Chapter 207
Chapter 207
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 207
Chapter Title: The Actress Becomes a Fan
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We headed to the artwork storage room inside with Taerin.
Unlike the other rooms, it was refreshingly cool, designed specifically for preserving the paintings.
It controlled not just the temperature but also humidity, the paintings' greatest enemy.
You could really feel how much care the department store put into it.
Naturally, the space was a sealed room without windows, giving the feel of being in an art exhibition hall.
Swish.
Daeun's paintings from before were displayed at regular intervals.
All of these would be exhibited at the department store show in about a month and a half.
Step.
Taerin slowly walked through the space, examining Daeun's paintings.
Then, after looking around without a word...
"...It's wonderful."
She offered those simple words of praise.
At that, Daeun beamed brightly.
"Pretty auntie come to Daeun's exhibition too, okay!"
"Yes, I'll definitely go. It's Painter Daeun Lee's solo exhibition—I have to. And I'll make sure to buy a painting there."
You could sense her firm resolve to purchase one no matter what.
Curious at her response, Daeun asked...
"But auntie!"
"Yes?"
"Which picture here best?"
"The paintings?"
"Yeah! Daeun curious!"
Faced with Daeun's question about her favorite, Taerin pondered.
Perhaps it was hard to pick just one.
"They're all great, but if I had to choose one..."
Still, she tried her best to select one.
She paced back and forth among the roughly nine pieces, deliberating deeply.
Despite it being a simple question from Daeun, she inspected them as if truly buying, then finally chose.
"This one for me. If picking just one, I'd definitely want to buy this."
'Oh, that painting...'
The one Taerin picked was the painting Daeun had done after returning from her special lecture not long ago.
It predated the one given as a wedding gift to Minji.
It was after she'd heard the story of Hyorin and my first meeting, so the emotions captured within felt utterly joyful.
Probably the happiest feelings in any painting Daeun had done so far.
At that moment, Taerin explained why she'd chosen it.
"Ms. Daeun Lee's paintings have this mysterious quality. I'm no expert with a great eye or anything, but looking at them brings me so much comfort."
"Comfort...?"
"Yes, comfort. Truth be told, that's why I showed up unannounced at your studio yesterday and today—I needed it."
For ordinary comfort, she'd chat with friends or dive into hobbies.
But from her words, the comfort she sought seemed different.
Curious, I asked.
Though some might find the question rude.
Talking about it could help when needing solace.
"Would it be okay to ask what happened?"
At my question, Kim Taerin glanced at me and said...
"My mother... passed away."
Ah... I shouldn't have asked.
We stepped outside and heard Kim Taerin's story.
About three months ago, her mother—who'd been battling illness for a long time—passed.
It wasn't sudden, so she'd thought she'd be okay.
But the death had impacted her life more deeply than expected.
To forget the grief, she'd traveled, eaten delicious food, even looked into getting a pet recently.
But none of it helped.
Her mother's absence was vast, and thinking of her brought floods of tears.
While spending sleepless nights crying and unable to create, unable to work...
Her agency mate and friend, Erina, had invited her to her studio.
That's when she saw Daeun's paintings.
"It was so strange. Just paintings, but they comforted me. Like a warm hand gently stroking the grief inside me. At first, I thought it was just the new environment, but the more time passed, the more they stuck in my mind. I figured it was just a mood, but they kept popping up, leading me here. I thought, better buy one and keep it close for ongoing comfort."
The sense of loss from losing someone is incomparable to any other sorrow.
Especially if it's a parent who's been with you your whole life.
For her painting to offer that comfort...
I might have done the same.
It made me feel even more sorry and regretful.
If only I could sell her a painting.
But sadly, I couldn't pretend it was possible when it wasn't.
All I could offer now were these words.
"You're welcome anytime. I'll let the staff know, so even if we're not here, feel free to come see them."
Taerin's eyes widened.
"R-Really?"
That's what paintings were.
No matter the artist's intent, the viewer decides.
To one, mere scribbles; to another, a spark for deep thoughts.
And those people buy them.
"Of course. Come whenever."
"Thank you. Really... thank you."
