Chapter 59

Reckless Genius Composer's Regression - Chapter 59 (59/482)

"Alright, I'll have it ready by the surgery date, so please make sure to proceed with all the necessary treatments using the best options available."

With those words, the footsteps of Manager Kim, who turned around, sank heavily like smoke settling on the ground.

Zing-!

At that moment, the phone in his pocket began to vibrate violently.

Damn, of all times, the lease agreement is expiring. Not to mention, the deposit has increased by fifty million won due to the surrounding market prices. Why do bad things always pile up like this? As he dwelled on these thoughts, he felt like throwing his phone against the wall.

No, that's not an option.

This phone, which contains all the connections and data he has painstakingly accumulated since entering this industry, is an irreplaceable item with value that cannot be converted into money. Without it, working would be like going to a battlefield without a gun.

Thud, thud-.

His steps felt unbearably heavy, as if shackles were attached to his ankles. He forced himself to move and left the hospital. His breathing eased, and his pace slowed.

"Huh…."

He put a cigarette, which he hadn't smoked for a while, in his mouth and exhaled a cloud of smoke filled with complex emotions.

Well, it's the job change I've been planning for a while.

He took out the business card of Kim Woosuk, which he had kept deep in his pocket. The card, which he had received not long ago, was already crumpled. He had spent several sleepless nights clutching it.

「Internal Director. Kim Woosuk」

As he stared intently at the card, the name "Kim Woosuk" seemed to transform into "Kim Woohyun" behind the elegantly engraved title "Internal Director." If he changed jobs, he would start as a department head.

In essence, he would start closer to the finish line of becoming an executive. There's no reason to hesitate. After all, job changes in this industry are common, and it's natural to make better choices for the future.

It's time to make a decision.

Responsibility, whether it's passion or duty, can only be sustained in the face of 'youth.'

Eventually.

He took out his phone and sent a text message.

* * *

Finally, the release date for the Animal Island OST was set. Accordingly, the A&R team was in the final stages of their work.

"I think the 6th theme song is really, really well chosen."

"But isn't the opening song the best? The progression is clear."

"Actually, all the songs are good, so it's just a matter of personal preference, right?"

"Right. But how did they manage to complete 15 songs? I miss my bed."

"Didn't you just get scolded for not adjusting the volume of a single syllable properly?"

"Yeah, you should also give up and let your family know you won't be home."

The engineers, sometimes marveling at Hyunseung's songs and sometimes grumbling, were working on the mastering process under relentless instructions.

"But it really is a huge success, wow…."

"True, it's hard for all 15 songs to be equally good, but they managed to do it."

"He must be a genius. Otherwise, this wouldn't be possible, right?"

Ultimately, their work led to praise for Hyunseung. They would stop working to laugh at the intricate arrangements or the incredible variations, and sometimes they would be lost in admiration.

"Do you have time for idle chatter?"

At that moment, a team leader entered the engineering room with both hands full of coffee.

"I heard the workload is so heavy that one of you could die without the other noticing."

One engineer, who had been waiting, took the coffee and grumbled.

"Team leader, my brain is already dead; it's just my heart and senses that keep my body moving."

"Right. We're practically walking corpses. We just react to the good songs."

Their grumbling was tinged with affection for the songs. Of course, these are people who love good music and pursue the joy of refining it to make it even better.

If they didn't have affection for Hyunseung's songs and if the quality wasn't good, they wouldn't be working in the studio, sacrificing sleep, showers, and meals.

"Of course, the songs are good because they're made by Hyunseung."

At least, every employee of the A&R team, known as the 'control tower,' had varying degrees of affection for Hyunseung. The team leader was no exception. Fundamentally, they had trust and affection for his songs.

After all, weren't all his songs good? From the first joke-like songs he sent, to the songs for Seo Jin-ee, Jung Ah-rin, Gong Hyo-ju, and his personal album, they were all good and achieved the expected results.

Moreover, the songs from his personal album, localized and released in Japan, slowly gained popularity and climbed to the top 50 on the Japanese Oricon charts. The flood of articles, regardless of whether they were from Korea or Japan, showed that everyone believed in his success.

"Hey? There's a new email?"

One engineer, sipping coffee, spoke up while checking his inbox.

"Didn't we already receive all 15 songs?"

"Is it an additional theme song?"

"No way…."

"Hyunseung might make the impossible possible."

Everyone gathered around the computers, their faces a mix of anticipation and fear.

The attached file was a single audio file.

"A handful of cherry blossoms…?"

As he muttered the file name to himself,

Zing-!

One engineer, who had checked a text message from Hyunseung, let out a deep sigh of relief. Wait, does this mean we have to work continuously even after this project is done? What a devil.

"Seems like we're not getting a break, huh?"

"Yeah, it's like he's telling us to earn our pay."

"Well, what can we do? If he says so, we have to do it."

"Since we have to do it anyway, let's listen to it now?"

"I've already saved the file. Let's listen."

Even though they were already swamped with the theme song OST mastering, if you imagine a famous chef's dish covered on a tablecloth, wouldn't you naturally want to uncover it and taste it?

Click.

