The Reborn Genius of an Arts High School - Chapter 101

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This chapter was translated by Lunox Novels. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
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Episode 101.
This exhibition was none other than Ye Ji’s first solo exhibition.
It would have been more convenient if it were held domestically.
But to hold a solo exhibition in a world-class art city right from the start felt rather impressive.
Hae Yun simply cleared his throat.
He hadn’t said outright that he wanted to go, but Han Gyu had picked up on it.
“I have a few commitments, but nothing that can’t be postponed. I should be able to clear about ten days for the opening.”
Han Gyu was equally curious about Ye Ji’s solo exhibition.
Since Hae Yun couldn’t manage his schedule alone, if he went, Han Gyu would certainly have to go along with him as a package deal.
“If you’re really interested, should I start looking into flights?”
When Han Gyu showed enthusiasm, Hae Yun answered as if he’d been waiting for this.
“If it comes to that. I’m freezing to death here—might as well go somewhere warmer.”
If he were really avoiding the cold, Southeast Asia or Australia would make more sense.
He just wanted to see Ye Ji’s solo exhibition and didn’t want to admit it.
As always, Hae Yun spoke as if he didn’t care, as if he were being dragged along, and Han Gyu swallowed his laugh.
“The students would probably be happy to get a vacation too.”
The disciples would certainly prefer to return home and enjoy some leisure time rather than stay in this snowy mountain village.
Meanwhile, he’d get to breathe some fresh foreign air for the first time in a while, and finally see Ye Ji’s exhibition that he’d been curious about.
What would need to be prepared?
Han Gyu, still clearing the remaining snow, suddenly asked.
“But Ye Ji still doesn’t know that Hyun Min is Chairman Shin’s son, right?”
He wasn’t sure how it had come to this.
But Hyun Min had taken on all sorts of miscellaneous work like Ye Ji’s secretary.
And from what he’d heard, he was even gathering various information for Han Gyu and doing the job quite well.
“……Probably not.”
Hae Yun also seemed to trail off uncomfortably.
From an adult’s perspective, it was a strange situation to consider whether this arrangement was truly all right.
“Well, they’ll figure it out on their own.”
Whatever their scheme was, he couldn’t tell.
Since it was between the two friends, Han Gyu decided to limit his concern to that.
The scraping sound resumed as Han Gyu, clearing snow at the edge of the yard, casually asked again.
“……Is it still hot inside?”
“Don’t even mention it. My soles will get burned.”
Hae Yun, who’d been enduring inside, finally couldn’t take it anymore and came out wearing his coat.
Even though he’d removed the firewood, it would take some time for the ondol floor that had already heated up to cool down.
As a result, one by one, people came out to the yard unable to bear it and they all began clearing snow together.
***
Haven’t I missed anything?
Hyun Min, scanning through the studio once more, saw Ye Ji holding a small canvas and painting even in the midst of everything.
“Don’t you get tired of it?”
At his words, Ye Ji’s brows furrowed slightly.
What kind of nonsense was that?
Seeing the look in her eyes, Hyun Min shook his head.
All the works for the solo exhibition had already been sent to France.
Even though they just needed to prepare themselves and go, Ye Ji painted whenever she had the chance.
“Since we’re going anyway, it’d be nice to have a few pieces as gifts.”
At least for Marc and Chloe.
She wanted to give each of them a painting showing her evolved style.
Though busy and hectic, it was possible to fill small canvases that could be handled easily.
Then, remembering something, Ye Ji set down the painting she’d been working on and looked at Hyun Min.
“But are you really coming all the way to France with me?”
This time, both of Ye Ji’s parents had also made time.
They’d both been bragging about it around the company for months.
So the company seemed to have granted them an extended vacation out of consideration.
With guardians there, even if Ye Ji got caught up in things, there’d be plenty of people around to take care of her.
From that perspective, Ye Ji didn’t think Hyun Min needed to come.
“Yeah, I’m going.”
Hyun Min answered curtly, and Ye Ji shrugged.
A European plane ticket and accommodation weren’t cheap.
Of course, her own bank account was already accumulating an amount that bewildered even her.
Since she could afford to pay for that much herself, Ye Ji spoke up.
“Then I’ll cover the costs.”
Since he was going to help with her work.
But Hyun Min’s response was odd.
“I won’t refuse.”

