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Hee-jin's expression stiffened, but Seok-hyun looked at her and shrugged as if it were only natural.
“I can't invest without knowing the past of the person I'm sponsoring. We're going to be together for a long time, so I should know what I need to know.”
Hee-jin's eyes widened unconsciously at the phrase 'be together for a long time.' Seok-hyun, in turn, looked even more puzzled.
“Did you think personal sponsorship was simply allowing you to use an expensive violin? That you'd just take the Lord Wilton and go back to the orchestra?”
“…….”
“The instrument is just the beginning. I will provide all the capital, connections, professional management, and infrastructure necessary to make you a world-class soloist. In short, I intend to become a management agency exclusively for Yoo Hee-jin.”
The more Seok-hyun spoke, the more Hee-jin found herself unable to close her mouth. In the world of classical music, there were management agencies just like in the entertainment industry. They focused on managing an artist's career, booking tours, and promotion. While they did put effort into nurturing artists, they typically selected those who had already won international competitions.
A management agency exclusively for Yoo Hee-jin? To set up a company for a single person when the industry was in such a dire state that existing companies were closing down?
“What… what on earth are you thinking?”
Distrust, shock, and confusion were clearly etched in Hee-jin's eyes. She couldn't even begin to guess what Go Seok-hyun was thinking or why he had devised such an enormous plan for her.
'Faust, the devil's temptation.'
Perhaps it was only natural that the cocktail she drank yesterday came to mind at this moment. Was Go Seok-hyun a devil who had come to deceive her and plunge her into the abyss? Or was he a devil who would grant her dreams in exchange for her soul? Either way, he was a devil.
“Isn't that what needs to be done to put Yoo Hee-jin at the top?”
Hee-jin stared blankly at Seok-hyun, lost for words. Inside the dim cafe where the sunlight didn't reach, a strange light seemed to hover only around Seok-hyun.
“So, go ahead and keep hiding things. I prefer the process of digging them up by force.”
Regardless of whether Hee-jin was in a state of shock, Seok-hyun welcomed the coffee that had just arrived. His face, as he brought the antique coffee cup to his nose to savor the aroma, was as arrogant as ever.
✾ ✾ ✾
“What do you think of Seok-hyun? He took Ms. Hee-jin to Japan.”
Seok-hyun's mother, Jo In-joo, brought up the topic while holding onto her husband, Go Young-hoon, who had just returned from work. Young-hoon, who was loosening his tie, thought for a moment about what she meant and then gave a small nod of recognition.
“He's my son, but he really is thorough. When did he even find that violin? He must be very covetous of Yoo Hee-jin's talent.”
“I agree that she's talented. But it's a bit unexpected that he suddenly stepped forward to sponsor her. Has he ever done something like that before?”
“Hmm. This is the first time.”
Chairman Go Shin-jae had adhered to the single path of music even when other chaebols focused on art, which was more lucrative. He especially loved Western classical music. Go Young-hoon, who grew up under such a father, was also influenced, and he ended up marrying Jo In-joo through their shared interest in classical music.
Both Seung-woo and Seok-hyun had grown up listening to classical music for prenatal education while in the womb and had attended concerts ever since they were born, so it was no different for them. Thanks to such an environment, they were surrounded by countless acquaintances majoring in music, yet Seok-hyun had never once mentioned wanting to sponsor a specific person. Even though there were geniuses among them who were world-renowned.
“It certainly was a sound that touched the heart. That kind of thing is a talent you have to be born with.”
Young-hoon's expression became aesthetic as he recalled Yoo Hee-jin's performance. Since Paganini's fingers were deformed, it wasn't easy for others to perfectly replicate his technique. Hee-jin's technique wasn't bad, but there were certainly others who could play more accurately.
However, there was a resonance in Yoo Hee-jin's playing that went beyond mere technique. It was rare to experience the hair on one's neck standing up upon hearing the very first note.
“You don't think he's holding onto something from back then, do you?”
“Back then? You mean the music camp? Well… I wonder if he even remembers. He didn't have much of a reaction during the formal meeting between the families, did he?”
