The Genius Composer Starts Again - Chapter 73

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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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“Gr-greed?! It’s really not like that! I just….”

Shin Ha-yeon was startled and tried to respond, but trailed off. Meeting Mun Ah-rin’s gaze, she felt her conscience pricked by guilt she didn’t deserve.

Could she swear to heaven that she had never envied Seol’s talent?

Seeing that brilliant light, could she say she had never once thought about wanting to reach that place herself?

If asked that question, Shin Ha-yeon could only keep her mouth shut.

“See?”

Mun Ah-rin giggled.

“You were actually envious, weren’t you? No need to hide it. It’s only natural. I thought the same thing many, many times while next to Seol.”

Her languid voice sounded as if she was reminiscing about the past.

“I wished that talent was mine.”

“….”

“Though thanks to that, I worked hard and became who I am now.”

Mun Ah-rin smiled brightly as she pressed Shin Ha-yeon.

“But could someone who’s only been around for about a month transcend that greed like I did? Even if you say so outwardly, deep down in your heart it’s different, isn’t it?”

“I, I….”

“Think about it again. Don’t you want to block Seol’s path?”

Shin Ha-yeon bit her lips tightly. Even if she denied it, it didn’t seem like Mun Ah-rin would believe her.

In fact, even Shin Ha-yeon herself was doubting whether there wasn’t the slightest bit of denial in her true feelings. It might be natural that she couldn’t convince others.

“It’s not even a finished piece, just showing a rough draft – what’s the problem with that? I’m not even listening to it myself. I’ll pass it to the CEO, and after listening once, I’ll delete it right away.”

“….”

“I’m Seol’s friend too, so would I really do something harmful to Seol? If you can’t trust me even after I’ve said this much, then you just don’t want to trust me.”

Mun Ah-rin shrugged her shoulders nonchalantly.

“So.”

Mun Ah-rin’s eyes flashed like a snake’s.

“What will you do?”

Mun Ah-rin’s words seemed somewhat persuasive at first glance. It wasn’t even a professional composer’s work, but just a student’s practice piece at best.

Though Seol had never explicitly said so, she would probably submit it as an assignment to school anyway. It would be ridiculous to block this saying it wasn’t allowed.

Perhaps, really as Mun Ah-rin said, just pretending not to know and handing over the song might be the path for Seol’s sake.

Shin Ha-yeon closed her eyes tightly and opened them.

Her resolve was firm.

Shin Ha-yeon looked straight at Mun Ah-rin and answered.

“Still, I can’t do it.”

“…Ha.”

“No matter what, I can’t give Seol’s song on my own without Seol’s permission.”

That was the right answer.

Personal feelings might have been involved, but at least in Shin Ha-yeon’s opinion, this was the right decision.

Mun Ah-rin frowned slightly.

“…Really? That’s too bad.”

She gave a short comment and stepped back.

Just as she was secretly breathing a sigh of relief at how quickly Mun Ah-rin gave up,

“Were you writing lyrics?”

“Huh?”

Mun Ah-rin pointed to the notebook on the table and asked.

“It seemed like it. Are you aspiring to be a lyricist? Isn’t the Creative Writing Department usually for novelists or poets? How interesting.”

Though momentarily flustered by the sudden change of topic, Shin Ha-yeon kindly replied.

“I’m not thinking of it as a career path, but I got to try it for the first time recently. It’s harder than I thought, so I’m struggling a lot. I’m not at a level where I can show it to anyone yet.”

“Really? Wow, that’s amazing!”

Mun Ah-rin sent her sparkling eyes. At that innocent admiration, Shin Ha-yeon smiled shyly.

“Can I take a look?”

“Huh?”

“Lyrics are separate from the music, right?”

“Well, that’s true, but….”

Shin Ha-yeon nodded awkwardly. There was nothing problematic about the notebook at all.

She hadn’t copied any sheet music either. Rather, she had scribbled words so haphazardly that it would be hard for anyone but herself to read properly.

“So this is how you work on lyrics. How interesting.”

Mun Ah-rin acted as if she was really interested in lyric writing. She looked at the notebook intently and asked Shin Ha-yeon several questions.

Shin Ha-yeon, who was initially bewildered, soon became excited and started talking enthusiastically.

“Yes, that’s right. I thought this part would be good if it had more of a striking, rising feeling. Thinking about that….”

Just as she was continuing her explanation,

Thud!

