Chapter 39
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Translator: 8uhl
Chapter: 39
Chapter Title: Destiny
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It seems like you're unconsciously putting too much force into your left wrist. That must make it difficult to move and produce sound...
Yuhyeon's low voice echoed through the workshop.
Oh? Really?
Kim Seunga asked back, a bewildered look on her face.
Her expression showed she had no idea she even had such a habit.
Have you been practicing your wrist vibrato consistently?
I have, but...
Yuhyeon's eyes narrowed for a moment.
It's not an issue with her fundamentals, and there are no signs of a wrist injury.
If she had injured her wrist, she would be moving it more consciously.
After all, no one wants to reinjure a hurt body part.
After a moment of thought, Yuhyeon asked calmly.
Have you by any chance grown taller recently?
Taller? Me?
I think you probably have.
Whoa...
Kim Seunga's eyes widened.
It wasn't because of the random question, but because she had actually grown about 4cm in the past few months.
How on earth did he know that? And he was a complete stranger, too.
When your body changes, your original posture can sometimes become unsuitable. Shall we try adjusting your posture?
As if mesmerized, Kim Seunga gripped her bow and rested the violin on her chin.
Yuhyeon approached her and began correcting her posture, touching her elbow and wrist.
Squeeze your shoulder blades more, and relax your arm and hand.
Uh, u-uh, yes!
Try playing like this.
At Yuhyeon's words, Kim Seunga drew her bow as if she had been waiting for the signal.
Ziiiing!
A bright, clear resonance filled the workshop.
At the same time, her eyes widened.
Huh? Oh?
She had only received a few corrections, but even to her own ears, the sound was much more comfortable.
Most importantly, the strain on her wrist had completely vanished.
This feels much more comfortable, teacher.
Yuhyeon smirked as her form of address naturally changed to "teacher."
From now on, it would be good to keep adjusting your posture according to your body.
A standard technique certainly exists.
But technique is ultimately a fixed form, while people are constantly changing.
Some people are born short, and some are born with small hands.
In such cases, it's necessary to adjust one's posture to fit their own circumstances at any time.
The most comfortable posture for your own body is the best posture.
Ah...
Kim Seunga repeated in a daze.
Until now, she had never thought of changing her posture.
To be precise, she had always thought she shouldn't deviate from the standard posture.
Shall we try playing one more time?
Sh-should I start right away?
No, let's try something a little different this time.
Yuhyeon said in a calm tone.
You seem to have a decent sense for the technical aspects. How about we add some musical interpretation to it?
Musical interpretation...?
The characteristic of this piece is that it captures the rich sounds and atmosphere of nature. Shall we try to imbue the piece with that?
Kim Seunga tilted her head.
Of course, she knew about Mendelssohn's characteristics.
But was capturing the rich sounds and atmosphere of nature something she could just conjure up on the spot?
Have you ever been to a forest?
A forest? I have, but...
Imagine you're in a vast forest. If it's hard to imagine, you can think of a place you traveled to with your family. The sea, mountains, fields, anywhere is fine.
Kim Seunga gently closed her eyes and tried to imagine.
A breeze is blowing through the forest. You can hear sparrows chirping and leaves rustling. Picture yourself, Seunga, holding your violin in that forest filled with various sounds.
She pictured herself just as Yuhyeon described.
A cool breeze, the rustling sound...
The more she imagined, the calmer and more serene her body became, as if sinking into sleep.
Just then, Yuhyeon's low voice seeped into her ears.
Slowly, feel that emotion and start playing. Very slowly...
At his words, Kim Seunga gently drew her bow.
Ziiing.
A soft and beautiful melody resonated through the workshop.
Kim Seunga simply moved her bow, faithful to the emotions she felt.
Imagining herself standing in the middle of a vast forest.
Zing. Ziiing!
Soon, her emotions were layered onto Mendelssohn's concerto.
A cool and lyrical resonance, like autumn, began to form a beautiful melody.
Her emotions deepened, and her left hand and chin moved more comfortably than ever before.
Hah.
Kim Seongdeuk, who was watching from the side, let out a sound of admiration.
What in the world...
In that short time, his niece's performance had completely changed.
Not only was her posture different, allowing for more comfortable movements than before,
The sound has changed.
The very texture of the sound was completely different.
A richer, more beautiful melody was now filling the workshop.
Just as Yuhyeon had said, it was as if she were pouring her emotions into the strings.
Zing. Ziiing!
When the performance finally ended.
Yuhyeon looked at Kim Seunga, who had an ecstatic expression, and said.
How was it?
This dramatic miracle, achieved in such a short time.
The sound is much richer than before, isn't it?
He said it without showing any sign that it was a big deal.
Kim Seongdeuk handed Yuhyeon a cup of tea and spoke.
That girl Seunga, instead of thanking you...
As soon as she finished playing, Kim Seunga, with a possessed look on her face, had disappeared deeper into the workshop.
Saying she wanted to play again before she lost her current feeling.
I understand. Musicians never want to let go of inspiration when it strikes.
I guess I'll have to thank you on Seunga's behalf. Thank you for giving my niece such great inspiration.
Not at all, it was nothing.
Nothing, you say...
Kim Seongdeuk chuckled.
Even if he said it was nothing, changing someone so much in such a short time was no easy feat.
A lesson of this caliber wasn't something you could easily get, no matter how much money you paid.
I never knew you were so talented at teaching, Yuhyeon. Have you studied it separately?
No, I've been too busy just taking care of myself...
For someone who hasn't, you were quite skilled.
Yuhyeon recalled the past and gave a small smile.
I've learned a lot from watching various things.
During his time at the orphanage, he had watched all sorts of videos to teach himself the violin.