The incident of breaking the violin had been a major turning point in Seok-hyun's life. However, that was because he received treatment afterward, not because of the owner of the violin. In fact, in less than a year, Seok-hyun had seemingly forgotten everything and never mentioned Hee-jin's name.
Adolescent interest was exactly like that. Quickly losing interest and moving on to something else.
“Are you saying Seok-hyun offered sponsorship just to get Yoo Hee-jin's attention again… something like that? While offering a violin worth well over ten billion won?”
“That’s….”
Even for In-joo, the idea of procuring a violin that the Gio Cultural Foundation would only lend to first-generation Korean musicians just to get someone's attention made no sense. Seeing his wife give a sheepish smile, thinking she had worried too much, Young-hoon gave a mischievous grin.
“If your worry is true, then that's interesting in its own way. It means Yoo Hee-jin has such an incredible charm. To think our smart and wise youngest son was so smitten that he lost his reason and spent ten billion won—we can't let her slip away, then?”
“Oh, honestly.”
In-joo glared at him, telling him not to tease. He could have just said it was impossible, but he always exaggerated things like that to make her feel embarrassed.
“Hurry up and wash up, then come eat.”
Young-hoon chuckled as he watched his wife walk away primly. He found it fun to tease her precisely because of that reaction, though she didn't seem to realize it even after decades.
As he entered the bathroom, Young-hoon suddenly looked around, the sound of a violin lingering in his ears. However, the bathroom speaker was silent. Thinking deeply, Young-hoon realized it was Paganini's Etude <Caprice No. 24> that he had just recalled, and he shivered.
“Hmm, our Seok-hyun's eye for talent might have surpassed his father's.”
Young-hoon had read the agony in his father's expression yesterday. It was a look of uncertainty about whether he should sponsor Yoo Hee-jin. It was a 'chicken rib' situation—hesitant to sponsor, yet regretful not to. Unlike his father, Seok-hyun had stepped forward to sponsor her without hesitation and did not spare an investment of over ten billion won.
If Yoo Hee-jin were to stand tall as a world-class soloist in the future, it was clear that the Gio Cultural Foundation would pass into Seok-hyun's hands.
✾ ✾ ✾
It wasn't until the following evening that Hee-jin learned the reason she had remained in Tokyo. The concert hall, designed in black and gold, exuded a very luxurious feel from the entrance. It was one of the best classical music venues in Japan for its acoustics.
“Saito Yui….”
She was a Japanese violinist who had recently won the Paganini International Competition. Hee-jin realized that they had waited two days to match the date of this recital. Paganini. It was strange that it was a winner of the Paganini competition of all things. The piece Hee-jin had prepared to prove herself to Chairman Go was also a Paganini etude.
“Let's go in.”
Hee-jin looked at Seok-hyun, who reached out his hand to escort her. It was foolish to ask why he had brought her to this specific recital. However, that question tickled the inside of her mouth to a painful degree. It felt as if it were scratching the inside of her mouth, urging her to spit out the question immediately. She swallowed it down and took his arm, and a satisfied smile appeared on Seok-hyun's face.
After taking her seat, Hee-jin looked up at the stage and composed her tangled emotions. Recently, Hee-jin had always sat on stage as a member of the orchestra. Her role was to quietly blend into a stage that only became perfect when dozens of people became one.
After a short while, once the audience was seated, today's protagonist appeared on stage. Walking toward the center of the stage amidst thunderous applause, she looked very confident and elegant.
Today's protagonist was complete on her own. Only a single piano shone with its black body, serving to make the protagonist stand out. That was what a solo recital was.
Watching the protagonist glowing softly under the splendid lights, Hee-jin couldn't help but imagine herself standing up there, moving the bow. A thrill ran through her entire body, making it difficult to sit still.
“…….”
Seok-hyun simply watched Hee-jin quietly from the side. On stage, the violinist currently receiving the most attention in Japan was playing a heavenly sound, but his gaze never wavered from Yoo Hee-jin.
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