Episode #63. VS.
‘Why?’
Julia was wondering.
‘Really, why?’
Originally, she wasn’t good at this kind of thing.
Her theory was that life was too short to waste time on such a thing, and that her talents were not enough.
Still, she came here for two reasons.
‘Why did the head of the department ask me to do this?’
One is because of the gift of grace.
It wasn’t easy to refuse a teacher’s request, which was rarely done when asked.
‘Why did you offer such a huge amount of money for just one month’s tuition?’
And another reason was because of the compensation money I heard when I heard this story.
An amount more than enough to hire an entire orchestra, let alone a first-class violinist who doubted her ears the moment she heard Julia, who has lived a life that is not lacking.
Curiosity about the absurd amount was the reason she accepted the offer.
“You seem to have a lot of questions, Julia.”
“Did you notice it?”
“Because I have a good eye.”
From the black hair trimmed with a jade hairpin to the silk dress and a strangely mature atmosphere compared to her youthful appearance.
Li Qingyu, a beautiful girl who seems to have a unique oriental mystery intact, smiled and added a word.
“It is also why people who have come before have been curious about it.”
“I guess I’m not the first.”
“Did you guess?”
“The reason I’m offering this amount of money for something like this is largely fixed.”
Julia said coolly.
Then, out of curiosity, he asked Li Qingyu.
“I’m curious, so what number am I?”
“Third.”
“That is unexpected.”
“Is it too little or too many?”
“Write it down. I thought I was the 100th person called because I called out the conditions so loudly.”
Julia’s half-jokes were also half-serious. If it wasn’t that much, it was because I couldn’t understand this ransom.
It seems like he understands her feelings.
Li Qingyu smiled and opened his mouth.
“Were the conditions a bit excessive?”
“Not a little, but a lot. I even wondered if he was trying to get me to do something illegal.”
‘What I’m curious about is the identity of this child as well.’
Many Asians have baby face, but Li Qingyu was a girl who looked only in her late teens.
However, it was not enough that such a girl invited her, so she rented out an entire luxury cafe in the Leviathan Hotel to treat her.
I couldn’t help but wonder about Li Qingyu’s true identity.
As if reading Julia’s suspicions, Li Qingyu smiled and continued.
“I have no intention of asking you to do anything dangerous or illegal. The ransom price has risen because you are the only one who can do this.”
“There are many first-class violinists besides me.”
“But top-notch violinists are rare.”
Julia didn’t bother denying it.
It was an objective fact that she was one of the people always mentioned when selecting the best violinists, if not even the best players.
And among many violinists, there was a reason for her high reputation besides her skills.
“Not only do I not have skills related to music or performance, but I am more like a first-class player who is not a player at all.”
After the Iron Age opened.
Most of the so-called ‘first class’ have fallen.
From composers to singers, directors, financial experts, professors, doctors, and more. This is because many of them have lost their seats to the players.
Because players could have skills and abilities that surpassed the first class just by using skills.
Even in this era, there are people who have stood firm with their natural strength.
She is one of those exceptions.
Julia Franke was called the Witch of the Violin because she performed on a par with top players without borrowing the power of skill.
“The reason is a bit unexpected.”
“Is that so?”
“Normally, I don’t prefer regular musicians. Learning from players is faster and more accurate.”
“yes. That would normally be the case.”
Li Qingyu readily agreed.
Players can learn the aptitude or potential of a student that is difficult for ordinary musicians to grasp even after several months of teaching, with only their skills.
Besides, if you have skills such as 『Lesson Lesson』 and 『Growth Promotion』, you can multiply the learning effect.
It is natural for a normal performer to want to be taught by players.
“However, the person who invited Julia this time was a little… no. You are quite special.”
“huh? Didn’t you invite me?”
“If you mean the person who will send the invitation and pay the course fee, then you are right. But not if you are the one who wants your lessons.”
“is it so…?”
Li Qingyu’s nonchalant reply made Julia feel more curious.
Having met several high-ranking people in her own way, she saw that Li Qingyu was a girl who would be taken care of when she was in charge of others.
So, of course, he thought that this girl was the one he was teaching, but he was just an agent.
It was unexpected in many ways.
‘Maybe I’m asking my brother or friend to take lessons?’
Having guessed Li Qingyu’s circumstances, Julia decided to focus on the student she was supposed to teach instead of asking for details.
“In what way is it special? Talent? Or personality?”
“It means both ways.”
“You seem to be a pretty troubled student.”
Julia held the charges.
Whether you have talent but have a bad personality or have a good personality but lack talent. From a teaching standpoint, it is bound to wrap one’s head.
Even more so, if both had problems, it was understandable that the two predecessors had given up.
Seeing her like that, Li Qingyu made a strange expression.
“well. It will probably be a difficult class in a different way than you think.”
“What do you mean?”
“It is difficult to explain in words. If you don’t experience it yourself, it’s hard to understand and you won’t be able to accept it.”
“…?”
“So I’ll ask you in advance.”
Li Qingyu said calmly to Julia, who was puzzled by the meaningless words.
“If possible, please do not listen to him play. At least for the time being.”
