Chapter 45

### Chapter 45 (45/482) - The Reckless Genius Composer Returns

Manager Kim glared at his phone with bleary eyes. The first solo interview with Hyunseung was about to be uploaded. He had pressed the refresh button on the internet window countless times.

After all, journalists were inherently untrustworthy. Even if he were to give them the benefit of the doubt a hundred, a thousand times, he could never trust Gae Jin-sung.

*Hiss*...

Gae Jin-sung's smug, grinning face, which had scratched at his nerves, filled Manager Kim's mind. Yes, that guy was truly untrustworthy. Moreover, the way he had complained about Hyunseung being late on the day of the interview was so irritating.

"Huh?"

Just as he was feeling uneasy and tapping his foot while clutching his phone, a headline finally appeared on the main banner of the portal site.

Manager Kim clicked on the article and responded with a small exclamation.

"Oh?"

"Recently, I met the mysterious composer 'HS.' He appeared at the agreed location wearing a marshmallow-like, DD Mouse-like helmet. The aura emanating from his physical presence and the eyes visible through the goggles suggested a handsome man... (excerpt)"

To his relief, the opening sentence of the interview was quite positive. It addressed the external aspects that people were most curious about, which seemed likely to generate interest.

*Swipe, swipe*...

The neatly organized interview format was easy on the eyes. However, the content was no different from any other interview, filled with formal questions. Why he started composing, the history behind his debut as a composer, and anecdotes about the singers he had worked with... Yes, the usual clichéd self-introduction paragraphs.

*Swipe, swipe*...

Despite this, Hyunseung's responses consistently revealed his true character. They were intuitive, straightforward, confident, and laced with a relaxed wit. That was enough to be satisfied for now.

*Swipe, swipe*...

Finally, the highlight question that people would be most interested in appeared. Manager Kim narrowed his eyes and began to focus.

- "I heard that you intentionally delayed the release of your personal album, wanting to compete with the famous composer Jayble. Currently, your streaming performance is lower than his. How do you feel about that?"

: "I'm not sure if it's appropriate to call it a 'competition' when it's a fight I'm guaranteed to win. There's no law that says the tables can't turn. I'm confident. If Mr. Jayble is okay with it, I'd like to propose a bet. A character deletion bet (a bet where the loser deletes their game character). To put it bluntly, it's a 'retirement bet.' If he's not confident... (excerpt)"

Manager Kim felt a moment of dizziness at the mention of the 'retirement bet.' Although he had confirmed the content during the confirmation stage, he didn't expect it to be published verbatim. Sigh, once again, Hyunseung's answers were truly intuitive, straightforward, confident, and laced with a relaxed wit...

*Swipe, swipe*...

Manager Kim steadied his shaking mental state and scrolled down again.

"The interview with him was a time thoroughly captivated by his rascal-like charm. His confident attitude and smooth talking skills during the interview were enough to make me a fan. I believe 'HS' will... (excerpt)"

"Better than I expected."

After confirming that the scroll had reached the end, Manager Kim put down his phone. He had been worried that the article might contain ambiguous content that could be detrimental to Hyunseung, but it seemed to be much better than he had anticipated.

Especially, the praise listed in the journalist's final words suggested that Gae Jin-sung had been captivated by Hyunseung's unique charm. Of course, he didn't trust Gae Jin-sung just because he wrote positively. He was a treacherous guy who might stab him in the back at any moment.

"But..."

Suddenly, his mood sank and worries flooded in. Even if Gae Jin-sung was set aside, the words in the interview were too explicit, and he was concerned that they might become a topic of public gossip.

Moreover, the moment this content was released, journalists would undoubtedly mobilize all their connections to interview Jayble and get his stance on the bet proposal.

"Jayble won't just sit idly by."

The Jayble he knew was a natural. His composing skills were undoubtedly exceptional, and he had a star quality that was too good to waste as just a composer. Of course, he believed that Hyunseung had the potential to surpass Jayble and become a star. His character was also unique.

However, without revealing his face, it was difficult to gain the love and trust of the public. In contrast, Jayble had successfully branded himself by reading the flow of the media and handling the public well, and he was now a significant influencer in the entertainment industry.

Certainly, Jayble would use this 'retirement bet' to his advantage, leveraging his image and influence.

In short, he was a dangerous and threatening figure.

If things went wrong, this interview could end up being used as noise marketing for their side, or worse, Hyunseung could face public backlash. Of course, it was his job to prevent that from happening.

"Phew..."

Just as Manager Kim's thoughts were drifting, Hyunseung asked indifferently.

"Well, if Jayble doesn't sit idly by, he might try to manipulate the streaming performance to force me into retirement, right?"

"That might not happen, but he could use the media to put you in an unfavorable position..."

"Whatever, it's spilled milk. Whether Jayble cleans it up or I do, it's out of our hands. Don't worry."

Yes, as Hyunseung said, the situation had already escalated. Worrying wouldn't solve anything, and from here on, it was up to the company's discretion.

"Why should you clean it up? I'll take care of it, so just pray for the numbers to go up."

"Wow, that's pretty cool-?"

The oil was already poured, and the fire was burning fiercely. As long as Hyunseung wasn't the one to be reduced to ashes, it would be fine.

Yes, that was a no-go.

