Chapter 98
"Do you want an example of counterpoint? Why all of a sudden?"
Professor Lee Chan-ho, who arrived at Soo-hyun's practice room, opened his eyes wide.
'Yesterday he was taking violin lessons, and today he's asking for an example of counterpoint, which is something you learn in composition class.'
Soo-hyun just looked at the professor without a word. The professor, remembering what he had heard yesterday, asked casually,
"Is it also necessary to study joy?"
"Yes, Professor."
"Well, good. Then… I think it would be good to listen to Johann Pachelbel's Canon in D major. He was a German Baroque composer and organist. He mainly composed religious music, and his variations are still appreciated today. It's such a good piece that it has been reinterpreted with modern instruments like the electric guitar."
Professor Lee Chan-ho stared at Soo-hyun as he took out his notebook and took notes. After finishing his notes, Soo-hyun quickly straightened his posture and took out the Schubert sheet music he had been studying.
'Judging by his playing, it doesn't seem like he's neglecting the piano. But I'm a little worried.'
"Soo-hyun?"
"Yes, Professor."
"What are you doing right now? Did teacher Kim Eun-ju tell you?"
"…"
'If I say, "It wasn't Professor Kim Eun-ju, but Professor Schubert who told me," they'll probably send me to a psychiatric hospital, right? Let's make up a story.'
"I learned about joy thanks to teacher Kim Eun-ju. Joy is not a fleeting pleasure, but an emotion that comes from within when you achieve something despite the pain. So I chose to compose music to feel that joy."
Professor Lee Chan-ho's mouth opened.
"Is that true? But isn't it fun to practice a difficult song and finally play it perfectly?"
"I'm happy."
"If you're learning other instruments, it means you're at least considering concertos. Is it really necessary? You can feel joy just by playing."
"It's temporary."
"What?"
Soo-hyun took a moment to gather his thoughts and spoke.
"I also thought it was a joy. No, to some extent it was. I was very happy when I finally managed to play. But after hearing what teacher Kim Eun-ju said, I thought about it."
"What?"
"Those performances that made me so happy. The question was, will I still be doing it now?"
"…"
'I know what Soo-hyun is saying. When you finally manage to play a difficult piece, it's a great achievement and an expression of joy. But it's temporary. Once you get used to it, you get bored and try another one.'
"Ah, right."
'Now that I understand Soo-hyun's strange behavior, I can't help but laugh. I think perhaps the best thing I did after bringing him to Korea University was to recruit Professor Eun-ju Kim.'
"Is there anything I can help you with?"
Soo-hyun said as if he had been waiting.
"Please let me audit the cello and flute classes as well."
"Haha, you said it right away, as if you were waiting for it."
Soo-hyun smiled openly. The professor smiled and patted his shoulder.
"I'll help you. But you can't be lazy with the piano, right? Well, shall we start the class?"
"Yes, Professor."
At the same time, in the violin department, Jaehee looked around, searching for someone. Although it was a gifted education center with only five students in the classroom, it seemed the person she was looking for hadn't arrived. Since Jaehee had revealed her eyes, many people had started to show affection for her.
"Is Jaehee here?" a senior student from the violin department said, pretending to be friendly.
When Jaehee shrugged and bowed her head slightly to greet him, the senior smiled.
"Isn't he coming today?"
"…?"
"I'm talking about the genius Nam Soo-hyun. He came yesterday. It was a hot topic."
'It's strange that Soo-hyun is taking violin lessons, but is that something that should be a topic of conversation, sister?'
The senior, who seemed to guess her thoughts, nodded.
"Look out that window."
Jaehee turned her head and saw the shadows of many people outside the classroom window.
"The piano practice room is private. Since there are no group classes like ours, we've never been able to see his face. But when the rumor spread that he was coming here, everyone came to see him."
'I guess Soo-hyun is famous.'
"Are you close to Nam Soo-hyun?" the senior said with a smile.
Jaehee nodded.
"It was rumored that they lived in the same building. Is that true?"
Nodded again.
"Wow! Was that real? Jaehee, can you introduce me to Nam Soo-hyun? I'd love it if he were younger!"
"…?"
The senior said with her hands clasped and a dreamy expression,
"Wow, when Nam Soo-hyun was in our class yesterday, I didn't pay attention to anything. I just stared at his face. Isn't he so handsome? I thought he was mixed-race because his eyes are blue-green. But you said no?"
