Chapter 99

099. Preparation (2)

Meanwhile, at Chairman Baek Hangil's mansion.

After finishing her work and returning home, Vice President Baek Sun-hwa had to give a 30-minute business presentation to her father.

Chairman Baek Hangil, seated in a wheelchair, listened to everything, and only after she finished did he slowly open his lips.

"An agency for artists."

He summarized the long speech of Vice President Baek Sun-hwa in just one sentence. Stepping back from the front line, she asked with a sharp expression she hadn't shown in a while.

"Do you think there's a chance for success in this country?"

"There is... a chance."

As she stretched out the words, she then firmly declared. Chairman Baek Hangil smiled at her.

"Is the chance you're talking about a person?"

Vice President Baek Sun-hwa nodded and smiled. It was the right answer. When asked about the chances, a face immediately came to mind. A wild card for this project.

"If Seo Ho helps, it seems quite possible."

"Last year, you asked if that kid had that much value, but now it seems you fully recognize his worth?"

"He successfully brought Albert to Korea, which all the major performance companies had failed to do. The results are clear, and it's foolish to doubt them. You were right, Father."

That's not all.

It's like the 1990s, when the whole nation cheered as a parade was held at Gimpo Airport for a musician who won an international competition. Each of Han Seo Ho's performances is talked about and generates endless expectations.

The journalists' claim that this is the second golden age of domestic classical music is not an exaggeration.

The corners of Chairman Baek Hangil's mouth curved upward. Even though he wasn't the type to be pleased by his daughter's recognition, this showed how much he appreciated Han Seo Ho. While she felt a bit envious, she had to admit it.

With all the grandchildren studying abroad, he was the only one who brought joy to his life.

Actually, she should be grateful rather than envious.

"We plan to bring him in as the first performer under the best conditions, in collaboration with Sound Film Studio."

"Then you'll use him as a flagship?"

"Even without us trying so hard, he'll naturally become a flagship."

Chairman Baek Hangil laughed, agreeing with her.

"The problem is the performers you'll recruit afterward..."

"What's the issue?"

"I keep asking the project team to submit reports, but it doesn't seem easy. There's no one as talented as Han Seo Ho. At the meeting, the only one mentioned was Kim Sejin."

"Bringing in already famous artists just requires money. If SJ wants to show its dominance in this field, it needs to discover new faces. One pillar supporting the industry means that if that pillar retires, the industry might be forgotten. There are plenty of precedents."

"That's true. From figure skating to swimming... To do that, we need a scouting team with the right eye for talent..."

"At the recent cultural foundation support program, all the performers Han Seo Ho selected for the album recording passed. They were chosen by a panel of university professors in a blind selection process."

"He has that eye for talent. That's what you're saying?"

Chairman Baek Hangil slowly blinked, indicating agreement.

"Isn't it too much for Seo Ho to do all this?"

"It's up to him if he wants to."

"If he wants to, we can support him fully."

...Their discussion continued.

Sometimes intensely with opposing views, sometimes passionately with the same ideas.

This wasn't just a few billion won business; it would require several times or even dozens of times that much. Therefore, the preparation period would also be considerable. To launch the agency properly and establish the necessary infrastructure, it would likely take until the year after next.

Throughout the conversation, Vice President Baek Sun-hwa felt a strange sensation.

Had she ever discussed business with her father like this before?

She had always just received instructions. Now, they were discussing the project she brought up, like a game of Jenga, removing and stacking pieces.

The process was enjoyable and made her heart race.

When she honestly expressed this, Chairman Baek Hangil smiled warmly, something he rarely did in front of her.

"I've told you many times. Our work is like classical music."

Vice President Baek Sun-hwa thought she understood why her father had always loved and relied on classical music.

She nodded.

"Maybe it's like how musicians feel when they play together."

#

...Shin Su-ah was taken aback by Han Seo Ho's sudden visit.

"Playing together?"

"Yes. A student asked about duets."

"What was the question?"

"How to do well in them? To get good test scores."

"......I don't know either? How can you do well?"

Shin Su-ah's puzzled expression made Han Seo Ho smirk.

