Chapter 18

018. Session (4)

"Okay, that's it!"

At a recording studio in Hapjeong-dong.

At the producer's words, Kang Joon-seo sprang up and started to bounce around.

"Great job~."

-Yeah. Everyone did well.

The talkback went silent, and the producer quickly packed up his things and left with quick steps.

Muttering "coffee... coffee..." he looked like an addict heading for a caffeine transfusion. It was a common sight.

At that moment, a tall man stretched and yawned leisurely.

He was Park Seung-jae, the pianist who often recorded with Kang Joon-seo.

"Ah... still, it ended pretty quickly, didn't it?"

"Yeah, sure. Whatever."

"Similar to last time, huh?"

"......"

Unaware of the awkward tension among those who had recorded with him, he smiled cluelessly.

Kang Joon-seo, observing the reactions of those who couldn't bring themselves to say anything, subtly started the conversation.

"Bro, but... could you please... look at the score a bit...?"

"Got it, got it. I'm busy, busy. But why do you have such dark circles under your eyes, Joon-seo?"

Park Seung-jae deftly changed the subject as if it were nothing.

Speechless, Kang Joon-seo gaped like a goldfish, and the other musicians, watching, gave up with a resigned expression.

"Is the group project that hard?"

The violist asked with a bitter smile.

Beside him, Park Seung-jae chuckled as if he understood the reason.

"Group project? Are you taking the ensemble class now?"

"Ugh... yeah."

"Ha ha, you must be dying."

That's right. There are a lot of people like you there too...—Kang Joon-seo let out a hollow laugh, unable to say it.

"But, I'm not tired because of that. Lately, I've been feeling a bit like Salieri."

"What Salieri?"

"I'm tutoring a very talented kid. I'm more worried about how far I should teach him in the next class than I am about the ensemble. At this rate, I'll be exposed in a few months."

"Are you talking about Seo Ho?"

The violist, who had been listening to the story, asked knowingly. Kang Joon-seo nodded. Then Park Seung-jae frowned and repeated the name.

"Seo Ho... Seo Ho... Isn't he the kid you mentioned before? The one who played the piano when I couldn't record, the son of the Sound Film CEO?"

"Yeah, that's him."

Then a somewhat displeased expression appeared.

"I don't like him much."

"Huh? Why?"

"He goes to a regular high school. A kid who isn't from a music high school is already participating in professional recordings and building a career. If he wasn't the son of the CEO, would that have been possible? It's all because he was born with a silver spoon. Isn't it? Han CEO, I didn't think you were like that. Tsk. Right, Su-a? You hate those kinds of kids, don't you?"

Park Seung-jae grumbled and sought agreement from Shin Su-a, who had been quietly listening.

"Bro, but he...—"

Kang Joon-seo tried to defend him quickly, but—

"No. Kids with no talent but connections who take the easy way out."

Shin Su-a, putting her violin into the case, said coldly.

And before Kang Joon-seo could say anything in response, she added,

"But, he... isn't without talent."

"Huh...? Come on, what can a high schooler do—"

"And, bro."

"Huh?"

Park Seung-jae, asking gently, received a characteristic cold look from Shin Su-a.

"At least come prepared after practicing to some extent. We don't have extra time to practice."

In the recording studio, where the atmosphere was like a soda had been poured, Park Seung-jae left with a flushed face.

It seemed to have been fuel for him, as his face was burning.

A few times, loud voices about seniority and manners were heard, but in the end, it was just a recording studio.

Their voices didn't leak out, and with the removal of one troublesome rock, peace returned.

The hero who removed the rock, as always, packed up without much change in expression.

"From today, I'll call you Su-a. I've decided."

"Hey, finally? I've been calling you 'unnie' for a long time. Unnie, what do you want to eat?"

"I have to go to work right away."

"You're busy, our unnie."

Shin Su-a, giving a sharp glance at the slippery Kang Joon-seo, finished packing and stood up.

