Chapter 30

"Hey, don't play it like that. No, a bit more elegantly, okay? Do you understand what I mean?"

"Eh, more elegantly?"

"Yes. Play it softly yet proudly, as if you were a noble lady. Imagine that at a party, all the nobles are looking only at you. Would you play like this then?"

At Professor Lee Jang-won's reprimand, the student receiving the lesson shrank back.

"Music, in the end, is all about imagination. Instead of just thinking you're practicing, imagine where you are and what you're doing while you play. That will help you much more. Do you understand?"

"Yes! I understand."

"Good. I'll come back to check later."

Even though it was his sabbatical year, he couldn't just ignore the students he was teaching at the university, so he occasionally visited the school's practice rooms to conduct surprise inspections.

However, Professor Lee Jang-won had recently been dissatisfied with the students' performances and attitudes.

It was strange.

Clearly, these were students who would naturally improve if they continued this way. They were always the same, and their performances were always the same, yet why did his heart feel so moved?

He should just wait patiently.

"Tsk. Am I pushing them too hard?"

Originally, Professor Lee Jang-won didn't push his students relentlessly.

He believed they could do well even if they took it easy.

But recently, his thoughts had changed.

"It's been like this ever since I met Yun-seong."

Jung Yun-seong.

Ever since discovering that monstrous talent,

Ever since witnessing that talent bloom endlessly,

Professor Lee Jang-won's entire teaching philosophy had been shaken.

"Still, this is better."

Starting to compare his Seoul National University students with Jung Yun-seong, Professor Lee Jang-won decided he needed to push his students even harder.

These students, after all, didn't just enter Seoul National University because of their immense talent. If they continued to push their limits and break through them, they could achieve even greater skills.

At first, he thought taking it easy would be enough, but after meeting Jung Yun-seong, things changed.

He couldn't afford to be complacent.

There are many musically talented geniuses in the world, and if you don't have that talent, you must work hard to rise.

He had been too complacent, thinking within the framework of Korea's top university, Seoul National University.

"Can't you play it more passionately? It's written in the score. Use a strong touch. Play with the emotion that boils up from your gut."

"Yes, Professor!"

That's why today, Professor Lee Jang-won was walking around the practice rooms, pressuring the students.

The students were surprised by his unusual behavior but seemed to be infected by his intense teaching passion.

"Take a break. Your fingers must be hurting."

"Yes, Professor."

"You said you smoke, right? Let's go out together."

"Ah, yes!"

This damn cigarette, I need to quit.

They say smoking is just a temporary break, not a permanent solution.

I'll definitely quit someday, he vowed as he headed to the smoking area.

However,

"Wow, they're really crazy."

"Why is the sound so good?"

"Seriously, how can someone have such a good look and such a great voice?"

At the noisy conversation of the students, Professor Lee Jang-won perked up his ears.

They were watching a video on their phones together.

"Hmm?"

But the voice coming from the video was very familiar.

Could it be...

"Ahem."

"Huh?"

"Professor, hello!"

In response to the students' greetings, Professor Lee Jang-won nodded and asked,

"Hey, are you watching some video?"

"Ah, Professor. Jung Yun-seong and Jung Yun-a, you know, the famous siblings from Hongdae karaoke?"

Of course, he knew them.

He had personally given them lessons.

"Yeah, I know. So what?"

"They just uploaded a new video. And it's an original song."

"Really?"

No, if Jung Yun-seong had made it, he would have told me first.

"Can I see it?"

"Ah, yes, of course. We were about to watch it again anyway."

As the student pressed the play button, Jung Yun-seong and Jung Yun-a's smiling faces appeared first.

Then, as Jung Yun-seong slowly gave a signal and started the song,

"Wow..."

An unexpected melody burst out, one that naturally elicited admiration.

It was light but not at all cheap.

And Jung Yun-a's voice, as always, was fantastic.

– Today, the chicken is tempting me~. My mind is filled with thoughts of you.

"Huh?"

Professor Lee Jang-won momentarily doubted his ears.

Chicken? Chicken?

Only then did he notice the title.

"Phew."

A chuckle escaped him.

What audacious kids.

I thought it was just a joke last time.

They actually made a song about chicken.

To create such a good melody and voice for chicken!

Isn't this a waste...

But,

'This song...'

Why is it so good?

It seemed to be the most distinctive and addictive song he had heard recently.

'It's really surprising how well it fits.'

The provocative and bold melody harmonized perfectly with Yun-a's voice, which seemed to fit the melody the least.

– With a crispy bite of fried chicken, I feel happiness~

– Whether it's dry breast or tender thigh, I love them all.

– I don't like eating alone. Eating with you is the best.

The fun lyrics and the two's expressions that naturally made you smile combined to create a perfect stage.

– I can't live without chicken. Today, I'm craving chicken~

Yun-a's cute gestures while singing occasionally melted the hearts of the male students.

That crispy chicken song finally ended.

"Isn't it really unique, Professor?"

