Peninsula: It’s just a dream, are you serious?

Chapter 357 This man is really too wicked (4000-word chapter)
"Baekhyun-ssi, get ready to begin."

"Okay, PDnim."

Chen Yan's voice came through the earphones, and Byun Baekhyun responded confidently, taking a deep breath.

The melody started playing in my headphones, and three seconds later, I hit the beat precisely.

"Please."

The melody in the headphones disappeared instantly, and Chen Yan's voice rang out: "Baekhyun-ssi, you need to be more emotional, let's do it again."

Byun Baekhyun was stunned for a moment, looking at Chen Yan's ordinary face outside, which even had a faint, gentle smile.

Realizing what had happened, he quickly apologized, "I'm sorry, PDnim, I'll be mindful of my emotions."

"Okay, let's make some adjustments and get started right away."

"Inside."

Byun Baekhyun cleared his throat and let out a soft sigh.

This is nothing unusual; a lack of emotional expression is a common problem. He was even interrupted by the company's music producer during a previous recording session because of this issue.

This time, all we need is to add a little more emotion.

He quickly composed himself and signaled to Chen Yan outside that he was ready.

The melody started playing in my headphones again, and I captured another precise shot.

Byun Baekhyun added more emotion: "Please don't hesitate any longer, okay?"

"Pause."

The melody stopped abruptly again, and Chen Yan, outside the recording studio, frowned slightly.

"Baekhyun, don't put too much emotion into it. This is a song about unrequited love, so don't sing it in a way that feels like a sad love story."

Did I really express that much emotion just now?
A question arose in his mind, but Byun Baekhyun's body instinctively bowed and said apologetically, "Yes, I'm sorry, PDnim."

"Okay, let's adjust it again and try once more."

"Inside."

Turning around and letting out a long sigh, Byun Baekhyun suppressed the vague unease in his heart.

Since I have too many emotions, I'll try to tone them down a bit this time.

After readjusting himself, he signaled to Chen Yan again that he was ready.

The melody started playing again in my headphones.

Please stop hesitating.

Pause. "Baekhyun-ssi, your breathing is a little off. Let's do it again."

"I'm sorry, PDnim."

Once again, "Please don't hesitate any longer, just take my heart away."

Pause. "Baekhyun-ssi, you're putting too much emotion into it again."

"sorry"

Once again, "Please don't."

Pause. "Your breathing is obviously unsteady. Let's try again."

"sorry"

For the next ten minutes or so, the entire recording studio seemed to be caught in a loop of Chen Yan saying "One more time" and Byun Baekhyun saying "I'm sorry".

Gradually, the two assistants sitting next to Chen Yan began to show strange expressions, and secretly glanced at Chen Yan.

Actually, in their opinion, Baekhyun sang it perfectly several times, but he was still asked to start over.

Those who don't know the situation might think that this PD Chen has exceptionally high standards.

However, the two of them specifically sought out the two assistants who had worked with Chen Yan when recording songs for Girls' Generation before, to learn about Chen Yan's working style.

The answer I got was that Chen Yan is gentle when recording songs, not the kind of person who is very strict or even prone to swearing.

But the current situation seems very strict, and perhaps even a bit too strict.

Soon, they realized what was going on, glanced at Byun Baekhyun in the recording studio, and couldn't help but silently mourn for him for half a second.

Why do you have to offend people for no reason?

Behind them, Do Kyungsoo and Jongin, sitting on the sofa, couldn't help but swallow hard as they watched the scene unfold before them.

Is this Chen PDnim really that strict when recording songs?
Then, another half hour quickly passed amidst Chen Yan's repeated attempts and Byun Baekhyun's apologies.

Another pause, and Chen Yan instinctively wanted to say, "Let's do it again."

Just then, there was a knock on the door of the recording studio. The door opened, and two beautiful figures walked in with smiles on their faces.

Turning his head and seeing the two of them, Chen Yan immediately smiled; "Noona, Yoona."

Kim Tae-yeon and Im Yoon-ah greeted the others in the recording studio with smiles and shared the desserts they had just packed from the coffee shop with everyone.

The people in the recording studio weren't surprised to see the two of them arrive.

Since the last promotional event, everyone at SM Entertainment knows that Chen Yan and Girls' Generation have a close relationship.

After the two of them handed out desserts to Chen Yan's assistant, they subconsciously looked up and were slightly taken aback when they saw Byun Baekhyun in the recording studio.

What's with that existential-questioning look on your face?

However, they didn't pay any attention and turned their attention back to their own men.

Kim Tae-yeon smiled and handed over the coffee in her hand: "I know you don't like iced Americano, so I brought you a coffee that suits your taste."

