For The Musical Genius (Novel) - Chapter 39

Chapter 39

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Discord         

“You want to start filming already?”

Queen Elizabeth is a competition with a long history. The schedule at the Chapel, known as the dawn of melody, is produced as a documentary by the national broadcasting station. But the final list hasn’t even been selected yet.

“Foreign press teams have started arriving. When the bait is good, the fishermen gather.”

The director frowned while tapping his finger on the competition list. Belgium, considered the heart of Europe, is a small nation with a total population of ten million. The Queen Elizabeth Competition is such an important national event that it’s one of the main sources of tourism revenue. The produced documentaries are exported to various countries, and at this rate, I might be completely exposed in my own living room. The reason journalists caught wind was simple. Outstanding new talents from each country were heading to Brussels without exception. Moreover.

“They say there’s someone with recommendations from Hirose and Spencer?”

That’s what the rumors said. Someone who received recommendations from both the Queen of Violin and the London Symphony had arrived in Brussels. Piecing together all the circulating rumors, an unbelievable figure had emerged.

“What, is this Mozart reincarnated or something?”

A fourteen-year-old boy in Korean age – of course, there are plenty of prodigies who learned violin from a very young age. But the noteworthy point here is that this boy has only been playing violin for barely a month. A child who learned violin for a month getting selected among the top 24 new violinists worldwide? It’s like something out of a novel. However.

The director felt his nose tingling. His deep-set eyes were still fixed on the boy’s name. Not on England’s William, China’s Zhang Yan, or Northern Europe’s Erik, but on this unknown Asian boy. His instincts, honed through years at the broadcasting station, were pointing strongly at this child.

“Lia, film this Asian boy directly. Get the most interviews too.”

Surely, this boy will be the highlight of this Queen Elizabeth Competition.

*

Achoo―!

Judging by another sneeze, someone must be talking about me. Meanwhile, I was bothered by the British gentleman following me around. Not only did he appear suddenly, but he was even glaring at me.

Hmph.

I thought about grabbing his hair and giving him a good knock, but seeing him roughly wiping his nosebleed, I shook my head. I knew his type well. I’d often seen them at the Judicial Research and Training Institute in my past life. An elite who’d been on the fast track since birth.

“How long are you going to follow me?”

When I stopped in my tracks, the gentleman stopped too. He seemed to want to ask something but couldn’t bring himself to speak, probably due to pride. I shook my head and continued walking. At this point, he’s as persistent as someone I can think of.

“Are you going to play violin?”

I nodded briefly. It was a practice room specially prepared by the competition organizers for Queen Elizabeth participants. Connected to the hotel, it could be used for practice anytime without time restrictions. The British gentleman seemed to contemplate for a moment before looking at me.

“May I watch?”

“As you wish.”

The second round required performing a free piece that each person had prepared. Since I couldn’t change the piece now anyway, I thought it wouldn’t matter much to show my practice. Of course, most sensitive violinists were reluctant to show their practice to others. The British gentleman seemed to know this, as he quietly took his seat without saying much.

*

At that moment.

Zing.

The bow caressed the strings carefully. The melody played with a down-bow seemed like taking precarious steps. It made an eerie sound as if wandering in darkness where nothing could be seen ahead. That’s when it happened. The rosin-coated bow pressed strongly against the strings. William unconsciously clenched his hand holding the handkerchief.

He wanted to verify.

Whether that child truly deserved Spencer’s letter of recommendation.

Yet as the performance continued, he felt himself becoming more captivated. How could someone express such melody? Moreover, what about the posture and fundamentals? There was a breathtaking tension as if watching a master who had handled the violin for many years taking position. Such things require long experience and expertise. But that child was accomplishing it as if it were nothing.

William, who studied at the Royal Academy of Music, had encountered countless prodigies, to say the least. He had always believed without doubt that he was the best wherever he went. Even the most outstanding prodigies would become ordinary violinists before him. But what was this emotion now?

Was this how Salieri felt when he encountered Mozart?

Thump thump thump.

He felt his cold heart pounding uncontrollably. He found himself unconsciously becoming immersed in the precarious melody. Sweat poured down his entire body like heavy rain, enough to forget the inexplicable anger he had felt at the sight of that child playing the violin with such dignity. Though the performance had ended, William still couldn’t let go of the final melody.

Knock knock.

That’s when Eva entered the practice room.

“William?”

Though Eva was surprised to see my state, I had no time to pay attention to her. When I didn’t answer, she withdrew her questioning gaze and looked straight at the boy.

“Hyun, there’s a visitor for you.”