"Like us?"

"......"

"One demonstration will be enough to make them realize a lot."

Shin Su-ah laughed.

"You're really enthusiastic about the students."

"Is that so...?"

"Huh?"

"Well, it's not wrong. More accurately, I'm working hard for myself. Why Czerny made so many educational exercises. Why Anon created the piano primer. Why Paganini... Oh, let's skip Paganini. He's the nemesis of professionals."

...Shin Su-ah couldn't help but strongly agree with the last part.

"Anyway, thanks to the students, I'm getting a lot of inspiration."

Shin Su-ah's gaze shifted to above Han Seo Ho's head. Of course, inspiration wasn't visible.

"Growing together, something like that?"

"That would be nice."

Seeing Han Seo Ho's cheerful response, she suddenly wondered.

Could she be part of that 'together'?

"What are we going to play? Not the exhibition pieces, right?"

"Brahms?"

"Brahms?"

She repeated it, and a title came to mind.

The sheet music she had seen in her practice room.

"Violin Sonata?"

"Yes, No. 1. Do you know it by heart?"

Of course, she could. It was her favorite piece.

Shin Su-ah nodded, and Han Seo Ho smiled, opening the recording room door.

As soon as they entered the booth, the students' attention focused on them.

She took out her violin, recalling the time she wore her school uniform, perhaps the brightest period of her life, but one where she had no chance to shine outside the practice room.

Without any introduction, Han Seo Ho sat at the piano.

Feeling the students' expectant gazes, Shin Su-ah looked down at Han Seo Ho.

Han Seo Ho looked up at her.

Perhaps because they had practiced together for the exhibition, Shin Su-ah felt an unprecedented sense of stability.

The performance naturally became balanced.

──!

The violin's melody wove over the firmly woven piano sounds.

A clear main and secondary part.

As befitting a violin sonata, Shin Su-ah continued a performance that left her mouth agape.

'Is this piece so comfortable?'

Such stability was probably due to...

She looked at Han Seo Ho.

The piano's firm support of the main melody made the violin shine even more.

Her heart was racing.

With the sound standing out, her confidence grew.

The performance became bolder, the tone more varied and vivid.

───!

Finally, the finale.

At the end of the duet that made her heart race, Shin Su-ah stared blankly at Han Seo Ho.

The performance was on a different level from when she practiced alone.

He probably wanted to show this.

How solid the supporting instrument must be in a duet. And how much the main instrument must trust its partner.

I trust Han Seo Ho.

At that moment, Han Seo Ho, who had suddenly stood up from the piano, leaned in and whispered.

"Big sister, you really play the violin well."

"Are you teasing me?"

"I'm serious. I've been practicing this steadily to play with you, and it's only today that it's shining."

"......With me?"

"Yes. I wanted to play with you."

The boy's grin made Shin Su-ah turn away.

...Because it was overwhelming.

Right! That's why. That's why she avoided it.

Anyway.

Brahms, who challenged opera late in life, sang his hopes in this piece.

That's why she listened to it like a lifeline, seeing herself drift further from classical music day by day.

The piece she listened to every time she went to the practice room, which was her hope.

'...Thank you.'

For making me play so well.

Feeling a bit embarrassed, Shin Su-ah naturally looked at the students. They were still marveling at the finished performance.

And.

"......"

Hope had also taken root there.

#

Due to the many questions, the mentoring session only ended late at night.

Naturally, Shin Su-ah left the company after the duet, with a much more relaxed expression than when she worried about being helpful before the lecture.

After all the students left, I tidied up and returned to the studio.

My father was also about to start recording the 'largest instrument' divided by instrument, as his work was running late.

The composition, as the title suggests, aimed for an orchestral structure, so a lot of virtual instruments were needed this time.

After focusing for two or three hours, I finished the recording and the simple post-production, then immediately uploaded the music to SoundCloud.

I didn't bother to explain that the piece referred to an orchestra.

I hoped they would understand just by listening to the piece.

'Girlfriend, what's up?'

I chuckled, grabbed my bag, and quietly went to the office, standing next to my father, who was alone.

"Are you done with your work?"

