The studio smelled like cherry lollipops and fresh tension.
Lim Soo-a didn't mean to make a dramatic entrance. That wasn't her style. But there was something about the way the SM building always echoed under fluorescent lights, sterile and too polished, that made everything feel more important than it was.
She walked in with her usual rhythm—shoulders square, tote bag slung over one arm, lollipop in her mouth—and didn't bother to smile. She wasn't here to charm anyone.
Her boots clicked softly against the floor as she stepped into Studio A, where the temperature dropped just a little too low for comfort.
As expected, three engineers and one assistant producer were already seated behind the mixing console. None of them looked up. Her gaze traveled to the far end of the room—to the guy slouched in a rolling chair like he had a stake in the building's property rights.
Lee Haechan.
She recognized him immediately, of course. Idol, performer, vocalist. Sharp features and a sharper tongue, if the industry gossip was to be believed. He didn't look up right away, just continued scrolling on his phone like her presence was a passing breeze. But Soo-a saw the flick of his eyes, the way his lips twitched slightly—not quite a smile, not quite a smirk.
"Morning," she said, popping the lollipop out of her mouth.
He looked up then, one brow arched.
"Is it?"
So, that's how it was going to be.
Soo-a didn't flinch. She crossed the room, dropped her tote bag next to the monitor, and pulled out her laptop. Her fingers moved with practiced ease, unlocking the screen and launching her DAW. The engineers finally took notice, straightening up.
"Director Lim, would you like a playback of last night's takes?" one asked.
She gave a brief nod, eyes still on her screen. "Please. Start with Track 4."
Behind her, Haechan shifted. She didn't have to turn around to know he was watching her now, probably waiting for her to trip up or say something idiotic. She'd dealt with enough artists with oversized egos to know the drill.
The first vocal stem played through the monitors. It wasn't bad. In fact, it was technically clean—sharp phrasing, pitch control, breathwork. But that was exactly the problem.
Soo-a sighed.
"There's gold in there," she said casually, like she was commenting on the weather. "But also a lot of mud."
A pause.
"Mud?"
She glanced up. Haechan had finally turned his chair to face her, arms folded across his chest, gaze unreadable.
"Emotional confusion," she clarified, standing and pacing slowly toward the console. "Pitch-wise, you're clean. But intention? Kinda murky. It's like you're half-daring the mic to feel something, then pulling back before it lands."
Another beat of silence. The engineers looked mildly uncomfortable.
Haechan leaned back in his chair, lips quirking. "So, you're a vocal psychic now?"
She smiled without humor. "No. Just someone who doesn't mistake volume for vulnerability."
He tilted his head. "You always open with backhanded compliments?"
"Only when they're true."
She turned back to the screen, tapping through the waveform. A moment later, she played back a 12-second clip, looping it twice. "Right there. Listen to how your tone drops just before the chorus kicks in. It's like you're expecting the track to carry the emotion for you."
He didn't answer right away. Just listened. Which surprised her.
Then he stood.
It wasn't a threatening gesture, but it drew attention. He walked toward the booth glass, arms still crossed.
"Maybe I just wasn't feeling it that day."
"Then why record it?"
He met her eyes through the glass.
"Maybe we're not all lucky enough to wait for inspiration to strike."
A low blow, but she didn't flinch.
"Maybe," she said, voice calm. "But when your name's on something, you should care enough to mean it. Even if you're tired. Especially if you're tired."
He blinked.
One of the engineers cleared his throat. "Should we, um, try a live take now or—"
"No," Soo-a said, eyes still on Haechan. "Let's give him space to rehearse first. I'll come back after lunch."
She didn't wait for agreement. Just packed up her laptop, grabbed her tote, and headed toward the door. She paused briefly, her tone lighter this time.
"Nice to meet you, Lee Haechan. I'm sure we'll get somewhere eventually."
And with that, she left the room, lollipop tucked back between her teeth like a statement.
~~ 끝 ~~