Godsent Top Star [EN]: Chapter 325

325. No, So Suddenly? (2)

“You’re not rejecting me because you dislike me, right?”

At the unexpected bombshell, Yeonwoo nodded awkwardly.

“Well, that’s true, but…”

“Rejecting me because you’re worried about me. Really, how can you be so perfect, Sir… I don’t know…”

“No, no. Wait a minute. This isn’t the time to say that. You’re quitting the company?”

“Yes. Is there a problem?”

Of course, there are many problems!

‘If I mess this up, won’t I become a traitor [to the company/industry]?’

There are already plenty of people saying Yeonwoo’s career is hopelessly inadequate.

Even though Yeonwoo has over four million YouTube subscribers and a history of making figures like UTT a global hit.

They will surely point out every shortcoming compared to Trevi.

‘When you think about it, I’ve only officially released one song, right?’

There are quite a few rough drafts.

Those with discerning ears recognized Yeonwoo’s value just from those.

Wasn’t it thanks to those rough drafts that Yeonwoo’s YouTube channel gained word-of-mouth and Trevi started *앓이 (alri)* [a Korean term for obsessing over someone or something] for Yeonwoo in the first place?

But it was ambiguous to present them as official songs.

The only official song was a soundtrack for a drama that gained sensational popularity, but it didn’t reach the overseas charts.

Trevi’s company used this point to dissuade Trevi.

“I don’t care if you personally like that artist or not. But it’s difficult if you bring personal matters into the public sphere.”

Separate public and private matters clearly.

The company’s message was firm.

“How about collaborating with UTT instead? They are a sufficiently proven group, so they pass in terms of both topicality and stability.”

Saying that he coached and raised UTT to this level was useless.

“Frankly, I won’t say his role was nonexistent. But it’s hard to grasp his capabilities with just that. And isn’t he an actor, not a singer? The public’s reaction to you isn’t entirely favorable either. You know. You once suffered a severe slump and didn’t release any songs for a while, and now people are even saying you’re not a singer.”

So, there’s no need to take such a risky move at this moment.

“We all know how great a musician you are. So please don’t tarnish your career. You know our contract renewal isn’t far off, right? I will still offer you the highest amount in the industry based on your achievements and potential. But if you don’t listen to me, it could all fall through.”

Faced with the company’s position, Trevi’s attitude was firm.

“Then let’s forget about the renewal.”

The president tried to pressure Trevi by playing the contract renewal card.

Instead, he was taken aback by Trevi’s words and hurriedly tried to salvage the situation.

But Trevi, as if feeling relieved, turned around and left.

“…Is that okay?”

That was all Yeonwoo could say after hearing the whole story.

“I’m doing music to enjoy it, so what’s the point if I’m not enjoying it?”

That’s true.

“Even if I force myself to squeeze something out when I’m not enjoying it at all, who would like it? Don’t you think?”

“But if you quit the company, won’t there be problems in the future?”

However, Trevi shrugged nonchalantly this time as well.

“It really doesn’t matter. I really won’t lose anything even if this renewal falls through. If I get rejected, I’ll just leave the company and go to another label. Or I can start my own.”

…Is that possible?

Since I don’t know anything about this side [of the music industry], I have no choice but to believe Trevi’s words.

[Truth]

Intent analysis also indicated that Trevi’s words were true.

Even if I don’t know exactly what it means to leave a company called one of the world’s top 3 labels, it’s probably not a positive choice.

‘But it’s strange to insist if that’s what he wants.’

Trevi’s words about making music to enjoy it.

Yeonwoo agreed with this.

The reason Yeonwoo smashed UTT’s former agency and warned them by making an example of it was similar to this.

[I’m glad you’re being sincere, but do you have to be so flamboyant?]

Before cracking down on UTT’s former agency president in a big way.

Dongja Ryung had asked that.

At that time, I think I answered like this.

“That’s how you get healthy.”

The entertainment industry exerts influence on the public in various ways.

You can learn about the terrible things happening in a distant country that a movie, sitting still for a couple of hours, exposes.

The corruption in the third world is widely spread to people through the actors’ performances, the director’s directing, and the writer’s script.

-But it’s just a movie?

Some people may certainly think so.

But through such movies, people learn that such terrible things are still happening in the modernized 21st century.

And they will pay a little more attention to it at least once.

The same goes for dramas.

-My job? A long time ago, there was a drama about a job working in a hotel. I thought it looked cool and went to that department.

-There was a very famous engineering drama that gave me a romance, so I just….

There have already been numerous research results that mass media influences the consciousness of those who come into contact with it.

It is common to have a job in the genre after watching a professional genre.

Ordinary people with talent watch programs where they become nationally famous through auditions, and they all apply with hope.

