Chapter 33

Reckless Genius Composer's Regression - Chapter 33 (33/482)

Hyun Seung, determined to release a song that tells his story without considering commercial success, as he had vowed during his trip to Japan, stood at the classroom door.

"Are you... again...?"

Manager Kim, with a doubtful look, squinted and asked.

"Are you going to work with rejects instead of those singers who can churn out hits like machines?"

At this, Jung Arin interjected.

"Manager, does that mean I was a reject too...?"

"Well, that's not what I meant..."

"Still, I guess I'm a successfully recycled reject now, right?"

"Yeah, you've been reborn perfectly..."

Manager Kim, who had forgotten about Jung Arin's existence, scratched his head in embarrassment and tried to smooth things over.

"First, let's consider Moon Bum-jae, Yun Hae-jae, and Oh Do-hyun..."

At that moment, Hyun Seung casually rattled off a list of singers.

The singers he listed off so casually...

Each one could be considered a representative vocalist of LS.

"What's with the impressive list?"

"It's not final, just a sketch in my head..."

These were singers whose names alone would make composers drool.

Manager Kim didn't feel that Hyun Seung's proposal was unrealistic or impossible.

'Hyun Seung...'

Lately, Hyun Seung was one of the frequently mentioned up-and-coming composers, not just in the company but in the industry as well.

Though he was a new composer, he had already achieved two major hits that significantly extended the careers of the singers he worked with.

'He's not lacking in experience.'

Moreover, considering that Hyun Seung's songs had helped Seo Jin-ee overcome a slump and even succeed in the Japanese market...

'Yeah, those can be considered mega hits...'

Then, even the most prominent singers wouldn't likely reject a new composer outright.

Most importantly, when it comes to featuring, it's common to promise future collaborations, so they might readily agree.

However, a composer's personal album is rarely a success.

Ultimately, the problem lies with the higher-ups.

When the report is submitted, it might come back without even a drop of ink on the approval form.

"Probably, this time, the approval won't be easy."

"Why?"

"Creating a personal album for a composer is difficult to succeed..."

At this, Hyun Seung narrowed his eyes.

"If it's difficult to succeed..."

"Huh?"

"Are you afraid it might fail?"

It sounded as if he had completely ruled out the possibility of failure.

"I don't fight losing battles."

Though he was determined to write a song that tells his story without considering commercial success, he had no intention of writing a song that would fail.

"I can assure you, there will be no need to worry about the success or failure of my songs in the future."

"Huh?"

"The songs will definitely succeed. Every single one will succeed. The only question is..."

Hyun Seung, with unwavering eyes, added.

"How big of a success can we achieve?"

Considering his past achievements, it was a convincing statement.

"Ha, really..."

Manager Kim waved his hand and added.

"Are you sure about your decision?"

"Yes, I am."

"Alright, then I'll take care of it."

"Will it be okay?"

Manager Kim lifted his wrist, where his watch was set.

"Work until your feet sweat, right?"

"Yes."

"I'll do my best to get the approval."

With that, he got up, feeling fortunate that Hyun Seung was considering such a prestigious list of singers.

After all, even though there were only two, the artists he managed had shown exceptional success.

"Let's eat first. I got a watch, so I'll treat you at the cafeteria."

"That doesn't match the price."

"I want to eat out, but I have a meeting scheduled for the evening..."

Manager Kim, exclaiming "Ah!" and asked.

"How about tomorrow? How about dinner tomorrow?"

Hyun Seung shook his head and replied.

"I don't think it will work tomorrow."

"Why?"

"I'm going to take care of Mr. Yeonggam."

Manager Kim, surprised, repeated.

"Mr. Yeonggam?"

"Are you doing some kind of volunteer work these days?"

Hyun Seung shook his head.

"What? Me? No."

After a moment.

"I have to go play Go with Mr. Lee Doo-seok."

"Taking care of Mr. Yeonggam means..."

"He seems to be feeling lonely lately."

After finishing his sentence, Hyun Seung said, "Jung Arin, what are you doing? Let's go eat," and left the studio first...

"Yes! Composer!"

Jung Arin followed Hyun Seung like a chick.

"Phew..."

Left alone, Manager Kim could only let out a hollow laugh.

