God of Music Chapter 96

"Right, now…?"

Kim JaeHoon was wary since he thought this went too easily. He was burnt to exhaustion due to problems with his management company until now. Even though he could sing well, it was hard to believe this situation because KangYoon straight up wanted to sign a contract.
However, seeing him hesitate, KangYoon also nodded in understanding and took a step back.

"Oh, I'm sorry. I was too excited because I heard a good song. Please excuse me."
"…Oh, okay."
"Here is my business card, so call me again after you think about it."

KangYoon gave Kim JaeHoon his business card. Kim JaeHoon put the business card that said 'CEO of World Entertainment, Lee KangYoon' into his wallet. Kim JaeHoon asked KangYoon, who didn't say any more.

"Do you perhaps not know… what kind of situation I'm in?"

Would he possibly not know the top news of the entertainment world right now? Kim JaeHoon asked just in case. KangYoon replied without hesitation.

"You are not in a good situation. After all, you have a 1.5 billion won (1.5 million USD) debt due to the breach of contract with your previous management company. Even after you did your military service, you…."
"Stop!"

He asked just in case, but KangYoon knew too well. It was hard hearing that story from someone else. KangYoon stopped saying and waited.

"It's just as you say, president. My situation is the worst right now. I won't be of help to this company."
"I don't have that many conditions. Skills, and the willingness to do it. You, Mr. JaeHoon, have both."
"……."

That was very idealistic. However, Kim JaeHoon was in his 30s. Moreover, he had suffered all sorts of hardships. KangYoon's words sounded like idealistic nonsense to him. He thought whether this contract would really profit this company. He was curious.

"…If you want to sign a contract with me, you'll need a lot of money. I'm going to ask for a lot to pay my debt."
"Well, don't you think that I'm willing to do it because I'm going to get just as much out of you?"

Kim JaeHoon was surprised to see KangYoon so calm. It was 1.5 billion. He could ask for even more for contract deposit. But seeing him so nonchalant, he was curious. He wanted to listen to what kind of conditions this person would give him.
KangYoon urged Kim JaeHoon.

"Aren't you having a hard time right now with all the calls?"
"……."

Kim JaeHoon gulped. He owed the bank as he had to pay the breach of contract fee to his previous company. However, he did not have the ability pay it back. And he was being pestered by the debt owners right now. From morning till night, he received calls and even emails asking him to pay it back. Not only that, debt collectors visited his house at least twice a week. KangYoon's words were right on the mark.

"You don't have a management, so you probably weren't able to do anything. At first, you must have gone to a large company. There, those people would have measured you from various angles; whether if you are valuable enough to invest in, or not. And they should have concluded: no."
"How would you know that?"
"If they did, you wouldn't be here."

Kim JaeHoon trembled as this was right on the mark. As he had to suffer because of his previous company, he wanted to join a big, stable company. However, those big companies did not accept him. After considering the latest trends, and the 4-year gap he had, they concluded that it was not worth investing 1.5 billion won to him.
KangYoon's words were trustable. However, Kim JaeHoon didn't sign the contract immediately. This was too big of a matter to decide in a short time.

"…Phew. I'll contact you after I think about it."
"Take your time I'm always open."

Kim JaeHoon shook his head and stood up. KangYoon saw him out the company.

"I'll call you later."

Said Kim JaeHoon as he left. KangYoon returned to his office.

"How was the audition?"

When he returned, Lee HyunJi was there. She put down some papers on KangYoon's desk and asked.

"His skills are as good as ever. It was top-notch."
"Are you going to accept him, then?"
"Yes."
"President."

Lee HyunJi was shocked to death. She shook her hand saying that this must not happen.

"It's 1.5 BILLION. Not million. With that kind of money, we would be able to buy a whole building if it's not in the capital. We're short on money now too…."
"There is that much value in investing in him."
"He will definitely ask for more than 1.5 billion for the contract deposit. Because his debt is immense…. If we do, we would have to give up on the concert venue. When that happens, there will be detriments to our plan."
"It will be a 3-month delay at best. In three months, we can take all that back."
"3 months?"

