Pianist's Village

"I'm sure there will be no problem with the admission process?"

"Of course. I have permission from the dean."

"It is said that the guardian is Professor Lee Chan-ho."

"Yes, I've done that for now."

"Change to me."

"The chairman himself?"

"Yes."

Professor Lee Chan-ho's room at the Korea University Talent Music Education Center.

The person sitting across from me on the hard, black sofa was Chairman Park Ki-jun.

"Have you decided where Nam Soo-hyun will live?"

Professor Lee Chan-ho shook his head.

"Not yet. I heard Ms. Kim Ji-ye is looking into it."

"If possible, I'd like to find a place within walking distance of Korea University."

"It's possible. Many individual sponsorships are reaching Soo-hyun from Poland. For now, I'm handling it, but I'll also pass on the relevant information to the chairman."

"How large is it?"

"Currently, it's about 300 million won."

'Well, that's quite a lot. If you add the compensation that was originally supposed to be paid in Nam Soo-hyun's name, it seems it won't be difficult to find a house.'

"Yes, that's correct."

Park Ki-jun asked as if he had suddenly remembered something.

"Is Ms. Kim Ji-ye from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs?"

"Yes, I'm from the Korean Embassy in Switzerland, Ministry of Foreign Affairs."

"So, you have to return soon?"

"Perhaps not?"

"Well, what does Nam Soo-hyun think of Kim Ji-ye?"

Lee Chan-ho thought for a moment and then said.

"It seems that Ms. Kim Ji-ye herself doesn't believe she's useful to Soo-hyun, but Soo-hyun seems to rely heavily on her."

Park Ki-jun nodded as if he knew that would happen.

"Was that the person who gave you flowers at the competition?"

"Yes, that's correct."

Park Ki-jun nodded and then stood up.

"Well, I'll look into it a bit more. I have an appointment, so I'm leaving. Please hand over the guardianship transfer documents to the executive secretary."

"Leaving already? Why don't you eat something before you go?"

"Haha, I have dinner plans. My apologies, we'll see each other next time."

Professor Lee Chan-ho, who went out into the hallway to see off Park Ki-jun, found Kim Ji-ye walking down the hall holding an envelope with documents.

"Hey, Ji-ye!"

Kim Ji-ye, who saw Professor Lee Chan-ho and Chairman Park Ki-jun from a distance, quickly approached them and bowed her head.

"Hello. Mr. Chairman, Professor."

Professor Lee Chan-ho said with a smile.

"Is this Soo-hyun's admission document?"

"Yes, quite a few documents are required."

"The administrative staff said you passed the exam in one go, without additional documents. As expected of an official, you're very good at what you do. Haha."

Kim Ji-ye's expression darkened.

'It was a fleeting expression, but the experienced Park Ki-jun did not miss it.'

Kim Ji-ye quickly erased her expression and spoke.

"So, will I be able to go to school in two months?"

"Yes, that's correct."

"Alright, Soo-hyun is alone, so I'll leave now."

"Alright, please take care of it."

Park Ki-jun, who had been staring at Kim Ji-ye as she hastily returned, also bid farewell to Professor Lee Chan-ho.

Park Ki-jun said when he saw the secretary approaching him as soon as the professor walked away.

"Find out what's going on with Kim Ji-ye from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs."

"What parts should I check?"

"Workplace conflict."

"Yes, I understand."

That evening, when Chairman Park Ki-jun, having finished his dinner appointment, got into the waiting car, the secretary in the driver's seat said:

"I've reviewed the part you mentioned."

"Alright, recite it."

"It seems that Kim Ji-ye ruined Nam Soo-hyun's press conference, scheduled for Incheon Airport upon his return to Korea. As a result, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs lost the opportunity to attract public attention, and Kim Ji-ye will probably be sanctioned."

"Did you check why it was so bad?"

"It seems that young Soo-hyun didn't want to suffer from being exposed to the media due to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs' greed."

Park Ki-jun smiled brightly.

'He's a true man. Well, what's the level of disciplinary action at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs? Perhaps a salary reduction?'

"It seems it will be a more severe disciplinary action, as she disobeyed her superiors' orders. It's not decided yet, but I think it will be at least a suspension."

"What is Ms. Kim Ji-ye's current salary?"

"I've prepared the documents."

Park Ki-jun frowned as he looked at her annual salary through the documents his executive secretary had handed him.

"Is this the total salary for officials nowadays? They even go to Switzerland to work."

"The reason I want to be a public official is to seek stability rather than earn a lot of money, Mr. Chairman."

"Ugh, that's a bit excessive. Alright. Look for some children and observe Kim Ji-ye's movements a bit more."

The executive secretary asked Park Ki-jun while looking at him through the rearview mirror.

"Is it inclusion?"

"Hmm."

"Alright."

"Let's go."

Meanwhile, Kim Ji-ye, who had no idea what was going on, was having dinner with Soo-hyun at a restaurant near the hotel.

Ji-ye is stirring her spaghetti with a fork because she has no appetite.

While Soo-hyun was eating, he saw Ji-ye like that and wiped his mouth with a napkin before asking.

"What's wrong, Sister?"

"Huh? No."

"But why? Isn't it good?"

"Oh, no. I'm going to eat."

Kim Ji-ye, who said that but still just twirled the spaghetti around her fork.

Soo-hyun sensed Ji-ye's dark expression.

'What's happening?'

For Soo-hyun, Ji-ye is the only person who is like family.

"Sister."

"Huh?"

"I like my older sister."

Ji-ye's eyes widened with a slightly surprised expression. Then, slowly, a smile appeared on her dark expression.

