Chapter 17

Reckless Genius Composer's Regression - Chapter 17 (17/482)

Jung Arin narrowed her eyes as she read a short text message from Hyun Seung that had arrived a few days ago.

"Studio? What do you want me to do?"

It probably means he wants me to come to the studio as soon as I see the message.

I get it.

I do, but couldn't he have written a few more words? Is it really that hard?

"Anyway, his personality..."

She clicked her tongue at the stiffness she could feel even from the text and entered the LS building for the first time in a long while.

It was the first time she had set foot in the building since being expelled and stripped of her trainee status.

Was that why?

Her steps felt strangely tense.

'Anyway...'

Based on the name 'HS' on the business card she had received, she had done some research, and it seemed clear that Hyun Seung was indeed the same composer involved in the rumors.

Not only had he co-composed Gong Hyo-ju's recent hit, but he was also the new composer who had produced Seo Ji-nee's album, helping her return to her prime.

'He seems to be quite a remarkable person...'

She got into the elevator and started scrolling through the comments under an entertainment news article on her phone.

Recently, the web news entertainment section was almost entirely covered with articles about Seo Ji-nee and Gong Hyo-ju.

- I'm actually a Japanese exchange student, and Seo Ji-nee's song is getting a great response.

- Is this the legendary Seo Ji-nee who outshone all the recent idols?

- Honestly, I'm into blues and Nine Star, but Seo Ji-nee's new song is better.

- I always hear Seo Ji-nee's songs on the street these days.

- If you don't know Seo Ji-nee's song, you're not just a little behind the times.

- I'm sorry I don't know...

- But she's still second place, overshadowed by the same agency's Seo Ji-nee.

- Is this a team kill no one expected? Haha

- Anyway, Seo Ji-nee's new song is better, right?

- Gong Hyo-ju's song is good too; why are they stirring up trouble within the same agency?

- It's just that there are a lot of bad apples trying to take advantage of the situation.

- Really... I can't stand it anymore...

Comparing the reactions to the two songs, Seo Ji-nee's was overwhelmingly dominant, but Gong Hyo-ju's song wasn't a failure either.

To put it simply...

Considering that Seo Ji-nee's album was a huge hit and Gong Hyo-ju's song had been on the domestic platform charts for 12 consecutive weeks, Hyun Seung's abilities were already well-proven.

'Can I become like this too?'

Using Hyun Seung's words, she was in a situation where a super rookie-level composer was playing her like a musical instrument.

'But if I really had the potential to become like this...'

Wouldn't I have avoided the low scores in the monthly evaluations and the eventual expulsion?

She walked aimlessly while looking at her phone, and before she knew it, she had arrived at the studio door.

"Huh..."

If Hyun Seung heard her current thoughts, what would he say?

I can't be sure, but he would probably dismiss it with something like, "Can an instrument have a self?"

"I am an instrument, I am an instrument, I am an instrument..."

Muttering like a mantra, Jung Arin put her phone in her back pocket and knocked on the door.

Knock knock!

She knocked firmly, and the slightly open door started to creak open...

"Get it over with quickly."

Hearing Hyun Seung's reprimand without even a simple greeting, Jung Arin couldn't help but smile faintly.

"I came as soon as I saw the text."

For some reason, the unease that had settled in her heart began to dissipate at Hyun Seung's brusque attitude.

"Can an instrument talk back?"

At his words, Jung Arin remained silent, and Hyun Seung asked again.

"Hey, why aren't you answering?"

"How can an instrument talk?"

Hyun Seung sighed deeply and got to the point.

"Cutting to the chase, I have a song."

"Really...?"

"Would I lie?"

Hyun Seung asked sarcastically and looked at the clock on the wall.

"Before we start recording, there's something we need to do first..."

At that moment,

"Sorry, sorry. I was late because I was doing one last review."

Kim, one of the company's executives, entered with a document in hand.

"You must be Arin? I remember your face."

"Thank you..."

"Have you heard from Hyun Seung? Do you have the seal?"

At his words, Jung Arin blinked her eyes, wide like a rabbit's.

"What? What seal?"

Then, as she alternated her gaze between Hyun Seung and Kim,

"Mr. Kim, what seal do kids these days have?"

Hyun Seung interjected, looking at Jung Arin and asked again.

