The Genius Composer Starts Again - Chapter 33
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This chapter was translated by Lunox Team. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
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The MC seemed to lose their words for a moment. They glanced down at the cue cards, as if wondering whether the keywords had somehow changed without their knowledge.
Then, seeming to notice that this was Lee Ha-in’s impromptu behavior, they smoothly continued the flow.
“Ah, I see~. So you’re saying you faced your wounds and found comfort in that process?”
It seemed like the viral keyword V-Tunes had requested was ‘comfort.’ Judging by how desperately they were trying to fit it in.
I could see the manager waving their hand from the side. They were signaling Lee Ha-in to go along with it appropriately.
But Lee Ha-in just smiled brightly instead.
“No. Rather than that… this song felt like it was uncovering painful wounds I had been pretending not to know about. It could be comfort, but at first, I felt it was a painful song.”
The air turned cold once again. I could feel Min Chan-hyeok grinding his teeth beside me.
The MC barely managed to salvage their broken smile and added a follow-up.
“I, I see. Then what message did you want to convey to your fans through this song?”
They hurriedly moved to the next question, seeming quite flustered.
“As for the message, it would be this: ‘You don’t have to pretend to be okay’—that kind of permission. That we can move forward even while cracked.”
Watching Lee Ha-in speak while looking straight at the camera, I felt chills run down my spine.
My heart pounded clearly.
‘Accurate.’
The message I wanted to convey when composing this song was contained there intact.
The day I brought Nuri home, I had no choice but to face Mun Ah-rin, whom I wanted to avoid.
While struggling not to repeat past mistakes, seeing Mun Ah-rin’s face made one side of my chest ache.
-It’ll be easier to adapt if we go around together. I’ll take good care of you.
Because I knew all too well the hidden blade within that sweet proposal.
Because I could clearly see Mun Ah-rin’s shadow that I hadn’t known before. The more I saw it, the harder it was that our past memories were being ruined completely.
The ending was the worst possible. But the time we spent together in childhood was precious memories to me too.
Looking back, that was just my delusion.
Realizing that fact painfully, it was exactly as Lee Ha-in said. It stung like salt sprinkled on a painful wound.
‘Even though you’ve never faced me even once. You hit it exactly right as if you knew the story behind this song’s creation.’
Even knowing Min Chan-hyeok was restless beside me, somehow the corners of my mouth curved up.
How fortunate it was to meet someone who recognized my song so accurately.
I liked this much better than a well-coordinated model answer.
“Damn it. Why is that Ha-in kid suddenly acting like that? Hey, Seol. Are you laughing? Is this funny to you?”
Min Chan-hyeok whined at me with a tearful expression.
Meanwhile, the MC and Lee Ha-in were continuing with other questions. As if that brief deviation was a lie, Lee Ha-in began reciting predetermined answers with an innocent face.
When the MC regained their smile, they returned to questions about the song once more.
“Lee Ha-in, you worked with Producer Min Chan-hyeok again this time. You two have already collaborated several times, right? Is there a reason you worked together again on this project?”
I could feel Min Chan-hyeok perking up his ears at the specific mention. Lee Ha-in tilted her head as if thinking for a moment, then smiled faintly.
“First of all, his skills are so good. It’s comfortable for me to work with him. When I tell him what I want to do, he develops it in a more pleasant direction.”
Min Chan-hyeok’s shoulders rose proudly.
“As expected! Producer Min is definitely reliable~.”
Before delivering the next sentence, the MC’s eyes sparkled mischievously.
“And speaking of which, I heard this song is the work of a rookie composer?”
I unnecessarily pulled up my mask.
“It was even their debut song. Wow. To have Lee Ha-in’s comeback title from the very beginning, what incredible luck, right?”
Lee Ha-in shook her head and smiled.
“No. I was the lucky one.”
It was a tone with subtle emphasis.
“At first, of course I was a little worried since it was a rookie composer’s song. But that disappeared as soon as I heard the demo. I immediately thought, ‘Ah, I really want to sing this song.'”
“Wow. You must have completely fallen for it upon hearing it.”
“Yes. Completely.”
Lee Ha-in spoke while looking straight at the camera.
