Chapter 101. Hot Spring (2)

Translator: Synopsis

-9:30 a.m.

Kim JaeHoon was currently in a morning radio programme at SBB station. Named ‘Morning Live with Han SeYoung’.

Han SeYoung, an announcer, was a radio DJ who was loved for her graceful appearance. She asked, just as gracefully, to today’s guest, Kim JaeHoon.

“A while ago, you appeared on K company’s music show, didn’t you?”

“Hahaha, I guess that did happen.”

“The song you sang back then caused all sorts of outrage. I heard that the views are increasing explosively even now….”

“Well, as much as it embarrasses me to say it, yes, it is. I’m only thankful.”

Kim JaeHoon was careful with everything he spoke. Appearing on air after his long sabbatical, made him nervous. However, under the lead of Han SeYoung, he began to relax.

She asked Kim JaeHoon many things, especially regarding the new company that he joined. Both knew that the masses were mostly interested in this.

“I met a good person when I was in hardship. I caused everyone to worry a lot, but I will reply to them with my songs.”

Kim JaeHoon replied to the question with that line.

Han SeYoung, on the other hand, seemed to be slightly disappointed by that answer. Still, she didn’t panic and asked him to sing a song. Kim JaeHoon replied that it wouldn’t be so good since it was early in the morning and sang a short song.

“The meaning behind my tears –”

It was ‘Promise Again’ that he sang back in the music show. The heavy, yet high voice made Han SeYoung’s eyes dreamy for a moment. However, she came back to herself as she was a pro.

“I consoled myself, saying it was rain –. And I’ll stop here.”

“Woooow.”

Han SeYoung clapped. He was as good as always. The real-time internet comments were complimenting Kim JaeHoon as well.

Leaving many people wanting for more, Kim JaeHoon’s radio recording finished.

“Thanks for your work.”

“You too.”

When the commercials aired, Kim JaeHoon left the radio station, escorted out by Han SeYoung. Outside the studio, which still had red lights on, KangYoon was waiting.

“Thanks for your work. Shall we go, then?”

“Yes.”

KangYoon left the station with Kim JaeHoon.

-11:00 a.m.

At the anniversary of H&S electronics company. Kim JaeHoon was holding a microphone in front of nearly 300 of its employees.

“The meaning behind my tears – I consoled myself saying it was rain –”

Kim JaeHoon’s voice rang out inside the employee’s ears. In this boring anniversary, Kim JaeHoon’s appearance was like a rain in a drought. The female employees were almost screaming, while the men were almost dancing.

However, since this was a company-wide event, it wasn’t exactly burning passionately. Kim JaeHoon waved his hand in slight disappointment.

“Thank you.”

“Whoaa……. Oh.”

The employees clapped Kim JaeHoon out. They wanted to cheer out loud, but due to their superiors, they couldn’t do so.

-1:45 p.m.

A regional event at Chungjoo P Department store.

The small concert venue constructed next to the department store was already full of people, as though these people had known beforehand that Kim JaeHoon was going to appear here. It was certain that it had been advertised beforehand. The department store seemed to have advertised very well, and there were many different types of people here.

“Hello everyone! Kim JaeHoon here.”

Due to the time chosen of the concert, most people here were parents of students in their 30s. However, there were quite a few students as well as men.

Kim JaeHoon started singing after breaking the ice.

“My love — disappears — at a flip of a”

As though there was some magic in his voice, all of the audience members waved their hands in the air in sync.

-4:49 p.m.

Girls clad in school uniform all screamed out in unison as soon as they saw Kim JaeHoon. Kim JaeHoon waved his hand awkwardly since it had been such a long time since he last heard fangirls screaming like this. When he did, the cheers became even louder.

“Like the moon hidden behind the clouds –”

The students were very dynamic. Amongst the cheers, Kim JaeHoon’s voice became even louder.

‘He definitely adapts well to the stage.’

KangYoon, who was watching from behind the stage, shrugged his shoulders.

-6:22 p.m.

Seoul H-hotel entrepreneurship event

-8:28 p.m.

Seoul J-hotel banquet

-9:41 p.m.

Interview for the music magazine, ‘Manuscript’.

-11:30 p.m.

Photo shoot for the men’s magazine, ‘HIT’.

***

“Hahaha, ahahaha….”

After all the events for that day, the time was already past 2 a.m. Kim JaeHoon’s eyes were half out of focus. Due to the immense schedule, his eyes were nearly closed.

“You worked hard today.”

“You too, hyung.”

KangYoon patted Kim JaeHoon’s shoulders. Then he asked as he drove him back to his house.

“Are you going to keep living in that semi-basement house?”

“I was going to move when I get my payment. But I don’t have any payment. Haha….”

Kim JaeHoon laughed awkwardly. There was no way he liked living in that semi-basement. As for the contract deposit, all of it was used in paying back his debt. He had no financial room to get another living space.

KangYoon sighed shortly and asked.

“…Do you want to live at my house for a while?”

