No More Thug Life, I’m Playing Music

Chapter 35: Stand-in (4)

Two days later.
Baekjung Studio.

“What are you watching?”

Baek Junsoo approached Choo Minji with curiosity.

As usual, Choo Minji was lounging on her worn-out sofa.

“A performance video…”

She sighed, placing her phone beside her. On the screen, a man with curly hair was playing the bass.

“This guy is the prince of bass in Korea. Isn’t he amazing?”

“Wow… He’s handsome. Though not as much as Seojoon.”

“Hey, don’t even bring up Jung Seojoon.”

“Did you fight again?”

“No, it’s not that….”

“Did Seojoon say something again?”

“No, but… somehow, I dislike him even more. I’m sure something about him bothers me, but since he doesn’t say anything, it feels like he’s given up on me or something.”

“Come on, there’s no way Seojoon would do that. When I went for a lesson, he was practicing piano here, you know? Really hard, too.”

“…Don’t tell me, even now?”

“Yep, and without a shirt on.”

“Ah, what a waste! I could’ve pretended it was an accident and made a vlog…”

She bit her lower lip, her mischievous expression quickly fading into gloom.

“Sigh… Even a genius like him practices. I can’t just sit around like this…”

Choo Minji let out a heavy sigh, stood up, and picked up the contrabass lying beside her.

Thud.

“Huh?”

Baek Junsoo noticed an envelope had fallen next to the sofa. Sticking out of the opening was a piece of paper bearing the logo of Shinhwa Hospital.

“What’s that?”

“It’s something Kim Bom gave me recently.”

“Oh…”

“You mentioned it, didn’t you?”

Choo Minji hugged her contrabass, her eyes narrowing playfully.

“You little… you little snitch~”

“S-sorry! You weren’t saying anything, so I asked if you were okay… And, uh, I said I’d take the piano to my place if you didn’t tell me. Sorry.”

“Ugh, such a schemer. Anyway, it’s not a big secret or anything.”

“Still…”

“Thanks to that, I got a good opportunity. Apparently, there’s some special benefit for those supporting their families. Since it’s a big hospital, it’s probably better. Sometimes, even Kim Bom has her kind moments.”

“So, when are you transferring?”

“I’m not.”

“What? Why not? Shinhwa Hospital is the biggest in the country…”

“No matter how big it is, the place we’re at now is better for Grandma. The staff are kind, they take good care of her, and the chatty ladies keep her from getting bored.”

Choo Minji smiled warmly and picked up her sheet music.

“Now, go. Let your sister practice. Shoo, shoo!”

As she frowned at the score, a phone on the stand rang. The caller ID read “Chamhaengbok Nursing Hospital.”

“Hello?”

Shortly after answering, the bow in her hand fell to the floor.

“I-I’ll be right there!”

Choo Minji hurriedly put down her instrument and dashed toward the front door.

At the same time, Jung Seojoon and Ma Ducheol, who had been in the kitchen, bolted out the back door.

****

It was a close call.

“Minji, I think it’s time to prepare yourself…”

The doctor’s words pierced Choo Minji’s heart.

She needed more time.

She hadn’t even been able to let her mother see her.

When Minji asked if there was anything else that could be done, the doctor shook his head. There was nothing more they could do.

In that moment, Kim Bom came to mind. More specifically, the envelope Kim Bom had handed her.

Despite the doctor’s protests, she made up her mind and declared her decision.

“I’m leaving.”

****

“Such a pity,” Jung Seojoon muttered, clicking his tongue as he sat in the passenger seat.

His gaze was fixed on Choo Minji, who sat on a bench outside the nursing home, sobbing uncontrollably while nurses tried to console her.

Ma Ducheol, in the driver’s seat, rubbed his forehead and sighed heavily.

“Ah… that little thing has such heavy burdens…”

“……”

“She must be heartbroken to leave. I heard she’s been here for almost three years.”

“Ducheol.”

“Yes, hyung?”

“Let’s prepare an event. It’s been a while.”

****

Five days until the university practical exam.

Though she should have been nervous and focused on practice, Choo Minji’s schedule was chaotic.

Today was the day she moved her grandmother to Shinhwa Hospital.

It was also the day to say goodbye to a place she had grown attached to over the years.

“Minji, I’m ready,” Ducheol called out, stepping into the hospital room.

“Ahjussi!”

Startled by his entrance, two elderly women gasped before marveling at Ducheol’s bulging muscles.

“Mothers, I’ll be going now…”

“Alright, Minji…”

“What will we do for fun now…”

Minji hugged the two women tightly, exchanging heartfelt farewells.

After gently lifting her grandmother into a wheelchair, Ducheol turned to Minji.

“Let’s hurry. Seojoon said to come quickly so you can rehearse. When I came in, he was already sitting at the piano.”

“Ah… okay…”

Minji felt a pang of disappointment.

She understood the urgency of practice, but on a day like this?

She appreciated how much Seojoon cared about her exam, treating it as his own, but today of all days, she couldn’t help but feel conflicted.

