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### Chapter 8 Summary – "Why Is That Hyung Here?"
After being admitted as the top-ranked student, Kim Seungho spends several days receiving congratulations from teachers,
classmates, family friends, and acquaintances. Although he smiles and thanks everyone, he can't help remembering that
many of these same people doubted his decision when he abandoned the science gifted school path to pursue art.
One of his classmates, who had always treated him as a rival, continues teasing him. She assumes he'll finally have
plenty of free time before school starts, but Seungho explains that Hanyeong students are just as busy as science gifted
school students. First-year students must learn the fundamentals of every artistic discipline before specializing in
their second year, so he has plenty to prepare.
Even so, Seungho finds himself unable to decide what kind of artwork he should create. His thoughts keep returning to
the first orientation for newly admitted students.
The first orientation is mostly informational. As soon as Seungho arrives, he notices a cheerful girl enthusiastically
filming a vlog outside the school gates. She somehow looks familiar, although he can't remember where he's seen her
before.
During the orientation, the teachers explain the school's curriculum:
* First year focuses on mastering artistic fundamentals.
* Second year centers on specialized creative work.
* Third year is dedicated to university entrance preparation.
After the presentation, students naturally gather with friends from their old schools or art academies. Seungho notices
Lily Carpenter sitting alone in a corner with her hood pulled over her head, avoiding attention. As the only foreign
student, she stands out, but she clearly doesn't want to interact with anyone.
The same girl who had been filming her vlog earlier approaches Lily with a camera and asks if she can appear in her
YouTube video. Lily becomes visibly uncomfortable and looks around for help, but Seungho deliberately looks away, not
wanting to get dragged into the situation.
Soon after, Kang Geunseong excitedly greets Seungho. Remembering Geunseong from his previous life, Seungho recalls how
this cheerful friend would later become exhausted by Hanyeong's demanding workload, making him wonder just how intense
the school really is.
The first-year instructors then introduce themselves. One is Han Somang, who teaches Basic Western Painting and Western
Art History. The other is Mo Dusik, who teaches sculpture. Dusik's unusual name causes the students to laugh until he
jokingly tells them to save their complaints until they actually become his students.
The teachers distribute a list of assignments that students must complete before enrollment, including book reports,
exhibition reviews, sketches, croquis, photographs, and one completely free-form artwork.
When a student asks whether there are any restrictions on that artwork, Han Somang explains that it can be
anything—painting, sculpture, photography, or another medium.
Then comes the surprise.
Several anonymous student works will be selected for a formal critique session during the second orientation. Their
classmates, teachers, and sometimes even outside guests will evaluate them publicly. Everyone immediately realizes how
embarrassing that could become if their work performs poorly.
Han Somang jokingly says that if no one volunteers, the teachers will choose students themselves.
At that moment, she makes direct eye contact with Seungho while smiling.
He instantly understands the message.
As this year's top-ranked student, the teachers already expect him to participate in the critique.
Later, Seungho reflects on the assignment. He isn't afraid of criticism—in fact, he knows every professional artist must
eventually accept public evaluation. His real problem is that he can't think of what to create.
Despite all the ideas in his sketchbook, nothing feels right.
Feeling stuck, he contacts his former private tutor for advice.
When he admits he still hasn't even decided on a concept for the assignment, she laughs at him and says someone who's
already worrying this far in advance clearly hasn't lost his motivation.
She shares her own method for overcoming creative blocks: whenever she can't paint, she visits art exhibitions.
She says that seeing great works inspires her, while seeing terrible ones also motivates her because it makes her think,
"If that's hanging in a gallery, I can definitely do better."
Then she makes a suggestion.
A fellow artist she knows is participating in a group exhibition and has extra invitation tickets. Since Seungho also
has an exhibition review assignment to complete, she offers him one.
He gladly accepts.
However, after opening the exhibition information and reading the list of participating artists, Seungho is completely
stunned.
Looking at one particular name, he blurts out in disbelief:
"Why is that hyung here?"
The chapter ends on that cliffhanger, teasing an unexpected reunion with someone Seungho knew in his previous life.