Chapter Index





    This school gathered all sorts of prodigies.

    Just look at Juho, an aspiring film director. There was even a poet who’d published a collection in childhood. Rumors said there was an up-and-coming equestrian too, which made So-yul’s piano prodigy status seem almost ordinary in comparison.

    This was also why VIP guests kept coming and going during the arts festival.

    Visitors interested in specific fields only needed to see what they came for. There was no need to arrive right at the opening time. Though it might be poor manners, it was hard to criticize.

    Of course, this meant endless work for me.

    “So you see, when our Si-u said they’d enter this school, as their mother…”

    Walking from the main gate escorting a VIP.

    I was suffering through praise about Si-u that I had absolutely no interest in.

    Even if everything else was fine, who was Si-u anyway? Being in the academic track, I had no way of knowing. I didn’t know their name or face, maybe not even their grade. I might not have even passed them in the hallway.

    Yet after hearing about their growth process and episodes leading up to enrollment here, I was starting to feel oddly familiar with them. I even learned they had a habit of crying when nervous.

    “…isn’t that something? Really, truly.”

    “Ah, yes. That’s interesting…”

    When I responded while hiding my disinterest, the woman clapped her hands and cackled.

    Though she was decorated with what looked like luxury clothes, handbag, ring and watch, her laugh was exactly like a neighborhood auntie’s.

    In a way, this was natural.

    Today was the arts festival with outside guests. It was a chance to show off their children’s abilities in front of many people. I could understand not being able to hold back bragging about their children.

    In fact, I’d been enduring similar stories all morning.

    The desire to praise one’s children must be the same for everyone.

    “Oh my, oh my, even finding my seat for me. How can I thank you enough?”

    When I showed her to her seat based on the seat number, the woman expressed gratitude with a gentle smile.

    “Ahaha. It’s nothing.”

    “Is that so? Alright. Come visit our house with Si-u sometime. I’ll treat you to a nice meal.”

    “Yes, thank you. I’ll visit if I get the chance.”

    “Good.”

    As the woman laughed hohoho, I bowed my head at her warm kindness, then turned around.

    Though I never did find out who Si-u was…

    Well, I’d successfully escorted another VIP guest.

    More guests would keep coming, so being lazy would only hurt me. I should hurry back to the main gate.

    Just as I was about to move with this thought, I caught the MC’s words floating past my ears: ‘Now let’s wrap up the congratulatory remarks.’

    Looking back, the MC stood center stage with a bright smile.

    After a moment, their smiling lips slowly opened:

    “Now, let’s begin the arts festival with outside guests!”

    Bang.

    Along with the MC’s opening declaration, fireworks popped and the auditorium lights flickered. Cheers and applause rang out, boosted by the brilliant light show.

    With half the seats filled, it should have been louder. But academic track students were already dozing off, and the various field experts just sat with crossed arms. No wonder the response seemed lacking compared to the crowd size.

    Still, looking at it now, there really were a lot of spectators.

    They said it was designed spaciously for performances from the start. Now half that huge space was filled. It really drove home the school’s reputation.

    For So-yul’s stage, the climax of today, there might be even more people than now.

    And among them… So-yul’s parents would be included.

    Somehow I felt nervous myself.

    Well, there were guests piling up to escort, and So-yul’s performance wouldn’t start until around 7. Until then, I had no choice but to mindlessly go back and forth. This was also my small way of helping So-yul’s performance.

    So I shook my head to clear my mind and stepped toward the main gate again.

    “Phew…”

    After the final wave passed and the stream of guests finally slowed at 6:30.

    I sat in a chair by the main gate and let out a deep sigh.

    I hadn’t known there would be so many late arrivals.

    From around 5:30, guests had poured in non-stop, forcing me to move almost at a run. From what I overheard while escorting them, most seemed to be people from the music or piano industry.

    Some probably came to see the orchestra club performing before So-yul. There might also be parents who missed their children’s performances due to schedules and came late.

    What was certain was that only people here to hear So-yul’s performance remained in the auditorium now.

    So this was the weight of expectations So-yul lived with.

    It was a moment of sudden realization.

    Anyway, there didn’t seem to be any more guests coming. Even if there were, I hoped they’d find their seats themselves.

    So-yul’s performance would start soon. I wanted to start wrapping things up.

    Just as I stood from the chair with this thought.

    From outside the main gate, unexpected voices carried over:

    “…Mrs. Han, is there anything you need? There’s a Starbucks right ahead, if you’d like a cold iced americano…”

    “No thanks.”

    A familiar voice offering disgustingly excessive kindness.

    A sharp voice flatly rejecting it.

    Looking beyond the gate revealed an unexpected scene.

    The usually stern head of student affairs was walking while wringing their hands. They stared intensely at one spot while rubbing their hands so hard their palm lines might disappear. The so-called ‘saba-saba’.

    Their gaze was fixed on a couple walking beside them.

    The woman with linked arms wore luxury brands famous enough that even I recognized them. Her fierce eyes looked ready to shoot lasers. Deep wrinkles marked her brow, showing how annoyed she was about something.

