A Blank Slate Regression for the Idol That Lost His Original Mindset - Chapter 20

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This chapter was translated by Lunox Team. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
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A Regression Guide for Idols Who Lost Their Initial Intentions Episode 20

After staying up all night watching popular solo OA live compilations, I rubbed my tired eyes and pulled out the sheet music for .

I had planned to watch for just an hour, then work and sleep, but somehow I ended up pulling an all-nighter.

Thanks to that, I got a feel for how solo OA lives should be conducted.

The task at hand was part distribution for , which we’d soon start recording.

This work didn’t require much time. The parts had been clearly decided from the beginning.

After all, I had written this song with the members in mind. Imagining us promoting with my song.

Ryu Jaehee’s unexpectedly terrible English pronunciation was a major variable though.

Thanks to that, I had to give the chorus with “right” and “night” to Gyeon Hajun, and instead gave Ryu Jaehee the killing part and intro that were originally Gyeon Hajun’s.

‘Ugh, this would be perfect if we went with the original plan.’

But lyric delivery was also important, so I had no choice but to modify it with tears in my eyes.

Still, it wasn’t much trouble since I just needed to appropriately swap their two parts.

Enough trouble to show off to Ryu Jaehee instead of getting annoyed?

I’m sure his English pronunciation was fine before regression, so why the hell is it “night light” nonsense now?

After finishing the part distribution and modifications for , I informed the members of their respective parts.

It was the result of considering both vocal range and lyric delivery, but there was still someone who couldn’t accept it and raised objections with me.

“Why can’t I, Reve’s main vocalist, handle the chorus! I practiced pronunciation really hard too!”

“My head’s pounding, so stop whining, man. That’s why I gave you the intro and killing part.”

I waved my hand meaning to stop whining and get lost, but Ryu Jaehee didn’t give up and stubbornly clung to my arm like a monkey.

“Ah, hyung! Just once more! Let me sing it just once more! I can really pronounce it properly!”

“Why are you so obsessed with the chorus? Hey, even if Gyeon Hajun got pushed out of the main vocalist position by you, he’s good. He’s not at a level to be ignored by you.”

As I rubbed my furrowed brow that was throbbing from even the slightest noise due to staying up all night, Ryu Jaehee somehow interpreted that expression and quickly let go of my arm and backed away.

“Ah, don’t misunderstand, hyung. I’m absolutely not doing this because I’m ignoring Hajun hyung. I respect Hajun hyung’s skills too.”

Ryu Jaehee defended himself with his lips pouted out.

Don’t act cute. Even after you go through your growth spurt and transform later, the habit remains and you keep doing that stuff.

Do you know how disgusting it looks when a dark-skinned guy puffs out his cheeks and sticks out his lips?

Of course, for some reason fans really loved those looks from Ryu Jaehee after he became a giant hamster post-regression. I was the only one suffering.

“This part is perfect for my vocal range. From the first time I sang it during guide recording, I felt like this was my part, it just clicked.”

What a sharp guy. I clicked my tongue seeing Ryu Jaehee cleverly catch on that it was a part made with him in mind.

“Sing it.”

“Huh?”

“Sing one verse of the chorus. The part where ‘right’ and ‘night’ come out together. Let me see how much your lyric delivery has improved.”

As soon as permission was granted, Ryu Jaehee cleared his throat and immediately belted out the quite high chorus.

[Tonight I’m not sending anyone home, what about you.

So now answer me, All right or night?]

It wasn’t naturally smooth like a native speaker, but his pronunciation had improved quite a bit considering how much he must have practiced in just a few days.

I thought he was just listening to music since he’d been wearing earphones all day for days, but apparently he was listening to English pronunciation.

“First go get permission from Gyeon Hajun and ask if it’s okay to switch parts.”

At my words, which were practically permission to switch parts, Ryu Jaehee’s expression brightened as he called for Gyeon Hajun and ran over to him.

“Is it okay for me to have this many parts…?”

At Seo Yehyeon’s question as he scratched his head, seemingly awkward about his increased parts, I double-checked to make sure I hadn’t mistakenly given him Gyeon Hajun’s parts.

One short vocal verse and a rap part that didn’t require particular technique. These were the parts I had given to Seo Yehyeon.

“This is a lot…?”

“It’s much more than before.”

Come to think of it, Seo Yehyeon’s parts in and were two verses.

Since his skills weren’t improving but the debut album recording date was approaching, instead of pushing Seo Yehyeon’s abilities to the limit, I had reduced his parts.

It’s not like I’d only done producing once or twice before regression, and now I could not only push him to the limit.

I was confident I could package even those lacking skills to look quite decent.

“You should do at least this much. Hyung, you’re our group’s face.”

If his skills improved, I was even considering giving that guy the intro once.

When I patted his shoulder, Seo Yehyeon nodded with a subtle expression.

I glanced back at Kim Dobin, who was unexpectedly staying quiet instead of running over whining about having few parts.

When our eyes met, Kim Dobin startled and quickly looked away.

That bastard.

After that serious conversation, Kim Dobin had been showing signs of gradually avoiding me for some reason.

I let it slide the first couple times out of pity, but as it continued, my sympathy gradually faded and irritation rose.

If he kept acting like that, I might drag Kim Dobin to the agency and turn everything upside down.

