The Genius Composer Starts Again - Chapter 72

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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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“Huh? Oh, yeah.”

Shin Ha-yeon answered while subtly avoiding eye contact. Then Mun Ah-rin immediately pressed further.

“What song were you listening to?”

“Just. A playlist uploaded on YouTube.”

“Really? I was also looking for songs to listen to while doing assignments. Can I listen to see what song it is?”

“Ah, no!”

Shin Ha-yeon answered while tightly gripping her earphones.

“Huh. Why are you so surprised? That’s strange.”

Mun Ah-rin tilted her head and took another step closer.

“It’s like there’s something I shouldn’t listen to.”

Mun Ah-rin’s voice was slightly raised. She pretended not to know anything, but there was definitely some intention behind it.

Shin Ha-yeon looked at Mun Ah-rin with trembling eyes.

“It’s not that you shouldn’t listen to it. It’s just not such a great selection that I’d introduce it to someone… Haha. What if I play it for someone from the Composition Department and they say my taste is weird.”

“Hey. Who would say that? Were you listening to anime songs? If it’s something like that, don’t worry. I listen to them often too.”

Mun Ah-rin spoke with a light laugh.

There was nowhere left to escape. Shin Ha-yeon felt like a mouse cornered in a corner.

“I’m just curious. Okay?”

Mun Ah-rin coaxed and soothed Shin Ha-yeon with a gentle tone.

Just as her fingertips were about to touch Shin Ha-yeon’s earphones.

Smack!

Shin Ha-yeon unconsciously swatted away Mun Ah-rin’s hand forcefully. As a result, Mun Ah-rin’s hand turned red.

“Ah! S-sorry…”

Shin Ha-yeon was startled and apologized. Mun Ah-rin asked with an indifferent expression.

“Is it a song Seol wrote?”

Shin Ha-yeon’s shoulders flinched. Mun Ah-rin didn’t miss that reaction.

As if the forcefully swatted hand was nothing, Mun Ah-rin didn’t give it a single glance. Her sharp gaze persistently followed Shin Ha-yeon.

“Right? You reacted that way because it’s Seol’s song. Since it’s not music released to the public.”

Shin Ha-yeon hesitated and finally admitted it.

“Yeah. That’s right.”

There would be no point in making excuses to someone who already knew everything.

“So I can’t just play it for you as I please.”

When she spoke firmly, Mun Ah-rin stepped back as if she understood. Shin Ha-yeon let out a sigh of relief without showing it.

“I see. Seol’s compositions are really amazing, right? I think I know even without listening. I like them too.”

“R-right!”

Shin Ha-yeon’s eyes sparkled as she agreed enthusiastically.

Finally, she had someone to talk to about the subject she was completely absorbed in.

Shin Ha-yeon didn’t have many friends to begin with, and after the Meta incident last time, she had distanced herself from even those few friends.

She couldn’t just play Seol’s songs for others since they were unreleased tracks. But still, not being able to share these overwhelming emotions was frustrating.

Shin Ha-yeon poured out her words as if the dam in her heart had burst.

“I thought it was incredible. It’s not music that can be made at a student level. O-of course, I’m a complete novice when it comes to music, but even so…!”

She suddenly came to her senses while chattering away.

Mun Ah-rin was looking at her with a pleased expression. She somehow felt like she had fallen into what the other person wanted.

“Right?”

“Mm-hmm.”

“I’m happy. That there’s someone I can talk well with about this topic.”

Mun Ah-rin saying that somehow looked bittersweet.

“Originally, I was the only one who liked them. Now that there’s another person who likes Seol’s songs, my feelings are somehow mixed.”

“I-I see! Well, I think I’d feel the same way.”

Don’t you hope for your favorite indie band to become famous, but also feel disappointed when they become too famous?

‘She doesn’t seem to be lying. Maybe she’s not as bad as I thought?’

Shin Ha-yeon looked at Mun Ah-rin carefully.

When they met last time, she seemed to be snapping at Seol. But meeting her separately like this, they could converse well and her tone was gentle.

Most of all.

