Chapter 54

Reckless Genius Composer Returns - Chapter 54 (54/482)

"Hey, Minhyung."

Manager Kim let out a sigh of admiration while staring at his phone.

"Do you know how many times you've been called?"

"No, it's amazing."

"What's so amazing about it?"

Indeed, it's truly amazing. Minhyung, who had always been resolute in maintaining his privacy, even adding a clause to his contract that strictly prohibited the exposure of personal information, had suddenly changed.

When Park Executive Vice President sarcastically remarked that he needed to do some fan service to maintain his popularity, Minhyung unexpectedly went out and actually met the fans.

Thanks to this, the results were excellent, and perhaps this time, he should thank Park Executive Vice President? Indeed, Minhyung's impromptu fan meeting could be called a huge success.

Contrary to his worries, Minhyung handled the fans with a natural star quality and dealt calmly and cleverly with the excessive demands of some of the young female fans.

Swish, swish—

─ I'm issuing a wanted notice for the one who stole my heart at first glance. Just from a fleeting glance at his eyes, my heart began to race as if I had met my first love again. If he was going to be this handsome, he shouldn't have shown up at all. If he was going to be this handsome, he shouldn't have shown his face. Is it enough to just take my heart with his good looks that could cover the entire world? With his height, proportions, abilities, and even his scent, that man is really infuriating! I'll post the completed composite sketch of HS's face. If you see this man, please report him. I want to register our marriage…♡

↳ Look at the composite sketch he drew himself, lol. It's really detailed.

↳ But I saw a floating photo, and he looked handsome even at a glance 😭

↳ What if he's a helicopter pilot? What if his jawline is a meter long?

↳ No, I saw him too, and he just has that kind of handsome aura;

↳ Yo, there's a best post about someone who claims to have seen HS's face +link

Manager Kim chuckled softly as he read the post. It was a best post on a famous community, with a detailed composite sketch of Minhyung attached.

"Oh, it's pretty close, isn't it?"

The composite sketch, based on the eyes and nose visible through the goggles, closely resembled Minhyung. Indeed, just imagining the most handsome face possible, it ended up looking like Minhyung.

↳ The composite sketch is even better than the real thing. 😂

Manager Kim, without realizing it, smiled and left a comment.

"Oops."

He quickly deleted the comment and followed the link attached to the comment above to check another post.

Swish, swish—

─ Everyone didn't believe it, so I added a helmet verification photo. Check it out! I think I first saw him about two months ago. I was delivering to LS Entertainment, and this guy suddenly asked me to sell him my helmet; at first, I said no, but he seemed to be in a hurry, so I sold it to him. The helmet wasn't a limited edition or anything, just a common one, but from the circumstances, I think the guy I saw was HS. (+ Photos of the helmet HS wore and the one I used) Everyone's been curious about HS's face lately, but the guy I saw was a real god; even the composite sketches circulating can't compare to the real thing. He was so handsome that I still remember him vividly... The world is really unfair; HS is handsome and talented... Sigh... Anyway... I left a verification, so I'm going back to deliver...

↳ Don't cry, tell me... How handsome is your man?

↳ But this is real. The circumstances fit too perfectly to be a coincidence.

↳ Why is the last part so sad… It's like a real vibe… This is real…

↳ If HS wants a new helmet, I can sell it to him at a discount. Only direct transactions, though. 😄

As Manager Kim read the post, he tilted his head and asked.

"Minhyung, about that helmet you wore. Did you buy it from a delivery person at LS Entertainment?"

"Yes, I did. Why?"

"Ah, that delivery person posted a verification that he saw your face. There are composite sketches of you circulating now."

"So what? It's not like there are photos of my face, and no one will recognize me if I change my helmet."

At this, Manager Kim stared at Minhyung. No matter how he looked at it, changing a helmet wouldn't prevent people from recognizing him. Was Minhyung underestimating his own appearance?

"Still, the reaction on the community is incredible."

"Is that so?"

"Thanks to this, your music streaming numbers are increasing."

"That's good."

"Really, you might end up entering the entertainment industry."

"That won't happen."

At Minhyung's sharp response, Manager Kim sighed regretfully. However, he believed that one day, whether Minhyung wanted it or not, he would stand out in front of people.

Indeed.

Can the sun be hidden by a palm?

* * *

Taichi entered the departure lounge alone. The days of hardship and camaraderie with Minhyung felt like a lie.

"I won't go far. I need to wrap up some work."

Minhyung's last words echoed in his ears. Indeed, there was no reason to feel disappointed. After all, their relationship was based on money and music. But why did he feel a childish disappointment?

It was clear that he was more anxious about their relationship. Why? Perhaps it was due to the respect and awe he felt for Minhyung, regardless of age, wealth, and fame.

He had seen it clearly.

The storytelling in the songs and the emotions conveyed were brought to life with meticulous detail. He had witnessed Minhyung's ability to oversee and create a work of art from the entire composition.

Indeed.

The time he spent learning from Minhyung was more beneficial. It was a regret-free collaboration.

Tap, tap—

While waiting for his departure, Taichi tapped the floor with the toe of his shoe and thought deeply.

'He will leave a mark in music history.'

He always wore slippers in the studio. Flat, wavy patterns would be left behind. I can confidently say that the name 'HS' will sweep through and redefine the music history of modern society.

Perhaps, he might even become a figure in textbooks.

