Chapter 8
Chapter 8
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 8
Chapter Title: The Emotions in the Canvas
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All three paintings featured Hyorin.
They beautifully captured her at our first meeting, before our marriage, and after.
"I told you once, didn't I? That your paintings carry a special emotion."
Those were Director Go's words when we first met, after she saw my work.
"After encountering you at your university graduation exhibition, I thought about it for quite a while. What exactly was that emotion? It was only much later, at some point, that I finally understood."
"So, not right after seeing the paintings, but only after a long time passed?"
An emotion that surfaced not immediately upon seeing them, but after ages had gone by.
She nodded.
"Your paintings are like that. They evoke a joyful feeling, like reuniting with someone you'd forgotten."
At that moment, Daeun, who had been listening while unable to tear her eyes from the paintings, spoke up.
"Daddy looks so happy."
Not Mommy, but me looking happy.
She turned her attention to Daeun's words.
None other than Director Go showed interest.
"Is that how it looks to you, Daeun?"
"Yes! Daddy's smiling!"
At that, Director Go knelt down again on one knee to meet Daeun's eye level.
A slight change came over her icy expression.
"Can you tell the director why you think so?"
Daeun looked at Director Go's face and answered.
"Daeun doesn't know."
"Yeah, you don't... know?"
'Is she... flustered right now?'
My surprise at seeing this new expression on Director Go was brief. Then Daeun continued, and Director Go's eyes widened.
"When I look at Mommy's picture, I see Daddy smiling. He's super happy. Daddy's having fun."
Sensing not the painting itself, but the artist's emotions within it.
At those words, I witnessed something unbelievable.
A gentle smile.
'Did she just... smile?'
I'd always thought I'd never see Director Go smile in my lifetime.
Never imagined I'd witness it like this.
Her smile carried so many meanings.
"Impressive."
"Yes."
"It took me half a year to realize it, but Daeun saw it right away."
Director Go stroked Daeun's head affectionately, as if proud of her, then stood up.
She looked at me and spoke again with her icy expression restored.
"Seems my efforts weren't in vain."
At those words, I blinked and asked.
"What do you mean?"
"A child born between two geniuses is also a genius. I quite like that."
Her heels clicked as she headed toward the entrance where we'd come in.
She glanced back and said.
"If you're okay with it, I'd like to continue our earlier talk—about the paintings, and the support as well."
Then she turned to the manager.
"Manager, please show Daeun around the gallery so she doesn't get bored."
"Yes, ma'am."
With a smile, Director Go said to me.
"Shall we go, then?"
"Ah, yes..."
As I moved to follow her.
"Daddy, but..."
Everyone froze at Daeun's sudden voice. We all turned to her as she stared at the paintings.
And at her next words, I was speechless.
"The pictures are sad."
"......"
Daeun said the paintings were crying.
Click.
Back in the director's office, a fresh pot of warm tea had been brewed, as if by magic.
As Director Go poured it into my cup, she commented on my reaction from earlier.
"You didn't seem surprised when Daeun evaluated the paintings. You already knew she has an eye for art."
Perhaps because I hadn't been shocked when Daeun gave her assessment.
She must have taken it as natural, knowing Daeun's genius.
"I knew to some extent."
I wondered what expression she'd make if she knew Daeun had perfect memory recall.
"Have a seat first."
Director Go withdrew her gaze and returned to her own chair.
She poured herself a cup and got straight to the point.
"I'm not one for beating around the bush, so I'll be direct. I want to sponsor Daeun."
My face stiffened at the word "sponsor."
But Director Go continued undeterred.
"On top of the original rental fee for those three pieces, I'd like to add sponsorship. The amount would be 300 plus 200, totaling 5 million won. What do you think?"
It was an extraordinary offer.
For someone as strapped for cash as me, there could be no better deal.
With this money, I could fully support Daeun's talents.
Lessons in painting, art studies, even studying abroad.
Director Go was someone who could back up her words.
But I hardened my expression at her proposal.
"Um... that is..."
She seemed to know what I was about to say. Rubbing her furrowed brow, she spoke.
"You're as frustrating as ever. It's just sponsorship. An investment to further develop your and Daeun's talents. Artists need money too. You paint with the money you receive—why think art crumbles when money's involved?"
"No... it's not that..."
"What do you mean 'no'? If you'd just bend that frail pride a little, you and Daeun could live comfortably. I thought coming back from the brink of death might have changed you..."
I'd missed the right moment to speak, and her voice was rising.
To prevent things from escalating further, I hurriedly cut in.
"I'll accept the sponsorship!"
"...What?"
"Yes, we'll take it. So please calm down."
As soon as I agreed, her furrowed brow relaxed.
"Why act like you wouldn't, if you're going to accept?"
"It's not that I won't..."
How to explain this?
It wasn't something my old self would ever say, so the words stuck in my throat.
But.
'It's all for Daeun.'
For Daeun, I could jump into fire.
