Chapter 108
"Haha! Professor Lech! Long time no see!"
"Oh, Professor Hermann! How are you?"
"How long has it been? Please, come this way."
An old professor shook Lech's hand and dragged him along. He was about the same age as Professor Lech, bald, and wore gold-rimmed glasses with an elegant suit. Professor Hermann, sitting in the hotel cafe, called the waiter.
"I'll have an espresso, Professor?" "I'd like the same." "Yes, please give me two of the same."
When the waiter left, Professor Hermann asked,
"What's going on? I was surprised when you suddenly said you would be a judge. We're grateful that a renowned person like you is taking on the role, but it was so sudden that it was a lot of trouble to revise the lineup."
"I'm sorry. I'm sorry for causing trouble."
"No, I feel a little sorry for the person who was originally selected, but it would be better for a professor to take charge of the competition. But why did someone who has always been a judge for the Chopin Competition come all the way to Germany?"
Professor Lech smiled.
"It's a personal matter. By the way, how is the school going?"
Professor Hermann frowned.
"The school is always the same, you know? Please don't do that. Just tell me. I'll keep it a secret."
Lech thought until the coffee arrived and finally opened his mouth.
"I have a child to look after."
"Hey? A contestant?"
"Yes, I need to make sure he grows up well with my own eyes. If not, I'll take him under my wing."
Professor Hermann's eyes widened. For Professor Lech to take him under his wing meant raising him as a disciple.
"Who is it?"
Professor Lech said with a mischievous smile.
"Professor, are you also an examiner?"
"Yes, of course."
"Then you shouldn't be biased. I'll let you know when the competition is over."
"…"
Professor Hermann was trembling with curiosity.
"Um, I'll go to the bathroom for a moment."
"Yes, please do."
After Professor Hermann went into the bathroom, he made a phone call.
"Check if there are any participants who have won awards in the Chopin Competition and in the Beethoven Competition. The most recent was for children. After you check, text me right away."
He looked at himself in the mirror. The Munich University of Music had a relatively low reputation compared to Warsaw, Poland.
"If he's really a talented kid, we might have a chance," he muttered.
At that moment, a text message arrived.
[From: Gerhard Schulz]Name: Nam Soo-hyun.Nationality: Republic of Korea.Winner of the Children's Division of the International Chopin Competition.Currently affiliated with the Korea University Center for Musical Education for the Gifted.Main sponsor is Gold Asia Group; personal support from Polish entrepreneurs.In Warsaw, he is called SOL, an abbreviation for Lech's Smile.
Professor Hermann's expression hardened when he saw the last sentence. Lech's Smile. A child who made Professor Lech smile was definitely a genius. He hastily sent a message.
[Check Nam Soo-hyun's accommodation and send it to me by text.]
Professor Hermann returned to Professor Lech, praising Beethoven. Professor Lech also knew how much Hermann loved him.
"He was someone who ignored all the rules in the name of emotion, thought of the piano as an orchestra, and achieved its effects with only the piano," said Hermann.
"Beethoven was the only one who thought of this before Liszt later achieved the same effect," replied Lech.
"If it's not too much trouble, can I ask what the criteria for winning in the Chopin Competition is?" asked Hermann.
Professor Lech smiled brightly.
"It's like the Beethoven Competition. The most Chopinesque performance. I hope the child you're watching can reproduce Beethoven. Haha."
The next day, on the 12th-floor terrace piano stage. Junwoo, who was practicing, frowned. Perhaps because it was an outdoor stage, the sound was scattered.
'I was grateful that the hotel gave me a whole afternoon to practice, but it's hard in a place like this. The competition is just around the corner, and I'm still nervous. Prodigies from all over the world will gather. I understand that Soo-hyun is a genius, but wouldn't it be embarrassing if I fell too quickly?'
Junwoo, who was looking at the keyboard, heard Soo-hyun's voice.
"The Piano Sonata No. 6 in F major, Op. 10 No. 2 shouldn't be played like that."
