MDQ Ch 17

“You know right? I’ve been doing some producing work lately, too. I’m learning how to write lyrics from Manager hyung.”

“Ah.”

Come to think of it, he’d seen Park Saebit recently acting all high and mighty, claiming he was writing lyrics following Lee Hyunseok.

Kang Junhyuk had checked a few times out of curiosity, but his lyrics were terrible.

Full of cliché content, and somehow familiar-sounding, Park Saebit couldn’t come close to Lee Hyunseok’s level even by a fraction.

Of course, Park Saebit didn’t seem able to evaluate himself objectively and clung to his lyric-writing aspirations.

Kang Junhyuk didn’t bother stopping him because he didn’t really care what happened to Park Saebit.

However, if Park Saebit were to cause any trouble with Lee Hyunseok writing his solo song, Kang Junhyuk wouldn’t just sit back and do nothing.

“Forget it. I can’t ask an amateur like you. Just focus on helping the trainees you’re producing.”

“If those trainees hit it big one day and you ask me to write lyrics then, I won’t ever agree to it—so don’t regret it later.”

Kang Junhyuk snorted and raised his middle finger.

“Ridiculous. Manager hyung’s lyrics are enough for me.”

“What if I tell Manager hyung not to write lyrics for your solo tracks?”

“Seriously, don’t say nonsense. Why would you even say that? And do you think Manager hyung would listen to you? It’s a professional matter.”

“…”

“Manager Hyung would rather listen to Jung Yohan than you.”

Park Saebit stiffened as soon as Jung Yohan was mentioned.

Kang Junhyuk clicked his tongue.

Kang Junhyuk didn’t know why, but it seems the two who had fought the day before really didn’t get along.

‘Well, I guess it doesn’t matter anymore.’

In the past, whenever members fought, he’d try to reconcile them, especially since rumors of discord could ruin their rising popularity.

But now, Given had reached the top, and they had agreed to focus on individual activities for the next few years.

Kang Junhyuk didn’t really care if the team dissolved now.

Seo Seoho, with his foul mouth, the mischievous youngest Park Saebit, and stoic Jung Yohan—he wasn’t close to any of them.

Actually, it seemed like he was closest to Manager Lee Hyunseok.

In the meantime, he heard the CEO’s voice as the man finished his call with Lee Hyunseok.

“Chief Lee is with Yohan right now. If it’s not urgent, he’ll just go back to the dorm. It’s better to film the Shorts later.”

The CEO didn’t call Lee Hyunseok separately, probably because Jung Yohan was present.

He was unusually lenient with Jung Yohan, and the reason was clear. It was because Jung Yohan’s family held a large stake in the company.

“If the leader says so, there’s no choice.”

Even Kang Junhyuk deferred to Jung Yohan. Maybe he felt outmatched in the male hierarchy.

Though he had never fought Jung Yohan, there was some untouchable aura about him. Even a slight provocation seemed like it could backfire.

Quiet Jung Yohan was far more threatening than Seo Seoho, who openly resisted. Instinct said it was best to avoid him.

“I’ll go to the concept meeting then.”

Kang Junhyuk left the CEO’s office to attend the concept meeting for his solo album.

“What about you, Saebit?”

The CEO glanced at Park Saebit, whose expression was dark.

“I’ll meet with the rookie trainees first. I also have something to discuss about the song I’m supposed to give them.”

“Alright. Work hard. The trainees seem to really trust and follow you.”

“Yes, CEO.”

Park Saebit left the office with a short reply, exhaling deeply. Anger lingered in his expression.

He felt betrayed by Lee Hyunseok.

Despite expressing his feelings and hinting at affection, Lee Hyunseok blatantly stuck with Jung Yohan, the person he had fought.

They had even taken a photo together that looked intimate.

‘How could Manager hyung do that to me?’

Still, among the Given members, Park Saebit had always treated Lee Hyunseok the best. Didn’t he?

