Chapter 29

29

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"Of course you'll give it to me, right?"

"No way. You have to give it to me."

"There's nothing more to say. I have to take it."

Just like the three goddesses who blushed in their faces over the golden apple left by Eris, the goddess of discord. Goduhan blushed as well.

“Hey!”

“Professor Park Ji-yeop!”

It was the beginning of a three-way battle.

.

.

.

The four, including Gangseok, moved to a different spot.

They had to move from inside the Peony Gallery exhibition hall because people's gazes were too focused on them. It was already noisy with Goduhan and Park Ji-yeop, and when Seol Yejin joined in, trying to get a piece of art, it was impossible for people not to notice.

Moreover, they couldn't continue such a significant discussion while standing.

Thud.

Goduhan roughly plopped down into his seat and gulped down a hazelnut Americano. A hint of a single aroma rose from what initially looked like an Americano.

Outside the window where they were seated, darkness had already fallen.

It was already evening.

Goduhan, who had planned to exorcise the witch with Gangseok and then have a hearty dinner with Gangseok's father, pressing the temples, felt a headache coming on.

“Let's just settle this here. This is the piece I've already decided to buy.”

So, back off.

Goduhan pressed his hat, which he had taken off, with his fingers as he spoke. At the same time, Seol Yejin, who had been sipping a caramel macchiato, put down her cup.

“Did you write a contract?”

“What?”

“Writing a sales contract is basic when buying art, you know. Looking at it, the artist often forgets to write documents.”

Seol Yejin, with her chin in her hand, looked at Gangseok and said teasingly.

“Mr. Gangseok. If you didn't write a sales contract, it's all for nothing. And this isn't just any piece. You need to chew, tear, taste, and try everything before deciding on the one you like the most.”

The one you like the most. When Seol Yejin said this, her gaze subtly swept over Park Ji-yeop and Goduhan. In short, she was saying to make a sales contract with the person who offers the best conditions among the three.

“Hey!”

“Why? Master? I'm just telling my junior what you taught me. Is there a problem with that?”

Seol Yejin raised the topic while holding her caramel macchiato. Goduhan, who was at a loss for words due to Seol Yejin's free use of terms like 'artist' and 'master,' shut his mouth.

When did you start calling me master? Goduhan's mouth trembled with annoyance.

At that moment.

Park Ji-yeop, who had been quietly eating the whipped cream on top of his espresso con panna with a small teaspoon, spoke.

“That's a good idea. Try it, chew it, taste it, and then decide on the best one.”

Huff. As he lifted the cup, from which he had removed some of the whipped cream, steam rose to his chin. Park Ji-yeop smiled, feeling the warmth of the espresso sweep away the sweetness in his mouth.

The smile was tinged with confidence.

It was a statement that he had something to offer, no matter what conditions were proposed.

Park Ji-yeop, who was being glared at by Goduhan, sent a gentle smile and then turned his eyes to Gangseok, who was quietly drinking an Americano.

“Mr. Gangseok. Don't you need a cake or something? Drinking an Americano on an empty stomach might upset your stomach.”

Not to be outdone, Seol Yejin sent a wink to Gangseok.

“Mr. Gangseok. This is my cafe. You can eat whatever you want. What would you like to order?”

It was a transparent ploy. Even though he knew Gangseok wouldn't fall for it, Goduhan ground the ice with his teeth.

“He's my student. My student. Why are you acting so friendly? I'll buy it if you want it.”

“Mr. Gangseok. High school is three years, but college is four years. If you include military service, I will have been with the students longer than Goduhan. Think of it as a preliminary run of the teacher-student relationship.”

Park Ji-yeop, who answered Goduhan's question by speaking to Gangseok, lifted his small coffee cup again. The slight upward curve of his lips said, "Your provocation won't work on me."

“Who sent you to Hanik?”

“Who else but Mr. Gangseok would go to Hanik?”

Their gazes met in the air between Goduhan and Park Ji-yeop, who were sitting opposite each other. Since neither of them would look away first, the standoff continued for a long time.

Seol Yejin, smiling, whispered to Gangseok, who was sitting opposite her.

“Mr. Gangseok. No matter how much you push, you'll eventually graduate from high school and college and become a professional. It's better to come out into the world with a solid business partner than to stay in the teacher's nest.”

“Where are you trying to lure him?”

“Mr. Gangseok, why do you need to go to the Peony Gallery, Yejin?”

Goduhan and Park Ji-yeop sharply cut off Seol Yejin's words.

Their back-and-forth continued endlessly. When Goduhan attacked, Seol Yejin or Park Ji-yeop would take turns countering.

Then, when Seol Yejin subtly flirted with Gangseok, Goduhan and Park Ji-yeop would gang up on her.

The reason they were bickering like this was one.

To buy Gangseok's piece.

“Anyway, I'm going to buy the piece.”

“Dohan, I'll buy it.”

“Both Master and Professor, please step aside this time. After all, the one who can offer the highest price is me, isn't it?”

The conversation gradually shifted to money.

One is a famous artist, one is a wealthy gallery director, and one is a respected professor. The game they were playing was bound to be significant.

I need to stop this.

Gangseok, who had no intention of watching their game, started by putting down his Americano.

As Gangseok, who had been calm like the eye of a storm, moved, the three gazes instantly converged on him.

