The Genius Composer Starts Again - Chapter 49
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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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“It’s Jeong Do-hyun.”
“He really came.”
“I heard he just closed an overseas investment deal yesterday. How did he manage to get here…”
As soon as he got out of the car, Jeong Do-hyun clicked his tongue at the flood of attention and murmuring.
When he turned his gaze, people immediately pretended nothing had happened and only fiddled with their wine glasses.
They were ridiculous people. Desperately trying to say even a word to him, yet stepping back because they didn’t want to swallow their pride.
Of course, among them were those who didn’t care about such things as pride and approached him.
“President. It’s an honor to meet you for the first time.”
“I’m honored to meet you like this.”
Outstretched hands, neat business card edges, and even the artificial perfume scent that stung his nose.
Everything was irritating without exception.
Appropriately brushing off the courtship of the riffraff, he headed toward the donor’s seat prepared in the depths.
Since it was a seat reserved only for those who had donated large amounts of money, everyone was acting dignified.
Thanks to this, Jeong Do-hyun was able to find and sit in his seat without being bothered.
“Oh my, look who it is.”
After sitting down, he heard a familiar voice.
A familiar figure was sitting across from him at the circular table.
“It’s been a while, Do-hyun.”
Light brown hair flowed down elegantly. Age only added depth to her charm, and her transparent skin and sparkling eyes still made her look like a young girl.
Despite being close to Jeong Do-hyun’s mother’s age, her perfect self-care made her look like a movie actress you’d see at film premieres.
The name written on the white nameplate in front of her caught his eye.
Oh Su-yeon.
A legendary pianist who once brought glory to Korea’s name, occupying a corner of the famous ‘Do You Know’ series.
“…It’s been a while, Teacher.”
“This child. You still call me that.”
Oh Su-yeon smiled brightly as if pleased.
“You once taught me piano, after all.”
“That’s right. I’ve only taught exactly two people. It wouldn’t be an exaggeration to say you’re my top student.”
“Two people. Who’s the other one?”
That proud Oh Su-yeon giving lessons. He wondered which wealthy family had thrown money at her again.
The answer that came back was unexpected.
“My son.”
So she had a son.
Come to think of it, she had retired because of pregnancy. It was gossip that had stirred up Korea for quite a while.
It had naturally faded with time.
“He’s performing on stage today. That’s why I’m here.”
Was that so.
His connection with Oh Su-yeon was also purely due to Jeong Tae-seong’s influence. He was the only person like a mutation in that rigid family.
“During such a busy time, what brings Do-hyun here?”
Jeong Do-hyun deliberately turned his gaze slightly away. But Oh Su-yeon didn’t let go of the prey she had finally caught.
“Perhaps… are you still looking? You know, when you were young, you came to me crying, asking me to find someone you rarely asked favors for.”
Oh Su-yeon leaned forward slightly. Her low voice echoed in his ear.
“That composer. Did you find them?”
Oh Su-yeon’s eyes curved softly with mischief.
At the same time, click.
The lights went out.
The audience lights went out and bright lighting poured onto the stage. It was a signal that the recital was about to begin.
“Hmm.”
Oh Su-yeon straightened her back as if she had lost interest. Jeong Do-hyun also turned his gaze toward the stage.
The scholarship recital was finally about to begin.
Formal welcome speeches and scholarship certificate presentations, boring jokes and awkward applause filling the gaps between performances continued tediously.
Jeong Do-hyun leaned back against his chair and waited patiently.
Finally, the host announced the next program.
“Next is the Composition Department’s presentation! They’ve prepared a trilogy themed ‘Birth-Life-Death.’ Students Cho Yun-je, Mun Ah-rin, and Seol have prepared them respectively. Please note that for the middle piece ‘Life,’ student Kang Se-a withdrew due to an unexpected accident, and student Mun Ah-rin arranged and completed it.”
The lights went out with a click and came back on, revealing a male student sitting in front of the piano.
“That’s my son.”
Oh Su-yeon whispered softly.
Without taking her eyes off the stage, she spoke in a low, dry voice.
“You don’t know how long I taught him piano. But he ran away to the Composition Department. Isn’t that ridiculous?”
Oh Su-yeon’s face showed no trace of laughter as she said this. It contained no anger, hatred, or disappointment either.
Worn down and worn down until only emptiness remained.
“Wasting time like that in a field where he has no talent. It’s pathetically frustrating.”
Jeong Do-hyun turned his head to look at the stage.
The young man’s eyes, receiving the lighting from the front, sparkled clearly. At least those eyes resembled Oh Su-yeon’s.
Cho Yun-je.