I wish I could live a long, healthy life to witness his success with my own eyes. Ah, yes. It will definitely be possible. His success is just around the corner.

Beep, beep, beep—!

Just as Taichi's deep thoughts were stretching, a strong vibration came from his inner pocket. It was Kinjiro, the CEO of Man Records. He would probably ask when Taichi was returning. He didn't answer the call.

Thud, thud—

He moved his steps and boarded the plane that was about to depart. Anyway, once he returned to Japan and played the audio files stored on his phone, Kinjiro's nagging would stop. Indeed, if he said he brought such a work, the question of why he didn't return earlier would turn into why he returned so soon.

This song is just one of many.

The young genius, whose passion is unknown, was creating an album with fifteen tracks. This song is just one-fifteenth of it. A masterpiece that will be remembered in the history of the gaming industry is being created.

Fortunately, he was in charge of distributing this masterpiece. It was truly fortunate that he had the opportunity, luck, and quick action to secure this project.

Perhaps...

He would make a lot of money from this, and he would pass a portion of it to him, saying,

"Thank you for your hard work."

They would share the glory. It was an album he was eagerly awaiting. He decided to stop his thoughts here as fatigue suddenly washed over him.

Taichi leaned back the business class seat and closed his eyes. Indeed, he had been so busy in Korea that he had forgotten how tired he was.

"Hmm…"

Taichi fell into a deep sleep, hearing the announcement that the plane was about to take off.

* * *

"Whaaat-!"

"Holy-!"

"Oh my god-!"

It was hard to tell if they were in a foreign country, Korea, or even outer space, with the strange exclamations that poured out simultaneously. They were the engineers of LS Entertainment.

They had received the first completed opening OST audio file, claiming to help with the mastering, and immediately rushed to Minhyung's studio.

"Is Minhyung really crazy?"

"I mean, how does he always produce such high-quality songs?"

"Maybe he sold his soul to the devil?"

"Yeah, maybe he made a deal like Faust."

"Well, Minhyung is a bit inhuman."

"Right, he's the only one whose hair doesn't get flattened even when we sleep in the studio together."

Minhyung didn't say a word. He didn't understand the relationship between not getting his hair flattened and being inhuman, but it seemed they were deriving their own conclusions about the song.

"Kids."

Manager Kim, unable to hold back, asked.

"What kind of logic is that?"

"What logic? It just means Minhyung is so perfect and amazing that he's inhuman."

"Right, it's as if this song is as excellent as if he made a deal with the devil."

Clearly, these were engineers who had broken through the odds of one in a few hundred to join the company. They were talented enough to receive frequent recruitment offers from other places.

Wasn't their home ground the popular songs known as hooks? Yet, how could a game OST be so good that they praised it so enthusiastically?

"It's a game OST, and it's for all ages."

"Yes, it's a game OST."

"But is the song really that good?"

"You'll understand why we're reacting this way once you listen to it."

Minhyung's songs were always good. They were consistently high-quality songs with good melodies. This time, he knew that the legendary composer Taichi was involved, and the recording was done with members of a famous philharmonic orchestra. However, it was a different genre and used for a different commercial purpose. Even Manager Kim couldn't grasp the quality of this result.

"Minhyung, is it finished?"

"Just one song for now."

"Can I listen to it?"

Manager Kim extended his hand for the headphones.

"You're just going to say it's good again."

"This time, it might not be to my taste."

"How could that be?"

"Wow, aren't you being too confident?"

They exchanged a smile as they put on the headphones Minhyung handed them. Indeed, they had never heard a bad song from Minhyung. They always praised his songs. It was just a new genre, so he couldn't grasp the quality, but the song would be good. It would just be a matter of personal taste.

Click.

As the space bar was pressed, a gentle piano melody flowed through the headphones.

Ah, it's spring.

Cherry blossoms fluttered, tickling the windowsill where warm sunlight shone. The laughter of students starting a new school year could be heard, and the scent of flowers seemed to rise from somewhere.

Soon.

The song transitioned, and it was summer. The vibrant and bright ensemble of instruments created a fountain that stole the heat of the scorching sun. The water droplets splashed, taking away the heat from his forehead.

This time, it was autumn, indeed autumn.

Dark and low instruments continued their performances. The dissonance created a deep sense of melancholy, and leaves fell from above, creating a sentimental mood.

Winter soon arrived.

Sharp and piercing scales created a fierce blizzard. The breath from his mouth formed ice flowers, stinging his cheeks. Was this a famine? If he endured and persevered, the fragrant spring would come again. He believed it would come and endured the hard times.

But spring, summer, autumn, and winter did not come.

All the instruments and voices gradually retreated and fled. The swirling sounds faded away behind his ears. The empty space was filled with a sense of emptiness and futility, making him feel bitter.

Manager Kim's eyelids trembled with the emptiness conveyed by the song, and his eyes wouldn't easily open. He was deeply immersed in the song, feeling its aftertaste.

"Wow…"

When he opened his eyes, the background in his field of vision was so unfamiliar and awkward that he was amazed at how engrossed he had been. Indeed, it felt like he had entered and exited a game world.

"Really, he's crazy."

"I knew it would be like this."

"But what's the title of the song?"

"Emptiness."

"Emptiness?"

"Yes, Emptiness."

Emptiness (虛無)...

Manager Kim chuckled. What more could be said to a genius who could predict the emotions the listener would feel and name the song accordingly?

"You really chose a great title."

Just this one sentence was enough.