Chapter 118
"It would be great, an exemption from the entrance exam. Tsk, I also have a letter of recommendation."
Professor Hermann of the University of Munich lamented the loss of Junwoo but wrote him a letter of recommendation.
However, only Soo-hyun was exempted from the entrance exam by the MDW. Jaehee and Junwoo had to take it. Fortunately, as they had the same exam date, they prepared to go together.
Junwoo, who had been complaining and envying Soo-hyun, asked him as they got ready to leave.
"What about you?"
"I have to go cheer, my friends are taking an exam."
"Hey, thanks, but I can't go into the test room anyway. I'll have to wait outside. Is that okay with you?"
"Yes. It's the same being alone in the hotel or being alone there."
After leaving, they took a taxi. Junwoo was in the passenger seat, and Jaehee and Soo-hyun were in the back. Soo-hyun, who was watching Jaehee finger-sync the song she would be playing, asked,
"Did you prepare well for the German exam?"
Junwoo had already been preparing for German before meeting Soo-hyun. With his help, he had improved and obtained a B2 certificate. However, Jaehee was different. Although she managed to get an A1, she didn't meet the admission criteria. After the practical exam, she had to continue her training and get a B2 or higher.
The question was asked to Jaehee, but the answer came from Junwoo.
"Jaehee was good at studying. If she had studied, she could have memorized it. You have nothing to worry about."
As Junwoo said, Jaehee was good at studying, but that didn't necessarily mean she was good at German. Jaehee was reflected in Soo-hyun's pitiful eyes, as if asking for help.
"Can I help you?"
She nodded. Junwoo looked back.
"Hey. You already saw everything on the plane. You solved all the exercises in the B1 course. How can I help you? You can do it yourself."
Jaehee still looked at Soo-hyun with pitiful eyes, not paying attention to Junwoo.
"Need help?" Soo-hyun asked again.
She nodded. Junwoo writhed.
'Damn it! I know you're doing this because you want to study with Soo-hyun!'
Jaehee's eyes shot laser beams. Junwoo, a little dizzy, looked ahead and coughed. Soo-hyun, smiling, saved Junwoo.
"Okay, when you get back after taking the exam, I'll help you."
The laser instantly disappeared, and Jaehee hummed a tune with joy. It seemed that the tension of the exam had disappeared. Junwoo, who paid for the taxi, was surprised by the enormous scale of the school.
"Wow! Look at this school! This is the capital of music! MDW!"
As Junwoo said, a magnificent school that looked like a medieval building welcomed the three friends. Footsteps were heard heading to the test center. The students and their families had nervous faces. The three friends, who arrived in Austria alone following Professor Lee Chan-ho's decision for them to gain experience, chatted about the school.
When they arrived, Soo-hyun stopped them to tell them not to be nervous and to take the test calmly. But instead, they were worried about Soo-hyun. Junwoo grabbed his shoulder.
"Nam Soo-hyun, stay here and don't move. If someone asks you to go somewhere, you must never follow them. Especially if they offer you candy or chocolate, you must scream. Understood?"
"…"
Jaehee looked him in the eye.
"If a woman you don't know speaks to you, pretend you don't speak German. Don't converse. Ignore her suggestions of tea or food, as they all have bad intentions."
Even Jaehee, who was not very talkative, lectured him for a long time. Soo-hyun shrugged.
"Why are you guys like this?"
Junwoo scratched his head.
"This guy doesn't know what he looks like. Anyway, if someone invites you to go somewhere, don't go, okay? You're too naive."
"Whatever, I have a phone. I'll call you after the exam. Are you really asking me to stand here during the whole exam?"
"In Korea, it was no problem because Ji-ye was always by your side, but not here," Jaehee added. "Someone will surely approach you. It's even more dangerous if it's a woman."
'Are women at greater risk?'
"So the man is okay?"
Jaehee thought for a moment and Junwoo shouted,
"Men are more dangerous, you idiot!"
"Huh? What? So everyone is dangerous. Are Austrians dangerous?"
"Or go to the school cafeteria," Junwoo said. "They said you can get a drink without a student ID if you pay cash."
A quaint cafe appeared before Soo-hyun's eyes.
'That would be nice.'
"Yes, I understand. But why are men more dangerous?"
Junwoo's face turned red.
"There, there's something like that! Anyway, it's right next to the cafe. Understood?"
