Chapter 66

### Chapter 66 (66/482) - The Reckless Genius Composer Returns

Finally, the much-anticipated recruitment for K-SingerStar began. Advertisements were plastered everywhere, promising to recruit participants for the nationwide audition, regardless of their location.

From TV, portal sites, news articles, radio, to bus billboards...

Thanks to a more generous budget compared to previous auditions, K-SingerStar launched a massive and aggressive advertising campaign. As a result, out of every ten people living in South Korea, nine were aware of K-SingerStar.

Most importantly...

The public was particularly interested in the lineup of celebrity judges, which included top idols, rappers, and producers for the regional auditions, and the main judges, Kim Gwangjin, Lee Youngah, and Won Jinseop, for the finals.

However, two silhouettes in the main judge lineup, marked with question marks, sparked curiosity.

Netizens engaged in heated debates about who these two silhouettes might be.

"Probably Minjae Moon and KOK's leader, Sehoon Kwon." "No, they must be famous international pop stars." And so on...

"Hmm."

Jaebeul, who had been reading these speculative comments, let out a deep sigh. He was not pleased that his name was not mentioned.

After all...

The public seemed to think that there was no need to hide him behind a silhouette since he frequently appeared on TV.

"They're all fools."

Jaebeul put down his phone and let out a light chuckle. He knew who the silhouettes were.

Yes, one of them was himself.

And Jaebeul muttered the name of the other person.

"HS..."

The more he repeated the name, the more his mouth felt dry, as if he were chewing sand. HS was the composer who had given him his first taste of defeat and the first person to make him feel wary. It was impossible not to feel uncomfortable.

"Shall we begin?"

Jaebeul started tidying up the console. This was a habit he had when he was fully focused on his work.

As he moved his hand to the mouse, the screen lit up, and the MIDI program window appeared.

He moved his hands to the master keyboard to create the competition song for the K-SingerStar finals.

Translating the melody in his head into a concrete form was not difficult.

However...

Today, he would not just create a melody. He would do more.

'HS...'

Crunch!

Jaebeul gritted his teeth. The thought of HS, who was gradually catching up to him, made him feel a strange sense of vigilance for the first time in his life.

Yes, he had agreed to participate as a judge and provide a competition song for K-SingerStar to shake off this strange feeling.

Tap, tap, tap...

As his hand moved the mouse frantically, smooth and seamless chords quickly filled the track.

One of the two finalists in the K-SingerStar top 2 would sing a song created by Jaebeul, and the other would sing a song by HS.

Jaebeul had agreed to participate as a judge and provide a competition song under this condition. HS had agreed to the same terms.

Jaebeul vs. HS, HS vs. Jaebeul...

They would compete again, with the entire nation watching, based on the audio performance of their competition songs. This time, he would prepare thoroughly and crush HS once and for all.

Crunch!

He gritted his teeth again.

Or perhaps "cracked" would be a more accurate description? The sound of his teeth grinding together was audible through his tightly clenched jaw. His jaw muscles were likely sore, but he paid no attention to it.

To be honest, Jaebeul hadn't put in much effort as a composer for a long time. He had always made beautiful songs and never missed the top spot.

Yes, that was why he had become someone who was far from the concept of effort...

If someone saw Jaebeul's current state and heard this story, they might even start a one-person protest to defend him.

"Jaebeul...?"

The producer, who entered the studio, was surprised by Jaebeul's intense focus and effort.

"Jaebeul?"

Jaebeul didn't even hear the producer calling him again. Was it because of the heat from the equipment? His back was drenched in sweat, and his T-shirt clung to him.

"Hmm."

The producer looked at Jaebeul's back calmly. Despite his complex feelings, his expression remained calm.

Occasionally, when looking at Jaebeul, he wondered if words like "overachiever" and "talent" were created just to describe this guy.

Since Jaebeul's debut in the music industry, the domestic music market had been his playground.

Yes, it had been a stage exclusively for Jaebeul.

The more he indulged in his own success, the more he focused on creating hit songs rather than putting in effort. This was not a bad thing from the company's perspective.

However...

Looking at Jaebeul's back now, a strange sense of familiarity washed over him. It was as if he was seeing the back of Jaebeul when he first started as a composer.

Putting aside his titles and looking at him as a close associate, it was both surprising and admirable to see him so passionate about outperforming someone.

Eventually...

The producer smiled and quietly left the studio.

"I'll have to come back another time."

It seemed that Jaebeul had finally found a worthy competitor.

* * *

Meanwhile...

Unlike Jaebeul, Hyunseung was not thinking at all about preparing the competition song for K-SingerStar.

Currently, all his attention was focused on the release of "A Handful of Cherry Blossoms." This song captured the fleeting excitement and subtle tremors of spring.

In short, it was a warm, tickling, and ethereal song.

While searching for a voice that would perfectly match the song, one person came to mind. Yes, a voice that was as warm as spring, tickling the heart, and clear and pure...

