Chapter 345: Concert (9)

The introduction video couldn't showcase any music video scenes because we couldn’t reveal my identity, therefore it only featured audio clips and pictures of faded flowers on an album jacket. However, I was still the singer everyone was buzzing about with such a minimal introduction.

After the video wrapped up, a wave of cheers replaced the hushed anticipation. The stage came alive with the haunting prelude of the rearranged "In a Bronze-Colored Teahouse." The spotlight hit me, and a few of the panelists leapt to their feet instantly. Their reactions were oversized and animated, while others couldn't help but chuckle at my appearance.

The audience was out of my sight since they were sitting in a darkened area, hidden by shadows. I could see panelists talking to Reina, but I couldn’t hear their murmured conversations. It turned out to be a blessing to have a mask obscuring my view because it brought me an unexpected calmness.

***

Reina bit her lip, her gaze locked on the stage. She had never felt this kind of nervous energy watching someone else's performance, not since her own debut. Though she hadn't discovered Suh Hyun-Woo's raw talent before his debut, she had nurtured it through her production, her songs, and her guidance. This was the first live show of an artist she'd crafted.

‘Of course, I know Hyun-Woo can handle it!’ She was acutely aware of the weight he carried alone on that stage.

[The grand reveal of our last My Pick Singer is... The faceless star, Eden!]

After the intro video concluded and the audience and panel erupted into applause, the stage lights blazed to life. Reina clapped vigorously along with other cast members, and her lips pressed tightly in anticipation.

Eden finally showed himself while being cloaked in mystery by his mask. Both the audience and the performers had been buzzing with curiosity about what Eden truly looked like. But when he appeared, a wave of murmurs spread through the crowd instead of cheers. His real appearance was indeed a sight to behold.

His mask obscured every detail as not even a single hair peeked out. He wore a suit with exaggerated shoulder pads that looked not only old-fashioned but downright silly. The gloves were so loose, clearly designed to keep even the size of his hands a mystery.

The situation was frustrating since everyone's anticipation and curiosity remained completely unaddressed. The audience and even the panelists couldn't help but stir.

“He is totally covered up. Wow, I really didn’t expect for him to show up like this!”

“It kind of makes him more suspicious, doesn’t it? Could he be someone I actually know?"

“No way, haha! But seriously, Reina. That jacket with the shoulder pads is a bit too much. Haha!"

“Can he actually concentrate on singing while wearing that? This is the first time I’ve seen someone come fully armored to this show."

Reina retorted with a smirk. “We have to prepare this much if we are nurturing a faceless singer!"

In fact, the panelists were not at all surprised by Eden's appearance because they already knew what to expect. Reina had made it a point to introduce him so energetically after the rehearsal that it would have been impossible for them not to know about this. Thus, Reina kept her reactions subdued, perfectly in sync with the atmosphere.

The responses from the crowd were somewhat lackluster, but the focus was more on Suh Hyun-Woo's performance than on the panelists' reactions. As the short intro music faded, Eden began singing the song as the instrumental could be heard from the speakers.

? My dear,

Even the waiting only brings longing

The fireflies on the grass blades sketch out the Milky Way,

And the crickets cry, creating memories

When will you come to my side?

As Eden's voice soared, the previously murmuring panelists fell silent. They were completely drawn into the song. Eden's both poignant and melancholic tone captured the understated essence of "In a Bronze-Colored Teahouse."

At first, many panelists were skeptical whether a vibrant young man in his twenties could genuinely convey the nostalgic sentiments and candid expressions required by this song. The original composer Park Sang was now sixty, and he was known for his weathered voice that reflected a life fully lived, which made his songs quite distinctive.

Eden chose to approach the song with a careful and precious demeanor, rather than a casual one. Despite the lingering presence of the original's robust vocal style in the audience’s minds, Eden’s exceptional vocal expression made this rendition pleasantly memorable.

The panelists were well aware of the challenge in performing a song so deeply colored by its original version. Some of them even speculated that if today's teens or people in their twenties and thirties, who were unfamiliar with the original, heard Eden's version first at "In a Bronze-Colored Teahouse," they might prefer it to the more rugged original.

As the song progressed, Eden's unique voice and emotive power gradually intensified the emotional pull and drew everyone deeper into the performance. Yet curiosity lingered amidst this growing immersion. Who could possibly be behind that mask?

? I miss you.

Do you miss me too?

