For The Musical Genius (Novel) - Chapter 35

Chapter 35

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Discord         

Between coldness and passion.

Suddenly I thought of Ekuni Kaori’s book. Could there be better words to express my current feelings – my wildly pounding heart inexplicably found stability when the violin touched my shoulder. But I felt completely exposed. It was as if I was showing everything to Fantasy. Fantasy maintained its cold appearance in solitude, as if it had been waiting for me.

Time seemed to stop for everyone.

Park Sun-young watched me while holding her breath, and Son Yu-ha, who had been urging me like a country puppy, carefully gazed with round rabbit eyes. I was the one who broke the silence. My left hand touched the silvery strings that gleamed as if alive. The bow gripped in my right hand remained sharp. As if ready to stir my depths at any moment.

Only then did Paganini’s words feel real.

When the black stems on the red soundboard caressed my cheek like someone’s long fingers.

I raised the bow.

Zing.

The bow and strings collided endlessly, creating melody. What movement was I playing? Notes and expression marks had long been forgotten in my mind. I had no clear thought of what piece to play. I just wanted to scold this impatient fellow who had waited so long for a violinist. If I let my guard down even slightly, it felt like it would devour me without fail. My burning heart was proof of that.

Beethoven? Or perhaps Brahms, Mozart, Tchaikovsky, Vivaldi, Leonid – countless masters’ names appeared and disappeared repeatedly in the melody. Park Sun-young watched me with her hands tightly clasped. So tight I worried she might draw blood. Her eyes trembled as if there was an earthquake.

Well then.

Zing!

The bow and strings collided forcefully, envying each other. Sweat poured down my whole body like heavy rain. As if showing how long it had waited for me, Fantasy was pouring out every sound it could make. Be patient, this isn’t where you should be running wild yet! Even the bow’s strong pressure creates cool, transparent melody.

“Ha.”

When the bow tip pointed down again, I released my held breath. The black stems on the red soundboard came down from my shoulder as if regretful. Neither Park Sun-young nor even Son Yu-ha dared to speak. They were trembling from what they had witnessed.

I carefully looked at Fantasy. The fellow was still gleaming silver, waiting for me. Damn you, don’t look at me like that when you’re just an instrument. If I had first taken this one out at the competition, I would have frozen and been unable to do anything.

“H-Hyun-ah. What piece did you play?”

I couldn’t answer Park Sun-young’s trembling question. Because even I didn’t know. Only this fellow would know the answer. Was that beautifully chilling melody the yearning of countless violinists, or the devil’s wish?

*

“What kind of place is Brussels?”

Hirose gave a faint smile at Tanaka’s question. Cold sweat beaded on Tanaka’s forehead. He was so drenched in sweat he looked like someone who had just finished showering. Understandably so, as the Queen before him was a master worthy of state guest status – it would have been stranger not to be nervous.

“Brilliant and elegant, but overflowing with sadness – would that explain it?”

Tanaka didn’t understand. He understood the first two phrases, but the last one seemed incongruous no matter how he thought about it. Brussels was a place every violinist dreamed of. Countless violinists had picked up their bows aiming for Brussels since childhood.

“Mr. Tanaka, there’s no birth without pain, right?”

That’s when the Queen’s eyes held the past.

“In the endless dawn, they gaze at the melody. But like a faint daybreak, they can’t find their bearings. Whether they’re walking the right path, or floundering in a ditch. They say only geniuses can head to Chapelle. But I don’t think so.”

Gulp.

“The people I saw were all crazy about violin, including myself. ‘Melody filled with madness’ would be the right description. Looking back, I wonder if there was ever a time in my life that was so intense yet beautiful. So much that I feel sorry for the audience who only get a glimpse of the world through brief competitions.”

Manager Goro looked at his wristwatch. Probably because interview time was running short. Tanaka didn’t miss this.

“Ms. Hirose, how do you think this competition will be?”

She was the Queen who had resigned from being a judge. There were rumors that someone with the Queen’s recommendation letter was heading to Brussels. But most didn’t believe it, thinking it was false. ‘There probably isn’t anyone who could meet the standards of the Queen, who is gentle but endlessly strict when it comes to violin.’ That’s what Tanaka thought. However, the Queen showed a mysterious smile never seen before.

“It will be Hyun’s time.”

* * *

Rustle.

Chairman Wang, who was tending to the ornamental trees, raised his head.

“Old man, is that true?”

Chairman Yu silently nodded. But undisguisable joy showed in his eyes.

‘A truly remarkable one indeed.’

Chairman Wang swallowed his surprise and put down the pruning shears. Who would have thought he’d pass the preliminaries so readily? Moreover, it was one of the world’s top three competitions. Starting his first performance on a stage that some only dream of.

“Old man, I’ve always thought of musicians like these orchids.”

