Chapter 39

39

* * * *

"Nice to meet you. I'm Kim Chung-hyo, the president of the Korean Sketch Association. Your work is impressive. Do you plan to continue working through sketches in the future?"

"Are you part of the group that invited Mr. Go Doo-han to this solo exhibition?"

"Um... Could you possibly make something like that for our gallery, Jeong? A glass sculpture for the entrance?"

Surrounded by people, Kang Seok thought to himself, this is the 86th time today. Today alone, 86 people have asked him to make a glass flower sculpture for their gallery entrance after seeing the one hanging at the gallery entrance.

Just as Kang Seok was trying to brush them off by saying he wanted to focus on the new semester, a woman in high heels walked over to him.

Startled by the sudden approach, Kang Seok's head turned involuntarily, and the woman extended her hand.

"Hello! I saw the sculpture at the entrance. I heard from Kim Yun-seo that you made it on commission... Is the ownership fully settled? I'm Lim Ye-rin, the chief curator of the Horong Art Museum. Could we have a meal sometime to discuss the glass flowers? We also need a sculpture like that... Could you possibly make one for us, Ah! Mr. Go Doo-han! Wait a moment! We're in the middle of a conversation..."

"Ah, wait a moment! Mr. Kang Seok!"

Correction, it's the 87th person.

Kang Seok shook his head, thinking that Go Doo-han must have already walked around the exhibition 50 times today.

While he had anticipated this situation, he was still surprised by how direct it was. People who came to see Go Doo-han's solo exhibition opening were all similar to him.

They were the type who only talked about the main points.

Kang Seok found it easier to talk when the main points were brought up first.

'But that doesn't mean I'll accept their requests.'

Kang Seok knew his own abilities well.

Compared to his past when he lacked skill, he was now aware of how remarkable his heightened senses and sudden surge of inspiration were, especially after recalling his previous life.

Some say to row when the tide is high, but what can he do? Kang Seok also knew very well that the tide would never ebb for him.

'In times like these, I need to raise my value.'

His skills wouldn't decline, and people would be desperate to own his works. Today alone, 49 people had expressed interest in purchasing his works.

As expected.

Six months.

From now on, he needed to gradually increase his value over the next six months, like a snowball rolling down a hill. That's why he hadn't sold his works yet. Thinking about the exhibitions he would have in various places over the next six months and the works he would display at the Peony Gallery, Kang Seok's lips curled into a smile.

He hadn't sold yet, and was sold for more than 20 million won, plus an additional amount. The sculpture of the vine owl had only received a down payment and hadn't been properly appraised.

Thinking about the money he had earned, Kang Seok walked to a corner.

'What should I do with this money?'

Lost in thought, he noticed a woman holding a wallet and a phone, looking around the exhibition hall. The wallet reminded him of his parents' wallets.

He remembered a gray wallet he bought for 5,000 won two years ago, which he still used, with a torn zipper that wouldn't close properly.

He decided.

Kang Seok resolved to buy wallets for his parents and took a step forward. He was now in front of one of his own works.

In front of the sunset, many bouquets of flowers were placed, indicating that people had appreciated his work. Each bouquet had a card with the name of the person who left it.

Kang Hyun, Baek Myung-hee, Kang Chae-young, his beloved family, Joo-sarang, Lim Woo-hyun, Son Dong-wook, Jang Yu-min, Go Doo-han, the teachers of Cheonghua Art High School, Park Hye-yeon, Jin Se-hyun, Yoo Mi-kyung, Yoo Mi-ji, Choi Young-tae, and the students of Cheonghua Art High School, as well as Bae Ji-min, Park Ji-hoon, Ban Jung-heon, the studio trio, and professors and teaching assistants like Lee Min-hyuk, Park Ji-yeop, and Hwang No-min.

Finally, the cards from Peony Gallery's Seol Ye-jin and Kim Yun-seo.

Thinking about the many cards stuck in various bouquets, Kang Seok approached without realizing it. At that moment, he noticed a man standing there, staring at for a long time.

