In This Life, I Want an Oscar, Not a Husband - Chapter 88

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This chapter was translated by Lunox Novels. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com

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This life, I choose The Oscars over a husband.
Chapter 88

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Of course, Jung Min-hyun hadn’t really come here just to bring me coffee.
It was obvious.
No matter how much of a senior Jung Min-hyun was in the music industry, it would be improper to show up unannounced at someone else’s studio.
The reason he’d come was because I’d played the OST for Loving while he was teaching me guitar.

“Senior, this is a demo for the OST of the drama I’m going to be in.”
“Oh, you’re doing a drama this time?”
“Yes. My character is a singer in it.”
“Wow, that suits you perfectly. Who wrote the song?”
“Seo Woo-min. He’s our drama’s music director.”
“Oh… I’ve heard of him. The guy who does a lot of drama and film music… He did some singing work for a while too, didn’t he?”
Jung Min-hyun’s expression turned subtly enigmatic.
Could it be that Seo Woo-min was already known in the music industry as a fraud, even if the drama world didn’t know it?
“But is it okay for me to listen to this?”
“Oh, yes. Since I play guitar and sing as a singer-songwriter in it, I was hoping to learn guitar with this song if you’re willing. Would that be possible?”
“Hmm, if the chord progression is simple, it should be doable. Let me listen first.”
I pressed play with an innocent expression, as if I knew nothing.
And the moment the melody began to flow—
“…?”
“What do you think? Is the chord progression very difficult?”
Jung Min-hyun’s expression hardened visibly.
“Oh, no. It doesn’t seem… very difficult. But, um, could you send me this song too?”
Anyone else might have missed it, but Jung Min-hyun would recognize it immediately.
That this song was plagiarized from his own.
Which was why Jung Min-hyun had shown up at my studio.

“Ah, Director. It’s been quite a while. Since you’re here, would you like to grab a meal somewhere? It’s such an honor that you’ve made the trip….”
Seo Woo-min naturally tried to steer the atmosphere toward ushering Jung Min-hyun out of the studio.
But Jung Min-hyun smiled gently and settled into a seat beside the staff member.
“Since I’ve come all this way, I should listen to a song or two, Director Seo. I’m really looking forward to hearing Eun-rae’s voice.”
“Ah… well….”
That bastard might try to change the song.
I quickly spoke to the staff.
“Could you play ‘While I Dream’ right now?”
At my words, the staff immediately started the song.
“Yes, of course.”

Na, nanana- nanana- Stari-doo-doo~

Soon the demo track that Seo Woo-min had recorded flowed through the speakers.
Seo Woo-min forced a smile as he looked at Jung Min-hyun.
Jung Min-hyun’s expression had turned rigid, utterly unmoved.
Only the staff member wore a bewildered look.
And as the song ended, Seo Woo-min opened his mouth.
“What do you think of the song, Director? Haha.”
Wow, he really is shameless.
That persistence—not letting slip even the slimmest possibility that Jung Min-hyun might not recognize the song.
And that effort to gloss over the situation as if he knew nothing at all.
It’s truly admirable.
“The song is… a bit disappointing.”
Jung Min-hyun approached the equipment without changing his expression at Seo Woo-min’s words.
Then he clicked a few chords with his mouse.
And when he pressed enter—
a slightly different, yet far more pleasant version of the song played.
“Wow! Senior, just changing a few notes completely transforms it, doesn’t it? I think it’ll suit Eun-rae so much better.”
The staff member spoke with an astonished expression.
Then Jung Min-hyun grinned and replied.
“Right? I think so too. This is why the original is better. Director Seo, you’ve been doing music for a long time—aren’t you improving?”
At those words, Seo Woo-min’s expression twisted.
His pride had been touched.
“Director, the original? What do you….”
“I made this song eighteen years ago. Guess you didn’t know.”
“Not at all.”
Seo Woo-min shrugged as he spoke.
“Isn’t it just that you were confused because this chord progression is so common?”
So that’s the expression a villain makes when playing dumb.
I need to remember this.
“Really? Then I should run a plagiarism detection program and visit Director Han. He worked on music broadcasts with me back in the day.”
The gaze of a lion watching a hyena snap at it.
The experience of someone who had crawled through this industry for over twenty years was not something to be dismissed.
And connections were equally invaluable.
“I’m very curious what Director Han will say.”
So this is what abuse of power looks like.
I watched Seo Woo-min’s face crumble before my eyes without a word.

* * *

“I-I’m so sorry, PD! Your song is so good that I listen to it all the time, and I guess the composition came out similar without me realizing it.”
“Is that so? Then how did the chord progression I didn’t even include in the final version end up in there? As if you took it straight from my studio.”
“Pardon?”
“You used to work at S Studio, didn’t you?”

The true face of Jung Min-hyun, who had only shown me a carefree demeanor, was terrifying.
Now I understood what it meant to crush someone with words.

“Back then there were rumors that you’d act up whenever a junior came in, and you’re still doing it? I’ve heard everything from the people working here, you bastard. You’re getting sued soon, so remember that, you son of a bitch.”

Wow.
He came thoroughly prepared.
Someone who had survived the harsh entertainment industry of those days, even earning the label of “hack,” was truly different.
Yet Jung Min-hyun showed me an entirely different face.
He moved to his studio and offered me coffee with an apology.
“I’m sorry. I should have told you beforehand.”
“Pardon? No, I had no idea the music director was like that.”
I smiled awkwardly, looking at Jung Min-hyun’s genuinely apologetic expression.
A moment ago he was vicious, but now he looked like a kind uncle from the Neighbor’s House.
In truth, Jung Min-hyun had nothing to apologize for.
Rather, thanks to him, the scandal for Loving was resolved, so I should be the one bowing in gratitude.
“When you played the demo song before, I knew right away. That it was plagiarism of my composition.”
“Ah…”
I tried my best to control my expression.
And I was confident.
After all, I act all the time.
“But you really didn’t know?”
“Pardon?”
I flinched inwardly at Jung Min-hyun’s gentle yet somehow steely smile.
What… is this?
“That’s just how Seo Woo-min is.”
“I had no idea….”
“Though I think you sensed it.”
Jung Min-hyun leaned back in his chair as he spoke.
“It’s stranger that you didn’t know. The Eun-rae I’ve seen picks up on what café customers want in 0.1 seconds.”
Oh, you mean it that way?
I answered with a faint smile.
“I simply don’t have much contact with the music director.”
It would be awkward to admit I’d figured it out just now.
“Hmm… I see.”
Though he didn’t seem to believe me much.
“Anyway, what do we do? It looks like the entire OST is going to disappear because of me?”
What are you talking about?
It’s a hundred times better than having controversial songs performed later.
That’s what I was thinking.
Then Jung Min-hyun made an unbelievable proposal.
“What if I take over the Loving OST?”
“Excuse me?”
“If I handle the entire soundtrack, wouldn’t it have better cohesion?”
My eyes widened at Jung Min-hyun’s words, spoken without a hint of jest.
One of South Korea’s top five producers was offering to write songs for a rookie actress like me?
And not just one song, but the entire OST?

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This chapter was translated by Lunox Novels. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com

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