Chapter 111
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Translator: 8uhl
Chapter: 111
Chapter Title: If You Can, Try It.
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Glancing around cautiously for a moment.
The instant he sensed his chance had come.
President Jeong pounced like a rabbit lunging for rabbit grass, opening his mouth sharply.
"Yujin?"
"Yes, President?"
"About your friend..."
"It's not even been a month yet."
It happened in a flash.
Before he could even finish his sentence, her immediate reply made President Jeong slump like a rabbit caught by the scruff by a beast.
"No, but even with that busy schedule, it could end early, right? Even if he's busy, he could make time to visit his friend..."
He couldn't let go of his lingering hope.
President Jeong probed wistfully.
Watching him, Yujin flashed a cheerful smile.
"President."
"Oh, are you thinking of reaching out to him?"
"Customer's waiting. Quit playing around and get back to work."
"......"
In front of customers, he had no choice but to play the part of the faithful employee—his crime? Being the boss.
In the end, Yujin watched President Jeong trudge off to brew the ordered coffee, shoulders drooped. She muttered casually,
"President has no patience. It's not even been a week since my partner said he couldn't make it."
Yujin could understand, though.
Ever since Rimon declared he couldn't come.
Customers asked every day when the joint live streams would happen.
From neighborhood shop owners to guild scouts of all kinds, everyone was digging for Rimon's contact info these days.
For President Jeong, the epicenter of that barrage, Rimon's visit was understandably a desperate wish.
Of course, the biggest reason was that President Jeong himself was going through withdrawal from missing Rimon and Yujin's lives so badly it bordered on delirium.
Still, Yujin had no desire—or intention—to indulge him.
"The one who wants to see him most is me."
More than a junkie craving their fix.
More than a lover parted from their sweetheart.
More than a debtor counting down to payday.
Yujin yearned for Rimon with unmatched desperation.
To be precise, it was his music she missed, not just him.
'But I have to hold back.'
The urge to call Rimon right now and beg him to play tugged at her fiercely, but Yujin suppressed it firmly.
Rimon was her partner.
Theirs was an equal bond; she couldn't unilaterally impose her greed on him.
Let alone let some random guy force him to perform.
For someone who loved music—yet pursued its freedom even more—it was utterly unacceptable.
"Hello, Yujin."
That was why.
When the sunglass-wearing man greeted her familiarly, Yujin furrowed her brow without realizing it upon spotting Mun Cheonyeop.
"Mr. Moon, what are you doing here again?"
"Hey now, don't say such hurtful things. This isn't a place I'm barred from, is it?"
"Actually, it is."
Mun Cheonyeop froze solid.
"......Hahaha, Yujin, you sure know how to joke. As if any cafe in the world turns away customers."
Thanks to his thick skin.
Or maybe he'd built up some tolerance.
He recovered quickly from the stiffness and brushed it off shamelessly. Yujin eyed him with half-lidded suspicion.
She wanted nothing more than to kick him out...
"That a threat?"
"Threat? Perish the thought. As a regular here, I'm just offering some friendly advice to be careful."
'Liar.'
Yujin muttered inwardly.
She'd seen President Jeong glare at Mun Cheonyeop before, warning him not to spread rumors about discriminating against customers.
She knew exactly what that "advice" meant.
Her tone turned curt naturally.
"So, your order?"
"I'd like to order a contract with Yujin."
"Not on the menu."
"If it's not there, we can add it, right?"
Mun Cheonyeop grinned slyly.
Even at his brazen attitude, Yujin neither snapped nor showed irritation.
By now, it was too familiar—too routine—to bother getting mad.
"Mr. Moon, how many times have I told you? I'm not interested in signing."
"People can change their minds."
"Not me."
"Come on now."
Yujin's ironclad demeanor made Mun Cheonyeop click his tongue.
It was downright absurd, really.
WIM Guild was an industry titan.
The top entertainment guild in the country, unrivaled domestically—musicians would kill for a contract.
For her to reject an offer from the guild that had even groomed Claire? Any normal musician would've been dressed down long ago.
He'd held back only because he recognized her talent, at least roughly.
But even that patience was wearing thin.
"Looks like Yujin still doesn't grasp what WIM Guild is."
"Do I need to?"
"If you want to survive in this business, yes. WIM is backed by Midas."
Like lecturing an ignorant child.
His words dripped with arrogance masked as kindness as he smirked faintly.
"Know what that means?"
"What?"
"If I wanted, I could make your life very difficult."
No exaggeration there.
Midas.
