Chapter 171

[I long for you yet you are far away please look at me]

The video showed a restaurant .

The lady that used the soju bottle as a mic sang trot without a single accompanying instrument . People who seemed to be her colleagues tapped their chopsticks on the table like a drum and the mood heightened . The people sitting elsewhere frowned at first but soon joined in with the cheering .

Lee HyunJi, who first thought that Kim JaeHoon must have picked the wrong video, became immersed and KangYoon also watched with crossed arms .

Shes drawing attention from other tables as well . Well, with a level of singing like that, it would certainly attract attention .

Crossing his arms, KangYoon groaned a little .

The lady eventually closed her eyes and soon her singing got better and better . The mood was getting hotter as well as some people even stood up and started dancing along .

The ladys singing was uniting everyone .

[Oooooh! Again, again!]

[Miss In, Miss In, you should sing some more . ]

[Miss In, Miss In!]

(T/N: Shes being referred to as a teacher, which is her job . )

After the song was over, people asked her to sing again . The lady had to pick up the empty soju bottle again with an embarra.s.sed expression . When the lady was about to sing again, the video ended .

I wanted to see some more though

KangYoon uncrossed his arms with a disappointed expression .

Lee HyunJi just laughed .

Nice singing . Though, we arent that small to receive a video like that I wonder what happened there .

Lee HyunJis thought that people were looking down on World too much and shook her head . The song was good, yes, but this video, which had no effort put into at all, made her want to reject this video .

However, KangYoon thought differently .

They may have sent this on purpose . My singing is just this good . Her intention might be to make us see the influence she has on other people . I dont think it was such a bad idea

Can we really look at it that way? If she wanted to stand out from the others, I guess she succeeded in doing that . But this is supposed to be an audition As someone who has to evaluate this, I feel unpleasant . Leaving that aside, I dont think this partic.i.p.ants age is that low . We want trainees, so I wish for people around JiMins age at maximum . Just from the video alone, I dont see any merit in recruiting her .

Lee HyunJi shook her head . The partic.i.p.ants age should be late teens to early 20s to minimize the risk of having a long preparation time .

KangYoon agreed with her words somewhat . Being old meant that there were a lot of obstacles in debuting .

However, KangYoon wanted to listen to the song directly before deciding .

I think we should come to a decision after we meet her .

Really? Hm if you say so, president .

Although she didnt like this, Lee HyunJi knew that KangYoon had a good sense for this more than anyone else . Until now, if he said something worked, then it worked . A sense for business like that was very rarely seen in this industry .

She believed in his senses .

We should come to a decision after we meet . We will have to see if this person really has the knack to become a star, and whether she really wants to become a singer or not . Failure means a big risk for an entertainment company after all . Seeing how shes having dinner with many of her colleagues, she seems to have a job, so I think we should be careful regarding that as well .

Okay . Miss HyeJin .

Lee HyunJi asked Jung HyeJin to contact the person who sent this video .

Yes, director .

Jung HyeJin wrote an e-mail immediately . Yoo JungMin, the new employee, sat next to her and watched her work .

After this was done, KangYoon stood up from his seat .

Ill be visiting SoYoung then .

Ah, youre watching over her rearrangement, right? I hope SoYoung can grow quickly and take over your job in music

Lee HyunJi sighed . She expected Park SoYoung to grow to KangYoons level regarding rearranging .

KangYoon smiled and spoke .

Time will solve it . Shes very talented if she stops thinking that shes inferior to HeeYoon . Im planning to scold her a lot until then .

Pfft, youre quite evil, too, president . I can see SoYoung having a hard time with you .

She should overcome that herself . Its not something that another person can do about it . I hope she grows well Ill be off then .

KangYoon took a few books and left the office .

After he left, Jung HyeJin gave Yoo JungMin, some work .

Mr . JungMin . You see these places here right? Please contact them and write down their history .

Understood .

If you dont know something, then please ask . If you make a mistake

Jung HyeJin took a glance at Lee HyunJi .

The director doesnt like making mistakes from work .

Understood .