Jeong Do-hyun mulled over that name.
Oh Su-yeon had never held a wedding ceremony. Officially, she was an unwed mother.
But it wasn’t difficult to know that there was a man who provided her with living expenses. Even if he couldn’t openly play the father’s role, she would have been materially well-off.
‘A Mr. Cho.’
Jeong Do-hyun mentally counted through several people in his mind.
-♬
Meanwhile, the first note fell.
It wasn’t clean. It deliberately made a scratching sound. Like newborn lungs struggling desperately to breathe for the first time.
Instead of the usual praise and joy that the title ‘Birth’ commonly proclaimed, Cho Yun-je depicted the beginning of all suffering.
Jeong Do-hyun leaned back against his chair and gently closed his eyes.
This young composer didn’t beautifully package ‘birth.’
There was always darkness that had to be passed through before life’s horizon could brighten.
‘Not bad.’
For Jeong Do-hyun, this was quite a generous evaluation.
Although it didn’t give the same feeling as the composer he was looking for. At least it was clear that Cho Yun-je was a skilled composer.
“Ah.”
He heard a single sound that Oh Su-yeon let out from the seat next to him.
When he turned his head, Oh Su-yeon was staring blankly at the stage with her finely trembling lips slightly parted.
She seemed to be completely absorbed in Cho Yun-je’s performance.
It wasn’t flashy, but it was somehow a piece that seemed to seep into one’s soul.
-♪♬♩♬….
The last measure ended, leaving a long lingering resonance.
Thunderous applause poured out from the audience.
‘A promising composer.’
Jeong Do-hyun evaluated Cho Yun-je as such. But what he was looking for today wasn’t a ‘promising composer.’
It was a composer with the kind of power that could be recognized immediately upon hearing.
The applause continued for quite a while. So long that the host had to wait quite a while to introduce the next program.
During that time, Oh Su-yeon sat there blankly, unable even to clap.
Jeong Do-hyun commented quietly.
“To achieve this level in a field where he has no talent. He must have had natural talent for piano.”
“…The last time I heard him, he was definitely.”
Oh Su-yeon couldn’t finish her sentence and suddenly contorted her face.
“I see…”
A smile of joy at finding a fragment of talent in her son mixed messily with a grimace of realizing she had been wrong.
***
“Well done, Yun-je! Absolutely perfect!”
Jeong Tae-seong raised both thumbs and praised Cho Yun-je. Cho Yun-je, nearly exhausted, collapsed onto the waiting room sofa.
When I handed him bottled water, Cho Yun-je barely managed to accept it.
“Ah.”
His hands were still trembling, as if the afterglow hadn’t faded yet. He was in such a state that he couldn’t even properly open the bottle cap.
Click.
In the end, I opened it and handed it to him.
“Thanks.”
“You did well.”
“Really?”
“Yeah.”
Cho Yun-je hesitated before adding one more thing.
“Do you think Mother would have thought so too?”
I grinned.
“Of course.”
I could guarantee it.
Because the system window was telling me so.
[ SYSTEM – SUB QUEST ]
> ‘Prove Cho Yun-je’ Complete!
> Rewards :
1. Character ‘Cho Yun-je’s Trust +100
2. Character ‘Oh Su-yeon’s Recognition +20
3. Skill ‘Gem Appraisal’
‘The completion condition was definitely Oh Su-yeon’s recognition.’
Somewhere in the audience, Oh Su-yeon had listened to Cho Yun-je’s song and came to recognize him.
Since the Quest succeeded, it was certain.
At my words, Cho Yun-je’s expression relaxed a little.
The host continued to introduce the next performance.
“The second song is ‘Life,’ based on student Kang Se-a’s original composition with arrangements by student Mun Ah-rin.”
“It’s my turn!”
Mun Ah-rin jumped up from her seat.
“Good luck.”
At my encouragement, Mun Ah-rin smiled brightly.
“You have to focus and watch until the very end, okay?”
“Yeah. Of course.”
“It’s a secret from Se-a unnie, but actually I’m really happy.”
Mun Ah-rin whispered in a small voice.
“Because I get to stand on the same stage as you.”
“Huh?”
“Now we can compete fair and square.”
Fair and square? That word choice sounded like she was trying to settle a match, which was strange, but hadn’t Mun Ah-rin done arrangements, not composition?
Before I could express my confusion, Mun Ah-rin quickly stepped away.
“Seol, I’ll be back!”
I waved at her retreating figure as she left with a bright smile.
At the same time, this thought came to mind.
‘Come to think of it, is this the first time I’m seeing Mun Ah-rin’s real skills?’
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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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