Nothing Is Scarier Than a Fool With Conviction
Ryu Won offered a polite bow. "Thank you for your hard work."
With that, he gathered his guitar and stepped out of the exam room.
The moment he left, the other teachers—everyone except Shin Yu-ra—began to speak up.
"Goldfish's Dream, huh… Of all the songs I've heard lately, that one felt the most original and genuinely good. It just had that pure student vibe to it, you know?"
"But he's no ordinary student. Personally, if that track were properly arranged, I wouldn't hesitate to release it as a single."
"Right? His fundamentals looked solid, and the guitar performance was excellent."
"Exactly. There wasn't a single point to deduct. If anything, I wanted to give him extra credit."
The teachers' reactions were overwhelmingly positive.
In other words, the song Ryu Won had just performed had earned a perfect score.
But they had no idea.
They didn't know that the track they'd praised so highly had been written in just fifteen minutes.
"I really wanted to ask if he had another piece to share, but I barely managed to hold back."
In the midst of that warm atmosphere, Shin Yu-ra, seated at the center of the examiners, spoke with a faint smile.
The other teachers looked slightly startled. In all the years they'd worked together, none of them had ever seen that gentle expression on her face before.
She had even asked the examinee a question related to an entertainment agency earlier.
"Are you thinking of linking that student Ryu Won with Flow Entertainment?"
"Yes. The moment he enrolls, I plan to make him an offer. I've suddenly become very eager to give that boy wings."
"Haha. Isn't that a bit hasty? Maybe we should observe him a little longer."
"…Perhaps."
But what if someone else snatched him away? Would she take responsibility then?
Shin Yu-ra had sensed a rare possibility in the student named Ryu Won.
As a producer, she simply didn't want to let that possibility slip away.
And so…
"Wow, noona. How long has it been?"
That same day, Shin Yu-ra visited a well-known agency to speak with someone.
Despite her sudden appearance, the CEO greeted her warmly.
Kang Beom-jun.
By coincidence, the two had been active during overlapping periods and crossed paths often, so they were surprisingly close.
For reference, Kang Beom-jun was thirty-six and Shin Yu-ra was thirty-seven—one year his senior.
"It's been nearly three years. Looks like business is booming, though. I could smell the money from the lobby."
"Haha. Compared to Flow Entertainment—one of the big three—we still have a long way to go."
"The CEO of a company that might soon turn the big three into the big four is acting awfully humble."
"Well… I hope that day comes sooner rather than later. Oh, and I heard the news. You're serving as a temporary instructor at Seolhwa Arts High School…"
"That's right. I've fallen into a slump recently."
Kang Beom-jun's eyes widened at her blunt admission.
It wasn't easy for someone in a slump to openly say they were in a slump.
It meant acknowledging their own shortcomings.
All the more so for a famous figure like Shin Yu-ra, who had achieved massive commercial success.
"All I can say is, hang in there."
"I don't need encouragement. Just do me one favor instead."
"A favor?"
"No. It's not a favor—it's a warning."
"Pardon?"
"You know a kid named Ryu Won? He's Ryu Se-a's younger brother."
Kang Beom-jun's face clouded with confusion at her question.
How could he not know that name?
The very person who had made RT Entertainment what it was today.
But why was she bringing him up now, of all times?
And then came Shin Yu-ra's declaration.
"I've already claimed that boy, so don't even think about laying a hand on him."
"Cough—!"
Kang Beom-jun ended up spitting out the coffee he'd been drinking.
Watching him, Shin Yu-ra frowned and continued.
"Ugh, that's disgusting. Are you throwing coffee away now instead of drinking it?"
"N-no! But why the sudden interest in him?"
"You don't need to know. I've given you the warning, that's all."
She had simply reached one conclusion.
She wanted to watch the growth of a certain genius from right beside him.
Wouldn't that be far more rewarding and interesting than struggling to overcome her slump?
Therefore, from her perspective, RT Entertainment was the one place she had to keep in check above all others.
"Kang Beom-jun, you're practically a student killer, aren't you?"
"…?"
A gathering place for young talent.
That was how Kang Beom-jun himself had once described RT Entertainment.
Since every artist under his label was indeed a student, he had nothing to say in return.
"And since you already have Haon of all people, there's no reason for you to covet anyone on that side, is there?"
"…I understand what you're saying. In return, please respect that student Ryu Won's own wishes."
"Don't worry. The name Flow Entertainment is tempting enough on its own."
With those words, the brief meeting with Shin Yu-ra came to an end.
Left alone in his office, Kang Beom-jun stared up at the ceiling.
"So he captured Shin Yu-ra's ear with a song he made for fun."
He let out a deep sigh and muttered to himself.
The situation was easy enough to picture.
She had been the examiner for the composition practical exam, and the boy had taken his test there today.
The moment she heard his original composition, she'd been completely hooked.
"I even adjusted it to fit high-school level, so I can't exactly complain…"
Kang Beom-jun scratched his head.
