Chapter 44

Reckless Genius Composer Returns - Chapter 44 (44/482)

Kye Jin-sung was staring at the clock on the wall of the conference room with a clearly displeased expression. Yes, the interview time, as agreed upon in advance, was noon.

He had woken up around five in the morning and arrived at the company earlier than usual, but he couldn't focus on the trivial tasks at hand.

However, the much-anticipated interview had not even started two hours after the agreed time.

Why?

The reason can be explained in one sentence.

– HS has not shown up.

The rookie composer HS had not appeared even two hours after the agreed time. Kye Jin-sung had sent about eight text messages urging HS to hurry and made a phone call, venting his frustration, but the response was always the same.

"I'll be there soon."

Soon, soon, soon, that damn "soon"!

If the word "soon" had a physical form, he would have wanted to strangle it right away.

Reflecting on his years as a journalist, he thought this kind of humiliation might be a first.

Throughout his many years as a journalist, this was the first time he had experienced such humiliation.

Top-tier actors, top-tier models, top-tier singers—maybe, but for a rookie who had just released his first solo album to stand him up for two hours?

This was a clear declaration of war.

Although he wasn't sure if this declaration of war was due to the composer's personal will or the instructions of Manager Kim, it didn't really matter.

The only thing he was pondering now was how to repay this humiliation.

"Hmm."

In this situation, he thought he had no choice but to reveal to the world the "drug purchase attempt" charges of the leader of an idol group from LS Entertainment, which he had been holding tightly in his hand.

Ah.

Of course, he had planned to report on this matter soon, even if he hadn't experienced this humiliation today. Letting such a good source go to waste would be a violation of professional ethics.

However, he had intended to report it indirectly. After all, there are certain norms, right? He had planned to report it indirectly, using a pseudonym. But his mind had changed.

He wanted to return this unpleasant feeling. It seemed better to report it directly.

He could confidently say that Manager Kim would soon encounter an article about the leader of an idol group from LS Entertainment, who was charged with attempting to purchase drugs, which would top the entertainment news views ranking in a few days.

And while scrolling down the page, he would grab his neck tightly upon seeing the three characters "Kye Jin-sung" at the very bottom of the article.

Squeak.

At that moment, the conference room door suddenly "swung" open.

"Are you Mr. Kye Jin-sung?"

An unknown man entered the conference room.

Moreover.

He was wearing a sturdy helmet.

"Yes, that's me. Who are you...?"

The "helmet man" bowed his head slightly.

"I'm sorry for being late. I'm the composer HS."

Upon hearing this, Kye Jin-sung, with a bewildered look, firmly shook the hand that was extended to him and replied.

"Yes, I'm Kye Jin-sung from the NBS Entertainment Department."

Despite repeatedly vowing to scold him when he arrived, his mind went blank upon seeing him.

"Did you come on a motorcycle?"

To this, Hyun Seung replied.

"No, I prepared it in a hurry for the interview."

Prepared it in a hurry? A helmet instead of a mask or a cap? Kye Jin-sung tried to hide his confusion. After all, you can't really understand so-called artists if you try to.

He tried to remain calm and think it through.

'Think calmly...'

Come to think of it, a domestic producer once performed while wearing a "cardboard box" on his head. He even appeared on music shows and variety programs with a box on his head.

Not to mention,

The famous American producer and DJ Marshmello performs while wearing a marshmallow mask. Deadmau5 also performs while wearing a mouse mask...

However, something seemed off.

The helmet the composer was wearing was not a concept helmet with a special design. It was just a regular helmet, the kind often used by delivery drivers and quick service personnel.

'Furthermore...'

It felt used. It seemed to have been used for a very long time. It was a helmet that clearly showed the wear and tear of time. Perhaps he had bought it second-hand from a platform like Naver's Used Market or Daangn Market?

"Anyway, let's start."

Before he arrived, he had repeatedly vowed to give him a piece of his mind. But by appearing in a helmet, he had lost control of the situation.

"Ah, yes..."