“What? What do you mean?”

“Just for a while. Living in a semi-basement house is bad for your health too.”

Kim JaeHoon was thankful for KangYoon’s consideration, but he still refused. He thought that being indebted to him just for the singing was enough. However, KangYoon kept proposing that to him.

After thinking for a while, Kim JaeHoon eventually accepted.

“…Then I’ll bother you for the time being.”

“I’ll say this up front, but I don’t have any weird hobbies.”

“…That’s not funny.”

“Sorry.”

KangYoon turned the car around towards his house.

After arriving home, KangYoon gave Kim JaeHoon an empty room. It was somewhat wrong to give him HeeYoon’s room after all. The empty room was also large enough for Kim JaeHoon to live in.

“Nice house.”

Kim JaeHoon was very satisfied with his new living space. Although this was an ordinary standalone house, it was much better than the semi-basement he used to live in. KangYoon gave him some blankets.

“Make yourself home.”

“Thank you. I’ll bother you for a while.”

While Kim JaeHoon went to wash, KangYoon went to his room and turned on the computer. He was planning to read through some articles that were published today.

‘Nothing special.’

Looking at the search words, he saw that it wasn’t that much different from before. Other than some DiaTeen selfies, there wasn’t much else to pay attention to. However, he then noticed a strange article at the corner of his screen.

‘Rebirth Entertainment?’ (T/N: I don’t know if this is ‘reverse’ or ‘rebirth’ (same pronunciation in KR), but I’ll go with the latter.)

This was the company that Kim JaeHoon belonged to before he came to World Entertainment. They were also the cause of the 1.5billion won debt. KangYoon clicked on the article.

– CEO Yoo MinSung of Rebirth ENT “Kim JaeHoon’s contract is not over”, no mention of copyrights

President Yoo MinSung of Rebirth Entertainment claimed that the contract between his company and the popular singer Kim JaeHoon is not over yet. President Yoo MinSung told through an interview that the contract between Kim JaeHoon and Rebirth Entertainment was not finished up properly and asked for an immediate settlement.

(omitted)

However, he also claimed that this is not the time yet to talk about copyrights and avoided mentioning it.

(omitted)

***

‘…….’

KangYoon found this rather small article absurd. The contract was finished ages ago. Moreover, they also held the copyrights as well. They were only talking about what was advantageous for them.

‘I should take care of the previous company problem as well. I can’t leave that be.’

Just as he closed the browser window, Kim JaeHoon came into his room.

“Wow. So, you work at home too?”

“Huh? Oh. I just find myself comfortable to work at home. Didn’t you also do some compositions, JaeHoon?”

KangYoon smoothly turned around in his chair and switched topics. Any signs of discomfort had all been erased from his face. Kim JaeHoon exclaimed at the musical devices in KangYoon’s room.

“A bit in the past. But I don’t think I have any talent for writing music. So, I decided to focus on singing.”

“That’s a pity. Doesn’t a singer-songwriter sound attractive?”

“I think it’s better to focus on one thing rather than trying many things out. Otherwise, I might have collapsed during the past 4 years. I think I only survived because I focused on singing.”

“That’s true. So, I just need to give you good songs?”

“That’s more than welcome for me. But you know? I am very picky when it comes to songs.”

Kim JaeHoon playfully replied to KangYoon’s words.

KangYoon told Kim JaeHoon to come and showed him a song. This was the song that HeeYoon sent to KangYoon. It was a rather slow-rhythm song with no lyrics or even any kind of arrangement. Kim JaeHoon hummed the melody as he listened to it.

KangYoon’s eyes saw musical notes making harmony. Unfortunately, though, the light was very weak. After listening to it, Kim JaeHoon tilted his head.

“Hm…. It’s not bad. I think the melody’s good. But can you polish the end parts a bit?”

“Really? What do you want to be changed?”

“The mood goes up too rapidly. Smoothen it down a bit.”

KangYoon wrote down the things he said. He was planning to ask HeeYoon to redo those parts later.

After talking about the song, it was already 3 a.m.

Both KangYoon and Kim JaeHoon were dead tired.

“Let’s sleep. We need to visit a hair salon tomorrow too.”

“Yes. Have a good night.”

The two’s day started early in the morning and ended well into the next day.

And not even 4 hours later, their flaming day began again.

***

Rebirth Entertainment was a well-going company that once had 5 popular stars belonging to their company. However, these days, the financial status of the company became more difficult, and they fell into a small company with just a single entertainer in their ranks.

The reason behind that….

“Dammit. A dud again today.”

President Yoo MinSung grumbled while leaving the “game room” filled with smoke. The rough beard on his chin as well as the smell of smoke that stained his entire body made him indifferentiable from a drug addict. (T/N: ‘game room’ = gambling den)

He took out his phone. Unlike his clothes, his phone was a limited edition with a gold ring around it. He called and was connected to a man.

“What happened?”

– There’s no reaction yet. The masses are silent about it too.

“It’s about time someone takes the bait. Dammit…. Okay.”

