No More Thug Life, I’m Playing Music

Episode 15: Chaconne (5)

“Stop it!”

Baek Junsoo threw his arms around one of Choi Pilwook’s legs. His face was smeared with blood, and even the smallest movement seemed to drain him. Yet, he mustered all his remaining strength to act.

But his resistance didn’t last long.
Choi Pilwook kicked him away, sending him rolling across the ground.
“Ugh!”

“Well, look who thinks he’s Superman,” Choi sneered as he pressed his foot against Junsoo’s chest.
“See, kid, it’d be much cleaner if you just died quietly on your own. Why do you have to drag me into it and make things messy? And because of you, Kim Bom over there is half-crippled now.”

From his pocket, Choi pulled out an object wrapped in newspaper.
“Let’s finish this quickly, Baek the artist. After all, neither of us has much left to lose in life, right?”

At that moment, there was the sound of rapid footsteps.
Sensing something, Choi turned around, only to be struck by a forceful blow.
“Ugh!”

He fell backward, clutching his face.

Baek Junsoo looked up in shock. Under the orange glow of the streetlight stood Jung Seojoon, dressed in his black tailcoat, his face contorted with rage like a demon.
“S-Seojoon….”

Seeing his expression, Baek Junsoo weakly shook his head. He had a bad feeling this would escalate.
“D-don’t….”

Seojoon ignored Junsoo’s outstretched hand and walked forward, each step deliberate.
Choi Pilwook scrambled to his feet, cursing.
“You bastard!”

He charged at Seojoon with a clenched fist, but his retaliation was futile.

Thud!

Seojoon’s punch landed squarely on Choi’s face, sending him sprawling to the ground once more. Choi didn’t even get a chance to throw a punch before he was rendered helpless.

Now devoid of any chance at victory, Choi lay on the ground as Seojoon climbed on top of him. Seojoon rummaged through Choi’s inner pocket and pulled out a lighter, gripping it tightly in his right hand.

He spoke, his voice steady and cold.
“I may have lived as a thug, but I’ve always followed two rules.”

Seojoon slammed his fist into Choi’s face.
“Ugh!”

“Never harm women or children.”

Thud!

“Never touch someone’s family.”

Thud!

“You broke both those rules in front of me.”

Thud!

Seojoon’s fists didn’t stop. Each blow landed with the weight of his pent-up fury, disfiguring the face of the man who had been ready to kill.

“If you were prepared to kill someone, you should’ve been ready to die too.”

Thud!

Blood spattered onto Seojoon’s tailcoat. It was impossible to tell whether the crimson droplets were from Choi’s face or from Seojoon’s bruised fists.

Thud!

“S-Seojoon….”

Baek Junsoo reached out with trembling hands. He couldn’t let his first real friend become a criminal because of him. Summoning every ounce of strength left in his battered body, he rose to his feet.

Thud!

Just as Seojoon’s fist was about to strike again, Junsoo flung himself over Choi Pilwook, shielding him with his body.

Blood streaming down his face, Junsoo looked up at Seojoon.
“P-please… stop….”

Seojoon’s rationality finally returned. He looked down at Junsoo with a conflicted expression, a fleeting memory flashing through his mind.

“Uncle, stop!”

A child’s voice echoed in his head. His blood-soaked hand fell limply to the ground.

“You’re still the same as ever….”

Just then, a familiar voice called out from behind him.
“Seojoon!”

Seojoon froze and turned to see three figures standing nearby: his mother, his father, and Professor Han.

His parents covered their mouths in disbelief, while Professor Han was already on the phone.
“Manager Kim, come to the Poonggwang Art Hall immediately. Report this to the police in five minutes.”

Ending the call, Professor Han rushed to check on Kim Bom, who sat slumped on the ground, staring at her swollen wrist with her head bowed.

Seojoon heard her faint mumbling.
I have to perform… I need to… It’s my last time….

“……”

Seojoon turned to look at his parents. Their expressions were a mixture of shock and despair.
“Seojoon….”