Videos of countless masters became his teachers, and he filled in his lack of experience with his imagination.
Until he received proper lessons through a sponsorship, he had always practiced in his own way.
Changing his posture was one of the methods he had developed.
Let's consider the restoration fee paid. And the promise kept as well.
The promise kept?
My niece received a great lesson thanks to you. That's more than enough repayment.
Yuhyeon lightly shook his head.
I haven't properly repaid you yet. I clearly promised to pay you back when I succeed, didn't I?
I said it's fine. Are you saying this because of the favors I've shown you all this time?
It's not so much that...
Yuhyeon murmured calmly.
Helping Seunga was purely from the heart. The kind of feeling you get when you see a hardworking sprout and want to teach them something.
...Well now.
Kim Seongdeuk chuckled.
It was for the same reason that he had been helping Yuhyeon for free all this time.
As a senior, as a fellow musician, he had a pure desire to help Yuhyeon.
Because there would be nothing more regrettable than seeing someone give up on their dream due to poverty.
In a way, this turned out well.
The favors he had shown Yuhyeon had, strangely enough, been passed on not to himself, but to his niece.
Just as he had done for his junior musician, Yuhyeon.
I'll make time to visit often from now on. And I'll help Seunga when I get the chance.
Seunga will be happy to have such a good teacher.
Kim Seongdeuk smiled contentedly.
By the way, do you have a violin to use while yours is being restored?
Ah, no, I don't.
Wait here a moment.
He then stood up and took a violin from a display case.
Yuhyeon's eyes widened as he watched him.
Sir, surely you don't mean that one...
The violin Kim Seongdeuk brought over was his masterpiece, called Destiny ().
The very instrument that renowned musicians from Austria, Poland, and the Czech Republic had once flocked to buy.
Isn't that the instrument you refused to sell even when Farrell came to Korea?
Yuhyeon, who had been with the luthier since he was young, had watched the entire process of the instrument's creation as he grew up.
It was a bewitching instrument, with a beautiful appearance reminiscent of a Stradivarius and a vigorous, captivating sound reminiscent of a del Gesù.
I'm just lending it to you, so don't get ahead of yourself.
B-but even just to borrow, this is too much.
If you don't want it, then don't.
Of course I want it!
Yuhyeon, who had been maintaining a calm demeanor, showed his emotions for once.
To think I'd get to touch Destiny...
Imagining himself playing Destiny brought an indescribable sense of ecstasy.
Take good care of it. If it breaks, be prepared to give Seunga lessons for the rest of your life.
Haha...
Yuhyeon carefully accepted the violin.
Even if he hadn't received this instrument, he had every intention of teaching Seunga.
I'll treasure it.
He was simply grateful for the luthier's sentiment, using this as a pretext to build a stronger bond.
I'll visit often from now on, sir.
Where are you headed next?
Um...
Next, he was scheduled to visit Sam Entertainment for a composition contract.
But Yuhyeon didn't go into a long explanation, speaking concisely instead.
I'm going to prove my music.
Signing a contract with Sam Entertainment was the first test he would face as a composer.
A kind of battle where he had to show his abilities, have his value recognized, and secure a contract.
Is that so? Then go prove it. Especially since you've taken my instrument.
Kim Seongdeuk murmured in a matter-of-fact tone.
Yuhyeon smirked at his words.
Of course.
Now that the violinist had obtained the ultimate weapon.
I have to succeed, no matter what.
It was time for him to prove himself.
After Yuhyeon left the workshop.
Grandpa, did the teacher leave?
Kim Seunga, who had been in her room for a while, peeked her head out and asked.
The title "teacher" was already stuck to her lips.
Why are you only coming out now? Are you embarrassed?
N-no, that's not it. I went to practice!
Kim Seunga's face turned red.
W-well, he is handsome, but...
Of course, the experience of a tall, handsome man getting close to correct her posture was more than enough to set a high school girl's heart aflutter.
I-I'd rather die than admit it!
But there was something else she was embarrassed about.
Recalling how nervous she had been, answering with things like "uh" and "oh," still made her face flush.
That was also why she had scurried away after her performance.
But Grandpa, were you always close with the teacher?
Kim Seunga said, staring at Kim Seongdeuk.
It was a reasonable question; wasn't Destiny the instrument her grandfather prized the most?
He had readily lent out the instrument he refused to give to renowned musicians or businessmen, so she couldn't help but be curious.
Hmm? Is it because I gave that boy Destiny?
Uh, yes...
Hit right on the mark, Kim Seunga answered in a small voice.
You said you were planning to give it to the violinist you considered the best.
Kim Seongdeuk smiled and said.
I made that instrument for him.
F-for the teacher?
Kim Seunga's eyes widened.
If he had continued playing, he'd be at the top of the world by now.
To be specific, Yuhyeon was a performer who had already reached the vicinity of the top at fifteen.
Even in countries busy ranking their own national performers, they had gone so far as to call Yuhyeon 'the reincarnation of Paganini'.
It was always destined to be his.
The timing was just pushed back a bit.
By about ten years.
No matter what path he walks, no matter what method he uses, he's a kid who will reach the top.
Kim Seongdeuk had no doubt.
The image of him once seeing the god of music with his own eyes was still vividly etched in his memory.
Now that I've lent him an instrument, he'll come by often, right?
He simply hoped that this encounter would be the catalyst for Yuhyeon to find his path again.
If that happened, he would gladly give up his instrument at any time.
Seunga, how about we go out to eat today?
Yay! Let's get jajangmyeon!
Kim Seongdeuk beamed.
Noodles are hard for me to digest, but what the heck, for today...
It was an afternoon on a day when he felt good for the first time in a while.