The Genius Composer Starts Again - Chapter 64

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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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Mun Ah-rin’s words made Jeong Do-hyun’s eyes narrow. He silently traced the rim of his coffee cup slowly with his fingertips.

 

Mun Ah-rin took a breath and leaned her upper body forward.

 

She could feel her blouse opening slightly, revealing just one more button’s worth. However, she whispered as if completely unaware of this.

 

“To be precise, ‘pretending to sponsor.’ You don’t need to become an official sponsor. Just letting word slip that you’re considering sponsorship would quickly spread rumors throughout the school.”

 

What happened with the cleanup afterward didn’t matter.

 

Like Seol had done, Mun Ah-rin could also act as if she had rejected the sponsorship, or even pretend the rumor itself had been completely false.

 

As long as it wasn’t officially announced through the media, reversing it wouldn’t be difficult.

 

“Why should I do that?”

 

“Because that would tempt Seol.”

 

Mun Ah-rin smiled sweetly.

 

“Seol has… always been like that since we were young. Whenever I did something, Seol would feel compelled to follow suit, no matter what it was. Piano too. I started first, but Seol followed later, you know? Her transfer from Piano Department to Composition Department was probably because of me too.”

 

Then Mun Ah-rin casually added, “Though if you asked Seol directly, she’d probably deny it.”

 

“I didn’t know you’d known each other since childhood.”

 

“Haha. It’s quite rare, isn’t it? We’ve known each other since middle school. Same school, same department with a middle and high school classmate. I never imagined it would become such a long relationship.”

 

“From what you’re telling me, it sounds like Seol follows you around. Yet why are you going to such lengths for her sake?”

 

“…At first, I found it frustrating too.”

 

Mun Ah-rin smiled bitterly at Jeong Do-hyun’s question.

 

“Piano, competitions, entrance exams, even composition. Whenever I started something first, Seol would do it better. At first, I was envious and resentful. But…”

 

Mun Ah-rin wore a relieved expression, like someone who had overcome all those negative emotions and moved forward.

 

“She’s still my friend. I think Seol doing well means I’m doing well too.”

 

“That’s a rare kind of friendship.”

 

“Is it?”

 

A shy smile spread across her face as if embarrassed.

 

“Maybe so. But how could I truly hate a friend? So please, use me.”

 

Mun Ah-rin spoke as if making some noble sacrifice.

 

“If you use me, Seol will change her mind too.”

 

“Hmm. Provoking Seol to make her accept sponsorship… It’s not a bad strategy.”

 

“Just showing that you and I are meeting a few times would be enough. Whether it’s the school cafe or anywhere else. If I naturally let it slip, Seol will catch on quickly.”

 

Jeong Do-hyun’s gaze crawled up along Mun Ah-rin’s fingertips. It was a look of observation and calculation.

 

“You don’t need to actually sponsor me. Just show the ‘possibility.’ Acting friendly with me, seeming to trust me. That much would be enough. Seol will definitely react.”

 

While outwardly pretending to be entirely for Seol’s sake, the benefits Mun Ah-rin would gain from this deal were quite substantial.

 

Wasn’t Jeong Do-hyun the famous Midas touch in the industry?

 

His eye and ear for recognizing exceptional talent had never once been wrong. Everyone he had declared he would sponsor had achieved worldwide fame.

 

Just the perception that such a Jeong Do-hyun was ‘considering sponsorship’ or that she had ‘caught Jeong Do-hyun’s eye’ would draw industry attention to Mun Ah-rin.

 

Even if it didn’t lead to actual sponsorship, that alone would be an enormous asset.

 

Mun Ah-rin acted as if she were willingly sacrificing herself, without calculating all these invisible benefits.

 

“And then what?”

 

“Then you should invite Seol again and try to persuade her.”

 

The answer flowed smoothly as if prepared in advance.

 

“Seol is certainly strong, but she has vulnerable sides too. If you keep that in mind and talk to her again, she’ll be convinced.”

 

Then Mun Ah-rin smiled brightly.

 

“You like Seol’s music, don’t you, CEO?”

 

Mun Ah-rin lifted her cup. Her fingertips slowly glided over the thin porcelain surface.

 

She lightly touched her lips to the rim of the cup. The cup sparkled under the lighting, naturally flowing slowly down along Mun Ah-rin’s neckline.

