Chapter 57. Causing an Incident at a Music Circle (4)

Translator: Synopsis

Min JinSeo and Professor Choi ChanYang had an enjoyable time as she gave him her signature and also took a photo with him. Professor Choi repeatedly thanked her at the unexpected encounter. KangYoon was inwardly surprised to see someone change so drastically, but couldn’t express it. Living alone could lead to interesting circumstances.

After parting ways with Professor Choi, the two set off onto a quiet street.

“Hahaha. I never knew you were learning music, sir.”

Unlike normal, KangYoon got onboard Min JinSeo’s van. He repeatedly refused since someone might say something about them, but he couldn’t refuse after Min JinSeo desperately pleaded with him. Of course, the fact that there weren’t many people around as well as the fact that he could go home early and comfortably with the van also contributed to his actions.n/ô/vel/b//in dot c//om

“A person is supposed to learn for their entire life. Who knows? I might become a composer in the future.”

“Then you’ll make a song for me as well?”

“You don’t even have any interest in music, though.”

KangYoon knew very well that Min JinSeo had no interest in music or singing. However, Min JinSeo didn’t seem to be joking and kept speaking.

“If it’s something that you composed…. Perhaps it’s a different story? You know, I was offered to become a singer too. My talents were acknowledged.”

“Do you think this industry is so easy?”

KangYoon was just going to laugh it over, thinking it was a joke. However, Min JinSeo kept insisting.

“I wasn’t joking. If it’s something you made, I might want to try singing it?”

“Sheesh. Fine, I’ll give you one once I compose one. I don’t know when it will be though.”

“You promised?”

“Fine, fine. I can’t even differentiate between tadpoles and notes. When do you think I’ll be composing? Hahaha.”

It was utter nonsense, but KangYoon accepted it. Composition was still far away for him. In the first place, the reason he was learning music more systematically was from a wild thought that his ability to ‘see’ music may improve if he did. Going beyond harmonics and into composition was still impossible for him.

However, Min JinSeo didn’t seem to take it that way.

“You’ll be able to do it, definitely.”

“Who was it that asked me ‘who am I to trust?’.”

“That’s… just the past. How can it be the same now?”

When the conversation turned into past stories, Min JinSeo’s face reddened in embarrassment. KangYoon teased her, saying she was a tomato. A nice atmosphere of violence and love floated around.

While they were talking, the van eventually arrived near KangYoon’s house.

“Thanks.”

“So you live in a place like this.”

Min JinSeo looked around from inside the van. She tried to see him off after getting off the van, but KangYoon stopped her from doing so. Min JinSeo looked slightly disappointed, but KangYoon was strict with things like this. Min JinSeo was disappointed but still saw him off with a smile.

“Well, then, sir. See you later.”

“You too.”

When the door to the van closed, KangYoon slowly headed towards his house. Not long after, KangYoon saw HeeYoon who was returning from grocery shopping.

“Oppa?”

“HeeYoon.”

Seeing his sister on the street made him more joyful. KangYoon took the large plastic bags from out of HeeYoon’s hands. HeeYoon tried to refuse, but KangYoon ignored her and started walking. When HeeYoon followed, the siblings started walking under the night sky.

“Oppa, it’s a van.”

HeeYoon pointed towards the van that just passed by the two. It was Min JinSeo’s van that KangYoon was on until just now.

“You’re right.”

“I always think of you when I see a van. You always rode in one in the past.”

“That’s all in the past now.”

Talking with his sister, KangYoon headed home.

***

There was no work for the concert team. However, with the increasing amount of work for the girl group, the large tower of paperwork on KangYoon’s desk was increasing instead. Not only that, his work didn’t just consist of approving paperwork on his desk. Meetings were the basics, and he had to be on-site sometimes and had to take care of other things as well. Even three KangYoons would be tired out.

“Ahju…. Team leader. Aah, it’s so hard….”

Jung MinAh complained as soon as she saw KangYoon enter the practice room. KangYoon ruffled her hair with love. Jung MinAh struggled and complained to him again, but KangYoon just ignored her.

“What’s up? Grumbler.”

“What do you mean by that! I have a pretty name called Jung MinAh! Anyways… A dance competition? And you notified me a month before the actual thing? I will run out of practice time you know….”

“MinAh, if it’s you, one month is more than long enough for practice.”

“Th…. That’s true.”

Jung MinAh grumbled saying that she was notified late and didn’t have enough time to practice. However, KangYoon was calm and didn’t think that at all.

“If you can’t win a competition like this, you’ll embarrass yourself in front of the others.”

“Tch, that’s a lot of pressure you’re putting on my shoulders. Well…. You seem to believe in me so I’ll show you. But also….”

Jung MinAh pouted just when it was about to be over. Then she started grumbling again.

“Team leader. I also want to go on TV and shoot adverts. But why do I have to go to such a teeny weeny competition? Why~?”

“What, that’s your problem?”

“It’s not cool at all. Well…. I don’t want to go to a TV program to act cute in front of grandmas like what SamSoon is doing….”

She had a large pride and that was the reason she was pouting. Han JooYeon’s TV program, Christie An’s commercial, Seo HanYu’s music video, Ailee Jung’s educational program – she was envious of all of them.

