The Reborn Genius of an Arts High School - Chapter 118

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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 118.
“You’re here?”
Standing in front of the catering table was Young.
Today was one of the days when there were no special classes.
As far as Ye Ji knew, Young and Seong Su had no connection whatsoever.
As they exchanged greetings, both pleased and puzzled,
a cheerful voice joined from beside him.
“Hey! Who are you~?”
It was a woman who had been with Young.
She looked about the same age as him, and had such an striking impression that it was slightly intimidating.
Tanned skin and bleached hair.
For a Korean, she had quite an unusual style, and her expression was fierce, yet
“Who else? She’s my student.”
“Oh my goodness, wow. So Kim Young actually teaching people wasn’t just talk.”
Young was plenty light and cheerful himself, but this woman had an even more vibrant presence.
The woman, whose voice alone could make your spirit drain away, approached Ye Ji without hesitation.
She came right up, patted Ye Ji’s shoulder, and linked arms with her before Ye Ji could even react.
“Nice to meet you, I’m Emma. I came from the United States.”
“Oh, um… Hello. I’m Ye Ji Lee. Your Korean is really good.”
She looked Korean, but these days there were plenty of mixed-race people and immigrants.
“Of course. I went to university in Korea too. Both my parents are Korean.”
Emma rattled off information that hadn’t even been asked for, saying only she was American, then posed a question.
“But if your name is Ye Ji…”
As Emma’s words trailed off, Ye Ji felt a twinge of tension.
Did she also know about Goyo?
“You’re that student? The Montrebleu Prize winner!”
Young had clearly kept the secret well.
Only the mention of Montrebleu had come out.
“That’s seriously incredible! I never imagined a Korean could win there. Wait, I shouldn’t be saying that.”
Emma glanced around and gestured to Young.
“You go get some juice or something.”
It was said for Ye Ji’s sake, since the catering only offered wine and champagne.
“This is ridiculous, really. You don’t have to bend over backwards for her.”
Ye Ji could sort of understand why Young spoke that way when she saw his friend…
Emma, who bickered with him like a sibling, ultimately shoved Young’s back.
“Oh, I’m fine. You don’t have to…”
“No, no. You can’t just walk around empty-handed.”
It was true that everyone still remaining held a glass in hand.
Young disappeared with his characteristically quick, weightless gait, but Ye Ji was stuck in place.
Emma had already linked arms with her.
“As a teacher, how is he? Young, I mean.”
Who?
From the context it seemed like she meant Young, but
Ye Ji hesitated, and Emma smiled knowingly as she continued.
“Oh, he was actually named Young-heon when he was little. But nobody calls him that anymore.”
Young had said he moved to the United States from Korea as a child.
Now that she thought about it, his original name would have been Korean.
With that realization, Ye Ji nodded.
It wasn’t a difficult question to answer.
“He’s an unusual teacher, but a good one. He’s someone I can learn a lot from.”
At Ye Ji’s words, Emma made an uncomfortable face, as if she’d heard something unbelievable.
The vibe she gave off and her reaction seemed almost mischievous—they really must be close friends.
Seeing Emma’s expression, Ye Ji laughed and added,
“Actually, he’s a really good teacher.”
Hearing the deliberately playful word “actually,” Emma soon laughed too.
Then, with an odd expression, she glanced in the direction Young had gone and added,
“Artists are naturally thoughtful people, you know?”
Sipping her peach-scented champagne, she spoke with a newly wistful expression.
“I don’t know all the details, but… he wasn’t always like that. He was quite serious, actually.”
Emma’s tone as she recalled old memories sounded almost distant.
“He started changing once he got to high school. But now he’s going back to school as a teacher…”
Emma suddenly realized she was saying things she shouldn’t and stopped herself.
For Ye Ji, Emma’s story wasn’t particularly shocking.
She had already suspected that Young harbored a kind of darkness she couldn’t fully understand.
If it was related to his time in school,
‘…that’s not surprising either.’
It was widely known that he had dropped out of school midway.
Artists were often a profession prone to inner turmoil.
Though nowhere in the world could you find a being without some psychological strain.
Especially in the art world—where the gap between brilliance and solitude was vast.
Even a solo exhibition like this one showed that clearly.
You gathered everyone from acquaintances to acquaintances of acquaintances to become the star of the show, but only for a moment.
After the event, most artists retreat into their quiet studios and lock themselves away.
Most artists have to spend over a year preparing for this single moment.
And soon after, harsh reviews of the exhibition would follow.
‘In that sense, I’m somewhat fortunate…’
Her indifference to others’ negative reactions was one of Ye Ji’s greatest strengths.
But what about Young, then?
Ye Ji unconsciously murmured as she recalled his works and occasional glimpses of his thoughts during class.
“Come to think of it, you do seem to think far more than necessary—and deeply too.”
At Ye Ji’s words, Emma looked at her again with slightly surprised eyes.
“…So even kids can see that.”
