Approaching Bianca (11)
Fixing my little sister's bad habits—what the hell was she planning to do about it?
Her words brimmed with confidence.
She's so sure of herself, so I probably don't need to worry. I'll just do exactly what she asks.
No need to stick my nose in where it doesn't belong. There's no reason to get deeply involved in this mess, right?
The talk about what she'd do for me was over. Now it was time to discuss what I'd get in return.
"Now it's my turn to say what I want. I'm already looking forward to it—what can you do for me?"
"Hohoho! It'd be quicker to ask what I can't do. If you need something, just say the word."
She could do anything—quicker to ask what she couldn't. What insane confidence.
I envied her ability to say it so casually, without a hint of doubt. It had taken a body swap as drastic as the world turning upside down for me to gain even a fraction of that boldness.
What should I ask for as compensation?
No need to drag this out. Even if it's weird, if she offered it as payment, what can she do about it?
To ordinary people who couldn't grasp an item's true nature, explaining for a hundred days would just waste my breath.
"Then I'll give you this as a gift—can you keep it close and protect it for me?"
I pulled out the doll I'd bought from my pocket. A pink teddy bear a little smaller than my palm. It was cute enough that any woman would love it.
"A doll? You're giving me a doll right now?"
"It's not just any doll. Its eyes are made of expensive gems. Want to take a look?"
"...Are you messing with me?"
"I'm dead serious about the gift."
"...Idols these days even sell dolls, huh."
It was an absurdly offbeat request, but Bianca accepted the doll without protest. Her face said, Let's see your trick.
She stared intently at the teddy bear's eyes—the ones supposedly made of gems—and tilted her head.
"This is a gem? What kind?"
Step 1: Gift the item. (Complete)
Step 2: Make her meet the teddy bear's eyes. (Complete)
Step 3: Keep it nearby for 60 minutes. (In Progress)
Steps 1 and 2 had gone smoothly—only step 3 left.
"It's a diamond."
"It's black. Since when do black diamonds exist?"
"Look closer. Peer inside, and you'll see the diamond sparkling. Right in the pupil area."
When I bought the teddy bear, there was a customization option. I'd swapped the pupils for diamonds as a workaround for step 2.
No one could ignore eyes made of gems. Sure enough, Bianca set aside talk of Melissa and showed interest in the bear.
Tick-tock—
Tick-tock—
"Oh my! It really sparkles inside! You put a real diamond in there?"
"Yeah."
"Why give it to me?"
"Honestly, I planned to give it to someone else, but after meeting you today, I bribed you to take good care of it."
"...A bribe?"
We were negotiating compensation, but now I was the one giving more—it had to feel ridiculous from her side.
"What's your angle? Be straight with me. This doesn't make sense, and it's pissing me off. You hated me just a minute ago."
"I thought about it. I want to grab a big piece of this opportunity—what should I ask for? A building? Would she give me one?"
"A building's the best, sure."
No wonder they say being a landlord trumps even God.
"But ending with a building feels like a waste. You offered help with connections, so I want you to be my connection. That's why I'm bribing you instead of asking for compensation. It's not much, but enough to forget the awkwardness between us, right?"
"...I picked a real pro. Not sure if I should like this or not. Anyway, with you stepping in, fixing my sister's habits will be a matter of time. Would've been easier if you'd just taken the building."
"I'm good at math. I calculate what's best for me, and I can't waste a chance like this."
Tick-tock—
Time flowed steadily. The pink teddy bear was still in Bianca's hand. Its diamond eyes had clearly passed her aesthetic test. The cute design, soft texture, and faint scent probably helped her hold on.
"You'll honor the compensation I proposed?"
Bianca pondered, then shrugged with a relaxed smile.
"Of course. I already promised everything."
"Great! Have you eaten? I skipped lunch getting dragged here."
"Can't refuse a handsome guy's dinner invite as a lady. What do you like?"
I'd asked her to be my connection, so sharing a meal was a given. Luckily, she didn't turn it down.