'He's really unpredictable...'

In the entertainment industry, Hyun Seung was probably the only one who could refer to Mr. Lee Doo-seok as "Mr. Yeonggam."

Yes, definitely.

* * *

"Mr. Yeonggam, it's been a while."

When Hyun Seung arrived at Mr. Lee Doo-seok's house, he was already waiting at the door in his slippers.

"You've come a long way. Since the weather is nice today, how about playing a game outside?"

The butler, watching their backs, couldn't hide his surprise.

'Mr. Lee is...'

Having been by Mr. Lee Doo-seok's side for a long time, he knew Mr. Lee's personality better than anyone.

Though Mr. Lee was casual and disliked formalities, he wasn't easy to get close to.

During his active years, his fiery temper made it difficult for people to get close to him...

'Even now, it's not much different.'

Since his retirement, he has been living in seclusion, and people have become even more wary of him.

Most of the entertainment industry professionals who brought gifts in both hands couldn't even cross the threshold and had to turn back.

"I've prepared it in advance."

Hyun Seung and Mr. Lee Doo-seok arrived at a quiet pavilion.

After a while.

The two sat facing each other with the Go board between them.

"I won't lose easily this time."

"You brat, you're still playing tricks on your elders."

They smiled at each other, took their seats, and picked up the Go stones.

As a result...

This time, Mr. Lee Doo-seok took black, and Hyun Seung took white.

A fierce game ensued.

Click, thud.

Click, thud.

Click, thud.

External, double stand, flower, life, right shape, long move, encirclement...

"Ah, I'm in trouble..."

Mr. Lee Doo-seok's hand hovered in the air, unsure where to go.

"I'm in trouble."

He shook his head and muttered, to which Hyun Seung asked.

"Are you going to resign?"

"There might be a way if I look closely."

"There doesn't seem to be a good move."

"You brat, in situations like this..."

Mr. Lee Doo-seok suddenly put down the stone.

"Take a break and look at the world."

He then looked at the distant garden.

"In this vast world, why should we worry so much about a small Go board?"

"Your words carry weight."

"Yes, indeed. I'm embarrassed, but that's how I used to be. I wondered why I thought life was a battle of winning and losing..."

Mr. Lee Doo-seok added.

"The reason I love Go is that it resembles life. On the Go board, there are stones that get captured and stones that capture. At one point, I thought life was a battle of winning and losing. I believed that minor successes and failures were the entirety of life."

Hyun Seung narrowed his eyes and asked.

"Are you saying it wasn't the whole picture?"

Mr. Lee Doo-seok nodded.

"Yes, it definitely wasn't. Looking back now, living life is not a battle of winning and losing..."

"Can you explain further?"

"Even if you win, win, and win again to build a large house, it's not necessarily a great game."

After pondering, he made his move again.

Click, thud.

He then continued.

"Even in the current situation, it's a dark and hopeless position for me..."

"Yes."

"But from the perspective outside the Go board, it's just a minor situation, isn't it?"

Hyun Seung immediately made his move.

Click, thud.

He then added calmly.

"Especially when compared to the world outside the Go board?"

"Yes?"

"Even if it seems significant on the Go board..."

Mr. Lee Doo-seok smiled at Hyun Seung.

"It's just a minor matter."

Hearing this, Hyun Seung's thoughts deepened.

"Just a minor matter..."

Though it might be a delusion, it felt like he was comparing the entertainment industry or the broadcasting world to a Go board.

Mr. Lee Doo-seok, a seasoned veteran who had repeatedly experienced the battles of winning and losing within it...

"Then, what should I do?"

He decided to seek advice.

"Well, an old man's opinion isn't the answer, but..."

He crossed his arms and stared at the Go board.

"Isn't it all about making a living?"

"Yes, that's true."

"It's not about living well alone, is it?"

"No, that's right."

Mr. Lee Doo-seok chuckled.

"In a winning or losing situation, it might be good to have the habit of putting down the stone and looking around."

"Putting down the stone and looking around..."

"If you just keep moving forward without looking back, you'll lose the leisure to appreciate the flowers by the roadside."

It was a profound statement.

'If my past self had done this...'

How much better it would have been.

At that moment.

Mr. Lee Doo-seok gently asked again.

