Chapter 5

05

Blue Tiger, real name Im Hyun-soo.

A composing genius, maintaining solid fundamentals while adapting to trends, with a robust skill set. Recently, she has also ventured into songwriting, further enhancing her reputation with her witty lyrics.

She is a walking box office guarantee, with money steadily piling up in her bank account, but...

'What the fuck does that matter?'

She wasn't in a good mood right now.

Not only was she writing the next comeback title song for the top girl group White Cherry, which dominates both Korea and the U.S., but she was also struggling to come up with a satisfying chorus, repeatedly discarding her work.

Whenever this happened, Im Hyun-soo became extremely sensitive, and the studio staff would gradually avoid her.

But today, why...

"Hey, I told you not to let outsiders in, didn't I?"

An outsider was boldly inside the studio!

The staff member trembled and glanced at the man sitting in the studio lobby. The man, who looked to be in his early 20s, had a sensitive appearance that seemed to match Im Hyun-soo's.

He looked like a handsome celebrity, but the staff member couldn't recall ever seeing him on TV.

"Hello, I'm Seo Ho-yun."

"Who?"

"Seo Ho-yun."

The man greeted with a brazen smile, making the staff member shudder.

I've never heard of him. Im Hyun-soo gave him a cold look and turned to the staff member.

"Get him out."

"Y-Yes, yes."

"Let's talk for a moment."

Where are you going? I grabbed Im Hyun-soo, who was turning away, and spoke to her. Im Hyun-soo looked at me with annoyance.

"Excuse me, I don't know who you are, but I'm busy right now."

"I know. I won't take up much of your time."

"But I don't have any time at all."

Im Hyun-soo's temper hasn't improved. I looked at the system window floating above her.

[Im Hyun-soo, genius composer.

Sometimes also a lyricist.

Note: Her temper is extremely, extremely bad.]

I know, I know. I've worked with Im Hyun-soo several times; how could I not know? I've been cursed out more than once for doing a terrible job in front of her.

Seeing Im Hyun-soo scrutinize me with a shiver of dislike, it seemed she really didn't recognize me. Realizing I was truly inside the game, I extended the shopping bag I had brought.

"What's this?"

Im Hyun-soo was taken aback by the sudden shopping bag. I didn't miss the opportunity.

"Ms. Composer, you said you like this sake from Hokkaido, right? I found it for you."

"Huh? This... It's hard to find domestically."

Hyun-soo took the sake out of the shopping bag and examined it from all angles. Her excited face, though she didn't say it out loud, clearly showed she liked it very much.

Yes, yes, that's the reaction I wanted. It was hard to find.

Hyun-soo accepted the gift warily, seemingly suspicious of what I might ask for in return.

"Why are you giving this to me?"

"Ms. Composer, I came here unannounced and without permission... I thought I should at least bring something small."

"Hmm."

I smiled smoothly, as I usually do in business. It seemed to work a bit, as Im Hyun-soo, after some hesitation, glanced at the sake and sat down in the lobby.

"It would be rude to turn you away after you went through so much trouble. I can spare you five minutes."

"Thank you."

Alright, that's a good start.

"So, why did you come to see me? I mean..."

"Seo Ho-yun."

"Right, Mr. Seo Ho-yun. What do you do?"

I knew this question would come.

"I'm an idol. I'm preparing for a comeback."

Im Hyun-soo laughed.

"An idol... I see."

Her gaze, which had been wary, now contained a subtle mockery. People like this who come unannounced aren't rare.

"Seo Ho-yun, I've never heard of you."

"I'm from Daepa Entertainment, a management company for actors. We're still lacking in pushing our idol side. It's natural that you haven't heard of me."

"I see, you must be working hard."

Though she said this, Im Hyun-soo was already ignoring me. She slowly crossed her legs and looked at me.

"So, why did you come to see me?"

Anyway, Im Hyun-soo, I like how you get straight to the point.

I smiled.

"To ask for a song."

"Ha ha ha!"

Im Hyun-soo laughed. It was the expected reaction. I waited silently for her laughter to subside.

"Wow, today's idols are impressive. They don't even go through managers or agencies; they come straight to me..."

"Isn't that because your songs are so appealing?"

"Mr. Seo Ho-yun, I get it. I can see the delusions in your head. Do you think you'll achieve something just by relying on your guts? You're not the only one who comes to me like this."

I listened quietly to her words. Im Hyun-soo, looking like she was wasting her time, tapped her nails and stood up.

"You watch too many dramas. Leave now."

This was the expected reaction. But what comes next, Im Hyun-soo won't be able to predict.

"Want to have a drink?"

"What? With me?"

"No, the song title is 'Want to Have a Drink.'"

I'm not suddenly crazy, suggesting a drink with Im Hyun-soo.

'Want to Have a Drink' is the song that swept the charts a year ago. Though it had a safe beat and melody, it topped the charts, earning Im Hyun-soo the title of composing genius.

But that wasn't the reality.

"Let's go to the moon."

"What, why...?"

