The next morning, Jihoon and Taeyeon stood outside Lee Sooman's office, their fingers tightening around the demo they had poured their hearts into.
Sleep had eluded them the night before, replaced by the relentless pursuit of perfection. The exhaustion was evident in their reddened eyes, but the adrenaline from their achievement overshadowed any fatigue.
Taeyeon stole a quick glance at Jihoon, shifting nervously. "Do you think he'll like it?"
Jihoon smirked, his confidence unwavering. "If he doesn't, I might have to question his taste in music."
Before Taeyeon could respond, the office door swung open, and Lee Sooman's secretary gestured for them to enter. Inside, the legendary producer sat behind a grand wooden desk, his sharp eyes studying them as he motioned for them to take a seat.
"I hear you have something for me," he said, his voice measured and calm.
Jihoon nodded, placing the demo on the desk. "Yes, Mr Lee. This is the first draft for the movie soundtrack. Taeyeon recorded the vocals."
Lee Sooman arched a brow, his gaze flickering to Taeyeon, who sat with her hands clasped tightly in her lap. Without a word, he took the CD, slid it into the player, and pressed play.
As the first notes filled the room, silence enveloped them. The soft piano introduction cascaded like raindrops against glass, painting a scene of quiet nostalgia.
Then, Taeyeon's voice emerged—gentle, almost fragile at first—before swelling with raw, unfiltered emotion. Every note carried weight, every pause lingered with meaning, every rise and fall in her voice breathed life into the melody. It wasn't just a song; it was a story—one of love, of longing, of a fleeting moment frozen in time.
Lee Sooman leaned back in his chair, his expression unreadable. He closed his eyes, letting the music consume him. When the final note faded into silence, the room remained still.
Then, he exhaled deeply, his gaze finally settling on them.
"This…" He paused, as if carefully selecting his words. "This is beyond what I expected. The emotion in this song—it doesn't just complement the movie; it elevates it."
Taeyeon let out a breath she hadn't realized she was holding, her eyes glimmering with relief and quiet joy. "Thank you, sir. I really wanted to capture the emotions behind the melody."
Lee Soo-man nodded, a rare smile tugging at his lips. "You didn't just capture it. You made it resonate. This song isn't just a soundtrack—it's an experience."
Jihoon grinned, leaning forward slightly. "So… does this mean we can move forward with finalizing it?"
Lee Sooman remained silent for a moment, his fingers steepled as he weighed the consequences of his decision.
His gaze flickered toward Taeyeon, then back to the demo sitting on his desk. It was undeniable—the song was a masterpiece, and Taeyeon's voice carried an emotional depth that few artists could achieve, let alone a trainee yet to debut.
But therein lay the dilemma.
If Taeyeon were to be the official voice behind this soundtrack, it would undoubtedly propel her into the spotlight before the group's debut.
Her name would gain recognition far earlier than the others, and with the sheer quality of the song, her fame would skyrocket—perhaps too much.
It could create an imbalance within the group, breeding comparisons and potential resentment among the members before they even had a chance to establish their collective identity.
The harmony of the team was crucial, and favoring one member so early on could cause fractures before they even stepped onto the stage together.
Yet, on the other hand, this very exposure could be the catalyst that launched the group into immediate success. With Taeyeon's name already circulating, the debut of their group would attract far more attention. The company would need fewer resources to push their marketing campaign—the anticipation alone would ensure a strong start.
The question was, which was more important? The unity of the group, or the opportunity to solidify their success before they even took their first step?
Finally, after a long silence, Lee Sooman exhaled and leaned forward, his fingers tapping lightly on the desk. His sharp eyes met Jihoon's, then shifted to Taeyeon's.
"This song is too good to waste," he said at last, his voice firm. "But using Taeyeon's voice before the group's debut could complicate things."
Taeyeon stiffened slightly, her hands clenching together, but she remained silent, waiting for his verdict.
Before Lee Sooman could continue, Jihoon, who had already anticipated his hesitation, smirked slightly and spoke up, cutting through the silence.
"Why not turn this into an advantage?"
Lee Sooman's brow arched in curiosity. "I'm listening."
Jihoon crossed his arms, his voice steady with conviction. "If the concern is about imbalance, we can control the narrative."
"Frame this as a 'mystery vocalist' project—don't reveal her identity right away.
"Let the public be drawn in by the song itself, rather than the singer's name."
"When the time is right—closer to the group's debut—we reveal that the voice behind the song is Taeyeon, one of the members of your upcoming girl group."
"That way, instead of creating division, it builds intrigue and momentum for their debut."
Lee Sooman's fingers tapped against the desk rhythmically, considering the idea. Jihoon wasn't wrong—if handled correctly, this could generate even more buzz without negatively impacting the group dynamic.
