No More Thug Life, I’m Playing Music

Episode 23: No Redemption (4)

The College of Music at Korea University consisted of four buildings, with the tallest, the main building, housing the office of Professor Han Gwangsook—the most influential figure in the department. Her office doubled as a research and teaching space, and the sound of piano music was a constant presence there.

“What do you think you’re doing!”

Professor Han’s voice thundered through the room, startling the woman playing the piano into an abrupt stop.

“Did you even practice?”

“Well…”

“You think just playing the notes on time makes it music? Where’s the emotion? Do you even have any?”

“I-I’m sorry…”

“Get out. If you come back like this tomorrow, don’t expect me to teach you.”

The student hastily gathered her sheet music and scurried out of the room. Professor Han slammed the piano lid shut with a sigh of exasperation.

“She may be a freshman, but there are limits… Does she even realize where she is?”

Smoothing her gray hair with a comb, she walked to her desk, picked up a candle, and inhaled deeply to calm herself.

“Phew…”

Adjusting her glasses, she pulled out her phone and played a video.

It was a clip of Liszt’s Tarantella, performed by Jung Seojoon just a few days prior.

“Oh my goodness…”

Despite having watched it multiple times, Professor Han was once again astounded.

“Yes… this is it…”

But when had he learned Tarantella? She had never taught him the piece, nor had she ever given him the sheet music. He wasn’t the type to sneak off to another teacher, nor was he the kind to passionately pursue a piece through self-study.

Could it be that he memorized the piece and played it after hearing Choi Woochul perform it?

“No way…”

It wasn’t a simple or short piece—it was incredibly intricate. While Seojoon was undeniably a musical genius, his memory was within the range of a typical prodigy. He needed to see sheet music and practice several times to perfect a performance.

Her musings were interrupted when Seojoon arrived and resolved her questions.

“I just copied it,” he said, seated at the piano.

“You… you mean to tell me you imitated that on the spot?”

“Yes.”

“Unbelievable… Can you show me right now?”

Seojoon nodded. He had something to ask her later, so he decided to indulge her request for now.

Professor Han, her face lighting up, made a call.

“Class rep, where are you? Good. Bring four of the best students practicing in the rehearsal room to my office.”

A short while later, five students arrived, including Yoo Ahra.

“Oh my gosh, Seojoon!”

Unable to contain her excitement, Yoo Ahra grabbed his hand and jumped up and down. After a sharp glare from Professor Han, she sheepishly retreated.

“Each of you will play the piano,” Professor Han instructed.

She asked them to play portions of obscure pieces—ones she was confident would challenge even her knowledge.

One by one, the students began to play.

“Hmm. Not bad,” she said, nodding in approval. The class rep had chosen well. Of the five pieces, three were familiar to her, but two were not—one was a piece of contemporary music, and the other was an OST from a film.

“Can you do it, Kevin?”

“Yes.”

Seojoon approached the piano, sat down, and closed his eyes for a moment as if recalling what he had just heard. Then, in the exact order he’d heard them, he began to play.

Note for note, without a single mistake.

Not only was his performance flawless, but he added subtle interpretations of his own, giving the pieces a new dimension. It was almost as if he had improved upon the original renditions.

“What the…?”
“That piece hasn’t even been published long… how?”

When he finished, the room fell into stunned silence.

[Duh-dun-]

As brief as the excerpts had been, Seojoon’s performance ended just as quickly. The students stood there, wide-eyed, staring at him in a daze.

The whispers that had spread about “Kevin Jung” being an unparalleled prodigy weren’t exaggerated. Yoo Ahra had told them as much, and now they could see it was all true.

Some had heard about the piano battle with Choi Woochul that had trended briefly online. However, after Woochul posted an apology on his social media, implying the entire event had been scripted, many dismissed it as just another staged show. They assumed Seojoon’s performance had been the result of grueling practice.

But today, seeing it with their own eyes, they knew better.

This wasn’t effort. This was pure, raw talent—a genuine genius.

Professor Han noticed their dumbfounded expressions and spoke firmly.

“Listen, all of you.”