The violist, who didn't seem to be getting up, said, "See you, unnie~" and then asked Kang Joon-seo,

"By the way, I was curious. How talented is Seo Ho?"

"His violin tone is of a different quality from other kids. And he can succeed in anything I ask him to do in one or two tries...—I've seen a lot, but that's not the point."

"Right. And how much can you see in a 17-year-old?"

"Exactly! Plus, this time, he's composing too? And it's really good. I played one of his pieces, and the melody is really impressive."

"Composing too? Wow...—he must be a natural. Is that why you quit the piano?"

"Hmm. I don't think so. When he plays, his eyes...—it's like he hasn't eaten for four or five days? It's as if he really wants to play but can't."

"What could he have to go through? He's been learning piano since he was young."

"That's what I'm wondering too. But, Su-a."

After talking for a while with the violist, Kang Joon-seo raised his head and asked.

Shin Su-a, who had been standing there, flinched.

"Uh, yeah?"

"You said you were leaving?"

She quickly regained her composure, adjusted her violin case, and started the conversation.

"Uh, uh... I'm leaving now?"

#

...Leaving the studio and scanning the office.

The office, which was unusually quiet, had an empty seat where my father usually sat. Thinking he might be in the recording studio, I turned to go there, but I met Team Leader Park Jae-hoon, who was coming out of the restroom.

"Seo Ho~. What's up?"

He asked with a gentle smile. I extended the stack of sheet music I was holding.

He looked at it blankly and opened his mouth slightly.

"Huh? You made the 'Boy Who Became a Wolf' songs?"

"Yeah, that's right."

He finally took the sheet music and looked down at his hands, momentarily bewildered.

"From the thickness, it doesn't seem like just one song?"

"Four songs."

"Four...—you really finished them all."

Team Leader Park Jae-hoon burst into laughter. He had thought it was unlikely, but you've already finished them, he said. He had already talked about this with my father.

But then he made a puzzled face again.

"But even so, it seems like a lot of work? It doesn't look like a piano piece."

Of course.

Because it's not a piano piece.

"It's not a piano piece."

"Huh? Not?"

He raised an eyebrow and flipped through the cover.

His expression became more dramatic with each page, and it was quite entertaining to watch.

"There are several instruments involved?"

"Yes, I arranged it as a string quartet. It's an OST, so I can't make everything a piano piece."

"I thought you'd bring a piano piece and I'd help with the arrangement...—how did you suddenly think of this arrangement?"

"I'm learning the violin."

"Right. You are. But have you only been learning for three weeks?"

"About that."

Park Jae-hoon, muttering, "Three weeks..." burst into laughter and shook the sheet music.

"Anyway, are you going to show this to the CEO?"

He glanced at the recording studio at the end of the hallway.

"But, the CEO's old classmates are visiting and talking in the recording studio right now."

"Old classmates...—"

"From the College of Arts at Korea University."

My head naturally turned toward the recording studio.

My father graduated from the College of Arts at Korea University, which is considered the best in the country. Team Leader Park Jae-hoon is the same. They met there.

Professor Yoon Seok-ho used to be a professor there, and the person currently teaching me the violin, Kang Joon-seo, and Shin Su-a, who recorded with me, are currently students at Korea University. Ah, I heard Shin Su-a is on a leave of absence?

...Anyway.

Hearing that they are old classmates from such a place piqued my interest.

They must all hold significant positions in the music industry.

"Great people, I guess."

I asked casually, and Team Leader Park Jae-hoon nodded.

"Right. One is a teacher at Hwawon Arts High School, and the other is a ballad music composer."

I had heard of Hwawon Arts High School. It's said that 70% of Professor Yoon's students go there, and the remaining 30% go to Seorim Arts High School. I must be a mutant for going to a regular high school.

Plus, a ballad music composer. As someone from a film music company, I rarely get to meet composers from other genres, so this is quite intriguing. I'd even like to go in and listen in.

"They seem to be in the middle of a conversation, so come back later to introduce yourself."

