The boy passionately played his violin on the stage, accompanied by another boy with a flute. However, Cole's attention was solely fixed on the violinist, captivated by his performance.

Cole couldn't contain his amazement, his parted lips expressing his sheer enjoyment of the music. It evoked emotions akin to sitting beneath a cherry blossom tree, where the worries of the world are swept away, leaving behind a sense of wonder. The violinist's skill was truly remarkable.

The beautiful melodies enveloped the auditorium, filling the air with a satin-like texture—smooth and silky. Slowly, a faint, hopeless smile formed on Cole's lips. In this moment, he had forgotten all about his troubles, his strained relationship with his father, and the pressures of his studies.

It was as if everything else had faded away.

As the music took a dangerous and sensual turn, the violinist remained completely engrossed in his instrument and sheet music. The flutist stood by his side, unwavering and supportive, allowing his friend to fully concentrate on his practice.

It may sound cliché, but in that instance, Cole noticed the violinist's hair blowing gently to the side, dancing along with the invisible wind. Suddenly, a peculiar feeling surged within Cole, as if his heart was blossoming with excitement. It was a strange sensation, yet it brought him immense happiness.

The music took on a lively and funky rhythm. Cole couldn't resist bopping his head up and down, completely absorbed in the energetic performance. He quickly switched on the camcorder he had brought along with his camera, feeling the urgency to capture this moment—right here, right now. He couldn't afford to miss such an opportunity.

But then, the music abruptly came to an end. Cole slowly rose from his seat and applauded enthusiastically. He decided to forgo recording on his camcorder. A masterpiece like this deserved to be experienced live, he thought to himself.

"Hey, you can't be here!" exclaimed the flute player, whose voice was unexpectedly high-pitched considering his small stature. The violinist looked at Cole with surprise, wondering who had allowed him to enter.

"I'm sorry, I was just wandering around..."

"You're not allowed here! I apologize, but YOU," he pointed his short finger at Cole, "...need to leave," said the determined shorty.

"Mint, it's alright. He's probably a visitor. We shouldn't treat a visitor like that," Tay interjected.

"But this is a private practice, Tay!" Mint reminded him.

Private practices were meant to be strictly confidential, with no one—not even the principal—permitted to attend. The main purpose was to ensure the musicians could maintain 100% focus and prevent any information about the performance from being leaked prematurely.

In other words, it was to avoid any spoilers.

"Oh, you guys play for the orchestra!" exclaimed Cole, his excitement growing as he realized that his new crush would likely become his brother's student.

The prospect of getting to meet him was now almost certain!

"Do we know you?" Mint asked, a hint of confusion in his voice.

"Well, actually... I am..."

Before Cole could finish his sentence, the door swung open wide. Three handsome men entered, and one of them was visibly taken aback upon seeing Cole in the auditorium.

"Hello, boys!"

"Hello, Mr. Bing!" both Mint and Tay greeted Joe with a bow.

"We apologize for interrupting your private practice," Joe said, casting a glance toward Cole.

"Yes, please let him know that!" Mint interjected, pointing towards Cole. Jazz and Youn turned their attention to Cole.

"Oh, don't worry about that! He's unaware of the protocols. Besides, he's here doing some research for his brother, who will be your new maestro," Joe explained.

"New maestro?" Both Mint and Tay's eyes lit up with excitement.

"Hello, boys, I'm Youn Wu, your new maestro. But I think you can just call me 'teacher' or 'sir'," Youn introduced himself.

"Hello, Sir Wu! Please show us the way!" Mint and Tay simultaneously bowed deeply before Youn. He couldn't help but let out a giggle.

"Well, okay then. Oh, by the way, I would like to introduce my agent, Mr. Aramenta. And of course, my little rabbit over here, Cole," Youn said as they shook hands.

Cole couldn't help but gaze into Taylor's eyes, feeling a strong admiration for him.

"Hello, I'm Mint, and this is Taylor. We are currently in our senior year. This might be our last year with this orchestra. That's why we're hoping for the best performance this year," Mint said with a charming smile.

Youn observed the taller boy, Taylor, who held his violin tightly. He recalled seeing him before with that lady.

Wait... She had a young lover?

"Let's hope it will be the best year in the history of this orchestra too! I suppose I should let you guys continue. The practice schedule will be out soon," Youn said, his eyes still fixated on Taylor. Then, he noticed that Cole was also gazing at Taylor!

"Cole, it seems like you've fallen in love with this school, haven't you?" Youn suddenly asked his brother. Cole blushed deeply, looking down and shuffling his shoes on the stage.

Youn also couldn't help but notice how differently Cole behaved when Taylor intertwined their hands. Was he developing feelings for this boy? He started to worry, recalling how close Taylor had been with the lady. However, he couldn't deny how happy Cole had been since they arrived.

So, for now, he put aside any concerns and focused on Cole's happiness.

"Yeah..." Cole replied, his eyes widening with excitement.

"Say, Joe... can I enroll my brother?" Cole's eyes grew even wider.

"Sure, lucky for you, the new semester will begin next week," Joe responded.

"Really?" Cole asked eagerly.

"You've always loved art so much, so why not give yourself a chance? I'll discuss this with your dad. Let's prepare the necessary documents," Youn said, feeling a sense of joy as he watched Cole's excitement.

He was glad he had brought Cole along on this trip; it seemed like the right decision. Despite knowing that his mother and Cole's father might end up having conflicts later, all he wanted at the moment was his brother's happiness.

