Chapter 78: Nonstop from Composing to Recording

Lyricist Oh Jisoo, who was old enough to be my mother, grabbed me and asked about Jeong Jaewook.

It was like a mother holding onto her real son to check whether his father was alive or not.

……Pretty similar.

Even though I had never been in a proper relationship, let alone experienced a breakup, I found this situation interesting.

“No, it’s not like I’m curious about him. It’s just, it’s been a while since I’ve worked with Manny Entertainment……”

That clumsy excuse also sounded familiar.

It’s not that I’m worried. He’s your father. I just thought I should prepare in case he causes you trouble later in his life……

This was bad.

Oh Jisoo’s face kept overlapping with my mom’s.

Of course, my mom’s beauty was on another level.

“He’s fine. He’s doing well and he liked the song.”

“……That’s a relief. By the way, Taeyoon, you look like you’ve lost more weight? Is writing songs that hard? Jeongbae-sunbae isn’t dragging you around without feeding you, right?”

I was eating well.

But thanks to the murderous schedule, I felt like my stamina was running out.

No matter how much I slept, I was still tired, and sometimes I just spaced out……

“Don’t your eyelids twitch sometimes?”

“Oh, yeah.”

“That’s because you’re lacking magnesium. Here, I knew it!”

“……Huh?”

Oh Jisoo, who had been carefully holding a mysterious bundle since earlier, pulled it out and started lining up medicine bottles one after another while explaining.

“This is magnesium, lutein, and multivitamins……”

I glanced back and forth between the bottles and Oh Jisoo.

Wow, she could’ve been a shopping host instead of a lyricist.

The way she explained things was so clear, I almost pulled out my card right then and there.

“Oh, I almost bought them.”

Oh Jisoo pushed the pack of supplements toward me with a smile.

“You think I’m trying to sell this to you? I’m Oh Jisoo.”

“Uh-huh?”

“I wrote down the directions for taking them. So make sure you take them.”

She really felt like a mom.

Swoosh.

I quickly snatched up the paper bag and hid it behind my back.

Even the bag seemed carefully chosen. The rabbit illustration was pretty cute.

“Thank you. I’ll definitely repay this kindness.”

“Don’t be silly. Enough, let’s eat.”

Even while eating tonkatsu, Oh Jisoo naturally led the conversation back and forth between songs and Jeong Jaewook.

“You know Jeong Jaewook is picky, right? How did you know to write the kind of song he likes?”

“I wanted to write a song where the bass stands out. The rhythm needed to come alive in the performance. Luckily, it matched well with Signum’s style.”

“That’s interesting.”

“What part?”

Oh Jisoo put her fork down and stared straight at me.

I also set my fork down.

Ah……. after being spoiled by the tonkatsu fried by Moon Jungbae-sunbae, I couldn’t quite bring myself to eat this mass-produced tonkatsu.

Oh Jisoo, who had ordered two colas, asked again.

“Have you heard that I don’t usually take on rookie songs?”

She was a seasoned senior in the industry.

In front of someone like her, there was no point in trying to be clever. She was asking because she already knew.

This probably wasn’t the real point anyway.

So I wrapped my answer appropriately while still getting to the core.

“Hmm……. I think I’ve heard that somewhere.”

“Why do you think that is?”

“Because the songs aren’t good?”

“No. Quite the opposite.”

Oh Jisoo raised her index finger and wagged it before continuing.

“They’re too flashy. So flashy that the word itself isn’t enough. Sometimes they’re even breathtaking. Bold and powerful.”

“Well, that’s the standard for idol songs.”

“Right. But rookies don’t know moderation. They desperately try to make the song itself stand out no matter what. And what happens then?”

“The lyrics get buried?”

“You’d be lucky if only the lyrics died. Sometimes the song devours the singer.”

I only nodded lightly.

Showing too much agreement felt disrespectful toward a senior.

“If it goes too far, it’s not flashy, it’s just noisy. But Taeyoon, your song was different.”

“Oh. You mean you liked it?”

“Not exactly.”

Oh Jisoo’s expression changed.

Gone was the girl-like figure asking about Jeong Jaewook.

She was back to the person I met the first time.

The professional lyricist whose presence I could barely look up to, beginning her serious advice.

“I don’t easily say a song is good. Why? Because that’s too subjective.”

Oh Jisoo lifted the cola glass that had just been served.

Clink, clink—

The sound of ice clashing felt unusually refreshing today.

“Phew! This place has the best cola. Anyway, the reason I like your song is……”

I quietly waited for her next words.

