episode_0104

Just as traits are inherited, the music of a family is also inherited like genes.

In a free-spirited household, there is lively and vibrant music. In a home with clear rules, there is restrained and well-organized sophisticated music that passes down the genes of music.

But sometimes, there are cases where an individual’s overwhelming talent bursts forth, ignoring even the environment.

The best violinist in Korea. Known as the violinist who made a contract with a devil like Paganini.

Yoon Gwan-cheol, the father of Yoon Ji-yu and Yoon Ji-chang, was a good example.

Yoon Gwan-cheol’s parents accumulated wealth through their business and poured everything they had into their illegitimate son, Yoon Gwan-cheol.

At the time of his birth, it was just an ordinary family, but when Yoon Gwan-cheol turned five, his parents were featured as the small business owners of the year and achieved the feat of being invited by the president.

As he reached the age to enter kindergarten, the family became a clan. Although they couldn’t compare to the giant corporations, Yoon Gwan-cheol’s father was a reputable businessman to the extent that anyone would recognize him if you mentioned “What does your father do?”

“Mom. I. Want to play the violin.”

Yoon Gwan-cheol could see that his family’s situation had improved from his parents’ brightened faces. He received the musical instrument he had only dreamed of since he was young.

It started out small, but Gwan-cheol was a child who knew how to express what he heard. Even without sheet music, he knew how to express the sounds he heard by touching the violin in various ways.

“He has perfect pitch. He doesn’t seem to have a talent for playing, but… that’s a problem that can be solved with effort. How about entrusting him to our kindergarten?”

Recognized by the principal for having a special ear, Yoon Gwan-cheol was thrown into the wild world of a kindergarten that nurtured musical prodigies.

“He doesn’t even know how to read sheet music.”

“Why are you here?”

The first lesson learned in kindergarten was that it was a more cruel and frightening place than expected.

Even six-year-old children evaluated each other’s parents and how great they were, comparing their statuses.

In music, it was even more intense. The prodigies were truly unrestrained geniuses who were immersed in their own worlds.

Especially in the classical music world of the Gwan-cheol generation, it was a culture allowed only for the children of well-off families, so the competition was fiercer than imagined.

“I don’t want to listen.”

“Can’t you practice at home? It hurts my ears.”

Harsh evaluations and comments without mercy towards children whose skills were inferior.

It was a straightforward and pure statement because they were children. But those trivial words ignited a fire in Yoon Gwan-cheol’s heart.

He vowed not to fall to the bottom. He must sit at the top, looking down on others.

Gwan-cheol, who wanted to stand at the pinnacle of the small society of kindergarten, began to make strenuous efforts.

While other children were asleep, he would get up and play the violin.

“Gwan-cheol, practicing is good, but… you also need to get enough sleep. You won’t grow tall if you don’t.”

His parents praised their son for being dedicated to practice without sleep, but Yoon Gwan-cheol, born with the genes of an emperor, did not stop.

“Your parents said that those who work hard will be rewarded.”

Yoon Gwan-cheol showed off his skills that day, to the point where it was chilling to think it was a child’s performance.

In the dimly lit living room with the sound of the violin resonating. It was the moment when the future of the boy named Yoon Gwan-cheol was determined.

“I want to become the most famous violinist in the world with the violin.”

The boy’s climb that began in a small society bore perfect fruit, and Yoon Gwan-cheol fell in love with his accompanist whom he met at a solo concert.

It was a happy newlywed life.

He believed that only his wife could accompany him satisfactorily. In reality, there was no accompanist who could satisfy him other than his wife.

“When is mom coming?”

“Dad’s hungry!”

“Ahhhh….”

I would have been happy. If only my wife had been by my side.

“Dad, Yoon Ji-chang doesn’t want to practice!!”

“I don’t want to play the piano….”

“Waaah….”

I would have been happy.

I would have been happy.

I would have been happy……………..

“Yoon Ji-yoo, why can’t you do anything else.”

“Yoon Ji-chang, sit up straight right now?”

“Can’t you focus, Yoon Saebyeok. Hey!!”

No, I am not happy.

I am definitely not happy.

I can never be happy forever with these children.

If I don’t want to hear the sound of motherless children, shouldn’t I be more obedient?

What will happen after I die, how will you survive without someone to take care of you?

How will you live in this harsh world when there is no one to look after you?

“Yes…? About Saebyeok…?”

“I will make sure to provide you with the alimony due to the divorce without any regrets.”

“Huh… But why all of a sudden….”

“Why. You wanted it so badly, didn’t you? You even wrote a letter demanding the return of my daughter that you forcibly took away. Have you changed your mind?”

Although Yoon Kwan-cheol packaged it as concern, it was close to violence.

No matter how hard he tried, the youngest who could never become world-class was abandoned.

“Yoon Ji-chang, get up.”

“……”

“Throw it away right now.”

“But this is mine—.”

