Siblings Work in Business (85)
[Waiting for Ji-ji-nim and Rangi-nim’s new song D+1]
[I heard Rangi-nim is writing the lyrics, we’ll finally be able to see them in the new song, right?]
Rangi-nim, Ji-ji-nim.
Before, it was mostly just ‘Ji-ji’ and ‘Rangi,’ but recently, more and more people seemed to be adding ‘-nim.’
Usually, people used informal language with younger artists and called older artists “unnie,” “noona,” “oppa,” or “hyung”…
My fans, and Lee Eun-ji’s fans, before the regression, were the same.
‘Why now…?’
Thankfully, a post by a new fan answered my question.
「I’m a new fan, just two days in, so I’m wondering…
Why does everyone add ‘-nim’ to Eun-ho oppa and unnie’s names, calling them Rangi-nim and Ji-ji-nim?
Is it like, a rule?
Sorry if it is, I’m new here.」
└ Welcome!
└ I was also wondering about that.
└ I heard it’s a shortened version of ‘Eun-ji Goddess’ and ‘Eun-ho God,’ because it was too cringey.
└ I just started using it because everyone else was, and now I’m used to it lol
└ Same here. Now I’m just like, Rangi-nim! Ji-ji-nim! lol
So, it seemed like someone started it, and then everyone else followed.
I ignored the ‘Eun-ji Goddess, Eun-ho God’ part.
That was too much, even for me…
[It’s only been a day since the last broadcast, but I already miss Rangi-nim and Ji-ji-nim ㅠㅠ]
[Rangi-nim, Ji-ji-nim, hope you’re doing well! I’m waiting… ]
I debated whether to reply to each cute message.
[It was great for me too.]
[We’ll be back soon, so you won’t have to wait long.]
[Thank you for coming to the broadcast. Your support gave us strength!]
[I love you too.]
I wanted to reply to each and every one of them.
But the CEO said…
Replying to everyone would diminish the value of the fans’ efforts in using their EG Points to send messages.
Having heard that, I couldn’t bring myself to reply to everyone.
They worked hard to save up points to receive a reply from me, so it felt wrong to devalue their effort.
After much deliberation, I just clicked the ‘Like♥’ button.
I scrolled through the board, and almost every post had a ‘♥.’
‘It was a good idea to suggest the app.’
I felt a sense of accomplishment.
Lee Eun-ji also seemed to be doing the same; the number of [♥]’s kept increasing with every refresh.
‘The CEO told us to rest, but…’
He probably knew we would do this, haha.
But seeing all the support from our fans made it hard to rest.
♪♬♪♪ ♪♬♪
Lee Eun-ji was back at her keyboard, and I opened my notebook.
I could almost see the CEO’s hair falling out, but I ignored it and focused on my work.
Despite using five wishes, the collaboration with Toxin fell through at first.
Ji Ye-chan being the CEO of his own agency wasn’t the problem.
The problem was the other Toxin members, who were still under contract with TaKa Entertainment.
The CEO of TaKa strongly opposed it.
The members themselves wanted it, but TaKa remained firm in their refusal.
But we had someone who had helped TaKa grow.
“His house…?”
“Yes. I went and settled it! I’ve done so much for TaKa, they owe me this much—”
Our CEO, the very day he received the rejection from TaKa…
Went straight to the CEO of TaKa Entertainment’s house.
And he sat there in the living room for two hours, recounting his legendary tales from beginning to end.
And after that, he launched into a six-hour lecture, he said.
‘Wow, 8 hours…?’
‘…That’s terrifying.’
I knew he could lecture for a long time, but 6 hours…?
Hearing that story, we felt a strange sense of camaraderie and pity for the CEO of TaKa.
But his lecture seemed effective.
“The CEO of TaKa approved the collaboration.”
“Ooh!”
“And he even allowed the Toxin members to participate in the music video filming.”
“Wow, he must have suffered…”
“Right? It’s like a bribe, ‘I’ll do this, so please never come back.’”
“You brats!”
We got flicked on the forehead for our sarcastic remarks, ruining the CEO’s moment of triumph.
My forehead still stung, but I couldn’t stop smiling, excited about the collaboration.
“Are you that happy?”
“Of course.”
“Of course, we are.”
“Work hard, since you’re working with your seniors. Don’t make Toxin’s fans hate you.”
“Yes.”
“Yes!”
“And don’t lose your own style while trying to emulate your seniors.”
“Don’t worry, we won’t. Never.”
“Right, absorb everything and make it your own.”
“Yes. I trust you, always. Remember that.”
“Yes!”
“Yes.”
Lee Eun-ji’s eyes sparkled.
After the experience with Payoff, when we couldn’t even voice our opinions…
Lee Eun-ji and I learned that we had to be assertive to maintain our own style, just as the CEO said.
So we would never let our voices be taken away again.
While Lee Eun-ji and Ji Ye-chan were refining the songs, time passed quickly, and the first week of March arrived.
I had also finished the lyrics for the two songs Ji Ye-chan sent.
