Chapter 81. Three Years Later, a New Beginning (1)

Translator: Synopsis

– Flight number XX0000 arriving from Los Angeles…….n/ô/vel/b//in dot c//om

Incheon International Airport was busy with numerous people visiting it every day. People of different features busily moved about with their travel cases, and people with staff name tags did their best to provide the utmost of services. When the announcement flowed out, some people started running. The airport was filled with vitality.

“It’s about time he’s here….”

Lee HyunJi was currently amidst numerous people. Looking at the dashboard, the flight had already arrived. Many people were exiting the arrivals door, but the person she was looking for wasn’t seen yet. There was no call either. It was a stifling situation.

“Am I the President or the secretary, I don’t know anymore…”

Grumbled Lee HyunJi. She knew well that the person she was waiting for might be late if the arrivals process took longer. However, considering the suffering she had been through in Korea while he was not here, she couldn’t help but say those words.

Fortunately, the person she was looking for finally entered her vision. His wide shoulders and long legs were impressive. With a tanned face, he was dragging a travel bag as he walked out at a leisurely pace.

“Mr. KangYoon. Over here.”

Lee HyunJi waved her hand. It seemed the other had noticed her as he ran over to her.

“It looks like you’ve waited for a while.”

“Not at all. Anyway, it’s been a long time, Mr. KangYoon. No, I guess I should call you President, now? It’s been half a year.”

“Now I don’t think I’ll get used to you calling me that.”

After shaking hands, the two headed to the parking lot. They exited the airport and drove on the relatively free highway.

“You’re quite tanned. It seems like you’ve been to a good place?

“I visited Florida with HeeYoon before I came back.”

“Oh? Looks like HeeYoon’s in good health now, huh?”

“She’s normal now.”

Spoke KangYoon as though it was nothing. However, there were a lot of unspoken backstories in his words. For the first year, he could do practically nothing as he had to stay next to HeeYoon, and only after the 2nd year could he start doing his own things.

Lee HyunJi knew this well since she went to and from America in the past 3 years.

“I heard a few of the songs that HeeYoon composed last time, and they were quite good. She has a good sense as well. As expected of your sister.”

“She’s still ways off.”

Even though he said that he did feel good to hear someone compliment his own kin. KangYoon smiled lightly.

“You should have heard a lot about Korea when you were there, but the market has changed quite a lot recently.”

“For me personally, Chairman Won’s news was the most shocking. To see such a lively person, fall ill….”

“Me too. They say the world is unpredictable, and I think I know why. Isn’t that why I’m here?”

“Looks like we must go visit him first.”

KangYoon felt bitter. Chairman Won JinMoon controlled the rivalry between the board of Directors and the President’s using his authority and proved that he was the most veteran in this industry. However, the sudden appearance of myocardial infarction (MI, heart attack) was frightening. With the chairman becoming like that, MG Entertainment was practically controlled by the decisions of the board of directors. The relatively weaker President’s faction was pushed out, and because of that, Lee HyunJi had to abdicate from her position as President.

“You’re right. But even so, I guess it’s good that I don’t have to deal with those stressful guys anymore. I even lost a lot of hair.”

“You lost hair? If you lose hair at your age….”

“Stop there.”

Lee HyunJi’s expression crumpled slightly at the sensitive topic.

“Got it, President.”

“I’m a director now, President Lee KangYoon.”

“Hahaha. It’s so awkward yet good to hear you call me President.”

“You must get used to it. You’ll have to get used to it especially when we start expanding the company.”

The two also talked about the entertainment industry as a whole, the celebrities that KangYoon raised during his time at MG, as well as the plans for the future. It seemed like some time was necessary for KangYoon to adjust to the drastic changes that occurred in the Korean entertainment industry in the past 3 years.

While they were conversing, they eventually arrived at their new home, their new office. The office was in Yongsan, the building was a rather aged building with 2 stories. The words ‘WORLD ENTERTAINMENT’ was written on the sign as well.

“If we factor in the rental costs, Gangnam was a little too far-fetched. Just as you told me, I rented a 2-story building. Including the underground floor, there are 3 floors in total. Although it looks old on the outside, the interiors are quite good.”

KangYoon and Lee HyunJi entered the building.

“From now on, you are the President, Mr. KangYoon. I shall treat you like one.”

“Understood, Director.”

“That feels strange.”

When the two entered the 2nd floor, someone was waiting for them there. It was a woman in a suit with long hair. She was a woman in her 20s with a long neck and long legs.

