Devil’s Music

Chapter 388: Small Connection

It took over 15 minutes just to tour the company cafeteria. Clara, who had started off with a proud smile, checked her watch and spoke to Team Leader Lee standing next to her.

“Shall we go see the underground practice room now?”

Team Leader Lee nodded naturally and loudly exclaimed,

“Alright, kids! Let’s head to the underground practice room.”

Sua, noticing Team Leader Lee’s cue, timidly raised her hand and said,

“Um… Team Leader, may I go to the restroom?”

Yunhyeon joined in beside Sua, saying,

“Me too, Team Leader. I’d like to go as well.”

Team Leader Lee, with an apologetic expression, turned to Clara and asked,

“Sure, this way please.”

Clara led Sua and Yunhyeon to the restroom, while Sujeong quickly moved closer to Team Leader Lee. Taking advantage that Clara wasn’t looking their way, Team Leader Lee whispered,

“Here. Nag her to have lunch at the cafeteria later. It’s the best chance to bump into Kay.”

Sujeong nodded silently and then stepped away. After spending enough time in the restroom, Sua and Yunhyeon emerged fixing their makeup, and Clara, checking her watch again, led the group into the elevator and pressed for the third basement floor.

“You don’t need to see the fourth and fifth floors since they are just parking lots. We’ll start from the third floor.”

After seeing the floor buttons, Team Leader Lee asked,

“The fourth floor is labeled as the ‘Kay Floor,’ right?”

“Yes, it’s a dedicated space used by Fantagio’s marquee musician.”

“Wow, that’s impressive. Miss Anderson, you must run into Kay quite often then. I’m really envious.”

As soon as the name Kay was mentioned, a sense of pride flashed across Clara’s face.

“Hehe, yes. It’s an enviable place to work. Besides, Kay remembers the names of all the employees, which is very kind of him.”

Yunhyeon, slightly surprised, asked,

“He remembers everyone’s names? How many are there?”

“Hehe, there are about forty staff members on site, but including security, it’s over fifty. Kay remembers and addresses over ninety employees by name.”

Everyone was astonished at Clara’s revelation about Kay remembering the names of over ninety employees. Sua whispered to Yunhyeon,

“Is that even possible? I don’t even know the name of the receptionist at the YDN lobby.”

“It’s unnecessary to remember those you don’t need to, isn’t it? Maybe he just has a good memory? Why waste mental energy on trivial things?”

Though they spoke softly, Clara heard them and said,

“It’s not trivial at all. By doing so, Kay is loved by everyone.”

Caught by Clara overhearing their whispers, Sua thought to herself,

‘So what if he’s loved by the employees? It’s hard enough getting love from the fans.’

As Clara showed them around the underground practice rooms, the idols kept gasping in amazement and asking about various musical facilities. Clara continued the tour to the rooftop and the third-floor office space, and though two hours had passed, they had not encountered Kay.

As it was nearing time to leave, Team Leader Lee, clearly anxious, patted his stomach as if to suggest it was audible, saying,

“Wow, we’ve been touring so long that we missed lunchtime. Aren’t you kids hungry?”

Sujeong, Yunhyeon, and Sua quickly agreed,

“Yes, Team Leader. We’re really hungry.”

“It would be so great if our company had a cafeteria like Fantagio’s. I’m so jealous, and it looks delicious.”

“I’d have no more wishes if I could just eat here once.”

Unable to ignore the hopeful looks of the idols, Clara eventually picked up her phone.

“Please wait at the rooftop relaxation area. I’ll check if it’s possible to have a meal and come back.”

The rooftop was designed as a terrace with natural grass flooring, equipped with several parasols and chairs for the staff’s comfort.

As they found a spot, Team Leader Lee crossed his arms and looked around, whispering to Sujeong,

“This is the last stop, we can’t stretch the time anymore. If this doesn’t work, we need to think of a next plan.”

Sujeong frowned and whispered back,

“Is there even a next plan? The security here is like iron. Did you see how many CCTVs there are?”

Team Leader Lee, glancing around at the numerous CCTVs installed, nodded,

“Yeah, there are about ten CCTVs per floor. But I bet it’s not like this on the Kay Floor. Imagine someone being monitored while they work on music. That wouldn’t be allowed, so our top priority is to make it onto the

Kay Floor.”

“If it doesn’t work today, how do you plan to approach next time?”

“I’m thinking of targeting the school route. He goes to school every morning, so we just have to keep watch there.”

“Ah, another long wait begins.”

“Can’t help it. If this works, you guys will be stepping onto the global stage. Don’t you like that?”

“No, of course not.”

“Then do well. Here she comes, spread out!”

As Sujeong quickly moved away from Team Leader Lee, Clara approached with a bright smile and announced,

“Permission granted. Let’s go have our meal.”

