The Road To Glory [EN]: Chapter 2141

[Extra Story] 16. Sketchbook Without Staff Lines

“Is he famous?”

Winter thought he needed to be famous.

At least more than that person.

-Then, can you teach me how to sing?

It was just a random question.

Winter knew well that he was someone who would soon return. Unlike the islanders, he was someone who would leave someday.

Just like the teacher who taught her do-re-mi-fa-sol-la-ti-do [musical scale]. Just like her father, who never returned after taking a ship.

She just thought he was a good person, so she mustered up the courage to ask.

-No.

How could he reject her so firmly?

Winter, who was dumbfounded at the moment, now regretted coming back.

Bad person!

He said he was a singer in Seoul, but she figured he must be an unknown singer.

But-.

Winter was speechless looking at the materials the PD [Producer-Director] from the broadcasting station showed her. To be honest, words like winning awards, being the first Korean, and so on didn’t really resonate with her.

However, seeing PD Na and the writer excitedly talking about how famous and great ‘Halo’ was, she realized he was more famous than she had thought.

Once again, that person says,

-No.

Winter pouted.

She would learn from someone a hundred or a thousand times smarter and cooler than him.

She would become an incredibly amazing person later, and when he begged her to teach him, she would say the same thing.

She would let him know that she could say those words too. But if he begged about three times, would she forgive him?

-Am I weird?

-No, it’s just that it’s too-.

-Ordinary.

The face that smiled while saying that resembled her mother’s kind face from a long time ago.

Winter knew that he wasn’t a bad person.

Still, it was totally unfair!

“Uh… who is more famous, you mean.”

PD Na Hye-ju was at a loss for words.

The answer was already determined, but she had a feeling that if she told the truth to that combative gaze, things wouldn’t go well.

“Uh… it’s hard to compare… um. And you’re not supposed to tell who the mentor is… but I’ll tell you in advance, just to you, Winter. But you have to keep it a secret.”

Winter nodded resolutely at PD Na Hye-ju’s words.

“It’s Kim Seon-cheol.”

“?”

When Winter tilted her head, PD Na Hye-ju listed his famous songs.

“Oh!”

Winter finally understood one.

It was an old song from the hit song ‘At Hwagae Market’.

PD Na Hye-ju was surprised that Winter knew that song, but on the other hand, it seemed that the latest songs were not well known in this village.

“Kim Seon-cheol is a veteran singer who has released seven full albums, is actively working on broadcasts, and is also lecturing at a university. Winter, do you know ‘Spring Again’? He appeared there as Team B.”

Na Hye-ju realized that the title of the entertainment show belatedly came from Halo’s album, but fortunately, Winter shook her head with a blank face.

“No.”

“Ah, I see.”

“How many full albums has that person released?”

“Huh?”

PD Na Hye-ju recalled Halo’s first full album, Shape of Love (and 13 EPs and 1 single).

“Full albums… one? Or should we count it as two?”

He released one under the name Noh Hae-il and one under the name Halo, so it could be said that he released two full albums.

“But he released quite a few EP albums.”

Um.

Winter thought it was two albums.

That person didn’t seem that old, so she couldn’t tell if that was a lot or not.

“Okay.”

Winter replied. PD Na Hye-ju asked, just in case.

“Will you appear on our program?”

“Yes! If I go there, can I become a singer quickly?”

“Well, yes.”

“And become famous quickly.”

“It’s better than not appearing, right?”

“Then I’ll earn a lot of money too.”

“Yes, I’m not a bad person who skims appearance fees.”

PD Na Hye-ju tried to high-five with writer Do Min-hee.

“I’m going to release more albums than that person by going there!”

“?!”

Their palms missed each other and hit their shoulders before scattering.

“Huh?”

Winter, unaware of their muttering, burned with determination.

“I’ll release one more album than him at the same age and definitely beat him.”

At that moment, Halo felt his ears itching.

#

“Grandma, what are all these jars?”

Things that weren’t visible when there was plenty of time became visible when there was no time.

Halo discovered the jars lined up behind Nam Gyu-hwan’s grandmother’s house.

Some were broken, some had holes, and some were covered in cobwebs.

No matter how he looked at them, they didn’t seem to be in use.

“Grandma, why didn’t you throw them away?”

Nam Gyu-hwan, who opened the lid of a broken jar and closed it again due to the rotten smell, asked, and his grandmother replied.

