Chapter 37: Excessive Humility Can Be Poison

There was one truth I had realized during my not-so-long working life.

There was a rule that no one openly talked about, one that wasn’t visible to the eye, yet undoubtedly existed between people.

For example… if something goes, something must come back?

Some called it tact, some called it a promise, and some called it loyalty.

“Our Writer Seo, you’ve got loyalty.”

From the looks of it, CEO Kim Minsoo seemed to think of it as loyalty.

“It’s not loyalty. It’s debt re… re…”

“Check it out…?”

“Aaah, CEO, please…”

Whoops. I almost blurted out “debt repayment.”

It was true that CEO Kim took good care of Sierra’s salary, gave discreet support under the name of severance pay, and showered my songs with praise that skyrocketed my self-esteem.

It was also true that every time we met, he treated me to Korean beef that cost over 100,000 won per serving.

And he even let me see magnificent equipment I would never have gotten to touch in my lifetime.

Hmm… now that I think about it, I really have received a lot.

Still, calling it debt repayment felt too cold and stiff.

What would be a better term?

After some thought, I decided to sum up this vague concept as a scale.

A transparent two-pan balance where each side weighs the other.

It’s best when this scale hovers in a delicate equilibrium.

If it tilts to one side, it will lose balance and topple.

“Do you have a singer in mind?”

“Hmm… there are a few, but I’m not sure.”

Taeyoon awkwardly rubbed his sideburns.

It was something he couldn’t quite say outright.

He wasn’t the type to say, Who are you to even dream of that? —but still… Hey, there’s something called common sense in this business, you know! That much he would probably say.

“Ohh, really?”

“For now, it’s just in my imagination.”

“And who’s the lucky winner?”

Though I said it jokingly…

Kim Minsoo felt like his heart was about to burst.

That—the words “I’ll trust and leave it to you.”

That’s not something you say to just anyone.

Especially when it’s someone like Taeyoon, who has just debuted and is starting to gain traction.

Normally, at that time, people trust no one but themselves.

And that was only natural.

After all, he’d smashed through the ceiling with his debut track—this was exactly the period when his ego should be soaring.

Han Yujin’s 2nd single album had already surpassed 300,000 in first-week sales, boasting an overwhelming record for a female soloist. Possibly… the first in the industry?

And it was even the title track? Game over.

He wouldn’t even hear what others said. There was no reason for him to come out this politely.

I am STaY.

One word from him would bring a downpour of contract offers.

“Lucky… If you think of me that way even though I’m still a rookie writer, that would make me really happy.”

What a sweet kid. What a commendable kid.

Kim Minsoo felt like hearts would start spilling from his eyes.

That was definitely not empty, superficial modesty.

Being able to see yourself objectively—he believed that, for a creator, there was no greater weapon than that.

Ahem.

After clearing his throat once, Kim Minsoo quickly changed his expression and asked,

“It’d be nice if you could tell me in advance.”

“…Hmm. I’m not sure if I should even say their names.”

“Taeyoon-ah. Excessive humility can be poison. Just tell me. You know I’m not in ‘hyung mode’ right now—I’m in ‘CEO mode,’ right? Just say it. I’ll even catch you an alien if you want.”

Taeyoon shook his head up and down a few times.

Since things had come this far, there was no reason to hesitate anymore.

No matter what anyone said, he had confidence in his songs.

Whether it worked out or not—let’s just go for it.

And it’s not like he was asking for Ariana Grande, right?

“Actually, there are many singers in Korea who are great at singing. For example, the one who recently went solo… what was their name again…”

Kim Minsoo’s eyes went wide like ping-pong balls, and his mouth just opened and closed soundlessly.

Crash, bang, boom—suddenly, wasn’t Taeyoon rattling off several artists’ names?

Is he seriously talking without even pausing to breathe?

And after all that talk about not knowing whether to even mention them…

Each name he mentioned was no joke. At this rate, it wouldn’t be an exaggeration to say he’d summoned every top-tier singer out there.

“These days, there are so many people who sing well. Among the hidden masters…”

Blah blah blah—more artists popped out.

By this point, Kim Minsoo was getting confused.

Surely he wasn’t asking him to contact all of them…?

Is he doing this on purpose?

Taeyoon had intent behind every word he spoke. I had figured that out long ago.

