Chapter 224
Chapter 224
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 224
Chapter Title: The Secret Auction
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Normally, when buying works from an author's solo exhibition, it was first-come, first-served.
That made sense, since unless the artist was extremely famous, not all the pieces would sell out.
So the most popular ones would sell first, and the rest later.
"Hmm..."
Daeun's works were already limited in quantity.
Just ten pieces.
But everyone here wanted to buy every single one of them.
This posed a real problem for the department store.
Right from the start, a ton of people had expressed interest in purchasing the entire collection.
Swoosh.
President Jeong asked,
"What do we do about this?"
The department store's situation was even more dire.
It could come across as a collaboration with the store rather than a standard gallery.
That was why there was a rumor that pieces in department store galleries didn't sell well.
"Uh, what do we do?"
I was just as flustered, with no good answer, so I could only echo her.
"Hmm..."
President Jeong's brow furrowed in deep thought.
"If it were just our acquaintances requesting purchases, that'd be one thing, but even newcomers want in..."
"Yes? Others want to buy too?"
"Yeah... And it's not just one or two. For the most popular one, 'Love', a whopping twenty people have said they'll bid."
Excluding CEO Yoon, Kerry, President Gwak, and Taeran, that meant sixteen more.
I never imagined Daeun's paintings held this much power.
"If we mishandle this, it could spark issues with the sales."
"Issues?"
"Other customers might think we're favoring certain buyers."
It wouldn't be intentional, but letting acquaintances snap up pieces could still cause trouble.
"Man."
I never dreamed artwork sales could lead to problems like this.
Just then, President Jeong spoke as if she'd made a decision.
"We'll have no choice but to go with that method."
"What method?"
"An auction."
An auction...?
Last time with Daeun's piece, there hadn't been a set price, so auctioning worked.
It had that special event vibe, and people got it.
But this time? Would it fly?
"Is an auction even possible?"
"Hmm, the gallery's purchase terms allow for a private auction if two or more customers express interest in the same piece, so no issue there. But..."
Swoosh.
President Jeong brushed back her hair and continued.
"Usually, the interested parties negotiate among themselves, and one steps aside. We've never actually done one."
A first for them.
Haha...
Daeun was clearly writing a new legend.
All pieces selling out on day one—that kind of legend.
Finally, President Jeong said with resolute expression,
"We'll hold the auction."
And shortly after.
Those who wanted to buy gathered in the department store's security room.
Twenty people filled the security room.
It wasn't a small space by any means, but with so many, it felt cramped.
That wasn't the issue, though.
Everyone was eyeing each other warily.
They were competitors here, vying for Daeun's works.
At least until the auction ended, this tension would linger.
'Still, glad Jungeun got here quick.'
He'd been delayed handling work stuff.
But he showed up right when needed.
Thanks to him, I could leave Daeun with him and join the auction.
Swoosh.
President Jeong stepped up to the small podium at the front.
"Thank you all for participating in the auction. Before we start, let me explain the process."
With Kerry there as a foreigner, President Jeong mixed in some English as she outlined the procedure.
"This is a private auction to prevent excessive bidding. Please understand. We'll distribute one bidding envelope per person. Inside is a bid sheet—write your desired amount for the piece, seal it in the envelope, and submit. Illegible writing or blank sheets will be invalid, so please write clearly."
'Whew...'
The tension was no joke.
It didn't feel like auctioning a child's paintings.
More like a renowned master's masterpieces.
'Wait, she is a renowned master, isn't she?'
Whatever.
The sharp tension in the room made it hard to breathe.
"Now, we'll distribute the bidding envelopes."
At President Jeong's words, staff moved through the seated crowd, handing them out.
Once everyone had theirs, she announced,
"We'll begin with the most sought-after piece, 'Love.' Please write your bids."
The room fell deathly silent.
Even breathing felt cautious.
Only the scratch of pens and the faint buzz of a phone vibration broke the quiet.
