Chapter 26
Chapter 26
-----------------------------------------------------------------
Translator: penny
Chapter: 26
Chapter Title: The Most Beautiful Hands
-----------------------------------------------------------------
The word "autograph" made my mind go blank for a moment.
'What autograph? For what?'
They say the situation makes the person.
Daeun was good at drawing, but she hadn't held a solo exhibition with her own works yet, nor was she famous.
And yet, someone was asking for her autograph.
"Ah, sure. I'll talk to Daeun later and get one for you."
The woman who asked beamed with joy.
"Thank you so much. Please, I beg you."
What was this? Begging me? No, I was the one who wanted to beg her.
What would Daeun think when she found out?
She'd probably be thrilled—I could tell without even seeing it.
"Isn't Daeun about to become super famous?"
"Oh, come on, no way."
"No, seriously. At her age, with that skill? It's beyond genius. And there's another reason she can't help but get famous."
Painter Son Jeongsun fixed her gaze right through me as she said it.
"Me?"
"Your dad's the famous painter Kanghyeok Lee. How could she not get famous? That guy over there—Representative Kwak, was it? From the way he looks, he'll buy whatever Daeun paints, no question."
I turned to glance at Representative Kwak, just as Painter Son suggested.
He stood a little ways off, chatting quietly with Director Go.
But his eyes were locked on Daeun.
'He sure has a real passion for art.'
I didn't know the details of what happened at my last exhibition before the accident, but up to the one before that, he'd bought the most pieces.
Of course, from my perspective as someone who lived off selling paintings, it was great news. Out of curiosity, I'd once asked why he bought so many.
He'd smiled and said it was the only way he could remember someone dear to him.
I'd puzzled over that for ages, but in the end, I never fully understood.
All I could think was that Representative Kwak had his own story no one else could grasp.
"Oh, looks like it's starting."
"Yeah. But can she really draw that well?"
"Drawing? She's too young for that."
"Maybe she's a genius."
"Oh, like a prodigy or something?"
Amid the murmurs, I hurriedly looked toward Daeun.
Aram Go, having finished all her preparations, drew a big circle overhead.
"Go for it, then."
"Yeah. I'll be right back."
With everything set, I approached Daeun, who was sitting facing away from the crowd.
I'd originally planned to help in Aram's place, but Director Go had warned me to stay out of sight in case someone recognized me. Now I could finally get close.
"Daeun, you all ready?"
She grinned up at me.
"Yeah! Daeuni do good!"
Was looking cool that important to her?
I smiled back.
"You're cool no matter what, Daeun."
"Really?"
"Really. To Daddy's eyes, you're the coolest ever."
Normally, Daeun would've given a shy smile, but today was different.
"Daeuni gonna be even cooler. Daeuni help friends too!"
Maybe because I'd explained charity as helping people in tough spots.
There was even a determined glint in her eyes.
I chuckled at her resolve.
"Just do what you can. No need to push too hard."
She shook her head firmly.
"No! When Daeuni tough, friends help Daeuni! So Daeuni help too!"
Was she thinking of her orphanage days?
After bringing her home, I'd heard from the director.
Daeun had struggled a lot at first, but luckily, she bonded with the other kids and got through it.
Seems like she wanted to pay forward the help she'd received.
"So Daeuni gonna try super hard!"
Knowing that made her actions hit even harder.
'She's really cool.'
Not empty words—she truly looked amazing.
Smiling at her determination, I asked,
"So, thought about what to draw?"
"Painting."
"Yeah, a landscape's fine, or anything you think is the prettiest."
"Prettiest thing Daeuni think."
She pondered deeply, then said,
"Prettiest thing Daeuni think of this."
"Really?"
"Yeah. Gonna draw that."
With that, she turned straight to the canvas, ready to start.
I stepped back quietly and returned to Painter Son's side.
"What'd she say she'd draw?"
"Oh, nothing specific. I just told her to draw the prettiest thing she could think of."
"Oh, that's perfect. At a charity event, the artist draws what they find most beautiful. It's romantic, kinda cool."
"You think?"
Romantic.
Suddenly, I wondered what Daeun would paint.
What did she find the prettiest?
'Might she draw Hyorin?'
Just then.
Scritch scritch.
The quiet hall filled with the soft scratch of pencil on paper.
