Chapter 38

038. Shin Dong (1)

It feels strange entering the chairman Baek Hangil's mansion.

I used to come here only to perform, but today I'm here for a different reason.

After exchanging a brief greeting with Manager Park who came to greet me, I headed up to the study as usual.

The familiar sound of the piano and the performance were coming from the study.

The dedication piece I recorded and gave to Chairman Baek Hangil was playing.

As I entered, I saw Chairman Baek Hangil doing some light work. He must have sensed my presence, as he turned his wheelchair to face me. When he snapped his fingers, the speakers that were loudly playing stopped.

The study grew quiet.

As I approached and greeted him, he asked in surprise,

"Getting a performance request on the same day is a first, isn't it?"

"I'm sorry if it was sudden."

"Well, there's no need to apologize. I did say you could come whenever you wanted to perform. I was just thinking that no matter how expensive the speakers, nothing beats a live performance. Today, I feel like I hit the jackpot."

"I'm sorry for that too."

"Hmm?"

"I didn't come here to perform today."

Chairman Baek Hangil looked at me as if I were speaking nonsense.

Feeling his gaze, I carefully organized my thoughts, which I had been thinking about on the way here.

I wanted to appear neither too arrogant nor too hesitant, but to be clear and confident.

Being a minor could be a reason for dismissal, but if used well, it could also be a way to package a slightly rude story as boldness.

"I want to give a presentation in front of you, Chairman."

"A presentation?"

Chairman Baek Hangil looked puzzled, as if he hadn't expected to hear such a word from me.

I took out the sheet music from my bag as if it were a school assignment.

I placed the sheet music on the desk designed for his physical condition, under his watchful eyes.

When he moved his fingers, the desk tilted.

He didn't need to lower his head, which he couldn't move well. Thus, I could clearly see the change in his expression.

"Sheet music?"

"Yes. These are the pieces I've composed so far."

Curiosity sparkled in Chairman Baek Hangil's eyes.

After scanning the sheet music for a moment, he asked,

"How many pieces are there?"

"I haven't counted them exactly, but I think there are over 100."

"Huh, I thought it was impressive that Haydn composed over 100 symphonies. You've already surpassed that?"

"They're not as long as symphonies."

"That's true. Besides, I bet he only picked the good ones from all the pieces he wrote."

I replied to Chairman Baek Hangil, who was smirking.

"I did too."

"What do you mean?"

"I picked the best ones to bring."

As calmly as possible, but without hiding it.

Chairman Baek Hangil's eyes lit up, almost to the point of overflowing.

Was this the expression he had when he discovered promising small and medium-sized enterprises back then?

No, it seemed a bit different. Now, there was a pure desire in his face, like the old Brinner.

It was what I had hoped for.

It was about touching the heart rather than just making a calculation.

At that moment, Chairman Baek Hangil chuckled and asked playfully,

"So, why are you showing me this? Are you trying to sell me your pieces?"

"No. I just wanted to show you."

"Your pieces? To someone who can't even read sheet music?"

"No, my value."

Chairman Baek Hangil's eyes widened.

Using my youth as a shield, I spoke without hesitation.

"I plan to steadily release these pieces as albums through my father's company. So..."

Then I brought up the topic of sponsorship.

"Instead of sponsorship, please consider it an investment."

#

...After Han Seoho left,

Chairman Baek Hangil chuckled.

He had already confirmed through Manager Park that there were problems with Han Seoho's father's company.

Chairman Baek Hangil's smile deepened.

A 18-year-old student's investment proposal.

His boldness was impressive, even to the point of envying his father.

"I could have helped you anyway."

Chairman Baek Hangil thought of Han Seoho as a benefactor.

In a life where all his achievements seemed futile and only pain remained, he received comfort in his favorite way. And with a single word of encouragement, he gained the courage to live longer.

He could have helped without a grand investment presentation.

