Synopsis and Starting Chapter Chapter 1
Chapter 2
Chapter 3
Chapter 4
Chapter 5
Chapter 6
Chapter 7
Chapter 8
Chapter 9
Chapter 10
Chapter 11
Chapter 12
Chapter 13
Chapter 14
Chapter 15
Chapter 16
Chapter 17
Chapter 18
Chapter 19
Chapter 20
Chapter 21
Chapter 22
Chapter 23
Chapter 24
Chapter 25
Chapter 26
Chapter 27
Chapter 28
Chapter 29
Chapter 30
Chapter 31
Chapter 32
Chapter 33
Chapter 34
Chapter 35
Chapter 36
Chapter 37
Chapter 38
Chapter 39
Chapter 40
Chapter 41
Chapter 42
Chapter 43
Chapter 44
Chapter 45
Chapter 46
Chapter 47
Chapter 48
Chapter 49
Chapter 50
Chapter 51
Chapter 52
Chapter 53
Chapter 54
Chapter 55
Chapter 56
Chapter 57
Chapter 58
Chapter 59
Chapter 60
Chapter 61
Chapter 62
Chapter 63
Chapter 64
Chapter 65
Chapter 66
Chapter 67
Chapter 68
Chapter 69
Chapter 70
Chapter 71
Chapter 72
Chapter 73
Chapter 74
Chapter 75
Chapter 76
Chapter 77
Chapter 78
Chapter 79
Chapter 80
Chapter 81
Chapter 82
Chapter 83
Chapter 84
Chapter 85
Chapter 86
Chapter 87
Chapter 88
Chapter 89
Chapter 90
Chapter 91
Chapter 92
Chapter 93
Chapter 94
Chapter 95
Chapter 96
Chapter 97
Chapter 98
Chapter 99
Chapter 100
Chapter 101
Chapter 102
Chapter 103
Chapter 104
Chapter 105
Chapter 106
Chapter 107
Chapter 108
Chapter 109
Chapter 110
Chapter 111
Chapter 112
Chapter 113
Chapter 114
Chapter 115
Chapter 116
Chapter 117
Chapter 118
Chapter 119
Chapter 120
Chapter 121
Chapter 122
Chapter 123
Chapter 124
Chapter 125
Chapter 126
Chapter 127
Chapter 128
Chapter 129
Chapter 130
Chapter 131
Chapter 132
Chapter 133
Chapter 134
Chapter 135
Chapter 136
Chapter 137
Chapter 138
Chapter 139
Chapter 140
Chapter 141
Chapter 142
Chapter 143
Chapter 144
Chapter 145
Chapter 146
Chapter 147
Chapter 148
Chapter 149
Chapter 150
Chapter 151
Chapter 152
Chapter 153
Chapter 154
Chapter 155
Chapter 156
Chapter 157
Chapter 158
Chapter 159
Chapter 160
Chapter 161
Chapter 162
Chapter 163
Chapter 164
Chapter 165
Chapter 166
Chapter 167
Chapter 168
Chapter 169
Chapter 170
Chapter 171
Chapter 172
Chapter 173
Chapter 174
Chapter 175
Chapter 176
Chapter 177
Chapter 178
Chapter 179
Chapter 180
Chapter 181
Chapter 182
Chapter 183
Chapter 184
Chapter 185
Chapter 186
Chapter 187
Chapter 188
Chapter 189
Chapter 190
Chapter 191
Chapter 192
Chapter 193
Chapter 194
Chapter 195
Chapter 196
Chapter 197
Chapter 198
Chapter 199
Chapter 200
Chapter 201
Chapter 202
Chapter 203
Chapter 204
Chapter 205
Chapter 206
Chapter 207
Chapter 208
Chapter 209
Chapter 210
Chapter 211
Chapter 212
Chapter 213
Chapter 214
Chapter 215
Chapter 216
Chapter 217
Chapter 218
Chapter 219
Chapter 220
Chapter 221
Chapter 222
Chapter 223
Chapter 224
Chapter 225
Chapter 226
Chapter 227
Chapter 228
Chapter 229
Chapter 230
Chapter 231
Chapter 232
Chapter 233
Chapter 234
Chapter 235
Chapter 236
Chapter 237
Chapter 238
Chapter 239
Chapter 240
Chapter 241
Chapter 242
Chapter 243
Chapter 244
Chapter 245
Chapter 246
Chapter 247
Chapter 248
Chapter 249
Chapter 250
Chapter 251
Chapter 252
Chapter 253
Chapter 254
Chapter 255
Chapter 256
Chapter 257
Chapter 258
Chapter 259
Chapter 260
Chapter 261
Chapter 262
Chapter 263
Chapter 264
Chapter 265
Chapter 266
Chapter 267
Chapter 268
Chapter 269
Chapter 270
Chapter 271
Chapter 272
Chapter 273
Chapter 274
Chapter 275
Chapter 276
Chapter 277
Chapter 278
Chapter 279
Chapter 280
Chapter 281
Epilogue
Categories Genre: All, Comedy, Completed, Drama, Romance, Slice of Life Status: Completed ______
Total Chapters in book: 283
Estimated words: 482630 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 2413(@200wpm)___ 1931(@250wpm)___ 1609(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 482630 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 2413(@200wpm)___ 1931(@250wpm)___ 1609(@300wpm)
______
LIST OF LAST 10 CHAPTERS:
Page No. 283 Page No. 282 Page No. 281 Page No. 280 Page No. 279 Page No. 278 Page No. 277 Page No. 276 Page No. 275 Page No. 274 Page No. 273 Chapter 269
Volume 8 / Chapter 269
TL: LightNovelCafe
Editor: Isleidir
President Stern’s jaw dropped when he saw the logo and name written boldly on the center’s building.