Sigh, life before regression when we just ignored each other was more comfortable in a way.

* * *

The day of recording the title track.

The recording studio the agency booked was surprisingly quite decent.

It was bigger than Yongcheol hyung’s studio, had newer equipment, and even had a separate recording booth.

Gyeon Hajun, who was handling the intro, entered the booth first.

The remaining members waiting their turn were focused on memorizing lyrics on the sofa.

As the producer, I sat in the chair in front of the booth and lightly tapped the keyboard.

When Gyeon Hajun put on his headset and stood in front of the microphone, I played the MR. As soon as the intro ended, I stopped the MR and rewound it.

“Again.”

This one was definitely better than the first, but still 2% lacking.

“Again.”

Everything was good but there was no hook to grab attention. Feeling it was bland like unseasoned food, I changed direction and made a request.

“Jun, put some power into the beginning. Don’t sing with your strength relaxed.”

Since we needed to grab attention from the intro, the intro was just as important as the killing part and chorus. So as I paid attention to it, the work naturally became meticulous.

Only after about five repetitions did I get the result I wanted. Still, it was because it was Gyeon Hajun that it ended in just five tries.

“Wow, that’s intense. Hajun hyung, didn’t you used to get an okay in one try before?”

“Are guide recording and main recording the same thing?”

When I responded dryly to Kim Dobin who was whispering with Ryu Jaehee, Kim Dobin seemed startled and trembled.

I put the headset back on and resumed recording.

For other parts it was smoothly about two tries, and only after shouting “again” five times for the killing part did Gyeon Hajun’s recording safely end.

As Gyeon Hajun staggered out of the recording booth and plopped down on the sofa, I gestured to the next batter.

“Yehyeon hyung, come in.”

Having only seen the mild version of my work style, Seo Yehyeon walked into the recording booth with a face like he was being dragged to hell, as if he’d seen the spicy version.

“Again.”

“It’s not a high note. Relax your throat. Again.”

“Match the beat. Again.”

“The beat keeps getting pushed back. Again.”

“Da-da da-da-dan da-da-da-da-dan. Match it to this. Got it? Let’s do it again.”

“Don’t drag out the ending, go straight to the next verse. The beat getting pushed is because of that habit. Again.”

“No, hyung. I told you not to add technique, right? That part should be done at the level of just speaking quickly. Don’t try to half-ass hip hop. Again.”

[Words encouraging discord among members have been detected.]

[Initial Intentions –1]

My initial intentions score decreased, but I stubbornly continued shouting “again.”

This was work to complete music, so I couldn’t be swayed by something like an initial intentions score.

When the okay sign finally came, Seo Yehyeon’s deathly expression brightened just a little.

I also laughed and spoke into the microphone.

“Alright, let’s move on to the next verse now.”

Am I the only one struggling? I’m struggling too. We’ve only finished two verses and when will we ever finish everything.

“Hey, can I get a 10-minute break…?”

“Jaehee and Doby will record first, so rest in the meantime.”

I didn’t know it would take this long.

I guess next time I’ll have to set aside a separate day just to work Seo Yehyeon’s parts.

* * *

Finally getting a break, Seo Yehyeon staggered out of the recording booth and collapsed onto the sofa.

Groaning, he took the water bottle Gyeon Hajun offered and gulped it down.

“Wow, I’m dying… When we recorded , it didn’t seem this hard.”

“Back then the producer barely paid attention, right? As long as you roughly hit the pitch and didn’t miss the beat, it was okay.”

“…That’s true.”

Seo Yehyeon reluctantly agreed, recalling that time.

He had no idea how much he writhed in embarrassment later when he heard his recorded parts.

This recording was mentally and physically exhausting, but he was confident it wouldn’t produce the same terrible results as back then.

“Still, I’m relieved… I was really worried you and Eden hyung would fight again.”

Kim Dobin, who was precariously perched on the sofa armrest because Seo Yehyeon had sprawled out, muttered with a sigh of relief.

Watching Yoon Eden’s back as he mercilessly shouted “again” even to Ryu Jaehee, whose skills could easily be called heavenly level, Seo Yehyeon scratched the back of his head.

“This time I could tell he wasn’t trying to torment me on purpose. It was just that comment about not doing half-assed hip hop that pissed me off.”

“I understand, hyung. That guy’s from Under, you know. I heard they really look down on idol rappers there, but at least he didn’t bring some real hip hop track while dissing idol music and saying ‘let’s make real music.'”

Kim Doby giggled as he spoke words close to the truth from before the regression.

Gyeon Hajun, who had been quietly listening to their conversation, spoke up.

“Actually, Eden isn’t trying to torment anyone or pick fights on purpose. The problem is his personality – he doesn’t think before speaking and lacks consideration, making it easy to misunderstand him.”

“Are you defending him or criticizing him?”

At the sharp remark, he let out a hollow laugh, and Gyeon Hajun smiled quietly before speaking in a voice low enough that Yoon Eden couldn’t hear.

“Don’t hate him too much, hyung. He’s still a good guy.”

“What are you, his parent?”

Seo Yehyeon chuckled, put his legs down and leaned back against the sofa, recalling how Yoon Eden had been grumbling but still trying his best to soften his words.

He didn’t really hate him yet. Though he was quite a bit annoying.

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This chapter was translated by Lunox Team. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
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