For The Musical Genius (Novel) - Chapter 10

Chapter 10

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“Oh, young master Kang-hyun. I could have cleaned that.”

The housekeeper’s eyes widened seeing the cleanly tidied room as she collected laundry. At my age, how could I let others wash my underwear? Including my past life, I’m already in my fifties. But the housekeeper still looked apologetic. While she found Kang-hyun admirable, she also felt uncomfortable.

“Ma’am, you know my family runs a laundry shop, right? My body aches if I don’t clean and do laundry. So please don’t feel too sorry.”

At Kang-hyun’s words, the housekeeper’s eyes became moist. She had worked as a housekeeper at grandfather’s house for many years. Surely she had known mother during those years too. She quickly wiped her eyes with her sleeve and hurried to smile.

“Young master Kang-hyun, if you want anything to eat, just tell me anytime.”

She treated me warmly, like her own son.

“Young master Kang-hyun, breakfast is ready.”

Seeing the table full of food at every meal reminded me of my past life. When I occasionally visited home during my judicial training, mother would prepare so much food the table legs might break. But I always barely touched the food, ignoring mother’s devotion. What an ungrateful son I was.

Grandfather quietly moved the meat dish from in front of him to my place.

“Eat plenty.”

Grandfather continued eating after that brief comment.

As the meal was ending, the housekeeper brought out a tray with coffee and orange juice. The morning newspaper for grandfather was, of course, essential.

“Hyun-ah, we’ll be eating dinner out today, just so you know.”

I looked up at grandfather’s sudden announcement.

If it were just an ordinary dinner out, he wouldn’t have mentioned it separately.

Could it be.

‘So today is that day.’

The gathering where three generations of chaebol are invited.

A meeting only known through chaebol family secrets. Virtually every major Korean chaebol group would be there. Except for the founders, all attendees would be those firmly established as corporate successors. A gathering of people who would control Korea’s future. Having observed chaebol families from the sidelines in my past life, I wasn’t particularly pleased but was curious. What would this legendary gathering be like?

“Hyun-ah, you’ll be coming to the company with this old man today, so get ready.”

“Pardon?”

I swallowed my orange juice, which had nearly spilled, and asked again.

“Why are you so surprised, child? Didn’t you say before that chemicals would become the material of future industries? If I had known you were so interested in chemistry, I would have shown you the company earlier.”

Grandfather looked at me with a smile. Sweat beaded on my back like crawling worms. The thoughts I had shared based on college general education courses about chemistry must have particularly resonated with grandfather.

* * *

Dongju 

Dongju Chemical’s factory site was comparable to any chaebol group subsidiary. It wasn’t for nothing that they led Korea’s chemical industry. Moreover, grandfather had established tour programs for middle and high school students as part of social contribution activities, which helped attract talented individuals to Dongju. To have been doing such activities since the 80s was nothing short of remarkable.

“Chairman, you’ve arrived.”

My older and younger uncles hurried out to greet grandfather, with executives following behind. The uncles’ eyes widened seeing me with grandfather. But fearing grandfather would notice, they quickly composed themselves. However, I didn’t miss that moment. To think they’d feel so threatened by their young nephew, what incompetents.

“Hyun-ah, do you know what kind of factories will be built there?”

Civil engineering work was in full swing where grandfather pointed. They were cutting into hills and preparing the ground for leveling. I had researched Dongju Chemical in my past life, wondering how the company had been absorbed by foreign capital less than five years after grandfather’s passing. Around this time…

‘Must be factories for circuit materials, photoresists, and polarizing films.’

Grandfather was pushing forward with building component material factories for electronic products, foreseeing the future. Naturally, it was an excellent choice considering the future. But I heard those greedy and ignorant uncles sold these factories after grandfather passed away. They gave up on research because it wasn’t immediately profitable. Could there be bigger fools?

“Hmm. Future industries?”

I deliberately didn’t elaborate. It wouldn’t make sense for a young grandson to know about display raw materials, and there was no need to unnecessarily raise grandfather’s expectations.

“Yes, that’s right. Starting from there, Dongju will spread new wings.”

Grandfather seemed quite satisfied with just that answer. But the more satisfied he looked, the more my uncles’ brows furrowed behind him.

“Yu-jeon-mu. What do you think will happen to the chemical industry going forward?”

My oldest uncle’s eyes widened at grandfather’s sudden question. He apparently hadn’t expected to be questioned. The following executives stopped walking and perked up their ears.

“Like other industries, I think we should focus on high value-added sectors. I believe the display material factory construction that you initiated, Chairman, is excellent.”

“High value-added, what do you think is needed to derive high value in chemicals?”

Questions followed one after another like riddles. Cold sweat covered my oldest uncle’s face. Even in private meetings, facing his frightening father in an official setting made his mind go blank like a child’s.