I was even excited.

These days, no matter where I went, if I played my song, I was showered with ridiculously exaggerated praise.

Great expressiveness, stylish atmosphere.

Intense sound, diverse structure……

They used every adjective that existed to praise my songs, to praise me.

So…… of course I had expectations.

What would compliments sound like when they came from a lyricist who wrote such beautiful words?

But this woman.

As expected, she wasn’t ordinary.

Instead of formal praise, she shattered my expectation.

“It’s f***ing awesome.”

“……?”

She opened with raw amazement.

“There’s no other way to describe it. No matter how I think about it.”

“……That’s the best compliment I’ve ever gotten.”

“Honestly, I wanted to say it in a classier way.”

“How?”

“It might sound a bit cheesy. Is that okay?”

“I like cheesy things.”

“Oh really?”

I tilted my head and probed carefully.

“Don’t you hesitate these days because people call everything cheesy? If something’s even a little emotional, they call it cringe. It’s like people think honestly showing feelings is outdated.”

I really wanted to say this.

And I was curious if Oh Jisoo thought the same.

Thankfully, she strongly agreed with me.

“Exactly, exactly. Wow, Taeyoon, you know this? Same here. I pour all my sincerity into writing, but sometimes they say, ‘Writer, it feels a bit cringey.’”

“They said that to you?”

That was surprising.

Who would dare call Oh Jisoo’s lyrics cringey?

“So lately, I’ve been toning down a lot of the emotions.”

“Doesn’t that make the lyrics feel dry?”

“What can I do? They say that’s the trend.”

I hadn’t written that many lyrics myself.

But sometimes people’s reactions made me hesitate, even when I needed to be straightforward or bold.

So I tried to express things more cynically.

It was a pity.

Listeners were being deprived of the chance to feel moved.

“Please tell me what you really wanted to say. I want to hear it.”

“Ha, fine. I really don’t say this often……. but your song made me think of ‘companionship.’”

“Huh?”

At that, I couldn’t hide my surprise.

That was the single most important point I considered when writing a song.

The beat and melody must not run ahead on their own, leaving everything else behind.

The lyrics, the singer, the listeners, and even the people building the stage must all walk together.

A song that people can walk alongside.

That was what I aimed for in a “well-made song.”

“ is like that. It’s very harmonious. It suits the Signum boys well too. That’s why I immediately said I’d write the lyrics when I heard the demo.”

Hearing exactly the part I had wanted to hear,

I felt like I could fly.

Maybe it showed all over my face.

Oh Jisoo smirked playfully.

“Huh? What’s this, Taeyoon, why’s your face turning red?”

“Eh? Oh, did I? Damn……”

I normally didn’t blush. Why was I suddenly acting so ridiculous?

Feeling a bit embarrassed, I tried to cover my face.

Oh Jisoo casually said,

“That’s why you need to have confidence.”

“……?”

As if worried someone might overhear, she leaned closer and whispered.

“From what I see, this song of yours. It won’t lose even to Busan Goblin.”

“Busan Goblin? Signum is getting a song from Busan Goblin?”

“According to the rumor, yeah.”

“Ah……”

“What, you’re not confident?”

It wasn’t about having confidence or not.

Busan Goblin. That name value alone was overwhelming.

The hottest composer in K-pop right now.

But it didn’t matter.

I was certain I knew Signum better than that guy.

So I answered, “I’m looking forward to it. To see what kind of song Busan Goblin makes for Signum.”

“Taeyoon.”

“Yes?”

“The only hint I’ll give you…… is to focus completely on the concept you thought of. No matter who says what, no matter what suggestion they make.”

“Yes, I’ll keep that in mind.”

“And, one more thing.”

Oh Jisoo finished her cola and added firmly,

“There are times when you need to retreat strategically. Remember. Right now, even if you take one step back, make sure you’re offering something that will let you move two steps forward soon.”

So basically, don’t give up anything for free.

That was tough. Still, I answered boldly.

“Yes! I’ll keep it in mind, sunbae!”

“Stay alert. Busan Goblin isn’t an easy opponent.”

“I’ll stay alert, sunbae!”

And yet.

Part of me was excited that this might be my chance to actually meet one of the top veterans of the industry.

At this moment, I felt confident—no matter who came, no matter what they said.

“I’ll give you a ride. Where’s your house?”

“I need to stop by the store. I have to pick something up.”

“There’ll still be a lot of people.”

“They’ll all be gone by now. Just trust me.”