“I’m not exactly a kid…”
At Ye Ji’s retort, Emma burst out laughing.
“You’re cute. Yeah, at eighteen you’re basically grown up.”
She genuinely didn’t believe her mental age was still in her teens, but
to Emma, it just sounded like a child eager to grow up.
Rather than argue point by point,
Young approached carrying a bottle of apple juice.
“What’s going on here? Do people at these things just drink alcohol?”
Young handed Ye Ji the drink, saying this was all they had.
After briefly thanking him and taking a sip,
Emma began making a fuss.
“Oh my goodness, now that I think about it, I haven’t properly introduced myself.”
“Come on, maybe drink a little less.”
As Emma rummaged through her bag for a business card,
Young confiscated her glass and set it down.
Emma glared at him, but quickly rummaged through her bag again and handed Ye Ji her card.
Blank New York / Gallery Director
Emma Lee
Receiving the card, Ye Ji now understood why they were both here.
Emma had been formally invited, and Young was simply accompanying her.
“I’m the director who organized this curated exhibition for artist Seong Su. He’s an exclusive artist with Mirok, after all.”
An exclusive gallery artist
was, roughly speaking, like how entertainers have talent agencies.
Basically, you either easily participate in exhibitions or events at your contracted gallery, or sometimes are contractually required to for set periods.
But when taking on outside work, you needed permission and oversight from your contracted gallery.
It seemed Emma had pushed through the Mirok contract.
“Don’t go exclusive, don’t do it.”
Young abruptly shook his head at Ye Ji.
Then he neatly snatched Emma’s card back, leaving Ye Ji staring blankly before she caught on.
The reason Emma had been so friendly and affectionate toward her was
‘…to get her to sign an exclusive contract?’
Seeing Ye Ji’s bewildered expression, Emma openly clicked her tongue in frustration.
“Why does he always sabotage other people’s business? And honestly, with a student, it’s often quite good to start through a gallery first.”
Emma shot back, and the two began bickering again.
While Emma’s intentions were genuine, her sociable nature also seemed to be part of her true personality.
“Seriously. We handle contact from all over. We take care of legal issues. We even do marketing.”
With her scheme exposed, Emma began openly pitching her services.
If Ye Ji were truly just a pure artist known only for her artistic career, this would certainly be tempting.
But Ye Ji also had the name Goyo, and Hyun Min to handle such matters.
Emma didn’t know that, though.
“Um…”
What could she say to decline cleanly without sounding cold?
Before Ye Ji could even think, Young cut in first.
“Absolutely not. Don’t even consider it.”
Becoming an exclusive artist at one gallery would obviously restrict her activities as Goyo.
Seeing Young’s firm opposition, Emma shrugged, sensing something else was going on.
Young returned Emma’s card to her handbag with a mischievous air.
“And take this with you.”
Ye Ji inwardly felt a bit of relief noticing the handbag was Celian.
“Then, what about something else?”
“Something else?”
“We’re scouting new talent right now, and I’m pretty sure Ye Ji got contacted too?”
Of course, that wasn’t about Blank New York but about their Seoul branch.
After redirecting the conversation that way and drawing Young’s attention away,
Emma quickly slipped her business card back into Ye Ji’s pocket.
“Since headquarters is here, start here, and if things go well, maybe you’ll get opportunities in New York too.”
To put it simply, it was a curated exhibition concept, not exclusivity.
As far as Ye Ji knew, Hyun Min had received inquiries from various galleries, including Blank.
Since the gallery was apparently affiliated with Hyun Min’s SS Group, he hadn’t explained it actively,
but hearing Emma’s pitch, her interest was piqued.
She’d been planning to focus only on Hanseong work this semester…
‘Even resting isn’t easy…’
Whether you called it diligence or greed,
Ye Ji tilted her head at her own wavering heart, while Emma continued her pitch.
“Other than that, since we’re under a major corporation, it often leads to quite big projects.”
This time, even Young nodded along.
“Better a curated exhibition than exclusivity, though—isn’t a servant in a nobleman’s house better than a free commoner?”
Of course, Emma’s expression soured at Young’s follow-up.
“…Are you helping or hurting? A servant in a rich household is better, right? Anything should be done with the biggest name and prestige possible.”
And besides!
“A servant isn’t even right! A gallery legitimately takes a percentage for promotion and venue rental…”
Emma began rattling off justifications for the gallery’s commission, but Young waved his hand dismissively.
“Enough. For buzz and momentum, America is really the best.”
If it was artistic recognition, conservative European art circles weren’t bad either.
But for Ye Ji, opportunity was more valuable than fame or money.
She had already successfully held her solo exhibition in Paris.
A new opportunity—literally bigger and broader.
Building connections with galleries in different cities wouldn’t be bad for that.
“So the gallery… are you listening? Ye Ji?”
Having been half-tuning out Emma’s chatter, Ye Ji laughed again.
“I’ll think about it.”
She’d need to ask Hyun Min for more details.

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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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