Though usually subtly kind, Seojoon seemed so cold at moments like this.

Minji held hands tightly with the two women as they boarded the elevator.

Not long after, the elevator doors opened on the first floor.

-Murmur, murmur.

The lobby was crowded with people.

Elderly patients in hospital gowns. Nurses and doctors.

And in the center of it all was something that didn’t belong:

A digital piano and Jung Seojoon.

“W-what… what is this?”

Minji’s eyes widened as she took in the scene.

The not-so-spacious lobby was filled with rows of chairs.

At the center of the lobby, a small makeshift stage had been set up using items from a recent busking event.

“What is this…”

Choo Minji, her eyes glistening with tears, looked at Jung Seojoon. He tapped the digital piano lightly and spoke.

“We need to rehearse our accompaniment.”

“A-accompaniment? Here?”

Jung Seojoon smirked and turned his head, motioning behind him. From the back of the crowd, Baek Junsoo appeared carrying a large case—her contrabass.

“Choo Minji,” Jung Seojoon called again.

“You’ve never played your instrument for the hospital staff, have you?”

“Uh… no…”

Choo Minji had been the one to fill the hospital with classical music, walking around different wards every day to share her love for it. She even connected her recordings to the TVs, believing it would help calm everyone’s minds. But she had never performed live.

“Well… the bass isn’t very fun,” she muttered weakly.

At her deflated response, Jung Seojoon waved his hand dismissively.

“Then mix it with something you find fun.”

At his words, a camera operator from ChooTube stood up among the crowd, holding a camcorder and wearing an apologetic expression.

“Minji, I heard the gist of it. After working with me for years, you couldn’t even tell me?”

“I’m here too…”

“Me too…”

Other team members chimed in from the crowd, offering greetings and apologizing for their past pettiness.

“What is all this…”

Choo Minji lowered her head, her shoulders trembling as her voice quivered.

“Why are you doing this for me…”

She had decided without consulting them, informing the team she was quitting. She thought their bond, born from work and money, wouldn’t matter in the end.

Even her relationship with Jung Seojoon was transactional at first, aimed at boosting subscribers. While time had brought a genuine connection, she believed it was ultimately mutual benefit that kept them together.

But now, she felt overwhelmed.

Jung Seojoon walked over and casually handed her the bow.

“What do you mean, why? Because we’re family.”

Chamhaengbok Nursing Home, First Floor.

The lobby had transformed into a small concert venue. People sat in a circle around a raised platform at the center.

In the middle stood Choo Minji, dressed in black pants and a white shirt.

She exhaled briefly and spoke up.

“Ladies, please don’t get too chatty while I’m recording, okay?”

“Got it, dear!”

“And Mr. Kim! You know you’re on watch, right? If you swear, I’ll tell Nurse Jung where you’ve been hiding your soju~”

“You cheeky girl!”

Laughter rippled through the room, breaking the tension. Even the stiff expressions of those sitting in front of the cameras softened.

Choo Minji grinned and gave a thumbs-up to her team.

“I’m counting on you again. Not that I need to, you’re all pros.”

“Of course!”

“We’ll make it look great!”

Finally, she turned to Jung Seojoon. Surprisingly, he spoke first.

“Don’t think about me. Just do what you want.”

Unlike their usual rehearsals, there were no accompaniment sheets on his piano. Instead, beneath it lay copies of her contrabass score.

“Alright, I’ll count on you,” she said with a nod, before turning back to the camera.

“I’m ready.”

The director signaled her, and the recording began.

Click.

Choo Minji’s expression shifted instantly.

“Chu-ha~ Chu-ha~!”

She twirled in a wide circle, waving her arms dramatically. Despite the exaggerated movements, her round, cheerful face added charm.

“To my parents and Grandma~ Chu-ha~!”

She waved again, and the elderly audience, unable to resist, slowly waved back.

“What on earth is she doing?”

“No idea. She said Chu-ha or something.”

“Oh, that little rascal. Let her grow old and see how it feels.”

Even as grumbles emerged from the audience, Choo Minji ignored them, bouncing around energetically. Their grumpiness was all part of her plan.

“Subscribers! Do you remember the Baekjung performance at Magpie Park recently? Thanks to the amazing response, we’ve prepared another event!”

She sauntered over to Jung Seojoon.

“Mr. Baekjung!”

Startled, Seojoon frowned.

“What now?”

“Why did you plan this concert?”

“…To put to use what I bought,” he replied with a dry tone.

“Oh, how generous. Totally worth it!”

Choo Minji continued bouncing around, conducting impromptu interviews with patients to lighten the mood.

“This here is my real grandma!”

She kissed her grandmother, seated in a wheelchair, on the cheek.

“Misun…?”

“No, Minji~”

Laughing, she hugged her grandmother and returned to the center stage.

“Before we start the performance, let me introduce this instrument.”

Lowering her voice, she picked up her contrabass, which had been lying beside the piano.

“Subscribers, you know what this is. But for those unfamiliar with music, what do you think this might be?”

She gestured politely to a woman in the audience.

