A Musical Genius Who Plays Memories - Chapter 86

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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 86. Butterfly (6)

‘It was good.’

There were no other words to express it.

It really was a good performance.

It seemed even better than when I first composed the piece.

Perhaps the atmosphere created by the space couldn’t be overlooked either.

A performance in my cramped room was distinctly different from one in such an open space.

‘It’s been so long since I’ve had a performance like this.’

Playing in a spacious venue was, in a way, not an easy opportunity to come by.

In the old days, I would have performed in nobles’ mansions or churches.

Of course, I preferred places that smelled of humanity, even if they were shabby.

Rather than places full of empty formalities.

“That was a wonderful performance.”

Like the other children, it was my turn to be evaluated by Yang Do-gyeong.

I was a little excited to hear what kind of critique I would receive.

A complete stranger’s impression was always refreshing.

‘Besides, she’s strict and skilled, so I’m curious what kind of impression she’ll have.’

I listened intently to what she had to say.

“It was an excellent performance. It’s a piece I’ve never heard before – who composed it for you?”

“Yes! I…!”

I started to speak but stopped.

‘That person’ came to mind.

Specifically, Sa Hye-jun I saw when entering the competition venue and the man behind him who gave off a snake-like atmosphere.

A dangerous person who gave off an atmosphere all too similar to that person from the past who stole my music.

It could have been my mistake.

But I couldn’t ignore that mistake.

Not many people knew that I composed music.

‘My parents, Aunt, Uncle. And the children’s parents. The Principal and Jeong Mi-rae.’

It didn’t seem like the right time to reveal it yet.

And I didn’t particularly want to reveal it.

If a 5-year-old composed music in modern times, broadcasting stations would probably contact me asking for appearances.

I found that idea repulsive.

‘Well, today’s performance might already end up on NewTube anyway.’

Honestly, with my performance skills, anyone could film it and upload it to NewTube.

Still, a 5-year-old who performs would draw less attention than a 5-year-old who composes.

“My aunt helped me.”

I’m sorry, Aunt Sujin.

I’ll repay you double later, so let me mention you just this once.

Yang Do-gyeong showed an interested look at the mention of an aunt.

“Could you tell me your aunt’s name?”

“She told me not to mention her name.”

I gave the same answer as Sa Hye-jun.

This seemed like the best response.

Rather than mentioning my aunt’s name, it was better to keep it hidden like this.

As long as Yang Do-gyeong didn’t press further.

“I see, understood.”

Yang Do-gyeong didn’t say much more.

‘Hm? Isn’t she going to evaluate more?’

I was pleased she asked about the composer, but I wished she would also ask about the performance.

Honestly speaking, I was in very good condition today.

So I felt I played better than usual, and it would have been nice if she commented on that too.

“And it was a truly excellent performance.”

Yang Do-gyeong said with a smile.

Did she somehow know I wanted to hear those words?

My mood improved quite a bit.

I bowed my head politely and disappeared behind the curtain.

“Hee-seong was amazing!!!”

As soon as Garam saw me, he shouted loudly.

It wasn’t just Garam.

“Amazing…!”

“What piece was that? Tell me!”

“To perform such a piece! What am I supposed to do!”

Ajin and Aeyeon also spoke up.

I think I heard Park Bom’s shriek in the middle, but that must have been my imagination.

Everyone was praising my piece.

‘It’s been a while.’

Everyone had praised my performances a lot until now.

But today was different.

It felt like seeing friends who were saying “good job” after finishing a big performance.

Those words made me feel so good.

“Heeseong, that was amazing!”

“Hee-seong is definitely Hee-seong.”

The Principal hugged me tightly as she spoke.

It was a bit suffocating, but she was so happy that I couldn’t stop her.

I didn’t know what had happened, but the Principal considered this competition important.

So right now, I should share in the joy.

‘I’m satisfied just having performed, whatever the outcome.’

The Principal let me go and then grabbed my shoulders.

Oh, her eyes are burning too intensely.

“Heeseong, let’s talk separately with the teacher next week.”

“Yes? Uh… yes.”