"The title, lyrics, melody, and even the visual appeal. There's nothing lacking."

"Who would have thought I'd end up liking a song about chicken."

"I suddenly want to eat chicken."

The students' reactions were understandable.

It was that good a song, and even Professor Lee Jang-won, who didn't often eat chicken, felt like having some.

"Definitely well-sung. These siblings. Who taught them to make such good songs?"

He subtly hinted.

"Maybe it's just their innate talent?"

"It doesn't seem like anyone taught them. It might be because they're not bound by convention that they can create such songs."

Is that so?

He wanted to proudly say, "I taught them!" but,

'This isn't something I taught them.'

He had only taught them a bit of piano and composition.

He hadn't taught them how to come up with musical ideas, how to create songs on themes that resonate with people, or anything else.

'It's a bit funny to call them my students.'

They were kids who could create such songs without learning from anyone.

"I hope the next video comes out soon."

"Their father is the CEO of a talent agency. When are they going to debut?"

"If they keep releasing songs like this, I'll keep listening."

Still, it felt good to hear the students praise the two.

I wish they would give even more praise.

"Ah, Professor. Do you want me to light your cigarette?"

"Huh? Ah..."

Professor Lee Jang-won stared at the cigarette in his hand and then changed his mind.

He didn't really feel like smoking.

"No, it's okay."

Instead, tonight, it's chicken.

# # #

"Chicken burgers are chicken burgers~ Fried rice is chicken fried rice~ For lunch, it's chicken cutlet~."

Yun-a was humming a song to herself.

She was singing the chicken craving song they had created, but the lyrics changed each time.

The versions also seemed to vary.

Sometimes it was a heartfelt love song about chicken, and other times it was a joyful rock version about eating chicken.

It was fascinating how she could change the song into different versions based on her mood, so I quickly turned on my phone to record a video.

"Ha-ha"

This time, it was a children's song version.

I burst out laughing, and Yun-a, who had been holding back, also laughed.

"Hey, why are you laughing while recording a video?"

"Because it feels like a sincere song. You really do eat a lot of chicken burgers, chicken fried rice, and chicken cutlets, don't you?"

"Isn't a song supposed to be about yourself? Honest emotions convey better."

I'm not sure if that applies to chicken, but it seems everyone now knows Yun-a is a chicken lover.

"But, why do you keep recording videos, brother?"

"Hmm? Ah, I thought maybe I could edit them into short clips and post them on the channel."

"Ah! But have you checked the videos you posted on the channel?"

"......No. I only checked briefly at the beginning."

Yun-a also said with a trembling voice,

"I haven't checked either. I was too nervous to check."

"I was also nervous and thought it would keep bothering me, so I didn't check."

It had been two days since we posted the video.

We hadn't told anyone around us that we had posted a video.

"Then... should we watch it together? If there are bad comments, it might be less mentally draining to watch together than alone."

"It might be the same, but okay. Let's watch. You turn it on."

"Ugh."

"It's okay. We did well. People will like it."

"R-right?"

I was also nervous.

I don't know why I was so tense.

Yun-a opened her phone with trembling hands.

"I was so curious that I couldn't even watch NewTube."

Yun-a, who always had her phone, hadn't watched NewTube for two days.

That's a lot of self-control.

Yun-a closed her eyes tightly and navigated to our channel.

Then,

"Oh, the views... "

In just two days, the views had reached 500,000.

There were thousands of comments.

- After listening to this song, I ordered chicken.

- Ha, guys. Listen to this song while eating chicken. It really tastes better.

- I came back to listen again today. I've listened to it more than 10 times a day.

- The song is great, but it keeps making me want to eat chicken. I need to diet.

- Yun-a's voice is really amazing~!

- Good-looking and with a great voice, and now great original songs. They really have it all.

Fortunately, there were no negative comments as we had feared.

The comments were all praise, making me feel good.

"Phew, that's a relief."

Yun-a let out a sigh of relief.

She must have been worried about a bad reaction.

"I told you it would be fine."

"What? I saw you trembling too."

"Did you see that again?"

Yun-a laughed and checked the comments one by one.

Seeing her laugh so brightly made me smile too.

"Dad's here."

"Ah, Dad's here."

After looking at the video comments for a while, Yun-a jumped up and ran to the living room when she heard her father come in.

She's always so excited about her dad.

Usually, girls her age don't even look at their fathers.

"Dad~!"

"Hey, there. My daughter. How are you?"

"Yup. Did Dad make a lot of money today?"

"Our Yun-a, I've made enough to buy you chicken."

Father smiled and patted my and Yun-a's heads.

"Thanks to you two, I had a very interesting experience at the company today."

"Huh?"

"Hehe. Today, three chicken companies called our agency with the same request."

"......?"

"Seems like they saw the video you posted."

He couldn't hold back his laughter.

"They want to have you two in their commercials. Ha-ha!"

Father's hearty laughter echoed for a while.

Chapter 31