"Anything's fine. Oh! Since we're at it, should we learn each other's favorite foods? If you're my connection, we need to get close—gotta know the basics."
Truth was, anything worked. My goal was to kill time.
Tick-tock—
Time marched on relentlessly. Unstoppably.
"Hello, Blueberry Composer. I listened to the track you sent. I'm contacting you because we'd like to proceed with a contract. Please get back when you have time…"
"Mommy! It actually sold! Kyaaah!!"
The song Haesol had whipped up out of sudden inspiration had sold. Ahyun agonized over how to break the good news to him.
"How much should I ask for? Screw up the contract, and it'll be a disaster!"
She was thrilled to have pulled it off, but the contract terrified her. Selling it too cheap was out of the question. She had to get fair value!
The problem? She knew zilch about contracts. With nowhere else to turn, she asked her senior composer who'd taught her MIDI.
To get advice, she had to spill that the song sold—and rumors spread like wildfire in the cramped composing studio.
"What? Your song sold?"
"Ahyun! You sold a track?"
"Congrats, Ahyun!"
"...S-Seniorrr! I said keep it secret!!"
"Why hide good news? Brag away! It'll light a fire under these guys."
"When'd you get so good?"
"Can we hear the sold track?"
"N-No! Can't leak it—security's important."
"Yeah... security matters."
"And it's not signed yet. Things can change anytime."
Ahyun desperately downplayed it to everyone. Even though it was amazing.
"If you're confident, skip the flat fee and take a royalty share—but that's rare, means you're involved in production. Usually, you negotiate the company's offer. Could be 700k or 1 mil. Good ones hit 4-500k? Need experience for fair pay here."
Rookies without creds struggled to haggle.
It's such a great song...
Was she really selling it for just 1 mil?
"But don't lowball too hard—just take it. Easy to rip off similar tunes here. Shady companies steal 'em outright. Fees vary wildly."
"!!"
Hearing all these horror stories made her want to bail. She'd already shopped it around—should've asked seniors first. Regret hit hard.
Since it was Haesol's song, she had to keep it secret and push forward.
Her head swirled with worst-case scenarios, convincing her 700k was inevitable.
Too hasty. Should've been careful. Idiot! Moron!
Ahyun figured Haesol's track was worth at least 10 mil. Handing it over for a tenth? Infuriating.
Too ashamed to tell him, she burst into tears.
But her gloom was premature. While sobbing, her phone and email exploded.
She learned this after wiping her tears, catching her breath, and grabbing her phone to call Haesol.
"Ehhh?! W-What's this?"
Over 10 missed calls. Ahyun froze, stunned like a statue, staring blankly between her email and phone before steeling herself to call Haesol.
I can't handle this alone.
The real owner had to decide. Plus, there was an email from Honey Enter!
"Hello?"
"H-Haesolll~!"
"What's up? What happened?"
"Hweeeing! I dunno what to dooo."
"Why? You crying? Voice sounds hoarse."
His gentle voice made fresh tears flow. In baby talk, Ahyun babbled the situation to her boyfriend, doubting he'd follow her jumbled mess.
"Too many offers to buy the song, got scared?"
"Uh-huh... sniff!"
"Aigoo~ My baby got such a fright."
"Your song's too gooood. So much pressure. Gotta sell it riiight."
Her congested sniffles turned full aegyo as baby-mode Ahyun whined to her boyfriend. He'd fix this impossible mess.
And Haesol didn't disappoint.
"Honey Enter seems best. You're an ex-trainee there—they'll take extra care seeing your face."
"You think?"
"Yeah. Don't want our song wasted somewhere shady."
"R-Right! That's my biggest worry."
"Experience matters for rookies. Honey'll boost your creds big time."
"Y-Yeah!"
All spot-on. Fear gone.
"How much to ask?"
"Usual's 1 mil, but push 3. Feels right."
"Okayy!"
Her eyes sparkled. His firm advice erased all worry. She hung up and contacted Honey Enter.