For The Musical Genius (Novel) - Chapter 16

Chapter 16

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“I’m bored.”

Son Yu-ha was roaming the mansion alone, unable to join the adults’ conversation. Because of this, her assigned secretary was sweating profusely with anxiety. Grandfather and father were deep in conversation with the foreign gentleman. What could be making them so jovial?

“I’m so bored!”

Meanwhile, Chairman Wang’s face was full of smiles, and for good reason – Samuel Gardner had expressed his active willingness to cooperate. Gardner had originally visited Korea as part of business. Unlike his brother, his unpretentious nature didn’t match his royal status.

“Eternal Crown Prince – I don’t like such a title. The right of succession originally belonged to my brother. I would be grateful if you would call me Samuel, as before.”

Samuel Gardner hadn’t originally held the right of succession. It all started when the original crown prince, whose youth was marked by endless incidents and scandals, stepped down due to public antipathy. As a result, Samuel, who had been the second in line, ascended to the position of crown prince, and surprisingly, received tremendous public acclaim and support.

Then Chairman Wang put down his teacup and spoke fluent English.

“Samuel, thanks to you, our hotel can be reborn as an international business hotel.”

“Not at all. What have I done? I was just a figurehead. It’s all due to Jeil Group’s reputation.”

The development speed of not only the department store industry but also the hotel industry was remarkably fast. Corporate marketing was intense to the point of excess, with companies not hesitating to use not only famous entertainers but also subtly employing political figures as advertising tools. Of course, Jeil Group had brought in an extraordinary figure befitting its reputation.

“No, no. The newspapers are running daily articles about Samuel’s visit to Korea. How happy we are that the hotels and department stores in the background are ours. Would you believe this old heart is beating vigorously again?”

The additional effect was tremendous just from Samuel staying there and showing their connection. This isn’t something money alone can achieve. Of course, Son Il-sun was behind all this planning and orchestration. Son Il-sun secretly swallowed his joy while glancing at his smiling father.

“By the way, Mr. Son. If it’s not too presumptuous, may I make one request?”

Then Samuel gazed steadily at Son Il-sun.

A request?

He was ready to accept whatever request might come. The value of his father’s recognition was incalculable in monetary terms.

“Could I get the video of that young gentleman playing violin at the banquet? I noticed someone filming at the time.”

It was an unexpected request.

Though it was a private gathering, they had recorded the performance for his daughter. Of course, while doing so, he had ordered Kang-hyun’s performance to be filmed as well.

“Samuel, may I ask where you plan to use it?”

“I have an old friend in classical music. I’d like to show him the young gentleman’s violin performance. Even a copy would be fine.”

Born into royalty, Samuel Gardner naturally moved in European social circles where classical music was essential – even Son Il-sun couldn’t gauge how many maestros he might know. Son Il-sun glanced subtly at his father. Chairman Wang studied Samuel’s eyes for a long moment before giving a short nod.

“Was the long journey uncomfortable?”

Grandfather tried to erase his awkwardness as he addressed mother. Their first meeting in over a decade. But rather than awkwardness, warm affection flowed at the dinner table. You could tell just by their reddened eyes.

“I came comfortably thanks to the car father sent.”

Grandfather nodded silently while eating. Though there seemed to be mountains of things he wanted to ask, just looking at mother’s face appeared to bring up old sorrows. His precious youngest daughter whom he had always cherished. But how much time had passed – like his own wrinkled eyes, wrinkles had settled around his youngest daughter’s eyes too.

After dinner,

The housekeeper brought out a tray with coffee, orange juice, and sujeonggwa with floating pine nuts. Mother took the sujeonggwa and looked at the housekeeper with touched expression.

“Ma’am, you still remembered this?”

“Oh my. How could I forget what our youngest miss liked?”

The housekeeper had worked at grandfather’s house for many years. Having watched mother’s childhood, she knew her tastes perfectly and hadn’t forgotten that mother was the only one in the family who enjoyed sujeonggwa. Deep emotion showed on the housekeeper’s face. Then grandfather slowly began speaking to mother.

“How is Kang-seo doing, why didn’t he come along?”

“What?”

Mother’s voice rose in surprise. The shock was evident on her face – she nearly dropped her teacup. Father had never acknowledged her husband as his son-in-law throughout his life. He had even cut ties with his child, so the depth of those feelings was unimaginable. But.

“Next time, come together.”

Mother nodded, unable to speak. Grandfather’s hardened heart cracked at the sight of mother looking ready to burst into tears. Why had he kept his dearly missed youngest daughter so far away? Though he had much to say, the words wouldn’t come out just yet. At that moment, his gaze fell on Kang-hyun.

“You’ve raised your son very well.”

They say you can know parents by looking at their children. In that sense, his grandson Kang-hyun had grown up much more upright than he had imagined. Enough to seem more adult than his greedy and immature uncles. Mother was wiping away tears with shaking shoulders. I held mother’s hand.