 

A subtle atmosphere flowed for a moment.

 

A faint lingering scent remained. It was not excessive yet somehow distinctive.

 

“I like it too.”

 

The corners of her mouth lifted slightly.

 

Softly, yet certainly.

 

Her pretty smile looked exactly like a single flower.

 

If it had been other people, their hearts might have skipped a beat at this exquisite comment.

 

It was a way of speaking that only someone who knew exactly when to capture the other person’s attention could use.

 

“So I hope a good environment can be created for Seol to compose for a long time.”

 

Unlike her sweet smile, her slightly suppressed breathing softened Mun Ah-rin’s intentionality.

 

As if Mun Ah-rin was just talking about work, and only the listener was having strange thoughts.

 

“I’ll help you.”

 

Mun Ah-rin’s eyes curved softly like a crescent moon.

 

Her tone and expression, gentle hand movements, and even her fragrance. Everything flowed together like a single stream.

 

“I’m on your side, CEO.”

 

When Mun Ah-rin tilted her head slightly, her hair swayed at her nape.

 

Jeong Do-hyun chuckled and replied.

 

“Interesting.”

 

He set down his cup with a thud and spoke.

 

“There seem to be many amusing people around Seol.”

 

At the same time, Jeong Do-hyun stood up from his seat. The sound of the chair scraping against the floor passed briefly.

 

“I’ve wasted time.”

 

“…!”

 

Mun Ah-rin’s eyes widened at his cold tone.

 

Just moments ago, she thought the conversation was flowing smoothly. Jeong Do-hyun had an indifferent look as if he had never listened to Mun Ah-rin’s words.

 

“CEO.”

 

“I hope there won’t be another occasion where you call me out for such reasons.”

 

“You want to sponsor Seol!”

 

Mun Ah-rin cried out urgently.

 

Because it looked like Jeong Do-hyun would really leave her there and walk out alone.

 

Jeong Do-hyun glanced at his watch and answered.

 

“Yes, that’s right. What I want to sponsor is Seol, not you.”

 

“I wasn’t really asking you to sponsor me. If you just pretend to sponsor me, Seol will definitely be interested…!”

 

“It’s unnecessary.”

 

It was a declaration full of confidence.

 

“Neither your help nor Seol’s consent.”

 

When Mun Ah-rin hesitated, Jeong Do-hyun reminded her of the cold reality.

 

“It doesn’t matter if she doesn’t want it.”

 

There were countless ways without necessarily getting consent.

 

A producer that Jeong Do-hyun had contacted in advance could approach Seol under the guise of coincidence.

 

Or things could work out so smoothly it would seem strange.

 

“It would cost more money and time than openly sponsoring her. But well, that doesn’t matter.”

 

Jeong Do-hyun was confident.

 

Confident that he could create a cage so vast and beautiful that the bluebird named Seol wouldn’t even realize she was trapped.

 

“…”

 

Mun Ah-rin clenched her fists tightly.

 

She hadn’t even imagined he would respond this way.

 

Those who had run on different tracks since birth seemed to think completely differently too.

 

Not even needing the person’s consent. Unless he was a crazy control freak who thought everything moved within his grasp, who would think such things?

 

‘This person isn’t right in the head either.’

 

Mun Ah-rin assessed him that way internally.

 

‘They say he obsessively sponsors artists. What exactly is he scheming? Does he have some kind of compulsion?’

 

It was then, as she habitually analyzed the person in front of her.

 

“Well then.”

 

Jeong Do-hyun stood up from his seat without giving Mun Ah-rin even a glance.

 

Mun Ah-rin couldn’t bring herself to stop him.

 

Because from that fleeting glance, she felt that he was looking at her not as a human being, but as if she were worthless trash.

 

To Jeong Do-hyun, she was probably about as valuable as a chair or table.

 

“….”

 

It was chilling,

 

and at the same time humiliating.

 

Click.

 

“Ha.”

 

Only after the door closed did Mun Ah-rin let out a hollow laugh that was more like a sigh. A sticky sensation crept up from her toes.

 

‘Next time.’

 

Mun Ah-rin made a quiet vow to herself.

 

‘He won’t dare ignore me like this again.’

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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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