The guild of the Golden Monarch, the only one among the Ten Lords whose wealth rivaled the Seven Dragon Group.
With absolute power and vast riches in both hands, their influence topped the top ten guilds.
If Midas moved?
No talent or backing could save her.
Burying one musician would be child's play.
Musically.
Socially.
Even physically.
"So quit playing hard to get. Once I'm involved, no other guild will touch you."
Mun Cheonyeop declared triumphantly.
He knew Midas's clout better than anyone. He was certain.
Even the haughty Yujin couldn't reject him this time.
"So?"
"......Pardon?"
"And...?"
She tilted her head, as if not grasping the point.
Repeating the question.
"Whether Mr. Moon's connections reach Midas or can make my life hell, what does that have to do with my singing?"
'Is she really this stupid?'
Mun Cheonyeop lost his composure.
He'd laid out the threat openly on purpose—to secure good terms and break her spirit early.
Yet she wasn't scared or intimidated. She acted like she didn't even understand the threat.
At this point, he genuinely questioned her intelligence.
"If you can, try it."
"T-try... what?"
But the moment he met her eyes.
Mun Cheonyeop forgot every thought.
"Drag in Midas, bring the Golden Monarch himself, or try kidnapping me for a snuff film. I don't care."
Her serene blue eyes sank into stillness.
Clear as a lake, deceptively calm on the surface.
But deep within lurked a savage storm.
"My songs are mine. I'm never giving them up."
How to describe it?
A mother bird guarding her egg?
No, too delicate.
A lioness ready to rip apart anything threatening her cubs.
Or a dragon incinerating all to protect its hoard.
Fierce, intense, lethal.
Her conviction burned so absolute it bordered on madness. That gaze sent chills down Mun Cheonyeop's spine.
'Me? Overpowered?'
He faltered.
He was a high-level player himself.
Backed by WIM Guild, he overwhelmed others—never the reverse.
For an unregistered nobody musician to make him feel 'intimidated,' even briefly?
Unthinkable.
"Heh, you've got spine."
Once disbelief faded.
What remained was the rage and humiliation any self-respecting man feels when dismissed.
"But think it over carefully, Yujin. Rash choices fueled by youthful pride always lead to the worst outcomes."
An ultimatum.
Change your mind now.
Or he'd make good on his earlier words. A blatant threat.
Yujin didn't flinch.
She replied coolly.
"My worst is mine to decide. Not yours, Mr. Moon."
Her response cut sharp as a blade. Mun Cheonyeop scowled.
"You'll regret this."
"Plenty have said the same. Nothing's changed."
"Because they weren't me."
"You think so?"
Mun Cheonyeop exuded menace.
Yujin faced him unflinchingly.
Just as the air thickened with tension unfit for a cafe patron and waitress.
"Director Moon! Threatening Yujin again?"
The man who burst in, spotting their standoff and rushing over.
To Kim Seungjun, Mun Cheonyeop replied innocently.
"Hey, PD Kim. Threatening? Don't say things that could be misunderstood."
"You were glaring at her like you wanted to devour her just now!"
"I had something in my eye, that's all. Don't exaggerate."
"You expect me to believe that?"
"Whatever you say, PD Kim, I was just having a pleasant chat with Yujin as WIM Guild's director."
"Kuh...!"
I'm from WIM Guild.
Don't spread baseless rumors if you don't want trouble.
After subtly threatening Kim Seungjun.
Mun Cheonyeop stood.
"Anyway, I've said my piece. I'll be going now."
Dismissing Kim Seungjun entirely.
Turning away, he stared at Yujin through his sunglasses and murmured lowly.
"Stay safe, Yujin."
"I will, even without your concern, Mr. Moon."
"Heh, good."
A sneer, a scoff, a cold laugh.
Indiscernible, he left only that eerie chuckle behind.
Kim Seungjun hurried to Yujin.
"Yujin, you okay?"
"Why wouldn't I be?"
"Well..."
Kim Seungjun hesitated, recalling all the shady rumors tied to Mun Cheonyeop.
Should he spill—risking a defamation suit—or hold back? He fidgeted.
Yujin chuckled at him.
"Never mind."
"Pardon?"
"I'm fine. No need to worry."
Whatever Mun Cheonyeop was.
Whatever he schemed.
She'd be okay.
With that casual assurance, Yujin handed him the menu and asked bluntly,
"So, your order?"
"......"
"Oh, and no contracts on the menu, by the way?"
For some reason, Kim Seungjun looked deeply regretful at her words. Yujin beamed her perfect customer-service smile.