The Healing Life of a Music Genius - Chapter 215



Only Noblemtl

* * *

My eyes suddenly opened.

The sunlight streaming softly into the living room seemed to have woken me up.

As I was recalling memories from yesterday, I suddenly checked the table in the kitchen.

Queen Elisabeth Competition Winner’s Trophy.

The silver trophy in the shape of a treble clef was still there as it was last night.

I ended up chuckling.

‘It still doesn’t feel real.’

If I had told my past self these facts, would I have believed him?

‘You probably never believed it.’

‘Because what happened yesterday was such a big deal to me.’

A long-held dream.

An ideal that contained my aspirations and fervent hopes.

I took some time to look at the accomplishments laid out on the table.

A lot of thoughts come to mind.

I thought of all the music I’ve made and all the people I’ve met.

I am truly grateful to you all.

Only after briefly recalling Mr. Miller at the center of it all was I able to look around.

After talking to my grandfather yesterday, I seemed to have fallen asleep on the living room sofa.

Not only me, but my whole family was in the living room.

To my right, my mother was breathing very quietly, and to my left, Suyeon was squirming and trying to get out of the blanket.

Meanwhile, father······.

“······You’re sleeping on the floor.”

3 seater sofa.

Unfortunately, it seems that he was pushed out of the competition.

‘The law of the jungle applies even to the Han family.’

I propped my father’s head up with the remaining pillow and then got up from my seat.

And then I grabbed the smartphone that was next to the trophy.

There were numerous alarms ringing on my smartphone, which I had set to silent mode out of courtesy at the palace.

therefore······.

“······ 980 messages?”

Oh, it just increased to 981.

I guess this is because I overslept a little and couldn’t reply to anyone.

‘The battery is almost empty.’

So I took my smartphone and a spare battery with me and went out into the yard.

With this number of messages, it seemed like a phone call would be faster than replying.

I pressed the speed dial number.

After a few tones, a welcoming voice was heard.

It was Seol-ha’s older sister.

– Seojinaaaaaa!!! Congratulations!!!

“Thank you. You must be very busy, but you even sent me a message. I also enjoyed seeing the fun emoticons.”

– No matter how busy you are, you have to take care of your younger sibling first. And I watched every single one of your performances without fail. I knew you would definitely win! I heard you cried while listening to the concerto? And what about ⌜Immortal⌟? You are such an artist! An artist!

Energy transmitted over the phone.

Thanks to that, a smile came out naturally.

“Why do you seem to like it more than me?”

– Of course! Was it two years ago when I first saw you? You were just a little kid······. When did you grow up so much! You were so cool when you played the piano. You really looked like a pianist. I was so touched······.

I continued speaking on behalf of Seol-ha, who was about to cry.

“It’s a good day. So just congratulate me. I’ll hurt my throat if I cry for no reason.”

-······ Ahem! That’s right. There’s only Seojin.

Sister Seol-ha asked about my schedule.

He said he would buy me a delicious meal when I returned to Korea.

But I didn’t know about my schedule.

“I need to talk to ⌜Schmid⌟ and Queen Elizabeth. I don’t know yet what my future plans will be. I’ll rest for today and have a meeting tomorrow or the day after, and I think a decision will be made then.”

– I see. Seo Jin, you’re a total world-famous celebrity now. That’s great. Then, whenever you come to Korea, contact me. Let’s go eat something delicious together. Okay?

“Okay, I’ll get back to you shortly.”

“Yes. Congratulations, really. Our little sister······. Seo Jin-ah······.”

“Yes, Sister.”

After I hung up the phone, I had to look at my smartphone for a while.

Next, I called someone who might be a little noisy.

As expected······.

– Whoa! Who is this? Isn’t that Han Seo-jin, the winner of the Queen Elisabeth Competition?

– Wow! Such a great pianist called us!

– It’s a great honor?

– Right. So let’s start by recording it. It might become a souvenir in the distant future.

– Hahahaha. Okay. Okay.

“······.”

I clearly called one person, but I heard two people answer at the same time.

The voices of Lee Ha-eun and Baek So-yeon.

The two of them said they gathered at Lee Ha-eun’s house and watched my final performance from the beginning.

“Then you were awake since dawn?”

– yes?

– of course!

“You guys must be more tired than I am. It’s evening there now, right?”

