Chapter 355
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Translator: 8uhl
Chapter: 355
Chapter Title: The Unforeseen Virtuoso
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As the first note flowed from Subin’s violin, the hand of Yulia Winter, holding a red pen, froze. It was the same hand that had moved busily to ensure accurate scoring while listening to the other contestants.
Unaware of her own stillness, Yulia Winter’s head lifted on its own. The other judges’ gazes also turned toward the stage. None of them bothered to hide their astonished expressions.
Under the bright lights.
A young violinist stood.
His right hand holding the bow and the fingers on the violin strings moved busily. He looked the same as the other contestants, but the sound that emerged was different.
Yulia Winter could feel that everyone in the hall was focused on that young violinist. Even the judges, who had heard countless violin performances, seemed to have forgotten they were supposed to be scoring, simply staring, mesmerized, at the young musician.
Having half-jokingly considered the possibility of finding a gem, Yulia Winter now felt every nerve in her body stand on end as she tried not to miss a single note. Her eyes were fixed on the fingers pressing the strings and the bow drawing across them.
Perhaps it was because she had been thinking of *Over the Rainbow* just a moment ago.
For some reason, Yulia Winter felt she could understand how the director must have felt upon first discovering the actor Seojun Lee. She was shocked by a talent she had never seen or heard before, and a desire welled up within her to nurture that talent and introduce it to the world.
While Yulia Winter’s eyes gleamed, the audience was filled not with the silence of boredom, but with a hush intended to better hear the beautiful melody.
Up until contestant number 14, they had been mentally comparing the performers to their own sons and daughters they had come to support, but now, such thoughts had vanished completely.
It felt as if they were at a concert by a famous violinist. It was a sorry thought to have about their own children, but,
‘He’s really good.’
The audience swallowed the exclamations that threatened to burst forth and listened intently to the violin’s melody.
Subin’s violin performance, harmonizing with the piano accompaniment, reached the waiting rooms for the other divisions of the competition. The contestants, who had been smiling and calling the final, smaller-than-average contestant on the TV cute, all fell silent at once.
A heavy silence descended upon the middle school, high school, and general divisions alike.
Someone swallowed hard. Someone else’s hands trembled. Their reactions varied, but no one could take their eyes off the TV. The contestants knew more about the violin than the general audience, allowing them to better grasp the sheer talent of the small performer.
“...Crazy.”
The first-year music and violin majors from Mirinae Arts High managed to utter just one word in response to the performance of ‘Seojun Lee-sunbaenim’s’ ‘acquaintance’s little brother.’
The violin performance by Subin, which everyone wished would continue, came to an end.
The final note lingered, then slowly faded. Silence flowed. The audience savored even that silence, as if it were part of the performance.
With his cheeks flushed red, Subin caught his breath and lifted his chin from the violin. He then bowed deeply to the silent audience. It was a little disappointing not to hear applause at a competition, but it was okay.
‘I have to ask Seojun-hyung and Eunsu how I did!’
The piano accompanist, Choi Soohui, also rose from her seat. Just as Kim Subin saw his mother give him a thumbs-up and was about to leave the stage with a bright smile,
Clap, clap, clap!!
A torrent of applause erupted from the audience.
Kim Hanseok and his friends couldn’t hold back any longer, letting their hands move freely. Their palms grew hot as they clapped rapidly. They were applauding a magnificent performance, but their feelings were complicated.
“They say age doesn’t matter here, but… that kid’s talent is insane.”
“Are the others going to be okay?”
Kim Hanseok thought of his friends in the music department who must be watching this on TV in the waiting room. A first-year from the art department smiled wryly, not stopping his applause.
“They won’t be okay. But is it just one or two prodigies who suddenly appear in the art world? It’s hard to keep going if you let every single one get to you.”
“That’s true.”
“Well, it’s not like he can go to every single event by himself. Let’s just think of him as the music world’s Seojun Lee-sunbaenim. It would be great if the music scene grows thanks to him, just like with Seojun Lee-sunbaenim.”
The other kids nodded at the words of the first-year piano major.
* * *
The middle school division of the competition began.
The middle schoolers, affected by the performance of elementary division contestant number 15 just before them, struggled to perform at their best. Despite their shaky performances, the judges graded them coolly.
