The Rookie Composer is Too Handsome
"Hoo... Let's try it again."
The gloomy glasses girl lowers her voice, and the atmosphere turns downright murderous. You can practically see the kids in the recording booth shivering. Jiyeon, the oldest but mentally the frailest, already has red-rimmed eyes.
But Choi Nahee has no intention of offering them kind words.
'They need to do even better than this.'
Shine Candy, BOZ's sore spot. A failed idol group once already needs far more preparation to spread their wings again.
'Fortunately, the song is fantastic.'
But to blow up with this track? They had to sing at least twice as well as they were now. They couldn't let the song's quality overshadow them—they needed to elevate their own skills to match its level.
Maybe it was rust from the long hiatus, but Shine Candy wasn't meeting her high standards.
"Mm..."
Choi Nahee's fingers tap sharply on the console. It was her habit when she wasn't satisfied with a take.
'If it's like this, maybe...'
Her eyes shift to the three members in the booth. Sorry to say it to the Shine Candy girls, but pushing back the recording schedule might be better.
Just as she's about to speak up—
"Mind if I give it a shot?"
"You?"
The guy who'd been quietly watching from the corner, careful not to interrupt, casually raises his hand.
"Mm."
A groan slips out unbidden. It's surreal. A person straight out of a comic book is alive and moving.
'He's the one who made this song, right?'
With a face like that, he could debut as an actor tomorrow, yet he's a composer? 'Did he pick the wrong career?'
Of course, given the caliber of his self-composed track, he clearly had insane talent there too. But wasting that face and physique? It was practically a national crime.
"You know how?"
"Yeah."
He seems confident. A handsome guy with that swagger? Irresistibly charming. He really should be an actor, not a composer.
'He said he wants to learn producing, right?'
Anyway, with Oh Minseo's recommendation in mind, Choi Nahee nods and steps aside. She'd watch him fiddle around, point out the flaws, and get friendly that way.
If a guy like that joined the company as a producer? The drab office vibe would brighten up—no, she'd actually look forward to coming to work every day.
As Han Jimin settles in front of the console and starts directing—
"...My god."
Choi Nahee's jaw drops in real time.
* * *
"Put a bit more bubbly energy into that part."
The recording booth's atmosphere shifts on the spot.
"Perfect, just like that."
His hands fly across the controls, steadily elevating the track's polish. The messy ingredients start falling into place one by one.
"Jiyeon, drop half a tone there. Yeah."
The harmonies blend seamlessly.
"This solo isn't the highlight. No need to show off your vocals. Focus on matching the vibe—infuse some cuteness into your voice. Melt the guys listening."
The solo's charm starts to shine.
And that's not all.
"No, no—that's not cute, that's seductive."
"I-is it? Was that wrong?"
"Not sexy—cute. Sing it like you want my approval."
"Ah..."
Magically, every pointer he gives sharpens the song's mood, refines the girls' voices. They're grasping the track's essence, catching the feel. Shine Candy's charms solidify, their stiff faces coming alive. Each time, Jimin's hands dart across the console, unwilling to miss a moment of their growth.
"......"
Choi Nahee watches it all with wide-eyed wonder.
How is that even possible?
She'd thought he was just a rookie composer here to learn producing. Wrong. This handsome young genius was already a full-fledged producer.
One better than her.
'Who the hell did they bring in?'
As a BOZ exclusive, Choi Nahee was well-known among producers. She'd handled main titles for the company's flagships, Foxy and Eighty. Her skills were proven.
But watching Han Jimin produce Shine Candy? She had to admit she couldn't match that.
'No one would believe this.'
What would Jessica—no, Oh Minseo—say if she told her?
The session continues. The song evolves in real time, arrangements adjusting on the fly. Recordings wrap up one after another.
Just as it finishes, a figure slips into the studio. Oh Minseo, tipped off by Choi Nahee.
Seeing the girls file out, Oh Minseo asks casually,
"Going well?"
"Perfect timing. We just wrapped."
"Already?"
Oh Minseo blinks at Choi Nahee's words. Shine Candy started recording at lunch. Now it was evening—six or seven hours later—but recordings usually dragged on. Even minor tweaks could transform a track's quality, often requiring all-nighters.
"What..."
Choi Nahee shrugs toward Jimin.