“They’re a faceless composer with an air of mystery, so I haven’t met them even once yet, but someday I want to properly express my gratitude.”
It was a careful yet unwavering voice. I was momentarily breathless.
“Ah, you’ve never met them?”
“No. Not even once.”
“Wow. It’s surprising enough that they’re a rookie composer, but a faceless composer too. Very unique.”
In this entertainment industry where you have to somehow imprint your existence to survive, such a person would indeed be rare to see.
“Right? That’s why I’m more curious. While singing this song, I was able to take out my hidden feelings and rewrite them in my own words. I’m so grateful for creating that opportunity, so I wanted to convey through this interview that I really want to meet them.”
Lee Ha-in speaking like that seemed like a person with very strong principles.
The reason I didn’t feel bad about the sudden mention was probably because I felt Lee Ha-in was truly conveying the message she wanted to tell me.
“Wow, nice. Looks like you made a proper impression.”
Min Chan-hyeok whispered in my ear from the side.
That was the moment.
Lee Ha-in probably tried to look at Min Chan-hyeok, who was the only channel connecting to composer YULE. In doing so, her gaze fell on me standing right next to him.
Snap—my eyes hidden under the cap and Lee Ha-in’s pupils reflecting the ring light briefly met.
In that moment, I felt as if I had briefly stepped away from being a faceless composer and stood directly before Lee Ha-in.
“Cut!”
The slate fell, and the lights dimmed.
“We’ll take a short break~.”
“Are the camera batteries okay?”
“Please come this way!”
Like waking from a dream, reality rushed in instantly.
Lee Ha-in had already headed to the waiting room for touch-up makeup.
“Ahem. How was it? Observing the interview scene.”
Min Chan-hyeok cleared his throat beside me and spoke nonchalantly. I stared at him intently and spoke bluntly.
“I would have given permission if you had just asked directly.”
“What, what do you mean?”
“Rookie, faceless composer, mysterious—they’re all keywords for viral marketing.”
Min Chan-hyeok was silent for a moment, then slightly raised the corners of his mouth.
“You caught me. How did you know?”
“It was suspicious from the moment you suddenly brought me to a place like this.”
If he had just mentioned it outright, he probably approached it this subtly because he was worried I might feel burdened by the attention and refuse, given my reluctance about revealing personal information.
Min Chan-hyeok eventually raised both hands high.
“I surrender. I really can’t beat you. You’re right. So, will you give permission?”
“I should.”
“Really?!”
“Yes. I’ve bet quite a lot on this song’s success too.”
I lightly touched my earlobe. Min Chan-hyeok probably doesn’t know what this means, though.
“Great! Let’s go for it!”
Min Chan-hyeok grinned as if a weight had been lifted.
I glanced at him and chuckled. Anyway, to raise this song as high as possible, we needed to be in the same boat.
To break through Lamia’s iron fortress, we had to struggle somehow on this side too.
***
After finishing the meeting and getting in the car, Kim Secretary began driving silently. In that short time, Jeong Do-hyun’s phone was ringing incessantly.
Reports coming from various places, approval documents, and major issues from overseas branches.
These were truly busy days without a moment to breathe.
Just as Kim Secretary was about to lower the radio volume, a song began playing.
-♪♩♬♩….
The sound quickly faded, but Jeong Do-hyun’s eyebrows had already twitched.
Kim Secretary unconsciously swallowed hard. At that moment when he tensed, thinking he might be fired from his secretary position if he made a mistake.
“…That song just now.”
Jeong Do-hyun asked in a low, subdued voice.
“What’s the title?”
“The, the song just now? It’s called 【Shatter】. It’s Lee Ha-in’s new song.”
“Who’s the composer?”
“Pardon? Please wait a moment.”
Kim Secretary quickly checked the song information while the car was stopped.
“It says YULE.”
“YULE?”
“Yes.”
“It’s a name I’ve never heard before…”
Jeong Do-hyun muttered quietly.
It felt like he was hearing proper music for the first time in a while. Yet somehow, he couldn’t shake off the feeling that it was strangely familiar.
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This chapter was translated by Lunox Team. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
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Frieren
The faceless composer… and the protagonist’s friend… is going to steal her music again…🙄