"Between you and me, let's end it, Be the Monster, and so on..."

I continued to recite. To those hearing it for the first time, it would sound meaningless. And if it weren't for Im Hyun-soo and me, no one would understand.

But Im Hyun-soo's face was turning pale.

"These songs have three things in common. One, they are all composed by Blue Tiger, Im Hyun-soo. Two, they all swept the charts up to the fifth position."

And I raised my third finger.

"Three, they were all chart-topped through music streaming manipulation."

"What are you talking about?"

Oh, Im Hyun-soo is trying to back out.

But I won't let her.

"Damn, what nonsense are you spouting..."

I took out a tablet. Fortunately, there was some data left, separate from my lost save file. I extended it with a smile.

"This is the transaction history between the relevant singer or agency and the streaming manipulation broker. Oh, and sometimes you dealt directly with the composer."

Im Hyun-soo took it with a trembling hand and clenched her teeth.

"How do you have this?"

Im Hyun-soo asked quietly, acknowledging it to some extent.

"Does it matter?"

"Ha, ha... You're impressive. Do you have a journalist in your family?"

Im Hyun-soo forced a smile, still not giving in. She glared at me for a long time.

"Why did you do the streaming manipulation, when you were already so talented?"

"So what?"

Come on.

"So what are you going to do about it?"

"..."

"I got dragged into this mess."

Oh, stronger than I expected. I rested my chin on my hand and looked at her.

"I'll admit you have guts. I don't know how you found out, but... streaming manipulation? I don't even know how to do it, and even if it's true, it's not a big hit to me."

She lifted her chin brazenly.

"How many singers brazenly do streaming manipulation? Do you think I'll be a problem in that crowd?"

That's true. Im Hyun-soo looked around to see if I was recording. Realizing I wasn't, she waved her hand.

"Leave now. Don't make this more difficult."

"What, I want to make it more difficult."

"What?"

Let's finish the Korean conversation.

"Did I only bring this one piece of evidence?"

Im Hyun-soo paused, stiffening.

"Scroll through the tablet screen."

"..."

"Quickly."

I gestured with a friendly smile. Im Hyun-soo, trembling but unable to resist her curiosity, scrolled through the tablet. A song played.

It was a male idol's song from last year, which also topped the charts, composed by Blue Tiger.

"Isn't this a well-chosen song?"

Just saying that, Im Hyun-soo slammed the tablet on the edge of the desk. The screen shattered, and it looked like a decade-old broken piece of junk. This person doesn't know the value of money.

"My tablet."

"You, you... This..."

Im Hyun-soo's face turned pale. I spun around happily and looked at her.

"How do you have this?!"

The song that played on the tablet earlier wasn't a Blue Tiger song.

"It was composed by an unknown indie band guitarist."

That's right.

Im Hyun-soo plagiarized.

"You, you...!"

"Didn't you meet that composer a few times over drinks? In Hapjeong? You met a few times at an izakaya and received a USB from him."

As I spoke as if I had been there, Im Hyun-soo trembled as if she had seen a ghost.

"Streaming manipulation, sure... It could pass off as a minor issue, something you got caught up in."

"..."

"What about plagiarism? If this gets out, people will know immediately. Then everyone will say..."

"Stop it."

I clapped my hands.

"Ah, Blue Tiger plagiarized!"

Im Hyun-soo looked like she was about to strangle me.

Ah, satisfying.

I didn't expect my investigative program to be so rewarding. It was fortunate that I was an assistant director for a program about streaming manipulation. And it's even more fortunate that Im Hyun-soo is still alive in my reality!

[Are you trash?]

'Don't ruin the mood.'

This is a chance given to me by God to blackmail the trembling Im Hyun-soo, who knows nothing.

[But there are other people who were plagiarized, right?]

I'm sorry, but I'm in a hurry.

I lowered my eyebrows as if I were genuinely concerned, carefully choosing words to gently provoke Im Hyun-soo.

"What can we do, Ms. Composer? You're working on White Cherry's song, right? And you have a few ballads too... If a plagiarism scandal breaks out, you'll have to pay a lot of breach of contract fees."

Now, what reaction will she show?

Will she shout at me to leave? Or will she put on a show of defiance? Or will she try to strangle me?

Either way, it doesn't matter. But the last one is a bit scary, so I'll call the police.

No, I know Im Hyun-soo well.

Like Im Hyun-soo, I tapped my nails and asked gently.

"You're suddenly quiet...?"

Three,

"Shall I leave now?"

Two,

"You must be very busy."

One.

Just as I was about to stand up, Im Hyun-soo grabbed my arm.

"Wait."

"Yes?"

"What do you want?"

Ah, this is why I like Im Hyun-soo.

She adapts quickly to reality. I smiled.

"Oh, Ms. Composer, you're trying to take advantage of me. Do I have to spell it out for you?"

"..."

"You should think about it yourself, right?"

Ding!

[Mr. Seo Ho-yun, are you a devil?]

I was a bit annoyed that the tablet was broken, so I tapped it once.