Touched by the wind,

Today again, in the deep bronze-colored teahouse,

I hope we can meet

Expressing the emotions of "In a Bronze-Colored Teahouse" came naturally to Suh Hyun-Woo. It was almost effortless, reminiscent of the time when he had to record Eden's debut song with a voice “worn from betrayal, having smashed everything at home in frustration.” He had spent hours that day delving into those emotions, analyzing, and even found a breakthrough. This made replicating such calmness in his voice quite manageable.

‘Eden seems in good form today.’

His voice was notably better than during rehearsals, and he seemed poised to hit the high notes with ease.

‘I definitely chose him for his skills!’

Reina couldn’t help but feel proud as she observed Suh Hyun-Woo and the panelists, who were so captivated by the performance that they seemed to forget everything else.

Reina Team's unique arrangement intensified the song as it reached the climax, and the performance was further highlighted by Eden's high notes that were not in the original song. How could one not react to a singer that was so skilled and had such a powerful voice?

By the time Eden finished singing, the venue, which had been murmuring because of his strange attire, was filled with cheers.

***

The song ended.

My schedule had been light lately with ample time spent in concert rehearsals, so this ensured my voice was always performance-ready. I felt I had done quite well. The mask helped mitigate the strangeness of the environment and allowed me to focus solely on my singing.

Only when the song ended did I fully register the enthusiastic reactions of the panelists and the audience. Having experienced such positive feedback in competition shows before my debut, this was a very good sign, though I wasn’t sure how it would affect my ranking.

The applause continued, and it stretched out to ensure it was captured entirely by the broadcast cameras. As I stood there awkwardly holding the microphone, MC Seo Han stepped up to the platform in front of the panel.

“Alright! That was a fantastic performance, Eden."

“Thank you."

“Reina’s 'My Pick Singer,' Eden just covered Master Park Sang’s signature song ‘In a Bronze-Colored Teahouse.’ It was absolutely wonderful. Wouldn’t you agree, everyone? Didn’t he do an amazing job?"

Seo Han handed off the microphone to the audience and panelists, who responded with a resounding "Yes!"

“I never imagined this song could be covered by such a smooth and lovely voice."

“Ah, thank you so much."

“Eden, you are quite modest. Is this your first time on a live broadcast?"

“Yes, it is.” I felt a bit guilty, but that was the concept we were going with. “This is my first broadcast and my first show, so I’m really nervous.”

“Ah, I see. You performed so well that it’s hard to believe this is your first time. But, Eden...?”

“Yes?”

Seo Han had been polite throughout, but his face suddenly took on a crafty look. “Our audience and the viewers at home are really curious about you, Eden. These are not just a few casual questions. You know that, right?” His eyes swept over me from head to toe.

I unconsciously adjusted my top and nodded. “Yes, I know.”

“I’ve been so excited to see what you'd bring to the stage. Who are you? What do you look like? I’ve imagined all sorts of scenarios, but never guessed you’d come looking like this.”

“Ah, haha...”

“You are so covered up that it makes us even more curious. There's got to be a reason you showed up like this, right? I’m just going to come out and ask.” Seo Han looked seriously into the camera and then back at me. “What’s the story with your outfit today?”

At that moment, I naturally wondered, ‘

What kind of answer would make everyone laugh?’

I was not naturally entertaining, so if I didn’t carefully think through each response, I could end up lacking screen time like in

Newbie Crew.

...That was when I recalled how confidently Reina had spoken earlier today, telling me not to worry about the airtime. I decided to just relax about it.

I gestured toward Reina. “This outfit is courtesy of my producer, my boss...”

Everyone's heads turned to Reina in unison. She received their looks with ease and said,

“Eden is all about the mystery.”

“Heh heh!” Seo Han chuckled playfully. “Mystery is one thing, but this outfit looks like something our dads would have worn in the 70s, you know?”

“People are guessing left and right about Eden’s identity, so we decided to really throw them off track.”

“So, you wore this outfit to keep the mystery alive?”

Reina nodded. “Exactly!”

Seo Han seemed disappointed but moved the show along. “Well, Eden, you’ve really put in the effort. Take a quick break backstage, then come join us in the panel area to watch the performance.”

“Okay!”

“Everyone, let’s give Eden a huge round of applause!”

“Thank you!”

I left the stage to applause, hurried backstage, and eagerly ripped off my mask. I thought I was going to melt from the heat.