“Isn’t it a waste?”

“What’s so wasteful about it? You can’t use them anyway.”

Moreover, she said there was no place to throw them away and no one to take them away.

“Then you could have asked me to do it.”

Time flew by as they sang old songs together with the villagers at the village hall, held a small party with mini ensembles using the guitars, melodicas, xylophones, and other children’s instruments they had brought.

In the island dyed in darkness where nothing could be seen, they, who were scheduled to return when the ship left tomorrow, could not get rid of the jars.

It wasn’t just the jars that were the problem.

There were also holes in the stone walls and things that needed to be repaired everywhere. In fact, this wasn’t just a problem with the grandmother’s house.

As everyone looked around with worried eyes, the grandmother smiled kindly and said.

“Don’t worry, it’s okay. I had a good time today thanks to you, so don’t be sad. Does everyone like sweet potatoes?”

The grandmother took out sweet potatoes from under the stove with tongs. They sat on the porch, looked at the sky, and peeled the sweet potatoes. The warmth of the freshly baked sweet potatoes made them feel like the remaining chill was disappearing.

“Play moderately and go to sleep.”

The grandmother went in first, and they put their heads together and lay down, looking at the sky.

White breaths rose into the sky.

“It was fun.”

“Time went by so quickly.”

“It’s a shame.”

Someone said.

“I don’t want to go back.”

Halo replied without realizing it.

“Me neither.”

Somehow, being here, hanging out with people here, it felt like something would come to mind.

In fact, if he wanted to, he could stay longer, but he had a meeting scheduled with a professor at Korea National University of Arts regarding an exhibition, and more than anything, there was no reason to keep staying here.

Halo looked at the night sky full of stars.

Like that, the remaining time was also flowing.

#

“Yes? What did you say?”

In the dim dawn.

Writer Do Min-hee woke up to PD Na Hye-ju’s voice. Was it time to set sail now?

They were originally going to return yesterday, but the sea was rough and the ship didn’t leave, so the schedule was postponed by a day. Perhaps, Mr. Halo too.

Writer Do Min-hee pushed off the blanket and got up.

Looking at the clock, it was 8 a.m.

“What… what are you talking about?”

PD Na Hye-ju’s expression and voice were unusual. Writer Do Min-hee, who opened the door, took in the harsh air, stretched, and looked at her.

“My senior is taking over my program? What? You already had a meeting…? No, wait a minute, director.”

PD Na Hye-ju’s lips trembled.

“That’s just taking it away. No, when did I ever agree to give my program to my senior…”

“…”

With just a few words, she could see how the situation was unfolding. Writer Do Min-hee recalled that she hadn’t answered her phone from the broadcasting station all day yesterday.

She felt uneasy, but just brushed it off.

Before long, the call ended.

“What happened?”

“My senior took my program.”

“Can that happen so easily?”

“I don’t know, they already had a meeting.”

“Who did they have a meeting with? Winter is here-.”

“Mr. Kim Seon-cheol.”

“!”

“And they found another prodigy. You know, that kid we met in Gangnam [affluent district in Seoul].”

“Ah, that kid with the scary parent.”

There was a question of whether that kid was a prodigy, but more urgent than that was the mentor.

Writer Do Min-hee, who tended to cool down rather than heat up when angry, thought. It wasn’t too late yet.

“Mr. Kim Seon-cheol was originally supposed to work with us.”

“That’s why they took everything away.”

“Does Mr. Kim Seon-cheol know?”

“Huh?”

“He might not know about this. That the PD has changed. Why don’t you tell him? Do you have his contact information? No, you calm down. I’ll do it.”

“Who knows? If we talk about Winter, he might happily come back. Other than that, Winter is a real prodigy.”

That’s right. PD Na Hye-ju nodded.

Winter was more special than any of the children they had met. PD Na Hye-ju, who had been a junior PD in ‘Talent Discovery Team,’ was certain.

Yes, if Mr. Kim Seon-cheol came back, everything could be restored to its original state. The senior’s program would be ruined, and it would become her program again.

PD Na Hye-ju decided to swear at her senior later and waited anxiously for writer Do Min-hee’s call.

“It’s more positive than I thought?”

And an unexpected answer came.

“Huh?”

“I didn’t want to talk about internal affairs if possible, but it seems like he already noticed. Well, the PD changed without saying anything.”

