Chapter 73 (1/2)
Volume 2 / Chapter 73
TL: LightNovelCafe
Between the two, Yoon Jung Su was more surprised. The shock was great. Usually, lawyers did not get involved in this industry whether they gave the song first or they received the money to write a song. Since they were friendly, they trusted each other and paid an adequate amount.
If Jun Hyuk was already appointing lawyers, no singers or companies would want his songs no matter how good they were. They would all disregard him as a jerk who wanted money.
Jun Hyuk had not even made a proper debut in the entertainment industry, but he had created a firewall because of what he had experienced so far. It was regrettable.
Son Jin Young was already frowning. A brand new rookie who had been on broadcast once and had not even released a single was telling him to talk to a lawyer about money? And that was in the presence of a veteran senior. Jun Hyuk may have said it without much thought, but the person listening wanted to just give up the song.
However, they could not just overthrow everything when they had already convinced the main producer of the broadcast station. Son Jin Young grit his teeth and took the memo with the lawyer’s phone number.
“Alright, I’ll take care of this. Jung Su, I’m a little busy. I’ll get up first. Sorry.”
Yoon Jung Su could fully understand how Son Jin Young was feeling. He was already bearing through a lot just by suppressing his anger.
Jun Hyuk is not the only person with rights to this song, but also himself as the lyricist. There had been the prerequisite that the song was for Nam Seung Hee and he had written the lyrics accordingly. If something went amiss with the lawyer, he would become laughable.
However, Yoon Jung Su did not speak anymore. He thought that he must take time and slowly teach Jun Hyuk the rules and etiquette of this industry.
***
Lawyer Baek Seung Ho did not know that Jun Hyuk had written a song until he got a call from JSY. After quickly confirming, he met with the people coming to him with a contract.
“We are here from JSY. We’re here because of the song that Jang Jun Hyuk made…..”
“Oh, yes. I was waiting for you. But I haven’t heard the details relating to JSY.”
“I see. I guess you may not have heard because Jun Hyuk is living in the dormitory.”
The JSY legal team briefly described how Jun Hyuk wrote a song for Nam Seung Hee and that they were there to buy the song.
Baek Seung Ho reviewed the contract that JSY passed over.
“I see the composition fee is $5,000.”
“Yes. That’s the industry average amount.”
“I’ll have to discuss with Jun Hyuk, but do you know that Jun Hyuk left matters of money to my discretion?”
“Yes. That’s why we are sitting in front of you right now.”
This was the first time Baek Seung Ho was meeting with someone in regards to a song or composition fee, but it was also the first time JSY was meeting with a lawyer to acquire one song. It was custom for the musicians to settle these issues themselves to just send a contract back and forth.
“There is one thing I can tell you for sure. I don’t know what Jun Hyuk is thinking, but he will follow me if I say ‘no’.”
“I don’t know what you’re trying to say.”
“It’s simple. We won’t sell it at such a low price.”
“Whew…..”
This is why JSY did not like when lawyers got involved. They had a habit of unconditionally rejecting the first proposal. Lawyer made simple issues that could be settled in a friendly matter, difficult.
“Don’t look at it like that too much. We have good reasons for this.”
“Should we listen to those good reasons?”
“The key element of a transaction is not whether or not a poet wrote a song. The important thing is necessity. It’s a world where people pay $7,000 for a brand name handbag that doesn’t cost $50 to manufacture. Why? Because they need it. So don’t you think it’s a song that’s needed if a big company like JSY is trying to buy it for just $5,000? I want to sell it at an expensive price to someone who needs it.”
JSY was starting to dislike lawyers even more. Even though what they were saying made sense, they said it in a way that made the listeners feel unpleasant.
“We’ll sign this contract in a year.”
“Excuse me?”
It is over if he said that he would not sell it, but what did he mean by a year later?
“In one year, Jun Hyuk will probably be worth 10 times more. Bring back a new contract, or we’ll meet in a year.”
Baek Seung Ho knew that the value of goods changed the future. If they settled on $5,000 for Jun Hyuk now, he would be $5,000 even when he was worth 10 times more in the future.
The important fact was that no one yet knew Jun Hyuk’s worth. There was no idiot who would sell a diamond in its rough form without buffing it. They need to wait while sharpening and cleaning it to create its best appearance.
It was not even a situation where they were lacking money. It was not a time to hurry, but to wait until his elaborate and shining self appeared. Baek Seung Ho firmly believed that this was the best decision for Jun Hyuk.
JSY’s side that was not able to receive Jun Hyuk’s song took the contract and went back to the office. They needed to hurry up and let Director Son Jin Young know.
“Hey! I can’t believe it. The little brat is being arrogant because he gained a little popularity… Forget it. We don’t need it.”
Son Jin Young did not like Jun Hyuk or the ballad from the beginning. The answer was to go with a sexy performance as JSY usually does.
***
“Jung Su, we’re going to pretend the thing with Jun Hyuk’s song never happened. Honestly, I don’t even want to talk about it.”
Yoon Jung Su who had discerned Son Jin Young’s thoughts got off the phone and told Jun Hyuk.
“Jun Hyuk, have you heard the news?”
“Yes? What news?”
“The lawyer you mentioned said that he would not give the song to Nam Seung Hee. They said he asked for a lot of money.”
Yoon Jung Su was hesitant to talk about it, but he spoke cautiously.
“Did he?”
Unexpectedly, Jun Hyuk showed a dull reaction.
“Um… I don’t think Nam Seung Hee will be able to sing the song if it goes like this.”
“Well that’s fine. Someone else can sing it.”