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She had finally stood in this place.
Trembling slightly from the thrill, Hee-jin looked down at the violin in her hands. Her left hand, gripping the Lord Wilton, was perfectly fine, as if it had never been injured. That peak condition bolstered her confidence.
Her eyes met the conductor's. In his gaze, which waited for her to be ready, there was expectation and trust. A belief that she would deliver a great performance. Having taken her position, Hee-jin gave a slight nod as a signal.
The moment the conductor raised his baton high and swept it down, the orchestra of dozens began to play in unison. It felt as if they were celebrating her successful return, and a shiver ran through Hee-jin's entire body. Suppressing the urge to cry, she played the first note. The sound resonated clearly. The time she had struggled to reclaim a sound that should have come so naturally flashed through her mind like a kaleidoscope.
In that moment, she felt it certainly. This was where she truly belonged. On the stage she had longed for so long, the sensation of her most brilliant and complete days flowed through her fingertips and came alive once more.
After finishing the piece, Hee-jin lowered her violin and looked toward the audience. Applause filled and echoed throughout the entire hall.
As she bowed to express her gratitude, Seok-hyun approached from the side of the stage. His face, as he stepped up onto the stage, was filled with the pride of having created this moment. He declared it without words: that his life had finally become complete. That the life he had dreamed of was finally realized through Hee-jin.
When Hee-jin gave a bright smile, Seok-hyun faced her with an equally happy expression. It was the moment he took her hand and wrapped his arm around her back to face the audience. Hee-jin opened her mouth, and words that did not fit the situation flowed out. Her voice was low and clear.
“I don’t need you.”
His face distorted. Seok-hyun froze with an expression of disbelief, and then, like Lego blocks, he slowly shattered into pieces and spilled across the stage.
“I don’t need Go Seok-hyun.”
Watching him shatter, Hee-jin realized. The fact that all of this was a dream. The applause of the audience and the perfect concert hall vanished like dust.
Nevertheless, a smile still remained on Hee-jin's lips.
✾ ✾ ✾
The position of second violin principal, left vacant after Christina departed, went to Andrew. Upon receiving the news of his promotion, Andy immediately applied for a leave of absence. The administrative officer approved it, asking him to give Hee-jin his regards.
It was all well and good that he flew to Korea right away, but he hit a wall the moment he arrived. This was because Hee-jin had not answered his calls during the journey, leaving him with no clue as to her whereabouts.
After checking into a hotel in the center of Seoul, Andy racked his brain for clues from the conversations he'd had with Hee-jin. The only remaining clue was the private sponsorship offer Hee-jin had reportedly received. An offer she had received in reverse when she went to ask the Chairman of the 'Zio Cultural Foundation' for sponsorship.
There was a high possibility that the person who made that offer currently knew where Hee-jin was.
After further investigation, he found the name 'Go Seok-hyun.' The grandson of the Zio Cultural Foundation's Chairman. There was also a 'Go Seung-woo,' but he was working in the strategy team of the Zio Group's Management Strategy Office. Andy figured that someone with the temperament to gamble on Hee-jin's talent wouldn't be working stably within the group.
While looking for a way to contact Go Seok-hyun, Andy happened upon an article. The moment he saw the photo of the man with his head bowed, he felt something was off and immediately translated and read it.
VONA CEO Go Seok-hyun Causes Fender Bender
“Deeply sorry to the victim... will take responsibility”
The content was briefly explained as an accident caused by poor physical condition, but Andy felt as if he had been hit by a hammer. Overwhelmed by an anxiety that made his hands shake, he scanned the article and saw that the date of the accident was similar to when Hee-jin had contacted the symphony orchestra saying she was injured. Thus, even though there was no mention of the victim in the article, he was certain.
The victim of the accident would be Hee-jin.
“So... this is his company.”
