Rockstar Again - Chapter 145



Only Noblemtl

Episode 145. Surfin’ USA (3)

My first day in the US.

After unpacking at her accommodations, Gu Seol-ryeong took a deep breath and held her cell phone.

“Hmm… … 2nd album… … Isn’t it a bit fast?”

-Haven’t I explained it to you so far, sir?

“… … Okay. I understand. Let me say it.”

―Thank you. Have a nice day and let me know if there is any progress. It must be night there, and I apologize for contacting you so late. Get some rest. Oh. I will send the song I mentioned earlier to the CEO through the company email.

“Just send it through a messaging app. Why bother with the company email?”

―It’s an important score. And even if it’s not important, you can’t send an unpublished score, which is the artist’s intellectual property, through a messaging app. That’s basic, sir.

“… … Oh my, nagging again.”

-Hang up first.

It seems like telling him to hang up first is following the rules as a subordinate, but even that doesn’t sound like something a subordinate would say since it’s Chief Gil Min-seok who says it.

Gu Seol-ryeong quickly hung up the phone because he thought talking more would only tire him out.

“Looking at that expression on your face, I guess you’re Chief Gil Min-seok?”

“Tea or something?”

“Yes. Very much so. When I talk to Chief Gil, his face is like that. He seems really uncomfortable on the phone. He even hates meeting him face to face. Why on earth do you act like that?”

At Hong Seon-ah’s words, Gu Se-ryeong opened his mouth again and unpacked his luggage.

“You know? He’s capable. He does things that I can’t do. But he’s not my person. Chief Gil is the one who tells me everything, so I want to kick him out because of my personality. But he also helps me, so it’s ambiguous to say I don’t like him.”

“It’s one thing to report to the former chairman. Chief Gil.”

“What I mean is, it feels a bit like a private tutor?”

The feelings that Gu Se-ryeong had for Gil Min-seok were somewhat complex.

“Still, there has to be someone like Chief Gil who speaks the truth. Especially next to someone like the managing director.”

“It’s not just Chief Gil, you too.”

Hong Seon-ah smiled as she took the clothes from Gu Se-ryeong’s carrier.

“That’s why.”

And then he continued talking while hanging the clothes he had received in the hotel closet.

“I also honestly reflected a lot. At that time, I should have looked more closely at the clause in the contract that said the company would be responsible for cost issues. I didn’t know at the time that so much money was needed for a band’s live performance. It was my mistake.”

“That’s not a mistake.”

“yes?”

“It wasn’t a mistake. I knew it. The security deposit would be a bit of a hit at the beginning… … Well, I’m not the type of person to count the money every single time. Dong-ha was that brilliant. I was willing to accept any other conditions. Security deposit? Why would that be a problem?”

“You used to complain a lot when things like that happened?”

The previously calm Gu Se-ryeong’s brow furrowed at Hong Seon-ah’s words.

“Oh, really… … That’s because he’s crazy. He just talked about the old days for no reason. I think he treats me even worse now that he knows I was that brat back then.”

Hong Seon-ah just smiled without saying anything.

to be honest.

From the perspective of an observer, there is no significant difference between before and after the incident where Lee Dong-ha’s secret was discovered.

‘He’s been particularly rude to the managing director. Always. Always. Always.’

Even if I told the truth, the Savior’s mood would get worse. I didn’t answer because I was sure it wouldn’t get any better.

‘I think the managing director likes it because I’m being honest with him.’

The second word was swallowed with even more saliva in the back of my throat.

The person named Gu Seol-ryeong is an attractive woman.

She was born with a noble background, Cheong-ah.

I’m not talking about things like good looks that shine even among celebrities.

It’s just… …fun when we’re together.

He’s the type that’s ticking but weak to his own people.

Since I am within the realm of that person’s people, there is no particular reason for it to be bad.

It’s not calculating, it’s emotional, it’s human appeal.

So, from some point on, I always had this feeling that I hoped the Savior would do well.

But now, I’m a bit… I don’t know.

I’m not saying that my desire for the Savior to do well has changed.

It meant that the Savior did not know what would be happy and what would be good.

‘The managing director certainly has a heart… … I don’t know what would be good for the managing director.’

Hong Seon-ah thought that it would be best to just wait for Gu Se-ryeong to cool down, just like Gu Se-ryeong herself said. So she waited for Gu Se-ryeong.

“Let’s go out. Call Dong-ha and Manager Park Soo-chan and have a quick meeting at the bar.”

*

“Uh… …Why is this coming out there?”

I tilted my head as I looked at the sheet music on the tablet that the Savior had handed me.

I had this crumpled up in the recording studio.

But why is this in the hands of the Savior?

The one who answered my questions was not Gu Se-ryeong, but Suchan hyung, who was sipping a cocktail next to me.

“That’s right, it’s yours. I packed it away and… … I happened to meet Chief Gil Min-seok… … . He was really surprised when he saw it.”

“Chief Gil Min-seok? Who is that?”

“… … Don’t you know? Chief Gil Min-seok?”

Don’t ask, I don’t know.

I was wondering if he was really that tall, so I just rolled my eyes. Suchan laughed awkwardly and continued explaining.

Um. Well.

I’m talking about someone who’s pretty high up in Cheong-A Entertainment, after all.

After hearing the entire explanation, I nodded slightly.

“Is it because you majored in music? It’s not easy to tell if a song is good or not just by looking at the sheet music. It’s amazing.”

This time, Gu Se-ryeong joins the conversation in Suchan’s stead.

“Anyway, is this your song?”

“Yeah, that’s right.”

“But why did you throw it away?”

