As I spent each day in a whirlwind of practice, the release date for “more than just music” suddenly arrived just one week away.
“Hyunseung.”
“Yes.”
“Min Geumdong.”
“Yes.”
“Etchis.”
“Yes.”
“Choi Jihyun.”
“Yes.”
Kim Woohyun, feeling unnecessarily nervous, called Hyunseung over again. Seeing them like this, there really are a lot of names.
For a while, people would probably call him ‘Choi Jihyun’.
“Now…”
Kim Woohyun lifted the desk calendar on Hyunseung’s work table and murmured softly.
“One week left.”
While the release of Hyunseung’s song was always something to look forward to, this time the depth of anticipation itself was different.
And it wasn’t just anyone singing it—Vincent Mah, wasn’t it?
Of course.
Among the singers Hyunseung had worked with so far, there were those called the top. Starting with Moon Beomjae, then Kim Gwangjin, and even Lee Young-ah.
All singers unknown to no one in South Korea. Not to mention, recently, even Sarah Stewart.
But it might sound cruel, but no one could match the reputation Vincent had built up until now.
And no wonder…
The current Vincent is someone who could say it’s harder for his name not to appear on the Billboard charts. From his debut until now, he hasn’t had a single flop.
Not only are his album sales overwhelming, but he’s also dominated the Billboard all-time charts to the point of sweeping every top spot, carving out a defining era in 21st-century K-pop.
Hearing that such a monumental figure would sing Hyunseung’s song left him both dumbfounded and filled with awe.
Yeah.
It still didn’t feel real. He had definitely listened to it for monitoring purposes, but strangely, it hadn’t sunk in as reality.
He figured it would only feel real once the official release started and he saw the name on the charts with his own eyes.
However, it seemed he was the only one thinking that way.
“What’s left for a week?”
Hyunseung asked with a blank expression, as if he knew nothing.
“Huh? You’re not seriously asking because you don’t know, are you?”
“I don’t know? Is it special meal day?”
Kim Woohyun let out a deep sigh, the last of his strength draining from his body as he slumped down and sat on the floor.
“You’re not a kid, why are you sitting on the filthy floor like that?”
Hyunseung’s words made him taste utter helplessness for a moment.
“It’s because of you, you idiot.”
He grabbed Hyunseung’s outstretched hand, dusted off his butt, stood up, and continued his scolding.
“It’s the day your song gets released. Aren’t you being too indifferent?”
“You know I’m not the type to care about that stuff.”
“It’s not just anyone singing your song—it’s Vincent.”
At that, Hyunseung suddenly raised one eyebrow and asked in a cold tone.
“What’s that supposed to mean?”
“What do you mean, ‘what’s that supposed to mean’…”
“What’s different?”
“No, but still…”
Then he added very firmly.
“To me, they’re all just instruments anyway. I’ve done my part, so the outcome is now in Vincent and Unice Music Group’s hands.”
Ah, right. That’s the kind of kid Hyunseung was. Consistently maintaining an attitude that never cowered before any singer…
Whether a rookie singer, a trainee, someone his father’s age, or a global pop star, he treated them all as mere instruments….
In a way, he was the most egalitarian guy around.
No. He was our precious one, free of prejudice.
Kim Woohyun nodded and lifted the calendar.
“Yeah, you’re right….”
After a moment, he drew circles wildly over the date “21st” written on the calendar and added softly.
“Unice really needs to do well.”
Exactly.
It was Vincent Mah’s release date, meaningful only to himself.
* * *
Sarah repeatedly closed and reopened the internet window, as if she couldn’t believe her own eyes.
And no wonder… At this very moment, when the Billboard Top 100 was being updated…
That is to say, exactly half a day after Vincent’s song was released.
‘This is impossible.’
His song had already charted within the top 100.
Of course, it wasn’t an unexpected result. Given Vincent’s solid name value, charting on the Billboard was a natural outcome.
Above all, the song was good.
However, it was unusual that he released it the day before the update, so she wondered why he made that choice, since it wouldn’t get much counting…
Apparently, it was confidence backed by reason.
“Damn it…”
Sarah Stewart slammed her fist on the table, seething with frustration.
Vincent didn’t immediately climb the Billboard charts upon release.
It was simply because she couldn’t resist the desire to sing “more than just music” created by HS himself.
Right.
Vincent coveted ‘Black angel’, so wasn’t it okay for her to covet “more than just music” too?
Besides, as fellow artists under the same Unice Music Group, he could just release it under the plausible banner of a <Collaboration Remake Album>.
‘Good idea?’
Sarah Stewart deemed it such a decent plan she felt rather pleased with herself.
Just as she thought she should act on it immediately and reached for her phone to contact the original artist, HS,
Riiing-!
A message from HS arrived with such perfect timing it made her wonder if he was watching her.
[ I’ll specially invite you to my fan meeting. ]
A fan meeting out of the blue? Does that composer even hold fan meetings? Then again, with a face like hers, she must be considered stunning in that country, probably receiving celebrity-level treatment.