Other than being sensitive to heat and cold, he hadn’t been bothersome to Lee Hyunseok.

Yet Lee Hyunseok chose Jung Yohan instead. That was something Park Saebit couldn’t understand.

And Jung Yohan acting so close to Lee Hyunseok was strange too.

Even without a personal schedule, he went to meet him.

‘Does Yohan hyung really like Manager hyung?’

Otherwise, recent events made no sense.

The sight of Jung Yohan getting so riled up at the accusation of cozying up to Lee Hyunseok that he even threw punches, and the sight of him going to pick up Lee Hyunseok…

Then a thought struck Park Saebit: something Hyunseok had said.

“Sorry… but I already have someone I like.”

Could it be that they both felt the same way? The thought made his chest tighten.

His heart raced with tension.

He couldn’t stop his face from contorting. Whether he felt good or bad, he had always faced people with a mask-like smile.

However, now, the emotion in his face was clear: annoyance and jealousy.

Park Saebit realized he cared more about Lee Hyunseok than he had thought.

Not just that he liked him, but he didn’t want anyone else taking him away.

He bit his lower lip, thinking, ‘How can I make Manager hyung need me more than Leader Hyung?’

Should he corner Lee Hyunseok?

Trap him in a situation where he could only rely on Park Saebit?

With a gloomy smile, Park Saebit entered a practice room.

In front of the large mirror, six youthful boys were dancing.

The rookie group Heyri, about to debut, froze as soon as they saw Park Saebit and stood before him.

“Hello, sunbae!”

They bowed deeply, their eyes sparkling.

The admiration in their gaze made Park Saebit feel a little better.

“You’re practicing hard. I’m not disturbing you, am I?”

“No! Thank you for coming!”

Their disciplined response brought a proud smile to Park Saebit.

He didn’t feel jealousy toward these young rookies.

He had no plans to promote as an idol for a while, so he only hoped they would do even better during that hiatus.

‘Of course, with the song I wrote.’

Before he could dwell on that thought, the leader of the group spoke.

“Sunbae, the CEO said… you’ve been writing so many amazing lyrics for us! Thank you so much!”

“Yeah, I’m working really hard. You know our company’s lyricist 118, right?”

118 was another name Lee Hyunseok used for his work.

Only the CEO, composer Park Chungrim, and Given members knew his identity.

“Yes! We know! We love all Given’s songs he wrote. They all did so well!”

Park Saebit puffed up as if he were the one being praised, then spoke with a hint of pride.

“I’m learning directly from him.”

The rookies’ faces showed surprise.

Park Saebit was thrilled at their instant reaction, something he couldn’t expect from Lee Hyunseok or Given members.

It made the jealousy he’d felt toward Jung Yohan just moments earlier seem meaningless.

“Want me to show you?”

“Yes, sunbae!”

Excited, Park Saebit pulled out his phone.

It included lyrics that Lee Hyunseok had criticized for being over-referential.

‘Well… they probably don’t even notice.’

Lee Hyunseok was a careful person, so he likely overreacted.

Park Saebit believed there was nothing wrong with his lyrics.

He had only referenced a bit of lyrics from previously released songs. Doesn’t everyone do that? There’s no such thing as a perfectly original creation in this world.

Meanwhile, the rookies, who had reviewed all the lyrics, showered him with praise.

“Sunbae, you’re a genius! How do you write like this? You’d be incredibly successful as a lyricist!”

“Really? Then should I give this to your new song?”

“Wow! That would be an honor!”

“Alright. I’ll tell the CEO.”

Patting the rookies on the shoulders, Park Saebit left the practice room.

Feeling elated, he headed to the recording booth. Riding the momentum, Park Saebit also planned to meet the composing team and present his lyrics.

Of course, he had no intention of showing them to Park Chungrim, who was close to Lee Hyunseok.

The other composers praised his talent. No one mentioned plagiarism.

And so, Park Saebit completely forgot Lee Hyunseok’s earlier words, telling him not to use those lyrics.