The Genius Composer Starts Again - Chapter 48

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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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My face was tickled by the brush, and without realizing it, my gaze followed its movement.

 

“Please look down below your eyes~.”

 

When I lowered my gaze at the employee’s request, I could feel busy hand movements around my eyes.

 

“Now look up!”

 

As I obediently followed, the brush came right up to just below my eyes. Just as I was barely holding back the urge to blink, the brush disappeared.

 

“Oh my. You’re so pretty that it’s fun doing your makeup.”

 

“Haha. Thank you.”

 

“I’m not just saying that, I really mean it.”

 

The employee spoke with a bright smile. Feeling awkward about this situation, I smiled sheepishly, and the employee laughed cheerfully as if I was cute.

 

Each time hands passed over my face, my face became a little more unfamiliar.

 

“There, it’s complete.”

 

“Wow.”

 

An exclamation escaped without me realizing it.

 

As I slowly reached out my hand, the unfamiliar woman in the mirror mimicked the same action. Is this really me?

 

‘It’s definitely me as the base. But it feels like the best condition was drawn out from within?’

 

It’s me, but it doesn’t seem like me. As I stared blankly at the mirror, the employee muttered proudly.

 

“You’ll look even prettier under the stage lights. I made it a bit glamorous to match the dress.”

 

Indeed.

 

It matched perfectly with the black dress I was wearing, like a set.

 

The dress was made of matte-textured fabric with almost no shine. It featured a clean silhouette that neatly cinched the waist and fell to reveal the shoulders completely without any excess.

 

It might look modest at first glance, but the beads embedded throughout added glamour, so it would probably sparkle brilliantly under the lights.

 

“Fighting for this scholarship recital too!”

 

“Haha. Yes, I’ll do my best.”

 

The employee left an encouraging message with her fist clenched. How long has it been since I’ve gone on stage this seriously? I think the few times I went up during my piano major days were all there was.

 

So getting makeup done, hair styling, and wearing a glamorous dress – this whole process felt unfamiliar.

 

“Oh~!”

 

Just then, the door opened and Professor Jeong Tae-seong entered.

 

“Wow. Seol, you’re really pretty.”

 

“Thank you.”

 

“I’ll have to take lots of photos today.”

 

“That’s right.”

 

Even I felt that today’s version of me seemed quite unfamiliar. Jeong Tae-seong stood next to me, continuously letting out exclamations like ‘wow’ and ‘amazing’.

 

“Yun-je~! You come here too!”

 

Cho Yun-je entered afterward.

 

Unlike usual, his hair was neatly combed up and he wore a tidy suit.

 

With his already assertive features complemented by a bit of makeup, he looked like an idol who came out for a music video shoot.

 

When our eyes met through the mirror, Cho Yun-je’s eyes widened.

 

“How about it? Surprised?”

 

Jeong Tae-seong had a proud expression as if he was bragging about his own daughter. Cho Yun-je only nodded slightly without any particular response.

 

Feeling unnecessarily embarrassed, I changed the subject.

 

“Is everyone finished? I took too long, didn’t I?”

 

“No~. It’s natural for you to take longer than the guys. Just sit there. It must be hard to move because of the dress.”

 

“Mun Ah-rin hasn’t come out yet either.”

 

As soon as he finished speaking, Mun Ah-rin’s voice could be heard from far away.

 

“Seol~!”

 

With a voice pitched higher than usual, Mun Ah-rin came running in, clutching the hem of her dress.

 

“Oh! Everyone was here?”

 

Upon discovering Jeong Tae-seong and Cho Yun-je inside, she smiled brightly and cheerfully.

 

The ivory silk dress maximized Mun Ah-rin’s gentle impression. Her lively yet pure appearance caught people’s attention.

 

“How is it? Does it look okay?”

 

Mun Ah-rin spun around happily in a full circle. The dress hem billowed like flower petals in full bloom before settling down calmly.

 

“Pretty.”

 

I answered immediately.

 

“It suits you incredibly well.”

 

“Really?”

 

She looked exactly like a princess from some fairy tale.

 

“That’s right. You look pretty, junior.”

 

Everyone turned their heads at the voice that suddenly interrupted.

 

Kang Se-a was leaning against the doorframe.

 

Kang Se-a and I made direct eye contact. She glanced over me and Mun Ah-rin, then smirked as if she understood.

 

She wore a light pink mini dress with a thin silk scarf around her neck. One hand was still wrapped in a cast, but it strangely suited her well, almost like a concept accessory.

 

“Unnie!”

 

Mun Ah-rin ran over and hugged Kang Se-a tightly.

