Chapter 53 : Unexpected (2)

The taxi driver frowned at the unexpected luggage.

Ignoring the grumbling old man, Ha Su-yeon got into the taxi and changed the destination.

The taxi driver changed his attitude 180 degrees when the trip suddenly became a long distance one.

“Where are we going?”

“Gangnam.”

After a brief answer to Lee-seo’s question, Ha Su-yeon called Lee Hye-in.

Yes.

I’m going to Gangnam for something.

Yes.

You’re coming to pick me up?

I don’t think that’s necessary.

I’ll contact you after I see.

Yes.

“Mom?”

“Yeah.”

“She takes good care of you~”

“It’s a bit annoying sometimes.”

At Ha Su-yeon ‘s grumbling, Lee-seo looked a little embarrassed.

“Hey, even so, it’s not right to say it’s annoying when she takes care of you and worries about you like that, is it?”

“Being grateful that she’s taking care of me and worrying about me is one thing, and being annoyed is another.

They’re different.”

The taxi driver grumbled to himself, thinking, ‘What a rude brat…’

But the two high school girls continued to talk.

“But well, she does it all because she worries.”

“Yeah.

There aren’t many moms who take care of you like… your mom.

My mom doesn’t even care.

My dad either…”

Lee-seo inadvertently stopped talking.

Su-yeon’s father…

According to the rumors Lee-seo heard, he passed away when Su-yeon was young.

She didn’t know exactly when.

So, talking about fathers in front of Su-yeon was a kind of taboo.

Of course, she had her own issues, but still, it’s not right to do that in front of someone whose family member died.

But Su-yeon looked unbothered.

Even when she looked closely to see if she was hiding her sadness behind a blank expression, she didn’t seem to be.

‘Is it because she lost her memory?’

‘Father…’

Unlike Lee-seo’s concern, Ha Su-yeon didn’t have any particular thoughts.

It’s someone else’s father, after all.

She wasn’t close to her original father – in fact, most people in that era were like that – so there’s no reason to care about someone else’s body, let alone someone who’s already dead.

‘Even if I dig through this kid’s past, there are only faint memories.’

When he thought about ‘Ha Su-yeon’s childhood memories, it seemed like a pretty harmonious family.

But after he died, it became a cold family.

Was that why Lee Hye-in and ‘Ha Su-yeon’ drifted apart?

Well, it’s not that important.

 Ha Su-yeon thought it was just something to think about and let go of.

“Nice to meet you.

I’m Chae Ho-geun, a professor at Ho-in Arts University.”

“Hello.

I’m Ha Su-yeon, the guitarist of Group Sound.”

“Ah…

Hello!

I’m Choi Lee-seo, the bassist of Group Sound…”

A studio in Gangnam.

When Ha Su-yeon and Lee-seo entered, Junhong greeted them and guided them.

The room they entered was a rather old-fashioned office.

A stubborn-looking old man was looking at a computer and greeted them.

“Alright.

Have a seat, everyone.

You all know Lim Junhong, right?”

“Yes.”

“Ah, I’m meeting him for the first time…”

At those words, Ha Su-yeon looked at Lee-seo and raised one eye.

In this situation, you should just say yes, yes, yes.

No matter how good she is at pretending to be sociable, she’s still lacking in life experience.

“Really?

Then Junhong, introduce yourself.”

“Ah, yes.

I’m session guitarist Lim Junhong…”

A sudden farce.

 Ha Su-yeon sighed inwardly.

Lee-seo and Junhong introduced themselves awkwardly.

Ho-geun waited for the story to end, and as soon as it did, he opened his mouth.

“I enjoyed the performance the other day, Su-yeon.”

“Ah, yes, thank you.”

“It’s a shame that Ha Su-yeon passed away like that.

If I had known his health was that bad, I would have contacted him.”

“Ho-geun, did you know Ha Su-yeon?”

“Didn’t I tell you?”

Ho-geun looked at Junhong and said.

Junhong shook his head as if he hadn’t said anything.

“With Ha Su-yeon … hmm… it wasn’t really to the extent of saying we were ‘close’.

We met a lot while working, and a few times at drinking parties?”

 Ha Su-yeon also remembered it similarly.

He didn’t remember talking much at the drinking parties, and they met a lot for work.

She did a lot of session work for her solo albums.

“What did you think of Ha Su-yeon?”

“Well… it’s hard to say because there’s someone here who’s directly related to her.”

At Junhong’s sudden question, Ho-geun looked quite troubled.

But before Junhong could take back his question, Ha Su-yeon spoke first.

“It’s okay, you can say it.

I’m a bit curious about his… reputation.”

“Is that so?

Well, it’s not like I’m going to say anything bad, so I guess I can say it.

Her guitar skills were top-notch… but everyone already knows that.

That won’t be relatable.

I guess I felt that Ha Su-yeon was a bit trapped in her own world.”

Ho-geun took a sip of his coffee and continued.

“When I talked to her, she was very up-to-date on the latest trends.

She was quick to accept them.

But when she wrote songs or created, she couldn’t go beyond that.

In that sense, the song Su-yeon played this time, even though she said she had a hand in it, was quite impressive.

If she could write a song like that, she would have made quite a few good albums if she had lived longer.”

Anyway, that’s not what I was trying to say.

Ho-geun mumbled and looked at Su-yeon.

“The reason I asked you to come today is, as you may have heard from Junhong, I heard that you’re collecting Ha Su-yeon ‘s equipment.

I bought this at a used store a while ago.”

He placed a Binson Echorec 2 on the table.

