Chapter 60
Chapter 60
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Translator: uly
Chapter: 060
Chapter Title: Many Hands Make Light Work (1)
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There was no need to overthink it. Of course, the sound quality had taken a hit in the process, but that went without saying.
“There’s nothing for me to touch up here. This is beyond my level. It’s already a finished track as is. I think it could dominate the charts if we released it like this. The melody’s doing all the heavy lifting. As long as the lyrics don’t suck, it’s golden. The melody’s got it by the throat and it’s carrying the whole thing.”
It was higher praise than expected. Topped off with an extra spoonful of embarrassingly excessive flattery.
“Didn’t I tell you, Yeonwoo? I said it’d get rave reviews.”
Kwon Sung-hyun, leaning back casually in his chair off to the side, flashed a grin.
“I thought you might be a bit biased, Mr. Kwon…”
Kwon Sung-hyun had actually been the first to hear the demo. He’d given an instant thumbs-up without a second thought. Yeonwoo hadn’t been fully convinced, so they’d called in Lee Joo-ha.
“But I was right in the end, wasn’t I?”
The smug smile on his face was annoying at first, but it quickly faded. Sure, the flattery was cringeworthy, but Lee Joo-ha’s feedback had been genuinely helpful.
“Still, the guy’s a bit airheaded, but he’s got a good ear and solid skills.”
“What’s that supposed to mean, Kwon? You calling me dumb?”
“Oh. Good to know you’ve got the brains for that much.”
“Damn. You’re really treating me like shit here? I told you not to say it. Hey, Yeonwoo. There’s one regrettable thing, though.”
“Something regrettable?”
“The melody, flow, storytelling, emotional impact—all spot-on!”
“……?”
“The sound quality’s the issue.”
“Ah.”
“Everything else is perfect! Flawless!”
Clap clap. Lee Joo-ha solemnly applauded.
“But Kwon, if Yeonwoo’s this much of a genius, why’d you even call me? Sure, my ears are feasting after so long, but… are you trying to crush my spirit? Or kindly telling me to head back to Berkeley and reignite my passion?”
“Tch. I thought your brain worked for a second there. My mistake.”
“Wow. I’m holding back for Yeonwoo’s sake. So, seriously, why’d you call me?”
“Sound quality issue, right?”
“Yeah. You know I don’t say stuff like this lightly. Even I…”
“Got that high pride of yours.”
“My high pride? No! It’s called self-respect!”
Lee Joo-ha, who’d unwittingly mimicked Kwon Sung-hyun, suddenly bristled. Fortunately, he quickly regained his composure and continued.
“Anyway! Even with that crap sound quality, the completion and artistry didn’t suffer at all. It’s the real deal.”
Crap… The word scratched at him a bit, but whatever.
“So, cover up that sound quality for him.”
“Huh? Me?”
“Who else am I gonna ask? Can’t trust anyone else.”
“Whoa. Kwon, you on death’s door or something? Suddenly all nice? Yeonwoo, what’d he eat today?”
“No idea.”
Yeonwoo shrugged. Kwon Sung-hyun chuckled dryly.
“Can’t stick anything less than the best on Yeonwoo.”
“Whoa. Wooow. You’re really Kwon Sung-hyun?”
“Yeah.”
“You, calling me the best out of your own mouth… Gotta see it to believe it…”
Lee Joo-ha flexed his bulging biceps and clasped his hands in front shyly. Kwon Sung-hyun and Yeonwoo’s faces soured at the overly coy gesture.
“Yeah. Ahem. This body of mine is pretty top-tier! You nailed it! But Yeonwoo’s not just doing this one track, right? I can fix this one, but what about the future?”
“So teach him the method?”
“For real? All that stuff?”
Lee Joo-ha gawked and pointed at the studio gear.
“Hey, you know how long it takes to teach all that and get proficient? Even mastering basic techniques is alien for a total newbie, and making full tracks fluently? Takes forever.”
“So?”
“What a waste of time! Not just time—total waste of manpower too. In the time Yeonwoo spends learning that, he could crank out killer melodies instead. Hell, just give him the main stream stuff, and other engineers can handle the technical bits.”
“Hmm.”
“The key is the theme and emotional arc in the song. Engineers can’t touch that. That’s why Yeonwoo’s a genius. Bluntly, you could use all that gear to spit out decent notes. But will the song succeed? Nah. That’s a whole other issue.”
“So better to use people than have Yeonwoo handle it all himself?”
“Exactly! Think of it like dictation. Humanity’s better served if he spends that time making gems instead!”
It felt like the conversation was ballooning into something grandiose. The speaker was dead serious, which was the problem.
“Kwon, what good’s money if you don’t spend it right? You’re incompetent. Tsk tsk.”
“Shut it.”
“For someone like Yeonwoo, time is gold. You snagged him but can’t even support him properly. If you’re gonna waste him like that, hand him over to me!”
“…Joo-ha. Got a lot of free time lately?”
A picture-perfect smile spread across Kwon Sung-hyun’s face. Leaning back on the plush, luxurious sofa with legs crossed, he looked magazine-cover ready. But the recipient didn’t seem to appreciate it.
“Sorry.”
Lee Joo-ha tucked tail immediately.
“Not a bad idea, actually.”
“Right…?”
