A Musical Genius Who Plays Memories - Chapter 24
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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 24. Signpost (3)
“The things he says are almost like what elementary school kids, or even older kids would say?”
“That’s because our son is a genius. So what are you trying to say?”
“What did you feel?”
“Hmm… Well, travel? That’s how I felt during the bridge part. The guitar solo was amazing, wasn’t it?”
“Hmm… You felt that way too?”
“You too?”
Hwang Su-jin silently took out her phone, tapped it a few times, and showed it to Young-hoon.
The phone displayed the name of someone Yoon Young-hoon also knew.
“What, it’s Su-yeol hyung. He said exactly the same thing as me?”
“Yeah, everyone except Hee-seong said the same thing. But it’s understandable that you’d feel that way.”
“Hm? What do you mean?”
“When I was making the song, I just threw in everything I wanted to do. But I think Hee-seong understood something even I didn’t know.”
“Huh? Really?”
“Yeah. Hee-seong found a theme that I wasn’t even aware of myself.”
She recalled the words the small child had said.
Fog, forest, tree branches, wind, a big sun.
They were childlike expressions, but it seemed like there was a person with rich sensitivity contained within them.
Just like how a sushi master can identify fish species with their eyes closed.
Hee-seong had just listened to the music but understood Su-jin’s intention.
Even though Hwang Su-jin herself hadn’t been aware of that intention.
“I think the next song has been decided.”
“Huh? Really? What song is it?”
“Hmm…”
Hwang Su-jin looked at Yoon Young-hoon and spoke.
Looking at this very endearing younger brother who followed her well, she had that thought.
That he was a younger brother who was perfect for teasing.
Mischief bubbled up inside her.
“I’m not going to tell you.”
“What? No way. Noona! Please tell me!”
“No way, yawn~ I’m sleepy. I’m going to bed. Good luck.”
“No! Please tell me!”
However, Hwang Su-jin had no intention of telling Yoon Young-hoon.
Not until the song was completed.
Instead.
‘Should I try making it together with Hee-seong?’
She had a feeling that her nephew would be a great help in completing an even better song.
The time in the studio was getting later and later.
Hee-seong had fallen asleep, but the others hadn’t.
“Hey, Young-hoon. Can I borrow your car tomorrow?”
“Car? Suddenly? You have your own car, noona.”
Hwang Su-jin spoke to Yoon Young-hoon, who was grumbling while staring intently at the monitor.
He was flustered by the sudden request.
Yoon Young-hoon glanced sideways at Hwang Su-jin.
“What are you planning to do?”
“What would I do? I’m going to the studio tomorrow and I want to take Hee-seong with me.”
“Studio? Hmm… You should ask Ji-eun about that rather than me. She’s behind you.”
“Huh?”
When Hwang Su-jin turned around, Shin Ji-eun was standing there holding a tray of fruit.
Shin Ji-eun, who had just entered and seemed to have missed the proper conversation, raised her eyebrows slightly and said.
“What do you want to ask me?”
At her question, Hwang Su-jin scratched her head.
If it were Yoon Young-hoon, he would let her take the child to the studio no matter what he said, but Shin Ji-eun was somehow scary.
She had been scary before, but she became even scarier after giving birth to Hee-seong.
Hwang Su-jin subtly avoided eye contact and answered Shin Ji-eun’s question.
“Well… I’m going to the studio tomorrow and I wanted to let Hee-seong take a look around…”
“Suddenly?”
“Well, I’ve been thinking about it. You’re going to teach Hee-seong music anyway, right?”
“Well, it’s not like I haven’t thought about it.”
“So I thought he could experience it in advance and take a look around the studio.”
“This is also a studio though?”
“Young-hoon’s studio is small.”
“That’s true.”
“Excuse me? Ladies. Please don’t subtly make fun of me, okay?”
What Hwang Su-jin was getting at was this.
If Hee-seong were to make music his profession.
She made this suggestion thinking it might be good to show him a bigger place in advance.
Of course, Yoon Young-hoon’s studio wasn’t bad either.
With Yoon Young-hoon’s abilities, this small studio was sufficient to produce the best songs.
“But no matter how much I think about it, Hee-seong won’t be satisfied with this small studio.”
“Why do you think that?”
“I’ll have to watch him more, but…”
Hwang Su-jin turned her head to look at the music file she had created.
A song that didn’t have a title yet.
However, the child’s evaluation or impression had given a title to her song.
‘Well, not yet. But somehow I don’t think I’ll be able to come up with any other title.’
As a veteran who had continued to make music her profession even before Hee-seong was born, she was confident that her intuition wasn’t wrong.