"Yes. What about you, Dad?"

"I'll be done soon."

Glancing at it, it seemed to be tomorrow's meeting materials. Probably the content of today's external meeting.

There are already seven works I know of that he's working on at the company.

"Shouldn't you hire more people?"

"I already posted a job ad. The work is piling up. It's almost like SJ Entertainment is putting pressure on the film company. It's all done. Let's go."

My father, who had tidied up his seat, picked up his old briefcase.

"What about you? How was it seeing the students after a long time?"

"It was good. I got a lot of inspiration, and I think I gave them some too."

"Do you regret not going to the conservatory?"

"No, I don't. Being with friends who love and study the same field is definitely a good thing, but on the other hand, it feels too closed off during the time when I should be getting the most inspiration. It's a bit disappointing."

As I spoke, my father, who had gotten into the driver's seat, chuckled.

"If there were employees, they would have said, 'Send Han Seo Ho to Congress!'"

He chuckled again.

"That's true. I felt the same way when I was a conservatory student."

"What about university?"

Actually, before the regression, I also went to university. But it wasn't a music school. I was curious how it was different.

"Hmm. University seems a bit different. Depending on the choices you make, you can experience a lot or not much at all."

My father seemed to have more to say but focused on driving. He must have discussed my future with my mother many times, but he was probably holding back. I should speak up first.

'Is he hoping for me to study abroad...?'

I turned my head and looked out the window.

Snow, which hadn't fallen all winter, was now scattered on the road.

#

When I arrived home, I picked up a few tangerines and went straight to my room.

Click! I turned on a lamp and sat down.

Then, I checked my phone under the bright light.

Earlier, the kids had sent a link...

<Brunner, new song released! What is the 'largest instrument'?>

The news was already out, with various speculations. The most likely guess was 'orchestra.'

Recalling Mr. Ludwig's words that a piece with no discernible meaning is just difficult noise, I felt this piece had passed the most important test.

SoundCloud also had a热烈的反应.

评论区里，有人叫我韩世浩，有人叫我布伦纳，这种混合的感觉依然很奇怪。

在各种猜测中，有一条评论特别引人注意。

[竖琴？]

“......”

我盯着那条评论看了一会儿，然后拉过笔记本，翻开。

......最近一直在记录过去的日记。

已经记下了不少内容。包括和阿尔伯特同台演出时回忆起的记忆，海顿演奏葬礼进行曲，以及我成为伯爵的事实。

虽然没有给别人看的打算，

但正因为如此，我可以写得更加细致。

‘要不要继续写？’

那时，大概是在......

冬天。

德国的冬天和韩国的冬天时间差不多。只是那时的雪下得更多。有时甚至能堆到腰部。

海顿以此为借口，和他的乐团一起在巴登巴登定居。

如果问那时的天气真的那么糟糕吗，即使记忆模糊，我也能肯定地说：

完全不是。

海顿其实是个怪人。

虽然因为好友莫扎特的光芒而显得不那么突出。

比如，他曾因为埃斯特哈齐家族不给假期而在演出中突然消失。

当然，我也同意他的说法，让他在巴登巴登待下来。

因为那是一个特别寒冷的冬天。

因此，到处都是可以谈论音乐的人，他们的演奏日夜不息。

对母亲和我来说，没有时间沉浸在悲伤中，这是一件幸事。

就这样，我自然而然地与海顿的乐团建立了友谊。

来自世界各地的他们向我介绍了各种文化，以及各地流行的演奏风格。

每个人都有自己鲜明的个性。

这反映了海顿长期以来在埃斯特哈齐家族中只演奏高雅音乐，想要突破这种局限的心愿。

其中，有一种乐器我只听说过，但从未亲眼见过。

竖琴（Harp）。

其优雅的姿态和声音，确实让人觉得它是神的乐器。

我曾全身颤抖地聆听过。

以及演奏它的女子......

我曾出神地注视过。

“......”

涌上心头的乡愁让我的鼻尖发酸。

记忆终于到了这里。

心跳加速。

仿佛周围长满了刺，

每次跳动都刺痛着。

最终。

啪—

合上了笔记本。