CHAPTER 05
A narrow alley leading to the practice rooms. A man was standing there.
He wore a perfectly tailored suit under a heavy coat, holding a phone to his ear.
He pushed up his sleeve to glance at his watch, frowning slightly as if something displeased him.
His posture was aristocratic, his expression faintly arrogant.
He was so handsome he could have been a celebrity, but the icy sharpness in his eyes made it hard for anyone to approach him casually.
Jung Do-hyun.
It was him.
A professional investor backed by a global private equity fund, and the CEO of NXT Holdings.
In the entertainment industry, he was known as a “big hand.” People said that a single investment decision from him could determine whether an agency thrived or collapsed.
He was especially famous for generously supporting talented composers.
His sponsorship of scholarships at Hankuk University’s College of Music was also part of a strategy to secure a pool of promising talent in advance.
“…Yes. Proceed with the schedule as planned. Cancel any unnecessary meetings.”
After ending the call in a cold tone, he let out a short breath. White vapor dispersed into the air.
Before he could even take a moment to rest, his phone rang again.
“Hello.”
He frowned slightly.
“Yes. I’m on campus. …There’s no need for me to meet the scholarship students in person. It’s inefficient. The recital as well.”
His reply was short and firm.
With his standards rising endlessly, a mere undergraduate recital was hardly worth his time.
He would rather review one more document.
Though the professor persistently tried to persuade him, Jung Do-hyun refused again.
“That won’t be necessary.”
Time was money.
Personal sentiment was a luxury.
The scholarship sponsorship was an investment in the future, not an opportunity to casually mingle with students.
Jung Do-hyun had far more important matters to deal with.
‘…What’s this?’
Something caught his eye.
A USB drive lying on the ground.
He bent down and picked it up.
It had the Hankuk University emblem on it, along with the words “College of Music” scribbled in English.
‘A student must have dropped it.’
He looked around, but there was no one nearby.
With an indifferent expression, he slipped the USB into his pocket.
He was heading to the professor’s office anyway. It was more efficient for him to return it directly.
“I’m only here briefly to review scholarship documents today. We can discuss other matters another time.”
His tone was so cold it seemed like you couldn’t draw a drop of blood from him.
Over the phone, the professor desperately insisted that he at least stay for a cup of coffee.
Persistent.
The professor knew that simply letting students meet Jung Do-hyun would be an enormous opportunity, which was why he kept pushing.
Jung Do-hyun let out a short sigh and spoke firmly.
“There’s no point repeating the same—”
At that moment, another phone began vibrating. When he saw the caller ID, his eyes sharpened slightly.
An urgent call from an overseas branch.
“Excuse me.”
After asking for a moment, he answered immediately.
“What is it?”
A brief exchange followed. Silence lingered. A faint crease formed on his forehead.
“Understood. I’ll go and check it myself.”
The moment he ended the call, he turned around.
He had no time to remain at the university.
Something more urgent had come up. Scholarship documents were now far down his priority list.
Speaking into the call that had not yet fully disconnected, he said,
“I’ll visit the professor’s office next time. Something urgent has come up. Goodbye.”
Click.
He ended the call without waiting for a response.
As he walked away,
the USB in his pocket clinked lightly against his car keys.
***
Creak.
As I pushed open the heavy practice room door, warm air brushed against my cheeks.
A girl standing next to the piano, holding sheet music, waved at me brightly.
“Seol, over here!”
I recognized her clearly now. Lee Hyunji, the class representative from the piano department.
Her neatly tied hair and straight, friendly smile left an impression.
“Thanks for coming~. I was in real trouble when someone suddenly canceled.”
One by one, the others in the room turned to look at me.
Instruments: guitar, flute, and violin.
‘All melody instruments.’
Now I understood why they needed a piano accompanist.
“Everyone, say hi! This is Yoon Seol, who’ll be accompanying today. She’s also a piano major.”
“You saved us.”
A man with a guitar resting on his lap grinned.
“I’m Choi Donghyuk. Guitar major. I’m planning to transfer this time after returning from leave. You’re the same age as Hyunji? Then I’m two years older.”
“Nice to meet you.”
I bowed lightly as introductions continued.
“Han Soyeon. Flute major. I’m a year older than you.”
“I’m Yoo Dayeon. Violin.”
After the brief greetings, Hyunji clapped her hands to lighten the mood.
“Shall we begin?”
An eight-bar melody sheet was handed out.
“Today we’ll practice arranging this melody. You all know that improvisational arrangement questions appear on the transfer exam, right?”
Hyunji winked at me.
“If performing your own composition is the highlight of the transfer test, then this improvisation exercise is the trap. It filters out students without solid fundamentals.”
I looked down at the sheet music.
Basic chord progression. A simple rhythm.
In my head, it was already rearranging itself.
“You have exactly ten minutes. Starting now!”
Bold chord substitutions to emphasize key points, shifts in mood, even a modified ending.
I hadn’t even placed my hands on the keys yet, but three or four solid arrangement ideas were already complete in my mind.
‘It’s not that hard. Maybe because we’re still students.’
I glanced around. Everyone looked serious, staring down at their sheets.
Choi Donghyuk plucked his guitar, trying to find the feel. The others pressed piano keys or scribbled and erased notes repeatedly, struggling.
Watching their focused faces for a moment, time flew by.
“Okay, stop!”
At Hyunji’s shout, everyone exhaled and lifted their hands.
“Write your names and give them to Seol.”
Sheets of music were placed in front of me one by one.
I picked up Choi Donghyuk’s first.
“What do you think? Can you sight-read it? Or should we run through it once or twice?”
He asked, resting his hand on the guitar.
Just by scanning the sheet, I could tell.
‘Too many unnecessary embellishments.’
Excessive technique and overly complicated harmonies were ruining it.
It looked flashy on paper, but it would probably sound awkward because of the harmonic progression.
There were constant arpeggios, rapid chord changes, and nonstop movement between left and right hands.
‘You want me to sight-read this?’
Most freshmen wouldn’t be able to handle it.
I could almost understand why the original accompanist had bailed.
I narrowed my eyes and read through it again. Difficult, yes—but not impossible.
Because my skill level far exceeded that of an average freshman.
“It’s fine. I’ll do it right away.”
“Really? It’s pretty tricky.”
“Yes.”
If you understood the structure and patterns, even complex pieces became much easier.
I nodded again.
This was nothing more than finger exercise.
Choi Donghyuk looked at me in surprise for a moment, then grinned and strummed his guitar.
“Alright. Let’s go.”
I placed my fingers on the keys. The moment I closed my eyes, the chord progression and hand movements mapped themselves out in my mind.
One, two.
As soon as the first beat dropped, my fingers danced across the keyboard.
Without a single hesitation, every note on the sheet came alive at my fingertips.
‘It’s been a while since I’ve actually heard the piano while playing.’
The tempo, dynamics, even the subtle spacing felt perfect.
‘This is fun.’
Before, it felt like wandering in total darkness.
Now, it was like walking with a map in hand.
Was playing the piano always this enjoyable? I was surprised at myself.
A smile formed naturally on my lips.
Even as he played, I could see the bewildered look on Choi Donghyuk’s face.
♩♪♬♪……
When the performance ended, the practice room fell silent, as if time had briefly stopped.
Everyone was staring at me in disbelief.
