Why would Peninsula want to date a lazy dog ​​like me?

The soundproof glass perfectly divides the entire space into two worlds.

Outside was a dimly lit control room, filled with countless faders, knobs, and coldly glowing displays. Wei Wu, wearing extremely heavy monitoring headphones, sat in front of the mixing console like an emotionless machine.

Inside was a bright recording studio, where twelve beautiful young women, each with their own unique style, were walking in order to the microphone, which was worth hundreds of thousands of Korean won.

"Next up is Kim Minju."

Wei Wu pressed the intercom button, and his voice came through the monitor speakers into the recording studio. His voice was still that lifeless, monotone tone, with a hint of hoarseness from staying up all night and overexertion.

The glass door was gently pushed open.

A girl with an extremely delicate face, even carrying a hint of aloofness and fragility, walked in. She was wearing a simple white T-shirt and light blue jeans, and looked somewhat flustered.

"Hello... Teacher, I'm Kim Min-ju, nice to meet you."

Kim Minju walked to the microphone and bowed at a very standard, even overly respectful, ninety-degree angle. Her voice was soft, with a hint of obvious nervousness.

Wei Wu sat in front of the mixing console, looking at the girl on the other side of the glass who was slightly clenching the hem of her clothes because of nervousness. His fingers hovered on the keyboard, then suddenly stopped.

He stared blankly at Kim Minju.

There was no sarcastic, cold laugh.

There is no condescending charity.

They didn't have that sickly look in their eyes that seemed to want to chew up and swallow people whole.

There was no crazy statement like someone throwing around 500 million yuan in breach of contract fees.

She was just an ordinary young girl who was nervous in front of a strange producer. She would bow, she would greet him, and she would stand obediently in front of the microphone waiting for instructions.

"Gulp."

Wei Wu swallowed hard.

He suddenly felt a stinging sensation in his nose for no apparent reason, and a warm liquid welled up in his eyes almost uncontrollably.

Hold.

Wei Wu cursed himself inwardly.

He suddenly looked up, staring intently at the ceiling of the control room, desperately trying to suppress the urge to cry.

It's not easy.

It's really fucking tough!

What kind of life has he been living ever since he stepped into this damn recording studio for those 20 million won?

On the first day, I was disgusted by Zhang Yuanying's hypocritical sweetness, which gave me goosebumps.

The next day, I was mentally tortured by Zhang Yuanying with all sorts of meaningless nonsense.

The third day, the fourth day... until he couldn't take it anymore and overturned the table, only to be met with the crazy woman's hysterical laughter in the empty recording studio, and the words, "You have no choice but to lie here like a dog and obey my orders!"

In the evenings, to pay the rent, he had to go to Zhang Zhenying's oppressive study, filled with the scents of sandalwood and red wine, and face another sickly young lady who was scrutinizing him with icy eyes.

Wei Wu felt like he was living in a twisted, insane, and irrational Resident Evil game these past few days. He was constantly battling wits with two unreasonable lunatics and being relentlessly bullied by the client's unreasonable demands.

And now.

When he saw Kim Minju's normal, shy face, which showed reverence for his work.

Wei Wu felt like a man who had been walking in the desert for half a month and was on the verge of dying of thirst, when he suddenly saw a clear and sweet spring.

normal!

This is what normal human communication looks like! This is what normal client-vendor interaction looks like!

"teacher……?"

Seeing that no instructions came from the control room, Kim Minju anxiously leaned closer to the microphone and whispered a call. Her large, watery eyes were filled with worry, fearing that she might have done something wrong to anger the mysterious producer.

"Cough...cough cough."

Wei Wu snapped back to his senses, cleared his throat forcefully, and tried to cover up the slight tremor in his voice caused by excessive emotion.

"Sorry, I was adjusting the equipment just now." Wei Wu pressed the intercom button, his tone gentler than ever before—although it still sounded somewhat stiff, compared to his previous sarcastic and taunting remarks towards Zhang Yuanying, this was like a breath of fresh air.

Zhang Yuanying's fist hardened.

"Kim Minju-ssi, don't be nervous. We're just collecting vocal samples today, not focusing on technique. Just sing a melody that you're best at or that feels most comfortable with, a section in the low and middle range and a section in the high range."

"Yes! I understand!"

Kim Minju nodded with a sigh of relief, took a deep breath, and began to sing a cappella with his eyes closed.

Wei Wu wore headphones, closed his eyes, and listened intently.

