Chapter 96
G.o.d of Music Chapter 96 . Spreading the Broken Wings (2)
“Right, now…?”
Kim JaeHoon was wary since he thought this went too easily . He was burnt to exhaustion due to problems with his management company until now . Even though he could sing well, it was hard to believe this situation because KangYoon straight up wanted to sign a contract .
However, seeing him hesitate, KangYoon also nodded in understanding and took a step back .
“Oh, I’m sorry . I was too excited because I heard a good song . Please excuse me . ”
“…Oh, okay . ”
“Here is my business card, so call me again after you think about it . ”
KangYoon gave Kim JaeHoon his business card . Kim JaeHoon put the business card that said ‘CEO of World Entertainment, Lee KangYoon’ into his wallet . Kim JaeHoon asked KangYoon, who didn’t say any more .
“Do you perhaps not know… what kind of situation I’m in?”
Would he possibly not know the top news of the entertainment world right now? Kim JaeHoon asked just in case . KangYoon replied without hesitation .
“You are not in a good situation . After all, you have a 1 . 5 billion won (1 . 5 million USD) debt due to the breach of contract with your previous management company . Even after you did your military service, you… . ”
“Stop!”
He asked just in case, but KangYoon knew too well . It was hard hearing that story from someone else . KangYoon stopped saying and waited .
“It’s just as you say, president . My situation is the worst right now . I won’t be of help to this company . ”
“I don’t have that many conditions . Skills, and the willingness to do it . You, Mr . JaeHoon, have both . ”
“…… . ”
That was very idealistic . However, Kim JaeHoon was in his 30s . Moreover, he had suffered all sorts of hardships . KangYoon’s words sounded like idealistic nonsense to him . He thought whether this contract would really profit this company . He was curious .
“…If you want to sign a contract with me, you’ll need a lot of money . I’m going to ask for a lot to pay my debt . ”
“Well, don’t you think that I’m willing to do it because I’m going to get just as much out of you?”
Kim JaeHoon was surprised to see KangYoon so calm . It was 1 . 5 billion . He could ask for even more for contract deposit . But seeing him so nonchalant, he was curious . He wanted to listen to what kind of conditions this person would give him .
KangYoon urged Kim JaeHoon .
“Aren’t you having a hard time right now with all the calls?”
“…… . ”
Kim JaeHoon gulped . He owed the bank as he had to pay the breach of contract fee to his previous company . However, he did not have the ability pay it back . And he was being pestered by the debt owners right now . From morning till night, he received calls and even emails asking him to pay it back . Not only that, debt collectors visited his house at least twice a week . KangYoon’s words were right on the mark .
“You don’t have a management, so you probably weren’t able to do anything . At first, you must have gone to a large company . There, those people would have measured you from various angles; whether if you are valuable enough to invest in, or not . And they should have concluded: no . ”
“How would you know that?”
“If they did, you wouldn’t be here . ”
Kim JaeHoon trembled as this was right on the mark . As he had to suffer because of his previous company, he wanted to join a big, stable company . However, those big companies did not accept him . After considering the latest trends, and the 4-year gap he had, they concluded that it was not worth investing 1 . 5 billion won to him .
Advertis.e.m.e.ntKangYoon’s words were trustable . However, Kim JaeHoon didn’t sign the contract immediately . This was too big of a matter to decide in a short time .
“…Phew . I’ll contact you after I think about it . ”
“Take your time I’m always open . ”
Kim JaeHoon shook his head and stood up . KangYoon saw him out the company .
“I’ll call you later . ”
Said Kim JaeHoon as he left . KangYoon returned to his office .
“How was the audition?”
When he returned, Lee HyunJi was there . She put down some papers on KangYoon’s desk and asked .
“His skills are as good as ever . It was top-notch . ”
“Are you going to accept him, then?”
“Yes . ”
“President . ”
Lee HyunJi was shocked to death . She shook her hand saying that this must not happen .
