Chapter 13

013. Unexpected Problem (4)

Just before the recording began.

Director Park Dong-jin once again scanned the sheet music he had been looking at for a long time.

No matter how many times he looked at it, he found it incredible that a child who wasn't even a music student had created this.

No, if you consider the quality alone, what does it matter if they're a music student? It rivals professionals. That's why he immediately exclaimed, "This is it!"

Moreover, look at the thickness of the sheet music. For a piano piece that's only about three minutes long, it's ridiculously thick. The reason is clear from the first page.

"What kind of detailed annotations are these?"

It almost seems like a manual rather than sheet music. A performance manual.

It meticulously describes everything needed to play this piece properly.

"If Chopin had written his sheet music like this, etudes wouldn't have been so difficult."

After a moment of reminiscing about the past, he shook his head.

No, it might have been even more difficult.

The same goes for these annotations.

They might be intended to be easy to understand, but...

It seems more difficult to follow all of them.

It might feel easier to convey the feeling, but with mediocre skills, it would feel even more challenging.

Director Park Dong-jin was puzzled by this thought.

"Can he even follow all of this himself?"

The current sheet music was quite different from the recording file he had received initially. While the intention became clearer, the number of things to follow multiplied.

He knew this because he had been a music student in the past.

This piece is not easy.

Of course, you can only know for sure by playing it, but performing it while following all of this would be quite daunting even for veteran pianists who make a living from it.

"Even though he composed it, performing is a different domain..."

While harboring such concerns, he flipped through the sheet music, and Han Seo-ho's performance began as Han Gi-jun and the representative discussed the preparations.

Slowly. Han Seo-ho played a simple yet intricate melody with just his right hand.

Director Park Dong-jin, who had taken his eyes off the sheet music and was now looking inside the recording booth, whispered in admiration.

"I'm glad I came to see this in person. The piece is so good. Who would think this was composed by a high school amateur?"

'No wonder I didn't believe Mr. Han Gi-jun at first.'

He said his son made it. And that too, a first-year high school student?

Impressed by Han Seo-ho's composing ability, he put down the sheet music. Han Seo-ho raised both hands. The climax of the piece.

Director Park Dong-jin, who had crossed his arms and was ready to listen seriously, began to change his expression.

Feeling out of place, he slowly looked down at the sheet music.

It's different. Clearly... definitely.

Different...?

Rustle.

Rustle. Rustle.

He flipped through the sheet music, following Han Seo-ho's performance.

And he realized. It's not just that it sounds different; it's really different from the recording file.

And the performance he was listening to now was following this complex sheet music with chilling accuracy.

Han Seo-ho was perfectly expressing his own piece.

Director Park Dong-jin glanced at Mr. Han Gi-jun's expression. Although he couldn't see it well from the back, there was no sign of surprise at all. The engineer was the same. It seemed familiar...

That's even more chilling.

'No wonder Mr. Han Gi-jun was so confident.'

A monster.

In composing and piano performance.

Director Park Dong-jin kept swallowing hard.

His mouth, which had become dry, watched the performance reach its climax.

And he thought.

If the protagonist of my movie were real.

They would probably look just like this.

#

The recording didn't need any more work with just simple mixing,

and Director Park Dong-jin, who had drunk three cans of the drink on the table, left the recording studio with a refreshed look.

He said it helped him come up with a few more scenes, but he didn't understand what he meant.

He seemed a bit flustered, as if he was afraid of forgetting them.

"Hey, Song Writer. Are you in the studio now? I'll come over. It's nothing much, but a few ideas just came to me..."

Anyway, Director Park Dong-jin left with the audio and sheet music carefully in his possession.

The father, who saw him off, smiled.

"Done!"

"That's right. It's done."

"You did really well today. Director Park Dong-jin was really impressed."

Ha ha...

There was no regret since it was the best I could do, but it felt a bit bittersweet to let it go.

Of course, that doesn't mean I wanted it back.

...But it came back.

What happened was,

Not even a week had passed when Director Park Dong-jin contacted me.

