This Life’s Hit Song Is Revenge

Chapter 9

If you think about it, this is just a business meeting.

Gibaek convinced himself as he buttoned up his dress shirt.

He spent longer looking in the mirror than usual.

A neat appearance was always important.

With long strides, he headed toward the meeting place.

From afar, he spotted her waving one slender arm high in the air.

“Mr. Gibaek! Over here!”

Mr. Gibaek?

He paused slightly at the unfamiliar way she addressed him.

Then he noticed the silhouette of another man standing in front of her.

The smile on Jaei’s face as she ran toward him was clearly forced.

Within that brief moment of eye contact—

Her crumpled expression.

The awkward curve of her lips.

And the desperation in her eyes.

It didn’t take long to understand the situation.

Keeping a blank expression, Gibaek quietly looked past her toward the man behind.

Even from a distance, he could tell immediately.

That man’s gaze was still sticky with lingering attachment.

An unpleasant feeling slowly rose inside him, tightening the muscles around his brows.

“Sorry. Traffic was bad.”

That one sentence would have been enough.

But the man’s eyes were still relentlessly following her.

Eventually, Gibaek reached out his hand.

“Babe.”

Jaei’s eyes widened instantly.

Surprise was written clearly across them.

Her small red lips parted slightly too.

She hesitated after stepping close enough to enter his arms.

You can’t stop here.

Wrapping one arm around her shoulders, Gibaek pulled her fully into his embrace.

“Did you wait long?”

“N-No. Yes. I mean—no.”

Hearing her small trembling voice, he almost laughed.

He managed to swallow it down.

But he couldn’t stop the corners of his lips from rising.

Jaei stiffened like a malfunctioning robot at his gentle tone.

All her attention focused entirely on Gibaek.

Is this how he treats girlfriends?

She was so used to his cold, businesslike tone that she couldn’t adjust.

Besides… how long am I supposed to stay inside this ridiculously broad chest?

Carefully, she looked up.

His face looked bright.

Maybe it was the sunlight—

For a second, it almost looked like he had a halo.

“Shall we go?”

Jaei nodded lightly.

He slowly loosened his arm around her—

Then grabbed her hand.

“Huh?”

The confused sound escaped automatically.

But instead of answering, he simply led her forward.

He pulled her hand closer.

Then naturally hooked her arm through his.

I wasn’t asking for something this perfect.

Still—

The plan to shake Yoo Youngjae off seemed successful.

To outsiders, they probably looked like an incredibly affectionate couple.

After walking a while, he finally spoke.

“So, men like that aren’t your type?”

“No. Absolutely not. Even if I died and came back to life, I wouldn’t want to date someone like him.”

Her intense rejection made him laugh quietly.

They were already far away from where she had run into Yoo Youngjae.

This should be enough.

She carefully tried slipping her hand away from between his firm arm and body.

Then—

He pressed his arm closer to his side, trapping her hand there.

“This area’s flat. You can see pretty far. Let’s keep going.”

His reasoning was convincing.

So she quietly followed.

He entered a building that looked expensive at first glance and confidently headed somewhere inside.

* * *

The place they entered together—

Was a recording studio.

“Wow!!!”

Jaei gasped at the shining equipment.

The first thing she noticed was the condenser microphone behind the glass.

Then the digital mixer covered in endless buttons.

And huge speakers.

It looks like a night view.

Like the lights she used to see from Namsan—

These machines also seemed filled with excitement.

“Please sit here.”

Gibaek pointed toward the sofa against the wall.

His tone had turned stiff again.

Jaei immediately straightened her posture.

There had been a reason she needed to meet him.

She reminded herself why she was here.

As she sat down, he pulled a wheeled chair over and sat across from her.

“I’ll get straight to the point. There’s a major festival next week. One team dropped out unexpectedly, and I want you to take their place.”

“A festival…?”

It was unexpected.

She thought she’d be auditioning.

Her mind spun like a fan.

“I saw yesterday’s street performance video and the local news article. That’s why I decided to cast you. Are you willing to perform?”

“Wait… is the performance itself an audition?”