"Take care, boys. See you at practice soon," Joe bid them farewell. As they walked out of the auditorium, Mint playfully nudged Taylor.

"Looks like somebody just gained a fan..." he teased his friend. Taylor chuckled and shook his head.

"You're crazy, you know that?"

"Tay and Cole, sitting under a tree~~~ K-I-S-S-I-N-G~~" Mint continued to tease.

"Cut it out!" Taylor couldn't help but give Mint's butt a playful smack. They bantered back and forth for a while. From a distance, Cole watched their interaction with great interest.

---------------------------

"Thank God you came!" Sunny sighed heavily. Rae quickly put away her bag in her locker.

"What's wrong?"

"Mr. Park.. once again giving me pain in the ass! He asked too many weird questions and asked me if I could be the model for today's class! It's not that I hate to be one. Ohohoho~~ But being naked is a big no-no!!" Sunny glared at students in the art class.

Rae couldn't help but giggled, seeing Sunny's reaction boosted her serotonin early in the morning.

"He has a crush on you~~"

"Rae, he's six! What do you think I am? Pedophile?! Oh my heartu!!" Rae quickly donned her apron. She must take over the class fast or Sunny will probably go crazy. That man has zero talent when it comes to handling the junior art class.

He got weak when it comes to little boo-boos- I mean kids.

"Hello, I'm back..." smiling Rae entered the class. The kids surround her, showing painting after painting and she gave them compliments.

"I drew this, Rae sis.." one of the boys showed her his drawing. It's quite a fun piece!

"Who is this?"

"It's Sunny. He always says ohohoho..." Rae couldn't help but laugh out loud when she saw this.

"Okay Mr. Park, you did a very good job. But next time, don't ask Sunny to take his clothes off. That's inappropriate and too much TMI. You don't wanna TMI in my class, right?" said Rae, giving a cute but meaningful warning to him. He just nodded.

Rae took the list from Sunny and headed out of the shop, ready to check on the availability of the items. As she walked along the sidewalk, she couldn't help but appreciate the transparent design of the art shop. Its glass walls allowed passersby to see both the inside of the shop and the art classroom.

The strategy not only aimed to attract customers but also served as a safety measure. With the open and visible layout, it created a sense of transparency and security for everyone involved. People passing by could catch glimpses of the vibrant artwork and the lively atmosphere inside the classroom, further piquing their interest in the shop.

Rae entered the nearby art supply store, checking the items on the list one by one. She carefully examined the shelves, making sure to find the specific materials Sunny had requested. As an art enthusiast herself, she had a keen eye for quality and was determined to find the best supplies for the students.

After successfully locating the items, Rae made her way back to the art shop, a sense of fulfillment filling her. She knew that these art supplies would contribute to the creativity and growth of the students in the upcoming semester.

With a smile on her face, she handed the items to Sunny, ready to assist him with any other tasks that needed to be done.

------------------
"Wanna come along?"

"Nope, I need to call Mom. Go ahead and get what you need," said Youn. Cole grinned and then walked into the shop to buy the items on his list.

Youn tapped his finger on the window. Jazz was already on his way back home, taking care of some unfinished business, but he had managed to close the deal with a local real estate agent.

He had found a nice condo for Youn and Cole, and Youn trusted Jazz's choice. They had been friends for a long time, and Jazz was the best agent and assistant he could rely on.

Just as he was about to reach his mother, she suddenly called him first.

"Hey, Mom..."

"Are you sure, Youn?" she sounded concerned, and maybe even a little angry.

"Yeah! He's happy with the choice. Come on, Mom! Both of us know this is better for him than some expensive business school!" Youn tried to persuade her. His eyes still watched his brother as he strolled from one aisle to another in the shop.

"Gosh! Seriously, I need a drink right now!"

"Chill, Mom. Cole is of legal age now. Kevin can't force him anymore."

"Still, Cole is his son! And you know how Kevin is, right? He might try to intervene and take Cole away!" Youn held his breath. Knowing Kevin as well as he did was sometimes too much information. He believed he understood Kevin better than Kevin understood his own son.

And he knew how much his mother loved Cole, despite him being just her stepson. They had endured a lengthy custody battle when Cole suddenly decided to live with her. It was a bitter and contentious war, and she ultimately lost. Kevin won, and Cole had to stay with his father, even though he despised him.

But things changed when Cole reached the legal age to make his own choices. He didn't hesitate to choose Youn's household, seeking freedom from his controlling father. He even ran away from home twice!

After some negotiation, his father allowed him to stay with Youn, but with a few conditions. Cole had to enter the college of his choice, or he wouldn't receive any financial support from his father.

But that wasn't a major problem for Youn. He could support Cole financially, as he wasn't lacking in resources. Even his mother was wealthy!

"I don't mind the money. But don't you think we're denying him the right to know about Cole?"

"That's why I'm asking you to discuss this with him..."

"Me? Talking to Kevin is like dealing with an angry T-Rex! I'd rather take my chances with the T-Rex as my husband," Youn chuckled. His mother was a kind-hearted and free-spirited woman who always supported him and Cole, no matter what.

Suddenly, his laughter faded. His eyes fixed on something inside the shop. He saw a woman talking to his brother.

"Mom, I'll call you back," he quickly ended the call and got out of his car.

From a distance, he could see the lady smiling at Cole as he asked her something. His heart started to ache, and his chest felt tight. He longed to approach her, to be with her more than anything in the world.

But the image of her being kissed by Taylor that morning stopped him in his tracks.

She must be happy now. I shouldn't ruin that...