At my answer, the Principal smiled even more brightly.

But realizing belatedly that there were children around me, the Principal finally cleared her throat and changed the subject.

“Ahem! Everyone is doing well. So hang in there just a little longer!”

“Yes!”

“The Principal really seems to like Heeseong a lot.”

“But we do too.”

“That’s true, hehe.”

What’s with you guys giving answers like that?

I shook my head and said,

‘I should go to the bathroom.’

Maybe because I drank too much water earlier, I felt the need to use the bathroom.

“Teacher, I want to go to the bathroom!”

“Really? Let’s go together with the teacher.”

“I can go by myself.”

“Right now the teacher is your guardian. Let’s go together.”

So I ended up following Jeong Mi-rae.

A small bathroom located just a short walk after leaving the green room.

Jeong Mi-rae waited for me outside, and I went into the bathroom alone.

While I was taking care of business and washing my hands.

A massive shadow approached behind me.

“Hello?”

It was an ominous voice.

Perhaps it would be more accurate to call it gloomy.

I slowly raised my head to look in the mirror.

Snake was standing there.

“You’re Heeseong, right? I listened to your performance well. It was excellent.”

“….”

I didn’t answer.

No, I couldn’t answer.

It felt like whatever I said, I would be devoured.

‘…Damn.’

His appearance in a black suit felt suffocating.

It was an atmosphere I didn’t want to get close to.

“Hmm, are you a friend of few words? I haven’t investigated yet so I don’t know well…. I’m not such a bad person.”

“Then, who are you?”

“You do speak. I’m pleased. I am this kind of person.”

He took out what looked like a business card from his suit pocket and handed it to me.

I ended up taking it without thinking.

The business card had English words written on it.

“Lu…mos?”

“Yes. I’m the president of Lumos Entertainment, Sasinhyeok.”

But the business card had no name written on it.

As if he didn’t want to reveal his existence, there was only a job title with no other information whatsoever.

‘If it’s Lumos….’

It was the company that offered the red synthesizer as a competition prize.

And it was also a company related to Aunt.

Of course, it wasn’t a good relationship.

Judging from her conversation with Kim Eon-seung who works at Lumos, there must have been some incident in the past.

“You know Hwang Su-jin, right? She submitted a good song to a competition recently, I listened to it well.”

“…Is that so.”

“But the song Heeseong performed and the song Hwang Su-jin submitted to the competition. I think these two songs are similar.”

“….” 

What was his reason for telling me this?

I quickly organized my thoughts in this brief moment.

The information I had wasn’t that much.

‘You shouldn’t judge people by their appearance but…. I can’t ignore my intuition.’

And I didn’t just have intuition.

Aunt Sujin had worked at Lumos before.

But there was an unpleasant incident there, and she left Lumos after that.

Kim Eon-seung also knew about it, and even helped Aunt.

Of course, he could have helped Aunt personally.

But I thought Kim Eon-seung also had some dissatisfaction with the company.

Then there was only one conclusion.

‘I’ll reject Lumos for now.’

I didn’t know what the man in front of me would say.

But the fact that he was looking at me here and handing me a business card meant he had an intention.

‘He wants to take me.’

I didn’t know where he would take me.

What was certain was that the man standing in front of me wanted me.

So I wouldn’t give him any answer.

“Can you tell me who composed the song Heeseong performed today?”

“….”

“It’s a very simple matter, just tell me three letters of a name.”

I would never give him the information that I composed it.

In his eyes, I was a child who played well.

Perhaps he might think I was a genius.

But if he found out that I composed the song.

He would try to take me no matter what.

‘And he’ll use me as a composing machine like in the past.’

That would be terrible.

Even if it was a hasty thought and just a delusion that wouldn’t happen.

I resolved to be careful.

“Is it hard to say? It’s not such a difficult matter…. Well, do you have something to hide?”

“I don’t think I should tell someone I don’t even know who they are.”

“Haha, that’s right too.”

Sasinhyeok laughed lightly.

Even that laugh gave me chills.

Without realizing it, I swallowed my saliva, and I could feel sweat forming on my palms in real time.

