episode_0120

He clinched the 2nd place in the Chopin Competition held in 2020. He is my role model and the mountain I must overcome in the 2025 Chopin Competition.

He was right in front of me, wearing a warm smile that seemed to anticipate our confrontation.

Caught in a complex state of joy and bewilderment, I lost my composure, raised my voice, and bowed deeply.

“Ah, ah… Hello—!!”

When I raised my head again, Jo Jin-yeol was smiling like Picasso.

Far from childlike innocence, he was like a naive child only in front of the piano. As a pianist. And as a senior looking at me.

To think that such an honorable position exists.

Jung Si-woo was someone I doubted I could meet even if I won the competition.

Well, maybe. If I asked the professor, I could somehow arrange a meeting, but even that was a burden for me.

“In fact, I was a bit complacent when I heard that I would be competing against a pianist on TV. But now… seeing you, Mr. Aclert… my competitive spirit is ignited. I never dreamed that the Larquisimo team would prepare such an event. I had no idea.”

Even this legend is chuckling at my expense.

Stop it. I might lose my mind listening to this. Why are you doing this to me?

“Is that so…? A pro’s strategy to break the ice in advance…?”

A strong opponent who is ahead in relative skill never needs to belittle or mock their opponent, or provoke them. Just praising them is enough to make them fall apart. Why would he do something to diminish his own worth like that?

I’m definitely not talking about Yoon Gwan-cheol.

“Ah… No. It’s me. It’s truly an honor. I was so curious about who would come… and of all people, that Jo Jin-yeol senior…!”

“… Senior? Oh… Do you go to Hanyang University?”

Oops, a mistake.

“Oh. No. It’s… a senior who walks the same path of piano. It’s like that…! Ahaha!”

“Ah. Ahaha! Haha. Right. I mean, I definitely didn’t mean to say that only people from Hanyang University are seniors. Haha.”

“Oh, of course. It’s natural.”

We shook hands, lightly shaking them up and down.

The junior who wanted to emulate our university senior finally greets me like this.

It’s truly an honor. I’m looking forward to what kind of competition it will be.

… Or is it? Is this okay?

‘He’s not just any pianist, he’s Jo Jin-yeol.’

I was excited to meet someone I admire for a moment. But now that I think about it, I might be in big trouble?

He’s not just any pianist, he’s Jo Jin-yeol.

He is a genius pianist and a prodigy who left only one step to win the Chopin Competition in 2021. They were twenty-two then. Now they are twenty-five.

‘I… gave up on making a name for myself as a pianist at twenty-three…’

So there is truly an immense difference between us.

In my mind, I won the competition several times, but so what. I didn’t have any substantial titles.

I always dreamed of standing shoulder to shoulder with him, but reality was not kind. It was painful, and there was never a hopeful moment.

‘But this time is different.’

Jung Si-woo is regaining his color. I am waiting for the moment when he becomes a shining dark horse.

I can make him shine. The ghost of past failures will become a light to support him.

Jo Jin-yeol was 2nd place. Si-woo just needs to be 1st. He just has to make the most of the remaining two years until 2025.

‘Si-woo needs… a good senior.’

I wonder how many stories I can tell myself. And how seriously will I take the advice I give to myself.

Ultimately, in order for someone to grow, it is most effective to realize it themselves or hear it from a respected senior.

In that sense, I felt the need to introduce Mr. Jo Jin-yeol to Siwoo.

“Anyway. I. Really practiced hard. I believe in winning…!”

Mr. Jo Jin-yeol laughed heartily and clapped his hands continuously.

“If the opponent is Aclert, then I must be prepared to lose. Bring it on. I have also prepared thoroughly. The mysterious showdown of Aosora Memorize. The background music of the boss, the three-headed archangel… I practiced hard.”

Mr. Jo Jin-yeol seems to like the pick I chose. How many times will Wannabe receive a Sharaout today? Well done for being alive…!

“Honestly, I thought the game background music would be more monotonous than I thought…. But this. Honestly, it seems like a piece that even Maestro List would evaluate as quite difficult, right? You said you wrote this arrangement yourself?”