Kim Min-ju's voice isn't the kind of powerful, explosive vocals; it's clean and has a unique narrative quality, giving listeners a very comfortable listening experience.

"Very good. The mid-bass has good definition. The treble is a little tight, but that's okay, you can push it a bit later."

As Wei Wu listened, he quickly recorded data on the computer, creating an EQ profile for Kim Min-joo.

This pure, mentally taxing work environment gave Wei Wu a long-lost sense of comfort.

"Thank you, teacher!" After Kim Minju finished singing, she bowed again and then left.

Next up is Jiang Huiyuan.

The girl even had a half-eaten gummy candy clutched in her hand when she walked into the recording studio. She had big, slightly dazed eyes.

"Hello teacher. I... I'm actually not very good at singing." Jiang Huiyuan stood in front of the microphone very honestly, even somewhat resignedly, "Could I rap a little?"

"Okay." Wei Wu's voice even carried a hint of amusement.

How genuine! If you can't sing, you simply don't; you're self-aware and don't put on airs. This is the kind of honest communication that working people dream of!

Jiang Huiyuan's voice is low, with a slightly husky and magnetic quality, giving her a unique, unadorned, and languid feel when she raps.

Wei Wu quickly reached a conclusion.

One by one.

Wei Wu was so engrossed in his work that he seemed to have forgotten that Zhang Yuanying, that pervert, was still sitting in the corner of the control room.

He greedily enjoyed this "normal" atmosphere, relishing the purity of solving problems with technology alone, without having to risk his life to guess the client's psychology.

"Next up, Choi Ye-na."

Accompanied by the voice on the walkie-talkie, the door to the recording studio was pushed open.

A girl with a ponytail, hopping and skipping like a fully charged rabbit, walked in.

"Annyeonghaseyo! Hello teacher! I'm Choi Yena from IZ*ONE! Nice to meet you!"

Choi Ye-na's voice is incredibly penetrating, with a natural, slightly husky "duck voice" that is full of energy and seems to ignite the air in the recording studio.

Looking at the carefree, energetic girl on the other side of the glass, Wei Wu felt a surge of bitterness that he had just managed to suppress well up again like a flood breaking through a dam.

So fresh and vibrant.

It's so damn vibrant.

Compared to the Zhang sisters, who seemed to live in a dark castle and exuded an aura of decay and paranoia, Choi Ye-na was like a small sun hanging in the midday sky—dazzling, yet giving people an unparalleled sense of warmth and security.

Wei Wu's fingers trembled slightly.

He recalled the inhumane treatment he had suffered over the past few days for 20 million won.

I recall Zhang Yuanying's mask shattering instantly, and Zhang Zhenying's chilling threat, "If you're even a minute late, don't ever show up again."

All he wanted was to earn some money to pay his rent and buy a used speaker system. Why did God send two lunatics to torment him?

What exactly did he do wrong?

Once the floodgates of emotion are opened, they are hard to close again.

Wei Wu sat in an ergonomic chair, his baseball cap pulled low, but even in the dim light of the control room, it was clear that his eyes were completely red.

His eyes were bloodshot, a layer of mist quickly condensed in his dead fish eyes, and even the tip of his nose turned a suspicious red.

He was really about to cry.

I was moved to tears by this long-lost, normal, and sunny human interaction.

This scene was clearly seen by Choi Ye-na on the other side of the soundproof glass.

Choi Ye-na's previously energetic smile instantly froze on her face.

She stared wide-eyed in disbelief at the producer on the other side of the glass, who was wearing a mask and completely covered up.

Although the whole face was not visible, the bloodshot eyes, the slightly trembling shoulders, and the desolate aura as if they had suffered a great injustice were impossible to conceal.

Choi Ye-na's mind went blank.

"It's...it's all over..."

Choi Ye-na's heart leaped into her throat, and a tremendous sense of panic instantly swept over her.

What did she just do?

She just gave a normal self-introduction!

Could it be... could it be because my voice is too awful?

Choi Ye-na knows that her voice is very distinctive; her hoarse, "duck-like" voice is loved by some but grating to others.

But no matter how jarring it is, it shouldn't be so bad that it makes a well-informed, top-tier producer cry, right?!

"Have the demands of Starship's builders become this insane?"

Cui Yena wailed inwardly. Looking at Wei Wu's "about to cry" appearance, her self-blame and panic were almost overflowing.

She felt that her voice must have caused some irreversible physical damage to the teacher's ears, or that her presence had shattered some sacred illusion he held about music.

"Teacher... teacher..."