She’d expected a response like “Of course you should?” but instead,
Hyun Min seemed to take it as a matter of fact.
Works she’d kept aside, thinking they weren’t quite good enough for the exhibition.
Several unfinished pieces.
Ye Ji, watching Hyun Min organize and document all of these, suddenly threw out a question she’d been curious about for a long time.
“Does your family live well?”
Only then did Hyun Min look away from the documents he’d been writing and meet her eyes.
“Well, that is….”
Seeing Hyun Min hesitate, Ye Ji asked again.
“You do live well enough that spending that much money doesn’t matter, right? Well enough that you won’t have to worry about making a living later?”
Ye Ji didn’t seem to have any intention of asking further, only clarifying the question.
Since there was nothing more to add, Hyun Min nodded without thinking.
“Then that’s enough. You figure it out. I’m just more comfortable with you around.”
I don’t have to worry about unnecessary things.
At Ye Ji’s words, Hyun Min blinked in even greater shock.
The questions end there?
“You’re not asking anything else?”
“If you were going to tell me, you’d tell me now, wouldn’t you?”
Rather, Ye Ji’s voice turned the question back on him, and Hyun Min was left speechless.
“…….”
Hyun Min didn’t want to reveal his family background.
It wasn’t that he didn’t trust Ye Ji.
He just preferred his ordinary life.
Of course, it was a life where he used his family’s influence when necessary—something that could look selfish and immature to an outsider.
If he revealed his family background to Ye Ji?
He felt a bit ashamed that his childish thoughts and way of life would become transparent.
For example, the recent incident with Julien and Pradel.
When he’d passed on information he’d obtained through his brother,
they’d just brushed it off with “How did you find that out? That’s impressive.”
“But if she found out I’m the son of SS Group,”
she’d surely realize that information came from his family.
Though he planned to continue living such a convenient life, he couldn’t help it.
Having a friend see right through him like that was somehow….
“I know the reason you can’t tell me isn’t because you don’t trust me.”
Ye Ji spoke as if she could see right into his heart.
She’d entrusted him with her SNS account, so they weren’t the kind of pair who lacked trust.
“If you’re not telling anyway, it must be for some personal reason of yours.”
If you didn’t want to talk, that was enough.
Even if you kept it secret, it wouldn’t really affect the fact that we’re friends.
“When a moment comes where I feel I need to know, tell me then.”
With that, Ye Ji moved past it casually.
The studio would be empty for a while.
Watching Ye Ji check the heaters and security multiple times, Hyun Min let out a soft laugh.
***
Four days later, Incheon Airport again.
“Well then, have a good trip. This is all I need for my gift.”
Da Hye, who’d come to see Ye Ji off, handed her a carefully written list.
“By the way, that part below is what Se Hee asked for.”
“Hey, you two have no shame?”
Hyun Min quipped at Da Hye over the list they’d clearly prepared ahead of time.
“What’s it to you?”
“I mean, you’re giving this to someone who’s going to work….”
The two began bickering, and Ye Ji, barely listening, checked over the list.
Her friends knew better than anyone that she was an artist already earning substantial income.
Besides, what was on the requested list were just minor things like French brand cosmetics, paint, and brushes.
They’d written down several items on the list, but they were all inexpensive.
If anything, it was rather endearing.
“Got it. I’ll buy these as I see them.”
“Okay. I’ll send you the rest through messages.”
After Da Hye’s playful goodbyes, heading to check in,
watching her parents’ backs as they checked in their luggage, Hyun Min tilted his head.
“But is this right?”
It was like they were emigrating.
They were sending off large suitcases packed to the airline limit, one per person.
Though most were empty for now, since they only had a few clothes.
“On the way back, we’ll be so full we’ll need even more space. Getting new luggage is pretty expensive.”
“You bought a ton of paint last time too.”
“……You never know when I’ll go again.”
I’ll have to buy whatever I can this time too.
Besides, preparing for the solo exhibition, Ye Ji had used up almost all her stored materials.
“Leave her be. She’ll spend all her painting sales on materials anyway.”
Just then, Ye Ji’s Mother, who’d finished the check-in process, came over and said this.
It would be fair to counter that she was already earning tens of billions from paintings, but…
“……It might actually be possible.”
If Ye Ji’s scale grew even larger than it was now?
It might be possible, Hyun Min thought, and his expression grew serious.
“She might need to do some financial planning even now….”
“What are you even talking about? Really!”
Ye Ji waved her hand to silence him, telling him not to say such nonsense.
Meanwhile,
“…Tsk.”
Ye Ji’s Father watched Hyun Min, who was following them all the way to Paris, with evident displeasure.
He was quite dissatisfied with why a friend—especially a friend of the opposite sex—had to come along, but there was nothing he could do.
After learning of the help Hyun Min had given Ye Ji, he couldn’t quite bring himself to glare openly at him.
“Come on, why do you think that? We’re completely business-oriented.”
When Ye Ji does well, I’m thinking of taking a job here.
Whenever he felt the sharp gaze, Hyun Min would respond in that manner.
Ye Ji’s shortcomings, which those closest to her understood best.
Hyun Min had perfectly covered for those, and the result was the pseudonymous activity called Goyo.
Thanks to that, her father, who’d received his dream car as a gift from his daughter,
“All right, so do your best.”
simply squeezed Hyun Min’s shoulder firmly.
Summer had passed, winter had come, and now the flight to Paris once again.
This time, with a different kind of excitement, Ye Ji’s heart was racing.
Finally, her first solo exhibition.
It felt like her painting life, starting anew, had reached a new starting point.
***
The office of Montrebleu Gallery.
“What is it?”
“Did it happen again today?”
“Who on earth is doing this?”
Marc, arriving at work, asked as he saw employees gathered and murmuring.
“What’s wrong? From this early?”
Ye Ji’s solo exhibition was now just around the corner.
Having already seen the works that had arrived, Marc’s mood had lifted above the clouds.
The employees exchanged glances at Marc’s arrival in such a delightfully good mood.
“……It’s that.”
“Hm?”
What was it?
Why were they being so coy about it?
Just before Marc’s patience wore thin, the secretary who’d been observing the situation spoke.
“It seems the promotional posters for artist Ye Ji’s solo exhibition that we put up in the plaza keep going missing. This is the third time.”
Lately, someone had been putting flyers up in the plaza.
Marc didn’t think much of it.
“Then stop putting them there. The online promotion and what we have in front of the gallery is enough.”
With last year’s competition winner’s exhibition coming right after,
that title alone was enough to draw public interest.
The employees also figured it was just some bored person’s doing and didn’t take it too seriously.
“All right everyone, installation starts tomorrow, so let’s focus on that.”
With Marc’s energetic words, the employees sprang into action.

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This chapter was translated by Lunox Novels. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
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