He said he had received the clean recording and the sheet music.

Father's prediction that there wouldn't be any more contact for a while was wrong.

"Why? What's the matter?"

"Ah, it's nothing much. No, it's not. It is, but..."

Father, who was rambling, looked at me.

"Seo-ho, your piano piece."

"Yes."

"The stand-in can't play it."

Huh? What if the stand-in can't play it?

Father continued, looking at me blankly.

"Director Park Dong-jin seems to have pushed the stand-in a bit. He said it wasn't the right feeling. But the stand-in is also a music student around your age. Apparently, they ended up crying and couldn't do it."

"Then we need to find another stand-in?"

"He tried. But none of them were to his liking. I guess if I had seen that performance, I would feel the same way."

Father glanced at me and scratched his chin.

Then he spoke with a strange expression.

"Seo-ho, so... "

#

As I entered the school building, the familiar musty smell greeted me.

Walking down the now familiar hallway, I saw some students from the broadcasting club dragging a large camera out to the courtyard.

Looking back at them, I asked out of curiosity.

"What does it feel like to make a movie?"

Lee Ho-ik, who was panting as he followed me up the hill, looked at me. The boy with button-like eyes blinked and asked.

"Why? Are you interested in that?"

"That?"

"Acting."

Ah, is that how it works?

I shook my head and shrugged.

"Not really. I was just wondering what it would be like to appear in a movie once, maybe as a stand-in."

"Stand-in? Not even a supporting role, specifically a stand-in? Are you thinking of doing stunt work?"

"Maybe."

Stunt work is stunt work. Piano stunt work.

The boy, who had been looking at me with sleepy eyes, now stared at me. He scanned me like the sky was darkening and tilted his head.

"You've been a bit strange since the middle school graduation ceremony. Your words are all vague~"

"Really?"

Scratching my head, I tried to change the subject. Lee Ho-ik, who was puzzled, continued.

"Anyway, if you do it, you might be good at it. You're actually quite good-looking. If a director spots you, who knows? You might end up becoming an actor."

"I have no interest in that."

My firm answer made Lee Ho-ik chuckle. The look on his face was like, "You, of all people?" but he soon seemed to understand.

"You want to do music, right?"

I nodded, and he said in a mock-serious tone.

"But these days, you need to be famous in music too, right? I heard the songs by Citrus were really good, but the composer was unknown. In the end, they disbanded after that song."

It's a sad story. Of course, maybe because I compose, I empathize more with the composer than with Citrus.

The feeling of a singer not getting attention for their own song.

Just thinking about it made me shiver and swallow hard.

"Is fame that important?"

"Of course. Of course, it might vary depending on the genre of music you do."

"I see."

Talking about such things with Lee Ho-ik is definitely helpful. Sometimes he even knows about agency contract-related stories, making me wonder if he has also regressed. Maybe he's the son of an agency representative.

Well, you see what you want to see...

Then, a sudden curiosity struck me.

"What if you did it all?"

"Did what?"

"The genres. All of them."

Lee Ho-ik's expression became strange. It was like looking at a naive younger brother. It was a bit ridiculous to get that look from him.

"Hey, that's easier said than done. Some composers change genres with each album, but they're all different. Why?"

"Well... because they're good at different things?"

Lee Ho-ik snapped his fingers.

"Right. Each composer has their own specialty."

Then he suddenly asked with a suspicious look.

"But you can play the piano and compose, right?"

"Of course."

"Not just random notes, but properly. You don't play like Czerny 100, do you?"

It was absurd. I understand his reaction since I've never played the piano for him, but...

As I approached the classroom door, I muttered, "What can I do?"

"Hey, I'm actually a pre-"

Creak.

The boy burst into the classroom, cutting off my words.

Lee Ho-ik looked puzzled. The classroom was unusually noisy.

"What's going on?"

Lee Ho-ik, looking confused, lifted his head to check which class it was.

"Not another class... Why are there so many students?"

I had a feeling I knew what was happening.

I had a hunch. As I entered the classroom, my guess was confirmed.

