Chapter 190
Chapter 190
-----------------------------------------------------------------
Translator: penny
Chapter: 190
Chapter Title: My Daughter is a Genius Painter 190
-----------------------------------------------------------------
No, what on earth did you talk about with the professor for things to end up like that?
I had no choice but to ask.
"Wh-what? Marriage? How does a conversation even flow into that?"
"I don't know either. It just came up naturally while we were chatting."
"Came up naturally?"
"Yeah. And honestly, I am going to marry Minji. I've waited long enough already."
I knew exactly how the two of them had met and gone through the process, so I could understand.
To be honest, marriage wasn't something you could just decide on your own anyway.
"Minji knows?"
"I'll ask her properly during the proposal."
A proposal, huh.
It was impressive, but on the other hand, it felt a bit too soon.
Of course, Jungeun wasn't the type to say something like that without thinking.
"What does Minji think about it?"
"I've never seriously talked about marriage with her, but I think she's on the same page as me."
"I see."
"Yeah. But you know, I never really noticed it when we were just dating, but now that marriage is on my mind, my heart races just standing next to her. Feels like it might explode. Did you feel the same way?"
"Me?"
His words suddenly brought back the moment I proposed to Hyorin all those years ago.
It was a long time back, but thinking about it now, I probably had a similar reaction to Jungeun's.
No, maybe even more intense.
"Now that you mention it, when I proposed to Hyorin..."
That's when an unexpected voice chimed in.
"Daddy! What's a pwoposal?"
"Eek!"
Daeun's sudden voice made Jungeun jump back in fright, taking several steps away.
I flinched and stepped back too, and Daeun stared at us both with her big round eyes.
Jungeun's face turned desperate at her appearance.
"D-Daeun! Um, did you... hear Uncle?"
"Hear what?"
"Th-that... the talk from just now. Did you hear it?"
"About pwoposal to Auntie Minji?"
"Oh..."
How long had she been listening?
I'd been so absorbed in Jungeun's story that I hadn't even noticed Daeun approaching.
If Daeun knew, it was only a matter of time before Minji did too.
Given Daeun's personality, she wasn't good at lying or keeping secrets.
Jungeun, who knew this all too well, had been fidgeting anxiously ever since she appeared.
So, I had no choice but to ask Daeun for a favor.
I reached out gently.
"Daeun, can Daddy ask you for one little thing?"
"What thing?"
"Can you keep what you just heard a secret from Auntie Minji?"
"A secret?"
"Yeah. Uncle Jungeun is planning a surprise for her, and it'll ruin it if she finds out early."
Her eyes sparkled at the word "surprise."
"You're gonna suwpwise her, Uncle? That's so cool!"
"Y-Yeah, r-right. Exactly."
Daeun beamed and replied.
"Okay! Daeun pwomise keep secret! Daeun best at it!"
I wanted to trust her, but I couldn't help feeling a bit worried.
I even regretted mentioning the surprise in the first place.
That's when...
"Oh my! So adorable!"
"Is that the professor's daughter?"
Some students spotted Daeun and crowded around us.
Jungeun gave me a look and started backing away slowly.
"Daddy! Daeun keep secret good! Secwet!"
"Oh! Her name's Daeun? What's the secret?"
"Ah! It's a secwet! Uncle gonna suwpwise Auntie, so Daeun hafta keep it!"
"Oh my goodness! Too cute."
Thud.
Daeun's response made Jungeun clutch his forehead mid-retreat, while I watched her with worried eyes.
'It'll... be fine, right?'
Break time ended, and the special lecture continued.
But the classroom atmosphere had completely flipped 180 degrees.
The students returning to the lecture hall had all noticed Daeun's presence.
"So cute."
"Is she listening with her dolls too?"
Thanks to the professor's consideration, Daeun had moved from the very back to a spot a little forward.
The back row wasn't very visible anyway, and we'd placed her there to avoid disturbing the class.
But now that everyone knew she was there, the professor figured there was no need to hide her in the back.
Amid their reactions, Daeun fiddled with her doll on the desk and looked at me with a very pleased smile.
'Proud of her dad, huh?'
Being someone others could be proud of.
But because it was Daeun...
'Not bad at all.'
With that, I began the next part of the lesson.
"Alright, this time we'll cover a similar topic to before, but we'll evaluate the painting from different perspectives, maybe even opposing ones."