It’s the echo unit that David Gilmour used when recording The Dark Side of the Moon, the second best-selling album in the world and the best-selling rock album.

Of course, David Gilmour also changed his equipment after 1977, and now he’s using the Boona Delay effector, which is similar to the Echorec…

But Ha Su-yeon main tone aimed for David Gilmour’s tone in the 1970s, so it was one of the pieces of equipment she had to collect.

“How did I know this was Ha Su-yeon ?

Well, she wrote her name here for some reason.

Inside.

I guess she was afraid it would be stolen?”

‘Did she?’

 Ha Su-yeon was already sure that it was her equipment because of other things, like the traces of modification and repair – things she had done herself.

But did she do that?

Come to think of it, maybe she did.

 Ha Su-yeon thought back to the past.

She remembered writing it down to catch people who might steal it and pretend it was theirs.

“Originally, I bought it for my collection, but I thought it wouldn’t be right to just keep it for my collection.

After all, effectors are meant to be used.

Since we met this time, I’m thinking of giving it to Su-yeon as a gift to a promising guitarist.”

It’s a little early to cheer.

 Ha Su-yeon focused on the last sentence.

Thinking of giving it and giving it are clearly different.

“Thinking of giving it…?”

“If you’re looking for this, you know it’s not cheap.”

Ho-geun answered Junhong’s question.

Yeah, it’s not something you can easily say you’ll give to someone.

While Ha Su-yeon was thinking that, Lee-seo poked her.

“How much is that thing?”

“I don’t know how much she bought it for, but it’s worth a few million won used.”

“That much??”

Lee-seo whispered in surprise at the unexpected price.

 Ha Su-yeon also responded in a whisper.

But it’s a reasonable price, isn’t it?

A unique, irreplaceable object made in the 1970s that still works in 2024?

Anything would be expensive.

“First, I’ll ask Su-yeon.

I bought this for 6 million won.

I’ll cover 2 million, so can you pay 4 million won?”

“Um…

That’s impossible.”

 Ha Su-yeon thought of the American-made Telecaster she had recently bought directly from Japan.

She bought it to use as a toy, but if she hadn’t bought that guitar, she could have paid that amount.

“Well, that’s understandable.

You wouldn’t have 4 million won as a student.

Then here’s my second offer.

Do you have any interest in attending Ho-in Arts University?

Then I can give you this effector right away.”

“No, not at all.”

At Ha Su-yeon firm answer, Junhong’s face hardened slightly.

But even so, Ho-geun looked like he expected to be rejected.

“Well, I was just throwing it out there.

As an educator, I’m bound to be greedy for disciples.

Then how about this?

You play guitar sessions for my album?”

The compensation for the effector seemed to be roughly settled.

She would play guitar sessions for all the songs on Professor Chae Ho-geun’s album, and part of the fee would be paid with the effector.

‘It’s a good deal.’

Professor Chae Ho-geun still has some name value.

To do a full session on such a person’s album, it’s not just about the money…

It’s a good opportunity for a guitarist to gradually make a name for themselves.

“And I heard from Junhong that you’re participating in that band… support project?”

“Yes.”

What he had said in passing to Junhong had already reached this far.

That guy really likes to spread rumors, Ha Su-yeon thought.

“I know because I’ve been a judge on other programs… but things that are like competitions bring interesting things.”

Ho-geun thought back to the past.

In the old days, how much fighting went on to get that one little opportunity?

From the fair to the unfair.

“It’s small-scale and government-run, so I don’t think it will be like that, but since it’s a competition between bands, you should be prepared.

Besides your band, Su-yeon, there are some other talented young kids who have entered.

And I heard that you, Su-yeon, have some personal issues?”

“Ah, yes.

I’m reflecting on it.”

“You should be careful.

Anyway, when money is involved, you never know what might happen.”

Ho-geun finished speaking.

‘Well, I’m somewhat prepared.’

 Ha Su-yeon thought.

If it goes well, it’s a plan that will bring quite satisfactory results.

“Should I play now?”

While Ha Su-yeon was thinking that, Lee-seo finished preparing to play.

Thanks to Ho-geun, who asked, “Does the student who came with you play bass?”, Lee-seo suddenly ended up playing bass in front of an arts university professor.

“Play now.

A song you’re confident in.”

At Ho-geun’s words, Lee-seo started plucking the bass.

After a few minutes of playing, Ho-geun asked Lee-seo a question.

“Hmm…

You haven’t been playing for long, have you?”

“Yes.”

“I thought so.

Your playing is still rough and has a tendency to jump out.

The strange thing is, some parts are neat as if someone specifically taught you, but other parts are all over the place.”

Ho-geun commented on Lee-seo’s playing.

Hearing that, Lee-seo glanced at Su-yeon.

‘She looks like she doesn’t care.’

“But anyway, you seem to have talent.

Are you taking lessons?”

“I quit recently.

Because of various things…”

“Hmm…

You said you live in Jongno-gu, right?

Try contacting this person.

My disciple lives near there, and he’s quite good at bass.”

Ho-geun handed Lee-seo a business card.

Lee-seo took the business card with a feeling of ‘What is this…’, and put it in her pocket, hiding her slight displeasure.

‘It’s not an advertisement, is it…?’

“Anyway, I hope Band Pioneer goes well.

And I’ll contact you about the album recording schedule as soon as it’s set.”

Ignoring Lee-seo, who was having quite impertinent thoughts, Ha Su-yeon nodded at Ho-geun’s last words.

She had been resting for a few days, so it was time to start running again.