Chapter 52

"Have you had a chance to talk about it?"

"Yes, I contacted both Sotheby's and Christie's."

Oh, good job for being so quick.

And your buttery pronunciation is great.

But, how did it go?

"Well, both companies did express some doubts about the provenance of the work and the identity of the consignor."

Oh...

I guess it's hard to believe.

Who would believe that I bought a piece of porcelain, the first ever made in Europe, for 730,000 won at Namdaemun in Korea?

"However, they showed considerable interest in the photos and descriptions you sent."

"Oh, that's a relief."

Yeah! You have no idea how much trouble I went through to get that and take photos!

"The key issue is the possibility of it being a forgery. They said that an authentication is necessary first."

It's not a forgery!

Because I saw the false mark being drawn on the description 'the first in Europe'!

...But I held my tongue.

"But if it's not a forgery."

If not?

"It can be put up for auction. They said there are no records of ownership, proof of possession, or inheritance. I also checked the international list of stolen artworks, but there's nothing."

"So... it can be put up for auction?"

"Yes, at the moment, there's nothing to criticize."

Yes! That's right!

I clenched my fist under the table.

"However, the representatives from both companies seemed skeptical. They asked how such an item could be in the Far East."

"But do you believe it, Mr. Attorney?"

"Of course. I wouldn't have taken the case if I didn't."

His eyes were full of confidence.

"There was a Chinese porcelain vase that sold for $9 million, which was used as a flower vase in a European farmhouse. Whether or not the circumstances are true, there's no law that says such a piece can't be in our country. And... "

And?

"Christie's seemed quite eager for the fast track."

"Really? Why is that?"

"They have an upcoming auction for Chinese/Asian decorative arts, and they probably think it lacks something."

"Ah, I see."

[ It's a matter for the consignor to decide. ]

"Let's go with the fast track."

[ Understood. I'll inform Christie's and coordinate the schedule. ]

Hearing Kim Gwetae's weighty words, my heart started to race.

'Oh... '

I remembered the day when Coco flew around Namdaemun like a crazy beetle.

Thanks to her, I never imagined I'd end up at a world-renowned auction house, let alone put something up for auction.

Really, Coco.

I love you.

Ah, but.

"Mr. Attorney, are we going overseas?"

[ Usually, Asian artworks are auctioned in Hong Kong, but the fast track they proposed is for the New York auction. ]

"Wow, New York?"

Even my first trip abroad would be to New York.

Oh, I'm so excited! If I weren't on the phone, I would have wanted to play the song 'New York, New York' right away.

[ Yes, the New York branch. ]

"But, Mr. Attorney."

[ Yes. ]

It's a bit embarrassing, but I have to say it.

"......I don't have a passport."

[ ...... ]

"I'll apply for one tomorrow, so please consider that when setting the schedule."

[ ......Yes, that's an unexpected variable. I'll do my best to adjust. ]

"Thank you! I appreciate your hard work until this late hour. Please keep in touch!"

Oh, I feel like I've had enough sleep today.

Booking a flight ticket is something new to me.

But I did it when we opened the Seogwipo branch...

'Gee, should I just go first class?'

I saw on YouTube that it's really amazing.

Almost like a hotel room.

No, I need to clear 'Wealth' too.

Let's not get ahead of ourselves.

There's a chance it won't sell and will be returned.

'But what's the next level down, anyway? I should at least go for that, right? The lawyer has worked hard too.'

I accessed the flight booking website.

And immediately fell into a panic.

'Why are there three airports in New York?'

*

The bus in the early morning.

People nodding off.

Whoosh─

Suddenly, the bus door opened, and a few of them jerked awake before nodding off again. Choi Pil-su calmly greeted the bus driver.

"Thank you."

He walked off the bus leisurely.

When he reached the alleyway that jutted out from the main road and arrived at the villa complex.

"Hmm."

It was 6:27 AM.

Although he had worked late preparing materials yesterday, he arrived even earlier than usual.

'There's a photo shoot today, huh. Hehe, indeed.'

The events at Amuse were unfamiliar to him.

When he worked in France, at Yondu, everything was already in place.

The concept of a grand opening and publicity didn't fit a world-renowned brand or a world-renowned patisserie.

Perhaps that's why.

Choi Pil-su had recently been feeling a new kind of joy.

A sense of growth.

Under the quietly breathing earth.

Tiny sprouts were emerging, and the green stems that sprouted from them were gradually growing taller every day.

'Hehe.'

Choi Pil-su thought this might be what youth feels like, and that's why it's so interesting.

As he turned the corner, Amuse came into view.