The students gathered closer as she addressed them.

“Erase everything you saw today from your minds. If word of this spreads, I’ll assume it came from one of you. Understood?”

“Yes, Professor…”

The students nodded meekly, knowing that crossing Professor Han was the last thing anyone wanted to do. They left the office, still awestruck, while Seojoon remained, expressionless, ready to discuss his request.

“Alright, go practice. And let the students waiting outside to see Kevin know to return to their classes.”

“Yes, Professor…”

Yoo Ahra, the last to leave, waved at Jung Seojoon as she exited, her face full of regret. Under Professor Han’s sharp glare, she quickly scurried away.

****

“Kevin…”

Professor Han gently patted Seojoon’s shoulder.

“I don’t even know how to describe you. How on earth do you do it?”

“I just press the keys based on what I hear,” Seojoon replied, his expression suggesting that it was the most natural thing in the world. His matter-of-fact attitude made Professor Han unconsciously accept his answer.

She thought back to her past experiences with him. Once again, she resolved not to try to understand this genius anymore. Every attempt only made her feel foolish.

After some light conversation, Professor Han transitioned to the main topic.

“Alright, what is it you need from me? Tell me anything.”

Before coming to her office, Seojoon had visited the new orchestra club with Seo Sooji. Unexpectedly, he ran into a problem: the students who had previously been part of the orchestra and other music majors refused to teach the newcomers. Their excuses ranged from being afraid of the troublemakers to needing personal practice time.

While Seojoon could handle most instruments himself, he only had one body. He needed help.

“So…,” Professor Han began with a kind smile, “you need people to teach those orchestra club students? University students, perhaps?”

“Yes. You’re the only person I can trust to ask for this.”

“Oh my, I’m honored you think of me that way.”

“Of course, Professor. A teacher is like a parent, and you’re as good as a parent to me.”

“Oh, you flatterer…” Professor Han laughed, delighted by Seojoon’s smooth words, lightly slapping his arm as she chuckled.

“But why are you doing this? It doesn’t seem like something that benefits you.”

“I think it’ll be fun.”

“Fun, huh?”

Professor Han’s interest piqued. Her ultimate goal was to keep Seojoon rooted in Korea. If this project gave him any sense of attachment to the country, she was all for it.

“Let me see…” She thought for a moment before nodding. “They’ll need to be skilled, won’t they?”

“Any Korea University students would be an honor.”

“Honor? Nonsense. In two years, you’ll be their senior anyway! Hohoho.”

“True, that’s likely.”

“Alright. I’ll send some students to help next Thursday. But can you do me a favor in return, Kevin?”

“Anything, Professor. Just say the word.”

Seojoon was deeply indebted to Professor Han. He knew that one-sided relationships could cause problems later, so he tried to repay her kindness whenever possible.

“I’m running a chamber ensemble, and we have a rehearsal this weekend. Could you join us? We’ll grab a meal afterward.”

“Of course.”

“Good. How are your parents doing?”

****

After Seojoon left, another visitor arrived at Professor Han’s office—a stunning woman with tanned skin and American-style makeup.

“Hey~ Professor~”

It was Han Yeoreum, Korea’s most famous violinist and Professor Han’s daughter. She scanned the room with a bright smile before her expression darkened.

“He’s gone?”

“Yes.”

“Sh*t, came for nothing.”

“Well, you can leave now.”

Ignoring her mother’s dismissal, Yeoreum plopped down in front of her, propping her elbows on the desk and resting her chin in her palms.

“Can I ask you something?”

“Would you stop if I said no?”

“Nope~” Yeoreum wiggled her index fingers playfully before continuing. “Why do you care so much about Kevin?”

“What do you mean?”

Yeoreum tapped her cheek with her finger, feigning thought.

“You interrupted my spa day and dragged me here. Care to explain?”

“I’m sorry. You can go back now.”

“At this rate, I might just revoke my offer to help.”

“Yeoreum.”

“Hmm.”

With a sigh, Professor Han relented.

“I believe Kevin can transform the Korean classical music scene. He can bring international prestige and make it more accessible to the public.”

“And?”