The president is a little flexible, but the director is really strict .

When Yoo JungMin looked at Lee HyunJi while gulping, Jung HyeJin chuckled .

Fufu, but she doesnt nitpick with something useless . Anyway, shall we start?

Yes .

Like that, World Entertainment office started running busily with the new employee .

***

Sunday, it was the recording day of SBBs Music Land . No, to be exact, it was a live broadcast .

Kim JiMin, who had finished her morning schedule and arrived at the public hall in Deungchon-dong, headed towards her designated waiting room .

When she entered, she saw that someone else had arrived first .

NaYoon .

JiMin?

It was Nael, the singer who debuted at the same time as JiMin did . The two people were glad to see each other . As they had debuted on the same day, they had become close and they spoke a lot with each other .

Receiving make-up from the make-up artist, the two sat down side by side . They talked about their companies, their schedules, and sometimes handsome male idols .

The biggest topic was about Birth of the Masterpiece that both of them were cast in . The two people were already aware that they were both appearing in it .

Have you prepared for that?

Kim JiMin shook her head at those words .

No, Im still worried . The rearrangement isnt even finished yet . Haa

This was true . Although Park SoYoung was helped out by KangYoon, she still hadnt finished the rearrangement .

Seeing that, Yoo NaYoon poked Kim JiMins waist jokingly .

No way . Are you lying to me? The almighty Eunha? Theres a little more than a week left until the recording . I can practically tell youre lying .

However, Kim JiMin shook her head .

Its true . I can only practice if I can get the final version Haa . Have you prepared for it . ?

Me? Well, a little .

Im envious

When Kim JiMin looked at her with envious eyes, Yoo NaYoon shook her head instead .

No way . But Muse is on your side! The hit song creator Muse!

. .

Kim JiMin couldnt say that Muse wasnt involved this time .

Actually, she wanted to ask why it wasnt KangYoon doing the rearrangement, but seeing Park SoYoung trying so hard, she couldnt say that .

Yoo NaYoon pouted and spoke on .

Tell your President I want a song when you see him .

Hahaha .

At that moment, a tall man entered through the door . It was KangYoon, who brought the stage costume and a black plastic bag .

JiMin, heres what you need .

Thank you .

Kim JiMins face reddened as she received the black plastic bag from KangYoon . She stood up from her seat and took out the contents before leaving .

I guess she isnt used to this yet .

Looking at her, KangYoon shrugged his shoulders . Seeing that, Yoo NaYoon asked out of curiosity .

Uhm, c composer?

Hm? Oh, its Miss Nael . What is it?

Ah, yeah . h.e.l.lo, you dont have to be so formal with me . I know youre JiMins boss .

KangYoon nodded his head .

Yoo NaYoon asked with a curious expression .

You seem to be doing her managers job ah, Im sorry . Looks like I shouldnt have said that .

KangYoon knew that she was just asking out of curiosity so he waved his hand saying that it was okay .

Its fine . Im taking the role of her manager because we are lacking some people at the company right now . I cant help it when were lacking people . Does that answer your question?

Aaah, that sounds bad . I hope you find someone soon . You should focus on your music . Your songs are great after all .

Hahaha, thanks .

KangYoon could feel that her words were genuine and laughed about it . She then seemed to have thought up of something and clapped .

Uhm composer . Its about JiMins new song .

You mean Happy Ending?

Yeah . I really liked that song . You created it, right?

Although that song was what ended up pus.h.i.+ng Nael to second place, she did not seem to feel bad about it at all . In fact, she seemed more eager to learn good music .

KangYoon was surprised to see that her words felt genuine .

That isnt so easy to do

KangYoon spoke calmly .

Strictly speaking, I didnt make it alone . Im in charge of the rearrangement, and the composition was done by my little sister . Your song was good as well, Nael . Im also enjoying it a lot .

Thank you . I hope I can ask you to write me a song later . Is that alright with you?

If the opportunity comes, then sure . I hope you do well too .

Kim JiMin returned while they were talking .

Ill be going to the stage then .

