Chapter 8

Reckless Genius Composer Returns - Chapter 8 (8/482)

“I’m against this project.”

His tone was similar to that of a father opposing his son’s marriage.

“Why Seojini? There are plenty of other good singers out there.”

Manager Kim kept trying to persuade Hyunsung as he followed him, but...

“Hyunsung, I’ve made a list of singers who are preparing to make a comeback. The lineup is impressive, so why don’t you take a look at the list first and then decide?”

In contrast, Hyunsung didn’t even pretend to listen and walked ahead.

To be precise...

He was completely engrossed in the Nintendo game in his hand.

“Can you pause the game for a moment?”

“Why?”

“Think about it again.”

“I have.”

“Then think about it one more time.”

Manager Kim’s voice gradually faded as he tried to persuade Hyunsung.

“Sigh...”

Soon, a deep sigh was heard.

Wasn’t Hyunsung the composer he had brought in with unprecedented conditions?

At a time when he should be solidifying his position within the company with various achievements...

‘Starting with Seojini...’

These days, the adjectives used to describe her were ‘a singer in decline,’ ‘a washed-up singer,’ and ‘the Seojini of the past.’

Not only was her personality not gentle, but perhaps because she had entered the entertainment industry at a young age...

She was unusually sharp and made frequent mistakes on variety shows she had worked hard to get into.

Due to her pride, she often engaged in verbal sparring with other panelists, leading to frequent edits.

‘She kept getting criticized...’

Three years as a trainee, six years in the entertainment industry.

A total of nine years.

For nearly three years, she had been on a steep decline.

Thanks to her previous popularity, she could still bring some minor attention, but...

Lately, she had not been bringing in proper revenue for the company.

No wonder she was called a ‘headache’ among the company’s important figures.

Would he take on such a singer?

Based on the sample tracks he had received from Hyunsung before the contract, he could tell that if Hyunsung had the ability to produce songs of this level, good opportunities would surely come soon.

If it were any other new composer, who prioritized release over success, it might be different, but there was no reason for a new composer with Hyunsung’s level of skill to stake everything on a singer like Seojini.

If his first release with the company resulted in poor performance, wouldn’t the perception of Hyunsung become negative?

‘Why take on such a risk...’

Manager Kim couldn’t understand it at all.

“Stop sighing. You’re going to make my studio collapse.”

“Do you think I’m not sighing for a reason?”

“It’s like a well-tuned instrument that can make a good sound if properly adjusted.”

Hyunsung, with a slight smile, added:

“Since she’s a headache anyway, why don’t you just hand her over to me?”

His indifferent tone and casual attitude were strangely trustworthy.

“Anyway, the opinion of the person involved is also important...”

Manager Kim, who had been speaking vaguely, added:

“I’ll ask for their opinions and get back to you.”

It felt like he could fully understand the saying, ‘Parents can’t win against their children.’

* * *

Creak.

The thick soundproof door opened, and Jutae, with a serious expression, appeared. It seemed the recording wasn’t going well.

“Manager Kim?”

Manager Kim, who had cautiously entered, saw Jutae, who stopped the backing track with a “click” and asked:

“What’s the matter again...”

Manager Kim, unnecessarily, cleared his throat a few times and began to speak.

“I’m very sorry to bring this up at such a crucial moment, but I have a proposal.”

Jutae, curious, stood up from his seat.

“Sorry to interrupt, but can we talk for a moment?”

Jutae, nodding his head, guided him to the sofa in the corner of the recording studio.

“Would you like some water or a drink?”

“No, thank you.”

“Then, what’s your proposal...”

Manager Kim glanced at Seojini in the recording booth and quietly said:

“I heard you’ve been under a lot of stress since taking on Seojini.”

“Every time her performance was poor, it felt like the responsibility was on me...”

“With the pressure from the company, it must have been tough.”

Manager Kim, after finishing his words, cautiously asked:

“I’m being careful because it might hurt your feelings...”

Jutae looked at Manager Kim, curious about what proposal he was taking so long to make.

“What if we hand over the production of Seojini’s single to the new composer we just signed?”

Jutae, looking at Manager Kim with interest, asked:

“What do you mean by that...?”

Jutae, though he asked in a surprised tone, secretly hoped for this.

“Wasn’t it tough for you to handle Seojini’s album?”

“Well, it was tough...”

“What if the new composer takes over as the overall producer?”

At that moment, Jutae quickly asked:

“Are you just changing the producer and director?”

