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Chapter 37: One by One, Slowly
“Good work.”
As soon as filming ended, the staff of “Korea’s Top 1%” approached Do Minho with bright smiles.
“Thank you for your hard work.”
“But don’t misunderstand. We really planned this program purely for you. We never imagined Teacher Shim Miyoung would
suddenly go off like that and diagnose you however she pleased.”
“Yes.”
Minho, who disliked wasting emotions, had no intention of blaming the production team.
Still, as he watched Shim Miyoung hurriedly leaving the studio, writhing in embarrassment, he felt a subtle sense of
satisfaction.
“That still doesn’t make it right. How can something like this happen without any notice?”
Unlike Minho, Director Lee Seunghoon, his guardian, couldn’t let it slide. His neck veins bulged as he scolded the
staff.
“Please calm down, Director. BBS is always like this.”
Standing beside him, Kang Jiseop PD intervened, subtly criticizing BBS.
“Excuse me.”
The tension was neatly interrupted by the arrival of the art professionals who had appeared as panelists.
“My name is Ye Jeongmin. I work at Gallery M.”
She was the curator who had already expressed interest in exhibiting Minho’s work during filming, and Director Lee had
been keeping an eye on her.
“Ah, yes……”
From the way he received her business card with both hands, it was clear how both pleased and cautious he felt.
“I don’t have a business card, though.”
“Oh my, you have a phone number, don’t you?”
“Ah, yes……”
“Could I have it? I’m very interested in Minho’s paintings, especially the ones he’ll create in the future.”
“I am as well.”
Following the curator, Professor Hong Jangmi and other art professionals present all expressed strong interest in
Minho’s work.
“Seeing even Professor Hong react like this, Minho must really be an extraordinary painter.”
Even Kang Jiseop added support.
“What do you mean?”
“The professor I mentioned before from Korea University—that’s her.”
“Oh my! I didn’t realize such an esteemed person was here!”
At the mention of Korea University, Director Lee bowed deeply, almost excessively polite.
As expected of someone from the older generation.
Minho found his reaction oddly endearing.
“If you have time, would you like to go somewhere quiet and have tea?”
“Oh dear… I need to return to the orphanage soon. And Minho is busy preparing for the CSAT, so perhaps next time.”
Despite his deferential attitude, Director Lee was strict about using his time, worried that any careless decision might
harm Minho.
“That’s unfortunate, but understandable. Let’s meet next time.”
They accepted it easily, as if they had expected it.
Perhaps he really is someone who doesn’t treat Minho carelessly.
Many broadcasting stations had reached out to verify Minho, but only “Korea’s Top 1%” had secured his appearance.
“Yes.”
“But you must answer my call.”
“Haha, of course.”
“But wouldn’t it be a bit much to take all these works back to the orphanage?”
The curator still hadn’t given up.
“Minho, it seems she really wants to exhibit your paintings.”
Director Lee passed the decision to Minho.
“Can you just exhibit ‘Goodbye’? The watercolor paintings aren’t mine.”
“Of course.”
“But will I only have the honor of exhibiting at Gallery M?”
“Oh my, of course not. You’ll receive rental fees and incentives based on the gallery’s revenue. If you want, we can
even help sell your work.”
“That sounds good.”
And so, Minho’s painting was entrusted to Gallery M, the top gallery in the country.
---
“In a few days, you’ll have to come up to Seoul again. Why don’t you leave Minho with me?”
In a week, Minho would need to return to Seoul for the CSAT.
“Hmm… shall we?”
“No. I’ll just go back with you.”
“That’s what he says.”
I really can’t understand him.
Kang Jiseop couldn’t make sense of Minho’s decision.
“Then I’ll drive you home.”
“No, that’s not necessary.”
“Please don’t refuse. I have to go down anyway. I need to look into the new orphanage site.”
“Oh, I see……”
“So the investment has been finalized?”
“Yes. Regardless of your CSAT score, your painting skills alone have secured investment. As you saw earlier, Professor
Hong and Gallery M are especially interested. Your work might become the most expensive piece ever painted by a new
artist in our country. They even said your work surpasses paintings Picasso made as a teenager. The price may not
reflect that yet, but someday it might.”
“Not already?”
“Haha! To me, it already has.”
Even to someone who spent almost nothing on art, it felt like Minho’s work was the best. And judging by the excitement
of those refined experts, that impression didn’t seem wrong.