“I changed the construction a bit. Fortunately, the architects assured me that it wouldn’t be too difficult.”
The music center’s name is not Jun & Stern.
Isaac Stern Center.
When he saw that his name is the only one on the building, he turned his head.
“Why’d you do this? You took your name out?”
“Instead, the large theater’s name is Jun’s Hall. That’s plenty for me. And I’m thinking of making a few centers that only have my name on them. This is too simple, and it isn’t fitting for my name. It needs to be 3 or 4 times bigger than this.”
President Stern did not stop crying even with Jun Hyuk’s joke.
“Alright, let’s go in. Wipe your tears. If Angelina Jolie sees you, she won’t even come near you because she’ll say you’re whining.”
“Angelina Jolie didn’t come. She’s in Spain to film her movie. You think I don’t even know that much?”
Jun Hyuk looked at the back of President Stern’s head as he stole tears, and pushed him to the Isaac Stern Center.
“I knew it. Why did you make the opening ceremony earlier when construction isn’t even done yet?”
The small theaters inside the center are still covered in white cloth.
“The large theater is done. And the banquet halls and facilities like cafes are complete. Only 3 medium and small theaters are left, so it’s fully functioning.”
President Stern looked disgruntled, but Jun Hyuk laughed.
“We’re going to clear the white cloth away when the guests arrive. No one will notice. Why are you being like this when you like it?”
“But…..”
President Stern sounded uncomfortable. He wanted to see the center in its complete state.
“If you can say for sure that you’ll live 4 more months, I’ll cancel it.”
“4 months? That’s going to be a little hard. He he. Oh right. You can’t cancel. Didn’t you say the president is coming as well?”
“Yes. He should have arrived at JFK right about now. But I was really surprised. I never imagined that you knew the President.”
“Know him? I don’t. I’ve never met the President. And the President is a Democrat. I’m a Republican supporter. I don’t even like him.”
President Stern frowned. He is remembering the Republic loss during last year’s elections.
“But why is he attending?”
“I heard he’s a big fan of yours. I heard that he loves your piano sonata in particular. The President himself plays the piano a bit as well. Oh right, I heard that he was after rumors of your piano playing skills. He wants to hear it for himself.”
“There’s nothing you don’t know for someone who is staying in a hospital ward.”
“You’re the only one who doesn’t know. The President said this a few times during interviews. He was hoping you would hear. He he.”
Jun Hyuk giggled for President Stern to hear.
“It’s a pity. He he.”
“Why?”
“I don’t have the right to vote because I’m not an American citizen.”
President Stern realized that Jun Hyuk was unable to vote for the President, and clapped in joy. He headed to the banquet hall like a child.
When he entered the banquet hall, President Stern’s old friends were waiting for him. Many maestros including New York Philharmonic’s Dimitri Carras surrounded him and congratulated him.
Their sadness did not show in their faces and they treated him as the healthy and lively Isaac Stern instead of an old man.
The VIPs began to gather in the banquet hall one by one. Hollywood stars came in with Director Martin Scorsese, Al Pacino, and Robert DeNiro at the lead, with New York’s mayor and senator following behind.
When Belgium’s Queen Mathilda entered however, they were all pushed to the edge. Queen Mathilda gave President Stern a light kiss on the cheek, congratulated him on the opening, and went to Jun Hyuk.
Jun Hyuk put his lips to the back of the queen’s hand, and the queen whispered quietly into Jun Hyuk’s ear.
“If you want, you can create your own concert hall in Brussels in Belgium. Think about it.”
She is clearly confessing that she is Jun Hyuk’s fan. When Jun Hyuk was about to thank her, it became noisy outside the banquet hall.