Lee HyunJi shook her said that that cannot possibly come true. She believed in KangYoon, but at times like these, he sounded like he was possessed by something.

"Looks like you'll become an evil president. Okay. What do we do about the copyrights that belong to the previous company?"
"That can't be solved in the short term, but we'll eventually have to get it back."
"I'm worried because we may be creating trouble for ourselves. Since you said that you will do it, you'll do it even if you must stamp out songs like a machine, right? I can rely on you for both the concert venue and Kim JaeHoon…. But I would hate to owe to the bank. I don't even want to think about their debt collection methods."
"I don't like incurring debts either."

KangYoon was fed up with debts. He even owed the mafia in his previous life and encountered all sorts of ways they collected their debts. He wouldn't owe someone even if he had to.

"3 months, huh. Haha. Just how much are you trying to extort him?"
"He'll cry blood. But he'll also sing to his heart's content and more, so he'll probably like it."

Lee HyunJi shrugged her shoulders and returned to her seat. She knew that KangYoon was the type of person who would do what he said. She believed in him.
After that, they sat down in their respective seats and started working.

"Thanks for your work."
"Bye."

Lee ChaHee and Lee HyunAh separated at the train station. As they headed in opposite directions, they went down opposite stairs.

"…She's popular."

Grumbled Lee ChaHee. On the other side of the platform, Lee HyunAh was giving out signatures to a few fans. She felt envious.
The hill felt more exhausting to walk up than usual today. The bass guitar on her back also felt heavier.

'When would I be able to give out signatures?'

Lee HyunAh's figure kept entering her eyes. Although they belonged to one team the center of attention was always Lee HyunAh. It would be a lie if she said she wasn't jealous, however, she knew that Lee HyunAh had given up going to Yerang entertainment because she wanted to be together with the team.

"*Sigh*. Such is life, I guess."

In the end, Lee ChaHee just shook her head. Her brain was confused with the complex range of emotions running through it.
She soon reached her home while walking. She climbed the stairs to the rooftop room. However, there was a guest in front of her house. It was a lady in a suit.

"Who are you?"

Asked Lee ChaHee to the lady. She was the only one living in the rooftop house. The woman saw Lee ChaHee and stood up.

"Hello? My name is Min HanNa. Do you happen to be Miss Lee ChaHee?"
"Yes. I am. What is it?"

She was wary seeing a stranger at this hour. Noticing that, the Min HanNa lady started carefully speaking.

"You don't need to be so tense, I'm not a stranger. I'm from Yerang entertainment."
"Ye….rang?"
"I'm here scout you out."

Lee ChaHee widened her eyes. A scout? This was out of her expectations. Min HanNa gave her the papers she had brought.

"Your last concert was very impressive. The slap technique at the chorus part was very good."
"Oh, that's…."
"Don't you need a proper stage? If you have any thoughts, then please contact us through this number."

She didn't say any more. She gave her a business card and left the rooftop house.

"A stage…?"

Lee ChaHee absentmindedly looked at Min HanNa as well as the business card.

Three days went past after Kim JaeHoon and KangYoon had met. However, he still hadn't decided his mind.

'Do I need to sign a contract with that place?'

He couldn't easily judge the guy called Lee KangYoon. When he asked Oh JiWan, he said that KangYoon was someone who had great skills and was trusted greatly by his singers while he was at MG Entertainment. Moreover, none of the employees there hated him….
He rolled around on his bed, the only furniture in his small house, when his phone started vibrating. The phone number was someone unknown.

'Dammit….'

Kim JaeHoon put the phone away in annoyance. This number was obviously from the debt collectors. He now knew that they switched between several phones to call him. Living in debt allowed him to realize some of these things.
The phone vibrated for around a minute before turning off. This process would repeat again in the afternoon. He was stressed out every time he even heard his phone vibrating.

