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Seok-hyun, whose expression had softened, narrowed his brow again and looked at Hee-jin. However, instead of meeting his gaze, Hee-jin turned her head toward the commentator ascending the stage.
“Hello. I am delighted to join you all for this special music appreciation session. My name is Jo Su-hwan, a researcher of music history. I stand here today to share the beauty of this symphony with all of you.”
Seok-hyun wanted to grab Hee-jin's chin and turn her back to face him, as she was so focused on the commentator. He wanted to read her expression, to understand the intention behind why she had suddenly said those things, but the situation didn't allow for it.
“…….”
Instead, he quietly reached out and interlaced his fingers with Hee-jin's left hand. Hee-jin looked down for a moment before returning her gaze to the stage. Even after the appreciation session began, the lingering displeasure on Seok-hyun's face did not fade.
✾ ✾ ✾
The Middle Eastern restaurant exuded an exotic atmosphere. The low, wide sofas and cushions with colorful patterns seemed to bring the essence of the Middle East right into the room. The ornate arabesque patterns on the walls and the subtle scent of spices further enhanced that Middle Eastern fragrance.
The menu of lamb kebab with hummus wasn't bad to Hee-jin's taste. Perhaps it had been adjusted for Korean palates, as the spices were used moderately, making it less overwhelming.
“Wow, a violinist. That’s impressive.”
Upon hearing that Hee-jin was a violinist, Song Young-woo's hands moved busily over his phone. While it seemed impolite to use a phone during a conversation, Hee-jin didn't particularly feel like pointing it out.
In the first place, she had accepted this dinner invitation because she wanted to see how Seok-hyun would react, not because she had any interest in a person like Song Young-woo. She was only engaging in conversation out of politeness.
Unlike before, Seok-hyun had composed his expression well, making it impossible to read what he was thinking. He simply watched from the sidelines with a faint smile, as usual.
“But you don't seem to have any history of performing as a soloist? Is your skill not up to par?”
Then, Young-woo, who had been staring at his phone for a while, spoke up. Hee-jin, who had been glancing at Seok-hyun, turned her gaze toward him, doubting her own ears.
“What I'm curious about is, you must have realized early on that you aren't a genius, so why didn't you quit? Why did you keep going?”
For a moment, Hee-jin stared at him blankly, unable to grasp the meaning. His expression was full of malicious curiosity.
Did he mean that if one isn't a genius, they have no right to do music?
Among majors, people often said similar things when doubting their own qualifications. That they seemed to have hit their limit. It was usually something said when hitting a wall—the doubt of whether one could actually overcome a wall that stood too high in front of them.
However, that was something only one could say about oneself. It wasn't something a third party, who knew nothing of the circumstances, should say.
“I noticed earlier that you have a deep knowledge of symphonies; if the world only had soloists, who would take charge of the orchestra? Everyone just works hard in their own position,” Hee-jin tried to answer calmly.
But even though he knew she was trying to let it slide, Song Young-woo's expression didn't change. Pouting his lips exaggeratedly and nodding, he gave a smirk.
“That’s true. But I wasn't talking about social necessity; I was just asking personally. Honestly, you didn't start music thinking, ‘I’m going to join a symphony orchestra when I grow up,’ right? Am I wrong? Doesn't everyone cling to it desperately to become a damn famous soloist?”
Song Young-woo's speech gradually became faster and rougher. He didn't hesitate to use rude expressions and eventually dropped the formal language, shaking his head.
“Continuing even when you know you can't be the best—honestly, that's just foolish. Why cling and endure when you know it's a failed life? No, no, don't misunderstand! I just feel bad for you! To think that no matter how much you struggle, you're not even worth a toenail of a genius like Lee Min-ji… it’s just so pitiful.”
Hee-jin closed her eyes for a moment and clenched her fist beneath the table. Just then, Seok-hyun quietly intervened, preventing her from applying force.
Hee-jin stared blankly at Seok-hyun's hand enveloping hers as if comforting her, and she gradually regained her composure. Taking a slow breath and looking back at Song Young-woo, she saw him smiling brightly as if something were incredibly amusing. His expression, urging her to try and refute him, was like a child pestering someone to play. The fact that he viewed this as a game was truly vile.