Mun Ah-rin’s face smiling brightly when their eyes met,

Was so gentle and fragile as if she couldn’t kill a single bug. She almost wondered if what happened last time was just a dream she had while standing.

“I’m sorry about when we met last time.”

“H-huh?”

She was startled as if her thoughts had been read.

“Actually, I did it on purpose.”

“On purpose?”

“Yeah. You heard last time that Seol rejected the sponsorship, right? Do you know that it was an incredible benefit from our side?”

“No. I didn’t hear the details.”

“I don’t know what kind of stubbornness it was, but it was definitely better to accept it. I guess he thinks he can succeed with just his skills without such sponsorship.”

Mun Ah-rin made a sad face as if she was genuinely worried about Seol.

“But not everyone succeeds just because they have skills. In this industry, luck is just as important as skill.”

“That’s true…”

“And sponsorship is what can artificially create that ‘luck.'”

Listening to Mun Ah-rin’s explanation made it more real. How amazing the sponsorship opportunity that Seol rejected was.

“I thought if I provoked him like that, he might get emotional and change his mind. But I guess that wasn’t the case.”

“So that’s what it was.”

After hearing the story, she roughly understood.

Since they said they were old classmates, Mun Ah-rin must have been watching Seol for a long time. From that position, she must have been frustrated seeing Seol keep trying to make roundabout choices.

“Actually, the CEO was very angry too.”

“R-really?”

“Yeah. He even went to meet him in person. But he still wouldn’t bend his stubbornness. He was fuming throughout our entire meal.”

Shin Ha-yeon vaguely recalled Jeong Do-hyun.

His cold atmosphere that seemed overwhelming just by looking at him was vivid. To think that person was extremely angry.

“At this rate, forget about persuading Seol, we need to change the CEO’s mind first.”

“You’re having a hard time. Being caught in the middle.”

“What hardship is this? It’s nothing at all.”

Mun Ah-rin smiled brightly. That smile seemed to say she could do any amount of such troublesome work if only Seol could spread his wings.

“So, about that.”

Mun Ah-rin’s voice subtly lowered.

“That song. Is it a song that could change the CEO’s mind?”

“I don’t know that person’s taste well, but. I think it’s possible. It was so good that I was amazed the moment I first heard it.”

“Really? Then… how about actually playing it for him?”

“It would be good to play it for him, right? But Seol doesn’t want sponsorship. Then he probably wouldn’t want to give his song to change that CEO’s mind…”

“That’s why.”

Mun Ah-rin smiled brightly.

“Let’s play it for him without Seol knowing.”

“Huh…?”

“The file is right here.”

Mun Ah-rin pointed to Shin Ha-yeon’s laptop as she spoke.

“I’ll just play it briefly and return it right away. That way, when Seol changes his mind later, he’ll be able to receive sponsorship immediately.”

“…But,”

“The world isn’t that easy. Seol will definitely need the CEO’s help someday.”

Mun Ah-rin spoke with emphasis and strength.

Shin Ha-yeon stepped back hesitantly and looked at her laptop.

“Even so, playing his song for someone without Seol knowing doesn’t seem right.”

“Do you really think so? What do you think would be the path for Seol’s sake?”

Mun Ah-rin strode over and stood right in front of Shin Ha-yeon’s face.

The lighting cast down from above, creating shadows on her face. Her incomparably beautiful face transformed to look like that of a demon.

“Are you throwing away a golden opportunity by respecting some pointless stubbornness? Or are you secretly helping Seol grab a good opportunity?”

Shin Ha-yeon shrank back completely.

“I, I’m not sure about that either. But even if it really would help Seol, this kind of method is…”

“Is that really all there is to it?”

Mun Ah-rin smiled prettily again.

“Wh, what do you mean?”

“I’ve seen it often, you know. People who pretend to be friends by Seol’s side, subtly putting him down and making it hard for him to fully demonstrate his abilities.”

Shin Ha-yeon’s face hardened stiffly.

“Put your hand on your heart and think again.”

Mun Ah-rin whispered like a snake.

“Really, is that a decision for Seol’s sake? Isn’t it greed to keep him tied down beside you because you’re afraid he might climb higher?”

With a sinking feeling, it felt like her heart was dropping.

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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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