* * *

Meanwhile, at the same time, the famous composer 'Jayble' was also conducting an interview in his studio.

"The time flew by as we had this conversation..."

The host flipped to the next cue card and said, to which Jayble responded with a gentle smile. He usually detested such interviews. Hadn't he already expressed everything he wanted to say through his album?

Standing in front of the camera, wearing makeup, and being lit up while talking and forcing a smile was not his style. However, he had long passed the stage where he couldn't manage his expressions.

"Yes, I didn't notice the time either."

Such external activities were one of the necessary efforts to do the music he wanted. Ironically, to do the music he wanted freely and without restraint, he had to do things he didn't want to do.

"The last question is a bit sensitive. The interview with the new composer HS, who released an album on the same day as you, has successfully drawn public attention..."

The host trailed off and glanced at Jayble. The topic of the day was HS's interview, filled with provocative and direct words like 'character deletion bet' and 'retirement bet,' which had captured the public's interest.

Jayble had undoubtedly read the interview multiple times, savoring it. Sure enough, his eyes narrowed for a moment. Sensing the subtle change in the atmosphere, the host's eyes sparkled and asked again, more aggressively.

"Can we hear your opinion, Mr. Jayble?"

Jayble gave a smile that was impossible to read. Yes, it was a sensitive question. Although he hadn't paid attention to 'HS' or listened to his music, he was irritated.

It felt like a mosquito that couldn't stick its proboscis into his fame, buzzing annoyingly around his ear in the middle of a summer night.

If it had been a junior he knew, he would have given sincere advice. Before thinking about how to leverage someone else's fame, he would have suggested that they first consider the essential questions a 'creator' should ponder.

That would be more beneficial.

"Hmm, I see."

Pretending to think, but it was a question he had already prepared for.

"First, although we released our music around the same time, I don't consider it a competition."

The host's eyes lit up like a hyena that had spotted good prey.

"Are you saying that HS's career or skills are not enough to form a competitive relationship?"

In the entertainment industry, a concrete jungle, Jayble was a predator that had long dominated the top of the food chain. He knew how to survive, how to build his image, and how to brand himself.

"Not exactly-"

He answered firmly, leaving no room for provocative interpretations.

"Composing is also a business. The most important metric is numbers. Revenue from streaming, rankings, and such numbers determine the hierarchy, but fundamentally, I believe it is 'art.'"

"That's a vague statement."

"I don't think I'm in competition with anyone. Art is not a sport. I compete, but I compete with my past self. My battle is simple."

Jayble answered with his characteristic calmness.

"Whether I can create better music than my past self, or not. That's all there is to it."

The host narrowed his eyes. This wasn't the answer he wanted. He wanted a more provocative setup. His mind raced. How could he provoke this seasoned genius to say something more?

"However."

And Jayble was a pro.

"It's not pleasant."

He knew how to deliver the right answer at the right time. He knew how to draw more attention when a topic came up.

"I'm not the type to avoid a fight that comes my way."

The host's face lit up at Jayble's calm response. It was a face that a desert-crosser might make upon discovering an oasis in the distance, filled with various emotions.

"Then...?"

After the expectant question, silence fell.

"If you insist on dividing winners and losers, I'm willing to accept and play along. However, I'm a bit skeptical about the loser having to retire. I have accumulated enough wealth to last a lifetime, so it doesn't matter to me."

He slightly raised his head and looked at the main camera. A red light was blinking, signaling that the recording was in progress. It implied that this entire scene would be broadcast live, raw and unfiltered.

"That won't be the case for the other side. They shouldn't lose their livelihood due to a momentary competitive spirit. Moreover, I think it's a statement that goes against the expectations and love of their fans. I find it a bit disappointing."

Generosity is the luxury of the winner. In the industry, Jayble had always been the winner, especially in the realm of 'art' and 'creation.'

The public doesn't want a humble genius. They always crave the arrogance and overconfidence of a qualified individual, and the desperate need for proof. They want this form of vicarious satisfaction.

This is just business.

Whether intentional or not, the situation had escalated. It was just a matter of reclaiming control. This was an opportunity to play the role of a senior who, despite the provocation from a junior, maintained his composure and even offered guidance.

The result was obvious. As always, he would maintain his status as the best. His unwavering belief that he wouldn't be swayed by the brash challenge of a naive junior was the reason he could maintain control. Taking control was his expertise.

"Then, are you suggesting betting on something other than retirement?"

Jayble nodded.

"Perhaps the losing side could 'donate' instead?"

He elaborated further.

"If I lose the top spot on the streaming chart to HS even for a day within the next month, I will immediately donate '500 million won' to a charity of their choice. This seems like a more productive and altruistic bet."

The host was impressed and asked in return.

"What if HS loses? Given the significant difference in experience and career, it might be difficult for them to donate the same amount."

A moment of silence.

"Any amount they can afford would be sufficient."

Jayble smiled gently. It was a smile filled with the composure and calmness of a predator that had long dominated the top of the food chain.

"Wow..."

The anchor, the writer, and even the camera director were smiling. It was a historic moment. It was as if Jayble had poured oil on a fire that was already burning fiercely.

And they were the ones who captured this scene first and would be the ones to announce it to the world. They could already envision the record-breaking ratings and performance bonuses they would receive.

"I'm already looking forward to the results..."

The situation was escalating exponentially.