Chapter 36
Chapter 36
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Translator: Vine
Chapter: 37
Chapter Title: Back to Korea
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Yeonwoo wanted to return to Korea not just because his dad had called him or because he missed him, but for another reason as well.
“Yeonwoo, what should we do? Companies and people keep contacting us nonstop. Should we keep telling them you want to rest?”
“No, I want to work now.”
He wanted to test out his even more upgraded composing skills and the fairy he’d gotten from Shunji.
After receiving the ability to infuse Himari’s experiences and emotions into his music from the fairy, Yeonwoo found himself dissatisfied with the songs he’d made in advance. He wanted to revise them.
The same went for the song he’d given his aunt.
To do that, he needed to go back to Korea, where the studio was.
“Really? Then who should we talk to? Even the big agencies have reached out.”
“I like places where the adults’ circumstances aren’t too complicated.”
“Hmm… Do any like that exist?”
At those words, Yeonwoo asked innocently.
“Why don’t we just make one with you, Aunt?”
“…We don’t have the money.”
“Even to do it ourselves, we need adults’ circumstances, huh.”
“That’s right.”
Jiyeong spoke bitterly.
Truthfully, it was the dream of a producer like her.
To start her own agency and build a team without anyone’s interference.
“Then… what about Uncle Beomsin’s place, Aunt?”
“They’ve poured everything into Hadas, so they’re probably broke right now. They’ll have to wait until Hadas starts earning.”
“I see. So how much money do we need to make our own? I have a lot.”
With that, Yeonwoo told Jiyeong the amount Jihoon had taught him.
Jiyeong’s eyes widened, but she soon shook her head.
“Yeah, at least five times that.”
“Oh… Then I just need to make and sell a few more songs.”
Jiyeong shook her head at the simple calculation.
“That’s just for producing one idol group. There’s a ton more that goes into it.”
“It’s complicated.”
Yeonwoo puffed out his cheeks.
Watching him quietly, Jiyeong spoke up.
“An independent company might be tough, but it’s not impossible.”
“Really?”
“Yeah. We could join a label under a company that gives us independence, get their support, and run it that way. It’s a bit complicated, but doable. The problem is…”
“What?”
“We’d have to reveal who you are.”
“I don’t like that…….”
As Yeonwoo made an uncomfortable face, Jiyeong’s worries deepened.
In the midst of that, Shunji, who’d been listening to their conversation from behind, asked Himari beside him.
“What are those two talking about?”
“Yeonwoo seems to want to produce singers or idols on his own. But…”
Having heard their conversation, Shunji’s eyes gleamed.
“I smell it.”
“Huh? Oh, that’s probably the garlic from the ramen we had for lunch.”
“Not that, you idiot. Don’t spout lines from some old drama. I meant the smell of money.”
Saying that, Shunji approached Yeonwoo.
Yeonwoo and Jiyeong eyed warily the shadow of the money-loving old man looming over them.
Shunji forced the friendliest smile he could muster (which looked to others like he was grinning while holding a gun) and spoke.
“Looks like you need my help?”
Himari translated Shunji’s words without being asked.
“Well, what kind of help?”
At Jiyeong’s question, Shunji grinned.
“Financial help.”
“Uh, um… that’s…”
“No ulterior motives. I just saw the kid’s talent and want to invest. I don’t want anything in return. Well, nothing at all wouldn’t be right. It’s an investment, so it has to make money, right? We’d need the standard profit split between investor and invested. It’s not a bad deal for you either, is it? And since I already know the kid’s identity, you don’t have to worry about revealing it.”
Jiyeong did some mental calculations as his words poured out.
It was just verbal for now, so he might change his mind later, but Shunji’s proposal wasn’t bad on the surface.
“I’ll have to check with my brother first, but it doesn’t sound bad.”
“But tell me, why hide the kid’s identity so tightly? For his emotional well-being? I get that, but getting famous early has its benefits for the future too.”
At Shunji’s words, Jiyeong looked at Yeonwoo.
“Because Yeonwoo doesn’t want to.”
“Hmm…….”
It was unusual.
For a mere 6-year-old to avoid exposure so extremely.
“I just can’t understand it no matter how I think about it.”
“Honestly, I feel the same. I wonder if it’s really necessary to go this far.”
Truthfully, even Jiyeong didn’t fully agree.
She just went along with it because Jihoon was extremely against exposing Yeonwoo, and Yeonwoo felt the same.
What father and son couldn’t bring themselves to say.
It was connected to Yeonwoo’s uncle.
Jihoon feared a repeat of the incident where Yeonwoo’s mother had been practically kidnapped with baby Yeonwoo.
Yeonwoo feared that if he became famous, that uncle would come looking again.
Even with legal protections and various safety measures, the deep-rooted fear couldn’t be shaken.
“Well, anyway, I need to meet Heo Ok’s son and talk.”
“Right? Even if I act as your agent, you’ll have to discuss this with my brother.”
Shunji thought he’d done well to secretly book a flight to Korea.
“Alright, let’s talk in Korea.”
Since Heo Ok would absolutely block him from coming, he left those meaningful words without revealing he was going to Korea too, then vanished.
Two days later, on the day of departure.
Yeonwoo’s family began packing to return to Korea.
“The pastes are heavy, so put them here. Oh, and this medicine too. The light cup ramen goes in the carry-on.”
“Aunt, what about this?”
“Konnyaku jelly! It’s liquid, so it goes here.”
“This is liquid too.”
“Right. That one too.”
