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Dr. David Anderson began the consultation in his characteristically soft tone. It was a regular session held once a year. Since it had already been going on for ten years, the meeting had become largely ceremonial—merely a check to see if any problematic signs had emerged.
“Ordinary. Nothing... particularly new.”
It was the same answer repeated every year. However, because the voice sounded softer than before, Dr. Anderson stopped mid-way through flipping through the documents.
“Any hobbies, or perhaps something that has piqued your interest?”
“I'm just getting by comfortably.”
Ordinary, comfortable. Contrary to those answers, a good mood was evident on his face. Though they saw each other every year, this was the first time he had ever revealed his 'mood' like this. Intrigued, Dr. Anderson watched him for a while before clasping his hands together.
“I heard the same answer last year. But this time, it feels different. It seems something has caught your interest. Am I right?”
He merely shrugged as if it were nothing. But Dr. Anderson knew. For someone as skilled at controlling and hiding emotions as he was, showing this much pleasure was not a mistake, but a deliberate choice.
“Hmm. Then try to recall the most interesting time of your life. What brought you joy?”
“I don't know. Probably before I met you, Doctor?”
“…….”
Dr. Anderson unconsciously frowned. That answer was no different from a fierce dog, trained for socialization, saying it was better before it had to wear a leash and a muzzle.
Ignoring the doctor's reaction, he leaned back into the sofa in a languid posture, tapping the armrest with his finger. The rhythm of a waltz flowed from his fingertips.
“Well... it's not entirely something new.”
Dr. Anderson listened intently to his answer. For some reason, he who always moved within perfect calculations was speaking according to his whim.
“I've reclaimed it.”
Reclaimed? As Dr. Anderson tried to ask for clarification, he looked away toward the window, and bright sunlight settled upon his face. The brilliant light obscured his expression, but the doctor could see a deep smile.
“That's why I feel very good.”
✾ ✾ ✾
From early summer, the entire country was sizzling with scorching heat, but Odaesan in Pyeongchang remained cool. The lush green leaves glowed brilliantly in the sunlight, yet the breeze blowing between the trees was refreshing. Carried by that wind, the sounds of various instruments echoed. It was the sound emanating from the AGIO Resort, under the umbrella of the Gio Group.
Every year around this time, the Gio Cultural Foundation invited world-renowned musicians to hold a music camp to nurture promising domestic talent. The fact that an entire building of the resort was vacated for the smooth operation of the event showed just how much Chairman Go Shin-jae of the Gio Group devoted himself to fostering domestic artists.
As if meeting the Chairman's expectations, the children participating in the music camp devoted themselves to practice without a single one slacking off.
And for good reason; this was an opportunity to catch the eye of masters they might never otherwise meet. It was only natural that they practiced to the point of not even hearing the cicadas screaming outside the window.
Only one person, Go Seok-hyun, was the exception. Since he did not major in an instrument, all he did was wander around here and there.
Perhaps it was a mistake to take an interest in the music camp hosted by his grandfather. The camp he joined upon being told to see and experience it for himself was more boring than he had expected.
There were various participants from elementary to high school, but most of them did nothing but practice in the rehearsal rooms. Of course, he could get to know them and chat, but no one had the time to entertain Seok-hyun.
Seok-hyun, who had just put on his first school uniform, could not understand why they were so desperate. No, perhaps age had nothing to do with it. Was there anything that would make him, the youngest grandson who received abundant love from the owner of the Gio Group, become this desperate?
He had parents who would let him do whatever he wanted if there was something he wished to do. If Seok-hyun had majored in music, famous professors would have fought over the chance to teach him as long as he knew how to handle an instrument. That was what it meant to be a direct descendant of the global distribution giant, Gio Group.
Disappointed by the music camp that was tedious contrary to his expectations, Seok-hyun began wandering around with the resort's master card. The rooms converted into practice studios usually had their doors open, but some were closed. Those were Seok-hyun's targets.
People who had closed their doors for soundproofing were surprised when a male student opened the door and walked in, but upon realizing he was Chairman Ko's grandson, they left him be.
Who could tell a young prince, like an unbridled colt, that he shouldn't do that? Especially since everyone attending this music camp was receiving benefits from Chairman Ko, they found it even more difficult to deal with Seok-hyun. Except for one person.
“Get out.”
Facing the first person who ever stopped him, Seok-hyun's eyes couldn't help but sparkle. When he opened the door to the practice room, a clean violin sound captured his ears. So he had entered in a good mood, but perhaps thinking her practice had been interrupted, an order to leave was issued.
The schoolgirl playing the violin alone was about the same height as Seok-hyun. He didn't know her exact age, but considering Seok-hyun was the tallest in his class, she was likely a couple of years older. Despite that, there was an overwhelming pressure about her. Feeling the sensation of being scolded for the first time in his life, Seok-hyun's eyebrows twitched.
“I'm Go Seok-hyun.”