The idols feigned extreme happiness, causing a loud commotion as Clara led them down.

In the cafeteria, everyone chose their preferred meals and sat down, but no one really paid attention to the taste of the food.

While complimenting Clara on the delicious food, the idols kept their eyes on the entrance to the cafeteria. As they ate, Sua dropped her spoon with a clang, prompting the others to follow her gaze toward the entrance.

A tall black man with a hood and sunglasses, even indoors, was giving high-fives to passing staff as he entered the cafeteria. Yunhyeon put down his spoon and muttered,

“That’s Snoop Dogg... I can’t believe I’m actually seeing him in person.”

The rest of the group showed similar reactions, which made Clara laugh and say,

“Snoop Dogg recently transferred to our company. Ah, since he wasn’t with any company before, 'transfer' might not be the right word. Eminem and Montana are also with us now.”

Snoop, now addicted to Korean food, walked past with a mountain of spicy pork bulgogi and greeted Clara,

“Hey, Clara. Looking beautiful today?”

Clara smiled back at Snoop and asked,

“Snoop, you’re eating alone? Where’s Eminem?”

Holding his tray with one hand and pointing upward with the other, Snoop replied,

“He’s on the second floor, busy with work. That guy doesn’t eat when he’s working. Last time, he didn’t eat for two days. Crazy, right?”

“Hehe, I see. You must feel lonely today.”

“That’s why I went up to eat with Kay.”

As Kay’s name came up, the idols, not understanding English, focused intensely on Snoop.

Team Leader Lee, fluent in English, had been closely listening to their conversation from the start and when Kay’s name came up again, he looked intently at Snoop. Noticing the change in their expressions, Snoop shrugged and said,

“But he was sleeping, cuddled up so lovingly with Lucy, I couldn’t wake him.”

“Hehe, I see.”

“Yeah, enjoy your meal, Clara. I don’t know who these friends are, but have a good meal, everyone.”

As Snoop waved and found a seat, Clara looked at her group.

They were all staring at her in shock, prompting Clara to tilt her head and ask,

“What’s wrong?”

Team Leader Lee, swallowing hard, cautiously asked,

“Um… does Kay have a girlfriend?”

“A girlfriend? Not that I’m aware of. Why do you ask?”

Team Leader Lee, looking at Snoop gobbling up the spicy pork bulgogi and giving a thumbs up to the kitchen staff, pointed out,

“You just said… he was cuddling with someone named Lucy…”

Clara paused with a blank expression before bursting into laughter.

“Hehehe, Lucy is a cat, Team Leader.”

Realizing his embarrassing mistake and the need to revise their entire plan if Kay had a girlfriend, Team Leader Lee breathed a sigh of relief.

Once again looking at Snoop, who had slightly lowered his sunglasses to scrutinize them more closely, Team Leader Lee returned the wary glance. Wiping his mouth with a napkin, Snoop approached and asked,

“Hey, aren’t you Jinyeon and Yoonjeong?”

Correctly pronouncing their names, all eyes turned to the two. Jinyeon awkwardly smiled and raised a hand,

“Ha… hi, Snoop.”

Yoonjeong, with robotic movements, also raised a hand and waved,

“Hi… hello…”

Recognizing them, Snoop extended his hand for a high-five,

“Yo, did you get home okay yesterday? Why didn’t you say hi when you saw me?”

Though they didn’t understand what he was saying, Jinyeon gave him a high-five and stammered,

“Ha… thank you, Snoop.”

Clara, overhearing, turned to Snoop,

“Do you know each other?”

Snoop chuckled and pointed at them,

“We drank together yesterday, along with Kay, Eminem, and Shizuka at the same table.”

Clara looked at Jinyeon and Yoonjeong with a surprised expression,

“You were close enough to drink together? Why didn’t you tell me?”

With everyone’s eyes on them, Jinyeon and Yoonje

ong looked uncomfortable.

“It’s not like that… we just happened to be at the same table at the Bibiking Club…”

Team Leader Lee frowned and said,

“By chance? A drinking table with Kay, Snoop, Eminem, and Shizuka is possible by chance? And why didn’t you tell me?”

Jinyeon faltered,

“That… it’s not… it wasn’t really a significant connection, so I didn’t think it was worth mentioning…”

Seeing Sujeong restraining him, Team Leader Lee held back from saying more.

Sujeong, with a serious look, blinked at Team Leader Lee, who quickly thought it through and backed off. Not understanding Korean, Snoop stood there puzzled before Clara spoke to him again,

“Tell those two friends to come back later. I’ll show them around Eminem’s studio too.”

“Yes, Snoop. I’ll let them know.”

As Snoop waved once more and returned to his seat, Clara translated for Sujeong and Team Leader Lee, their eyes lighting up with excitement.

>

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