After listing countless singers who sang well for a long while, Taeyoon finally said,

“But I think singing well and fitting a song well are two different things.”

“……!”

He met Kim Minsoo’s eyes with a serious expression and spoke slowly.

“My thoughts have been the same from the very beginning until now. Someone who can express this song better than anyone else. And that person is……”

While Taeyoon was heading back to Sierra at that moment—

Kim Minsoo urgently drove to a certain place in Hongdae.

“Phew.”

A sigh of relief escaped him.

At first, only so-called “top-tier” names had come pouring out of Taeyoon’s mouth.

To the point where I thought, Is this kid testing me?

But then, that wouldn’t be any fun.

The singer Taeyoon truly wanted wasn’t a former idol-turned-soloist riding a huge wave of publicity, nor the emperor of ballads dominating the charts.

How does a young guy like him even know the teacher?

To think I’d hear that name from Taeyoon’s mouth.

Heh.

I couldn’t stop smiling the whole way there.

After hurriedly parking and rushing down into a shabby basement restaurant—

“Let’s work on a project together.”

Without even a greeting, he dove straight into the point with Moon Jungbae.

“Are you a gangster? What’s with talking work the moment you arrive?”

“It’s about time you started singing again, isn’t it?”

“Why are you acting like this too?”

“Ah, come on, just this once…!”

“No. It’s useless anyway. Go back.”

The only thing that came back was a cold dismissal.

Well, this much was within expectations.

“Geez, you’re still as stubborn as ever.”

“And that makes a dozen complete.”

“What are you talking about?”

“You’re the twelfth one this year. To come find me.”

“What, are you treating people like pencils now?”

“Better than calling it a pack, isn’t it?”

Moon Jungbae added as he pounded pork loin with a thump-thump.

“I was wondering why you, Minsoo, hadn’t shown up yet. I might have been offended otherwise.”

“I’m the one who should feel offended here.”

The legend of rock.

The pioneer of rock.

The father of rock, and so on.

He was a man with such dazzling titles.

Naturally, his comeback was one of the hottest topics in the industry.

Industry people coming to beg and plead was as ordinary as pounding pork cutlets here.

This is a restaurant, not a temple, you know?

He swallowed the urge to say, Why does everyone who comes here only beg? and instead answered,

“Not fun.”

A short but intense remark.

“What isn’t?”

“Music.”

To that, Kim Minsoo replied with a sharp remark.

“Come on, at least make your lies consistent. If you’re so bored with it, why do you listen to every new release? And it’s not like collecting idol photo cards is your hobby.”

Zap.

Moon Jungbae’s eyes twitched for a moment, but then returned to their easygoing look.

That Kim Minsoo…

He sensed immediately that this man wasn’t an easy opponent.

Different from the ones who brought bags of cash and clung pathetically.

He had known him for a long time. This wasn’t someone who would make such statements without something to back them up.

His sharp instincts reacted.

And that sly smile… it meant he had some hidden card up his sleeve.

Still, he decided to feign ignorance for now.

“What are you talking about? Who says so?”

“I saw it on my way in. On the waybill of the delivery box you put out for recycling.”

“Have you fallen so low as to dig through trash now, Mr. CEO?”

“I’m struggling here. Please help me out.”

“Wow, now the CEO’s trying to take away even a small business owner’s livelihood? So this is what ‘robbed poverty’ feels like…”

“Ah, I’m joking. Just joking!”

Kim Minsoo waved his hand with a sly grin.

This man—no matter what he said—always had music on his mind.

Age wouldn’t erase that passion.

Kim Minsoo knew it.

Moon Jungbae—this man surely cared more about the industry than anyone.

The mountain of CDs stacked by the counter, many of them clearly recent releases.

Idol, trot, pop—it didn’t matter.

He bought them all.

“It’s just a hobby. Like when Steam has a huge sale—you have no time, but you still buy games and leave them there. Or like fountain pen users buying bottles of ink just to look at them. That’s all.”

“Wow, that’s true love right there.”

“What are you talking about?”

“I’m saying collecting like that—it’s something you can’t do without genuine affection.”

“That’s true.”

“Right?”

“True enough to get beaten.”

Thwack, thwack, thwack.

Watching Moon Jungbae click his tongue and go back to pounding pork cutlets, Kim Minsoo couldn’t help feeling exasperated.

But at the same time, he understood. After all, he was like a mentor to him.

