A Musical Genius Who Plays Memories - Chapter 22

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This chapter was translated by Lunox Team. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
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Chapter 22. Signpost (1)

Friday, 4:40 PM.

Inside the music studio, a woman was slumped over her desk, groaning.

“Ugh… I’m finally done!”

Hwang Su-jin, who works as a music producer, was finally freed from the work that had been tormenting her.

Even if she wasn’t completely satisfied, some pretty decent songs had been created.

She was also filled with the desire to let other people hear them.

“Should I call the kids?”

Hwang Su-jin picked up her phone and called somewhere.

A cheerful ringtone played for a few seconds, then a voice came through.

“Hello? What’s up, unnie?”

“Oh, Ji-eun. It’s nothing major, but I made a few songs and was wondering if you and Young-hoon would like to listen to them?”

“Yeah, sounds good! Will you send them as files? Oh wait, unnie, come to our house. Let’s have dinner together.”

“Hm? Suddenly? Well, I don’t mind… but is that okay?”

“What’s the problem? If it’s you, unnie, our whole family would be happy. I’ll ask them just to be sure though.”

Shin Ji-eun said that and disappeared for a moment.

Being quick to act, she liked to invite people over spontaneously.

Remembering how she used to suddenly call her over in the past, Hwang Su-jin let out a small laugh.

“Young-hoon says it’s fine too. Bring something delicious.”

“Hehe. Got it, it’ll take me about an hour.”

“We’ll need about that long to go grocery shopping too. We can listen to the songs after we eat.”

“Sounds good. See you later.”

“Alright, see you later.”

The call ended.

Hwang Su-jin happily wrapped up her work and left the company.

Dinner with her close younger friends was always enjoyable.

As a single woman over 40, her evenings were always lonely.

So very occasionally, she would have dinner with other people or her older brother.

But nothing was as enjoyable as dining with the close younger couple and Heeseong.

With upbeat pop music playing, Hwang Su-jin drove down the road, swaying her shoulders.

“I’ll get to see Heeseong after a long time too. Music preschool, was it…? He must be talented, taking after his mom and dad.”

Thinking of her young nephew always brought a smile to her face.

Whenever she saw the child running toward her with that bright smile, she felt filled with happiness.

Moreover, when Shin Ji-eun would boast saying ‘Our Heeseong~!’ she felt proud too.

That’s how much Hwang Su-jin cherished Heeseong.

‘Music preschool… I wonder what he’ll say after listening to the songs I made? I’m curious.’

Hwang Su-jin glanced at the USB in her bag.

The songs she had just finished.

Imagining what her nephew might say was quite amusing.

‘He’ll probably say they’re amazing, right? Hehe! I can’t wait to see him.’

Thinking of her young nephew naturally brought a smile to her face.

That’s why her foot pressed down a little harder on the pedal.

The white sedan began hurrying down the road filled with cars on their way home from work.

***

“L-like this?”

“That’s right. Ajin, you’re good at violin!”

Friday afternoon in Moran Class.

Aeyeon, Garam, and I were completely absorbed in teaching Ajin how to play instruments.

Timid Ajin had become completely absorbed in playing music with us.

The child was busy playing piano or violin every day.

Of course, I enjoyed it too.

Seeing that Aeyeon was also quietly smiling, it didn’t seem too bad.

The most enthusiastic one was, naturally, Garam.

It wouldn’t be easy to readily hand over your own violin to someone else, but Garam didn’t mind.

Even when Ajin accidentally dropped it, he didn’t get angry.

Was he just someone with no temper?

“Heeseong, play piano with me.”

“Huh? We just played earlier.”

“But Ajin was there then. Play with me too.”

“Hmm… Okay!”

When Garam and Ajin were playing violin together, Aeyeon would take me to the piano.

It was as if she was jealous that I was being taken away from her.

But when she was with me, she would smile purely.

That’s why I didn’t say much and just went along with her.

There weren’t really assigned roles.

When Aeyeon sat on the piano chair, I would kneel and sit to her left.

It was a position that was possible because it was a very small piano.

As a result, naturally Aeyeon would play the melody and I would play the accompaniment.

“What are we going to play today?”

