Chapter 171
Chapter 171
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 171
Chapter Title: A Master's Offer
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We entered the room under the guidance of Painter Hwang In-su. And first thing, we expressed our gratitude to the director.
"Thank you so much for coming all this way in person."
"No, no. I'm the one who's grateful that you invited me."
"But when you called the other day, I was really surprised. I never imagined you'd come with Kanghyeok."
"I thought about coming alone at first, but after hearing what you said, Painter Hwang, I'm glad I came with him."
"Is that so? Hahaha."
The two of them chatted, inquiring about each other's well-being. Then Painter Hwang In-su casually turned his gaze to me.
"By the way, I didn't expect you'd bring the child."
"Yes, we go everywhere together."
"I see."
He looked at Daeun as he said that.
"Do you like your daddy?"
At his question, Daeun beamed and answered.
"Yes! Daddy's the best in the whole world!"
"Really?"
"Yes! He always dwaws pichers with Daeun! And tells me stowyies about Mommy! And!"
Her words inexplicably lifted my spirits.
Painter Hwang In-su seemed to feel the same, smiling as he spoke.
"Oh, so you can draw pictures?"
"Yes! Daeun wuvs dwawing pichers!"
"I see."
At Daeun's answer about drawing, Painter Hwang In-su asked me.
"Surely......"
Perhaps because I knew exactly what he was about to ask.
I nodded.
"Yes, that's right. It's thanks to that ability that she came to love painting."
"Amazing, truly amazing. How she takes after her so much. It would have been even better if Hyorin were here."
Just then, Daeun asked curiously.
"Daddy, is this the gwandpa who twied to give Mommy a picher?"
"Yeah, you've already heard that story?"
"Yes! Daddy told me! But he didn't tell me why Mommy didn't take the picher!"
"You mean he didn't say why she refused the painting?"
"Yes! Gwandpa knows!"
"Hehehe. Of course I know. I heard the reason straight from her."
"Then tell me! Daeun's suuuuper cuwious!"
At Daeun's question, Painter Hwang In-su threw his head back and laughed heartily.
"There's no need to tell it."
"Why?"
"You'll find out soon enough."
"How?"
"Because we're going to see that painting right now."
At his words, the director asked curiously as well.
"Does that have something to do with the promise you made with Hyorin?"
"Yeah, you knew about it too, Director?"
"Ah, not the exact details, but you mentioned the promise during our call."
"Oh right, I did say that. Getting old, I forget things already. But I never forget the important stuff. Especially."
He slowly rose from his seat, gazing at Daeun.
"The promise I made with Daeun's mother, who helped me let go of my lingering attachments."
Daeun sprang up like a coiled spring and shouted.
"Daeun wants to go see the picher!"
"Alright, let's go. Time to keep that promise."
And so, we followed Painter Hwang In-su to the exhibition hall, where the show was in full swing, to verify the promise with Hyorin.
'Whoa, it feels even more crowded than before.'
The exhibition hall was packed with people, no room to step.
You'd get swept away if you relaxed even a little.
But the silver lining was.
"It's Painter Hwang In-su!"
"Over here, Painter Hwang In-su! Just one word, please!"
"Even Painter Hwang In-su himself has come out."
Everyone parted at Painter Hwang In-su's appearance.
Of course, the reporters were trying to get close for at least a quote.
"These reporters, always the same."
[Uh, we're reporters too.]
I gave Jungeun a wry smile at his remark and kept following Painter Hwang In-su.
We walked through the thronged exhibition hall, up the stairs to the second floor.
Unlike the first floor, the second felt a bit quieter.
Perhaps people hadn't made it up here yet.
"Oh! It's Painter Hwang In-su!"
There were still visitors, of course.
"This way."
Seemingly used to such situations, Painter Hwang In-su led us further in, until we arrived before a single artwork.
An endless sea rippled beside a sheer cliff.
And atop it stood a solitary tree, proudly facing the ocean.
'This is Hill of the Wind......'
I'd looked it up once after meeting Painter Hwang In-su before.
But facing the painting in person felt entirely different.
It evoked emptiness, grandeur, and sorrow, stirring a whirlwind of emotions in the viewer.
Rumble!
Just then, people following us climbed up and gathered behind.
'No big deal.'
Of course not, but the crowd naturally brought a sense of pressure.
Normally, I wouldn't feel much, but with Painter Hwang In-su as the subject.
"Daeun."
"Yes!"
"Shall Grandpa tell you what promise he made with your mommy?"
"What pwomise?"
"Hey, quick, start recording!"
At his words, the reporters went wild, pulling out their phones to film without a second thought.
