The Genius Composer Starts Again - Chapter 37

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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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While Min Chan-hyeok was struggling to hide his anxiety, Jeong Do-hyun continued speaking with a composed expression.

 

“Thank you for making time, Producer Min.”

 

“Not at all. Of course I had to come.”

 

“It’s nothing special, but let’s have a meal before you go. I come here often and the food is quite good.”

 

As soon as Jeong Do-hyun finished speaking, there was a knock-knock sound and the door slid open with a swoosh.

 

“I’ll set out the food for you.”

 

Min Chan-hyeok’s jaw dropped at the expensive spread that followed. The employee added various explanations, but he couldn’t hear them properly.

 

At a glance, these didn’t seem like foods Min Chan-hyeok could afford to buy with his own money.

 

“Please eat.”

 

As soon as Jeong Do-hyun spoke, Min Chan-hyeok smiled brightly and replied.

 

“Thank you, I’ll eat well!”

 

It would be rude to decline when offered, wouldn’t it? Min Chan-hyeok began using his chopsticks without hesitation.

 

‘Wow. This tastes amazing. What is this? It’s melting in my mouth?’

 

Min Chan-hyeok lost himself in the diverse feast of flavors. After eating for a while, Min Chan-hyeok realized that Jeong Do-hyun hadn’t even picked up his chopsticks.

 

Suddenly feeling embarrassed, he quietly stopped eating as well.

 

“Um, aren’t you eating, President?”

 

“I’m fine. I had a dinner meeting before coming here.”

 

“I, I see.”

 

“I’m fine, so please eat plenty.”

 

Even so, he couldn’t eat ravenously by himself while Jeong Do-hyun only sipped light wine.

 

As Min Chan-hyeok hesitated, silence settled for a moment.

 

Jeong Do-hyun, as if he had been waiting for this moment, spoke quietly.

 

“The new song was impressive.”

 

Min Chan-hyeok flinched for a moment.

 

The main topic had finally begun. Knowing Jeong Do-hyun’s influence well, fear and pressure hit him simultaneously.

 

He tried to hide his inner feelings and smiled faintly.

 

“Thank you for listening favorably. I got a bit lucky.”

 

“You can’t create a song like that with luck alone.”

 

Jeong Do-hyun gently swirled his wine glass.

 

“You worked with a new composer. Did you know each other originally?”

 

Here it comes.

 

Min Chan-hyeok straightened his back. It was to keep his guard up.

 

“I happened to hear their original song at Sound Place, liked it, and scouted them.”

 

“I heard that composer handled a lot of the work on this new song too.”

 

“Yes, that’s right. It’s hard to believe they’re a newcomer with such good sense.”

 

“If Producer Min praises them that much, I’m getting curious too. How about bringing that composer next time and arranging a meeting?”

 

“I’ll ask once. But they really dislike appearing in front of others. I can’t give you a definite answer.”

 

Min Chan-hyeok laughed heartily, pretending to know nothing.

 

His skill at starting with praise for the new song and subtly steering toward talk about the composer was top-notch.

 

“It would be a good proposal. For composer YULE and for Producer Min too.”

 

“For me too… what do you mean by that?”

 

“Since you’ve already heard about me, I’ll speak directly.”

 

Jeong Do-hyun arrogantly lifted his chin.

 

“Long-term partnerships, overseas distribution, sponsorships from famous brands. I can open all those lines.”

 

“…”

 

“Not just advertising and promotion, but your name could appear on overseas charts, not just domestic ones.”

 

The scariest part was that those words weren’t just empty boasting. Min Chan-hyeok gulped.

 

If it was Jeong Do-hyun, he could probably achieve everything he said.

 

“…Why would you go that far?”

 

Min Chan-hyeok asked with a trembling voice.

 

“I really liked that composer YULE. I’d like to keep them close if possible, and give them full support to see how far they can rise.”

 

Just for that reason.

 

Min Chan-hyeok couldn’t understand this chaebol’s generous investment at all.

 

Like an ant unable to grasp human intentions. Min Chan-hyeok instinctively knew he could never understand the psychology of someone like Jeong Do-hyun, even if he died and came back to life.

 

As Min Chan-hyeok’s eyes shook wildly, Jeong Do-hyun didn’t forget to add one more thing.

 

“Of course, I won’t forget the favor of introducing such precious talent.”

 

It was a very sweet proposal.

 

If Min Chan-hyeok just subtly sold out Seol’s information, he would probably receive enough compensation to retire immediately and live luxuriously.

 

Even if not that, the entire entertainment industry would be cooperative when Min Chan-hyeok worked in the future. Who knows how great a benefit that alone would be.

