Chapter 90

090. An Artist's Inspiration (4)

"Big brother who plays the violin well?"

The girl who had been giving the little boy a wary look asked.

I couldn't tell her exact age, but she looked like a high school student. The boy looked like an elementary school student, and the girl seemed to be around my age.

I vaguely remembered hearing that Shin Soo-a had two younger siblings...

"Ho-chan. Do you know this person?"

"Yeah, of course! My sister always watches videos of this big brother. Always."

"......My sister?"

......The girl's gaze, which had briefly fallen on the little boy, turned back to me, filled with suspicion. Her expression was asking, "Who are you?"

Meanwhile, the little boy continued cheerfully.

"My sister said he plays the violin so well. That's why she always watches his videos."

"Is that so?"

"My name is Han Seo-ho."

"Hmm. What's your relationship with my sister?"

"Relationship? Oh, we play music together."

"Why are you here today?"

"I came to help my sister."

"Wait a moment. I'll call my sister..."

The girl turned and took out her phone.

I waited for her, and the little boy came over to me, holding a practice violin case.

......

"Today, Ho-chan was especially insistent on seeing his sister. He didn't know there was practice today."

"It's okay. You did well."

Shin Soo-a walked with a coffee carrier in one hand. Her younger sister, Shin Soo-yeong, who had come to meet her, quickly took the coffee carrier and started a conversation while subtly sticking close to Shin Soo-a.

"By the way, that handsome older brother. He seems to be really famous?"

"......He is famous."

"Even my friends know him. They don't even care about classical music, but I don't know how they know him. Maybe because he's handsome."

At that, Shin Soo-a suddenly stopped walking.

"You didn't tell the kids that Han Seo-ho is here, did you?"

"Hey, who do you think I am? Of course not."

"You did well. Reporters might come looking for him."

"Is it that serious? He must be a real celebrity. I should have asked him more politely who he is."

"You weren't polite?"

"Not really, just a bit suspicious."

Shin Soo-a chuckled and shook her head.

Shin Soo-yeong, who had been smiling, opened her mouth as if something had come to mind.

"By the way, you said you always watch that older brother's videos?"

"......Huh?"

"Ho-chan said so?"

"Ugh! In front of Han Seo-ho?"

"Yeah, in front of him."

Sigh. A sigh escaped me involuntarily.

Wasn't that a statement that could easily be misunderstood?

Even if it wasn't, it felt like all the feelings I had for Han Seo-ho were exposed.

That I was jealous.

That I was envious.

That I admired him.

'So much for ignoring him.'

......Ah. Embarrassing.

......

When we arrived at the practice room, the piano melody was already seeping through the door.

As expected, a big head and a small head were sitting side by side at the piano.

I watched them from behind for a moment, and something seemed off, so Shin Ho-chan turned his head.

Seeing Shin Soo-a, the boy's mouth curved into a wide smile.

"Sister!"

"Did you listen to the piano?"

"Yeah. This big brother plays the piano really well too!"

The boy, who had already run over to Shin Soo-a, buried his face in her waist and hung there.

Shin Soo-a stroked his head and said,

"Sure. He's one of the best in the country."

From behind, Shin Soo-yeong's voice of admiration could be heard, and Han Seo-ho, looking a bit embarrassed, scratched his head.

"Would you and Soo-yeong-ssi like to go upstairs and have a snack?"

"Can I have a chocolate latte?"

"Sure. Just for today."

"Yay!"

The boy, who had been hanging from her waist, jumped up and ran to the door.

Shin Soo-a whispered to Shin Soo-yeong, who was watching the excited boy,

"Ask for less sugar."

"Got it. I'll call you when your sister finishes practicing. You should say hello to Ho-chan's big brother!"

"Oh, right. The one who plays the violin well... and the piano too, goodbye!"

......The two of them left like the tide receding.

Shin Soo-a, who had closed the door, naturally erased her faint smile and approached Han Seo-ho.

"If you keep learning more instruments, your name will get longer, won't it?"

"That's true. I was thinking about it anyway."

"What? You're going to learn another instrument?"

"Yes. It's an instrument that a friend used to compose with in the past. I thought I might try learning it. The feeling of the music can vary depending on the instrument, so it could be helpful."

While some people feel limited by a single instrument...

A small horn of jealousy poked out.

Without asking what instrument it was, I unconsciously changed the subject.

"By the way, what piece was it? It was good."

"Since Ho-chan asked me to play, I just improvised."

"Huh?"

......The horn grew larger.

Shin Soo-a, who had been silently sighing, took a can from the mini fridge and handed it to Han Seo-ho.

While he opened the can, she sat in a chair and rolled her eyes.

"......You know what Ho-chan said."

"What? What did Ho-chan say?"

"Oh, you know. About me watching your performance videos."

"Oh, yeah."

"That's because I was inspired by you and wanted to study. Just that."

"That's what I thought."

Flat. I was embarrassed to think I had worried about a misunderstanding.

After all, I had sometimes been stiff and awkward with him due to prejudice and misunderstanding, so it was unlikely I would have misunderstood.

'Besides, he's only focused on music.'

