For The Musical Genius (Novel) - Chapter 28

Chapter 28

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Damn it!

I hadn’t thought of that.

In my past life, I served as a military legal officer. Having passed the bar exam, the field-grade officers treated me like a neighborhood uncle. After the company-grade officers found out I was a scholarship student from Jeil Group, they tried everything to get close to me. But in this life, I’m bound to serve as a mere grunt.

‘Verbal abuse, violence, misconduct.’

Common cases I often saw in military court. Of course, it’s not that I’m afraid of twenty-year-old kids. But I couldn’t sacrifice my regained youth for the sacred duty of national defense. Trust in the chaebol family’s influence? Yeah right, I’d be lucky if they don’t send me to some remote post. Even Son Il-seon was stationed at the frontline.

“Is that true?”

When I stared with a fierce expression as if asking ‘Not a single lie?’, Park Sun-young’s eyes widened. She apparently hadn’t expected such an intense reaction from me. Only after Park Sun-young nodded repeatedly could I sit back down.

I had to change my thinking.

What’s the point of ranking art?

What soft thinking that was! In an age where democracy prevails, ranking is natural. That’s how you can know your capabilities. A competition with military exemption at stake? Don’t worry, even if Beethoven came back to life, I would be the one to claim victory.

Crunch.

Just as my fist clenched involuntarily.

“Oppa, what’s military service?”

Son Yu-ha tugged at my sleeve, looking at me curiously. Given my heated reaction, it must be something important, but she couldn’t figure out what it was. When I briefly answered “army,” Son Yu-ha’s brow furrowed. She looked quite similar to Chairman Wang when he’s deep in thought. Then.

Son Yu-ha pressed her cherry-like lips together with determination.

“If oppa goes, I want to go too!”

*

Clack!

This time the black stones showed their skill. They captured the white group stretching from the upper side to the center. Breaking the notion that large groups don’t die, black’s momentum was about to sound the victory bell. Chairman Wang’s face bloomed with a smile.

“Where did that Go-playing old man go?”

Chairman Wang threw back the exact words he had heard. At times like this, he seemed incredibly childish, but in reality, he was an old man who controlled South Korea’s economy at will. Sitting across from him, Chairman Yu stared endlessly at the Go board, looking like a general facing an unfavorable battle line.

“Old man, will the board flip if you stare at it like that? How about I give you a handicap?”

Chairman Wang floated the suggestion toward Chairman Yu.

“If you call me ‘big brother,’ I’ll give you one. Come on, try it.”

“You stubborn old man.”

Chairman Yu swallowed and raised his head.

“By the way, Son family, do you know much about violins?”

“Violins? Why suddenly that? Don’t tell me you’re trying to buy time using conversation?”

Chairman Yu shook his head. Even without a stopwatch, why would he try to buy time? He suddenly remembered his grandson staring endlessly at Hirose’s violin. Though he had taken an interest in classical music because of his youngest daughter in the past, he didn’t know much about instruments.

“They’re quite expensive indeed. You saw it too, didn’t you? Hirose-san’s violin. It was forty thousand dollars in the sixties? I believe a New York City apartment wasn’t even worth forty thousand back then.”

Chairman Yu couldn’t hide his surprise. Forty thousand dollars is a large sum even now, let alone decades ago.

“It must have increased at least tenfold by now, the price is whatever they ask. They say collecting art pieces is better than gold. But instruments of that caliber, even if you’re interested, you can’t find them unless they come up for auction. Why are you interested?”

It wasn’t that he lacked financial means. He was just surprised by the unexpected price.

“Son family, want to make a bet on this game?”

“A bet?”

Just as blood doesn’t lie, Kang Hyun was reflected in Chairman Yu’s face. The opponent had taken the bait.

“Good, if you win this game, I’ll grant whatever you want. But if you lose, you have to call me ‘big brother.’ Since I might go to the other world if I hear it for too long, one week will do.”

The moment Chairman Wang smiled,

Clack!

The white stone fell decisively onto the board.

* * *

The cicadas’ songs that heated up the summer days are no longer heard.

Partly due to the typhoon-brought monsoon, and partly due to the chilly weather that left no trace of late summer, they must have gone on their long journey. But in place of the summer cicadas, an unexpected visitor had arrived.

Pitter-patter─!

The heavy rain hit the windows harshly like beating percussion instruments.

“Madam, how long has uncle been like that?”

In front of the entrance, young uncle was kneeling, taking the downpour with his whole body. His grey suit had turned navy blue from being soaked, and he could barely open his eyes against the relentless raindrops. Yet, like a statue waiting for a loved one’s return, young uncle wouldn’t move from his spot. This isn’t like him – could he have gotten a cramp?

“It’s been about an hour. I’m worried he might get sick.”

The housemaid seemed quite concerned. Meanwhile, grandfather walked to the dining table nonchalantly. Not even sparing a glance, as if there was nobody at the entrance? At times like this, I really admire grandfather’s unwavering principles.

“Grandfather, will young uncle be okay?”

