Chapter 81

Reincarnation of the Reckless Genius Composer - Chapter 81 (81/482)

"Ha-jun, are you hot? Why are you sweating so much?"

At Park Executive's question, Kang Ha-jun, with a tense face, replied, "Yes?" and wiped the cold sweat from his forehead.

"Are you nervous?"

"Ah, well, a little…?"

At his answer, Park Executive let out a small sigh, "Huh," and scrutinized Kang Ha-jun's face closely.

Of course, he hadn't known him for a long time, but…

As the trainee receiving the most attention in Team 1, Park Executive had also invested a lot of interest and time in him.

'Kang Ha-jun…'

Do children from wealthy families receive education to not show their emotions from a young age?

- He thought, as Kang Ha-jun always appeared composed and textbook-like, like a block of wood.

However.

Right now, Kang Ha-jun's face was as tense as a high school senior on the day of the college entrance exam, his gaze wandering aimlessly, and cold sweat streaming down his face.

'This is the second time I've seen him shaken…'

The first time was when he was shaken by the mixed reactions of passing and criticism from HS during the main round.

The second time is right now, when he received an urgent meeting (interview) call from HS and agreed to meet today.

"Shall I go with you?"

"No, thank you."

"Still, if I go with you…"

"It's fine."

Kang Ha-jun added firmly.

"I'm very grateful for your concern, but I want to tell them myself that I am a Team 1 trainee and express my gratitude for giving me another song."

Park Executive let out a "Hmm" and slowly nodded his head.

"Right, it's better if you do it yourself."

But he seemed worried, and a restless look appeared on his face.

Then, as if something had just occurred to him, he exclaimed, "Ah!" and handed over a shopping bag he had brought.

"Ha-jun, take this."

"What's all this?"

"He really loves 'mu.'"

Kang Ha-jun tilted his head, puzzled. "Mu?"

"Kimchi, radish salad, radish pickles, stir-fried radish, braised radish, and radish pancakes…."

With a curious look, he checked the contents of the shopping bag and found six different side dishes made with radish, all in brand new containers.

"What's all this?"

"I prepared these specially, getting up early in the morning, to ask them to take good care of our Ha-jun."

Park Executive added proudly, shrugging his shoulders.

"Of course, my wife made most of them, but I helped by trimming the radish with a knife."

Then, as if he had almost forgotten, he made a "Ta-da" sound and pulled something out of his pocket.

"What's this…?"

"This? It's something he'll go crazy for."

Park Executive smiled, as if he had just pulled out his trump card.

"Make sure to give this too."

He placed it in Kang Ha-jun's inner pocket and whispered, "Perfect," while straightening his collar.

'Envelope? Money? Does HS like money…?'

Well, who doesn't like money? The radish was a bit random, but…

Since these were prepared by Park Executive, who is a close associate, they must be well-received gifts.

"Thank you…"

After a moment.

"Wait? It's already time…"

Kang Ha-jun, realizing the time was almost up for his meeting with HS, hastily got up.

"I'll go now. Thank you."

"Go on, take the side dishes and be careful!"

Park Executive's back, as he saw Kang Ha-jun off, looked like a mother sending her child to school for the first time.

* * *

In the lobby of LS Entertainment, at the café terrace 'ACE'

This place, despite the difficulty in finding part-time workers in this era, operates smoothly without any issues due to the diligent part-time workers.

There was a reason for this…

"Wow… his face is insane."

It was because, being inside an entertainment company, many actors, singers, and trainees with outstanding and famous appearances frequently visited the 'café terrace.'

Moreover, since it was only for LS Entertainment's artists and employees, there were no major troublemakers, making it a great working environment.

"Is this person even human? Or a statue?"

"I've never seen him on TV. Is he a trainee?"

"Since I've never seen him before, he must be a new trainee."

Part-time workers Jo Ha-rin and Lee Seul-ki were staring at a man sitting alone on a sofa inside the café, exclaiming in admiration.

"He's better looking than any idol I've seen."

"I'll start fangirling as soon as he debuts."

"No, he looks more like an actor."

"Ultimately, you're saying he's handsome, right?"

The man, with a face that could be the epitome of a 'pretty boy,' was fidgeting with a straw with his long, pale fingers, looking as if he was anxiously waiting for someone.

"Who could he be waiting for?"

"Yeah, he should come before his heart melts along with the ice…."

To them, he looked like a dog eagerly waiting for its owner.

He nervously glanced around, moving the coffee cup in front of him and stirring it to keep it from settling.

How much time had passed?

Ding.

The automatic door of the café terrace opened with a pleasant chime.

"Wow…."

"Hey, damn…."

A man with an even greater aura, longer legs, and a more striking presence entered the café, causing the two part-time workers to cover their mouths and hold back their exclamations.

"Hey, Seul-ki, the real deal is here. He's finally come, he's here-!"

"Is this the man you said is the reason you can't quit this job?"

"Ah, you've only been here for a week, so it's your first time seeing him?"

At her question, Seul-ki nodded and turned her gaze back to the man. He exuded a completely different aura from the man who had been sitting inside the café.