He answered simply.

“The performance is an offer. But from the company’s side, I’d also like to give you a formal offer.”

The word offer immediately brightened her expression.

The overseas Korean contestant from I’m Your Singer Season 3 had indeed been discovered through a festival.

Still, many viewers complained it felt forced.

If she signed with Star Entertainment and gained the title of “agency artist,” those criticisms could disappear.

Even so—

The festival stage still mattered.

The producers would likely give her solo exposure to emphasize the casting story.

Quickly understanding the situation, Jaei answered.

“Yes! I’ll do it! But can I ask one favor?”

“Go ahead.”

“After the festival performance, I’d like a chance to appear on an audition program in Korea.”

His eyes shifted slightly.

“Is that really necessary?”

“There’s growth you can only gain through competition. I’m not trying to be stubborn. If my stage performance is convincing enough for you, that is.”

She intentionally emphasized the final words.

Silence filled the recording studio.

Gibaek slowly unclasped his hands resting on his knees and looked at her.

Jaei also felt nervous under his heavy gaze—

But she straightened her back and met his eyes.

“You sound confident.”

“I won’t disappoint you.”

He let out a quiet breath.

A moment later, the sharpness in his eyes softened.

Slowly, he nodded.

“Alright. If your performance convinces me, then naturally the next step follows.”

“Thank you!”

His acceptance rang like a bell—

Washing away the remaining anxiety.

“And one more thing. This is a personal request.”

Hearing him hesitate only made her focus more.

After a short silence, he spoke again.

“I’d like to hear the song you sang on the plane.”

“Of course!”

Jaei answered immediately.

Since this was essentially an audition, requesting a song wasn’t strange.

Every company had different preferences for voices.

* * *

A little later.

Click.

The recording studio door closed.

Holding a single sheet of lyrics, she stood before the condenser microphone.

It’s so quiet.

There wasn’t even the smallest background noise.

It felt like even the air had stopped moving.

Just as nervousness began creeping in—

Gibaek turned on the microphone.

“Can you hear my voice?”

“Yes!”

“Put on the headset and tell me when you’re ready.”

His voice echoed softly through the walls.

And tapped gently against her heart.

“I’m starting.”

As the headset covered her ears completely—

The instrumental began.

The melody flowed quietly.

“Hoo—”

After taking a small breath, Jaei inhaled deeply, expanding her lungs.

Two measures of intro passed.

Then she opened her mouth.

“I was broken.”

The slightly cracked edge of her voice—

Immediately sharpened Gibaek’s gaze.

Just moments ago, she had been laughing playfully.

Now—

She wore a completely different face.

An unfamiliar seriousness settled into her eyes.

Her voice was low.

Almost whispering.

Yet it carried enough weight to shake someone’s chest.

As the music slowly built—

Her lyrics gained depth with it.

“I remember the words that tore me apart. But that’s all in the past now.”

First verse climax.

Stable technique.

Her own interpretation of the song.

These were the exact things Gibaek obsessively emphasized.

And above all—

“I won’t be shaken anymore. Watch closely. This is only the beginning.”

The lyrics pierced straight through him.

This—

Was absolutely not amateur-level.

Without realizing it, Gibaek had stopped breathing as he watched her.

Her fingertips brushed against the microphone.

Even that small movement captured his attention.

A singer immersed in music always shines brighter.

But right now—

She was dazzling.

He knew her voice could captivate people.

But her visual charm exceeded expectations too.

Without noticing, Gibaek tapped his fingers lightly against the table.

Focus. Don’t let admiration cloud your judgment.

He sharpened his hearing again.

Using rhythm-control techniques, she naturally moved into the second verse climax.

Like the lyrics themselves—

The song kept building higher and higher.

Then—

“This road will shine too. Because I’m climbing upward.”

The high note.

The moment her final high note soared—

Clean.

Powerful.

Goosebumps spread across Gibaek’s arms.

A sharp sensation ran beneath his skin.

As if every nerve had awakened.

And finally—

Tak!

Like a spotlight turning on for her alone—

The perfect final line ended.

“It’ll be dazzling.”