No More Thug Life, I’m Playing Music

Chapter 38: Stand-in (7)

I once heard that when people face an unbearable tragedy, they become paralyzed by it. Their hearts become trapped in the grief, leaving behind only an empty shell that can neither eat, sleep, nor even speak.

“Hyung, she’s been like that for two days now…”

Late at night.

In one corner of the funeral reception room, Ducheol and I leaned against the wall. The table before us was covered with untouched, now-cold food.

“Sigh…”

Ducheol glanced toward the altar room where the memorial portrait was displayed and spoke in a low voice.

“At this rate, she’s going to wear herself out completely.”

Following his gaze, I saw Minji sitting in her black mourning clothes. She stared vacantly at the portrait, her expression blank and unfocused.

No visitor had managed to strike up a conversation with her since the funeral began.

“At least many people came to pay their respects.”
“Yeah, she’s well-regarded.”

Though the room was empty now, it had been packed with visitors until just a short while ago, a testament to how many people valued Minji. They had come to share in her sorrow.

“Seojoon.”

Instructor Jang approached me. He had taken on the role of chief mourner on Minji’s behalf, staying by the altar the entire time in his mourning attire.

“My wife just called. Our daughter has a fever…”
“Don’t worry about us here. Go take care of her.”
“Alright. The cremation is tomorrow morning, so there probably won’t be any more visitors tonight. Please look after Minji until then.”

After respectfully bidding farewell to Ducheol as well, Instructor Jang left.

“He’s a good man.”
“No doubt about it.”

It was now two in the morning.

The previous night, many of Minji’s friends had stayed with her, but tonight they had all left.

“Ducheol, take them home.”

I gestured toward Junsoo and Kim Bom, who were fast asleep in a corner of the room.

“Yes, hyung. I’ll take them right away.”
“You can come back in the morning. I’ll be fine here alone.”
“Are you sure? You didn’t sleep last night either…”
“I’m fine. Guess I’ve got more stamina since getting younger.”

“Alright, hyung. See you tomorrow.”

Ducheol picked up Junsoo and Kim Bom one by one and carried them out without waking them. Not looking back, he seemed intent on returning after settling them.

“Stubborn as always…”

Now I was alone in the empty wake. Technically, Minji was there too, but she was so silent it felt like I was the only one present.

I grabbed a bottle of water from the fridge and headed to the altar room. The subtle scent of incense filled the air as I approached Minji.

“You’ll collapse at this rate.”

“……”

No response.

I picked up the untouched porridge left by her side and carried it back to the reception room. Just as I was about to put on my earphones and listen to music, I heard footsteps echoing down the hallway.

Click, clack.

High heels.

“Who could it be at this hour…?”

The sound grew closer, and soon, a figure appeared from the direction of the empty shoe rack.

Long straight hair, heavy makeup, and a petite frame adorned in luxury brands.

The face was familiar. After a moment of thought, I recalled the photograph I’d seen at Instructor Jang’s house—it was Minji’s mother.

“……”

Our eyes met, but neither of us said a word. She passed me, leaving behind a trail of strong perfume, and entered the altar room.

Lighting fresh incense, she bowed twice out of courtesy before looking at Minji.

“You’ve grown pretty.”

“…Mom…?”

I quietly left the room.

Sitting down on a chair in the dimly lit hallway, I felt as though lingering would only intrude on their reunion.

I put in my earphones and played a song. The piece that started was one of Minji’s audition pieces—Bottesini’s Elegy.

An elegy: a mournful, sorrowful song. A lament for the dead.

****

The gentle sound of the music filled my ears. The deep resonance of the bass embraced all the surrounding silence.

Before the short piece, less than five minutes long, could even finish, Minji’s mother emerged from the altar room.

For a mother-daughter reunion after ten years, the moment was painfully brief.

The sound of high heels echoed again in the dark hallway.

“Mom!”

Minji came running out of the altar room. Her voice carried through the air, mingling with the elegy still playing in my ears.

“So what if I’m a stand-in? Isn’t it enough if I’m happy? Isn’t it enough for me?”

Perhaps it was the elegy’s somber tone, or the trembling in her voice that not even her mourning clothes could hide, but her anguished words were soaked in sorrow.

“Don’t ever show up in front of me again! Get out! Just leave!”

Minji collapsed to the floor, screaming in despair.

Her mother never looked back.

****

The morning air felt crisp, perfect for a refreshing jog.

“Seo… Seojoon, wait up!”

Junsoo called out to me from behind.
I knew it was tough for him, but I wasn’t about to let him off the hook—it was for his own endurance.