“It’s 1 . 5 BILLION . Not million . With that kind of money, we would be able to buy a whole building if it’s not in the capital . We’re short on money now too… . ”
“There is that much value in investing in him . ”
“He will definitely ask for more than 1 . 5 billion for the contract deposit . Because his debt is immense… . If we do, we would have to give up on the concert venue . When that happens, there will be detriments to our plan . ”
“It will be a 3-month delay at best . In three months, we can take all that back . ”
“3 months?”
Lee HyunJi shook her said that that cannot possibly come true . She believed in KangYoon, but at times like these, he sounded like he was possessed by something .
“Looks like you’ll become an evil president . Okay . What do we do about the copyrights that belong to the previous company?”
“That can’t be solved in the short term, but we’ll eventually have to get it back . ”
“I’m worried because we may be creating trouble for ourselves . Since you said that you will do it, you’ll do it even if you must stamp out songs like a machine, right? I can rely on you for both the concert venue and Kim JaeHoon… . But I would hate to owe to the bank . I don’t even want to think about their debt collection methods . ”
“I don’t like incurring debts either . ”
KangYoon was fed up with debts . He even owed the mafia in his previous life and encountered all sorts of ways they collected their debts . He wouldn’t owe someone even if he had to .
“3 months, huh . Haha . Just how much are you trying to extort him?”
“He’ll cry blood . But he’ll also sing to his heart’s content and more, so he’ll probably like it . ”
Lee HyunJi shrugged her shoulders and returned to her seat . She knew that KangYoon was the type of person who would do what he said . She believed in him .
After that, they sat down in their respective seats and started working .
***
“Thanks for your work . ”
“Bye . ”
Lee ChaHee and Lee HyunAh separated at the train station . As they headed in opposite directions, they went down opposite stairs .
“…She’s popular . ”
Grumbled Lee ChaHee . On the other side of the platform, Lee HyunAh was giving out signatures to a few fans . She felt envious .
The hill felt more exhausting to walk up than usual today . The ba.s.s guitar on her back also felt heavier .
‘When would I be able to give out signatures?’
Lee HyunAh’s figure kept entering her eyes . Although they belonged to one team the center of attention was always Lee HyunAh . It would be a lie if she said she wasn’t jealous, however, she knew that Lee HyunAh had given up going to Yerang entertainment because she wanted to be together with the team .
“*Sigh* . Such is life, I guess . ”
In the end, Lee ChaHee just shook her head . Her brain was confused with the complex range of emotions running through it .
She soon reached her home while walking . She climbed the stairs to the rooftop room . However, there was a guest in front of her house . It was a lady in a suit .
“Who are you?”
Asked Lee ChaHee to the lady . She was the only one living in the rooftop house . The woman saw Lee ChaHee and stood up .
“h.e.l.lo? My name is Min HanNa . Do you happen to be Miss Lee ChaHee?”
“Yes . I am . What is it?”
She was wary seeing a stranger at this hour . Noticing that, the Min HanNa lady started carefully speaking .
“You don’t need to be so tense, I’m not a stranger . I’m from Yerang entertainment . ”
“Ye… . rang?”
“I’m here scout you out . ”
Lee ChaHee widened her eyes . A scout? This was out of her expectations . Min HanNa gave her the papers she had brought .
“Your last concert was very impressive . The slap technique at the chorus part was very good . ”
“Oh, that’s… . ”
“Don’t you need a proper stage? If you have any thoughts, then please contact us through this number . ”
She didn’t say any more . She gave her a business card and left the rooftop house .
“A stage…?”
Lee ChaHee absentmindedly looked at Min HanNa as well as the business card .
***
Three days went past after Kim JaeHoon and KangYoon had met . However, he still hadn’t decided his mind .
‘Do I need to sign a contract with that place?’
He couldn’t easily judge the guy called Lee KangYoon . When he asked Oh JiWan, he said that KangYoon was someone who had great skills and was trusted greatly by his singers while he was at MG Entertainment . Moreover, none of the employees there hated him… .
He rolled around on his bed, the only furniture in his small house, when his phone started vibrating . The phone number was someone unknown .
‘Dammit… . ’
Kim JaeHoon put the phone away in annoyance . This number was obviously from the debt collectors . He now knew that they switched between several phones to call him . Living in debt allowed him to realize some of these things .
