Chapter 31

031. Each One's (3)

During the Chuseok holiday, as Yoonchart's box office numbers soared through word of mouth, it hit 2 million in just one week and was on the verge of 4 million in its second week, mobilizing 300,000 people per day.

Not only did it easily surpass Director Park Dongjin's previous record of 3 million, but it also set a new all-time record among M&ACT's productions.

······Ah, gah!

Representative Kim Gwan-woo chewed on a mint candy and spread his arms wide.

"Welcome, Director Park~."

His soft voice and deep gaze were an added bonus.

Seeing his expression, as if a Buddha were seated there, Director Park Dongjin, who was exhausted from his stage greetings in Daejeon, hesitated.

Then he headed straight for the water dispenser, filling his mouth with ice and gulping it down. Representative Kim Gwan-woo followed closely behind.

"If you want cold water, just say so. I could have brought it for you."

"Why are you being so creepy?"

"Creepy? If I'm creepy, Director Park, you should stay away from me, right?"

With a wry smile, he stepped back, and Director Park Dongjin laughed in disbelief.

With a grin that stretched from ear to ear, Representative Kim Gwan-woo followed. No, this guy had been grinning from the moment he entered.

Perhaps he had been in that state ever since the opening day scores were announced.

"Even SJ Entertainment sent congratulations this morning. You know Team Leader Im Hyun-sung from the Film Business Division? He fell in love with the school festival scene when he came to the set with the investors and pushed hard for it."

"I know. Thanks to him, the number of screens has almost doubled, and the promotion has been intense."

"Exactly. So, I did my part too. I asked them to keep a close eye on your next project. Oh, and Song Writer came by this morning. He looked just like you do now."

Director Park Dongjin tilted his head in confusion.

"Did he come to see me? He should know I'm doing stage greetings in Daejeon."

"Yeah, he knew. But he left something on your desk."

"What?"

"I don't know."

Director Park Dongjin immediately went to his room and looked at his desk. A thick envelope. He tore open the sealed part and pulled out a stack of papers.

<Soprano>

"This...?"

"What is it?"

Representative Kim Gwan-woo, who had followed behind, was surprised when he saw the cover.

"Wow, is this your next project? That's why he looked like that?"

Meanwhile, Director Park Dongjin had already flipped past the cover and was skimming through the content. As he read a few pages, he muttered with a look of amazement.

"This seems like the script we were excited about when we first met...?"

This was the reason he had decided to work with the newcomer writer, who hadn't even made her debut. It was an interesting subject, and the structure was decent.

Although the writer claimed to be stuck, he had started working with Song Eun-hye because he liked this story.

But why bring it up again now?

Why did it suddenly become possible to write it now, when it couldn't be written before?

Even without hearing the details, he could understand.

"Good to see the interview paid off."

Director Park Dongjin's lips curled into a smile.

Seizing the moment, Representative Kim Gwan-woo called out softly.

"Director Park~."

"What is it?"

"If you need anything, just let me know. Overseas location shooting? America? Europe? I'll send you anywhere."

"......So, you're telling me to get back to work right away, even though I haven't had a break in 10 months?"

"Who said you have to start right away? Take your time. But, I think you'll do it anyway, right? Your eyes say it all."

While Director Park Dongjin held the new script and unknowingly felt his enthusiasm rising, the employees were also getting fired up in their own way.

One of the employees said to Director Park Dongjin as he came out with Representative Kim Gwan-woo.

"Director, did you know our movie is causing a stir among critics?"

"Really? Who? Lee Dong-joon? Yang Tae-won?"

Representative Kim Gwan-woo perked up.

The employee shook his head.

"No, no, not film critics."

"......?"

Director Park Dongjin, confused by what the employee meant, listened as the employee continued with a smile.

"Music critics."

At that moment, Director Park Dongjin's mouth began to open slightly.

The employee, excited, continued.

"One of them wrote, 'I was both pleased and conflicted to see pianist Lim Jin-gyu in a special appearance. How boring must a music film with hand-synced music have been for him? But after watching the film, my opinion changed. This is why pianist Lim Jin-gyu appeared in this film. His surprised expression at the climax was undoubtedly not acting,' praising it as the first music film that can be enjoyed by musicians as well......"

As the story continued, Director Park Dongjin's mouth opened wider, and his expression became even more intriguing.

Especially when it came to the part about the birth of a music film that musicians could enjoy, he rubbed his chest.

Meanwhile, the employee, who had been excitedly talking, now shared another piece of news.

"Also, people in the music industry are very curious about who played the piano. Some even wrote down all the names of the stand-ins in the end credits......It's only a matter of time before they find out who Han Seo-ho is, despite the non-disclosure agreement."

#

"Lee Ye-na, I went to see it as soon as school ended yesterday. It was so fun!"

The school was buzzing with students who had seen the movie.

A week had passed, and even two weeks later, the enthusiasm showed no signs of waning. It seemed to be getting even more intense, with students who had seen it two weeks ago joining in, shouting, "Yeah, yeah."

