Chapter 12: The Agreement

Seo-woo sat at the small dining table in his small rental house, his children already tucked into bed. The day had been a whirlwind, and the thought of the unexpected turn his life was taking made him pause. After putting away the groceries, he found himself staring at the calling card Seo-jun had found. It was the calling card of Lee Hye-sung, a music producer from DreamCatcher Entertainment, a small but rapidly growing company.

Seo-woo's mind raced. He had known Lee Hye-sung from the original novel, Serenade Me, My Angel. He also knew about DreamCatcher Entertainment—a company that had gained attention not for its success, but for the plagiarism issues surrounding the comeback song of its talented vocal duo, Lighthouse. But Lee Hye-sung had been working with Choi Min-ho, the CEO of Dawn Entertainment, one of Starlight Entertainment's biggest competitors.

But the biggest shock to Seo-woo was the question: Why had Lee Hye-sung left Dawn Entertainment to join a smaller company like DreamCatcher Entertainment? If I remember correctly, he never left Choi Min-ho's company in the original story.

Seo-woo didn't have an answer, but something felt off about it all. Could these changes be related to him because he altered something in the original story of the novel?

He shook his head and decided to focus on the immediate opportunity in front of him.

With a deep breath, he picked up his phone and dialed the number on the calling card. It rang twice before the voice on the other end answered with a startled, "Hello! This is Lee Hye-sung."

Seo-woo smiled faintly. "Good evening, Mr. Lee Hye-sung!"

There was a brief silence, followed by a disbelieving laugh. "Who is this?"

"I'm... Bi-yong."

Lee Hye-sung replied confusedly, "Bi-yong?"

Seo-woo felt a familiar rush of nostalgia. In his previous life, Bi-yong had been the screenname he used when composing original songs for various entertainment companies. It was a name he'd hidden behind for years—his alias when creating songs that he knew would never be credited to him publicly.

Lee Hye-sung's tone shifted immediately. "Wait... were you the performer in the park last time with three kids?"

Seo-woo nodded to himself even though no one could see him. "Yes, it was me. I'm reaching out to ask what you need from me."

"The song you've sung from the park. I've been listening to it over and over again, and I know it was an original song" Lee Hye-sung said. "It's perfect for Lighthouse. We need a B-side ballad song for their comeback, and your song would fit perfectly. I'd like to buy it from you."

Seo-woo's chest tightened. He hadn't expected this. That impromptu performance had been nothing more than a spontaneous release of emotion, a momentary escape from his reality. He hadn't meant for it to go viral, let alone to turn into something that could potentially change his life.

"I don't think it would be appropriate," Seo-woo replied slowly. "That performance wasn't planned. It was more of an emotional release."

But Lee Hye-sung's voice was persistent. "I understand, but the lyrics fit perfectly. It's the ballad they need. Trust me, it could launch their careers even further."

Seo-woo hesitated, then said, "I'll tell you what—if you really want the song because of its lyrics, I'll produce a new version for you. But it will be different from the version I performed. The 'Night Version' is the song I performed at the park, and the 'Day Version' will be given to Lighthouse."

Lee Hye-sung was silent for a moment, processing the offer. When he spoke again, his voice was filled with admiration. "Day Version? Night Version? That's an interesting concept—two versions of the same song, with completely different arrangements. I like it. I really like it. No one has ever done that before."

Seo-woo couldn't help but smile slightly at the excitement in Lee Hye-sung's voice. He had hoped his idea would be well-received, but the enthusiasm was unexpected.

"Then it's settled," Seo-woo said. "I'll have the Day Version ready for you soon. But let me think if I will give the Night Version too. As for the price—let's meet tomorrow and discuss the details."

"Absolutely. I'll be there," Lee Hye-sung replied quickly. "Thank you, Bi-yong. This could be the start of something big."

Seo-woo hung up the phone, staring at it for a moment as a mix of excitement and apprehension flooded him. This was the break he had been waiting for, but the tension about the consequences of working with DreamCatcher Entertainment—and by extension, Choi Min-ho—lingered in the back of his mind.

He closed his eyes, trying to push the anxiety away. Suddenly, a window prompt appeared.

New Special Quest: Sign a contract with Lee Hye-sung that benefits both of you and Hye-sung

Quest Conditions:

· Agree to the initial payment of Lee Hye-sung's offer

· The royalties should be exactly 10%

· Use your screenname "Bi-yong" as the composer of two versions of the song.

Reward:

If completed successfully, unlock the ability to sing for a week.

It was a good sign for me to sing for a week to help with my music composition. "Thank you, system!"

By tomorrow, it is time to meet face-to-face and make decisions that could change everything.

For now, he needed to sleep and be ready for what lay ahead.

The morning sun peeked through the curtains as Seo-woo woke up early, his body moving automatically through the familiar motions of preparing breakfast. The system had issued its daily quests—

✔ Prepare a meal for your kids

✔ Accompany your kids to school

He also completed another quest by composing an original song. As a special perk, he gained increased stamina, allowing him to take better care of his children. He sighed, realizing how much the system had become a part of his life. Though it felt odd to be rewarded for things he already wanted to do, the extra incentive made his daily responsibilities feel more like an achievement rather than just a necessity.

He walked over to his children's room and gently shook them awake. "Time to get up, my sleepyheads."

The triplets groaned in protest but eventually sat up, rubbing their sleepy eyes. Seo-woo helped them brush their teeth and take a bath before dressing them in their neatly pressed kindergarten uniforms. As they settled at the table for breakfast, he finally told them about today's plan.

"I'm going to meet someone from the calling card we found," he said, taking a bite of his rice. "He's a music producer, and he wants to buy the song I sang at the park."

