Chapter 268
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Translator: 8uhl
Chapter: 268
Chapter Title: A Farewell Performance
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January.
From last year to this year, from December to January. The first day of the new year and month.
Staff at a large New York bookstore were bustling about. They had taken down the Christmas decorations and tidied up after closing last night, but there were still finishing touches to be made.
“We need to finish before we open!”
“Yes, sir!”
Everyone responded loudly to the bookstore manager's command. They put up New Year's decorations, cleaned, dusted the books at the front, and checked for any tears or damage.
As expected of New York, a city where people of all races live and work, the bookstore staff came from diverse backgrounds. Among them, one person stood out: an Asian trainee, still finding her footing and wandering about.
The manager smiled slightly and spoke.
“Soojin!”
“Yes!”
“This is the bestseller list. Please check if any books are missing or in the wrong place.”
“Okay!”
Kim Soojin, a Korean student attending a university in New York and working part-time at the bookstore, had her eyes light up at being given a task. She quickly took the paper.
She then headed straight for the bestseller section, located in the most prominent spot in the store.
“Number one... correct. Number two... correct.”
The number one bestseller was placed in the most eye-catching spot, with the number two book right beside it.
*Oh, dust.* As she brushed the dust off a cover with her hand, Kim Soojin’s eyes fell upon a familiar-looking book.
“No way!”
Since Soojin worked the morning shift, she hadn't been part of the cleanup last night and hadn't known about the newly updated bestseller list until just now.
She had even assumed the title on the list was for a different book with the same name.
“...It's not in the wrong place, is it?”
Soojin's gaze returned to the bestseller list. The familiar title and, next to it, the author's name she couldn't believe she'd missed. It was the original novel of the play she had read, watched, admired, and been shocked by.
[*Mirror*]
[Author: Choi Daye]
[Look into Seojun Lee's *Mirror* [■]]
The Korean novel, *Mirror*, identical to its Korean counterpart right down to the cover design and the QR code on the book band, had made it onto the American bestseller list.
Soojin was in constant awe, seeing a Korean book in this faraway country.
“I think this is the first time I've seen a Korean book become a bestseller since I came to the US!”
With an excited expression, she continued checking the bestseller list, her gaze repeatedly drifting toward *Mirror*.
After checking all the books, Soojin stood in front of *Mirror* again.
It felt a bit plain, just sitting there without any special display. She wanted to convey the same emotion and shock she had felt to the customers who would buy this book.
“Hmm.”
*'They're arranged in order from number one, so I can't move it.'*
After a moment of thought, Soojin grinned and turned around.
“Manager!”
A short while later.
The bookstore opened.
Book lovers started arriving early. People first browsed the bestseller section, the most prominent area in the store.
“Looks like these are this month's bestsellers.”
“What looks interesting? Huh? What's with the QR code?”
“I've read this one and this one... A QR code?”
Among the bestsellers, people noticed a particularly eye-catching book. The book, titled *Mirror*, had a QR code on its band, unlike the others.
The QR code on the book band definitely drew people's attention. Some instinctively pulled out their phones, while others picked up the book.
“Look into Seojun Lee's... *Mirror*?”
A man stroking his chin, examining the QR code, the book band, and the summary on the back, opened the book. A few others did the same.
Unlike those who started reading, the people who scanned the QR code tilted their heads at the video that began to play. Some turned down the volume when applause erupted from their phones, while others put in earphones.
On the screen, the curtain rose, revealing a stage.
“A play?”
People looked puzzled.
“Wait. Don't read it yet.”
“Huh?”
A woman who was just about to open the book paused at her friend's call. Her friend was looking toward one side of the bookshelf.
“What is it?”
“Look at that. I guess I didn't see it because it's so small.”
Hearing her, others who were about to read also paused.
“What's going on?”
“It says you should watch the play before reading the book.”
“The play?”
The woman's and everyone else's gazes followed her friend's finger. There, attached to the shelf displaying *Mirror*, was a small white piece of paper.
[1. Scan the QR code and watch the play, *Mirror*.]
[2. Read the novel, *Mirror*.]
Kim Soojin, the bookstore employee who had been looking around, grimaced as she watched the crowd gathered at the bestseller section. She had wanted to promote it with a more elaborate display, but with all the other books, this was the best she could do.
