The Genius Composer Starts Again - Chapter 11

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

I bowed and came down from the stage.

When I returned to my original seat, I could feel eyes burning into the side of my face. The students in my group were all staring at me in unison.

Surprised looks, wary expressions, jealousy and shock. Various emotions were mixed together.

‘Did I get too carried away?’

Swept up by the melody flowing through my fingertips, I had momentarily forgotten where I was.

I hadn’t intended to stand out this much.

‘It would be troublesome if too much attention messed up my plans.’

If people’s attention was focused on her, wouldn’t Mun Ah-rin be unable to move carelessly? To glimpse her true nature, I needed to make Mun Ah-rin let her guard down.

‘I should have held back.’

But it was already too late.

It was then, as I was tasting belated regret.

[ SYSTEM – V1.0 ]

> Congratulations!

> You have successfully completed the presentation of your first original composition.

> Audience Engagement: A+

> Completeness: A

> Overall Assessment: You delivered an impressive performance to those with refined taste!

> Reward: Title ‘Promising Newcomer (B)’

‘What is this?’

My eyes widened.

At the suddenly appearing system window, I instinctively looked around.

But it seemed invisible to the other students in my group.

‘There’s a function like this too? Titles?’

It really is like a game.

Then a new window flashed.

[ SYSTEM – V1.0 ]

> Title ‘Promising Newcomer (B)’

> Description: You are recognized as a promising newcomer with expected future growth.

> Effects:

– +50% probability of favorable rumors spreading within the school and industry

– +10% probability of new relationship events occurring

– +1 level initial favorability applied in future auditions/performances/competitions

[ SYSTEM – V1.0 ]

> Would you like to equip the title ‘Promising Newcomer (B)’?

> [ YES / NO ]

After thinking for a moment, I selected ‘YES’.

Then, with a bright light effect, a notification appeared that the title had been equipped.

I couldn’t tell what had changed though.

“All evaluations are complete. Everyone, please move to the waiting room.”

At the same time, Group 9’s exam was finished, and we headed outside following the supervisor’s guidance.

After waiting briefly in the waiting room, news came that the exam was over.

Students began leaving one by one with their belongings.

Just as I was about to leave and picked up my bag,

“Student Seol.”

A familiar low voice came from behind me.

When I turned around, the professor I had seen during the ear training exam was standing there. His name was ‘Jeong Tae-seong’, wasn’t it?

“Could we talk for a moment?”

I tilted my head.

“Me?”

“Yes. You.”

It was puzzling. The transfer exam results weren’t even out yet, but suddenly a meeting with a professor?

“We were a bit rude earlier. And I have some personal curiosity too. I happen to have some good tea I received as a gift. Won’t you have a cup before you go?”

A kind smile appeared on his lips.

In the end, I nodded.

“…A cup of tea would be fine.”

***

“Oh, here. Sit here. The room’s a bit messy, isn’t it? I’m terrible at organizing.”

Jeong Tae-seong quickly moved sheet music aside to make space on the sofa.

As I sat down carefully, Jeong Tae-seong put water in a kettle.

“Do you like black tea? A colleague professor brought this back from a business trip to China, and apparently it’s quite famous.”

Soon, a cup of pale-colored black tea was placed in front of me. I carefully wrapped both hands around the mug.

The warm heat warmed my fingertips.

Slurp.

Taking a sip, a pleasant aroma seemed to permeate from my nose.

Clink. As I set down the cup, Jeong Tae-seong spoke as if he had been waiting.

“Today’s performance was very impressive.”

“…”

“It had a depth rarely seen at Student Seol’s age. It wasn’t just simple technique or inspiration. It’s a weight that can only be built up through years of experience, which is hard to see in a performer of your age.”

I was inwardly amazed.

‘He read that.’

It seemed my lost 10 years weren’t completely in vain.

“And the ear training exam too. You might not remember, but I entered that exam room.”

“Yes. I remember.”

“Perfect pitch, right?”

I nodded at the direct question.

“Yes.”

