Chapter 92

92

* * * *

October 13, 1494.

Among the contents of the letter Amadeo wrote to his younger brother Hadrianus, there is this passage:

"The sculptor Michelangelo, who worked in the garden, left for Venice without saying a word to Pietro."

* * * *

Resale.

The act of buying limited edition or time-limited collaboration products that are in high demand and then reselling them at a higher price. This is what resale is.

While clothing and sneakers are often the targets of resale, a wide variety of products can be included. Unlike typical second-hand transactions, items that increase in value, such as limited edition goods or fountain pens, can also fall into this category.

In any case, people who buy these items and professionally resell them are called resellers.

Recently, resale has become a form of financial management for young people. Because when resold, it can yield a significant profit, sometimes even tens of times the original price, the MZ generation has named this "resale tech."

And Han Jae-woong, who was waiting in line in front of Kang Seok's booth at Art Basel Miami Beach, was also a reseller.

'What to do... '

He had heard that Kang Seok, who was popular in Korea, was participating in the art fair while on a trip to Miami. With a light heart, he decided to stop by and see.

Then he learned that Kang Seok was selling 100 limited-edition shimmer pearl ink and handmade glass dip pens.

Until he found out... until he got his turn to reserve a spot at the kiosk... Han Jae-woong thought he had hit the jackpot as a reseller.

Kang Seok's products were hard to come by, and even if you could buy them, they were often too expensive.

In such a situation, the shimmer pearl ink and handmade glass dip pens, which were not cheap but were made by Kang Seok and were limited editions, were a surefire hit.

So Han Jae-woong was initially thrilled.

'...Initially.'

Han Jae-woong's face, waiting impatiently for his turn, was contorted. Or rather, it was close to a frown.

The reason was simple.

His desire to resell Kang Seok's goods was gradually fading. For Han Jae-woong, who had never experienced this as a professional reseller, it was frustrating to the point of madness.

"(Would you like to put a dot here?)"

"(A dot, huh. Hehe. Yes, I should. I plan to draw a very, very big dot.)"

"(I'm looking forward to it.)"

"(Me too.)"

Han Jae-woong sighed deeply as he watched Kang Seok, who was now quite fluent in English, serving the customers. He couldn't understand why he was feeling this way.

How much profit could he make without even opening the ink bottle or using the dip pen, yet why was his heart racing at the thought of using them?

'I'm not a kid... Ah, really.'

The line kept moving. Why did the time seem to pass so quickly? As he thought this, Han Jae-woong turned his head.

He noticed the surroundings.

Most people were anxiously waiting for their turn, but not everyone was.

Some were checking their current position and then looking at the artworks again or going to the bathroom. Among them, he saw people with the same anxious faces, watching the kiosks.

Though few, Han Jae-woong felt he could recognize them without introductions.

'They're resellers like me.'

Even though the sale had only started a day ago, resellers had already gathered, mostly Koreans.

'They must be struggling like me.'

It was clear.

Without even talking to them, he could feel their shared mental state vividly.

...If they decided not to resell, the resellers who did would make even more profit.

He wanted to be the one who made the most profit... but was it really possible? Han Jae-woong couldn't hide his anxious expression as he looked at the people. It felt like looking in a mirror.

Then,

"(Next customer.)"

Kang Seok's calm voice and the vibration of his phone. Han Jae-woong fumbled for his phone in his pocket.

It was his turn.

Looking at Kang Seok, who was calmly waiting for the next customer, Han Jae-woong slowly approached.

Forget it. I'll just buy it first. He made a rough decision and sat down in front of Kang Seok.

.

.

.

It shouldn't have been like this.

Han Jae-woong stared at the drying painting, lost in thought.

On the white surface of the postcard, the sea he loved the most was painted. The sea, which had swallowed the sunset, was flowing beautifully and calmly.

I painted this?

Han Jae-woong looked at the sea in amazement.

He had always thought he had no talent for painting... but looking at it now, maybe he just hadn't invested in it. Perhaps he had a good sense for it. No, he was sure. He had a talent for painting.

Maybe I should collect some ink.

Even if it's not for painting, it could be good for writing diaries or essays... and now that I think about it, there are many limited edition fountain pens coming out these days... maybe I should buy one?

As he thought about these things, his hand tightened on the drying painting.

In his hand, a blue glass dip pen and ink, his favorite color, were held.

If he had planned to resell, he would have chosen a red color that matched the overall color of the sunset in Florence.

Ah.

It's over.

Why did I choose blue?

Kang Seok's goods were limited to one purchase per person.

Buying multiple items at once was not allowed, nor was buying again, and exchanges were not allowed. He should have changed to a red color before the payment... but he couldn't bring himself to speak.

Honestly, he wanted the blue.

Han Jae-woong quickly tried to rationalize his decision.

Right.

Thinking about it, do resellers really need to resell every piece of art they find while on a trip? Reselling is just a side job, not a lifelong career. It's too dedicated to think of it that way. Right. Today, I'll just buy it for personal use and resell other products. Like... the custom sneakers that came out in collaboration with a celebrity. Yes.

That's what I'll do.

The moment Han Jae-woong made his decision, Kang Seok looked up and asked,

"I'll explain the price. The set price is a minimum of $397, which is about 520,000 KRW. You can pay freely from a minimum of $397 with no upper limit. You can pay including the experience fee you just had."