"Yeah, he's cold and bloodless, but he's really handsome. Tall and slender…."

Seul-ki trailed off and tilted her head, asking,

"Is this person also a trainee here? If I had seen a face like this on TV, I wouldn't forget it…."

"It seems that way, but I can't understand why LS Entertainment isn't debuting him immediately!"

Jo Ha-rin, agitated, stomped her feet and fidgeted.

Thud, thud.

The 'cold and bloodless' man looked around the café, then started walking.

"Uh, uh…?"

For a moment, the part-time workers let out dramatic sighs.

"Unbelievable… what kind of face combination is this?"

"I must have joined to see this combination."

"Wow, the face is perfect."

"You know, it's so comforting to look at."

The 'cold and bloodless' man, showing off his long legs, sat down in front of the 'pretty boy.'

"Hey."

The sharp and cold voice of the 'cold and bloodless' man pierced the ears of the part-time workers.

"Ha…."

One of the part-time workers suddenly clutched her head and swayed.

"Ha-rin, are you okay?"

"Seul-ki, I think I've had enough sleep for today."

"Huh? Why do you think you've had enough sleep?"

"I have a narrative in my head, I need to write a novel."

"Suddenly a narrative? What kind of novel?"

At Seul-ki's question, Ha-rin glanced between the two men and answered.

"The pretty boy and the cold and bloodless man were actually old best friends. But the pretty boy had always seen the cold and bloodless man as a man. One day, after drinking, he confessed, and their relationship became awkward. The cold and bloodless man, however, found himself increasingly concerned about the pretty boy…."

Then, she formed a heart with her hands, encompassing the two men, and added,

"Eventually, after a few years, they had an awkward reunion at the café…."

Seul-ki's expression turned to shock as she watched Ha-rin.

'What is she… I feel uncomfortable.'

On her first week, Seul-ki decided to quit.

* * *

Meanwhile.

"Hey."

Kang Ha-jun, completely unaware of the imaginative flights of the part-time workers, was only flustered by the young man who suddenly sat down in front of him.

"Who are you?"

"What are you talking about?"

The man, who looked at him with a bewildered expression and a brusque tone, was quite…

No, no.

His appearance was so perfect that even commenting on it would be a disservice.

'Wow…'

His face, smooth and free of any blemishes, housed sharp and well-defined features in a small, slender frame.

His eyebrows were neatly arched, his eyes large and long without double eyelids, his nose straight and defined, and his lips full and tinged with red.

'Really handsome.'

After a thorough inspection of his face, Kang Ha-jun, worried he might have stared too intently, slightly lowered his gaze to the table and spoke.

"There are many empty seats around, why this one…."

He then abruptly raised his head and asked,

"Could it be… Mr. HS?"

"Do I look like I'm seeing a mythic figure like Dangun?"

Kang Ha-jun, surprised, stammered, "No way…."

'The lower jaw is over 15 cm, so he wears a helmet….'

Yes, he had overheard people in Team 1 talking about 'HS' in a derogatory manner.

"That guy, if he eats with manners, we could share a meal. How nasty he is…."

"Jung Ha-rin is always so thin because of the intense recording schedule."

"His good looks are all rumors, right? That's why he didn't want to be exposed at first."

"Right, I heard that too. When he takes off his helmet, his jaw extends to here."

So, rumors can't be trusted?

While other details were unverified, it was clear that the rumors about his appearance were false.

'This person, not me, should be an entertainer….'

HS, realizing he had messed up his hair, muttered, "Ah, helmet."

"I forgot. No wonder it felt so cool…."

It was understandable why Kang Ha-jun was surprised by their sudden meeting without the helmet.

"Is this really Mr. HS, the composer?"

"Would I be a fake?"

"No, no, that's not what I meant…."

The sharp and dry tone and voice left no doubt.

The man sitting in front of him was indeed 'HS.'

The voice that had given him a pass while pouring out criticism…

The voice that had promised to give him a song in the backstage.

The voice that had seemed like a warm ray of light and a miracle from heaven…

How could he forget?

"Thank you again for giving me this opportunity…."

Kang Ha-jun, suddenly regaining his composure, stood up and bowed politely.

"Sit down, it's fine."

HS waved his hand dismissively, with a look of disdain.

"Here's a small gift to express my gratitude."

Kang Ha-jun, undeterred, pushed the shopping bag that Park Executive had prepared over to HS.

"What's this?"

"He really loves it…."

HS, rummaging through the shopping bag, muttered, "He does like radish, but not this kind…."

Kang Ha-jun, seemingly unaware of his comment, pulled out an envelope from his inner pocket, presumably containing money.

"He loves this even more…."

HS, suddenly seeing the white envelope in front of him, narrowed his eyes.

"I don't need this."

"But it's my sincere gesture, so please don't refuse…."

Kang Ha-jun, thinking HS was uncomfortable with the 'money envelope,' gently placed it in his hand with a social smile.

"Hmm?"

However, HS, feeling that the envelope in his hand didn't seem to contain money, peeked inside and found…

"This is…."

The envelope was filled with meal tickets from the LS Entertainment cafeteria, a source of pride.