Choi Ye-na cautiously approached the microphone, her voice trembling. Her once energetic duck-like voice now sounded like that of a frightened quail.

"I'm...I'm sorry!"

She suddenly bowed deeply at a 90-degree angle, so much so that her ponytail even swung across her face.

"If my voice caused you pain, I...I'll leave right away! I really didn't mean to! Please don't cry!"

Choi Ye-na was so anxious she was about to cry. She even wanted to rush into the control room to hand the fragile producer a tissue.

Inside the control room.

Wei Wu was immersed in the emotion of "finally meeting a normal person" when he suddenly heard Cui Yena's tearful apology through his earphones, and he was completely stunned.

"ha?"

Wei Wu sniffed, then looked up blankly at the girl trembling through the glass, who was bowing at a ninety-degree angle.

"What are you apologizing for?" Wei Wu pressed the intercom, his voice even hoarse from the emotional turmoil. "You haven't even started singing yet."

"I...I..." Cui Yena straightened up, her eyes reddening, and looked at Wei Wu with a pitiful expression. "But teacher...you look like I made you cry..."

Wei Wu was stunned.

He subconsciously touched the corner of his eye.

It's wet.

"Your mom..."

Wei Wu cursed inwardly, his old face turning red for once.

That's so damn embarrassing.

A grown man was moved to tears by the client's excellent attitude. If word got out, how would Wei Wu ever be able to work in the future?

"Ahem...you've misunderstood."

Wei Wu quickly composed himself, rubbing his eyes vigorously to force back the tears. His voice regained its usual cold and calm tone, as if he were trying to conceal his earlier lapse in composure.

"I didn't cry. I just... stayed up all night coding, and my eyes are a little inflamed. I stared at the screen for too long just now, and my eyes started to water in the wind. It's just a physiological reaction, and it has nothing to do with your voice."

Wei Wu was talking nonsense with a straight face.

"Really...really?" Choi Ye-na looked at him with a hint of disbelief.

"Write code?"

"Really. Your voice is very distinctive, which is a very valuable quality in a girl group." To appease her, Wei Wu gave her a rare positive compliment. "Now, put away your unnecessary sympathy and sing me a chorus from your debut song. I want to hear the extreme friction in your high register."

"Yes! I understand!"

Hearing the producer's praise, Choi Ye-na instantly perked up. She nodded vigorously, took a deep breath, and her energetic and powerful voice instantly pierced through the microphone.

As Wei Wu listened to the voice coming through his earphones, the corners of his mouth curved upwards in an almost imperceptible arc.

It's good to be normal.

The sound check went exceptionally smoothly for the next few hours.

Once Wei Wu enters a state of pure work, he is like a sophisticated, high-speed computer. He uses highly professional terminology and precise judgment to quickly analyze the vocal characteristics of each member.

Kwon Eunbi's solid and powerful vocals, Jo Yoo-ri's explosive high notes, Ahn Yu-jin's clear and stable voice, Honda Hitomi's sweet nasal tone...

Twelve girls, twelve completely different voice materials, were quickly disassembled, categorized, and then tried to be combined in various wonderful ways in Wei Wu's mind.

He even temporarily forgot the fact that the so-called "return song" would never be released.

For a true musician, the instinct to perfectly blend so many excellent sound materials and create a superb piece is impossible to suppress.

The girls were also impressed by Wei Wu's professionalism.

Although the producer wore a mask and his face was obscured, and he spoke bluntly and without reservation, he always managed to pinpoint the shortcomings in their voices and offer effective suggestions for improvement.

The atmosphere in the recording studio became increasingly harmonious.

however.

In this seemingly harmonious and professional control room, there is a corner that is always filled with a chilling aura.

Zhang Yuanying sat on the sofa.

She was still wearing that black fitted T-shirt, her legs crossed, holding a cup of coffee that had long since gone cold.

She hasn't said a single word since the audition began.

She was like a perfect, lifeless sculpture, sitting quietly in the shadows.

But her eyes never left Wei Wu's back for a single moment.

She watched as Wei Wu's tense shoulders relaxed because of Kim Minju's politeness; she watched as Wei Wu showed a rare smile that she had never seen before because of Choi Yena's energy; she watched as Wei Wu guided each member with that gentle and patient tone.

With every second she looked, the beast of jealousy within Zhang Yuanying roared wildly, its sharp claws scratching viciously at her internal organs.

On what grounds?

Why is it that when he's facing me, all he does is mockery, impatience, and a disgust that makes him want to run away immediately?

