Chapter 164
Chapter 164
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Translator: Vine
Chapter: 165
Chapter Title: The Eccentric Director's Request
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While Yeonwoo was busy raising his debut team, Olivia Snow was meeting an American for the first time in a while.
“What?”
“Introduce me to that kid.”
Olivia Snow silently stared at the bald man who could be considered part of the industry.
His unkempt beard, hollow face like he hadn’t slept for days, and bloodshot eyes.
‘His eyes... they’re rolling around?’
He definitely wasn’t normal.
He was certainly someone worthy of respect, but from her perspective, they had no connection, and there was no real reason to meet him.
On top of that, he was infamous for his foul temper, so she avoided him whenever possible—she had no desire to see him.
If he hadn’t heard she was staying in LA and shown up at her doorstep, she wouldn’t be sitting across from him in the living room right now.
“Why ask me to do it?”
“Hoo... Didn’t you spend some time with that kid? That’s why I came to you.”
“No, just contact his company.”
“I’ve sent emails multiple times, but no reply.”
At those words, Olivia Snow thought of that kid—Yeonwoo.
Right, there had been a ton of offers. So many that she’d asked the company to sort them out.
She remembered that aside from meeting Mark Miller, they hadn’t gone with any other proposals.
This man in front of her might have been on that list too.
No.
When was it?
She recalled something Yeonwoo had said.
“Well, I can pass along the message, but... he probably won’t want to meet.”
“Who? The kid? Me? Why?”
“He did music direction for a drama once, didn’t like it, and said he’d never do it again.”
Of course, there were exceptions.
Like Power Sentai, or a new season of Power Sentai, or the theatrical Power Sentai.
“Why? Why not?”
“He said it wasn’t fun? He might pretend not to know even if he sees you.”
“No, me?”
Me?
It was a wildly delusional statement laced with the nuance of how could someone like him possibly refuse to meet.
It was a hugely narcissistic remark, but honestly, it was justified.
The man before her, Damian Cruise.
He was the hottest director in Hollywood.
If Olivia Snow was the woman Grammy loved, the queen, then this man was Oscar’s man, the emperor.
He’d gained attention with his debut, followed by a string of blockbuster successes that made his name, and then produced films blending commercial appeal and artistry, earning praise as a master craftsman.
And such a man was showing interest in Yeonwoo.
It was a bit hard to understand.
He was sensitive about music too, and already worked with the best music directors.
So why?
“Anyway, why on earth do you want to see Yuin?”
At that, Damian Cruise replied.
“I heard ‘Sun.’”
“Sun...? Oh, ‘Sun.’”
The piece inspired by a sunrise had a classical feel, so Olivia Snow hadn’t paid much attention to it.
To her, classical music felt like reading ancient literature—boring and difficult.
“I stumbled upon it, searched it up, and even heard the Korean orchestra’s long performance. It was a shock. How can someone make something like that? Nine years old? No, eight at the time?”
“It’s warranted. Yuin is this era’s Mozart. I’ve never seen a genius like that kid.”
At those words, Damian Cruise widened his eyes in surprise this time.
“Is this the Olivia Snow I know? Acknowledging someone else like that.”
Olivia Snow frowned.
“Are you talking about yourself right now?”
“What? I’m objective. There’s no one better than me in the film industry right now, so I don’t bother praising.”
Olivia Snow gave up on further conversation.
“So, your point... You just want to see the kid who made that music? Is that it?”
“No, not that. I plan to ask him to compose a track for my new film.”
Apparently, separate from the music director, he intended to commission the exact piece he wanted.
“Well, I’ll at least mention it to him. I’ll let you know.”
“Huh? Not right now?”
“...It’s the dead of night in Korea right now. Time for good kids to be asleep.”
He looked displeased at that.
Everything had to revolve around him, so he was irritated that things weren’t going his way.
“You should go now.”
Olivia Snow firmly ushered him out.
“Hmm...”
Damian Cruise nodded and stood from his seat.
“I’ll wait for your call.”
“Yes.”
With that, he left her house without a proper goodbye or even glancing back.
“I’ll... have to pass it along.”
It could be an opportunity for Yeonwoo.
But if he didn’t feel like it, she planned to tell him not to bother.
She didn’t want Yeonwoo getting worn out dealing with that lunatic.
“Anyway, I miss him, my apprentice. Wonder how he’s doing.”
Having spent time together, she missed Yeonwoo and his family.
Should she go visit while she was thinking of it?
“No, no.”
She had started work on a piece after meeting Mark Miller, and she wouldn’t step outside until it was done.
Steeling her resolve, she headed to her studio.
“That director really is a nutcase, isn’t he?”
Even Olivia Snow, the queen herself, shook her head at how utterly eccentric Damian Cruise was.
* * *
Jiyeong looked at her nephew with amazement.
