Chapter 23

### Chapter 23 (23/482) - The Reckless Genius Composer Returns

It had been a few days since Lee Duseok's unexpected match at his house.

In the meantime, the digital single album of "Jeong Arin," which had been meticulously prepared, was finally released, but...

Perhaps due to the lack of any marketing except for a corner banner on the music streaming site,

"It's not doing well."

The album didn't even make it to the top 100 on the music charts.

If they started promoting it more actively and it gained some word-of-mouth, it might have a chance to climb the charts, but...

"Yeah..."

For now, it was hard not to feel frustrated.

He stared at his phone screen for a while.

Hyunseung put down his smartphone and asked casually,

"By the way, how did the music show lineup turn out?"

If Mr. Lee Duseok had kept his promise, he should have contacted us several times by now.

"Surely he didn't back out, did he?"

"Ah, probably not..."

"It's better not to get your hopes up."

Just as Hyunseung was grumbling,

Ziiiiing!

Kim's phone vibrated, and...

"Huh?"

Kim, seeing the caller ID "Music Center PD Yoo," put his finger to his lips and answered the call.

"Yes, this is Kim Uhyeon..."

The call began, and...

"Yes, yes, is that so? Thank you!"

Kim's voice gradually rose.

"Haa..."

After the call, he looked at Hyunseung and shouted,

"It's done! It's done!"

Then, he hugged Hyunseung and shouted again,

"Arin's stage order has been moved to the twelfth. It was originally the tenth, but..."

With only top idols like 'KOK' left after her, it was a prime spot for a rookie singer.

"Even if Mr. Lee Duseok is who he is, I was skeptical about whether he could help a rookie in this situation, but this is incredible..."

At that moment,

"Hmm?"

Hyunseung also checked the messages that were arriving one after another.

They were messages from 'Lee Duseok.'

Hyunseung smiled and was about to close his phone when,

Once again,

More messages from Lee Duseok arrived.

Hyunseung narrowed his eyes at the content, which felt like a generation gap.

"Why?"

Kim approached and asked, and Hyunseung locked his phone screen and replied,

"It's nothing."

After all, if it's a trend for people of his generation to send such messages, it might be...

* * *

Not long after Lee Duseok's participation (?),

"Hmm."

The situation seemed to have completely turned around.

Swoosh.

Swoosh.

Swoosh.

Hyunseung, sitting in front of the computer in the studio and scrolling down with the mouse, chuckled.

He thought they were just going to change the stage order, but...

The entertainment news section of a famous portal site was filled with articles about Jeong Arin.

This was a method usually used by large agencies when they debut a new artist they've nurtured with great care.

It was a difficult method to execute unless you had the power to influence all the major media outlets.

'Surely, he is a remarkable person...'

Lee Duseok had aggressively supported him, determined to keep his word...

Thanks to this, Jeong Arin's previously low music chart rankings started to improve.

She was intermittently entering the real-time top 100 charts on major domestic music platforms.

It seemed that he might have to play a few more rounds of Go with Lee Duseok soon.

* * *

On the day of the 'Music Center' broadcast, Park Executive Director took out his phone while lying on the sofa in his office.

He was going to monitor the debut stage of KOK's 10th-anniversary album, which he had put a lot of effort into producing in Japan...

And also to watch Jeong Arin's debut stage, which he had influenced to be moved to the first slot.

The first stage of a music show.

It's a stage where singers from small management companies try to get their faces seen, even if it means going through the motions.

Of course, there are rare cases where a first-stage performance gains word-of-mouth and climbs the charts, but it's not common.

However,

If it were a large agency like LS Entertainment, even a rookie wouldn't be assigned to the first slot.

'She should have been better connected.'

If the young composer had been a bit more considerate and perceptive, this wouldn't have happened.

He wouldn't have pushed KOK's debut forward or gone to the Music Center CP to make a request.

Recently, the 'favorable articles' about Jeong Arin had caused him a lot of stress.

If he could see Jeong Arin on the first stage of Music Center with his own eyes, it would feel like a weight had been lifted.

'It's about to start, I guess.'

Park Executive Director placed his phone on his stomach and watched the commercial for a while.

Eventually,

The commercial ended, and the MBS logo filled the screen.

Once this screen ended...

The MCs would introduce Jeong Arin's stage without any introduction.

But,

The first stage was not Jeong Arin.

"What the-?"

It was a male idol group he had never seen before, from a small management company.

An unknown group that could disappear at any time without anyone noticing.

"What's going on-?"

Park Executive Director sat up abruptly.

"Did Choi Director do something...?"