No matter how deep her slump, Shin Yu-ra's ears wouldn't fail her.
She was, after all, considered a founding contributor to Flow Entertainment—one of the current big three. Who would dare question her judgment?
In that sense, even Kang Beom-jun had to admit that Goldfish's Dream was an undeniably charming piece.
─A sound source? This song isn't at that level.
Though the person who actually created it clearly didn't think so.
Still, one thing she said kept bothering him.
The part about how anyone would be tempted by Flow Entertainment.
"You're completely off the mark."
Kang Beom-jun gave a small, knowing smile.
She could say that with such confidence only because she hadn't realized that Haon and Ryu Won were the same person.
Shin Yu-ra still had no idea.
Just how insane a composer Ryu Won truly was…
"There's nothing scarier than a fool with conviction."
Would the name value of an agency mean anything to a composer like him?
Money? Fame? None of that interested him in the slightest.
The one and only thing he cared about—enough to throw away even his brilliant talent—was a single person.
Baek Yerin.
"In that sense, we just need to hold on to Yerin at all costs."
Because the place where that girl stood was exactly where Ryu Won would be.
While the composition department was buzzing with talk of Ryu Won, the vocal department was still dominated by one particular girl's name.
"Finally, the next one."
"I couldn't sleep last night from the anticipation. Kim Tae-hwan was incredible yesterday, but this one is bound to be on another level."
"Let's try not to be too biased, though."
At the department head's words, the other two teachers nodded.
"Next student, please come in."
At the department head's cue, the exam room door opened cautiously. Through it stepped a girl in her school uniform.
One of the teachers seated beside the head unconsciously let out a soft sigh.
He had simply been struck by her appearance.
Indeed, her visuals had played a significant role in her rise to fame.
A slender figure, tall stature that created beautiful proportions, and a lovely face where cuteness and beauty coexisted perfectly.
But the teachers present as examiners knew the truth.
The real charm of the girl who radiated an extraordinary aura wasn't her looks—it was her overwhelming vocal talent.
Baek Yerin, standing before the examiners, flashed a bright smile and greeted them first.
"Hello!"
"Nice to meet you. I'd love to chat with you, Yerin, but our time is limited. What song will you be performing today?"
In the vocal major, students could sing any song they wanted during the practical exam, regardless of genre.
They simply had to choose the piece they were most confident in. The test was meant to reveal whether they understood their own musical appeal.
But because they chose the song themselves, the examiners had to be strict—not only about skill, but also attitude and posture.
That was why Baek Yerin had agonized over her choice.
What song would be the right one for the practical exam?
She had come to this entrance exam for Seolhwa Arts High School determined to receive the highest score by a landslide.
There was no special reason.
At some point, she had simply made up her mind.
She would always be the best and shine as brightly as possible—the way that person wanted.
Because standing beside him meant exactly that.
So there was only one song that came to mind.
"I'll be singing Rewind."
If only it had been a dream, how wonderful it would have been.
Your face is still so vivid in my mind.
Because I want to see your smile once more,
I wish I could turn back time.
Rewind.
The signature song of Baek Yerin, currently the most recognized singer in the industry, and the most meaningful track to the person constantly on her mind.
The moment the title left her lips, the examiners' expressions brightened instantly.
There was a saying in vocal entrance exams: avoid songs that had been trending that year if possible.
Because you would inevitably be compared to the original artist.
Of course, some students still challenged it with confidence, but…
'They usually end up with lower scores.'
So what would happen if the original artist herself performed her own song during the entrance exam?
While the department head was pondering that, Baek Yerin slowly steadied her breathing.
Then, matching the familiar accompaniment that filled the exam room, she began to sing.
The department head had spent more than ten years listening to examinees from this very seat.
He had naturally encountered many students talented enough to surprise him.
After all, several active singers from Seolhwa Arts High School were working in the industry right now.
…But this.
Baek Yerin was on an entirely different level.
Could a mere sixteen-year-old student convey emotions this deep and heavy through song?
It was almost difficult to listen to.
Yet Rewind was a song that stirred those very emotions even more intensely, and in the end, only hope remained.
That was why once you started listening, you couldn't stop.
The only moment the song could end was when Baek Yerin's performance finally concluded.
'Good grief…'
Who was supposed to be evaluating whom here?
The department head let out a helpless chuckle and settled into full appreciation mode.
The score for this performance had clearly already been decided.
Once Baek Yerin's song came to an end…
"Why did you choose to apply to Seolhwa Arts High School?"
The department head asked her carefully.
Baek Yerin thought for a moment, then gave a bright smile and answered.
"Because I think it'll make me happy."
School life with the person she liked?
Could there possibly be a happier moment for the current Baek Yerin?
But the department head didn't understand the true meaning behind her words.
She had omitted the subject and several other key words.
"I… see. How wonderful."
He interpreted it as "Because it's the best arts high school, attending it would make me happy!" and, without hesitation, gave her a perfect score for attitude as well.