The Reborn Genius of an Arts High School - Chapter 113

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

Chapter 113.
Ye Ji shot a sidelong glance at Hyun Min, whose laughter had broken the tension.
“You find this situation amusing?”
“No, that’s not it. You took the heat, but what’s really bothering you isn’t that—it’s that junior who likes you getting their feelings hurt, right?”
At Hyun Min’s observation, Ye Ji’s brow furrowed slightly.
Was that… odd of her?
But truthfully, she felt nothing much toward So Min.
A classmate who wore their jealousy openly, who competed so transparently—that was almost endearing.
What Ye Ji actually appreciated was that So Min didn’t resort to underhanded schemes. For that much alone, she was grateful.
Ye Ji shook her head and steered the conversation back to the purpose of today’s meeting.
“Anyway, today we just need to finalize the contract details, right?”
With Ye Ji’s redirect, Hyun Min let the subject drop as well.
“Yeah, we should review the contract thoroughly and discuss the technical aspects while we’re at it.”
Hanseong had accepted her proposal to designate specific fields for sponsorship surprisingly easily.
Were they that eager to move forward?
The atmosphere suggested they’d accommodate most reasonable requests without much fuss.
“……The scale is impressive, I have to admit.”
Before them stood a building as large as a modest industrial complex, its facade bearing the name Hanseong in bold letters.
It was vast enough that one could easily get lost inside.
Once they entered, they had to pass through a series of rigorous security checks before proceeding further.
Their access badges were carefully issued, and stickers were placed over their mobile phone cameras for security purposes.
“They really go to this extent?”
“I know….”
Hyun Min had never been to a place like this before either.
SS Group, which primarily handled cultural industries, didn’t implement security measures this stringent.
The strict security procedures alone made it clear they’d been invited to something quite significant.
Following their guide, they made their way to the prepared conference room.
“Welcome. How have you been?”
Jae Hyun greeted them with even more warmth than their first meeting.
Beside him stood a stranger.
“Good to meet you. I’m Baek Tae Yun, a team leader at our R&D Center. I’ll be providing technical guidance today.”
Whoever he was, he’d apparently been brought in to offer technical advice.
Ye Ji responded to his polite handshake with a nod.
“Yes, hello. I go by Goyo.”
He was notably different in presence from Jae Hyun, whom they’d met before.
While Jae Hyun naturally eased into topics with careful pacing, this man was refreshingly direct.
Tae Yun, who appeared to be in his early thirties, jumped straight into business.
“I believe your manager has already given us a sufficient understanding of your work’s characteristics.”
Every inch the scientist.
Tae Yun, dressed in a check shirt that embodied the stereotype, immediately launched into technical matters.
“We’re planning to scan your work at the nanoscale using a 3D Scanner, coordinating it with a Gyroscope Sensor and Illumination Sensor….”
Gyroscope… what?
As unfamiliar terminology piled up, Ye Ji blinked.
Sensing the topic was beyond easy comprehension, Jae Hyun chuckled and gently stopped Tae Yun.
“Let me explain more simply. You’re all aware that mobile phones have sensors that detect the degree of tilt, yes?”
That part made sense.
Screen rotation based on device tilt was a standard smartphone feature.
When Ye Ji nodded, the explanation continued at a measured pace.
“Through precise scanning, we’ll convert your work into data, allowing people to hold it in their hands and perceive its three-dimensionality.”
Creating a sense of depth in a painting required several elements, but the most crucial was the interplay of light and shadow.
When displaying her actual works, Ye Ji carefully controlled the exhibition space’s lighting precisely for this reason.
Hanseong’s approach was to leverage the tilt sensors in mobile phones to preserve that quality.
“Tilt your phone, and the image moves fluidly in three dimensions, much like a pop-up book.”
“That’s… actually possible?”
At Ye Ji’s genuine expression of surprise, Tae Yun broke into a satisfied smile.
“We’re Hanseong, after all. It’s essentially the same principle as VR Technology….”
He began enthusiastically listing complex terms again.
But Ye Ji had now grasped enough context to understand the general thrust, reading between the lines.
To summarize:
They would use every sensor and technology available in a mobile phone to render her work three-dimensionally.
“We’ll implement it with precision that will certainly satisfy you.”
Ye Ji, encountering the technology for the first time, found herself genuinely interested.
Glancing at Hyun Min, she saw that he too hadn’t expected Hanseong to go this far—his expression carried a note of surprise.
“That sounds excellent. Are there any specific requests about what kind of work you’d like me to create?”
The moment Ye Ji gave her affirmative answer, Tae Yun seemed to come alive, exhaling a palpable sigh of relief.
It appeared Jae Hyun had put considerable pressure on him.
Jae Hyun himself seemed satisfied with her response, clenching his fist with determination as he spoke.
“Of course! We have things we’d like to ask of you as well!”
It was natural to expect a company to have a specific vision when making a request.
Ye Ji, being a flexible artist in terms of subject matter, was prepared to listen with an open mind.
But then.
“First, we’ll be launching in three color options, so we’d prefer the Goyo Edition doesn’t feature these. We want to avoid overlapping with the standard offerings….”
The colors he showed her were white, blue, and purple.
Never mind that blue and purple happened to be Ye Ji’s preferred colors—that was secondary.