“That means we need to make sure he stays in Korea. He’s had dual citizenship since birth, and that makes me uneasy.”

Professor Han glanced at a large framed photo on the wall. It depicted a younger version of herself, a young Kevin, and a foreign man, all smiling warmly.

“When he becomes an adult, renowned maestros from around the world will come knocking. Will he stay here then?”

“That’s his choice.”

“We have to make sure he doesn’t leave.”

“Ohhh…”

“So, your job is to get closer to him.”

“Got it. Easy peasy~ Guys his age are all the same anyway.”

Han Yeoreum pouted her lips, prompting Professor Han to let out a deep sigh. She handed over a sheet of paper sitting on her desk.

“These are the students who’ll be going to Poonggwang High with you next Thursday.”

Han Yeoreum scanned the list, her brows furrowing.

“Huh? Will these people even do it?”

“Who knows. We’ll find out this weekend.”

*****

When I arrived at a small café near the Arts Center, a tall young woman greeted me.

“Hey~ Kevin~”

Wow. She had the kind of appearance that would make any man passing by stop and stare. As I tried to recall where I’d seen her before, a massive banner hanging on the Arts Center’s wall caught my eye.

Her face and name were plastered across it.

“The Sound of Yeoreum (Yeoreum 여름 means Summer) in Winter.”

What a cheesy title.

“Han Yeoreum?”

“Oops! So you know who I am?”

“Well, you’re quite stunning.”

“Oh my god… I’m so happy…”

Seeing her reminded me of someone I used to know. One of my subordinates from the past claimed he was fluent in English because he’d studied abroad in America. I sent him to work with some Western clients, only for him to come back nearly broken. Turns out his “study abroad” was just a year-long exchange program. Her accent was strikingly similar to his.

“Thank you…”

She linked her arm with mine and pressed herself close. Her intentions were obvious, but I didn’t push her away. After all, she was an adult, and there was no reason to refuse someone approaching me.

“You’re here for the chamber ensemble, right? I’m a member too.”

“Perfect. Shall we go together?”

We started heading toward the elevator, following the floor directory. Before we got far, she tugged on my arm. When I turned to her, she winked.

“Kevin, how about we skip practice today?”

“What?”

“We can grab a drink, check out the night view…”

“Unfortunately, I’m underage.”

“Ah… my mistake…”

Looking dejected, Han Yeoreum led the way. We reached the seventh floor, and as soon as we stepped off the elevator, the sounds of various instruments tuning filled the air. Beyond the wide-open iron doors, I could see students seated in an orchestral arrangement, adjusting their instruments.

“Here~”

Han Yeoreum led me into a small office attached to the rehearsal room. Inside, Professor Han was speaking passionately with a younger woman over a conductor’s score.

*****

When I knocked on the door, both women turned to look at me. Professor Han quickly stood and welcomed me warmly.

“Kevin! You’re here!”

“Yes, Professor. Have you eaten?”

“Not yet! We’ll eat together later. Come, have a seat.”

I walked over and sat on the sofa she gestured to. Across from me was the woman who had been discussing the score with her. She had jet-black, shoulder-length hair tucked neatly behind her ears and smoky makeup that accentuated her high nose bridge.

“Let me introduce you. This is Yoon Seol, the conductor of my chamber ensemble and a conducting major at our school. And this is my most cherished student.”

Yoon Seol extended her hand slowly.

“I’ve heard a lot about you. Should I call you Kevin? Or Baek Jung? What’s your preference?”

“You can call me Jung Seojoon.”

I shook her hand. It was as cold and polished as her appearance.

“You look even more handsome in person.”

“Thank you. Hearing such praise from a beautiful woman makes me even happier.”

“Your tone… Are you really a high school student?”

“Yes.”

Professor Han cleared her throat loudly and separated our hands with a deliberate gesture.

“Alright, let me explain why I called the two of you here today.”

****

Shortly after, I found myself seated at the piano in the rehearsal room, facing a torrent of objections from the ensemble members.

“Collaboration? Seriously?”
“They’re working with Jo Sanghyuk!”
“This is ridiculous!”