“Sheesh, you’re being too honest.”

“I’m always like that. Heheh.”

“But we can’t go to a B-boy competition, can we? Do you want to learn to head-spin or something?”

“I don’t see why not. I’ll just learn it.”

“Oh yeah? Let’s spin. My head is spinning too dammit. Come here.”

“Uaak! You evil team leader!”

Jung MinAh kept complaining to KangYoon. However, never did she go against KangYoon’s words. Perhaps her actions contrasting to her words was a type of charm.

After another round of venting her troubles, Jung MinAh asked in a calm tone.

“Obviously, you’re coming with me as well, right?”

“How’s that obvious? I’m busy.”

“What, you went with the others like Han JooYeon.”

“But you do well by yourself though.”

“Ah, dammit. I’m not doing this.”

Even though she said that Jung MinAh knew that KangYoon was indeed very busy. In fact, she was the closest member out of the 6. However, Jung MinAh seemed to have noticed that it was really difficult for him to attend and switched topics while grumbling.

KangYoon finished checking up on Jung MinAh, and the other girls as well, so he headed to the 2nd floor for a meeting. After being reported on the current situation by the employees, he gave orders about the showcase, and the day passed by in a flash.

The next day, someone knocked on KangYoon’s door when he was in his office, working.

“Come in.”

The one that entered was the exclusive composer of MG Entertainment, Loin. She stroked her flashy hair backward once and approached KangYoon.

“Hello, Team leader.”

“Welcome.”

She gave KangYoon a USB and some papers. When KangYoon flipped over the pages, it was a music score.

“So, the song is out.”

“Yes. I’ve heard that it will be a tight schedule. So, I put a little effort in.”

“Thanks for your work. Shall we listen to it then?”

KangYoon put the USB drive onto his PC and played the music. Light, yet rhythmical music started flowing out. The trainee that sung the voice had a pretty good voice as….

‘It’s JooAh’s voice?’

KangYoon was confused. Composer Loin explained to relieve his confusion.

“JooAh requested it herself, saying that a senior must look after her juniors’ first song or something.”

“Sheesh, she’ll kill the girls’ motivation.”

What good would it be if the guide song might be better than the actual song? What seonbae, it was obvious that she was rioting to get KangYoon. It was obvious that the girls would be pressured immensely once they listen to the song. How was he supposed to accept this… KangYoon felt a headache coming.

At that moment, a thought passed by in his head.

‘Wait, this song…. It’s that same one.’

KangYoon thought back to his ‘original’ life. ‘Our story’ was the only song that EDDIOS had failed in his previous life. Thinking about the failure in his previous life, KangYoon felt that he had to reject this song, but on one hand, another thought sprung up in his mind as well.

‘Right now, the members are different, aren’t they?’

The EDDIOS of his previous life and the EDDIOS of his current life was completely different. Perhaps it should be fine then? However, he did think that this was lacking somewhat. KangYoon’s expression became serious the more he listened to the music.

After the song ended, Composer Loin asked KangYoon.

“Was it no good?”

“No, it’s not that. I’m just thinking about something.”

“You can be honest.”

Composer Loin was nervous. In the composer’s shoes, getting her music rejected was akin to her child being abandoned. Perhaps KangYoon would do that… she was worried and clenched her fist.

“Don’t you have another song?”

“Another… song, you say?”

As expected.

Loin just shut her eyes.

“I think I’ll need to compare it. Are there any other songs?”

“Yes, of course…. However, there’s no guide version and it’s just the melody and the score.”

Composer Loin appealed that she put more weight into this song. However, KangYoon was unshaken. He went his way to find the song in the USB and played it back and checked the score on her phone as well.

Since there was no guide song, he could only feel the basics. The exciting but light theme was not that much different from the previous one. However, KangYoon approved the papers anyway.

“Looks like we’ll have to try out both. Let’s talk about it after that.”

“Understood. I’ll have it done by tomorrow.”

After negotiating with Composer Loin, a little more, KangYoon finished his job regarding the song.

***

A holiday.

KangYoon was currently at Hallyeo Arts university where a student band was currently in session.

“Hey, that’s not it, here, you need to….”

“Really? I think this way is better though….”

Moon MiJin (T/N: Who? You mean Moon MiYoung?) and Goo HyungSuk were currently quarreling about who was right. KangYoon was just watching from next to Professor Choi ChanYang.

‘That girl, she gave me her score as well.’

KangYoon kept giving signs to Lee HyunAh, however, she was silent all this time. She only said that she didn’t like it at times, but she didn’t express her opinion. He even asked Producer Oh JiWan to tell her… KangYoon felt quite stifled.

“Should we have some food first?”

Long after 2 p.m., Professor Choi offered to eat and the practice AKA discussion was finally over. He ordered some Chinese delivery food and everyone enjoyed their meals.

KangYoon, who had Gan-jjajang, left to brush his teeth. When he left the student council building after brushing his teeth for a breath of air, Lee HyunAh was absentmindedly sitting on a bench alone.

“What are you doing?”

“Ah, oppa.”

