The Genius Composer Starts Again - Chapter 67

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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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Suddenly, I realized how bright it was.

 

As I slightly frowned, I could see the sun setting outside the window. The entire sky was dyed in red hues.

 

‘When did it get this late?’

 

It was definitely around lunchtime when I came in.

 

“Oh. Are you done working now?”

 

When I turned my head, Shin Ha-yeon was still sitting next to me.

 

The sunset light coming through the window cast over Shin Ha-yeon’s profile. Her hair looked as if it had been dyed golden.

 

I looked at her with a surprised expression.

 

“You were still here?”

 

Shin Ha-yeon smiled brightly without saying a word. She had her hands on the keyboard as if she had been working continuously.

 

“You could have left first. Or you should have told me to get up.”

 

“You were concentrating, so I didn’t want to disturb you. I could just work on my assignments anyway.”

 

“Still, though.”

 

Sitting in a cafe for hours isn’t easy either. Shin Ha-yeon seemed completely unbothered as she smiled.

 

“You seemed to have realized something and got completely absorbed. I’d never seen you like that before. It was cool, wasn’t it?”

 

“I’m like this sometimes. When I get deeply absorbed, I can’t hear anything.”

 

This was something I often experienced before my regression too.

 

It wasn’t uncommon to fall into a trance and then come out of it to find that a whole day had passed.

 

“How did it turn out?”

 

“I like it.”

 

I grinned.

 

I was confident that even Ian wouldn’t be able to refuse this.

 

“Want to listen to it?”

 

“Huh? Is that okay?”

 

“Of course. It’s not finished yet though. It’s about a rough draft.”

 

I handed the headset to Shin Ha-yeon. She put on the headset with awkward hands and soon nodded.

 

Click.

 

When I pressed the spacebar, the song automatically started playing.

 

-♩♬♪♬~

 

As the song flowed, Shin Ha-yeon’s eyes grew wide.

 

A small piano riff rang out clearly. High-pitched synths were layered on top of it.

 

The rhythm suddenly changed, but the heavy beat of the drums held the center firmly.

 

Shin Ha-yeon unconsciously closed her eyes tightly as if she had become completely absorbed in the song. A faint smile lingered on her lips.

 

Seeing that made my lips curl up naturally.

 

When the short melody ended, Shin Ha-yeon took off the headset. Her face still looked somewhat dazed.

 

“How was it?”

 

“…Amazing.”

 

Shin Ha-yeon’s voice was trembling slightly.

 

“I’ve never heard anything like this before.”

 

“Really?”

 

“Yeah. It’s like waves.”

 

“Waves?”

 

“It felt like waves were coming in. And then it felt like slowly swimming in that ocean. When I closed my eyes, it felt like that blue sea would spread out before me!”

 

Shin Ha-yeon’s speech got faster and faster. She wasn’t stuttering, and this was the first time I’d seen her get so excited and speak loudly.

 

Since the first time we met, since that day when she was crying.

 

“How should I put it. Um, yeah. Should I say it felt like becoming a whale?”

 

“That’s an expression I’ve never heard before. Do Creative Writing students always give such literary reviews?”

 

“No, I really felt that way!”

 

Shin Ha-yeon replied as if frustrated.

 

“My body felt heavy, but at the same time it felt like floating lightly. It seemed sad, but also free. It’s hard to express.”

 

Shin Ha-yeon frowned as if trying hard to find the right expression.

 

“Anyway. I really liked it.”

 

That sentiment came through completely.

 

It hit much harder than any fancy flowery words.

 

“Your song is really good.”

 

“Thank you.”

 

“I’m not just saying that, I mean it.”

 

“I know. So, I have a favor to ask you too.”

 

“Huh?”

 

I stared at Shin Ha-yeon and asked.

 

“Would you write the lyrics for this song?”

 

“Me, me, me?!”

 

“Yeah.”

 

“Is it okay for me to do that? What if I ruin the song? I’ve never written lyrics before, and I’ve written more novels than poems!”

 

“I don’t mind.”

 

“No, no. I’ll introduce you to someone else instead. There’s a scholarship student in our department, and they could write much better lyrics.”

 

“No.”

 

I spoke firmly and strongly.

 

“I want you to write them.”

 

“…”

 

“You said you liked this song. The whale expression was good too. I want you to write it, not someone else.”