Mun Ah-rin accidentally knocked over the cup on the table.

“Oh my! What should I do!”

The coffee that was half remaining spilled toward Mun Ah-rin’s side.

Her white blouse was stained with coffee and ruined, and coffee was pooled slightly on her skirt.

If she moved carelessly, the coffee would spill to the floor and make an even bigger mess.

Shin Ha-yeon quickly stood up. As Mun Ah-rin floundered not knowing what to do, she urgently shouted.

“Stay still. I’ll get some napkins!”

Just as she was about to go ask the cafe employee if there was something to wipe with,

Shin Ha-yeon hesitated for a moment.

Looking back, Mun Ah-rin was sitting right next to her laptop.

‘Would it be okay to go like this…?’

How long would it take to explain the situation to the employee and come back with napkins or towels to wipe with?

Probably enough time to open the already-turned-on laptop and steal the song.

“Sorry. I caused an accident. But it’s fortunate it wasn’t hot, right?”

Mun Ah-rin smiled cheerfully as if she hadn’t noticed Shin Ha-yeon’s dilemma at all.

She could see Mun Ah-rin’s clothes getting more stained. But she couldn’t bring herself to take a step.

That moment of being unable to do this or that felt like an eternity.

‘What should I do? Am I worrying too much? But isn’t the timing too perfect?’

The feeling of “surely not” and the suspicion of “but it’s possible,” and even guilt toward herself for harboring such doubts about the unfamiliar Mun Ah-rin.

Her mind became tangled in complexity.

Right at that moment,

“What’s this? Mun Ah-rin. Why do you look like that?”

“…!”

Someone approached, recognizing her. Looking over, it was a tall male student.

Shin Ha-yeon knew him too. She had seen him greeting Seol in passing.

Cho Yun-je. It was him.

‘Seol’s friend!’

Was it her imagination that Cho Yun-je seemed to have a halo as he approached? Shin Ha-yeon quickly spoke first.

“Um, excuse me. You’re Seol’s friend, right? The situation is a bit difficult right now. Could you stay here for a moment? I’ll quickly go get some napkins.”

Had she ever spoken this fast before? After speaking like a machine gun, she looked up at him with desperate hope.

Cho Yun-je looked back and forth between Shin Ha-yeon and Mun Ah-rin, then scratched the back of his head.

Though he didn’t know what the situation was, it wasn’t a difficult request, so there was no reason to refuse.

“Yes. Go ahead.”

“Thank you!”

Shin Ha-yeon smiled brightly and bowed her head in greeting. Then she hurried off.

“So.”

Cho Yun-je put his bag on the side of the table where coffee hadn’t splashed and tilted his head.

“Why are you like this?”

Mun Ah-rin smiled brightly as if nothing was wrong and answered.

“I’m like this because I spilled coffee.”

“What I mean is, why are you flirting around with Seol’s friend.”

“That’s an interesting way to put it. I’m Seol’s friend too, so what’s so strange about getting friendly with a friend’s friend?”

Cho Yun-je frowned slightly. Something about this smelled fishy, though he couldn’t pinpoint what.

“Don’t worry. We just ran into each other by chance and talked briefly. Though I did accidentally spill coffee on her.”

“…Well, fine.”

Cho Yun-je couldn’t find anything to argue back with and nodded his head.

“She seemed pretty shocked. It looks like it was her first time talking to you, but she still made that request. As you can see, it was iced coffee so she wasn’t hurt, so don’t worry and go take care of your business.”

“Forget it. Still, if someone asked me for a favor, I should at least keep watch until she comes back.”

Cho Yun-je showed no signs of wanting to leave. Mun Ah-rin stared intently at Cho Yun-je while wearing a painted smile.

“Why.”

Cho Yun-je asked with a slight laugh.

“Or is there some reason I shouldn’t be here?”

A sharp gaze poured down on Mun Ah-rin.

“What are you talking about?”

Mun Ah-rin tilted her head and asked back.

“Why are you being so scary.”

If anyone else had seen this, they would have thought she was an innocent, naive victim who knew nothing.

Even if they knew her true nature, this gesture was convincing enough to make them doubt whether they had misjudged her this time.

But Cho Yun-je just brushed it off with a hollow laugh.

Soon he delivered a warning in a low, sunken voice.

“I don’t think what happened to Se-ah noona was just a coincidence.”

“…”

“So be careful. Don’t even think about pulling any tricks. Because I’m watching 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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