The merger between VINCIS and Unice Music Group was a matter of global attention, extending far beyond the borders of the United States.
And why wouldn’t it be?
A world-class distributor joining forces with a label that produces hits destined straight for the Billboard charts.
In a sense…
It meant taking a partial monopoly over the massive music market.
Perhaps that was why lately, the news and articles were filled with nothing but talk related to it.
And ‘HS,’ the man standing at the center of that narrative, was once again becoming a burning hot topic in Korea.
At that moment.
Lee Duseok, who had just finished checking all the relevant articles, momentarily set down his glasses.
“Dear me.”
He shook his head while pinching the bridge of his nose.
“What is the matter, sir?”
Seeing this, the butler asked with a face full of concern.
It was only natural.
Not only were the articles related to HS… no, Hyunseung. But the content was positive, yet his master’s expression was far from good.
Normally, when he checked articles like this, he would usually have a gentle smile and look satisfied…
Was the Master perhaps seeing through to a situation he couldn’t perceive and worrying about it?
“I’m ruined, absolutely ruined.”
However, Lee Duseok only continued to click his tongue and shake his head.
‘Why is he acting like that?’
As a butler who had stayed by Lee Duseok’s side for a long time, he racked his brain to find the answer himself rather than prying further.
What exactly was ruined?
Was he worried that VINCIS, founded by Hyunseung, would be absorbed by Unice Music Group and lose its function?
No.
They said it would be run as an independent operation, so that couldn’t be it.
If not that…
Since Unice Music Group and VINCIS had joined hands to form a monopoly.
Was he worried that it would prevent a virtuous cycle in the music market?
Meanwhile, Lee Duseok looked down at the empty baduk board for a moment.
Clatter, tap!
He placed a black stone upon it.
Clatter, tap!
Then he placed a white stone as if to counter it.
Clatter, tap!
Clatter, tap!
Clatter, tap!
He continued to place black and white stones alternately.
Clatter, tap!
Before long, his hand stopped after placing a white stone.
He then calmly examined the board.
Soon, he began gathering the stones one by one, then played out the exact same match again as if replaying the previous moves.
Since he was playing alone, it wasn’t exactly a match, but his expression was more serious than ever.
“Hmm…”
In fact, Lee Duseok had been repeating this review dozens of times.
Yes.
It was the very first match he had played with Hyunseung.
“This was when I got caught, right here.”
Lee Duseok smiled lightly as he recalled Hyunseung’s face from their first game.
That face, acting so nonchalant as if he knew nothing, while handing over a single point.
“I ended up being conceited.”
Lee Duseok eventually left the baduk board behind, clasped his hands behind his back, and walked out into the garden.
Step, step.
After a moment.
“I thought I had no greed left, having lived as long as I have, earned as much as I have, and enjoyed as much as I have…”
He added softly, looking up at the sky which seemed exceptionally high as if autumn were approaching.
“But I was conceited, trying to beat a single young man.”
Though he used the negative word ‘conceited,’ his expression was not dark at all.
“That’s why I got caught.”
Without a single shadow, his face resembled the blue sky.
“I got caught good and proper. And because of that, I’m getting greedy.”
Lee Duseok finally let out a laugh he could no longer hold back.
“Goodness, I really am ruined.”
Then, he turned to the butler following behind him and asked.
“You, if I were to move to the United States, would you follow me?”
“Why the sudden move to America…?”
“The lad has become so busy, do you think he’ll come to Korea just to play baduk with me? So, I have to go.”
At those words, the butler looked at Lee Duseok with narrowed eyes. Then, as if realizing something, his eyes widened and he asked cautiously.
“Is the reason you looked upset perhaps because you can no longer play baduk with Master Hyunseung…?”
Before he could even finish, Lee Duseok replied, “Exactly.” He didn’t deny it at all.
“Ha…”
The butler let out a small sigh in spite of himself.
While Lee Duseok was a humble and pleasant person, he wasn’t someone who revealed his inner thoughts so clearly.
And yet…
To say so honestly that he wanted to go to America himself just to play baduk with a young man…
It was a side even the butler, who had been with him for decades, had never seen.
Just then.
Lee Duseok raised his hand to block the sunlight and muttered as if to himself.
“Now that he’s risen to the position of CEO of Unice Music Group, would there be anything he’d need to come ask of me?”
On his face, bitterness and longing intersected.
“If you mess with me, I won’t stay still.”
Having thrown out that warning and becoming the focus of the world’s attention.
Hyunseung was currently accelerating his preparations for his solo album.
Of course.
Since the merger was underway, there was a lot of work to handle and many places he was called to.
But thanks to having a capable secretary and his mom and dad, he was able to make time for his personal work.
Actually, he didn’t have much greed for the position of CEO of Unice Music Group, and he wasn’t even sure if he could lead it well.
“I am planning to retire soon.”
It was just that when Austin said he wanted to retire with that kind of face, he couldn’t bring himself to stop him.
For some reason, at that moment, Hyunseung felt like he wanted to see Lee Duseok.
