Chapter 223
Chapter 223
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 223
Chapter Title: Daeun's First Exhibition
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It had been a long time since I'd come to the department store.
Every time I visited, I felt the same way—this place was always packed with people.
Pushing through the massive crowds, we finally arrived at the spot where Painter Son Jeongsun had held her exhibition before.
Back then, it had borne Painter Son's name, but now those three characters read "Daeun Lee."
It really brought a flood of emotions.
"Daeun."
Gulp.
"Yeah, Dad."
"Daeun's a real artist now."
Normally, she'd respond with excitement bursting at the seams.
But not this time.
She must have been tense seeing her name on the signboard.
"You don't need to be so nervous. Everyone here came because they want to see the paintings you made."
Swish.
Just then, two people approached us, arms linked.
It was Representative Yun and the officer, whom I hadn't seen in ages.
Their relationship seemed even closer than before.
Unlike in the past when she showed hardly any emotion.
She's smiling. A faint smile graced her face.
"Artist Lee. Miss Daeun. It's been too long for both of you."
"Thank you so much for coming."
"Of course we had to! Whose exhibition is this? Right?"
"Yes, exactly. Both Artist Lee and Miss Daeun are precious to me. Oh, and let me say this in advance—I'm buying all of Miss Daeun's works today. So feel free to look forward to it."
At the words "all," Kerry, standing beside me, lit up. Then she greeted Representative Yun in English.
"Hello."
"Hello. And who might you be?"
"Ah, sorry for the late introduction. I'm Kerry from MONA Gallery."
"MONA... You mean the gallery in New York?"
"You know it?"
"Yes, I remember it well. I used to drop by now and then for a change of pace."
Representative Yun must have a deep interest in art. With that in mind, I mentioned it just in case.
"Oh, Representative Yun. My next exhibition is set for MONA Gallery."
"Really? Then Arnia Gallery..."
"Ah, it's a joint exhibition with the director's gallery, so she's already in the loop."
"I see. Then I'll go with my father when it's in New York. He's been wanting to see you a lot anyway."
Kerry, who had been listening quietly, spoke up with a smile.
"But about what you said earlier."
"Yeah, what about it?"
"That you're buying all of Daeun's paintings today."
"Yeah?"
"I'm planning to buy as many as I can today, too."
"As many... as you can?"
"Yes. Daeun's mom is my closest friend."
"I see. But what do we do now? I've bought over 70% of Artist Lee Kanghyeok's works so far." ...What? For a brief moment, Representative Yun's eyes changed. At the same time, Kerry's expression turned serious. Some subtle tension passed between them. It felt like I needed to intervene right then.
"Daeun!!"
"You all arrived early."
The people approaching us were President Jeong and Director Kwak. Director Kwak, who had bought Daeun's first piece. And President Jeong, who was hosting this exhibition. The two greeted the people around us lightly and spoke.
"I'm really looking forward to today. As the buyer of the first piece, I've come prepared to buy more."
"Hmm, Director Kwak, you don't need to say that."
"What do you mean? Ambition should be grand. Right, Daeun? Uncle here's buying all your paintings today, so get excited."
Er... Why say that right here and now? The timing was uncanny. In the middle of Kerry and Representative Yun declaring they'd buy Daeun's paintings. Of all times! Representative Yun kindly relayed what she'd just heard to Kerry. And the two...
"That won't be possible. I'm buying them all today."
"As I said before, I'll be buying Daeun's paintings."
It was total chaos. But Director Kwak wasn't fazed by them at all.
"We'll see about that. I'm not backing down either."
Sparks seemed to fly from their eyes. Both glaring fiercely, determined to snag the paintings. But as always, life didn't flow that smoothly.
"Hello!"
Kim Taeran, hat pulled low and sunglasses on, greeted us cheerfully. Ah... right. Taeran was going to buy Daeun's paintings too... Wait a sec. I tried to cover Taeran's mouth just in case.
"Me! I'm here to buy Artist Daeun Lee's works as promised! I'm buying them all today!"
Haha... Hahaha... Ah... I had a feeling today was going to be a very long day.
"Dad, Daeun's shaking..."
Daeun wasn't doing well.
She was extremely tense about showing her paintings.
I needed to help her relax somehow.
She'd have to stand in front of people later to explain her works.
