Chapter 48

Reckless Genius Composer's Regression - Chapter 48 (48/482)

"Mr. Choi, it's been hard to see you lately?"

An unpleasant voice came from behind him as he stood there. The creeping discomfort up his spine confirmed it was definitely Mr. Park, the executive vice president.

Mr. Choi, who had been standing straight in front of the elevator, turned his head, and sure enough, Mr. Park, who was twice as imposing as him, stood there with a sly smile.

"I've been quite busy with external meetings lately, so I've been away from my desk for a while."

"Well, is Mr. Choi the only one who's busy? I have a lot of external meetings too, you know?"

When Mr. Park mentioned "external meetings," he meant golf rounds. Of course, Mr. Choi knew these rounds were for building smooth relationships with other companies. He knew, but what irritated him was that Mr. Park was in the position of receiving the hospitality.

Ding!

The elevator doors opened wide, and Mr. Park stepped in first, then took a seat in the center.

"Aren't you getting in?"

"I am."

Mr. Choi stood beside him, adjusting his coat collar. Glancing sideways, his lips were filled with all sorts of words.

He could guess what those words might be. Yes, they were certainly not pleasant to hear.

"It's a relief that we almost lost such a valuable talent."

Yes, as expected.

"But how did it come to pass that the friend decided to donate all the money he earned?"

He anticipated that Mr. Park would deliberately bring up these twisted stories. The "friend" he was talking about was Min Hyun-seung. About three weeks ago, Hyun-seung had proposed a "retirement bread" bet based on his music chart performance, and Jayble had responded by setting a one-month deadline for a "donation bet."

Now, they were nearing the end of the battle for the top spot, and the flag of victory was still fluttering in Jayble's direction. Of course, it wasn't over until the end, but Mr. Park seemed to have already declared Hyun-seung's defeat.

"I knew this would happen from the moment he said he would align the release date. After all, what kind of mess did he stir up with all that talk about a 'retirement bread'? If he loses this way, it will tarnish the prestigious status and reputation of LS Entertainment."

His words, though not entirely wrong, were laced with hostility. This was due to the accumulated emotions from Mr. Choi and Hyun-seung.

"He will lose both his value and credibility through this result. There's nothing he gains from this."

Mr. Choi only stared at Mr. Park's lips, which moved like a snake. Even though they were the only ones in the elevator, the way he spoke without any hesitation made it feel like there was no point in engaging with him. Yes, he had to endure it.

"So, he should always be careful with his words and actions, right? Is it because he's still young? But this isn't just enthusiasm; it's more like recklessness."

However, Mr. Choi couldn't remain passive in the face of such overstepping. Hyun-seung wasn't someone he had raised himself, but he was definitely part of his team, his people. Yes, Mr. Choi hated it when his people were messed with the most.

"Still, I think being reckless is better than being timid. Don't you agree?"

"What? Timid? I clearly said! It's all for the better direction of our company…!"

"Who takes away personal opportunities and rights for the company? That's called stealing."

Mr. Park's lips twitched and then closed. The elevator display showed they were about to reach their floor. Given his emphasis on maintaining a good image both internally and externally, he couldn't raise his voice any further.

"And Mr. Park, please, for the sake of our dignity within the company, let's address each other with respect."

Mr. Choi delivered a firm rebuke and quickly stepped out through the opening door. He heard a high-pitched "Mr. Choi" from behind, but he ignored it, remembering the childish and vulgar arguments from the last meeting.

"Mr. Choi, stop right there!"

For a moment, he paused, his heels clicking on the floor, as the persistent voice followed him down the corridor.

Beep!

Feeling the vibration in his pocket, he pulled out his phone. At the same time, Mr. Park also took out his phone from his inner pocket.

It was a text message from the CEO's secretary.

* * *

"Hello, I am Kim Sujin, the interpreter for Mr. Taichi, the CEO of Man Records."

A sharply dressed woman bowed to the LS Entertainment executives. Her hair was so tightly tied that not a single strand fell forward even when she bowed deeply.

In front of her, at the head of the table, sat CEO Jeon Nam-il, and to his right, Taichi. The rest of the seats were filled by the executives, vice presidents, and directors.

No one in the room had expected this scene. Yes, even Jeon Nam-il hadn't anticipated this development.

Certainly.

When they spoke on the phone previously, Taichi had asked if he could meet Hyun-seung in person, but no one had expected him to fly over so quickly.

"I apologize for the sudden visit without prior notice."

Though surprised, Jeon Nam-il, representing LS Entertainment, a large-scale company in Korea, was not the type to give up control easily. He hid his surprise and spoke in a calm, almost cold tone.

$$

"That's fine, but please understand that Mr. HS might be a bit late."

