Chapter 172
“At this point, I think it will be better off for you to do it instead…”
Park SoYoung seemed pressured and muttered subconsciously .
If the composition was the making of the body thus creating the melody and harmony, then rearrangement could be considered the stage of putting the clothes on . Putting unsuitable clothes on would naturally make the judges have a bad evaluation of the overall person .
She had just taken her first step as a composer, no, an arranger, but now she was feeling pressure due to the heavy responsibilities given to her .
Hearing her muttering, KangYoon spoke in a calm tone .
“Do you think I’m giving you too much pressure?”
“Uhm…”
Did he hear her words?
Seeing her fl.u.s.tered, KangYoon spoke with a confident tone .
“Didn’t you tell me you didn’t want to lose against HeeYoon?”
“Th, that’s…”
KangYoon’s words struck Park SoYoung’s head hard .
Thinking about it, HeeYoon’s pieces were all hit songs that performed extremely well . The performances of those songs would naturally affect the composer . HeeYoon was someone new to this industry that just had her debut .
Park SoYoung herself was having a hard time just doing one rearrangement for one program but HeeYoon…
She felt solemn .
Cleaning the messy floor, KangYoon continued with a soft tone .
“Call me boastful, but HeeYoon endured that pressure well . There’s also the fact that she has good senses despite not having learned music for long . ”
“……”
Park SoYoung nodded her head powerlessly .
KangYoon’s words, who had brought many singers to success with the songs his sister had written, were definitely persuasive .
KangYoon put the papers on the floor on the table before sitting down again .
“The SoYoung I know of is someone who knows her place and who strives to do better . Am I wrong?”
Park SoYoung became silent .
KangYoon’s words kept striking close to home . Actually, she herself knew that HeeYoon was someone amazing . However, despite knowing that, she wanted to catch up with her . She also believed that she was able to do so .
Her shoulders trembled in frustration .
KangYoon put his hand on those trembling shoulders .
“Believe in yourself . You can make songs better than HeeYoon could make . It’s fine if you fail . Those risks, I will take them for you, so do whatever you want, okay?”
“……”
KangYoon patted her shoulders several times before leaving the studio .
‘…Most other people say that it will be the death of me if I fail a single one…’
Park SoYoung closed her eyes .
The choice of each individual song was important for an entertainment company . The financial losses due to a single failed alb.u.m were ma.s.sive after all . It took an incredible amount of money to refill those losses .
Despite that, KangYoon said that he would take those risks for her . He believed in her…
Thinking like that, there was no need to believe that it was impossible . Her eyes shone again .
“Yes, that’s it . Let’s do this thing! What can’t I do?”
Tapping herself on the face a few times, she came to herself again .
Park SoYoung pushed the chair against the computer again . On her monitor was the music program .
She deleted all the existing instruments and inputted new ones as she muttered .
“Now that I think about it… I get why HyunAh-unni is head over heels for him . That oppa, he’s too dangerous . He shouldn’t have any interest in me… Uuugh get yourself together, SoYoung!”
Park SoYoung had a glance at the door that KangYoon just left through before getting back to work .
***
HMC station .
“MinAh! We’re late!”
Manager Kim DaeHyun hurriedly waved at members of Eddios who were running towards him after greeting the staff goodbye .
The time was tight as they had to get to Shiheung, where their next schedule was .
“Sorry, oppa!”
As the recording took longer than expected, they were a little late in getting out .
The girls couldn’t hide their sorry expressions .
Manager Kim DaeHyun shook his head .
“It’s okay . Get on and let’s…”
However, there was someone who followed the girls out . It was producer Han TaeYoung . He called out to manager Kim DaeHyun who was about to go .
“Manager DaeHyun!”
‘Ah, dammit…’
It was the worst to be held back by someone when they were in a hurry . However, society wasn’t that easy . Manager Kim DaeHyun sent the girls off first and spoke to producer Han .
“Producer, is there something?”
“I’m sorry to have held you back when you’re in a hurry… . ”
“Not at all . I’m sorry, but can you be quick about this…”
Usually, he would smoke with the producers over a long talk, but today, he was in a hurry .
Producer Han TaeYoung had also seen that the girls of Eddios were in a hurry so he spoke about what he was here for .
“There’s a special program this thanksgiving . It’s called Dance Revolution, and it’s a dance battle between the blue team and the white team . I hope Eddios can appear in it…”
“Is that so?”
Manager Kim DaeHyun didn’t give him a proper answer yet . No, he couldn’t . The principle of the company meant that he would report this to the company first, then the topic would go through a discussion where they also asked the singer’s decision before coming to a final decision .
He was about to say that he would report this to the company when the producer grabbed his hand .