Yes .

After KangYoon left, the waiting room became a world of women again .

Yoo NaYoon got closer to Kim JiMin and asked .

JiMin, why did you leave just now?

Uhm .

Kim JiMin spoke carefully after contemplating a lot of it .

Its that day for me today .

Eeh? That day?

But I didnt have one on hand so he .

Yoo NaYoon was taken aback . This meant that the black plastic bag KangYoon brought contained womens sanitary products .

Whoa . . my G.o.d! So the composer . I mean, hes your president, right?

Yeah, Ah my face is turning hot .

Im more shocked than you are . I can understand if he was your manager, but your president just what in the world

Yoo NaYoon seemed shocked as well .

Ah, its getting hot .

Kim JiMin fanned her face with her hands to cool her head down and Yoo NaYoon blinked several times .

Im kinda envious

This meant that the president didnt hesitate to do menial work .

Yoo NaYoon felt rather envious of Kim JiMin .

***

There was less than a week until the recording date of Birth of the Masterpiece, but Park SoYoungs rearrangement still wasnt finished yet . As there was little time left, she was working very hard at the studio .

This place should go like ah, thats not it!

She tried combining several different sounds using the program, but there was no sound that satisfied her .

The studio, which became her workplace, had become a mess . However, Park SoYoung didnt have any leisure to care about such a thing .

Should I try dragging this sound out with the sustain effect? Or mute it altogether?

The picture of an electric guitar appeared along with a circle icon for sustain and a cross icon for mute . The sustain made the sound dragged out while the mute cut the notes short .

She tried other effects, but she wasnt satisfied .

Guitar, string, drums its bad no matter what I put in . Just what am I supposed to do

Original = best

That was her evaluation on the song Streetlight . Although she tried numerous combinations, nothing satisfied her . Even adding repet.i.tion and removing some lines didnt do anything .

She was worried about it a lot when KangYoon entered through the door . He had just come back from Kim JiMins schedule .

When Park SoYoung saw him, her head lowered in dejection .

Oppa

The work doesnt seem to be going well .

KangYoon was able to notice the current state of things immediately . She spoke without confidence .

Im sorry even though you had faith in me, I honestly dont have the confidence .

Park SoYoungs shoulders dropped down . She wanted to respond to his faith, but the weight of an old cla.s.sic was greater than she thought .

KangYoon asked with a calm expression .

Where are you stuck on?

Just, everything . I cant get a grasp on what instruments or effects I should use . At this rate, it might be better to use the original song as it is .

Really? Lets leave that as a last resort . What kind of effects have you used?

Park SoYoung showed him all the combinations of effects she had used until now . As she was very detailed about things, all of those files were saved separately .

Thats a lot

KangYoon first pulled out the headphones from the computer . This was to listen to what she had worked with . Soon, the speakers gave out some music notes along with sound, and white and grey light could be seen everywhere .

Ugh!

Although he had expected this, the influence of grey light kept stabbing him which made him frown . However, he tried not to show it in his expression .

After listening to all of her saved files for over an hour, KangYoon laughed powerlessly .

Haha youve worked hard .

Im sorry . Its no good, isnt it?

Park SoYoung became dejected . She had tried so hard, and she felt sorry that she didnt have any talent .

KangYoon consoled her by patting her back .

Definitely, theres not much to see right now .

.

Park SoYoung teared up .

However, his words didnt end there .

Looks like you went down the wrong path . Lets start from the beginning, this time, completely differently .

Completely differently?

KangYoon nodded his head and spoke with confidence .

Lets go with an orchestral interpretation . You heard lectures about it in college, right?

What? Yes, but I didnt learn that much . It was just one of the required cla.s.ses .

Thats enough . Lets bring out an orchestral feel . Lets increase the intro a little and keep the original feel as much as it is . Delete the drums and ba.s.s and other band instruments and insert some orchestral instruments . If you do that, the original feel wont disappear, and JiMin should be satisfied, right?

Wow

KangYoons words made Park SoYoung gulp . She felt like things were starting to get out of hand .