For The Musical Genius (Novel) - Chapter 13

Chapter 13

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“Hyun-ah, you know how to play violin?”

Grandfather’s eyes were filled with bewilderment. He had never heard that his grandson could play violin. But Yu-ha’s gaze remained fixed on Kang-hyun, as if insisting her words were true.

“Hyun oppa plays better than our teacher.”

I play violin better than her teacher? I don’t understand what this young lady is saying. Come to think of it, didn’t she say earlier that I had summoned winter? As time passed, questions and attention only increased.

“Grandfather, I only learned for a few months.”

That wasn’t a lie. In a very distant past, I had only learned for a month or two. Even then, I gave up due to lack of talent. What about the performance at the Pyeongchang-dong mansion? To be honest, I’m not sure if I could perform like that again. There’s no need to embarrass myself unnecessarily.

“Oppa likes playing violin too!”

Then Yu-ha’s voice pierced my ear. I like playing violin? How does this child know my true feelings that even I don’t know? I hadn’t expected that day’s performance would leave such a deep impression on Yu-ha. I thought it might be a child’s misunderstanding, but those glistening eyes weren’t telling lies.

Chairman Wang’s eyes held a strange curiosity. His precious granddaughter had been desperately practicing violin lately. At first, he couldn’t even guess the reason. When her teacher told him Yu-ha had found someone to aim for, famous violinists naturally came to mind. But now he understood. To think his granddaughter’s goal was so close at hand.

‘Old man. What do you think?’

Chairman Wang glanced at grandfather sitting opposite him. Having known each other’s faces for decades, they understood each other without words.

‘Son, are you trying to embarrass our grandson?’

‘Well, my granddaughter is already clinging to your grandson, isn’t she?’

Somehow it looked like Yu-ha was clinging to Kang-hyun. Other tables couldn’t hear the conversation and looked curious. Some might be anxious, wondering if Kang-hyun might become Jeil Group’s hidden son-in-law. The close friendship between Chairman Wang and Chairman Yu was famous even in the cold business world.

“Hyun-ah.”

I looked up at grandfather’s quiet call. His gaze was warm like spring energy. How could I refuse when he looked at me with such eyes? Grandfather must be thinking of mother. Meanwhile, the older uncle’s expression was extremely anxious. Anyone would mistake him for a puppy needing to relieve itself.

Well, it’s obvious.

A gathering of business world leaders. It’s no exaggeration to say that these people would lead Korea’s economy in the future. Since this wasn’t a music concert anyway, moderate skill would be fine. Rather, it could serve as an opportunity to make my name known in the business world.

“I’ll try, grandfather.”

One piece should be fine, since this wasn’t a concours to show off musical prowess. But at my words, Yu-ha’s face bloomed with a bright smile. I really don’t understand why she acts this way toward me. Son Il-sun’s face is also full of curiosity. Ah, that look of coveting talent – again, I’ll pass in this life.

* * *

‘Whew!’

Park Sun-young was barely calming herself down. Somehow she was more nervous than when she performed at concours. All the seated figures were extraordinary people. Rather, Yu-ha, who could be called her student, performed even better than usual, as if she had swallowed her nerves. But where did she disappear to right after performing?

“Ms. Park Sun-young.”

Then the gray-haired manager approached Park Sun-young. She remembered him for his dignified manner.

“I’m sorry, but would another performance be possible?”

“What?”

At first, she thought she had misheard. But the manager’s calm eyes dispelled her thoughts. To repeat this experience she never wanted to do again? And not even violin but piano accompaniment. She had been so nervous about making mistakes since it wasn’t even her major.

“They say they will pay the same amount as before.”

“Pardon?”

Park Sun-young unconsciously raised her voice. The payment she had already received was beyond imagination for just two pieces. And they would pay that much again? She had known they lived in a different world since first visiting the Pyeongchang-dong mansion, but this…

“I’ll do it. I definitely will!”

What were chaebols to her now – she felt confident she could perform even before ghosts. That’s when a boy wearing a bowtie slowly walked toward Park Sun-young.

‘I want to do it properly.’

Though it was just one performance, she wanted to do it properly. Especially seeing grandfather’s eyes, there was no choice. Wasn’t it exactly like when he looked at mother’s photo with the violin? But to perform properly, there was clearly one thing that needed to be fixed.

“Hello. You’re the noona who just played piano, right?”

A college student clearly exuding the freshness of her twenties. Though she was far younger than me counting my past life, what could I do? I couldn’t say “you” formally to this young lady as a teenage boy. Moreover, I was the one asking for a favor.

