Episode 37. Solo Concert (2)
Before the forum’s official schedule began, Kang Dae-oh moved to his designated seat with his family.
Kang Dae-oh sat in the center, with his wife on his left and his two daughters on his right.
“How are the seats? Are you uncomfortable?”
Kang Dae-oh asked his daughters about their seats.
The two daughters simultaneously shook their heads, reassuring him that they were not uncomfortable.
“It’s fine. It’s comfortable and perfect.”
“It would have been even better if unnie had come with us. That’s a bit disappointing.”
Kang Yeyoung expressed considerable regret over Kang Yera’s absence.
Kang Dae-oh felt the same way, wishing that all the family members could have come together.
Before sitting down here, while meeting and greeting people, this was the most common thing Kang Dae-oh heard:
“Didn’t your eldest daughter come with you?”
Everyone he met asked about Kang Yera’s whereabouts.
So, Kang Dae-oh had to repeatedly inform them that his eldest daughter was unavoidably absent due to her new album schedule.
Although all three of Kang Dae-oh’s daughters were famous, Kang Yera was the most active among them, making her the most well-known.
Kang Yebin’s debut as a child actress was earlier, but it was difficult for Kang Yebin to consistently expose her face to viewers unless there were drama or film shooting schedules.
However, Kang Yera, ever since her official debut as a singer, had never taken a long break.
This second chance at life, which she had so difficultly grasped. Among the three daughters, Kang Yera was the one who had the greatest desperation and earnestness for this opportunity.
This was largely due to the fact that she was the only one who had returned with the experience of failure.
Because of this, Kang Yera’s absence inevitably felt particularly significant to others.
‘Next time I arrange an external event that requires the family to attend, I’ll have to check Yera’s schedule beforehand.’
Of course, he also planned to pay attention to the schedules of his second and youngest daughters.
‘Oh, right. Seung-yeon was here too.’
It would be troublesome to forget his wife.
In addition to her modeling work, she also had her business. She might even have a busier schedule than Kang Dae-oh for a while.
‘It’s also a problem if all the family members are busy.’
It was proof that they were all busily striving towards their respective dreams.
But should he like this, or not?
It was quite ambiguous.
Just as he had returned home with his family after the event.
Kang Yera also returned home after finishing her schedule.
She looked noticeably more tired than the rest of the family.
Kang Dae-oh gave Kang Yera a faint smile.
“You worked hard, daughter.”
“……You too, Dad. I wish I could have gone with you today. I’m sorry.”
“It’s okay. Your album activities are more important. How was it today?”
“It wasn’t bad. The title song ranking is steadily rising.”
“It’s… 7th now, right?”
“Yes, that’s right. I haven’t made it onto the music show #1 nominee list yet. But if this trend continues, I think I’ll gradually be on the nominee list starting next week.”
Winning first place on a music show held significant meaning for Kang Yera.
Because achieving a solo concert and a music show #1 was Kang Yera’s goal before her return.
Of course, this goal, unlike the solo concert, had already been achieved early on.
Nevertheless, Kang Yera always set a goal that if she released an album, she absolutely had to get a music show #1.
“When did you say the next music show was?”
“Saturday at 5 PM.”
“Live broadcast?”
“Yes.”
“Then I’ll definitely watch the broadcast, Dad. I’ll be cheering for you, so make sure you get #1. Okay?”
“Of course!”
Kang Yera gave a thumbs-up, showing strong confidence.
Indeed. Kang Dae-oh realized once again that Kang Yera was most beautiful when she smiled.
Perhaps protecting this smile was also a father’s mission.
Kang Dae-oh’s shoulders felt heavy.
Kang Dae-oh, who had briefly gone to work at the company on Saturday morning for some business, kept checking the time.
Manager Yang Hayoung, who had gone to work on the weekend with Kang Dae-oh, expressed her suspicion about his periodic time-checking behavior.
“Do you have an appointment in the afternoon?”
“Yera said she’s on a music show today. Around 5 PM.”
“A 5 PM music show… I guess it’s Music Festival.”
“Oh? Are you interested in that too, Manager Yang?”
For someone Kang Dae-oh’s age, unless they have a special interest in popular music, they usually don’t know which music show is airing on which channel at what time.
Manager Yang Hayoung said with a natural expression,
“The CEO’s daughter is currently active as an idol singer. Of course, I should know things like this.”
“No, I appreciate it, but if you go that far, I’d feel burdened.”
While it was good to have a good working relationship, Kang Dae-oh was the type to feel more burdened than happy about such things, as he mentioned.
Manager Yang let out a small laugh and corrected what she had said.
“Just kidding. Actually, there’s a boy group I’ve recently fallen in love with. That’s why I know. And while I’m at it, I also follow Yera’s activities.”
No wonder.
Kang Dae-oh showed a reaction of understanding after hearing Manager Yang Hayoung’s explanation.
“Then you should head straight home today, right?”
“I was planning to do that anyway.”
“Please go quickly. You might be late for the music show.”
“No, there’s still time. I think I can stay a bit longer before heading home…”
Kang Dae-oh witnessed Manager Yang Hayoung’s hidden true intentions in her persistent attempts to send him home first.
