CONVINCING CHOI JIYEON (II)
It's because the kid told her that he produced and composed all three songs. Jiyeon found it hard to believe. The level of sophistication and polish on each track suggested years of experience and a deep understanding of music production. Yet, here was this young, seemingly inexperienced kid, claiming credit for it all.
Jung Taeyang was the cousin of the chairman of the music label they were in, which meant he was also a member of the Taesung Group. With such powerful connections, it wouldn't be surprising if he had paid top producers to create these tracks and then passed them off as his own.
Why would he need to do that? Was it to impress her by appearing as a genius composer? But again, why? This was the first time they met. They didn't even know each other.
Then she recalled what the other had mentioned about him recommending her to his cousin for the CEO position. The kid only showed her these demo tapes after it seemed she might decline the offer. Was he doing this to change her mind? Did he think that by showcasing his talent, she would choose to stay?
That was the only reasonable explanation Jiyeon could come up with. Just as she was about to tell him that pretending to be a genius composer was only making her want to reject the offer, the other person spoke first.
"You seem doubtful that I created these. I suppose that's understandable."
"Believe you? Sure, right after I find a unicorn in my backyard," she said with a playful smile. "Did your cousin put you up to this? If you tell me who actually composed these tracks, I might reconsider and accept JH's offer."
Jung Taeyang only looked at her with a blank, indifferent expression, as if her response didn't even warrant a response. "I can prove it right now. Give me any topic, and I'll compose a song for you on the spot."
Jiyeon raised a brow. She wanted to laugh at the audacity of his claim but held back, curious to see if he could actually follow through. "Sure. Then I want a song about the first snowfall of the year."
The kid nodded and walked into the vocal booth. He stood before the mic and put on a headset. Then he closed his eyes and took a deep breath. When he opened them, he started singing.
Jiyeon still maintained a playful, joking mentality as she watched Jung Taeyang stand in the vocal booth. She didn't really expect much. But the moment he started singing, her entire body froze.
The melody flowed effortlessly, creating a clear image of the first snowfall. Even without any instruments, the song felt complete, with each note and phrase resonating deeply. The lyrics painted a vivid picture of the snow, bringing a sense of calm and wonder. Jiyeon could almost feel the snowflakes and see the world covered in white. The song's beauty was undeniable, capturing her completely by surprise.
After he finished, he turned in her direction, his expression silently asking, 'Do you believe me now?'
=====
And believe she did.
How could she not, with the evidence right in front of her? It wasn't as if he could have known in advance that she would ask for a song about the first snowfall and prepared it beforehand.
He told her he would show her his talent, and he delivered. With flying colors.
Jung Taeyang's voice might not have been the most beautiful, but his musicality was unmatched. The fact that he could create a song on the spot demonstrated his immense talent in songwriting and composing. Coupled with his good looks, if he could dance as well, the possibilities were endless.
So, Jiyeon asked if he planned to debut as an idol. She already knew the answer, but she still had to ask. When he said yes, and that he would debut under JH, she knew what she had to do.
She accepted JH's offer and became the CEO of the company. A lot of plans were already brewing in her mind to create a group around Jung Taeyang. He was on the right age - 18. With two, three years of training, he could debut.
She really disliked the latest K-pop trend of debuting minors. It felt exploitative and rushed, with young talents often facing immense pressure at an early age. In her opinion, it was detrimental to the mental and physical development of individuals who were still growing.
For her, debuting adults was still better. They had a stronger sense of self and were better equipped to handle the rigors of the industry. She believed they could make more informed decisions and cope with the pressures and challenges that came with fame.
What Jiyeon didn't expect was that Jung Taeyang planned to join the upcoming idol survival program in partnership with JH. She advised him against it, but he was adamant about his decision.
From their short conversation, it was clear that he wasn't the type to be swayed once he had made up his mind. So, what could she do? She couldn't just give up on such a talent.
Once Jung Taeyang joined Boys Odyssey, his talent and looks made his chances of debuting very high. Even if he didn't debut, the exposure from the show would significantly boost his future career.
So, she decided to just support the kid's decision.
Jiyeon also admired the fact that he wanted to keep his relationship with the chairman of JH a secret. It wasn't because he planned to use the company's influence; in fact, it was quite the opposite. He wanted to succeed based on his own merits and talents, not because of his family's influence.
That's why she made sure that information wouldn't get out. It also helped that Jung Taeyang didn't share the 'Lee' surname. From what she discovered, he was the son of the current chairman's only daughter, and not from her current marriage, but from a previous one. He had never been photographed with the rest of the family, making it even less likely for the general public to know about his connection to the Taesung Group.
The only reason Jiyeon discovered all this information was because she became the CEO of JH Entertainment and pressured that brat of a chairman into revealing what she needed to know.
She looked at the list of successful applicants, and the first name listed was Jung Taeyang's. PD Song had given him the highest praise. This validated what she had told PD Song: even without knowing which participant was related to JH, he would still have liked and approved of Jung Taeyang's performance.
Jiyeon picked up her phone and decided to call the kid to congratulate him.