Chapter 105
Chapter 105
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 105
Chapter Title: My Daughter Is a Genius Painter
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President Jeong gazed at the paintings they'd just created, smiling broadly.
With a truly happy expression on her face.
"Every single one of these pieces... just looking at them makes me feel pure bliss."
The happiness brought by rest and leisure.
The happiness of a genuine smile.
The happiness from family and the happiness from dreams.
President Jeong made a proposal to the group about these works, which felt like a collective embodiment of all happiness.
"That's why I think these paintings only truly mean something when they're together."
All happiness only gains meaning when it's together.
At President Jeong's persuasive words, people exchanged awkward smiles while glancing at each other.
"Hmm, I'm fine with it. The popular vote was a tie anyway."
"Me too! Having my work displayed in a department store—what could be more exciting?"
Ms. Erina and Aram Go gave their permission. Now it was just me and Daeun left.
That's when Daeun spoke up.
"Daddy! What are you gonna do, Daddy?"
"Daddy."
"Yeah!"
Was she curious about my thoughts?
I paused for a moment at her question, then replied.
"Hmm, well, Daddy thinks..."
Everyone stared right through me.
I scanned their faces one by one, then smiled and said,
"It's perfect!"
"Ah! What?!"
Daeun burst into playful laughter, her tension melting away.
"Daddy loves doing it together with Daeun."
Honestly, since my painting and Daeun's were so similar, someone had suggested excluding mine from the exhibit. But that felt like it would dilute the meaning we'd just created.
And with this, I didn't want to shatter the happiness we'd all shared.
So now, only Daeun was left.
I turned to her and asked,
"Then what about you, Daeun? Do you want our paintings in the Daeun exhibit together?"
After all, no matter what anyone said, Daeun was the star of this exhibition.
At my question, she answered without a hint of hesitation.
"Yeah! Daeun wants all of them displayed!"
President Jeong, who had been anxiously awaiting her response, lit up with joy.
"Alright! With that, it's decided—all these works will be in the Daeun exhibition! Ugh! How happy am I to display all these joy-filled paintings? You all have no idea!"
President Jeong was so thrilled she could barely contain herself.
Seeing this, Ms. Erina looked at her own painting and said,
"I'm really glad I came today. It feels like the passion for my art, which had been fading a bit, is reignited."
A faint smile bloomed on her face, as if she'd gained something from the day.
Bzzz—!
Just then, her bag on the table vibrated, and her phone rang.
"Hmm? Who's calling? I don't have anyone who should be calling."
She'd said earlier that all her schedule was cleared for the day, so it wasn't work-related.
She hurried over to her bag and pulled out her phone. Then she looked straight at me and said,
"Oh, this seems to be a call for Painter Kanghyeok Lee."
"Yes?"
"It's about PD Kim Chan-mi. You asked me to look into her."
The call was from Ms. Erina's manager.
Hmm, the studio suddenly felt crowded.
Besides the two who were originally coming, President Jeong had dropped by unexpectedly, and now one more person had visited our studio.
That person was none other than...
"Oh, good to see you again like this."
It was Park Ki-cheol, Ms. Erina's manager.
"Long time no see. Almost a month, right?"
"We met on the studio filming day, so yeah, about that long. Hope you've been well."
"Haha, yeah, doing great. You too, Manager?"
"Of course."
"Haha."
"Heh heh."
What can I say? There was this subtle awkwardness in my conversation with Manager Park.
And for good reason... When we first met, I'd said I had zero interest in broadcasting, yet here I was, reaching out about a TV producer.
"No need to feel so awkward. I did tell you to contact me anytime if you had questions."
Sensing my discomfort, Manager Park smoothly changed the subject.
"First off, PD Kim Chan-mi is someone with incredibly wide connections in the industry. She's been in broadcasting for ages, and once she sets her mind to something, she makes it happen no matter what."
The details about her personality were surprisingly specific.
Well, a TV producer wields a lot of influence, so it made sense.
If there were any issues with a PD, it could hurt the agency, so they paid close attention even to personal traits.
"But professionally, she's known for being extremely meticulous. She's a bit of a perfectionist, but that's why a lot of people actually like working with her."
Is this what they mean by all praise?
"Oh, and the part you're probably most curious about."
Manager Park looked up and continued.
"PD Kim Chan-mi absolutely adores kids. According to sources, she loves them so much that people joke she became a PD because of it."
That matched what Jungeun Park had told me.
She plans shows involving kids because she loves them so much.
He snapped his notebook shut after that. Then, with a peculiar look, he said to me,
"Rumor has it PD Kim Chan-mi is prepping a new program lately. Something like... Art Psychology Counseling Center? That's why I'm asking—are you planning to appear on it?"
