61 – mm. (1)
61 – mm. (1)
61.
“Did we really have to come all the way to a place like this?”
He said that to Seo Chaerim as he looked around.
It was a café with an extremely luxurious atmosphere.
A place that had nothing to do with him.
“Even if it’s a business talk, you still have to keep up appearances.”
After answering like that, Seo Chaerim elegantly sipped her black tea. Watching her, he crunched into a cookie. The rich buttery scent and refined sweetness lifted his mood, if only a little.
“If you say business, you mean it’s about these business cards, right?”
“Yeah. It is.”
He looked down at the cards he’d gotten from Seo Chaerim.
There were two in total. One was from a company that ran a music streaming service, Komm. The other was from an entertainment agency, mm.
“You know about Komm?”
“I do. It’s a music streaming service.”
“Oh, you know it.”
Seo Chaerim’s eyes curved into crescents like she was pleased.
Komm and mm.
He knew both names.
Komm was one of the top three music streaming sites in South Korea, and mm was a fairly well-known entertainment agency with solid foundations.
But that was in the future.
By present-day standards, Komm’s recognition was pretty low. No—more people knew Komm not as a streaming company, but as a record label, a place that sold CDs and cassette tapes.
In fact, before getting into streaming, Komm had operated the largest record label in South Korea. Komm only became a top-three streaming site three years later, after forming a strategic partnership with one of the country’s three major telecom companies.
And as for mm…
Recognition, my ass—it hadn’t even been founded yet, had it?
If his memory was right, mm Entertainment was established about two years later. It was small compared to the country’s three major entertainment agencies, but it had solid substance for its size.
Rather than signing purely commercial singers, it was known for focusing on artists with a strong identity of their own, and for giving artists better contracts than the company.
It was also one of the agencies he’d been considering for Suyeon.
“But this mm is an entertainment agency, right?”
He couldn’t hold back his curiosity and asked Seo Chaerim.
If she had brought the card, she must know.
Seo Chaerim nodded at his question.
“Right. It’s a newly established management company.”
“Then why do you have this card, sunbae?”
“Because it’s my dad’s company.”
“…Didn’t you say it was a temp agency last time?”
“Management is basically a kind of temp agency too, isn’t it?”
No, it wasn’t exactly wrong, but…
It felt different.
“Then what about the Komm card?”
“Oh, that’s to prove I’m not scamming you.”
“Huh?”
“mm Entertainment is a subsidiary of Komm.”
He hadn’t known that.
So that was why mm Entertainment had such solid substance.
No, then Seo Chaerim was basically the daughter of Komm and mm Entertainment?
She was more of a rich kid than he thought.
“Well, even if it’s a new management company and all, we don’t have a single signed artist yet.”
“Is it really established?”
“There’s a corporation and a building, so you can call it established. But mm Entertainment has a pretty clear direction, so it’s hard to find singers that fit.”
“What direction?”
“Artists with a clear ‘color’ of their own. We’re not just looking for people who can sing well. Even if their vocal ability is lacking, we’re looking for people with their own charm.”
After saying that, Seo Chaerim took another sip of black tea.
Somehow, she looked refined.
“So you felt that color in me?”
“Yeah.”
It had been a joking question, but Seo Chaerim nodded decisively. For a moment, he didn’t know what to say. Huh—being evaluated this highly was… kind of moving.
“You’re not just good at composing. Your producing skills are excellent. And you’re good at stage direction too. You’ve got the makings of a great producer. No, not ‘makings’—even right now, you’re already a pretty solid producer. And you’re only seventeen. Of course I’d want you.”
“…Thank you for evaluating me so highly.”
“I’m not evaluating you highly. It’s a fair evaluation.”
She was praising him so much he didn’t know what to say. It was embarrassing, somehow. His face felt like it was heating up, so he took a sip of his iced americano to cool down.
“So you want me to sign with you?”
“Well, kind of. From my side, it’s closer to a ‘recommendation,’ I guess?”
“A recommendation?”
“I’m still a student. I can’t be directly involved with the company. So it’s a recommendation.”
He lightly furrowed his brow.
A recommendation.
It was a strangely chosen word.
“So even if you like me, I might not be able to sign with mm Entertainment?”
“I think that possibility is ridiculously low. Not just because it’s my recommendation—our CEO has an eye for talent too, so he won’t let you slip away.”
“Then instead of telling me, shouldn’t you just recommend me straight to the CEO?”
