Chapter 119
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Translator: 8uhl
Chapter: 119
Chapter Title: The Stradivarius
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“I still can’t believe it.”
“I know, right?”
The violin students at the LA University of Music gathered in the cafeteria, staring at their phones.
Two days ago, the fact that the violin boy was Seojun Lee had been revealed, and Whale Studios began to release information about the movie *Over the Rainbow*.
Besides Seojun Lee, there were other names that caught the students’ eyes, names that stood out more than anyone else: Benjamin Morton and Jayden Moore, who had participated as consultants.
“Professor Benjamin participated too?”
“I had no idea. So that’s why he didn’t do his surprise lectures.”
Benjamin Morton taught a special lecture at the LA University of Music once every two weeks, but sometimes, when he had free time, he would drop by the school regardless of the scheduled lecture time to hold a special class. It was known as the "surprise lecture," and because of it, students would often come to campus even on days they didn't have classes.
“I just thought he went on a trip for summer vacation.”
“Me too. Or that he was helping Jayden Moore with his recital.”
“Oh, did you get a ticket for the recital?”
“No. The venue is the biggest hall in LA, but I think it sold out in the early evening.”
“That's Jayden Moore for you. Professor Benjamin’s prize pupil. I heard famous orchestras are sending him love calls. I've seen a lot of his videos, but I want to hear him live.”
“He’ll be using *that* violin again this time, right?”
At Choi Yuseong’s words, everyone’s eyes lit up.
“The Stradivarius that Professor Benjamin used back in his performing days!”
“A student inheriting his master’s violin… isn’t that so romantic?”
“I prefer Stradivarius over Guarneri.”
While Choi Yuseong and the other students were chatting, Natalie came running from a distance. Stopping right in front of the table, her face was flushed red, as if she was out of breath.
Everyone looked at Natalie with puzzled faces.
“What’s going on?”
“At Breadth Hall, they’re filming…”
Even while panting, Natalie got straight to the point. Breadth Hall was the largest hall at the LA University of Music.
Undergraduate students held their concerts there, and famous orchestras had been invited to perform as well.
“Filming? What are they filming?”
“…Over the Rainbow!”
Wary of the crowded cafeteria, Natalie whispered in a low voice. At her words, Choi Yuseong and his friends perked up their ears as if struck by lightning. Natalie quickly continued.
“They’re filming *Over the Rainbow*. What do you think it means if they’re filming at Breadth Hall? It means Seojun Lee, the main character of the movie, might be there. And there’s a high chance it’ll be a performance scene.”
“But what does filming have to do with us?”
“You want us to watch him leave after they’re done?”
Having caught her breath, Natalie stretched out her hand and pointed in one direction. It was toward the old library. Just as they were thinking that there seemed to be more people heading that way than usual, Natalie spoke.
“They’re recruiting extras to play the audience in front of the old library.”
“…?”
“I already signed up. It’s first-come, first-served!”
Natalie’s words seemed to embed themselves directly into their brains. First-come, first-served! Choi Yuseong and his friends shot up from their seats and ran in the direction Natalie had pointed.
* * *
“We’re trying to gather as diverse a group as possible… but it seems we’re already full.”
“Already?”
“Somehow, they found out and just started showing up on their own.”
A staff member from Whale Studios’ PR team said with a smile. They were in the waiting room of Breadth Hall at the LA University of Music. Seojun, dressed in a black suit, asked.
“Will everyone who signed up come? What if they can’t make it because they’re busy with work?”
“That’s a possibility, but I heard the audience will only be on screen for a very brief moment. It won’t be noticeable. If we’re short, we can just grab some students passing by. This is a university, after all. Well then, Jun. Rest up until the performance.”
After the PR staff member left, An Daho handed Seojun a drink. Taking a sip of orange juice, Seojun said with a smile.
“Somehow, this feels more like a real concert than a film shoot, Daho-hyung.”
“I know, right? Are you nervous?”
“No. I think it’ll be fun. It’s a slightly different field, but it still means that enough people to fill this entire audience came to see me. I’m really looking forward to it.”
Knock, knock.
At the sound of the knock, An Daho got up and opened the door slightly to check the visitor. Even with a bodyguard present, the fact that he was checking everyone himself suggested that his nerves were on edge with so many people coming and going.
“It was bigger than I expected.”
“Jayden!”
“It’s going to be a wonderful performance.”
“Professor Benjamin!”
The visitors were Benjamin Morton and Jayden Moore. Seojun jumped to his feet and greeted the two men, who were impeccably dressed as if they were there to attend a concert, not a film shoot.
Benjamin and Jayden were surprised by Seojun’s attire. His hair was neatly slicked back without a single strand out of place, and the brand-new black tuxedo, which he probably hadn’t worn much, suited him perfectly.
“Dressed like that, you truly look like a violinist.”
“Does it suit me?”
“Yes. Much more than I expected.”
Seojun beamed at the praise from Benjamin and Jayden.
“Are you going to play this violin?”
“Yes. The sound is really nice.”
Jayden Moore silently examined the violin. Even if one could afford a good violin, it was certain that anyone would hesitate to lend it to an eleven-year-old boy.
This was probably the best violin that Director Sarah Rothe and Whale Studios could get their hands on.
“How about this one?”
Jayden Moore placed the bag he was holding on the table. Seojun and An Daho watched as Jayden opened it, wondering what it was.
He had been carrying it so casually that they thought it was an ordinary bag, but it was a violin case.
Benjamin Morton frowned.
“You carry it around in a bag like that?”
“You carried it around so preciously, Master. That’s more likely to make it a target.”
“Or are you just being too reckless?”
“Words from experience,” the boy who had once stolen Benjamin Morton’s violin said with a smirk.
