For The Musical Genius (Novel) - Chapter 86
Chapter 86
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Clap clap clap—!
Thunderous applause and cheers reached the ceiling of the Berlin Philharmonic. The silver-haired violinist in a crimson dress smiled brightly and bowed to the audience. Everyone—including the Berlin Philharmonic musicians who had just performed with her—was spellbound by the “Jubilee” in her hands. As the red dress fluttered like a rose petal, the Queen of Hyun exited the stage.
“Sorry to keep you waiting, Tanaka-san.”
“Not at all, Maestro. Today’s performance was truly sublime.”
This was her first collaboration after a long hiatus, yet no one would guess she’d been away from the stage. Her playing was sharper than ever, as if she’d never stopped honing her craft.
“Performing with the Berlin Philharmonic will remain an unforgettable memory. They are always fresh and awe-inspiring. The thrill I felt decades ago during my first collaboration with them still lingers in my heart.”
“Maestro, does that mean you consider the Berlin Philharmonic the world’s best orchestra?”
“You’re being cheeky, Tanaka-san. In the moment of performance, I always believe my collaborators are the best—whether it’s Vienna, London, or Berlin.”
Tanaka flipped through her notebook—time was short.
“Maestro, may I ask why you’re rushing to Korea?”
No one had expected Hirose to head to Korea right after her Berlin performance.
“Tanaka-san, you just asked me which orchestra is the world’s best, correct?”
“Yes, but—”
Hirose sipped her tea, the crimson dress and silver hair blending like a masterpiece.
“I heard Yuri-san is also heading to Korea.”
The Lion of Berlin?
“I can’t judge which orchestra is the best. But I do know who will become the world’s greatest violinist and pianist someday.”
Just then, her manager Goro entered with her passport. The Queen of Hyun rose, leaving Tanaka with a final remark:
“I’m going to meet them.”
—
A woman’s time flows swiftly.
The child I once knew now stood before me as a young lady. She dabbed my forehead with a handkerchief, her cat-like eyes studying me. It felt like a scene from a movie.
“See? Oppa can’t survive without me.”
Even someone as inexperienced in romance as me recognized that tone. But this was unreal. Compared to the icy, unapproachable aura she’d had in my past life, this was unimaginable. Yet here she was—a rose in full bloom, hit by adolescence.
…Come to think of it, when did my adolescence even happen?
“Kang Hyun-ssi?”
A staff member snapped me out of my thoughts. My turn was approaching.
Thump thump thump.
Musicians often speak of stage fright—the feverish feeling under thousands of gazes, like standing before the sun. Some take emergency medicine; others faint mid-performance. But for me? The spotlight felt like warm sunlight. I was born for this.
Clap clap clap—!
The audience welcomed me as I stepped onstage. A feverish feeling? Please. If anything, the intense spotlight felt like jubilant sunshine.
Hanky chief?
Jeong-hoon Baek noticed the handkerchief tucked into my suit and raised an eyebrow. It hadn’t been there during rehearsal. Not that it mattered—some violinists wrapped their chin rests with cloth.
“Wow—!”
Gasps erupted as the Stradivarius Fantasie was unveiled. Its fiery red body and dark grain stood out like a shadow at dawn. Even from afar, its presence was undeniable. Jeong-hoon met my eyes—by now, I could read his silent cues. It’s time.
The duet began with the piano’s lively tones. As Jeong-hoon’s long fingers danced, the audience was spellbound. A genius remained a genius. Even the simplest notes carried indescribable emotion.
Sarasate’s Carmen Fantasy.
A dark handkerchief cushioned the chin rest. The silver strings gleamed, ready to burst into melody. I raised my bow slowly. The moment it touched the strings, I knew—I’d play with her.
Zing—!
A violin adaptation of Bizet’s Carmen, strongly recommended by Jeong-hoon. Though it was his recital, this duet was also for me. As if answering his expectations, I unleashed a dazzling trill. The piece demanded virtuosity—triple stops, double stops, arpeggios, and relentless tremolos.
Jeong-hoon played like a man possessed. Despite having already performed a solo, he poured his soul into this as if it were his last performance. The notes on the sheet music came alive under his fingers.
