Chapter 76
Chapter 76
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Translator: Ace
Chapter: 76
Chapter Title: Boston's Traffic Vanguard
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Click.
Winter closed her laptop and gazed out the window.
The summer heat had faded, replaced by late autumn rain. Raindrops slid down the glass, refracting the light.
On the desk lay a freshly recorded CD.
[Han Winter Private Session Vol. 4]
Seo-ha had said he was fine, but she couldn't help worrying, so she'd recorded this performance. Sending it by mail would get it to the US in no time.
"...I wonder if he's doing okay. He never says if he's sick or anything."
Winter sat at the piano bench and pressed a key.
A low D chord rumbled deeply. The vibration reminded her of what had happened with Seo-ha not long ago.
Her face had flushed bright red.
To make up for the time she'd taken off, Winter threw herself into competitions at home and abroad without discrimination.
From Seoul to Singapore to Tokyo, she dominated stages big and small, sweeping first place in every one.
At first, it was just venting frustration.
But as the performances continued, Winter sensed her piano playing had changed.
The nuances grew finer, emotions deeper. She realized she'd finally shed her student skin to become a true musician.
Thump thump.
She placed a hand on her chest.
The quiet heartbeat she'd heard that day.
Its steady, warm rhythm now shone like a lantern dispelling the darkness within her.
Now, even in practice sessions—not just competitions—Winter could pour rich emotion into her playing.
During her lesson,
her piano teacher Im Seon-hwa looked at Winter with warm eyes.
"Winter, Juilliard is great, but why not apply to Curtis too?"
Winter's hands hesitated.
Curtis Institute of Music—
an elite school with only about 150 students total, admitting just thirty freshmen.
For piano majors, maybe ten at most.
The world's most selective music conservatory.
"Suddenly? You supported me going to Juilliard before."
Seon-hwa smiled softly.
"Back then, you hadn't shown the skill to get into Curtis."
A surge of emotion welled up, but it made sense.
"You graduated from Curtis, right, Teacher?"
One of Korea's few world-class pianists, she'd often mentioned her Curtis days in interviews Winter had read.
"Yes. It was the harshest yet most beautiful time of my life."
Her eyes grew wistful with memories.
"Your technique was already perfect. But Curtis looks at the soul. You need to play with your spirit."
"You think I qualify now?"
Seon-hwa nodded.
Curtis was in Philadelphia, right next to New York.
"I'll give it a shot. I want to do my absolute best."
It felt like if she stayed still, he'd drift even farther away.
Just as Seo-ha was building his own world, Winter wanted to earn the right to stand beside him.
These days, Whitman brimmed with vitality.
After thirty years juggling administration and research as professor and now dean, he should have been weary at his age—but his steps were lighter than ever.
Whitman set down his coffee mug and skimmed the report from the faculty meeting.
An official document from Boston City Hall.
He'd assigned one task, and now he'd set an entire city in motion.
Today's agenda was Yoo Seo-ha.
MIT had no precedent for designating an undergrad as an official researcher on a government project.
"Can't we just have him join as a research assistant? Undergrads can't bear legal responsibility. No need to complicate admin."
One professor ventured cautiously.
Thud.
Whitman set down his pen.
"The mayor saw that student's algorithm and asked us for a proposal. And you're saying we'll relegate him to assistant because no degree? That'd be declaring we're stealing his knowledge."
The room fell silent instantly.
"I know what you're worried about. I'll list myself as PI—Principal Investigator—and handle all legal and admin for him. But how about registering him as co-investigator, giving him lead on the research?"
"A undergrad as co-investigator?"
"Unprecedented. Not sure the ethics board will approve."
Professors murmured.
Co-investigators got massive perks: hefty pay and grants, dedicated office and computing resources, priority equipment booking, even hiring assistants.
Usually reserved for postdocs.
Above all, rights to TLO-managed IP shares.
Whitman raised his hand to speak.
"We're talking principles, but really we're scared. Don't stifle a researcher's drive with 'no precedent.' Our core value is great human intellect—never judged by age or degree."
Professors nodded in agreement.
"Galois never even entered university."
"Abel had no PhD."
The chair reread the motion.
"Appoint Yoo Seo-ha as co-investigator in MIT Mathematics. PI: Dean Whitman, who assumes all admin and legal responsibility. IP shares per TLO bylaws."
TLO clearly defined university IP: 1/3 inventor, 1/3 department, 1/3 MIT.
If the project scaled nationwide, Seo-ha's work would be worth a fortune.
"All in favor?"
Hands rose one by one.
Unanimously, Seo-ha became MIT's first undergraduate co-investigator.
A new nameplate appeared at the end of the second floor of the math building.
The door opened to a rush of fresh paint and oil from the new building.
Three walls—save the windows—were full blackboards, still wrapped in plastic.
Whew!
Root whistled.
"All this is yours?"
"I've been at MIT three years, never seen anything like it."
"Better than prof offices, right?"
Entropy and Cipher gaped.
Seo-ha smiled awkwardly and unrolled the blueprints. MIT had customized it exactly as requested.
"That workstation is killer."
"Touchscreen board's top-tier. Huge too."
Not tech-savvy, Seo-ha had consulted them for gear.
The result was no undergrad lab—it was pro-level.
Mini 3D printer for city models, precision digital pen and tablet, notebook docking station, network setup.
Hacker heaven.
"I'm moving in!"
Entropy spun in the chair like a kid.
"I'd live here too. No rent—what a steal."
Root pointed to the sofa.
"Just need the network hooked up."
Cipher pinged the traffic bureau.
The room linked to their auxiliary server via secure gateway.
"Connected."
Green light on the monitor as Cipher typed.
"Auth token good. Encrypted channel open. Data feed incoming."
The screen flickered, then real-time numbers and graphs poured in.
Intersections lit up on the map.
Boston-wide signals, traffic volume, queue lengths—all streaming to the server.
Root marveled.
"Whoa, it's like watching the whole city pulse."
"Deputy Director Alan said he'd share max data."
Somehow, things progressed smoothly.
Seo-ha had nearly everything he needed.
After Spectra Works left, Seo-ha surveyed his lab slowly.
His first personal space ever.
Plop.
He slumped into the chair, spinning like Entropy.
"Gonna crank out so much research here."
He recalled sneaking into classrooms to prove the Four Color Theorem.
Those days were over.
Riiip—
He peeled the plastic from the blackboard.
Cool to the touch—he liked it.
Excitement buzzing, he bounced around, finally crashing onto the sofa.
Sink into plush cushions.
Laughter bubbled up.
"Hahaha! This isn't a dream, right?"
Arms wide, he rolled around yelling victory.
Turning his head, he saw Ellie and Jason stifling grins.
Face flushing, Seo-ha bolted up.
Suddenly, Ellie and Jason screamed and tackled him.
"Kyaaaaah!"
"Victoryyy! We did it!"
They ruffled his hair wildly.
Seo-ha wasn't the only one tasting project success.
"Thanks for picking us!"
"I'll work super hard!"
He'd chosen them as his allocated assistants.
No equity, but great for resumes, plus solid pay.
"Cheers!"
They toasted with vending machine Mountain Dew.