Chapter Text

Bittersweet | A Kim Mingyu’s Fanfic

Chapter One: The New Girl

“Hyung, I really don’t want to.” Mingyu complained once again.

He was sitting in the company's boardroom across from Pledis's Vice President for Artist Development, Lee Hyungwoo, and the rest of the team. Across the long table, papers were scattered and the whiteboard was almost full. They had been sitting there for hours. Their coffees were getting cold, and the mood in the room had long soured.

“We’re counting on you Mingyu-ya.” said the VP, nodding his encouragement. He took off his glasses and rubbed his forehead.

“Jinjja.”

The sole purpose of the meeting was to discuss his solo album. It had been Mingyu’s dream, his big moment. Finally, he was going to show his music to everyone. But then the company dropped the bomb.

They requested him to incorporate two duet songs in the album with a newcomer who just signed up with Pledis. A girl. They also wanted her to shadow Mingyu on these few first months, during the album production and the promotion.

“Like… where is she trained again?” Mingyu asked, trying to make sense of the whole situation. He was sure he could dig up more information from his colleagues in other agencies if he needed to.

“She’s not a trainee. You’ll see.” Hyungwoo replied courtly.

Mingyu’s jaw dropped. Not even a trainee? And she was going to debut at twenty-five? That was practically unheard of.

“Can I not do this? Seriously Hyung.”

“This is the request from the parent company. From Hybe. Mingyu-ssi, you do realize we don’t make music to have fun right?” asked the VP, his tone shifting from cajoling to something more stern.

It sounded ironic but it was true. They did NOT make music to have fun. It was always a business. What Hyungwoo had really said was, this is part of Mingyu’s job. There was something in the VP’s expression that made Mingyu realize he was on a tight spot too. Everyone else in the room was avoiding Mingyu’s eyes.

Oh. Hybe. That explains. Mingyu thought ruefully.

It was one of those times when he wished that all thirteen members of Seventeen were here. There was an advantage to their numbers, some are good in negotiations and talks, and they’d back up each other.

It was unpleasant having to deal with some unknown newcomer. If this was the price of getting his solo album, though, he’d better take it.

Swallowing his ego, finally Mingyu relented.

“Alright.”

Relief visibly swept across the room.

Mingyu tailed Hyungwoo to his office afterwards.

“You know I adore you guys right?” Hyungwoo said quietly at Mingyu, as they walked side by side through the deserted office corridors. He nodded. They had been working together for more than ten years. “But honestly, you guys, Seventeen. Had we cut half the time that we argued…We’d get so much more profit.”

Mingyu couldn’t help but grin. Seventeen was Mingyu’s source of pride and joy, obviously. They do argued non-stop, his team, both with the management and with each other. But it was one of the reasons they could survive for so long as well.

The VP’s office was one of the larger corner offices, with wide windows showcasing the city below them. Hyungwoo opened the modern wooden door toward his guest area. Between the huge leather chair sofas and glass tables, a girl stood up as they entered.

Mingyu blinked.

Nobody warned him about this.

The girl was very pretty and he was not immune to beauty.

She had an oval face, calm big eyes, and long wavy hair that fell neatly over her shoulders. A classic Korean beauty. Tall, too. Not supermodel-tall. Just tall enough that she wouldn't disappear in a crowd. The kind of person people noticed when she walked into a room.

But then again, he quickly noticed how the new girl dressed really simply. She was wearing a business casual, clad in all black. No visible name brands in the whole outfit, including the bag. She wore light, natural makeup, but there was no hint of a beauty salon touch up.

She looked less like a future idol and more like somebody who worked in law, or business, or one of those intimidating jobs where people carried notebooks and had strong opinions.

The VP introduced them to each other.

“Hello, I’m Wan So. Nice to meet you. You can call me Anne.” She said politely.

They shook hands. He waited and nothing happened. Mingyu was genuinely baffled.

There was no hint of recognition from Anne’s side. She didn’t bow repeatedly, nor blush, nor did she speak cutely in an attempt to get his attention. Nor did she mention being a fan.

She just stood there and stared politely at Mingyu like he was from the Human Resources department.

His Seventeen members would kick his ass but he was shocked by how nonchalant the girl was. He was so used to girls simpering over him. He was Mingyu of Seventeen for God’s sake! Heck even Carats at their concerts dressed to the nines and always so flirty at their interactions. Anne was just… like someone showing up for her first day at work.

With a meaningful nod to Mingyu, the VP bid them good luck while his secretary ushered them out. Another A& R staff had waited outside. It all happened so fast and the next thing Mingyu realized, the two of them were inside the Universe Factory. Apparently, Anne was supposed to be introduced to Woozi as their main producer for Mingyu’s solo album.

“Yo.” Woozi greeted Mingyu casually from his chair. The studio was in full working mode, the lights were on and the speakers were pounding, even at almost 9 pm.

“Woozi-hyung.” Mingyu whined, pouting. He desperately wanted to complain to his hyung right then and there. How he was supposed to include this strange girl on his album and teach her the ropes before her debut. But he stopped himself.

Bumzu-hyung was also there, and like Mingyu, he also had a weakness to pretty girls. He quickly struck up a friendly conversation with Anne. But Woozi, that crazy workaholic guy, as always only thought about music.

Woozi heard the A&R team explanation and he soon asked Anne whether she'd be comfortable singing something for them. Mingyu had expected Anne to bail. This unknown girl, to sing in front of Woozi and Bumzu unfiltered. No way she’d do it.

But Anne nodded and stepped into the recording booth without hesitation.

“Which song would you like to try out?” Woozi called from the sound area.

