Chapter 70
"Haha! Professor Lech! Long time no see!" "Oh, Professor Hermann! How are you?" "How long has it been? Please, come this way."
An old professor shook Lech's hand and dragged him along. He was about the same age as Professor Lech, bald, and wore gold-rimmed glasses with an elegant suit. Professor Hermann, sitting in the hotel cafe, called the waiter.
"I'll have an espresso, Professor?" "I'd like the same." "Yes, please give me two of the same."
When the waiter left, Professor Hermann quickly asked,
"What's going on? I was surprised when you suddenly said you would be a judge. We're grateful that a renowned person like you is taking on the role, but it was so sudden that it was a lot of trouble to revise the lineup."
"I'm sorry. I'm sorry for causing trouble."
"No, I feel a little sorry for the person who was originally selected, but it would be better for a professor to take charge of the competition. But why did someone who has always been a judge for the International Chopin Competition come all the way to Germany?"
Professor Lech said with a smile.
"It's a personal matter. By the way, how is the school going?"
Professor Hermann frowned.
"The school is always the same, you know? Please don't do that. Just tell me. I'll keep it a secret."
Lech thought for a moment until the coffee arrived, then finally opened his mouth.
"I have a child to look after."
"Hey? A contestant?"
"Yes, I need to make sure he grows up well with my own eyes. If not, I'll take him under my wing."
Professor Hermann's eyes widened. For Professor Lech to take him under his wing meant raising him as a disciple.
"Who is it?"
Professor Lech said with a mischievous smile.
"Professor, are you also an examiner?"
"Yes, of course."
"Then you shouldn't be biased. I'll let you know when the competition is over."
"…"
Professor Hermann was trembling because the curiosity was growing inside him.
"Um, I'll go to the bathroom for a moment."
"Yes, please do."
After Professor Hermann went into the bathroom, he looked around and made a phone call.
"I'll check if there are any participants who have won awards in the International Chopin Competition this time, and if there are any participants who have also won awards in the Beethoven Competition. The most recent competition was for children, so you can check the winners at that time. After you check, please text me right away."
He put away his phone and looked at himself in the mirror. The Munich University of Music had a relatively low reputation compared to Warsaw, Poland.
"If he's really a talented kid, we might have a chance," he muttered.
At that moment, a text message arrived.
[From: Gerhard Schulz]Name: Nam Soo-hyun.Nationality: Republic of Korea.Winner of the Children's Division of the International Chopin Competition.Currently affiliated with the Korea University Center for Musical Education for the Gifted.Main sponsor is Gold Asia Group and has personal support from Polish entrepreneurs.In Warsaw, Poland, he is called SOL, an abbreviation for Lech's Smile.
Professor Hermann's expression hardened when he saw the last sentence. Lech's Smile. A child who made Professor Lech smile was definitely a gifted child, or at least a genius. Hermann hastily sent a text message.
[Check Nam Soo-hyun's accommodation and send him a text message.]
Professor Hermann returned to Professor Lech, praising Beethoven. Professor Lech also knew how much Hermann loved Beethoven.
"He was someone who ignored all the rules in the name of emotion, thought of the piano as an orchestra, and achieved the effects of an orchestra with only the piano," said Hermann.
"Beethoven was the only one who thought of this before Franz Liszt later achieved the same effect on the piano, so he was a pioneer," replied Lech.
"If it's not too much trouble, can I ask what the criteria for winning an award in the Chopin Competition is?" asked Hermann.
Professor Lech smiled brightly.
"It's like the Beethoven Competition. The most Chopinesque performance. I hope the child you're watching can reproduce Beethoven. Haha."
The next day, on the 12th-floor terrace piano stage. Junwoo, who was practicing the piano, frowned. Perhaps because it was an outdoor stage, the sound was scattered in the air.
'I was grateful that the hotel gave me a whole afternoon to practice, but it's hard to practice in a place like this. The competition is just around the corner. I've been practicing and practicing, but I'm still nervous. Prodigies from all over the world will gather. I understand that Soo-hyun is a genius, but wouldn't it be embarrassing if Junwoo himself fell too quickly?'
Junwoo, who was staring at the keyboard, heard Soo-hyun's voice.
"The Piano Sonata No. 6 in F major, Op. 10 No. 2 shouldn't be played like that."