Yes, given the recent flood of articles about Jeong Arin, it was clear that he had done something.

However,

Park Executive Director just kept chuckling.

"She's really getting what she deserves..."

He had already won over the Music Center CP, so even if Choi Director had used his influence, the best he could have done was move her to the second or third slot.

As the stage of the unknown male idol group ended,

The young MCs with cue cards in their hands appeared on the screen.

- So, let's introduce today's lineup! You can really look forward to it today!

- Yes, 'KOK' is back with a mini album to celebrate their 10th anniversary!

- Not only KOK's special comeback stage, but also the comebacks of The Super and Enbly are prepared!

- And, we're also waiting for the hot debut stage of the rookie singer 'Jeong Arin'! Everyone, stay tuned!

The phrase "This week's hot debut - Jeong Arin" was scrolling from left to right at the bottom of the screen.

"Kim CP, you despicable son of a-..."

He had spent a lot of money to ensure that not even a single line or subtitle would be given to her.

Even though he knew it was because Choi Director had exerted his influence, he was still angry.

"Damn, these broadcasting guys can't keep their promises..."

So what?

"Huff..."

Park Executive Director sighed and loosened his tie.

So what?

He was confident that Choi Director could only have moved her to the second or third slot at most.

'How much did that watch Kim CP took cost...?'

He was sure that, unless he was crazy, Kim CP would have pretended to give in to Choi Director's pressure and only moved her back a couple of slots.

Eventually,

After finishing his thoughts, Park Executive Director took a deep breath and started watching Music Center again.

Second, third, fourth...

The more the stage order progressed, the more tense Park Executive Director became, and sweat started to form on his bald head.

Amazingly,

Even after the eighth stage, Jeong Arin had not appeared.

"Damn, when is she going to come on stage!"

Park Executive Director took out a cigarette to calm his frustration.

Even the next stage, and the one after that, and the one after that, did not feature Jeong Arin.

As the stages got closer to the end, Park Executive Director's bald head was drenched in sweat.

Suddenly,

Drip, drip.

Just as his sweat was falling to the floor,

"What the hell-!"

Jeong Arin's stage, which had just started, appeared on the screen.

Considering that the next stages were the popular idols Enbly and The Super, and the last stage was the top-tier KOK, this was a huge deal.

"Kim CP, you bastard-!"

Park Executive Director immediately started calling 'Kim CP' while fuming.

After a few rings,

Kim CP answered in a low voice, "Yes, Executive Director..."

"Hey, Kim CP! Are you trying to challenge me-?"

Kim CP replied in a trembling voice,

- Executive Director, I really had no choice.

"What? Even if Choi Director stepped in...!"

- If it were an LS Director, I could have handled it.

Park Executive Director narrowed his eyes and asked again,

"Then?"

There was a moment of silence.

- The pressure kept coming from higher up...

"Higher up where?"

- Executive Director, you know Mr. Lee Duseok, right?

"Wait, who?"

Kim CP lowered his voice even more.

- Since it turned out this way, I'll return the watch. And honestly, if I had known that someone of Mr. Lee Duseok's caliber was involved, I wouldn't have gotten involved at all...

Park Executive Director asked urgently,

"Why, why is Mr. Lee Duseok involved...?"

Kim CP replied immediately,

- I don't know what you set up, Executive Director! Anyway, I'm in the middle of a live broadcast, so I'll hang up now!

The call ended, and...

"Why, why is Mr. Lee Duseok involved...?"

He had already sold his shares and retired, living a leisurely life, hadn't he?

Even when the CEO repeatedly asked him, he didn't even glance at company affairs.

It was a mystery why such a person would suddenly get involved in this small internal conflict.

"Why..."

Why would he exert his influence for a rookie singer who had been saved from certain elimination and was now debuting?

"It's unbelievable..."

Just as Park Executive Director was wiping his head with a towel, looking dazed,

- If I confused you, I'm sorry.

Jeong Arin's stage was continuing, and...

"Damn it!"

Park Executive Director suddenly slammed his fist on the table.

0298: If it's confusing, I'm sorry.

3418: Her voice is amazing; is she crazy?

0409: I'm only going to support her from now on.

7447: In this situation, I have to marry her, hahaha.

6491: Jeong Arin! Jeong Arin! Jeong Arin! Jeong Arin! Jeong Arin!

0212: Jeong Arin, I'll write it down, I have to support her, hahaha.

4597: How can someone have such a voice? 😭😭😭😭

1135: The battle for the throne of the pubescent music show stage starts today.

4813: I fell in love again while changing channels, hahaha.