“You finished earlier than I expected.”
“The senior gave me detailed source material, so it was easy to write.”
“‘Easy’…? That’s impressive…”
It was judgment time at the senior’s studio.
Ji Ye-chan read the lyrics carefully, then made an OK sign with his fingers.
It meant he approved.
My tense neck and shoulders relaxed instantly.
“Wow, that’s a relief.”
“Why, were you worried I would reject them?”
“More than worried. I even prepared a Plan C, just in case.”
“Really? That’s a shame. I should have rejected them just to see Plan C.”
“That’s why I didn’t tell you.”
“I’m curious now.”
“No way. I’m saving those for our next album—”
The senior playfully reached out as if to snatch my notebook.
“Too bad.”
He couldn’t reach it.
“We’ll see if there are any parts that need fixing during recording, right?”
“I practiced with Eun-ji at home, and there weren’t any problems, but I’ll fix anything that doesn’t sound right during recording.”
“Okay, sounds good. I finished recording the session a few days ago, so we just need to schedule the vocal recording.”
“We’ll adjust to your schedule, Senior, so please schedule it as soon as possible.”
“Alright. There’s no reason to delay the recording with you two.”
The senior put the two lyric sheets in a file and stood up.
“I’ll discuss the schedule with the others and contact you.”
“Okay!”
“Good work.”
“Thank you for your hard work, Senior!”
Ji Ye-chan shook his head.
I wondered if there was something wrong with my greeting, but thankfully, that wasn’t the issue.
“I’m only doing two songs, but you have six. You’re the ones working hard. Are you managing okay?”
“We’re fine. Actually, Eun-ji and I are excited about the recordings.”
“You were born for this. The CEO said you have another recording today, so you should head back.”
“Yes!”
I bowed deeply and left the studio.
Ji Ye-chan waved until the door closed completely.
As I stepped out into the hallway, I made eye contact with Yeong-hee, who was sitting by the entrance.
He seemed to have finished his meeting earlier than expected, as he offered me a puffed rice snack from the bag he was eating.
“Leaving already?”
“Yes, I just stopped by before recording…”
“I thought we could eat together, that’s a shame. Get home safely.”
“Yes! Enjoy your meal, hyung!”
Yeong-hee, looking at the snack bag in his hand, asked playfully,
“Are you subtly telling me to go on a diet?”
“Haha, no. I was just saying hello in advance, since you’ll be eating later.”
“Hmm, I feel like you’re teasing me.”
“No, I’m not.”
“Okay~ I believe you~”
“Haha. I should get going. I have a recording.”
“Alright, take care—”
I was teasing him, but I didn’t want to cause any trouble.
I popped the puffed rice snack in my mouth and hurried out of the building.
Studio
A little after lunchtime…
Lee Eun-ji and I left the house in our pajamas, heading for a recording session.
It wasn’t a big deal anymore calling it a “recording session.”
The first floor was finally finished at the beginning of March!
The rich CEO had built us our own studio!
Eun-ji’s work pace, already fast, had become even faster thanks to the new studio.
Which meant more work for me.
As we closed the aluminum door to our second-floor dorm, it rattled loudly, despite Eun-ji closing it gently.
“Close the door quietly!”
“It was the wind!”
“Liar.”
“It’s true!”
I knew it was the wind, but I teased her anyway.
“Ugh, it’s cold. Lee Eun-ho, aren’t you cold?”
“Yes, I am. But if I whine about it like you, I’ll feel even colder, so I’m enduring it.”
I puffed out my chest, like a bodybuilder.
“Ugh, seriously… are you a chimpanzee or something?”
“…”
“Well, your face does look like a chimpanzee.”
Lee Eun-ji, seemingly disgusted by my pose, grumbled.
I looked at her and thought…
Chimpanzee, that’s not bad.
Wanting to fulfill my dear sister’s wish to see a chimpanzee, I lunged at her, mimicking a chimpanzee, complete with a protruding jaw.
“Ooh! Ooh! Ooh!”
“Agh! Stop it!”
Oof.
“Stop it, you’re disgusting! You crazy bastard!”
Getting too close was a miscalculation.
Lee Eun-ji’s punch landed squarely in my gut.
I almost threw up, but thankfully, it was just spit.
After our little play fight, I felt hungry.
“Hey, let’s grab some kimbap from Kimbap Heaven before recording.”
“I’m lazy. Loser buys. Rock-paper-scis—”
“If you don’t go, I’ll stand in front of your room tonight, holding scissors and chanting summoning spells.”
“What the hell is that?!”
“You’re not going? Really?”
“…Who said I’m not going? Don’t do that.”
I wasn’t actually going to do it, but I didn’t answer.
It was too effective on Lee Eun-ji to waste.
A cold wind blew through the alley.
“I should have brought a jacket.”
“Yeah, it’s suddenly cold again.”
“Ugh, too lazy to go back. Let’s just buy something quickly and go back to the studio.”
It was March 10th, 2015, a surprisingly cold day after a few days of warm weather.