“Excuse me, but what do you do for a living?”
“Ah. What, do you want to check if I'm qualified to say such things?”
While feeling slightly disappointed by the expected reaction, Young-woo found Yoo Hee-jin's provocative gaze quite attractive. Seeing that she didn't shed any tears, he felt she was a person with a fairly strong will. The more a person is like that, the more satisfying it is to break them. Young-woo had a bad habit of scratching the pride of successful people to make them despair and then enjoying the sight.
In truth, very few people were satisfied with their lives, even if they were the best in the world. Because humans are such that once they reach the summit of the mountain they aimed for, they see an even higher mountain.
Nevertheless, people who had clung desperately to something like this usually couldn't refute his words properly and would end up in tears, unable to contain their anger. Whispering to himself to just break down and cry already, he licked his lower lip and glanced at Seok-hyun. He didn't know why that arrogant Go Seok-hyun had agreed to this meal, but whatever the reason, if Hee-jin cried here and embarrassed him, the operation would be a success.
Young-woo didn't like Go Seok-hyun that much. In fact, it was ambiguous to even call him a real friend. They had simply maintained a thin thread of a connection from being in the same class in high school.
There was only one reason he disliked Go Seok-hyun: the fact that he was a real 'genius,' just like his Hyung. He was a celestial being who couldn't understand those born with a predetermined limit, those for whom nothing worked out no matter what they did, making it impossible to truly get close.
In the first place, the reason he had gone to see a classical performance was because he heard it was Go Seok-hyun's hobby. Go Seok-hyun, who lived for his own brilliance, even had refined hobbies. Classical music. Classical music was the perfect high-class hobby to act superior toward his Hyung, who was struggling in the pop music market.
“I'm in the entertainment business. Though, I've never really tried to be the best, so I've had nothing to be frustrated about.”
“Ah, just about that level.”
Hee-jin nodded calmly, as if she had figured it out.
“…What?”
“Then it's even more pitiful.”
He, who had been chuckling, saying that it's just about making money and has no meaning, looked at Hee-jin as if asking what she had just said.
“You're jealous.”
“…Jealous?”
His expression distorted instantly. Even seeing that he was offended, Hee-jin didn't boast about landing a hit or show a reaction of relief. She simply added the reason why she said it in a flat tone.
“Your studies were probably just mediocre. A top-tier domestic university would have been out of the question… so you went to a university overseas, right? There are plenty of places you can go if you pay.”
“…….”
“No particularly brilliant talent outside of studies, and too scared to start with your own abilities. So you started an entertainment business using connections gained through money spent by draining your parents' backs.”
“What the….”
“And even then, you're not diligent enough to be particularly successful in the industry. If you were, you wouldn't have just said ‘I'm in the entertainment business,’ but would have specified which entertainment company.”
“…….”
“Since you've never been immersed in something enough to devote your life to it, you're jealous of people who put in desperate effort. Does ignoring other people's achievements by saying they're meaningless if they aren't first place make your self-esteem rise relatively?”
If one has put in even a shred of effort in their life, they cannot dare to disparage the efforts of others. A person who doesn't even try but is jealous of others' achievements, and even goes as far as to undervalue them because they hate admitting their jealousy or inferiority. That intense inferiority complex was hideous. Hee-jin had never seen such an ugly person in her life, and her face naturally contorted in a frown.
“You, fuck…!”
The moment Song Young-woo, his smile completely gone, flared up and tried to stand, Seok-hyun spoke a single word.
“That's enough.”
At that one word, Song Young-woo froze, unable to move. Go Seok-hyun was a man who captivated and led others with a very soft charisma. He received attention wherever he went and naturally commanded those around him. But because he was a soft and kind person, no one feared him.
However, right now, a cold and resolute pressure could be felt. Without knowing why he was so frightened, Young-woo hesitantly sat his backside back down on the sofa.
“Hee-jin Noona is my person. Do not be rude to my person.”
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