As a pioneer of the entertainment industry who had run a massive agency and the person who helped him establish LS Enter, couldn’t he seek advice in various areas?
‘I should go play a match with him.’
Having made that decision, Hyunseung decided to focus on the work in front of him for now.
—♬ ♬ ♬
Anyone watching would say he had it easy.
—♬ ♬ ♬
Since he was just wearing a headset and tapping on a DJ console.
—♬ ♬ ♬
But Hyunseung was more fired up than ever.
—♬ ♬ ♬
Having been sucked into the genre of ‘EDM’ as if instantly addicted, Hyunseung was creating another genre by repeatedly experimenting within it.
He hadn’t started the work with the certainty that it would do well.
However.
As he layered instruments over the beat, added scratching, and overlaid voices, confidence gradually grew.
This will work.
Though he had never really obsessed over the performance of his songs before.
For this album, greed welled up from deep within his heart.
Was it because it was a genre he hadn’t tried before? That was true. But it was more accurate to say it was because it was a genre that didn’t exist in the world.
Yes.
Hyunseung intended to introduce a brand new genre that had never existed until now.
And if possible, he planned to participate in festivals with this song.
He said he didn’t like standing out…
But with the flame-marked helmet, couldn’t he do anything?
Speaking of which, he heard many helmet sponsorships were coming in; maybe he should upgrade the helmet design this time?
Knock, knock, knock.
Just then, a knock was heard.
“Hyung-nim!”
When he opened the door, Bap-al walked in with a bright smile.
Seeing a guy who looked so intimidating smiling and showing off his teeth like that only seemed to make the atmosphere more chilling.
“Annyeong-hasyeosseo-yeo? (How are you?)”
Bap-al had recently started using Korean more and more.
He couldn’t use long sentences yet, but he was at a level where basic conversation was possible.
Quite useless.
He had learned to pronounce words like ‘Pure Light’ or ‘Big Brother’ very clearly.
“Your Korean has improved quite a bit?”
“I am study hard-ly.”
“Is there a need to go that far?”
In response to Hyunseung’s question, Bap-al clenched his fists as if he had been waiting for this and answered.
“I will speak in Korean at the Grammys.”
The sight was quite cute, so Hyunseung gave a small reaction and asked back.
“Oh, what are you going to say?”
“Big Brother, nice shot!”
“Hey, that’s English.”
Hyunseung shook his head, thinking he shouldn’t have talked to an idiot.
“And don’t just use the word ‘shot’ with your face looking like that.”
He added as a warning to Jamal.
“Yes, sir…”
Jamal replied, his shoulders slumping.
He’s practically Korean now.
“But why did you call for me?”
“To ask for a favor.”
“Tell me anything. Who is it?”
Bap-al asked back, his face suddenly turning grim.
“Who bothered you again, Hyung-nim? Now I, like you, will not hold back and will handle them.”
The way Bap-al said that made him look dangerous.
Yes.
For some reason, it felt like the ‘handling’ he was talking about wouldn’t be within the boundaries of the law.
“It’s not that.”
Hyunseung flatly dismissed Jamal’s words and added.
“One is, on your way back, please deliver those boxes over there to Unice Music Group.”
“To whom at Unice Music Group?”
“Just, you know… well, there’s someone.”
Hyunseung’s lips twitched at the follow-up question.
He was simply too embarrassed to directly say the name Sarah Stewart.
Fortunatel, Bap-al was more interested in the identity of the boxes than that.
“But what exactly are those? Boxes with handles, they look quite suspicious…”
“What on earth is inside your head?”
“Hyung-nim?”
As if he didn’t want to hear anymore, Hyunseung waved his hand in the air and immediately continued.
“Forget it, and the other thing is, I want you to feature in just one single line in one of the songs on my solo album.”
At that, Jamal asked back, “One line?”
His voice was filled with disappointment.
To be fair.
Since he was told to come to the studio as soon as he was discharged, he must have had some expectations.
“We should perform with a new song now.”
Because he had said that before.
But that was for after the merger with Unice Music Group was fully completed.
“Are you disappointed because you thought I’d give you a whole song?”
Hyunseung poked Bap-al in the side and asked.
“No, sir. I am fine with even half a line.”
As if he had never been disappointed, Bap-al corrected his posture and asked with a look that said he was ready to jump into a fire right now.
“Should we start right away? Should I do it now? I cleared my entire schedule for today. You can torment me all night long if you want.”
“No, it’s really not to that extent…”
Hyunseung shook his head with a look of disgust as if Jamal’s intensity was burdensome.
“Just say one sentence as roughly as possible.”
Leaving behind the curious, wide-eyed Bap-al, he scribbled some words on a piece of paper.
“Just scream this sentence out.”
Then he handed the fluttering piece of paper to Bap-al.
“Huh?”
Before long, Bap-al’s eyes grew so wide it looked like they might pop out after reading the sentence on the paper.
“H-Hyung-nim…”
He looked at Hyunseung with trembling pupils and asked.
“Tonight, you’re going to tear me apart?”
Bap-al’s face was filled with more sadness than fear.
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