“…That’s true, but I also have to prepare for my future.”
Another thing he couldn’t understand.
“Why is recommending me preparation for your future?”
“Well, I told you before, right? That after I graduate high school, I’m going to help my dad’s business.”
“Yes. You did.”
“When I graduate Seolwon Arts High, I’m going to go to college. And while I’m in college, I’m planning to work at mm Entertainment.”
“That’s possible?”
“I’m a nepotism hire. What isn’t possible?”
Seo Chaerim smiled, a bit self-deprecating.
“It’s basically like working part-time while I get a grasp of the company. And once I graduate, I’ll get hired right away and start working for real.”
“Ah.”
“The problem is people’s eyes. People will treat me like a nepotism hire. I mean, I am, but that doesn’t mean I want to be judged as incompetent. So I need preparation for my future self—people who can prove my eye for talent.”
“Ah, so that’s why it’s a recommendation.”
He thought he understood what she meant. Seo Chaerim recommended people to mm Entertainment. And if the people she recommended did well, they became part of her track record.
“You’re quick. Yeah, that’s right. That’s why it’s a recommendation. I’m already working on various people for that, actually. Well, for now, it’s just at the level of keeping an eye on them.”
“Can I know who you’re keeping an eye on?”
“If it’s people around you—Han Goyo and Kim Taeyoung. And maybe Kang Seonghun too. And you probably don’t know, but I’m also watching people like Ji Juhak and Kim Yuyeon in third year.”
Han Goyo, Kim Taeyoung, Kang Seonghun, Ji Juhak, Kim Yuyeon. He looked a little surprised at the names coming out of Seo Chaerim’s mouth. This person had a better eye than she looked like she would.
Han Goyo was overwhelmingly talented, so that made sense, but the others weren’t at that level. Especially the third years, Ji Juhak and Kim Yuyeon.
They weren’t that famous as students, but in the future, they became pretty decent singers. How had she picked only the good ones?
“Have you talked to all of them?”
“Not yet. Goyo doesn’t seem to be thinking about it, so I’m going to wait. With Seonghun, I just brought it up lightly. And for the third-year seniors, I’m planning to make offers right after they graduate.”
“…Then am I the first?”
“Yeah. You’re the first.”
“Why?”
He asked again, unable to understand.
Why was he the first?
At his question, Seo Chaerim smirked and said,
“Because I want you the most. A great producer is a rare commodity. And I’m also planning to use you to bring in other people.”
“Other people?”
“The people who sang with you.”
“Goyo?”
“Yeah. And your little sister too.”
He sucked in a sharp breath. She even had Suyeon in mind as a recommendation target. Her eye really was better than he’d expected.
Seo Chaerim’s offer started to interest him. Partly because he knew mm Entertainment itself was solid, but more than that, because Seo Chaerim herself intrigued him.
She had a clear vision, and clear ambition. On top of that, she had the eye to match that ambition. And more than anything, she was straightforward.
“Well, just because you get a recommendation doesn’t mean you have to sign no matter what, so don’t feel too pressured. It’s just meeting the company’s CEO through my recommendation.”
“Mm. I see.”
He nodded. It was true—answering didn’t mean he was signing right away, so the burden was lighter. There was a lot to think about before signing with a management company.
“So that’s my story. How is it? Not something you regret hearing, right?”
“Yes. It definitely isn’t something I regret hearing.”
“I figured.”
Seo Chaerim smiled.
At that, he rubbed his chin.
“If I meet the CEO, when would I be able to?”
“Anytime. But you have to prepare for your major exam, so wouldn’t it be better after that? And the CEO needs to hear the song you’re going to make too.”
“Ah—if it’s the song, should I send what I make?”
“No. Later, meet him in person and play it for him. Before that, I’m planning to show him the songs you uploaded to the cloud.”
“The cloud?”
“The songs you uploaded under ‘drop pop.’”
At the words “drop pop” coming out of Seo Chaerim’s mouth, he looked flustered. Seo Chaerim burst into laughter.
“Why are you so shocked? You even uploaded ‘Come Home.’”
“I mean, sure, but I didn’t think someone nearby would’ve listened to songs uploaded on that account.”
“I got recommended and listened to them by chance.”
So among those few views, Seo Chaerim had been one of them.
That was… a little embarrassing.
“Then let’s set the meeting date for after your major exam.”
“Yes. Understood.”
“We’re done talking, so can I get up first? I need to recommend your account to the CEO now.”
