Chapter 65

#065

"Why are you angry? I was just asking out of pure academic interest."

"How can asking about sexual desire be academic?"

"Like this."

Joa-ra made a different move.

She swayed her upper body gently and stopped with a wave.

"What about this?"

Sung-pil instinctively felt, 'Ah, she's teasing me.'

He had experienced this a few times in his past life.

He needed to be a bit more assertive.

"Don't do this, even as a joke. I'll get angry."

"If it's not true, why are you angry? From the way you're getting angry... "

"Move aside."

"Hmm..."

Joa-ra's eyes quickly darted down and then back up.

"Where are you looking?!"

"What? When did I?"

"This is sexual harassment!"

"How can you not understand my sincerity? It's disappointing."

"What sincerity?"

"Passion for learning."

Surprised.

"I should go see a traditional doctor."

A little while later, a very flustered voice of Han Goo-in could be heard from the break room.

It was almost a scream.

He had been attacked while making lunch.

"......I should have lectured him more."

That was a really serious matter.

If Joa-ra did that to someone else, and while I hope it never happens, if it did, it would be a big deal.

It would make the front page of internet news if an idol was accused of sexual harassment.

'Or would men think she was trying to seduce them?'

The difference in narratives between men and women, as mentioned by Son Hae-bin, deeply resonated with him.

Sung-pil forgot about Joa-ra's outrageous behavior and headed to Kwon Soon-young's studio.

"Wow."

He was using an entire floor as a studio.

Actually, it should be called a studio rather than a studio.

There was an acrylic sign elegantly attached to the entrance.

'Being a famous composer, he must make a lot of money. He has a few hit songs, after all.'

The studio had an open atmosphere.

It felt more like a company's lobby, making the term 'studio' seem inappropriate.

"Come in."

Kwon Soon-young was a man in his mid-30s.

His well-groomed beard and fashion sense stood out.

He looked like a young man dressed up to go to a club on a weekend.

"Hello. I'm Park Sung-pil, the director of Garo Entertainment."

"Yes, Director."

It might have been Sung-pil's imagination, but there seemed to be a subtle mockery in the way he called him 'Director.'

"Are you busy? Do you have something to do later?"

"No, I'm not."

"Ah... Yes."

It sounded like 'You can't be busy.'

'No, this is a preconception. He probably always talks like this.'

Being a famous composer, Sung-pil could understand his attitude, as long as he gave good songs to Garo Entertainment.

"If you're not busy, have some snacks. The kids just bought them."

Despite his seemingly dismissive tone, he treated Sung-pil well.

Sung-pil sipped on a soft donut and coffee while scanning the studio.

It seemed quite a few people worked or resided there.

"How is Supress doing?"

It was the group Garo Entertainment had previously formed.

"Do you know Supress?"

"Yes. Didn't you know? They performed 'Diving,' a song I created."

"Ah, I see."

"Ha ha. I said you could come if you wanted, out of old affection."

Did he mean he wouldn't have seen him if it weren't for old affection?

Sung-pil decided to ignore his subtly annoying remarks.

His tone was probably just like that...

"I don't know what the Supress members are doing. I don't have anything to say. I joined after they left."

"I don't know if they're doing well. They were friendly and cute. I hope they're doing well wherever they are. If you hear from them later, let me know."

"Yes, I will."

"My mind is a bit scattered. I forgot to give you my business card."

His business card was also flashy.

It felt like he was proudly declaring himself an artist to the world.

"For some reason, I have a lot of attachment to Garo Entertainment."

"Yes, I understand. You gave us a song before."

"Exactly. When I heard you were forming a new group, I was waiting for your call. It's a girl group, right? Four members?"

"Yes."

"Wow, the CEO really has guts. A quartet girl group."

"......"

Sung-pil was now certain.

His tone wasn't just sarcastic; he was really mocking and belittling Garo Entertainment.

'What is this? Am I a punching bag?'

Did he harbor resentment because Garo Entertainment had ruined the group despite giving him a song?

But it wasn't polite to speak like this to someone who came for business.

Still...

"Ha ha, the CEO has a strong and manly side."

"Exactly."

Since he was there to receive a song from a famous composer, he couldn't raise his voice.

Sung-pil was good at two things: 'forcing friendship' and 'bowing his head.'