“Oh? Who are you?”

“I’m Kang-hyun. You’ll be performing with me this time.”

Park Sun-young’s brow furrowed momentarily upon hearing it wasn’t Yu-ha. She probably thought it was just a spoiled chaebol heir’s boasting. But she quickly erased her uncomfortable expression. After all, she just needed to receive the promised payment. Even top domestic orchestras wouldn’t pay this much for a single piece.

“Noona, before pressing the first key, hold your breath and start.”

“What?”

Like Kang Hye-jung, Park Sun-young had a habit ingrained in her body – her breathing would unconsciously become rough when nervous. The force of pressing the piano keys transmitted to the hammers, and the piano they brought was so good it seemed to read every breath of Park Sun-young’s. Of course, this too was so subtle that ordinary people wouldn’t notice.

“What do you mean?”

“Noona, you made a mistake during the second concerto. When the melody changed.”

Park Sun-young’s eyes grew as big as saucers. She thought no one would notice. It was barely a second – an unconscious legato mistake in that fleeting moment. Of course, no one had noticed it. Even Park Sun-young herself wouldn’t have given it much thought if she hadn’t been so nervous and conscious of it.

How did this kid notice it?

Then a deep gaze met Park Sun-young’s.

“Remember, swallow your breath.”

At the boy’s firm voice, Park Sun-young found herself nodding repeatedly.

* * *

‘I-I shouldn’t have agreed to this.’

Park Sun-young gulped under the gaze of numerous chaebol. That’s when the boy walked to the front of the stage and bowed politely, his manner so elegant that everyone’s attention focused on him at once.

Beethoven’s Violin Sonata “Spring” First Movement.

The piece the boy wanted to play. Park Sun-young had also practiced it hundreds of times. Though not on violin, she prided herself on being able to perform a brilliant duet. But could this kid really play violin properly? Though he seemed unusually polite for a chaebol heir. Then the boy spoke in a voice deeper than his age would suggest.

“Though my skills are lacking, please watch kindly.”

It was a performance for grandfather. Grandfather who treasured mother’s violin sonata like a family shrine. He must miss mother as much as her faded photograph in the frame. I turned to look at Park Sun-young seated at the piano.

Are you ready?

It was unspoken. But when Park Sun-young met Kang-hyun’s gaze, she felt her body naturally relax. She had experienced this feeling before. When she first performed with her teacher who taught her music. That comforting feeling when performing with someone as dependable and magnificent as a mountain. But why was she getting this feeling from a child she just met?

That question didn’t last long.

Gulp.

As Kang-hyun slowly took his position, the violin became part of his body like flowing water, and the bow tip began to shine fiercely, ready to play at any moment. Though it was just taking position, even that was different from others. Park Sun-young had played violin for a long time. She held her breath as soon as she saw Kang-hyun’s form. Just as he had advised her.

As the audience fell silent,

The violinist gently closed his eyes.

‘Yes.’

My heart started beating wildly.

The small violin cries out to be played.

This moment, whether fate or coincidence.

I raised the bow.

Zing.

How did he understand the score? How much must one read the score and grasp the composer’s intentions to perform with such depth? Park Sun-young didn’t feel like she was playing Beethoven’s violin sonata engraved in her mind. It felt like performing a newly arranged piece. Such an unprecedented feeling enveloped her entire body.

Zing.

Breath rises to the tip of her chin.

Sweat strikes the keys at the violin’s enchanting melody.

Ah.

A sonata where the harmony between violin and piano is crucial. But right now, nothing else mattered. Wherever she went, the violin guided her without losing her. Fingers danced freely as if there were no gaps between strings. As bow and strings met without rest, the audience was captivated, their ears following the notes.

Zing.

The violin’s beautiful melody brought forth the essence of spring. The piano keys followed the violin as if driving scattered cherry blossoms. A succession of heartrending melodies. Though it was clearly a sonata exuding warm spring energy, the audience clenched their hands as if meeting a lover they didn’t want to let go. Finally.

As bow and strings parted longingly, heartbreakingly.

Ah.

The seemingly eternal spring day stops. Even after the performance ended, the audience couldn’t move. Like facing an endless lingering feeling, the violinist’s eyes remained closed. Park Sun-young couldn’t distinguish if what she was experiencing was dream or reality. Her whole body felt electrified, and only after the performance ended did she feel the trembling she had forgotten.

At that moment,

The violinist’s gaze slowly turned toward the audience.

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