The Genius Composer Starts Again - Chapter 86

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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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Watching that scene, Min Chan-hyeok quietly murmured to himself.

‘You were right, Bella.’

He could feel the canned coffee in his hand growing cold. The drink that had been opened for a long time was already lukewarm, and Min Chan-hyeok felt it resembled himself exactly.

The passion of his youth had cooled, and he was continuing his work while soaked in inertia.

-You stand out too much. You’ll become a target right away.

Bella’s voice seemed to echo in his ears. Perhaps Bella had seen her own childhood in Seol.

Those immature days, a crew formed by amateurs who knew nothing.

All they had was youth and spirit. But that wasn’t proof of goodness.

Bella’s exceptional talent became poison that gradually strangled her.

Even she, who had initially laughed and chatted actively, gradually lost her expression due to the envy, jealousy, and ridicule around her.

Have you ever seen a person wither away while still alive?

Min Chan-hyeok never wanted to see that sight again. When Bella finally left the crew that had been like home to her, Min Chan-hyeok also withdrew his involvement.

It had been over 20 years since things fell apart like that.

‘And yet this industry hasn’t changed at all.’

Perhaps it was because that’s human nature.

How many trials Bella must have overcome to reach her current position. Seol was now just beginning to get caught up in that vicious whirlpool of jealousy and interference.

‘I can’t believe there’s someone doing such dirty work.’

SLO.

Min Chan-hyeok knew that name too. He was a fairly famous veteran composer in the hip-hop scene.

He had no connections to that industry, so he’d never met him directly. But the rumors he heard were so unsavory that he didn’t want to associate with him.

‘I just thought he was a bad guy. But he was doing this kind of thing to rookie composers.’

The more he thought about it, the more he could only sigh.

He felt ashamed in front of Seol. As an adult who had entered society one step ahead, it pained him to show this unreasonable reality as it was.

“…Let’s go with settlement for now.”

Min Chan-hyeok suggested cautiously.

He knew that Seol himself, who was experiencing this, would be suffering and struggling the most.

“The other party probably doesn’t intend to receive all 43 million won. They’re probably calling high first, then trying to find an appropriate line while negotiating with you. They’re probably thinking they’d break even if they received just 20 million won.”

20 million won wasn’t a small amount, but it wasn’t a level Seol couldn’t handle either.

“Since you signed the contract, you’re at a disadvantage. If it goes to litigation, it’ll take a long time, and if you lose the lawsuit, you might have to bear the litigation costs too.”

So lowering the amount as much as possible was realistic.

Min Chan-hyeok spoke calmly, but inside he was boiling with anger. However, getting angry in the current situation would only add to the confusion.

Min Chan-hyeok tried to give Seol the best advice he could while keeping his head cool.

“Stopping it at 20 million won might be getting off cheap. You’ll feel wronged and angry right now, but it can’t be helped…”

Ding!

Just then, Seol’s phone rang once more.

“A new email came.”

“What?”

“From SLO, that person.”

“Let me see.”

Min Chan-hyeok immediately took Seol’s phone.

[ Subject : Proposal for Discussion Regarding Damages

Hello, YULE.

I’m contacting you because it seems various misunderstandings have occurred regarding the project we’ve been working on recently.

We also have no desire to proceed with this matter in this way. However, we judged it best to clarify each other’s positions regarding several issues that arose during schedule delays and the review process of deliverables, and to find new points of agreement.

If it’s alright with you, could we meet in person this week to coordinate through dialogue?

Please think of it as a simple meeting.

We know about YULE’s policy of mystique, but we think it’s necessary to meet and talk directly to prevent unnecessary misunderstandings between us.

Please know that we have no intention of unnecessarily escalating this matter.

We hope we can conclude this in a positive direction. Thank you. ]

Min Chan-hyeok’s eyebrows twitched.

“Look at this?”

“Why?”