“Keep running!”

I didn’t stop, but I slowed down just enough for him to catch up. Gasping for breath, he finally managed to pull alongside me.

“Why don’t we… just go to the gym like Uncle Ducheol…”
“No way. Jogging requires wind resistance. We’ll hit the weights tonight.”
“Ah… spare me…”

We kept running for a while, and I glanced to the side. In the distance, I could see the hill where Minji used to live. Junsoo, noticing it too, muttered quietly.

“It’s already been two weeks…”

It had been two weeks since Minji disappeared after the funeral. Neither her school friends nor even Instructor Jang had heard anything from her. She didn’t even show up for graduation. When we went to her house, we found she had already moved out.

“Click…”
“Are you upset?”
“About what?”
“Uncle Ducheol said you’re really upset about it.”
“Upset? Nonsense. If you’re going to say pointless things, pick up the pace.”
“W-wait!”

We rounded the halfway point and ran on for a while longer. Eventually, the Baekjung Studio came into view in the distance.

“You’ve gotten better at this.”
“Running every day must’ve helped… ha… But today’s the day, right?”
“Yeah.”

Today was the first shoot since ChuchuTV had rebranded to BaekjungTV. The goal was to inform subscribers about the change and promote the new season of “No Second Chances” alongside the start of the semester.

“Nervous?”
“Not at all.”
“Really? Do you think you can pull it off like Minji did?”
“…Absolutely not.”
“Then what’s your plan?”
“No idea. I’ll just wing it.”

“Seojoon, by the way, I know you called Kim Bom last night.”
Junsoo teased me with a playful tone.

“….”
“You asked her for help, didn’t you?”

He was right. And she turned me down, citing her “image” or something.

“Ugh… ridiculous…”
“You can do it! Go Jung Seojoon! Go Baekjung!”
“Haha.”

Several cars were parked along the wall outside Baekjung Studio. I scanned them carefully, wondering if they were from Kim Changsik. Ducheol had occasionally spotted his employees loitering near our home, so I didn’t let my guard down.

“These are ChuchuTV’s team cars.”
“Right.”

Even though there was plenty of time before the shoot, the team was already hard at work.

Opening the gate, we climbed the stone steps and saw the small stage set up in the yard. Team members buzzed around, setting up cameras and lights. They had even dragged out the grand piano from the living room, clearly planning something big.

“Not much different from when Minji was here,” I muttered.

After greeting the team, I headed inside to freshen up.

****

Shortly after, I sat down at the piano. It was the same one I always practiced on, in the same room I always used, but for some reason, I felt nervous.

“Hah…”
“Baekjung, are you okay?”

The camera director addressed me, calling me “Baekjung” like the rest of the team now did. It wasn’t hard to get used to since I’d heard it plenty before, but it still felt odd when spoken so openly.

“Why are you nervous all of a sudden?”
“This doesn’t seem to be my thing.”

I held up the microphone in my hand.

“Oh, don’t worry about that. Just play the piano like you always do and say whatever you feel like saying.”
“Alright, got it.”

“Okay… we’re rolling!”

As the camera started, I immediately began playing the piano.

****

As the piece neared its end, my unease grew.

What should I say?
Was this a mistake?
Some things just aren’t meant for everyone.

Holding a microphone in front of a camera, muttering to myself? It felt ridiculous.

[Ta-dan–]

The piece concluded, and the team clapped as I held the microphone. Standing up from the piano bench, I stared straight into the camera. As I searched for something to say, my eyes met the camera director’s.

Right. They said to say whatever I wanted.

Slowly, I opened my mouth.

“Are you eating well?”

…

The team stared at me, wide-eyed, clearly taken aback.

Ignoring their reactions, I continued speaking.

“I know you’re watching this. You can’t just leave without saying goodbye like that. I’m not saying this because I’m upset, but Uncle Ducheol was, and so were Junsoo and Kim Bom.

Anyway, wherever you are, eat well. Don’t slack on practice. Sleep properly. Don’t drink too much. Go to school diligently. And if anything happens, give me a call… and maybe stop by if you get the chance.”

I casually dropped the microphone.

The team members looked visibly flustered.

“That’s a wrap.”

I couldn’t help it. Music is what I care about—not things like this.

“Cut…?”

When I shrugged, the camera director glanced behind me and spoke hesitantly.

“Uh, what now?”
“What?”

Puzzled, I turned around.

Not far away, a petite figure stood still. She had brightly dyed short hair and was wearing a long padded coat with the word “Baekjung” written on it. She seemed to have stopped mid-step after walking over cautiously.