Junwoo turned his head sharply. Soo-hyun was half-lying on a green sofa, yawning.
'Isn't that guy nervous? He slept from ten last night until nine this morning, and he's still like that. How many hours of sleep does he need?'
"Then you tell me what to do," Junwoo said with a pout.
Soo-hyun stretched.
"Oh, I'm so sleepy! I only slept for two hours."
'Don't lie, you idiot. You fell asleep later than me, but in the morning, you were sleeping without a care.'
"You need power," Soo-hyun said, lying down and looking up at the sky.
"Power?"
"Yes, ignore elegance. Just sweep the piano. Hit the audience in the back of the head with an intense emotional expression. That's Beethoven's music."
'Should I play it a little stronger, with a few accents? But that doesn't mean I should get carried away by emotions. Control your emotions and let go of anything other than Beethoven's thoughts.'
"You show me yourself then!" said Junwoo.
Soo-hyun waved his hands.
"I'm sleepy, see you later."
"Sir Lee…"
'Are you saying you're bad? You're a genius. Can you teach me?' Junwoo complained inwardly. In fact, Soo-hyun had been watching Junwoo practice for over a week before leaving Korea. Still, it was a little disappointing that he spoke with such a bored expression.
"Hey."
Soo-hyun, who was lying down, turned.
"Why?"
"Can I ask you something?"
"Do you want me to teach you again? I said I'd do it later. Just sleep for ten minutes."
"No, not that."
"Then what?"
"Have you ever had a girlfriend?"
"…", there was no answer.
"Are you sure you've never been single?"
"…What's that?"
"A guy who hasn't had a girlfriend since he was in his mother's womb."
"…", Soo-hyun, still lying down, asked, "And you?"
"Of course I've dated. Three?"
Junwoo proudly straightened his shoulders.
"Yes, I was popular."
"How long were you together?"
"The first for three days, the second for a month, and the third for a week."
Soo-hyun had a pitiful expression.
'What? Even if you add up all three, it's not even two months.'
Junwoo scratched his head.
"Anyway, I've dated before! You haven't!"
An inexplicable sense of defeat washed over Soo-hyun, who clicked his tongue.
"Tsk."
Looking at Soo-hyun, Junwoo shouted inwardly,
'Jaehee likes you, you idiot! But that's not for me to say.'
"Did you know that everything is revealed on a person's face?" said Junwoo.
"Oh."
"What do you know? You don't know Jaehee's heart, which looks at you with an expression that's much easier to read than a book."
"You too?"
"Sometimes."
"Have you ever seen someone like that?"
"Oh."
"Who?" Junwoo asked cautiously.
Soo-hyun sighed.
"Yes, he has a red face, white hair, is short, and has a voice like someone who ate a train car."
Junwoo had a bewildered expression.
"Oh, sir?"
"Oh."
"Hey… you punk! Are you kidding?!"
Soo-hyun sighed and sat up abruptly.
"Alright! I'll watch your practice! Take care of it! Stop bothering me, will you?"
'A bad boy who receives the love of such a cute Jaehee.'
At the moment Soo-hyun pushed Junwoo and sat in the piano chair, the sound of the elevator was heard. Junwoo turned his head and saw two western angels, carrying instruments.
"My goodness! Nam! You're here today!" "Ho ho! Is your friend with you today? Is he a pianist too?"
Junwoo, who had only been learning German for six months, looked at Soo-hyun, surprised by the two smiling beauties. Soo-hyun smiled and put an arm around his shoulder.
"Yes, he's my friend. He's also participating in the competition."
Two angels ran and stood in front of Junwoo.
"Oh, your friend is also very handsome! I think he would play the piano very well! Can you play it for me?" "I want to hear it too! I think it would be great!"
Junwoo, who was laughing so hard his mouth was splitting, saw Soo-hyun, who had been the object of his jealousy until now, as sacred as a god.
'Of course! I'll give them the best performance! Loyalty!'
- - - - -
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