“Still, it's better than nothing, right?”
“Soojin!”
“Yes!”
At the manager's call, Soojin quickly hurried over.
* * *
[Reviews for the novel *Mirror*]
- The play! Watch the play first!
- :( I read the book first! It was still good, but I think it would've been even better if I'd seen the play first.
- Everyone. Repeat after me. Play-Novel-Play!
- Scan the QR code!
- The bookstore I went to had a notice, so I watched the play first! :) What a relief!
= Was it Blue Hole Books in New York?
= Yeah. You too?
= Yep. The sign was a little small, so I did read a bit, but luckily I got to watch the play without seeing the twist!
= Me too! I don't know who did it, but thank you so much! ;)
* * *
[Brown Black's 15th Anniversary Documentary to Air Soon!]
[Novel '*Mirror*' Hits US Bestseller List!]
[Play '*Mirror*' Views Explode!]
[Notice for '*Mirror*' Posted at New York's Blue Hole Books!]
- The Brown Black docu schedule is out?
= Looks like they're using Lee Seojun to boost ratings.
- Wow. A Korean novel is a US bestseller?
= Lee Seojun's play seems to have played a big part in promoting it.
= The QR code on the book band makes it easy to access, too.
= I don't usually read, but I had to check this one out.
= I'm in the US, and it's not just *Mirror*. Other Korean novels are selling well alongside it.
= ...This is insane!
- A notice for *Mirror*. Right, people who don't know Lee Seojun would probably read the book before watching the play.
= For sure. Until now, it was mostly sold to Seojun's fans or people interested in his work, so it didn't need much explanation. But now that it's selling to the general public, they need to do something.
= They could just add the notice to the book band, right?
= I agree, adding a notice should work.
- That international student is amazing! It couldn't have been easy to suggest something like that!
= Props to the manager too lol
* * *
“Making it to the US bestseller list is seriously amazing!”
“So Americans are watching our play?”
“Not just Americans. People all over the world are probably watching it.”
The students of Class 3-2 gathered in their classroom, chattering with excited faces. Seojun joined in their happy conversation.
“Our play got a ton of views, too.”
At the words of Jiho, who was on Team 1, the kids from the other teams grinned and nodded. People who watched the *Mirror* team's play also took an interest in the other students' performances.
Among them were students whose impressive acting caught the eyes of directors and writers. Jiho, Joohee, Jaehan, and a few others received audition offers.
“Are you all going to the auditions?”
The kids nodded at Seojun's question.
“Of course. It's winter break, so we have plenty of time.”
“Yeah. After today's graduation, we're free until the entrance ceremony in March.”
Graduation.
At the mention of that word, the cheerfully chatting students began to slump their shoulders one by one. The expressions of those heading to high schools other than Mirinae Arts High were particularly downcast. *Will I do well in high school?* Seeing their worried faces, Kang Jaehan quickly spoke up.
“Can you believe it's already graduation? Time flies, doesn't it?”
“I know. Three years have passed.”
“But I feel like these last three years were really fulfilling.”
Seojun and the other kids nodded in agreement with Kim Jookyung's words.
“In elementary school, I'd never filmed a movie or a drama, but in middle school, I got to be in a movie and do a play. It was so much fun.”
“Me too. I didn't get to meet Evan Block and Richel Hill, but I got a padded jacket, so I'm happy!”
Jiho laughed at Jaehan and Joohee's comments.
“I never dreamed I'd become friends with a Hollywood star like Lee Seojun...”
“Me neither!”
“Before we started school, I never thought we'd get this close!”
At his friends' words, Seojun just scratched his cheek.
Three years.
It was a shorter time than elementary school, but with fewer students in the acting department, they had grown closer than ever. Seojun looked at his friends, some of whom he might continue to act with, while others would go to different schools and walk entirely different paths.
Despite the effort to lighten the mood, everyone's eyes grew moist, as if they might cry at any moment. Even though they could easily contact each other by phone, the word 'graduation' weighed heavily on them.
After watching his friends for a moment, Seojun picked up his phone and sent a BananaTalk message to his homeroom teacher.
* * *
The graduation ceremony of Yeoul Arts Middle School.