Swish.
I knelt on one knee to meet her eye level.
"Daeun, are you really shaky?"
Nod.
First, to ease her tension, I changed my expression.
If I looked serious, she might shake even more.
"You don't need to be that tense. You saw earlier—all the people here know you. Right?"
That seemed to loosen her up a bit, but she was still nervous.
Just telling her it'd be fine wouldn't cut it in her state.
I needed a different approach.
As I pondered what story might calm her.
Ah. A great idea hit me.
"Daeun, you know, Dad was super nervous at my first exhibition too."
"Really? Dad too, like Daeun?"
"Yeah, it was my first time back then. But Mom helped me relax."
"Mom?"
Of course, I wasn't as nervous as Daeun. But it was my debut, and I worried about whether they'd sell. That tension—Hyorin had eased it.
"Yeah, Mom helped me relax."
"What did Mom say?"
"What Mom said back then was..."
I repeated exactly what Hyorin had told me, now to Daeun. Swish. I cupped her face with both hands and said with a smile.
"You're doing great."
"Yeah."
"Our Daeun's doing great."
At that, Daeun's eyes went wide as she looked at me. But I kept going.
"You're really doing great. Our Daeun's doing so great. So..."
I hugged her tight and said.
"You'll do great. Our Daeun. Dad and Mom will cheer you on."
There's a mysterious power in people's words. Even a simple "you're doing great."
If heard right when needed. That power amplifies, becoming great courage. I'd gained huge courage from those very words myself. Then Daeun asked.
"Will Mom... cheer Daeun on too?"
"Of course. Don't tell me you can't feel Mom's cheers?"
Daeun closed her eyes, then opened them, her face back to normal. She answered energetically.
"Mom's cheering Daeun on! Daeun feels it!"
Daeun wasn't nervous anymore.
Her face brighter than before, she even greeted people she knew first.
Good. As I watched her with a pleased smile. President Jeong approached and said.
"We're about to start soon. Is that okay?"
"Yes, should be fine."
At that, President Jeong smiled at Daeun.
"Daeun, you've worked so hard all this time. Now just enjoy it, got it?"
"Yes!"
"Then let's begin."
She walked to the closed exhibition hall door. Everyone waiting followed her to the entrance. President Jeong addressed the crowd.
"Alright! Let's start Artist Daeun Lee's exhibition. First, a word from Artist Daeun Lee herself. Artist Daeun Lee, come up here please."
Daeun strode confidently to President Jeong's side. Whoosh! She turned to face everyone. Then bowed! And said.
"Hello! Daeun drew super hard with Dad! Please look at Daeun's paintings!"
At cute Daeun's shout, the crowd's faces lit up with happiness. Mom smiles and dad smiles filled the exhibition entrance. With Daeun's greeting done.
"Then, enjoy your viewing."
Swish. The curtain rose on the long-awaited first exhibition of Daeun. Rumble-! People rushed inside. Representative Yun and Kerry entered with shining eyes. Taeran and Director Kwak followed. The surging crowd. Their goal: buy Daeun's paintings. But. Halt. Kerry and Representative Yun, who entered first, stopped dead. Taeran and Director Kwak, following, reacted the same. Wondering what was up, Daeun and I went to where they'd stopped. And I understood their reaction. Representative Yun said.
"How foolish."
Kerry nodded as if agreeing.
"Yeah."
"To think only of buying paintings without appreciating their essence."
"It's not about buying, after all."
Then Taeran, hand on her chest, moved, said.
"Every time I see Artist Daeun Lee's paintings, I feel so comforted, I can't explain it."
"Even her first painting was like that..."
Seeing Daeun's earnestly made paintings seemed to change their minds. Not just to buy, but to truly appreciate the art. Daeun's paintings had that power. The power to comfort people. At least that's a relief. So I felt relieved. No more rivalry over buying her paintings, at least. But...
"I haven't felt this in so long."
"I think I know what that feeling is."
"Pure possessiveness, maybe?" ...What?
"I've made up my mind. No matter what, I'm owning Miss Daeun's paintings today."
"I won't lose either. Her works are worth it."
Wait a minute. I'd thought seeing Daeun's paintings had softened the mood. But it seemed the power in her paintings had worked in another way. Gulp. A very dangerous way.