– Yeah. But it’s okay. We······.

– Because I’m armed with youth!

– That’s right! That’s right!

– You can’t ignore the second year of middle school in Korea!

High-pitched laughter can be heard immediately.

Unlike when I spoke to Seol-ha on the phone, I burst out laughing for a different reason.

Two friends who congratulate me several times.

We chatted for a while like we did at school.

I quickly continued the next call.

I called my teachers at school and Ms. Park Ha-sun.

I also had a long chat with my brothers in ⌜Let’s Be Great⌟.

I also talked to my other friends and my direct(?) junior composer, Hyun Yuri.

Since there were people who called me first every now and then, I was able to respond to the messages that had already exceeded 1,000 quite quickly.

Ring ring ring!

Even now, the other person called me first.

I picked up my smartphone after confirming the name.

It was Manager Park Hoon of ⌜Moonlight⌟.

– Heh heh. So you ended up causing trouble. Queen Elizabeth? And the championship? It looks like the world’s music scene is being moved by your hands.

“Not to that extent.”

– No? While you were participating in the competition there, ⌜Freesia⌟ was consistently ranked high on the Korean music charts? And the composer of the guitar piece ⌜Freesia⌟, which was also on the lower ranks of Billboard’s HOT 100. That composer was also a top pianist? If this were known, it would be a big deal. And how was ⌜Get back⌟?

When I burst into laughter, Manager Park Hoon also laughed along and told me about what had happened in Korea.

He also told me that the second quarter settlement for ⌜Moonlight⌟ would have been deposited into my account.

– I think I may have said something a bit too worldly to someone who just won a traditional competition. I meant that while you’re in Europe, you should take it easy and go shopping. You’re with your family, too. How nice.

“I was planning to do that anyway. I was thinking of doing some sightseeing in Brussels this afternoon.”

– Yeah. You probably haven’t been able to look around properly because you’ve been practicing. You should take your time and do that. Well······. You’ll be really busy from now on because of the gala concert.

⌜Moonlight⌟ was originally a classical record label.

Manager Park Hoon also knew Queen Elizabeth well.

“But I still have some time before the gala concert starts.”

– Yes. And ⌜Schmid⌟ will do well in the Gala Concert anyway. From ⌜Schmid⌟’s perspective, it’s a big catch. And if he signs one more performance contract, it’ll be his third and last, right?

“Yes. Carnegie Hall and the Esplanade. After the Brussels Gala Concert hosted by Belgium next week······.”

Manager Park Hoon will take my word for me.

– The first gala concert to be held in a foreign country. That will be the last with ⌜Schmid⌟.

“That’s right. For now, that’s it.”

– Then ⌜Schmid⌟ must be really pissed off by now. He’ll try to catch you with a good card like he did at Carnegie Hall last time. Anyway, you’re the winner. Just remember that the youngest winner of the Queen Elizabeth has all the options. If you have any questions, call me anytime. Always think about your position.

“Yes, I understand. Thank you for your concern.”

– What are you doing with something like this? Uh······. Seo Jin-ah, wait a minute. Get out of there······. Hey! My cell phone! Hey······.

– You’re the composer, right? Right? Judging from the number, you’re right! Congratulations! The composer’s performance was great! You’ve become a great pianist! Congratulations on winning the competition!

Manager Charina, who was presumed to have intercepted the manager’s cell phone, congratulated me warmly.

I couldn’t help but laugh because I could picture the situation even though I wasn’t looking at it directly.

‘Everyone is still the same.’

We hung up the phone after making plans to eat Korean beef at the ⌜Moonlight⌟ restaurant in Korea later.

The last person I called was someone I expected to be noisy with again.

The person I promised to call first.

But surprisingly, the voice was calm.

– Congratulations. It was definitely a performance that deserved to win. It’s too bad I couldn’t go see it in person because of my schedule.

“Thank you, Anna. Did you say you were in Hungary right now?”

– I came to Poland yesterday. Warsaw. Here too, it’s all about you. They say the genius of the century has appeared. Everyone is looking forward to your gala concert. They even ask which country you will choose first to perform in.

Anna continued speaking comfortably.

Even when I performed with an orchestra in Hungary, it was only my story.

In particular, he tells the story of how the members highly praised the performance of ⌜Immortal⌟.

Anna Becker.