 

‘It would be a lie to say I’m not tempted.’

 

Anyone would be.

 

Just close your eyes once and you could enjoy all that wealth and glory.

 

Min Chan-hyeok clenched his fist tightly and then raised his head sharply.

 

“President, I fully understand what you’re saying.”

 

Jeong Do-hyun smiled as if sensing victory.

 

“But, I’m sorry.”

 

Min Chan-hyeok cut him off firmly.

 

“That depends on composer YULE’s choice, it’s not something I can force.”

 

A brief silence flowed. Even the air seemed to settle heavily.

 

Jeong Do-hyun’s eyes turned sharp for a moment. Min Chan-hyeok somehow felt like a herbivore facing a carnivore, his breath catching.

 

His shoulders naturally hunched from the intimidation. However, Min Chan-hyeok didn’t take back his words. Instead, he stiffened his neck and held his head high.

 

“I can’t sell out an artist who trusted and entrusted themselves to me.”

 

Thud.

 

Jeong Do-hyun audibly set his glass down on the table.

 

After a moment of silence, Jeong Do-hyun laughed lowly.

 

“You’re stubborn.”

 

Min Chan-hyeok took a short breath and answered.

 

“To survive in this industry, everyone needs to have at least one obsession.”

 

His voice was clear without any more trembling.

 

“Fine. But Producer Min, can you handle everything that will happen after rejecting my proposal?”

 

Min Chan-hyeok bit his lips tightly.

 

Originally, carrot and stick were like two sides of a coin. If the reward for accepting a proposal was great, conversely, the retaliation for rejecting it would be harsh.

 

Moreover, his opponent was Jeong Do-hyun.

 

With this man’s influence, tripping up a producer like Min Chan-hyeok would be child’s play.

 

The moment he realized this, his heart began beating even faster.

 

But Min Chan-hyeok didn’t lower his eyes. Rather, he answered while keeping his gaze fixed on Jeong Do-hyun.

 

“I know.”

 

It was an answer implying he would endure all of it.

 

It was a situation where his entire career could turn to nothing, but there were many things in the world more frightening than that.

 

‘I’ve never seen anyone come to good ends after getting entangled with chaebols.’

 

To chaebols, the entertainment industry was just a pretty circus. They might temporarily cherish and care for someone who caught their eye, but they never truly treated them as person to person.

 

Min Chan-hyeok had been in this industry long enough to see too many such endings.

 

Tossed around by momentary interest, then ruthlessly discarded when they became boring.

 

They even thoroughly trampled them, fearing their discarded toys might stab them in the back.

 

Watching those miserable endings was enough to send chills down one’s spine.

 

‘Seol isn’t talent that should crumble like that.’

 

That brilliant talent.

 

He had seen many promising newcomers, but there had never been such an exceptional rough gem as Seol.

 

If polished well, he couldn’t even gauge how high they could rise.

 

But even someone like Seol, if they caught Jeong Do-hyun’s eye and became part of his collection?

 

What would happen if he cut off all paths to completely monopolize Seol’s music and turned her into a music box meant only for himself.

 

Perhaps a talent who could have made a mark in this entertainment industry would vanish without a trace.

 

‘That can’t happen.’

 

Min Chan-hyeok widened his eyes, thinking he had to prevent such a worst-case scenario no matter what.

 

“Interesting.”

 

Jeong Do-hyun continued speaking after taking a sip of wine.

 

“It’s quite rare for someone to reject my proposal so openly like this.”

 

“….”

 

“What I said just now was just talk, so don’t worry about it too much. I believe in treating valuable talent preciously.”

 

His words were gentle, but his eyes remained sharp.

 

“Let’s call it here for today. It was an enjoyable time.”

 

Jeong Do-hyun unilaterally put an end to it and stood up from his seat. He had realized he couldn’t get any more information about YULE from Min Chan-hyeok.

 

Then there was no need to waste any more time.

 

Swoosh, thud.

 

Jeong Do-hyun headed outside first, and as soon as the door closed, Min Chan-hyeok slumped down like a puppet with its strings cut.

 

“Ugh, damn. My whole body.”

 

His entire body ached from being too tense.

 

After roughly wiping the beads of sweat on his forehead with his sleeve, he slowly opened his hands.

 

The marks where his nails had dug in deep remained clearly visible. The pain hit him belatedly.

 

“Haah… Seol.”

 

Min Chan-hyeok couldn’t contain the hollow laugh that escaped him.

 

“Why did you have to catch that person’s eye of all people.”

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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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