He pondered something and then opened his mouth.

“Do you think you play well, Heeseong?”

“No.”

“An immediate answer. Good. That’s how it should be interesting. Then, I’ll ask a different question. Do you think people change?”

“…Yes.”

“Hmm, I see. I understand. I’ll let you go now. I’m not someone with a lot of time either. Let’s meet again next time.”

“….”

I wanted to hurry and leave this place.

I didn’t want to waste time having a conversation like this here.

And I especially didn’t want to talk with the man standing in front of me.

I could feel too well his determination to never lose to a child.

“Ah, there’s one thing I want to say before that.”

An ominous feeling crept up my spine.

Cold sweat began to flow little by little.

“Would you perhaps consider learning music at my company?”

The man boldly revealed his purpose.

Since it was a fact I had expected, I wasn’t greatly surprised.

So I planned to quickly convey my will and disappear.

“I don’t want to.”

“…Haha.”

I immediately left the bathroom.

Jeong Mi-rae was waiting for me in front of the door.

She looked at me and said.

“You took quite a while. Did something happen?”

I turned my head slightly to look at the bathroom entrance.

No one was coming out.

With a chilling feeling, I swallowed and said.

“No…. Nothing happened.”

I said that while taking Jeong Mi-rae’s hand and headed to the green room where everyone was waiting.

I threw the business card in my hand into a trash can on the way.

***

“Everyone did well today.”

The Principal said.

We were concentrating on what the Principal was saying outside the competition venue.

Park Bom and the other children who made mistakes on stage had expressionless faces, as if they had been thoroughly scolded by Yang Do-gyeong.

They just wore expressions filled with thoughts of whether their performance had been that bad.

Honestly, everyone had good reason to feel that way.

It really hadn’t been an easy competition.

“Everyone rest comfortably today. Eat something delicious and have fun. You worked hard, so when you come to kindergarten tomorrow, the teacher will give you presents.”

“Wow! Presents!”

“Principal is the best!”

“Thank you all so much! You worked hard, and now those taking the bus please slowly get on.”

“Those whose parents came, let’s wait here together with the teacher.”

The Principal guided the children getting on the bus.

Aeyeon, Ajin, Garam, and I began waiting for our parents.

After waiting a little, we could see parents coming from the competition venue.

“Grandpa!”

Using Garam’s voice as a signal, everyone began running toward their parents.

Of course, I ran too.

I needed Mother’s warm embrace right now.

“Oh my! Heeseong, was the performance difficult?”

I didn’t say anything and just hugged Mother tightly.

Mother’s warmth gradually calmed my heart.

“Shall we go quickly?”

Then Aeyeon’s Mother spoke.

Everyone focused their attention on her voice.

“Huh? Where are we going?”

“Yes. We’re going to our store. You remember the place from last time, right?”

“Oh! Yes! I remember! Are we playing again?”

“That’s right. We’re eating delicious chicken too.”

“Woooow! Chicken!”

“Hyung, really…?”

“Let’s go quickly, Mom.”

I hurriedly said to Mother.

I felt like eating chicken would immediately lift my mood.

I was certain of it.

***

Late at night after the competition ended.

“Do you have a child to make the winner?”

“Yes, we do.”

“It’s been a while since we’ll have a winner from the preschool division.”

Yang Do-gyeong was having a serious discussion with the judges.

The very important moment of deciding the winner.

The three people were deliberating over photos of three children.

“This friend Aeyeon’s performance was also good, but compared to the other two friends, it seems a bit lacking.”

“I agree with that too.”

“Me too.”

The remaining two judges also followed Yang Do-gyeong’s opinion.

Now what remained were two boys.

The snake-like boy and the boy with charming round eyes.

Sa Hye-jun and Yoon Hee-seong.

Yang Do-gyeong was seriously contemplating which of these two children to make the winner.

“Sigh…”

It would be a long deliberation.

But either way, they ultimately had to choose one child.

The option of co-winners was excluded.

There was only one winner.

“Yoon Hee-seong wins.”

The winner was decided.

There was no upset.

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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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