They all pressed play on the new email's audio file in unison.

Soon.

The melody flowed gently, and their hearts stirred. It was a sweet spring. Indeed, the scene of scattering a handful of cherry blossoms, as the song's title suggested, vividly came to mind.

Like the theme song they were currently working on, it wasn't flashy but the atmosphere of the song was bright. It was a vivid depiction of spring.

"Wow…."

After the song ended, no one spoke except for a sigh of admiration. From a corner, a low murmur of "genius…" could be heard, and then everyone burst into laughter.

"Right, this guy is a genius."

"I said he was a genius, didn't I?"

"At least, he's not human."

Everyone burst into laughter, deflated. The song was not only excellent, but the fact that he created it while working on the theme song was beyond admiration.

"Thought he was holed up in the studio doing silent meditation, but he was creating 15 theme songs of unbelievable quality while simultaneously crafting this ace in the hole?"

The team leader nodded. The 'A Handful of Cherry Blossoms' they just heard was a song that could be released immediately for the spring season, just by completing the recording. No, it should be released. Such a song can't be wasted. We need to hurry and record it for the spring season.

"Why isn't he answering the phone?"

The team leader, in a hurry, called Hyunseung, but received a message that the call could not be connected.

"I'll go see him then."

He left the engineering room and rushed to Hyunseung's studio. The door was locked, and his calls went unanswered.

"Why would he leave after creating such a good song?"

.

.

.

Meanwhile, at that time.

"Mr. Lee, thank you for your help with the real estate contract."

After finishing the work on 'A Handful of Cherry Blossoms,' Hyunseung visited Lee Duseok's house to repay him for the secret help he had received.

"No, I also benefited from your help, as it gave me the chance to play Go with you."

Lee Duseok placed a black stone and continued.

"Out of curiosity, do you plan to continue living by showing such kindness to others?"

He added, almost to himself,

"I didn't think you were the type to have such a soft heart…."

At this, Hyunseung put down the white stone he was holding and fell into thought. No, he wasn't that kind of person. He didn't have the broad perspective or generosity to care about others' affairs.

However.

When Lee Duseok said 'others,' he was referring to Manager Kim.

"Of course not. Why would I give away the money I worked hard for?"

"Really? Then is he a blood relative or something?"

"No, but I'm in a difficult situation right now."

Hyunseung placed a white stone and looked at Lee Duseok. His expression was unreadable, his eyes hidden behind silver-rimmed glasses.

I can't read his thoughts either.

"Sure, people in difficult situations often suffer. But you can't buy people's hearts with money."

"I've spent quite a bit, but it's not enough, is it?"

"People's hearts are like leaky buckets; no matter how much you pour, it's never enough. You can't keep pouring forever."

Hyunseung didn't respond to his words until he placed all the white stones in his hand.

Tap, tap, tap-.

At the moment the Go board was densely filled with white and black stones,

Tap-.

Hyunseung placed the final white stone with a fierce momentum, and the game was decided.

"Damn, I lost again. I thought disrupting your concentration would make you lose focus."

"No way. You can't beat me with tricks like that. Not a chance."

"Is that so? Then I'll beat you with skill next time, so be prepared."

Hyunseung, who had answered with a small "Yes," got up from his seat.

"I'll take my leave for today."

As he reached the door, he seemed to remember something and turned back with a sigh.

"Mr. Lee, as you said, showing kindness won't change the world. Moreover, trying to buy people's hearts with money will only lead to more trouble."

Lee Duseok, who was reviewing the game, fixed his gaze and clicked his tongue.

"So why would an acquaintance go to such lengths to suffer…?"

Hyunseung cut off his muttering and added,

"Even if the world doesn't change and I can't buy people's hearts, at least I can make their world a little more livable, can't I?"

After a moment,

He said goodbye as he left the room.

"I'm really leaving, Mr. Lee."

Lee Duseok, looking at the closed door, shook his head.

"What a guy…."

Then he chuckled.

Hopefully.

That thunderbolt of a guy finally learned to care about others.

* * *

Manager Kim went to the administrative office. He had used all the money he had, but it was still not enough to cover the non-covered cancer treatments, hospitalization fees, and surgery costs.

"Excuse me, but…."

He had brought all the money he had, but even that wasn't enough to cover the surgery costs, so he planned to break his savings account, which was about to mature, at a loss.

"I'll pay the surgery costs for Kim Hye-ja first."

Manager Kim, who paid about 20 million won for the surgery, felt like a criminal, looking around nervously. It's strange how one feels small in front of hospital bills. He was worried that the necessary treatments might not be properly administered.

"I'll pay the rest within a week…."

Just as he was about to continue with his humble words,

"All the unpaid hospitalization fees, treatment costs, and surgery costs for Kim Hye-ja have been fully paid."

Manager Kim, doubting his ears, asked,

"Really? Please check again."

"Another guardian came yesterday and paid everything."

"Who? I'm the only guardian…."

"I asked for the name, but it was a stranger…."

The nurse said, "Just a moment," and opened the chart.

After a while,

"Oh, right!"

She clapped her hands and said,

"He just said to tell you he was a tall stranger."