But the boy suddenly decided to give a presentation and presented the sheet music. That was the reason he should invest.

In other words, his value.

He chuckled again, lost in thought, when Manager Park entered the study.

"Chairman, I've informed Vice President Baek Sun-hwa."

"What did he say?"

"He said it's a good idea. The importance of film music has been emphasized in the company recently, and SoundFilm is known for its expertise in the film music industry, so it's worth investing in."

"Good."

Chairman Baek Hangil nodded, and Manager Park added,

"It's quite impressive."

"Seoho?"

"Yes."

Chairman Baek Hangil smiled, tilting his head.

"It's more than that."

"Huh?"

The bold boy. A request he would have granted anyway.

Regardless of that, Chairman Baek Hangil was genuinely surprised.

"He has composed over 100 pieces."

"That's really impressive."

"But I wanted to test him. So I said that if quantity was important, Haydn would be greater than Beethoven."

Quality over quantity.

But Han Seoho didn't show any signs of being flustered.

"What did he say then?"

"What did he say?"

Chairman Baek Hangil, with a slightly excited look, said,

"He said none of these pieces are worse than my dedication piece."

"......Huh?"

"At that moment, I realized it. My body was tingling. Haha!"

He laughed heartily, looking at the stunned Manager Park.

"I used to say that Seoho didn't know his own value..."

If he could move his head freely,

He would have shaken it vigorously.

I was wrong.

"It was the opposite."

#

The next day.

Han Jikun entered the studio with a worried expression.

Since he had given the employees the day off, the office was empty.

He put his bag on the desk and slumped into his chair, taking a deep breath.

The words that Mr. Kim had spoken yesterday were swirling in his mind.

The actions he had taken to expand the company using it as collateral.

He was angry, bewildered, and angry again...

In the end, he thought of his family.

He barely heard Mr. Kim's voice, which was apologizing and crying.

He just felt numb, as if everything had been shut down.

Until Mr. Kim left and Seoho came in.

He quickly composed himself. Seoho seemed to sense that something was wrong and quietly waited for him.

Then, Seoho said,

"Dad, everything will be okay."

Pfft.

A laugh escaped him in the midst of this.

What did he know to say that?

But even if he knew nothing, it was the most comforting words.

In the empty office, Han Jikun continued to laugh to himself, but then he clenched his fists.

He resolved not to just sit idly by and decided to start looking for investors.

"Come on, there must be a way out!"

"Right!"

"Huh, what are you doing here!"

Han Jikun, who had jumped up, saw Team Leader Park Jae-hoon with a toothbrush in his mouth.

Han Jikun, with a bewildered look, asked,

"Why are you here? Wait, did you sleep here, Park Team Leader?"

"Yes. In movies, creditors often come and cause a commotion. We have several ongoing projects here that need to be protected."

"......What?"

Han Jikun, with a bewildered look, let out a hollow laugh.

Rrrrr.

The phone rang.

"......"

"......"

Silence fell, except for the ringing.

Their gazes darted around.

"Is it a creditor's call... or not?"

"I don't know. I'll answer it."

"No, no. I'll answer it. They're looking for the CEO, so I need to say he's not here."

Team Leader Park Jae-hoon, swallowing hard, quickly answered the phone.

Han Jikun, who was watching, was also tense, licking his dry lips.

Then, Team Leader Park Jae-hoon continued the call.

"Yes. Yes. Yes? Yes......" The only responses made Han Jikun even more anxious.

'What is it?'

Unable to hold back, Han Jikun asked with his mouth.

Team Leader Park Jae-hoon, with a dazed look, handed the phone to him.

"Take it."

"Who... Yes, I changed my number. This is Han Jikun, CEO of SoundFilm."

Then, a calm voice came from the other end.

-Hello, Mr. Han Jikun. This is the legal team of SJ Entertainment.

#

Han Jikun returned home.

He had bought the old-style fried chicken his wife wanted.

