The day Ryu Won and Ryu Se-ah came together to record “Cantabile.”
“Uh… Miss Ryu Se-ah?”
“Ah, please call me Se-ah, it’s more comfortable.”
While Ryu Won was temporarily in the restroom, Kang Beom-jun cautiously approached Ryu Se-ah.
“Alright, Se-ah. Do you have any goals or dreams for the future? For instance, something like being a singer… or another singer perhaps? Hmm, I guess singer would be appropriate.”
“Ooh, is this a casting offer by any chance?”
“Haha. Guess I’m caught. So, what do you think?”
Despite Kang Beom-jun’s sudden proposal, Ryu Se-ah didn’t show the slightest trace of discomfort.
This was a question she had been pondering even before entering Seolhwa High School’s practical music department.
What kind of life was she supposed to live moving forward…?
But perhaps the answer had crystallized during her recent collaborations with her younger brother and through her first proper recording session today.
“Being a singer sounds great. But do I even have the talent to be one?”
“Hmm… didn’t your younger brother already answer that by giving you a song? In that sense, how does RT Entertainment sound? We don’t have much to boast about, but we do have Ha-on, an incredible composer.”
“Hmm. That feels more than enough to me.”
Ryu Se-ah and Kang Beom-jun smiled at each other, perfectly aligned in their thoughts, before shaking hands.
Just like that, a contract was formed right under Ryu Won’s nose.
And precisely one hour after the grand performance practice at Seolhwa High ended…
“President Kang? Could you explain this?”
Ryu Won, who had rushed to RT Entertainment headquarters, sat across from Kang Beom-jun and greeted him with a friendly smile.
Kang Beom-jun couldn’t help but feel as if a goblin sat in front of him.
But don’t worry.
Kang Beom-jun had everything in mind.
“Just give me a minute to explain.”
“Go ahead, take your shot.”
“So, how do you think Se-ah measures up as a singer?”
“Hmm.”
Ryu Won decided to humor Kang Beom-jun and seriously pondered his response to that question.
Surprisingly, the answer came easily.
“She’s incredibly talented. Maybe, among our peers, only Baek Ye-rin could surpass her.”
“Exactly! So wouldn’t the Cantabile you two collaborated on work well in the music industry?”
“It will.”
It was a straightforward answer.
Ryu Won thought “Cantabile,” by his personal standards, was already a very satisfactory piece, and Kang Beom-jun agreed completely.
“Then that’s it. There’s no reason not to bring Ryu Se-ah into our agency. Oh, and here’s some good news for you.”
“Did the auditions get canceled?”
“Precisely. With such talent walking right into our agency, there’s no need for auditions anymore. And wouldn’t Se-ah be the perfect singer to write songs for?”
Kang Beom-jun smiled faintly and asked Ryu Won.
Initially, the moment they finished working on the “Cantabile” track and after watching Ryu Se-ah’s performance today, Kang Beom-jun felt that Ryu Won’s answer might have been predetermined.
However…
“Why wasn’t I informed about this? From what I see, everyone else at RT Entertainment already knew.”
“Oh… well…”
Kang Beom-jun was mid-explanation when someone walked into the office.
“I asked for it to stay secret.”
Ryu Se-ah. She had arrived at RT Entertainment after completing the performance practice.
When Ryu Won saw her, his expression showed his annoyance as he questioned her.
“Why keep it a secret only from me?”
“It felt more surprising and fun that way.”
“What? That’s all?”
“Yeah. That’s the end of it. What’s the problem?”
…Crazy woman.
Ryu Won couldn’t help but curse his sister under his breath.
At this point, the deed was already done without his knowledge.
There was nothing he could do, and truthfully, there was no reason to reverse it.
Ryu Se-ah…she’s not a bad singer.
‘The conclusion is, if I keep feeding her good songs, everyone will be happy.’
Um… everyone… including me, right?
With such a somber doubt in mind, Ryu Won discussed Ryu Se-ah’s future activities.
As expected, their first topic was “Cantabile.”
Since the recording was already completed, it could technically be released as a digital single right away.
In fact, due to the news of Ryu Se-ah joining RT Entertainment, her performance video from today was already spreading rapidly online, gaining attention. Leveraging this momentum, RT Entertainment planned to release “Cantabile” as quickly as possible.
“The distribution side has been taken care of. It might even be released tomorrow.”
“Still as thorough as ever, I see. But…?”
“But?”
“Never mind. Just proceed as you see fit.”
While conversing, Ryu Won felt a slight discomfort.
It didn’t take long for him to realize the source of that discomfort.
Releasing “Cantabile” essentially meant unveiling a new song under Ha-on’s name but sung by an entirely unknown singer—someone other than Baek Ye-rin.
The problem was that this decision might significantly affect Ha-on, the composer.
*
[RT Entertainment’s new rookie singer? It seems that Kang Beom-jun has once again found another incredible high school talent…]
[Kang Beom-jun: “RT Entertainment is where young talents gather. We warmly welcome Ryu Se-ah to our team.”]
[Experts are beginning to suggest that RT Entertainment might dominate the landscape for the next decade.]
With the news of Ryu Se-ah joining RT Entertainment, the quiet world suddenly reignited with chatter.
But as I scrolled through the articles about my sister, I couldn’t help but sigh.