He had to do these countless times while managing artists.

He could endure any hurtful words as long as the people at Garo Entertainment didn't hear them.

"Can I listen to the songs right away?"

Even so, it wasn't a good feeling to hear the company being criticized.

He wanted to proceed with the business quickly.

"Yes. Of course. That's why you came. Let's see. I'll play a version without guide vocals first. I'll also give you the demo later."

"Did you prepare several?"

"Of course. I don't just give one. I have a lot of songs piled up because of my creative drive. I hope you find one you like."

Music played from high-end speakers.

They could express even the tiniest sounds that ordinary speakers or earphones couldn't.

The song spread throughout the studio at a volume that filled the entire space.

"Good, right?"

Kwon Soon-young asked as if it was obvious but he wanted to hear it.

"Yes."

It wasn't a lie.

It was good.

A dance song with a Korean-style pop feel.

It was easy to listen to, and just as easily forgettable.

The key would be to create an addictive chorus in the lyrics.

It was the kind of song that would play on the streets for a few weeks if a moderately popular group took it and then disappear.

"Your reaction is too dry. I worked hard on it."

"It's really good. I'm just not good at expressing it."

"Ha ha ha, that's what it seems like."

The next song was a sentimental ballad enhanced by the violin.

This one was also decent.

The ones that followed were similar.

'He knows what people like. If these were on a playlist, I wouldn't skip them.'

They all sounded good, but they lacked distinctiveness.

Even with arrangements for the group, Sung-pil's heart didn't flutter.

To be honest, he didn't want to give these songs to the members.

'Maybe I have an artist's disease?'

Maybe...

"Here, these are the ones I prepared. What do you think?"

"They were all good."

"Come on. You came all the way here to get songs, and we met in person. Say something more. I rarely get direct feedback."

"There are a lot of song reviews on the internet, aren't there?"

"That's anonymous people talking. Hearing it in person is different."

"Can I be honest?"

"Yes, please be honest."

Sung-pil had done all the flattery he could.

He mixed in appropriate comments to make it not feel like flattery, and Kwon Soon-young's face never lost its smile.

"I'm not that great... "

Kwon Soon-young knew it was flattery.

But even if he knew it was exaggerated, compliments always sounded good.

"Oh, you finished your coffee. Ji-eum! Bring more coffee!"

Kwon Soon-young, with his inflated ego, seemed to want to continue the conversation.

A man named Ji-eum came out from a room in response to his call.

"Can I see the Garo Entertainment trainees? There's inspiration that comes from appearance... Director Park?"

Kwon Soon-young's voice didn't reach Sung-pil.

It was focused entirely on the man who came out of the room.

'Ji-eum?'

Sung-pil knew this person.

He had collaborated with Success Entertainment several times in the future and was one of the people Sung-pil had tried to 'force friendship' with.

'Ji-eum, the genius arranger!'

Standing at 190 cm with a fierce-looking face.

Despite the imbalance, his expression was like a bull being whipped, carrying a sense of injustice.

It was the same Ji-eum, just a bit younger than the one Sung-pil remembered.

"Ah, sorry. I was distracted by a fly."

"There are flies even in winter. Hey, Ji-eum, clean properly."

"Sorry."

"The kid is useless. Bring two coffees."

"Yes."

The sound of rummaging in the kitchen sink could be heard. It was clear how Ji-eum was being treated.

"Who is he?"

"He's my student. Maybe more like an apprentice. I'm training him."

The kitchen suddenly went quiet at his words.

But soon, the sound of making coffee resumed.

"Does he compose too? Is he good?"

Kwon Soon-young seemed flustered for the first time at the question.

"No, he still has a lot to learn. He's just learning. He came from the countryside with no connections. I took him in out of pity."

It was a lie.

The future Ji-eum had said something completely different.

He had come to Seoul and worked as a ghostwriter for several years.

He was a ghost composer, contributing to songs but never getting credit.

His payment was passion, or at best a few meals.

If he was lucky, he could earn a few tens of thousands of won.

Sung-pil couldn't forget the time he saw a drunk Ji-eum crying.

'You bastards. I wasted years of my life. What? You're going to train me? You mean I'm nothing without you? If I saw you now, I'd beat you up...'

Ji-eum might really beat up Kwon Soon-young if he threw a punch.