Junwoo turned his head sharply and stared at him. Soo-hyun was half-lying on the green sofa on one side of the terrace, yawning repeatedly.
'Isn't that guy nervous? He had dinner last night, lay down at about ten, and slept until nine in the morning, and he's still like that. How many hours of sleep do you really need?'
"Then you tell me what to do," Junwoo said with a pouty expression.
Soo-hyun said, stretching.
"Oh, I'm so sleepy! I only slept for two hours."
'Don't lie, you punk. Even though you fell asleep later than me, when you woke up in the morning, you were sleeping without a care in the world.'
"You need power," Soo-hyun said, lying on the sofa, looking up at the sky, using his arms as a pillow.
"Power?"
"Yes, ignore elegance. Just sweep the piano. Hit the audience in the back of the head with an intense emotional expression. That's Beethoven's music."
'Should I play it a little stronger, with a few accents? But that doesn't mean you should be swept away by emotions. Control your emotions and let go of any emotions other than Beethoven's thoughts when you play.'
"You show me yourself then," Junwoo jumped up and said.
Soo-hyun waved his hands.
"I'm sleepy, see you later."
"Sir Lee…"
'Are you saying you're bad? You're a genius. Can you teach me?' Junwoo complained inwardly. In fact, Soo-hyun had been watching Junwoo practice for over a week before he left Korea. Still, it was a little disappointing that he spoke with such a bored expression.
"Hey."
Soo-hyun, who was lying down, turned to look at the back of the sofa and answered.
"Why?"
"Can I ask you something?"
"Do you want me to teach you again? I said I'd teach you later. Just sleep for ten minutes."
"No, not that."
"Then what?"
"Have you ever had a girlfriend?"
"…." There was no answer.
"Are you sure you've never been single?"
"…What's that?"
"A guy who hasn't had a girlfriend since he was in his mother's womb."
"…" Soo-hyun, still lying down, asked.
"You?"
"Of course I've dated. Three?"
Junwoo proudly straightened his shoulders.
"Yes, I was popular."
"How long were you together?"
"The first one for three days, the second for a month, and the third this week."
Soo-hyun had a pitiful expression.
'What? Even if you add up all three, it doesn't even take two months.'
Junwoo scratched his head as if he too was dumbfounded after hearing what he had said.
"Anyway, I've dated before! You haven't!"
An inexplicable sense of defeat washed over Soo-hyun, who clicked his tongue as he turned over again.
"Tsk."
Looking at Soo-hyun that way, Junwoo shouted inwardly.
'Jaehee likes you, you idiot! But that's not for me to say, it's for Jaehee to say.'
"Did you know that everything is revealed on a person's face?" said Junwoo.
"Oh."
"What do you know? You don't know Jaehee's heart, who looks at you with an expression that's much easier to read than a book."
"You too?"
"Sometimes."
"Have you ever seen someone like that?"
"Oh."
"Who?" Junwoo asked cautiously.
Soo-hyun sighed as he fixed his arm pillow.
"Yes, he has a red face, white hair, is short, and has a voice like someone who ate a train car."
Junwoo had a bewildered expression.
"Oh, sir?"
"Oh."
"Hey… you punk! Are you kidding?!"
Soo-hyun sighed and sat up abruptly.
"Alright! I'll watch your practice! Take care of it! Stop bothering me, will you?"
'A bad boy who receives the love of such a cute Jaehee.'
At the moment Soo-hyun pushed Junwoo and sat in the piano chair, the sound of the elevator opening was heard. Junwoo turned his head and saw two western angels coming down from heaven, carrying musical instruments.
"My goodness! Nam! You're here today! I came hoping you'd be there." "Ho ho! Is your friend with you today? Is he a pianist too?"
Junwoo, who had only been learning German for six months, looked at Soo-hyun, surprised by the two beauties who called his friend's name and smiled brightly. Soo-hyun smiled and put his arm around my shoulder.
"Yes, he's my friend. He's also participating in the competition."
Two angels, who had placed the cello and violin on the sofa, ran and stood in front of Junwoo.
"Oh, your friend is also very handsome! I think he would play the piano very well! Can you play it for me?" "I want to hear it too! I think it would be great!"
Junwoo, who was laughing so hard his mouth was splitting, saw Soo-hyun, who had been the object of his jealousy until now, as sacred as a god who sent an angel from heaven.
'Of course! I'll give you the best performance! Loyalty!'