No sooner had they arrived at headquarters than Yeonwoo started devouring king-sized dumplings for lunch. He polished off five in his seat in one go and was reaching for another as if that wasn’t enough.
“Auntie, stop staring and pass the danmuji.”
“Oh, sure... But Yeonwoo.”
“Yeah?”
“Does that all fit? Aren’t you full?”
“Now I’m getting full. But I could probably squeeze in three more.”
“Wow...”
She got full after three herself, but he could down eight.
“At that rate... you’re a pig, right?”
“Nope. I’m in my growth spurt. It’ll all go to height. You’re old, so you can’t eat much.”
At that, Jiyeong snapped.
“I’m not old! Where do you see old?!”
“You’ve lived about four times my life, so you’re old.”
“Wow... Saying it like that makes me suddenly feel ancient. Four times.”
Yeonwoo grinned cheekily at that. Jiyeong, annoyed by his expression, shoved some danmuji into his mouth, but he chewed and swallowed it deliciously.
“Danmuji goes weirdly well with dumplings. Pork ones, kimchi ones. But did you know? The first person to make dumplings was Zhuge Liang from Romance of the Three Kingdoms, apparently. Legend says he created them to replace the custom of offering human heads as sacrifices. Zhuge Liang was born around 180 or 181 AD, so it’s a food with over 1,800 years of history.”
“Stop talking and finish eating?”
Yeonwoo was growing and changing daily with how much he ate, but one thing that hadn’t changed was his nonstop chatter.
“Yeah.”
Yeonwoo nodded and stuck to his pace, finishing his dumplings.
“Auntie.”
“Yeah?”
“So, what concept do you want for the guys’ songs?”
“That’s what I was about to say.”
“Really?”
“Yeah. You decide.”
“...Huh?”
“We’ll all go with whatever you choose.”
Yeonwoo tilted his head, staring at Jiyeong.
“Isn’t that kinda irresponsible?”
“No, it’s right. Better to let you do whatever you want than tie you down to something.”
“Hmm... You make it sound like you’re right. So I can really make the music I want?”
Jiyeong, about to nod, paused and said.
“But no super difficult songs. These kids are still chicks. Not powerhouse concept idols like Hades. Visuals matter, dance matters—they’re idols through and through. Got it?”
“I know that much.”
The old Yeonwoo might not have been able to accept such a request from his aunt.
But now Yeonwoo was different.
He knew idols weren’t just about vocals, and musicians didn’t care only about blue fairies.
If blue fairies were all that mattered, there’d be no reason for green, yellow, or orange fairies to exist.
“I’ll do my best. Don’t worry.”
“Yeah, why would I worry? Coming from the guy topping Melboard charts. I’m counting on you?”
“Yeah. Oh, when’s our studio gonna be done?”
“Dunno? Two months? Around then?”
“Sigh...”
“Why?”
“Got a noise complaint from upstairs. Thought the soundproofing was good, but it’s not perfect.”
“Oh, then we’ll have to work from headquarters. Come to think of it, Mom mentioned something similar recently.”
“Yeah? What?”
“Nothing big. Just that lately, more people have been lurking around our apartment complex to see you. Management office called, said it’s a hassle.”
“Oh...”
Yeonwoo scratched his head at that.
He knew about it too.
As Yeonwoo got more famous, and with Olivia Snow moving into the complex, fans who didn’t respect privacy started hanging around the apartments.
“Those aren’t even real fans. Leave it be, and they’ll evolve into sasaengs.”
“What’s a sasaeng?”
“Think malignant fans.”
“Then it’s bothering the neighbors. We gotta move, right, Auntie?”
“Yeah... Let’s talk it over with Grandma.”
“Yeah.”
Moving wasn’t just Yeonwoo’s issue—it was a family matter—so they’d hold a family meeting centered on Grandma soon.
Yeonwoo passed the news to Olivia Snow too.
[Eye Sis, you good? We might move soon. Extreme fans are showing up around the neighborhood a lot. I’ll let you know if it’s confirmed.]
As next-door neighbors, he couldn’t not tell her.
[What? For real? If you move, tell me for sure! If you get a big place, make a room for me too lol]
[That’s a bit much.]
[Also, apprentice, this film director Damian Cruise contacted me through you? Wants a song for his movie since he couldn’t reach you. Personally not recommending. Makes good movies but the guy’s weird. Might be exhausting to work with.]
[I’m busy raising idols, tell him no]
[-Got it]
A chatty director dictating this and that for music work?
For some unknown film director at that?
Worst case.
“I’m gonna make the music I wanna make!!”
Yeonwoo shouted excitedly and pulled out his tablet.
He couldn’t go to headquarters right away, but he’d sketch ideas on the tablet at least.
“What genre should I try?”
In his happy dilemma, he thought having his aunt as total producer wasn’t bad.
Since he could do whatever he wanted.