President Yoo MinSung was a very rough man. He hung up one-sidedly.

“I’m hungry.”

He then went into the Soondae gukbap place next door.

“Old Hag! One gukbap here! Just the soondae!”

Angrily ordering food as he always did, he turned around to the TV. On the TV was a music video of some idol girls. His gaze naturally headed towards their long legs which were emphasized by their clothing.

(T/N: Most restaurants have TVs in Korea….)

“Dammit, I should have done a girl group too. Damned Kim JaeHoon.”

He only blamed the innocent Kim JaeHoon.

This was an era of girl groups. It was no exaggeration to say that 70% of the pop music industry was taken over by girl groups. Each and every TV programme featured girl groups at least once. Entertainment shows, dramas, and even some documentaries.

When the gukbap came out and he started eating, he got a phone call. It was from the employee from before.

“What is it? I’m eating.”

– I apologize. World Entertainment has called.

President Yoo MinSung put down his spoon.

“Oh yeah? What did they say?”

– They’re asking us why we bring up a contract that ended two years ago. That we should check the contract properly….

“…….”

President Yoo MinSung was deeply enraged. These people didn’t seem to know that he had the copyright; as well as the immense amount of money that came with it….

“Oh, yeah? Their CEO spat out bullshit like that?”

– It wasn’t their President, but their director. It was a woman….

“Director? I can see the level of the President, taking a bitch as a director.” (T/N: Oof)

President Yoo MinSung clicked his tongue. His conservative ideals didn’t understand it at all.

“Well, fine with me. They don’t want the copyrights eh. Tell them to do whatever they want. And tell them to never call back….”

– They said they’ll sue for the interference of business if we call them back.

“Whaaaat!? SUE!? ME!?”:

President Yoo MinSung abruptly stood up from his seat. Sue? Out of all things they could do, sue? It was an insult to him just thinking about it.

“Which bitch is this!? HUH? Who does she think I am! Send me that number, NOW!”

President Yoo MinSung’s shout was loud enough for everyone in the restaurant to hear. He left the restaurant in a rage without even eating. Paying for the food was not in his mind right now. Even while walking on the streets, he shouted very loudly. He couldn’t care less about the people around him.

A moment later, the employee messaged him a number. He hung up on the call and called that number immediately. Soon, a woman’s voice came out through his phone.

– Hello? This is Lee HyunJi.

“Was it you that spouted all that bullshit?”

– Who is this?

The opponent was rather calm even after hearing all those insults. President Yoo MinSung started uttering in rage, but the reaction was bland.

After a long while, and President Yoo MinSung settled down a little, a calm set of words came out through the phone.

– The contract was finished two years ago, and the penalty for breach of contract was paid in full. You brought up that contract and went against the obligation of the protection of privacy. An employee from our company went to the police station with an accusation. You’ll probably be summoned soon.

“What!? Sue me? You, who are you? You don’t want Kim JaeHoon’s copyrighted songs?”

-Then I will hang up. Oh, and, you know that this call is being recorded right? Since you insulted us, we will also put contempt as one of the crimes. May we never see in person.

And the call was hung up one-sidedly.

“Hey, HEY!”

President Yoo MinSung shouted out loud in the middle of the street. Everyone avoided walking near him, whispering about how strange he was.

“Good, good! Kim JaeHoon. This is how you act, huh?”

Madness erupted in President Yoo MinSung’s eyes.

***

“I did as you said, President, but I’m still worried. Didn’t we provoke him too hard?”

Lee HyunJi called KangYoon as soon as she hung up the call with President Yoo MinSung.

– Thank you for your work. He must have insulted you a lot.

“That’s fine by me. I’ll just sue him for that anyway. I’ll just consider this some pocket money since we spent a lot of money recently. Anyway, I made him really mad. He has zero tolerance. He may really be a gambling addict.”

Lee HyunJi heaved a deep sigh. Such a man was a President of a company. Pathetic.

– Hahaha. You must have had a hard time listening to all those insults.

“Actually, I’m even more curious about how you know President Yoo MinSung. You shouldn’t have met him either…. How did you know he was a gambling addict?”

– That’s…. Anyway. It’s about time we moved onto the next step. We’ll make them come to us.

Lee HyunJi didn’t pry as she knew that KangYoon didn’t want to talk about it. Regardless of the source of this information, she didn’t really care much.

“How do we do that?”

– The reason they did that unfunny interview was all because of money. They should be earning quite a lot through copyrights, but that money is being put down the drain through gambling, so they must want more from us. We’ll get our opportunity when they find us. We just need to aim for that.

His voice contained conviction. Lee HyunJi nodded his head in understanding.

“Okay, then. I’ll get into the lawsuit first.”

– Please. I’ll be outside for the time being, so take care of our members.

“Don’t you worry about that.”

The call ended. Lee HyunJi stretched her arms and stood up from her seat.

“Well then. Shall I start?”

Lee HyunJi started preparing the things that KangYoon spoke about.