Producer with no Regrets - Chapter 388



Only Noblemtl

Episode 388

As soon as he heard the answer that he didn’t remember, Seongpil’s mind was filled with thoughts of Baek Seol-ha.

Seongpil’s face naturally crumpled as he thought of Baek Seol-ha, who was pretending to be cheerful while deep in thought.

‘no.’

This can’t go on like this.

If she had taken the answer, ‘Professor Lee In-seong didn’t even remember you,’ Baek Seol-ha’s mentality might have crashed to the ground.

‘The rest is a lie.’

Of course, Seongpil hates lies.

However, if necessary, you can tell a white lie without hesitation. This means that you can do it only as a last resort.

If possible, I want to live only with the truth.

‘So let’s make it true!’

Somehow, we have to get Lee In-seong to say something like, ‘I vaguely remember.’

“Can you think about it carefully? Seol-ha, Seol-ha. She’s an idol now, but she must have been pretty and cute when she was young. Among the students, wasn’t there a girl who stood out as being orphaned and beautiful?”

Lee In-seong couldn’t help but feel flustered by Seong-pil’s rapid-fire questions.

Seongpil seemed so desperate that Lee Inseong even thought it was a great sin not to remember the person named Seolha.

I tried my best to recall the name ‘Seolha’, but…

“I, I’m sorry. I don’t know… … .”

Lee In-seong could not remember Baek Seol-ha.

Seongpil sat back on his chair in despair.

‘Seolha, I’m sorry.’

In the end, I had no choice but to lie to you.

‘I have to get along with In-seong.’

Seongpil took out the Girls’ League’s first regular album from his bag that he had brought to give to Lee Inseong.

I brought it because I thought Lee In-seong would be happy if he received his disciple’s album.

“Um… … .”

Seongpil reluctantly handed the album to him. From now on, he had to make a shameless request.

If you ever meet Baek Seol-ha, pretend to know her so she doesn’t get hurt.

“This is a Girls’ League album… … .”

“wait a minute.”

Suddenly, Lee In-seong’s expression hardened. He narrowed his eyebrows as he kept saying the word ‘Seol-ha’.

Then he asked.

“What is Seol Ha-ran’s last name…?”

“It’s ‘Baek.’”

“Baek… … Seolha.”

Lee In-seong clapped his hands loudly.

“Snow White!”

“yes?”

“Snow White! Snow White!”

Lee In-seong’s face brightened.

“princess!”

In contrast, Seongpil’s face was filled with a strange question.

“……princess?”

Snow White?

* * *

Lee In-seong, a college student, was dissatisfied with his current life. As a vocal music student, he was dissatisfied with the very fact that he was studying music in Korea.

‘I have to go study abroad.’

The classical music world of Korea is a well.

He had to escape this well and go to the sea, to Europe or America. That was the only way he could make a name for himself in the world.

Even if you try to be a dragon in the well, it’s obvious that you’ll be treated like a snake when you come out.

‘Let’s save money.’

Lee In-seong decided to raise funds to study abroad.

Because my family circumstances were not good, I came to a university that offered a full scholarship. I had to pay for my study abroad expenses on my own.

Since the only thing he could do was sing, he naturally started looking for part-time jobs related to singing.

So I got a job at a vocal training academy.

“Is it okay for me to teach you? I’m a vocalist… … .”

“Oh, it’s okay, it’s okay. Whether it’s practical music or vocal music, they’re both songs. Anyway, since they’re all kids who come here, they don’t know much. And in the end, their goal is to sing well. This teacher just memorizes some Korean songs, or some pop songs from somewhere, or something like that from America.”

“……yes.”

It was the most lucrative job that Lee In-seong could do. That’s how Lee In-seong became a practical music vocal trainer.

The first disciple was Baek Seol-ha.

“Snow White!”

When asked her name, she said it confidently.

The way she didn’t shy away from strangers even when seeing them for the first time showed at a glance how much she was loved and lived.

‘You’re in 4th grade now?’

Lee In-seong was shocked when he saw Baek Seol-ha, because no matter how he looked at her, she did not look like an elementary school student.

I thought he was at least in middle school.

Anyway, he started class.

“Okay, this is called a concone (vocal textbook). Let’s practice with this.”

“yes!”

Two days later.

“Mom, I’m going to stop!”

Baek Seol-ha brought her mother and scolded Lee In-seong. Lee In-seong didn’t know what to do.