“You’re trying to leave after I do, aren’t you? You want to leave work first, but you’re conscious of me.”
An awkward smile spread across Manager Yang’s face.
“As expected of the CEO. You’re spot on.”
Since she was already found out, Manager Hayoung seemed to realize that there was no point in continuing to lie, so she decided to be honest with Kang Dae-oh.
Kang Dae-oh chuckled softly and told Manager Yang that she didn’t need to be conscious of him.
“It’s not a weekday. It’s weekend work, isn’t it? I’m not the kind of person who would give you a hard time for leaving before me. So if you want to leave work with a clear conscience, you can go.”
“You really mean that, right?”
“I do.”
Manager Yang Hayoung asked back with a joyful expression, as if she had been waiting for Kang Dae-oh’s words.
Kang Dae-oh didn’t want his employees to leave late because of him.
Because that would make Kang Dae-oh feel burdened as well.
Watching Manager Yang Hayoung disappear after saying she would leave work with light steps, Kang Dae-oh thought to himself.
‘Should I try to communicate more closely with the executives and employees?’
There was a time when he was also just an ordinary employee.
Now, he had almost forgotten what it felt like to go to work back then.
After leaving the company, Kang Dae-oh watched the music broadcast featuring Kang Yera with his family.
“I think it’s unnie’s turn.”
Following Kang Yebin’s words, the family’s gaze fixed on the TV screen.
This song, unlike Kang Yera’s previous title tracks, was released in the ballad genre.
Watching his eldest daughter holding a microphone and singing under the lights, Kang Dae-oh felt a deep lingering sense of emotion.
The lyrics, which were crafted as a pledge to move forward towards a goal, sounded as if they represented Kang Yera’s current feelings.
Anyone who knew Kang Yera’s inner circumstances would hear her 3rd album’s title track, released this time, completely differently.
However, the general public would not be able to empathize so deeply.
Still, most were giving it the evaluation of ‘a good song.’
Since it managed to climb to the top of the music charts, it could be seen that Kang Yera’s sincerity had resonated with the public to some extent.
When the performance ended.
The family, without anyone starting first, simultaneously applauded.
“Our daughter sings so well!”
Unlike her mother, who was intensely excited, Kang Yebin continued calmly, as if she had already known this result would come.
“Considering unnie’s vocalization and tone, I actually think ballads suit her better than dance songs.”
At this moment, even Kang Dae-oh had to agree with Kang Yebin’s thoughts.
He admitted the song was good.
But how much this positive evaluation would affect the music show ranking, Kang Dae-oh had no way of knowing immediately.
Asking his returned second and youngest daughters was also useless.
Because at this time, Kang Yera was not even on a debut stage; she was going around auditioning as a trainee.
A battle where one could not predict even an inch ahead.
The singers who performed on stage today all came up together.
“So, Music Festival! Shall we meet this week’s #1 nominees?”
“Show us!”
The two teams competing for this week’s music show #1 were revealed.
One was Kang Yera.
And the other team was a boy idol group active under the name XBC.
‘XBC, isn’t that the boy group Manager Yang recently fell in love with?’
It was unmistakable.
Who would have thought that Manager Yang’s enthusiastically supported boy group and his own daughter would face off for the #1 spot on a music show?
There was no such coincidence.
He felt sorry for Manager Yang, but Kang Dae-oh naturally wished for his daughter to beat XBC and take #1.
“The identity of the artist who won the grand #1 is none other than…!”
Everyone held their breath in tension.
A moment later.
The MC announced today’s winner.
“It’s Kang Yera! Congratulations!”
“Congratulations!”
The moment Kang Yera won #1, the fireworks prepared by the broadcasting station exploded.
Kang Yera had already taken #1 despite having only recently released her 3rd album title track.
‘Amazing, my daughter.’
Kang Dae-oh, along with his wife and daughters, applauded Kang Yera, who was shedding tears and giving her acceptance speech on screen.
Since she had won #1 on a music show.
‘Now, only a few steps remain until her solo concert.’
He earnestly wished for his daughter’s dream to come true soon.
Did Kang Dae-oh’s prayers work?
A few days later.
Kang Yera, who returned home after finishing her schedule, said this to her family:
“My solo concert has been confirmed.”
“Really?”
“Yes, the CEO said he had delayed it enough, and that we should hold a solo concert while the atmosphere for my 3rd album is good.”
“That’s great. Congratulations, Yera.”
Kang Dae-oh offered Kang Yera his heartfelt congratulations.
Kang Yeyoung showed interest in her unnie’s solo concert.
No, to be exact, she seemed curious about the lineup of guest performers who would come to her unnie’s concert.
“Who are the guests coming?”
“I have to find them now. Actually, there are people I have in mind.”
As she said that.
Kang Yera’s gaze suddenly shifted towards Kang Yebin and Kang Yeyoung.
“No way.”
“It’s not us, unnie, is it?”
To her younger sisters’ questions, Kang Yera replied:
“This is why quick-witted people are tiring.”