I was planning to do that anyway. I'll go even if you don't call me.

I nodded and extended my hand.

"Then I'll put the sheet music on the desk."

But Team Leader Park Jae-hoon hesitated for a moment. He looked down at the sheet music and then suddenly smiled.

"No."

"Huh?"

He said with a face that seemed to have a fun idea.

"Why not now? I'll take it."

#

"But why are you the only one at the company? What is CEO Kim up to these days?"

A man in a charcoal suit asked, holding a coffee cup.

Han Gi-jun, sitting opposite him, shrugged and replied.

"The same. He's looking for a small office in Chungmuro to make movies."

"Tsk, after failing so many times. He really doesn't know when to quit."

The man in the suit shook his head.

Then a bald man, who had been listening quietly, interjected with a worried look.

"Is it okay?"

"CEO Kim will handle it. It's his business, after all."

"But, you know, most of the company's funds come from CEO Kim. If he messes up a big movie, won't it affect us too?"

"I've been telling him to minimize the impact on us. He says he understands, but I keep checking because I'm worried. But, it's his money, so I can't tell him what to do...—"

Han Gi-jun trailed off. The bald man sipped his coffee thoughtfully.

"CEO Kim trusts people easily. Just tell him to be careful with that."

"Sure."

"Right, let's stop worrying about the best student for now."

The man in the suit clapped his hands to lighten the mood. Han Gi-jun chuckled and waved his hand.

"Best student, my foot. You, on the other hand, were scouted by Hwawon Arts High School. So, how's school life at 40?"

"Don't even mention it. Teaching kids is so hard. How can they not listen? They come here as prodigies and don't practice at all. Was it like that in our time?"

"It was. Even in college."

"Ahem."

"Then you should visit Professor Yoon. Think about how we were in front of him. He always got angry, trying to improve our skills."

"I know. But...—man, thinking about his nagging makes me not want to go."

The bald man sighed and fidgeted. The man in the suit nodded repeatedly.

"You should stop doing things that make you listen to nagging."

"Hey, we used to do the most listening back then."

At that moment, the door slid open. Park Jae-hoon slipped in and the other men, except Han Gi-jun, waved at him.

"Hey, Jae-hoon!"

Park Jae-hoon smiled.

"Is this a recording studio or a street stall? You're a top high school teacher, a hit song composer, and a company CEO...—but you all look like old men."

"Look at you. What's different about you?"

"You're also in your 40s. So, it's the same. Sit down. What's that?"

The man in the suit's gaze fell on the sheet music Park Jae-hoon was holding.

Park Jae-hoon, holding the thick sheet music that was hard to lift with one hand, said,

"Oh, this? It's the songs Seo Ho made."

"Seo Ho? Gi-jun's son?"

The two men's gazes turned to Han Gi-jun,

who shrugged and asked,

"Already finished?"

Team Leader Park Jae-hoon smiled and nodded.

The man in the suit, who had grasped the situation, reached out with interest.

"Can I see?"

"It's just homework I gave him."

"Fine, let me see. I'll look at it as a high school teacher."

He cleared his throat and took the sheet music from Park Jae-hoon, starting to flip through it.

His eyes, which had started with a light heart, gradually darkened.

"Hey, did your son make this? How old is he? He's a first-year high school student, right?"

The bald man, who had been watching, leaned forward.

"What is it?"

"Take a look. I feel like it's a lie."

This time, the bald man took the sheet music and, after a long silence, let out a hollow laugh. The man in the suit, who had been blinking beside him, urged him on.

"Right? It's unbelievable. The structure...—it doesn't look amateur at all...—"

The bald man turned his gaze to Han Gi-jun instead. Then he suddenly changed the subject.

"Gi-jun, do you use Pro Tools? Do you have Logic (composition software)?"

"I do, but why?"

Then, as if he couldn't stand it anymore, he sprang up from his seat.

He rubbed his lips and pointed to the computer.

"Let's record this with virtual instruments and listen to it. I'm really curious about what kind of songs they are."