For The Musical Genius (Novel) - Chapter 14

Chapter 14

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The audience was speechless, overwhelmed by the lingering emotion pounding in their chests. Born into chaebol families, they had heard classical music to the point of tedium for social refinement. Yet they couldn’t explain the whirlwind of emotions they were experiencing now. Though it was a short sonata, the spring day had seemed eternal.

Clap.

At that moment, Son Yu-ha stood up abruptly and applauded. The sound was quite loud for a child’s small palms meeting. Understandably so, as the banquet hall was wrapped in silence. Everyone hesitated and hoped, wondering if another movement would be played.

But.

“Thank you.”

As the violinist spoke in a deep voice,

When his piercing gaze reached them, they finally realized spring had ended.

Though momentary regret flickered in the audience’s eyes, it was soon replaced by deep emotion. Everyone stood up without exception. When even the elderly founders all rose, applause thundered through the banquet hall. The gray-haired manager who had acted as MC swallowed his surprise. The chaebols, famous for their reluctance to stand, were all thoroughly immersed in waves of emotion.

“Have you learned violin before?”

Chairman Wang asked me on behalf of grandfather. Son Il-sun and even Samuel Gardner, who couldn’t understand Korean, were all looking at me. Though the gazes were burdensome, perhaps because I had just performed in front of numerous audience members, I felt rather indifferent.

“I haven’t learned professionally yet, grandfather.”

Chairman Wang’s eyes widened. Such a reaction was understandable. In fact, even I couldn’t exactly understand how I had delivered such a performance. Who would believe me if I said the violin moved as if conversing with my heart? Meanwhile, the older uncle seemed more surprised that I had called Chairman Wang ‘grandfather.’ Such an uncultured person.

‘Chairman Yu.’

Chairman Wang erased his surprised expression and looked at grandfather. Grandfather had been silent since the performance ended, appearing lost in deep thought.

Chairman Wang swallowed his admiration seeing Kang-hyun’s calm eyes. This young boy would surely create a huge storm in the music world. He didn’t know about reaching the level of masters, but beyond musical technique, it was an emotional resonance he had never felt in his lifetime. His aged heart beat wildly again, feeling a deep longing he had forgotten.

‘Your grandson has already won over my granddaughter.’

Yu-ha’s eyes remained fixed on Kang-hyun throughout, her gaze so intense that even a sunflower facing the sun wouldn’t be this passionate.

“See? Isn’t Hyun oppa amazing at playing violin?”

A triumphant voice as if saying ‘Wasn’t I right?’ It contained both admiration and joy, and her bright-eyed look was so cute it made me smile. To think the Ice Queen Son Yu-ha would become such a mood maker – the world is truly unpredictable.

“Hyun-ah.”

Then grandfather took my hand. His palm seemed to contain not just warmth but also a lonely sadness. He must have seen mother’s childhood reflected in my spring performance. I hesitated about how to respond at times like this. Though I had lived a middle-aged life, I had never experienced such situations.

“Thank you.”

What was he thankful for? An emotion I had never seen before showed in grandfather’s wrinkled eyes. He must be thinking of mother. Instead of unnecessary words, I wrapped both my hands around grandfather’s age-spotted hand. On behalf of the mother he missed.

* * *

Spio spio mem mem─!

“Young master Kang-hyun, you’re already up?”

The housekeeper, coming up to the second floor, met me with a towel around my neck after washing. Last night’s gathering had continued late, and I had gone to bed quite late. The housekeeper naturally thought I would still be sleeping. Actually, I wanted to stay in bed longer, but those damn cicadas made it impossible. They only seemed pleasant at first.

“I slept well, probably because the bed was comfortable.”

“Oh my, you could sleep more. Come down slowly for breakfast later. I made braised lotus root that you like.”

A side dish mother always made. Though I had ignored braised lotus root in my past life, now I can’t get enough of it. When I first returned to the past, I took a big bite of braised lotus root and burst into tears. By the way.

Is it because the air is less polluted? The cicadas’ octaves rival Mariah Carey’s. Oh, my ears hurt.

“Father, are you thinking of going to the company with Hyun again today?”

An uninvited guest was sitting at breakfast. The older uncle had slept at the Ichon-dong mansion under the pretext of attending to grandfather, but his reason was obvious. Last night I had received more attention than when I passed the bar exam on my first try. The older uncle, who had become like a borrowed rice sack, must have grown anxious whenever he felt grandfather’s gaze.

‘Tsk.’

Rather than worrying about his young nephew, he should focus more on honing his business skills. Well, he’s not the type to listen anyway. Then grandfather glanced at the older uncle.

“Why do you ask?”

“Seeing Hyun yesterday, he seemed quite tired. I thought it wouldn’t be bad for him to rest at home and eat good food, since he’s at a growing age.”

Oh my, to think he would care about me that much. I had to exhale to prevent tears of emotion from welling up. The older uncle was so transparent his intentions were completely visible. I fully understood grandfather’s concerns. If only he were as young as Yu Jin-seok, I could grab him by the hair and teach him a lesson. What a shame.

“Hyun will be going to Chairman Son’s place today, so don’t worry.”