The director tried to persuade Baek Seol-ha’s mother, and Baek Seol-ha glared at Lee In-seong with resentful eyes.

‘No, why… … .’

Lee In-seong did as he had been doing.

As always, he taught the same path of vocal music that he had followed since he was young. Just as he had learned from his strict teachers.

Of course, since Lee In-seong had a gentle personality, he did not use low-level methods like corporal punishment, insults, or ignoring like his teachers.

I just held on until it happened.

“You’re a college student? Do you have any teaching experience?”

Baek Seol-ha’s mother looked at Lee In-seong from head to toe in a displeased manner, as if she did not trust him.

When Baek Seol-ha saw Lee In-seong struggling, her face brightened as if all the anger she had built up was released.

“Call me.”

Snow White’s mother said so.

“I told you to call me once. Let’s see if you have the skills to teach our child.”

Lee In-seong was shocked. He was suddenly asked to sing a song. He also thought it was insulting.

“Teacher Inseong, please do it once.”

I couldn’t help it since the director noticed.

You won’t be able to find a job this good again, so you’ll have to please your customers to avoid the crisis.

Lee In-seong held back the anger rising in his throat. He shouldn’t get angry. He shouldn’t yell. His vocal cords would get hurt.

So Lee In-seong sang a song.

“……ah.”

After about three minutes of demonstration, little Snow White shed a tear and spoke to her mother in a trembling voice.

“Mom, I want to keep going… … .”

From that day on, everything went smoothly.

Snow White followed the teachings of Lee In-seong like a precept.

He added a lot of dairy products and vegetables to his diet, did strength training every morning, and most of all, he sang songs that were in keeping with the teachings.

“Teacher, look at this!”

One day, Baek Seol-ha did push-ups in front of Lee In-seong. Without touching her knees to the floor.

“Wow, what is this!”

Lee In-seong was genuinely surprised.

Because it was the first time I saw an elementary school student who could do a full push-up.

Although it was only once, it was not a movement that an elementary school student who had not yet fully developed muscles and had not yet reached secondary sexual characteristics would do.

“Hehehe, you worked hard!”

Snow White was shaking her arms after doing a single push-up.

Lee In-seong applauded generously.

“Snow White, you’re doing a good job.”

“Now I can be like you, teacher, right?”

“That’s hard!”

Baek Seol-ha glared at Lee In-seong. The sight of her was incredibly cute.

Time passed quickly, and Baek Seol-ha’s singing skills also improved rapidly. It was a remarkable development that surprised Lee In-seong.

“Snow White said she wanted to be an idol?”

Lee In-seong asked with a hint of anticipation.

Given Baek Seol-ha’s current state, it wouldn’t be a big problem to move on to vocal music.

It seems possible that he could survive even if he were placed in the niche of those who have been honing their talents since childhood.

“yes.”

But Snow White simply said, ‘I want to become an idol.’

Lee In-seong did not ask, “Do you want to try singing?” Instead, he decided to support his student’s dream.

“Yeah, it could work out. She’s so pretty, works so hard, and sings so well, there’s no way she wouldn’t be able to.”

“The ending is strange.”

“It can be obvious. She’s white and pretty like a princess in a movie. Snow White… … .”

“Teacher, why are you leaving me alone today? My girlfriend is calling me again today, so I have to hurry up and go. You’re really stealing my tuition. I’ve only turned a blind eye to it once or twice.”

Lee In-seong laughed bitterly.

He will be going to America soon.

I sent my audition video to the Curtis Institute of Music and was notified to come in for a performance test.

If he passes, Lee In-seong will be able to study vocal music with a full scholarship.

“Snow White.”

“yes?”

Lee In-seong placed his hand on Baek Seol-ha’s head and stroked it gently.

“I’ll look forward to it. Later, I’ll appear on TV and sing like a pretty princess.”

“I like witches more than princesses.”

“Then you don’t like Snow White either?”

“I like Snow White! Then, when I appear on TV, can I sing like you?”

Lee In-seong didn’t say, “That’s hard,” as he usually did. Instead, he said it with sincerity.

“Of course, Snow White.”

no.

Obviously, you will sing much better than me.

* * *

Lee In-seong, who received the Girls’ League’s album, shed tears and a runny nose. He even sobbed.

Seongpil, who was sitting in front, was embarrassed.

Because of the stinging gazes from those around him, Seongpil wanted to run away at any moment.

“So you became an idol, after all… … .”

Seongpil’s prediction was correct.

There can be no such thing as a teacher who is disappointed in his student’s achievement of his dream.

