Chapter 42: Yoon Sol (11)

“Haa.”

The lukewarm coffee cup felt out of place in my hand.

Time seemed to drag on particularly slowly today.

Beyond the glass window, those microphones stood aloof under the lights.

‘How much did they all cost again?’

I vaguely recall seeing it when Yoon Taesoo reported; it was a jaw-dropping amount.

The massive mixing console, lined with complex buttons, still looked like alien equipment to me.

Just… an expensive and nice-looking thing.

Nothing more, nothing less.

Honestly, I was a bit bored.

I knew it was a top-notch facility, but since there was nothing I could really do or knew anything about, I had no choice but to sit there blankly.

‘Why did Jungyeon insist on meeting here?’

‘The sofa in my living room is much more comfortable.’

‘It’s the place that will appeal most to Solar-nim!’

I recalled her sparkling eyes and confident voice.

Well, she probably wasn’t wrong.

That space beyond the glass window would undoubtedly make that girl’s heart race.

Yoon Sol.

Solar.

A voice like melted moonlight.

But the owner of that voice was gripped by a precarious fear, like a shattered piece of glass.

Even the brief glimpse I caught of her on screen was captivating enough, but her instability was the real reason I was drawn to her.

A completely different kind of twisted charm than Ajung or Rinne.

‘Jungyeon is being too cautious.’

The heavy soundproof door opened almost silently.

My gaze reflexively turned in that direction.

“Boss! We’re here!”

As expected, Jungyeon peeked in first, her characteristically bright face appearing.

And behind her, like a baby bird hiding behind its mother, a small figure with a terrified face hesitantly appeared.

Yoon Sol.

Her pure white dress further accentuated her almost translucent white skin, and the large, clear eyes beneath her faintly trembling eyelashes were unrealistically beautiful.

Her almost translucent white skin seemed drained of color due to extreme tension, and her large, clear eyes, which looked as if they might shed tears at any moment, were wavering anxiously.

Her small hand, clutching the hem of her dress, was trembling faintly.

I could see it clearly.

The faintly trembling eyelashes from extreme tension, the twitching lips, the anxiously darting gaze, even the sound of her heart pounding as if it would burst.

But at the same time.

An irrepressible, intense longing for that magical space beyond the glass window, a space that could perfectly capture her voice, was also flickering deep within her eyes.

Fear and longing.

The sight of those two extreme emotions coexisting in one body, in a precarious balance.

It was thrillingly captivating.

“Ah, welcome. I’ve been waiting.”

I tried to speak in a business-like tone, as smoothly as possible.

I saw her shoulders flinch at my voice.

It seemed I still made her uncomfortable.

“Solar-nim! It’s okay, it’s okay! This boss here, he’s softer than he looks! I’ve got him wrapped around my finger!”

Jungyeon quickly grabbed Solar’s arm and tried to change the atmosphere as she led her inside.

Yoon Sol, while reluctantly being pulled along, scanned her surroundings with a wary gaze.

She seemed particularly determined to stay as far away from me as possible, sticking close behind Jungyeon.

“Coffee? Juice? What would you like to drink?”

I deliberately asked more nonchalantly, gesturing towards the refrigerator.

“Ah, ah, no! It’s fine! I-I’m not thirsty!”

She answered my attempt to break the awkward silence almost like a scream.

At that, Jungyeon made a “Pffft” sound again, suppressing her laughter.

“Solar-nim, you’re so cute! You really are nervous! This boss here, he may look like that, but he’s a really good person! The only problem is he sometimes says weird things.”

“Ahem, Jungyeon. Are you going to keep badmouthing your boss?”

When I narrowed my eyes at her, Jungyeon made a comical expression and guided Yoon Sol to an empty chair.

She still perched restlessly on the very edge of the chair.

“Now, Solar-nim. The reason we’ve gathered you here today is none other than to finally confirm your intention to join our Starlight Project, and also to provide clear answers to any questions you might have.”

Jungyeon got to the point in a gentle voice.

Instead of documents like a contract, she looked into Yoon Sol’s eyes and continued calmly.

Yoon Sol still seemed anxious, barely resting on the edge of her chair.