I had been noticing it to some extent as we kept in touch from time to time, but within a year, he had become a completely different person.

“Thank you for telling me. It gives me strength.”

– It’s not that great. It’s going to be harder than that. The concert tour is more tiring than you think.

“You said you perform about twice a month?”

– Yeah. Arriving at a local place, adjusting, practicing, rehearsing, performing. It’s an endless loop. I heard that the virtuoso performers perform over 100 times a year… I really don’t know how they do it.

“You must have had a hard time.”

– No, it’s okay. I think I finally understand what music is. I want to get better, but I’m just upset because I can’t. Sometimes I miss my family and friends.

“friend?”

– huh?

A single word that means, “Where are your friends?”

Because I had been watching Anna’s dictatorial behavior all along in Ettlingen······.

It was a word that came out by mistake.

“No, that’s not what I meant······.”

– Heh heh. Okay. But Seojin, aren’t you and Louis Wolf my friends? It’s true that I miss you.

I ended up laughing.

“Anna, you must have had a hard time.”

– Just a little bit.

“Then shall we meet up this time? I think it would be okay if I match my schedule with yours.”

– ······ huh?

“I don’t have an exact schedule yet······.”

– That, that’s true! Is it real?

“???”

A Bavarian dialect that suddenly popped out.

German with strong nuances bursts out of Anna’s mouth.

– Hey hey. Then I’ll send you my schedule first! I missed you anyway, kid? We’re friends, right? Right?

“that······.”

– Oh my. This is really great! Where would be a good place to see it? I have a European tour lined up for a while, is there any country you would like to visit?

“excuse me······.”

– Tell me. I have an older sister who is older than you? Cheers. I’ll introduce you nicely.

I had no choice but to say this.

“Excuse me, Miss Anna Becker. I’m really sorry, but I don’t understand your Bavarian accent.”

– ······ huh?

“Can you say that again?”

-······.

“Hello? Are you there?”

-······.

Then a dolphin sound came out of the phone.

– Kkaaaang!!! What, what did I just say!

Anna said she never spoke in dialect.

It was said to be a Bavarian regional language.

No, I said I never even wrote that.

I hurriedly swept the words away.

– Hey, you can’t tell anyone? I’ve been trying so hard to fix my dialect these days!

“You just said ‘dialect,’ sis.”

– Oh, did you? And she’s not my sister! She’s suddenly acting all squeamish!

“You just called yourself sister. And when we meet, will you buy me ice cream? I still remember the promise we made in Ettlingen last year.”

-······.

“You clearly said you would clean my room yourself. I even got two housekeeping vouchers. I have the right to use you.”

– ······ I didn’t say that? I didn’t say that!

“Then why don’t I give Louis Wolf a call? I have a pretty good memory.”

– that······!

Anna is flustered and says something.

– I’ll erase all your memories! And you! You understand the dialect!

“As I kept listening, I got used to it.”

– Euaaaahhhhhh!!!

what······.

When I looked into it, Anna was still the same.

Even when I was flustered, I still spoke in a dialect.

After making a promise to meet somewhere in Europe later, which was no joke, we hung up the phone.

But Anna did say again at the end, “Anyway······. Congratulations.”

Phone calls that somehow give me a sense of satisfaction.

I returned to the living room with that fullness.

Both my parents were up.

However, Suyeon was still snoring and snoring, probably because she was very tired.

When Sooyeon poked the ball out of curiosity, the snoring stopped right away.

My father was next to my mother and then he strode towards me.

Then, all of a sudden, he ruffles my hair.

I tried to avoid that touch.

“Ah. What are you doing, Father······.”

“You little brat. You’ve grown so much? When did you become such an adult? Huh?”

Mother smiles faintly as she looks at us.

Only then did I begin to realize why my father was acting like this.

‘I guess this is because I contacted my grandfather first yesterday.’

Father continued speaking calmly.

“Even Dad couldn’t do it easily. That’s what you’d expect from the eldest son of our family. He’s cool. He’s amazing.”

“Hey······. But, father?”

“why.”

I made a joke.

“Won’t my eldest son’s hair become too disheveled? If Sooyeon sees me, she might think I’m a bandit.”

My father laughed heartily.

“Don’t nitpick. Then go wash up and come back. Mom is making a delicious breakfast. Let’s eat together.”

