CHAPTER 34
As soon as I stepped into the basement seminar room, I could smell the damp air. Even though an air purifier was humming loudly, it didn’t seem to help much.
“Should we sit here?”
“Yeah.”
As usual, Moon Ah-rin naturally took the seat next to me.
I was actually looking forward to Professor Cha Moon-ho’s class—the only one where I could sit alone.
I was getting ready for class when a familiar voice called out beside me.
“Seol, hi!”
I turned and saw Lee Hyun-ji and the other study group members standing there.
Ever since the study sessions, we sometimes ran into each other when our classes overlapped. Hyun-ji always greeted me with a smile.
“Hi.”
“We’re going to sit around here too!”
“This is the best spot. The professor doesn’t notice you much here.”
Is it?
I just sat wherever Moon Ah-rin told me to, so I wasn’t sure. I nodded vaguely, and the study members quickly filled the seats in front of us.
“Ugh. I’m dying because of assignments. Why do all the professors give homework every week?”
“Exactly. I had no idea we’d be pulling all-nighters like this.”
“Maybe it’s because of all the late-night snacks, but I’ve already gained 5 kilograms.”
I half-listened to their chatter when I noticed something unusual.
‘Shouldn’t Han So-yeon have started picking a fight with me by now?’
She was usually openly hostile, but today she was strangely quiet. I glanced over and saw her sitting in the corner with a headset on.
She looked dazed, like she was deep in thought.
Just then, Yoo Da-yeon smacked her on the back.
“Hey, Han So-yeon! Take off that headset already!”
Han So-yeon frowned and lifted one side of it.
“What? What is it?”
“You should take off your headset when talking to people.”
Yoo Da-yeon spoke like a kindergarten teacher. Choi Dong-hyuk waved his hand dismissively.
“Leave her alone. She’s been like this ever since Lee Ha-in’s new song came out.”
Lee Ha-in’s new song?
My ears perked up at the sudden mention.
“She acted like she didn’t care, but I guess she’s completely hooked.”
“You’re still streaming LAMIA though, right?”
“Oh! I even saw an entertainment article saying is about to break through LAMIA’s chart domination.”
It seemed that even though Han So-yeon was a LAMIA fan, she had fallen for Lee Ha-in’s new song—their chart rival.
“I-I’m still streaming LAMIA too, so it doesn’t matter, okay?!”
Han So-yeon protested loudly. But she sounded more defensive than convincing.
“I just listen to it when I’m bored. That’s all. Hmph.”
She quickly put her headset back on. It was clearly an escape.
Lee Hyun-ji and Yoo Da-yeon looked at each other and burst into laughter.
I almost laughed too, but barely held it in. It might look strange if I reacted.
Still, hearing that people liked my song naturally brought a soft smile to my face.
Seeing someone add my song to their playlist and replay it again and again right in front of me—
It felt unfamiliar and overwhelming in the best way.
I had composed countless songs alone. But having that music deeply move someone else was a completely different experience.
I felt strangely light, like I was floating in the sky.
“Seol.”
The soft voice near my ear snapped me back to reality.
I turned and saw Moon Ah-rin staring at me.
A chill ran down my spine. How long had she been watching me?
Her blank expression instantly changed into a bright smile.
Then she leaned closer and whispered casually,
“Lee Ha-in’s new song is going crazy lately. I looked it up, and apparently it was made by ‘Producer Min Chan-hyuk’ from ‘VTunes’!”
“Huh?”
“What’s with that reaction? Don’t you remember? The comment on your SoundCloud!”
My heart dropped.
Is she testing me?
It was too much of a coincidence to ignore. The very company mentioned in that comment had released this new song.
‘Still, she doesn’t have proof that the faceless composer YULE and I are the same person. That’s why she’s probing.’
That comment had only talked about sources.
Logically, it made no sense for a complete rookie like me to be credited as a composer for such a major comeback.
Even so, maybe something still felt suspicious to her.
I replied calmly on purpose.
“It was probably an impersonator.”
I shrugged.
“Do you really think it was real?”
“…Really?”
“Yeah. When they’re making new songs, companies send out inquiries everywhere. The impersonator probably saw that and just used the name to sound convincing.”
Moon Ah-rin stared at me closely, as if searching for any trace of a lie.
Then she smiled brightly.
“That could be it! You’re so smart, Seol.”
“No, really. I’m glad you stopped me back then. I almost believed it.”
I even thanked her on purpose.
As if I truly believed she had protected me.
Only then did Moon Ah-rin seem reassured. She suddenly hugged me tightly.
“See? That’s why I have to look after you~ If anything like that happens again, ask me first, okay?”
“Okay.”
When I obediently agreed, she smiled like a satisfied lion.
Still holding me, she continued talking.
“But it is interesting. That new composer for the song—everyone’s making a fuss because they’re faceless and mysterious.”
“Yeah.”
“They’re a rookie but super talented, apparently. Why wouldn’t they reveal themselves?”
She tilted her head as if she genuinely didn’t understand.
“Maybe they just want to live quietly.”
Or maybe they don’t want their identity discovered by the friend who will kill them in the future.
“If it were me, I’d step forward. Composers are basically freelancers who have to sell their work. What’s wrong with branding yourself?”
In fact, Moon Ah-rin had done exactly that.
She used her pretty face and young age to strengthen her image as a genius composer. The public loves geniuses.
“Everyone needs to become a celebrity these days. Once you’re famous, people applaud whatever you do.”
Her voice now carried a subtle ambition.
It clearly sounded like, ‘If I were in that position, I’d do even better.’
“Maybe they have their reasons.”
I answered vaguely.
Moon Ah-rin smirked and whispered,
“Right. There must be a reason they can’t show themselves. Maybe they have a huge scar on their face. Or maybe they’re so fat they can’t even leave the house.”
The mocking tone made me flinch.
Noticing my reaction, she quickly let go of me and put on a smile.
“What I mean is, if you don’t step forward confidently, people will misunderstand you. There will definitely be people who try to tear you down maliciously.”
The sharpness from a moment ago was gone.
Instead, she looked genuinely concerned about the rumors surrounding YULE.
Her gentle eyes and innocent features made it almost seem like I had imagined her earlier words.
‘That can’t be.’
If anything, that cruel comment was closer to her true nature.
Only I could see through the crack.
I forced a smile.
“You’re right. That’s probably true.”
Just then, the professor entered, cutting off the conversation.
“Alright, I’ll take attendance~.”
As names were called one by one—
Bzzz.
My phone vibrated.
It was a message from Min Chan-hyuk.
[Producer Min Chan-hyuk: Hey Seol]
[Producer Min Chan-hyuk: Heyyyyy]
[Producer Min Chan-hyuk: Emergency emergency]
I quickly replied.
[?]
As if he had been waiting, he responded immediately.
[Producer Min Chan-hyuk: Come to the studio tonight. Right now.]
