

Han Jin-young was fine with whatever he did.

After all, only Hae-il received the invitation.

Since they invited several influencers, the broadcasting station will prepare the MR [music recorded without vocals] or session [hired musicians].

“I don’t know.”

“You have to go!”

“Hey, don’t force our boss.”

Hae-il pondered for a moment.

A talk show with multiple guests.

He had never done such a talk show before.

They always focused on the person Halo and his music.

Well, what host would invite other guests in front of Halo? They were the kind of people who would do whatever Halo asked, whether he asked them to clear a day or two.

So, he wondered if he really needed to go.

But it was also interesting that they asked him to sing a Halo cover.

Above all, the location of the filming studio caught his eye.

Los Angeles, California.

It was a place with his favorite bars, weather, people, and parties. He had pretty good memories of LA.

“I’ll think about it for another day or two and decide.”

Moon Seo-yeon took the boy’s answer as a positive and shouted.

“Then I’ll go get my passport reissued.”

“Oh, me too!”

“I don’t think you need a passport.”

Han Jin-young looked awkwardly at Moon Seo-yeon and Nam Gyu-hwan, who seemed to have misunderstood. They slowly realized the ominousness.

“Wait… we’re not going?”

“Well, since they only invited Hae-il. Even if you go, not everyone can go, right?”

The broadcasting station said they would send accommodation and plane tickets, but that only applied to the boy. Maybe, they would only allow one manager or editor to be taken along.

Only one person…?

Nam Gyu-hwan and Moon Seo-yeon were conscious of each other.

Eye contact game start.

Moon Seo-yeon was the first to shout 1.

“Me! Boss! I’m an elite from Korea National University of Arts! I dropped out, but my English is amazing. I will excellently assist the boss as an interpreter!”

“I’m more…”

Nam Gyu-hwan, who wasn’t good at English, moved his lips and said.

“Good.”

“At what? English?”

“-Similar… cleaning?”

Moon Seo-yeon smirked.

“English similar cleaning? What, do you know cleaning magic? Huh? Can you do Wingardium Leviosa [a spell from Harry Potter]?”

“I think I can do Stupefy [another spell from Harry Potter]?”

Nam Gyu-hwan raised his fist. Moon Seo-yeon screamed, pretending to be scared.

What friendly sessions.

Halo looked at the two people he wanted to kick out of the studio and said.

“Let’s all go together.”

“Huh? Is that okay? The plane and accommodation…”

The boy suddenly held out his card.

It was a brand new one he had made recently, but Han Jin-young knew what was inside. Halo’s song came out in some men’s perfume commercial last time, haha.

“I will be loyal, boss.”

Halo chuckled at Han Jin-young’s imitation of Moon Seo-yeon’s tone.

Anyway, the American invitation seems to be decided.

Han Jin-young recalled what they had been doing.

“Then shall we start working on the album again?”

“Let’s do that. What should we do first?”

“Can we do percussion first?”

Nam Gyu-hwan, who was already looking forward to America, no, the Halo special, pointed at himself with his finger. Halo nodded.

Nam Gyu-hwan realized that the album work was not just empty words.

“Are we going with overdubbing this time?”

“I’m thinking about the session. Do you know how to play other instruments?”

“Uh, depending on what percussion it is.”

Nam Gyu-hwan followed Noh Hae-il into the recording studio.

How long has it been since they worked on a single album?

Was there something they were working on separately in the meantime? Moon Seo-yeon tilted her head.

“Wasn’t what we did recently a single work?”

“That’s right.”

Han Jin-young nodded, watching the recording studio door close.

“Then is this a regular album work? This fast?”

It’s not just one person who releases an album once a month.

The world seems to be amazing the more you know.

But-.

Moon Seo-yeon raised her head and looked at Han Jin-young when she didn’t hear an answer.

Han Jin-young sometimes had this subtle expression. Like she was hesitating whether to say it or not.

Well, she didn’t say everything either, so she wasn’t disappointed.

“Something similar.”

“…Similar?”

If it’s a regular album, it’s a regular album, what’s similar?

Does that mean it’s not a regular album but an EP album [Extended Play, a music recording that contains more tracks than a single, but is usually shorter than an album]?

“Well, we’ll know soon.”

“I guess so.”

Once the recording is finished, the song will be completed, and then she won’t be able to not know. Han Jin-young smiled and said.

“Before long.”

#

“I knew there would be a time when you would go abroad before long, but is it really okay to go alone?”

It’s not really going alone, but anyway, it’s inevitable to worry about your underage child going to another country without a guardian.

“I’m just going to film and come back.”

Hae-il’s mother, looking at Hae-il smiling as usual, asked coyly.

“Are you going to wander around alone in the early morning this time too?”

He had already gotten up early and secretly left the accommodation several times when he went on a trip to Europe. His mother remembered that time and asked as if interrogating him.

Hae-il didn’t really answer and smiled.

It’s obvious that he can’t keep it, so he doesn’t do it.

“Mother, I’ll follow you well.”

“Yes, that’s right, Mother, don’t worry! I’ll take responsibility for the language.”

“I’m security guard Nam Gyu-hwan, I’m good at hitting.”

However, the band members answered instead.

The mother smiled softly and nodded.

“Wow, this is my first time riding in business class.”

“Me too.”

They, who said goodbye to their mother and entered the airport, looked at the ticket as if it was amazing.

Business class. It was written like that.

They are worried about the wallet of the employer who cut off the business class without any problems. I think I paid for the hotel separately.

I know that the song was ranked first and the broadcast came out, but I wonder if it’s okay to use it like this.

“But how come there isn’t a single reporter.”

“It’s good to be quiet. And it’s midnight now.”

Nam Gyu-hwan glanced around.

He didn’t expect a fancy camera shower like a top star’s press conference, but after finishing the boarding procedure, even the gazes that had been coming disappeared.

“Well, no one knows because I didn’t tell anyone.”

If I had said it, wouldn’t the national pride articles have been plastered all over the place?

At least it wouldn’t have been this quiet.

“Then shall we go?”

“Let’s go!”

The time has come.

People who had been bored and only looked at the electronic display got up.

When someone who was excited hummed a song, Halo also smiled and harmonized.

Welcome to the land of fantasy.

A place where a joyful festival is held

The land of eternal happiness

[Ladies and gentlemen, welcome to Los Angeles International Airport]