‘Seol-ha should have come with me.’

So, Baek Seol-ha had to see this sight herself.

Seongpil was very sorry that he didn’t bring Baek Seol-ha.

Lee In-seong stopped crying after 10 minutes and smiled with reddened eyes.

“Snow White… no, Seol-ha is scared? Are you afraid that I will be disappointed?”

“Yes. It’s a bit strange, isn’t it? It’s weird for me, as a producer, to say this, but he sings really well.”

“If you practiced for more than 10 years after that, then that must be true.”

“She’s really nervous. So, can we meet up before the show and talk things over?”

Lee In-seong wiped his tears with a tissue and smiled brightly.

“That won’t do.”

“……yes?”

“I just decided.”

Lee In-seong returned the album to Seong-pil.

“Until I meet Seol-ha on stage, I won’t listen to the Girls’ League’s songs. I want to hear them for myself. I want to hear what kind of songs Seol-ha sings, right in front of me.”

It’s our first reunion in over a decade.

Lee In-seong had no intention of experiencing the reunion first in digital sound.

I wanted to hear her voice. The path she walked, the effort she put in, the dreams she achieved.

“Then, are you planning on not meeting Seol-ha at all?”

“It would be nice to see you after the show is over.”

Seongpil was now certain.

The previous episode of ‘The Unknown’ defense has not aired yet. But seeing Lee In-seong speak so naturally, the result was clear.

‘Juseong has been defeated.’

Lee In-seong must have been on ‘The Unknown’.

“Can I ask you one thing?”

Lee In-seong asked shyly.

“Yes, go ahead.”

“I fought against someone named ‘Juseong’ in the final. Oh, can I say this? No, forget it. Sorry.”

“You’ve already been caught. You’ve become ‘the unknown’, right?”

“Ugh… … .”

Lee In-seong laughed as if he was embarrassed. Then he lowered his voice and asked again.

“I got involved with someone named ‘Joo Sung’, and later I looked into who he was. He was a very famous person. Even though I couldn’t get a feel for him exactly, I could tell that he was a great singer.”

“That’s right. You haven’t released a new album lately. There’s probably no one in their mid-20s or older who doesn’t know you. You’ve had quite a few hit songs, so many people know you just by listening to the melody. Of course, your skills are also excellent. Sungjong himself is tuned for the low range, but his strength is that he can hit the high notes with ease.”

“Wow, that’s amazing. A singer in his mid-20s that everyone knows. He’s much more amazing than me.”

“It’s just that the fields were different.”

“Me, and… … .”

Lee In-seong hesitated for a moment before finally opening his mouth.

“If you don’t mind, could you tell me who sings better between him and Snow White…?”

“hmm.”

The development of popular music, or pop, followed the same path as the development of sound technology.

In an era when sound amplification was impossible, a singer’s first priority was to maximize resonance and louden his voice.

This is why singers develop their vocal power.

But pop singers are different. With the advancement of sound technology, there is no need to raise the volume of your voice. If you put your mouth close to the microphone and sing, you can make the entire wide soccer field resonate.

‘In popular music, what determines a singer’s ability is individuality rather than technique.’

A singer’s success or failure is determined by his or her natural voice and honed, individual vocal technique.

Anyway, capturing and captivating people’s ears is the first task of pop singers.

And personality is something that people can’t help but evaluate differently. Some people like it and some people dislike it, so it’s an area where likes and dislikes are very clear.

‘If you ask who sings better between Seol Ha and Joo Sung, there’s no proper answer from the perspective of popular music.’

But in Seongpil’s opinion.

“It might be similar.”

Lee In-seong smiled faintly at him.

“Does Seol-ha want to beat me?”

“At least I want to lose to In-seong. I don’t want to get eliminated before that.”

“If you’re going to do it, I hope you go up on stage with the determination to beat me. But if you say you’re similar to Joo Sung… … .”

Lee In-seong checked his wristwatch.

“You need to pay more attention to the stage and directing.”

“Confidence… … .”

Seongpil laughed heartily. When the topic of singing came up, Lee Inseong’s demeanor completely changed. He seemed like a completely different person.

“Your confidence is amazing.”

“Haha, please think about the feelings of a teacher who stands on the same stage as his student and decides who will win or lose.”

“……ah.”

Lee In-seong put his hands together on the table. His hands were seen shaking slightly.

“I can’t stand it without making a bold statement because I feel anxious. What’s the shame? If I lose to my disciple… .”