“We took a longer break than scheduled, but it seems it wasn’t enough for them to recover their mental state.”
“When a talent like that appears right before you, it makes you think, ‘What was I doing at that age?’”
“But this kind of thing happens often in international competitions.”
The three judges nodded at Yulia Winter’s words.
“In domestic competitions, most contestants are of similar ages and participate in similar events, so they’re familiar with each other’s faces and skills. That’s why the winners are often the same kids. Like frogs in a well, so to speak.”
“And a huge boulder just dropped into that well.”
The violinist’s comment brought smiles to their faces.
They were thinking of the ‘huge boulder,’ elementary contestant number 15, but it was also because there were middle schoolers who had shown great composure even in such a difficult situation.
“There were contestants who calmly delivered their best despite the crisis. With that kind of mentality, their skills will improve quickly.”
“The rankings will change a lot this time.”
“I’m looking forward to the high school and general divisions as well.”
They were only halfway through, but it was already a turbulent competition in many ways.
* * *
While the middle school competition was underway, Seojun and the families had lunch at a nearby restaurant.
The menu was Chinese food.
The three families gathered around a circular table.
Of course, the seats on either side of Seojun were occupied by Eunsu and Subin.
A short while after they ordered.
The table was filled with dishes ordered to each person’s taste.
Eunsu shot her hand up.
“I’ll mix it!”
“Alright.”
Seojun placed a bowl of jajangmyeon in front of her, and Eunsu began to mix it with a serious expression. Her face was one of deep concentration, ensuring the jet-black sauce coated every strand of the pure white noodles.
Subin, who must have been hungry from the tension, was quietly munching on his jajangmyeon and tangsuyuk.
“Subin, chew your food well.”
“Okay!”
At Seojun’s words, Subin, with black jajangmyeon sauce smeared around his mouth, giggled.
The adults couldn’t help but laugh at the sight.
“Seeing him on stage earlier feels like a dream.”
“I know, right?”
Everyone ate slowly, chatting amongst themselves.
“Up to what place do they get awards?”
At Seo Eunchan’s question, Kim Heesang, who was eating jjambbong, answered.
“Up to third place. Gold, silver, and bronze. But I heard there was a time when they didn't even award a bronze prize.”
Everyone looked surprised at his words.
“The judging criteria must be very strict.”
“But that also means it’s a fair competition.”
“That’s right. It’s better than passing someone just because they know a judge. It’s no joke in this field.”
Everyone nodded at the words of Kim Sooryun, the head of Cocoa Entertainment’s PR team, who had heard all sorts of stories in her line of work.
* * *
After lunch, Seojun and Subin headed to the Eunhasu Center’s annex building to watch the high school competition.
“We’ll be back for the awards ceremony then.”
“See you later! Seojun-oppa! Subin-oppa!”
As everyone expected, Eunsu was headed to the kids’ cafe. Her expression was full of disappointment, but her feet, holding her parents’ hands, were as light as if walking on clouds as she made her way there.
“Subin. Should we watch until the general division? Or just the high school part and then go to the kids’ cafe?”
“Umm.”
At Seojun’s question, Subin, who was holding Seojun’s hand tightly, fell into deep thought with a serious expression. It seemed he wanted to listen to the violin performances but also wanted to play with Eunsu at the kids’ cafe.
After a moment of deliberation, Subin spoke.
“I want to go to the kids’ cafe!”
“Okay. Let’s do that.”
Seojun smiled warmly at Subin’s decision.
Excited at the thought of both listening to violin music and going to the kids’ cafe, Subin walked with Seojun. As they entered the wide-open second hall, they saw the acquaintances and families of the high school contestants seated.
Seojun and Subin also found a suitable spot to sit.
Seojun handed a drink to Subin, who was dangling his legs, and his gaze shifted to the people around them. They were whispering to each other, but Seojun’s sharp hearing picked it up clearly.
“The elementary division? An elementary schooler was that good?”
“I’m telling you. My kid was a crying mess.”
He could hear them talking about Subin.
‘They must have TVs in the waiting rooms…’
It seemed Subin’s performance had affected the contestants in the waiting rooms. It might have been different if they were older, but for middle schoolers, the skill gap must have been a source of great frustration.
“I heard the accompanists are also asking around to find out which academy he’s from.”