 

Realizing that I was serious, the bewilderment gradually faded from Shin Ha-yeon’s face.

 

It wasn’t just something I was saying, nor was I making plausible excuses to pass it off.

 

Shin Ha-yeon swallowed and carefully spoke.

 

“…Is it okay for me to do it?”

 

“Yeah.”

 

“…Then, could you give me a little time? I did get inspiration from listening to this song just now, but it’ll take quite a while to refine it and show you.”

 

“Take all the time you need.”

 

I smiled and whispered.

 

“I’m officially commissioning this to a lyricist. You know that, right?”

 

“Huh? Haha, why make it sound so grand.”

 

“I’m serious.”

 

“Okay. Then Seol, you’re my first client. What will you pay me with? A meal later?”

 

Shin Ha-yeon reacted as if she had heard a trivial joke.

 

“Just a meal?”

 

I muttered quietly.

 

“I can’t just settle for something like that.”

 

“It’s fine. A meal is enough for me. Just being able to write lyrics for such a wonderful song is good enough.”

 

“I’ll give you a contract later, so just sign it.”

 

Shin Ha-yeon laughed quietly as if she had heard something amusing.

 

Just then,

 

I heard a familiar voice.

 

“Oh? Seol~!”

 

Before I could even turn my head, I recognized who it was. Sure enough, Mun Ah-rin was standing in front of the door, having just entered the cafe.

 

Watching Mun Ah-rin approach with a cheerful greeting, I felt puzzled first.

 

‘Isn’t today one of her part-time work days?’

 

That’s why I deliberately came to a place far from where Mun Ah-rin works. In case we might run into each other.

 

“Ah-rin.”

 

“What~. I haven’t seen you much lately. Were you working here? You don’t come to our cafe.”

 

“Well, if I go where you work, I’d just be bothering you. What brings you here anyway?”

 

Did we really meet by coincidence?

 

Or maybe she was looking around for where I was?

 

‘No way. She wouldn’t have any reason to look for me.’

 

It would be right to assume we met by chance.

 

“Your outfit seems different from usual too?”

 

Usually she wore casual clothes with cute touches. Today she was dressed in a slightly more mature style.

 

“Oh, that’s…”

 

Mun Ah-rin made a slightly troubled expression.

 

She hesitated as if she didn’t know how to bring it up, then opened her mouth with a resigned look.

 

“Actually, I’m on my way back from meeting with CEO Jeong Do-hyun.”

 

“…Huh?”

 

Why would those two suddenly meet?

 

They did become acquainted at the Scholarship Recital, but as far as I knew, Mun Ah-rin and Jeong Do-hyun had no particular connection after that.

 

We even had dinner that evening just the two of us without Mun Ah-rin. How could she have known Jeong Do-hyun well enough to meet with him?

 

“I thought a lot about whether I should tell you this or not. But I think it’s better for you to know too, Seol, so I’m telling you.”

 

“Why’s that?”

 

“Actually, he contacted me separately saying my performance at the Scholarship Recital left a deep impression. He originally intended to sponsor you, but since that fell through, he said he’d sponsor me instead.”

 

Really?

 

Mun Ah-rin had sweet eyes as if walking through a dream. It was impossible to imagine she was lying.

 

‘If Jeong Do-hyun sponsors Mun Ah-rin, the situation becomes exactly the same as before my regression.’

 

Then would Mun Ah-rin go on to achieve great success and gain fame as a genius composer?

 

If that happens, what about me?

 

Wouldn’t I end up in the same situation as before my regression?

 

Scenes from before my regression overlapped in my mind.

 

The applause from those days, the mockery from that day.

 

It felt like all of it was coming back to life.

 

As I clenched my fist with an ominous feeling, Mun Ah-rin went even further with a bright smile.

 

“You know I was in desperate need of a scholarship. When you said you became a scholarship student, I was at a loss for what to do. But thanks to you refusing the sponsorship, the opportunity came to me too.”

 

When I realized it wasn’t completely impossible, my mind went cold.

 

“While having a meal with him and hearing about the sponsorship, it felt just like a dream. Just receiving a sponsorship offer is such an incredible honor.”

 

Mun Ah-rin whispered with a bright smile.

 

“Thank you, Seol.”

 

A chilling sensation spread beneath my skin.

 

“It’s all thanks to you.”

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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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