“I want to correct a misunderstanding.”

What misunderstanding?

Confusion clouded their eyes.

“What I'm selling is not the piece itself, but the exhibition rights.”

“Exhibition rights?”

Seol Yejin's eyes widened, sitting opposite Gangseok. As someone who runs a gallery, she couldn't be unaware of exhibition rights.

Article 19 of the Copyright Act, Exhibition Rights.

The right of the author to exhibit the original or a copy of an artistic work. That's what exhibition rights are.

“I don't plan to sell the piece yet.”

Not at all.

The art world is a market swayed by the invisible.

Reputation. Politics. Ideology. Thought. Philosophy.

The value they hold in the art world is tremendous. They assign a value that easily surpasses the intuitive colors, shapes, and the emotion and beauty that the work itself brings. It's impossible not to be tremendous.

How ridiculous.

In any case.

According to the implicit rules of this market, Gangseok, who is currently nameless, is just that.

No matter how good a piece he creates, he is a commodity with no lower limit, for which he should be grateful if someone offers a high price. Since he has never sold a piece, there has never been a lower limit set.

Therefore, if Gangseok sells now, he must sell according to the standard pricing methods of this market.

Depending on the artist and their capabilities, but for a new artist who has not yet made a name in the art market, the standard price is around 50,000 won per square meter.

Generally, you multiply the price per square meter by the size of the piece, but the price per square meter is not always multiplied just because the piece is large.

However, for a new artist, the price per square meter is relatively low, so for a labor-intensive piece, it is common to price it up to 100 square meters.

But Gangseok's piece is 800 square meters.

Moreover, Gangseok is a newcomer, even less recognized than a new artist.

Even if he priced it at 30,000 won per square meter, it would be 3 million won. If he priced it at 50,000 won, it would be 5 million won, and even if he doubled the price, it would be a maximum of 10 million won.

At best, he could barely exceed 10 million won.

He would inevitably get the true value of the piece only after his name value increased.

Just like how the commission fees I received before and after making the David statue in my previous life were clearly different. However, the owner of the David statue at that time was not me.

Gangseok clutched his Americano. That was not what he wanted.

Moreover, he couldn't ask for a price that matched the value of the piece now. An artist who has not proven anything, if their work sells for a high price, it actually devalues the work.

It would be like getting caught up in the bubble of Korean art, which is even affecting Hong Kong recently.

Therefore, he wouldn't try to get the proper value of the piece, and he wouldn't sell it for the amount that could be offered to him now.

That was the reason he wasn't selling it yet.

Of course, it was a bit of a hassle to explain all this, so Gangseok closed his mouth.

“Exhibition rights... That's an interesting proposal.”

Seol Yejin tapped the straw in her caramel macchiato with her index finger. She seemed to understand the proposal. It was likely a contract based on Article 35, Section 1 of the Copyright Act, which deals with the exhibition or reproduction of artistic works.

Seol Yejin recalled the Copyright Act, which was clearly etched in her memory.

Article 35 (Exhibition or Reproduction of Artistic Works) Section 1.

The owner of the original of an artistic work or a person who has obtained their consent may exhibit the work based on the original. However, this does not apply to works that are permanently displayed in places open to the public, such as streets, parks, or the exterior of buildings.

What Gangseok was saying was that, based on this law, he would not sell the piece but would allow it to be exhibited in the form of a loan while he retains ownership.

In a sense, it was a bold move.

Saying he would only lend it was a bold statement that the piece had a value that couldn't be easily sold. And he was a high school student who had never sold a piece before.

It was bold and understandable.

The piece was indeed too precious to be sold easily. But who would buy the exhibition rights? Not the piece itself. The greed that had been boiling inside Seol Yejin, hiding its claws and tail, now retreated.

I want it.

I still want it. Seeing the piece wasn't enough.

But lending it wasn't satisfying.

It was a desire to own, not just to show to someone else, which made it even more so.

Seol Yejin, her interest waning, leaned back. It was a retreat.

‘Even if I don’t pay the exhibition or loan fees, the piece will definitely be displayed in Goduhan’s solo exhibition.’

The fact that Gangseok’s piece was being displayed in the Peony Gallery was proof of this. If loan fees were required, Goduhan would pay them.

Seol Yejin didn’t need to buy the exhibition rights to display Gangseok’s piece in the Peony Gallery.

‘There’s no need to display a piece that has already been exhibited in another exhibition soon, so it’s best to step back.’

Considering that Gangseok is a high school student and will soon be a senior, the possibility of a solo exhibition is low.

For Seol Yejin, who only knew Gangseok through his work, this was the best choice.

Seol Yejin, suppressing her urge to buy it immediately, consoled herself.

‘I have more than enough money, so I can step in when he decides to sell the piece.’

Seol Yejin drank her caramel macchiato like water. The thought of not owning that magnificent scene made her feel an intense thirst.

“How do I buy the exhibition rights?”

“Mr. Gangseok, how do I buy the exhibition rights?”

However, Goduhan and Park Ji-yeop were different.

They leaned forward. It wasn’t just because they had seen the pieces Gangseok had drawn. It was instinct. The instinct that they needed to buy these exhibition rights now.

Gangseok, looking at the two, slightly raised the corners of his mouth.

“Let’s talk