“Hee-seong will definitely grow up to be a very great person.”
Su-jin was confident in her statement.
An imagination different from ordinary children.
And the delicacy to express it.
He was more outstanding than any talented child she knew.
Hwang Su-jin asked Ji-eun.
“Does Hee-seong still listen to music these days? Is he still playing piano?”
“He listens to CDs every single day. He plays piano every day too.”
“Isn’t this level genius?”
“The teacher said he has talent too.”
“Hm? What teacher?”
“Hee-seong goes to a music preschool. The piano teacher there is Jeong Mi-rae.”
“Jeong Mi-rae? The Jeong Mi-rae I know?”
When Hwang Su-jin was surprised, Shin Ji-eun nodded.
She had been so surprised when she heard this fact from Yoon Young-hoon.
As a mother, she was just happy that Hee-seong had gotten a good teacher.
“I ran into her once, and she praised Hee-seong tremendously.”
At those words, Hwang Su-jin fell into thought.
The thought that her nephew might grow even bigger than she had imagined.
Thinking of her nephew who would grow up big, a satisfied smile appeared on her lips.
***
“Hee-seong, do you want to go somewhere with aunt later?”
“Yes…?”
We were having a pleasant breakfast when Aunt suddenly asked an unexpected question.
I swallowed the bread in my mouth and said.
“Where…?”
“I’ll tell you if Hee-seong says he wants to come along.”
Aunt was smiling mischievously.
I looked at her and smiled awkwardly.
‘I wanted to rest at home!’
My body felt like it was going to break from playing with the other kids at preschool.
So today I was planning to rest by rolling around at home.
Unfortunately, it seemed like I wasn’t allowed to do such things.
‘Using Mother’s permission as an excuse… Oh no.’
I thought of a scenario where I couldn’t go because Mother wouldn’t allow it, but it seemed the conversation was already over as Mother was just eating her meal.
So now only my decision remained.
‘Can I shake off Aunt?’
No. I can’t.
How stubborn Aunt is.
Last time she threw a tantrum in the living room, rolling around saying she wanted to listen to Father’s songs.
I had no choice but to give up.
“Yes… I want to go…”
“Really? Then let’s go to Aunt’s studio together.”
“…What?”
I was so startled that I dropped the bread I was holding.
Aunt’s statement was enough to surprise me that much.
Countless pieces of music were born in Aunt’s studio.
As a composer, there was no reason not to visit that place.
Rather, I wanted to beg to go there myself.
‘I’ve been wanting to see other studios besides Father’s anyway.’
I was curious about how other people made songs.
Among the people I knew, excluding Father, Aunt Sujin was the only one making music.
I hurriedly said to Aunt.
“Aunt, let’s go quickly!”
“Hee-seong, wait a moment, will you? Aunt needs to get ready too.”
Aunt said this and hurriedly finished her meal.
I also quickly finished eating and washed my face with Mother.
In less than 10 minutes, I was already sitting in the car.
“Hee-seong, have a good trip. You must listen to Aunt well. Understood?”
“Yes! I’ll be back!”
“Hee-seong, you’re excited~ Should I play some music?”
“Yes!”
Aunt smiled brightly and turned on the music.
Soon, cheerful music filled the car.
But as I listened to the song, I gradually started thinking.
‘This feels similar to Aunt’s songs?’
It was a song that felt like classical music while also having the intensity of rock.
It was somewhat removed from modern music, but couldn’t erase its sophisticated feeling.
‘Ah, I remember hearing about this from Father?’
Father had once told me about music genres.
When I was 3 years old.
It was a long time ago and I was sleepy at the time, so I didn’t listen properly.
I said to Aunt.
“This song is similar to Aunt’s songs!”
“Really? You noticed that?”
“Yes. Father said it was pro, pro…? What did he call it?”
Aunt Sujin spoke in a quite surprised voice.
Aunt made eye contact with me through the mirror.
Her eyes held more interest than surprise.
“Are you talking about progressive rock?”
“Ah, that’s right! That was the name!”
“What is Young-hoon teaching Hee-seong?”
The corners of Aunt’s mouth kept rising without stopping as she said this.
What is this?
This unignorable sense of unease?
Unaware of my feelings, Aunt’s questioning assault began like that.
“Hee-seong, do you still play piano these days?”
“Of course! It’s really fun!”
“What’s the most recent piece you played? Was it classical?”
The most recent piece I played was the one I performed with Garam.
It was a French folk song that we played quite enjoyably.
“Under the Moonlight. I played it with a friend.”