"Me too."

The atmosphere improved as a fraternal ambiance flowed between the two people looking at each other.

"Sister."

"Yes, tell me."

"You said you were a public official, right? I don't know much about public officials, but I've heard they work for the government."

"Yes, that's true."

"What does that mean to you, Sister?"

"Huh?"

Soo-hyun rested his chin in his hand after asking a question whose meaning was unclear.

'The man I met in Baeksa Village, Young-hu, asked me, "What does music mean to you?"'

"Then?"

"Music was a source of happiness and comfort for that man. For me, it was simply an escape."

"...."

"Can I make joyful music like those elders?"

"Well."

"My uncle told me, 'To achieve that, I first need to know what music means to me.' So I also wanted to ask my sister, 'What does work mean to you?'"

Ji-ye's hand, which was twirling the spaghetti with a fork, stopped.

'I studied like crazy to pass the civil service exam, and when I passed, I was very happy.' 'The future that awaits you will be very stable and bright.' 'But reality was different. She was sent abroad and had to deal daily with food she didn't like and unfamiliar sleeping conditions.' 'Even so, I endured it, thinking that all that suffering would be rewarded in the form of a pension in my old age.'

For her, Soo-hyun's question was a question she had never thought about in her life.

Because it was overwhelming just to keep running forward without looking back.

Soo-hyun asked again, thinking that Ji-ye Kim, who was working hard at her job, knew the answer.

"You probably dreamed of being a public official from a young age. You probably worked hard to achieve that dream, and you finally did. You work hard at your job and, above all, you do it well. Right?"

"...."

'Really? What was my childhood dream? I don't even remember it.' 'Now that I think about it, my childhood dream was to be a singer. It changed several times along the way, but that's what I clearly remember.' 'But why am I a public official now?' 'I didn't want to fall behind.' 'I thought I would lose if I fell behind others.' 'I thought if I lost, I would become poor and live an unstable life.' 'The result of a choice that prioritized stability over challenge.' 'That's why I'm a public official now.' 'But what does this mean to me?' 'No way, me.' 'Have I been doing something meaningless until now?' 'Just to eat and live, to live comfortably when we grow old and receive a pension.' 'Was it really like that?'

My mind became complex. Perhaps even darker than a while ago, when I was worried about discipline.

But Soo-hyun didn't notice. Seeing Ji-ye's expression improve after he said he liked her, Soo-hyun thought Ji-ye had calmed down and continued telling her story.

"I want to know. My clumsy emotions and what music means to me. I think I'll only be able to live a fulfilling life after I know that."

It was a night when Ji-ye's eyes deepened as she listened to Soo-hyun's words, not knowing how her words were affecting the other person.

A few days later, Ji-ye finally found a house.

In case he had to move later, the house he rented was a villa about 15 minutes from the main gate of Korea University.

This is a four-story house where the top floor is the owner's residence. In a house with two units per floor, the top floor is where only one family lives, with the wall broken to accommodate the owner.

The place Soo-hyun was moving to was the owner's house, but the building owner moved elsewhere and put it up for rent.

Kim Ji-ye and Soo-hyun, who entered an empty house with nothing inside, listened to the ingenious words of a real estate agent.

"The living room is really spacious. The living area is about 40 pyeong. I guess you're siblings? Perhaps it's a bit large for two people, but there are no other properties like this at this price. Look, it's easy to enter. It's a south-facing house, so clothes dry well."

The real estate agent praised the house to the fullest.

"There's a child downstairs who attends Korea University's Talent Music Education Center. Can you believe it? It's a place where only music geniuses go. That shows the good energy in this house."

Kim Ji-ye burst out laughing.

"Hey, old man. The child coming to this house is the winner of the International Chopin Competition. And he's the child going to the school you just mentioned."

When Ji-ye smiled and looked at Soo-hyun, Soo-hyun asked if he was interested.

"Are you a child who attends Korea University's Talent Music Education Center? How old are you?"

"Huh? I don't know anything about that. He seems a little younger than you. He lives downstairs, so maybe we'll meet when we cross paths. It would be great if we could be friends."

'A friend from my school lives right downstairs.' 'Soo-hyun's heart pounded.' 'A life where I go to school with my friends and then walk home hand in hand.' 'Would you allow yourself to live that kind of life?'

Ji-ye, who guessed what Soo-hyun was thinking upon seeing his change in expression, asked.

"Can I play the piano at home?"

The real estate agent said with a smile.

"Oh dear! I was worried the child downstairs played the violin and made noise, but how wonderful! If both of us understand, wouldn't it be easy?"

"Good. I'll sign the contract right away. Can I move in now?"

"Ah, it's possible. So, could you deposit part of the security deposit today?"

"Yes, I'll take care of it today. Thank you."

"Hehe, then I'll contact the landlord right away. Take a look around, please. Since it's a digital lock, close the door when you leave. Okay."

The realtor left with a constant smile on his face, feeling good about the excellent deal.

Soo-hyun looked around the room and glanced out the living room window, which had no curtains.

'A place from which other villas across the street are visible. It resembles the house where I lived with my parents when I was young.' 'Will I be able to live well here?'

Ji-ye approached with her arms crossed and asked.

"There's also a terrace. Do you want to go out and take a look?"

"Yes, Sister."

I opened the sliding window and stepped out onto the terrace.

Soo-hyun, who was looking at the neighborhood from the fourth floor with his elbows resting on the safety railing, saw a person walking towards the house from a distance.

'A child walks with a violin case on his back. Is that the child from the house downstairs?'

Soo-hyun murmured as he watched the child approaching closer and closer.

"It was a girl."