“What?”

I’m going there again? The older uncle seemed more surprised than when he heard about going to the company together. When grandfather didn’t elaborate further, he glanced at me with shocked eyes, but what could I do? I don’t even know why I’m going to Chairman Wang’s mansion myself. Did Yu-ha throw a tantrum saying she wanted to see me?

* * *

“Young master Kang-hyun, we’re here.”

With Driver Kim’s help, I arrived at the Pyeongchang-dong mansion. The tall walls felt imposing no matter how many times I saw them. I could understand why Son Il-sun would come here when business wasn’t going well in my past life. An indescribable energy flowed from the mansion itself. Could such a location really be bought with money?

“Welcome.”

An unexpected person greeted me. Not Chairman Wang but Jeil Electronics President Son Il-sun. Being a weekday, not weekend, I had naturally assumed he would be at work. Wasn’t he famous for being a hardworking risk-taker who even gave up weekends? Still, my body tenses up seeing my former boss, in a way.

“Thank you for inviting me.”

“Haha, I should be thanking you for coming. Our Yu-ha follows you so well. She’s been pestering us so much about learning violin together during this vacation. If Chairman Yu hadn’t given permission, this uncle would have been in quite a fix.”

Ah, the truth comes out. I thought Yu-ha might have thrown a tantrum. Learning violin doesn’t seem like a bad idea now. It would be wonderful to experience that heart-racing feeling again. But for Son Il-sun to refer to himself as ‘uncle’ – it gave me goosebumps as much as when Yu-ha called me ‘oppa.’

“Oppa!”

Not very ladylike. Yu-ha, who I’d been wondering when would appear, came running in sock feet to greet me. At first, it felt awkward to the point of getting goosebumps that the famous Ice Queen would be so friendly, but what could I do? Dostoevsky was right. Humans are creatures of adaptation.

“Yes, Yu-ha.”

“Oppa, come here quickly.”

Though not even a day had passed since we last met, she had so much to say. I briefly placated Yu-ha who was pulling my hand, and bowed to Son Il-sun. Meanwhile, Yu-ha’s voice kept ringing in my ears. What does this kid eat to be so strong? On the other hand, Son Il-sun’s expression was peculiar as he watched the two children walking away.

“Teach me this!”

It’s a math worksheet. Her level seems to have improved, as the problems were quite a bit harder than what I saw last time. It’s hard to pretend I don’t know after solving all the problems last time. Suddenly becoming a tutor. I reluctantly picked up the worksheet. I’ll have to kill time with this until the music teacher arrives.

“Yu-ha, do you understand?”

“Yes!”

Teaching her once, she absorbs information as fast as a sponge absorbing water. At first, I thought it was just because she was smart, but.

‘She already knows.’

Yu-ha knew how to solve the problems. She’s trying hard to hide that she’s learning formulas from me that she already knows. Of course, she would become the president of Jeil Trading, famous for being picky and proud. She wouldn’t ask me to teach her if she really didn’t know. Perhaps, does she really like me?

“Try solving the last problem by yourself, Yu-ha.”

“But, I really don’t know this one.”

She unconsciously revealed her true feelings, but even that she forgot quickly. She’s really cute at times like this. Still, blood will tell – she’s a born competitor with innate competitive spirit. When I said I wouldn’t help, she started solving the problem while staring at it intensely, focusing to an eerie degree.

How much time had passed?

“I solved it, oppa!”

Yu-ha handed me the worksheet with a broad smile. Looking at the last problem, she had solved it repeatedly until the eraser was covered in black dust. Of course, she got the right answer, but to focus solely on one problem for thirty minutes – it’s unbelievable concentration for an 11-year-old.

“Yu-ha, weren’t the problems difficult?”

Problems that seem too difficult for an 11-year-old child. Though I understand chaebol families’ educational fervor, I wonder if this is really necessary. Perhaps living so intensely is why this cute child later became synonymous with cynicism.

“Dad said that once you give up, it’s over. So he told me to hold on tenaciously and never let go. Then it eventually becomes mine.”

Son Il-sun, what exactly did you tell your young daughter?

Could it be.

Ah yes, around this time.

The period when Son Il-sun was competing for succession with his siblings. Chairman Wang kept weighing his children while holding onto management rights until just before his death. Literally survival of the fittest – ultimately, the strong one would get Jeil Group according to his business philosophy. It was essentially a war without gunfire.

“Yu-ha, you don’t need to have everything, including unnecessary things.”

An era requiring selection and focus is approaching. As old industries decline and new industries of the current era emerge. Semiconductors were like that – in that sense, Chairman Wang was truly insightful. He was a businessman who knew that old things weren’t necessarily good, and forcing yourself to have everything would eventually lead to problems. The current Son Il-sun is still just a tiger cub compared to Chairman Wang.

“You don’t need to have everything, including unnecessary things.”

I suddenly turned my head at the voice.

There stood.

“That’s good advice. Then what does Hyun think this old man doesn’t need right now?”

Chairman Wang was looking at me with his characteristic gleaming eyes. I unconsciously gulped. That gaze somehow overlaps with Son Il-sun’s gaze I felt all day yesterday.

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