“Quite sensitive too.”

“It’s not that remarkable a talent.”

“Modest too.”

Jeong Tae-seong chuckled playfully.

“About today’s incident with Professor Baek, I’ll apologize on behalf of her as the department head.”

“There’s no need. It was understandable for her to think that way.”

“No. We shouldn’t suspect without clear evidence, but Professor Baek has some strict tendencies. Still, she’s passionate about teaching students and has a good reputation, so don’t hate her too much.”

I know.

I know that Baek Ga-hee herself isn’t a bad person.

She just has a Spartan style that divides opinions, but she was famous for pinpointing exactly what each individual student needed to learn.

When a child of a famous group wanted to enter Korea University Music Department and asked Professor Baek Ga-hee for lessons, she flatly refused, saying they were ‘talentless and insincere’ – an incident that even reached my ears.

‘I heard that because of that bamboo-like character, she never rose to the department head position until retirement.’

She probably raised those suspicions because she was confident from experience that someone my age couldn’t create such a piece.

“By the way. Do you have any thoughts about what specific classes you’ll take after transferring to the Composition Department?”

“The exam results aren’t even out yet. I was planning to think about it slowly.”

“No need to worry. You’ll get a perfect score on the ear training exam, and your original composition will receive a high score too. With that level of skill, I don’t think you’ll get a low score on the basic theory exam either.”

I didn’t think I would fail either.

“You said you made your original composition in MIDI first. Are you interested in that field?”

“Yes. I am, to some extent.”

“More towards practical music than classical? You’ll probably end up taking some of my classes too, won’t you?”

Jeong Tae-seong smiled brightly, looking pleased.

“Teaching promising students is always enjoyable. I’m looking forward to the day we meet in class.”

I was equally looking forward to the classes. I had always wanted to take proper lessons.

“Ah, right. I almost forgot about this.”

Jeong Tae-seong slapped his forehead with an exaggerated gesture.

Then he opened his desk drawer and pulled out a photograph.

“Do you happen to know who this person is?”

“…!”

My breath caught in my throat.

The person standing expressionlessly next to Jeong Tae-seong in the photo looked very familiar.

It was Jeong Do-hyun.

For a moment, my eyes shook greatly. I desperately tried to manage my expression, worried that Jeong Tae-seong might notice.

Who was Jeong Do-hyun?

He had been the patron who became Mun Ah-rin’s reliable support.

‘Why is he showing me this person’s photo?’

Having encountered a fragment of the past from an unexpected place, I couldn’t hide the trembling in my eyes.

“This guy standing next to me is my nephew. We have a very special relationship.”

Jeong Tae-seong’s expression softened.

“The family atmosphere was so rigid. When I said I was going to pursue music, not a single person understood me. So I left the family behind, but I always felt guilty about leaving this nephew alone in that place.”

“….”

“He wasn’t like this when he was young. Now he’s taken completely after his father and has this boring expression on his face.”

Jeong Tae-seong tapped the photo with his fingertip.

“But there’s one thing that uniquely changes his expression. It’s none other than ‘music.’ When he hears good music, he gets that exact face from his childhood.”

His beaming smile seemed as if he was reminiscing about cherished days.

“Recently, this guy stopped by the school once. He happened to find a USB and is looking for its owner. He says the composition skills are extraordinary and that he really wants to meet them again.”

I could tell intuitively. It was probably me.

Just then, a system window appeared.

[ SYSTEM – SUB QUEST ]

> ‘Create a Chance Encounter’ Complete!

> Reward: Relationship unlocked with key figure (Jeong Tae-seong)

‘You never said the key figure was Jeong Tae-seong!’

If I could, I would have wanted to argue that point.

Cold sweat naturally formed on my palms.

“But I was thinking there’s no student among the current Composition Department students with that level of skill. I thought there might be some mistake….”

Jeong Tae-seong’s gaze met mine.

“After seeing student Seol today, my thinking changed.”

Swoosh.

The photo was pushed toward me once more.

“How about it. Have you lost a USB recently?”

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