To show up after so long and immediately say let’s work together—he had no right to complain about the cold reception.

He decided to change tactics a little.

“So, what are you listening to these days?”

“I told you, nothing.”

“Then why’s the Maron Top 100 playing in your store?”

“Don’t you know about being considerate to customers?”

“Are flies customers too?”

“Go. Please.”

“Whoa, why are you holding that pork cutlet mallet this way? You’re scaring me.”

“Is there even anything you’re afraid of?”

Thwack, thwack! Bang, bang!

Moon Jungbae, who had been pounding the meat with practiced skill, slowly opened his mouth.

“That… you know… never mind. Are you really not eating?”

“Why don’t you fry me a piece and see?”

“Make sure you pay properly when you leave.”

Though his tone was curt—

He was glad to see his student who had come after such a long time.

Even the sound of the meat frying felt refreshing.

His gaze, which had been fixed on the pork cutlet submerged in oil, shifted to Kim Minsoo.

Should he ask, or not?

After a moment’s hesitation, Moon Jungbae simply shook off the crumbs from the meat.

There was an album that had caught his interest.

A single album he’d bought, almost spellbound, because of its striking jacket design.

He’d listened without much expectation.

He’d just been curious what kind of song a record label that planned such a cover would release.

…It did surprise me a little.

It had landed on the charts, and everyone who came in couldn’t stop talking about that song.

He’d been itching to talk about it.

But he couldn’t bring himself to.

At his age, it would be a relief if people didn’t call him shameless.

When there was no sound from the kitchen for a while, Kim Minsoo, seated at the table, called out,

“Pour the sauce, please.”

“Got it.”

A pork cutlet was placed in front of Kim Minsoo.

The crispy coating soaked in soft sauce crumbled in his mouth.

Yes—this was it.

In no time at all, Kim Minsoo had cleared the plate-sized cutlet and spoke up.

“Ssshh… It’s a waste to have you just frying pork cutlets.”

“Be glad I can still even fry pork cutlets at my age.”

“Your voice hasn’t aged a bit, though.”

“How can a producer say something like that?”

“It’s actually gotten deeper and richer. Our Teacher Moon’s voice… it’s sexy. Just kills me.”

“You want to be turned into a pork cutlet? Wait here, I’ll get my mallet.”

“Hey, hey, please restrain yourself.”

Really, if only he couldn’t talk…

Moon Jungbae shook his head.

He once agreed to give drum lessons at the earnest request of an acquaintance.

That was already 20 years ago.

When he’d heard it was for a chaebol family, he’d said yes without hesitation.

A chaebol family’s son as a drum student! Surely the lesson fees would be generous. Back then… he was a bit strapped for cash.

“I should never have taken you as a student.”

“You got paid a ton for lessons.”

“I didn’t know back then that you’d turn out to be such a slacker.”

“I didn’t know back then either. I thought you were just a skilled drummer—who knew my teacher was such an incredible vocalist? And still a handsome middle-aged man! A top-level drummer, and your vocals are beyond words. Tsk, if this isn’t an overpowered character, what is it? Like an anime protagonist—‘the guy frying pork cutlets turns out to be a genius vocalist’—that kind of thing?”

“Cut it out.”

Even though he turned his head and pretended to tidy the shop—

Kim Minsoo saw it.

That Moon Jungbae’s lips were curling up and his eyes had turned into crescents.

Now was the time.

In his mind, he ran through dozens of possible lines and scenarios.

Please just listen to one song, I’ll leave a USB here, There’s a composer I know, and they say it has to be you…

Polite? No, that wasn’t it. Groveling? Even worse. What would be best? He couldn’t decide on a clear answer.

But when he thought about it—those kinds of things?

Utterly useless.

A man goes straight!

Kim Minsoo pulled out his phone.

His index finger hurriedly scrolled up and down the screen.

Watching this, Moon Jungbae spoke while clearing plates.

“It’s almost closing time. If you’ve got urgent work, go do it at your office.”

He tilted his head slightly.

Kim Minsoo wasn’t the kind of guy to end things like this.

Still, his mood was fairly good.

If he’d been momentarily pleased by an old story from this oddball, that was enough.

Just as he picked up a tray to head into the kitchen—

“…Huh?”

Suddenly, an all-too-familiar song began to play.

He lifted his head and looked at Kim Minsoo.

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