“You…”

It was Choo Minji.

“Hehe…”

She gave an awkward laugh, then turned on the microphone she was holding. With a jump, she waved energetically.

“Choo-ha! Choo-ha! Hello, everyone! It’s been a while! I’m Choo Minji, the host of BaekjungTV! Please take care of me!”

The team members erupted into cheers and applause as though they had been waiting for this moment.

Inside the house, Ducheol and Junsoo emerged holding a massive cake.

That’s when it dawned on me—today wasn’t just the launch of BaekjungTV. It was also a hidden camera prank on me.

“…Damn it.”

Minji leapt forward, throwing her arm around my shoulder.

“Let’s do well, Boss!”
“…Hey! Where have you been all this time?”
“Traveling! That’s all!”

Time passed.

It was a spring day, with summer just around the corner.

At a café near Poonggwang High School, the entire second floor had been rented out for a magazine interview. The publication was Wonder Classic, one of Korea’s leading classical music magazines known for spotlighting young rising stars in the industry.

Click.

Under bright lights, the photographer’s fingers moved incessantly.

“Wow…”

He kept marveling, repeating the same compliments about how I should consider being a professional model.

At the other end of the lens was a composed man with an effortless air—Jung Seojoon.

He was unrecognizable from the time he first stood before Minji’s camera last year. With long hair slicked back, he even pulled off an intense, alluring look for the shoot.

“Wow…”

After the photoshoot concluded, the formal interview began.

Beep.

A journalist in a brown dress turned on her recorder and greeted me.

“Nice to meet you, Mr. Baekjung. You’re as handsome as I’ve heard.”
“Thank you for the compliment.”

Seojoon offered a subtle smile, a practiced expression that hinted at his awareness of his looks.

“When I saw you perform with the Kyungyi Orchestra last week, I didn’t realize just how striking you were. Oh… you must get tired of hearing that, don’t you?”
“Not at all. Hearing it from someone as beautiful as you always feels new.”
“Oh my… Such charm. You’re 19, right?”
“When faced with beauty, age doesn’t matter.”

The journalist’s smile widened even further at his response.

The interview continued with the journalist asking questions and Seojoon providing thoughtful answers.

“Mr. Baekjung, you’re known for your explosive touch and performances that are not just warm but outright passionate. Would you say that reflects your personality?”

“Yes, I view classical music as provocative and sensual. I strive to break the stereotype that it’s rigid…”

The questions covered a variety of topics:

His performances over the past months since the Emperor concerto collaboration.

BaekjungTV reaching 200,000 subscribers.

Rumors about him dating violinist Han Yeoreum.

Recent internet gossip claiming he was involved in delinquent activities.

“That video does show me, but it happened while I was helping another student. It’s already been resolved with the parties involved.”

“Yes, we’re aware of that. Still, your fighting skills seemed impressive… There are even rumors that you’re the one who humiliated Kang Hancheol in that viral video…”

When it became clear the journalist wouldn’t drop the topic, Ducheol, seated nearby, stood up.

The presence of his large frame immediately drew everyone’s attention. He lightly tapped his bald head, signaling for the journalist to move on.

“Haha… Mr. Baekjung’s manager seems quite… unique.”
“He might look intimidating, but he’s kind. He runs a gym and a small guesthouse on the side. No criminal record, of course.”
“Oh… That sounded very rehearsed.”

“Excuse me!”

This time, Minji, sitting next to Ducheol, raised her hand. Removing her pink sunglasses, she strode over to Seojoon and fussed with his hair while glaring at the journalist.

Her voice was calm but carried a sharp edge.

“Journalist… we agreed not to discuss that topic, didn’t we?”
“Ah, yes, but I came prepared just in case…”
“You know Professor Han is looking forward to this interview, right? Not to mention the collaboration concert between Wonder Classic and Han Chamber Music.”
“Ah…”
“Let’s stick to the agreement, shall we?”

Minji returned to her seat, leaving the journalist to exhale deeply.

“Shall we move on to the next question?”
“Please.”

“There have been rumors about multiple meetings with JS Art Management. Are you finally planning to sign with an agency this time?”

“That’s false.”

Seojoon responded before the journalist could even finish.

“I’ve made it clear to them—I don’t plan to sign with any management until I’m an adult.”

“Ah, I see. Understood. Now, the next question might be a bit sensitive. It’s something many people are curious about: your plans regarding international competitions.”

At the mention of this, Seojoon’s expression darkened, as did those of Ducheol and Minji.

It was a question they were tired of addressing.

“Are you planning to participate this summer?”