Chapter 7
Chapter 7
-----------------------------------------------------------------
Translator: penny
Chapter: 7
Chapter Title: Mom is Smiling
-----------------------------------------------------------------
The next day, I headed straight to the gallery with Daeun as soon as I woke up.
*Zing.*
Arnia Gallery, where Director Go Yunmi worked, was a place with deep ties to me.
It was where I'd held my very first solo exhibition, after all.
'Already seven years ago?'
My connection with Director Go went back quite a ways.
My senior year of college. On the day my graduation piece—prepared over nearly half a year—was on display, she'd visited our school.
As she looked over the works made and painted by us students, my painting caught her eye.
Something about it gave off a strange emotion, she'd said.
From there, our fates intertwined, leading to my first solo show.
This was probably when the second stroke of luck in my life had struck.
'Of course, the first was Hyorin.'
After that, my life had changed.
*Swish.*
Arnia Gallery was one of the most renowned galleries in Seoul—you could count them on one hand.
There was even a running joke that any famous painter had to exhibit here at least once.
Maybe that's why.
The interior of Arnia Gallery exuded an air of refined elegance.
Quiet, cozy, graceful...
"Wow! Daddy! There's pictures here!"
Daeun's voice... uh...
"D-Daeun!"
Having never been to a place like this before, Daeun dashed around the gallery like it was a playground, shouting excitedly at the paintings on the walls.
I panicked and hurried over to explain the situation.
"D-Daeun."
"Yeah! Daddy!"
Whew, she's really excited.
"You have to be quiet in places like this where people appreciate art. No shouting."
Her eyes went wide at that.
"No making noise?"
"No, you can talk, but keep it low so you don't disturb others enjoying the paintings."
"Oh."
I wondered if she'd really understood.
Then Daeun flashed a big grin and shouted her reply.
"Yeah! Daeun be quiet!"
*Smirk.*
Her answer was loud, but at least she'd gotten the point.
*Thump!*
Right after, she clamped both hands over her mouth and started admiring the artwork.
Her antics made me chuckle despite myself. She didn't have to go that far.
But explaining would take too long, so I just watched my adorable daughter.
*Click-clack, click-clack.*
From deeper inside the gallery came a familiar voice I hadn't heard in ages—one I was glad to hear.
Cool and curt, yet laced with its own kind of care.
"You're here."
It was Director Go Yunmi's voice.
*Snicker.*
'Still the same as ever.'
She wore a sharp two-piece suit with oversized earrings, her straight bob streaked heavily with gray rather than black... All in all, she looked utterly cold.
But the finishing touch was her utterly expressionless face—no hint of a smile.
*Swish.*
With that icy expression, Director Go addressed Daeun directly.
"Little one, what's your name?"
"Uh, that's me..."
I started to answer for her, but.
*Swish.*
The director seemed to want to hear it from Daeun herself.
"Tell me yourself, dear."
Daeun peeked out from behind my leg, murmuring timidly.
"Daeun..."
I'd expected her to hide in fear, but she mustered her courage. Good girl.
At her answer, the director slowly bent one knee to her level, still stone-faced.
"Lee Daeun. Pretty name. But should a girl with such a pretty name startle the paintings?"
"...Daeun made the pictures scared?"
*Nod.*
"That's right. Paintings like quiet places, so galleries stay silent. Daeun needs to be quiet too, okay?"
I'd thought Daeun would be terrified, but instead, her face lit up as she nodded vigorously.
"Yeah!... Oh... Quiet, quiet."
She nearly shouted again, then covered her tiny mouth with her hands, repeating "quiet" softly.
Director Go nodded and stood back up.
Then she turned to me with a greeting that passed for warm from her.
"Good to see you again. Come on in."
Believe it or not, that was the best she could do.
◇◇◇◆◇◇◇
*Clink.*
Director Go took a sip from her steaming teacup.
"Drink up. I brewed it fresh knowing you'd come—the flavor should be rich."
"Yes, thank you. I'll enjoy it."
At my words, she turned her gaze to Daeun beside me.
"You too, dear. It's chocolate milk."
Daeun beamed and bowed politely.
"Thank you!"
She sipped through the straw already in place, and her face lit up even brighter.
*Gulp.*
"Wow! This is super yummy!"
I glanced at the director.
Chocolate milk smeared on Daeun's lips doubled her cuteness, but the director's expression remained utterly frigid.
Instead, she just lifted her own teacup for another sip.
*Slurp.*
"Glad it suits your taste."
A brief silence followed. Only the sound of sipping tea.
The director broke it first.
"Manager Park."
"Yes, Director."
"Could you show Daeun around the gallery?"
Daeun's eyes went wide.
"Okay?"
"Of course. Just be quiet so you don't startle the paintings."