“Manager DaeHyun, please save me this time . This program will only be good if Eddios is on it… . ”
As manager Kim DaeHyun did not have the final say in this, he was at a loss . He first took a step back .
“…For now, I’ll report it back as positively as possible . ”
“Please, I beg you . Please tell your company . I’ll try to improve the treatment of Eddios if this goes well . ”
Manager Kim DaeHyun smiled and left the place .
When he returned to the van, Jung MinAh frowned and scolded him .
“Oppa, you’re too late . ”
“Sorry, the talk got dragged out . Let’s go quickly . ”
“Ahjussi will scold us a lot once he finds out we’re late . Ugh…”
Jung MinAh shook her head as though she didn’t even want to imagine it .
Manager Kim DaeHyun hurriedly turned on the car as he spoke .
“Don’t worry . We won’t be late . Even if we are late, today is fine . The president isn’t that strict . ”
“…Really? He really hates being late… He always told us to not be late regardless of the reason . ”
When Jung MinAh stomped a few times, Seo HanYu, who was looking for her earphones, spoke .
“It can’t be helped today . The president will understand . ”
“R, really?”
“…Unni, you get all fl.u.s.tered when it’s about the president . Even though you’re so manly when it comes to other things . ”
“M, manly!?”
Struck so close to home, Jung MinAh’s eyes widened .
“HanYu is right, MinAh . ”
“…You can just go to sleep . ”
“No . ”
When Christie An, who was about to fall asleep, chimed in, Jung MinAh glared back at her .
The van headed towards Shiheung was rather peaceful .
***
A dance practice room on the 4th floor of GNB Entertainment .
Yoo NaYoon wasn’t that close to dancing originally, but she had been focusing on dance practice for the past few days .
“NaYoon, a little quicker to the left . ”
“Yes . ”
Hearing the bald trainer’s words, Yoo NaYoon nodded as sweat drops fell down from her head . Behind her were dozens of dancers . The practice room was large enough to host them all .
The trainer clapped to gather attention .
“Pay attention . NaYoon isn’t that tall so the distance between you is important . The distance! Miss SeongHyo, a little to the right!”
“yes . ”
The dancer named SeongHyo moved a little to the right so that Yoo NaYoon could stand out a little more .
Yoo NaYoon saw that there were thirty people reflected in the mirror .
“Let’s try it again . We’re almost there . ”
“Yeah!”
Along with Yoo NaYoon’s encouraging voice, the dancers all gleamed .
She was at the center of a huge stage .
‘I will win against her this time . ’
Preparing for the stage, Yoo NaYoon’s heart flared up with a fighting spirit to win against her rival .
“NaYoon, you’re a little off . ”
“Sorry . ”
Though, too much fighting spirit led her to make a mistake…
***
4 days!
There were only four days until the recording of ‘Birth of the Masterpiece’ .
However, Park SoYoung still hadn’t finished her rearrangement yet, so Kim JiMin, who had emptied her schedule in order to practice, was feeling very hurried .
‘I can’t just go down and say it to her…’
Climbing the stairs to the office, Kim JiMin heaved a deep sigh . She was worried that Park SoYoung’s mind wouldn’t be able to take it .
“Excuse me . ”
When she opened the office door, Lee HyunJi and KangYoon were having a look at a video together and greeted her when the two saw her .
“JiMin, you’re here . ”
A certain someone was panicking here, while some people were leisurely watching a video…
Kim JiMin’s hands trembled . She thought that KangYoon would also be panicking since the song wasn’t complete yet, but he was showing such a leisurely att.i.tude .
However, she heaved a deep breath before speaking softly .
“Sir, the piece, is it not…”
“It’s almost done . SoYoung is doing the final touches so she’ll be here with it soon . ”
Noticing how she felt, KangYoon smiled and gave her the answer she wanted . However, despite hearing that the song was almost done, Kim JiMin couldn’t help but be disappointed .
“…That’s good . It would have been better if it was a little early… . ”
She wanted KangYoon to do the rearrangement and not Park SoYoung . She felt slightly disappointed towards KangYoon . KangYoon seemed to know how she felt and spoke calmly .
“Although it’s a little late, you’ll like it once the song is out . It’s quite good you know . Have you memorized the lyrics?”
“…Yes . ”
Unlike the usual Kim JiMin, she was a little pouty .
Her principle was to prepare as meticulously as possible . She had already memorized the lyrics in her free time in the van . There was no problem with singing .
However, the problem was that she didn’t know what the stage would be like since the final song wasn’t out yet .
KangYoon made her sit down on the sofa and sat across her .
“Do you know what the song’s style is?”
“Yes . I heard that there will be an orchestra rearrangement… and you told me that it wouldn’t be that different from the original, right?”