Minho’s first oil painting, “Goodbye,” wasn’t just impressive for an eight-year-old. It was a masterpiece that could
impress the world without any qualifiers.
If labeled as a work by an eight-year-old, it could be called one of the best in the world.
Even Gallery M, known for its high standards, had promised a monthly rental fee of one million won for a debut artist’s
work.
The only concern would be whether his future works could match this level.
Even to an amateur, his current work was overwhelming. His only rival would be his future self.
“Why do we need a new site? Aren’t we just rebuilding the current orphanage?”
“We’re not just building an orphanage. We’re adding a playground, a soccer field, and a basketball court.”
“That sounds great.”
“We might even add a swimming pool. Not an indoor one—it’s too expensive.”
“That’s much better than a ‘house full of happiness.’”
“That’s offensive. Are you comparing our program to something like that?”
The real issue was whether the orphanage could maintain all of that.
But Kang Jiseop kept that to himself.
---
“There are more empty houses than I expected.”
“Yes.”
“I was worried the villagers’ attachment to their land might ruin our plans, but this should be manageable.”
Walking through the nearby residential area with Director Lee, Kang Jiseop welcomed the sight of abandoned houses.
“There were talks about developing this area, but it fell through, so many people left.”
Director Lee pointed to a distant apartment complex.
“Was it because of the orphanage?”
“Some of the homeowners thought so.”
The reason the village population had dropped from nearly a hundred households to fifty was simple.
Speculators had bought land at high prices expecting development, but when the plans collapsed, the properties were
abandoned.
“That makes things easier. We just need to contact them.”
“It’s not that simple.”
“What do you mean?”
“I tried buying land to build even a small playground, but it wasn’t easy. Whether out of resentment or hope for future
development, they refuse to sell at a loss.”
“I see……”
“They bought the land at two or three times the original price. Now prices have returned to normal.”
“That’s troublesome.”
Kang Jiseop frowned.
“One option is to buy any available land and change its designation, but that’s not easy either.”
“Don’t worry about that.”
“What?”
“Once it airs on TV, it gains public interest. Since land use is controlled by the government, they won’t ignore us.
We’re building facilities for orphanage children—it makes no sense to refuse.”
“I see……”
“The remaining villagers won’t oppose it either. In a way, it’s development. It gives their grandchildren a place to
play when they visit.”
There was still hope.
“That makes sense.”
“The problem is the speculators. We can’t violate property rights or damage reputations just because we’re doing
something good. That would make us the villains.”
“That’s true.”
“The only solution is for sponsors to increase the purchase price, but that’s difficult. Enriching speculators isn’t
charity. And investors might withdraw out of principle.”
“I do have some donations……”
“Are you going to use that to enrich speculators?”
“There’s no other way.”
“For now, wait. If they see the orphanage as a nuisance, things might actually get easier.”
“What do you mean?”
“A better orphanage means it won’t disappear. Land prices might even drop. People who know how to make money also know
when to cut their losses.”
Speculators were a major obstacle.
“Still, we can take our time. A playground or field can be set up quickly. The orphanage building will take longer
anyway.”
Despite the complications, Kang Jiseop had no intention of changing his plan.
Time is on our side.
“If this area eventually gets developed, that’s even better. Others will build those facilities for us.”
“I see……”
“And since the orphanage is under your name, you won’t be forced out.”
“Haha, I guess I was worrying too much.”
“In that case, we should build an even better orphanage.”
“What?”
“Minho was thinking of building multiple traditional houses to reduce costs, but there’s no need. Let’s just build a
large dormitory.”
“Is that really possible?”
“Our sponsors may be stingy with charity, but they spend generously when it benefits their image. They even have
departments for it.”
Kang Jiseop’s vision of the orphanage grew grander.
“I see……”
“But I do have one concern.”
“A concern?”
“What if the orphanage becomes so good that all orphans want to come here?”
“That’s not something to joke about. No matter how good it is, it can’t replace parents.”
“My apologies.”
“No, I was too sensitive. So you’re saying you’ll build something truly amazing?”
“Of course.”
“That’s all I need to hear.”
Of course parents would know what’s best.
“Now we just need to arrange where the children will stay during construction.”
“Sangnok Elementary has agreed to let us use the staff housing.”
“Oh really?”
“There’s also space for temporary containers. It was meant for gardening, but the teachers weren’t interested.”
“Haha, then we should contact Seongmun Construction right away and start building.”