To Chairman Wang, musicians were like orchids. Like maintaining integrity and principles, they only bloom when carefully nurtured. To achieve the flower’s meaning of pure beauty, they had to overcome numerous hardships and fight their own battles. Perhaps that’s why they were so sensitive.

“But Hyun is peculiar.”

Like a rainbow-colored koi reflecting various colors in sunlight, that child showed many different faces. Sometimes like a child, other times infinitely cool-headed, and when playing violin, more passionate than anyone. How could one not be impressed?

Chairman Wang had more confidence in his eye for people than anyone else.

When he ran a large wholesale business in North Hamgyong Province, there were several times he almost went completely bankrupt, but his eye for people shone through and helped him escape crisis. It wasn’t different when he established Jeil Trading Company in Seoul after fleeing south. It was a time when people couldn’t be trusted more than anything. Living through turbulent times, had he ever been so drawn to someone? Though his exterior had aged, his discernment had only grown sharper.

He knew when the child refused the Stradivarius – that he could never be bought with money.

Chairman Wang carefully removed his dirt-covered gloves.

“In-law.”

As Chairman Wang quietly took his hand, Chairman Yu withdrew it while coughing, just like before.

“Son family, why are you being so creepy?”

Chairman Yu knew of Chairman Wang’s love for his granddaughter. Moreover, Chairman Wang was a friend Chairman Yu had trusted his whole life. Yet the reason he withdrew his hand was simple. He thought of his youngest daughter. He didn’t realize at first, but every time he saw his grandchild, he felt how ignorant he had been to oppose the marriage.

“I don’t dislike Yu-ha either, but they should like each other.”

Words that would make other chaebol families faint if they heard. No one in the business world would refuse marriage with Jeil Group. Moreover, she was the only daughter of Son Il-seon, who was marked as successor. No point in saying more.

“Grandfather!”

At that moment, Son Yu-ha came running from afar towards Chairman Wang. She must have seen Chairman Yu nearby and hoped Kang Hyun had come along. Chairman Wang looked at Yu-ha with an approving expression.

“Yu-ha, this old man… no, you should greet Hyun’s grandfather!”

At Chairman Wang’s words, Son Yu-ha, as if she had never been otherwise, made a demure expression and slowly bowed. She was the very picture of femininity. At this sight, Chairman Wang glanced at Chairman Yu.

“What are you doing, not accepting your future daughter-in-law’s greeting?”

*

Screeeech―!

The airplane noise is deafening. First-time flyers anxiously looked out the large windows. They probably don’t know that planes landing with a loud thud are actually safer than those that land smoothly like ice skating. The view of Gimpo Airport felt quite unfamiliar compared to before.

“Hyun-ah, you must do well, okay?”

My parents’ faces, who had come up to Seoul again, were full of worry. Though they must have been surprised by their son suddenly entering an international competition, mother still packed side dishes and even homemade red pepper paste. Instead of joking about taking off shoes, grandfather silently smiled at me. It must mean he trusts me that much. By the way.

“Grandfather, I don’t see Yu-ha?”

Son Yu-ha, who I expected would definitely come to see me off, wasn’t visible. Having her constantly clinging to me must have made me grow attached – my worries about her grabbing and hanging onto me at the airport last night now seemed pointless. Is this why they say a woman’s heart is like a reed?

I struggled to hold back a smirk.

“Hyun-ah, are you sure you can go alone?”

Grandfather asked me one last time, but my answer remained the same. There was no need to travel with others. The competition staff said they would come to meet me anyway. While grandfather wasn’t particularly worried, having seen how I’ve been, my parents were different. I deliberately showed a bright expression. Mother, please don’t worry. Your son has ridden more planes than subways.

“I’ll go and return safely!”

A solo departure journey. Of course, if I make it to the final twelve, grandfather and my parents will surely come to the competition venue. This moment of heading to departures with my parents and grandfather seeing me off felt like a young recruit entering the military base with his draft notice. Ah, that didn’t apply to me – I was a legal officer in my past life.

Though flight attendants occasionally gave puzzled looks at me heading alone to board the plane, I had no time to mind them.

“Brussels, huh.”

The letter’s content was this: they had specially sent the letter two weeks early, hoping I could come to Brussels as soon as possible if time allowed. The urgency of the sender was clear just from the handwriting. But why should I? There was no need to hurry. It’s not like I’d get bonus points. Besides, it’s not me who’s urgent, but Brussels.

Just as Kang Hyun completely disappeared from view.

“Oppa―!”

A girl came running urgently from across the airport. Her swollen face suggested she had cried for quite a while during the night. People’s attention focused on her, worried she might fall. Behind her, Chairman Wang’s secretary followed breathlessly, breaking into a cold sweat. How fast this little one was. At this sight, Chairman Yu almost burst out laughing despite himself. These kids were already making a movie scene.