"Mr. Composer, I'm here!"

At that moment, the person appeared at the studio door, smiling like a ray of warm spring sunshine.

"Ah, you're here."

That person was Jeong Arin.

"I never doubted that you would call me again."

"You're exaggerating. Did you practice a lot?"

"Of course! I practiced until I was bleeding after receiving the file."

Jeong Arin rolled up her sleeves and added confidently.

"I even postponed all my other schedules to focus on practicing."

Hyunseung chuckled and nodded. "Good job." Her eyes sparkled with confidence, a stark contrast to when he first brought her in to work.

"Did you warm up your voice? Are you ready to start?"

"Just a moment. Five minutes, no, three minutes."

Jeong Arin frantically pulled out a printed sheet of music from her bag.

"Hmm?"

Hyunseung was surprised when he glanced at the sheet. The colorful notes and annotations on the sheet revealed the time and effort she had put into her practice.

"Wait, let me see."

Hyunseung snatched the sheet and scanned it. Jeong Arin, looking flustered, was ignored as he read through it.

From memorizing the lyrics to marking the key points in each section, how to control her breathing, and how to project her voice, the sheet was filled with her thoughts and efforts.

"You even came up with your own ad-libs?"

Jeong Arin, thinking he was questioning her, hesitated and mumbled.

"Well, I should have discussed it with you, but I really wanted to show you how much I've grown. Should I remove them?"

Hyunseung, looking satisfied, gestured towards the booth.

"No, let's go with it. Go to the booth and get ready."

"Really? You're going with what I prepared?"

Jeong Arin, surprised by the immediate approval, asked again.

"Really? We're recording now?"

"Well, do you want to eat a late-night snack and record later?"

"No, no! Absolutely not!"

"Then get in there before the sun sets."

Eventually...

The second recording session with Jeong Arin began.

...

"Huh?"

Jeong Arin, with a puffed-up face, asked again, unsure if she had heard correctly.

"Is this really the end? The final touch?"

"Yep, that's it. We're done."

"Really? Is it okay to end it like this?"

"I said it's done."

"Are you just doing this half-heartedly because you're annoyed?"

Hyunseung, irritated by her persistent questioning, sharply asked, "Half-heartedly?"

"No, no..."

Jeong Arin, sensing she had overstepped, made a groaning sound but didn't ask again.

The memory of her first recording session, which had taken several days and felt like a living hell, was still vivid.

'Ugh, just thinking about it...'

It had been a grueling and exhausting experience. She had expected the same this time, but the recording was finished in just three takes.

'That can't be...'

Jeong Arin tilted her head in confusion.

Of course...

She had always been deeply grateful to Hyunseung and wanted to show him her growth.

To be honest, she had a desire to be recognized by him.

When she received the offer for the digital single, she had resolved to prepare thoroughly and show him her best.

Yes, she had understood the song and thought about how to bring it to life. Practicing until her voice was hoarse was a given.

Hyunseung had entrusted her with this song for a reason.

Moreover, she had canceled all her schedules for three days after the recording date, expecting that the session with Hyunseung would take at least two days.

After all that preparation, she came to the studio to record...

"Am I really leaving now...?"

"Yep, we're done. You can go."

But the session had ended in less than an hour, leaving Jeong Arin in disbelief as she kept checking Hyunseung's reaction.

Was her effort reflected in the result?

No, no...

Considering Hyunseung's personality, she wondered if the result was so poor that he didn't want to direct her anymore. Or perhaps he was being lenient because of her preparation? But he wasn't the type to be lenient...

Either way, it wasn't a pleasant thought.

"Then... I'll see you again?"

"Are you still here?"

Finally, Jeong Arin, feeling like she was being pushed out, left the studio with hesitant steps.

Meanwhile...

Hyunseung, looking at the closed studio door, let out a light laugh.

"It feels good."

He immediately put on his headphones and played back the final take.

Click.

On a clear spring day, the intro sounded like a handful of cherry blossoms fluttering in the breeze.

With a sense of excitement, Jeong Arin's clear and pure voice began the song.

"Hmm, hmm..."

As the song progressed, Hyunseung hummed along. Jeong Arin's vocals, now polished and professional, smoothly blended with the music.

"Jeong Arin..."

When the song ended, Hyunseung muttered her name and chuckled again.

"Not bad at all."

Unlike her first session, where she had been hesitant and nervous, Jeong Arin had shown her full potential, exceeding his expectations. Her performance had enriched the song's colors.

As a result, the recording was completed in just three takes.

Jeong Arin had delivered a result that surpassed his expectations. In fact, she had given him a satisfactory result.

"Since it's done faster than expected, maybe I should suggest we go for lunch."

Eventually...

Hyunseung, looking satisfied, called someone.

"Mr. Kim, shall we go to the cafeteria?"

Now, with this result, he could prepare thoroughly and release it with the arrival of spring.