I could see how he'd infer I might appear on her show since I was asking about her, but I was surprised by something else.
'Do rumors spread this fast normally?'
He even knew what program she was preparing.
Well, if he knew her personality in such detail, finding out her next project wouldn't be hard.
At his question, I scratched the side of my head and replied,
"No, nothing like that. I just got an interview request recently and was curious about her, that's all."
I said that, but Manager Park just grinned knowingly.
'Hmm, he doesn't buy it.'
Who'd believe I asked out of nowhere after all that? It was too obvious.
"Sure, of course. But you never know with these things. If you do end up appearing, what are your plans for an agency?"
"An... agency?"
"Yeah. You could go without one, but having one helps with makeup, scheduling, all sorts of things."
I couldn't help but chuckle at that.
Makeup, schedule management, agency—it all sounded so burdensome just hearing it.
If it were before, I'd have brushed it off with a laugh.
But now, I had a goal.
To keep my promise to Daeun.
I needed to become famous.
I glanced at Daeun, who was laughing happily with the others in the distance, and asked,
"In your opinion, Manager, could I become famous if I went on TV?"
"Y-Yes? F-Famous?"
"Yeah. I've got a reason I absolutely have to become famous."
He seemed thrown off by the unexpected question.
But he quickly composed himself and answered earnestly.
"As I mentioned before, Painter Kanghyeok Lee has the most crucial quality for TV."
"Quality?"
At the word "quality," he pointed at my face.
"You're handsome. That's a natural pass."
The face thing again.
"Besides that."
He muttered something like he felt wronged, but soon got to what I really wanted to know.
"You asked if you could become famous."
"Yes."
"Honestly... I'm no god or shaman; I can't just look at someone and say,
'No way you'll make it! You'll be huge!'
But!"
But...
"In some cases, I can be like one. Call it intuition from years as a manager."
So he could spot who would become famous? Right then,
"When I weigh those cases, Painter Kanghyeok Lee—you're guaranteed to make it big."
"G-Guaranteed?"
"Yes. Do you know what has the highest probability among those cases?"
...He wasn't going to bring up my face again, was he?
But his next words left me wide-eyed.
"It's because you're Daeun's father."
In other words, one of the biggest reasons he saw for my fame in his scenarios was...
'Daeun.'
Thanks to Daeun.
Everyone left.
Ms. Erina and Manager Park, who had come to visit; Aram Go and President Jeong, who had stopped by to congratulate us on the studio and got pulled into our discussion.
As they all filed out at once, the studio fell into sudden silence.
'Whew, felt like a storm blew through.'
I was tidying up the now-empty studio when I noticed Daeun standing in the middle.
'Hmm?'
She was staring intently at something.
Wondering what it was, I set down what I was holding and quietly approached her side.
Standing next to her, I could see what she was looking at.
"Look at the pictures."
"Yeah!"
Daeun was happily gazing at the four happiness-themed paintings hanging on one wall.
"Daeun really likes those pictures."
"Really?"
Nod!
Her words sparked a sudden curiosity.
I wondered whose painting she had voted for.
"Daeun, Daddy has one question."
She turned to me and asked,
"What?"
"Did you vote for anyone's painting?"
It was a secret vote, but now that we'd decided to exhibit them all together, maybe I could ask.
At my question, she pouted and said,
"That's cheating! It's a secret!"
'Figured as much.'
I'd hoped, but no dice—Daeun got mad at my question.
"Sorry, sorry. I got curious all of a sudden. You don't have to tell me if it's cheating."
Even as I said that, she put her hands on her hips and glared at me fiercely.
"Aw, come on, I'm sorry. Daddy won't ask anymore."
"Promise? Really not gonna ask?"
Nod.
"Yeah, really. I promise I won't ask!"
Only then did her expression finally soften.
"I'm forgiving you just this once! Got it?"
She flashed a grin.
How could even her anger be so cute?
I nodded vigorously at her forgiveness and said,
"Yeah! Thanks, Daeun."
With that grateful note, I turned back to admire the four works she had been looking at.
'They really are impressive.'
Paintings each conveying different meanings of happiness.
Looking at them naturally warmed my heart.
Maybe that's why Daeun was staring at them too—or so I thought when...
"Daddy!"
"Yeah?"
She suddenly called me, then toddled over to the paintings.
Pok.
She pointed triumphantly at my painting, then scurried inside.
At her antics, I could only chuckle helplessly.
'Haha, what a kid.'
Looks like as long as I didn't ask, it was fine.
Adorably so.
And two days later, the day of my interview with PD Kim Chan-mi arrived swiftly.