Chapter 4

Seon-hee smiled happily, recalling her recent conversation with the homeroom teacher. "Our son is a prodigy... Could there be anything more wonderful than this?"

"Our son is truly amazing...! The teacher had nothing but praise for him. I can't believe I was completely unaware of this... But, exactly what kind of place is it?"

She had heard from the homeroom teacher, but as a complete novice in this field, she couldn't quite grasp it.

"Oh, it's not HanYang Arts High School...,"

Where was it again... Actually, Seo-jin didn't know much about it either. The Cultural and Artistic Education Promotion Institute's Gifted Education Center was a somewhat unfamiliar name.

Before the regression, Seo-jin had received support from the KH Asia Cultural Foundation, a subsidiary of a large corporation, so he wasn't very familiar with this area. He had heard of the Korea National Institute for Gifted Education in Arts at HanYang Arts High School and the Music Prodigy Academy at the Seoul Arts Center, as they were quite famous.

"I see. But...,"

Seon-hee was a bit worried. Although she was a novice in the arts, she knew from hearsay how difficult it was to make a living through music, especially considering the enormous costs involved compared to the minimal returns.

But if her son really had talent, she would work herself to the bone to support him.

"Mom, you don't have to worry about tuition. This is a state-sponsored program, so the tuition is completely free."

Seon-hee's face brightened at this.

If that was the case, it would be a wonderful opportunity if he could get in.

* * *

After that day, Choi Ji-hyun decided to give Seo-jin a bit of extra practice. To prepare for the gifted education center's exam, group lessons alone wouldn't be enough.

This was purely out of her goodwill.

No matter how exceptional his bowing technique and sound production were, he was still a beginner, so she felt it was necessary to teach him at least position shifts, vibrato, and some basic techniques.

So far, she had only taught him basic finger placement. She felt it was her duty to polish this raw talent and send him to a broader world.

However, it didn't take long for her to realize that her efforts were entirely unnecessary.

* * *

The G string vibrated with its characteristic low tone as the bow drew across it.

The lowest string on the violin, the G string, while not as deep as a cello or viola, provides a sense of heavy, resonant bass.

Of course, this wasn't always the case. The timbre could vary greatly depending on the characteristics of the piece and the performer's interpretation.

It could convey a heavy, tense feeling or a comfortable, soft atmosphere. Conversely, the high notes could create a sharp, tense feeling or a refreshing, comfortable ambiance.

After the regression, Seo-jin had not only practiced techniques but also explored the nuances of sound, immersing himself deeply to evoke the fantastical images he had experienced.

Bach's Air on the G String.

Literally, a piece played only on the lowest string of the violin, the G string.

With a relaxed bow, the string naturally sang a deep melody.

A soft melody rippled through the air. The E note plucked from the G string resonated slowly and long.

Choi Ji-hyun appeared at that moment.

Arriving early to prepare for the lesson, she paused at the slightly open door, captivated by the sound.

"Who is it?"

Her eyes widened in surprise as she peered inside.

Seo-jin...?

It's impossible. How can he play like this...?

Her mouth half-open, she listened in amazement, soon becoming so engrossed in the performance that she forgot her initial curiosity.

The poignant, resonant timbre. The simple yet rich melody.

Tears welled up in her eyes, moved by the deep emotion.

Once, she had thought the Air on the G String was best played on a cello. But now, her opinion had changed.

The performance, with its long, expressive notes, combined with the unique timbre of the violin, created a beautiful wave of sound.

It was hard to believe this was the performance of a boy who had just started learning the violin. Ignoring the technical aspects, the heartfelt melody was beyond comprehension.

"Hello, teacher."

Finally, Seo-jin turned to her calmly after finishing his performance.

"Ah. Seo-jin."

Still immersed in the performance, Choi Ji-hyun snapped back to reality and began asking questions urgently.

"How did you play that? Did you practice by reading the score?"

"No. I tried it because I heard this song on the radio."

It wasn't a lie. The difference was that it was from his previous life, before the regression.

"Position shifts...? You know, moving your fingers up and down the string. Did you figure that out on your own?"

Choi Ji-hyun was more than just surprised.

How could he do that when she hadn't taught him?

Of course, it wasn't impossible for a student in upper elementary school to figure it out on their own, but position shifts were far from easy.

Knowing it in theory and being able to do it with your hands were two different things. It was impossible to become proficient so quickly.

"Just naturally. It felt more natural to do it this way to avoid moving the bow back and forth. The sound is better too."

"Sound?"

"Yes. It produces a deeper sound."

"..."

She was speechless.

"Really, you just figured it out on your own?"