“You….”

The music from the performance hall abruptly stopped. Moments later, an announcement echoed through the speakers.
[In a few moments, Jung Seojoon and Kim Bom’s solo performances will begin….]

The emcee’s voice, announcing their upcoming performance, sounded like mere noise to Seojoon. He stood up from Choi Pilwook’s limp body and opened his dry lips to speak.

“This….”
He couldn’t find the words. His shame and guilt enveloped him, making him painfully aware of his failure to handle the situation maturely. He was still, in many ways, the thug he’d always been.

“Father… Mother….”

He slowly approached them, his head swirling with thoughts. How could he calm them down? How could he explain this?

At that moment, as Seojoon was lost in his own turmoil, his mother screamed.
“Seojoon! Behind you!”

Seojoon instinctively turned around and locked eyes with the deranged gaze of Choi Pilwook, who was charging at him.

Reacting on instinct, Seojoon raised his arms to shield his head and torso. Under the streetlight, the flash of a sharp metal object caught his eye.

Slash!

Drops of crimson splattered through the air.

Seo Sooji felt a constant itch at the back of her neck throughout the second half of the performance.

The weight of countless eyes in the audience, more evaluating than enjoying, made Seo Sooji break into a cold sweat.
Still, somehow, she managed to finish.

“Phew….”

While she shared the attention with her fellow orchestra members, Jung Seojoon would have to face it all alone.
Seo Sooji left the stage with the students, bowing to the audience as they exited.

Whoosh!
The stage lights dimmed.

Quickly, Seo Sooji led the students to clear the chairs and music stands. She even helped them set up the grand piano. Just before leaving the stage, she glanced at the audience.

It was packed—far more than she had expected. Adults filled the seats, as well as students from over ten different schools, each wearing their distinct uniforms. Among the crowd, she noticed famous figures like Han Yeoreum and Park Myunghoon.

That so many had gathered just to witness a student’s piano performance felt surreal. Like ants swarming a piece of sweet candy.

Then again, having witnessed Jung Seojoon’s playing firsthand, she understood. His talent was more than sweet—it was divine, as if he had been born to play the piano.

“But why isn’t he here yet?”

The stage was ready, but Seojoon hadn’t shown up. As murmurs began to ripple through the audience, a sudden announcement broke the tension:

[We regret to inform you that Jung Seojoon’s piano solo has been canceled due to unforeseen circumstances. Once again, Jung Seojoon’s piano performance has been canceled.]

Rustle, rustle.

A wave of agitation swept through the crowd. Most of them had come solely to see him perform. The disbelief was palpable.

Not long after, the audience began to rise from their seats—except for the students of Poonggwang High School. Most made a beeline for the exits.

“What’s going on….” Seo Sooji murmured.

But the announcements weren’t over.

[Furthermore, we regret to inform you that Kim Bom’s violin solo, which was scheduled to follow, has also been canceled. Once again….]

Seo Sooji gasped.

This was a disaster.

The concert had effectively ended, and it seemed like the orchestra club would dissolve after this fiasco.

But then—

To everyone’s surprise, a new announcement played:

[Shortly, Jung Seojoon’s performance will commence. We kindly ask all audience members to remain seated. Once again, Jung Seojoon’s performance will begin shortly….]

Those heading for the exits froze in their tracks. A hush fell over the room, as if everyone doubted what they had just heard.

“What… what’s going on…?”

Seo Sooji ruffled her hair in frustration. Determined to figure out what was happening, she headed offstage, only to come face to face with Jung Seojoon at the door.

“You… why….”

She stammered, staring at him.

Without a word of explanation, Seojoon gave a slight bow.
“Sorry for being late.”

Leaving those words behind, he walked under the spotlight.

“Yaaawn….”

Han Yeoreum stretched and yawned, closing her eyes. Honestly, she was bored out of her mind.