“Music’s a blind spot for me, yeah.”
“Huh? You’re gonna…?”
Kwon Sung-hyun just grinned instead of answering. Lee Joo-ha flinched again, no surprise there.
“Guess I need to find someone. Someone solid for Yeonwoo’s side—no funny business…”
“Yeah. Gotta check references tight. Wouldn’t want some weirdo swiping Yeonwoo’s tracks.”
“Swiping Yeonwoo’s songs?”
“Acting or voice can’t be stolen, but songs? Different story. You can correct the facts, sue, go to court—but it’s a hassle. Better safe than sorry.”
There were ways to reclaim stolen song copyrights. It wasn’t like the old days of paper scores; plenty of digital evidence. The issue was the hassle, not impossibility.
“Gotta pick carefully.”
Lee Joo-ha’s thick shoulders shivered at Kwon Sung-hyun’s mutter.
“Right, but why’s it giving me chills?”
“Finally useful after ages, Joo-ha.”
“…That a compliment?”
Watching the two bicker, Yeonwoo thought.
‘They really get along. Friends, huh?’
Same thought as last time, resurfacing anew. Telling them would make them jump, but Yeonwoo brushed it off casually.
***
“Hey, Yeonwoo. What about radio?”
“Radio?”
“Yeah. I mentioned it on KakaoTalk. Figured I’d ask again since we’re meeting.”
Messages had poured in upon waking, like that wistful 2 a.m. ‘You asleep…?’, hazy now after mental deletion.
“Our writer noona won’t kill you or anything, so don’t worry.”
[Tsk tsk. She might.]
“Ow! A sparrow pecked my head!”
[Big bear whining.]
Even under Dongja-ryeong’s nagging, Lee Joo-ha held firm.
“Our radio’s super chill. PD bro and writer noona are great. She’s your fan, so she’ll hype whatever you do.”
She sure didn’t go easy on him. Lee Joo-ha grumbled.
“Isn’t that risky? What if we cause a broadcast accident?”
“They’d love a repeat of last time. Hell, they’re hoping for it. Listeners adore you too. Just showing up is thanks enough. Your ‘drug voice’ blew up.”
An embarrassing term popped out of nowhere.
“Not some cheesy testimonial… Tons begging to bring you back. Listener board was chaos. Check this.”
- Fell asleep to his voice.
- His goodnight made time fly to morning.
-Time vanished;;
-Is there… drugs in the airwaves…? Why’s it morning already…?
Must’ve been memorable. He kindly showed the board on his phone, ranting away. A hand suddenly cut in.
“Yeonwoo, stay away from this guy. It’s contagious.”
“…Kwon, you treating me like a germ?”
“You are. Can’t have your stupidity infecting Yeonwoo—that’d be a huge loss.”
“Wow. Look at him discriminating.”
‘Radio, huh.’
It hadn’t been bad last time. Per Lee Joo-ha, solid core listeners meant decent Harvestable Lifespan yield.
‘Not a bad idea?’
Plus the A-grade ability from him. Mixing it with Spiritual Power—curious how potent. Wondering about audio-only impact too.
‘Gotta make use of the composing skill.’
He’d tested it in Europe on vacation, but radio could max pure audio influence. Worth trying.
“Buddy, really no? Just one month! I think we can swing it. Pretty please?”
“Got it.”
“Don’t say that—think again… Huh…?”
Lee Joo-ha, groveling like he’d grab pants legs, froze.
“You said yes?”
“Yeah.”
“Gasp! No takebacks? No backing out? Telling writer noona now!”
“Go ahead.”
Lee Joo-ha whipped out his phone lightning-fast.
“Noona! That dongsaeng I mentioned. He’s in!”
[email protected]($***)%***%***!
“Ow, my eardrums. Can’t ruin my delicate ears?”
[email protected]#@$***)!
The big bear clutching a tiny phone and grunting through the call was quite the sight. Wonder how it mismatched so perfectly.
“You really doing radio?”
“Seems fine. Could be fun.”
Freedom—one of Lee Joo-ha’s pitches.
“What about drama? Or CF shoots? Might be more efficient than radio. Got some synopses.”
“Not great ones.”
If any were good, sharp-eyed Kwon Sung-hyun wouldn’t sit idle.
“Remember what I said?”
Kwon Sung-hyun’s eyes widened briefly in surprise, then softened.
“Feels good. That you remembered.”
He smiled, eyes crinkling charmingly.
“…Anyway. Radio interests me more now.”
Showing face on TV might be better long-term. But that was Kwon Sung-hyun’s view.
“No drive for no-vision projects. Bit roles or supporting at best.”
Face time helps, but not for testing ‘influence’. What could a minor role do? Better test freely elsewhere.
“You could lead any, Yeonwoo. But you’re right—skip no-vision stuff. Manage filmography from now… But.”
Kwon Sung-hyun paused.
“…You’re not ditching that side entirely, right?”
“Nope.”
“Good. Radio might suit better than music…”
“……?”
Kwon Sung-hyun muttered something cryptic. Yeonwoo’s curiosity was simple: audio media limits. Not ditching screens entirely.
‘Might as well do everything possible.’
Many hands make light work. The ancients nailed it.
“Yeonwoo! Noona wants you now. Got time?”
The big bear’s eyes sparkled.