The Pianist's Stalker
Three weeks had passed since the woman had disappeared from view. ‘My name is Shin Woo-yeon.’ She had announced it with such gravitas. ‘That’s why I’ve been following you. Because you kept popping into my thoughts. This is my first time doing something so bold.’ For a while she had popped up like a mole, everywhere at once. ‘In a month, I’ll be in bed with you.’ She had said it boastfully, then vanished without a trace. The last time he had seen her, she had been among the gallery paintings. The same woman who had nearly vanished for three weeks now stood before him, playing the piano.
The moment he laid eyes on her, a faint smile touched Je-hyeok’s lips. “Are you having any trouble with the food?” The staff member who had come to refill his wine glass asked, clearly aware that he hadn’t touched the dish in front of him. “No. I’m done.” Je-hyeok straightened the upper half of his body that had been lazily draped over the chair. “Was a piano performance originally held here?” Woo Min-ho, who had been chewing an abalone opposite him, lifted his head as if to ask why. “This performance began this month. As part of the year-end event, we play classical pieces on Tuesdays and Wednesdays like this one, and jazz-infused songs on Thursdays and Fridays. If the guests respond well, we plan to continue on weekends as well.” “How nice.” “Thank you. Our chairman prepared this with such ambition…” “You should suggest changing the pianist.” The art director who had been slicing steak beside Woo Min-ho also turned to stare at Je-hyeok with curiosity. Je-hyeok swirled his wine glass, raised one eyebrow, and said nothing. “Her skill is nothing to write home about.” “Ah… yes, I understand. I’ll pass the message on to the chairman. Thank you for the valuable advice.” Once the staff member had left, Woo Min-ho furrowed his brows. “What’s with that? I was listening the whole time. Why the sudden sulk?” Sulking? No, it was real. The woman on stage was playing terribly. This was Debussy’s *Arabesque*. A piece with many repeating patterns, low difficulty.
She had already repeated the easy melody several times. Once she had even tangled the notes and created an improvised melody—three times worse than the original. The only thing she did well was stubbornly continuing to play as if she had never missed a beat. “It’s pretty to listen to, but why bother? And look at her face. What difference does skill make? In this place, face sells everything.” Woo Min-ho scanned the restaurant hall with lascivious eyes. “Those guys in the office have been sneaking glances at the stage since earlier. Even with his girlfriend right there, he keeps staring at this woman. Do you think they’re impressed by her playing and are acting that way?” He let out a snort, mocking the men. “We should just cut her. I’ve been considering scouting her for our agency anyway. What do you think, Sun-yeon? That pianist—her mask is oddly mysterious. Once we train her and put her in front of the camera, a ton of sickos will lose their minds over her.” The art director Woo Min-ho had brought over looked at the stage with interest. He had introduced the director to Je-hyeok as an advisor from his own planning company and was scouting it for his own agency. “We’re going to elevate the image of our in-house creators. We’re unveiling a brand-new MCN planning company that doesn’t exist in Korea yet,” he declared with grandiose plans. A long speech in summary was simple: with such a splendid vision and capable lineup, they were asking for investment funds.
“She’s not a common mask at all. A mask is a mask, but the vibe she gives off is… intriguing.” “Her sensuality is dripping. Her face is so innocently beautiful and elegant. If she gets caught on camera, she’ll kill the reaction. What do you think?” Woo Min-ho asked, eyes gleaming as he turned to Je-hyeok. His gaze drifted toward the plates on the table. Je-hyeok bit into the abalone and chewed without much thought. “Yeah. Take her or sell her.” “Come on, sell? What kind of words are those? Who’s going to think I’m involved in human trafficking?” He claimed to be a gentleman while clearly planning to sell her face, body, and smile in front of the camera.
“Ever since earlier, you’ve been sulking constantly.” Je-hyeok simply swirled his wine glass and watched the woman on stage without answering. Arabesque had ended and Chopin’s Nocturne had begun. An even more difficult piece.
But from the very start, she had missed notes. This time she tried to hide the errors with light, flowing touches. As Woo Min-ho had said, her innocent yet sensual appearance was perfectly suited to cover her lack of skill.
In truth, just from her face, she looked like the kind of woman who had spent her entire life playing the piano. The stubborn way she played now was something Je-hyeok found endlessly intriguing. As he kept staring at the stage, the name Shin Woo-yeon suddenly came to mind.
