Chapter 106. Ease is Power!

Translator: Synopsis

“It’s not bad.”

Said Professor Choi ChanYang as he praised the song that Park SoYoung brought him. The feel of the song, accompanied by a piano, was pretty good.

Park SoYoung finally calmed down her nervousness with a sigh.

“Phew. That’s good. I thought about HyunAh-unni as I wrote this. Is it really okay?”

“I think it will suit her well. The bass line is especially good, but the chord progression is a little….”

Professor Choi ChanYang pointed out a part played by the electric guitar. Although the bass line was good, the electric guitar part was too showy, and suggested her to edit it slightly. Park SoYoung understood what he meant and nodded.

“I understand. Thank you for your guidance.”

“Okay. Come again anytime if you need any help.”

“Oh, yes. Now that I think about it; can I submit this to somewhere other than my graduation exam?”

“Another place? Where?”

When he asked, Park SoYoung replied after a little bit of hesitation.

“I… thought of taking this to KangYoon-oppa.”

“You want to sell your song to him?”

Professor Choi ChanYang became very curious. He even had a slight smile on his face.

“That would be… good, but… actually, no. Who would buy my song? I shouldn’t have said that. Sorry.”

She thought that she said something rude since Professor Choi ChanYang was always so nice. She shook her head and turned around to leave. Just then, Professor Choi ChanYang kindly spoke.

“You’re afraid of being judged.”

“…….”

Bullseye. Professor Choi ChanYang added.

“But if it’s him, he should be able to tell you what level your composition is at. If I were you, I would prioritize showing my work to him rather than the graduation exam. Being examined within college is like judging the sky from the bottom of a well. Moreover, Mr. KangYoon has a good eye for these kind of things.”

Park SoYoung did not reply and left after a greeting.

‘Being judged, huh….”

The bottom of the well contrast did not leave Park SoYoung’s head for a long time. Her hesitations continued into her classes as well.

***

Springtiue is warm, usually. However, to Kim JaeHoon, his spring this year was hotter than anyone.

“Whew…. I guess I’ll say goodbye to this hellish schedule for a while after today.”

Inside the car with KangYoon, Kim JaeHoon ended up laying down on the seat as he muttered.

“That’s right. Thanks for all your hard effort, earning all that contract fee back for us.”

“I never imagined I would have earned 1.5 billion won (about 1.5 million USD) all in one month.”

“Didn’t I tell you that you’ll experience hell?”

Kim JaeHoon now had a headache from all those hellish events. He practically visited every place in the country. Jeju island, Land’s End, and even the frontlines where North Korea could be seen – KangYoon did not leave any one of them out. What was even more frightening was his driving skills. His awesome skills lead Kim JaeHoon not being late to schedule even once.

Kim JaeHoon gulped down a bottle of water that was on the back seat.

“But it looks like I’ll say goodbye to events for a while. This is rather sad on its own?”

“Hahaha, that’s how people are. What? I could get you some more if you want to.”

“I’ll have to decline. I’m no robot. Rather than that, I want to record the song I heard at the house quickly.”

“Okay okay. But the release date will be scheduled along with the concert hall date. Keep that in mind.”

“Got it.”

Now that he was liberated of all of his burdens, Kim JaeHoon’s expression was very bright. He could not focus on singing without any debt or burden to his heart.

Arriving at an event venue in Daejeon, Kim JaeHoon immediately went on stage after preparing himself. The staff there all had sparkly eyes as they knew that he was coming. Although Kim JaeHoon was the type of singer liked by the male populace, there were naturally female fans as well.

After about 40 minutes of peformance, KangYoon and Kim JaeHoon immediately got back on the car and moved to Seoul. In the evening, he had another concert at a concert hall near a university, and after that was his final schedule for the day, an interview with a man’s magazine.

Time flowed by in a flash.

Kim JaeHoon waited at a cafe after the concert at the university. Soon, a female editor from a magazine company and a cameraman arrived. After a brief introduction, the interview began.

“I didn’t even release an album. Is it really fine for you to interview me already?”

When he asked in a joking tone, the female editor smiled awkwardly while fixing her thick glasses.