The small café was already lit up, and the person who had planted the first seed in that empty spot was waiting for him.

"Mr. Pil-su, good morning!"

"Oh, good morning."

"But why are you here so early? You worked late yesterday."

"Hehe, the boss is even earlier, isn't he?"

"Sometimes it happens. Ah, and don't wear your uniform until the photo shoot starts. You look great as you are."

"Yes, I will."

There was no need to change into a uniform, so Choi Pil-su went straight to the kitchen to check the dough conditioner.

'......Good.'

The dough, which had fermented overnight after freezing and thawing, looked plump and satisfying.

Like children he had raised with his own hands.

Then he recalled the time when they first bought the equipment.

The kitchen area wasn't very large, so he thought it might be difficult to get a dough conditioner.

However.

[ Without this, you'll have to work several times harder. Or the quality will drop. Just get it. You can remove one table, ha ha. ]

The young boss had even expanded the kitchen space to provide the minimum necessary equipment.

He was always grateful.

From the moment he received the call about passing the document screening to the interview.

And from the grand opening preparations to the first few days of business after the opening.

At the same time, he was also an unpredictable person.

His usual words and actions were like that.

He said he was living in a studio apartment while running two stores, and that he had been a company employee just a few months ago.

'But he's reliable.'

Especially on the first day of the grand opening, customers flooded in beyond imagination, and the young boss controlled the entire store and led the charge.

This morning was no different.

While making the food for the photo shoot, he watched the boss bustling around the café.

When the photographer arrived, the boss moved faster than anyone else.

"Are you Ms. Lee Ji-hye?"

"Yes, hello, I'm Lee Ji-hye."

"Great. We can do introductions and chat over breakfast later. I'll treat you to the best thing in our store!"

"Ah, yes."

"Since we don't have much time before the opening, let's start the shoot right away. I have some spots reserved, so I'll show you. Please choose boldly and proceed."

The shoot began immediately.

The boss's mouth didn't stop.

He talked about the café concept, where the natural light came in, and how popular places on Instagram were photographed.

The photographer listened and caught on quickly.

"That's great. How about hanging a little duck boat prop and taking a wide shot of that area? And for the product, can you use partial side lighting? I'll show you right away."

Did she go to a photography school or something? Choi Pil-su shook his head and watched.

Soon, he became the main subject of the brand cut.

"Mr. Pil-su and Ms. Su-jung really fit our café concept. Please capture the atmosphere well!"

"I think it will turn out great. Let's start with a smiling shot of both of you, and then we'll take some natural working shots."

Click─

Click, click─

"Mr. Pil-su, can you be a bit more natural?"

"Oh, it's embarrassing to be a model at my age."

"No, just act naturally, and it will be the best!"

"Hehe, yes."

Choi Pil-su controlled his mind.

'......This is growth. This is the process of growth.'

The photographer kept exclaiming in admiration as she continued shooting.

"You two fit so well. You're both amazing."

She didn't hold back her praise for Choi Pil-su's fashion sense.

"But Mr. Pil-su, is this right? The color and style are so excellent that every shot is an A-shot. Who did your styling today?"

The boss answered for him.

"He always dresses like this. He's our café fashion king."

"Wow......"

The photographer lowered her camera for a moment and gave a thumbs up, and Choi Pil-su felt both embarrassed and elated.

"Now, it's the boss's turn."

Next was the boss's turn.

He went inside the café bar and posed skillfully.

Click─

Click, click─

"Wow, this is it. Your expression is perfect. I'll take one more."

Choi Pil-su watched Shin Yu-won's shoot with a proud heart, as if watching his grown son.

"Done, good job."

"Good job!"

The shoot ended quickly, and the boss and the photographer looked through the camera screen together.

"All the shots turned out great. The staff and the boss look amazing."

"Hehe, no, not really."

"The boss really lived up to the hype, didn't he?"

"......What did Chae-yeon say?"

"Haha, no, forget it."

"Ah, Mr. Pil-su and Ms. Su-jung, come and take a look. They really turned out well."

Choi Pil-su reluctantly approached and looked at the photos on the screen.

'Hehe......'

There were young people in the photos.

Amuse was like that, and so was he.

'......'

He didn't like how his eyes welled up at trivial things, so he turned to the kitchen.

He planned to make the first coffee and the first dessert of the day as beautifully as possible.

*

"Then, please come in. Ms. Lee, you did a great job today!"

"No, I enjoyed the delicious food. But, boss, can I come back for another shoot? The atmosphere here is really great."

"Really? There's no reason to refuse! Come anytime."

"Haha, yes. Please come in."

"Yes, come in carefully!"