Managing the Korean entertainment industry: I have superpowers, but I won't say.

On the day Sulli's second Japanese single was released, Su Yu was in a meeting at the company.

Kim Dong-wook came in with his phone, interrupting his discussion with Choi Min-soo. "The Oricon chart is out. Number eight." Su Yu took the phone, glanced at it, handed it back to Kim Dong-wook, and continued to Choi Min-soo, "Korea's comeback is scheduled for next month. Have the venues been booked?" Choi Min-soo replied, "Yes, they've been booked. All three music programs are confirmed."

"Where's the press release?"

"Kim Dong-wook is writing."

Su Yu nodded. Choi Min-soo left. Kim Dong-wook stayed, standing by the table.

"Aren't you going to praise Sulli? She's in eighth place, four places higher than the first one."

Su Yu looked at him. "Go ahead and say the praises. You're the media consultant."

Kim Dong-wook laughed. "I compliment her, but she doesn't care. Don't you know who she cares about being complimented by?"

Su Yu didn't reply. Jin Dongxu tactfully left.

In the afternoon, Shirley arrived at the company. She pushed open the door to Su Yu's office, holding a cup of coffee in her hand, her face expressionless, but she walked faster than usual.

"Did you see it?" Su Yu asked.

"I saw it." Shirley sat down on the sofa. "Eighth place. Not too high, not too low."

"Higher than the first one. That's an improvement."

Sulli took a sip of coffee. "Choi Min-soo said Korea's return to China is next month. I want to sing the song I wrote."

"That Person?"

"Um."

Su Yu thought for a moment. "Okay."

Shirley looked at him. "Aren't you afraid of it not doing well? It's a self-composed piece, untested by the market. What if it flops and affects Korea's comeback?"

Su Yu leaned back in her chair. "You've already written it, what's the point of keeping it if you're not going to sing it?"

Shirley stared at him for a few seconds, then smiled. "Okay. Then help me book a recording studio. We'll start recording tomorrow."

The recording was scheduled for the third day. Su Yu hadn't planned to go, but Shirley sent him a message: "Recording 'That Person' today. Are you coming?" He read the message but didn't reply. Half an hour later, he grabbed his coat and left the office. Kim Dong-wook saw him in the hallway and asked, "Where are you going?" Su Yu replied, "The recording studio." Kim Dong-wook didn't ask any further questions.

The recording studio was in Longshan, in the basement of a gray building. When Su Yu arrived, Shirley was already inside. She stood in front of the microphone, wearing headphones, her eyes closed. Outside the soundproof glass, the producer sat in front of the mixing console, his fingers slowly moving across the faders. Su Yu didn't go in; he stood at the door watching.

Shirley sang the chorus. Su Yu had heard those two lines on the demo, but they sounded different live. Her voice was even softer than on the demo, as if afraid of disturbing something. When she sang "that person," her voice trembled slightly—not as a technique, but genuinely. The producer didn't call "stop," she steadied herself, and finished the last line.

Su Yu stood at the door, not moving.

Shirley opened her eyes and saw him through the glass. Her expression didn't change, but her fingers tightened on the microphone. She took off her headphones and stepped out.

"You've arrived."

"Um."

"Where did you hear that?"

"refrain."

Shirley looked at him. "That part that trembled?"

"Um."

"Why wasn't a call to stop?"

Su Yu didn't answer. The producer peeked out from behind the mixing console and asked, "Want to do it again?" Shirley turned and said, "Yes." She walked back to the recording booth, put her headphones back on, and stood in front of the microphone. This time, she didn't close her eyes, looking at Su Yu through the glass.

She sang it once, without a tremor. Steady and clear from beginning to end. After singing the last word, she looked at Su Yu and waited a few seconds. Su Yu nodded. Shirley took off her headphones and walked out.

"How is it?"

"very good."

Shirley laughed. "You always say that."

"Because it's always good."

Shirley stared at him for a few seconds, her eyes reddening, but she didn't let the tears fall. She lowered her head, took a sip of water, and when she looked up again, she was as normal as ever.