“Usually, no. But the interest of the people is on you, Mr. Kim JaeHoon. We are a magazine company with a major male audience, so I thought that it would be good to have your interview on board.”

“Okay. Then, what. Should I start with my secrets of being successful?”

“Hahaha. I’ll appreciate it if you do.”

The mood was very lively. The female editor’s sharp eyes looked slightly scary, but she had a knack for calming the mood down. She calmly dragged out stories from Kim JaeHoon, especially about the past 4 years, during which he spent nightmarish days. The main topic was about how he overcame this crisis.

After a bit of thought, Kim JaeHoon spoke calmly.

“Maybe it’s because… I met a good person?”

“A person?”

The female editor showed interest and jotted things down while recording the entire interview. Kim JaeHoon calmly continued.

“I was in a serious conflict with my previous company. In the end, I was forced to pay the cancellation fee, and was burdened with debt ever since time. Then, I did my military service in disappointment, but nothing much changed even after I went there. The person who saved me at that time is my current president.”

This wasn’t an answer that the female editor wanted. She wanted an answer like “I held on to the best of my ability” or something along those lines. And naturally, she induced him to say so.

“But didn’t you put in a lot of effort to come back?”

“Of course, I practiced every day. To a singer, practice is life.”

“Oh, so in the end, your secret is to prepare for your comeback every day.”

“I guess that’s true, but actually… in my case, it’s my president’s deeds.”

Kim JaeHoon turned his head towards KangYoon. KangYoon shrugged his shoulders when Kim JaeHoon looked at him. Kim JaeHoon only laughed.

The female editor asked as though this was quite strange.

“This distance shouldn’t be enough for him to listen. Looks like you really admire your president.”

“Yes. He taught me a lot of things. Unlike my previous president.”n/o/vel/b//in dot c//om

“Your former president, oh. It’s foreign gambling incident.”

“Yoo MinSung…. At that time, I thought I could become successful as long as I could sing well, but he painfully made me realize how important the people around me were. Unlike him, who invested the money I earned him into gambling, my current president invests his money into new singers, and enables them to sing better songs.”

“Is that promoting your company?”

“Hahaha, can I ask you to do it?”

“I’ll think about it if you buy me coffee today.”

The female editor smirked. Kim JaeHoon took out his credit card. He implied her to promote World Entertainment.

Now, Kim JaeHoon was a proper entertainer solely belonging to World Entertainment.

After the interview, Kim JaeHoon was about to take the bill, but the female editor took it from him.

“Where do you see an editor that let’s an interviewee pay?”

She left the cafe first saying that he didn’t need to worry about promotion.

After the interview, KangYoon approached Kim JaeHOon.

“Thanks for all your hard work. You’re now free.”

“You too, president. Wow… I finally get to rest tomorrow. It feels quite strange, you know?”

“Now, you’ll have to work on your songs while resting. If we can release the album with this kind of current public opinion, we should be able to get good results. I’ll go get the car.”

KangYoon patted Kim JaeHoon’s back and left the cafe.

“Hyung, thank you.”

Muttered Kim JaeHoon as he saw KangYoon’s sturdy back.

***

Lee HyunJi, who was visiting estate agents around Yeonnam-dong looking for a building that can be used as a concert hall, was currently heading to one such building that was out for sale.

“The price is a little steep, but the location is pretty good….”

It was not far from a subway station, and it was easily accessible by foot as well. Moreover, as this was an urgent sale, the price was lowered quite a lot. Though, it was still expensive considering World Entertainment’s current finances. Lee HyunJi still deemed this to be suitable.

“No one’s contracted yet, right?”

“Some people are eyeing it out, but I don’t know if they will.”

“Okay, I’ll have a talk to my president.”

Lee HyunJi considered this building a suitable candidate and returned to the office. When she returned, KangYoon, who was currently guiding Kim JiMin, was working at the office. (T/N: How does that work… it doesn’t make sense in Korean either)

“Did you have a look at the hall?”

“Yes. Although the price is a little expensive. It was by far the best among the ones we saw thus far.”

“Really? Shall we go right away?”

KangYoon immediately left the company. Although Lee HyunJi had to leave as soon as she arrived, she did not complain.