As I said that, I brought up a painting on the screen.
The students' eyes lit up.
And one more—Aram Go's pupils trembled sharply as she saw the image.
No wonder. It was her painting on the screen.
Someone raised their hand.
"Um, who painted that?"
Of course they'd be curious.
But if I were going to reveal it, I wouldn't have shown it like this.
"Who painted it is a secret. It could be me, or someone else. Today isn't about the artist—it's about judging the painting on its own. Let's go around and evaluate it one by one. Who wants to start?"
The students glanced at each other.
They probably wouldn't raise their hands easily.
They were always the ones being evaluated, and now they had to do the evaluating.
But that wouldn't last long.
A female student was the first to raise her hand.
"I'll give it a try."
"Yes, stand up and share your evaluation of the painting."
She slowly stood, turned to the class, and began.
"First off, my initial impression is a heavy reality. To some, that rock might be money; to others, love; to yet others, society itself. And those eggs crushed beneath..."
Having always been on the receiving end of critiques, she gave a surprisingly detailed analysis.
Like a real critic, she speculated on the artist's intent, philosophy, and reasons for creating it.
After her lengthy critique, I responded.
"Good approach. More detailed than I expected—impressive. Anyone want to try a different angle besides this student's view?"
Her presentation seemed to light the fuse.
Emboldened, most students raised their hands, and I heard critiques from over ten of them.
Aram Go, who had listened quietly to all of them, wore a subtle expression.
No surprise—every critique focused on trying to decipher the artist's intent rather than the painting itself.
'This should do it.'
After hearing enough, I decided more critiques weren't needed and intervened.
"Alright, let's wrap up the critiques here and reveal the artist."
Curiosity lit up the students' faces.
Most had probably assumed it was my painting and critiqued accordingly.
Ironically, evaluations often shift based on the artist.
Unless it's an artist with a very distinct style.
Even experts can't remember every artist's palette.
That's why I was confident I could fix Aram's issue.
"The artist of this painting is Aram Go, sitting right there."
Whoosh!
The students' gazes snapped to Aram in the middle of the room.
It might feel burdensome, but unlike before, she didn't avoid them.
She just accepted their stares calmly.
I smiled and addressed the class.
"How did it feel to play art critic and judge a work yourselves? I can't ask everyone, but I bet you all felt like I did."
Aram raised her hand for the first time.
"I'm curious how you felt, Painter."
Her question about her own work carried extra weight.
I smiled and replied.
"I once had my classmates critique my painting, just like you all did for Aram's. Before that, I lacked confidence in my work—or thought I just couldn't paint. But after their critiques, my mindset changed. And I'm sure anyone here would feel the same. So, have confidence in your own paintings."
The students' expressions softened a bit.
Aram probably wasn't the only one lacking self-assurance.
Most of them likely felt the same.
I hoped this lesson would boost their confidence.
And it seemed to work.
"Thank you so much."
Aram and the others looked a little brighter.
Nod.
After instilling some confidence, I continued the lecture.
About an hour in.
I'd covered all my prepared materials and points, leaving roughly 20 minutes.
'Hmm, a bit awkward timing.'
I'd planned Q&A anyway, so it should be fine. I turned to the students.
"That's everything I prepared. Any questions about the lecture or anything else?"
Haeun Park was first to raise her hand.
"Could you tell us the price of your very first sold painting?"
The others' eyes sparkled—probably curious too.
Of course they were.
'My first sale price.'
I dredged up the memory.
"Hmm, it's been so long I don't remember exactly, but it was around 20 million won, I think."
Of course, most later sales went to Director Yoon at eight-figure sums.
Even so, the students were shocked.
Embarrassed suddenly, I shook my head.
"Alright, no more money talk. Anything else?"
This time, Eunbi Kim raised her hand with a mischievous grin.
"Tell us about your first love!"
She glanced at Daeun with an "oh no" look.
Probably thought it was weird sharing that in front of my daughter.
"Oh, if it's too personal, you don't have to..."
"No, it's fine—my first love was Daeun's mom."
The class erupted in unison.
"Ooooh!"
Daeun, who'd been quietly listening, finally spoke up.
"Daddy! Daeun's fiwst wuv too! Fiwst wuv!"
I could only give an awkward laugh.
"Haha... hahaha..."