Jiyeong was taking the lead in packing.
“Wait, did you go shopping while I was gone? I don’t remember buying this.”
Heo Ok clicked her tongue at the open suitcases.
Originally, they’d brought one large checked bag and two carry-ons.
But now the number of suitcases had doubled.
It was all because Jiyeong, visiting Japan after so long, went shopping spree with sparkling eyes, and Heo Ok tossed in anything Yeonwoo showed the slightest interest in.
Add in clothes that would suit Yeonwoo, and they couldn’t avoid buying extra suitcases.
“Sigh… Shopping is fine, but how are we dragging all this, Mom?”
“We’ll manage with carts somehow.”
“Don’t worry, ma’am. The manager and I will escort you to the airport.”
Himari said that and glanced at the manager.
The manager handed something to Himari.
“This… is a gift from me to you, teacher.”
“What is it?”
“Your favorite wine and sake.”
“Oh, thank you. To think the day would come when Himari receives something like this from me.”
Heo Ok smiled gently. Seeing that, Himari blushed slightly and pulled out another item.
“This is for Ms. Jiyeong.”
“Ah! Thank you!”
She gave Jiyeong a high-end headset she really needed.
And finally, for Yeonwoo…
“This is a gift from Grandpa Shunji.”
“Thank you.”
Shunji had given him a kid-sized electric guitar.
Himari then handed over her own gift.
“I worried about what to give you, but I thought something meaningful was better than expensive.”
What she gave him was a fountain pen.
“My mom used this when she composed. She wasn’t famous, but she was a composer.”
“That’s why you became a composer too?”
“That’s right. My first teacher in life was my mom. My second was your grandma.”
“You can give something like this… to me?”
At that, Himari laughed and stroked Yeonwoo’s head.
“Of course. My mom gave it to me hoping I’d become a great musician when I said I wanted to do music. You might just be a brief connection to me, but to me, you’re my one and only disciple who inherited my legacy. I want you to carry it on and become even greater than me.”
At those words, Yeonwoo looked at the fountain pen Himari had given him.
Young Yeonwoo didn’t know the exact reason, but strangely, the pen felt heavy in his hand.
“I’ll definitely become a great musician.”
As Yeonwoo vowed, Himari felt her nose tingle for some reason.
“Can I hug you once?”
“Yes.”
Yeonwoo approached and hugged Himari.
“I taught you, but I learned so much from you and gained a lot too. I’ll definitely release the song you gave me soon.”
“Yes, Aunt. I’ll be waiting.”
“By the way, Yeonwoo.”
Himari wiped her eyes and looked at Yeonwoo.
“Yeah?”
“You know… those titles like Ramen or Sushi. Can I change them before releasing?”
“Um… sure!”
Yeonwoo agreed readily.
From her position with worldwide fame, Himari sighed in relief at the thought of not putting childish titles on her new album.
Now that she had permission, what should she name them?
Just as she started thinking about that, Jiyeong mentioned the flight time and urged them to go.
They hurriedly loaded the many suitcases and headed to the car.
There were so many suitcases they split into two vehicles: a van and an SUV.
Among them, Heo Ok volunteered to ride alone with Himari.
It was to give the teacher and disciple some time for a short private talk now that the day had come.
And so, Yeonwoo and Jiyeong took the car driven by the manager, while Heo Ok and Himari took the one driven by the road manager.
The moment they got in and started driving, Heo Ok spoke.
“Was it okay to give him that fountain pen? It’s your mother’s keepsake.”
“Mom would approve too. She raised such a great disciple. Well, he’s beyond disciple level compared to me.”
“Yeonwoo absorbs so fast, but you taught him everything you could. You’re a proper teacher.”
“Hehe, okay.”
Heo Ok smiled back at the laughing Himari.
As she did, she thought.
He absorbed piano from me, composing from Himari.
So now, which teacher should she connect him with next?
Heo Ok thought that was her role for Yeonwoo, this absurd genius.
To help him become a great artist who would inspire all artists in the distant future.
“No, is he already walking that path on his own?”
Or perhaps Yeonwoo was heading there by himself.
What would the end of that path be like?
‘I hope I live long enough to see it.’
Heo Ok felt she needed to pay more attention to her health.
* * *
Meanwhile, in Korea.
[Hadas still in Mango top 10.]
[Unfading popularity of Fly High and Rising.]
Even months later, the two songs refused to leave the top 10 on streaming platforms led by Mango Player. People called Hadas a monster rookie, a generational debut.
Since mid-tier idol debut songs rarely hit number one, the industry was even researching how they succeeded.
And the conclusions were three.
1. The competence of producer Ellis.
2. Addictive choreography.
3. The song.
Among them, the choreography and song drew the most attention.
Ellis was already the head of a BSK label, untouchable, and there were other producers just as good, so she lost buzz.
But the second and third were different.
The choreography was addictive and tightly constructed, and once people learned they were from the dance team blowing up in America, attention turned to who scouted that team.
And the song—Hadas’s track stayed in the top ranks even after promotions ended, clearly thanks to the song itself.
The songwriter was a monster rookie who’d released just three songs, including Kim Beomsin’s Cold Night, all massive hits rivaling Hadas.
Of course, it was tempting.
All the industry eyes watching this closely inevitably landed on SSHIN, the company run by Yeonwoo and Jiyeong.
However, as their activities halted under the pretext of rest and some attention waned…
“Anyone want to work with me?”
Jiyeong tossed out casual lines like that everywhere.
Several companies preparing new teams swarmed in, drooling.