The phone vibrated for around a minute before turning off . This process would repeat again in the afternoon . He was stressed out every time he even heard his phone vibrating .
‘…World Entertainment, huh . ’
Kim JaeHoon thought back to KangYoon . Whether it was Producer Oh JiWan or other people, there were a lot of people that knew about him . All of them complimented and praised his skills . With more than three people saying the same thing, they shouldn’t be just complimenting him out of duty .
“…Let’s talk with him once again . ”
Kim JaeHoon left his semi-bas.e.m.e.nt room and headed to World Entertainment . When he arrived, he was met with KangYoon who was just about to leave .
“Mr . JaeHoon . Welcome . ”
“So you were on your way out . ”
“I was, but it looks like I gotta delay that for a bit . ”
KangYoon took off his coat and returned to his office . Kim JaeHoon followed suit . Seeing KangYoon’s consideration for him, Kim JaeHoon felt good .
While Jung HyeJin brewed coffee, KangYoon took his time to call someone . Then he ended the call after saying that the schedule needed to be delayed a little . Lifting the cup of coffee in front of him, KangYoon started speaking .
“Have you rested well?”
“Yes . Thanks to you… . ”
“That’s good . Have you thought about my offer, then?”
Kim JaeHoon shook his head . KangYoon smiled lightly and put down the coffee .
“So, it comes to this . Okay, then let us see at a later-”
“It’s not that . Can I ask a few questions?”
“Go ahead . ”
“You should know that I’m in a difficult situation . Is that really okay with you?”
“Of course, that is not a problem at all . ”
Seeing KangYoon reply so naturally, Kim JaeHoon felt weird instead for being so worried . He didn’t know just how this man in front of him could stay calm in this situation . He decided to probe him a little more .
“Please excuse me for asking this but does the company… have enough money?”
“We’re in our starting phase, so we don’t have that much luxury . To be honest with you, you’ll have to work to death once you get your money . ”
“Okay . Then I want to listen to the specific plans that you have for me if and when I do enter the company . ”
This was the most important question . KangYoon took a deep breath before starting .
“For the first week, we’ll leave you to rest . We’ll even give you some money, so you can travel . ”
“That sounds good, hahaha . ”
“That’s because h.e.l.l will be waiting for you after that week . For 3 months after that, you won’t get a single minute of rest . ”
Kim JaeHoon’s eyes shined . He asked for more in curiosity .
“Am I going to go to events?”
“Rather than events, an alb.u.m will come first . Don’t you have one that you were preparing?”
“There was one I was preparing before I went to the military . I’m not sure if it will fit the current trends… . ”
“For that, we can consult our exclusive composer . She has the skills, so it should be fine . ”
KangYoon spoke about the details of his plan . It was a very Spartan schedule . There was almost no rest as well . As soon as the alb.u.m is released, it would be events, then events, then more events . KangYoon was really planning to make Kim JaeHoon suffer in order to get his 1 . 5 billion won back . Kim JaeHoon was fed up after listening to so many types of events .
“Haha… . Such a detailed plan already… . Perhaps you really will get that money back if it works . ”
“May is the month of events after all . Shouldn’t I take the chance while it’s still warm?”
“Hahaha . ”
Kim JaeHoon laughed like he hadn’t for a long time .
1 . 5 billion . It wasn’t like he never earned that much before . He had earned even more money in his previous company with events . So, he found KangYoon’s words quite reliable .
A moment of silence pa.s.sed . KangYoon closed his eyes and Kim JaeHoon sat back down on the sofa .
After a bit of time, Kim JaeHoon spoke heavily again .
“…Will I really be freed from all of these weights in three months?”
“I can promise . ”
“…… . ”
Seeing KangYoon so confident, Kim JaeHoon came to a decision . It felt as though he now had an ally when no one came to help him after his military service . It was completely different from the times he ran events by himself . He felt that KangYoon would be able to utilize him properly .
Kim JaeHoon organized his thoughts and spoke .
“I’ll sign the contract . ”
“Well, it will be nice working with you, Mr . Kim JaeHoon . ”
The two shook hands .
World Entertainment now had one more singer, a male this time, amongst their ranks .