The Genius Composer Starts Again - Chapter 54

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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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Glug glug.

 

The employee’s fingertips were graceful as they poured the wine. The clear ruby liquid swirled gently in the glass.

 

I could see my face reflected in the wine.

 

It was stiffly frozen with tension.

 

‘That’s understandable.’

 

The cutlery visible before my eyes was obviously high-end, and there were so many forks and knives it was dizzying.

 

The classical music flowing elegantly, and Seoul’s beautiful night view visible through the large windows.

 

It was a scene you’d only see in dramas.

 

The restaurant was so luxurious it made a person feel intimidated.

 

But what made me even more nervous than that was the person sitting across from me.

 

“I’m not sure if the wine will suit your taste.”

 

Jeong Do-hyun, that is.

 

He asked while skillfully holding his wine glass.

 

“If you can’t drink, you don’t have to force yourself.”

 

“Oh, no. It’s not that I can’t drink.”

 

I’m not particularly sensitive when it comes to taste.

 

I had tried some expensive wines and liquors that Mun Ah-rin received as gifts once or twice. But they didn’t really impress me.

 

Which means me drinking such expensive wine would be a complete waste of money.

 

I just fidgeted with my water glass with my fingertips. Watching me like that, Jeong Do-hyun spoke once more.

 

“This isn’t a grand occasion, so you don’t need to be too nervous.”

 

“Ah, yes.”

 

“Today’s performance was very impressive. Enough to make me completely forget the previous performances.”

 

“Thank you for the compliment.”

 

“Especially the last part.”

 

Jeong Do-hyun lifted his wine glass slightly. The grape aroma spread subtly.

 

“I felt hope blooming in the midst of completely accepting death. It was very impressive how it contrasted with the earlier part that depicted the approach of death so plainly.”

 

Well, that was because it was a metaphor for my current self, who gained new life through death.

 

To someone who doesn’t know the details, it might have felt somewhat out of the blue.

 

“It’s a piece I created based on my personal experience. I can’t go into details, but many things changed for me through the unexpected fortune that came afterward. I wanted to express that.”

 

“Personal experience. Did you have an experience so painful it felt like dying?”

 

“It’s not grand enough to express it that way. But to some extent, yes. Everyone has something like that happen to them at least once, don’t they?”

 

Of course, cases of regressing with a system would be rare.

 

After that, Jeong Do-hyun continued talking only about music until the food arrived.

 

Especially since he delved into even the most minute details of the pieces I composed and asked about my intentions, I found myself getting excited and rambling on about various things without realizing it.

 

“…you know. If you drop it a semitone there, it’s much easier to listen to. Of course, if I had gone with the original note, the melody would have stood out more.”

 

“Hmm. But considering the listener’s fatigue, dropping it a semitone would be better.”

 

“Exactly! The piece was already heading toward the latter half. Plus, it’s the very last song of the trilogy, so I had no choice but to consider that aspect too.”

 

Jeong Do-hyun was someone I could communicate with better than expected.

 

Don’t people with the same interests quickly become close?

 

It would be hard to say I became close with Jeong Do-hyun, but at least that initial awkward atmosphere had completely disappeared.

 

‘He wasn’t just a rigid person after all.’

 

Before my regression, Jeong Do-hyun with Mun Ah-rin had such a cold expression that it seemed like not a drop of blood would come out even if you stabbed him.

 

So I never dared to properly speak a word to him.

 

I just thought he was someone who couldn’t handle his overflowing money and invested in all sorts of places. But he had deeper knowledge of music than I expected.

 

“And the part in the middle that goes do-re-sol, mi-mi-ra-sol… Ah, sorry. I talked too much, didn’t I?”

 

When I suddenly came to my senses, Jeong Do-hyun had closed his mouth and was quietly listening to my story.

 

I guess I got too excited meeting someone I could communicate well with after a long time. I should restrain myself.

 

I muttered that to myself and took a sip of wine.

 

“It’s fine. I enjoy listening to music stories.”

 

“Then that’s a relief.”

 

“Isn’t it difficult to balance studies and work?”

 

I almost answered without thinking at the naturally posed question.

