The evening air carried a quiet hum of city life as the three of them settled into a cozy ramen shop tucked in a quiet alley. The interior was warm, filled with the scent of simmering broth and grilled meat, and faint old pop songs playing through the speakers overhead.
They picked a corner table, and soon enough, steaming bowls of ramen were placed in front of them, alongside sizzling plates of gyoza and fried chicken.
"This place is a hidden gem," Xin said proudly, handing Ji Hyo a pair of chopsticks. "I always bring people here when I want to impress them."
Ji Hyo smiled as he lifted his bowl. "Mission accomplished."
They began eating, and the conversation naturally circled back to the performance earlier.
"So," Ling leaned in slightly, "what did you mean earlier about the song needing a different element?"
Ji Hyo wiped his lips with a napkin before answering. "Don't get me wrong—the melody and flow were already really good. But I think if you added a touch of rock—like a light electric guitar riff in the chorus—it would give the song more edge. Something to contrast with the softness of the verses."
Ling blinked. "Rock?"
"Yeah. Not heavy rock or anything," Ji Hyo clarified. "Just something subtle that lifts the intensity and gives the chorus a punch. It would make the rap stand out even more."
Xin nodded thoughtfully. "That's actually… a good idea."
"And the lyrics," Ji Hyo added, swirling his noodles in the broth, "they're already nice, but maybe a little refinement could push them further. Some lines are a bit too abstract—you could make them hit more emotionally if you sharpened the imagery."
Ling stared at him in mild awe. "Do you write songs?"
Ji Hyo chuckled awkwardly. "Not really. I just… listen a lot. And somehow, I just started noticing things."
[System Notice: Trait - Musical Sensitivity - Subconscious Development: In Progress.]
Xin clapped his hands together. "You're seriously amazing. You don't even write songs but you already think like a producer."
"I wouldn't go that far," Ji Hyo said, cheeks reddening.
"Well, you could've fooled me," Ling said, smiling faintly. "Honestly, no one's ever given that kind of critique before. Most people just say it 'sounds nice' or 'has a good beat'."
Ji Hyo was about to respond, but his bowl was already empty. He blinked down in surprise.
Xin noticed and immediately pushed his own bowl forward. "Here, take mine."
Ji Hyo looked up. "Wait—no, it's fine."
"Don't be shy," Xin insisted. "You look like you haven't eaten in days."
Ji Hyo laughed sheepishly and accepted the bowl. "Thanks. I'm starting to think you're trying to fatten me up."
"Well, you've been training so hard—you need fuel," Xin teased. "So… you're really a trainee under Glint Entertainment?"
Ji Hyo nodded while slurping the noodles. "Yeah. It's been a few months now."
"Wow," Ling said. "That's impressive. Must be intense though."
"It is," Ji Hyo replied, setting the bowl down. "Honestly, it's harder than I expected. And a lot of pressure… not just with skills, but competition too."
"Still," Xin said with admiration, "you made it in. That's already something huge."
Ji Hyo gave a small smile. "Maybe. But getting in is only the start. Surviving in it is the real challenge."
Ling tilted his head. "Then what made you want to become an idol?"
Ji Hyo paused.
For a second, the image of his past flashed in his mind—the heaviness of his old life, the loneliness, the beatings, the emptiness. And then, the dream of the boy who left this body behind… and the mission he now carried.
"I guess," he said slowly, "because someone… really wanted it."
Ling and Xin glanced at each other, but didn't press.
They finished the meal slowly, chatting lightly about music genres, embarrassing trainee stories, and what kind of artist they dreamed to be one day.
By the time they stepped outside, the sky had deepened into a rich navy, and the city lights sparkled all around them like stars.
"Thanks for hanging out with us," Xin said as they reached the bus stop. "It was a lot more fun than I expected."
"Same," Ling added with a small grin. "And thanks for the feedback. I'll definitely try what you said."
"Let's meet again soon," Ji Hyo said genuinely. "I'm really curious how the song will sound with the changes."
"Deal," Xin said, bumping fists with him. "Next time, we'll treat you to a barbecue."
Ji Hyo grinned. "Looking forward to it."
They waved goodbye, and Ji Hyo watched them walk away—two strangers turned into something more.
And for the first time in a while… he didn't feel so alone.
It was already 11:50 PM by the time Ji Hyo stepped out into the quiet night, the evening breeze brushing gently against his face. The soft glow of the street lamps bathed the sidewalk in a warm hue as he walked alone toward his apartment, still lost in the thoughts from dinner earlier.
His heart felt strangely light after spending time with Ling and Xin. Their energy, their dreams, and even the casual way they welcomed him—it was refreshing. It reminded him of a part of life he didn't get to enjoy before, something simple yet fulfilling.
As he walked, a soft chime echoed in his mind.