A particular seat was crowded with students.

I saw unfamiliar faces from other classes. And among them, a girl.

That seat was definitely empty until yesterday.

"She's back."

"Huh? Who?"

"Chae Yi-yeon."

Lee Ho-ik, rolling his eyes, asked.

"Chae Yi-yeon? Chae Yi-yeon? Oh, the girl who didn't come to school?"

As I entered the classroom, I saw Chae Yi-yeon's face clearly through the crowd.

Her short hair swayed as she made eye contact with various students. Her large eyes were almost invisible as she smiled widely.

...I stared at her for a moment, then quickly found my seat when our eyes met.

Lee Ho-ik, scratching his head, looked at the bustling area around Chae Yi-yeon's seat.

"But is it normal to welcome someone like this on their first day? The students are so nice~"

"That's not all."

"Huh?"

I said as I put down my bag.

"She's an actress."

And one who would eventually make it to Cannes.

#

Chae Yi-yeon.

A name that always came up when classmates gathered.

It made sense.

She was completely unknown until high school, but over a few years, she gradually stood out and eventually walked the red carpet at the Cannes International Film Festival.

After that? She became even more successful.

She established herself as a top actress and expanded her career to musicals, creating a unique path.

Eventually, rumors spread that she received a call from Hollywood.

If I hadn't suddenly regressed, I might have seen her in a Hollywood movie.

So, what better topic to talk about?

Well, thinking back, it was a bit ridiculous.

Talking about Chae Yi-yeon while drinking, it's no different from looking for a police chief.

'Especially since I couldn't even talk to her when we were in school...'

I shook my head, recalling my past.

Should I try to get closer to her now?

Even though she doesn't come to school often, she seemed to be friendly and got along well with everyone...

As I continued with these somewhat materialistic thoughts, I opened a can. Manager Kim Yun-ju entered the break room.

"I was wondering where you were. Is this good?"

She smiled, looking at the can in my hand. It was cola, which she had given me to try during the Yooncharter recording. Before the regression, I never paid attention to... Makcol.

I guess this is more Brinner's taste.

"It's quite refreshing."

"It's addictive~"

Feeling like I had met a compatriot in a foreign land, I asked Manager Kim Yun-ju.

"Did you need me for something?"

"Yes, I was looking for you desperately. M&ACT just called."

She placed the iPad she was carrying on the table and smiled.

"The first shooting date is set. April 26th. The location is a set in Pocheon..."

#

Meanwhile, at M&ACT's office.

The door opened wide, and a woman walked in with a laptop in hand.

The employees, who were typing away, looked up at her.

"Writer Song, why do you look so haggard?"

"It's because of Director Park."

"Did he ask for another script revision?"

"This time, it's not a revision but an addition of scenes."

The employees whispered among themselves.

The woman stood in front of Director Park Dong-jin's office, took a deep breath, and knocked firmly.

The laptop in her other hand reflected the sunlight, making it look particularly threatening.

"Surely he's not going to hit someone with it..."

"Wow, I was thinking the same thing."

"But if he does, what can you say? After all the revisions, now he wants to add more scenes. He said the script was finished not long ago."

"He's always been a perfectionist, but this time he's really going overboard. I wonder what happened."

An employee who had heard the story from the sound team explained.

"The sound team said he suddenly got inspired."

"Huh?"

The employees' ears perked up.

"A few days ago, he visited the Soundfilm Studio."

"You know, after that visit, he changed the stand-in."

"He met the composer of the piano piece there and suddenly got inspired."

The employees nodded, muttering, "So that's why..."

But the story wasn't over yet.

"The best part is, the composer is the stand-in. The new stand-in."

"Really?"

"Oh, that's a first."

"But it's a good idea. Since it's his own piece, he'll play it the best, right?"

"But not all composers are performers. They are different domains."

As everyone threw in their comments, one employee, deep in thought, scratched his head with a pen and suddenly flipped through the casting file.

"Wait. What, then...?"

"???"

Han Seo-ho.

17 years old.

"The composer is a high school student?"