“Okay. But what’s for breakfast this morning?”

My mother answered, as if she had been listening to the conversation.

“Sundubu jjigae, stir-fried fish cakes, bean sprout salad, and grilled Spam. There’s a Korean market in Brussels. This morning, I wanted to make something that my son especially likes. I did some shopping in advance.”

My mother winks at me.

I smiled and went into the bathroom to take a shower.

A little while later, when I finished showering and came out to the living room, Suyeon had just woken up.

He opens his eyes halfway and looks at me. Dodo. Dodo. He walks towards me.

Suyeon held me in her arms and repeated to me what she had said to me over 100 times yesterday.

“Congratulations, oppa. I’m so happy that you’re doing well. More than anyone else in the world.”

“Thank you. And I was so happy that Suyeon cheered me on. That’s why I might have won the contest.”

“Hehehe. As expected, there’s no one better than my brother. I’m so happy to have you as my brother’s younger brother.”

Suyeon, who was trying to fall asleep again by secretly digging deeper into my arms.

Suyeon’s father may have taken her away.

“Ahh!”

“Youngest elder. If you woke up late, you should think about washing up quickly. Just wipe the boogers from your eyes and come out. Then we can eat together.”

“Eek. Okay······.”

While Suyeon went to the bathroom, I helped my mother set the table.

My mother said it was okay and that I didn’t need to do that, but it wasn’t anything special, so I just quietly helped her in the kitchen.

Suyeon quickly returned to the living room.

He walks towards me and asks with a bashful smile, “Is there anything I can do to help?”

“Then, Sooyeon, can you just put down your spoon? I’ll serve you some rice.”

“Okay! Just trust me, oppa!”

The house in Brussels where I have been staying for over a month now.

Suyeon skillfully set up the spoons and chopsticks, I scooped up rice from the rice cooker, my father got water from the refrigerator, and my mother placed soft tofu stew on the table.

Even if I win one of the world’s top three piano competitions, this precious daily life will not change.

We all sat together at the table.

And they shouted together.

“thank you for this food.”

“thank you for this food!”

“Enjoy your meal~”

“Suyeon, the stew is hot. Daddy will cool it down for you.”

“thank you!”

My mother brought me a spoon from Korea, saying that it would be more convenient to eat with a familiar spoon.

With that spoon······.

I took a big bite of the steaming soft tofu stew.

* * *

Vienna, Austria.

A man leaves a concert hall and shakes someone’s hand.

“Then I will ask for your help.”

“We ask you to please take good care of us. And not just this time, but Bin will always keep its doors wide open. Please remember that.”

A man gets into a waiting car after finishing his greetings.

⌜Schmid⌟’s Director Rogers takes a deep breath and speaks softly to the ⌜Schmid⌟’s staff member who is waiting in the car.

“Okay. Now the empty field is also within our options.”

“So······. You can choose all three orchestras? That kid?”

Director Rogers nods slowly.

“Yeah. That’s what happened.”

“It’s really······ ridiculous. That these noble orchestras would tolerate everything for one musician······.”

The gala concert to be given by the winner of the Queen Elisabeth Competition will definitely start in Brussels.

If it is a special privilege for the country hosting the concours, it can be said to be a special privilege.

But even more importantly, this will be the first overseas gala concert after the Brussels gala concert.

The performance that will receive the most public attention.

Which country will the winner choose first?

Which orchestra will you collaborate with first?

This has always been one of the things that has intrigued classical music lovers.

Currently, ⌜Schmid⌟ has completed negotiations with a total of three places.

The Vienna Philharmonic Orchestra of Austria.

The Berlin Philharmonic Orchestra of Germany.

Royal Concertgebouw Orchestra of the Netherlands.

We have reached agreements with all three of the world’s greatest orchestras.

Whichever the boy chooses, the other two places will not present any objections.

For an ordinary performer, just performing with one place would be the honor of a lifetime······.

⌜Schmid⌟ was greedy and put everyone in the options.

This year’s Queen Elisabeth Competition winner was a worthy performer.

A genius of the world.

The boy who created the performance of ⌜Immortal⌟.

⌜Schmid⌟ was going to do everything in its power to support the boy.

Leaving aside the contract renewal with the artist and money issues······.

⌜Schmid⌟ Of course, I wanted to be recorded on a page of classical history.