pjbooks Chapter 1: Listen carefully, I'm only demonstrating once.
Chapter 1: Listen carefully, I'm only demonstrating once.
(Please treat this as a parallel universe and don't overthink it!)
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If there are any urban legends in the Korean entertainment industry, then "Yoo Yu, the weirdo with black-rimmed glasses in Studio 1 of KZ Studio," would definitely be in the top three.
Today, the members of the popular girl group IZ*ONE are facing their second "death stare" since their debut.
On a bench in the corridor, Kim Minju gripped the lyric book, its edges already curled from being flipped through, tightly in both hands.
Her lips moved silently as she desperately tried to remember where to breathe, but her slightly trembling shoulders betrayed that she was on the verge of collapse.
"Minju, take a deep breath, it's okay. That teacher may have a sharp tongue, but... but at least he didn't bring his keyboard today, so he shouldn't make us want to quit the industry like last time, right?"
Choi Ye-na tried to force a relaxed smile, but the laughter sounded dry, like she was chewing sand.
Recalling the scene when the man said to them expressionlessly, "If your vocal cords are just for show, then I suggest you donate them to someone who needs them," when they first came here to record, Choi Ye-na couldn't help but shudder.
"Ah, unnie, stop talking...shee..." Ahn Yujin scratched her hair in frustration, looking like a golden retriever locked in a cage, desperately needing to release its energy.
"I refuse to believe it! We've won so many number one awards since our debut! Why should we be looked down upon by some behind-the-scenes guy who doesn't even dare to show his face? When we go in, I'm going to give him a real shock!"
"Yujin, be quiet... Save your energy, the recording is the important thing later."
Kwon Eunbi rubbed her throbbing temples. As the team leader, she not only had to soothe her younger sisters who were prone to losing their temper or collapsing at any moment, but also had to be prepared to rush up and fight that cold-blooded sound engineer to the death.
She took a deep breath, stood up, and clapped her hands.
"Kids, focus! We are IZ*ONE, don't let any difficulties defeat us. Minju, are you ready? You're the first one."
Kim Minju jumped to her feet, staggering slightly from the exertion, her eyes already half-red: "Yes! Unnie! I... I'll do my best!"
Jang Won-young sat in the corner, fiddling with a small rhinestone hair clip. Looking at Min-joo's tense expression, she gave her a perfectly sweet smile: "Good luck, unnie! Teacher Yoo is actually a very nice person, he's just a little too demanding."
The soundproof door was pushed open, and the manager poked his head out, wiping the cold sweat from his forehead: "Kids, Teacher Liu said... if you keep wasting his life outside, he'll just leave work. Minju, come on in."
Inside Recording Studio No. 1.
At the control panel, Liu Yu slumped in his chair, one hand resting on the table, the pen in his hand spinning in a blur.
Wearing the same dark hoodie he never wore before, with the hood pulled up halfway, and black-rimmed glasses perched on his nose, his once handsome face looked somewhat haggard due to poor sleep habits. His short hair was a bit messy, and he just sat there casually at the control panel.
Kim Minju walked nervously into the recording studio and bowed deeply at a ninety-degree angle to Liu Yu through the glass: "Hello, Mr. Liu, I'm Kim Minju from IZ*ONE. Please take good care of me today!"
Liu Yu didn't even lift his eyelids, his finger pressed a key on the control panel, and his flat voice came through the microphone into the recording studio:
"The third chorus, get ready and let's begin."
There were no pleasantries, no encouragement, not even a proper glance.
Kim Minju swallowed hard, put on her headphones, and gripped the microphone stand tightly with both hands. She closed her eyes and sang the high note she had practiced countless times, following the accompaniment with all her might.
"drop--"
The accompaniment was abruptly cut off after less than five seconds of singing.
Outside, Kwon Eun-bi clenched her fists instantly.
Liu Yu stopped twirling his pen, leaned forward slightly, and coldly looked at Kim Min-ju on the other side of the glass through his glasses.
"Kim Minju-ssi." Liu Yu's voice wasn't loud, but every word was like an ice dagger piercing the ear. "If you have a personal grudge against this song, you can go beat up the composer. There's no need to murder my ears like this. You were not only off-key by half a note in that last line, but your breathing was also as loud as a nearly broken toilet. Do it again."
