Superstar From Age 0

Translator: MarcTempest

Editor: AgRoseCrystal

Chapter 523

Derek Rutz smiled wryly and apologized again to Seo-jun, who looked puzzled.

“I was rude to you. I’m really sorry.”

“No, no. It’s okay. I understand. It must have been hard to believe that an actor would play the violin. And there was no test either.”

Seo-jun said, waving his hand. Derek Rutz shook his head.

“I knew you were talented. I could tell from the videos. But hearing you in person, you sounded even better than the videos.”

‘Then why?’

Question marks appeared over the heads of Seo-jun and Dmitri.

“Because you’re good on your own.”

Derek Rutz said with a smile.

“You know, playing solo and playing in an orchestra are different. When you play solo, you can play however you want. But in an orchestra, you have to suppress yourself and match the other instruments.”

Unlike solo, where you can express all kinds of emotions and skills with your own interpretation, in an orchestra, you have to play according to the conductor’s direction, as if you were one of his instruments.

It was a task that required perfect timing with the score and the conductor.

“That’s harder than you think, so soloists who have strong personalities take a long time to become orchestra members.”

Dmitri nodded.

“Jason was like that in the past.”

“Really?”

“We went to the same school and played in the orchestra together. Jason hated playing rigidly and precisely. He preferred to show his own style. And Professor Benjamin taught him that way too.”

Dmitri recalled that time.

Following Professor Benjamin’s advice, Jason Moore continued to play in the orchestra, but only for about six months.

“It’s the same for the opposite situation. If you lose your personality, it’s hard to play solo.”

Derek Rutz agreed with Dmitri’s words. That’s how different solo and orchestra were.

“The Lee I saw in the videos seemed to have his own style of playing. And it was very assertive.”

Was it because he was an actor who attracted people’s attention? Seo-jun Lee’s playing sparkled as well. That’s why Derek Rutz thought it would be hard to change that.

“Plus, Lee had never practiced with an orchestra before, so I was worried how long it would take him to learn the proper way of playing for an orchestra, and forget his style for a while… I was anxious. Especially since we had less than ten days to practice.”

It was even less than ten days if they subtracted the time for the concert.

Unlike Jason and Professor Benjamin, who were relaxed because they knew Seo-jun’s skills, Derek Rutz, who was in charge of the orchestra, was nervous.

He knew now that there was nothing to worry about, but until then, the words of the two people who said it was okay sounded like excuses.

“Sigh, whatever the reason, it was my fault. My professor always tells me not to judge too quickly… I’m really sorry.”

Derek Rutz sincerely apologized to Seo-jun.

“I understand. I would be nervous too if someone from a different field suddenly joined the project.”

Like an idol or a model.

And if they had only ten days to practice, Seo-jun would feel uneasy too. But he would at least watch their performance before judging.

“Thank you for understanding.”

Derek Rutz sighed with relief and embarrassment at Seo-jun’s words. Seo-jun Lee was just an adult, he heard, but he had a matureness that made him ashamed of his age.

Seo-jun smiled softly and said to his sincere apology.

“Would you like to have lunch with us?”

Seo-jun reached out his hand as a sign of reconciliation. Derek Rutz gladly took Seo-jun’s hand and accepted his offer.

[(?)Orchestra Conductor’s Connection is used. (1/10)]

A new number appeared over Derek Rutz’s head.

Wow. Seo-jun’s eyes widened.

[47]

Their friendship had increased a lot.

***

Jason Moore relaxed his displeased expression and nodded when he heard that Derek Rutz had apologized to Seo-jun. It wasn’t completely unreasonable when he heard the reason, and since Seo-jun, the person involved, was okay with it, there was no reason to say more.

After a peaceful lunch, the real practice began.

Since it was a collaboration between the violin and the orchestra, Jason also participated in the practice.

Seo-jun, who sat in the first violin seat, continued the practice and looked at the orchestra members.

If he registered the conductor, Derek Rutz, and Jason Moore to his ability, there were eight spots left.

Out of the 39 players, who should he choose?

As he was thinking, Seo-jun glanced at Jason Moore, who was playing alone.

‘…Would this ability suit Jason?’

He suddenly thought that.

It seemed nice for Jason Moore, who was the center of this concert, to play freely without being bound by the ability.

On the other hand, it also seemed good to register him to the ability, since it was a collaboration and his musical skills would increase by several times, meaning he could show a more amazing performance.

‘And Jason’s skills would improve too.’

He would know the direction to go in the future if he experienced the improved performance once.

‘…Should I try alternating during practice?’

Use the ability and practice, and then don’t use it and practice.

He thought he could find a better feeling that way.

***

The orchestra practice continued the next day.

-Ji-ho: This is not a trip anymore.

During the break, Seo-jun smiled at the message he received from Park Ji-ho and looked up.

He saw numbers flashing above the heads of eight of the members who were walking around. He had decided to set them like this for now and change them later.

He noticed the team leader who was in charge of the concert heading towards Jason Moore.

There were no numbers above Jason Moore’s head, because he was planning to use his ability in the afternoon practice.

“Mr. Vasilyev’s pamphlet is being made, but… what about yours, Jun?”

Jason Moore’s concert pamphlet had his profile and the songs for the concert program written on it, as well as the names of the orchestra members and the conductor who were playing with him.

Since the violinist had changed, the name had to be changed too.

The pamphlet with Dmitry Vasilyev’s name was being made as soon as it was confirmed, but the pamphlet for the last performance that Seo-jun Lee was participating in was not yet made.

