Chapter 52

It was only natural for Moon Jung-woo to be a bit more proactive. After all, he hadn't composed a single decent song, and he had never been the type to aim too high. He was just naturally sensitive, with strong observational skills that applied not only to others but also to himself. He had sung "From the Beginning to Now," and the evaluations he received at the time were all positive. However, Moon Jung-woo knew that he hadn't truly conveyed the emotions of the song.

Of course, it was not easy to expect a thirteen-year-old to sing such a sad and touching love song and still evoke some resonance from others. But after practicing for seven or eight months, Moon Jung-woo was no longer a novice in the entertainment industry. His body and mind absorbed all the knowledge that Lee Soo-young imparted to him like a sponge once he set his goals.

Not only did he passively accept the knowledge, but he also actively absorbed it and transformed it into the skills he needed. At one point, he seemed to waver. Was there any difference between learning so much here and being forced to learn at home by his father? One was voluntary, the other was not. Apart from that, was there any difference? Were they not all just skills? Wasn't it up to him to decide whether they were tools?

But in an instant, Moon Jung-woo convinced himself with the same old reason. Even if he did everything to the best of his ability, he might still not become popular or gain a following after debuting. He would still have to struggle on the path of pursuing a career in both music and acting. This was the entertainment industry, where you never knew who would become a star and who would fade into obscurity. Perhaps this was the charm that attracted so many people to this industry.

No longer wavering, Moon Jung-woo trained even more intensely. He and Lee Soon-gyu engaged in mutual deception and teaching, and he wouldn't return until he was drenched in sweat from dancing every day. He also had to take care of his voice while practicing singing techniques, such as breath control and singing with breath. He also spent half an hour each day in meditation. This meditation was not the kind where you absorb elements from the air, but rather a search for inspiration, like the inspiration he heard in his ear on the second morning after arriving at SW.

At the end of each day, he would watch two movies, which he chose himself. This routine continued for half a year, and summer passed. By October, autumn had arrived. He hadn't even felt the summer breeze, just buried himself in practice rooms and recording studios.

But these were Moon Jung-woo's gains. Given his abnormal learning ability, both physically and mentally, B-boy was his strongest dance style, though other styles were relatively weaker compared to B-boy. As of now, he was temporarily at the stage where his freestyle was not up to par.

In terms of singing, he had mastered various techniques such as vibrato, ending notes, and nasal tones, and could already adapt to singing with breath. However, since he was in his voice-changing period, his pitch, tone, and timbre were still undetermined. But Lee Soo-young was already full of anticipation based on Moon Jung-woo's current voice-changing timbre. His vocal cords were very flexible, capable of producing soft, powerful, and even screaming sounds. He was currently at the stage of expressing emotions. It wasn't that he lacked emotion, but his way of expressing it was singular and peculiar, and needed to be integrated like a sudden enlightenment.

In acting, the company president and his teacher, Lee Soo-young, helped him secure a role in a commercial for an ice cream. However, it wasn't the lead role, just a brief appearance with no lines. But he was remembered by the audience for his smiling eyes. Holding the ice cream and showing a warm, sunny smile, he perfectly met the director's requirements and passed on the first try.

Even Lee Soon-gyu had to secretly admire his acting skills, as she knew better than anyone that his sunny, warm smile and twinkling eyes were a stark contrast to his inner self and personality. If she was a cunning fairy, then Moon Jung-woo was a god of cunning. Of course, Lee Soon-gyu wouldn't admit this openly.

But after all, it was just a commercial for an ice cream, not a major brand, and its broadcast was limited and short. Moreover, Moon Jung-woo wasn't debuting but gaining some experience. So, he disappeared from the public eye. Moon Jung-woo also learned that in the entertainment industry, if you don't stay in the spotlight, you would gradually be forgotten.