“Wow, so he’s coming back?”

“Yeah, but-.”

Writer Do Min-hee tilted her head and chuckled.

“Why?”

“He wants to talk to Winter first?”

“Of course, we can meet Winter. But what about the contract, contract termination?”

“No, he wants to talk to Winter now before the contract.”

“?”

Writer Do Min-hee had a pessimistic expression. It was her unique expression of ‘I knew it.’ There was no way there would be an entertainer in the world who was like a shonen manga [Japanese comics targeting young teen boys] protagonist, burning with injustice.

“He’s playing hard to get, that guy.”

“Well, that’s natural. From Mr. Kim Seon-cheol’s perspective, there’s no reason to help me at all. I’m satisfied. Winter is a real prodigy, so he’ll come back. So when does he want to talk to Winter?”

“He wants to connect via Zoom now.”

“Winter must be sleeping now.”

“Seeing that he only has time now, the contract must be imminent.”

PD Na Hye-ju jumped up, grabbed the pad, and ran out.

“Mother, hello! Winter, please help me just once!”

“Yes?”

“The person who will be Winter’s teacher wants to see Winter once. Can you talk now?”

Her hair was disheveled and formed a bird’s nest.

Her face was swollen because she had just woken up, and she was still half asleep.

Still, as soon as Winter answered ‘Yes,’ PD Na Hye-ju, with her mother’s help, grabbed a sketchbook, washed Winter’s face, and put a coat on her.

She looked cute like this. PD Na Hye-ju then set up the pad on the table and connected the video call.

Only cable broadcasting was available on TV, but the signal was still good, and it soon connected.

“Hello, I’m Na Hye-ju, PD from MNC.”

[Oh, surprise. Is that Autumn?]

“It’s Winter. Can I connect with singer Kim Seon-cheol?”

A slightly swaggering manager was surprised that it might actually connect, and soon left to call the singer.

[Hello?]

And when Kim Seon-cheol finally appeared, PD Na Hye-ju was about to cry. The world was indeed turning in order. If she had just gone back like this, she might have jumped off the ship without being able to return.

[And hello, Winter?]

“Ah, hello.”

Kim Seon-cheol, connected via video call, smiled kindly. A kind teacher and a genius who grew up only on the island. She could already see how to film the scene.

[I’m Kim Seon-cheol, a musician. Have you heard my songs?]

“Yes? Yes.”

[Okay? Well, without further ado, the teacher will ask Winter a few questions. Answer honestly.]

Before listening to Winter’s answer, Kim Seon-cheol turned the camera. A piano was there.

PD Na Hye-ju was nervous because she knew that this was an island and that Winter had not received proper education. But a perfect pitch quiz seemed okay.

Kim Seon-cheol really tested Winter’s ears with piano sounds. Every time Winter answered, although a little slow, PD Na Hye-ju cheered inwardly.

Then the number of notes increased one by one.

Two notes, and then three notes simultaneously.

Winter, who had been speaking well up to two harmonies, began to hesitate as the key became higher.

When she couldn’t answer, Kim Seon-cheol pressed it again.

Three harmonies. When Winter tilted her head again, Kim Seon-cheol closed the piano.

“Wait a minute, singer.”

Feeling a sense of crisis, PD Na Hye-ju hurriedly showed her sketchbook. It was Winter’s sketchbook.

“It seems like the sound is distorted due to the radio wave problem, so it’s hard to hear well. Would you like to take a look at this?”

[Open it once.]

When Kim Seon-cheol crossed his arms, PD Na Hye-ju opened the part that had surprised her.

Winter’s doodles. No, her composition notes.

Although there were no staff lines, a veteran singer like Kim Seon-cheol would recognize it.

[Can you bring it closer to the camera?]

“Yes, yes!”

It was clear that he was interested.

Kim Seon-cheol’s eyes scanned back and forth.

This was definitely Winter’s work, but somehow she felt like her work was being evaluated.

At some point, Kim Seon-cheol raised the corners of his lips.

Was it a green light?

PD Na Hye-ju waited for Kim Seon-cheol’s mouth to open.

At that time, a word was heard.

[…Don’t you use the word prodigy too easily these days?]

“Yes?”

[If a neighborhood kid draws something similar to what they saw somewhere, they’re a prodigy, a genius.]