She had expected as much, but this was worse than she thought. It occurred to her that this was the first amateur concert she had ever attended. Still, she clapped enthusiastically, appreciating their effort.

“When’s my handsome guy going to show up….”

She glanced at the seat next to her, where her mother had been sitting. Now it was empty, replaced by a familiar face.

“Wow, hey, Uncle~”

Her greeting was met with a gruff response from Kim Sungsoo.
“Hello, Yeoreum.”

“When did you get here?”
“When you were dozing off.”
“Oops….”

Yeoreum chuckled sheepishly, covering her mouth. Their mothers were close friends, so it wasn’t unusual for her to know him. Though she wanted to ask him all sorts of things, she decided to save it for later, out of respect for the ongoing performance.

Finally, after enduring her boredom, the cute younger students’ performances concluded.

Yeoreum jumped up, throwing her arms in the air.
“Wow! Bravo! Bravo!”

She whistled and clapped, shaking off her boredom. Then, she sat back down, filled with excitement for the next act.

“Phew… phew….” She exhaled quickly, eagerly awaiting Kevin’s performance.

A moment later, the announcement came:

[We regret to inform you that Jung Seojoon’s piano solo has been canceled due to unforeseen circumstances. Once again….]

“…What?”

Yeoreum frowned. Had she misheard? She turned to Kim Sungsoo.
“Uncle, what did they just say?”
“They said the piano solo is canceled.”
“Oh. My. God.”

Before she could fully process it, the audience members around her began to rise. Most of them were music school students, professors, classical music managers, and event planners.

Yeoreum scowled at their lack of decorum. The next performance was still scheduled—how could they just leave?

“What’s wrong with these people?” she muttered, standing up to reprimand them.

Though she knew she might stir gossip as a public figure, she didn’t care. Worst case, she’d just escape to Europe.

“This is ridiculous….”

She was about to yell when another announcement played.

[Furthermore, Kim Bom’s violin solo has also been canceled. Once again….]

“…What the fuck?”

Yeoreum threw up her hands in disbelief, then instinctively turned to Kim Sungsoo. He stood silently, his face unreadable, and casually began to leave the hall.

Left alone, Yeoreum slapped her forehead in exasperation.
“What kind of circus is this?”

Watching the audience empty out, she shook her head. She was about to leave as well when yet another announcement played. The host’s voice trembled as he spoke.

[Shortly, Jung Seojoon’s performance will commence. We kindly ask all audience members to remain seated. Once again….]

“…What a rollercoaster.”

Drained of energy, Yeoreum flopped back into her seat.

Murmur, murmur.

The audience’s reaction was one of utter confusion.
A cancellation, only to reinstate the performance moments later? What on earth…?

Most didn’t return to their seats, instead standing still in disbelief.

Then—

Whoosh!

The spotlight illuminated the stage.

Through the pillar of light stepped a tall figure.

Step… step….

The sound of footsteps echoed through the silent hall, drawing every gaze toward the man now on stage.

“Holy… shit….”

Even Han Yeoreum was frozen in place, her hand covering her mouth as she stared at Jung Seojoon.

His hair was wet, as if he’d just washed his face, and his damp features glistened under the stage lights. A smudge of crimson lipstick stained the corner of his mouth.

He wasn’t wearing the formal tailcoat meant for soloists. Instead, he stood in a white shirt with torn buttons, his collarbone exposed, paired with black dress pants.

This disheveled, almost hedonistic appearance was shocking enough, but what truly stunned the audience was what he held in his hands.

“Is that… a violin?”

In his left hand was a violin, and in his right, a bow. The bow was tightly wrapped with a microfiber cloth, as was his hand, as if he was ensuring the bow wouldn’t slip.

Under the intense stage lights, the cloth’s color was unclear, but it seemed to be a pinkish hue stained with what looked like red paint.

Murmur, murmur.

The audience grew restless.

Why was Jung Seojoon, a pianist, holding a violin? The confusion was palpable.