President of America, Butler, was walking into the hall faster than his bodyguards.
He smiled wide when he discovered Jun Hyuk and tried to run over to him, but his secretary general whispered to him, making him quickly change his steps.
“Mr. Stern, congratulations. This is the first time I’ve been in such an incredible music hall. Now, the Isaac Stern Center will represent New York instead of Lincoln Center.”
“My body is not well as you can see, so I’m sorry that I cannot get up, Mr. President.”
“It’s nothing. I hope you recover quickly.”
President Butler could guess just from President Stern’s expression that he is an ardent Republican.
“Oh, my Maestro. We finally get to meet.”
“Mr. President.”
The President held Jun Hyuk’s hand tight and did not let go, bursting out in laughter.
“I’m asking in advance, but will you attend the White House year end Christmas dinner party?”
“I heard you’re supposed to spend Christmas with your family.”
“Of course your entire family needs to come with you.”
The President hugged Jun Hyuk and whispered to him,
“I could step down from my presidency right now if I could play a piano duet with you, Maestro.”
The President is such a fan that he wants to play the piano with Jun Hyuk.
***
Jun Hyuk, President Stern, the President, New York’s mayor and senator, Belgium’s Queen Mathilda, and New York Philharmonic’s Dimitri Carras cut the tape and the President’s speech followed.
He talked about Isaac Stern’s devotion behind the maestros and ended by appreciating Jun Hyuk’s hard work.
“….. Now instead of going to Avery Hall to listen to Beethoven, Mozart, and Tchaikovsky, we can come here to the Isaac Stern Center to appreciate newer and unconventional masterpieces. Maestro Jun will be waiting for you as someone who will leave greater footsteps than Beethoven, Mozart, and Tchaikovsky left behind.”
Isaac Stern went up onto the dais after the President’s introduction.
“I’m telling you in advance President, but I did not vote for you during last year’s elections. But my mind is changing now. If you run again during the next election, I will give you my vote. Oh right. I don’t think think I’ll be alive until then.”
Not only the guests, but the President laughed loudly.
Isaac Stern started his speech as a joke, but ended by showing his gratefulness and praise for Jun Hyuk.
“… It is meaningless that Maestro Jun is of Korean nationality. It is also meaningless that he is living in New York. It is meaningless that he is Asian. He is an earthling and a true Santa Claus, giving a gift to all mankind.”
President Stern gestured to Jun Hyuk with his hand, and applause exploded.
“Humanity needs to repay him. There are now 2 things that mankind needs to protect and guard. It is the Earth and Maestro Jun.”
It was the only part of President Stern’s speech that was made known through the media.
Jun Hyuk became something that all of mankind needs to protect.
***
The first program of the opening ceremony was the documentary on Jun Hyuk that Martin Scorsese made. The documentary filmed the entire process of creating the opera ‘Godfather,’ and it was interesting that they could get a glimpse into Jun Hyuk’s process of making music.
The improv performance in a small cafe in particular was enough to bring out the audience’s admiration because even if they could not understand, the rhythm characteristic of Italian caused fine changes in expression and buried a page of a score.
Jun Hyuk had been watching the documentary from box seats on the 2nd floor for more than 10 minutes before he slowly stood up.
“Why? Where are you going?”
“It’s weird to see myself on such a big screen. I’ll be in the studio until it’s over.”
Jun Hyuk went down to the empty studio, put a few pages of sheet music on the desk, and looked at them for a moment.
‘Should 10 songs be enough?’
The sheet music began to be filled with notes. After about 1 hour, Jun Hyuk looked over the scores again and smiled satisfied.
When Jun Hyuk left the studio and went back to the large theater, the documentary was nearly over. A few scenes from the opera were going by rapidly on the screen.
“Did Amelia go somewhere?”
“To prepare to perform. She’s probably backstage.”
“Then I’ll go prepare as well.”
Jun Hyuk held Isaac Stern’s hand tightly and then left the box seats. Amelia and the orchestra were chatting backstage.
“Jun, where did you go?”
“The studio. When is the documentary over?”
“The R/T is 90 minutes, so it should be over soon.”
Jun Hyuk kissed Amelia lightly on the cheek and walked toward the orchestra.
“This is your first performance. How do you feel?”
The orchestra felt light excitement and tension, but they looked bright and did not seem to feel uneasy.
“I’m not sure. Somehow, I feel more comfortable than I did during rehearsals with you, Maestro. Ha ha.”
Total Chapters in book: 283
Estimated words: 482630 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 2413(@200wpm)___ 1931(@250wpm)___ 1609(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 482630 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 2413(@200wpm)___ 1931(@250wpm)___ 1609(@300wpm)
______