34
Chapter 34 A Relaxed Test-Taker
“Wow……”
Kang Jiseop, who had come back to Munseon-eup to receive part of the painting footage, couldn’t close his mouth when he
saw the massive canvas on Minho’s easel.
It was a 100-size canvas, 162.3 cm tall and 130.2 cm wide.
“You really went all out.”
Even without considering the skill, just painting on a canvas larger than his own body was enough to shock him.
“I told you I’d bring the painting and the tapes on the day of filming Korea’s Top 1%. Why did you come?”
Minho responded casually, as if it were nothing, and continued painting.
“I was curious. And I wanted to see it myself.”
“You were wondering if I’m studying for the CSAT, right?”
“Haha, you caught me.”
For Kang Jiseop, the painting was secondary.
“Don’t worry.”
“You really are reliable. But have you gone through all the books?”
Watching Minho calmly work on a time-consuming oil painting made him uneasy, even if he didn’t show it.
“It didn’t seem necessary.”
“That’s bold. Are you saying studying is optional for a genius? You think you can get a perfect score without it?”
“I’m focusing on textbooks.”
“Haha! Sounds like you already got a perfect score.”
“Of course, textbooks alone aren’t enough.”
“Then what?”
“I prefer making problems rather than solving them.”
“…What?”
“Our sponsor, Cheonseong Publishing, might not like it, but I’d rather study with problems I made myself than with their
books. You know this too. Making questions is harder than solving them. And making explanations is even harder.”
“Oh… I see.”
‘Maybe I overdid the product placement.’
Kang Jiseop forced a laugh, but felt uneasy about the sponsorship.
“Can I see your problem book?”
“Why? Are you going to sell it for me?”
“Haha, so that’s what you want?”
“If you could, that’d be great.”
For Minho, who treated calculus like basic arithmetic, studying for the CSAT felt like torture.
But creating problem sets was different.
It was fun—and profitable.
So he had been making problems constantly, at school and at the orphanage.
Even while waiting for paint to dry.
By now, he had created a thousand problems each for math and chemistry.
“Honestly, you might become a bestseller before even debuting as a writer.”
Kang Jiseop smiled as he realized the thick sketchbook was actually a handmade problem set.
“I even drafted a CF concept.”
“A CF?”
“Advertising is everything. After the CSAT, the education market will explode.”
“That’s true.”
“More than you think. The old entrance exams are gone. But the professors who used to make those difficult exams are now
making CSAT questions.”
“So?”
“The CSAT will get harder. Much harder.”
“Most people would say it should get easier.”
“You trust the system too much. Look at 1994. They said it would reduce pressure, but it became even harder. They even
made students take it twice.”
‘Is he studying for the exam… or its history?’
Kang Jiseop was surprised.
“This year will be the hardest yet.”
“Even so, you’re painting like this?”
“I won Quiz 5000, didn’t I? Even hard questions are still made by people.”
“Your confidence is unbelievable.”
“I just want to get the exam over with.”
“Haha, don’t worry. You’ll take it soon. The professors even arranged for you to take it officially—at Korea
University.”
“Really? Not after everyone else?”
“They’re curious. Whether you’re real or not.”
“I see.”
“The art professors even said you can study under them regardless of your score.”
“So I’m already a university student?”
“Haha! Want to enroll?”
“No. I want to go to university at twenty. What’s the point at nine? No drinking, no campus life.”
“Haha! That’s a dangerous statement.”
“I just mean I want a normal life.”
‘He’s completely different from Hyunsu.’
Kang Jiseop felt conflicted.
‘Maybe this is what a true genius is.’
Giving something up was also a kind of ability.
“Anyway, what’s your CF idea?”
“Simple.”
Minho mimicked him playfully.
“You need to study for the CSAT? Buy books.”
“…What?”
“You don’t need that. I’m a genius.”
He held up his own problem book.
“Being a genius is enough.”
Kang Jiseop burst out laughing.
“That’s actually good.”
“It works if I get a perfect score.”
“I hope you don’t get full marks.”
Minho smiled faintly.
“I won’t miss a single question.”
Kang Jiseop shook his head.
“By the way, have you thought about acting in a drama?”
“A drama?”
“My junior wants you for one. Didn’t you get the script?”
“Do you mean ‘Our Teacher Became Small’?”
It was a story about a teacher who turns into a third-grade student and struggles to return to adulthood.
A role perfect for Minho.
“You know it?”
“Yes.”
“So you’re not interested?”
“No.”
“Why? Is it the pay?”
“I just don’t want to work.”
“…What?”
“I thought about taking advantage of the moment, but there’s no need. Opportunities will keep coming. One show is
enough.”
‘So he’s choosing, not rejecting.’
“Being a CF king with Genius Bucket List is enough.”
“Haha! CF king?”
“Money matters.”
“That’s true.”
“But what matters more is how you use money.”
Kang Jiseop stared at him.
“This kid…”
“I spend money to be happy.”
“….”
He was speechless.
“Sorry. I pushed too much. Just my own greed as a PD.”
“It’s okay.”
“So when is that writing contest?”
“December.”
“No time for drama then.”
“Exactly.”
“What will you write?”
“A children’s story. The sequel to The Tortoise and the Hare.”
“That sounds interesting.”
“It will be.”
“I believe you.”
“Thank you.”
“Then why are you doing Korea’s Top 1%?”
“I have something I need to say there.”
Minho picked up his brush again.
“I want to show what kind of person I really am.”
His self-portrait on the canvas became clearer.
And so did—
The real Do Minho.