“Well…”

Aeyeon always asked me what song we were going to play.

Always pondering that question was part of our routine.

I had too many songs I wanted to play.

Because of that, I couldn’t easily say.

So naturally, I would ask Aeyeon the question back.

“Aeyeon, what song do you want to play…”

That’s when the clock on the wall caught my eye.

It was time for my parents to come.

In other words, it meant I couldn’t play piano with Aeyeon.

“Aeyeon, my parents will be here soon…”

“Heeseong! Your parents are here!”

Before I could finish speaking, Park Jeong-a called out loudly.

At that voice, I naturally looked toward the door.

A small sigh escaped from beside me too.

“Ah…! We didn’t get to play…”

“Can’t be helped. Let’s play together on Monday.”

It was disappointing, but there was nothing we could do.

What if I played here now?

Then Aeyeon would keep asking to play just one more time.

“Mm… Take care.”

“Bye!”

I got up from my seat and went to get my bag.

While Cha Yu-ra in the class was helping me put on my bag, the other two children approached.

“Bye Heeseong! See you Monday!”

“Yeah, see you Monday too, Garam.”

“H-Heeseong, take care…”

“Bye Ajin too.”

I waved to the two children in front of me and to Aeyeon who was at the piano, then left Moran Class.

In the hallway of the large Hansul Preschool, there were several other children as well.

There were students older than me, and teachers I didn’t know.

The Moran Class during dismissal time was always bustling like this.

Walking through the hallway and down the stairs led to the entrance.

Many parents were waiting for their children at the entrance.

I could spot my mother and father at a glance among all those parents.

“Father!”

“Heeseong!”

When I called out to Father who was waiting for me, he immediately turned around.

I ran to Father and snuggled into his embrace.

‘Ahem. It’s embarrassing, but I can’t help feeling good about it.’

Perhaps because of this body, the joy of a 5-year-old seemed to remain intact, and I loved being held in my parents’ arms.

Of course, I quite liked human warmth in my previous life too, so I often hugged when greeting people.

Maybe it’s because I couldn’t be in my parents’ arms when I was young.

Father stood up while holding me as I snuggled into his embrace.

And he also greeted Park Jeong-a who had brought me out.

“Ah, teacher. Thank you for your hard work today as well.”

“Not at all. Heeseong is so dependable that the children follow him around a lot.”

“Is that so? Haha! Heeseong was doing something wonderful.”

“Hehe.”

Father and Park Jeong-a had a brief conversation.

It was written in the school newsletter, but it was about bringing the required materials properly.

Since I would take care of it myself anyway, it wasn’t content I was interested in.

Meanwhile, I looked around.

Park Jeong-a had said my ‘parents’ came, but I couldn’t see Mother.

I tapped Father’s shoulder lightly.

“Hm? What is it, Heeseong?”

“Where did Mom go?”

“Mom went to make a phone call for a moment. Shall we go find her now?”

“Yes! Goodbye, teacher.”

“Alright, Heeseong! See you next week. Please be careful on your way home, Father.”

“Yes. We’ll see you next week. Let’s go.”

Father took me and headed outside.

After walking a little, I could spot Mother standing next to the car.

She was still holding her phone to her ear, seemingly still on a call.

“Mom~!”

When I called out loudly while waving my hand, Mother looked at me too.

She also showed a slight smile and waved her hand.

As I got closer, Mother’s voice became clearer.

“…Got it, see you later.”

See you later?

Who is she planning to meet?

The call seemed to have ended as Mother put her phone in her pocket.

She patted my head as I approached and didn’t forget to ask if I had a good day.

Then Father solved my curiosity.

“Is your sister coming later?”

“Yeah. She’ll probably get off work right away.”

“What should we eat for dinner? Should we order chicken?”

“That sister will probably buy a bunch of stuff again. Let’s just order 2 chickens simply. There’s a lot of food at home.”

The two of them were busy continuing their conversation even while putting me in the car seat.

I watched for the right moment and joined in.

“Who’s coming today?”

“Right. Aunt Sujin is coming.”

“Wow! Aunt Sujin!!”

Hwang Su-jin, commonly called Aunt Sujin.