"What do you think is the problem with my style?"

After a moment of thought, Hyun Seung replied.

"Choosing the difficult path instead of the easy one, and the form feels soft and weak."

Mr. Lee Doo-seok nodded.

"Still, when played this way, it can result in a quite beautiful game. A game where black and white harmonize like a work of art..."

He then looked at Hyun Seung and asked again.

"Then, can I, a beginner, comment on your style?"

Hyun Seung nodded.

"Of course."

A moment of silence passed.

"Sharp, sensitive, and full of anger. Sometimes, it seems quite impatient."

"Is that so?"

"You try to hide it, but when you push like a wolf chasing sheep, it shows without any filter."

He fiddled with the Go stone in his hand and replied.

"I can assure you that life is not a battle of winning and losing."

"Then, what do you think it is?"

"Hmm, in my opinion, living life is..."

He laughed playfully and replied.

"Just living."

"Really?"

"Living is just living."

He added.

"So, try to relax a bit."

His tone was indifferent.

"Why are you so obsessed with just living?"

Hyun Seung nodded silently.

It was a reasonable statement.

Living is just living.

"Just living..."

In my past life.

"Yes."

Why was I always so tense?

Why was I so anxious...

Why did I act so urgently?

"I'll take it to heart."

A moment of silence passed.

Click, click.

Mr. Lee Doo-seok, fiddling with the Go stone in his hand, added.

"Just live. Try to laugh more, cry less, and live happily and simply. That's why everyone works so hard..."

He then looked into Hyun Seung's eyes.

"When you're feeling troubled, try putting down the stone, taking a deep breath, and regaining your composure..."

At this, Hyun Seung suddenly interrupted.

"Mr. Yeonggam, thank you for your advice, but..."

"Huh?"

"The countdown is almost over."

At this, Mr. Lee Doo-seok muttered, "Tsk."

"It doesn't work."

"Yes, it doesn't."

"It was supposed to work."

"Yes, it doesn't."

The two shared a chuckle.

"Even if it's not a battle of winning and losing, you're being cowardly?"

"There are moments when you want to win, right?"

"Would you cheat to win?"

At this, Mr. Lee Doo-seok replied with delight.

"You brat! It's all about skill! If you want to win, can't you cheat a few times? I have to explain even these minor details, really...!"

Suddenly, he thought he should visit more often.

Hyun Seung also...

Because the game with Mr. Lee Doo-seok was meaningful and enjoyable.

* * *

Hyun Seung, in the dark studio with only a desk lamp on, buried his head in the console.

Beside his head, crumpled cans of high-caffeine drinks were scattered.

'Damn.'

It was a sign of long contemplation.

'Why is it so difficult...'

He had decided to create an album that captures life.

The traces of his steps from his previous life...

He intended to create songs following those footsteps.

However.

With so much to say, he felt lost about where and how to start.

The long night passed, but the central melody that would form the core of the album didn't even take shape.

The sections, divided into various parts, remained empty as he repeatedly created and deleted.

'Looking back...'

All the songs he had created so far, in both his past life and recently, were focused on the 'money code,' creating pleasant and easy-to-listen-to songs.

Creating songs with messages...

Dealing with his story sincerely was a first for this project, so it was natural to feel difficult.

"Hmm."

The theme of this album was, literally, his past life.

As the tracks progressed...

The emotions and messages would change.

In the early tracks, he intended to capture the excitement of a young composer who had just achieved success.

When large sums of money started appearing in his account as royalties...

Working through the night with enthusiasm, hearing praises from everyone...

He wanted to capture the arrogant yet naive emotions, thinking that anything could be solved with money.

'From the middle part onwards...'

He planned to deal with the intense boredom and monotony that followed success.

The feelings of losing momentum and direction, mechanically creating hook songs...

The indescribable emotions of his beloved hobby becoming a job.

'The last part...'

The theme of the latter part of the album was 'regret.'

In reality...

At the end of his past life, Hyun Seung...

'Regretted everything.'

How could he have lived spewing sharp words in every direction?

Why was he so cruel?

Why was he so heartless to everyone?

Looking back.

He wasn't a good person to anyone.

To the public...

To friends, colleagues, and other industry professionals.

Even