"There's a proper order to everything. Don't you need to sign a contract before recording?"

"Contract...?"

"Are you thinking I'm doing some charity? I'm not giving a song to a singer without a contract."

At his words, Jung Arin's eyes began to well up.

"No, I need to. I need to sign the contract..."

Contract.

Why did the two-syllable word make her heart swell?

Probably because it was a long-held dream.

She had spent her time in the underground practice room.

Skipping meals, reducing sleep, and practicing.

Not seeing family or friends, standing in front of the mirror.

All for the dream.

The dream of receiving that one contract.

To put it simply...

Hyun Seung had now become her benefactor, helping her achieve her dream.

"First..."

At that moment, Kim handed her the contract from the envelope.

"Would you like to review it carefully?"

Jung Arin replied, "Yes..." and took the contract.

- Standard Exclusive Contract for Popular Culture and Arts (Focused on Singers).

As she read the title at the top of the first page, she felt a flutter of excitement.

"Mr. Kim, do you usually handle things this way?"

"What now?"

"How would she know anything by just looking at it? Give it to me."

Hyun Seung snatched the contract from the middle and began to scrutinize it as if it were his own.

"The settlement ratio is disappointing."

"Well, she's a rookie and it's her first contract..."

"Even so, I can't sign it."

At his words, Jung Arin bit her lower lip.

"What? I'm fine with it..."

Hyun Seung glared at her.

"Are you going to regret it later?"

"What? No, but..."

"Look, you don't know much yet."

Hyun Seung grumbled again.

"The difference in a few percentage points can change the first digit of the settlement amount."

Kim sighed and got back to the point.

"Hyun Seung, it's a standard contract for a rookie. We can renegotiate if she does well later..."

"Rather, how about adding a special clause to adjust the settlement ratio when a certain amount of revenue is generated?"

Hyun Seung handed back the contract and said,

"And keep calling her a rookie. What's the point? The results are what matter."

"True, I understand your position, but Arin hasn't achieved any results yet..."

"Who asked her for that special clause? They asked me. Don't you still trust me?"

A heavy atmosphere began to form between them.

'What is this...'

Stuck in the middle, Jung Arin didn't know what to do and could only alternate her gaze between them.

She didn't know much, but one thing was clear: Hyun Seung was working for her.

"Ugh..."

Even Seo Hee, who had won the rights to a project in Gangdong, couldn't change Hyun Seung's mind.

Kim sighed and said, "I'll revise it," while shaking his head.

"Seo Hee can't change your mind either."

At his words, Hyun Seung paused and asked,

"Seo Hee?"

"Yes."

A moment of silence.

"Is she pretty?"

Kim sighed deeply again.

* * *

Hyun Seung pulled over a folding chair and sat Jung Arin next to him.

"Keep the contract safe."

Thanks to Hyun Seung's help, she had signed the contract under favorable conditions.

"Yes, thank you..."

Hyun Seung replied, "Alright," as if it was a bother, and then got to the point.

"We're only releasing one song as a digital single."

He turned to his computer and said,

"I'll play it once, so listen carefully."

Click, Hyun Seung pressed the space bar, and the song began to play through the speakers.

"Huh?"

Jung Arin straightened her posture from the first note and began to listen intently.

"Wow..."

Exclamations of amazement kept pouring out of her mouth.

When the song ended...

Jung Arin's eyes sparkled as she asked cautiously,

"Is this really my song?"

"It's mine."

"Thank you very much."

"What are you thanking me for?"

"For doing this for me..."

"I made it for myself."

Hyun Seung kept his eyes on the monitor and added,

"To be precise, I made it to showcase my excellent playing skills."

At his words, Jung Arin pouted.

"Sing the chorus of the song you just heard."

At his words, Jung Arin asked, "What?" with a dazed look.

She checked Hyun Seung's expression to make sure she had heard correctly.

'Is he serious?'

Even for the chorus, asking her to sing it right after hearing it once...

"What are you doing? Sing it."

At his words, Jung Arin replied in a barely audible voice,

"Can you give me a little time to practice?"

Hyun Seung asked sharply,

"You've been practicing for six years, right?"

"What?"

"Is your practice still not enough?"

Jung Arin, with a wounded pride, replied,

"Can I hear it one more time?"

She had faced countless sudden tests and evaluations.

'It's just the chorus, not the whole song.'