Taerin sincerely thanked us.
Her words carried a poignant emotion.
I just nodded with a smile.
Wiping her slightly reddened eyes with a finger, she said...
"I'll attend every one of Painter Daeun Lee's exhibitions from now on, no matter what. And to the best of my ability! I'll collect your works."
"Oh, we didn't do this hoping for that. No need to feel burdened..."
"No, I'm not that old, but life throws a lot at you. Especially in this industry as an entertainer. So I'll need a lot more of Painter Daeun Lee's paintings going forward."
Seeing her smile through reddened eyes, I awkwardly smiled back.
"Maybe Daeun's first fan was just born."
Whoosh!
"Fan?"
"Yeah, a fan who really, really loves Daeun's paintings."
A true fan finding solace in Daeun's art.
Taerin smiled too.
"I'm not sure I qualify, but if it's about loving the paintings, then definitely."
Bloom!
Daeun's face lit up.
As if the moment itself was pure joy.
Then Daeun said something unexpected.
"Then! Daeun give autograph!"
Wha, au-autograph?
Taerin was thrilled at Daeun offering an autograph.
But her next actions left us blinking in surprise.
At Daeun's sudden move, I chuckled and asked...
"Um, would you like to stay for dinner? It might take a while."
"Oh, dinner's on me. You're staying because of me."
"No, you're our guest—I should..."
"No. Eating for free wouldn't make me a fan. As number one fan, tribute is a must."
"Tr-Tribute?"
"So let me treat you to dinner tonight. Please."
When she put it like that, I had nothing to say.
"Like steak? I searched—there's a great steak rice bowl place nearby."
"Oh, I love steak. Daeun likes meat too."
"O! Meat lover, huh. Extra-large portions it is."
"Ah, no need for that much..."
But Taerin, decision made, ordered instantly.
Meanwhile, I glanced helplessly at Daeun.
I'd assumed the autograph was just her name.
'Who knew she'd draw a picture instead.'
Daeun started drawing on A4 paper as her "autograph."
Of course, it couldn't match the exhibited works.
But watching her, it didn't seem impossible.
With utmost effort, Daeun diligently drew a picture-turned-autograph for her number one fan, Kim Taerin.
As Taerin finished ordering, she said...
"Honestly, I had a lot of questions."
"Like what?"
"How a simple painting could comfort my heart so much."
Not everyone feels solace from art.
Perhaps only in desperation.
Then Taerin smiled.
"But now I get it."
"Yeah?"
"Watching Painter Daeun Lee paint, I see it clearly. It's not for show—it's painted to make everyone happy."
Swish.
Daeun was smiling.
The act of painting itself seemed joyful, her smile radiant.
"So I'm so nervous. How grateful I am that Painter Daeun Lee is drawing for me... I've met countless fans before, but only now as one do I understand. So..."
"Yeah?"
Swish.
Mid-sentence, Kim Taerin held out her phone, asking shyly...
"Later, c-can we take just one photo?"
Hahaha.
Almost forgot for a second.
That the woman before us was everyone's favorite actress.
Life has these moments.
"I'd love that even more."
"Yeah?"
"When else would we get a photo with someone so famous? We didn't say it, but we're fans too."
"R-Really?"
"Yeah. I watched a lot of your movies back when I was always with my wife. Those memories are so happy, I still remember them vividly."
Bloom!
Taerin's face flushed bright red.
Not just from my words, it seemed.
Probably...
Because of the mention of Hyorin.
"S-Sorry... I didn't know."
"No, not like that. Truly grateful for the happy memories with my wife. Your role in that film back then was so impressive."
Daeun, still painting, asked...
"Daddy watch movie with Mommy?"
"Yeah, we did."
"Pretty auntie in movie?"
"Yep. That's right."
Curious, Daeun asked...
"Daeun watch that movie too! With Mommy!"
I blinked, flustered.
"Y-You want to watch the movie?"
"Yeah! Daeun wanna!"
"Uh, well... th-that's..."
Um... probably not.
The film Kim Taerin starred in back then was...
'Blackjack's no good, Daeun...'
A 19+ movie about gambling.