episode_0128

“However, in reality, there was one more judge today.”

Suddenly, on the TV screen that popped up in front of the judges’ seats, the appearance of a hundred judges was revealed.

[Leading: 47 / Following: 53]

Although surprised by the sudden addition of a judge, Yoon Hak-chul noticed the tension in Baek Jung-eon’s expression, which seemed more nervous than himself.

It was a slight difference, but ultimately, with this development, the following side would have a complete advantage with a 3:1 ratio.

It was the moment when Min Chae-won’s defeat was certain.

Yoon Hak-chul silently cheered. Baek Jung-eon seemed to be waiting to reveal the identity of the leading and following sides, suppressing his discomfort.

“Well then. Now, we should reveal the identities of the leading and following sides.”

The piano performance started again behind the screen. It was the following side’s Chopin.

“First, the leading performer.”

The mature performance that revealed complex emotions gently tickled the judges’ ears.

Yoon Hak-chul enjoyed the performance with a good mood, but…

He was surprised and asked the host, “Wait a minute. Isn’t this the following side…? Not the leading side?”

Baek Jung-eon was also in the same situation.

“Yes. This is clearly the following side’s Chopin. Remember it clearly.”

The host clapped in admiration. “Wow. You recognized it right away. Indeed, you are the best professors in Korea. I was waiting for such pointed evaluations.”

Now it was the host’s turn to correct the statement about the leading performer.

“Of course, when you played Chopin, you were the following side. But?”

The Chopin performance that was underway suddenly stopped, and it transitioned to the background music of the Samson and Delilah.

It was the brilliant arpeggio that Yoon Hak-chul had evaluated as “raw and alive.” It was undoubtedly Min Chae-won’s performance.

“When you played Samson and Delilah, you were the leading side. Now! Let me introduce today’s professional pianist! Mr. Jo Jin-yeol!”

However, when the screen was unveiled, the shocking sight was Jo Jin-yeol’s appearance.

Yoon Hak-chul had to doubt his eyes. His ears were the same.

“Is this… Jo Jin-yeol…?”

It was unbelievable. Did he really say that his performance of Alkan was more mature?

He had expected trickery in the leading and following sides, but the performances were genuine. It was unbelievable.

“Now, let’s listen to the following side’s Samson and Delilah, and the leading side’s Chopin performances again, shall we?”

As the piano sound gradually diminished, the screen separated the two spaces again.

The sound of two people’s footsteps crossing over the piano chair could be heard.

And then.

The performance of Samson and Delilah began. It was the very performance that Yoon Hak-chul had praised as mature.

Behind the screen, the performer showed the intense emotions of the Chopin once again.

Anxiety and restlessness. Calmness and peace. The disappointment of it all being just a dream. But in the end, it concluded with an open ending. A story was perfectly depicted, as if singing the life of a person.

“It was indeed Mr. Alkan!”

Looking at Yoon Hak-chul, who was speechless with his mouth agape, Professor Baek Jung-eon, who had been tense the whole time, chuckled.

“Are you surprised?”

The cameras were still rolling. No matter what question was asked, he wouldn’t reveal the fact that he was here as Yoon Hak-chul’s person.

In front of the camera, at least, he had to maintain the broadcast tension.

“I… I was really surprised. I never knew there would be such a performer in the underground world…?”

###

Yoon Hak-chul did not get what he wanted.

Well, Yoon Hak-chul had said he would only pay if Jo Jin-yeol won.

But, feeling empty and dejected, his excitement grew even more after the content shooting was over.

Of course. If you are a professor of unknown origin, it would be right to be amazed and show interest in the sacred appearance that surprises the world, and to send applause.

“Hyungnim. You knew, right?”

“What? The twisted prelude and postlude?”

“Yes. Your surprised expression was all an act, wasn’t it?”

Yoon Hak-cheol was between them, but in fact, they were both piano professors from different universities who occasionally met face to face and had conversations.

Due to the slightly older age of Baek Jung-eon, Yoon Hak-cheol usually called him “hyung.”