Seo-jun, who was always the most outspoken, frowned. "Are you going to become a singer again, Dad?"

"No," Seo-woo reassured him, ruffling his hair. "This is just a business deal. I need to earn money so we can pay our debts. But don't worry, I'll never leave you behind again. I can work from home while still being with you."

The children visibly relaxed at his words. Seo-min and Seo-jin, who had been quiet, exchanged glances before nodding in understanding.

After breakfast, Seo-woo accompanied them to kindergarten, fulfilling the second daily quest. He then returned home, took a quick shower, and changed into inconspicuous clothing—a hoodie, black cap, sunglasses, and a face mask. The last thing he wanted was to not be recognizable in public.

A notification popped up on his phone.

📩 Message from Lee Hye-sung:

🕘 "Call time is 9 AM at La Vista Restaurant. See you there."

Seo-woo grabbed his bag and headed out, taking a bus to avoid unnecessary attention. As he arrived, he walked through the elegant restaurant and quickly spotted Hye-sung seated at a discreet table in the far corner.

The producer looked up and blinked in confusion. From his perspective, a suspicious-looking man in a hoodie, sunglasses, and a mask had just walked in.

Seo-woo wasted no time. He sat down swiftly, removed his sunglasses and mask, and faced Lee Hye-sung directly.

Lee Hye-sung's jaw dropped.

For a long moment, he just stared.

"...No way."

Seo-woo smirked slightly. "Surprised?"

"Are you kidding me?" Hye-sung hissed under his breath, leaning closer. "You're telling me that Bi-yong and Ryu Seo-woo are the same person?"

Seo-woo crossed his arms. "Got a problem with that?"

Hye-sung wasn't sure if this was a blessing or a curse.

Ryu Seo-woo was known for being hot-tempered and difficult to work with. If he could really compose and produce songs, then this was an unbelievable opportunity—but was it worth the risk?

Seo-woo noticed the hesitation on Hye-sung's face. "If you're worried about my reputation, don't be. I'm not the same person I used to be."

Hye-sung exhaled slowly. "Alright... Let's talk business."

The deal was about to begin.

Seo-woo and Hye-sung leaned over the table, their conversation shifting into serious business negotiations.

They discussed the arrangement of the Day and Night Versions of Burning Bright. Seo-woo explained the artistic vision behind having two versions—one capturing the warmth of hope and the other embodying the struggles hidden in the night. However, the Night version will not be given to Lighthouse because it will be compared to Seo-woo's version.

In the end, Lighthouse would get the "Day Version" only, but Lee Hye-sung will include the Night Version in their album as a bonus track. He didn't buy the song, but instead split the profits.

However, Seo-woo had one condition.

"You need to announce that DreamCatcher Entertainment officially purchased the Day Version," he said firmly. "Otherwise, people might accuse you and Lighthouse of plagiarism."

Hye-sung nodded. "I'll make sure to credit the composer, but should I use your real name?"

"No," Seo-woo said immediately. Just use Bi-yong." He added, "Just don't tell anyone my identity; it will distract me from my peaceful days with my kids."

Lee Hye-sung immediately nodded, "Yes. I won't tell anyone about this and your kids-- wait, what? You have kids!?

Ryu Seo-woo covered his face with his hand and said, "Lower your voice, Lee Hye-sung."

"Oh sorry. I was too shocked about this. I need to drink water first to absorb this kind of revelation." Hye-sung drank his drink. They continued to discuss the song.

Hye-sung hesitated before bringing up another idea. "What if you feature in one of the songs of Lighthouse? Your voice would fit perfectly alongside Lighthouse's."

Seo-woo stiffened. He hadn't officially sung in a long time—not in a studio, not in public, except for that one impromptu performance in the park. His past fears whispered in the back of his mind, but... this was a royalty deal.

"...Fine, but I will not sing one of Lighthouse's songs alone. Instead, I will sing along with them in the extended version called Twilight Version. This version combines the Day and Night versions of Burning Bright. I will sing the Night Version parts, and they will sing the Day Version parts. This will highlight the contrasting meanings of both versions."

Hye-sung's face lit up in excitement.

Without wasting time, he pulled out a prepared contract from his bag and slid it across the table. "I had a feeling you'd agree, so I brought my laptop just in case. Just wait—I'll revise the contract and print it here. The restaurant owner is my cousin, so I can borrow his printer. Be right back!"

Seo-woo just nodded, and Lee Hye-sung entered through the back door of the counter.

Ten minutes later, he returned with a printed contract and handed it to him.

Seo-woo took his time to carefully read through every detail. The contract was a Royalty-Based Agreement:

Initial payment: 1 million won

Royalties: 10% from streaming, performances, and album sales

Hye-sung watched anxiously, expecting pushback—but to his surprise, Seo-woo simply nodded in satisfaction.

"This is good," Seo-woo said, signing his name at the bottom.

Hye-sung let out a relieved laugh. "You scared me for a second. I thought you'd negotiate for more."

"I know my worth," Seo-woo replied with a smirk, shaking his hand. "Happy cooperation."

As they parted ways, Seo-woo turned back and gave a final warning.

"For assurance, keep my identity and personal life a secret"

Hye-sung gulped and nodded quickly.

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[Special Quest]:

Sign a contract with Lee Hye-sung that benefits both of you and Hye-sung

Quest Conditions:

✔Agree to the initial payment of Lee Hye-sung's offer

✔The royalties should be exactly 10%

✔Use your screenname "Bi-yong" as the composer of two versions of the song.

Reward:

✔Unlock the ability to sing for a week (Activated) (7 days)