The interpreter conveyed Jeon Nam-il's words to Taichi and then translated his response.

"He says he can wait as long as he can meet him."

Jeon Nam-il nodded slowly and turned his gaze to Taichi. He looked as if waiting was no trouble at all.

"Hmm."

Meanwhile, Mr. Park's brow furrowed as he listened to the conversation. The CEO had known about the official document he had intercepted but had remained silent, issuing a warning. However, no action had been taken. Why?

He assumed it was a typical move by CEO Jeon Nam-il, but today, everything made sense. Even if he had intercepted the document, it had made no difference. Yes, it hadn't even been noticed.

No matter the obstacles, Man Records, or rather, Taichi, had only wanted 'HS,' and he was willing to endure the inconvenience for him. Thus, the CEO had overlooked his internal conflicts and deliberately invited him today.

Look, this is what you tried to ruin.

It wasn't just for him but also to show the executives. Of course, forming a good relationship with Man Records would open up a broader market, but what Taichi wanted was a collaboration with 'HS.'

And the final decision-makers for that collaboration were only three: the two CEOs and 'HS' himself. This wasn't a meeting where all executives would be called for an emergency. It was a show to demonstrate how much the CEO valued 'HS.'

"Hello."

At that moment, a light knock was heard, and Hyun-seung entered the room.

"HS…?"

Suddenly, Taichi stood up, staring at the entrance in a daze. It was as if he had met a long-lost family member after decades, his eyes filled with an unreal sense of happiness. Yes, Taichi looked at Hyun-seung with such deep, affectionate eyes.

"Hmm?"

In contrast, Hyun-seung tilted his head, carefully examining Taichi's face. He hadn't been informed that the CEO of Man Records had sent him a specific document or that there had been any contact to find him.

He had only been told it was an emergency meeting with the CEO. Now, seeing this man looking at him with such emotional eyes, he felt bewildered. However, a sense of familiarity soon washed over him.

He had seen this face somewhere before. Yes, if his memory served him right, this person was definitely…

Sakamoto Taichi.

The CEO of Man Records' headquarters in Japan.

"I have been waiting to meet Mr. Hyun-seung. I am Sakamoto Taichi, the CEO of Man Records. Please come and greet me."

Following the CEO's gesture, Hyun-seung walked confidently to him. His steps were filled with anticipation. After all, Man Records was a closed but renowned music distributor, and even in his previous life, he had had little interaction with them. For someone like Hyun-seung, this was an unknown territory in music distribution.

"I'm sorry for making you wait. I'm the composer HS."

He knew the CEO had received a call from Taichi before, but seeing him in person suggested a promising collaboration. Moreover, since Taichi had been waiting to meet him, this meeting could lead to a collaboration with Man Records. Yes, it wouldn't be bad to experience Man Records while he was here.

"No, I wanted to meet you so badly that I came without hesitation. I am Taichi, the CEO of Man Records."

Through the interpreter, the formal greeting was made, but both their faces were filled with curiosity and anticipation, and the handshake was warm and friendly.

Jeon Nam-il carefully observed Taichi's face. Before Hyun-seung arrived, Taichi had maintained a businesslike attitude and expression, but now he showed a human side for the first time.

It was surprising to see the CEO of a globally renowned large music distributor show such a friendly attitude towards a young foreign composer.

On the other hand, he thought it was understandable that the target was Hyun-seung. Jeon Nam-il shifted his gaze to Hyun-seung, who smiled confidently despite Taichi's presence, almost making him chuckle.

"Shall we discuss the collaboration now?"

Seeing no end to the enthusiastic eye contact between Taichi and Hyun-seung, Jeon Nam-il took the initiative to move the conversation forward.

"Before we discuss the collaboration, here is a small gift from Mr. Taichi. I apologize for not being able to check the number of attendees due to the sudden visit."

The interpreter shared a look with Taichi and then handed over a shopping bag. Inside were about ten bottles of traditional Japanese sake, which looked expensive at first glance.

Mr. Park, however, was more drawn to the single shopping bag still in his hand.

It was likely a separate gift for Hyun-seung. Even a quick glance showed a more luxurious wrapping. It was clear that Taichi had come with affection and interest for Hyun-seung.

"This is a gift from Mr. Taichi for Mr. HS."

As expected, the remaining shopping bag was handed to Hyun-seung. Inside was a bottle of sake worth over 5 million won, which was hard to find even in Japan.

Taichi was fully aware that the LS Entertainment team might feel upset seeing him show such special affection and give the most expensive gift to the composer 'HS.'

