For The Musical Genius (Novel) - Chapter 22

Chapter 22

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“No.”

Chairman Wang’s eyes widened as he was eating his cold noodles. It was probably because an unexpected answer came from my mouth. Grandfather’s face also showed a flash of surprise. He wouldn’t have expected me to refuse so decisively.

“Hyun-ah, do you perhaps dislike studying music?”

“No, I enjoy it.”

Complex emotions clouded Grandfather’s eyes. His expression showed he couldn’t understand my thoughts at all. How do I feel about learning music? Of course, I enjoy it. It’s incomparably more enjoyable than when I studied law pursuing power in my past life. But…

“It’s not time for studying abroad yet.”

I didn’t feel like studying music in a foreign country right away. Hadn’t I promised myself to live a life without regrets? In my past life, I barely had proper conversations with Grandfather, but in just this short month, I’ve glimpsed his true heart. Even his deep sense of guilt toward my mother.

I know he has less than five years left to live.

“Hmm, perhaps Hyun doesn’t know who Ms. Hirose is?”

Chairman Wang looked at me with a peculiar smile.

Hirose?

Of course I know.

Isn’t she the queen who left her mark in the violin world? I had listened to her recordings of Paganini’s Violin Concerto No. 1 and Stravinsky’s Violin Concerto until my ears wore out. I heard her violin was auctioned after her death for an unimaginable price. A violinist recognized not just in Asia but worldwide. But that’s all.

“Even if she’s famous, it doesn’t matter.”

I had no intention whatsoever of studying abroad just to meet a violinist I’ve never met. And…

“If she really wants to see me, she should come here.”

Isn’t it said that the thirsty person should dig the well?

“Look at this audacious little one. He’s really something, really something!”

Chairman Wang suddenly exclaimed while looking at me admiringly. When I steadily met his gaze, he returned it with his characteristic gleaming eyes. A continuous gaze as if trying to see through me.

“Haha. Now I understand why our granddaughter fell head over heels for Hyun.”

Huh?

My body, which had unconsciously tensed up, relaxed at this unexpected comment. Grandfather and Chairman Wang looked at each other as if having a silent conversation. I’d like to try reading the story behind their gazes, but how could I? They’re both cunning old foxes with countless tricks up their sleeves.

“Old man, don’t forget our promise.”

“Chairman Son, do you think my memory is worse than yours?”

What could they be talking about?

“Chairman.”

Just then, Chairman Wang’s secretary carefully approached the table. The secretary bowed respectfully and lowered his posture, and as Chairman Wang silently listened to the secretary’s message, his eyes suddenly widened. Soon, a deep smile spread across his face.

“Chairman Yu.”

Chairman Wang started speaking to Grandfather while glancing at me. Oh my, his eyebrows are curving as if something amusing has happened.

*

In the car heading to the Pyeongchang-dong mansion.

Chairman Wang’s face was full of subtle smiles, clearly amused by something. This image didn’t match the legendary stories I’d heard in my past life. But I couldn’t even imagine how many masks lay behind that facade. No wonder Son Il-sun feared Chairman Wang the most.

“We’ve arrived, Chairman.”

At the driver’s words, I looked out the window. The Pyeongchang-dong mansion, intimidating no matter how many times I see it. A place that would later be considered Je-il Group’s holy ground. Though I should be used to it from my music tutoring, it’s still somewhat uncomfortable, perhaps because of my memories from my past life. Who would have thought I’d be coming and going here so frequently.

“Oppa─!”

As soon as we entered the garden, I saw Yu-ha running towards us. The secretary behind her followed immediately, breaking into a cold sweat – it must not be easy dealing with her. Yu-ha came right up to us but stopped abruptly when she noticed Grandfather. Then…

“Hello, Grandfather.”

She greeted him like a proper young lady. Grandfather nodded with a smile, apparently finding her adorable. Yu-ha then came to my side and stuck close to me. I wonder if it’s just my imagination that her interest in me seems to be growing as time passes.

“Oppa, there’s this man who came, and let me tell you who he is…!”

Yu-ha tried to tell me something, but it was difficult to understand her excited, rapid-fire childish speech. However, Chairman Wang seemed to already know what Yu-ha was talking about. What’s going on? I really can’t figure it out.

As we entered the mansion.

The secretary who had followed Yu-ha immediately guided us. Chairman Wang and Grandfather went ahead, while Yu-ha and I followed. In the reception room at the end of the long corridor, someone was already seated.

“Oh?”

Who is this person?

With graying hair, deep-set eyes, upturned eyebrows, and a sharp nose bridge, he had an incredibly sharp appearance. Though he was a foreigner with colored eyes, he was definitely familiar. Compared to my memory, he looked younger but…

“Maestro, it’s good to see you.”

Chairman Wang exchanged greetings skillfully with the foreigner first.

Step.

When I fully appeared, the foreigner’s eyes widened. His cold eyes quickly filled with warm emotion. With his thin lips curling up almost to his ears, he strode toward me.