Jaehee raised her eyebrows and looked at her senior with frightening eyes. The senior, who didn't notice, turned her body.
"If you know his phone number… please give it to me…"
Seeing Jaehee's glare, which looked as if she were going to eat her, she was surprised.
"Why, why?"
"…"
Jaehee just looked without a word. The senior, who flinched, took a step back.
"No, if you don't like it, just say no…" she pouted and handed her a note. "Okay, I'll pick it up later. Take this."
Jaehee was about to get even angrier when her senior spoke,
"The composer and the senior asked me to give it to you. It was his phone number. I asked you for your number, so you should know."
The senior returned to her seat. Jaehee crumpled the note and threw it in the trash, still feeling worried about her senior.
'I was glad to have class with Soo-hyun yesterday, but I wish he hadn't come today. Thinking about those vixens harassing him makes my face red and I get angry.'
And soon, a shout was heard from the hallway.
"Hey! Nam Soo-hyun, I heard you went to the cello department today!" "Wow! Let's go quickly!"
The shadows disappeared. Jaehee sighed deeply.
"Yes, you should go to the cello department! They use a small concert hall, so not just anyone can get in."
Cello department. Contrary to Jaehee's wishes, Soo-hyun was surrounded by his seniors.
"Soo-hyun, the cello is the instrument that most resembles the human voice. Hold it close to your chest like this…"
One of the senior students was pretending to be kind while touching Soo-hyun's body. The other students also surrounded him.
"Oh my, Soo-hyun really suits the cello." "Soo-hyun, you must sit with your back straight." "Place your feet firmly on the floor." "The top edge of the instrument should touch your chest." "Place the fingerboard on the left side."
The seniors pretended to be kind, but they kept touching his arms, legs, and waist. Thanks to this, Soo-hyun was able to learn the basic postures from many cellists. At that moment, the professor of the department entered.
"What are you doing? Everyone, sit down!" he said, hitting the podium with his baton.
The female students scattered like a swarm of locusts. The professor clicked his tongue and looked at Soo-hyun, who remained standing to get used to the posture.
'He's really a picture, a handsome boy with a cello. How handsome he is! That's why the girls can't get their act together.'
"Okay, let's review the song we practiced yesterday. There are Miyoung and Jiseon! You made mistakes yesterday, right? You promised to practice hard, so I think you won't be the same today."
The two seniors, whose faces turned red, lowered their heads. The professor spoke after making eye contact with Soo-hyun.
"And Soo-hyun."
Soo-hyun quickly put down his bow and stood up.
"Yes, Professor."
'Unlike other reckless children, the boy armed with good manners is popular wherever he goes.'
The professor, who had taken a liking to Soo-hyun's actions, spoke in a slightly softer voice.
"Soo-hyun, take your chair and instrument and go to the corner over there. Professor Lee Chan-ho gave me a heads-up. I'll start with the basics. The rest of you, review the song you learned yesterday."
The students had regretful eyes, but they quickly opened their sheet music. As Soo-hyun headed to the corner, the professor opened the classroom door wide and shouted towards the hallway.
"Hey, you guys! Get back to class now!"
As the female students loitering outside the hallway dispersed, the seniors in the cello department who had been playing the cello whispered to each other, looking at Soo-hyun.
"Isn't he really handsome?" "Wake up. There are a lot of people after Nam Soo-hyun." "Is it wrong to even dream?" "Hey, seriously, imagine if you had that face. Would you hang out with a squid like that?" "Tch, it's annoying. But I get it. It's just not easy to get close." "That's right, because no one can get close to me except for Junwoo and Jaehee." "I think I know why." "Why?" "Look at that view! Doesn't he look divine?" "Phew…" "I feel like I have an aura that I can't quite put my finger on. It's hard to approach you in a friendly way."
The professor, who was staring at the two students who were pretending to practice hard, approached Soo-hyun and sat down in front of him.
"How is the atmosphere in the cello department? Is it chaotic?"
"No, Professor."
"Then? Isn't it a little noisy?"
Soo-hyun smiled slightly as he looked at the students who were pretending to practice but looking in his direction. Some students felt their hearts pound at that smile, so they stopped playing and stared blankly. Soo-hyun turned his head back to the professor.
"It's nice to be able to talk comfortably with friends and watch them practice together."
"Hmm? Oh, the piano department practices separately, right? But isn't it quieter and easier to concentrate there?"
'That's something a professor who doesn't know that Soo-hyun wants to make many friends can say.'
Soo-hyun smiled silently.
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