“A folk song? Hee-seong knew such pieces too?”
“Yes, hehe.”
“Hmm~ I see? That’s interesting.”
What’s so interesting about it?
The corners of Aunt’s mouth somehow kept rising.
I thought at this rate, her cheekbones would break through and reach her eye corners.
The music in the car was a bit loud, so my pounding heartbeat couldn’t be heard.
‘I want to go quickly!’
Unable to hide my anticipation, my feet swayed on their own.
Well, this was a natural reaction, so I decided to enjoy it.
***
“Wow…”
Had about 5 songs passed like that?
We arrived at a massive forest of high-rise buildings.
Whether I looked this way or that way, there were huge buildings.
‘This scenery is magnificent no matter how many times I see it.’
I just wanted to stare blankly at it.
We passed buildings that rose high and blocked the sunlight, then entered some building.
“Here, we’ve arrived!”
Aunt Sujin helped me down and held my hand tightly.
“Aunt’s studio is here?”
“That’s right. Hee-seong is smart, isn’t he?”
“Hehe, I want to go quickly!”
“Alright, let’s go.”
Aunt said this and went to where the elevator was, then pressed the 5th floor.
The elevator continued going up without stopping.
Then it stopped exactly at the 3rd floor.
In front of the slowly opening door stood some fierce-looking man.
“Hm? What are you doing here?”
I got a bit scared by his rough appearance.
But seeing him talk to Aunt, they must know each other.
‘Wait, I feel like I’ve seen him somewhere before?’
Aunt also raised her hand in greeting.
“Going to work.”
“Work? On the weekend? Didn’t you say last time that you were going to quit everything and take a break?”
“I’ve rested enough, so I came back. Which floor?”
“7th floor, thanks. But this kid… isn’t he Young-hoon’s child?”
“Yeah, that’s right. How did you know?”
“Young-hoon showed me photos, so I recognized him. I saw him a few times when he was a baby too. After that, he went abroad so I couldn’t see him.”
From the way they talked to each other, they seemed to be close friends.
But looking at that person, he seemed familiar somehow.
‘Ah, right. I saw him when I was a baby. His name was Su-something.’
I closed my eyes and tried hard to recall the man’s name.
However, since he probably wasn’t that important a person, I couldn’t remember at all.
Beyond my darkened vision, I heard a voice calling me.
“So, your name is Heeseong, right?”
“Ah, yes…”
“Nice to meet you, uncle’s name is Hwang Su-yeol.”
“Hello. I’m Yoon Hee-seong…”
Up close, his impression was even more intimidating.
The fact that my voice cracked slightly was absolutely not because I was scared.
Anyway, it wasn’t.
After finishing the greeting, Hwang Su-yeol soon spoke to Aunt.
“If it’s the 5th floor, you’re going to the studio?”
“In this building, is there anywhere else I would go besides there?”
“That’s true. Is this kid going with you too? To the studio?”
“Yes.”
“The great Hwang Su-jin taking someone else to her studio. The sky will surely split in half.”
“Be quiet.”
Aunt Sujin said irritably.
More than that, I was surprised by the fact that Aunt didn’t let other people into her studio.
‘Father worked with me together in the studio. I guess they have different tendencies.’
It seemed like Aunt, who worked on music, was a different kind of person.
Was she cautious when it came to music?
“This kid must be special, I suppose? Special enough to bring to the studio?”
“Of course. If he wasn’t, no matter how cute our nephew is, he wouldn’t be able to enter my studio.”
“That much?”
The man saying those words looked at me.
There was curiosity in that gaze.
I knew very well what that look was.
“Don’t call our nephew ‘that much.’ Fix that habit of yours.”
“Tsk, fine. Heeseong, sorry. Let’s meet again later.”
“Ah, goodbye.”
Hwang Su-yeol waved his hand at me, and I bowed my waist in greeting.
After that, I followed Aunt as she walked.
She didn’t look back, just held my hand tightly.
Aunt let out a deep sigh and then looked at me and said.
“Come on, let’s hurry to the studio!”
“Yes!”
Aunt Sujin’s studio.
Just hearing about it made me incredibly excited.
Why?
Father’s studio was small.
It was a bit cramped with installing the sound booth and preparing various instruments.
But how big would the studio of someone like Aunt be?
‘She made music that made many people happy. It must be huge, right?’
I couldn’t help but be excited.
Walking with such an elated heart, we arrived in front of a room.
“This is Aunt’s studio.”
“I’m so excited!”
“Hehe. It’ll be magnificent enough to meet those expectations.”
After saying that, Aunt opened the door.
There was heaven inside.
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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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