The Reborn Genius of an Arts High School - Chapter 103

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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 103.
By that point, even the perceptive Young couldn’t help but notice Hae Yun’s mood.
Recognizing where the elderly artist’s displeasure stemmed from, Young laughed with amusement.
‘How do you always manage to gather such entertaining people?’
Looking at Ye Ji with that glint in his eye, Young spoke playfully.
“Wow, Ye Ji’s teacher—does that make you my teacher as well?”
At Young’s cheerful chatter, Hae Yun seemed taken aback.
Still, there was something about the easy way he carried himself that wasn’t entirely unpleasant.
“Enough. A man who’s only tasted foreign air, yet his mouth runs like that.”
“Even so, I was born in Korea, you know.”
Though Hae Yun’s expression was gruff, Young engaged with him naturally.
Han Gyu seemed surprised at the way Young seemed to understand his mood.
Seeing how well they seemed to mesh, Han Gyu spoke up.
“If you find the time, you should visit Jeongeup sometime.”
“Oh, that sounds good. Is that an invitation?”
“Ahem, well, if I can spare the time!”
At Hae Yun’s evasive answer, Young laughed good-naturedly.
Wrapping up their exchange, Han Gyu spoke.
“Let’s go see the exhibition first, shall we?”
“Yes. Let’s go.”
As the two departed, Young bowed respectfully.
It was the most courteous Young had been since Ye Ji had known him.
“Then, I’ll see you next time.”
“Mm….”
Hae Yun acknowledged Young’s bow with a wave and turned to leave.
At that moment, Hyun Min approached and bowed respectfully to Hae Yun as well.
“Thank you for traveling such a distance.”
Seeing this, Hae Yun paused and gestured sharply.
“You! Come here!”
“Me? Why all of a sudden….”
Caught off guard, Hyun Min stammered a response, but Hae Yun waved him on insistently.
“You’re going to show us around!”
“Me? Right now? Why me specifically….”
With the grumbling Hyun Min in tow, the three disappeared into the Exhibition Hall.
Once they were out of sight, Young burst out laughing.
“What a charming old man.”
At Young’s chuckling comment, Ye Ji looked at him with some surprise.
Wasn’t that a rather overblown assessment?
Though that was her thought, she occasionally saw glimpses of something—a transparency beneath the facade.
‘There might be something to that, actually….’
She couldn’t entirely deny it.
Young, still wearing a bright smile, sat down on the bench where Ye Ji had been sitting.
“Anyway, this is fun. London’s going quite well too.”
At the mention of London, Ye Ji sat down beside him again.
Just as Lee had promised, Goyo’s artwork was being used properly and was currently touring various countries overseas.
In a major department store in London, a popup was being held with a feel similar to Paris, tailored to the location.
The new fragrance launch was moving through major cities worldwide, establishing a brand image alongside Ye Ji’s artwork, and
the final event was scheduled to take place in Italy, where the main office was located.
And the artwork was to be displayed in the head office lobby for a set period.
“Phew, even so, I’ve managed to save face. This should be enough.”
At Young’s words, Ye Ji laughed.
Saying he’d saved face was far too modest an expression for the current situation.
The scale had grown beyond imagination, and the ripple effect was considerable.
“It’s all thanks to you, really. Thank you.”
Of course, the artwork was hers, but without Young’s help, it would never have become this much of a sensation.
Young gave a light nod at Ye Ji’s words, then added playfully.
“Even though you tolerated my teasing, if you’d said that in front of that old man just now, he’d be genuinely upset.”
Young spoke teasingly, as if he’d already read Hae Yun’s character.
Though it was said in jest, Ye Ji somewhat agreed.
“Hae Yun has been a big help too.”
“Right, he’d love hearing you say that kind of thing directly and often.”
Young continued his murmuring.
“When I was very young, I grew up in my grandfather’s care. So I understand grandfatherly types quite well.”
Though that time hadn’t lasted very long.
Young’s expression grew a little subdued as he added this.
It didn’t seem like a topic to probe deeper into.
Noticing Young’s expression, Ye Ji gently shifted the conversation.
“By the way, what did you think of my exhibition?”
“It gave me a lot to think about. It always happens when I see your work….”
Young remained lost in thought, his expression still somewhat serious.
What he might have felt looking at her work was something
Ye Ji found difficult to guess.
Though she felt they’d grown closer, Young was more complex than she’d realized.
“(Artist! Artist…!)”
Just then, Montrebleu’s curator suddenly rushed toward Ye Ji, calling out urgently.
At least, though urgent, the curator’s voice didn’t sound negative.
As Ye Ji instinctively stood, Young rose as well.
“Go on. I should take another look around anyway.”
“When are you heading back to London?”
“Tomorrow.”
Tomorrow?!
Ye Ji, who’d been about to leave with the curator, stopped short and turned back to Young.
“So you’re making Paris a day trip?”
At Ye Ji’s surprised question, Young simply winked.
“I’ll look around on my own, so don’t worry. See you next time~”
“Yes! Thank you so much!”
Ye Ji thanked Young again as he left, then turned toward the curator.
“(What’s the matter?)”
“(There are so many purchase inquiries backing up. Um, could you come to the office for a moment…?)”