(T/N: Okay, let me get the floor numberings straight. There will be no ‘0th floor’. It will be ground floor=1st floor, then the 2nd floor. It’s too confusing for me to keep up with different numbers on the Korean version and the translated version (I used to study in the UK where ground floor = floor 0))

“Director, welcome back.”

“Hello, Miss HyeJin. President, this is Miss Jung HyeJin. She’s in charge of administration and distribution of budget.”

“You’re the President? Hello? I’ve heard a lot about you.”

Hearing the word ‘President’, the lady named Jung HyeJin stiffly greeted him. KangYoon held her up saying that there was no need to go that far. KangYoon asked what she was doing until now and asked her to do well in the future.

Jung HyeJin brought them coffee, and KangYoon and Lee HyunJi sat in the office. Unlike moment before, the mood was slightly sunken. Both of them knew that it was time for the more serious topics.

“What kind of plans do you have, President?”

The first one to speak was Lee HyunJi. KangYoon took out a set of documents from his travel bag. When Lee HyunJi opened it, it was a series of music scores.

“It’s a score? Oh, this is the one from last time….”

“Yes, it’s the one that HeeYoon composed. Would you like to listen to it?”

KangYoon played the song directly from his phone. The bright melody that came from the piano immediately enraptured Lee HyunJi’s mind.

“The melody is bright, and it has a good feeling. Looks like it will be a good song after a good arrangement. Is there an arranged version as well?”

“I didn’t have enough time to do the arrangements.”

“Wait.”

Lee HyunJi found something strange in KangYoon’s words. ‘I’ didn’t have the time? Didn’t that mean that he was going to do it himself?

“You’ll be doing the arrangements…?”

“Yes. I’m planning to do it myself.”

“Hah….”

Lee HyunJi’s eyes widened in surprise. Arrangements? She was surprised to hear that KangYoon’s level of music was that high now.

“Arrangement isn’t easy. And it has been just 3 years? It might sound unpleasant for you, but you are a newbie in this industry with no experience. Who would buy that?”

Lee HyunJi was skeptical about this. Although she was being roundabout, she was basically asking him ‘do you have enough skills to do that?’. However, KangYoon looked back at her with unwavering eyes.

“I’ll let you listen to the song once it’s finished. Deciding at that time is also one method.”

“…You’re not the type to give false hope.”

She knew that KangYoon had arduously studied music until now. However, this was business. Lee HyunJi was very cautious in her decisions. She accepted to decide after listening to the final version.

“Let’s leave it at that for today. I’m still under jetlag.”

“Okay, President. Should I give you a ride home?”

“It’s fine, you must have your own work to do, director.”

“So it’s director now? It does sound quite awkward.”

Lee HyunJi said that it was fine and dragged KangYoon. She made KangYoon get on board her car and rode him to his house.

‘This is the beginning. Let’s do this.’

In front of his house, he waved to Lee HyunJi as she drove back and resolved to make a song that would surprise her.

When KangYoon entered the house, the house looked the same as before. Although the thick grass bothered him a little, there were no big changes. Of course, HeeYoon’s empty room did make him feel a little empty. KangYoon closed the door to HeeYoon’s room and opened the door to his.

‘Good. They’re all here.’

Inside the room were 2 synthesizers, 7 speakers, 1 subwoofer, as well as a newly ordered PC. Lee HyunJi got them on KangYoon’s request.

‘I appreciate it.’

Although they were in a relationship of investor and investee, this extent of consideration from her made him speechless. He resolved himself to not make her regret investing in him.

He connected the speakers to the PC and put the synthesizers on their stands. He set them up so that they would go around the monitor and hung the speakers high up so that he could ‘see’ them well. It was set up for him to monitor the musical notes.

Although he was tired due to jetlag, he still hurried up in setting them. After over 3 hours of installation and testing, KangYoon’s room had turned into a personal studio.

(T/N: Someone tell me why he needs 2 synthesizers and how he can connect that many devices to the PC without an amplifier.)

‘Should I do it now?’

KangYoon looked at the score and started playing the synthesizer. When he did, a blue note flowed out from one of the speakers. The note created a constant light from its place. It was a weak blue light.

‘Let’s add some drums.’

Continuing, he switched to drums and created a beat. Then, he fused it with the sound that he just played before. He set them to be played back on different speakers and played it back. This time, there was a blue note and a black note. The two notes combined and generated a stronger white light.

‘This looks good enough.’

He could see the notes and hear the sound well. It was satisfactory.