I've already humbled myself so much, I've even brought him food and water, why does he look at me like I'm trash?

And now, facing these idiots, he actually laughed? He was actually moved to tears?!

Zhang Yuanying's fingers gripped the paper cup tightly, her knuckles turning pale from excessive force.

With a "crack," the paper cup was crushed and deformed, and the cold coffee spilled out, dripping onto her skirt, but she seemed completely unaware.

"You like things to be normal, right?"

Zhang Yuanying murmured nervously to herself, a twisted, even slightly melancholic, smile curving her lips.

"You think they're normal, cute, and obedient?"

"But Wei Wu, do you know that the most fragile and easily destroyed thing in this world is what you call 'normal'?"

Zhang Yuanying's eyes gradually became deep and dark, like two bottomless whirlpools.

Instead of going berserk because of Wei Wu's gentleness towards other women, she felt a deeper, more perverse excitement.

Like a patient predator watching its prey unknowingly enjoy the last rays of sunlight on the edge of the trap.

She suddenly didn't want to throw that song in the trash so soon.

She wanted to see Wei Wu pour all his heart, all his emotions, and all his "normality" into this song.

She wanted to wait for Wei Wu to personally build a perfect musical castle using these "normal" timbres.

Then, in front of Wei Wu, she would use the most cruel and violent methods to smash the castle to pieces, bit by bit.

She wanted Wei Wu to know that nowhere in the world was safe except by her side, Zhang Yuanying. No "normal" could protect him.

Time flies by in the midst of busyness.

Six o'clock in the afternoon.

"OK, all data collection is complete."

Wei Wu pressed the save button, took off his heavy monitoring headphones, and let out a long sigh of relief.

His back was soaked with sweat, but he was in better spirits than ever before.

In the recording studio, the girls breathed a sigh of relief, their faces showing tired but relaxed smiles.

"Thank you all for your hard work!" Quan Enbi, as the team leader, led the bow to Wei Wu. "Producer, thank you so much for your guidance today!"

"Thank you for your hard work! Goodbye, teacher!"

The members walked out of the recording studio one by one, politely saying goodbye to Wei Wu.

Wei Wu sat in his chair, nodded slightly in acknowledgment, and said nothing more.

He knew this was probably the last time he would interact with these "normal" girls.

"well……"

Soon, only Zhang Yuanying remained in the control room.

Zhang Yuanying stood up and threw the crumpled paper cup into the trash can.

She walked up to the mixing console and looked at Wei Wu, who was packing his canvas bag.

"Have you got all the data?" Zhang Yuanying's voice returned to its cold, arrogant tone.

"Got it." Wei Wu didn't even look up as he stuffed the earphones into his bag.

"Very well." Zhang Yuanying sneered. "Remember, you only have eight days. In eight days, I want to see the complete master tape."

"No need for eight days. Come pick it up in three days." Wei Wu zipped up the bag, slung it over his shoulder, stood up, and looked directly at Zhang Yuanying.

"Who do you think you're fooling? Three days?" Zhang Yuanying frowned.

"I said, as long as there's demand, I'm the most efficient machine. I'll produce the master tape in three days; any more than that and I'll be in breach of contract." Wei Wu's eyes were filled with powerful confidence and disregard for Zhang Yuanying.

Zhang Yuanying looked at him without saying a word.

She suddenly turned around and walked towards the door.

Just as she was about to step out of the soundproof door, Zhang Yuanying stopped.

She slowly turned her head around.

In the dim light, her stunning face was half hidden in shadow and half exposed to the light.

She neither laughed nor was she angry.

She simply gave Wei Wu a deep, intense look, a look that seemed to want to devour his very soul.

In that one glance, there was jealousy, madness, a morbid possessiveness, and a cruel declaration that a devastating climax was about to begin.

"I'm waiting for you."

Zhang Yuanying left those three words, turned around, and walked out of the recording studio.

The soundproof door slowly closed.

Wei Wu stood there, feeling a sudden, bone-chilling coldness rise up his back.

The slight feeling of being healed by the normal girl was instantly shattered by Zhang Yuanying's last glance.

"Damn... what's wrong with this crazy woman now?"

Wei Wu shivered.

But then he touched his empty wallet and gritted his teeth.

"Who cares? I'll get the money in three days, then I'll be flying away! Who the hell wants to play along with a lunatic? Let them play with her!"

Wei Wu strode out of the recording studio and plunged back into the cold night of Seoul.