"Well, don't be nervous. Good luck on the exam," Soo-hyun said, smacking his lips.
Junwoo nodded.
"It's different from Korea. No matter how bad your performance is, they will listen to the end because they think of the sincerity with which you came here. At least you can concentrate while you play."
"Yes. With your skills, you'll pass. Jaehee too."
Two friends went to the exam room, but they kept looking at Soo-hyun with concern.
'I came to cheer you on, why are you worried about me?'
Soo-hyun tilted his head. As he tried to go to the cafeteria, the students around him kept looking at him.
'What's on my face?'
He looked at his face in the shop window, but there was nothing strange. As he headed to the counter, the employee quickly took off her rubber gloves and approached. Seeing Soo-hyun's face, her expression became blank.
"Would you like a cup of hot chocolate?"
Soo-hyun handed over the card, but the employee just stared at his face.
"Hey?" Soo-hyun said, wiggling his eyebrows.
"Yes?"
"A cup of cocoa."
"Oh! Excuse me. Would you like some cinnamon powder separately?"
"I'm fine."
Soo-hyun ordered and took a seat. The employee kept staring at him.
'By the way, all the students in the cafe were looking at me. Is it because I'm Asian? This never happened in Poland.'
Now that he thought about it, his appearance had changed a lot. His hand had become thick like Professor Beethoven's. His hair was now completely silver, like Liszt's. His eyes were blue-green, like Mr. Chopin's, and he had Mr. Schubert's smile.
At that moment, a deep male voice was heard nearby.
"Are you interested in your appearance?"
Soo-hyun, who almost dropped his phone in surprise, turned his head and saw a white-haired old man holding a cup of hot coffee.
"Yes?"
The old man sat down next to Soo-hyun.
"Well, if I looked like you, I would have looked in the mirror often. But luckily, I don't have the appearance to look in the mirror."
'Was it because of what Junwoo said? When I became cautious, the old man asked,'
"You're not fluent? I've heard you speak German well."
'How do you know I speak German?'
"Are you a school official?" Soo-hyun asked in a low voice.
The old man smiled and handed him his business card.
Heinz Karl Gruber. He is the professor who will be teaching you.
'Oh, he was a professor.'
Soo-hyun jumped up and gave an oriental greeting.
"Hello, Professor."
"Haha, please refrain from greeting people like that here. It might be polite in your country, but here it might look funny."
"I heard about you from Professor Lech," Professor Gruber said as he sat Soo-hyun down again.
'Professor Lech's influence is felt here too.'
"Do you know each other?"
"Because you are my disciple."
'Professor Lech is this person's disciple? That famous person?'
Soo-hyun was impressed once again. Professor Gruber, whom he admired, laughed.
"Don't look at me like that. Right now, I'm just an old man trapped in school."
As Soo-hyun looked out the window, Professor Gruber did too.
"May I ask you a question?"
"Yes, Professor."
"You've been exempted from the entrance exam, so you're not taking another test. Just answer comfortably."
"Yes, Professor."
Professor Gruber paused for a moment and asked as he sipped his coffee.
"Who can create music?"
Soo-hyun answered without hesitation.
"He is a pure soul."
Professor Gruber's eyes widened in surprise. It was rare for students to give such answers. But Soo-hyun had heard this story so many times from Beethoven that he answered reflexively. The professor, who was speechless for a moment, asked again.
"I've heard a lot about your skills. How much do you practice?"
"It usually takes about six hours."
"In a day?"
"Yes, Professor."
'Six hours a day. It's a demanding schedule even for a university student.'
"Isn't the practice boring?"
"It's not boring at all."
"Why? Because it's fun?"
"No."
"Then?"
Soo-hyun spoke with clear eyes.
"I learned that learning useless and boring exercises to learn to play the piano is like learning to walk on your head."
Professor Gruber muttered, his eyes wide open.
"Chopin?"
This time, Soo-hyun was surprised. It was because it was a story told by Chopin. The gazes of the two people who were looking at each other with surprised eyes intertwined passionately in the air. Professor Gruber, who had been looking at Soo-hyun's face for a while, stood up with his cup in his hand and smiled.
"You are a student worthy of being exempt from the entrance exam in Austria, the music capital of the world. This gives me confidence. See you later."
Professor Gruber's face was full of interest as he walked down the hallway, catching a glimpse of Soo-hyun, who was giving another oriental greeting from behind.