He extended his hand for a handshake while introducing himself, but the girl maintained her haughty attitude, gripping her violin tightly. The long bow pointing toward the door made it clear that he should leave. Of course, Seok-hyun ignored this and looked around the desk. Three characters of a name were written quite neatly on the cover of the sheet music.
“Yoo Hee-jin?”
“I said get out.”
“When did you start learning the violin?”
“…Can't you hear me telling you to leave?”
“Don't be like that and talk to me. I was bored alone.”
Seok-hyun felt from Hee-jin's gaze that she viewed him as pathetic. Unlike others, she didn't find him difficult to deal with, so he thought she was special, but as expected—she was just as desperate as the others. To the point that his presence was a nuisance. This made the situation even more interesting to Seok-hyun, and he smiled brightly, vowing that he would not leave for the life of him.
After staring at Seok-hyun for a moment, Hee-jin seemed to give up and positioned the violin between her shoulder and jaw. Whether she decided to simply ignore him, she began playing immediately. Seok-hyun intentionally spoke to her, intending to disrupt her.
*What school do you go to? How old are you? Do you like the violin? Want to go sightseeing outside with me?* However, there was no answer. No, it seemed as if she had forgotten Seok-hyun's existence entirely.
Perhaps there was a part she struggled with, as Hee-jin repeatedly played a single section. Seok-hyun soon lost interest in asking questions and began counting the repetitions. One, two, three, four, five…. And when that number exceeded a thousand, he shouted in frustration.
“Please stop playing that part!”
Seok-hyun had a good ear. In his grandfather's study, the performances of masters always flowed, and after he learned how to stay quiet, he had attended countless concerts.
It was common knowledge that the reason Chairman Go cherished his youngest grandson so much was that Seok-hyun possessed an ear for music. Therefore, Seok-hyun could say with certainty: Hee-jin was already playing that part very accurately.
Nevertheless, she did not stop practicing.
How much time had passed? Darkness had long since fallen outside the window. Whether it was past dinner time, a growling sound echoed from Seok-hyun's stomach.
“Aren't you eating?”
Even when he suggested they go eat together, Hee-jin remained immovable. He wondered if she truly couldn't see him or hear his voice. Though he knew it was impossible, such an eerie thought crossed his mind.
“Noona, why are you working so hard?”
“…….”
“You are a Noona, right? Can't you hear me?”
At her attitude of complete disregard, Seok-hyun jumped up from his seat and knocked over the music stand where the score was spread. Thump! The music stand falling onto the carpet made a heavy sound, but it was useless. Hee-jin continued playing, unbothered by the fact that she couldn't see the score. She didn't even complain about why he was interrupting.
“Ha, fine. Do whatever you want.”
Not expecting to be ignored until the end, Seok-hyun left the room in anger. He ignored the grandfather's secretary asking where he had been all this time and went to his room, fuming. He even forgot that he had skipped dinner.
It was irritating and infuriating to be ignored by Yoo Hee-jin. Yoo Hee-jin's only interest was the violin. A strange violin whose sound couldn't be called good even as a white lie.
Accustomed to the sound of luxury violins, Seok-hyun could see that it was on the level of a toy. Because of that, he could realize even more how incredible Yoo Hee-jin was. She was a vicious practice worm, capable of drawing a heavenly sound even from that trivial violin.
Whether he closed his eyes or opened them, Hee-jin's violin sound lingered in his ears, causing him distress. It was because he had spent hours listening to the section she stubbornly repeated. To think she would ignore him like this. Things weren't going his way. Above all, she did not try to get on his good side. Seok-hyun slowly closed and opened his eyes. An unknown emotion toward Hee-jin welled up from deep within his heart.
As soon as day broke, he went to find Hee-jin. As expected, Hee-jin was immersed in practice and once again treated Seok-hyun like a transparent human. Now, she didn't even tell him to leave. Seok-hyun felt a surge of anger, but he had no choice but to sit to one side and watch her.
He followed her even when she went to see a professor for a lesson. The professor, recognizing Seok-hyun, spoke to him in a friendly manner, but he barely answered, looking only at Hee-jin.
Seok-hyun's behavior of continuously staring only at Hee-jin during the lesson quickly became a rumor among the professors. A girl that Chairman Ko's grandson showed interest in—the professors consequently became interested in Hee-jin as well.
“At that age, people usually think they're doing well as long as they're fast, so they're anxious to keep playing even if the sound gets crushed, but you, Hee-jin, know how to stick to the basics accurately and play delicately.”
The professor in charge of today's lesson was exceptionally generous with praise. Upon having her effort recognized, Hee-jin smiled brightly and looked happy. It was a smile Seok-hyun was seeing for the first time. So she actually knows how to smile like that. While thinking that the brightly smiling Hee-jin was pretty, Seok-hyun was seized by an impulse to scream at her not to smile. It was an emotion he was feeling for the first time in his life.
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