For a moment, Julia thought it was a joke.
Teaching without even listening to the performance was more absurd than teaching the deaf to play.
However, the moment she saw Li Qingyu’s eyes, which had a serious expression instead of a smile, she realized that she was serious.
“…why?”
“Because you will want to run away.”
Julia looked at herself with curious eyes mixed with slight suspicion and considerable doubt.
Looking at her, Li Qingyu smiled slightly.
“At least the two who came before you, Julia, did.”
Let’s conclude.
Julia accepted the request.
It was because Li Qingyu’s attitude was so serious, and he really wanted to meet who this girl emphasized so special.
Even she was shy when it came to signing an oath of secrecy.
In any case, it was only after the secret oath was concluded that Li Qingyu managed to escort her to the student.
“Is this where the students I need to teach are?”
“Yes, please wait inside this practice room.”
“I’m asking for confirmation, but what are the restrictions on the use of this practice room?”
“It’s unlimited.”
“…what hours?”
“No, all the facilities at the Leviathan Hotel, including all the instruments in this practice room.”
Of course, the room is already prepared as an executive suite.
Looking at Li Qingyu as he spoke with a grin, Julia blinked a few times before asking in a daze.
“Are you going to bankrupt me?”
“Do not worry. All expenses will be covered by the lessons while Julia is giving lessons.”
“Who the hell am I supposed to teach you?”
Julia was genuinely curious.
However, Li Qingyu did not answer her question. I just smiled and looked inside the door.
“You will know when you see it for yourself.”
For a while, let’s look at the empty seat of Li Qingyu, who quickly left, saying that he would be a hindrance, leaving only such meaningful words.
Julia let out a slight sigh and opened the door to the practice room with determination.
“Hallo schön dich zu treffen. (Hello Nice to meet you.)”
Then we met.
sitting cross-legged.
With a blue baby bird on its head.
The opponent greeted her with a lightly raised hand.
The dark-haired young man who will be remembered as the most unique student throughout Julia’s life.
* * *
“Lee Student.”
“lee.”
“huh?”
“Because it’s a bit strange to hear that I’m a student at my age. Just call me ‘Lee’.”
“…Yes, Lee.”
It seems like you’re giving special permission.
Seeing the young man calmly choosing a title for herself, Julia put on a subtle expression.
It was because even though she had taught a lot of students for a young age, it was the first time that she was so arrogant that she was afraid to finish talking to each other.
‘Am I going to be the grandson of a conglomerate owner who received the wrong home education?’
If so, I agree. This careless personality and the tremendous financial power to use the Leviathan Hotel as if it were their own home.
But there was something wrong with thinking that way.
‘For something like that, it seems strangely graceful in attitude…’
Her tone of voice seemed arrogant.
However, Julia, who had met many high-ranking people in society, could feel a strange dignity in the attitude of a young man who did not have any formality.
It’s not like I’m showing off, but I feel like I’m objectively believing that I deserve this and acting like this.
Besides, that German pronunciation that is strangely antique and classy is…
‘Yes, like a nobleman.’
When I was studying abroad in the British Empire.
An old nobleman I saw there.
Among them, it is similar to the atmosphere of old nobles who were retired soldiers of aristocratic families who boasted of military achievements.
It was with the old people who served tea and snacks so as not to be burdened by formality.
Of course, there is a big age difference, but if you grew up with such a grandfather, you might have come to resemble this attitude.
‘Maybe he’s a young boy from an aristocratic family somewhere.’
Julia ended her reasoning at that point.
Seeing that they even had them write a secret pledge, they must have their own story. I didn’t want to go into detail about the story.
And more than anything else, there was something she needed to know before the identity of Lee Lee.
“By the way, I haven’t heard the story beforehand. Can you tell me a little bit about your career first?”
“career?”
“is it so. Like where you participated in the competition and what prize you won.”
In fact, she wasn’t the type to focus on her career.
No matter how famous a music school you learn and what awards you receive, a career is just a career. Because I believed that the only thing that truly proves a musician is his performance.
Still, as Li Qingyu had asked me to, I thought I would be content with hearing about his career for now.
“Isn’t there anything like that?”
“…what do you mean no?”
“I’ve never participated in a contest or anything like that.”
“I beg your pardon?”
That was why Julia was unknowingly embarrassed.
Unlike Li Qingyu, whose age I couldn’t guess, Li was a young man in his twenties.
It was natural for an average player who had been learning the violin since he was young to have some experience of participating in competitions.
But what if you have never participated in a competition at all, let alone won a prize?
“I’m just asking, just in case, where did you learn your violin… or who did you learn it from?”
“It’s unfortunate, but the kids who came before ran away before they could learn anything. If I had to say it, you would be the first to learn about the violin.”
Watching the dark-haired young man grinning wickedly, “If you don’t run away, too,” Julia felt a tingling sensation in her mouth.
But she didn’t explode.
Instead, I just asked a question with the last hope.
“So, when was the first time you played the violin?”
“About a month ago?”
And the moment I heard Lee’s confident answer.
Julia laughed dejectedly and finally uttered two words.
“Verdammt Scheiße (Fuck).”