Daeun didn't need telling twice. She jumped up and looked at me.
"Daddy, Daeun go okay?"
Her eyes sparkled. How could I say no? Besides, it was midday with few visitors, so it should be fine.
"Yeah, of course. Go ahead and look at the paintings—Daddy'll join you soon."
"Yeah! Daeun go play with pictures first!"
"Alright, then..."
*Click.*
Before I could finish, she was already bounding out with a bright smile.
I gave an awkward laugh at her enthusiasm.
"I hope we're not imposing."
"Passion for art doesn't care about age. Nurturing it is my job."
"Thank you for being so understanding."
"It's not understanding... call it an investment."
Sometimes she said harsh things on purpose to avoid seeming soft.
But I knew what intentions lay beneath.
"Um... I heard the gist from Jungeun. You have a few of my paintings in storage."
"Storage? More like on loan."
She was right, technically.
There was no need for her to, but Director Go had borrowed several of my paintings to display in the gallery.
And she sent the rental fees to Hyorin.
"Better late than never—thank you."
She set down her teacup.
"No need to thank me. I paid fair market value for the display rights."
She said that, but it had undeniably helped.
According to Jungeun, she'd taken three pieces total, paying a whopping three million won per month in rental fees.
Most went to living expenses and medical bills, but it let Hyorin focus a bit more on Daeun.
All thanks to Director Go.
When I'd heard through Jungeun, one question nagged at me. Why had she chosen to do that?
"Could I ask you something?"
"Ask away. I'll answer what I know."
"It might be overstepping, but... why did you rent my works?"
*Swish.*
She met my eyes squarely and said something hard to grasp.
"I was too late."
"Pardon?"
"By the time I got there, those were the only ones left. That's why I could only take three. If I'd arrived sooner, I'd have bought everything. They're not the kind of paintings that should end up in just anyone's hands."
I knew she wasn't exaggerating.
The Director Go I knew was someone who kept her word.
"And since I figure you'll wonder—no, the rentals weren't my call."
"It wasn't your decision?"
*Nod.*
"I told you—those were all that remained when I arrived. They were still there because Hyorin hadn't sold them. She even refused to sell to me."
"Hyorin did?"
"Yes. I barely convinced her to loan them instead of selling outright."
Hyorin would've known selling them would've eased their finances.
If she'd sold, maybe even my surgery could have been covered.
"But when I saw the paintings, I understood."
"Pardon?"
"Why Hyorin refused to sell them."
What could those paintings be?
As curiosity peaked.
*Scrape.*
Director Go pushed aside her empty teacup and stood.
"Since we're on the topic, shall we go see them?"
"Yes? Now?"
I scrambled to my feet at her abrupt move.
*Click.*
She'd already opened the door and stepped out. I hurried after...
'Huh?'
But as I moved to leave, something caught my eye by the door.
Stacks of chocolate milks, sorted by type—over ten of them. Including the one Daeun had just drunk.
'Well, I'll be.'
Not just any old stock.
Left out like this, it looked like she'd prepared them ahead for Daeun's visit.
I smiled faintly at her thoughtfulness and quickly followed the director, who was already striding ahead.
Halfway there, we met Daeun viewing paintings with Manager Park.
"Oh, Daddy."
Maybe because she'd learned to be quiet.
She called softly and came over.
"Daddy going somewhere?"
I started to answer, but the director cut in.
"Daddy's going to see his paintings. Want to come, Daeun?"
Her face was blank, her tone not exactly warm, but the words were friendly enough.
Daeun blinked rapidly.
"Daddy's pictures here?"
"Yeah, Director Go kept some Daddy painted long ago."
"Long ago... before Daeun born?"
"Right."
I nodded, and she clenched her little fists, beaming.
"Daeun wanna see Daddy's pictures!"
The director turned slightly.
"Then follow me, you two."
*Click-clack.*
With that, she climbed the stairs to the far end of the second floor.
Unlike the bright first floor with its many windows, the second floor was dimmer.
Soft lighting illuminated the wall-hung works instead—mostly pieces from past Arnia exhibitions.
"This way."
Past them, we reached the innermost room on the second floor.
[ Painter Kanghyeok Lee ]
A small room bearing my name.
"This is where your paintings are displayed. Go on in."
She stepped aside, letting Daeun and me enter the painting room.
I extended a hand to Daeun.
"Daeun, want to go in with Daddy?"
Excited as when she'd tasted something delicious, she grabbed my hand tight.
"Yeah!"
Hand in hand, we stepped inside.
Seeing the three works on the walls, I finally understood why Hyorin hadn't sold these.
'It wasn't that she wouldn't sell them... she couldn't.'
These paintings might have been the last emotions toward me that Hyorin could feel.
And gazing at them, Daeun wore the happiest smile in the world.
"Mom... is smiling."