* * *

The Pyeongchang-dong mansion is noisy from early morning. Even the koi fish swimming in the pond have disappeared from the bustling sounds. While Chairman Wang wore a satisfied smile, Son Il-sun felt a headache coming on.

“Secretary Kim, how many hours has Yu-ha been like this?”

Secretary Kim couldn’t properly answer Son Il-sun’s question.

“Isn’t it nice to see, Il-sun?”

“Father?”

Son Il-sun looked at the luggage her daughter had packed. It was supposed to be a simple task of delivering the violin. But as they say, the tail is wagging the dog – anyone who saw this would think she was emigrating overseas. Since hearing she was going to Belgium where Kanghyun was, hasn’t she been packing without even sleeping? Usually, she would be sleeping until the sun was high in the sky.

“Don’t worry too much since she’s not going alone. By the way, what’s happening with Tianjin?”

At Chairman Wang’s question, Son Il-sun straightened her posture. She no longer had time to worry about her daughter.

“The approval process should be completed within this year. However, since Chinese authorities aren’t taking an active stance on attracting foreign capital, aggressive investment might be difficult.”

“That’s good enough. Opening the first channel was our goal. The foreign capital attraction will resolve itself before long. And by the way, are there any petty thieves in the company these days?”

Son Il-sun immediately understood Chairman Wang’s question. He wasn’t referring to simple thieves. It meant actions like embezzling materials, misappropriating funds, and leaking industrial technology overseas. Hadn’t Hyunsung Group suffered greatly because of this? Moreover, the larger the organization, the more vulnerable spots there are to be eaten away.

“Il-sun, this thieving becomes as easy as flipping through account books when done often. That’s why it’s most important to cut off the sprouts early and plug the holes. Don’t let down your guard even with blood relations, always keep watch. You know better than anyone what I mean.”

Son Il-sun felt cold sweat forming on her back. Because she had once helped the third son who lives as a lifelong unemployed after falling out of Chairman Wang’s favor. She had momentarily forgotten that Chairman Wang’s eyes and ears were everywhere within Jeil Group.

“When I see things like this, that child becomes even more appealing.”

Just then, Chairman Wang smiled while seemingly recalling someone. Son Il-sun knew well the hidden meaning behind that smile. It was the expression her father made when he strongly desired something despite having everything.

*

“You want to film me?”

I recalled being filmed for Documentary 5 Days at the Judicial Research and Training Institute in my past life. How troublesome it was – even documentaries aren’t without dramatization. Having dealt with broadcasting people before, I wasn’t particularly pleased. However, according to Park Sun-young, surely…

“Don’t they usually start filming from the Chapel?”

“That was true until the last competition, but the rules have changed.”

Like Eva, she was a typical Eastern European beauty. A face more suited for an entertainer than a PD. Speaking in English rather than her native French made her seem even more endearing. Beside her was a man reminiscent of Hagrid holding a camera – so similar that I wondered if he might have been the model for Hagrid’s character.

“Don’t worry, we won’t make any requests except for interviews.”

When I showed a worried expression, the PD quickly added. Of course, this was a nationally designated competition. Being about filming sensitive musicians, they wouldn’t make many directorial demands.

“Am I the only one being filmed first?”

There were still 24 people remaining. It would have been normal to just send a cameraman. Yet the PD came to find me personally. Of course, she probably wasn’t the only PD, but I heard they hadn’t even approached other participants yet.

“Surely it’s not because of the recommendation letters?”

The PD seemed flustered but didn’t deny it. Of course, the Queen of Violin and London Symphony’s reputations are illustrious in the music world. It’s natural they’d be interested in an unknown Asian kid who secured recommendations from both. Moreover, hadn’t I made it onto the list of 24?

“Alright. But please don’t disturb me during practice.”

The PD nodded emphatically as if it were obvious. She wore the brightest smile – still looking more suited to be an entertainer. Just as I was about to stand up after shaking hands.

“Orabeoni―!”

Orabeoni?

I unconsciously turned my head at the unexpected Korean. Wasn’t that a familiar silhouette walking through the hotel entrance? Even after blinking hard, the silhouette didn’t disappear. But my mind was full of questions.

‘If it were Yu-ha, she wouldn’t speak like that?’

Far from “orabeoni,” Yu-ha would have run to me shouting “oppa!” Yet now she was walking gracefully like a refined lady. Anyone would think she was from a noble family. Of course, in reality, she was an heiress to a conglomerate. Then my eyes widened at the figure following behind Yu-ha.

“Mother?”

Now I understood why Yu-ha was acting this way.

“Orabeoni, I missed you so much.”

Just as Yu-ha approached me with her greeting, she suddenly embraced me gently. At that sight, Hagrid raised his camera.