She smiled faintly.
"We've been asking for repairs for years."
Holloway frowned.
Then glanced toward Elaine.
The architect looked away.
They continued.
In the next room, a group of students was learning Korean pronunciation through music. Mrs. Park, now in her seventies, sat beside an upright piano, guiding the children through simple phrases and asking them to listen carefully to rhythm and vowel sounds.
When she saw Holloway, she stood.
He introduced himself.
Mrs. Park looked toward Nia.
Then back at the millionaire.
For several seconds, her expression remained unreadable.
Finally, she smiled politely.
"Welcome."
Holloway nodded.
He looked toward the children.
"Do all of them speak Korean?"
Mrs. Park laughed.
"Some do. Some don't. That's why they're here."
The billionaire watched a little boy struggle to pronounce a word.
The teacher corrected him gently.
Then another student helped him try again.
The boy grinned when he succeeded.
Holloway's expression softened for a moment.
It was a small reaction.
But Nia noticed.
The final classroom contained Lena Kim.
She was sitting at the piano with her shoulders rigid and her hands resting uncertainly above the keys.
Nia had asked her to practice a short piece she'd been preparing for the community performance.
But the unexpected visitors made her nervous.
Holloway entered quietly.
The teenager looked up.
Her face changed immediately.
Nia approached.
"Lena, you don't have to perform right now."
The girl shook her head.
"No."
For a moment, she looked toward Holloway.
Then back at Nia.
"I want to."
Nia smiled gently.
"All right."
Lena took a slow breath.
Then began playing an original piano piece she'd been developing over several months.
The melody started uncertainly.
Her fingers stumbled.
She stopped.
For a moment, her face filled with embarrassment.
Holloway shifted uncomfortably.
He seemed ready to suggest they move on.
But Nia leaned closer to the student.
"Remember what we practiced."
Lena nodded.
Nia continued.
"Don't play for the people watching. Play for the person who first made you love music."
The girl looked toward the photograph of her grandmother resting beside the piano.
Then she began again.
This time, the music flowed.
It wasn't perfect.
But it carried a tenderness that made the room unusually quiet.
Holloway listened.
Elaine stood near the doorway.
Sun-hee watched from the hallway.
When Lena finished, nobody spoke for several seconds.
Then Holloway nodded.
"That was beautiful."
Lena looked toward him.
Her expression was serious.
"Thank you."
He smiled faintly.
Then she asked a question that stopped him.
"Are you going to close our school?"