She was a music producer, Mother’s soulmate and Father’s drinking buddy.

And she was one of the adults I liked.

Being a music producer, she had excellent knowledge about music.

When she worked with Mother at home, listening from the side was studying and learning for me.

In other words, she was someone from whom I could gain a lot.

‘Hehehe. Since she’s someone who creates modern music, she’ll be a huge, huge, huge help with my composition.’

What do they call it, using connections?

Whether in the past or present, you need to keep good people around you.

And I was someone who knew this very well.

“Heeseong is excited about seeing his aunt later.”

“Yes! I want to see her quickly!”

“Alright, alright. Aunt will buy delicious food, so let’s eat well.”

“Yes!”

Actually, what I’m looking forward to is something else.

Of course, chicken is the most excellent food in this world.

But I was more curious about the conversation Mother, Father, and Aunt Sujin would have.

Adult conversations were always interesting to listen to.

When people who do music gather, they’re bound to talk about music.

‘And I’ll just gnaw on chicken drumsticks while listening from the side, hehehe.’

Eagerly waiting for Aunt Sujin to come home, Father’s car slowly moved forward on the congested road.

***

“Heeseong! Aunt is here!!”

Aunt Sujin, who came carrying heavy bags in both hands, lifted me up high.

It was a hug so full of affection that it was breathtaking.

“Gasp, cough…! A-Aunt! W-Welcome…!”

“Our little cutie! You greet so well too.”

“Hehe. Let’s eat quickly! Everything’s ready!”

“Alright, alright, let’s eat quickly. Our Heeseong must be hungry.”

I headed to the kitchen holding Aunt Sujin’s hand.

There, Mother and Father were busy preparing the meal.

The chicken we ordered on the way home was already on the dining table.

“Kids, this sister is here!”

“You’re here? Just help with the preparations quickly.”

“Sister, you’re here. Thanks for coming all this way. Why did you buy so much? We could have prepared everything.”

“Young-hoon, you’re the only one…! That heartless Shin Ji-eun is just making her sister work!”

“We’re eating at our house, aren’t we? Do you have any complaints?”

“You called me to come.”

“I know, hehe.”

“Geez, Heeseong, let’s set the table together with aunt.”

“Yes! Aunt!”

Mother said such things but had already prepared various things.

She was cooking the pasta she bought recently, and Father was helping beside her.

I helped aunt and started putting the food from the bags into the refrigerator.

There were frozen dumplings, frozen chicken, sushi, pig’s feet, and drinks.

They were very good foods to eat as side dishes.

With our hurried preparations, there was soon more food on the dining table than four people could handle.

“Thank you for the meal!”

“Heeseong, eat lots. Aunt bought lots of delicious food.”

“Yes! Nom nom.”

I chewed on the chicken drumstick while thinking.

‘Looks like she’s not drinking today. That’s a shame.’

Is it because no one can stop Mother once she starts drinking?

Conversations are more fun when she drinks, so it was a bit disappointing.

Well, our parents don’t drink much, so it can’t be helped.

I should just quietly eat my chicken.

About an hour passed like that.

Father spoke to Aunt Sujin.

“Sis, how’s work these days?”

“Oh, right. That’s why I came today. I finished it. Let’s listen to it together later.”

“Oh, really? Did it turn out well this time too?”

“Of course! Who do you think I am.”

“I’m looking forward to this.”

A song made by Aunt Sujin – I was quite excited.

The work of a producer who’s active in the industry.

‘This will be another incredible learning experience, won’t it?’

The conversations my parents had back and forth were helpful to me.

Of course, I probably knew most of the terminology already.

But music from the past and modern music would be different.

I don’t know what the public likes either.

So I need to listen carefully.

Around 8 PM.

Mother, Father, Aunt Sujin, and I were all in Father’s studio.

“Alright! This is the song I made. Listen to it once. Heeseong, you need to listen carefully too, okay?”

“Yes!”

I sat on Father’s lap and folded my hands neatly.

I was excited to see what kind of song she had made.

Click.

Aunt pressed the spacebar, and the song started playing.

As the song progressed, my expression gradually became more peculiar.

So this was the kind of song it was?

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This chapter was translated by Lunox Team. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
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