For The Musical Genius (Novel) - Chapter 66

Chapter 66

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Producer Paul had a grand dream – to create a great band like the Beatles, Rolling Stones, or Queen with his own hands.

“Michelle, he completed all these pieces in such a short time?”

Paul clicked his tongue in disbelief while looking at numerous scores. The staff paper was densely filled with notes, and though he hadn’t heard the result yet, he wondered if this was even possible. He thought Michelle might have helped, but that was impossible. Knowing her character, there wasn’t even a slim chance of that.

“Has Mozart come back to life?”

Michelle nodded briefly at the playful question. Paul barely held back a helpless sigh. The classical piece he heard in the old town was truly an outstanding masterpiece. It wouldn’t be an exaggeration to say it contained life’s joys and sorrows in its melody. That’s why he commissioned the young genius to compose. However, classical and band music are distinctly different. He’d heard the boy was just learning composition basics, but as his thoughts filled with concerns,

“I’ll play number one.”

Michelle handled the synthesizer familiarly.

That’s when,

Bang―!

Paul felt like his mind was pierced. Just hearing the first note made his head buzz. Even though composition equipment had advanced, it was conventional wisdom in the producing world that it still couldn’t match real tones. But what was this resonance? Moreover.

‘What is this.’

Alternative – this clearly wasn’t the rock music he’d heard until now. Wasn’t an entirely unfamiliar music unfolding? The notes on the staff provided beautiful inspiration, to the point where the artificial tones weren’t jarring at all. The rookie band that came along was already lost in appreciating the melody. They couldn’t leave their seats even once. The sounds were so diverse that they wished they had more ears, as two weren’t enough to follow all the notes.

It’s often said that composers create the framework and lyricists fill it in. The producer’s role is to breathe life into the song at the end. However, these notes seemed vividly alive on their own. Only after listening to all seven pieces straight through did Paul release his held breath. The rookie band Iris was the same. Even they, with their firm musical worldview as a band, were entranced – how could they not be?

“Michelle, where is this friend now?”

Paul looked at Michelle urgently. At that moment, he sensed it. That in this time when American pop music dominated, the lineage of bands would be written again.

*

“Oppa―!”

As soon as we arrived at Gimpo Airport, Son Yu-ha came running barefoot. Anyone watching might think she was wearing rubber shoes waiting for someone from the military. Mother looked adoringly at Yu-ha as she approached and greeted us like a proper lady. Mother particularly adored Yu-ha. At this rate, we might end up with an unplanned second child.

“Yu-ha must have missed Hyun a lot?”

Yu-ha showed a faint smile, seemingly embarrassed.

“Oh right, Yu-ha. Take this.”

I took out the gift I’d bought in Chartres old town. I’d prepared it feeling somewhat obligated and grateful for everything, known and unknown. It was my first time buying a gift for a girl, so I struggled quite a bit. I finally chose a hairpin with blue cubic zirconia. Having chosen it so carefully, I hoped she’d like it.

“Thank you so much, oppa.”

Fortunately, Yu-ha immediately put the hairpin in her hair. In the past, she would have jumped into my arms right away. But now she was trying hard to hold back. Her tightly closed lips and teary eyes were proof of that. Somehow, Yu-ha seemed different.

“These kids are making another movie.”

Just then, Grandfather and Chairman Wang appeared with pleased smiles. Sizzle sizzle―!

It was a feast fit for kings. From hot pot to holiday-worthy meat pancakes. The housekeeper had clearly rolled up her sleeves to prepare everything. While I was grateful for being treated like a returning hero whenever I came back from abroad, I also felt apologetic. Good thing I’d prepared a gift for the housekeeper this time; otherwise, I wouldn’t have been able to pick up my chopsticks. The Ichon-dong mansion was bustling with aunts, uncles, and their spouses, but things were markedly different from usual.

My aunt, who would normally brag about her children without reading the room, was hiccupping, and my eldest uncle looked so pale he might collapse any moment. The reason was simple: Chairman Wang was present. No matter how close the adults were, Chairman Wang was still intimidating.

“Hyun, you haven’t forgotten your promise to grandfather, have you?”

When Chairman Wang suddenly addressed me familiarly, I could feel my aunt’s and eldest uncle’s eyes widening. Grandfather alternately looked at me and Chairman Wang with an intriguing gaze. He seemed very curious about what would follow.

“How long do you think it will take, Hyun?”

The promise to make Dongju enter the chemical industry’s top seven. As the mysterious questions continued, an inexplicable tension descended over the dining table. Of course, Grandfather quietly observed as if enjoying the situation. After thinking, I showed five fingers. The gesture might have looked like a child’s play.

“Five years? Shorter than expected?”

No, Grandfather.

I discreetly looked at Father sitting across from me. Father showed clear signs of tension; despite frequent encounters with Chairman Wang, he apparently couldn’t get used to it. I wanted to tell Father right there – that in five months, Griffin would succeed in development testing.

* * *

Wearing my school uniform feels awkward and uncomfortable after just a month without it. I looked into skipping grades, but there was no such system for middle school, being compulsory education. My hands are still itching to write more music. I realized something while composing for Iris – that I love music itself, beyond just violin. Come to think of it.

‘I never properly treated her.’

