Rookie Composer is Too Handsome

Oh Minseo. She liked men. To be precise, she liked handsome men.

Life is full of frustrating, irritating moments. But just looking at a handsome man's face lifted her spirits and melted away her anger. That was the truth of the world as she knew it. Simply gazing at him brought pure happiness.

That was why Oh Minseo had plunged into the entertainment industry as a solo singer.

'I'll make it big and meet a handsome guy!'

She worked her ass off for it. She topped charts in Korea and even cracked the Billboard. Along the way, she dated and broke up with plenty of guys—actors, big-shot businessmen. But none of them stirred her heart. To put it bluntly, none made her want to have his baby.

The handsome ones always had personality flaws, and the nice ones were either ugly or too old. No man had ever given her that true rush of happiness.

Until…

A face ripped straight from a comic book. He just stood there, and a halo seemed to glow around him. BOZ was the kind of company where fresh-faced aspiring idols dropped by all the time, so even decently handsome guys rarely turned heads among the staff. But this? The entire office froze. Even Oh Minseo fell at first sight.

So…

She acted like a fool, not even worth her age. Habitual flirting wasn't enough—she bordered on harassment. She snapped out of it only after a brutal scolding from the CEO sis. But by then, the boy named Han Jimin had left BOZ. Overwhelmed by women's advances.

She felt guilty. Like her ugly desires had crushed his dreams. She came to her senses too late, searched for him to apologize and convince him to stay. But he was gone.

She'd been living with that guilt in the corner of her heart.

Until now.

"Uh, wha…?"

Oh Minseo's mind went blank white as she sat across from the composer who'd come about the Shine Candy contract. Even without much upkeep, his refined features were impossible to look away from.

She wasn't the only one.

"…Gulp."

"……."

The other Shine Candy members stole glances at the boy—no, the young man he'd become.

"Jimin. It's Jimin, right?"

Why's he here? How? The guy who hated all the excessive female attention and quit the industry. Cut off contact, changed addresses—we couldn't even find him. With looks like that, rumors should've spread everywhere, but somehow he went full hermit. I thought we'd forgotten him…

"Hello, Executive Director."

She never dreamed he'd appear right in front of her again.

* * *

Her wide eyes showed genuine shock.

I sneak a peek at her favorability window and nearly yelp.

'83?'

Do handsome looks hit older women harder? Her affection for me is no joke. Thinking back to how she relentlessly hit on me—a kid over a dozen years younger—yeah, it makes sense.

I check her inner thoughts too.

Her face stays nearly expressionless, but her thoughts flip at lightning speed. Impressive. And she manages her expressions seamlessly mid-stream—that's probably what it takes to succeed in entertainment.

"I had no idea Jimin was the one behind this song."

"I studied composition after leaving the company."

"R-really? Good for you. So, with Nayun…"

"We got close during trainee days, so I reached out personally."

Not exactly true, but whatever. Can't exactly say we're bed buddies, right?

"I made the song and wanted some feedback. But…"

I trail off, eyeing Oh Minseo. She blinks at my gaze, then flashes a soft smile.

"Nayun didn't do anything wrong. I heard your song ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠by chance and was blown away. It's that good."

"Good enough to sign a contract?"

"Yep."

A former Billboard climber like her says it's solid. Sure, it needs tweaks, but pros can handle that. The song itself is flawless. Just needs fitting to Shine Candy's concept and vibe.

"Shall we give it a listen first?"

A gentle electronic chord lays down a mellow intro, hooking the ears and setting the mood. Then rhythmic kicks kick in, transforming it into an upbeat K-pop banger. The blend is artistic—Shine Candy members start tapping their feet unconsciously.

The humming begins.

"…Ah."

Choi Yunji lets out a gasp at the pleasant falsetto, then slaps a hand over her mouth in realization.

Three minutes fly by. As the fantastical melody fades, the members exhale in unison. They've heard it plenty, but it still hits perfectly. Their eyes burn with desire for the track.

Oh Minseo thinks the same. This song's a hit. Even with mediocre singers, it'll smash averages.

'Wanna give it to Foxy or Eighty, but…'

No can do. Listening closely, it's clear: this song was made for Shine Candy. No need for insane vocals or flashy rhythms—just harmonious layering.

'Shine Candy can handle that level.'

If they were talentless gold-diggers, she'd pass it elsewhere. But these debuted girls have basics down. Intense practice will get them there. She'll make sure of it.

"It's a great song. So…"

Oh Minseo glances at Kim Nayun. The members bow and file out.

"Not kicking them out weirdly. Money talk feels off with them around, right?"

She winks at me, then startles and bows her head. Flirting so natural she catches herself late.

"Anyway, from ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠our side…"

I casually mention the song fee. A-grade track? It's steeper than expected. Rookies get lowballed since royalties are the real cash, but this is generous.

'Oh Minseo pulled strings?'

With her favorability, likely. Higher than Jeong Hye-ryeong, who became a housewife after two days.

"Hmm…"

Time to push further. Might as well make Shine Candy a success with my skills. Faster path to dominating this world.

"Could I watch the song production sometime?"

"Huh?"

She tilts her head, processing.

"You wanna produce Shine Candy?"

"That'd be ideal… but I haven't shown enough."

She nods right away. Guess not quite.

Then prove it.

"I'm learning composition too, so I'd love to observe other producers and learn."

"…Ah."

She ponders, then nods.

"That's easy. Remember Producer Choi Nahee? In-house here?"

"…Yes."

No clue. But faking it.

Choi Nahee. Google later.

"Lately, 'composer idols' are trending—trainees learning it everywhere. She's into mentoring. Won't mind you shadowing."

Perfect.

My producer skills range A to S.

'Never tried, but…'

Once I get the feel and skills activate, shocking one in-house composer? Easy. Especially with low expectations.

Prove bit by bit.

"Song fee hits your account by evening."

"Fast."

"It's your song, Jimin~"

She beams, eyes crinkling. Flirting on autopilot. Tempted to tease.

"N-not like that! You were a BOZ trainee, so…"

Her belated ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠self-reproach is cute.

Contract done, quick re-greetings with Shine Candy. Venue: Practice Room 4. Familiar from memories.

Oh Minseo skipped for work. Nominal exec, but busy role.

"Long time no see, everyone."

"…Yes, sunbae."

A tall cat-eyed beauty bows deeply with her reply. Oh Jiyeon, sub-vocal. Killer figure overshadows her looks—Western bombshell level. Light clothes mean mid-practice.

"I didn't even debut—sunbae?"

"We trained together."

A mid-length hair beauty clings lightly, nudging my arm. Choi Yunji, visual rep. BOZ's pretty girl factory, and she's top-tier—eyes can't help wandering.

'Even as trainee, she had that aura.'

Not my memory, but fragments linger.

Watching Yunji…

"Choi Yunji. Oppa—no, sunbae hates that."

Leader and bedmate Nayun twitches her brow. I chuckle. Sucked and bitten all yesterday? Her jealous pout is adorable.