Just as Baek Seol-ha wants to save face as a disciple, Lee In-seong wants to save face as a teacher.

In fact, Baek Seol-ha’s wish has already come true. There is no way Lee In-seong will be disappointed in her.

But Lee In-seong was different.

“He still remembers me, and he’s scared that I’ll say bad things about him… … .”

In order to remain as an idol of the past, Lee In-seong had to fight with Baek Seol-ha with all his might.

This is on Baek Seol-ha’s home ground, a broadcast stage that idols are much more familiar with.

“I can’t show my shortcomings to someone like that… … .”

“Should I tell Seol-ha that?”

“No! Just thinking about it is a detriment to my dignity! Just… … .”

Lee In-seong smiled faintly.

“Just tell her that I remember Snow White. And congratulate her on achieving her dream. I’ll meet her backstage.”

* * *

Baek Seol-ha went to work despite being on vacation to practice for the ‘Unknown Singer’ stage.

While she was stretching her neck in the practice room, Sungpil came in.

Baek Seol-ha, who was very sleepy in the morning, was still a bit drowsy, but as soon as she saw Seong-pil, her sleepiness suddenly disappeared as if she had seen the sun.

“Hello, Director.”

“Hello Seolha too. Do you have time?”

“You know my schedule.”

“Actually, I met Mr. Lee In-seong by chance yesterday.”

“yes?!”

Baek Seol-ha was shocked to hear Seong-pil’s story. It is said that Seong-pil told Lee In-seong all about Baek Seol-ha’s recent activities.

Snow White was shocked and fell to the floor on her butt. Then she started to whine, flapping her arms and legs like an octopus.

“Why, why… …! Why does the director do whatever he wants… …!”

“Your teacher said he was proud of you. He also congratulated you on achieving your dream.”

Snow White, enlightenment.

She returned to normal as if she had never been upset. Then, with tears in her eyes, she thanked Seongpil.

“Thank you, Director… … .”

“You were babbling earlier, asking why I was talking on my own.”

“I think it’s good… … . I, I feel much more at ease. Really, it’s much better than when I was receiving psychological counseling… … .”

Humans feel fear because they have imagination. Only those who can imagine fear survived and passed on their genes to future generations.

Although this ability is advantageous to human survival, it has become a major cause of stress in modern times where safety is guaranteed.

When all possibility of imagining Lee In-seong’s reaction disappeared, Snow White became as calm as Buddha under a Bodhi tree.

“I can now focus on my practice without any worries. Whether I win or lose, I will do my best. I will show my best to my teacher.”

“Yeah, that mindset… … .”

“Seol-ha… … Ah, Director Park.”

Manager Ahn Sang opened the practice room door and came in.

“Manager Ahn?”

“Ms. Sarah from Globe is here right now. She said she wanted to meet Ms. Seol-ha.”

Seongpil and Baekseolha looked at each other. And then, without saying who would go first, they went down to the first floor.

As An Yi-sang said, at the entrance to Garo Enter, there was Wise-ra standing. She was holding a paper bag, and at first glance, she gave off a miserable aura.

Snow White stood in front of her, timidly.

“Hey, Sera?”

“… … .”

“Ugh… … .”

I saw Seongpil, who was snow-white.

Seongpil said.

“Sarah, would you like to come in for a moment?”

Wiserra shook her head. She sighed and approached Baekseolha. Baekseolha threw her head back as if a wild beast had approached.

“Laugh at me.”

“……huh?”

“Laugh all you want. You said you would proudly wait for me as the winner, but you were eliminated in the first round.”

Wisera frowned and suddenly shouted.

“Laugh at me!”

Silence fell on the first floor hall.

The employees who were enjoying their leisurely morning also all looked towards the entrance.

He let out a breath full of heat as if he didn’t care about the gaze of power.

“Don’t laugh.”

Snow White spoke softly.

“I have no intention of laughing.”

It was a complicated face. It was understandable, because Baek Seol-ha’s expression was extremely serious.

When I looked into those clear eyes that were staring right at me, the negative emotions I had harbored until I came here seemed to melt away.

I have no intention of laughing, ra… … .

Why? I couldn’t figure out the reason for the prestige. But I didn’t feel like asking.

“under…….”

Wiser took something out of a paper bag.

It was the mask used in ‘The Unknown Singer’. A mask symbolizing Nike, the goddess of victory.

Wisera held the mask to Snow White’s chest.

“Take… … .”