Harmonics, pizzicatos, glissandos—an unbroken chain of technical brilliance. Yet the melody never wavered. If my violin was a steadfast star against a black canvas, his piano was a drifting cloud resonating deep within. He must’ve been remembering that night—the starry sky over the open plains.
Zing—!
A high note soared, sharp enough to pierce the concert hall’s ceiling. The bow mercilessly raked the strings as time seemed to freeze in the final movement. Sweat beaded on the handkerchief, but the finale continued. I wouldn’t have cared if my fingers broke or if I collapsed. This was our last fortissimo—and we smiled.
The audience was robbed of breath. Had they dreamed this fantasia of two virtuosos?
—
“Mom, this is so good—!”
I distinctly remembered our meeting was set for the afternoon.
“If I’d known you loved braised short ribs this much, I would’ve made them sooner! I’ll prepare more before you leave. And don’t skip meals overseas, understand?”
As if the heir to Jeil Group would ever go hungry abroad. Even Mom was already calling her “our” Yoo-ha. The girl’s grin stretched ear to ear, mirrored by Grandpa and Dad. Why did I feel like the odd one out here?
“Yoo-ha, weren’t we supposed to meet in the afternoon?”
Instead of answering, Yoo-ha turned to Mom.
“Mom, Oppa said to meet at 2 PM—not even lunchtime! I couldn’t wait, so I came early.”
“Hoho, our Hyun is clueless, isn’t he? You’ll have your hands full, Yoo-ha. Take good care of him today.”
“Yes, Mom—!”
Their banter flowed like a comedy duo. Who knew the girl who once only screamed “Oppa—!” could banter like this? First Jeong-hoon, now Yoo-ha—was foreign education turning everyone into smooth talkers? She even helped Mom with dishes afterward. To Mom, who’d always wanted a daughter, Yoo-ha was adorable.
Still, beneath the maturity, she was undeniably a young girl.
“Messy.”
I wiped a sauce stain from Yoo-ha’s cheek. Her porcelain skin instantly flushed ripe-persimmon red—so vivid it looked like blush. Grandpa watched us fondly, but his gaze seemed to say, “Yonsama dramas are happening right here.”
—
“Have fun, Kang Hyun-ssi—!”
Mr. Kim’s laughter sounded suspiciously sly. Yoo-ha and I arrived at a nature park near Gyeonggi—a student paradise with botanical gardens, a zoo, and rides. Notably, it was owned by Jeil Group.
“Oppa, let’s go!”
Like a triumphant general, Yoo-ha dragged me inside. In my past life, I’d never visited such places—zoos bored me, and rides terrified me.
“Oppa, let’s ride that!”
She’d reverted to her clingy self, gripping my arm tightly. At least she didn’t need to tug my sleeve anymore—we were nearly the same height now.
“That one?”
“Yeah, I’ve always wanted to try it!”
“Yoo-ha, don’t you come here often?”
She could’ve rented the entire park for a day if she wanted. Every new ride debuted first for Jeil Group’s heirs.
“Can’t we pick something else?”
“Please, Oppa. It’s my first time!”
A blatant lie. With bumper cars, carousels, and even a Ferris wheel, why did her finger point squarely at the Blue Dragon Coaster? It didn’t look long, yet my stomach churned.
Hah… hah…
I was panting harder than after a full day of violin practice. My legs shook—was it my shorter body? Compared to future roller coasters, this was a kiddie ride, yet cold sweat drenched me.
“Next, that one!”
Yoo-ha was clearly trying to kill me. Her finger now aimed at the Viking ship. We rode everything. If I transcribed this terror into sheet music, it’d rival Schubert’s Erlkönig in horror.
“Let’s rest with ice cream, Oppa.”
Thank God. One more ride and I’d have bolted. As we licked vanilla cones in the summer breeze, dusk fell unnaturally fast. No wonder this was a student paradise—time flew when you were… traumatized.
Then—
“Excuse me, could you take our photo?”
Yoo-ha handed a film camera to a passerby. When had she prepared this? As we posed by the fountain—
“Oppa.”
Mwah.
Her fair skin turned persimmon-red again. She’d clearly aimed for my cheek, but I turned at the wrong moment. Her flustered act was adorable.
“W-was I your first?”
Yeah. First kiss.