Oh.

A single exclamation escaped Kang Seok's lips.

The man slowly turned around. His hands, holding a bouquet of flowers made of rough cotton, were calloused and had several cuts. They were familiar hands.

Ah.

Kang Seok lifted his head, which had been lowered to look at the bouquet. The man's eyes, which were not looking at him, were red. They were filled with regret, gratitude, pride, and relief, gazing into the air.

"Teacher."

The card on the bouquet read Jeong Byung-gwon. The man, Jeong Byung-gwon, slowly turned his eyes toward Kang Seok, with a look of surprise.

"......Seok."

.

.

.

He seemed at a loss for words, staring at the Americano in front of him. The bouquet he had been holding in both hands was placed in front of the work. After staring at the cup for a while, he finally managed to speak, his voice hoarse.

"......I'm sorry."

He was sorry for everything. When he saw at the entrance of the Peony Gallery. When he found in the deepest part of the exhibition hall. What pierced Jeong Byung-gwon's heart was regret.

Could I have believed in him more? If Kang Seok hadn't gotten back up after giving up, would I have broken a student who could bloom like this before he even had the chance?

Words couldn't express his pain.

"I'm sorry for not believing in you."

"Teacher."

"......"

"Thank you."

"......What?"

Jeong Byung-gwon looked up. Kang Seok, who was looking at him, was smiling.

"Thank you for coming today and for bringing the bouquet."

Kang Seok held no grudge against Jeong Byung-gwon.

He understood the feelings behind his words. If it weren't for the mysterious event that happened that day, if he hadn't recalled his previous life, he would have given up on art.

He had no money, no talent, and no strength to keep trying.

Before he started hating art, Jeong Byung-gwon had only told him that what he could do well and what he liked could be different. If he hadn't pretended not to see his parents' struggles and spent all their money to go to art school, would he have been happy?

Even if he had eventually returned to art, he might have regretted not going to art school at that time.

"Thank you."

A teacher is not a calling but a profession. Yet, it was deeply moving to have a teacher who genuinely cared about a student's life and gave sincere advice.

Kang Seok was grateful to Jeong Byung-gwon, who had treated him like an older brother when no one else cared.

"Please have a good new semester."

Jeong Byung-gwon was one of the people who had supported Kang Seok's dream of becoming a sculptor since he was young. To Kang Seok, who was a high school student, Jeong Byung-gwon was a truly great sculptor.

Kang Seok extended his hand.

"Teacher."

Jeong Byung-gwon slowly took his hand.

"Sure. Let's do our best."

A long winter had ended, and a new spring was approaching.

* * * *

"Wouldn't it be safer to install another glass wall?"

Looking at fixed on the podium, Kim Yun-seo had a worried expression.

Despite the podium being wide enough that a 170cm adult couldn't reach the glass peony, Kim Yun-seo still looked uneasy.

"Now dust will accumulate. How will we clean it? If it breaks while cleaning...! Director, shouldn't we put it in a fully enclosed glass case now?"

Seol Ye-jin twirled a candy and smiled.

'When she said Mr. Kang Seok would visit the gallery for a mural contract, she had a rather indifferent expression.'

It was surprising to see her standing anxiously in front of the glass sculpture since the opening of Go Doo-han's solo exhibition. It made her realize the power of Kang Seok's work.

Seol Ye-jin swallowed the saliva that was sweetening from the strawberry-flavored candy.

"Yun-seo."

"Yes?"

"Should we start the exterior renovation?"

"Renovation?"

Kim Yun-seo blinked. Is this really Seol Ye-jin, who was talking to me? Where is the Seol Ye-jin who was always concerned about the budget and urged employees to be frugal?

"Let's create enough space on the exterior to place and cover the ceiling with glass. With the glass walls on all sides, the surface will shimmer in various colors as the light changes, wouldn't that be beautiful?"

Crunch. Seol Ye-jin bit the candy in ecstasy.

"That's not a bad idea."

