episode_0130

Just like Jo Jinyeol was on top of the naughty man’s head.

I, too, saw the future.

In a way, I should be grateful to Yoon Jiyu.

If it weren’t for her, I wouldn’t have learned in advance that Yoon Kwancheol was a petty man with a tough exterior but a small heart.

“You never said I had to keep uploading. I’m really busy. It’s going to be tough for a while.”

Look at this. I’m like a bad adult who doesn’t properly fulfill the request to film an apology video.

But because I anticipated this situation, I wasn’t flustered at all.

Flustered? How much does it cost to be caught in Yoon Jiyu’s mirror of Yoon Kwancheol?

“Well… I see. Should I change the content that needs to be fulfilled?”

Now, the act of Hitori-chan is over.

I looked at Yoon Kwancheol with a deep gaze.

“It seems like you’re concerned about your reputation, Yoon Kwancheol.”

You might be taken aback by my sudden change, but Yoon Kwancheol’s expression didn’t change at all.

“Reputation? I don’t care about that at all.”

Yes, of course.

“Take a look and decide.”

I smiled and unfolded a piece of paper I had prepared in advance.

[Revised Terms]

– In case of a tie or Min Chaewon’s victory: Yoon Kwancheol will not be involved in the music education of his daughter Yoon Jiyu and son Yoon Jichang.

Yoon Kwancheol’s poker face was finally wrinkled after I refused, saying I was too busy running NewTube.

“What… do you mean by this?”

“Yes.”

“You seem to know our family very well.”

“I know more than you think.”

A short sigh. And a bitter smile.

Yoon Kwancheol, who had been furrowing his brow, suddenly burst out laughing.

“Still, this is not the way to do it! What have you learned from your parents?”

Although I was startled by the loud noise, I quickly regained my composure when it came to talking about my parents.

I guess this is how you feel. I can understand why you’re getting upset.

But since this didn’t differ much from what I expected, I calmly removed a sticker attached to the bottom of the paper.

And then, the rest of the hidden contract terms were revealed.

[Revised Terms]

– In case of a tie or Min Chaewon’s victory: Yoon Kwancheol will not be involved in the music education of his daughter Yoon Jiyu and son Yoon Jichang.

Instead, Min Chaewon will always be Yoon Jiyu’s accompanist until she quits her career as a performer, except for urgent matters. If necessary, she will assist Yoon Jichang with his piano lessons.

When I show compassion,

petty people appear even more petty.

Yoon Kwancheol must be feeling that way right now.

“You’re… unbelievable.”

Yoon Jichang is my precious friend from a past life. And now, he is my precious fan and Siwoo’s friend.

That’s why I don’t want him or Siwoo to go down the wrong path.

What about Yoon Jiyu?

The time when I labeled her as ‘evil’ has passed. I know now that all the blame lies with the man.

“You’re very… confident. If Jichang asked you to have a piano lesson, you would come running and sit in front of the piano, right? I would have done the same if that had happened!”

“If I call, he will come.”

“What?”

“If I call. He will definitely come for the lesson. Assuming that you don’t use violence and don’t nag Yoon Jichang.”

“This brat!!”

Yoon Kwancheol, who was enraged, stood up and slammed the table, but he couldn’t lay a hand on me.

He seems quite angry, but it seems he won’t go as far as to use violence against someone else’s daughter.

“So. What are you trying to say? If you help Yoon Jichang, we might be able to win the competition next year. Is that what you’re trying to say?”

“It might be possible. We won’t know until we try.”

“Sigh… Hahaha. Hahahaha! Unbelievable.”

He, somewhat calming his anger, casually sipped the coffee in the mug.

“Alright. Are you going to write up a new contract and make another bet? Are you going to bet on whether Jichang will win a prize in the competition or not? What will you think then? Are you going to stake your life on it?”

“Why. Do you want me to marry Yoon Jichang through a bet?”

“……….”

“Well. Maybe you do want that. Then it might be easier for me to stay by Jiwoo’s side. If I support her well, Jichang might become a world-renowned pianist.”

The mug landed on the glass table with a clatter.

I smiled brightly at the crumbling expression of Yoon Gwancheol.

“Wow. You thought that was a reasonable thing to say just now. It’s all written on your face.”

“…. No.”

“That’s right. Don’t pretend you don’t know.”

“Don’t make fun of adults!”

“If you scold me like that, the glass will break.”

I nervously took away his trembling mug.

Even if the table breaks, I may not get hurt, but the other person will.

No matter how bad he may be, his performance, his concerts, are faultless to those who come to listen.

Yoon Gwancheol, whose cup was taken away, buried his back into the sofa.

His trembling hands on top of his eyes shook.