Unbothered, Seojoon began tuning the violin, the sound of the four strings cutting through the quiet stage. Slowly, as if enchanted, the audience started returning to their seats.

……

Once the tuning ended, silence filled the room.

Under the curious eyes of the audience, Seojoon placed his bow on the strings.

Without a single deep breath, he began to play.

[!!]

A breathtaking and powerful melody erupted from the violin.

Lively, bouncing notes cascaded like beads tumbling down a string, interspersed with rapid, intricate harmonies.

It was the original version of La Campanella, composed by Paganini, from the piano repertoire Seojoon was initially scheduled to perform.

Gasp….
Wow….

The dazzling melody filled the hall, leaving the audience awestruck.

Lost in the sound, their earlier confusion was long forgotten.

At this point, it didn’t matter whether he was a pianist or a violinist.

His left hand’s five fingers danced ceaselessly over the strings, while his bow hand moved fluidly, perfectly in sync with the music. Droplets of water fell from his hair as his body swayed with the rhythm.

The audience was captivated, their senses overwhelmed by the music. They couldn’t help but be swept away, entranced by the sound that seemed to reach not just their ears, but their very souls.

“Is that Kevin Jung…?”
“He plays violin just as masterfully as the piano….”
“A genius is a genius, I suppose….”

From his technique to his performance, everything was flawless.

Seojoon didn’t just play the violin—he became the instrument, as if the music was an extension of his being.

It felt like he was speaking to the audience through the notes, whispering, Worship me.

“Ah….”

Han Yeoreum, too, was completely enthralled.

As a world-renowned violinist, her feelings were far more profound than those of the average listener.

It wasn’t just his skill—it was the raw emotion within the music that seeped into her very being, igniting an indescribable energy she couldn’t suppress.

Even clenching her fists wasn’t enough to contain the overwhelming sensation. No worldly stimulus could match this.

Part of her wanted to run up to the stage and embrace him.

“So this is why they call him the reincarnation of Paganini….”

“No.”

Her quiet remark was answered by someone beside her.

Turning her head, she realized Professor Han had taken the seat next to her. So immersed had Yeoreum been in the music, she hadn’t noticed her mother arrive.

“Mom?”
“Watch your words.”

“Okay… Professor….”

The two turned back to the stage.

“Do you remember asking me why we called Kevin the reincarnation of Paganini? You argued he was a pianist and should have a nickname like Chopin or Liszt.”

“Oh… yeah, I think I did. So, was it because he’s good at the violin too?”

“No, it’s because we couldn’t understand Kevin’s talent within the bounds of human logic.”

“Then…?”

“Everyone in music knows Paganini’s nickname.”

“Someone who sold his soul to the devil….”

“Exactly. It’s absurd, but watching him play, you can’t help but wonder.”

To Professor Han, Seojoon seemed to embody two personas.

One was the musician on stage, gripping an instrument and moving his audience to their very core. The other was the man just moments ago, fists clenched and soaked in blood.

For a fleeting moment, she wondered if a demon really did reside within him.

“Yeoreum.”
“What?”
“You’ll never surpass him.”
“…….”

“If you can’t beat him….”
“Break him?”

“Are you insane?”

Professor Han frowned, glaring at her daughter.

“Sorry.”

Sigh. “Just make sure you stand beside him.”
“Me?”
“Yes. Watching him is like watching a bird perched high in a tree—too high to reach, ready to fly away at any moment.”

Professor Han clasped Yeoreum’s hand.
“Be his strongest feather. Fly with him. And then, bring him back here to nest. No matter what.”

Her gaze shifted to the foreign management agents in the audience, their expressions stunned as they watched Seojoon.

“Those arrogant bastards….”

Professor Han’s eyes burned with anger at the uninvited guests.

“Mom.”
“Shh.”

“What’s with the hostility? So, you’re saying… seduce him?”

“Do all relationships have to be about that? When will you ever grow up?”

“Hmm… probably when your lectures end?”

“Then I suppose I’ll never see the day.”