I had planned to lightly place the mask of Wise on Baek Seol-ha’s chest. However, the angle was off because Baek Seol-ha’s chest was more three-dimensional than expected.

With a thud, the mask bounced off and fell to the floor.

“… … .”

“… … .”

Wiserra picked up the mask from the floor and carefully placed it back against Baekseolha’s chest.

“The match isn’t over yet.”

“Oh, uh.”

“I don’t want to laugh awkwardly because we both lost.”

“uh?”

Wisera barely managed to laugh. She forced a smile from her lungs and let it hang on her lips.

“I kept thinking about it, and I realized that it would be better for me to be the first to achieve my goal rather than someone else achieving it first.”

Wiserra took her hands off the mask.

Snow White held the mask of Nike, the goddess of victory, in her arms.

“Never give up.”

“uh……?”

“Because I’ll be the first one to win against you. One-on-one, fair and square. So I can’t stand seeing you lose to anyone. Don’t beat me before I beat you. Got it?”

“Uh uh… … .”

“Do you understand?”

At Wiserra’s shout, Snow White straightened her posture like a soldier.

“Uh, yeah!”

And I declared it unconsciously.

Wise-ra stared at Baek Seol-ha with her hazy eyes, then looked at Seong-pil.

“Team leader.”

“huh.”

“Originally, I was going to come here to curse. I was going to say that Seol-ha Unnie would lose anyway.”

“… … .”

“But, I cheered you on.”

That’s for the future. To break it when the value of Baekseolha increases and increases.

“It just happened.”

No matter how much Wise Ra resented Seongpil, she didn’t want to curse the idol she was in charge of in front of him.

I don’t think that Wisera was negative about Seongpil leaving. I sincerely congratulate him for leaving Success Entertainment and achieving his dream.

So, how could he curse Baek Seol-ha, who was Seong-pil’s dream itself, in front of him?

“I hope that Seol-ha, the idol that the team leader is in charge of, wins.”

Wise turned her back and walked away, staggering into the distance. As her figure turned into a small dot, Snow White stared blankly at Nike’s mask in her arms.

The Goddess of Victory was smiling brightly while hugging Baek Seol-ha. It seemed as if she was saying, ‘I won.’

“… … Director.”

“huh.”

“I just promised Sarah, right?”

“That’s right.”

Snow White made a promise to Wiserra.

‘O Sole Mio in the West’, to defeat Lee In-seong.

It was not a promise that could be passed over lightly. Considering how much pain Wiserra must have felt before coming here, it should never be passed over lightly.

Because I remember the declaration of war by the White Snow Wiserra.

Even though he was suffering from bitter defeat and failure, he came here to support his rival, Baek Seol-ha.

‘Don’t break until you break yourself… … .’

There are such expectations.

Snow White put Nike’s mask on her head.

“I finally felt at ease… … .”

She was groaning.

“If it comes to this, I have no choice but to do it with the mindset of winning… … .”

I wore a mask.

Nike, the goddess of victory.

* * *

The first day of practice for Round 1 of ‘The Unknown Singer’.

Singer Kim Eun-jung warmed up her voice in a designated practice room. Her manager was always by her side, rattling.

“Sister, there were relatively more singers in the last episode, so there might be less this time. Announcers, comedians, and actors also appear frequently.”

“That’s right. If you come out as a singer and can’t win, then that’s true. You have to go at least to the second round. I hope you can get by in the first round.”

“Since my older sister is lucky, the other person will also be lucky.”

“Who could it be?”

At that moment, the practice room door opened roughly.

Kim Eun-jung slowly got up, thinking that it might be her senior in the industry. Then her body stiffened.

“hello.”

Someone wearing the mask of Nike, the Goddess of Victory, spoke. The voice sounded heavy through the mask.

“… … Are you going to practice wearing a mask?”

“yes.”

“Oh, yes… … .”

You’re crazy.

Kim Eun-jung thought so.

‘Why do you have to wear a mask even when practicing? I heard that it’s not like you don’t have one at all… ‘

There was only one possibility that Kim Eun-jung could have predicted.

Although they are singers by profession, they are not confident in performing live. So they hide their identity because they are embarrassed to see other singers.

‘What is that?’

Kim Eun-jung felt slightly better. The manager also gave her a thumbs up when he saw her.

‘Okay, I’ll take the first round pretty easily. I’ll save face by making it to the second round.’

That’s how the practice began.

10 minutes later.

‘Oh, I lost.’

Kim Eun-jung, declared defeated in round 1!