"Yes. I saw someone playing the violin on TV before. I noticed the fingers moving up and down."

This wasn't a lie either. He had done the same thing before the regression.

Of course, his performance back then was much less proficient. With the regression cheat, he was now much more skilled.

"It's unbelievable..."

She had only taught him the basic finger placement for the first position. Not only could he find the notes on his own, but he had also grasped and applied the concept of position shifts. And he did it so naturally.

The Air on the G String might seem slow and easy to a casual listener, but it was a challenging piece due to the frequent position shifts required to play on a single string.

It involved not just the commonly used third position but also the second and fourth positions.

The second position, in particular, was a headache even for students majoring in violin. For beginners, just finding the correct position was difficult, and the fingerings were often confusing.

'And he can play it so perfectly...?'

Moreover, for beginners, slow bowing was often more challenging than fast bowing because it revealed the depth of the sound and expression more clearly.

Yet, the boy in front of her was simply perfect in every way.

"...Then, what do you mean by the sound?"

"The sound is different."

"How... different?"

"The resonance."

"..."

Choi Ji-hyun was speechless.

Playing an open string and playing the same note on a different string produced different sounds. While the open string couldn't have vibrato, the resonance from the overtones made the sound richer.

She couldn't believe he was aware of this and did it intentionally... or perhaps instinctively?

What could she call this child? Other students were just starting to use finger tapes and barely finding the notes, but this child was doing everything proficiently without being taught.

His intonation was incredibly accurate. Unlike the piano, where the notes were fixed, the violin required finding and pressing the notes directly. This was not an easy task unless one had a natural sense of pitch or had developed perfect pitch from a young age.

'Especially the depth of that sound...'

Just by listening, one might believe it was a renowned violinist.

The disparity between the sound and the appearance of the performer was so great that it created a cognitive dissonance.

However, Choi Ji-hyun had no idea that Seo-jin, the one who had performed, was very dissatisfied with his sound.

'Everything else is fine, but the instrument is a bit disappointing...'

A cheap, poorly maintained instrument. It would have been better if it were a full size, but unfortunately, his arms were too short.

'Even if a craftsman doesn't choose his tools...'

If that were true, why would expensive violins worth tens or hundreds of millions of dollars have such value?

Still, Seo-jin was producing a sound that seemed expensive with that poor instrument. His bowing technique was almost at a master level.

"...Um, well. I... don't really have anything to teach you. You're... perfect. Truly perfect."

She found herself saying such a silly thing.

Of course, it didn't mean she had nothing to teach him, but rather that there was nothing more to say about this piece.

"But... Did you perhaps learn the violin when you were younger and then quit?"

"Huh?"

"No, I'm just confirming that this is your first time learning the violin."

In fact, there was no need to ask. That unbelievable sound could not be produced after just two months of learning.

If he could produce such a sound, he must have made significant progress. Usually, bowing skills improved gradually as one progressed.

But Seo-jin's sound was at a level that could be compared to a professional, or even a master. Such a sound could not be produced from the start, especially considering the condition of his violin.

"Um..."

Seo-jin thought for a moment.

If he considered his life before the regression, the answer would be "yes," but in this life, it was officially not the case.

"Just a bit... from watching. I was interested, so I paid close attention."

An ambiguous answer. Depending on how one interpreted it, it could mean he had learned a bit by watching, or that he had only seen it a few times.

Ji-hyun understood it to mean the latter.

"It's unbelievable..."

It was incomprehensible, but Ji-hyun had to nod. She had clearly seen him as a complete beginner just a couple of months ago.

In that short time, his skills had improved so much that she had even suggested he consider a serious career in music... but this child was definitely a beginner back then.

"Teacher, you're really surprised today."

She herself couldn't produce a deeper sound than this...

...This child,

is beyond my capabilities.

Choi Ji-hyun instinctively knew this.

She had only heard of such extraordinary, out-of-the-ordinary talents in the arts.

They were so unbelievable that it was hard to believe they existed, but apparently, there were such rare talents, perhaps one in a hundred years.

'I never thought I would see one with my own eyes...'

Ji-hyun had no intention of taking on the responsibility of guiding this child. If he asked for help or advice, she might consider it, but her amateur interference might only hinder him.

"You're really amazing. Seo-jin, you don't need to worry. You'll definitely get into the gifted education center."

Who else would be accepted if this child didn't? It wasn't the prestigious HanYang Arts High School, but a newly established, lesser-known institution.

Even though it was a program run by the Ministry of Education, there was no need to worry about the exam.

* * *

However, contrary to these expectations, things took a different turn.

The prodigy violinist had returned.