"I want to make a collab with you."

"....."

'Did I hear that right?'

"I've purchased so many of your albums and even voted for you throughout the show. Surely, my request isn't that unreasonable, right?"

His former teammate wanted a collab with him...

What a funny twist of fate.

Didn't he also talk about this with Liam? Actually, the plan was for them to contact Jared and ask for a collab themselves, but it was Jared himself who sought him out for the very same thing.

"But why?" Rayen asked.

"Your audition."

"Huh?" Rayen blinked.

'What about my audition? Did he just come here to also mock my dancing?'

However, Rayen's expectation was far from the truth.

"That's Ra-yen's song, right?"

Rayen stiffened.

"I know that's Ra-yen's unreleased song," Jared continued. "If I'm right, shouldn't it be released under Adrift's name? Don't take credit for a song that's not yours."

Every word that left Jared's mouth stunned Rayen even more.

'Damn... Are you taking me as a thief now?'

For all Rayen knew, that's his own song! He never stole credit for anything.

However, Jared was also partially right. Rayen did indeed write that song as intended for Adrift's next comeback. It was just that he never had the chance to even release it.

Thinking like that, Rayen sighed. "Alright."

Jared immediately sank down in his seat, visibly relaxing. "I thought I would have to threaten you some more."

The corner of Rayen's mouth twitched. "But I'm just clarifying one thing."

"What is it?"

"I did not steal the credit for that song."

Just then, Jared suddenly laughed. "Oh, I was just trying to get you to agree to my request. I know you didn't steal credit for that song. You didn't even claim that it was yours."

Once again, Rayen sighed. Why the hell are his friends fond of agitating him?

"But admitting it's not yours doesn't excuse you for not crediting the true composer."

'This bastard...'

"Alright, I'm done teasing you."

Rayen gritted his teeth. "Before I fully agree to your request, I also have one request for you."

"What is it?"

"That collab... I also want another person to join us."

Pondering over Rayen's words, Jared frowned.

To further convince him, Rayen said something more, "We're doing a collab under Adrift's name, right? Then that means we'll be performing as a band. However, you're just one person now."

Hearing his words, Jared grimaced.

Rayen continued, "If only you and I do a collab, what can we do onstage? Do you mean to play every instrument in that song while I sing? Or do you intend to just hit the drums?"

As Rayen spoke longer, Jared's face became darker. Seeing that his face was as black as coal, Rayen finally stopped speaking.

'Did I poke at his wounds too much?'

Although he didn't want to put salt on his friend's wounds, he really had to push Jared so that he could pull Liam in this collab too.

Rayen feigned a cough and ignored his expression. "If you won't agree, then this collab won't happen. It's a deal breaker."

Finally, Jared looked at Rayen. "May I ask you one more thing?"

"Go on."

"Aside from singing, what instrument can you and that other person play?"

For a moment, Rayen was unable to answer. If he answered right away, wouldn't it be too much of a coincidence that he and Liam play the exact same instruments as Jared's former bandmates?

However, what could he do aside from being honest?

"I play a guitar. My friend plays the keyboard."

Before their debut, Rayen didn't know how to play any instruments, but Liam insisted he learned one as they would only be a three-man band. If Rayen didn't learn any instruments, their songs and performances would sound empty with only Liam and Jared as the players.

And so, Liam gave his priced guitar to Rayen while Liam changed to keyboards.

Just as Rayen expected, Jared was stoned. It took him a minute before he could even respond.

"Is that so?"

Rayen nodded.

Jared continued. "Alright, I agree..."

Immediately, Rayen let out a smile. "Then, I guess we'll be working in the future."

"....."

As soon as Rayen said those words, Jared went silent. "We're not doing it right away?"

The smile on Rayen's face went crooked.

'Really as impatient as ever...'

"Bro, we just debuted. We're currently busy with promotions and other projects. Actually, no—we're swamped. I haven't even slept a full 8 hours in a month."

Of course, Rayen was exaggerating. Just a day before, they had a small break. Still, that small break couldn't compare to the month that happened prior to that. But at this moment, Rayen just wanted to complain about it to his friend whom he hadn't seen for a long time.

"Then when can you be available?" Jared asked.

"That... I'll have to ask our manager about it."

"....." Admitting defeat, Jared finally sighed. "Fine. Just contact me when you finally have free time."

Rayen smiled.

'Mission accomplished!'

He would have to break this news to Liam right away. Surely, that guy would be delighted.

Now that Jared had also accomplished his goal, they had nothing more to talk about. It was also nearly time for their ten minutes to be over, so Jared just decided to end this video call.

However, before Jared left the room, he once again spoke. "Wait. How do I contact you then?"

On instinct, Rayen answered. "You can..."

But his voice trailed off.

'What can I give him?'

The only socials Rayen currently have right now was that hater's account as well as his IdolVerse, but IdolVerse doesn't have a private messaging feature. He also couldn't give Zi Xu's or Plotter's contact details as they would usually contact each other using the system's chatting feature.

'Do I really have no choice but to give him that hater account?'

As Rayen hadn't answered for almost a minute, Jared had reached the limits of his patience.

"You can just try to contact me on Adrift's official account. I'm the only one using it now, anyway."

"... Alright," Rayen responded.

That saved him the embarrassment, then.

Finally, the call ended. Rayen immediately leaned on the back of his seat, totally exhausted.

In the end, he didn't even meet a normal fan of his at all.

Next chapter will be updated first on this website. Come back and continue reading tomorrow, everyone!

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