Kim Minju's face instantly turned bright red, and tears welled up in her eyes in a flash, but she bit her lower lip tightly to hold back the tears and bowed again.
"I'm sorry! I didn't do well! Please give me another chance!"
the second time.
"drop--"
"No... why is your voice trembling at the end? Is there a motor in your vocal cords or is Parkinson's acting up prematurely?... Try again."
the third time.
"drop--"
"Stop...ha...you get out here."
Liu Yu completely lost his patience. He took off his headphones and threw them on the table with a "thud," then rubbed his temples.
When Kim Minju walked out of the recording studio, he looked as if he had been soaked in water; his face was pale and he was trembling all over.
She couldn't hold back any longer, and tears streamed down her face, but she desperately tried to suppress her sobs, repeatedly bowing to Liu Yu: "I'm sorry... I'm so sorry... I'll go out and practice right away..."
Quan Enfei rushed in, pulled Minju behind her, strode to the control panel, and slammed her hands heavily on Liu Yu's table.
"Teacher! I admit your professionalism is impeccable, but Minju has already done her best! As a producer, your responsibility is to guide her, not to destroy her confidence with harsh words!"
Liu Yu finally raised his head and met Quan Enfei's angry gaze through his glasses. He didn't back down, nor did he get angry; he just looked at her with an expression as if she were an idiot.
"Quan Enbi-ssi." Liu Yu's speech slowed, a sign of his extreme agitation. "If hard work could put food on the table, the Seoul Tower would have been eaten bare long ago. This is a recording studio, not a kindergarten. I'm paid by the second, not here to provide psychological counseling. I don't have a license to practice psychology. If she can't hit the high notes, then replace her, or just cut this part out and use a synthesizer."
"you--!"
Kwon Eun-bi was furious; she had never seen such an unyielding and extremely cold-blooded person.
"Hey! Uncle! Don't be so arrogant!"
Ahn Yoo-jin rushed over and pointed directly at Liu Yu's nose.
"What makes you think Minju unnie is no good? What can you do besides sit here nitpicking? If you're so capable, sing us a single line! What kind of skill is it to just talk the talk but not walk the walk!"
Upon hearing this, the entire control room became so quiet that you could hear a pin drop.
The manager was so frightened she almost fainted, and Choi Ye-na covered her mouth tightly, afraid of making a sound.
Zhang Yuanying stood by the door, tilting her head slightly, her eyes fixed on Liu Yu's face, her smile deepening.
Ah... this big dog is so adorably silly.
But how will the uncle react? I really want to know.
Liu Yu looked at the large, fluffy golden retriever in front of him, a hint of weariness flashing in his eyes.
What he hates most is this kind of mindless enthusiasm and provocation.
He slowly stood up, ignoring Ahn Yoo-jin's provocation, and walked directly past her to the other end of the control panel, picking up the spare microphone.
"Listen carefully, I'm only demonstrating once."
Liu Yu's voice remained languid, but the moment he opened his mouth, it was as if the air in the entire room had been sucked out of the vacuum.
Sung a cappella, without accompaniment.
It was a complex trill combined with a high C.
The moment he opened his mouth, his originally cold voice instantly became extremely penetrating and textured, with pitch as precise as if it had been machine-cut, yet it also carried a kind of resonant feeling that sent chills down one's spine.
ten seconds.
He put down the microphone in just ten seconds.
The room remained eerily quiet.
Ahn Yoo-jin's mouth was agape, her previously arrogant demeanor instantly extinguished, and her mind went blank.
Kwon Eunbi stood frozen in place, a look of disbelief and shock flashing in her eyes. Even Kim Minju, who was still sobbing, forgot to cry, staring blankly at the figure in the hoodie.
Liu Yu sat back down in his chair, picked up his pen, and continued to turn the pen casually.
"Did you understand? If you did, go practice. If you're still singing like that in ten minutes, I'm leaving get off work today."
His gaze swept over Ahn Yoo-jin, who was still in a daze.
"Also, if your ears aren't damaged, you should have been able to tell that I wasn't using falsetto just now. You little brat, do you think I got this job by swearing?"