Ria's Autumn Ballad Surprise
"That song, Dive in Love, between that guy and that girl—it's a great track. Even the Sweet Dream production team approved it right away for the male lead's theme. But the song was just too good, and some shit stuck to it. Kang Do-hyun. That bastard tried to muscle in on my song just to stir things up. It's because I'm still a rookie composer who hasn't blown up yet. He figured he could crush me with his popularity and his agency's name. What if I were a big-shot composer? Or a superstar singer-songwriter? Kang Do-hyun never would've eyed my song. He even tried to play nice with room salon treatment and throwing in a girl, but that just pissed me off more. He thought that cheap gesture was enough to claim my song."
"We're calling off the contract with NBC."
Choi Nahee spoke as she returned to her studio. Oh Minseo stood beside her, looking utterly exhausted. It wasn't just a simple contract cancellation—there must've been backchannel talks going on.
"You okay with that? Didn't you say scoring OSTs was part of your dream too?"
Choi Nahee replied in a calm voice to my question. "I'm a composer too. If some weirdo singer got attached to a track like that, I'd wanna bail just like you. NBC already pulled our song like they owned the place, so I figured this was my chance for payback."
Things hadn't gone smoothly, but Choi Nahee's expression looked brighter than usual. Oh Minseo, on the other hand, was a wreck.
"Sigh. Do you know how much running around your president and I did over this? It was total chaos."
Yeah, that tracks. You can't just say, "I don't like it, so no deal!" with a company like that.
In a computer game, one click and it'd be done...
This wasn't a game. NBC's boneheaded handling killed the OST deal, but they're a major broadcaster. They probably tried to wrap it up amicably. Whatever the outcome, it wasn't my headache.
Anyway, Oh Minseo—looking like she hadn't slept a wink, eyes hollow—cracks open an energy drink and chugs it. Her pose screams pro; she's downed more than a few in her time. Meanwhile, Choi Nahee's skin is glowing like polished porcelain. Even after I railed every hole she had all night, she wakes up looking better than ever. Ironic as hell.
Hmm...
Male semen is good for women's skin, they say. Is it for real?
"What do the Foxy girls say?"
"Eh, they said okay. Ria seemed a bit disappointed, though..."
Choi Nahee cut in on Oh Minseo's words. "That Dive in Love one, and the girl's song—Fool's Love? Right? Titles sorted?"
I nodded since she was looking at me.
"Not yet. But something along those lines."
For reference, Fool's Love was composed for Seo Yerin's theme. Nah, since it's not an OST anymore, just call it the girl's theme.
"Cool. Anyway, we can't just bury these two tracks, right?"
"True, but... got any ideas?"
"Drop a mini-album. Under composer Han Jimin and Ria. Fall's coming up soon anyway?"
It's the season for moody, lyrical vibes—love songs hit hard, especially wistful ones. But that means tweaking Dive in Love a bit. It's got that springtime falling-in-love-again feel.
Choi Nahee eyes me. "Rearranging won't take too long?"
"Hey, Jimin's human, human. You think he's got a magic wand that spits out tracks on command?"
Oh Minseo scoffs like it's ridiculous.
So, click.
Round trip to the Composition Room.
"......"
Oh Minseo had been in the industry since her teens. Not just any rookie—she was one of Korea's first-gen K-pop stars. She knew the music biz inside out. Not a singer-songwriter by trade, but she'd thrown self-composed tracks on a couple albums. Point is, she knew damn well how hard it is to crank out songs.
And yet,
"Made it a bit more melancholic. Gonna rewrite the lyrics too..."
"Want paper right away?"
"In a bit. Fixing the track first."
What the—?
Han Jimin fires up the composing software and Pro Tools at the same time, tweaking the track on the spot. Notes vanish and reappear like he's pulling the original straight from his head—hands flying without hesitation. Oh Minseo stares blankly, then nudges her friend and company lead producer.
"Hey... that actually working right?"
"Looks like it."
"...You got the original, right?"
"Why?"
"In case the rearrange goes south."
Meanwhile, Han Jimin's hands blur with speed. Pure pro craftsmanship.
Exclusive contract draft should be ready soon...
One stamp and done would be ideal, but who knows. Lately, other agencies have been sniffing around Han Jimin. Word travels fast about the genius behind Blush. Plenty of composers knew about this OST fiasco too.
"Gonna wash up quick."
She's been spacing out watching, but fatigue from last night's NBC shenanigans hits. Bolts to the bathroom, splashes cold water on her face. The chill washes away some drowsiness. Dries off, covers with makeup. She's meticulous about her looks at the office on the norm—but with Han Jimin here today? Extra careful. Who knows when he'll get handsy, so mouthwash too.
Checks her schedule on her phone. Plenty of time till three.
"Back at it."
Heads to Choi Nahee's studio, and—
- Your shadow lingers still. I try to erase it somehow, but the longing only grows.
A low, velvety voice croons a sweet melody.
"Huh?"
Dive in Love flashes in Oh Minseo's mind. But no. Totally different vibe. Even the melody's unrelated.
An aching verse of longing follows a delicately carved one.
"Whoa..."
Oh Minseo's jaw drops. The raw ache of missing a lost love pours out in that honeyed voice.
"......"
Oh Minseo loses herself in the song. Then it hits her—this links to the track Ria will sing, Fool's Love. A foolish woman's song: love knocks, but self-doubt makes her fold and retreat.
And this? The man's hurt heart in response to her actions.
Lyrics scream mismatched sad ending...
Sad endings stick harder than happy ones anyway.
"What do you think?"
"Contract now, straight to production."
"Exclusive deal ready?"
"Yeah, draft today. Checking it myself."
Oh Minseo's face hardens.
A song like this in that short time?!
She wouldn't believe it without seeing. A gift from the music gods. Letting talent like that slip? Idiotic.
Foxy wasn't quite Lunatic-level, but they were BOZ's cash cow and a top girl group. After wrapping winter activities, they'd been on hiatus for nearly half a year with zero updates. Fans were bound to explode.
The once-quiet community started simmering, then boiling over by fall. Complaints flooded in, overwhelming the company.
The problem? Fans venting targeted...
Shine Candy was killing it, but same agency, same girl group category. Eighty had fans too, but poking them meant war. Shine Candy? Fresh meat, easy target.
Just as Foxy fans rampaged...
Ria, Foxy's top fan-magnet, drops a single out of nowhere. Normally, you'd tease the process, build hype with fans. Here? Radio silence, then boom.
A few fans fumed at the surprise drop, but most clicked Ria's new track. And...
Fans dove in, tears flowing. In this reversed world, it hit too close—pure empathy. The track quenched all gripes.
As Ria's new single racked up rave reviews, BOZ drops the second song with an MV like they'd planned it.
Foggy autumn cityscape opens. A man walks in cold wind. Flashbacks to ex Ria. He haunts their spots, can't forget. Love twists to dark pain...
The understated croon kills, but the MV guy's looks? Off the charts.
Idol fans collect hot faces domestic and global. But this guy left even them stunned.
It didn't take long to ID the guy. Singer-songwriter Jimin's debut.