That's when the guards from behind shouted.
"Photography and video recording are prohibited indoors! We're reminding you once more. Any violation may result in legal action, so please......"
Painter Hwang In-su politely requested of the reporters.
"Please stop filming. This moment is very important to me today."
......
The room fell silent at his words.
It was Painter Hwang In-su making the request.
Who could refuse him?
But.
'No way.'
Reporters gonna report.
No intent to disparage Jungeun's profession, but they don't care about anything for a scoop.
That's when an unexpected figure stepped up.
It was Jungeun.
Click!
"W-What the hell are you?"
"XX Daily, reporter Park Jungeun. Those in the know know, but anyone I snap today can kiss their art reporting career goodbye. Probably won't even be allowed in exhibition halls anymore."
"Damn it......"
"P-Park Jungeun, the mad dog......?"
"Hey, put the phones away. You get caught by him, no more exhibitions for you."
They ignored even Painter Hwang In-su, the star of the show, but one word from Jungeun and every phone went away.
"Mad dog?"
At the question, Jungeun glanced at me and put a finger to his lips.
"Shh!"
Seems Jungeun was infamous in other circles too.
With the filming issue resolved, Painter Hwang In-su thanked him.
"Thank you."
"No problem. Please continue."
He flashed a grin.
Finally, Painter Hwang In-su could speak to Daeun.
"Back then, Hyorin said she couldn't accept this painting."
"Why?"
"She said it held my entire life."
At "life," Daeun looked at the painting again.
Her face took on an inscrutable expression.
Meanwhile, Painter Hwang In-su continued.
"But she made one request instead. To keep exhibiting this painting in every show I hold from then on."
"Why?"
"So that if someone other than her recognizes its true value, I give it to that person."
Murmurs rippled.
It was Painter Hwang In-su's own work.
Refusing a piece worth hundreds of millions, only to pass it to whoever grasps its worth.
Plenty to shock the crowd. But the artist himself was different.
"So, I'm giving this painting to Daeun."
"To Daeun?"
"Yes. I think Daeun can see something in it that we can't."
Daeun peered at the painting again.
Just as he said, probably seeing something the rest of us missed.
Daeun was more than capable of that......
But her next words shocked us all.
"No take!"
"Huh? No?"
I'd assumed she'd accept to honor her mom's promise.
But no?
"Why not?"
"This no for Daeun."
Painter Hwang In-su, flustered, said.
"This is yours, Daeun. I promised your mommy too."
"Still no! This Gwampa's!"
"Mine?"
And Daeun revealed the real reason she couldn't accept it.
"This Gwampa and Gwandma hugging!"
"......W-What?"
"Suuuuper happy! Other pichers no, but this one hugging!"
Then Daeun looked Painter Hwang In-su straight in the eye.
"Gwandpa suuuuper happy wif Gwandma!"
At her words.
Tears welled up and streamed down Painter Hwang In-su's cheeks.
After that, we viewed all the paintings on both floors.
As expected of Painter Hwang In-su.
The spirit emanating from his works was beyond imagination.
Even as a fellow artist, I wondered if I could call myself the same.
No, I felt ashamed of my own complacency until now.
We finished appreciating everything and returned to Painter Hwang In-su's room.
The director nodded at his question.
"Have you finished viewing?"
"I've seen your works many times, Painter, but none have stirred my heart like this. If the opportunity arises, might we exhibit your pieces at our gallery?"
She handed him a golden business card from her pocket.
Smiling, Painter Hwang In-su took it.
"Of course. I'm honored by the offer. With this visit too, let's hold the next show at your gallery."
"I-Is that really possible?"
The usually icy director was stunned.
His statement carried that much weight.
But his generosity didn't stop there.
"You're reporter Park Jungeun, right?"
"Ah, yes."
"If it's alright, could you write an article on what we just discussed?"
Jungeun's eyes widened.
"R-Really? I can do that?"
"Of course. And if possible, an interview after everything's wrapped up. I've been thinking one would be good."
Jungeun bowed 90 degrees.
"Thank you so much! I'll write it in a way that honors your reputation!"
"I trust you, reporter Park Jungeun."
It felt like something huge had just flown by.
No, it really was huge.
A next exhibition and interview.
Then, Painter Hwang In-su turned to Daeun.
"Now it's Daeun's turn."
With a kindly smile, he said.
"It seems this old man owes quite a debt to Hyorin—no, Daeun's mommy—and to Daeun. So, Daeun."
"Yes!"
"Won't you learn painting from this grandpa?"
His shocking words left us.
Gulp.
The room plunged into dead silence.