Striding ahead confidently, Taeyoon.

Following with suspicious eyes, Oh Jisoo.

As soon as they entered the alley, Oh Jisoo asked in surprise,

“Wow, it’s true. How did you know?”

Like magic, the area in front of the shop was quiet.

[ Closed early due to sold-out ingredients. ]

“Moon-sunbaenim only runs the shop as a hobby, you know?”

When they opened the door and went in, Moon Jungbae greeted them warmly.

“Huh? How’d you end up coming together?”

“We were supposed to have our meeting here, but the place got too busy……”

“Oh dear. Anyway, Taeyoon, did you eat lunch?”

“I did, but I didn’t.”

“……What’s that supposed to mean?”

“I’m in trouble now. I can’t eat tonkatsu anywhere else anymore.”

Moon Jungbae liked hearing that his tonkatsu was delicious almost as much as he liked hearing that he sang well.

He smiled and replied,

“I figured as much, so I saved a portion just for you. Want to eat it now?”

“Oooh, yes, right now!”

“Hey, I didn’t eat either, you know?”

“Heh, of course I saved yours too. Come along.”

“Nice!”

A little later.

Bringing out the tonkatsu, Moon Jungbae suddenly asked Oh Jisoo,

“So, you’re working together this time?”

“How did you know?”

“You always come here when it’s something secret.”

“Well, it’s not really that secret.”

While Oh Jisoo and Moon Jungbae exchanged updates, Taeyoon, who had destroyed the tonkatsu and spaghetti in just five minutes, muttered gloomily.

“I think I need to find a new studio. Lately too many people come by here, and I can’t keep freeloading forever.”

At the word “freeloading,” Moon Jungbae suddenly shouted.

“Hey, don’t say freeloading!”

“Whoa.”

“Thanks to you, this place feels brighter and so much better! If anyone should feel sorry, it’s me for making you worry.”

“Why would you say that, teacher. I should be the one apologizing.”

“Apologizing? What nonsense. It felt like I was keeping you locked up in a tiny studio, and that bothered me.”

“Tiny? The equipment was amazing, it was a privilege. Plus, I learned so much just listening to you guys rehearse.”

Um, excuse me, you two.

What exactly are you doing right now?

Oh Jisoo’s eyes clearly said that. But she couldn’t bring herself to say it aloud.

‘Geez……. what even is this.’

Wasn’t this way too sentimental a farewell scene between Taeyoon and Moon Jungbae?

‘Still, it’s kind of nice to see.’

Was this what friendship beyond age looked like?

Oh Jisoo’s nose stung for no reason.

In this cutthroat business full of scheming and manipulation, such friendship could exist?

It was bittersweet, but inevitable. She had to accept it.

She knew how much Moon Jungbae treasured this space.

It wouldn’t be easy to give up the shop he had built for so long.

It was a shame Taeyoon would lose his studio, but there was nothing to be done.

As she was readying words of comfort,

“That’s why I’ve made up my mind.”

Moon Jungbae said something unexpected.

“I’m quitting tonkatsu.”

“……What?”

“I’ve been thinking about it a lot lately. About wanting to go back to music.”

“No way, really?”

Oh Jisoo shot up from her seat and exclaimed.

When two pairs of widened eyes turned toward her, she awkwardly sat back down and asked,

“Ahem, why? Did something change your mind……”

“This place was originally designed as a music practice studio. That’s why it’s called Backstage.”

“Ah, I see.”

“Yeah. Since it’s come to this, let’s turn it into a real hideout. Build a proper rehearsal room.

And refit everything with the latest equipment so we can even do engineering.”

Moon Jungbae looked at Taeyoon as he spoke.

“Our Taeyoon, we’ll make it so you can go nonstop from composing to recording. Just wait and see!”

His eyes shone with a powerful light.

And no wonder.

It was thanks to Taeyoon that he’d come to this decision.

Thanks to him, Cheongseong had reunited too.

Heh, this kid Taeyoon.

He must be touched, right?

Sneaking a glance at Taeyoon.

Sure enough, his eyes were getting a bit misty.

Today, whatever he said, she was ready to let it slide.

But then……!

Taeyoon slowly lifted his head and asked,

“Then…… does that mean no more tonkatsu?”

“……Huh?”

Oh Jisoo and Moon Jungbae looked at each other.

“Moon-sunbaenim’s tonkatsu is so good though……”

Ha, seriously, what was with this kid.

Good grief. It wasn’t like they could just smack their precious composer.

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