"Didn't need me at all."
Truth was, Jimin handled it from A to Z. No room for her to jump in. He was that good.
"R-really? Let's hear it then."
At Oh Minseo's cue, Shine Candy's song plays.
Title: Blush.
A track capturing girls who can't hide their crushes, blushing helplessly.
It opens with Jiyeon. Her dainty, fragile tone meshes with the sensual beat and sounds, setting the mood, then hands off to main vocal Kim Nayun for explosive synergy.
"...Whoa."
Oh Minseo nods instinctively, hooked from the start. The song was solid. Way better than the guide vocal.
The addictive chorus has her tapping along unconsciously.
This could hit big.
That's what Oh Minseo felt. As the track ends, she claps hard without thinking.
Shine Candy, hearing the finished product for the first time, hugs and tears up.
The payoff for their tough years.
"Not bad? All done?"
"Mastering left."
"...Huh?"
Even raw, it sounds complete. More shocking: a twenty-year-old guy pulled it off.
Seeing the emotion in the booth, Jimin clenches his fist out of sight.
S-rank skills were cheat-tier, as expected. A few snags mid-way, but they nailed a banger.
'A+ grade, no less.'
Evaluation: A+
Mastering could bump the eval higher.
"Where'd you find this kid? If he takes my job, I'm in trouble..."
"What are you saying? No one in the company matches Producer Choi Nahee's skill."
Oh Minseo and Choi Nahee. Same age bracket? They seemed close.
How close?...
"Kyaa!"
"......"
Very touchy-feely. Oh Minseo hugs Choi Nahee from behind, kneading her massive breasts like dough.
Then our eyes meet.
"......"
Her head drops. You can almost hear rusty hinges creaking in her throat.
Choi Nahee squeezes her eyes shut.
"Didn't see a thing."
"......"
"......"
Should've kept quiet? Oh Minseo and Choi Nahee's faces explode red.
* * *
The awkward air clears. Oh Minseo clears her throat and approaches me. Choi Nahee fled earlier. So flustered she forgot the glasses she lent me. I'll return them next time.
"So mastering's all that's left? Recording's fully done?"
"Probably... but."
I glance at Shine Candy, then back to Oh Minseo.
"Redoing the recording once more might be good."
"Again?"
She's shocked. Must've loved the track that much. Me too.
Blush. My first original. System eval: A+.
Smart promo gets it top 10 easy, top 5 possible. So? I want more.
Boost Shine Candy's skills a notch? Amp their charm? Full mix and master?
"Might get an even prettier song."
Could hit S-rank. Better rewards too.
'Current confirmed reward: IP Shop unlock + 2500 IP.'
From clearing sudden quests before, that's roughly top 100 chart entry pay.
Top 10? Double rewards. No.1? At least 10k IP.
'Limited ways to farm IP.'
No cash shop here. Premium currency like IP? Squeeze every chance.
"Ahh, yeah. Prettier song... Jimin's more of a perfectionist than I thought."
Oh Minseo smiles faintly, nodding. She misread my greed for higher grades as perfectionism. No need to correct—system talk? She'd never buy it.
"Gotta drill the girls hard."
"They've got today's work to build on. They'll improve fast."
I stand. It's late. Time to head home.
As I prep to leave, Shine Candy rushes over, startled.
"A-already leaving?"
"Already? It's almost night."
"Then dinner at least! We starved together since lunch!"
"...We ate lunch."
"Anyway!"
Yunji and Jiyeon cling to my arms. One session, and I'm comfy? Leader Nayun gazes at me with sparkling cat-like eyes from a movie.
Pondering, Oh Minseo steps up.
"Great song secured, vocals nailed. Unnie's treating."
"Waaaah!!!"
She flashes her card; cheers shake the studio.
"You're coming too, right?"
"...If you're buying."
Refuse now? I'd look like a weirdo with no social skills.
We head to a swanky restaurant. Her go-to sushi spot.
"Eat up. Unnie's loaded."
"Waaaah!!!"
I dig in too. Rich people's sushi looks premium from the sheen alone.
"Drink?"
"Of course."
Soju and beer flow. Laughter, chatter... then I snap to.
"Slurp, smack."
In the restaurant bathroom, Kim Nayun sucking my dick.
What? This situation?