"The sponsorship amount is too... small."
"What do you mean small?"
"The sponsorship. Since you're sponsoring anyway, couldn't you be a bit more generous?"
"Ha!"
Caught completely off guard, she laughed incredulously before speaking again.
"You want more sponsorship?"
"Yes. Generously."
"Fine, if you insist. Not 300 plus 500... actually, let's just double the initial amount. Ten million won. How's that? Sufficient?"
I grinned widely at her bold decision.
"Yes, that should be plenty."
"Never thought you'd ask for more."
People change with circumstances, especially when desperate.
Was pride more precious than Daeun?
"Thank you for deciding so readily."
I bowed my head.
Leaning back on the sofa, she said.
"The atmosphere's definitely changed. Ah, in a good way, of course."
"Thank you for seeing it that way."
As I smiled and replied, she took a sip of tea and brought up something unexpected.
"By the way, one condition."
"A condition?"
"Why the long face? From my position as sponsor, it's a fair ask."
She set down her cup and met my eyes.
'Well, ten million isn't chump change.'
I worried she might request something tough under the guise of sponsorship.
But it was Director Go Yunmi.
I could trust her.
"What condition?"
She answered straightforwardly, without hesitation.
"Once every two weeks, do as I say. That's my condition."
"What will you have me do?"
She glanced aside briefly.
"You'll find out in time."
What? It was utterly bewildering.
"So it feels like you're just tacking on a condition without anything specific... that's not my imagination, is it?"
"It is."
Her response only confirmed it.
This was her playful retaliation for me asking for more sponsorship.
'She can seem so childish at times.'
Not that I had room to talk, receiving ten million won.
"Understood. As long as I keep that condition, the sponsorship is mine?"
"Yes. And take this too."
With that, she handed me a gold-embossed business card with her name.
It looked anything but ordinary. As I alternated between staring at it and her, she forced it into my hand.
"Th-this is..."
"A card given only to VIP clients. With it, you can enter any gallery in Seoul."
Famous galleries required invitations, so this card's value was immense.
"Is it okay to just hand this out?"
"I'm giving you ten million; think I can't spare this? And one misconception: remember, some works can't be bought with money."
Her words elevated the card's value even more.
"Yes, I'll bring Daeun to lots of galleries with it. Thank you for your thoughtfulness."
She gazed into my eyes for a moment, then nodded.
"Come again sometime. Bring a few of your paintings too. That room I set up as yours felt a bit empty, even from earlier."
She had a way of indirectly urging a return visit.
Knowing the intent behind her words.
"That time, I'll bring not just mine, but Daeun's paintings too."
"What?"
I smiled at Director Go's surprise at "Daeun's paintings."
"You won't regret the sponsorship, I promise."
As I stood to leave after those words, I heard her mutter.
" Talented ones are all the same..."
"Then I'll be off."
As we finished and I headed out, Director Go spoke up as if remembering something.
"Oh, by the way."
"Yes?"
"It might be nothing, but Daeun's words from earlier keep nagging at me."
Daeun's words...
"You mean about the paintings being sad?"
She nodded.
"Yes. It's not something to dismiss as just a child's fancy."
She hadn't been particularly warm to Daeun, yet she remembered every word.
"Paintings reflect the viewer's heart too, so keep a close eye."
She meant interpretations vary by the observer.
Perhaps Daeun saw sadness because her own heart held it.
I should talk to Daeun sometime.
At her caring concern, I smiled faintly and asked.
"Sometimes I wonder which is the real Director Go."
She lifted her teacup, eyebrows raised, feigning ignorance out of embarrassment.
"No idea what you mean."
Sure, play innocent.
"Then I'll see you next time."
She nodded.
As I opened the door and stepped out, I spotted Daeun waiting for me.
"Daddy!"
She ran over, calling brightly.
"Daeun saw all the pictures!"
I stroked her head as she beamed.
"Good job. Shall we go?"
"Yeah! But Daeun has a question."
"Yeah? What's your question?"
I widened my eyes at the sudden query, and she said.
"Can Daeun exhibit her pictures too?"
"Yeah, Daeun's pictures too."
"Yeah! Daeun wants to exhibit like this!"
"You need to paint a ton for that here. You okay with that?"
"Yeah! It's fine! Daeun can paint lots and lots."
Her unexpected words suddenly piqued my curiosity about why.
So I knelt to her eye level and asked.
"But why do you suddenly want to exhibit?"
Her answer warmed my heart.
"Daeun wants to be cool like Daddy! So Daeun wants to exhibit paintings like Daddy!"
'I looked cool to her?'
Was it because she saw my paintings exhibited?
Thump! Thump!
Just being an inspiration to someone swelled my chest with pride, but that someone being Daeun...
I hugged her tight.
Happiness overflowed from those words alone. And.
"Of course! Daeun's exhibition! We'll do it for sure! Daddy will help, okay?"
"It's a promise."
"Yeah, promise."
...What tremendous encouragement.