“Well, I think we need to recruit many capable talents.”

Grandfather’s expression darkened. Even the younger uncle visibly tensed up. The executives were also gulping nervously.

‘Tsk.’

I clicked my tongue internally. What did he learn in university to give such a one-dimensional answer to grandfather’s question? Even in the 90s when rough management was prevalent, how could someone who rose to executive director be so hesitant?

That’s when grandfather gave me a peculiar look. As if asking whether I, Kang-hyun, knew the answer. I coughed and avoided his gaze.

It’s not that I don’t know the answer.

‘Chemistry has a different cash cow than other industries.’

The chemical industry operates on a different track from electronics and automotive industries. Unlike existing industries that constantly release new products and build new factory conveyor lines, chemistry continuously builds foundations for future industries based on basic materials. In other words, nurturing existing talent was far more necessary than creating new talent.

How do I know this so well?

It was from the inside stories I’d seen while handling affairs in Jeil Group’s legal team in my past life. Later, Jeil Group naturally extended into chemical technology, and the recruitment war for chemical engineers from competing groups was no joke. Ever heard of a war without gunfire? I was right in the middle of it.

Grandfather glanced at the older uncle and moved on. The older uncle’s face showed clear dismay, while the younger uncle looked relieved that the question hadn’t come to him. But.

‘I feel like I’ve seen him somewhere.’

One executive standing behind the younger uncle looked particularly familiar.

* * *

“Hyun-ah, what do you think of grandfather’s room?”

Grandfather personally showed me the chairman’s office. It was notably modest compared to other companies’ chairman offices. Not that it was small. From the well-worn books on the shelves to the old desk and the sofa showing signs of age – it reflected grandfather’s character perfectly.

On the old desk were photo frames, all family pictures. Particularly noticeable was a childhood photo of mother holding a violin.

‘Indeed, grandfather misses mother.’

While I was carefully examining the chairman’s office.

“Hyun-ah, what do you think about management?”

Grandfather asked with a serious expression. This feels strange. It was palpable that grandfather was deep in thought, probably due to the older uncle’s unreliable answer earlier.

How should I answer?

“Isn’t it about making sure everyone lives well?”

While it was a simple answer, it was perhaps the most appropriate response a 14-year-old boy could give. I didn’t have much ambition for business. Having already lived a life full of vanity, I didn’t want to live another life obsessed with material desires and power.

“Grandfather.”

Still, if I could change the past, there was one thing I wanted to change.

“You told Yu-ha’s grandfather before, that having too much is worse than having too little. I think that’s right.”

The executive director position was already too much for both uncles. For Dongju Chemical’s future, it would be right to leave future management to professional managers. Grandfather looked at me with a peculiar gaze.

“If only our Hyun were older.”

Genuine regret lingered in grandfather’s voice.

That’s when something caught my eye.

“Grandfather, is that a turntable?”

An LP turntable from the past. An item that had disappeared as an artifact of the old era with the spread of cassette tapes and CDs. Though it was decades ago, not many places still used turntables. Maybe you’d find them in live cafes around Misari.

“You know about turntables, Hyun-ah? There are many LP records here too.”

Grandfather opened the drawer beside the turntable. It was full of LP records, all spotlessly clean without a speck of dust.

“This old man enjoys listening to music here.”

I never imagined grandfather had such a hobby. As Kang-hyun stared at the LP records, grandfather picked one from the many. It was a plain blue album jacket without any text. As I wondered what song it might be, grandfather carefully placed the LP on the turntable.

Click.

When the tonearm touched the LP’s grooves, there was a moment of silence. My attention was briefly caught by the analog scene, then brought back by the melody that followed. Calm violin notes and piano keys.

“Beethoven’s Violin Sonata ‘Spring’ First Movement.”

A violin piece that well reflects the musical saint Beethoven’s character. Refreshing and sweet melodies tickle the ears as the violin and piano accompaniment harmonize. They match tempo like a three-legged race, speeding up and slowing down together. Like seeing forsythia blooming and flower seeds scattering in the spring breeze.

However.

‘Not a professional.’

The piano keys were following the violin. A subtle difference. Whenever the violin slowed or fell out of beat, the piano masterfully filled the gaps. A phenomenon that occurs when there’s a significant skill difference. Yet to ordinary listeners, it would be hard to distinguish from any decent violinist’s Spring.

When the performance ended.

Grandfather was looking at me with amazement. He seemed very surprised that I knew the piece’s name. Though it was a famous violin sonata, it would be difficult for a 14-year-old with no classical music background to know it. Perhaps I might even know who performed it.

“This performance.”

Gulp.

“It’s mother’s, isn’t it?”

Grandfather’s eyes grew as big as saucers.

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