Indeed, as Yoon Hak-cheol said, Baek Jung-eon had already caught on to the Larquisimo team’s plan to nullify the match from the middle.

Even when it was shown that there was one more judge. It was so dramatically staged that it was impossible for anyone who enjoyed this channel’s content not to notice.

It was evident that they tried to exclude any situation where one side would be criticized as “incompetent.”

“To be honest, I didn’t expect the appearance of the fourth judge. That really surprised me. You caught on roughly.”

“… I was the only one who didn’t know. Am I still lacking in learning?”

“Rather than lacking, is it because you only hear what you want to hear?”

That was a valid point.

Yoon Hak-cheol was obsessed with finding out who Jo Jin-yeol was among the two behind the screen.

Rather than interpreting and understanding each other’s performances. He was only focused on which side was closer to Jo Jin-yeol.

There was no time to properly appreciate the music. Naturally, like Baek Jung-eon, he did not realize that the prelude and postlude were mixed.

Of course, if we were to be precise, Min Chae-won showing an unbelievable performance was the biggest reason.

“By the way. Aclert… No. That kid, Min Chae-won. His performance feels completely different from ordinary students of his age. I thought it was Jo Jin-yeol’s performance. But it wasn’t.”

“You saw him when he was young, right?”

“Me?”

“This kid. He said he wanted to be my disciple when he grows up and we were drinking together two hours later.”

He said that?

Yoon Hak-cheol recalled a trip to Austria about 14 years ago.

“Is he Min Seok-hyun’s daughter?!”

“Correct.”

“Well. He has grown up a lot. That little kid.”

“If it’s been 14 years, a lot can change in Korea.”

However, if there was still something that Yoon Hak-cheol did not understand, it was why such a talented musician was just stuck in a corner, uploading videos on the internet.

With Min Chae-won’s skills, he could have swept awards in competitions. His extraordinary talent at such a young age would surely captivate all the judges.

“Why are you thinking that such a kid is not participating in competitions and quietly watching YouTube at home… I thought that.”

“… I can’t lie.”

“I also briefly thought about that. That’s an outdated idea.”

In the past, to enjoy music, one had to go to social gatherings, and from there, noticed musicians would advance to larger stages with the sponsorship of nobles and patrons.

Large halls and many audiences brought more popularity, and for those supporting the musicians, it was a course that must be taken for business reasons.

But times have changed. Culture has changed.

Nowadays, you can experience classical music and showcase your own performance to people without necessarily going to social gatherings.

Businessmen and sponsors support musicians in a virtual space that is not limited by physical distance.

Their business expands online and as they broaden their field, they eventually hold special concerts for their fans.

While most musicians still graduate from music schools through the usual path, win competitions, go on concert tours, or join symphony orchestras.

There are also people like Min Chaewon, who build a great reputation by mingling with their own people in their own world.

If we were to compare, it’s like a modern version of a wandering musician spreading music to the world like a troubadour.

“The world keeps changing. It’s best to push them towards what they want to do rather than forcing something on them like stubbornly. Just guide them towards what they want to do, but filter out the dangerous things.”

“What’s dangerous. What’s safe. You should know as you get older. In a situation where it’s difficult to communicate with kids…”

“If you don’t communicate, you’ll end up lecturing them, right? Geez, wake up.”

“Lec… lecturing?”

“Study, you brat. If the person teaching the kids doesn’t understand them, what’s the point. If you don’t want to be kicked out, you know what to do, right?”

“… Kicked out?”

Seems like we’re not on the same page.

Baek Jung-eon handed him a piece of paper and a pen while clearing his throat.

“What’s this?”

“Account and amount. Write down how much you need.”

“What? Why would you… I mean. How.”

Yoon Hak-cheol’s eyes trembled in confusion.

Baek Jung-eon drew a large circle with both hands, as if holding the air. To Yoon Hak-cheol, it felt like he had reached the state of enlightenment.

However, the words that came out of the compassionate monk’s mouth were as sharp as a whip.

“How come you, a guy in his mid-twenties, haven’t changed at all? Did you suddenly spend a lot of money without any preparation?”