Had all the attention centered solely on her, I wouldn’t have had this sigh-inducing moment.
[Listen to Cantabile. It’s a perfect track to enjoy on a bright sunny day. It’s bright and energetic, making you feel good without trying.]
└ Is there anyone who hasn’t heard this yet? If it’s a Ha-on song, you should at least give it a listen.
└ Ha-on doesn’t hit the charts by chance. “Cantabile” has already started climbing the rankings right after release.
└ But Ha-on gave the song away for a high school performance? That’s wild.
└ Still, he goes all out even with beginners. If you hate it, go get connections.
└ He even envisioned and produced the performance—it’s mad in every sense.
[Ha-on proves it once more. Time to stop crediting his success to Baek Ye-rin.]
└ That’s just throwing stuff around. Baek Ye-rin is undoubtedly an extraordinary singer, but she shines even more with the insane work of this composer.
└ In fact, Ha-on is the best now among active composers. Just look at his achievements, performances, and the quality of his music.
└ Industry people are already scrambling to work with Ha-on. That says it all.
└ From the moment Ha-on started working with someone other than Baek Ye-rin, the unspoken rules have broken. Earlier, there was an atmosphere of untouchability about him only working with her.
└ I’m in the music industry. After the release of Cantabile, many agencies, even major ones, have tried reaching out to Ha-on—though they’ve all been refused.
└ ㄷㄷ
[Hearing Ha-on’s songs, you can’t help but get emotionally moved. There’s this charm that keeps pulling you back to listen.]
└ So in conclusion, just leave him alone while he crafts more songs.
└ Should we start a petition?
└ Let’s do it!
└ Sounds good!
[Finally, the world is moving in the right direction.]
└ Ah, this guy again.
└ I can’t forget Ha-on because of this person.
└ It’s true that even before, Ha-on was frequently mentioned because of Baek Ye-rin.
└ Why do you keep bringing up Baek Ye-rin?
└ Baek Ye-rin always thanks Ha-on during interviews and sometimes showers him with insane praise.
└ Baek Ye-rin fans know she deeply respects Ha-on.
└ How alpha does this guy have to be for Baek Ye-rin to praise him like that?
└ Though his gender has been confirmed as male.
└ His mysterious concept keeps the identity unknown to everyone except those in RT Entertainment.
└ Phew, glad to know that!
└ ?
…Strange. No matter where I look, it’s all about me.
Because of collaborating on a single song with my sister, the situation has completely turned upside down—it’s a world I understand yet don’t.
“Hmm…”
As I pondered this, an unpleasant laugh sounded beside me.
It was Kim Tae-hwan.
He looked oddly cheerful, smiling slyly.
After all, wasn’t achieving what he longed for all along the rise of Ha-on, who would finally gain proper recognition?
And it was slowly becoming a reality.
“Should’ve happened sooner, but was overshadowed by Baek Ye-rin for a while. If I had to compare, it was like a balloon about to burst, wasn’t it?”
“So, the balloon was burst by the person themselves?”
“Considering that Ha-on has always chosen actions that were bound to pop the balloon, yeah. So, what do you think?”
“About what?”
“Isn’t this really the dawn of Ha-on’s era?”
I couldn’t help but give Kim Tae-hwan a bitter smile in response.
I don’t know, dude.
On the other hand…
“Amazing, as always.”
While heading to her next schedule, Baek Ye-rin couldn’t help but smile as she listened to “Cantabile” through her earphones.
No matter who sang it, his music was just that good.
Especially when he sang it himself.
“Were you referring to Cantabile?”
At that moment, Baek Ye-rin’s manager, Lee Ha-ri, spoke up from the driver’s seat.
“Unexpected, though.”
“What is?”
“I thought you wouldn’t want anyone else to sing his songs. But you seem to quite happily welcome this news.”
Baek Ye-rin gave a slightly bitter smile in response to Lee Ha-ri’s observation.
Because it wasn’t completely accurate.
Truthfully, Baek Ye-rin wanted to be the only one singing his songs. She wished he’d only create music just for her, looking at no one else but her.
From the start, Baek Ye-rin had confidence.
Confidence that she could sing songs capable of making him look at no one but her.
But that was greed.
Baek Ye-rin knew it all too well.
That she was loved by so many and shone on stage was all thanks to this person named Ryu Won.
How great he was could only be understood best by Baek Ye-rin herself.
And so, this question naturally arose.
Why shouldn’t he shine brilliantly too?
Why does he give up that privilege for her?
…Suddenly,
“The sky can’t have two suns, can it? I just hope the sun is always Baek Ye-rin.”
That day’s words came back to her.
Recalling those words, Baek Ye-rin found herself smiling faintly.
Yes. Now she felt she could fully repay those words.
Baek Ye-rin wholeheartedly agrees with Ryu Won’s opinion.
There cannot be two suns in the sky.
Only, Baek Ye-rin believes that sun shouldn’t be herself.
After all, she has felt this way since the moment she first met him.
“Ha-ri, could we extend our schedule a little?”
“We already have a pretty packed day. Is there any particular reason?”
“Hmm… recently, I’ve been thinking that a wealthy woman might be more attractive.”
“Ah, trying to stack more charm on top of what you already have?”
Baek Ye-rin’s innocent remark left Lee Ha-ri with nothing but a wry laugh.
