In the grand conference room, whose doors only opened for major executive-level meetings, many people were filling the seats inside.
By all rights, the air should have been heavy and somber, but currently, not a trace of tension could be found.
“Heh, heh.”
As if they were on a picnic, giggles and laughter continuously erupted throughout the noisy room.
“But, Director.”
At that moment, a man cautiously called out to Joshua.
Having only recently been appointed as a director, the man could not understand the current atmosphere in the room.
Right.
Every meeting he had participated in until now had been conducted in an atmosphere so grave and solemn that it was hard to even breathe.
Furthermore, this was the first meeting attended by the newly appointed representative…
Weren’t they all being a bit too relaxed?
Leaving those thoughts behind, he asked about his concern.
“What if he insists on proceeding despite the opposition?”
“We probably can’t stop him.”
“Pardon?”
“There isn’t a rule saying the representative can’t distribute songs.”
At Joshua’s answer, the man tilted his head in confusion.
“No, then, why….”
And for good reason.
This meeting was held specifically to oppose the first directive given by the new representative.
Moreover, it was an event organized by Joshua himself, who had gathered the executives.
And yet, he said they couldn’t stop him?
Did that mean he had started this without even thinking about the consequences?
“You’re wondering why I even called a meeting for something we can’t block?”
Joshua asked back, as if reading the man’s expression.
“Listen carefully, Allen,” he added, a thin, bitter smirk playing on his lips.
“This is just a welcoming party and a hazing ritual for the new representative. Just enjoy it.”
Looking at Joshua, the man named Allen couldn’t help but feel a lingering sense of unease.
Michelle, who was the only one to follow Hyunseung to Unice, stepped ahead of him and stood before the conference room door.
She then gazed quietly at Hyunseung, who was following behind.
She was asking if she should open the door immediately.
“One moment.”
Hyunseung asked Michelle for a moment of indulgence and adjusted his collar. He wanted to rip open the suffocating shirt and tie right then and there, but…
He couldn’t.
This, too, must be the weight of the power and authority he had now acquired.
When you pick one thing up, you have to set another down.
“Open it.”
Hyunseung tidied his appearance and gave the command to Michelle.
Knock, knock.
As soon as Michelle knocked on the door upon receiving the order, the murmuring inside ceased all at once.
Creeeeeak.
Before long, the massive doors of the conference room opened, and Hyunseung slowly stepped inside.
Clack, clack.
In the room, which was silent enough to hear the sound of his heels, many people were filling the seats.
Soon.
When Hyunseung reached the head of the table, they stood up simultaneously and bowed their heads slightly in greeting.
Of course.
They did not show the crowns of their heads.
“Please, sit.”
As Hyunseung’s voice lowered, everyone sat down as if they had been waiting.
Except for one person.
Killian, who was bowing at a ninety-degree angle as if in a moment of silence, was perfectly positioned to draw everyone’s attention.
“You sit too.”
Only after Hyunseung pointed him out and gave the order did Killian finally take his seat.
No, he did say he’d take my side, but isn’t this being a bit too blatant?
‘Sigh…’
Feeling the fatigue already rushing in, Hyunseung let out an internal sigh and took his seat at the head of the table.
“Since it seems we’ve exchanged enough greetings at the inauguration ceremony, shall we proceed with the meeting immediately?”
He then tapped the documents placed on the table and asked.
There was no need to read the room. Just by skimming the documents, he could tell why this meeting had been organized.
Right.
It was likely to block the release of his personal album.
If not that…
They intended to suppress his spirit once and for all.
“It seems I am the subject of today’s meeting agenda.” Hyunseung spoke, flipping through the documents.
“Shall we hear from the person who proposed this agenda?”
As he spoke, Hyunseung’s gaze was already fixed on Joshua.
Joshua also did not avoid Hyunseung’s gaze.
“Mmm….”
A tense atmosphere flowed between the two for a brief moment.
“It seems you already know that I was the one who proposed it?”
Joshua asked back, glancing sideways at Killian. It seemed he thought Killian had leaked information in advance.
He’s not as stupid as I thought.
Hyunseung looked back and forth between Joshua and Killian before speaking again.
“I just had a feeling it would be you.”
He then added, his gaze locked on Joshua.
“The person who would stand in my way.”
At those words, Joshua’s eyelids trembled slightly.
“Then, let’s hear it. Your reasons for convening a meeting on my very first day of work to oppose my distribution.”
Joshua curled the corners of his mouth as if trying his best to manage his expression, but the creases etched into his face showed no sign of disappearing.
No.
Perhaps he had no intention of hiding them?
“If you sit in the position of representative, shouldn’t you naturally do the work a representative is supposed to do?”
Before long, Joshua spoke slowly.
“It is time for you to accept that you are no longer a composer. Since you have come here as the representative of Unice Music Group, you should look after the company as a whole rather than working on songs.”
The words he spouted weren’t exactly pleasant to hear, but they were quite plausible.
Soon, the others sitting around him also began to nod in unison and agree with his opinion, as if they had rehearsed beforehand.