“I didn’t throw it away… … I just… … I put it aside because it was ambiguous. If I was going to throw it away, I would have torn it up and thrown it in the trash. Why would I have thrown it away?”

I felt that way when I was making this song, but just looking at the sheet music on the tablet screen brings back that feeling of excitement I had back then.

To me, the Savior insisted on asking me the reason.

“Did you put it off because the song wasn’t up to standard?”

“That’s not it. I said I would have thrown it away if it was below standard. You don’t understand what I’m saying.”

“then?”

I took a sip of the blue cocktail in front of me and started talking, thinking, “Era, I don’t know.”

“Even if I look at it as a well-written song, I don’t want to play it right now. I think it’ll be too emotional. It’ll be too much. So what can I do? I’ll just throw it away. Maybe it’ll come back to me or fall into my hands. Then, I’ll give it a try. Or… … I think the song isn’t destined to debut… … and I’ll just let it pass.”

“I don’t know what you’re talking about.”

“Of course. I didn’t know either, so I just threw it away. How could you possibly know that?”

Anyway, I definitely understood that Chief Gil Min-seok wanted to release my second album quickly.

It’s because Gu Se-ryeong doesn’t talk much about business, but he’s surprisingly accurate in his explanations. It’s much easier to understand because he even mentions the company’s financial losses that he hadn’t mentioned before.

“I was planning to do a lot of activities quickly anyway. I’m grateful that they asked me to hurry up and release the second album even though they said it would be a loss.”

“Do you know how to say that?”

“Of course. Why don’t you know? I’m not some arrogant celebrity. I know that we need money for our activities. I know that Cheong-ah is supporting us a lot, so I’m grateful. Keep going.”

Anyway.

That takes time to work on the song.

You don’t need much.

I’m not a throwaway producer like Jo In-chang or Lars Roemer, so I’m always inspired.

From a creator’s perspective, being inspired is a blessing.

Some might say that my lack of experience in experiencing love on a deep level is a shortcoming, but I consider even that a source of inspiration.

I still don’t know exactly what Gil Min-seok does, but it seems like he recognized the value of this song right away.

The rich feeling of love makes us sing of rich love.

Because lack of affection makes you sing about… … X-like emotions.

Whatever it is, it’s just a difference in direction, but it’s certain that it’s the reason why a good song will come out.

When I see things like this, I think the creator must have a wide range of emotions.

As I get older, I think that creators fall into mannerism not because they have exhausted their inspiration, but because their emotional range has narrowed.

I enjoyed a night in Las Vegas with cocktails.

“Cheers. Las Vegas.”

“… … Dong-ha. Isn’t this Las Vegas?”

Suchan hyung, who is making a sound like labor pains next to me.

Nureongi is stuck in the hotel room adjusting to the time difference, and there are only four of them, but it’s a man’s voice… … Suchan hyung is the culprit.

I quickly turned my head and saw Suchan looking at me with a friendly smile.

“Do you think I wouldn’t know that?”

“… … Then why did you just say Las Vegas?”

“Emotion. Feeling. Don’t you know? What does it matter whether it’s Las Vegas, New York, or Chicago? It’s all the same in America.”

“Haha… … That’s true.”

“You can’t tell the difference anyway, even Suchan hyung.”

It was my first trip abroad so I was trying to lighten my mood.

The company representative tells us the reality and urges us to work on new songs.

Manager says he wants to feel emotions, but he insists on holding on to rational thinking.

“CEO. If my album work gets delayed, it’s all because of Suchan hyung. Okay?”

“… … .”

Instead of answering, Representative Gu Seol-ryeong smiled bitterly.

Suchan hyung doesn’t necessarily treat me with difficulty, but he just pretends to be embarrassed for no reason.

perhaps.

So I thought for a moment that maybe I was being more comfortable with the Savior and treating him more harshly.

As I become closer to people, they start to exploit my weaknesses. These people.

Even though I nag, you know that I’m secretly affectionate.

But I can see that the old man is worried that I might leave his arms.

“Hoo hoo hoo… … .”

At my laughter, the Savior wipes his arms and makes a terrified expression.

“Why are you laughing like that?”

“Just because. I think I chose a good company.”

“I should like it, but why do I get goosebumps? Do you know why?”

“I don’t know.”

Hahaha… …I know.

I don’t know about other people, but I have a feeling that the food chain between me and the Savior will never change.

It’s like the instinct of the prey to automatically shrink from the gaze of a predator.

But there is no need to tell you.

It’s no fun if I tell you.

Secretary Hong Seon-ah, who was shaking her head slightly next to me, seemed to have noticed… … Hehehe… … .

* * *

My first night abroad ended with a couple of cocktails.

I ended up pouring out all my excitement and emotions in a heavy voice.

“Explain it.”

Because of a woman who was looking at me and Nureong… no, Beomseok with emotionless eyes, with her back straight.

“……how have you been doing?”

“Let me explain first. I’ve already said hello.”

I didn’t try to interfere, I just waited.

What should I say… … this… … .

I’ve never been in a proper relationship before, so I don’t know much about marital relationships.

Even more so because I had never seen the relationship between a man and a woman up close since I was young.

Is that why…?

I used to imagine that when you see an ex-lover, there should be something painful and vague.

Well, or I thought about this too.

I get angry and upset.

That could happen if you meet someone you broke up with on bad terms, right?

But this… … is too… … I can’t feel any emotions.

At least in the eyes of Beomseok’s ex-wife.

“… … .”

When you look at me, your eyes are filled with all kinds of negative emotions like resentment and anger.

Rockstar Again Episode 146