In other words, he was asking if he could completely step away from this album.

“No, all the songs will be replaced with the new composer’s songs.”

Jutae, who had momentarily smiled, quickly regained his composure and asked:

“Is that possible?”

“It’s not impossible.”

Manager Kim shrugged and added:

“Well, the release date might be delayed a bit.”

Jutae, hearing Manager Kim’s firm answer, immediately revealed his true thoughts, as if it were a good thing.

“Actually, isn’t it time for the new composer to face both hot and cold water? I also started by taking the difficult path step by step when I was a new composer.”

“Ah, yes...”

“Who knows? I heard he’s quite talented for a new composer, and this album might be successful, contrary to everyone’s expectations.”

He added with enthusiasm:

“Anyway, it’s an opportunity for him, isn’t it?”

“An opportunity...”

“Let’s assume Seojini’s album is successful.”

A moment of silence.

“Wouldn’t it be a golden opportunity for you to catch the eye of the higher-ups?”

Manager Kim, who had almost said, “Then why don’t you do it?” in a sarcastic tone, barely swallowed it.

‘I’m excited, I’m excited...’

Jutae, though he framed it as an opportunity, knew that no one expected Seojini’s album to be a hit.

After all, she had been on a steep decline for three years.

On the internet, she was known by the dishonorable nickname of ‘youngest washed-up singer.’

“Then, I’ll take that as the end of our conversation.”

Jutae, trying to hide his smile, began to wrap up the conversation.

“You’ll report this to the higher-ups, right?”

“Yes, of course.”

At that moment, the door to the recording booth closed with a “bang.”

“Hey, did you hear that?”

Jutae, looking at Seojini, who had just come out of the recording booth, continued:

“The overall producer for this album is changing.”

Manager Kim, unable to hide his shock, looked at her face.

“Seojini, when did you hear this?”

“Just now.”

“But that new composer...”

Seojini, waving her hand dismissively, walked out of the recording studio.

“Really, what a temper.”

Jutae, looking at the door Seojini had opened, mocked her.

“That’s why there are so many bad rumors about her. With the uncertainty of her re-signing, she needs to be more careful with her words and actions.”

Manager Kim, without agreeing with Jutae, silently looked at the door Seojini had opened.

Meanwhile.

Seojini, standing still after opening the door to the studio, took a deep breath.

She had long known that her re-signing was uncertain and her position in the company was precarious.

After all, none of the albums she had released in the past three years had even broken even.

Despite working hard every day, she had ended up in a difficult position.

“Sigh.”

The offer of a new composer meant that the company had no expectations for her anymore.

“I’m going crazy...”

Her sighs showed no sign of ending.

* * *

Meanwhile.

Hyunsung listened to Seojini’s songs all day.

Starting from her first album, which had good sales...

To her recent albums, which had consistently poor performance.

‘The songs from her early days are worth listening to.’

In contrast, her recent songs were all subpar.

‘The musicians were really bad.’

Most of the songs felt like they were forcing her to hit high notes, and because they chose popular songs, many were fast-paced.

On the other hand, Seojini’s voice was stronger and more powerful in the mid to low range. When she handled the end notes in a down-tempo song without any gimmicks, a sophisticated sound emerged.

‘She is a singer, after all.’

What can I say?

Seojini was definitely a good instrument.

However.

It was an instrument with a very high level of difficulty.

‘To properly play the instrument called ‘Seojini,’ a lot of care seems necessary.’

At this point, Seojini felt a bit pitiful.

She had been poorly tuned and played out of tune because she had met the wrong musicians.

‘Her voice was strained just now...’

He could hear a suppressed voice again, a voice that was slightly trembling and timid.

“Is Manager Kim talking well?”

There didn’t seem to be a big reason for Jutae to refuse. He could tell from his attitude during the recording.

A mutual destruction.

That’s what they were doing. Persuading Jutae was Manager Kim’s job.

‘My job is to always make songs as I usually do.’

He turned on the voice memo and hummed the melody whenever it came to mind, layering the recording files.

Click.

He finally put down his phone and stretched. His fingers ached from doing something he usually didn’t do.

“Should I start now...”

He had to pour the intangible songs in his head into the program, so he immediately started to loosen his fingers.

Playing the keyboard to create the backing track...

He layered various sources on top of the rhythmic piano melody.

“Phew.”

Hyunsung roughly wiped the sweat from his forehead with his sleeve. He was too lazy to turn on the air conditioner.