Their eyes met. The woman’s smooth movements froze. She hesitated, then quickly lowered her head as if avoiding his gaze. He thought how innocent she looked and let out a chuckle. Innocent? Who was he kidding?
She was wearing the restaurant’s uniform, playing the piano. She had declared that she liked him and would sleep with him within a month, only to appear after three weeks. This was yet another outdated woman’s trick. Perhaps it was all calculated.
He had no intention of getting tangled in her scheme. “Trite.” “Huh?” Woo Min-ho had asked, but Je-hyeok was only slicing the meat on the plate.
There was something strange, though. If this woman had been at his party, Woo Min-ho should have known her, yet he looked completely clueless. Just as Je-hyeok was about to ask about Shin Woo-yeon,
“Long time no see, Representative Woo.” Myeong Eun-ju greeted him with a bright smile, wearing a green dress. She was the owner of the restaurant ‘Myeong.’ “I asked the chef to prepare something special since you’re such a valued guest. I hope you’re enjoying it?” “Ah, Chairman Myeong. This course is delicious. The autumn special this year is better than last year’s?” “Especially this geukso sauce is amazing. Did you put in extra effort this year? Are you aiming for a Michelin star?” “Oh my, a Michelin star? You flatter me.”
After exchanging a few words with Woo Min-ho, Myeong Eun-ju suddenly frowned with a look of pity as she turned to Je-hyeok. “By the way, I heard you don’t like our pianist. Did her playing bother you a lot?” Je-hyeok’s dry eyes scanned Eun-ju. “Yes. It bothers me.” That was all he said. His gaze returned to the plate.
Eun-ju’s eyes curved like a new crescent moon. “As expected, Representative’s excellent insight can’t be hidden. Actually, that friend didn’t formally study piano at a music university. Her skill isn’t that great, but I took her in after hearing about her difficult family situation. Her parents passed away early, and she couldn’t attend university after studying piano at a prep school…” “Ah, I see. Her face really does look dramatic.” Woo Min-ho chimed in from the side.
“I couldn’t ignore her situation. However, the current pianist only comes at lunchtime, and another pianist comes in the evening. I’ll pass on the message to the current one to practice more or attend academy and improve her skills. When you come next time, I’ll have her play better. If you still aren’t satisfied then…”
Je-hyeok suddenly burst into laughter at that moment.
The laugh was long. No one at the table understood it. Even from the stage, people were looking their way.
When he raised his head, Shin Woo-yeon appeared with a slightly startled face. Again, she missed notes—this time she couldn’t hide the wrong pitch. Still, she refused to look away from his gaze.
Just as before, she stared straight at him. Fixedly. As if something had been entrusted to her.
What a pitiful woman. That pity only made her appearance strangely erotic.
So Woo Min-ho was right. With a face like that, no one would care if she ruined her playing.
She would just become a laughingstock, and the weirdos who liked her looks would pour money into her. Since it wasn’t his money, he didn’t need to worry. If he ignored her, that was enough.
With a twisted smile, he stared at the stage, gripped the knife, and muttered, “Just cut her.”
Why was this woman so irritating? Only then did Je-hyeok realize what Shin Woo-yeon was mimicking. His neck suddenly tightened. He had crossed another line. A cold smile formed. After cold came rage, and after rage came a visceral disgust toward the woman. That annoying, fucking stalker was going to drive him crazy.
“Learning more won’t improve her skill.” “…If you’re that uncomfortable…” “If the situation is that bad, just hand her over. There are a ton of guys who will rush to put her in front of the camera.”
Je-hyeok’s sudden coldness froze everyone. Woo Min-ho had no idea what had just happened.
That bastard had been eating well and suddenly lost his mind. He ruined the mood with some baseless complaint, then glared at Je-hyeok, who was calmly chewing his steak.
That guy switched between looking like a complete baby tyrant and a haughty, slimy opportunist. A slimy opportunist like that ruled an empire for decades.
That was why, even though he was his much younger cousin, he kept glancing his way. With his own employee beside him and the owner of his favorite restaurant in front of him. How was his face supposed to stay intact?
Min-ho raised his voice belatedly. “Hold on, what the hell is this? Earlier you were acting like I’m some pimp running a sex ring. What makes you say that? My face will be ruined! I have the title of CEO of DM Planning Company!”
But the knife-wielding Woo Je-hyeok didn’t even seem to hear his words. Clearly that bastard had no intention of investing. Humiliation burned in Min-ho’s chest. He bit his lip, and the foul scent spread through his mouth.