Ch.218100 million

Charm is a word that refers to the power to capture someone’s attention.

Sight is the easiest means to hold a person captive.

In that sense, Kim Donghu right now.

‘…This isn’t just playing well, it’s like international competition winner level?’

‘So the musical wasn’t the full extent of his musical talent? He can do even better?’

‘A boxer and actor… and that’s not all, he’s a pianist too?’

It wasn’t simply a matter of playing the piano well.

It was the level of being able to interpret a score with his own unique performance.

This was the realm of masters.

Each note was on a different level.

Because they were people involved in musicals, not ordinary people, they could feel it even more acutely.

Being in a similar industry.

Even if not perfect, they had some knowledge about it.

And because of that, they could see more deeply.

‘Someone who uses his fists better than anyone else also has perfect fingertips?’

‘It’s an impossible level. Makes me want to get him a better piano.’

Since they hadn’t started filming properly yet.

Casual everyday clothes that you could see anywhere.

Combined with tanned skin and perfect looks.

This harmony was a truly impossible mismatch.

And the power emanating from that mismatch held the studio captive.

Look carefully.

See who you’ve brought here.

The piano’s melody seemed to be saying that.

It seemed to be questioning the sin of considering calling someone else while looking at him.

Because there was no intention to forgive that irreverence.

The punishment for the audience was.

Bang!

A short performance.

Not a complete piece.

Just before reaching the climax.

He deliberately stops playing.

“Ah.”

Unconsciously, a gasp escapes from Evelyn’s lips.

A face full of regret.

She wasn’t the only one with this expression.

Everyone who heard Kim Donghu’s performance looked like people who hadn’t finished their business.

“Ugh…”

“Is this really the end…?”

“…Just a little more.”

While they were all groaning.

Only Kim Donghu asked with a relaxed smile.

“Was it insufficient?”

No one could answer yes to that question.

Instead.

“Change the piano, bring a Steinway right now, the sound will be different with that.”

They were quickly looking for a better piano.

++++++

“I-I never dreamed you could play the piano so well.”

“You didn’t properly research me, did you?”

“N-no, it’s just that I’ve been preparing for two years and this is my first… there’s been so much work, I’ve been too busy….”

“I’m joking. It happens, I understand completely, so don’t worry about it.”

“…You have quite a savage way of joking.”

I smiled awkwardly at Evelyn’s comment.

“They say it’ll take about an hour to bring in the piano. Can you wait?”

“Of course, we need to redo the contract anyway, so it’ll take some time, right?”

“Ah.”

I subtly pointed toward where Seokho hyung and CAE CEO Mamila were.

Mamila’s head unconsciously bowing slightly lower than Seokho hyung’s

showed just how favorably the current situation was progressing.

Evelyn and I made small talk.

While talking, I reflected on what had just happened.

‘My skills haven’t rusted at all.’

I hadn’t had many opportunities to play the piano recently.

The piano is an instrument that requires a lot of constraints to practice.

So I had barely practiced at all lately.

Yet my skills came out as if I’d been practicing consistently.

‘Is the concept of skills rusting completely nonexistent?’

Humans are creatures of learning, and the true value of learning comes from repetition.

But I was completely ignoring that concept right now.

As if the experience itself was perfectly downloaded into my body.

Once I’ve learned something, I can implement it 100% at any time.

Just like an app.

‘Moreover, my skills come out as if experience has accumulated.’

What’s even more absurd is that it even updates automatically.

It’s been about 6-7 years since I played Lee J.

During that time, my skills haven’t rusted at all—they’ve become more perfect.

If I was at a national level before.

Now I’m at a world-class level.

‘There are still features I don’t know about.’

Where are the limits of Sims?

While I was momentarily marveling at this wonder.

“So this is your first time shooting a music video, right?”

“Huh? Oh, yes. Actors don’t often get these opportunities.”

“Is that so? Then it’s the first experience for both of us?”

“…Oh, right?”

So they use “first experience” in this context too.

I was slightly surprised at the subtle difference in nuance.

So this is the American mindset.

“With this song… well, I’m not expecting much, but… I want to aim for Best New Artist.”

“What?”

“The Grammys, Best New Artist and… Best Music Video, those are my two goals.”

“…”

Definitely an American mindset.

How long did we continue our conversation?

After about 30 minutes, the piano entered the set as if it had been waiting.

30 minutes ahead of the expected time.

The secret was obviously.

“That was fast, as expected?”

“For someone who understands the value of speed, we couldn’t do any less.”

Money.

Someone who looked important had even come to deliver it personally.

It showed how much attention the CAE CEO was paying.

CEO Mamila immediately paid in cash and then looked at me.

“Would it be alright to start rehearsal right after makeup?”

“Of course, absolutely.”

How badly she wanted to start filming.

Her eyes were visibly burning with eagerness.