'…World Entertainment, huh.'

Kim JaeHoon thought back to KangYoon. Whether it was Producer Oh JiWan or other people, there were a lot of people that knew about him. All of them complimented and praised his skills. With more than three people saying the same thing, they shouldn't be just complimenting him out of duty.

"…Let's talk with him once again."

Kim JaeHoon left his semi-basement room and headed to World Entertainment. When he arrived, he was met with KangYoon who was just about to leave.

"Mr. JaeHoon. Welcome."
"So you were on your way out."
"I was, but it looks like I gotta delay that for a bit."

KangYoon took off his coat and returned to his office. Kim JaeHoon followed suit. Seeing KangYoon's consideration for him, Kim JaeHoon felt good.
While Jung HyeJin brewed coffee, KangYoon took his time to call someone. Then he ended the call after saying that the schedule needed to be delayed a little. Lifting the cup of coffee in front of him, KangYoon started speaking.

"Have you rested well?"
"Yes. Thanks to you…."
"That's good. Have you thought about my offer, then?"

Kim JaeHoon shook his head. KangYoon smiled lightly and put down the coffee.

"So, it comes to this. Okay, then let us see at a later-"
"It's not that. Can I ask a few questions?"
"Go ahead."
"You should know that I'm in a difficult situation. Is that really okay with you?"
"Of course, that is not a problem at all."

Seeing KangYoon reply so naturally, Kim JaeHoon felt weird instead for being so worried. He didn't know just how this man in front of him could stay calm in this situation. He decided to probe him a little more.

"Please excuse me for asking this but does the company… have enough money?"
"We're in our starting phase, so we don't have that much luxury. To be honest with you, you'll have to work to death once you get your money."
"Okay. Then I want to listen to the specific plans that you have for me if and when I do enter the company."

This was the most important question. KangYoon took a deep breath before starting.

"For the first week, we'll leave you to rest. We'll even give you some money, so you can travel."
"That sounds good, hahaha."
"That's because hell will be waiting for you after that week. For 3 months after that, you won't get a single minute of rest."

Kim JaeHoon's eyes shined. He asked for more in curiosity.

"Am I going to go to events?"
"Rather than events, an album will come first. Don't you have one that you were preparing?"
"There was one I was preparing before I went to the military. I'm not sure if it will fit the current trends…."
"For that, we can consult our exclusive composer. She has the skills, so it should be fine."

KangYoon spoke about the details of his plan. It was a very Spartan schedule. There was almost no rest as well. As soon as the album is released, it would be events, then events, then more events. KangYoon was really planning to make Kim JaeHoon suffer in order to get his 1.5 billion won back. Kim JaeHoon was fed up after listening to so many types of events.

"Haha…. Such a detailed plan already…. Perhaps you really will get that money back if it works."
"May is the month of events after all. Shouldn't I take the chance while it's still warm?"
"Hahaha."

Kim JaeHoon laughed like he hadn't for a long time.
1.5 billion. It wasn't like he never earned that much before. He had earned even more money in his previous company with events. So, he found KangYoon's words quite reliable.
A moment of silence passed. KangYoon closed his eyes and Kim JaeHoon sat back down on the sofa.
After a bit of time, Kim JaeHoon spoke heavily again.

"…Will I really be freed from all of these weights in three months?"
"I can promise."
"……."

Seeing KangYoon so confident, Kim JaeHoon came to a decision. It felt as though he now had an ally when no one came to help him after his military service. It was completely different from the times he ran events by himself. He felt that KangYoon would be able to utilize him properly.
Kim JaeHoon organized his thoughts and spoke.

"I'll sign the contract."
"Well, it will be nice working with you, Mr. Kim JaeHoon."

The two shook hands.
World Entertainment now had one more singer, a male this time, amongst their ranks.

Chapter end