Chapter 169
Chapter 169
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 169
Chapter Title: A Chance Lunch with Painter Hwang In-su
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I was led by the hand into the school cafeteria by Hyorin.
Even though it was still early, there were already a ton of students there.
"What do you want to eat? Tonkatsu?"
But even to that question, Hyorin kept staring toward the back.
So I asked again.
"What do you want to eat?"
"Yeah, I'll have the daily special."
"Got it."
With that, I quickly paid for two daily specials.
That was when Hyorin finally looked at me and said,
"If you're done paying, let's hurry inside."
'Good grief.'
Unless you were an idiot, you could tell exactly why Hyorin was acting this way.
It was because of Painter Hwang In-su, who was waiting for his food inside the cafeteria with the professor.
Sure, if you got to see your idol up close, anyone might react like this.
But something felt off.
"Want to go say hi?"
Whoosh!
"What!"
What was with the over-the-top reaction?
Seeing Hyorin's response, I asked again with a smile.
"Let's go say hi. Hyorin, you like Painter Hwang In-su, right?"
But at my words, Hyorin got super flustered and started rambling.
"Ah, no way. Th-that would be a bother."
"A bother?"
"Yeah, we can't interrupt while they're eating."
How was a quick hello an interruption?
If it were me, I'd try even harder to get closer and say something.
You could always watch from afar.
But a chance to greet him up close like this wouldn't come twice.
In the end, I had no choice but to take drastic measures.
"A bother? Nonsense. Come on."
Squeeze.
I grabbed Hyorin's hand and pulled her along firmly.
"Wh-what are you doing?"
"What do you mean? Just a hello, a hello."
"Ah......"
She said no, but deep down she wanted to, so she followed along weakly as I led her.
That's how I approached Painter Hwang In-su, who had received his food with the professor and sat down.
Then I greeted him confidently.
"Hello."
"Yeah."
At my sudden greeting, the two sitting there widened their eyes and looked at me and Hyorin standing beside me.
Maybe because he was pretty famous, the professor recognized us right away.
"Well, if it isn't Kanghyeok and Hyorin. Here for lunch?"
I grinned widely and replied.
"Yes! We came early since there's a special lecture today!"
As I said that, I bowed 90 degrees to Painter Hwang In-su, who still looked puzzled.
Whoosh!
"Hello! My friend here and I are both fans of Painter Hwang In-su!"
"Yes."
Even then, the hand holding Hyorin's was trembling like crazy.
She must have been that nervous.
But I wasn't just going to stand there and watch like before.
I couldn't let this opportunity slip away.
So this time, I pulled Hyorin forward to face Painter Hwang In-su directly.
Making it so she had no choice but to greet him.
"Haha, fans? That's too much praise for me."
At his words, Hyorin shook her head vigorously.
"Ah, no. There are so many people who love Painter Hwang In-su......"
She was speaking up passionately now, like the words had finally come unstuck.
"Is that so? I'm grateful you think that way."
He responded with a kind, friendly face.
Thanks to that, the atmosphere relaxed a lot, and maybe because she'd broken the ice, Hyorin could talk more comfortably.
"Um, I've been to every one of Painter Hwang In-su's exhibitions."
"Really?"
"Yes! Like that last one, Hill of the Wind! I loved that piece so much!"
Smooth.
At the mention of Hill of the Wind, Painter Hwang In-su's expression changed in an instant.
"You liked Hill of the Wind?"
"Yes. When I looked at it, my heart felt at ease, like it was comforting me or something."
"......"
At her words, Painter Hwang In-su stared at her for a moment before asking,
"Have you eaten yet?"
"Yes? Ah, not yet......"
"Then join us. Little sis, mind if they eat with us?"
"Yes!"
"Ah, of course. You two, grab your food quick. Let's eat together."
The professor gave his cheerful okay too, and in the end, we...
Smooth.
...suddenly had the honor of eating with the professor and Painter Hwang In-su, who was giving the special lecture.
'Whoa, jackpot.'
Everything was going perfectly, but there was one problem.
"So, you said Hill of the Wind left an impression. Could I ask exactly what part about it was so good?"
Maybe because she was eating with her idol, Painter Hwang In-su...
"Ah, well...... Um, that is......"
Hyorin froze up.
Seeing her reaction, I...
'Sh-she'll be fine, right?'
...started to worry a little.
"It's okay, just speak freely. I just want to hear your thoughts."
Maybe calmed by Painter Hwang In-su's words, she slowly started to speak.
"The other paintings were great too, but Hill of the Wind really comforted me. It felt like being held by a mom."
At that, Painter Hwang In-su nodded.
"Anything else?"
"Yes."
"Go on."
"And I could really feel what you were thinking when you painted it."
"What was I thinking?"
"Sadness."
At Hyorin's words, Painter Hwang In-su stared blankly at her for a second before letting out a hollow laugh.
