Zelkova piano stage.
Franz, stroking a black piano with a lonely expression, looked up upon hearing footsteps in the distance.
'It's definitely Frederick, but it's true that I can't help feeling anticipation every day. I wonder if Soo-hyun came to see us. Won't she come today? Maybe the child doesn't want to see us?'
But, as expected, anticipation turned into disappointment.
"You came."
This was his friend Frederick, who usually came to visit him every day at this time. He, too, couldn't shake off his disappointment as he looked only at Franz.
Frederick said as he approached and sat on the piano bench.
"Is Soo-hyun doing well?"
"She's the child you and I educated. Of course, she's doing well. If I had been that lucky, I, Franz Liszt, would have been remembered as a musician who surpassed my predecessors."
"I'm not worried about playing."
Franz, who trusted Frederick's words, also sighed.
"Yes. I have similar worries to yours. Soo-hyun's shortcomings are obvious. And there are still people in the world who study piano. They'll notice right away."
"But even those who can point out Soo-hyun's flaws won't be able to ignore the skills the child possesses."
"Technology can expand what you can achieve, but it will soon be limited."
Frederick looked at the empty piano where Soo-hyun used to sit practicing with worried eyes.
"Are you doing well, Soo-hyun?"
Franz also looked at the empty chair with a gaze similar to his friend's.
Warsaw Conservatory.
Soo-hyun and Professor Lech sat facing each other in the corner of the piano practice room where they had first met Professor Lech.
Professor Lech, looking at Soo-hyun with his arms crossed, said.
"You decided to return to Korea."
"Yes."
Professor Lech chuckled.
'You liked my suggestion, but you made this decision. I'm sorry. Isn't it normal to say something like that?' The answer was simply "yes." 'Sometimes she's overly polite and courteous, but other times she seems to lack manners. If you think about it, this child only behaves with good manners. She lacks consideration for others. She's the typical socially maladapted type.'
Professor Lech said, holding Soo-hyun's expressionless hand.
"I respect your decision. You surely had a reason. I believe so. But if you change your mind later, don't hesitate to contact me. We have a connection, so feel free to call me. Alright?"
"Yes, Professor."
Professor Lech said with a smile.
"I'm going to ask you three questions right now. But I won't listen to your answers. I'm not asking questions to get answers."
'What does that mean? He asks questions, but doesn't answer. What a strange old man.'
"You won't answer?"
"Yes, but answer with your heart. Even if you've answered once, think about it again later. Will your heart still give the same answer?"
'It's a riddle. What question is he trying to ask?'
Professor Lech, whose smile disappeared and his face turned serious, raised a finger.
"First question: Who is the most important person to me?"
Soo-hyun tilted her head.
'Someone important? Perhaps Uncle Franz or Uncle Frederick?'
Professor Lech raised his second finger.
"Second question: What is most important to me?"
'The most important thing for Soo-hyun is playing the piano. But the old men told me to go out into the world, meet people, and learn about emotions. What is most important right now?'
Lech said, raising three fingers.
"What is the third most precious moment in your life?"
'The most precious time.'
'I thought perhaps the time I spent learning to play with the old men was the most valuable. But when I think about it, I think the time I spent lying in bed at night thinking about my parents was precious. No, perhaps every minute of the time I spend in this world right now is precious. Why is this old man asking such questions?'
'At first glance, it seems like an easy question, but after hearing that you should think about it several times and see if your mind still gives the same answer, it becomes very difficult.'
Professor Lech smiled slightly, perhaps guessing what Soo-hyun was thinking.
"A single question can change a person's life. It can be a question someone else asks me, or a question I ask myself. Think about these three questions over and over again. This question is also, 'Who am I?' You have to ask, ask, and ask until your inside is revealed. Ask sincerely, quietly, with an inner voice. All the answers are in your questions."
'It's difficult. Asking questions. It might seem like a difficult thing, but when you actually ask the question and think about its meaning, you realize it's not an easy question to answer.'
Although Soo-hyun never had a moment of childishness from the beginning, this time too, Soo-hyun was lost in thought like an old man. Professor Lech again showed an expression of satisfaction upon seeing this.