    Beside her, a tall man wore a bitter smile. Though not openly irritated like the woman, he also seemed quite displeased.

    At this point, a vague premonition crossed my mind.

    As if to prove it, the head of student affairs’ words drifted over:

    “Anyway So-yul’s parents, thank you so much for coming such a long way.”

    So that’s who they were.

    Either way, they were VIPs all the same.

    The role of escorting So-yul’s parents to the auditorium inevitably fell to me.

    Just from their behavior so far, they were clearly not ordinary guests. Yet surprisingly, they were treated exactly the same as other guests.

    Well, if other guests noticed different treatment, they might complain about discrimination. I figured there was no choice.

    Perhaps sensing my unease, the head of student affairs whispered to me:

    “They’re important people so absolutely don’t say anything strange. Don’t talk back either. No, just smile if they say anything. Got it?”

    Why don’t you escort them yourself then… But I just nodded silently without voicing this thought.

    The head of student affairs snorted and walked away.

    And so, only So-yul’s mother and father and I were left standing at the main gate.

    Of course, there was no reason to act differently in front of So-yul’s parents.

    The fact that I was So-yul’s fake boyfriend was a secret anyway. Even if it weren’t, it would be the same. Since our relationship was like a contract, there was absolutely no reason to treat her parents differently.

    Treat them exactly like other guests, exactly the same.

    After repeating this in my head several times, I opened my lips:

    “Hello. I’m Min Woo-jin, second year academic track. I’ll escort you to the auditorium where the arts festival is being held.”

    “…”

    However, they didn’t treat me the same.

    Until now, guests had at least nodded their heads when greeted. But So-yul’s mother just stared at me intently with her head held high.

    As I met that gaze directly, So-yul’s father finally spoke:

    “Ah, right. Please do.”

    An emotionless voice.

    Well, at least I got a response. I moved my gaze away and started walking toward the auditorium. Footsteps followed about two steps to the side.

    For quite a while after starting like this.

    No conversation passed between the three of us.

    Even if not with me as a stranger, shouldn’t parents talk to each other? At least all the guests until now had. I’d been forced to watch them chattering excitedly about seeing their children’s fancy performances.

    But now was completely opposite.

    Since earlier, So-yul’s mother and father hadn’t exchanged a single word.

    The silence was heavy. The quiet felt rather loud. Walking together with mouths shut made it hard for me to even breathe.

    Because of this, I ended up speaking:

    “Many guests rushed in just before you arrived. Maybe they’re all here just to see Han So-yul’s final performance.”

    “…”

    But there was no answer or agreement at all.

    If anything, the atmosphere seemed to grow even quieter.

    Though they must have heard, they didn’t even acknowledge it, making things quite awkward. As I fidgeted with my unnaturally itchy nape, So-yul’s father finally gave an awkward “haha” laugh.

    “Ah… Is that so?”

    “Yes. Some might be here to see the piano prodigy, but most seemed to be coming to really verify her skills.”

    “Hmm.”

    So-yul’s father nodded unnaturally.

    Well, at least the conversation hadn’t died completely. I decided to keep talking regardless:

    “It’s really amazing anyway. I heard rumors she plays piano even while cutting into sleep. Maybe that effort is why.”

    “Ah yes, right. Practice time is important.”

    So-yul’s father agreed in a clumsy tone.

    …Or so I understood, but what followed was slightly different:

    “Though plenty of people get nowhere no matter how hard they struggle their whole lives.”

    An utterly cold statement.

    Yet somehow, only when saying these words did So-yul’s father seem sincere.

    Some people get nowhere no matter how hard they struggle their whole lives. Not just some – there were plenty. Though ruthlessly cold, it was an extremely realistic statement.

    I’d felt the same at this school. Some students got good grades with little study, while others got poor grades despite studying a lot.

    I voiced my thoughts directly:

    “Then is Han So-yul doing so well… all thanks to inheriting her mother and father’s excellent talents?”

    For a moment, the atmosphere around us froze solid.

    A chilling sensation arose where not even breathing could be heard, let alone footsteps or voices.

    So-yul’s father’s bitter laugh rang out clearly.

    In this ominous atmosphere, I realized one thing clearly.

    I had probably just crossed a dangerous line.

    “Ah, I’m sorry. I’d heard somewhere that you were amazing people. I apologize if I’ve offended you.”

    I quickly repeated apologies. I didn’t forget to bow my head repeatedly either.

    These were people important enough for the head of student affairs to emphasize after all. The priority was damage control.

    “No… It’s not quite offensive.”

    So-yul’s father waved one hand at my apology.

    Well, no matter what, I was just a high school student. It would be ridiculous for adults to create an atmosphere of power struggle.

    But it seemed there was one person who didn’t find it ridiculous.

    So-yul’s mother, who had maintained silence, turned her head. Noticing the sign and turning with her, I found her piercing eyes glaring at me. A strange charisma seemed to emanate from her bloodshot eyes.

    Then So-yul’s mother finally parted her lips and:

    “You seem very interested in So-yul.”

    After throwing out just these words, she turned forward again.

    Well, that’s because we have a special relationship.

    I didn’t have the guts to say such a thing.


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