Now that he finished installing all these, fatigue overcame him. Although he didn’t even unpack his stuff, he fell back on the bed and went to dreamland at the sense of accomplishment of having finished installing.

***

The era of girl groups. I referred to the music industry in the year 2011.

The competition between the unmoved 1st place since their debut, Eddios, and the close 2nd, DiaTeen, grabbed the attention of many fans. These girls, capable of singing, dancing, as well as general entertainment, induced the males in their 20s and 30s into consumers in the pop market. A strong cash cow had formed.

After those two, the popularity of girl groups ended up producing numerous forms of girl groups; ushering in the Girl Group Era. However, dark always followed the light. There weren’t that many groups that saw the light.

“We’re free again today? It’s boring. It’s booooooooring!”

The girl group, T&T, was one such group that did not see the light. One member, Jin SeAh, grumbled inside the studio as she rolled around on the floor. Agreeing, another member, Lee Min, also sighed deeply.

“We’re free for a week already. Isn’t there a small event or something.”

“Would we be here if there was? It’s because our last album went down the drain….”

Grumbled Joo JungHyun. She frowned a lot, remembering back to their last album.

All the members grumbled, but their leader, Kim HyoRin had nothing to say to them either. The song in their last single album was so crappy that it made her mad even now. She only consoled the others by saying that they should forget about past matters.

Just as when they were powerlessly sitting there, a sturdy man walked in. It was their manager, Min SangCheol.

“What the, why are you all like this?”

“Cuz we’re unemployed, duh.”

Kim SeSol grumbled. All the women made pitiful expressions in sympathy. He nodded in understanding and continued speaking.

“We’ll be recording a new song soon.”

“Ah, yeah. It’s been a month.”

When Jin SeAh acted sarcastically, manager Min SangCheol coughed awkwardly. The pitiful results were embarrassing for him as well.

“It… it’ll be alright this time. We’ll get the song from outside.”

“…That’s good. I was worried that we might have to do President’s again.”

When Lee Min said those words, Manager Min SangCheol sweated cold sweat. With their first, second, and third songs producing pitiful results, it was no wonder that their trust in the President was so low.

“Anyway! You just need to wait a little more, okay? I’ll let you girls run events like hell.”

“Oh, sure.”

Manager Min SangCheol tried to cheer them up, but they were all as unmotivated as they could be.

***

After a brief sleep, KangYoon felt that his fatigue was slightly relieved and started working right away.

The song that HeeYoon composed was the delightful, rhythmic kind. KangYoon wanted to bring out the essence of that. He was also planning to add hook-like elements as well.

‘The melody is low at first, so let’s go at a slower pace.’

KangYoon looked for a variation of an organ on the synthesizer. It was not an easy task to find the right organ sound among the many variations of organs there. However, once he tried them one by one while keeping in mind the feeling he wanted, he found it quite soon.

When he pressed on a key, a beige-colored note flowed out. He added the drums from before. Then, the light turned grey. Something went wrong.

‘This isn’t the one.’

Although it sounded fine by itself, it wasn’t that good. KangYoon continued his search for a sound and repeated the same process of playing the sound and combining with the rest. Although the organ sounds were similar to each other, this particular one had a slight reverb to it. Thinking that this sounded okay, KangYoon added the drums as well. However, the what appeared in his eyes was grey yet again. In fact, it was a much darker grey due to the thudding sound of the drums.

‘Ugh….’

KangYoon had to stop the playback due to the uniquely murky feeling that the grey light gave him. It seemed that the influence had become bigger as he felt the effects on his skin.

‘Again….’

He resolved himself again and started browsing through more organ sounds. This one sounded alright, with the volume LEDs looking fine as well. However, as the song progressed, the light turned darker and darker until it eventually turned black.

“Uurgh!”

KangYoon immediately turned off the sound. He felt as though a murky kind of electricity just went past him. It didn’t just end with the foggy feeling that he had before.

‘Organ’s definitely not the one.’ (T/N: Well, duh. Organs in pop? Shakes head)

Thanks to that. KangYoon could realize. He went past the organs tab and went to strings. Then, he put in a relatively brighter-sounding set of strings with a little bit of bass. Then, he combined it with the drums again. When he did, the strings flowed out gently after a thudding beat from the drums and the notes started generating white light. A black note and a white note met together to create a stage of white light.

‘This is it.’

Finding a sound was no easy task. When he looked at the time, 3 hours had passed already. Even though the entire song was only about 3 minutes long, it wasn’t easy to work on it.

For the entire day, KangYoon did not leave his studio.