I wanted to treat Michelle to a nice restaurant, but couldn’t because of the flight time. She not only taught me composition but also helped me in detail with copyright registration procedures. Disappointing, but I’ll have to wait for another chance. If the producer was satisfied with my compositions, I’d have to visit France again anyway.

By the way.

‘Why is it so busy?’

The view of Jeil Middle School through the car window was different from usual. All the students were moving about busily.

“Hyun, today’s the festival!”

The short-haired class president was overjoyed to know I’d returned today. No wonder, as she would have had to perform on stage herself if not for me – she must feel like she’d dodged a bullet. Looking at the stage setup, it was clearly befitting a school under the Jeil Foundation. Despite being the 90s, the auditorium’s facilities surpassed most universities. One might think they were holding a party here.

“Hyun, have you thought about what piece you’ll play?”

“Huh?”

This was trouble – I’d been so absorbed in composition that I hadn’t even thought about what to play at the festival. There had been countless events over the past month. But seeing the class president’s expectant, bright eyes, I couldn’t possibly say I hadn’t prepared. As I stepped onto the stage, countless eyes turned to me. Even the principal had secured a prime spot to watch.

What should I play?

I wondered if the kids would like classical music. Though they were children of prominent businesses and surely learned classical music socially, it didn’t quite fit a festival. Moreover, all the music I’d been playing lately had lyrical melodies. Meanwhile, the practice violin from the music room seemed to be screaming to be played.

Right,

“I’ll be playing Iris.”

It was the first of the scores I’d given to band Iris. Though it was a rearrangement of band music for violin, it wasn’t difficult. After all, it was inspiration that had resonated in my head countless times. The students and even the music teacher looked puzzled. They’d never heard of a classical piece called Iris. Would it start with a bright melody, or have a lyrical resonance? As all eyes focused on me, I set down the bow and began plucking the strings with my fingers.

A sound that could have been a snare drum or marimba – unbelievable coming from a violin – reached the ceiling. And those fingers moved so fast, becoming increasingly intense.

Thump thump thump.

As everyone’s hearts danced to the beating rhythm, Zing―!

The bow strongly crossed the strings. The first note of Iris resonating from the violin. It was as striking as when traditional Korean military music captures an audience’s attention. Though it was originally meant to be played with guitar, bass, and drums combined, a single instrument was expressing it all. As I smiled at the end of the intense bowing, cheers erupted from everywhere. The audience couldn’t take their eyes off this never-before-heard music, as if witnessing the dawn of a new era.

*

Father’s under-eyes are dark. No wonder he’s tired from the continued forced march these past few days. I wanted to tell him the goal was near, but what could I do? I covered his back with a blanket as he slept hunched over his desk, expressing my apologetic feelings. Early in the morning, I headed to Gimpo Airport with Grandfather and Mother. I wasn’t the one going abroad. Who would have thought this was why that ice crybaby had changed recently.

“It doesn’t feel right, such a young child going to study abroad.”

Like Mother said, I didn’t feel right either. But for a chaebol heir, especially the successor, studying abroad was somewhat natural. Learning kingship from childhood, completing MBA, then entering practical work – isn’t that the course? Moreover, studying abroad was indeed better than Korea where media attention was focused. In my past life, Son Yu-ha had also gone abroad to study from a young age, so I knew she would go eventually, but I didn’t expect that day to come so soon.

“Grandfather, hello.”

“Ah, Hyun’s here. Yu-ha went to the bathroom. She wanted to wash her face since you were coming.”

I politely greeted Chairman Wang, who had arrived at Gimpo Airport first. President Son Il-seon and Director Im Hye-ra were standing beside him – it was like all of Jeil Group’s executives were gathered. Seeing many police officers around the airport early in the morning showed the tension.

“Oppa…”

Just then, someone pulled my sleeve. It was Son Yu-ha, who had appeared without notice. The hairpin I’d bought her shone brightly on her head. She must have cried a lot last night. Her swollen eyes pained my heart.

“I’m fine!”

Yu-ha smiled cheerfully with effort. Usually, she would have cried and thrown a tantrum about not wanting to go, but something was different. Something must have touched Yu-ha’s heart. It was quite a departure for study abroad, with security guards and even a secretary. After holding my hand for a long while, Yu-ha moved to check in when boarding time came. I watched regretfully as she walked away with tightly pressed lips. It seemed like she was deliberately trying to detach from me. Perhaps this was the true face of the Son Yu-ha I remembered from my past life.

That’s when,

“Oppa―!”

Son Yu-ha suddenly turned around and ran straight to me. She threw herself into my arms, her face already covered in tears. I slowly patted her back. I knew how lonely it was to study abroad at such a young age. At that moment, Yu-ha looked up and our eyes met. Through her swollen eyes, she shed tears like chicken droppings while saying.

“Hic, I’ll definitely come back every vacation―!”

“Okay, Yu-ha.”

“I’ll definitely come to see you.”

She emphasized each word through her tears. I lovingly stroked her head. Chairman Wang and Grandfather watched with bittersweet smiles. Looking at Yu-ha’s retreating back, I thought of the future. Surely that small back would one day stand tall as Jeil Group’s number one.

I looked forward to it, the imminent return of the Ice Queen.