As Han Jae-woong listened to Kang Seok's explanation, he thought.

This was the first time meeting in person, but his bright reddish-brown eyes were quite unique. They would stay in his memory for a long time, like looking at an old red tree. Ah, this isn't the time.

Han Jae-woong nodded at Kang Seok, who was looking at him intently.

"Okay, I understand."

"Yes, here's the paper."

Kang Seok pushed the price range on the authenticity certificate and contract, as if asking him to write the amount himself.

It seemed like Kang Seok was telling him to write whatever he wanted, as he closed the ink pen cap and turned his gaze away.

Han Jae-woong slowly extended his hand.

In his hand was a non-sale dip pen with ink still in it.

He pulled the paper to his side.

Han Jae-woong had been watching everyone listen to this explanation in English or Korean, or through translation apps.

Watching this, Han Jae-woong thought, 'It's strange. It's obviously 520,000 KRW. What else is there to pay?' He had intended to pay 520,000 KRW.

But... he didn't know.

Han Jae-woong's fingers moved freely on the paper.

'I don't know why I'm doing this, really.'

Like a person who goes to buy a stroller and ends up paying for the best high-end stroller for their child, feeling hypnotized.

Han Jae-woong boldly wrote $1,588.

It was 2,080,000 KRW in Korean currency.

Kang Seok, with a considerate expression, calculated the amount and packed the ink and dip pen in a luxurious paper shopping bag from Bloom.

Han Jae-woong bowed repeatedly and left the booth.

Walking forward like a person under a spell, Han Jae-woong was certain.

Resale? Reselling?

No one could do it. No one would step forward to sell this product. It was almost a prophetic intuition.

"(Next customer.)"

Watching Kang Seok, who was surrounded by people and calling the next customer with a blank expression, Han Jae-woong realized belatedly.

'Ah, I should have asked for an autograph.'

Han Jae-woong, who had missed out on a surefire item, rubbed his burning ears and thought, 'Miami is hotter than Korea.' He clutched the postcard.

For some reason, he felt a new hobby was about to start.

* * * *

"Then I'll go."

Late afternoon.

The sun was setting over Miami Beach, and the nearby buildings were starting to light up with neon.

Kang Seok stood up from the empty booth.

In his hand was a paper shopping bag containing a few non-sale ink bottles and glass dip pens. There were no ink or dip pens for sale anywhere.

In other words, he had sold all the goods on the first day of the art fair.

Jin Doo-wook and Jin Yumi looked at the empty booth with a strangely wistful gaze, thinking about the visitors who would no longer repeatedly visit the Bloom booth to see the goods from the next day.

"Um... what's your schedule from now on? Should I take you to your accommodation?"

"Ah, can you take me to the studio instead of the accommodation?"

The studio.

Here, the studio refers to the white building that Kang Seok bought from Simone Casani, not the temporary studio that Bloom provided.

Jin Yumi quickly nodded.

It was rare for an artist to walk around the art fair booth unless they were participating individually.

Kang Seok had no intention of selling his artworks, but he had even sold the goods... from Bloom's perspective, he had contributed to the booth's success.

'I can't be embarrassed to say I want to open a goods shop inside the fresco building if I just keep benefiting like this.'

With the thought that she needed to help in some way, Jin Yumi snatched the car keys from Jin Doo-wook and led Kang Seok to the parking lot.

Gallery officials who had witnessed the miraculous success of the Bloom booth watched Kang Seok with shining eyes as he walked through the long, fishbone-like exhibition hall, drawing people's gazes.

Kang Seok's lips curled up, unnoticed by anyone, as if he had turned the exhibition hall into a fashion show runway.

It was a very satisfying debut at the art fair.

.

.

.

Time passed quickly.

Kang Seok's performance at Art Basel Miami Beach resulted in a few internet articles.

Although there were only a few due to the limited public interest in the Korean art market, it was a significant issue in the narrow domestic art industry.

By the fourth day,

Bloom Museum successfully achieved its goal of being selected as one of the top 10 booths at Art Basel Miami Beach.

The global art platform Artsy mentioned the Bloom booth as one of the top 10 booths in the gallery session, emphasizing that Kang Seok was the key to the booth's success.

This meant that Artsy, one of the largest art platforms, recognized Kang Seok's performance. Jin Yumi, reading the news, smiled broadly and turned her head.

"Artist! An article has been posted, and it mentions you!"

Blue sky.

Warm sunlight.

Cool breeze.

Gently fluttering hair.

Jin Yumi, wearing a white dress suitable for the beach, walked forward with her phone in hand. Her wooden platform shoes made a thumping sound.

Jin Yumi, holding the thick white pillar with her hand, turned half a circle and climbed the stairs. Inside the building, the cool air from the stone structure and the bright greenery in the warm sunlight dominated the view.

Bluer than the sky, cooler than the sea, the blue spread across the building's floor.

Even though it was a familiar scene, her heart raced every time she passed through this door. The beautiful blue materials reminded her of the sea.

More blue and fresh than the Miami Beach outside, Jin Yumi couldn't leave the area near this building even on the last day of her vacation.

...But where is