Standing before the overwhelming exterior of the VONA building he had blindly sought out, Andy could not hide his complex emotions. The cold exterior and the intimidating scale of the building seemed to symbolize Go Seok-hyun's personality. Steeling his nerves, he walked inside one slow step at a time.
If he told the security guard or a staff member that he came to see the CEO, would they let him up? He might be treated like a strange person, but no other method came to mind. He had no choice but to just try.
“Where do I go to meet CEO Go Seok-hyun?”
“Hello. Do you have an appointment with the CEO?”
“I didn't have his personal contact information, so I came to see him in person.”
The information desk employee frowned, looking troubled.
“I'm sorry, but if you don't have an appointment, it is difficult to meet the CEO immediately.”
Flustered by the firm response, Andy tried to plead his case, but it only aroused more suspicion. He grew restless under the gaze of the employee glancing toward the security guard.
“This is problematic. If you give me your business card, I will deliver it to the CEO.”
After hesitating for a moment, he hurriedly wrote his name and phone number on a piece of memo paper and handed it over. However, the employee's gaze remained unkind, making him doubt if it would actually be delivered.
“I really beg you to deliver it.”
Behind the pleading Andy, the sound of sharp high heels echoed.
“What is going on?”
Andy turned his head at the voice coming from right beside him. A woman dressed flamboyantly in a deep purple silk blouse and a satin jacket demanded an explanation from the employee. A sharp gaze and a serious expression. Combined with the employee's polite attitude, Andy recognized that she was someone in an important position.
“I would like to see CEO Go Seok-hyun.”
He spoke, trying to suppress his urgency, but his voice trembled slightly, as if he couldn't quite hide his tension. The woman stared at his face for a moment, then her eyes widened as she scanned him up and down.
“By any chance... Andrew Collins?”
Andy was startled when his name was mentioned. He had never imagined there would be someone in Korea who knew him.
“That's me... Do you know me?”
“It's because I love orchestra performances. Chicago Symphony, right? I'm Hong Yuna. I'm the head of the offline stores here. You're looking for CEO Go Seok-hyun?”
At her confident demeanor, a wave of relief washed over Andy. It was the moment he found a link to Go Seok-hyun, which had felt like an insurmountable mountain. His face brightened with the anticipation that he would soon be able to meet Hee-jin.
✾ ✾ ✾
Hee-jin's attitude toward Seok-hyun gradually changed. She no longer rejected Seok-hyun's suggestions to eat dinner out, and occasionally, she was seen going out with him. Like a long-term couple enjoying quiet dates, a few outings followed.
Around evening, Seok-hyun, having finished work, took Hee-jin to a steakhouse. It was a classic place with a warm gold-and-wood atmosphere under subtle lighting.
“The steak here is really good. It'll be similar to the Chicago style. Thick and juicy.”
Chicago was famous for its steak. Thick cuts were cooked over high heat, making the outside crispy and the inside tender. Moreover, it was seasoned simply with salt and pepper to bring out the natural flavor of the meat. Seok-hyun preferred the Chicago style over the smoky Texas style.
Above all, he had intentionally chosen this place thinking she would like it since she had lived in Chicago. Hee-jin's face remained expressionless as she listened to his explanation, but she occasionally nodded to show she was listening. Seok-hyun's face wore a gentle smile, feeling as if time had turned back to when they traveled to Japan. In the conversation they shared while locking eyes, he felt the distance between them had finally softened.
“Normally, I'd pair this with a Cabernet Sauvignon or bourbon whiskey, but for now, I recommend ginger ale. How does that sound?”
“Fine.”
Hee-jin nodded obediently once again. It was hard to tell if she meant she was leaving it to him because he knew a lot about food, or if she simply didn't care, but Seok-hyun ordered regardless.
Seok-hyun knew. The catalyst for Hee-jin's walls crumbling was that night when she had let everything go while drunk. However, he did not mention that night. Because there was nothing more foolish than asking why a wall had been torn down once it was already gone.
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