She thought she could do it if she heard it one more time.

"Alright."

The short chorus played again through the speakers.

"Hmm..."

As Jung Arin hummed along, she visualized the sheet music in her mind...

"Alright, got it?"

When the short chorus ended, Hyun Seung handed her a sheet of paper with the lyrics and instructed,

"Breath."

Jung Arin, with a short breath, followed the lyrics with her eyes.

"I'll play the bridge, so match the beat and sing the chorus."

Hyun Seung, with his hand on the enter key, looked at Jung Arin.

It was as if he was asking, "Are you ready?"

"I'm ready."

Click, Hyun Seung pressed the space bar, and the accompaniment started again. Jung Arin closed her eyes and focused.

- You said you like me...

Unfortunately, her first line, which she had put her heart into, ended in less than two seconds.

"Again."

Hyun Seung cut the accompaniment with a cold, single word.

- You said you like me, didn't you? The expression...

"Your emotion is lacking. Again."

- You said you like me...

"Your pronunciation is muffled. Again."

- You...

"You're already behind on the first beat. Again."

- You...

"Are you joking? Again."

Due to the continuous cuts, she couldn't even start the second line.

"Try your best from now on."

Suddenly, she remembered what Kim had said after she signed the contract.

"I sincerely congratulate you on the contract, but I'm just saying this out of concern..."

What did he say next?

"It's going to be tough."

"What? Why?"

"He's a 'pervert.'"

Surprised by the sudden comment, she looked at Kim, who quickly corrected himself.

"I mean, a music pervert. Even the male sound engineers complain about Hyun Seung when they drink..."

She remembered Kim's sympathetic gaze.

"How much worse will it be for you?"

She realized.

'Pervert, that's right...'

Hyun Seung was clearly a music pervert.

This can't go on.

She might still be like this a few days from now.

"Wait, wait, just a moment!"

Just as the "again hell" was continuing,

Jung Arin raised her hand cautiously and asked,

"Can you play the guide vocal for me? The guide vocal is only humming, so I can't really get a feel for the style you want..."

He had only played the accompaniment, which was just humming, twice.

To expect her to sing to the composer's satisfaction without any practice was a tough task even for an established singer.

'They must have a lot of people to set up the in-house guide vocals...'

It felt quite harsh.

"Ha, you're a lot of work."

Hyun Seung sighed and said,

"Can you do it if I play a proper guide for you?"

"Yes, of course! I can do it!"

"I'll only play it once, so listen carefully and remember it."

"Eh? Are you going to sing it for me?"

Hyun Seung suddenly stood up and walked into the booth, picking up a headset.

"Press enter once."

"Now?"

"Wait and press it tomorrow?"

Jung Arin quickly pressed enter, and the prelude of the bridge, which was already edited, started to play.

She looked at Hyun Seung in the booth without much expectation.

- You said you like me, didn't you?

The song was good, so it was natural that it sounded good even in a male key...

- Is it because of the awkward expression?

The warm, deep voice that was usually hidden behind Hyun Seung's sharp words came out gently.

- If I confused you, I'm sorry, but I can't help feeling annoyed.

Even as a six-year trainee, listening to Hyun Seung's singing...

"What is this..."

Even if he were a vocal trainer in the company...

No, no.

Even if he were an established singer, it would be hard to believe how perfect it was.

"What is this..."

At the flawless vocal, her eyes widened in surprise.

"Got it? Do you understand now?"

Hyun Seung, having finished the chorus, walked out of the booth and asked.

'What is he, really?'

Not only did he have genius-level composing skills, but he also had a singing ability far surpassing that of an average established singer.

Although she didn't want to admit it, considering his quite handsome appearance...

It was a bit disappointing to think that he was just sitting in front of a computer in a small room.

"Hey, are you listening to me?"

Still not fully composed, she asked dazedly,

"Why don't you debut?"

At his words, Hyun Seung chuckled and replied,

"Don't worry about me, worry about your debut."

Jung Arin suddenly remembered the saying, "God is fair."

Genius composing skills, excellent singing ability, and a handsome appearance!

At first glance, it might seem like he had everything...

'Personality and social skills...'

But wasn't he given a personality and social skills that would make it impossible to live without the previously mentioned qualities?

"What are you doing? Sing it again."

The work resumed.