"Lee Min-jae, did you talk to Jeon Hye-in while filming? How was it?"

"They said you didn't have much screen time, but you actually had quite a bit? And when you played the violin, your hair flipping over was really amazing......"

"I saw a lot of talk about you on the internet. I even liked all the comments......"

Leaning back with a relaxed expression, Chae Yeon watched the students gathered around her and smiled.

Although they had appeared in the same movie, it was a completely different world. The better the movie did, the greater the gap would be.

But she wasn't disappointed. In such a situation, the initial excitement would be short-lived, and it would likely be followed by a lot of tiring situations.

Most importantly, there were already many people who loved her music and performances. Seeing their reactions was enough to make her feel proud.

Still......

'Something seems different.'

She was talking about the future.

Even before the regression, Chae Yeon was popular among her classmates, but this level of enthusiasm was unfamiliar.

Was it because I couldn't remember? But I'm not that forgetful that I wouldn't remember such a big deal......

It seems Yoonchart was more successful after the regression.

Why? Because I composed the music and played the stand-in?

That doesn't make sense. Music alone isn't enough to change the future of a movie.

There must be something else that's different from the past, whether it's a scene or the promotion.

'Anyway, I should be careful.'

The butterfly effect isn't always positive.

Watching Chae Yeon, who was having a heated fan meeting (?), she thought it was a good decision not to say anything to Song Eun-hye. Their eyes met.

Chae Yeon smiled awkwardly, not her usual bright smile but a somewhat apologetic one. There was no need for that.

She smiled back, and just then, her phone on the desk rang.

She marveled at the photo that arrived.

The concert hall was twice as large and much more luxurious than the final shooting location for Yoonchart.

She quickly checked the messages that followed.

Pianist Lim Jin-gyu: The concerto I've been preparing for two months has its first performance tomorrow. Thanks to you, I was able to prepare well.

Me: What did I do?

Pianist Lim Jin-gyu: The one who hits doesn't remember.

Me: ??? That sounds bad.

Pianist Lim Jin-gyu: ㅋㅋㅋAnyway, thanks. Your comments on the cadenza were really sharp.

Me: ...That's a bit strange, too?

Did he forget Korean after going back to Russia?

They exchanged messages, chuckling.

It made her realize that messaging was better than letters in some ways. Replies come quickly.

After exchanging supportive messages, she put her phone down.

She slowly lowered her gaze to the desk.

The familiar sheet of staff paper.

My soulmate!

She picked up a pencil and looked at the five lines.

Cadenza......solo......

"......"

Her thoughts flowed, and at a certain point, they caught and quickly filled her mind.

It was a moment of inspiration.

She immediately started drawing notes. As she drew, the structure began to take shape.

This piece should have this feeling, this style......from the overall picture to the tiniest details.

By the time the break was over, the staff paper was filled with a melody, not a harmony. A piece to be played one note at a time.

If played on the piano, it would require pressing one key at a time with one hand.

But it was enough.

For a violin solo.

#

On the weekend, she headed to the residence of Chairman Baek Han-gil in Pyeongchang-dong.

The frequency of visits varies from person to person, but lately, she had been going quite often.

Chairman Baek Han-gil's broad musical knowledge made conversations as interesting and smooth as with Professor Yoon, and he was a loyal audience who appreciated her performances, even if he was the only one.

......When Chopin's Nocturne Op. 09 No. 2 ended, the fading harmony was followed by a low sigh of admiration from Chairman Baek Han-gil.

"I often listened to Seulini's performances of this piece, which I really love, but yours is even better."

"Oh, he's a world-renowned pianist."

Waving her hand, she looked at Chairman Baek Han-gil, who observed her with a thoughtful expression. Is she being serious? he seemed to wonder, then clicked his tongue.

"You still don't know your own worth. That's why you say it's enough to have received a piano from someone who wants to sponsor you."

"I don't need anything right now."

'For now.'

And she knew the moment would come when she would need something.

The company was quickly approaching a critical point.

But unlike when she knew nothing, she had a grasp on what was happening by listening to various stories at the company.

There were only a few reasons why a company that was doing so well could suddenly falter.

......Anyway, she didn't want to ask Chairman Baek Han-gil for help until then.

Of course, she didn't plan to ask for help even then.

Chairman Baek Han-gil, unaware of her thoughts, was flabbergasted again.

"Why don't you need anything? Most young performers who receive support from foundations are competing fiercely to study abroad. It's that valuable to learn from world-renowned professors."

Even hearing such talk......

Apart from needing something, she had no plans to study abroad.

She wanted to go to Germany someday, but only to learn about things related to Brinner. She had no intention of living outside Korea.

Partly because of her family, but decisively......

'It won't help me much.'

I only want to learn what I need.

I learned piano from Professor Yoon and violin from Kang Jun-seo.

Otherwise, I consider my memory a vast repository of knowledge.

No matter where in the world I study, I won't have professors like Beethoven, Schubert, or Haydn.

But my memory is different.

It contains countless musical dialogues with them.