“Oh. Right… Haha. Why are you all so interested in our family matters? Haha!”

Then, a laughter filled with madness echoed through the living room.

“Haha…. Hahaha!! No. Why are you all so interested in our family matters? Hahaha!”

Three days ago.

“Student. Aren’t you too young to torment others in an adult manner?”

It was Cho Jinyeol, who had vowed not to turn against adults anymore. But he couldn’t help it.

“What did you just say….”

“Oh. No, please don’t mind. I misspoke.”

A few words could potentially cause serious problems with the domestic orchestra.

That’s how much influence Yoon Gwancheol had in the classical music world.

But he couldn’t stand it. Even if his own path was blocked. He couldn’t just watch a shining supernova fade away powerlessly in front of him.

“Students. They don’t listen well when you tell them something. They might resist and break.”

“Cho Jinyeol. If you know something, please tell me clearly.”

“Oh. I was like that when I was young. Haha.”

Cho Jinyeol’s blunt and big words.

Yoon Gwancheol, who heard the story, didn’t retaliate against Cho Jinyeol, but——.

A small crack formed in his heart.

Two days ago.

“Gwancheol hyung. Just in case… that friend, Aclert. Wouldn’t it be better to step back at this point?”

“Why are you suddenly saying that.”

“No. If the kid suddenly turns around… what if he bites you? You have a lot to lose.”

“… Do you think I would do something like this out of concern? If I thought he would bite, I wouldn’t have even tried.”

Yoon Hakcheol stared at Yoon Gwancheol for a while, then finally spoke.

“If it’s because of your sister-in-law. I won’t do it anymore——.”

A sharp gaze flew at him. Yoon Hakcheol’s mouth froze. The atmosphere didn’t allow him to say anything more.

“Forget what I just said. I’m sorry, hyung.”

“……..”

“But still. Why are you so obsessed with someone from another family like that?”

“If you’re going to say useless things, leave.”

“Oh. Uh… sorry. I’ll go. Can’t I get paid?”

There was no way to endure the suffocating atmosphere, even though there was no one to blame. Yun Hak-cheol hesitated and got up from his seat, glancing around.

As soon as the sound of the front door closing was heard, Yun Gwan-cheol collapsed on the sofa, completely exhausted.

“Oh, my dear…”

With his eyes closed, the face of his long-departed wife flickered in his mind.

It wasn’t much different from when he was talking to Min Chaewon today.

Laughing like crazy and wiping his face, his wife appeared.

“Take good care of the kids. Honey.”

“We had dreams we talked about. Don’t get too caught up in them.”

Just like we did, I hope our kids will love music too.

Just like we did, I hope one will play the violin and the other will play the piano.

But what if the two kids—.

His wife had clearly said something important, but he couldn’t remember it because it had been so long.

Maybe Yun Gwan-cheol, in an attempt to wash away the pain of losing his wife, accidentally let it slip away into the drain of his memory.

He shouldn’t have done that. How could he make such a mistake?

“What did you say, honey? I… I can’t remember…”

Yun Gwan-cheol’s parents did not approve of Cha Haneul.

They had started dating with the intention of getting married. Convincing Yun Gwan-cheol’s parents alone was impossible.

The reason was Cha Haneul’s background. She had grown up as an orphan without parents.

While his parents were lenient about Yun Gwan-cheol’s love for music, they were adamant about marriage for the sake of the family’s prosperity.

As persuasion became more difficult, Yun Gwan-cheol said to Cha Haneul.

“It’s all unnecessary, so why don’t we just go on a trip together? There are plenty of places to live other than Korea.”

At that moment, Cha Haneul said.

“Running away is good. Fighting to conquer is good too.”

“But. If we do that. We might get hurt. You or your parents.”

“Honestly, because I’m an intruder. It might be better to just slip away… I’ve thought about it. Yeah. But it doesn’t seem like that would work. It would be hard because I love you too much.”

Because humans could use language, unlike animals, they could resolve things through conversation rather than barbaric methods.

If not, they would have perished long ago from fighting amongst themselves.

… Cha Haneul spoke nonsense and then said.

“If we don’t talk properly, some problems will never be resolved. So, I’ll talk to both of you directly.”

“If we don’t talk properly, some problems will never be resolved.”

It sounded like a hallucination.

Even though his wife was dead, he had the delusion that she was alive and speaking.

“So that’s why I keep requesting to talk like this. Sir, please don’t think it’s rude. Please respond to the conversation.”

Clatter, clatter.

Along with the sound of the landscape on the front door, someone rushed into the living room.

“Chaewon! I even left half of the ramen I was eating and ran he… Eek!”

It was Yun Jichang, facing his father with a stern gaze and his son who was startled and not listening.

Yun Jichang.