Chapter 147
Chapter 147
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 147
Chapter Title: Jessica's Admiration for Hyorin
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Hyorin's appearance had turned the atmosphere 180 degrees.
Where on earth had she been all this time?
I was dying to know, but there was no way I could ask in this situation.
Even if I did, it wasn't like Hyorin would open up about it.
"How about the two of us grab a cup of coffee?"
Not content to just send her on her way, her suggestion of coffee had both me and Jungeun Park staring wide-eyed.
I knew I had to put a stop to it.
But before I could, Jessica beat me to it.
"I was hoping for a chance to meet you anyway. Perfect timing. Let's do coffee."
What the hell was going on here?
I couldn't make sense of it at all.
"Then I'll be right back."
"Uh, uh, okay..."
With that, Hyorin strode off toward the inner waiting room with Jessica.
As I watched her go, my eyes brimming with questions...
'Huh?'
One thing caught my eye.
It was Hyorin's bag, slung over her arm.
'Ah, so she didn't actually go outside...'
It seemed Hyorin hadn't stormed out in shock after overhearing that conversation.
The bag meant she'd already met with the director.
It made far more sense that she'd been in the director's office from the start, rather than going out and running into her on the way back.
'I need to ask Director Go.'
There weren't many guests left anyway.
I was thinking that as I prepared to greet the next customer...
Click.
"Kanghyeok."
Speak of the devil.
Director Go Yunmi approached from the side and spoke to me.
"Come to my office once you're done greeting the guests."
"Yes."
I'd been planning to seek her out anyway, but for her to come find me first stirred up even more questions.
What could she possibly want with me?
My gut told me it had everything to do with the Hyorin situation.
I nodded at her words.
"Ah, got it."
"Then at least give your all to the gracious folks who bought your paintings."
"Yes."
She left those words hanging heavily in the air as she walked away.
Staring at her retreating figure...
Gulp.
'Am I... in for a scolding?'
An inexplicable wave of anxiety washed over me.
Knock knock.
"Come in."
Once I'd finished greeting all the guests, I headed straight for Director Go.
Part of me wanted to chase after Hyorin, who'd gone off for coffee with Jessica.
But if Hyorin had been in the director's office, there had to be a good reason for her summoning me instead.
Click.
I opened the door and found Director Go still sipping her tea.
'Does she ever stop drinking that tea?'
Maybe it was because Hyorin was back, but she seemed a little relieved.
That must be why idle thoughts like this were crossing my mind.
"You look pretty relaxed."
At her remark, I narrowed my eyes and replied.
"You're too much, Director. How could you pretend not to know when you knew I was looking for you?"
"Surprising. I figured you'd stay clueless right up to the end."
"I knew the second I saw the bag."
She nodded nonchalantly, as if it were nothing, and gestured to the chair opposite her.
"Sit."
"Yes."
I let my expression soften and took a seat across from her.
She set down her teacup and spoke.
"I was going to tell you, but Hyorin talked me out of it."
"Yes? Hyorin talked you out of it?"
"Yeah. Said it was outrageous."
Outrageous...? No, wasn't this situation unfair enough to me already?
I hadn't intended any of it.
Jessica's sudden confession to me, and Hyorin just happening to overhear it—pure bad luck.
But the world doesn't always bend to our will.
Some things were just unavoidable acts of force majeure.
"So that's why you called me in..."
"Yeah. She insisted you'd follow her for sure and begged me to run interference."
You're telling me Hyorin was the one who could make that kind of request to the director?
Something I'd never dream of asking—and yet she'd pulled it off effortlessly.
And for Director Go to actually go along with it was just as astonishing.
"So, what did you two talk about in there?"
"What did we talk about?"
'Huh?'
Her reaction to my question was nothing like what I'd expected.
She seemed unsure where to direct her gaze, like she was gauging my reaction.
"Nothing much."
Nothing much, huh...
She wouldn't be acting this way if there hadn't been some real conversation.
"By any chance... did you ask her when we're planning to have a baby?"
Her eyes twitched at my bullseye guess.
But she quickly regained her composure, settling back into that relaxed expression.
"We talked about herbal medicine. It came up naturally in that context, so she probably didn't take it too badly."
So she had asked, after all.
Heh.
Maybe it was because I knew her personality so well, but I couldn't help chuckling.
Anyone would mistake her for a real mother-in-law.
The kind who tiptoes around her daughter-in-law.
'Might not be so bad.'
I felt even more grateful toward her.
"Thank you."
"For what?"
"For everything. I have no idea when I'll be able to repay you for all this."
She rested her chin on her hand and said.
"Just keep painting your heart out. Your success is repayment enough."