He then glanced at the composer. He was tall, broad-shouldered, and had a pleasant voice. Most importantly, his eyes, visible through the helmet visor, were captivating. Even from the faint glimpse, he could tell.

'What is it? Just from his eyes, he seems quite handsome.'

Just from his eyes, he had a face that could be used as a "marketing tool" without any flaws. Why was he hiding such a face? Was it a hooked nose or a sharp nose? Was his skin uneven? Or was it to hide a long jawline?

"I won't take any photos. You must be hot, so why don't you take off the helmet...?"

To this, the composer replied firmly.

"This is more comfortable."

It seemed he was extremely cautious about revealing his identity, as he had said.

"Alright, let's start the interview then."

As interviews typically go, the initial questions were smooth and easy, such as his age, hobbies, and how he became interested in music.

The serious part of the interview began with the question about how he signed with LS Entertainment. From that point on, Kye Jin-sung was fully engaged in the interview.

"So, you were able to sign with LS Entertainment thanks to the demo songs you sent to the company's representative email?"

"Yes, that's correct. I thought a few songs I created at home using MIDI were quite good."

The composer added.

"I was confident that they had sufficient commercial value and expressed my willingness to sell them on a per-song basis. I asked them to contact me if they were interested in purchasing."

"Did that email lead to the contract?"

"Yes, the first three songs were sold on a per-song basis. After that, we started negotiating the contract details and finalized it after several revisions."

Kye Jin-sung asked, feigning curiosity.

"Revisions?"

The composer, Hyun Seung, nodded.

"While not as extreme as poison pill clauses, there were a few points that could be disadvantageous under legal interpretation. I was quite sensitive about those parts and repeatedly requested revisions, which the company thankfully accepted."

Kye Jin-sung couldn't help but exclaim in admiration. Typically, when young people receive a contract from a major company like LS Entertainment, they would eagerly sign it without hesitation, basking in the glow of success.

'He's thorough.'

Even if there were unsatisfactory contract terms, they would likely hesitate to request revisions out of fear of losing a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity.

'He's also bold.'

What impressed him most was the reason for signing the contract.

'He secured the contract by sending demo songs via email...'

He was a very shrewd young man.

Did he have a secret method to enter the entertainment industry? Whether it was a singer, actor, or producer, if they didn't showcase their talents, they would likely spend their 20s in a small room, eventually giving up in frustration.

Getting into the entertainment industry through street casting, introductions from influential acquaintances, or winning a famous audition program is a story for a select few. To prove their worth, they need to think creatively and keep knocking on new doors.

From this perspective, the method taken by the young and eccentric composer was quite shrewd. It was a special and dramatic narrative that the public would likely embrace. He was confident that this story would receive significant attention once it was revealed.

"Was your first breakthrough thanks to Seo Jin-ee?"

"Yes, that's correct."

"Was there a reason you gave your first song to Seo Jin-ee?"

Hyun Seung replied nonchalantly.

"I just thought she was a good instrument."

"Instrument?"

"I refer to artists as instruments."

He elaborated.

"It's easy to produce sound with a violin. You just need to place the bow on the strings and rub. But playing the instrument is a different matter, isn't it?"

"Then..."

"The reason Seo Jin-ee's music performance was poor in the past was because she didn't play the instrument well. It was essentially the problem of the producer or composer who produced her music."

While it was a provocative statement, it was hard to deny. After receiving HS's song, Seo Jin-ee achieved a brilliant success. The dishonorable labels like "has-been" or "washed-up" that used to precede her name were all erased.

She once again rose to stardom. Her successful entry into the Japanese market revitalized the status of K-pop, and some people are now benefiting from the Hallyu wave she created.

This provocative statement, which discredited all the producers and composers who had worked with her, was not a problem. Thanks to these few words, he could extract several sensational lines. From Kye Jin-sung's perspective, it was a "thank you."

"What about Jung Ah-rin?"

"Same."

"Was she also a good instrument?"

Hyun Seung nodded.

"When I first met her, she was on the verge of being kicked out of the company. She was one of the many young people who had given up their youth in the company's basement practice room, chasing their dreams, and was about to be expelled after receiving a failing grade in the monthly evaluation."