“And we’d like you to capture Hanseong’s forward-thinking, progressive, and modern sensibility while maintaining the warm, analog softness that suits your artistic style….”
As the requirements piled on, Ye Ji’s expression began to stiffen.
Absorbed in his vision, Jae Hyun continued outlining his wishes.
“Oh, and since the product needs to sell, perhaps we could blend popular appeal with the philosophical depth of High-End Art?”
The moment Jae Hyun finished, Ye Ji and Hyun Min’s eyes locked.
……Was this really it?
The instant both realized this didn’t sit right, Ye Ji spoke up.
“Could I possibly see the product in more detail?”
***
Hae Yun wore a distinctly sour expression as her former student sat before her.
During her years as a university professor,
Han Mu Yeong had been the most brilliant and accomplished of her students.
She’d even once hoped that he might one day surpass her.
“You don’t look particularly pleased to see me.”
The reason for her displeasure was straightforward.
“What conversation could we possibly have at this point?”
During the height of Mu Yeong’s rising prominence,
after their bitter quarrel, they’d had no contact for the past decade or so.
“I heard recently that you’ve been traveling abroad quite often.”
Not quite “often,” really.
Just one trip to France, but Hae Yun could guess why he was bringing it up.
‘The director showed interest in your work after finding it online and was quite impressed.’
Though that hadn’t been her intention in going, Marc had indeed taken notice of the painter Hae Yun.
The director Marc, accompanied by an interpreter, had sought her out before she departed Paris.
Even amid the chaos of Ye Ji’s unexpected troubles, Marc had remained steadfastly devoted to art.
He’d discovered Hae Yun’s work online through an introduction, and the impression it made was so strong that he felt compelled to share it in person.
‘Would you be interested in holding an exhibition in Paris?’
And so Hae Yun had received a proposal from Marc.
Nothing was confirmed yet.
Discussions were still ongoing, with various opinions being exchanged.
Of course, this was a secret she hadn’t yet shared with Ye Ji.
“News travels fast.”
Could her work, so steeped in Korean sensibility, truly gain traction overseas?
She herself still harbored doubts.
‘How on earth did he find out?’
Was it gossip circulating among her disciples?
His sudden appearance raised many questions.
“You once told me that attempting the overseas market would yield no results.”
……Did I really say all that?
They say the one who strikes forgets, while the one struck remembers.
Though Hae Yun recalled their final quarrel, the reason for it had already slipped her mind. She let out a small cough.
She certainly played the affectionate grandfather to Ye Ji, but that was limited to her alone.
With a reputation for being stubborn and sharp-tongued, there was every chance she’d actually said something like that.
As Hae Yun neither confirmed nor denied it, Mu Yeong, sipping his tea, let out a knowing laugh.
Clearly he hadn’t expected her to remember or apologize.
He continued with his story.
“And I’ve also heard rumors that you’ve taken a liking to one of your recent students.”
At this stiffly cordial conversation over tea, Han Gyu was also present.
How could Mu Yeong possibly know of matters she’d kept private and undisclosed?
Han Gyu, sensing something odd about how quickly the news had spread, pondered for a moment before it suddenly clicked.
“Come to think of it, Mi Rae, who left our studio, transferred to your workshop, didn’t she?”
Since Hae Yun certainly wouldn’t remember, Han Gyu spoke deliberately, filling in the details.
Mi Rae had been a junior disciple who’d grown jealous of Ye Ji back when she was just beginning to earn Hae Yun and Han Gyu’s respect through her talent.
She had been that one disciple’s name.
Mu Yeong didn’t deny it and simply nodded.
“Unintentionally, it seems Mi Rae has maintained contact with the disciples still working here.”
At Mu Yeong’s words about rumors reaching him despite his lack of intent, Han Gyu’s brow creased slightly.
Perhaps he should remind the young disciples to be more discreet.
But Hae Yun merely gazed at Mu Yeong with an inscrutable expression.
Since she’d never asked him to keep quiet about it, there was little concern about information slipping out.
“This Ye Ji, I hear, is making quite a name for herself in various circles.”
Meeting Hae Yun’s gaze, Mu Yeong continued methodically.
“My daughter happens to attend the same school.”
Had Mu Yeong’s daughter already reached that age?
The thought crossed Hae Yun’s mind, but only briefly.
As she listened to his subsequent remarks, she could no longer hold back.
“And?”
Hae Yun found little of interest in what Mu Yeong was saying.
“Did you come here to settle old grievances?”
Why had he come at all?
Wanting to cut through the waste of time, Hae Yun interrupted him.
Undeterred by her cold reception, Mu Yeong answered.
“Simply to see what you’re thinking these days. And because I was curious about something.”
In the gaze of Mu Yeong as he spoke, Hae Yun perceived one thing clearly.
Something from a time that barely lingered in her own memory remained profoundly etched in his.
“I’m having a solo exhibition in America next year.”
“…….”
As Hae Yun continued wearing an expression that seemed to ask “And?”, Mu Yeong’s face shifted slightly.
It seemed he’d hoped for some reaction from her but had come away empty.
“That’s all.”
Mu Yeong, nearing fifty,
his lined face now facing Hae Yun’s.
It became clear that his sole purpose in coming had been to share that news and witness her reaction.
Receiving nothing in return, he rose from his seat.
“Stay well. You must live a long life.”
With that parting—sincere or not, unclear—Mu Yeong departed, leaving an empty space behind.
Hae Yun tilted her head curiously.
What reaction had Mu Yeong truly hoped to elicit from her?

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