Professor Lech, who had left Soo-hyun lost in thought, opened his mouth after a long while.
"The children who participated with you. From your perspective, they must have been full of mistakes and lacked skill."
Soo-hyun almost nodded unconsciously.
'I have no intention of belittling others. But what would the old men think if they saw me play with such skill? I don't know what will happen with sweet Uncle Frederick, but if you sometimes get angry and get caught by fiery Uncle Franz, you'll end up with a bone shattered. You'd probably cry yourself to sleep until you're exhausted.'
Professor Lech burst into laughter when he saw Soo-hyun's expression and that thought came to mind.
"Haha…!"
'Although she looks like an old man, she's still a child. I can see her thoughts clearly on her face.'
"Yes, from a technical standpoint, Soo-hyun, you are the one who shouldn't be participating in this competition. You would have made it to the finals of the adult category. But I guarantee you'll never be able to place in the top five of the adult category."
Soo-hyun's eyes widened.
'Soo-hyun has never seen an adult pianist play. Both Uncle Franz and Uncle Frederick said their performances were perfect. I guess the saying that the world is wide is not unfounded.'
"May I ask why?"
Lech burst into laughter again as he watched Soo-hyun ask softly.
"Haha! Soo-hyun. At times like this, you can ask. You're being too cautious."
"Then… I'll ask. Why?"
Professor Lech said with a smile.
"Don't you already know it yourself?"
Soo-hyun tilted her head.
'Is it about emotions again? The disadvantage of not knowing much about emotions has been instilled in us by everyone, from the old men to Professor Lee Chan-ho. It must be clear that it's your own disadvantage. But what does that have to do with performance? Does the value of furniture made by a carpenter who nails nails without thinking decrease?'
"Is that important?"
"Yes, that…?"
Professor Lech stopped talking when he was about to answer.
'Does that matter? What does it have to do with playing? Or is it not an answer with the nuance of «Emotion is important when playing»?'
"Is that important?" she asked.
'This child… Does she really only understand in her head what it means to put emotion into a performance?'
"No matter who taught you to play the piano, they probably taught you that you must put emotion into your playing. So the child will know it. It's just that the emotion itself is immature and hasn't been expressed yet."
Professor Lech reached out to the piano for a moment, then stopped. He barely managed to restrain himself from unconsciously wanting to give Soo-hyun a lesson. He was a competition judge, and Soo-hyun, a contestant. It was a rational decision to stop doing something that was obviously going to cause trouble. Professor Lech, with an expression of surprise, slowly withdrew his hand from the piano and clenched his fist.
'He seems to be upset and angry that he can't help this young genius right now.'
After a while, Professor Lech bit his lips and spoke with an indignant expression.
"Soo-hyun."
"Yes."
"I'm talking about the professor who came from Korea."
"Professor Lee Chan-ho?"
"Yes, that guy."
"Yes."
"Go find that person."
"Yes?"
"Ask that person. Tell him you want to add emotion to your performance. He'll tell you. Even if he's not a good professor, he'll know the basic methodology."
'Professor Lee Chan-ho is an appropriate professor. But who would dare call Professor Lech a true educator? Lech probably feels resentful for not being able to teach himself and having to give others the opportunity.'
Soo-hyun couldn't comprehend Lech's anger. Soo-hyun tilted her head at him, still not understanding, and replied in a dry tone.
"I will."
A few hours later, Professor Lee Chan-ho entered a downtown Warsaw cafe breathlessly and looked at the customers inside the cafe.
A seat by the window, where the reddish light of the setting sun was fully absorbed. Soo-hyun, who always accompanied Kim Ji-ye, sat alone.
Professor Lee Chan-ho rushed over and said cheerfully.
"Soo-hyun!"
Soo-hyun, who was looking out the window with a cup of cocoa in front of her, turned her head.
"Hello, Professor."
"Oh, just call me Uncle. Oh my! You already bought this? I was going to buy it for you."
"It's okay, the Swiss government gave us considerable compensation."
"..."
'If she says something like that with a casual expression, I'll feel embarrassed.'
Professor Lee Chan-ho sat down, coughing in vain.