“It doesn’t feel that different from the original . The only difference is that there’s an extra 18 seconds of intro . ”
“An intro? That’s important though… I want to have a look at it quickly . ”
KangYoon was surprised to see that she had an urgent personality and chuckled .
“You’ll see soon anyway . You can look forward to it . SoYoung put her all into this one . ”
“Okay…
However, Kim JiMin still seemed to be in doubt .
From what she knew, ‘Birth of the Masterpiece’ was aimed at new singers who had good skills, and most partic.i.p.ants staked everything in this program . This was why she was so worried . She had faith in KangYoon, but the preparation period was so short .
KangYoon had a look at the clock before muttering .
“It’s about time…”
“Sorry?”
As soon as he finished his words, the sound of someone climbing the stairs could be heard . Yoo JungMin and Jung HyeJin immediately stood up to greet the guest . As they knew who was making this visit, they were very nervous .
Soon, the door opened and a graceful figure made her entrance . She looked around before finding KangYoon which made her smile .
“Team leader! It’s been such a long time . ”
The lady saw KangYoon who had just stood up from the sofa and approached him with a smile before grabbing his hands . KangYoon also greeted her with a smile .
“Miss HyoMin . It’s been a long time . It looks like you didn’t get lost on your way here . ”
It was the pianist, Gye HyoMin . She was a pianist that KangYoon had gotten to know while he worked at MG Entertainment and had helped her in her solo recital .
She seemed to be happy seeing KangYoon again as she looked very cheerful . She gave the presents she brought over to Yoo JungMin and sat on the sofa . Although they did exchange contacts, this was the first time they saw each other since KangYoon had come back from America .
Gye HyoMin spoke with a bright expression .
“I just came back to Korea last week . I had some recitals in Europe… It’s good to see you like this . ”
“Thank you for telling me that . ”
“So you two are doing business together . I saw that you two got along very well in MG… Are you still doing concert planning?”
KangYoon smiled awkwardly and spoke .
“I’m thinking about it . We’ll make a team once the company is large enough . ”
“Really? So I can come to find you once the time comes . ”
“That will be an honor for me . ”
Although it was small-scale compared to her reputation, KangYoon was the one to successfully hold her recital where she overcame her artist’s block, so he was like a savior to her . This was also why she came to his rescue .
Lee HyunJi smiled and spoke .
“At that time, why don’t we host 5 thousand people or even more?”
“Hahaha . That sounds good . Though, it won’t be easy filling those seats…”
Gye HyoMin laughed mischievously . Seeing that, KangYoon shrugged his shoulders .
“There’s fame to your name, so they would be filled one way or the other . Oh, I haven’t introduced you yet . This is…”
KangYoon introduced Kim JiMin, who looked very nervous . Kim JiMin was frozen stiff when she found out that the other party was Gye HyoMin before nodding her head while greeting .
“H, h.e.l.lo? I’m Kim JiMin . ”
“You look like a nice girl . h.e.l.lo there, I’m Gye HyoMin . Oh, you’re the girl I’m doing the stage with? Nice to meet you . ”
She smiled and shook hands with Kim JiMin .
However, Kim JiMin did not understand when she said that they were doing a stage together . She had a look at KangYoon .
“Oops, my mistake . Miss HyoMin here will collaborate with us on your stage this time . ”
“WHAAAT!?”
Kim JiMin’s eyes widened at those words . Seeing that, Lee HyunJi shook her head .
“So it was a surprise? You should have told her beforehand . ”
“I was too focused on SoYoung, so I forgot about the most important thing . I’m sorry . ”
When KangYoon made an awkward expression, the door to the office opened once again and this time it was Park SoYoung with disheveled hair and a cheerful expression .
“Oppa, oppa! I finished!”
Only KangYoon seemed to enter her eyes as she expressed her liberation . However, the gazes of others focused on her and her face reddened .
“Ha… haha…”
KangYoon chuckled before offering her to sit down . He introduced Park SoYoung to Gye HyoMin . Gye HyoMin’s eyes shone when she heard that this new lady was the one who rearranged the song this time .
“I’m looking forward to what I’ll be playing . Now can I please take a look at it?”
Park SoYoung found it strange that it wasn’t KangYoon but someone else that was having a first look at the final piece and whispered to Kim JiMin .
‘JiMin, she was the pianist, right?’
‘Yes, she’s called Gye HyoMin…’
‘Wait, what!? THE Gye HyoMin!?’
The genius pianist that was the first Korean to win the Poland International Piano Concour, one of the three greatest piano Concours in the world, in 2002! She was literally world-cla.s.s .
Such a person was having a look at her piece of work .
Park SoYoung started sweating profusely .