He was so built that he could pass for a fighter.

Sung-pil gathered his thoughts while listening to Kwon Soon-young's nonsense.

'How long from this point? Ji-eum, tired and worn out, went back to his hometown and farmed for a few years.'

It would be a loss for the Korean cultural industry.

In the future, it was a known fact in the industry that Ji-eum had contributed to many famous songs at this point.

Sung-pil was surprised when he saw the list.

It was filled with famous songs that could be recognized by just a few notes.

'Ghostwriter.'

A ghost composer whose existence was denied.

How much loss must Ji-eum feel?

He might be imagining killing Kwon Soon-young in his head right now.

And soon, he would leave for the countryside.

'No, I can't let that happen.'

About an hour later, Sung-pil received a USB with demo songs and left Kwon Soon-young's studio.

* * *

Ji-eum kills Kwon Soon-young several times a day.

Of course, it's all in his imagination.

He knew it was an immoral fantasy, but he couldn't stop.

If he didn't reduce his stress this way, he felt like he would really go crazy.

"Finish your work and go home."

"......Yes."

While everyone else in the studio had left, Ji-eum was still fiddling with the computer.

It would be less frustrating if it was composition work.

But Kwon Soon-young had given him miscellaneous tasks.

After that, Kwon Soon-young would go out to drink heavily.

His hand holding the mouse trembled.

Once again, in his imagination, Kwon Soon-young was dead.

'You bastards.'

All the composers in this industry were the same.

They exploited the passion of young people and took all the spotlight for themselves.

Ji-eum had tried to escape.

He sent songs to agencies and music publishers.

But he never received a response.

People like Ji-eum were everywhere in the country.

Hundreds of songs were created every day.

Countless songs waited to be noticed, traveling through the air, but only a few caught the eye of agencies.

'There's no ladder for someone like me to climb.'

It was unjust.

It was unreasonable.

Ji-eum was confident he could be a revolutionary.

No, he would be anything that could burn the world.

If a riot broke out, he would be at the forefront, overturning this rotten society.

...He had overturned it hundreds of times in his imagination.

"Ha."

He left the studio after 12:00 AM.

He was so hungry he could die.

He had taken a few steps with his backpack when he heard his name.

"Mr. Ji-eum."

It was the man who had come to the studio in the afternoon.

* * *

Ji-eum ate the soup rice like a possessed person.

He finished a bowl and still wasn't satisfied, eating all the side dishes.

"Would you like more?"

"I feel so embarrassed..."

"Manager, one more bowl!"

This soup rice restaurant was 'One Heart Soup Rice' right below the members' dormitory.

When he had tricked Rika into coming to clean the dormitory by promising to take her out for pork cutlet, Rika had been shocked to see this restaurant.

"Here's your soup rice."

The manager placed the soup rice indifferently.

The meat was 1.5 times more, and the rice was packed tightly.

Ji-eum smiled shyly and thanked the manager.

Then, the food fight began again.

Sung-pil only ate a few pickled radishes.

"Ah, that was good. Thank you."

"I'm glad you enjoyed it, Mr. Ji-eum."

"Yes."

"You're a ghostwriter, right?"

Ji-eum's face, relaxed from the fullness, quickly hardened.

No one was supposed to know he was a ghostwriter.

Ji-eum wanted to tell everyone, but Kwon Soon-young had threatened him.

'If this gets out, you're dead in this industry. Do you know how many composers and company people I know?'

It was what he had said when the once-docile Ji-eum realized the darkness of the industry and became rebellious.

Ji-eum had no choice but to keep quiet.

"I don't know what you mean."

"You're a good actor. With your looks, you could be an actor. The way you immediately changed your expression makes you look like a real actor."

"......What?"

"If you're not preparing to be an actor, just tell the truth. You want to be a composer, right? But are you going to keep living like this? Nothing will change if you just sit there."

Ji-eum let out a hollow laugh.

He had thought about telling someone thousands of times. But would it change anything?

Especially since Sung-pil was just a middle manager.

'Even if I don't know how he found out, this guy is probably just using me.'

Everyone he had met so far had been like that.

Just as Ji-eum was about to pretend he didn't know and continue the act,

"Ah! Director, you're eating without me! That's so unfair!"

Rika burst into the restaurant, roughly opening the door.