Taeyeon, who had been holding her breath, glanced at Jihoon in awe. Once again, his quick thinking and strategic mind had effortlessly transformed a potential problem into an opportunity.
As she looked at him, a flicker of admiration shone in her eyes—mixed with something else, something unspoken. A small, almost playful expression crossed her face, as if she was seeing him in a new light.
After a long moment, Lee Sooman finally nodded. "Alright. Let's proceed with the plan. We'll record the final version and keep Taeyeon's identity a secret—for now."
A wave of relief washed over Taeyeon, followed by excitement. This was happening.
Jihoon grinned. "Then let's get to work."
Taeyeon's eyes widened in shock, her lips slightly parted. "Really?"
"Really," Lee Sooman affirmed. "Jihoon, you've done an incredible job composing this, and Taeyeon, your voice carries something special."
"If this is what you can achieve together, then I expect great things moving forward."
Jihoon and Taeyeon exchanged a glance, excitement brimming between them.
As they left the office, Taeyeon turned to Jihoon, her eyes shining. "We did it."
Jihoon smiled, feeling the weight of their accomplishment settle over him. "Yeah, we really did."
And with that, the first step toward something extraordinary had been taken.
As the sun dipped below the horizon, casting a warm amber glow through the studio windows, Jihoon finally completed the final mix. He leaned back in his chair, stretching his sore shoulders with a deep sigh of satisfaction. Every note, every harmony, every small detail had been polished to perfection.
Turning around to share the moment with Taeyeon, he paused, a soft chuckle escaping his lips.
She was fast asleep on the couch, her small frame curled up, her breathing steady and peaceful. The exhaustion of their relentless work had caught up to her, pulling her into slumber before she could even celebrate their progress.
Jihoon's eyes landed on the hoodie she had brought into the studio earlier. With a quiet smile, he picked it up and gently laid it over her, making sure she was warm. For a moment, he just stood there, watching her sleep, a strange warmth blooming in his chest.
"You really pushed yourself, huh?" he murmured softly, almost to himself.
With only one couch in the room, Jihoon settled on the floor beside it, leaning his back against the cushioned surface. The studio was enveloped in silence, save for the faint hum of the speakers, the melody they had poured their hearts into lingering in the air like an unspoken promise.
As Jihoon shifted slightly, his body pressing gently against the couch Taeyeon was sleeping on, the movement stirred her from her slumber. She blinked drowsily, adjusting to the dimly lit room, only to find Jihoon resting at the edge of the couch, his face mere inches away from hers.
Their eyes met in the quiet stillness, and for a brief moment, something unspoken lingered between them—a strange yet familiar tension neither could quite put into words. The weight of exhaustion mixed with the intimacy of the moment made the air feel heavier than before.
Breaking the silence, Jihoon cleared his throat. "Are you hungry?" he asked, shifting his gaze away.
Taeyeon took a second to register his words before realizing that throughout the entire day, they had only fueled themselves with coffee, having skipped lunch and dinner. The last meal they had was breakfast before meeting with Lee Sooman.
At that very moment, Taeyeon's stomach let out a loud grumble, breaking the tension. Jihoon's lips twitched before he burst into laughter, and soon, Taeyeon joined in, their exhaustion momentarily forgotten in shared amusement.
Still chuckling, they gathered their things and left the studio, heading to the nearest restaurant for a much-needed meal. As they sat across from each other, savoring their food, the conversation naturally drifted toward their lives beyond music.
Jihoon, in a rare moment of openness, shared bits of his personal journey. Taeyeon listened intently, her chopsticks pausing midair when she learned that he owned a film production company. Though it wasn't fully established yet, the foundation had already been set.
"Wait, you own a company?" she asked, eyes widening in surprise.
Jihoon smirked. "It's still in its early stages, but yeah."
Taeyeon shook her head in amazement. "You're seriously full of surprises."
Jihoon chuckled before glancing at her. "By the way, I also know the name of the group you're debuting in—SNSD, right?"
Taeyeon nearly dropped her chopsticks. "How do you know that? It hasn't even been publicly announced yet!"
Jihoon simply shrugged, a knowing smile playing on his lips. Of course, he knew. In his previous life, Girls' Generation—SNSD—was a legendary name in K-pop, a group that defined an era. Even as someone who wasn't a dedicated K-pop fan, he had known of their success. Their formation was bound to be a massive breakthrough in the industry.
He looked at Taeyeon, seeing the mix of excitement and nervousness in her expression. "You're going to do great," he said, his voice laced with certainty.
Taeyeon blinked, caught off guard by his confidence in her. Then, slowly, a small but genuine smile spread across her lips. "Thanks," she said softly.
And just like that, under the warm glow of the restaurant lights, a new chapter of their journey quietly unfolded.
[Author's Note: Heartfelt thanks to Wandererlithe for bestowing the power stone!]