"That one's done. Next one."

Su Yu stood for a while, watching her finish recording the remaining two songs. She stopped trembling and sang each line steadily. But when the producer said, "Tone down a bit more," she would turn her head to look at Su Yu outside the glass, then turn back and sing again.

It was already 8 PM when the recording finished. Shirley packed her things and walked up to Su Yu.

"You're treating me to dinner."

Why?

"Because I sang well today."

Su Yu glanced at her, then turned and walked out. Shirley followed behind, a smile playing on her lips.

The two found a Korean restaurant near the recording studio. Shirley ordered soybean paste stew and fried fish, while Su Yu ordered kimchi stew. While waiting for the food, Shirley asked him...

Have you heard the narration that Chae Soo-bin recorded in Busan?

"no."

"I heard it. The director sent it to me," Shirley said. "When she read the last line, her voice trembled. Just like the one you heard from me today."

Su Yu didn't speak.

"The director asked her, 'Is that you or Jung Ah-young?' She said, 'Both.'" Sulli picked up her water glass and took a sip. "Guess if I was trembling just now, was it Sulli or the person in the song?"

Su Yu looked at her. "You are Shirley. You wrote the song. We are inseparable."

Shirley put down her water glass and smiled. "You're the kind of person who's not confused when you should be."

The food arrived. The two ate, no longer discussing those things. Shirley talked about funny stories from her Japan tour; the fans in Osaka were the most enthusiastic, and the sound system at the Nagoya venue malfunctioned, so she sang a song a cappella, and the entire venue was as quiet as if no one was there. Su Yu listened, nodding occasionally. After finishing their meal, Su Yu paid the bill. Shirley stood at the door waiting for him.

"Su Yu".

"Um."

"Take me home."

"You didn't drive?"

"It's open. But I'd like you to deliver it."

Su Yu glanced at her but said nothing. The two walked to the parking lot, where Su Yu's car was parked not far away. Shirley followed behind him, her footsteps very soft. Once in the car, Su Yu started the engine and asked, "Where do you live?" Shirley gave him the address: an apartment building in Gangnam District. The car drove onto the main road, and neither of them spoke. A slow, English song was playing on the radio, sung by a woman.

When they arrived downstairs, Shirley didn't get out of the car immediately. She looked at the streetlights outside the car window and paused for a few seconds.

"Su Yu".

"Um."

Thank you for coming to listen today.

"Of course."

Shirley smiled, opened the car door, and got out. She stood by the roadside, bent down, and said something to Su Yu through the car window.

"Be careful on your way back."

Su Yu nodded. Shirley closed the car door, turned and walked into the apartment. Su Yu watched her figure disappear through the door, then started the car and drove away.

When he got home, Cai Xiubin was reading a script on the sofa. When she saw him come in, she put the script down.

"You're back? Have you eaten?"

"I ate. With Shirley."

Cai Xiubin glanced at him. "How's the recording?"

"Good."

"How did she sing?"

"very good."

Cai Xiubin stood up, walked over to him, and sniffed him. "I haven't been drinking."

"I didn't drink it."

"What did you talk about during your meal?"

Su Yu thought for a moment. "Let's talk about the Japan tour. Let's talk about her recording in Busan."

"Didn't you talk about anything else?"

"We didn't talk."

Cai Xiubin stared at him for a few seconds, then smiled. "Okay. Go take a shower, the water's ready."

Su Yu looked at her. "Aren't you going to ask?"

"I won't ask anymore. If you said we didn't talk, then we didn't talk." Cai Xiubin turned and walked back to the sofa. "I believe you."

Su Yu stood in the entryway, watching her back. She picked up her script and continued reading, her hair loose, wearing an old T-shirt. He changed his shoes, walked over, and hugged her from behind.

"Cai Xiubin".

"Um."

"I'll take you out to eat next week."

"What do you want to eat?"

"Eat whatever you want."

Cai Xiubin smiled and snuggled into his arms. "Then I want to eat Korean beef."

"it is good."

The night outside the window was quiet. Su Yu held her, his eyes closed.