Her back was ramrod straight, and her gaze wandered somewhere on the floor.

“Now, look. What’s written here are the support promises I mentioned last time. We promise you exactly three things.”

Jungyeon, like last time, but with an even more confident voice, laid out the promises one by one.

“First, the best music environment you won’t find anywhere else in this world. This recording studio you see before you, and a dedicated engineer and producer exclusively for you, Solar-nim. If you wish, even the best vocal lessons. We will support everything so that all the potential your voice holds can be captured without reservation.”

Following Jungyeon’s gesture, Yoon Sol’s gaze once again turned towards the recording booth beyond the glass window.

Her eyes sparkled with longing.

“Second, respect for your decisions, Solar-nim. Especially, we will never force you into stage activities in front of many people or burdensome live broadcasts. Of course, if you later wish for it, we will create the best stage for you then. For now, whether it’s cover songs or original songs, we will support you so you can focus solely on the music work you want to do.”

At those words, I saw Solar’s faintly trembling shoulders stop, ever so slightly, but definitely.

The promise to understand and accommodate her deepest fears.

The relief it provided seemed greater than expected.

“Lastly, this goes without saying, right? The best treatment and complete protection. Guaranteed by the Boss.”

Jungyeon winked at me and concluded her words.

I, with my arms crossed, added as nonchalantly and matter-of-factly as possible.

“Naturally. You don’t need to worry about money. Just prove yourself with results. And the company will protect you from everything that bothers you.”

At my words, Solar looked back and forth between me and Jungyeon again.

An expression of disbelief.

Well, conditions like these are hardly common in the world.

But to me, it was a matter of course.

The best deserve the best treatment.

“So, what’s your decision?”

Jungyeon asked the final question with a gentle smile.

The air filled once again with taut tension.

Yoon Sol, with trembling eyes, gazed alternately at me, then Jungyeon, and finally at the brilliant temptation beyond the glass window.

Her breathing was deeper and slower than before.

Finally, as if trying to shake off all hesitation, she squeezed her eyes shut and then slowly opened them.

And finally, in a very small voice, but with a firmness incomparable to before, she answered.

“Yes.”

Her lips moved.

“I’ll do it. The Starlight Project.”

The moment those words left her lips, I felt the air inside the studio subtly change.

The tension eased, and a very faint sense of relief and anticipation spread.

“Kyaa! Really? For real?! Solar-nim! Ah, can I call you Sol now? No, Yoon Sol-ssi! Welcome! You’ve really, really made a good decision!”

Jungyeon finally let her pent-up joy explode, jumping up from her seat, rushing to Yoon Sol, and hugging her tightly.

Yoon Sol flinched in surprise again, but this time, she awkwardly hugged Jungyeon back.

Warm sunlight seemed to pour down over the two of them.

‘It’s done.’

I inwardly sighed in relief and swallowed a satisfied smile.

Now I should leave this awkward and touching moment to them and quietly excuse myself.

If I stayed, Yoon Sol would probably remain in that state forever.

“Well then, please finalize the contract signing. I’ll be going now. Solar-ssi, welcome once again.”

I spoke as briefly and dryly as possible and stood up from my seat.

As I walked towards the door, I glanced back and saw that Solar’s face still held a sense of bewilderment, but it seemed to be a different kind than before, with a very faint hint of relief and perhaps even excitement.

“Your singing, I’ll be looking forward to it.”

I gripped the doorknob and added one last thing.

“I hope you will fully unleash your true voice here, the songs you want to create.”

Beyond the closing door, Jungyeon’s excited voice and Solar’s small but clear laughter faintly drifted out.

As I rode the elevator up to the penthouse, a satisfied smile played on my lips.

The third star.

Ajung, Rinne, and Solar.

The night sky of the Starlight Project was now ready to shine even more brilliantly.

Now, how to perfectly orchestrate these precarious and beautiful stars to emit the most ideal light I desire.

Along with the satisfaction of obtaining a new collection, a pleasant anticipation for the full-fledged voyage of the ‘Starlight Project’ that would unfold enveloped my entire body.

Now, I truly stood at the proper starting line.