Beep-!
Then, another text arrived immediately after.
[ You can bring your whole family. ]
Sara’s face darkened sharply as she read the messages.
“Family…”
She stared blankly at the screen, muttering to herself for a moment.
Thud-!
She flipped her phone over and turned the music up loud.
─ ♬ ♬ ♬
It was a desperate attempt to immerse herself in her own world.
* * *
Exactly 24 hours had passed since Vincent’s “more than just music” was released.
Needless to say, not just Korea, but the entire US was buzzing.
They said the Emperor of Pop had returned.
It truly was the Emperor’s return, just as the rumors claimed. The real-time Korean music platform charts had already placed it in the top ranks.
On the Billboard chart, which updates weekly, it had climbed to #95 based on just half a day’s worth of data.
Countless music critics lavished praise, hailing him for creating a new genre of music.
Not to mention the MV…
Vincent’s personally uploaded live practice video was racking up unprecedented view counts.
And that wasn’t all. Across the United States, even composer Matteo, a living legend in the pop music world, opened his SNS window the moment he heard Vincent’s song.
Tap, tap-tap-tap-.
He wasn’t the type to do this sort of thing, and having aged as much as the time he’d spent building his reputation in this industry, he wasn’t familiar with SNS.
So, rather than doing it himself, he usually left it to his company and just lurked. But now, for some reason he couldn’t explain, he felt compelled to write something.
Tap, tap-tap-tap.
He typed, clumsily but carefully, one character at a time.
Yes.
His intuition was telling him this was what he had to do, stimulating his prefrontal cortex intensely.
We shouldn’t focus on Vincent now, but on the song “more than just music” – a piece that reveals every single one of his charms without exception.
This isn’t about focusing on the New York Philharmonic’s fantastic playing. It’s about focusing on the creator who fundamentally made this song, the person named ‘Choi Ji hyun’.
And rightly so. Listening to a piece that blended seamlessly with Vincent’s voice, he naturally checked the composer’s name.
It was his habit to check who composed a piece he liked.
When he thought a piece was good and checked, it was usually a familiar name. In this field, composers who could satisfy Matteo’s ear weren’t that common.
But wasn’t that a name he’d never seen before in his life? What’s more, Korean characters were written before the English.
Choi Jihyun
That meant Vincent had sung a song by an overseas composer.
Of course, Vincent didn’t only sing songs by American composers. He would sing songs by famous composers from across the US and Europe whenever he could.
Ah. Of course, the keyword ‘famous’ was essential.
But this Choi Jihyun…
I’d never heard of her before in my life… no, I’d never even heard a similar name.
Wondering if this might be some famous composer’s interesting challenge, he listened to the song repeatedly, analyzing its tone, but no specific composer came to mind.
Moreover, to use the New York Philharmonic, renowned for its prestige and high standards, as a session band?
And this wasn’t even the first time.
They had already released a New Age track with the New York Philharmonic once before.
‘What on earth is this person doing?’
It’s true that Paul, who currently serves as the de facto head of the New York Philharmonic, is a bit of an eccentric.
But there was no way he would have given someone without talent the opportunity to perform with the New York Philharmonic.
Presumably Korean.
Two collaborations with the NYPO.
Distributed through Unice Music Group.
That was all the information available on Choi Jihyun, whose gender remained unknown.
Ah, I left one thing out.
Exceptional compositional talent.
Yes, while his background remained a mystery, his skill was undeniable.
Wasn’t he the one who enabled Vincent, whom everyone thought had nowhere left to climb, to leap even higher? We can look forward to seeing what Choi Jihyun will show us next.
So, it just makes me even more curious.
Tap tap tap-!
Matteo’s fingers hovered briefly over the keyboard.
If he were to look into the mirror of his inner self and speak his true thoughts, well, perhaps it’s this sharp sense of vigilance that’s driving him to write this now.
Adding one final, highly provocative remark, he completed the upload to SNS.
‘If you’re curious, you’ll have to find out.’
Anyway, by pouring fuel on the ‘Choi Jihyun’ keyword, the public will naturally ramp up the heat.
And soon enough, they’ll bring it right to me.
But I can’t just sit back and wait.
Curiosity needs quick resolution for mental health.
Yeah, maybe I should take action myself.
Riiing-!
Mateo immediately picked up the phone and dialed a number.
After a moment, just as the ringing was about to stop, a deep voice came from the other end: “Hello?”
“Why did it take you so long to answer?”
Mateo asked reproachfully, as if scolding the other person.
─ Haven’t you ever considered that you only call when I’m busy?
“Unfortunately, I haven’t thought about it yet? Blaming me for everything won’t do you any good.”
─ Seeing how you still live spouting carefree nonsense, you must be less old.
“That’s why your voice sounds at least ten years older than mine.”
The two, who had been bickering, simultaneously burst into hearty laughter.
As the laughter subsided, Matteo added one last thing.
“It’s been a while since we met, so I’d like to talk about music… What do you say, Paul?”
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