However, the entrance of SW was no longer just a place for SUGA's fans. Occasionally, a few young girls would wait on the side, and they were Moon Jung-woo's fans. Although there were only a few, it brought some comfort to Lee Soo-young. The method of practicing and deceiving each other with Lee Soon-gyu to improve acting skills, while its effect on Lee Soon-gyu was unknown, Moon Jung-woo knew he had improved a lot.

However, he was still at a bottleneck stage, similar to singing and dancing. He couldn't accurately express the emotions he wanted, though he occasionally had moments of brilliance and intensity. What he lacked was the ability to perform in a highly exaggerated manner that didn't fit his personality, such as playing a small thug or a rude man.

Finally, there was creation, the only area where he had made little progress. He had learned the format and techniques of creation thoroughly. Whether a song needed a chorus, how to write the lyrics for the chorus, how to write the lyrics first and then compose the music, how to create a fast-paced song and where to add rap, and how to create two versions, one suitable for a group and one for a solo performance, he had all learned.

But that was all. No matter what the format, the essence of music was the melody and lyrics. Since that moment of inspiration, he hadn't experienced that feeling again. The notes in his ears that made him feel like he would explode if he didn't write them down had never returned. This was the stage where his creation was stuck, and it was the question he most wanted to ask his teacher, Lee Soo-young.

Lee Soo-young listened to Moon Jung-woo. After their time together, he knew that Moon Jung-woo wasn't just saying it on the surface. In fact, you couldn't do it. As a singer, even if your creation skills were strong, you could at most sing your own lead songs. But if you wrote all the other songs, even if they were mediocre, it would exhaust you.

Moreover, once you became a singer, your career was no joke. It was like walking on thin ice, at least until you became popular and reached the top. If you couldn't write good songs, would you sing second or third-rate works, even if they were your own? If other songwriters had good songs that suited you, would you refuse them?

He suddenly thought of something. Although he knew Moon Jung-woo didn't mean it that way, he still needed to remind him before discussing the specifics of creation: "Actually, I don't insist that you sing only your own songs or others'. But you have to prove your worth. If your songs are not as good as those you can get from outside, you won't be able to insist on singing your own. After debuting, your development is not just your own business; it's part of the company. The reality is that you can't just make money; you have to be prepared to lose money for the sake of future gains. Without this mindset, you're not qualified."

Moon Jung-woo had a strange expression: "That's not what I meant. I'm a bit eager because I can only truly convey the right emotions with my own songs. I can't guarantee that with others' songs."

Seeing Lee Soo-young's frown ease, Moon Jung-woo continued: "Besides, if there's a song that suits me, whether in terms of image, development path, or singing style, I would be a fool to refuse it."

Lee Soo-young waved his hand: "You're definitely not a fool, so I'm just reminding you. And one more thing, don't say such things out loud. It will only hurt your own prospects. You don't have the capital to be arrogant, and even if you're not, others will think you are... Don't be like S.M. They have Yoo Young-jin, and even if the songs from outside are good, they don't accept them. Even if he has the confidence, people still talk behind his back."

Moon Jung-woo touched his nose, with a strange expression: "Teacher... Do you have a grudge against S.M.? That's your brother's company, why are you always like this?"

Seeing Lee Soo-young's face change, Moon Jung-woo quickly waved his hands: "Okay, okay, I won't say anything more. Consider it my loose tongue."

Lee Soo-young glared at him for a moment, then sighed and smiled: "You make me feel like I really have a grudge against S.M."

Moon Jung-woo squinted his eyes in a smile: "Actually, it doesn't matter. SW has me, and eventually, we will break free from S.M.'s control."

Lee Soo-young paused, slowly putting away his smile, and looked at Moon Jung-woo: "It's just a subsidiary, what do you mean by breaking free?"

Moon Jung-woo pursed his lips: "I'm still my father's son, and I can still run away from home and fight against him. Freedom from constraints is a human nature, isn't it... President."

(Today is Taeyeon's birthday. There will be another update tonight. Ssy, oppa, happy birthday. A fan you don't know is secretly thinking of you. People have telepathy, I hope you can feel it. O(∩_∩)O)

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{Piaotian Literature}