'Sweet, salty, and savory!'
The broth, which has been simmered for a long time, adds flavor to the mouth. The chewy noodles move around freely in the mouth as if they are alive. If there had been no noren covering the entrance, let alone the menu, it would have been a place that I would have thought was a home. But, who would have thought it would taste like this! Only then did Baek Jeong-hoon feel the sweet potato that had been stuck in his throat go down. He must have been so absorbed in eating that he even forgot the steam that had clouded his glasses.
"Excuse me."
At that moment, a boy happened to walk up to Baek Jeong-hoon's table. Judging from the timing of the meal, he must have waited until the dishes were completely empty. However, Baek Jeong-hoon couldn't see the boy's face properly because of the fog on his glasses.
"Why is that?"
Since the other person's pronunciation was clearly Japanese, Baek Jeong-hoon himself answered in Japanese. His experience of studying abroad in Japan as a child was helpful in such situations. As the fog on his glasses gradually disappeared, the boy's face became clearly visible. He was quite handsome. At first glance, it seemed like he had visited a ramen shop with his grandfather. That was when.
"Are you a pianist?"
Baek Jeong-hoon opened his eyes wide at the boy's question. How did they recognize him? Unlike on stage, he was wearing glasses and his clothes were simple. Even if he had dressed properly, there were significantly fewer people who recognized him. Asia was a wasteland for classical music. Ah, perhaps it was thanks to his collaboration with Mr. Hirose. Mr. Hirose was like a hero in Japan.
"How did you know?"
You should ask out of courtesy, young children like to show off what they know.
At that moment.
"Brahms Violin Sonata No. 3."
It was an unexpected answer. Baek Jeong-hoon's head shot up like a spring. What was this young boy talking about? I thought he was talking about seeing the collaboration with his teacher right before his eyes, but it didn't make sense. Brahms' Violin Sonata No. 3 was a repertoire that had not yet been used on stage. Before Baek Jeong-hoon could ask anything.
"The interpretation of the piece belongs to the performer, but that doesn't mean you have to be too rigid. The left hand, which has to play the melancholic bass, obsessively pursues perfection. The collaborator is clearly pursuing living music, but you are trying to play music that died a hundred years ago."
Baek Jeong-hoon's eyes widened. He had worked hard not to be rude to his teacher. He had studied the score until it was worn out, just in case there was a mistake. Brahms's pieces are completely divided into objective and subjective interpretations. This is especially true for Violin Sonata No. 3. It is considered the most beautiful chamber music among Brahms' pieces, but it is also famous as the most difficult piece to satisfy the audience.
'Music that died a hundred years ago.'
The boy's voice rang in my ears like an echo.
Baek Jeong-hoon suddenly raised his head. The boy was already leaving the store with his grandfather. When their eyes met, he lowered his head as if he was grateful, but Baek Jeong-hoon's lips would not part. All sorts of questions were tangled in his head. How on earth did he know that I was a pianist practicing Brahms's music?
And even the fact that the interpretation of the piece was wrong.
Baek Jeong-hun, who had been sitting like a stone statue, suddenly got up from his seat.
I ran out of the store, but
The boy had already disappeared.
*
"Hyun-ah, why were you talking so intently?"
My grandfather seemed curious about the conversation that had taken place at the ramen shop. He probably couldn't understand it because the conversation was in Japanese. What should I say? I should say that I relieved the young pianist of his worries. He ate the ramen so quickly that if I had money, I would have ordered another bowl. The calluses deep in his fingers were evidence of how hard he worked.
"Umm, counseling."
Grandfather looked at me questioningly, but he had nothing more to say. It wasn't like I could say that I had given him a clue about the interpretation of Brahms' violin sonata. By the way, the face of the young pianist I saw at the ramen shop just now seemed familiar to me for some reason. It was like a fishing float that didn't fully reveal itself on the surface of the water, something that was vaguely reminiscent.
"Oh, by the way, that young man's ramen was also paid for by his grandfather."
It seems that the young pianist's appearance caught the grandfather's heart. At that moment, my grandfather grabbed my hand tightly. His large, mushroom-covered hand wrapped around my small hand.
"Hyun-ah, when I walk like this, I think of the time when I was with your mother. I came to Tokyo with your mother in the past too. Back then, just like now, it was to see a violinist play. I loved it so much."
The wrinkled face of my grandfather clearly showed a look of reminiscence. At that moment, the building of Opera City appeared beyond my eyes. It was such a tall building that it stood out even from afar.
"That place is Opera City. It's where the famous violinist Hirose performs."
Grandfather's finger pointed to the skyscraper. Opera City, which I had visited in my past life. If Suntory Hall was suitable for symphony, Opera City Concert Hall was more suitable for solo concerts. My heart raced at the thought of seeing the empress solo while she was still alive. There was a time when I listened to Hirose's pieces over and over again. Just like her nickname, the queen of strings, her performances endlessly fascinated people. For some reason, it felt like the melody was ringing in my ears again.
* * *
Son Il-seon smiled incredulously.