“Then, let me ask something else. Is there perhaps a regulation stating that a representative cannot distribute music?”
Hyunseung asked back, slowly scanning their faces.
Actually, it was a question he asked knowing the answer. That no such regulation existed within Unice Music Group.
He only said it because he couldn’t afford to look like a fool who knew nothing.
“It’s not exactly like that, but…”
Joshua trailed off for a moment.
“Wouldn’t releasing songs that don’t even deserve to be called music tarnish the name of HS?”
He continued, acting condescendingly as if he were being considerate of Hyunseung’s position.
“HS is now also a name that represents Unice Music Group. Therefore, I ask that you refrain from actions that disgrace the honor of Unice.”
With those final words, Joshua bowed his head slightly.
He looked quite polite, like someone who truly cared for the company.
If I weren’t careful, I might have been fooled.
“Songs that don’t even deserve to be called music…”
Hyunseung muttered, repeating Joshua’s words.
And then he regretted it. He should have brought his helmet. As expected, nothing was better than a helmet for hiding one’s expression.
“Mr. Joshua, I heard you’ve been composing lately. Is that correct?”
“Yes, that’s right… but what are you trying to say?”
“I mentioned it at the inauguration ceremony as well, that it would be better for you to do what you are good at.”
Before Joshua could continue, Hyunseung immediately added.
“Seeing as you call my songs ‘not even music,’ it seems you have absolutely no talent for composing.”
“Even if you are a great composer, Representative, it is unpleasant to have you judge someone else’s talent so arbitrarily.”
Hyunseung snorted, muttering “Judge?” under his breath. I think I’m the one who should be saying it’s unpleasant….
Right.
Joshua was someone he had met a few times in his past life—no, they had been somewhat acquainted.
Acquaintances through business, perhaps?
However, that relationship ended not long after.
“Can’t we just borrow a little between us?”
The cause was Joshua taking a part of Hyunseung’s unreleased songs and releasing them as if he had created them himself.
And was that all?
After a song he made while high on drugs luckily made it onto the Billboard charts, his tyranny grew worse and worse.
He took unknown composers and forced them to write songs.
He coerced them into signing buyout contracts and continued to release them to the world as if he had made them.
Eventually, that fact was discovered, and he was ousted from Unice.
It would have been fine if he was just ousted, but he disgraced the honor of Unice, a world-class music group and distributor, and caused the stock price to plummet.
For such a person….
To talk about the honor of Unice Music Group.
It was an increasingly unpleasant thing to hear.
Furthermore, to dare call his work “songs that don’t even deserve to be called music”, it seemed he would have to move up the date of his ousting in this life.
“Have you even listened to my songs properly? If you listened properly and still felt that way, then I even doubt your qualifications as a director.”
Hyunseung asked, forcing the corners of his mouth up.
“How about you do your best in your duties as an internal director? And stop creating things that disgrace the honor of Unice Music Group.”
When Hyunseung finished speaking, a heavy silence filled the room as if everyone was in shock.
It was because they were extremely surprised by Hyunseung’s words and actions, which hit back harder than they had predicted.
Especially Allen, who was sitting next to Joshua, was shaking his legs uncontrollably, unable to even hide his “I’m doomed” expression.
‘Should I switch sides now?’
Yes, that was exactly what was written all over his face.
“Whew….”
Joshua, who finally exhaled his pent-up breath, pressed down on his thigh to calm Allen.
However, even he had long since lost his characteristic jovial smile.
“It seems you are someone who suits being a composer better than a representative, Representative.”
Before long, he forced the corners of his trembling mouth up.
“I will take the advice you gave me today to heart.”
He adjusted his trembling voice accordingly and added, as if issuing a warning.
“However, I ask that you, too, please take the advice of us directors to heart.”
As if something had just occurred to him, Hyunseung let out a short “Ah.”
“I’m sorry, but the distribution is already finished. Right, Killian?”
He looked at Killian with a face full of playful mischief.
“Yes, it has been passed to the distribution team through the engineering team.”
Killian replied immediately, as if playing along with Hyunseung.
The others looked back and forth between Hyunseung and Killian with wide eyes. Not only had Killian attended the meeting, but he had also opened his mouth.
Right.
Killian had decided to join the Representative’s side.
Everyone seemed to be thinking that.
Well, at least they aren’t all stupid.
Hyunseung felt that any further meeting was unnecessary.
“Then, we’ll consider today’s agenda rejected….”
He then slowly rose from his seat.
“Since you’ve already gathered, why don’t you all stay for some refreshments? I shall take my leave now.”
He then bowed politely toward them.
Of course, without showing the crown of his head.
[ Business setting ] South Koreans as the land of good etiquette follow a strict protocol when greeting. Don’t wave your hand when you have just met someone in a business environment.
Deep Bow (Formal Bow – 45 Degrees or More)
- A sign of deep respect, gratitude, or apology.
- Common in professional settings, traditional ceremonies, or when expressing sincere apologies.
- Hands should remain at the sides, and the bow should be held for a few seconds.
Another variation for bowing is with both hands clasped in front of your stomach.
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