The underdrawing had begun.
'Huh?'
As time passed and the outlines sharpened, I realized what she was drawing.
Painter Son beside me had figured it out too.
"Isn't that a hand?"
Daeun was drawing someone's hand.
But the composition felt off for a typical hand study.
The underdrawing was just finishing up, so we'd need to watch more, but the unexpected subject had everyone's attention hooked.
Step.
Someone approached me from the side—a somewhat unfamiliar middle-aged woman with a bob that suited her, accompanied by a staffer in a black suit.
"A hand...? Quite the unique subject."
I turned and saw her nod politely to Painter Son.
"Congratulations on the exhibition opening."
"Oh, when did you arrive?"
They knew each other. Painter Son greeted her warmly.
"I swung by right away, but you weren't here."
"I had a morning appointment. Sorry you made a wasted trip."
"No, it was just a casual visit. But thank you for granting my request anyway."
The woman smiled lightly at Painter Son's words.
"We're the grateful ones. A charity exhibition like this has real meaning. And this gentleman is...?"
"Oh, right. Sorry, got carried away. Let me introduce you."
Painter Son looked at me first.
"This is President Jeong Woo-yeon, the general manager of XX Department Store. And this is painter Kanghyeok Lee..."
"Kanghyeok Lee?"
"Yeah, you know him?"
"Oh, yes. I've heard the name before."
President Jeong eyed me curiously and extended her hand.
"Nice to meet you, artist. I'm Jeong Woo-yeon, general manager."
"Ah, yes. Kanghyeok Lee."
I thought it would be a quick formality.
"But if you have another exhibition coming up, could we host it at our department store?"
It was a sales pitch, not a greeting.
"Uh..."
Her sudden pitch left me with an awkward smile.
Then salvation arrived.
"Hey, if it isn't Jeong Woo-yeon."
Representative Kwak called her by name without hesitation.
She recognized him immediately.
"Kwak Cheol-un? What brings you... Ahem. What brings you here, Representative Kwak Cheol-un?"
Did they know each other?
Director Go approached Representative Kwak.
"Having two big shots like you here at once feels a bit awkward."
With Director Go's arrival, President Jeong's stiff expression eased.
"Ah, Director Go. Hello. Long time no see. Six months?"
"I've invited you several times, but I thought you'd forgotten us."
"That's actually what kept me away for a while. Once my schedule clears up soon, I should be able to attend exhibitions like before."
"You're always welcome, anytime, any number of pieces."
Their easy chat suggested a solid connection with Director Go too.
Just then, Representative Kwak glanced over.
"I wondered if I'd run into you here after getting the invite. And boom, here we are."
President Jeong smiled faintly.
"I didn't expect to see you here either, Representative Kwak. How have you been?"
"If you're gonna say empty words, don't bother."
Tsk.
President Jeong clearly disliked his tone.
"This is a public venue. Mind your words, Representative Kwak."
"I'm not here officially. Do art buyers have to watch every word?"
A thick vein bulged on President Jeong's forehead.
Her expression turned icy, like a blizzard was brewing.
"Then please enjoy the art quietly and leave. Thank you."
"You're over the top. I'm thinking of buying something, and you chase me out? Feeling full already?"
Things looked ready to explode, but Director Go, watching, showed no sign of intervening.
Murmurs.
The quiet visitors started buzzing.
"Wow, that's incredible."
"Yeah, I never imagined that sketch would turn into this."
"Is she really a kid? Looks maybe four—no, five at most."
"Ah, I want that painting. It's so pretty."
Daeun must have finished.
Everyone, including me, turned to the center where she sat.
Every face lit up the same way.
'So that's the prettiest scene in Daeun's memories.'
I'd half-guessed right, half-wrong about her painting Mom.
It was Mom—but just her hand.
And Daeun had added another hand to the canvas.
Her own tiny baby hand, reaching out into the air to grasp Mom's.
The lifelike energy made it seem ready to move any second. Onlookers gasped in awe.
Maybe only Daeun, with her perfect memory, could paint something like this.
'Hyorin's and Daeun's hands.'
Daeun beamed at her work, gazing at Hyorin's hand on the canvas.
Just then.
From behind,
"I'll buy that piece."
"Our department store will purchase that work."
.