 

Studies and ‘work’? What on earth was he talking about? My body, which had naturally relaxed, tensed up and stiffened again.

 

When I looked at Jeong Do-hyun, he had his usual leisurely expression.

 

As if he knew all about my situation.

 

“…I’m not doing any part-time jobs or anything.”

 

“YULE.”

 

“…”

 

“You should know this name.”

 

Since when?

 

Was it from the beginning? But how? I clenched my fist tightly under the tablecloth.

 

I answered with a forced smile.

 

“I know it. It’s that rookie composer who recently worked with Lee Ha-in. There was quite a fuss about Lee Ha-in’s interview back then.”

 

I thought I had perfectly deflected, but Jeong Do-hyun didn’t budge.

 

“Producer Min Chan-hyeok didn’t tell me. He wouldn’t open his mouth to the end. V-Tunes seems to have kept their mouths shut thoroughly too.”

 

Did he ask knowing everything? It wasn’t a tone of subtly testing the waters.

 

As I quietly looked at him, Jeong Do-hyun continued.

 

“I knew as soon as I heard it. That it was YULE’s piece.”

 

“That’s impossible.”

 

I blurted that out without thinking and was startled.

 

That was because it really was an absurd claim.

 

While each composer might have habits that seep into their music, they’re very subtle things.

 

To hear one released song and then identify it as the same composer when hearing another song next time?

 

If that were true, wouldn’t that be hearing more sensitive than perfect pitch?

 

“I’ve had good ears since I was young.”

 

“A-ahem. So what I mean is, I’m not YULE, but you said you knew as soon as you heard my piece. That’s what’s impossible.”

 

I rambled on with excuse-like words. I wanted to pretend it wasn’t me as much as possible, but was it already too late?

 

“Anyway, that person is a professional composer, so if you felt that way, it’s an honor for me.”

 

I forced the corners of my mouth up.

 

Then Jeong Do-hyun chuckled and said this.

 

“Let’s say that’s the case.”

 

When someone desperately denies something, isn’t it polite to at least pretend to be fooled?

 

At his tone that blatantly seemed to say he’d humor me like I was playing peek-a-boo, my eyes sharpened without realizing it.

 

How annoying.

 

As I was muttering that to myself, Jeong Do-hyun continued speaking.

 

“That’s not particularly important to me. I’m sitting here today to make one proposal.”

 

“When you say proposal.”

 

“A sponsorship proposal.”

 

As expected.

 

I thought that might be it.

 

“You might not know, but I often provide personal sponsorship to promising talents. It’s different from investment. It’s closer to guaranteeing a creative environment rather than financial support.”

 

Of course I know.

 

Jeong Do-hyun’s luxurious ‘personal sponsorship’ was known to everyone in this industry.

 

He says it’s not financial support, but since he lets them focus only on creation without any money worries, it was actually better than financial support.

 

Other sponsorship organizations give at most hundreds of thousands or millions of won per person.

 

But Jeong Do-hyun took complete responsibility for food, shelter, clothing, and expenses. All of the highest quality too.

 

“Most geniuses get worn down by bumping into social systems. I absolutely hate wasting time on useless things. My ‘sponsorship’ is about minimizing such meaningless consumption from geniuses.”

 

Jeong Do-hyun spoke in a tone like he was explaining methods to increase factory productivity.

 

The wine aroma seeped deep into my lungs.

 

The sweet and tangy scent clung to my mouth as if it wouldn’t easily disappear.

 

“I’ll take responsibility for all the necessary equipment, studios, overseas sessions, and everything else.”

 

Accepting his proposal would mean continuing to maintain this level of lifestyle.

 

I immediately understood why Jeong Do-hyun had brought me to such an upscale place despite this being a sudden dinner invitation.

 

This was a kind of preview.

 

Just a small portion of the countless luxuries I could enjoy if I took his hand.

 

“Yoon Seol, you only need to do one thing.”

 

The moment our eyes met, I realized it immediately.

 

“You just need to create impressive music for me.”

 

To him, I was

 

nothing more than an expensive music box that required high maintenance costs.

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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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