Jason, who was lost in thought for a moment, called Seo-jun, who was also worried.

“What’s up?”

“I need to put your name on the pamphlet, but how do you want it? Seo-jun Lee, just like that?”

Seo-jun shook his head as if there was nothing to worry about.

Seo-jun Lee participating in Jason Moore’s concert.

Even if there was another violinist with the same name, people who knew the relationship between Jason Moore and Seo-jun Lee would think, ‘Could it be the actor Seo-jun Lee…?’ at least once.

‘Besides, it’s been revealed that I was in Spain.’

There were rumors on the internet that he could be in France, which was right next to Spain, and if his name appeared on the pamphlet, it would be almost like saying ‘I’m here’ out loud.

And since it was already sold out, the sprouts wouldn’t be able to buy tickets even if they noticed, and the atmosphere of the audience would probably be chaotic.

“No. It’s Jason’s concert, and I shouldn’t be the topic. And I promised to stay low-key with Da Ho hyung.”

“Then think of a name. I need to put it on the pamphlet.”

Seo-jun was troubled by Jason Moore’s words.

The first name that came to his mind was Na Jin.

[One Step] After that, he had been inactive for quite a while, so ordinary people might have forgotten, but Seo-jun’s fans would remember his stage name. Even now, sometimes there were jokes mixed with comments like ‘Na Jin? Are you not active anymore??’ on [Sprouts].

‘They won’t recognize me, but.’

They might know the friendship between Jason Moore and Seo-jun, but they wouldn’t imagine that he would join the orchestra. Besides, there were few people among the audience who would look at the names of the orchestra members one by one.

‘But Na Jin is an actor’s stage name…’

Suddenly playing the violin… He felt a bit uneasy.

Seo-jun, who was serious about raising his sub-characters, had a name that crossed his mind. His eyes sparkled.

“How about G.V.?”

“G.V.?”

Unlike Dmitry, who tilted his head, Jason caught on quickly.

“Gray Vainy.”

…Wow!

The orchestra members, staff, and Dmitry’s faces lit up with delight. Choi Yoo-seong and Natalie were even more so.

“But Gray Vainy is a movie character, don’t you need permission from the movie company, Jun?”

Derek Rutz, who was also making a surprised expression, quickly spoke with a worried face.

He had spent yesterday and today with him, and Derek Rutz was a worrisome person, who would search online and moan about having a terminal illness if he felt something was wrong somewhere.

“It would be a problem if it was a commercial use, but… hmm.”

Was this a commercial use?

Of course, he was going to get paid for participating in the practice and the concert, but it was just putting a name with the initials G.V. on it.

“I’ll ask anyway.”

“Yeah. It’s better to be sure.”

Jason Moore nodded.

“Then please decide by next Monday.”

“Okay. I got it.”

The team leader told Seo-jun the deadline for the pamphlet production, and Seo-jun immediately sent a message to Ahn Da Ho. It was afternoon in Korea, so he quickly got a reply from Ahn Da Ho saying he would ask.

“Then let’s start practicing again.”

At Derek Rutz’s words, the members, Seo-jun, and Jason Moore who were resting took their places.

[(Line) The connection of the orchestra conductor is activated.]

Derek Rutz’s hand holding the baton moved vigorously from top to bottom.

***

Lunch time passed and it was time for the afternoon practice.

He had to shake hands with Jason before starting the practice, but it was less embarrassing than being slapped, but shaking hands was also very awkward. Seo-jun decided to just go out confidently.

“Jason. Show me your hand.”

In the noisy surroundings, Seo-jun approached Jason and spoke quietly.

“Hand?”

Jason Moore held out both hands with a puzzled look. Seo-jun grabbed and shook Jason’s right hand as if shaking hands. Jason’s expression became strange.

“I felt like I didn’t greet you. I look forward to working with you in the afternoon practice.”

[(Line) The connection of the orchestra conductor is used (10/10)]

Seo-jun sat down, ignoring Jason Moore’s gaze, who was looking at him with a blank face. It was embarrassing.

‘…I’ll use it in the morning practice tomorrow.’

If he shook hands like a morning greeting, it would be less embarrassing.

Dmitry, who seemed to have heard his conversation with Jason, looked at Seo-jun with a flustered look as he sat next to him. Seo-jun only fiddled with his violin.

Soon after, Jason’s and Dmitry’s eyes disappeared as if they were preparing for the practice. Seo-jun sighed inwardly and turned his head to look at Jason Moore’s head.

[83 / 48]

Oh.

The bond with the conductor, that is, with himself, was very high, and the bond with the connectors, that is, with the members and Derek Rutz, was also good.

‘How much will it increase?’

He would be able to see the difference clearly by comparing it with the morning practice.

The first afternoon practice began.

The practice proceeded in the same order as the concert.

At first, the orchestra played and then subsided, and Jason Moore continued with a brilliant solo performance. And sometimes he played with the orchestra.

That way, 10 minutes.

When he still had some parts to play, Jason Moore’s bow stopped.

It was a part where he played solo, and when the violin sound that filled the practice room alone stopped, everyone looked at Jason Moore with a puzzled face.

The conductor Derek Rutz asked Jason Moore.

“What’s wrong, Jason?”

“No, nothing.”

He answered and started to tune his violin again.

…Wow.

Seo-jun looked at Jason Moore, who was frowning as if something was wrong, and exclaimed without thinking.