Chapter 177

Chapter 177

Raise Three Idols Well And They’ll Launch a Confession Attack.

Episode 177: Triggered

As a result of working busily for the new album’s title, the completed sample was played in front of the music team.

Amid a strange tension, Isabella, Oh Jinwoo, and Oh James began to give their evaluations after listening.

“It’s definitely good. When James was helping in the early stages, I thought it felt a bit raw, but now I don’t feel any amateurish traits. Your skills have really improved.”

“It’s not bad, but I’d handle the mixing, and we should put our names together…”

“Jinwoo, there’s no one left to catch that nonsense now, so don’t go overboard.”

“It’s not nonsense, I’m just thinking about Team Leader Seon…”

“…”

“…I’m sorry.”

From their responses, it seemed that the quality was satisfactory.

“How did you, Composer Oh James, feel about it?”

“…”

However, James’s reaction seemed odd.

“It’s fine. Your skills have definitely improved, but…”

He scratched his head and then opened his mouth.

“Hm… well, I think it’s too static, too conventional… this isn’t a compliment.”

Though I felt disappointed, I accepted his opinion.

“Understood. I’ll enhance the quality and improve it before I come back to you.”

“No, don’t do that. The issue isn’t the quality.”

“Then what part is the problem?”

Oh James, massaging his temples, pondered and then reluctantly spoke.

“A composer needs to create art. They must be the protagonist with the mindset of showing their unique color to the world. All the arrangements and compositions you’ve shown so far have carried that feeling strongly. The reason I became a fan of your work, Team Leader Seon, is that beyond the artist singing the song, the name Seon Taeyang, that presence, was unmistakably clear. But now, it’s not like that.”

Isabella listened to the draft sample I made once more and then spoke.

“James, I think it sounds good, but aren’t you being a bit too emotional in your critique? Honestly, I’m a bit surprised, I agreed that Team Leader Seon has talent, but I didn’t expect him to get to this level of completion so quickly. This is no joke, it’s title-worthy quality. That much is true.”

“You can’t call it complete just by following the same narrative as others. It has to be unique. That’s the responsibility of someone called a genius.”

“Then, you should point out what needs to be improved and tell me to fix that. Isn’t that a bit too abstract as advice?”

“That’s something I can’t advise on. It’s only something Team Leader Seon can do.”

Isabella sighed at Oh James’s words and spoke.

“Do you know sometimes you sound irresponsible? Right now, the quality of the song Team Leader Seon made is undeniably the best. But if you’re going to apply your standards, you need to give precise feedback.”

Oh James shook his head in front of Isabella and spoke firmly, as if there was no room for compromise.

“If I point something out here, it’ll become Oh James’s song. What I want to hear is Seon Taeyang’s song.”

“So you’re saying to fix something you can’t even identify, make it different from others, yet still keep the quality at the highest level?”

“That’s a bit of a petty way to put it, but it’s not wrong.”

“You really…”

I stopped Isabella, who was about to speak with an angry expression, as her face turned red.

“Please hold on. Isabella, calm down. I appreciate your intentions, but I have no desire to compromise on the quality issue. We still have time. I’ll either improve this one, or prepare a new song.”

“Do you think that will be okay?”

Actually, it wasn’t that okay.

This was the result of squeezing out whatever time I had left, and since the deadlines were approaching, I didn’t have much time left to maintain the current pace.

I might have to take a song off the album.

Still, I said…

“It’s fine. I can do it.”

I couldn’t bring myself to play, only gently touching the keyboard, and then I made a judgment.

“Hm… it’s a failure.”

It’s a failure. I can’t think of anything.

Now that I think about it, maybe the days when good melodies came to me weren’t so strange after all.

I can’t come up with anything. I don’t know what I need to do here to get the ideas flowing.

I absentmindedly tapped the keyboard, but it felt like a distant goal.

Time kept passing, and the deadline was getting closer, but nothing was coming to mind.

Maybe I should go to the rooftop to get some fresh air…

As I thought that, I suddenly felt as though I couldn’t breathe.

Since Gaeul’s confession, thinking about the rooftop gave me a sudden jolt in my chest, as though my heart skipped a beat.

Along with a slight chill, as though a bug was crawling up my arm.

…The rooftop won’t do.

I was wondering if I should go to the café downstairs when the door to the studio opened, and someone walked in.

“Team Leader Seon?”

It was Yeoreum.

“Oh, Yeoreum, what’s up?”

“Well…”

I turned my chair to face Yeoreum and said.