To meet those expectations.

I immediately moved to the waiting room.

++++++

About 20 minutes after Kim Donghu started getting his makeup done.

Tap tap tap tap tap.

Tap tap tap tap tap.

Tap tap tap tap tap.

Unintentionally becoming impatient, Mamila nervously shook her leg.

The front of her shoe tapped the floor in a steady rhythm.

Unable to bear it any longer, Evelyn spoke up.

“Mamila.”

“Sorry, sorry… but I’m so nervous.”

“What are you nervous about? It’s just shooting a music video.”

“The fate of the company… well, not exactly, but we’ve invested quite a lot.”

And it’s also your first work.

She swallowed the last part.

She didn’t want to create unnecessary tension.

“So now that the moment is approaching, I’m nervous.”

“Don’t you trust me? I’m Evelyn Queen Ember.”

“I know, I know.”

That’s why I’m more worried.

She swallowed these words too.

She didn’t want to hurt her pride unnecessarily.

Anyway.

After waiting another 10 minutes that felt like 10 hours.

“Wow… his appearance is so perfect that we barely did any makeup, just spent all the time choosing the outfit.”

With the staff’s exclamations, Kim Donghu came out of the waiting room.

“!”

“?!”

“He’s seriously too handsome, it doesn’t make sense?”

What appeared before their eyes was the perfect intersection of wildness and rationality.

The harmony of tanned skin and a neat suit.

Hair neatly styled with pomade gave a very gentlemanly impression, while

the muscles visible through the suit conveyed a violent atmosphere.

Like a wild beast restrained by the chains of a suit.

The only visible skin was above the neck and the hands.

Even that was enough to show how threatening he was.

Thick, large hands with visible veins and tendons.

A watch barely covering his solid wrist.

Everything except his physique seemed like control tools to maintain a human form.

“Donghu, it really suits you so well! Wow! Just, huh? You’re truly world-class!”

While everyone was admiring him.

Seokho smoothly diffused the atmosphere.

Deliberately taking pictures while

promising not to post them on social media until the music video was released.

He naturally adjusted the flow of the scene to a comfortable rhythm.

“Your gold touch is really world-class, Seokho hyung.”

“Of course! The person I praise is world-class!”

Saying that, Kim Donghu moved toward the piano following the staff’s guidance.

First was naturally the rehearsal.

Simply checking the movements without playing.

The content itself was very simple.

Evelyn dances and naturally lies down on the positioned piano.

At that timing, Kim Donghu appears.

The unique point was that he was wearing a mask.

It didn’t cover his entire face, just everything except the lower part.

It was a device to focus all attention on Evelyn and

a foreshadowing for the later impact.

After about 12 seconds of playing ends,

the camera pauses briefly and Evelyn moves to another set nearby.

After some time passes.

Evelyn moves back to the piano area.

With a completely different atmosphere.

This time Evelyn lies on the piano looking directly at Kim Donghu.

Then, as if displeased with the mask,

She removes it with a light touch.

‘Wow.’

Originally, she should have continued with the next action immediately after removing the mask.

But Evelyn was startled as soon as Kim Donghu’s face was revealed.

‘…Isn’t he too handsome?’

She had never felt her heart flutter like this looking at someone’s appearance.

His perfect looks momentarily took her breath away.

‘This would have been trouble if it were real.’

How fortunate it was just a rehearsal.

Thinking of it as a vaccination, Evelyn calmly continued with the next action.

What she needed to do here was to get just before kissing.

There was a charm in showing that precarious moment.

Whoosh.

Closing her eyes tight and approaching.

A distance close enough for their noses to touch.

And at that moment.

“Cut!”

The director’s shout came disappointingly.

She wanted to see him closer like this.

Slightly dejected, Evelyn quickly got off the piano.

“How can you have no reaction when I’m this close to you?”

Evelyn covered her slightly reddened face with both hands.

She said that to Kim Donghu for no particular reason.

How much experience with women must he have.

To remain calm in this situation.

It would have been nice if he had at least pretended to be surprised.

This aspect was a bit annoying.

‘…But why am I annoyed?’

There shouldn’t be any reason to feel this emotion.

Feeling her chest ache for some unknown reason.

“Shall we proceed right away?”

Finally, all preparations for the music video shoot were complete.

As if they had been waiting for this moment.

Ding!

Ding!

Ding!

Sims messages made their presence known from Kim Donghu’s pocket.

“Just a moment.”

Usually at this timing, it was about future-related content.

Kim Donghu briefly excused himself and immediately checked the messages.

‘What?’

There was unbelievable content written there.

-[YouTube views hit 100 million?! Is this the emergence of a new diva or thanks to the perfect supporting role?]

-[YouTube video featuring Kim Donghu hits 100 million!]

Suddenly 100 million YouTube views?

What is this about now.