‘Why is this person here?’

Seeing him up close, I could be certain. This person was definitely Spencer, the renowned conductor of the London Symphony, representing England. Anyone interested in orchestras would know him. In my past life, how many times had I watched DVDs of his conducted performances? I had even watched his orchestra perform at their home venue, the Barbican Centre. And now he…

“I really wanted to see you.”

He wanted to see me? Why?

That’s when.

The foreigner, Spencer, adjusted his clothes and extended his hand to me politely. Does he want to shake hands? His demeanor was so serious it made my throat tighten. The moment Spencer’s long fingers met my small hand.

“Hyun oppa.”

He hadn’t forgotten the Korean he had learned.

* * *

Zing.

Park Sun-young was performing with all her might. Though thick beads of sweat formed and ran down her back, her bow never stopped meeting the strings. Her playing was desperate and sorrowful, as if she might never be able to play again after today. Who knew a solo violin melody could express such heavy emotions so well? With her eyes closed, Park Sun-young’s face looked like the protagonist of a sad love song.

Even after the performance ended.

Park Sun-young didn’t lower her violin from her shoulder for a long while. She was drenched in sweat as if caught in a rainstorm, and her right hand holding the bow trembled slightly. How long had she been playing?

“Ha.”

Releasing all the lingering emotions with a single exhale, Park Sun-young half-opened her closed eyes.

‘What good is perfect technique if the melody is dead?’

That child’s voice was engraved in her mind like a repeating sign. How could someone identify a problem she could never figure out just by listening once? It didn’t make sense, but what could she do – it was clearly reality, not a dream.

“Sun-young, don’t tell me you’ve been playing this whole time?”

Just then, Park Sun-young’s friend opened the soundproof room’s door and entered. Her face was full of shock, and for good reason – she was the only one who knew that Park Sun-young had been playing the violin since morning.

Park Sun-young silently nodded briefly. But there was something peculiar about her appearance. Her eyes were clear, making it impossible to imagine she had been playing for hours. Park Sun-young smiled as she lowered the violin from her shoulder. Though it was just a single piece of advice, that child’s words…

“Let’s stop now and go eat!”

It was enough to free her from the curse that had been tangling her mind like a skein of thread.

*

“So you’re saying you flew straight here from England after watching my performance video?”

When Spencer and I conversed in English, Chairman Wang’s eyes lit up. He had seen me talking with the Crown Prince at the previous banquet, but my native-like pronunciation was still noteworthy. Spencer seemed equally amazed.

“That’s right, I left the orchestra behind and rushed here because I wanted to see Hyun’s performance. Would you believe my heart was pounding like a schoolgirl’s on the plane?”

Despite this being our first meeting, Spencer spoke to me quite casually, but I didn’t mind since I knew his nickname. It would have been awkward if he had been too formal. Spencer suddenly gave me a curious look.

“Have you ever lived in England?”

Oops.

When I was in Jeil Group’s legal team, I had stayed at the London branch. It was when we were focusing on overseas business, and I frequently traveled between Korea and London. Of course, foreign law school graduates handled the litigation, but I was the general manager. I had studied intensely due to the different legal systems. That accent must have become ingrained.

“No, I’ve never been anywhere except Korea.”

Spencer swallowed his surprise at my pronunciation and nodded. Chairman Wang and Grandfather had already stepped back from the conversation, seemingly just watching the exchange between Spencer and me. Yu-ha, unable to understand the rapid English, was just puffing her cheeks.

“Let me be direct – I couldn’t sleep for days after seeing that performance. To be precise, I kept thinking about it even while conducting the orchestra. Even seeing my first porn magazine didn’t affect me this much.”

This guy?

What is he saying in front of a child?

“Hyun, would you consider becoming a guest member of the London Symphony Orchestra?”

“What?”

My voice unconsciously rose. A guest member of the orchestra – what an absurd proposal. But Spencer’s blue eyes showed unwavering determination. Did I hear wrong? I know how much blood and sweat it takes to become an orchestra member. Even for a guest member position, this is the famous London Symphony we’re talking about.

“Of course, you can’t join the orchestra right away. You’ll need the skills to back it up. But if you’re the person I saw in that video, I will definitely have you in my orchestra.”

Spencer was making firm declarations while I hadn’t even considered the offer. His proposals were so outlandish I was dumbfounded. Chairman Wang and Grandfather were also visibly surprised listening to the conversation. Just then.

“Hyun, if you don’t mind, could you play the violin here?”

Spencer grabbed my shoulders with both hands. His gaze was so intense I felt I might get pulled into his eyes. At that moment, Yu-ha, who had been carefully listening to the conversation, processed the last sentence and jumped up from her seat.

“Violin?”

Yu-ha looked at Spencer with a raised voice, wearing a proud expression that showed she understood English too. Spencer also nodded broadly with a satisfied smile. Then, before anyone could stop her, Yu-ha ran off somewhere – I didn’t need to look to know she was going for the video.