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Dae-ae was completely absorbed in talking about the wedding, seemingly convinced that Hee-jin had already agreed. Not a single word of what Dae-ae was saying registered in Hee-jin's ears.
There were countless graduates from the Gio Cultural Foundation's nurturing program. Although Hee-jin had joined the Chicago Symphony Orchestra, she had never received official sponsorship as a soloist. Compared to the true geniuses who were already active as soloists during their youth, her light was a bit dimmer.
If she could actually get a connection to the Gio Group, it was something to be grateful to Yoo Dae-ae for, just as she had said. It was a golden opportunity to meet Chairman Go Shin-jae again and request sponsorship.
- Unni, are you listening?
“Yes. When is the meeting between the families? I'll go.”
- Thank you! I knew I could count on you, Unni.
When Hee-jin said she would go, Dae-ae was so delighted she practically screamed. Hee-jin repeated to herself that this wasn't for Yoo Dae-ae, but for her own sake. She couldn't let a useless sense of pride make her miss such a great opportunity. Hee-jin's eyes grew dark as she tried to ignore the image of Yoo Dae-ae and her father forming in her mind.
✾ ✾ ✾
Hee-jin had never imagined she would board a plane to Korea for the sake of her 'father's daughter.'
Because she had studied abroad from a young age, she knew very few people in Korea.
She had maternal relatives, but she hadn't kept in touch with them since her beloved Grandmother (Maternal) passed away. Consequently, she naturally didn't return to Korea even when she had days off.
- What brings you back? Have a safe trip, and contact your uncle if anything happens.
When she informed her mother that she was taking a leave of absence to visit Korea, she didn't bother mentioning Yoo Dae-ae's request. Her mother already hated the idea of her getting along with her biological father; if she found out Hee-jin was doing a favor for that man's daughter, she would surely have a fit.
Even if it was a choice for her own future, it was better if her mother didn't hear about it. She planned to tell the truth only after she succeeded in securing sponsorship from the Gio Cultural Foundation.
The meeting between the families was scheduled to take place at Chairman Go's residence in Jangchung-dong, rather than at an external restaurant. The moment she stepped out of the taxi and saw the main gate, the memory of being here rushed back as if it were yesterday. Even though the house had been remodeled and nearly twenty years had passed.
Clutching the violin case, which now felt like a part of her own body, Hee-jin pressed the doorbell. The pedestrian gate opened automatically, and a voice spoke through the intercom, telling her to come in. That single step across the threshold felt incredibly difficult.
*Whew.* Taking a long, deep breath as if she were standing on a stage, Hee-jin's gaze sharpened. There was no need to overthink. Today, Hee-jin had come to make her value known. If she showed her worth and received sponsorship, it was a success. Even if she didn't, the significance lay in the fact that she had tried.
Thinking this way, she was able to step inside with a light heart.
“Welcome. Ms. Yoo Hee-jin?”
“Yes. I am Yoo Hee-jin.”
The person in charge of guiding her confirmed her name and led her inside. Dressed in a neat black suit, Hee-jin politely declined the guide's offer to take her violin. She had brought it because she wanted to show Chairman Go Shin-jae the very instrument he had given her ten years ago.
“Yoo Hee-jin?”
Before entering the living room, Hee-jin turned her head at the sound of an unfamiliar voice calling her name.
A man, whose face was obscured by the light behind him, was walking toward her with his hands in his pockets. Even though Hee-jin was on the taller side, he was tall enough that she had to look quite far up.
Hee-jin stared intently at the face that gradually became clear under the lighting. Cool, descending eyes, firmly closed lips. And a relaxed smile that seemed to see through everything. It was that boy from ten years ago, Go Seok-hyun.
Of course, the childish look of the middle schooler who had followed her around with obsessive persistence was nowhere to be found. The gap was so large that it was hard to believe they were the same person, yet why was she able to recognize him instantly?
“It's been a long time, Noona. Do you remember me?”
The moment she faced Seok-hyun as he finally stood before her and greeted her, Hee-jin felt as if her breath had stopped. Past emotions resurfaced and tangled haphazardly, blurring her vision. Amidst the flickering light, the image of the violin fragments he had smashed came vividly to mind. That violin, that child...
“You've become incredibly beautiful. I almost didn't recognize you.”
His smile was radiant. Combined with his handsome features, it was charming enough to draw admiration from anyone. However, Hee-jin felt an inexplicable sense of dissonance and unconsciously stepped back.
Looking down at her as if scanning her, Seok-hyun smiled deeply, his eyes curving.
“Actually, I recognized you immediately.”
*Noona.* Seok-hyun called her 'Noona' pointedly, as if doing it on purpose. As if by doing so, he was reviving the memories of ten years ago.
Hee-jin looked at his face for a moment. It wasn't hard to find traces of that boy within that face.
It was the eyes. The same confident gaze, the look of someone who believed he would always easily get what he wanted.
Even when he had smashed her violin and acted like a child who simply wanted attention rather than showing any guilt, he had those same eyes.
“We used to play so well back then. I enjoyed listening to your playing.”
“…….”
Hee-jin's lips trembled slightly as she chewed over his words. Could that really be described as 'playing well'? Seeing him speak of those events so nonchalantly, Go Seok-hyun had certainly not outgrown the level he was at back then.
Then again, that's probably why he was with Yoo Dae-ae. The type of person who cannot empathize with others and lives solely immersed in their own emotions. A look of disgust clouded Hee-jin's eyes.
As Hee-jin looked away as if she had seen something repulsive, Seok-hyun's eyes narrowed slightly. *Is she trying to ignore me again?*
Seok-hyun observed Hee-jin meticulously, as if he wouldn't miss a single small movement. Although he had consistently kept track of her musical activities, this was the first time he had seen her in person since the music camp.
From orchestra collaborations during her college years to chamber music performances and competitions. He had watched and saved every single video featuring Yoo Hee-jin. But seeing her in the flesh, he realized that video media had failed to capture her presence properly. From the moment he faced the real Yoo Hee-jin, Seok-hyun could not calm his racing heart.
With her long straight hair and wearing a black pant suit, Yoo Hee-jin exuded a calm yet delicate atmosphere. Her features, combining a sharp bridge of the nose and long eyes, created an elegant yet piercing impression that made her seem unapproachable.
Her pale skin looked transparent despite the makeup, and her eyes, perhaps tired from the long flight, had a slight reddish tint.
Her large eyes, framed by long, dense eyelashes like curtains, felt profoundly serene, yet he could sense a complex mixture of emotions swirling beneath the surface.
How desperately he had longed for those pupils to reflect him. Overwhelmed by the emotions he felt as a child, Seok-hyun almost grabbed her slender chin and forced her to look at him. Barely controlling the twitch of his hand, he let out a self-mocking thought, and then Hee-jin spoke.
“Congratulations on your wedding.”
The distance in Hee-jin's calm tone felt insurmountable. It was a way of speaking that implicitly drew a line, stating that there were no memories to be shared with a smile between them. With a short nod of greeting, Hee-jin walked away.
“Wedding...?”
Seok-hyun was bewildered by the unexpected congratulations. Because of that, he failed to catch Hee-jin as she brushed past him.
As he watched her back as she followed the guide inside, he finally realized what misunderstanding she had made. To think she had come without even knowing who Yoo Dae-ae's partner was.
It seemed Yoo Hee-jin had decided to ignore him just like before, but unfortunately, that was a miscalculation. Such a cold reaction only served to fuel his fire. With a short laugh, Seok-hyun took a deep breath, inhaling her lingering scent. The vivid scent of roses, which seemed full of thorns, suited Yoo Hee-jin perfectly.
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