“I missed you.”

Grandfather looked at mother’s reddened eyes and spoke words he hadn’t been able to say all this time.

“My daughter.”

* * *

“Father, we’re here.”

Kang-hyun’s aunt, Madam Yu Bok-ja, visited the Ichon-dong mansion early in the morning. Her hands were full of wrapped bundles, and beside her, her husband entered with an awkward expression. Though he was a doctor who had opened his practice with grandfather’s help, his skills were lacking – all show and no substance.

“Oh my. The eldest miss is here?”

The housekeeper rushed out from her housework at the sudden visit. First she came with her son, and now with her husband – how amusing. Understandable. They must feel like they’re walking on hot coals.

“Ma’am, please take this.”

Seizing the opportunity, aunt handed her bundles to the housekeeper while continuously scanning the mansion interior.

“Miss, why did you prepare so much?”

“I prepared father’s favorite foods. Please don’t forget to serve them at mealtime.”

All this food was made by aunt? Nonsense, she’s never touched dishwater in her life.

Just then, aunt’s eyes widened as she entered the living room.

“You?”

Aunt raised her voice as if seeing a ghost. Not only grandfather but mother and I were sitting together on the living room sofa. Blood is thicker than water? That saying doesn’t apply to mother’s siblings. In my past life, after grandfather passed away, the uncles and aunt openly opposed mother over inheritance issues.

Following that.

Before aunt’s shock could subside.

“Father, we’re here.”

The older and younger uncles arrived at the mansion with their wives. The uncles, puzzled by aunt’s dumbfounded stance, caught their breath seeing mother on the sofa.

Sigh, I can only sigh. Come to think of it, if they had even a shred of familial affection, they wouldn’t have ignored their youngest sister for over a decade. I glanced at grandfather. He kept silent with his eyes closed. As expected.

‘Grandfather called them all here.’

No wonder these people wouldn’t visit Ichon-dong so early in the morning otherwise.

“Hyun-ja, how are you here?”

Well well, the younger uncle asked with raised eyebrows. Much more hostile than when he first saw me. The younger uncle’s position in the family was already precarious. Compared to himself, who couldn’t even get permission for golf meetings, his nephew had already attended gatherings of chaebol heirs. He must be anxious. Just then.

“Everyone sit down.”

When grandfather raised his voice with half-opened eyes, everyone fell silent like mutes who’d eaten honey.

“Beom-kyung.”

At grandfather’s call, the younger uncle straightened his back. His wife also gulped and showed a tense expression. Looking at their faces, they appeared as solemn as warriors receiving orders to save the nation.

“It’s good that you’re increasing your followers in the company.”

Lacking ability, the younger uncle had filled his subordinate positions with his own connections. People who just flattered him well, without regard for work capability.

“But you’re raising petty thieves!”

“F-father, what do you mean?”

At the younger uncle’s confused question, grandfather’s eyes gleamed. Seeing grandfather’s eyes, I truly understand what it means to say someone could kill with their gaze.

“You insufficient fool!”

At grandfather’s thundering voice, the younger uncle’s pupils trembled as if in an earthquake. In his mind, he must already be searching for the culprit. Seeing how he can’t even properly manage his own subordinates proves he truly is a fool.

The older uncle and aunt were licking their dry lips, worried the thundering voice might turn to them next.

“The reason I called you all here today is about Dongju’s future.”

At the mention of Dongju, the uncles’ and aunt’s eyes changed instantly. What is Dongju? It’s the company grandfather built throughout his life, his masterpiece. Their tense faces all flashed with greedy expressions. Oh my, if they’re so materialistic, they should at least have protected the company to the end. In my past life, seeing Dongju fragmented by foreign capital brought more bitterness than satisfaction.

“From now on, Hyun-ja will also participate in Dongju’s future.”

At grandfather’s sudden announcement, the older uncle jumped up from his seat. The younger uncle and aunt did the same. Their faces showed complete bewilderment. Mother too couldn’t hide her surprise at hearing this for the first time.

“Father, it’s nonsensical for Hyun-ja to participate in corporate management after having no contact for over a decade. Moreover, how much could Hyun-ja, who only ran a laundry shop, know about management? I understand you’re emotional seeing Hyun-ja after so long, but this needs to be reconsidered.”

Grandfather stared at the older uncle. The older uncle, who had been standing, gulped and sat back down under grandfather’s gaze.

“Hyeonseong Group is run by a widow as chairman. Isn’t a housewife who only did housework after her husband’s death managing that large company? Look at Jeil too – isn’t ability more important than gender in corporate management?”

Despite grandfather’s words, the older uncle still looked displeased. The older uncle who had seized countless opportunities just for being the firstborn. But he had only brought disappointment to grandfather. Suddenly, grandfather’s eyes flashed sharply. This was clearly different from my past life.

“I wonder if you all really understand anything about corporate management.”

Grandfather’s disposition had changed.

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