Well, the more famous I got, the higher the value of the paintings she owned—so she wasn't wrong.
But I sensed her words carried a deeper meaning.
"Buy Hyorin all the nice things she deserves, and be parents your future kids can be proud of. Showing you two living happily—that alone would be more than enough."
Not about the paintings' value, but succeeding for the sake of our happiness.
It was like something out of a dream.
I smiled without realizing it.
"Got it. I'll do my best to live happily."
Nod.
Satisfied with my firm answer, she picked up her teacup again.
"Now go on. Your chat with her should be wrapping up about now."
"Ah, yes. On my way."
I'd been worrying about it nonstop anyway.
I stood right up and gave her a quick bow.
"Then I'll bring Hyorin back with me."
"Sure."
Click.
With a quick farewell, I hurried out of her office and made a beeline for the waiting room where the two had headed.
But...
Drip.
I hadn't even reached it yet when I spotted them emerging.
Hyorin approached with a smile and said to me.
As if nothing at all had happened.
"You worked hard again today."
I glanced over, and Jessica asked me.
"Judging by your face, seems like you remember who I am."
"Haha... Yeah, kinda."
My memories from back then weren't crystal clear, but I did recall leaving the gallery right after talking with Hyorin.
That explained why I hadn't recognized her at first glance.
"But I never imagined we'd run into each other here. Guess it's fate."
Her bold smile was just like back then, so I returned a grin of my own.
Water under the bridge—and over six years ago, at that.
No point dredging it up now.
"Yeah. Nice to see you again."
"You're actually glad? What an honor."
An honor, even.
"By the way, back then I bought your work out of sheer spite, but I've always thought of it as a stroke of luck. I snag a ton of pieces for gifts with my wide network, but yours is the only one I've kept to this day."
"Yes."
"Maybe because it has a story behind it. Pretty sentimental, too."
Her mention of a "story" had cold sweat beading on my brow.
"Hoho, just kidding."
At that, Daeun suddenly grabbed my arm.
Squeeze.
Jessica caught sight of it and averted her gaze before asking.
"What, scared auntie here's gonna steal your daddy?"
Wh-what did she just...
But was there some kind of girl code at work here?
Nod, nod.
Daeun kept peeking at Jessica while nodding vigorously.
"Hoho, I get it, but no need to worry that much. Auntie's got a super handsome husband of her own. And a daughter just two years younger than you."
Only then did Daeun finally drop her guard toward Jessica.
I couldn't help being a little shocked.
'No way she really sensed it on instinct.'
It was impressive, but I was even more surprised by Jessica's revelation that she was married.
"You're married?"
"Yep, three years now."
"Three years ago?"
"Why? Shocked?"
A bit, sure—but nothing all that extraordinary.
"Congrats—better late than never."
"Wow, never dreamed I'd get wedding wishes from the artist himself. Thanks."
She beamed brightly as she continued.
"Bit off-topic, but after getting married, that person from back then seems even more amazing."
Daeun piped up at the mention of "that person."
"Mommy?"
"Right—the princess's mommy I was talking about."
"Why's Mommy so great?"
I was curious about that myself.
What made Hyorin seem so impressive after marriage?
"Curious?"
"Yeah, super curious."
"Hmm, nothing huge, but here's why your mommy's so great: I could never have handled it like she did."
"Auntie couldn't?"
I wondered if Daeun could follow without the full backstory.
But maybe because it was praise for Hyorin, her face lit up brighter than ever.
"Yep, auntie never could've."
Jessica turned to me as she said it.
"Right, artist?"
Uh, well... Truth was, I hadn't gotten the full scoop from Hyorin on what they'd discussed that day.
I'd asked out of curiosity, but she'd just smiled and dodged a proper answer.
Catching my hesitation, Jessica tilted her head.
"No way—you still don't know what went down that day?"
It was kinda funny, but...
Nod.
"Yeah, she never told me."
Jessica just let out a defeated laugh at my response.
"I had a feeling..."
What on earth had they talked about in there to get this reaction from her?
Her follow-up only deepened the mystery.
"I figured she'd definitely tell you my side of things, but nope... not this time either."
Had something really happened that day?
I couldn't hold back my curiosity any longer.
"Uh, just out of curiosity—what exactly went down?"
Jessica laughed as she replied.
"That day, when we went in for coffee..."
"Yeah? Was it something bad?"
"Quite the opposite."
"What?"
"I told you—if it were me in that situation, I could've never done what she did."
Her story only fueled my curiosity further.
"She might just be the coolest person I've ever met. I can say that with confidence."
What followed was pretty shocking to me.
'Such a thing happened?'
I'd been completely oblivious to it all.