"Ahem. Right. I didn't know you'd call first. I was so happy to hear it."
"I was worried you'd already returned to Korea."
'Hmm? If you had needed me, you would have turned the plane around. What's wrong?'
A few hours ago, while resting at the hotel, he received a call from Soo-hyun. It was an unknown number, but it was a Polish local number, so he answered, and it was the hotel reception, and soon he heard Soo-hyun's voice.
And Soo-hyun said something to herself.
"Can you help me?"
After hearing that, he ran without thinking about the consequences. In fact, he was happy. Just being able to help this child made Professor Lee Chan-ho feel like he was on a plane.
Professor Lee Chan-ho, who was waiting for Soo-hyun's words with the aforementioned expression, heard Soo-hyun's voice in his ears, and soon his expression stiffened.
"Please tell me how to put emotion into my performance."
'It's a way to convey emotions. Perhaps it's a very easy answer. But it's also very difficult from the perspective of the executor. But was this child clearly aware of her own shortcomings?'
Soo-hyun explained her conversation with Professor Lech to Professor Lee Chan-ho, who was speechless. Professor Lee Chan-ho nodded after hearing the full explanation and realizing the situation.
'Professor Lech, world-renowned, must be very displeased. As a professor, it's truly regrettable to miss this opportunity. This is Professor Lee Chan-ho, whom I think I should apologize to and thank if I ever meet him again.'
"May I ask you a question too?"
'Another question. It seems professors like to ask each other questions.'
"I can't answer?"
"Huh? What do you mean? I asked you a question, so you have to answer."
"Yes, go ahead."
Professor Lee Chan-ho shrugged for a moment at Soo-hyun's reaction and said:
"What is the emotion Soo-hyun has experienced most clearly in her life?"
'There are countless types of emotions. The one I've experienced most clearly.'
Soo-hyun said without much thought.
"Sorrow."
Professor Lee Chan-ho's eyes filled with regret. Indeed, he asked the question knowing the answer, but it still hurt him.
However, Lee Chan-ho nodded and said, seeing Soo-hyun's expressionless face that was so unexpressive it was embarrassing to see his heartbroken face.
"Alright, let's start there. Have you already chosen a song for the second round of the main competition?"
'I've already made a decision, but I think I should change it. Professor Lech said that if I continued like this, I would never win an award.'
Professor Lee Chan-ho's face was filled with tens of thousands of questions.
'Aren't you going to let this kid win an award? Probably no child in the children's category can compete with Soo-hyun.'
Of course, Professor Lech's words were based on the adult section, but Soo-hyun kept her words brief, so they weren't conveyed correctly.
Professor Lee Chan-ho said after taking a moment to gather his thoughts.
"Yes, I see. Perhaps it's because of the flaws you mentioned?"
"Yes."
Professor Lee Chan-ho said with a smile.
"Alright. Then let's practice together."
"What song should I play?"
"First, can you give me a list of Chopin pieces you can play?"
"All."
"Huh?"
'All? Chopin has over 200 pieces. Can you play them all? Given this child's personality, she wouldn't say this if she wasn't capable of playing perfectly. Are you really saying you can play every song perfectly?'
"Everything is possible."
"Oh, really?"
"Yes."
Professor Lee Chan-ho, who was watching Soo-hyun drink hot chocolate as if it were nothing, asked with a blank expression.
"Well then, do you know the étude of the song 'Tristesse' in E major, Op. 10-3?"
Soo-hyun put down her cocoa cup and spoke softly.
'This song I want to dedicate my heart to you. Listen, a song for you! Ah, no wonder. My heart burns, please accept my purity. My dear love, when you leave, I'll be the only one left feeling lonely. When will we meet again? Ah! My dear, whom I miss. Don't forget my purity. Dear love, please don't forget my purity.'
Lee Chan-ho was dumbfounded. Looking at him like that, Soo-hyun said:
"Among the 24 études, the song of separation, 'Tristesse'."
Professor Lee Chan-ho's eyes widened. This was because Soo-hyun knew the song's information perfectly.
'Really? Soo-hyun, can you really play all of Chopin's songs?'