He had thought it must contain money since it was carried so carefully, but it was just a violin. The sense of disappointment the little boy had felt back then…
‘Though it wasn’t a violin you could describe with the word ‘just’.’
Jayden Moore opened the bag. Professor Benjamin shook his head at how easily the case opened.
Ignoring his master’s reaction, Jayden flung the lid open. Inside lay a single violin and a bow.
Seojun and An Daho stared at the dark brown violin nestled quietly within.
To the eyes of two laymen, it was just an expensive-looking violin, but Seojun’s abilities stirred.
They had sensed something contained within the violin. Because of that, Seojun also realized this was no ordinary instrument.
Jayden Moore spoke, as if boasting. It was a violin of a price the clueless little thief could never have imagined.
“It’s a Stradivarius.”
“Whoa—!”
A Stradivarius.
One of the three great masterpieces of violins, it would be worth billions of won at the very least.
Billions of won at least… An Daho gulped.
He looked at the bag Jayden Moore had been carrying, the violin case. His blood ran cold, even though he wasn't the owner, at the sight of him swinging it around so casually.
Seojun had also heard about it from his teacher, Jeong Iseul. It was the violin she dreamed of playing. A Stradivarius, whose terrifying price made it something she couldn't even imagine touching.
“I heard it’s incredibly expensive!”
“I received it from my master, too. As for the price, well, I can guess. So, what will you do? Want to try playing it?”
“Can I really?”
“Of course.”
Jayden and Benjamin both nodded at Seojun’s question. Seojun, a born actor, would probably never hold a real concert. But the two of them were curious to hear the melody of a Stradivarius played by Seojun and Gray.
Seojun’s eyes sparkled as he looked down at the Stradivarius.
* * *
“But…”
Sitting in his assigned seat, Choi Yuseong suddenly wondered if his attire was appropriate.
“Concerts usually have a dress code. And for a movie shoot where every single costume has meaning, is it okay to wear clothes like this?”
Jeans and a t-shirt. He suddenly felt anxious, as if he were in a place he didn't belong. Natalie tapped him on the shoulder.
“It’s fine. There aren’t many people wearing suits.”
As Natalie said, there were hardly any people in suits in the vast audience. It seemed they hadn’t gathered only students; various age groups were visible.
There were chattering children, the couple who owned his favorite pizza place, a couple with their kids, and people who looked like patients. Their attire was neat, but colorful and varied.
“This feels more like a casual performance than a violin recital.”
“Whale Studios will handle it. We just have to enjoy the violin performance.”
“Still, it feels a bit weird watching the concert before the movie comes out. I signed an NDA, but I might spill the beans after a few drinks.”
“That sounds like you. I’ll be fine. I’m more curious about how this concert scene will be used.”
While the audience was filled with anticipation, the film crew also got busy. Director Sarah Rothe checked the background through the camera and inspected the condition of the microphones set up in various places.
They would do post-sync recording, but she wanted to capture the raw vividness of the moment. Before they knew it, it was time to start filming.
Assistant Director Emily called Seojun from the waiting room. Benjamin Morton and Jayden Moore headed to the guest seats, while An Daho followed Seojun, carrying a bag and anxiously eyeing the dark brown violin in Seojun's hands.
Oblivious to his manager’s anxiety, a thoroughly excited Seojun walked up to Director Sarah Rothe.
“Jun. Ready?”
“Yes!”
Sarah Rothe smiled at Seojun’s reply.
“That’s the guest section over there. Catherine and Paul are here too. Jun’s parents are also here, can you see them?”
“Dad came too?”
He’d said he might not be able to make it, but it looked like he managed to come after all. Mom and Dad, whispering to each other, looked like they were on a date.
Professor Benjamin was there, and Jayden too. Huh? In the row behind them were the young woman and man who had lent him the violin during his busking performance.
They kept glancing at the two people in the front seats, looking like they were about to faint.
“Alright. Let’s start filming.”
“Yes!”
Wondering what was up with them, Seojun shifted his focus to preparing for the shoot at Sarah Rothe’s command.
Standing alone on the curtained stage, Seojun let out a deep breath.
With this scene, Gray’s life would come to an end. Unless a sequel was made, no one would know what the future held for Gray. But for Gray, standing at this recital, his heart would be more overwhelmed and happier than anyone else’s.
Seojun decided to do his absolute best as ‘Gray.’
[(Virtue) The Dream Fairy's Basic Violin Lesson activates.]
[(Virtue) The Goblin Violinist's Melody activates.]
[(Virtue) The Elf's Basic Breathing activates.]
The genius violinist Gray Vainie rested his chin on the Stradivarius.
The house lights dimmed slightly, and the curtain slowly opened. A spotlight illuminated the stage, revealing a boy in a black suit.
From all corners of the audience, voices calling out “Jin Natra!” and “Seojun Lee!” could be heard. From the children's section, in particular, many voices were calling for the Blue Dragon.
“Is this okay?”
“I know. Isn’t all that noise going to be recorded?”
“What are they going to do?”
Unlike the worried audience members, Seojun smiled softly and moved his bow, producing the first note.
This time, while playing as Gray, he performed [Dream Fairy, Goblin, Gray's Violin Concerto NO.1], the piece that would be registered as ‘Gray's Violin Concerto, NO.1’.
The Stradivarius translated Gray’s feelings directly into melody.
As the smooth yet vivid sound of the violin filled the hall, the audience gradually fell silent.
Gray’s presence shone brightest when he played the violin.
Whether it was the effect of the spotlight or the aura emanating from him, Gray Vainie stood on stage, sparkling.
His eyes lightly closed, his performance fluid, the melody vibrating through the body.
To those who had watched Gray’s busking, it felt as if he had grown up in an instant.
The performance, which felt all too short, ended, and applause erupted. With a slight nod, Gray raised his bow once more.
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