Lee HyunAh moved a little to make space for KangYoon.

“You didn’t talk about the song today either.”

“…….”

“I think you should step up.”

No matter how KangYoon urged her on, she stayed silent. It was quite clear that she didn’t want to break the unwritten rule between seniors and juniors.

“That damn hierarchy. Give it to me.”

In the end, KangYoon couldn’t hold it and snatched the score from her.

“Oppa.”

“Sheesh, you’re such a tiring girl….”

“…….”

KangYoon wanted to see the results of this song, even if it was because of his efforts to get her to. Lee HyunAh seemed to be hesitating, but KangYoon just turned around and left her for the practice room.

It was practice time again. KangYoon approached the leader Min ChanMin.

“Hyung-nim, do you have anything to say?”

“I got some help from the professor and had a look at the score, can you see it for a second?”

Professor Choi, who was listening from behind, looked at KangYoon in wonder. However, he nodded his head after looking at KangYoon’s eyes.

Min ChanMin started looking over the score that he got from KangYoon. He played the melody with the synthesizer and eventually called everyone over.

“Hey, HyungSuk, isn’t this part quite good?”

“Whoa, this part was always strange. Wow, this part is really good.”

“The loosened part was tightened as well. I like this one.”

Even Kim HeeJin seemed to like the score that KangYoon handed over and praised it. When Kim HeeJin showed the score to Moon MiYoung as well, she also said it was good and sat on the drums, saying they should try it.

“Hey, I thought you didn’t have any experience in composing. This part is somewhere even we were stuck in for quite a while….”

“I received the professor’s help.”

KangYoon immediately shifted the responsibility to Professor Choi. Everyone, like him, was very positive towards the score.

At that moment, Lee HyunAh came into the practice room.

“Hey, HyunAh, have a look at this score. KangYoon-oppa brought it and it’s quite good.”

“What?”

Lee HyunAh received the score after hearing Kim HeeJin’s words. It was her own score that KangYoon snatched from her. She alternated between KangYoon and the score.

“How is it, isn’t it good?”

“Oh, yes. It’s good.”

“Then let’s try this. Whee, this will be a good one.”

Kim HeeJin dragged Lee HyunAh to the vocal’s position while she took out her bass. When everyone got into their positions, a powerful song started being played out.

***

After practice. KangYoon was slowly heading home.

‘The song is good.’

The strong white light from the practice still lingered around KangYoon. Everyone seemed to be charmed by that effect and kept praising KangYoon. Though, KangYoon just laughed it over since it wasn’t even his….

He was waiting for the subway when a familiar face greeted him.

“Oppa.”

“HyunAh.”

It was the owner of the score, Lee HyunAh. She was alone in the station after sending off several trains.

“I was waiting.”

“You should’ve gone ahead.”

KangYoon was heading home later than everyone else because he had a coffee time with Professor Choi ChanYang.

“I thought I’d at least say thanks. Thank you. For letting me be able to use my music….”

Lee HyunAh took a deep bow towards KangYoon. However, KangYoon shook his head. He didn’t like this.

“I didn’t want to be thanked like this. I wanted you to say it yourself.”

“…I’m sorry.”

“There will be a lot more occasions like this in the future you know? You’ll act the same when the same thing happens. You shouldn’t be saying sorry to me.”

KangYoon’s words were sharp. Lee HyunAh lowered her head. She didn’t have any way to retort.

“I only spoke out since I didn’t want a song that I found good to be buried for good. Strictly speaking, you shouldn’t be thanking me. But if I had to say something, I wish you wouldn’t avoid things like this in the future.”

“….Yes. But even so, thank you…. For letting us play my song.”

“You have to say to them that you were the one who made it.”

Although KangYoon was a little harsh on her, she really was grateful towards him. If not for him, she would have suffered inwardly in the future as well. KangYoon’s goodwill towards her wasn’t light since he had a look at her composition and even acted out for her.

“…Fine. That’s enough scolding. It’s not like you’re a singer under me anyway.”

KangYoon thought that this was enough and got on the train. Lee HyunAh also sat next to him.

Unlike last week, the two didn’t speak to each other. Lee HyunAh took out her phone and KangYoon closed his eyes. The empty train gave the two a time to rest.

However, KangYoon’s phone started vibrating loudly. It was a call from Professor Choi. When KangYoon greeted him, Professor Choi went onto the topic.

– The song you gave us today was quite good, so I thought it’d be a waste to just have it heard by us. So I’m planning to take this to the competition. Is that fine with you?”

“A competition, eh? That sounds interesting. Yes. I’m fine with it.”

KangYoon wasn’t going to say that the song was Lee HyunAh’s until she said it. One had to take matters into one’s own hands. KangYoon accepted, wondering ‘let’s see how far this goes’.

– Thanks. I put the application in right now.

“Whew, looks like I should go to cheer on. What competition is it?”

KangYoon asked lightly without pressure. However, a big surprise was waiting for him over the phone.

– College Pop Festival.

“…WHAT? Wait a minute. Can you say that again?”

– The College Pop Festival.

KangYoon was rendered speechless at the country-wide scale of the competition.