“I know, right? I wonder which academy he attends. If it’s in Seoul, I’d want to switch…”
But the people’s conversations didn’t last long. The short break ended, and the high school competition began.
Just like in the elementary division, the judges entered and the curtain rose. A grand piano sat on the spacious stage, and the accompanist and a contestant walked out.
‘He’s first.’
The first contestant in the high school division was the first-year violin major they had met earlier. The first note flowed from his violin, and Seojun and Subin listened intently to the melody.
* * *
[We will now begin the awards ceremony for the 8th ATR Violin Competition.]
The contestants who had given up early due to mistakes on stage, along with their families, had already left. The families of those who held onto a sliver of hope remained in their seats.
The contestants sat in the front row of the audience so they could go up on stage immediately if their names were called.
Seojun and Eunsu, sitting in the audience, held bouquets. Seojun had a bouquet of purple lilacs, while Eunsu held a bouquet of yellow freesias and another of pink roses.
“This one is Eunsu’s!”
Eunsu handed the pink rose bouquet to her dad sitting next to her, then hugged the yellow freesia bouquet tightly, smiling as brightly as a flower.
“Do you like it?”
“Yes!”
Seojun smiled along with Eunsu.
He had bought two bouquets, worried that Eunsu would be disappointed if only Subin received one. He was glad she liked it.
[Elementary Division, Bronze Prize.]
A child whose name was called walked toward the stage with a flushed face.
On stage, the chairman of the ATR Foundation stood holding a trophy and a bouquet. It was a face Seojun was familiar with from seeing him at the entrance and graduation ceremonies of Yeoul Arts Middle School and Mirinae Arts High, which felt strange.
[Middle School Division, Bronze Prize.]
The middle schooler whose name was called stood up hesitantly with a look of disbelief. His family seemed just as shocked, unable to even applaud.
But applause soon broke out, and the middle schooler headed to the stage with a reddened face.
“Isn’t he one of the kids who usually doesn’t rank?”
“I think so. This is probably his first time winning an award at a competition.”
Two people who looked like academy instructors were talking.
“Huh. Really?”
“Most of the top-ranking kids in the middle school division made mistakes this time. I only watched the middle school part so I don’t know for sure, but I heard it’s because the kid who performed last in the elementary division was too good.”
“? Isn’t it the same for any competition to have talented kids?”
“That’s what I’m saying. I don’t know what happened.”
Hmm.
Seojun scratched his cheek.
If that talented kid was a second-grader, it would be quite a shock.
‘And he wasn’t just good, he was shockingly good.’
Our Subin is the best.
Seojun, nodding with a proud face, turned his head back to the stage.
[Elementary Division, Silver Prize.]
The child who went on stage smiled brightly and bowed deeply. The sound of applause filled the air, and camera flashes went off.
[There is no Silver Prize for the Middle School Division.]
The audience stirred at the announcement.
The faces of the middle school contestants’ families, in particular, grew grim.
“Does that mean there’s no gold prize either?”
“I wonder…”
The silver prizes for the high school and general divisions were announced, and finally.
Only the gold prize remained.
[Elementary Division, Gold Prize.]
Even before a name was called, the gazes of those who had watched the elementary division performances focused on one spot. The judges, who had unanimously decided on the gold prize without a moment’s hesitation, also looked excited.
Seojun and Eunsu prepared to clap, and the adults readied their cameras.
[Maesil Elementary School, 2nd Grade. Kim Subin.]
Subin stood up, smiling brightly.
The loudest applause of the day filled the hall.
While Seojun and Eunsu clapped with all their might, the adults raised their cameras and snapped photo after photo.
With a beaming smile, Subin trotted on his short legs and climbed onto the stage.
The chairman, who had heard the stories but was briefly surprised by how small the child was, smiled gently and handed him the bouquet and trophy.
“Congratulations, Subin. I look forward to hearing more wonderful performances from you in the future.”
“Yes! Thank you!”
Subin bowed deeply to the chairman, then hugged the bouquet and trophy to his chest and looked out at the audience.
Amidst the sparkling camera flashes, it somehow felt like the figures of his mom, dad, Seojun-hyung, and Eunsu sitting in the audience looked bigger than life, and Subin smiled radiantly.
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