“Right now!!”

He forcefully made his disobedient son listen, like catching a mouse.

“Don’t get involved with people who have no talent. They are just trying to use you to step on your reputation.”

“Dad… Are you monitoring me?”

“If you don’t want to be caught later, behave yourself. Every action you take in your school days will leave a mark on your future.”

…….

His daughter listened not out of coercion but out of fear, under the guise of a threat.

Yoon Kwan-cheol’s home education seemed to be effective.

Jin Saebyeok, who found her own way after being abandoned, is still grumbling, while Yoon Ji-chang, who is careful in front of his father, is becoming a great musician like himself, step by step, walking on the laid-out red carpet.

Yoon Ji-yoo is also becoming a great musician like herself, walking on the laid-out red carpet.

Yoon Kwan-cheol knew that this fanatic behavior was not love for the children his wife desired, but he continued to move forward, like a train that had entered the wrong track without knowing how to reverse.

Did Yoon Kwan-cheol not know that what was loaded in the train’s luggage compartment was a bomb that would explode someday?

He knew.

He was constantly holding back the self-igniting fuse with his bare hands.

His hands were burned and blistered. Filled with blisters and dripping with blood.

Knowing all this, he believed that this was the only right way to go forward until he died.

Not for the sake of his family.

Not for the sake of his children.

Only for himself.

“Thank you for coming all the way here.”

“Oh. No…. It’s nothing.”

Today, calling Min Chaewon to the house was also part of that plan.

“Thanks to your help, our daughter easily made it to the finals in the concours preliminaries. She plays accompaniment so well.”

“Oh… No. That’s… my sister….”

“Be humble. I hope you continue to get along well with our Ji-yoo.”

Yoon Kwan-cheol always watched over Yoon Ji-yoo.

He hoped that she would meet a good accompanist and form a duet because of her charm.

Although it started as surveillance to drive away fools who tried to use her reputation without any talent, the problem was that Yoon Kwan-cheol’s standards were too high.

Throughout middle school and high school, Yoon Ji-yoo could not make friends properly. Those who approached her first, captivated by her charm, either suddenly transferred to another school one day or treated her as if they didn’t know her.

Yoon Ji-yoo knew that it was all because of her father, but she couldn’t stand up against him. Because of him, she knew she existed.

And because she was young, and didn’t know any better, she blindly believed that her father had only chased away the bad people for her.

Children without economic power, especially in step-parent households, often face such situations.

Children are dependent on their parents and easily influenced by their thoughts. It’s a natural evolution to survive in the shadow of their parents.

However, such deception is bound to be shattered someday.

From the moment the child realizes that their parents are not the whole world.

The child, wanting to distance themselves from parents who have brainwashed them and confined them to narrow thinking, begins to rebel non-stop.

Was Yoon Jiyu different?

Since entering a prestigious arts school, she had been constantly changing friends. They were all musicians who played instruments that could be played in duets, such as the piano or cello.

She was expressing what she couldn’t show in person through her actions.

“I am Yoon Gwancheol’s daughter. Just as I was taught by my father. Aren’t I doing well? Aren’t you proud of me?”

Like a mirror therapy, Yoon Gwancheol hoped that seeing his daughter’s behavior would make him realize his mistakes and change his educational policy, but…

Yoon Jiyu was thinking too wrong even if she was wrong.

She only knew one thing and not the other.

Her father, Yoon Gwancheol, was proud of his daughter. He believed that his efforts to keep useless people away from his daughter had finally paid off.

Yoon Jiyu, who filtered out unworthy friends without interference, was a perfectly grown daughter of Yoon Gwancheol. And finally, Yoon Jiyu asked for a favor.

It was Min Chaewon. The daughter of the world-renowned conductor Min Seokhyun and pianist Margaret Hebler.

Yoon Gwancheol, who could not forget her performance from her childhood, anxiously waited for today, fearing that his daughter might reject Min Chaewon like any other friend.

Min Chaewon was a precious friend who would take responsibility for Yoon Jiyu’s future in place of the disobedient son. She was also a accompanist.

“I called you to ask for one thing.”

“A… a request?”

Yoon Gwancheol began the conversation with a polite expression.

“I heard you don’t have anything to do right now.”

“Uh… um…”

“I would like you to become Yoo’s exclusive accompanist from now on. What do you think? It will surely be a good experience for you too.”

Not attending college and resting at home, and not being able to refuse like a stubborn child.

Yoon Gwancheol thought Min Chaewon would naturally accept this proposal.

“I, I don’t want to…”

Although she stuttered, Min Chaewon calmly rejected without showing any emotions. And she added the words she wanted to say.

“I’m busy running my YouTube channel.”

In that moment, a girl came to Yoon Gwancheol’s mind.

A past daughter who, like Min Chaewon, stuttered but couldn’t hold back her words, wasting time learning useless things from Yoon Jichang instead of focusing on music.