Chapter 40
Chapter 40
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 40
Chapter Title: Digital Motherhood
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I couldn't help but be slightly surprised by Daeun's words.
'Like Mom and Daeun?'
As the title suggested, the sculpture titled Digital Motherhood was one that evoked a wide range of emotions in viewers.
It could be positive, but in most cases, it probably stirred negative feelings.
Yet Daeun had seen the sculpture and said it resembled her and her mom.
"For this piece in particular, it was the first one I made while preparing for this themed exhibition. When we think of 'space,' we usually imagine something empty, but I wanted to create something that expressed emotional emptiness rather than literal emptiness."
Emotional emptiness rather than actual empty space.
Looking at the work, I could clearly see Senior Hong's intent.
After hearing his explanation, I grew even more curious about what Daeun had said.
How could a piece expressing mental void feel like the image of Mom and Daeun?
"Daeun."
"Yeah, Dad! What?"
Unable to contain my curiosity, I asked her.
"But earlier, why did you think that sculpture looked like you and Mom?"
"Oh, that."
Unlike the other viewers admiring the piece, Daeun smiled as if it were fun and explained.
"It reminded me of when Daeun was little, so that's why I said that."
"When you were little?"
Come to think of it, the baby in the arms of the smartphone-faced mother was a newborn, just born not long ago.
If the goal was to properly depict digital motherhood, shouldn't the child have been sculpted a bit larger?
As I was thinking that, Senior Hong smiled at the mothers standing there with serious expressions and spoke.
"That's just the surface reason. Actually, there's a hidden element in this piece. It's right here."
With that, Senior Hong flipped the switch on the back of the sculpture.
Everyone burst into laughter at the smartphone screen that lit up on the piece.
Click. "I wanted to express overflowing motherhood by digitalizing the faces of mothers desperate to make their babies laugh, no matter what."
Silly expressions, playful faces, puffed cheeks, grimacing ugliness, and... Hee hee hee! Even the mother's loving smile as laughter poured from the baby's sculpture. Swish. 'She knew all along.' It seemed Daeun had picked up on these emotions the moment she saw the piece. Even the happy feelings Senior Hong had hidden away. I was quite shocked by this realization. I'd thought Daeun only felt the emotions conveyed through paintings, but she was reading the emotions embedded in the creation itself. At this point, I was dying of curiosity. How exactly did Daeun read the emotions in these works?
"Daeun, want to talk with Dad for a sec?"
"Yeah, talk."
When Daeun looked up at me curiously, I smiled and asked.
"When you first saw this one."
"This one here."
"Yeah. Why did you think it was you and Mom?"
"Why... um..."
Daeun furrowed her brow, pondering the question. It might be a bit tough for a five-year-old, but I really wanted to know. How she had figured it out.
"Can you explain it to Dad in detail?"
"Um, so. Why Daeun thought that."
After thinking hard for a while, Daeun finally relaxed her expression, as if she'd found a way to explain.
"It just felt that way."
"...Huh?"
"It just felt that way, so that's what I said."
Hearing her explanation made me feel silly for even asking. Daeun wasn't analyzing the emotions in the work like an adult would. The emotion that came to her upon seeing it was simply that. In short, Daeun was a genius from the moment she was born. 'Director Go recognized that genius right away.' In the first place, it was the director who offered sponsorship first, not me. And the reason for that sponsorship was her eye for art. Sure, I might have held her to higher standards because she was my child, but now I could no longer deny it. The fact that Daeun was a genius.
"Alright! Let's move on to the next piece. Everyone, please follow me."
The event, now fully turned into an artwork commentary session, had everyone following Senior Hong to the next exhibit. Seeing this, Daeun grabbed my hand and tugged.
"Dad! Daeun wants to see the others too!"
Maybe because I'd faced this reality head-on. I made one resolution right there. I would nurture Daeun's genius. After all, the mission from Director Go was to participate in exhibitions across the country.
"Yeah, let's go see them. Dad will show you everything."
Pleased with my response, Daeun pulled her cheeks wide with both hands and shouted.
"Awesome!"
The themed exhibition on space showed clear signs of thorough preparation.
Not only were there plenty of pieces, but the content in each sculpture was impressive too.
"You must have worked so hard. This is really amazing. I had no idea you'd prepared this much, Senior."
"Amazing? I've been wanting to do this for a while and preparing bit by bit. This time, the opportunity came, so I put it on."
"That's what makes it amazing."
"You think so?"
Senior Hong chuckled and asked Daeun.
"How about it? Did our princess enjoy it?"
Daeun answered brightly.
"Yeah! It's super fun and interesting!"
"Oh! Good to hear."
"Yeah!"
Just as the exhibition organizer Senior Hong and visitor Daeun were both satisfied, he said to me.
"Since you're here, let's grab a meal. It's almost dinner time anyway."
"Dinner?"
Checking the time at the mention of dinner, it was only 3 o'clock.