Well, being the good grandson I am to grandfather, I should say something different from what I’m thinking.

“Hyun-ah, do you know why your young uncle came today?”

Grandfather asked me instead. From young uncle’s perspective, it was an urgent matter. He probably thought he’d be called back to the company soon as usual. But this time was different. A premonition must have swept through his whole body that he might end up living as a lifelong unemployed person like Jeil Group’s third son.

But why did he come today? Given young uncle’s lazy personality, I thought he’d react later.

“The weather forecast said the monsoon would start tomorrow, that foolish fellow.”

I barely managed to keep from spitting out my rice. As expected, young uncle never disappoints. He thought he was being clever. But coincidentally, the monsoon came earlier, and the price for blindly trusting the weather forecast was quite steep.

Even after breakfast,

Grandfather took his time getting ready, more leisurely than usual.

Pitter-patter─!

Amidst the falling rain.

“Faather, please give me one more chance!”

Young uncle shouted with slurred pronunciation, probably from being in the rain too long. The raindrops on his face were indistinguishable from tears or snot. When grandfather stopped in his tracks, Driver Kim, holding an umbrella, stopped as well.

“Beom-jin, do you know what you did wrong?”

“I really didn’t know about Manager Jo’s situation. But I’ll be strictly disciplined now and behave properly. There won’t be any more worries for you, father!”

A clear shout that cut through the sound of rain. He must have thought this was his last chance. Anyone watching might think this was a scene from a drama. But grandfather silently turned his gaze away.

“You fool, this is why you’re no good!”

Tsk, he still thinks it’s just about one manager’s corruption. That’s why he was helpless when Dongju was later absorbed by foreign capital. As grandfather and I started walking, young uncle’s face turned pale.

“Fa, father!”

Young uncle tried to get up and follow immediately, but fell back down with a splash. Judging by his expression about to cry, he must have gotten a serious leg cramp.

*

Grandfather’s office now feels cozy enough. Though it’s called the chairman’s office, it shows no sense of authority. Rather, the well-worn furniture clearly shows how much grandfather cherishes Dongju. The classic records still gathered on one wall even give it a vintage feel.

‘Competition.’

A word that hadn’t left my mind since receiving Park Sun-young’s suggestion. That’s when.

“Hyun-ah, should grandfather give you some homework?”

Grandfather’s voice made my thoughts scatter. Homework? What could he mean? Was he going to make me do high school prep studies like Yu-ha?

“If you make grandfather laugh, I’ll buy you something nice.”

Grandfather showed a smile. It was an abstract homework. If he just wanted laughter, I should turn on the TV right now and show him Comedy Number One. By the way, what could he mean by buying something nice?

Knock knock.

At that moment, with the knock.

‘Wan-yong?’

Jeon Wan-yong, no, Managing Director Jeon entered.

“Ah, you’ve come.”

Grandfather welcomed Managing Director Jeon warmly. Though his attitude seemed strange, there must be a reason I didn’t know. Grandfather was never an easy person. Managing Director Jeon glanced at me briefly before deeply bowing to grandfather. He spent quite a while talking with grandfather, mostly about new material development.

‘He’d be better suited for acting.’

If not for my memories of my past life, I would have thought him a diligent executive without doubt. Every expression, gesture, and behavior was admirable. By the way, where did the young uncles find these types of people, not just one but as a set? The saying “those who touch ink become black” felt particularly relevant at that moment.

After Wan-yong withdrew.

“Hmm.”

Grandfather’s brow furrowed. A completely different attitude from how he treated Managing Director Jeon earlier. Grandfather put down the documents he had been carefully reading on the desk with a sound. He must be unable to figure it out. This guy seemed to be the root of all evil, but he was hiding his tail well.

‘Tsk.’

I clicked my tongue unconsciously. I remembered the seniors who worked overtime for months because of the Jeon Wan-yong incident in my past life. Being clever, he had skillfully evaded the law. He was quite the legal snake.

“Grandfather, may I take a look too?”

At my sudden question, grandfather half-opened his closed eyes.

“You, Hyun?”

Indeed, these were complicated documents for a child to see. They contained everything from settlements to confidential new material development records. Plus matters related to legal provisions. Grandfather nodded briefly. His eyes still full of strange emotions.

Grab.

I took the stack of documents from grandfather and sat on the sofa.

I leaned forward and picked up an idle pen. With clicking button sounds, the pages turn. A habit from my prosecutor days, when I received countless stacks daily. Thousands of pages? A passing prosecutor would laugh. As they say in the prosecutor’s office, they cut down a tree every day – I used to receive stacks over a meter high daily. How proficient would I be at reading through stacks?

Click.

Grandfather was watching me with curious eyes. No wonder, as I was not only turning pages at a fierce speed but also making marks with a red pen here and there. The speed was so unrealistic one might wonder if I was really reading. Just before the clock’s second hand reached ten minutes.

“Grandfather.”

I stood up as I closed the last page. Well.

“What are you going to give me as a gift?”

Wan-yong, you’re no match for me.