Recalling the past few years, Shin Soo-a took out her violin.

"Let's start."

"Sure. By the way, I was thinking of scheduling the recording for next week. Is that okay?"

"Can I do it in that time?"

"Of course."

I swallowed the words, "I can't."

Instead, I said with determination,

"Sure."

And so, the practice with Han Seo-ho began.

#

"Oh, President Yang is here?"

Vice President Baek Sun-hwa greeted the representative of the SJ Cultural Foundation, Yang Gaho, who was sitting across from her father.

"What were you talking about?"

President Baek Hangeul briefly replied,

"About the foundation's sponsorship."

"Why sponsorship?"

This time, the answer came from President Yang Gaho.

"Until now, the SJ Cultural Foundation has mostly sponsored young rookies."

"Of course, opportunities have to go to young students with potential."

"True. But, the current professionals in the field are in a precarious situation. I don't think the classical music scene will become solid just by nurturing rookies. Ultimately, rookies need a clear goal to look up to, and that goal needs to be stable. Frankly, if a senior becomes a professional and then has to do part-time jobs due to lack of money, it won't be a good motivation."

"That makes sense."

"So, I'm thinking of expanding the sponsorship to current professional performers. Not just financial support, but providing various performance opportunities and really needed support based on their individual situations."

"Sounds good. Can our side also support this?"

President Yang Gaho's words intrigued Vice President Baek Sun-hwa, who nodded continuously.

President Baek Hangeul chuckled.

"Trying to get a piece of the action here?"

"Of course. With the slogan 'SJ Entertainment for Culture and Art,' we need to roll up our sleeves for this."

At that moment, her phone rang.

"Excuse me."

Vice President Baek Sun-hwa quickly got up and went between the bookshelves to take the call.

"Yes, Director."

-Han Seo-ho has finished all the music post-production and sent it to the communication team, which has just been forwarded to Neil Houser's agency. And Neil Houser's paintings will be moved next week.

"Got it. Let me know if there's any news about the music. And, has there been any word about the unfinished works being completed?"

-Yes, that's correct.

"Hmm. Can they be displayed? Anyway, I got it. Please let me know if there are any new issues."

......After finishing the call, Vice President Baek Sun-hwa came out from between the bookshelves, and President Baek Hangeul and President Yang Gaho's gazes fixed on her.

With curiosity in their eyes, Vice President Baek Sun-hwa approached her seat and said,

"Oh, Seo-ho has completed the piece and sent it."

"I wonder what kind of piece it is this time? Can we listen to it now?"

"I'm holding back."

As President Yang Gaho salivated, President Baek Hangeul said,

"Why?"

Vice President Baek Sun-hwa, who was also curious, looked at her father.

Leaning back in his wheelchair, he spoke with a bright look in his eyes, as if seeing a light at the end of a long tunnel.

"We need to see the paintings together to fully enjoy what he intended."

#

"Neil! Did you listen to the piece?!"

The door burst open. The agency's representative came in, clicking her heels.

And the one who greeted her was not Neil Houser but his assistant.

"Hello, President."

"Hello. Where's Neil?"

"He listened to all the songs you sent and suddenly ran out."

"Without saying where he went? How long has it been?"

"It's been over two hours. He's not answering his phone."

"Hmm. I came right after the meeting to talk about the piece..."

"Would you like some tea?"

"No, just water, please."

The representative plopped down on the sofa in the center of the studio. There was nothing to do but wait.

Fortunately, Neil returned before the wait exceeded 30 minutes.

"President is here?"

"Yes, I'm here. What's going on? Why aren't you answering your phone?"

"I went to the museum."

"Which museum? The Guggenheim?"

"Yes. To see my works."

Seeing Neil's unusual expression, the representative tilted her head. Did he not like the music?

Meanwhile, Neil's head was about to explode.

Initially, his thoughts about the music were light.

In an exhibition where art is the main focus, music is always secondary.

It's not that he was ignoring it; it's just the nature of the exhibition.

However, being destined to obsess over details, he couldn't help but pay attention to the music once he decided to include it.

He waited and finally listened.

And he couldn't help but rush to see his works.

A few days before they would be taken down, at the Guggenheim Museum. Standing there, Neil kept walking.

He listened to the music and appreciated his exhibition.

It was new.

Not just new in the sense of seeing it for the first time, but walking among the paintings he had conceived and drawn in his mind, could it be this new?

Like viewing another exhibition with the same theme.

Neil 'visited' his own works.

He only realized today that this was possible.

"I walked through the exhibition while listening to the music."

"......"

"I was moved. It felt like a big question mark at the end of the questions I created..."

The review continued, and the representative felt relieved.

"Phew, that's a relief. I thought there was a problem with the music. When I heard it at the company, everyone was raving about how good the songs were. I even got goosebumps the first time I heard it."

"Can I see it when I go to Korea?"

"Huh?"

"The person who drew these."

"The person who drew them...?"

The representative chuckled and nodded.

"Well, you can invite him to the exhibition."

At that, Neil clenched the earphones in his hand.

"I'm curious. What is the light and darkness of this musician like?"

What could they be like...

To shine so purely.

To be so dark and intense.