As the time approached, the parents and families of the third-year students began arriving at the school. Seo Eunhye and Lee Minjun also headed to Yeoul Hall, where the ceremony would be held.
“Looks like only two people can enter for the graduation ceremony, just like the entrance ceremony.”
“There isn't enough space for all the families outside to come in.”
“That's true.”
As people entered Yeoul Hall and took their seats, the third-year students soon filed in and sat in the folding chairs at the very front. The parents' section grew noisy as the students entered, everyone busy trying to spot their own children.
Lee Minjun and Seo Eunhye also craned their necks, looking toward the seats for Class 3-2 of the acting department. They searched hard for their son, who always seemed to sparkle wherever he was, but he was nowhere to be seen.
“Seojun isn't there?”
“Maybe he's the third-year representative, like at the entrance ceremony?”
“Ah. That could be it.”
Seo Eunhye nodded at Lee Minjun's words and quickly readied her camera.
A moment later.
The graduation ceremony began.
After the opening address and the pledge of allegiance, the principal gave a congratulatory speech.
“Three years ago, you all had just graduated from elementary school and entered Yeoul Arts Middle School. Now, you are graduating from this school. And you will become freshmen once again.”
The principal looked around at the students watching him.
“You are heading to an unfamiliar place, and it may be frightening. But everyone, think back three years. You were probably scared back then, too. You worried if you could do well in a strange place, among strange friends. But now, look around you.”
At the principal's words, the students looked around, and those who made eye contact with friends and teachers smiled faintly.
“Close friends, good teachers, a familiar school. Everything that was once strange has become familiar. You all did well. You will do well in high school, too. Your high school life will be just as fun and happy as your wonderful middle school years.”
As the principal's speech concluded, applause filled the hall.
[Next, we will have the farewell address from the second-year representative and the reply from the third-year representative.]
At the announcer's words, the second-year and third-year representatives appeared from the side of the stage. The second-year representative was Kim Hanseok, and the third-year representative was Yang Joohee.
The third-year students were briefly surprised, then nodded.
“So Joohee was the third-year representative.”
“Well, Joohee was all over the place for three years. It's rare for a second-year to be a team leader for the year-end performance. Usually, it's a third-year.”
“There isn't a single student in all three departments who doesn't know Yang Joohee.”
“All the teachers probably know her too.”
After the farewell and reply addresses, the applauding students tilted their heads in confusion.
“Then where did Seojun go?”
[Next, we will have a special graduation performance.]
A special performance?
The gazes of the students and parents turned to the stage. Somehow, they all had the same thought. As Seo Eunhye and a few other parents switched their cameras to video mode, a student walked out from the side of the stage.
It was Seojun.
“Whoa!!”
Seeing the violin in Seojun's hands, cheers and applause erupted from the students and parents. The teachers and the people from the ATR Foundation also looked excited.
Seojun walked to the center of the stage, bathed in applause and cheers. The stage lights dimmed, and a single spotlight followed him.
Standing in the center of the stage under the spotlight, Seojun bowed deeply. Another round of cheers and applause broke out.
“Aaaah! A violin!!”
“Seojun!”
“Lee Seojun!!”
Seojun smiled faintly at the particularly loud cheers from the violin and acting majors, then rested his chin on his violin.
Instantly, a hush fell over Yeoul Hall, which had been filled with cheers and applause. It was so quiet you could hear a pin drop. The violin majors watched Seojun, their eyes gleaming.
The heavy silence, where one dared not even swallow, was pierced by the sound of a violin.
"Over the Rainbow" echoed through Yeoul Hall.
Excitement.
Joy.
Despair.
And brilliance!
For his graduating friends, Seojun played the violin with all his heart. From the sealed ceiling above, pure white feathers began to fall. The delicate feathers drifted down, disappearing with a soft shimmer as they touched the students.
[[Good] Generous Baby Angel's Wing Feather - Low Grade - is activated.]
[[Good] Generous Baby Angel's Wing Feather - Low Grade]
A wing feather from a generous baby angel.
It slightly purifies the hearts of those who see it.
It can bestow a small blessing once a day.
Hoping that only good things would happen to his friends moving on to different schools, and that even if they faced hardships, they would achieve a brilliant future like Gray, Seojun played "Over the Rainbow" more sincerely than ever before.