The Genius Composer Starts Again - Chapter 88

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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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SLO stared at me with wide eyes. He seemed surprised by the unexpected turn of events.

‘He must have thought I’d grovel and beg.’

That’s probably what would normally happen.

It’s not an easy decision to get on the bad side of an industry senior, especially when there’s even a contract involved.

With such massive compensation damages, my vision would have gone dark, and I would have clung to SLO crying and pleading.

‘That makes it all the more vicious.’

He cornered his opponent into having no choice, then watched with a sly smile. Now that things weren’t going his way, he couldn’t even hide his bewilderment.

I continued speaking in a low, sunken voice.

“I sent revision files four times. I tried my best to accommodate the feedback. If I had to completely overhaul the song four times in two weeks, shouldn’t I be the one receiving additional payment?”

SLO’s eyebrows twitched.

“Since there was no clause about additional payment for extra revisions in the contract, I stayed quiet about it. But if you’re going to act like this, it’s problematic. I believe I provided plenty of songs within the deadline specified in the contract.”

Each word hit the mark precisely. SLO’s complexion turned pale.

“It’s rare to receive this much feedback in such a short time, as far as I know. I’ve fulfilled my obligations sufficiently, so I have no responsibility to compensate for damages either.”

“…”

“This is what I came here to discuss. Do you have anything more to say?”

A moment of silence passed.

From a nearby table came the sound of someone spitting out their drink with a cough. They must have choked.

At first, SLO had a blank expression as if he didn’t properly understand what he was hearing, but anger gradually spread across his face.

He seemed to think he was being disrespected.

“This is really, I’ve been patient but…”

SLO’s voice trembled violently. He was so agitated that veins bulged on the back of his neck.

“Who decided those standards on their own? It doesn’t matter how many times you revised it in two weeks – I didn’t receive satisfactory results! That means there’s a problem!”

SLO shouted, spitting as he spoke.

“And shouldn’t you be grateful when I give you lots of feedback? It means I was trying to somehow fix a terrible song! I was trying to be generous since you’re a rookie, but how ungrateful!”

I replied calmly.

“Please calm down. Getting excited won’t solve anything.”

“You…!”

“Also, we’re meeting as professional composer to professional composer. Your informal speech is also unpleasant.”

SLO’s eyes flashed at the word ‘professional.’

It must have sounded like ‘you’re not acting professionally.’ Which was half right.

He seemed breathless, opening his mouth wide once before closing it. His anger seemed to have risen to his throat.

“Right now, who’s saying what to whom…!”

His gaze briefly swept past me toward the next table. It was exactly where the coughing sound had come from earlier.

He probably had a crew member with him.

‘He’s reacting more intensely because he’s being humiliated in front of someone he knows.’

I could see the snake coiled in SLO’s belly. Shame, humiliation, inferiority complex, and even fear.

Those emotions seemed to mix and boil in his stomach.

‘Just a little more provocation and he’ll explode.’

Without changing my expression at all, I calmly scratched at him once more.

“Please stop the emotional responses. Arbitrarily evaluating the results despite four rounds of revisions, and even demanding compensation for damages… I’d call that abuse of power.”

I spoke precisely, very clearly.

I pinpointed his weakness clearly. Even his base inner thoughts that he wanted to hide, all of it.

The noise in the cafe seemed to quiet for a moment.

The moment SLO and I made eye contact in mid-air.

BANG-!

SLO slammed his hand down on the table.

The cup on top shook with a loud clatter. SLO was leaning forward, staring at me with bloodshot eyes.

“Where do you get off making such insolent remarks.”

It was an outright threat.

As the situation became serious, the crew member at the next table jumped up and approached.

“Hyung! Ah, what the hell are you doing!”

“Let go! I said let go!”

Before the crew member’s hand could even reach him, SLO shook him off convulsively.

His gaze was still persistently fixed on me.

I whispered back without backing down.

“Going to hit me?”

SLO’s hand trembled finely in the air.

As if he would strike at any moment.

He had to cover up his shame somehow.

Seeing that weak heart, I wasn’t afraid at all. I tilted my head and bluntly said.

“Go ahead and try.”

“Hey!”

His hand rose a little higher.

The crew member rushed over in panic, but it was already too late. Watching SLO’s hand quickly move toward my cheek, I squeezed my eyes shut.

I was waiting for the stinging pain that would soon come.

‘…Huh?’

I didn’t feel the expected pain. Only the sound of people gasping in surprise around me.

‘What?’

I opened my eyes drowsily.

Soon I had no choice but to open my eyes wide in shock at the scene that filled my vision.

A man was standing between SLO and me, blocking us. His build was so much larger – about two heads taller – that SLO was barely visible.

“What, what! Let go of this!”

SLO twisted his body trying to free his caught wrist, but the grip was so strong it wouldn’t budge.

As I stared blankly at that back, the man seemed to sense my gaze and turned around.

“Ah.”

An exclamation escaped me without realizing.

It was a familiar face.

The lighting from behind made his outline even clearer. Coldly set eyes, an expression without the slightest disturbance.

The moment his gaze swept past me, I realized I had been unconsciously holding my breath.

It was Jeong Do-hyun, that very person.

“Are you alright.”

A brief word. His voice was low and dry, but strangely reassuring.

“…Yes.”

I barely managed to squeeze out an answer.

Jeong Do-hyun didn’t ask further and turned his head back toward SLO.

“I said let go!”

SLO struggled and shouted.

“What are you. Are you crazy? Don’t interfere in other people’s business…!”

“Hyung, hyung! Calm down!”

Just as SLO seemed about to burst out with curses, the crew member immediately intervened.

“I, I don’t know who you are? Ha, hahaha. Boss. Our hyung isn’t usually like this, but today he’s particularly… Hey, did you miss your medication time.”

“Medication? What bullshit. Who do you think you are… Huk!”

SLO belatedly recognized Jeong Do-hyun’s face and was startled.

“I think there might be some misunderstanding…”

The crew member broke out in a sweat and forced an awkward smile. Jeong Do-hyun briefly glanced in that direction.

That alone was enough to cut off the crew member’s words.

“A misunderstanding.”

He spoke calmly.

“Which part is the misunderstanding?”

“Well, that’s…”

“Attempted assault, threatening remarks, unreasonable monetary demands.”

Continuing his words, he twisted SLO’s wrist.

“Ugh!”

SLO’s face contorted in pain, but Jeong Do-hyun didn’t even blink.

“Is there even one of these that’s a misunderstanding?”

“….”

“….”

SLO and the crew member exchanged glances, reading each other’s expressions. There was desperation in their eyes as if asking what to do about this situation.

SLO only moved his lips slightly, then soon hung his head low.

“I’m sorry….”

His face showed none of the earlier arrogance.

Only then did Jeong Do-hyun let go of his hand.

“Hah!”

SLO clutched his half-twisted hand and staggered back a couple of steps.

“If you have more to say, do it with NXT Holdings Legal Team.”

“N-no! There was just a brief mis-misunderstanding. Yes.”

SLO looked back and forth between me and Jeong Do-hyun, sweating profusely. His eyes held a reproachful look as if asking why I had hidden having such backing.

Jeong Do-hyun no longer looked at SLO. He turned his gaze back to me and said.

“Let’s go.”

I took a breath and stood up from my seat. The sound of the chair legs scraping against the floor seemed unusually loud.

Jeong Do-hyun naturally stepped aside to clear a path for me to exit first.

He extended his hand as if escorting me.

I nodded and carefully placed my hand on his.

Then I felt the fear and humiliation that had lingered until just moments ago slowly receding.

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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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