It’s not just jobs.

The values that make up a person are also influenced by the TV we easily come into contact with.

‘It would be an arrogant delusion to think that everything can change with just me. But maybe this is a great step?’

That’s why Yeonwoo didn’t feel any hesitation in flamboyantly prosecuting UTT’s former agency president.

‘Similar.’

In that respect, Trevi’s attitude was a passing grade for Yeonwoo.

At first glance, it may sound like he’s irresponsibly quitting music because he’s not having fun.

But.

‘It means that musicians can’t let their listeners hear songs that they themselves aren’t happy with.’

That was Trevi’s nature that Yeonwoo had grasped for about two weeks.

A person who is so serious about music would never, just,

-I’m quitting because it’s not fun.

He wouldn’t quit the company so irresponsibly.

Besides.

‘I feel strangely desperate too.’

It wasn’t a blind feeling felt because he was Yeonwoo’s fan.

What should I say?

It looked like an effort to breathe desperately somehow?

This was his ‘feeling’ telling him, so it was a feeling close to certainty.

“Um, I’m sorry if it’s too much of a burden.”

Trevi hesitated when Yeonwoo didn’t answer.

‘If I leave him like this, he’s going to dig into the ground [become extremely depressed]?’

At this point, I become curious.

“Why me?”

Why does he want to work with me, not someone else?

“What?”

“Why do you want to do music with me so much that you’re taking the extreme measure of quitting the company? Your fans and the company all dislike me.”

“That’s….”

Trevi’s expression darkened even more.

Whether to speak or not.

Trevi hesitated for a moment with a face that clearly showed such worries.

Then, as if he had made up his mind, he slowly began to open his mouth.

*

[Aheong. Oh, you poor thing! Yes! You’ve suffered a lot alone. Oh, my. You’re so admirable. You didn’t fall into strange places and you did well. You did well. I wondered why you worship our Yeonwoo like a god. You must have been like a god to you. Aigoo….]

The first thing that burst out after the story was over was neither Trevi nor Yeonwoo.

It was Dongja Ryung’s words.

He had shown an unusual reaction from the beginning of the story, and as the story progressed, he was crying his eyes out.

‘It should be serious, but that guy ruined the atmosphere.’

Especially when Trevi said he ‘couldn’t find a reason to live,’ there was a scene of utter wailing.

Does Trevi know?

That a child in fancy clothes is hanging on his head, which has a cool dreadlock hairstyle, and sobbing?

[Aigoo, you’ve grown up well. You did well. Sniff. Yes. Now have fun with our Yeonwoo. Okay? Don’t think strange things. Keueung!]

Dongja Ryung’s words make it sound like someone who couldn’t live well has returned after becoming self-made.

However, the story changes if the subject is Trevi.

‘That guy is really….’

But I understand why Dongja Ryung is reacting like that.

Even to Yeonwoo, Trevi’s story felt somewhat similar to Yeonwoo’s past.

Well, I have nothing to say about how similar the past of a world-renowned artist who was bullied is to him.

‘The loneliness in the crowd is similar.’

So maybe that’s why Dongja Ryung is crying his eyes out like that.

There comes a time when you get tired of living.

Regardless of the reason, there comes a tipping point when you exceed the threshold you have.

That was the same for Trevi, a world-renowned musician.

“One day, I didn’t want to do anything anymore. I felt like something inside me was depleted. It’s a terrible thing. I feel like I’m empty and just a shell left to move.”

The reason is unknown.

But Trevi fell into severe depression.

“Everyone called it a slump.”

Trevi, who had always been passionate about making music.

Despite his young age, he had energetically made music, winning several world-renowned music awards.

However, at some point, he couldn’t create a single phrase.

Even if he put his hand on the keyboard.

Even if he held a pen and pondered.

Nothing came to mind.

“It was literally depletion itself.”

The embarrassment was even greater because this had never happened before.

The depletion that came for an unknown reason gave him a deep sense of depression.

“People around me probably thought I was just taking a break. I’ve been running hard so far, so it’s time to rest a little. But close acquaintances knew. Of course, the president knew too.”

Even when close acquaintances who knew the situation came to visit, it was only for a while.

Since something that is the root is empty, it could not be filled.

“It was really hard and painful.”

As the days of not being able to do anything grew longer.

Trevi gradually became unsure of what to do.

It felt like all purpose in life had disappeared, and it felt like he didn’t need to breathe anymore.

“Then I almost reached for drugs.”

I want to escape somewhere.

I want to get out of this situation.

With that in mind, Trevi almost committed an irreversible act.

At that moment when he almost got on the express train to hell [a metaphor for making a decision that will ruin your life].

“That’s when I heard your music.”