However, his reason for coming to Korea was purely for business with this young genius; the others were merely extras, or at best, old monkeys or talking potatoes.

"Ah, this is sake from a traditional brewery in Kyoto, isn't it? I'm already grateful for your visit, and to receive such fine sake as a gift…"

While Mr. Park continued to speak, holding the sake bottle, Taichi's gaze remained fixed on Hyun-seung. Eventually, Mr. Park stopped mid-sentence, realizing that Taichi wasn't even listening.

He had eaten enough company cafeteria meals to fill several trucks. He was a seasoned professional before being an executive.

He didn't waste time trying to draw attention. There was no point in saying things like "Excuse me…" or "Are you listening…?"

Moreover, Taichi was not someone he could pressure or manipulate with his position or abilities. All he could do was feel jealous of Hyun-seung.

A petty, dirty, and worthless kind of jealousy.

"Thank you. By the way, the reason for your visit today…"

Hyun-seung sat opposite Taichi, asking about the reason for his overt friendliness. Taichi, as if waiting for this moment, handed over documents to the interpreter and began explaining.

"Yes, to the point, I have several business proposals and would like to ask for your participation in production. This is a contract for music sourcing, and we can meet most of the conditions."

It was as he had guessed. The friendly and preferential treatment was not just for distributing his music. He had anticipated a collaboration proposal. Hyun-seung took the documents and read them slowly. The contract, written in both Japanese and Korean, exceeded his expectations.

The content was straightforward and positive, as if saying, "I won't try to confuse you with ambiguous words." It was so interesting that he couldn't help but hum in approval.

" Hmm?"

CEO Jeon Nam-il observed Hyun-seung. Young composers at his age usually kneel and clasp their hands in front of LS Entertainment's contracts, as if they have already achieved great success.

In contrast, Hyun-seung, in front of Man Records' collaboration contract, had a face that was impossible to read, slowly nodding. Jeon Nam-il wanted to urge him to accept immediately.

How long did he endure this?

"Yes, thank you for the proposal."

At the moment when everyone's attention was on him, Hyun-seung responded fluently in Japanese. The interpreter, who had been sitting beside him, looked surprised, feeling embarrassed for not noticing his language skills.

Jeon Nam-il narrowed his eyes, remembering the phone call with Taichi in front of Hyun-seung. He had thought Hyun-seung's innocent face was fox-like, and he must have understood the conversation to some extent.

"Well, I will consider it positively."

Everyone gasped, their eyes wide with shock. Their expressions clearly said, "This is a life-changing opportunity, are you really crazy?"

However, Taichi was an exception. In fact, he felt relieved. Yes, a contract is something to be carefully reviewed, even for a small purchase. If Hyun-seung had accepted it without a second glance, it would have been worrying.

Most geniuses don't understand their own value. They are poor negotiators, performing like circus bears while the representatives who control them take the money.

At least, this talented young man's future didn't need to be worried about. He would live in a good house, wear good clothes, and eat good food in the future, just like the other geniuses he had seen.

"Mr. HS, you exceed my expectations. I hope we can work together."

"Thank you for your kind words."

"Please take your time to consider it thoroughly and get back to us."

Taichi took out a gold case from his inner pocket, which looked like it cost several million won, and handed a business card to Hyun-seung. The card, made of ivory material with a watermark, had elegant, thick English font. A business card is a small portfolio of a person, and this card was a clean and dignified representation of Taichi Sakamoto.

"Please feel free to contact me anytime. My personal contact information is on the card."

Hyun-seung took the card and replied succinctly, "Yes." No further words were needed. He understood the significance of this gesture from his past experiences.

When a company CEO hands over a secret business card with personal contact information, it means they deeply trust the person. Especially from the CEO of Man Records.

It was a small, thin piece of paper. But it was a piece of paper that couldn't be valued in monetary terms. To ordinary people, its value might be unknown, but to someone like him, it was worth a fortune. It was as if he had a fortune in his hands.

"Now that the main topic is over, I don't want to bother you with more business talk, but it would be a shame to leave it at this…"

Then, as if treating the other executives and the interpreter as transparent, they continued their private conversation in Japanese.

"Mr. HS, if you're free, would you like to have lunch together?"

"Yes, that would be great. I know a good Korean restaurant, so let me take you there."

"I'm already looking forward to it. Actually, I quite enjoy Korean food."

Hyun-seung naturally steered the conversation in a direction that would benefit him, whether he intended to or not.

This is how he gradually entangles himself with capable and influential people, moving towards higher places.

"Shall we get up now?"

Yes, now Hyun-seung held a choice that could take him to a higher place.