"Interesting."

"While passing by the practice room, I happened to hear Jung Ah-rin's singing and judged her to be a good instrument. Despite the company's concerns, I believed she was a good instrument and proved it with the results."

Kye Jin-sung couldn't help but exclaim in admiration again. Both Seo Jin-ee and Jung Ah-rin often mentioned HS with gratitude in music shows and variety programs. He had no idea such a narrative was hidden behind it...

'Jin-sung, you did well, you were patient...'

He felt proud of himself for being the first to cover this narrative in an article, following his instincts.

"Alright, this is the last question. According to what is known, you intentionally delayed the release of your solo album because you wanted to compete with the famous composer Jay B?"

"Yes, that's correct."

"Currently, your music performance is unfortunately lower than Jay B's. What are your thoughts on this, and how do you feel?"

Kye Jin-sung stared intently at the visor. It was a piercing and potentially hurtful question, so he expected a flinch, but there was none. The young composer answered calmly without any hesitation.

"So far, I don't have any particular thoughts."

So far? Did he take the bait? Kye Jin-sung pressed further.

"Do you think the music performance could change?"

To this, Hyun Seung replied.

"There's no law against it."

Kye Jin-sung inwardly cheered, "Nice!" and asked again.

"Can you share your aspirations for this competition?"

Hyun Seung tilted his head and countered.

"Can a fight where you're guaranteed to win be called a competition?"

Kye Jin-sung looked at Hyun Seung in disbelief. How could someone be so arrogant and confident? His straight posture, slightly raised chin, confident tone, and the determined eyes visible through the visor...

The important thing was that he didn't dislike it.

In fact, he found this confident attitude appealing. Without realizing it, he was thoroughly captivated by the young composer's bold demeanor. Regaining his composure, Kye Jin-sung asked again to fulfill his duty.

"Then, if you could say something to Jay B here..."

"I don't have anything specific to say."

"Just say it casually, and I'll summarize it well."

Hyun Seung's lips curled slightly inside the helmet. This was an obvious bait. But a smart fish would just take the bait and swim away, leaving the fisherman frustrated. It might be fun to act like a smart fish in this situation.

"Do you need a provocation?"

Kye Jin-sung said, "No, just..."

He needed a provocation. A fiery, provocative, and audacious statement that would get everyone excited!

"I'm confident enough to do a 'character deletion' challenge."

Character deletion? Kye Jin-sung narrowed his eyes, and Hyun Seung elaborated.

"In games, a 'character deletion' challenge is when you bet on deleting your character in a 1-on-1 match."

A moment of silence.

"Wait, so..."

The loser would retire, right?

"Damn..."

Kye Jin-sung inadvertently cursed and quickly covered his mouth with both hands. If he reported today's interview content, it would undoubtedly secure the main headline on the entertainment page. Now, it was complete.

'This...'

It was a statement that would undoubtedly cause a huge backlash. This was worth the two-hour wait. If he had known such an exciting statement was waiting, he would have waited for ten hours or twenty hours without complaint.

"Would you write it like this?"

At that moment, Hyun Seung continued.

"I'm confident, so are you up for a 'retirement challenge'?"

He then tilted his head slightly and asked.

"Are you scared?"

Kye Jin-sung was certain. The face hidden under the helmet must resemble a movie villain. Not a clumsy villain like Rocket, but a sleek and unbeatable villain like Smith from The Matrix.

And Kye Jin-sung liked such villains. Not just because they provided a sensational and attention-grabbing source, but because this mysterious composer had a magnetic charm.

His straight posture, confident tone, quick wit in answering any question, and the determined eyes visible through the visor. He seemed like someone born to live confidently in this world.

'HS...'

Everything about him was shouting:

– I'm a star-quality genius! A genius who has every right to be arrogant and confident!

Although the outcome of the music competition with Jay B cannot be guaranteed.

Most people would predict Jay B's victory.

Isn't the situation already leaning that way?

However,

Kye Jin-sung was already praying for HS's victory.

Sincerely.