Upon hearing it, it didn't sound like a bad idea. Kim Yun-seo started to calculate in her mind. With a generous budget, the renovation seemed feasible. She could start it as soon as the solo exhibition ended.

As she thought about preparing the budget, a phrase from a contract flashed through her mind.

"......By the way, Director."

"Yes?"

"We agreed to pay 20 million won plus an additional amount for Mr. Kang to create the mural, right?"

"Yes."

"How do you plan to pay for it?"

"Oh, that."

Seol Ye-jin stuck the candy on her finger. Her lips, resembling a peony, moved.

At that moment,

"Is this Seol Ye-jin, the director of Peony Gallery?"

A low voice from a man cut through the air between Seol Ye-jin and Kim Yun-seo. They both turned their heads almost simultaneously.

"Oh. Secretary Ryu Su-hun."

A familiar face.

Ryu Su-hun, a 4th-grade secretary in the Cultural Arts Division of the Ministry of Culture, Sports, and Tourism, was a busy man involved in many government-supported cultural projects.

I knew Go Doo-han said he would come today, but why is he looking for me? Seol Ye-jin's head tilted with curiosity.

Ryu Su-hun easily brushed off the uncomfortable gaze that might have seemed like an investigation with a smile. His sharp eyes, hidden behind his glasses, glinted.

"Since I can't see Mr. Go Doo-han, I wanted to ask if you could introduce me to Kang Seok, the artist who created . Do you know where Mr. Go Doo-han is?"

"Mr. Go Doo-han...?"

Seol Ye-jin turned her head, trying to find Go Doo-han. However, since she was near the inner wall of the entrance, she could only see the entrance.

"Wait a moment."

My teacher wouldn't just disappear. As Seol Ye-jin took a step toward the entrance, Kim Yun-seo's whisper reached her ear.

'He's probably walking around the back of the gallery.'

'......Mr. Go Doo-han? Why?'

'Because so many people are asking him to make sculptures for them, he's taking them there to cool off and clear their heads.'

Truly, that's something Go Doo-han would do. Seol Ye-jin looked at Kim Yun-seo with a cold gaze, wondering how she knew.

'You've been there too?'

"I was dragged there unwillingly."

"Huh?"

Hearing Kim Yun-seo's excuse, Ryu Su-hun looked at Seol Ye-jin, wondering what she meant. Seol Ye-jin snapped back to reality and shook her head. Her usual smooth business smile was on her face.

"No, you said you were looking for Mr. Go Doo-han?"

"Ah, yes."

"If he's not in the exhibition hall, he's probably in the backyard. He should be there."

"Ah."

Ryu Su-hun's sharp eyes turned to Kim Yun-seo, who seemed to have tipped off Seol Ye-jin. He slightly bowed and turned to leave, then looked back at Seol Ye-jin.

"I have one more question."

"Sure."

"I heard this is made of glass. Is that correct?"

Ryu Su-hun looked at Seol Ye-jin, as if he was going to ask just in case, even though he already knew the answer. Seol Ye-jin's lips curled up like a flower petal.

"Yes."

"Really?"

Ryu Su-hun's voice wavered for the first time. Seol Ye-jin was pulling the candy like crazy.

"Isn't it just like the real thing? But when the light comes in, you'll definitely know. It's a glass peony, made by the artist himself."

"The artist... Who is the artist who made this glass sculpture? If possible, I'd like to meet the artist who created this work. Is that possible?"

He seemed more urgent than when he asked to meet the artist of .

Seol Ye-jin's eyes narrowed.

"Introduce...?"

Why is he looking for him? Seol Ye-jin's guard went up.

Kang Seok would make his own judgment, but she couldn't help but be cautious. She scrutinized Ryu Su-hun as if protecting her own child.

Now that she looked, Ryu Su-hun was holding some documents in his other hand. Seol Ye-jin's eyes quickly scanned the documents.

Though they were partially hidden by his hand, she could clearly read the word [Yongshin Land].

'Yongshin Land