But his eyes first met Seoho at the dining table.

As he placed the bag of fried chicken on the table, Han Jikun said,

"Seoho, can I talk to you for a moment?"

Then, in the study.

Seoho, who had followed, was calm.

Thus, Han Jikun couldn't help but be curious.

"There were problems with Dad's company. Issues that had been building up for a long time finally came to a head."

"Yes, I know."

He didn't ask how Seoho knew.

Given the company's atmosphere and the things he might have heard from the employees, he probably figured it out.

What he really wanted to know was what happened next.

"Also, the legal team of SJ Entertainment contacted me today."

"Yes."

"They said they would resolve all the issues arising from being a co-CEO. And Vice President Baek Sun-hwa also contacted me, saying he would invest and help us start a new company independently."

"Yes."

"Do you understand everything I'm saying?"

Seoho nodded slowly, and Han Jikun let out a sigh. Then, in a deeper voice, he asked,

"Did you go to Chairman Baek Hangil's house?"

"Yes, I did."

"Did you tell him about the company's problems and ask for help?"

This time, Seoho shook his head.

"No, I didn't ask for help."

"Then what?"

"I showed him the pieces I've composed so far."

"Pieces...?"

Han Jikun's expression became even more confused.

Seoho slowly recounted the conversation with Chairman Baek Hangil.

After hearing everything, Han Jikun was silent for a while.

After a long deliberation, he said,

"Did you really do that?"

That was all.

Seeing Seoho's awkward smile, Han Jikun felt a mix of emotions.

He was surprised and impressed, but also embarrassed to receive help from a child who wasn't even an adult.

The questioning ended futilely,

And instead, a reflective statement followed.

"I need to work harder. To help you showcase your talent."

Seoho, with a bright smile, replied to his resolve.

"You already have."

After finishing the conversation with my father, I went to the living room.

My mother, curious about what we talked about, and my father, who said he would tell her later.

And the smell of fried chicken.

We gathered around the table, drawn by the smell.

We eagerly tore into the chicken, savoring it.

I burned my mouth and panted, and my mother scolded me to eat slowly.

My father, after picking the bones, blew on the steaming leg and passed it to my mother.

There were no forced smiles throughout the meal.

I found that very fortunate.

#

...Half a month later.

M&ACT office.

Director Park Dong-jin smiled brightly at the familiar face he hadn't seen in a while.

Han Seoho, who had grown taller than him, was standing in front of him.

"Are you doing well?"

"Yes. How about you, Director?"

"Good. Maybe it's because you're taller, but you seem more mature."

They went straight to Director Park Dong-jin's office.

Director Park Dong-jin, taking a drink from the small refrigerator, handed it to Han Seoho and asked,

"Is the company's relocation going well?"

"Yes. We've decided where to go, and now we're preparing the interior design."

Director Park Dong-jin, who had been nodding, sat down across from Han Seoho and subtly brought up the main topic.

"I have an OST request to give you."

"Soprano?"

"Yes, that one."

Han Seoho was slightly surprised.

"Is it already in production?"

"No, we haven't even started casting. But since it's a music film, I thought it would be better to have the important pieces ready in advance, so I contacted you first."

Han Seoho nodded slightly and scanned the stack of papers on Director Park Dong-jin's desk.

"Is this the storyboard?"

"Yes. Do you want to take a look?"

"Yes."

Han Seoho eagerly took the storyboard and started flipping through it, quickly focusing.

Director Park Dong-jin, watching him, had a hopeful expression, but suddenly Han Seoho muttered,

"Harps."

"......?"

"Pianos, two."

Director Park Dong-jin, who had been nodding, dropped the pen he was twirling.

Han Seoho was still speaking to himself seriously, and Director Park Dong-jin looked at him in amazement.

He was really impressed.

"Strings."

What was he doing all of a sudden?

"Timpani, three horns. And-."

......He was determining the necessary instruments just by looking at the storyboard.