Not only that, but for over 30 minutes, his hands didn’t leave the keyboard, even though he was thirsty.

‘Just this one, just this one...’

As the things in his head took shape and the lines were drawn in the direction he wanted, he felt confident.

‘This is really good...’

Finally, Hyunsung’s stiff face relaxed, and a smile appeared on his lips.

In his previous life, he couldn’t work for a while due to panic disorder, and after regressing, he had only made sample tracks.

Creating a formal release track was a rare experience.

Thanks to this, his thirst for music, which had been drying his throat, was finally quenched.

“Huh?”

The phone he saw now surprised him.

First, it was past 5 a.m.

Second, it was because of Manager Kim’s text message.

Hyunsung decided not to reply.

He immediately put the phone down and connected a USB to save the three completed songs.

‘What should I name the files?’

He faced the final hurdle again. The songs didn’t even have a title or a working title.

“Seojini, Seojini, Seojini...”

After repeating her name a few times, Hyunsung, feeling too lazy to think more, named the files based on his stream of consciousness.

「Magic Lamp Jini 01~03」

A title with no meaning or significance.

* * *

Manager Kim was walking quickly to the A&R department.

‘Is this even possible?’

He showed a disbelieving expression and took out his phone.

[The Seojini songs have been sent to the A&R email. Please set the recording date.]

Manager Kim, reading Hyunsung’s text, laughed sarcastically again.

It had only been 24 hours.

Wasn’t it just 24 hours ago that Hyunsung said he would take on Seojini?

‘What is this guy really doing?’

He knew Hyunsung had a shining talent, but it was certainly surprising that he had completed songs so quickly.

How much time had passed?

Creak.

The A&R department, which he entered, was as noisy as a market.

“Manager, you’re here?”

A team leader immediately came over to greet him.

“Why is the A&R department so chaotic today?”

“Why? Because of the email from that composer.”

Engineers and A&R staff were gathered in small groups, chattering like excited baby birds.

“The structure of each song he made is amazing.”

“To be honest, the quality of the songs is too good for Seojini.”

“But as I listened, it seemed to fit her well?”

From their excited expressions to their gleaming eyes.

Seeing their various reactions, Manager Kim also felt the urge to listen to the songs.

“Is Seojini here?”

Feeling a presence behind him, Manager Kim turned around to see Seojini standing there with a sullen expression.

“The songs are ready, so I called you.”

She muttered with a cold gaze.

“What do you mean, ‘ready’?”

“Huh?”

“Probably recycled songs.”

Manager Kim couldn’t respond to that. He couldn’t scold her for her rude manner.

After all, it was a situation where she had every right to be angry.

The overall producer was changed without her consent, and the songs were changed.

In other words, the release date was delayed, and all her efforts so far were in vain.

Moreover.

She was asked to sing recycled songs that a new composer had created in just one day?

‘I would be angry too.’

Still, the songs Hyunsung made had surprised the A&R department, both in the past and now.

Without listening, he couldn’t make a hasty judgment.

“Seojini, let’s go to the engineer’s room and listen to them.”

Manager Kim, along with an engineer and a team leader, took her to the engineer’s room.

“Give me a headset so I can focus.”

She put on the headset and closed her eyes tightly.

She wasn’t taking it seriously.

She planned to listen carefully and criticize the songs to start an argument.

“I’m ready.”

As she spoke, the engineer was about to play the file.

Creak.

The center of this controversy, Hyunsung, opened the door and entered the engineer’s room.

“I came to see your first reaction to my songs, so please continue what you were doing.”

Hyunsung, who had just entered, crossed his arms and said his first words.

“Play it quickly.”

Seojini, snorting slightly, turned her head.

The engineer’s room fell silent.

After a short while, the sound of tapping feet began.

‘Huh?’

When the engineer found the source of the sound, he was startled.

‘Is Seojini tapping her foot to the rhythm?’

It was a small movement, but she was clearly swaying to the rhythm.

‘The person who used to listen to famous composers’ songs with a stiff, raised head...’

By the time the second song, the album’s title track, started, she opened her eyes and looked for Hyunsung.

Their eyes met in the air, and by the time the third song ended, a total of 14 minutes and 15 seconds had passed.

“Seojini, how was it?”

As soon as the song ended, a team leader asked.

“Are the songs good?”

“Um...”

“Did you not like them?”

“Um...”

“Seojini, what’s wrong?”

She continued to give soulless answers with a dazed expression.

Unable to bear it, Manager Kim stepped in and asked in a frustrated tone:

“