“Uh… yes. Well, yes, but….”

“Really amazing. I listened to the original piece too. There’s hardly any difference. It really felt like playing the piano alone for a band.”

The compliments poured endlessly.

It was not just a senior taking care of a junior, but a compliment filled with pure admiration.

Am I interpreting it too much from my perspective? No. Really, no.

Showing such pure enthusiasm for music. And the subject is Min Chaewon, me. Would I not be able to distinguish that level of dedication? Absolutely not.

“I regret not knowing such a good channel and came here today to find out who the opponent is and immediately subscribed. Would you like to see?”

It’s true. He really subscribed.

Even if it was just for the sake of a casual greeting, I would have been happy. But is it really just a casual greeting?

With someone like Mr. Jo Jin-yeol, there would be a line of people willing to like him without having to engage in social life. Yet, he enjoyed interacting with the world like an adult.

Appearing on various talk shows. Showing up on variety shows, fulfilling his duty as a celebrity to promote Korean national prestige and classical culture.

Even the fact that he subscribed to me is a step towards the future to win favor.

“Oh. You already subscribed to my channel? Thank you. I’m embarrassed.”

“Oh, come on. What are you talking about. Embarrassed. If you majored in piano, honestly, you must have watched the Chopin Concours finals two years ago with sweat in your hands.”

In response to my sincere praise, Mr. Jo Jin-yeol clapped his hands in agreement and praised me even more.

As the relay of compliments continued endlessly, what would the result have been?

“Honestly. We should thank people like Aclert. Because, honestly, classical music is closer to the affluent class. And the number of people who enjoy it is decreasing day by day.”

“I think increasing accessibility is the right thing to do. Of course, it would be difficult to collapse the unique musical characteristics of classical music, but personally, I think Mr. Aclert’s level of arrangement can be considered classical. That’s what I think.”

While I was moved by words completely different from those who told me not to waste time on anime, games, and YouTube.

If I continue like this, I might declare defeat before the real showdown. So, I bowed my head in acknowledgment.

“I… It’s really hard to express in words, but I really, really don’t know how to respond to this endless praise…!”

We are opponents in the competition. Building friendship can be done even after the hidden camera content ends.

So let’s say our greetings here today. There’s no reason to dislike supporting Min Chaewon, but for now, she’s the enemy.

“I. I’ve prepared sincerely to beat Jo Jinyeol. It would be good for you to be prepared!”

Jo Jinyeol smiled at my bold declaration, showing his white teeth.

“I’ll look forward to it. Aklerd-nim. After the match, can we be friends?”

“Of course! Oh, by the way… Could I ask for some advice from a friend of mine at Hanye University later?”

However, his question about meeting Siwoo received an uncomfortable response.

“That… Aklerd-nim, think about it if you beat me.”

I felt a strange coldness just now, but it must be my imagination…?

“Meeting a junior is a pleasant thing, but I hope you understand that I came here to meet Aklerd, a YouTube star.”

“Ahaha.”

“Don’t be embarrassed. Well then, I look forward to the next week’s match.”

“Me too!”

Jo Jinyeol bowed his head and finished a short conversation with the content managers before leaving first.

The managers bid him farewell and then rushed over to me, chattering excitedly.

“I really can’t wait to see who will win.”

“Honestly, I think Aklerd-nim could win.”

“Oh… come on, don’t get too carried away.”

“It’s true. Oh, right, I didn’t tell you that story.”

One of them brought out a tablet and opened the list of judges. There was a difference in the lineup compared to the previous hidden camera participants.

Professor Shadae Jang Geonse, who always judged, was absent. Another professor’s photo was in his place.

“Professor Jang Geonse had a sudden schedule change this time.”

“A schedule… change?”

“Yes. Due to a sudden overseas duet concert schedule with Teacher Yoon Gwancheol. He apologized for the sudden change and Teacher Yoon Gwancheol arranged for a substitute.”

As soon as I heard the story, a chill ran down my spine.

That man arranged for a substitute? It’s so obvious. The way he’s blatantly pushing for Jo Jinyeol is so obvious that it’s unbelievable.