 

“Unnie, you look really~ pretty today too!”

 

“Thanks.”

 

Kang Se-a finished her greeting short and concisely.

 

“Good. It looks like everyone’s gathered.”

 

Jeong Tae-seong spoke while looking at all of us.

 

“You’ve all worked hard. There were many ups and downs, but we finally made it here. Whatever the results, I know you all did your best in the process. So don’t be nervous, just do as you practiced. Got it?”

 

“Yes!”

 

“Yes~.”

 

“The rehearsal will start soon, so wait here for a moment.”

 

Jeong Tae-seong headed outside, saying he’d check on the progress.

 

Click.

 

When the door closed, Cho Yun-je let out a deep sigh.

 

“Hah. Preparing like this every time is also work. It’s bothersome and tiring.”

 

That’s true. I nodded.

 

“Since many people will be watching. We want to look good if possible.”

 

Kang Se-a continued as if it was no big deal.

 

“Our parents will probably take about a thousand photos after the performance.”

 

True. I would do the same.

 

“Well… My mother will probably ask to take photos together too.”

 

Cho Yun-je answered with a very displeased expression.

 

“What about you, junior Ah-rin?”

 

“Huh?”

 

Suddenly the arrow of questioning turned toward Mun Ah-rin. Mun Ah-rin’s pupils trembled finely.

 

“Are your parents coming? Are they too busy to come?”

 

“Oh, well…”

 

Mun Ah-rin hesitated slightly, which was unlike her. Just as Kang Se-a was about to tilt her head at that lukewarm attitude.

 

I slipped in.

 

“No one’s coming for me. I might have to take photos alone.”

 

“Really? Let’s take them together later.”

 

Kang Se-a answered nonchalantly.

 

Then, Mun Ah-rin covered her cheeks with both hands and hastily changed the subject.

 

“Come to think of it, Seol, did you hear? About the people coming to today’s scholarship recital!”

 

“I only heard that some important people are coming.”

 

“It’s amazing this time! Not only our school’s chairman, but other cultural foundation chairmen, the deputy chief of KM Daily News Culture Department, and several entertainment industry officials are coming too!”

 

It was quite an impressive lineup. It’s rare for so many to come to a school recital.

 

“I heard someone from the Arts Center is coming too!”

 

At those words, Cho Yun-je muttered.

 

“Everyone must be dying to catch their eye somehow.”

 

That’s right.

 

This scholarship recital seems to be the biggest one ever. Mun Ah-rin’s eyes were already sparkling with excitement at the thought of standing before those VIPs, her cheeks flushed with anticipation.

 

‘Anyone who sees Mun Ah-rin would want to sponsor her.’

 

Beautiful, spirited, and a passionate young musician. Wouldn’t she be enough of a muse to rekindle worn-out flames?

 

“That’s not all.”

 

Mun Ah-rin lowered her voice. Naturally, everyone leaned in to listen.

 

“There’s a reason why so many big shots are gathering this time.”

 

“A reason?”

 

“Yeah. Because apparently a ‘really’ important person is coming here today. So everyone’s attending to try and exchange a word with that person!”

 

A really important person?

 

Who could it be?

 

As I tilted my head in confusion, Mun Ah-rin curled up the corners of her mouth.

 

“CEO Jeong Do-hyun of NXT Holdings!”

 

“Gulp!”

 

At the sudden mention of that name, I choked on my saliva.

 

Cough, cough!

 

As I kept coughing, Mun Ah-rin patted my back worriedly.

 

“Oh my. Seol must be surprised too. That’s understandable.”

 

While I was barely managing to stop coughing, Cho Yun-je shook his head.

 

“No way. That’s ridiculous.”

 

“It’s true. I happened to overhear it.”

 

“That person would come all the way here just to watch students’ school performances?”

 

Cho Yun-je asked incredulously.

 

“What for?”

 

“I don’t know. But he’s been sponsoring our school anyway.”

 

“Sponsoring and personally showing up are different things.”

 

While Cho Yun-je and Mun Ah-rin bickered, I tried hard to organize my thoughts.

 

‘…No way.’

 

I knew that Mun Ah-rin and Jeong Do-hyun had connected at the school’s scholarship recital.

 

But that doesn’t necessarily mean it was this recital. The scholarship recital happens every year anyway, and Mun Ah-rin is only a sophomore now.

 

‘I can’t remember exactly when they met. I was going through a tough time mentally around then too.’

 

Still, since Mun Ah-rin did graduate from school, I thought it would have been around her junior or senior year. That’s when she started her composer activities in earnest too.

 

So.

 

This is probably just a baseless rumor.

 

‘…Probably?’

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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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