"Sorry about that. I wasn't mocking you—it's just that I met someone here at this school who gets my feelings, right before the lecture."
"Yes."
Then Painter Hwang In-su smiled broadly for real.
"Thank you. For understanding."
Hyorin shook her head wildly at that.
"Ah, no. Who am I to...... Actually, I'm the one who's grateful. I've seen a lot of works, but it was the first time a painting comforted the viewer."
"Really?"
"Yes. That's part of why I'm such a fan."
'Comfort......'
It seemed Hyorin wasn't just a fan because she liked Painter Hwang In-su's paintings.
That emotion was probably the reason.
That's when Painter Hwang In-su spoke up.
"Anyway, enough questions while we're eating. Dig in. You must be hungry."
And so our lunch began.
The earlier conversation vanished, leaving only the quiet sounds of chopsticks.
Yet it didn't feel awkward at all.
Comfortable. Understanding.
Clack.
When the meal finally ended, the professor said,
"Shall we get up? Looks like we're done eating."
"Ah......"
Seeing Hyorin's super disappointed reaction, I made up my mind.
To give her a gift she'd never forget from this moment.
Smooth.
I opened my bag and pulled out a palm-sized notebook and ballpoint pen. Then I asked Painter Hwang In-su, who had finished eating,
"Could you give us an autograph?"
"Yes? An autograph?"
Whoosh!
At the word "autograph," Hyorin whipped her head around to look at me, but I ignored it and continued.
"I want to remember meeting you forever!"
"Yes, haha!"
Painter Hwang In-su burst out laughing at that.
"I should be the one thanking you."
He took the notebook I handed him and signed it beautifully.
Before finishing, he asked,
"The two students' names......"
"Ah, Kanghyeok and Hyorin."
"I think I heard earlier, but my memory's shot with age."
Scribble scribble.
After writing our names too, he handed the notebook back.
"See you in class a bit later then?"
At Painter Hwang In-su's words, Hyorin and I nodded eagerly.
"Yes! See you soon!"
Scrape.
"Let's go then, bro. I'll buy you a coffee."
"Ooh, coffee sounds good."
With that, the professor and Painter Hwang In-su left the cafeteria. Watching their backs, I...
...handed the freshly signed notebook to Hyorin.
"Here, take it. I knew you could never do it, so I did it for you."
Smooth.
Hyorin took the notebook with the autograph, still looking dazed like it was a dream. A moment later...
She stomped her feet.
"Eeeee!"
Hug!
She threw her arms around me.
"Thanks, Kanghyeok! Thanks to you, I got to talk to Painter Hwang In-su! I never could've done it alone! Thank you so, so much!"
At Hyorin's actions...
Gulp.
...I completely froze.
The special lecture began.
Painter Hwang In-su gave the class by talking about how he'd painted over the years, mixed with practical advice.
He placed special emphasis on how to approach a solo exhibition and what to focus on when preparing one.
The part that grabbed the students' attention most was about selling works.
"Of course, you need sales to survive as an artist, so that's important. But if you paint just for sales, you'll never become a great painter. What matters is moving the hearts of those who view your work. Keep that in mind."
Nod! Nod!
At the words about moving people's hearts, Hyorin nodded vigorously.
'An artist who moves hearts, not money.'
It was still hard to grasp, but moving hearts meant they'd end up buying it anyway.
The nearly two-hour class went on without a break, but no student dozed off or left.
Makes sense—everyone here knew who Painter Hwang In-su was.
Even the other students probably wanted to hear every word from the legend in the making.
"That concludes the class."
Clap clap clap.
All the students who attended gave a round of applause.
Then.
"Ah, wait. I wanted to share a fun story now that class is over. Mind giving me a moment?"
The students who'd started moving stopped and focused, replying,
"Please do!"
"Haha, thank you. There's a secret about my solo exhibition that no one else knows. There's one work I poured my life into, but ironically, it never got chosen by anyone."
Murmur murmur.
A work embodying Painter Hwang In-su's life that no one chose?
Everyone started buzzing at the unbelievable story.
The talk quickly turned to what that work could be.
What kind of piece wouldn't appeal to anyone?
"But today, someone told me they saw that work and felt comforted."
'Wait, that's...'
I glanced at Hyorin, and she was staring blankly at Painter Hwang In-su like she'd been hit on the head.
"It's hard to reveal what it is here, but it was the first time. Someone said my work comforted them. So I plan to give it to that person as a gift."
Smile.
Painter Hwang In-su looked right at Hyorin.
With a very warm, benevolent smile.
That's when Daeun asked curiously,
"So, did she get the ocean one?"
I shook my head at her question.
"Nope."
"Why? Why no ocean?"
There was a reason Hyorin didn't take that painting.
A huge reason.
I smiled and explained it to curious Daeun.
The real reason Hyorin didn't take the painting.
"Because......"