“What genre would you like? Jazz, classic?” Anne called back.

“Hmmm… let’s try pop, shall we?” he responded.

The second Anne opened her mouth and sang, the whole room fell quiet.

Mingyu immediately swung his head at Woozi’s direction. Woozi had stopped taking notes and sat straighter on his high chair, full on concentrating.

She was not singing K-pop songs, as they thought a singer would do in an audition in a Hybe building. She sang an English song, a movie OST. It was literally one of the clearest, most beautiful voices Mingyu had ever heard. And he’d been in this industry for almost ten years.

Mingyu and Bumzu exchanged mortified glances.

For the first time Mingyu could grasp what Hybe saw in her. There’s no doubt in that strong voice. She didn’t look bad either. A complete package coming their way, without having to train her. There’s no way they were not interested in debuting her and making tons of money from that.

When she finished, the staff clapped. Anne nodded shyly and stepped out of the booth and walked back toward them.

“You have good tone and technique.” Woozi smiled slightly at her. Coming from his ice cold hyung, that was the equal of a standing ovation. But that was an extraordinary performance too.

“Thank you.” Anne smiled back. “Is there any feedback from you?”

The studio fell silent again for a completely different reason.

Oh god, thought Mingyu. No idols spoke like that to the producer, not to mention to Woozi. Girl clearly had zero idea of how this industry works.

Woozi just coolly raised an eyebrow and tapped his pencil on his notepad.

“Are you trained in music?” Woozi asked.

“I am, I studied vocal performance in an art school.” She replied.

“Where was it?”

“New York.”

“I see. Have you listened to any of Seventeen’s songs?”

“Recently, yes.” Anne answered. Mingyu’s ears perked up. Only recently?

“Have you ever listened to any Mingyu’s songs?” Woozi continued to explore.

“Oh yes, recently as well. The music and lyrics are so much better than the dance, in my opinion.”

Now Mingyu’s offended.

***

“…and she didn’t even call me Sunbaenim!!” Mingyu grumbled.

The table erupted in laughter and hoots.

“Mingyu always wanted to be called Sunbaenim. Right Jeonghannie hyung?” DK asked cheekily.

Jeonghan nodded enthusiastically from across the table.

It was Seventeen’s monthly meeting hosted by Joshua that night, several days after Mingyu met Anne. Being a foodie, he booked an eleven-course tasting menu at a two-star Michelin, with the staffs and crews included. The dishes were delicious and delicate, using finest ingredients and fancy technique.

True to their fashion though, the small portions were not enough for Seventeen. They were still hungry. Jun had quietly booked a hot pot restaurant nearby and everybody approved.

"Mingyu always wants people to call him sunbaenim." Hoshi wheezed.

"He's waited ten years for this moment." Vernon nodded solemnly.

"Dreams really do come true." Wonwoo quipped.

"Shut up." Mingyu growled.

They only laughed harder.

"Wait." Seungkwan pointed his chopsticks at him dramatically. "Are you genuinely upset because a newcomer isn't impressed by your face?"

"That's not what I said." Mingyu pouted.

"That's exactly what you mean though."

The traitor even had the nerve to sound correct.

Across the table, Hoshi was already crying from laughter.

"Ya.” Hoshi managed between breaths, "You're Kim Mingyu. Maybe she thinks everybody looks like that."

"Yep," Minghao added. "Maybe New York is just full of Mingyus."

The table descended into chaos again.

Mingyu groaned and swept his hair back in frustration. Trust Seventeen members to hear one complaint from him and now he would never hear the end of it.

"Seriously though." Scoups finally intervened, saving what remained of Mingyu's dignity. "What's her deal?"

Mingyu shrugged.
|
"I don't know."

"That's helpful." Scoups frowned.

"No, really."

That was the weird part.

Usually he could read people. Mingyu liked people. He liked talking, meeting new people and making them comfortable.
Anne, however, remained a mystery during her first few days. She wasn't exactly shy, or impolite. She wasn't arrogant either.

It was more like...She existed in a completely different orbit. When Mingyu asked her curiously what meeting Woozi (and secretly himself!) had felt like, she just said oh I learned about your group and I know you were famous.

And that was it.

“But Woozi-hyung seems to get along with her.” Mingyu said.

At the far end, Woozi looked up from his food.

“She’s a good singer,” he said simply.

Everyone stared. Somehow that was enough, coming from their main producer.

The conversation moved on after that. To concerts and schedules, and their upcoming plans. Normal things. Yet Mingyu found himself thinking about Anne again.

About the way she spoke. The way she never seemed intimidated. It made sense that she went to school abroad, but she just didn’t fit with this whole K-pop industry.

Strange. And probably troublesome.

When they prepared to move to a next place, Dino had scooted closer to Mingyu.

“Hyung.”

“Dee?”

“Are you sure you have to do that? Would it make a difference if Scoups-hyung or us talk to the CEO?” Dino looked up at him with such worry in his eyes.

Mingyu’s heart melted a little. Looking at Dino, he thought this was how parents must have felt when their kids grow up so well. He was like a real younger brother to all of them. A good, talented kid who had somehow grown into a thoughtful friend who worried about Mingyu's well-being and career.

It was tempting to have some help, from Scoups and from his members. But then he remembered the VP’s expression, how adamant he was that Mingyu should do this. The pressure from Hybe must be quite tough. And wasn’t this Mingyu’s album? His work. His career. He should man up and manage his own problem.

“It’s okay, Dino-ya. I’ll handle it.” Mingyu said, laughing it off and trying to look confident in front of their maknae.

Inside, he wasn’t so sure. Something told him the girl was going to be trouble.

***