“Why? Is something wrong? Do you need to go home? Or are you tired? There’s no schedule today, so you can go back early and rest if you want.”

As I was talking, I remembered that Yeoreum had recently gotten her license and had been flying small planes as a hobby.

“Oh, you said you were going to fly a small plane, right? I don’t know much about that, so I can’t say much. Just drive safely and enjoy.”

“Well, I actually have something to say about that.”

“Something to say?”

Then Yeoreum, looking at me, spoke.

“Would you like to join me? On the plane?”

“Join you? In the passenger seat?”

“Yes, I’ll show you the beautiful sky.”

The beautiful sky…

That sounds fine.

The idea of flying with Yeoreum seemed like it would be a very enjoyable experience.

Oh James’s advice that having fresh experiences helps when you’re stuck also came to mind, so this seemed like a good way to refresh myself.

“Sure, then. Shall we hang out for a bit?”

When I agreed, Yeoreum smiled brightly and said,

“Thank you. I’ll make sure it’s a memory you’ll never forget.”

Seok Hyun-woo, who came out to greet us, erased the usual distant expression from his face and spoke more seriously than ever.

“Please take good care of Yeoreum.”

“Hey, you’re not sending her off to get married, so why so serious? We’ll be back in an hour.”

“…”

However, Seok Hyun-woo didn’t let go of his serious demeanor and simply lowered his head deeply.

Unable to respond appropriately to his bewildering behavior, I simply nodded and sent him off.

Despite Seok Hyun-woo’s concerns, our flight was smooth and steady.

Yeoreum, today’s pilot, showed a remarkable level of skill that didn’t resemble a beginner at all and took off the small plane smoothly.

I was mildly impressed by her skill and said,

“Wow, it looks like you have national-level talent in driving too. Aren’t you too good at this?”

“Oh, that’s because I used to fly a lot in the past. I don’t have a record of it, but I wouldn’t call myself a beginner.”

“Haha, I see. I guess you really like flying? If you’ve flown that often.”

“Actually, it’s not just about flying the plane. I think it was more about the impulse to soar through the sky.”

“Why?”

Yeoreum looked at the blue sky and spoke.

“I wanted to fly to see you, Team Leader Seon.”

“It makes sense since you must have had a hard time away from home. But shouldn’t you mention your parents first?”

“No, the person I wanted to see the most was you, Team Leader Seon.”

“…”

As I paused, trying to think of an appropriate response, Yeoreum kept her gaze forward and said, as if it wasn’t a big deal.

“Team Leader Seon, I love you.”

“…”

“Will you marry me?”

There was no room for jokes or misunderstandings.

She was definitely not the type of girl to casually say such things.

“Isn’t it a bit too early to talk about marriage? You’re still in high school.”

“Hmm… then, how about having a child with me? The ceremony can be held later.”

“Are you trying to socially ruin me?”

Yeoreum chuckled softly and said,

“Haha, then I’d be happy. That way, no one else would try to get close to you, Team Leader Seon.”

“…”

Her words were light and casual, but the content wasn’t.

It was sincere. It was a serious statement from a girl who, despite her age, was wise enough to make such judgments.

So, I had to respond seriously as well.

“I’ll refuse.”

“…”

“Let’s just stay as manager and artist. That’s what’s best for the company, the team, and the fans, and that’s what I want too.”

“So, would it be okay after my contract ends?”

It was a familiar phrase.

The memories that filled my mind made me smile bitterly.

“I’ll still refuse.”

“And the reason?”

“I don’t think of you in a romantic way.”

We sat in silence, with only the noise of the plane in the background.

In that awkward silence, Yeoreum spoke.

“What about Gaeul unnie?”

“…”

“Do you think of Gaeul unnie in a romantic way?”

“…”

The way she pinpointed Gaeul made me realize.

Whether Gaeul had told Yeoreum about our relationship, or if she had sensed it herself, I realized she had figured it out.

There was no point in hiding anything further here.

I had to become despicable.

I had to act resolutely, like a fool, so that no feelings of attachment or obsession would form.

So, I said.

“Yeah, I like Gaeul.”

“…”

“Fortunately, Gaeul accepted my feelings, and we agreed to date after my contract ends. So, we can’t have that kind of relationship. I’m sorry.”

“…”

Yeoreum turned her gaze from the sky and looked at me.

With intense emotions, she spoke chillingly.

“Liar.”

Yeoreum’s eyes, staring at me, seemed to have lost all their light, as if they were dead.

“That’s a lie, isn’t it?”