The curator added while catching his breath.
He seemed to have exerted himself considerably running in his shoes.
“(Your parents are saying that it would be better if you made the decision… but, why haven’t you been answering your phone…?)”
Upon hearing this, Ye Ji took out her mobile phone to check.
She’d set it to silent mode when entering the exhibition earlier and had simply forgotten about it.
“(I’m sorry. I didn’t know they’d called. But there are already this many inquiries?)”
Ye Ji answered somewhat bewilderedly and followed the curator away.
Though Ye Ji was a newcomer to the art world, she was a newcomer whose potential had already been verified.
A painter whose work had been personally purchased by a major CEO from the Western art world—a name that had already been heard.
Moreover, one with the credentials to win confidently in Montrebleu’s competition.
That was more than enough for collectors to feel the value warranted their investment.
And for Ye Ji, the value of that recognition meant far more than any sum of money.
***
[Exhibition Review] Undulating Light Rising on Canvas, “Ripples of the Soul”
Young artist Ye Ji’s solo exhibition “Ripples of the Soul” captivates viewers from the very first gate, the “Deep Sea” series.
The “Deep Sea Series,” which greets viewers first, commands attention with overwhelmingly masterful Impasto Technique that belies her status as an emerging artist.
…(excerpt omitted)…
This exhibition, which has proven the depth of light through the weight of texture, signals the brilliant emergence of a young artist whose work deserves the epithet “genius.”
The vivid life force rippling across the canvas can be seen until the end of this month, so do not miss this opportunity.
— “Croisées,” Thomas Dupont
***
From the opening day of her solo exhibition, internet articles poured in endlessly.
Though online reactions were heated, Ye Ji preferred watching the visitors at the exhibition in person.
The steady stream of new visitors each day.
The moments when they all left the gallery with expressions of deep appreciation.
For the first time, Ye Ji realized there was joy in something other than painting.
‘Well, this is my first solo exhibition, after all.’
In her previous life, she had died before her solo exhibition could open.
She had never properly witnessed the gaze of viewers as they moved from one of her paintings to the next.
Looking at the faces of hundreds of people, Ye Ji felt an incomparable satisfaction.
The satisfaction of the exhibition wasn’t Ye Ji’s alone.
Over half the works had sold at the very first opening, and purchase inquiries continued to pour in steadily each day.
As a result, the gallery director Marc was savoring once again the pleasure of having sound judgment.
“(But I don’t plan to sell the largest painting. Please make note of that.)”
Given how briskly sales were moving, Ye Ji had given the curator a heads-up in advance.
She had thought something that large wouldn’t sell anyway, so she hadn’t mentioned it initially.
But at this pace, it wouldn’t be surprising if it sold given the mood.
“That’s impressive. The work really is beautiful. I wanted to buy one myself….”
Seong Su hadn’t been able to make it to the opening, but arrived in Paris a few days later.
Behind him, lamenting that the work he wanted had already sold, came a familiar face.
Se Hee, who happened to be in Paris for a fashion brand meeting, arrived with perfect timing.
“It’s really pretty! After seeing everything, there’s this strange feeling of being moved too.”
Still, she didn’t understand art particularly well.
Yet even as Se Hee spoke playfully, she continued to marvel, as if she’d sensed both the beauty of the work and the emotion it sought to convey.
A painting anyone could understand.
The result aligned with what Ye Ji had aimed for, so even Se Hee’s appreciation meant something to her.
“Honestly, I didn’t expect you to pull it off this well.”
Though it wasn’t the opening, an unusually large number of people had come to offer congratulations.
With Chloe arriving to offer her congratulations as well, Ye Ji was surrounded by well-wishers and barely had time to think.
“It’s been worth it recommending you. Congratulations on your solo exhibition.”
“Thank you. Now that I think about it, it’s all because you told me about this competition.”
“Right? I deserve some credit too, don’t I?”
Ye Ji laughed together with the playful Chloe.
After listening to congratulations and praise all day, the feeling was strange.
‘Sometimes this isn’t so bad.’
Though admittedly, she hadn’t touched her brush in three days—her hand was itching to paint again.
But Ye Ji was genuinely savoring this moment.
***
When everything was going so well.
“(Damn it.)”
Outside the gallery, a shaggy man muttered curses while smoking a cigarette.
“(I’m sorry, but smoking is not permitted in front of the exhibition hall.)”
Two security guards patrolling the gallery spotted the man and made their request with appropriate courtesy.
The middle-aged man glared at them menacingly, then flicked his cigarette butt into the entrance and left.
His unkempt blond hair and heavy stubble obscured his face.
“(What’s his problem?)”
“(Who knows, just leave it.)”
Types like that only meant more trouble if you pushed back.
The guards, satisfied with having chased him off, resumed their patrol route.
And the shaggy man who seemed to have disappeared paused and turned back to stare intently at the gallery.
“Ripples of the Soul”
A massive painting rendered alongside the title.
Though it was merely a printed banner, the beauty of its harmonious colors was palpable even from afar.
Passersby too paused momentarily, drawn to it.
Then, as if pulled by a magnet, they turn their steps toward the gallery.
…….
Watching this scene, the man ground his teeth.

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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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