Daeun's piece had a minimum bid of its listed price: 5 million won.
When President Jeong first set that, I'd thought it too high.
I was wrong.
Private bidding curbed wild competition, which was good.
But "private" didn't mean low bids.
It was a game of chicken.
No one knew what others would offer.
For a must-have piece, you'd go with your max.
I didn't know the others' wealth.
But the ones I did...
Gulp.
'Nah, they wouldn't go that far, right?'
Competition had heated up from the start.
They'd sized each other up by now.
So probably not just millions.
Tens of millions.
No... After seeing Daeun's work, at least ten times the minimum...
'50 million won.'
Surely no one bid 50 million...
Right?
Then Kerry glanced my way.
Her expectant look made me nod unconsciously.
My thinking shifted.
50 million? Maybe even higher.
That look from Kerry.
No way it was a tens-of-millions bid.
'Hah, hope she's not overdoing it.'
Spending that much just because it's a friend's daughter?
This was getting burdensome.
But the auction was on—no stopping it.
As I stewed in anxiety,
Swoosh.
One person stood first.
President Gwak.
True to his straightforward nature, he'd scribbled his bid quick and strode to drop the envelope in the bid box.
On his way back, he spotted me in the back and grinned.
'Ah, seriously...'
Did I come for nothing?
Was my presence stressing everyone out? As I pondered,
Clack.
Starting with President Gwak, CEO Yoon, Kerry, and Taeran followed, submitting their envelopes.
Then the rest...
'Ah, one left.'
A woman in the far back.
Her neatly swept-back hair and black uniform—she was still bidding.
Texting someone?
The vibration buzzed for ages.
Finally,
Clack.
She finished and dropped her envelope.
"Alright, all bids are in. Now we'll review the envelopes and announce the winner."
To prevent any funny business in this private auction, they checked and announced right after.
Swoosh.
Staff gathered, pulling out and verifying envelopes.
They didn't reveal all bids, though.
Just the highest for the private auction.
Rustle.
President Jeong took the results sheet after all checks.
"!!"
She looked stunned.
How much did it go for?
And who won? As I wondered,
President Jeong stammered out the announcement.
"N-Now, the w-winning bidder for Daeun Lee's 'Love'..."
Gulp.
Everyone leaned in.
Then, from her lips, the unexpected:
"Kim Sun-bae. Your bid of 450 million won wins. C-Congratulations. We'll deliver the piece to the address you provide after the exhibition ends."
"450 million?"
"Whoa..."
"Ah..."
Regretful sighs erupted.
People scanned around for this Kim Sun-bae.
Then one person stood.
The woman who'd bid last.
The private auction ended.
Everyone filed out of the security room, and President Jeong approached, looking shell-shocked.
"Um..."
"Yeah... I know. You don't have to say it."
The shock from the ten auctions, starting with 'Love,' was indescribable.
Kim Sun-bae left after winning the first, but the rest fetched huge sums too.
Maybe not getting the first one spurred even higher bids...
Anyway, the auction was a massive success.
Total sales: over 2.1 billion won.
Haha... insane.
"In all my years running this department store, this is the first time a piece went for that much. And the whole show selling out in one day? Also a first."
Not just her—I was floored too.
"Same here."
"Yeah."
"We made more from Daeun's first solo show than my debut exhibition."
"Really?"
Nod.
It felt unreal.
Daeun's genius made it happen, sure.
But wasn't it too much?
"Still, everyone's love for her work makes me happy."
"So grateful. She'll be thrilled to hear."
"Let's go tell her together."
"Yeah, let's."
I opened the door to leave with President Jeong.
Click.
Unexpectedly, someone waited outside.
"Uh..."
Kim Sun-bae, winner of the first 'Love'...
"Hello. I'm An Eun-ju, representing Chairman Kim Sun-bae."
No—An Eun-ju, his proxy.
And she dropped a bombshell.
"If it's not too much trouble, could I meet Daeun Lee?"