"Thank you, Noona."

Chen Yan reached out and took the coffee: "Don't you have any plans today?"

Yoona handed over the dessert in her hand and shook her head: "No, I just came back from a concert in Japan yesterday, and today is just regular training, so I took advantage of my break to come and see you."

Glancing at Byun Baekhyun in the recording studio, Kim Tae-yeon asked, "How did the recording go? Was it smooth?"

Chen Yan blinked: "It's alright, it went pretty smoothly."

"cough"

The assistant, who was taking a bite of the dessert that Yoona had given him, almost choked when he heard this.

Smoothly? We've been recording for almost an hour and haven't gotten a single line right. How can that be considered smooth?
If it's about manipulating people, then it certainly goes quite smoothly.

"Okay, then you can continue recording. Yoona and I will sit here for a while and then leave so as not to disturb your work."

"it is good."

Chen Yan nodded and put his headphones back on.

In the recording studio, Byun Baekhyun looked dazed, his pupils unfocused, as if he had lost all awareness of what was happening around him.

The interlude of "Baby Don't Cry" seemed to be playing on a 360-degree loop in his ears, and only three thoughts remained in his mind.

Am I the lead singer? Do I deserve to be the lead singer? Can I really sing?

Chen Yan's voice came through the earphone: "Baekhyun-ssi, let's do it again."

Byun Baekhyun snapped back to reality, looking at Chen Yan's face outside with a faint smile, but a hint of fear appeared in his eyes.

But her slightly dry throat still made her subconsciously say, "Yes, PDnim."

As Kim Tae-yeon and Im Yoon-ah walked to the sofa, Do Kyung-soo and Kim Jongin quickly got up to offer them their seats.

The two quickly waved their hands, indicating that they could continue sitting, and then sat down on the other side after leaving a distance between them.

After sitting down, they each tacitly picked up their phones and started taking pictures of Chen Yan's back and profile from different angles.

Men have a unique charm when they're working.

"start."

Please don't do it again.

"Pause for a moment, watch your breathing, Baekhyun-ssi." "I'm sorry."

After the other party repeated the same thing three times in just a few minutes, Kim Tae-yeon and Im Yoon-ah, who were looking down at the photos they had just taken on their phones, slowly raised their eyes and looked at their men with somewhat strange expressions.

When did he become so strict when recording songs?

Seeing the strangely familiar smile on Chen Yan's lips, Lin Yoona seemed lost in thought, then turned to Do Kyungsoo beside her and asked:

How long has Baekhyun been recording?

Do Kyungsoo pursed his lips: "It's been almost an hour, Yoona sunbaenim."

"Oh, so this is the second part?"

"No, it's... not a single line has been recorded yet."

"Mo?"

Upon hearing this, both Yoona and Taeyeon next to her were startled and their eyes widened slightly.

He couldn't have recorded a single line properly in an hour? That can't be right, Baekhyun is EXO's main vocalist after all.

Do Kyungsoo glanced at Chen Yan's back and carefully considered his words: "It seems that Baekhyun hyung has never been able to sing out the feeling that PDnim wants."

Kim Tae-yeon blinked her eyes in confusion, looking at her man's back in the distance, then at Byun Baek-hyun in the recording studio.

Suddenly, she thought of something, and the corners of her mouth lifted slightly the next second. A tenderness appeared in her eyes as she looked at the man's profile, and it grew stronger and stronger until it was almost overflowing.

My husband is standing up for me!
Lin Yoona quickly understood, glanced at Chen Yan's profile, and couldn't help but pout slightly.

Beside her, Do Kyungsoo glanced at her, hesitated for a moment, and then asked:
"Yoona sunbaenim, is Chen PDnim always this strict when recording songs?"

Girls' Generation recorded a song with Chen Yan last time, so I should probably ask around. Otherwise, when it's my turn later, I might have to go through the same ordeal.

Kim Jongin also turned his head and looked over nervously.

This PD Chen is incredibly strict.

"Oh, yes, Chen Yan has always had very high standards for song quality."

He suppressed his little expressions and turned into a serious face.

Yoona, the visual and lead dancer of Girls' Generation, replied that they only needed two takes to record the song with Chen Yan last time.

Kim Tae-yeon chimed in, "Xiao Yan is indeed quite strict when recording songs, so you should try your best to perform at your best. Don't be like Byun Baek-hyun, who can't get into the right state and wastes everyone's time."

The two women naturally sided with their own men.

After several more pauses, Chen Yan seemed to be getting impatient. He took off his headphones, frowned, and looked at Byun Baekhyun in the recording studio.