[System Notice: Trait - Musical Sensitivity - Subconscious Development: In Progress.]
Ji Hyo paused for a moment, eyes widening slightly. "So it wasn't just my imagination earlier."
The system wasn't joking. That strange sense of musical insight… the way he could dissect a song, see its potential, feel its flaws—it was a new layer forming within him. Something that wasn't part of his past life. Something awakening now.
[New Side Task Initiated: Compose a Song and Receive Positive Feedback.]
Objective: Create an original song and gain positive comments from listeners.
Reward: Music Production Skill Level Up (Level increase scales with the amount of positive feedback).
Deadline: 3 Days
Penalty: Musical Sensitivity Trait Cancelled | Music Production Skill Downgrade
Ji Hyo stopped walking for a second, scanning the message in front of him with furrowed brows. "Compose a song? In three days?"
The pressure already began to creep in, but at the same time… something inside him stirred with excitement. The idea of creating something from nothing, of pouring his emotions into a melody and lyrics—it was thrilling. Frightening, but thrilling.
He looked around him again, this time not just walking—but observing.
The late-night glow of the city, the flickering signs of nearby shops closing down, the sound of distant music playing from a café down the street, the smell of grilled meat from a street vendor, the occasional sound of laughter from passerby couples—everything suddenly felt poetic, like lyrics waiting to be written.
Ji Hyo brought out his phone and opened the notepad.
"Rain of neon lights,
Footsteps echo down silent streets,
A stranger's smile fades with the breeze—"
He stopped and chuckled. "Okay, maybe not that poetic."
Still, it was a start.
He resumed walking, and just as the clock hit midnight, a brighter notification rang in his head again.
[System Notice: Weekly Task Initiated.]
Weekly Task: Building the Idol Persona (Social Media Mission)
Create a social media accountUpload your first postGain 100,000 followers
Reward: Will be revealed after each task completion
Time Limit: Until next Weekly Reset (7 Days)
Ji Hyo stared at the screen and let out a dry laugh. "You're kidding me… Social media?"
He rubbed his temples. "Seriously, I've barely figured out my dance steps and now I have to become an influencer?"
But deep down, he understood. In this world, it wasn't just about talent anymore—it was about visibility, presence, and connection.
Ji Hyo exhaled and smiled faintly. "Fine. Bring it on."
[System Response: Host has acknowledged Weekly Task. Task countdown initiated.]
Still walking, he opened his phone again and started brainstorming names. He couldn't use his real name entirely—after all, he had to keep some anonymity due to his family background.
"JiHyun_Journey?"
"HyunNotes?"
"JiToStage?"
He cringed at every single one.
"This is harder than writing a song…"
After multiple failed ideas, he finally settled with something simple: @HyoVibes.
Easy to remember, kind of catchy, and it had his name in it without being too flashy.
[Step 1: Task Completed – Social Media Account Created]
Reward Unlocked: Vocal Training Booster +1
"Wait, that easy?!"
A warm sensation rippled in his chest. His Vocal Flow skill glowed faintly for a moment in his profile panel.
"Alright, alright, I'm getting into this now…"
Now for the post.
He looked around, trying to figure out what to upload. He wasn't sure whether to take a selfie, post lyrics, or share something from practice.
He flipped his camera toward himself and tried a couple of angles. It was awkward at first, but he finally found a decent shot—just him under the streetlight, soft shadows cast on his face, the glow of the city behind him.
Caption:
"Stepping into a new rhythm. One note, one step at a time. Let's climb together."
He clicked upload.
[Step 2: Task Completed – First Post Uploaded]
Reward Unlocked: Confidence Boost +1 | Charisma +1
"Whoa…"
He felt a subtle change again. Like the air around him grew lighter, his chest a bit more confident. It was a strange, invigorating feeling. The System wasn't lying—everything was adding up, piece by piece.
The final step… was going to be the hard one. 100,000 followers.
Ji Hyo chuckled. "This one's gonna take time."
But for now, as he climbed the stairs to his apartment, grocery bags in hand, the fatigue in his body was outweighed by something else.
Excitement.
His life used to be filled with fear, shadows, and survival.
But now… he was creating songs. Building a presence. Meeting new people. Becoming someone.
And that, in itself, felt like a new kind of freedom.
[Ji Hyo Hyun – Character Profile]
Name: Ji Hyo Hyun
Age: 20
Date of Birth: August 25, 2005
Stage Class: Idol Trainee
System Guide: Bixiry89275
Primary Mission: Fulfill the original owner's wish – Become a Top Idol
Idol Traits:
Vocal – B+
Visual – S+
Music Production – E+
Dance – F
Rap – F
Acting - D +
Stage Presence – C+
Confidence – C-
Charisma – Special Abilities: 🔒