“Do you know its name?”

“Um… big violin?”

“Wrong! Next!”

“Cello?”

“Ah, that’s it. It’s a cello!”

Choo Minji placed her hands on her hips, her eyes narrowing mischievously as she surveyed the crowd.

“This is a contrabass. Also known as a double bass. And why did I bring this today?”

Standing her instrument upright, she took her position.

“Actually, I’m a contrabass major. Surprised? What’s that? You thought I was a model or an idol?”

As she spoke animatedly to herself, the elderly in the audience clicked their tongues in disapproval, mumbling about her antics being ridiculous.

Of course, this was all part of her script.

“Yes, today I’ll be playing for you. But don’t worry—you won’t be disappointed because our very own Baekjung will be accompanying me.”

At her cue, Jung Seojoon gave a small wave from the piano.

“Before we start, let me briefly introduce the piece as usual.”

The first piece she had prepared was Elegy by Giovanni Bottesini. Known as the Paganini of the contrabass, Bottesini was a Romantic-era Italian bassist and composer. His works, essential for contrabass players, were a precious gift to a repertoire that lacked many solo pieces.

“The first piece today is called Elegy. It means a lament or a mournful song.”

She glanced at the audience with a softer expression.

“Everyone has someone dear to their heart, don’t they? Someone you long to see even in your dreams, yet cannot.”

For a brief moment, Choo Minji tenderly stroked the neck of the contrabass—her mother’s legacy.

“I hope you’ll listen while thinking of that person.”

With a faint smile, she exchanged a brief glance with Jung Seojoon. They nodded in silent understanding.

“Phew…”

Jung Seojoon took a deep breath and pressed the keys.

A graceful melody flowed from the piano, instantly captivating the audience.

[Plink, plink, plink…]

The notes grew softer, his presence fading into the background, as if retreating to let the main act shine.

Then, Choo Minji drew her bow smoothly across the strings.

[—]

The deep, resonant sound of the contrabass filled the air, its warmth weaving a gentle melody.

Though slow and lyrical, the vibrato of her trembling fingers added just the right dynamic, keeping it from feeling monotonous.

[—-!]

As the piece reached its climax, Minji’s left hand moved rapidly across the fingerboard. The contrabass produced a range of tones—beginning with a robust bass like a male vocalist, then rising to tenor and even soprano levels.

The onlookers, including her teammates who had only heard the contrabass’s deep tones before, watched in amazement.

“Wow…”

“The bass can go that high?”

Hugging the large instrument and effortlessly commanding its sound, Choo Minji appeared entirely transformed in their eyes.

[—-]

Even those unfamiliar with music or instruments couldn’t take their eyes off her. The contrabass’s rich, soothing sound lacked the sharp brilliance of a violin but instead enveloped the audience with its deep resonance, gently touching their hearts.

“Wow…”

“That’s incredible…”

As the performance drew to a close, the lobby remained silent, everyone immersed in the lingering echo of the final note.

“Haa…”

Choo Minji opened her eyes, biting her lower lip to suppress a rising surge of emotion.

It wasn’t sadness.

Though wistful and tender, the feeling was closer to joy.

Had she ever felt this absorbed in her own performance?

She hadn’t played with all her strength or pushed herself to the limit. On the contrary, she had played with ease, as if lying back on a boat drifting along a calm river.

“Ah…”

She suddenly understood why.

Her gaze shifted to Jung Seojoon, who stood up with a small smile, clapping his hands.

The audience erupted in cheers and applause.

“Clap, clap, clap!”

“Minji, you were amazing!”

“You’re the best!”

Even as the audience celebrated, Minji kept looking at Seojoon—the one who had supported her completely, walking beside her, providing companionship along the way.

To others, Seojoon’s accompaniment might have seemed secondary, but to Minji, it was anything but.

He had been the calm river allowing her boat to sail freely.

What have you realized now?

“Hey, the camera’s on you,” Seojoon said, snapping her out of her thoughts.

“Ah!”

Flustered, Minji quickly turned to the camera, her lively demeanor returning as she waved cheerfully.

“Did everyone enjoy it?”

She began interviewing the audience, bounding energetically through the crowd before returning to the contrabass. Pointing at Seojoon with a playful grin, she shouted:

“Next song coming up! Let’s crush it!”

The second piece was fast and dazzling, perfectly suited to Seojoon’s piano virtuosity.

[Plink! Plink-plink-plink!]

The contrabass followed with equally rapid, nimble notes.

[Thrum-thrum-thrum—thrum!]

“Wow!”

“Goodness gracious!”

Her fingers flew effortlessly across the fingerboard, quick and agile.

For today, she was the star.

****

When the performances ended, Choo Minji bid farewell via a live broadcast.

“This is my last day as ChooTube’s Choo Minji,” she announced.

“Thank you all for your love and support.”

****

A few days later.

“P-panic… someone get me a calming pill…”

“Pfft, you never get nervous in front of the camera.”

Before anyone realized, the day of Choo Minji’s university entrance exam had arrived.