Because the only daughter's cheeks were filled with wind. At first glance, she looked like a squirrel with a mouth full of acorns. She was usually not a girl who knew how to act like a squirrel, but she had been acting like a squirrel a lot lately.
"Father, it seems Yuha is bored because Hyun-i isn't home."
Son Il-seon expressed her feelings to Chairman Wang as if she was in despair. She wondered if the reason her daughter was acting like that was because of a boy. She wondered if all fathers with daughters felt this way.
"Eek. Hyun oppa didn't even tell me he was going to Japan!"
If someone saw them, they would think they were dating. However, Chairman Wang found his granddaughter cute and smiled. In an instant, Chairman Wang lifted his teacup and moistened his lips.
"Ilseon-ah, what kind of person do you think Hyeon-i is?"
It was a moment when Son Il-seon's eyes became strange. It was because his father's question was different from usual. Instead of referring to Kang-hyun as a child, he referred to him as a person. That meant that he wanted him to give an objective evaluation as a talented person. Son Il-seon had no idea that his father would ask him such a question.
"Well, I think he's a great guy."
Son Il-seon emphasized the word child. He clearly had outstanding qualities, but he was still just a child. Of course, it would be something that would be unknown after time passed, but no one could guess what the process would be like. Son Il-seon himself did not know that he would fight so fiercely with his brothers for the succession plan. If he could overcome the process, it would be a true enlightenment.
"after."
At that moment, Chairman Wang let out a sigh. It was because Son Il-seon's vision was not as high as he had thought. A look of bewilderment appeared on Son Il-seon's face, but Chairman Wang did not give an answer. Rather.
"Yuha, come here and look."
Isn't it time to call Son Yu-ha? Son Yu-ha had no choice but to stand up at Chairman Wang's call. His cheeks were still filled with wind.
"What does Yuha think Hyeon-i is like?"
"Is this Hyun's older brother?"
Son Yu-ha let out a puff of air and raised his voice. Son Il-seon, who was watching the scene from the side, let out a sigh. The cheeks that had been puffy since the morning breeze had immediately loosened at the name Kang Hyeon. Well, let's see what he says. But.
"Hmm."
Son Yu-ha's pretty face frowned. She thought she could answer easily, but as time passed, her worries continued. Son Yu-ha was unable to properly evaluate Kang Hyun. Even though it was a short period of time, the character of Kang Hyun was strongly imprinted in Son Yu-ha's mind.
"That's enough."
At that time, Chairman Wang stroked Son Yu-ha's head and nodded. Then he turned his head slightly and looked at Son Il-seon, and his eyes were unusual. It seemed as if he was telling him to think hard before evaluating a person. In other words, he was saying that his eyes were lacking compared to his own daughter.
"Grandpa, can I go to Japan too?"
Son Il-seon was shocked when Son Yu-ha suddenly asked to take him to Japan. However, Chairman Wang shook his head as if he had expected it. It was impossible to interrupt the meeting between a master and a prodigy. Son Yu-ha blew wind into his cheek again at that firm look.
*
It was my second day in Tokyo, and the wind was chilly, perhaps because summer was coming to an end.
However, the number of people visiting Opera City increased as time went by. It was none other than the Empress's solo concert. Everyone's faces were filled with excitement and thrill. It was no different for me. It was Hirose's violin performance that I had wanted to hear all my life.
"Hyun-ah, are you okay?"
My grandfather looked at my face and smiled in relief. He must have been worried that I might not be interested. Don't you sometimes have cases like that? There are geniuses who have outstanding musical talent but aren't really interested in that field. However, Kang Hyun was definitely different from that type.
It was the second row from the front of row C, the far right, where the violinist's figure could be clearly seen. The melody would also dig into my ears without fail. The concert hall of the Opera City was as magnificent as it was then. The moonlight pouring down through the huge triangular glass walls covering the ceiling was in perfect harmony with the soft lighting of the concert hall.
Let's have everyone take their seats.
The pianist was the first to step up onto the stage.
at that time.
My grandfather and I met eyes at the same time. It was because I had seen the person before. Only then did I look through the pamphlet and see a familiar name. Baek Jeong-hoon. I barely held back a hollow laugh. No matter how far back in time I had come, I couldn't have recognized the iron-blooded maestro!
yet.
Again.
Hirose appeared with sharp footsteps.
The red dress that matched her white hair took my breath away. What's more, the instrument in her hand was the 'Stradivarius', known as the three gods of the violin world. Even a layman who doesn't know much about instruments couldn't help but know that famous instrument. Just looking at it, can't you feel the elegance of the long years? That was when.
Hirose, who had been bowing his head politely toward the audience, stopped.
uh?
Hirose was staring at me with surprised eyes. Why, even though I had never met her before, my heart pounded as if I knew her. No, in a way, wasn't it her melody that I had heard over and over again in my past life? I had definitely met Hirose before, even though it was at a different time. At that moment, Hirose slowly raised his bow toward me.
'Found it.'
That's how the Queen of the Universe and I were reunited.
Now in the same time.