* * *

Walking slowly with his hands in his pockets, Park Jeonmu stopped at the entrance of the cafe terrace.

"Huh... That guy."

At the end of his gaze was Hyunseung, buying coffee. Despite his small stature, which made him annoying to talk to, Park Jeonmu couldn't ignore him because of the recent news about his participation in K-SingerStar.

"Hmm, hmm."

Being the type who could achieve anything for his goals, Park Jeonmu cleared his throat and pretended to recognize him.

"Are you just getting to work?"

"Mr. Park, it's been a while."

"Right, let me buy you a coffee."

He handed over his card and ordered an additional espresso for himself. Hyunseung, looking at him, nodded and greeted him.

"Then I'll enjoy it. Thank you."

"Among us, what's with the thanks?"

"Huh? Suddenly, 'among us'? What do you mean by that?"

Hyunseung, looking puzzled, asked, but Park Jeonmu, not caring much, patted his back and led him to a secluded spot.

"If you're not too busy, let's chat for a bit."

"Sure, why not."

"Recently, it seems HS is really on a roll, on a roll."

He continued, his lips glistening with talk.

"His personal album is a hit, and his collaboration with Man Records is going well. I knew it. I could tell just by listening."

Hyunseung, looking at him blankly, tilted his head. What was he trying to say by starting with such a long preamble? He didn't bother to answer or ask.

He knew that Park Jeonmu was trying to reveal his true intentions to get what he wanted.

"So, I heard you got an offer to be a judge on K-SingerStar?"

Was this the purpose?

"Yes, that's right."

Hyunseung, facing his clear intentions, replied calmly.

"Did you accept the offer?"

"Yes, I did."

"Regional judge? Main judge?"

"Main judge, starting from the third round of the Seoul auditions."

"Wow, good thinking. You should show off your talent."

Park Jeonmu, making a big show of it, patted Hyunseung's shoulder.

"By the way, it's a good thing. Our 1st team is planning to send a hidden card to K-SingerStar."

"Hidden card?"

"Yes, you might not know, but entertainment companies usually plant a hidden card in such audition programs."

"Ah, I see."

Hyunseung, responding soullessly, only nodded. He knew about this practice and could see that Park Jeonmu was trying to ask for a favor in the form of a request for a good review.

"Even if they don't win, if HS treats them well during the broadcast, it will be more credible and look good if LS Entertainment says they cast them."

"Be nice to them... So, you're asking me to give biased reviews for that hidden card?"

You, you, insolent brat...

Park Jeonmu, looking at the annoyingly puzzled Hyunseung, forced a smile and tried to maintain it.

But...

Wasn't it the case that he couldn't act according to his usual nature now? After all, he had to make a request to someone he was envious of.

"What are you saying, man? We're all family, just trying to help each other out."

Hyunseung's eyebrows formed a curious curve. Watching Park Jeonmu's changing face for his own benefit was surprising. Most importantly, wasn't he trying to secure a meal for his team? Yes, he was trying to provide for his team.

The more he looked, the more impressive he found him.

"I understand what you mean."

However...

Even if they were family, Hyunseung wasn't soft enough to accept a favor for such a trivial request.

"Well, if the person is a decent musician, they will get the results they deserve."

He didn't need to deliberately provoke, so he left a vague comment and picked up his coffee.

"Wait, wait! Why are you in such a hurry?"

Park Jeonmu, rising quickly, grabbed Hyunseung's sleeve.

"Man, we've been family for a year now, and you keep acting so coldly?"

Unconsciously, his voice grew louder, and he cleared his throat before continuing.

"We're just formally divided into 1st and 2nd teams, but we're all part of LS Entertainment. Don't think of each other as competitors. We should stick together and support each other."

He patted Hyunseung's shoulder, but Hyunseung only lifted the corners of his mouth slightly.

Yes...

It was strange to hear such words from someone who had been eyeing his position not long ago. However, that didn't mean he would refuse out of petty and childish feelings.

It was just...

His purpose for participating as a judge on K-SingerStar was only one: to play an instrument he had never played before, a task left undone from the past.

Of course, he might encounter better-sounding instruments as a judge, but in his memory, no instrument sounded better than hers.

Therefore, the hidden card instrument that Park Jeonmu was now asking about was likely just another ordinary instrument. There was no need to force himself to play an instrument he didn't want to.

"I'll be going now. I'll enjoy the coffee."

Hyunseung, brushing off his crumpled sleeve, left the cafe.

"Tsk, tsk, that inflexible guy..."

Watching his back, Park Jeonmu frowned. Despite laying down his pride, he was angry that things didn't go as he had hoped.

After a moment...

Park Jeonmu sighed deeply.

Eventually...

He made a disappointed sound and smacked his lips.

"Why did such a guy end up in the 2nd team..."

Yes, the preliminary rounds of K-SingerStar, each with their own goals, were approaching.