“Yes? No, singer Kim Seon-cheol, I think there’s a misunderstanding, this isn’t something she drew after seeing it somewhere. Winter wrote it herself-.”

[Then what? It’s terrible.]

“Yes?”

[Have you ever played it?]

And a small curse was heard in the back.

PD Na Hye-ju covered her ears in case the child heard it. However, Winter was not a child who would not notice the negative nuance.

The child’s eyes trembled uneasily.

Regardless, Kim Seon-cheol PD shrugged his shoulders and opened the piano lid again.

Then he played the sheet music that Winter had composed as it was. PD Na Hye-ju frowned without realizing it while listening. It wasn’t proper music.

Just a clumsy sound continued, as if someone who had never played the piano was playing it roughly.

Kim Seon-cheol PD did not play to the end and closed the lid. Then he turned his eyes and said to Winter.

[Kid]

“…”

[You’re just an extremely ordinary kid, so tell your mom and dad not to do useless things.]

Click.

The camera was cut off mercilessly.

Silence fell.

“No, what kind of crazy bastard is that.”

Writer Do Min-hee cursed at Kim Seon-cheol’s rudeness, and PD Na Hye-ju, who was embarrassed that Winter was not a prodigy, looked at Winter.

Winter’s eyes were trembling.

“Winter.”

It was clear that she was hurt.

Whether Winter was a prodigy or not, she shouldn’t have said those words to a child. PD Na Hye-ju tried to calm the child first rather than her own mentality.

But at some point, Winter gritted her teeth and glared at her, or rather, at the sketchbook she was holding.

And it was instantaneous.

Winter snatched the sketchbook and ran out of the house.

“Winter!”

PD Na Hye-ju jumped up and ran after Winter. She couldn’t leave her like this.

Because Winter had done nothing wrong.

Whether Winter was a real prodigy or not, it was Na Hye-ju who had said that Winter was a prodigy, and it was Na Hye-ju who had made her talk to Kim Seon-cheol.

However, the island of Baekundo was very complex. Houses and alleys lined up here and there.

PD Na Hye-ju, who had already lost Winter, looked around and put her hands on her knees.

“Oh my, you surprised me.”

“Auntie, have you seen Winter?”

“Winter? She was going towards that harbor.”

“Thank you!”

PD Na Hye-ju, asking people passing by, ran to the harbor and finally found Winter.

“Win-.”

As she was about to call the child, the child bumped into someone and fell.

“Oh?”

“Are you okay, baby?”

“Huh, is the baby crying? Nam Gyu-hwan, kneel down quickly.”

Halo and his members, who were just moving luggage onto the ship.

The child who bumped into Nam Gyu-hwan sat down on the floor and couldn’t move. However, PD Na Hye-ju, who discovered her shaking shoulders, knew that Winter was crying.

“Are you okay? Does it hurt a lot?”

Moon Seo-yeon grabbed Winter’s hand. The child revealed her white face and sobbed.

“What’s going on?”

Halo, who had come out while talking to the VJ due to the commotion, found the child.

The child looked at Halo for a moment.

And at some point, the sobbing turned into a wail.

The child cried so sadly while looking at Halo.

“Oh no. It must have really hurt.”

“I, I did wrong.”

“Boss, please comfort the baby.”

“…Me?”

Halo, who was looking at the child, was embarrassed by Moon Seo-yeon’s request and approached. A sketchbook was visible at his feet before he reached the child.

“Give it to me!”

The child was surprised and reached out to the sketchbook, but Halo had already seen the sketchbook.

“Give it to me. It’s mine.”

The child grabbed Halo’s pants and cried.

It was as if she was grabbing him not to go.

“What is this?”

“Don’t look.”

“Don’t you cry either.”

“It’s my heart.”

“Then I’ll look too.”

“Where is that?”

“Here.”

Where could there be such childish conversation in the world?

But the child had stopped crying, so that seemed to be enough.

Halo only looked at the part that was spread out in the sketchbook.

Notes were freely playing without staff lines.

Halo, who was quietly looking at the sketchbook, chuckled at some point.

“You should have drawn the staff lines properly. Otherwise, no one will recognize it.”

“!”

Halo returned the sketchbook to Winter.

Winter, who thought she would hear criticism like teacher Kim Seon-cheol, blankly stared at him.

“Still, you made it well.”