“They want to meet and talk directly. This might have been their goal from the beginning. These aren’t the type of people to do this.”

At first glance, it seemed like they were showing goodwill, but their method was cunningly devious.

Cornering the opponent and when they’re in a panic, acting nice and saying ‘let’s meet and talk.’ Haven’t they blocked all avenues for refusal?

He could feel their damp and dirty deliberate intention.

“Moreover, people like that might turn on a recorder and use every word you say as evidence.”

Min Chan-hyeok looked at Seol and spoke clearly.

“You absolutely cannot go out.”

More than anything else, the problem was her outstanding appearance that had made him mistake her for an entertainment trainee when he first saw her.

Min Chan-hyeok knew well that SLO was entangled in various dirty gossip related to women.

To such a SLO, a beautiful rookie composer appears who has grounds for claiming damages?

He didn’t think that would lead to a good ending at all.

But Seol spoke with determined eyes.

“I want to go.”

“Hey, you…!”

“I’ll avoid mentioning documents or contracts. I’ll also turn on a recorder when I go, and if we meet in a public place, there won’t be any dangerous situations.”

Seol seemed to have thought about various things too. She properly addressed the parts Min Chan-hyeok was worried about.

“Besides, the other party has already proposed settlement via email. If I refuse here, it’ll become that I rejected the settlement and work against me.”

“…!”

“Most importantly, blindly avoiding is more dangerous.”

Min Chan-hyeok’s eyes wavered for a moment.

“If I hide like this, rumors will spread that I got scared. Once that perception starts to spread, from then on, all sorts of things will really try to shake me up.”

He knew well how cruel the industry could be to rookies who seemed weak.

Min Chan-hyeok looked at Seol silently. Surprise briefly crossed his eyes.

“So I’ll meet them. How far they’re thinking, and how much further they plan to go. You can only know the hand by seeing it directly.”

It was already a tone of firm resolve.

Min Chan-hyeok was silent for a moment, then let out a deep sigh.

“…Who could beat you. At times like this, it seems like you’ve been in this industry longer than me.”

Even so, Min Chan-hyeok didn’t forget his final warning.

“You absolutely must not talk about documents. Don’t even mention words like ‘settlement’ or ‘acknowledgment.’ If anything happens, call me right away.”

“I will.”

Even at Seol’s answer, he still had a displeased expression.

But he also knew he couldn’t stop her anymore. He was someone who knew the reality of this industry better than anyone.

“I’m aging because of you, aging.”

He muttered while running his hand through his hair.

Seol seemed to be exchanging emails while fiddling with her phone, then suddenly stood up from her seat.

“Don’t worry. I’ll resolve this quickly and come back.”

“What?”

“I told them to meet right now. I can’t give the other party time to think of other moves.”

“R-right now?!”

Before Min Chan-hyeok’s question was even finished, Seol grabbed and turned the door handle.

“Thank you for the advice. I’ll be back.”

“Hey, man! Seol!”

Click.

As the door closed, Min Chan-hyeok stared blankly at the empty space.

He was so dumbfounded that he couldn’t even think of following after her. Only after recognizing the situation a beat too late did Min Chan-hyeok gape his mouth open.

“This is crazy, this is crazy!”

But Seol had already left long ago.

Min Chan-hyeok couldn’t hide his anxious feelings and just stared intently at his phone.

After hesitating for a moment, he soon found a contact and pressed it.

Ring- ring-.

The dial tone rang twice, and the call connection sound was heard. During that time, Min Chan-hyeok’s expression was firmly hardened.

-What is it.

A man’s voice, low and sunken, was heard. Min Chan-hyeok barely swallowed a sigh and continued speaking.

“There’s something I need to ask of you.”

After Min Chan-hyeok briefly explained the situation, he bowed his head.

“Please help me just this once.”

After a short silence, a low and firm response was heard.

-Send me the location.

Click, the call was cut off just like that.

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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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