“Baekhyun-ssi, it’s been over an hour already, why can’t you sing the feeling I want?”

Upon seeing this, Byun Baekhyun trembled slightly and quickly bowed in apology: "I'm so sorry, PDnim."

The recording studio fell silent instantly, and the atmosphere became somewhat tense.

The assistant who stayed behind to look after Byun Baekhyun and the others gritted his teeth upon seeing this, and was just about to step forward to mediate and smooth things over.

But then Chen Yan tapped the table lightly and said, "Half air, half air, half real voice, is it that hard to find this state?"

As soon as he finished speaking, everyone else in the recording studio froze for a second.

What? Half air?
As Chen Yan was speaking, he noticed the stunned expressions on the faces of those around him, and as if he had suddenly remembered something, his expression also froze.

"Oh, I'm sorry, I think I brought the focus of recording songs at JYP to SM. I'm sorry, I'm sorry. I'm used to recording songs at JYP and haven't adjusted yet."

Although he has only recorded one title track for 2AM at JYP, which is fewer than the number of times he has recorded songs at SM, that doesn't stop him from saying that, does it?

For some things, it's best to find a plausible reason on the surface.

With an apologetic smile, Chen Yan smiled at everyone and then looked at Byun Baekhyun in the recording studio, saying:
"I'm sorry, Baekhyun-ssi, it's my fault."

They've had their fun for a while now. If they keep going like this, the assistant next to them will probably call the agent.

We can't really let Byun Baekhyun ruin his voice today; the most important psychological blow has already been dealt.

I reckon this guy will remember this wonderful day whenever he sees me again.

Besides, he's not the only one who can write songs for EXO; he can always find another opportunity to do it again.

"It's alright, PDnim."

With an even uglier smile on his face, Byun Baekhyun replied.

What else could he say? He dared not say anything.

Whether Chen Yan genuinely mistook this place for JYP for a moment, or whether this was just an excuse for him to cause trouble for himself, it doesn't matter.

None of that matters anymore; he just feels a little fortunate now.

I'm so glad I saved my voice.

Behind them, Kim Tae-yeon and Im Yoon-ah couldn't help but glare at Chen Yan after they came to their senses, and almost burst out laughing.

This man is so wicked that he can even come up with such an excuse.

The two assistants beside him were also smart people. They saw through it but didn't say anything. Instead, they cooperated with Chen Yan's words and showed a little bit of realization on their faces.

On the sofa behind them, Do Kyungsoo and Kim Jongin both breathed a sigh of relief upon hearing this.

That way, when they're recording later, PDnim won't be as crazy as he is now, right?

They really haven't learned JYP's air half-singing technique.

Thankfully, I wasn't the first one to go in and record, otherwise Baekhyun would have ended up like them.

I can't imagine how big the psychological trauma this person must be.

Chen Yan put his headphones back on, looked at Byun Baekhyun and smiled, "Baekhyun-ssi, let's do it again. This time I'll record it according to SM's traditional singing style."

"Okay."

"start."

The melody, which had played countless times before, came again.

Please stop hesitating, okay?

Byun Baekhyun subconsciously started singing, but his eyes couldn't help but look towards Chen Yan outside.

As is customary, this person should be calling a halt soon.

The melody in the headphones stopped abruptly, and Byun Baekhyun immediately tensed up.

He really has no intention of letting me go!

However, the next second, Chen Yan's voice came through the earphones, but it wasn't the familiar "Again".

“Baekhyun-ssi, why did your voice suddenly go off track? You sang really well at the beginning. Don’t be afraid, sing loudly. If you really sing it wrong, I’ll tell you to stop. If I don’t tell you to stop, just keep singing.”

"Okay."

Behind them, Kim Tae-yeon and Im Yoon-ah couldn't help but smile again upon seeing this.

This is making people a bit like they have PTSD.

The way my own man attacked me was so cunning and ruthless.

But they like it~
The subsequent recording went much more smoothly than expected after Chen Yan "abandoned" JYP's semi-air singing style.

Byun Baekhyun quickly moved on to the second segment of recording.

After sitting for a while, Kim Tae-yeon and Im Yoon-ah got up and quietly left the recording studio.

After closing the door, the two turned and walked towards the elevator.

After taking just two steps, Kim Tae-yeon's lips, which she had been struggling to suppress, finally began to curl upwards unrestrainedly.

If she weren't afraid of being overheard by the people in the recording studio, her unrestrained old lady laughter would probably have echoed throughout the entire corridor.

Seeing this, Lim Yoona pursed her lips.

Hmph, I'm really enjoying this unnie's treatment.

(End of this chapter)