“Yes.”
He nodded.
§ § §
“Hello!”
After finishing her talk with Yoon Hajun, Seo Chaerim took a taxi straight to the mm Entertainment building. When she entered the neat, newly built building that hadn’t been up for long, the distinct smell of a new building greeted her.
“Hi, Chaerim~.”
“Hi.”
It wasn’t just the smell welcoming Seo Chaerim. The mm Entertainment staff also greeted her with bright smiles. Seo Chaerim smiled back softly.
“Is the CEO in his office?”
“Yeah, he is.”
“Yes!”
After saying that, Seo Chaerim headed straight for the CEO’s office. The employees watched her like she was cute. That gaze made Seo Chaerim feel uncomfortable.
Right now, they thought she was cute only because she wasn’t an employee. Because she was a high school student in uniform.
But what if she took off that uniform?
And started working at the company?
Would they still look at her the same way?
No. They wouldn’t.
Seo Chaerim was sure of it.
For that day, she had to build up results of her own. Of course, she couldn’t scout directly, but even having results that showed she discovered and recommended people would soften people’s eyes, even if only a little.
Arriving at the CEO’s office, Seo Chaerim lightly knocked, then went inside.
“Hello, CEO.”
“I told you, don’t call me CEO—call me uncle. I don’t want even you calling me CEO.”
The moment she greeted him, the familiar line came back. At that, Seo Chaerim smiled lightly and closed the office door. Then, sitting down on the sofa, she said,
“This is the company, and you’re the CEO.”
“That’s true, but you’re not an employee yet. You’re just my niece.”
“Either way, in two years I’ll be an employee.”
“That’s why. Just for those two years, I want you to call me uncle. Do you know how annoying it is to be called CEO, CEO, even by your father?”
Complaining like that, mm Entertainment’s CEO, Seo Hoon, sat down across from Seo Chaerim. Then he handed her a drink he’d already taken out and said,
“So what is it today? Touring the company again?”
“No. I have someone I want to recommend to you.”
“Someone to recommend?”
“Yes.”
“What, a friend from school?”
“Something like that.”
Seo Chaerim nodded. At that, Seo Hoon clicked his tongue. From his perspective, his niece Seo Chaerim—his older brother’s daughter—was a pitiful kid.
She went to Seolwon Arts High because she wanted to do music, but after graduating, she had to help with the company’s work right away.
A lovable niece not being able to do what she wanted, and having to work instead—how could he not feel sorry?
“You don’t have to worry about the company to that extent. We’re already working on artist contracts.”
“I’m not doing this for the company. I’m doing it for myself.”
“Huh?”
“Well, anyway. Do you want to listen once? You won’t regret it.”
After saying that, Seo Chaerim operated her laptop as she pleased and played a song. Seo Hoon stopped talking and focused on listening.
A mysterious voice that reminded him of dawn. A plaintive melody sung with that voice. Seo Hoon let out a short sound of admiration.
“Not bad.”
“This isn’t all of it.”
Seo Chaerim said that and played song after song. After letting him hear all four tracks, Seo Chaerim asked Seo Hoon,
“What do you think?”
“Mm. The tone is good. Especially that last one.”
“‘Come Home.’”
“Yeah, that one. I really like it.”
“Right? I thought you would.”
“So the person you want to recommend is the one who sang that song?”
“No.”
Seo Chaerim shook her head. Seo Hoon furrowed his brows. She’d kept playing the same voice, so he’d assumed she was recommending the singer—but she wasn’t?
“The person I want to recommend is not the one who sang the song, but the one who made it.”
“Composing?”
“And producing.”
“Hm.”
Seo Hoon let out a low sound.
Not the singer, but the one who made it.
Wait—made it?
“…These songs you played just now. Were they all made by one person?”
“Yes.”
“Can you play them one more time?”
“Of course.”
Seeing Seo Hoon’s interest, Seo Chaerim smiled and played them again. The music started from the beginning. Seo Hoon closed his eyes and focused.
Not on the voice, but on the melody.
After listening to all four songs, Seo Hoon opened his eyes again.
“Composing and producing—one person did it all?”
“Yes. And mixing and mastering too.”
“…What’s that student’s name?”
Seo Hoon asked Seo Chaerim in a voice full of interest.
At that voice, Seo Chaerim smiled.
“Yoon Hajun. So? Do you want to meet him?”
She took the first step.
The first step for the future.