But Senior Hong grinned, undeterred.
"Back then, I couldn't buy you guys nice stuff because I was broke, but things are different now. I'll treat you to premium beef today. Come on."
This was exactly why he'd insisted on being called the "sucker senior."
He loved treating people to meals, especially his favorite juniors—it was his one joy in life.
"Premium beef?"
At the words "premium beef," Park Hee's eyes sparkled.
Ha Dong-un beside her asked in surprise.
"You're treating us too?"
"Of course. Park Hee, Kanghyeok, Dong-un—you're all my favorite juniors."
At that, Daeun suddenly piped up from the side.
"What about me?"
"Daeun."
Her sparkling eyes were a bit intimidating, but also adorably cute.
Wanting her own spot, perhaps? Then Senior Hong smiled and said.
"You're the most precious and noble being in the world, Daeun."
"Yeah."
The most precious and noble being in the world. That's how Senior Hong described Daeun.
"Noble being?"
"Um, not 'beef,' but 'noble.' Wonderful and valuable existence."
Daeun's eyes went wide at the explanation.
"Me?"
Nod.
"Of course, Daeun is a noble being. So you have to be super happy."
"Noble beings have to be happy?"
"Naturally. Let's pinky promise, uncle and you! Promise to always be happy. Got it?"
Senior Hong held out his pinky.
Daeun stared at it thoughtfully for a moment.
"Got it! Daeun will be happy!"
She made a pinky promise with Senior Hong to be happy.
'Senior Hong is really something else.'
I'd felt it before, but he was a cool guy.
A student with no money, yet treating juniors to meals—was that ordinary?
He never let it show, though.
He'd even asked to be called the sucker senior.
Park Hee, perhaps thinking the same, asked curiously.
"But Senior, where does all the money come from to keep treating us? I heard rumors back in school that you even worked part-time just to buy meals for juniors. Is that true?"
Senior Hong just chuckled at the question.
"Part-time? Nah."
"Then?"
"I've got money."
"Come on, even if you're rich, treating every day..."
"Back then, I only got pocket money, so I couldn't treat you much. Sorry about that."
"P-Pocket money?"
"But now I'm doing well, so today it's on me with some really expensive premium beef."
Ha Dong-un laughed and asked.
"Made a killing from this exhibition, huh?"
"This exhibition?"
Senior Hong blinked.
"I donated all the proceeds from here."
"Then how..."
As everyone wondered, Senior Hong smiled casually.
"I've got two buildings in Gangnam under my name."
Two buildings... in Gangnam... under Senior Hong's name.
Park Hee's gaze toward him changed.
"Ik-hyun bro, you know I love you, right?"
Thinking about it, it had been odd.
He'd said he'd been making space-themed sculptures for a while.
Some were small, but most were quite large.
Naturally, he'd need storage space and ongoing maintenance.
'He could do it because he had the money from the start.'
It proved the adage that art requires wealth.
"Hey, come on, stop clinging."
"I'm gonna serve you for life, bro."
"What, so you weren't planning to before?"
"Come on, don't say stuff that makes me feel bad. If that were the case, would I have come this far?"
She said it playfully, but among my acquaintances, Park Hee was one of the most genuine—no pretense, inside and out the same.
I hadn't dug deep, but one thing was sure: she was trustworthy.
"Hey, back off a bit. It's hot."
"Then can I get two-fulls today?"
"What's two-fulls? Eat whatever you want, all of it."
Everyone—Park Hee, me, Dong-un—laughed brightly at the generous senior's words.
Everyone except one.
"Dad, what's two-fulls?"
"Two-fulls, aa, they mean two-full platters."
"Yeah! Two-fulls!"
They'd been talking two-fulls instead of beef, so she hadn't gotten it.
As I pondered how to explain, Senior Hong stepped in.
"I'll explain it. Two-fulls are..."
Ding-dong. Then he pressed the call button to order.
"First, bring us 10 servings of two-fulls here."
"10 two-fulls, got it."
Soon after, the server came out with plates piled high with two-fulls in both hands. Up to then, Daeun still didn't know what two-fulls were. Senior Hong placed a piece of premium beef on the sizzling hot grill and continued.
"See, this is what two-fulls are." Sizzle! A beautifully marbled piece of beef danced on the grill. A savory aroma spread as it cooked.
"This is two-fulls..." Gulp. Daeun stared at the cooking beef on the grill, entranced. Seeing her eyes, Senior Hong picked up a fully cooked piece with tongs and brought it to her mouth.
"Wanna try?" Nod! Daeun nodded vigorously and gobbled the meat in one bite. Nom nom. After chewing away for a while, savoring the two-full beef, Daeun finally seemed to get it.
"Dad! Daeun knows now!"
"Knows what?"
"What two-fulls are. Daeun knows now."
"Really? So what are two-fulls?"
At my question, Daeun spoke with conviction, dead serious.
"Two-fulls are super... delicious stuff. So tasty, Dad!"