The two people had a look at the buildling with the estate agent, but this time in detail. Such as the height of the ceiling, the area of the hall, as well as accessibility. KangYoon was especially interested in the number of audience it could hold.

“How is it?”

KangYoon nodded after a bit of hesitation.

“It’s suitable. As for the price….”

When KangYoon said that, the estate agent interfered.

“The price can be negotiated. Since this was put on urgent sale, if you talk with the owner directly….”

Hearing that, Lee HyunJi stepped in.

“Oh, is that true? How much do you think we can shave if we get it today?”

“If you get the contract done today….”

The estate agent quickly talked about the price. It was pretty obvious that he had talked to the owner beforehand. However, Lee HyunJi was dissatisfied with the answer.

“There’s no merit even though if we get the contract done today. President, should we look into some more?”

“Okay, then. Can you give me a business card?”

KangYoon received a business card from the estate agent and turned around. He told him that he would come back after negotiating with the owner.

After returning to the company, the two began their respective work again. KangYoon guided Kim JiMin in the studio, while Lee HyunJi took care of administrative work and scheduling White Moonlight and Kim JaeHoon’s timelines.

During this past month, Kim JiMin received almost no guidance from KangYoon, and due to that, she was receiving spartan education right now.

“I, it’s so hard….”

“It is. Let’s have a look at it again. Although it’s not on the score, try playing it with a sus-4 chord. That part brings liveliness to the song. There, try again.”

“Okay….”

Kim JiMin was almost about to cry as she played the guitar. After almost a month of waiting, KangYoon’s education was very hard. Despite that, she felt that she was learning something and did her best to follow.

Just as she was focusing on learning, two people opened the door to the studio and entered. They were Professor Choi ChanYang and Park SoYoung.

“Professor, you’re here.”

“Hello, Mr. KangYoon. And hello to you too.”

“Hello.”

KangYoon declared a bit of rest. Kim JiMin headed to the preparation room saying that she would get some coffee. Park SoYoung followed suit.

“You’re here with SoYoung today?”

“Yeah. I chanced upon her on my way here. She has business with you, apparently.”

“She does? What kind of…?”

“She’ll say it herself.”

Soon, Kim JiMin and Park SoYoung brought coffee. The four people talked about various things while drinking; about university, about practice, as well as other things. This was a rest time after all.

After everyone emptied their cuppas, Professor Choi ChanYang spoke to Kim JiMin.

“JiMin, shall we go practice?”

“Okay.”

“I told you last time that you can’t just top midway, right? Let’s see how much you improved on that.”

Kim JiMin was nervous as she left the studio with Professor Choi ChanYang. The two headed to the practice room.

Only Park SoYoung and KangYoon were left in the studio.

“Uhm…. oppa.”

“You had business with me?”

“Yes.”

She carefully took out a score and a USB. KangYoon received the USB and put it on his PC. When he played the song that was in it, a song flowed out.

“It wasn’t recorded in a studio.”

“I don’t have that kind of money… haha.”

While the music played, Park SoYoung laughed awkwardly. The speaker contained a guitar progression along with Park SoYoung’s voice.

– I could still run, but why do people —

It was a light-paced yet powerful song. Even though this was just a classical guitar and a voice, the power could be felt. However, KangYoon tilted his head.

‘The light is weak.’

Perhaps this was because there was no arrangement done, or it was for some another reason. It seemed that he had to listen to this live in order to judge for sure.

“SoYoung, can you play it to me?”

“Play? Live?”

“Yup.”

She hesitated a little seeing that KangYoon was so adamant. But soon, she picked up her guitar.

– But in my heart — I engrave my love — and on your heart —

Park SoYoung closed her eyes and started singing. The light-paced guitar sounds made her heart flutter. The song became more powerful due to that.

KangYoon focused his eyes on Park SoYoung’s musical note and the guitar’s notes. This was very pleasing to the ear. However….

‘I knew it. It’s still weak.’

What was it that was lacking? This was definitely a good song, but the influence was a little weak. It was like this was a song that you would listen to only once. Maybe it would change if other instruments came into play, but right now, the feeling was just ‘okay, and?’-like feeling.

The song ended.

“Uhm…. How… was I?”

KangYoon replied to her careful question.