The Reborn Genius of an Arts High School - Chapter 27

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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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Chapter 27.
A few days of school amounted to nothing more than repetition of routine.
And at last, the day of installation arrived.
‘…My heart’s racing for no reason.’
Ye-ji submitted an experiential learning form to school so she could oversee the installation of her works directly.
Until tomorrow’s opening, two days of experiential learning.
Ye-ji snapped a photo of her works in transit, partly for reference images.
Some pieces weren’t particularly heavy, and since they were made of small components, the transport went more smoothly than expected.
Packing them carefully so nothing would be damaged in transit, then unpacking once they arrived—
that proved far more tedious than the transport itself.
“So we just hang these in numerical order, right?”
The people hired by Seohwa Gallery were undeniably professionals.
They checked the plan Ye-ji had given them and the work numbers, then began hanging everything at an aesthetically pleasing height without needing instruction.
“Miss, if we hung this any higher, the pieces above wouldn’t be visible. So we’re going to hang this one a bit lower than the others….”
“Yes, please do. I thought that would be best too.”
Once the professional laser machine leveled everything and a few people pitched in, it was finished in no time.
The wall that had seemed vast now filled completely with her works.
Ye-ji’s heart raced at the sight.
“Did a student really draw all this alone?”
“Wow…. A college student? She looks so young.”
“Not just young-looking—she IS young. She’s a high school student.”
Those who made installation and transport their profession understood art at a high level.
So they had no choice but to be impressed by Ye-ji’s work.
Even as Ye-ji smiled shyly, they huddled together and whispered among themselves.
Though they seemed mindful of their words, they all appeared to be studying her pieces closely.
“What, you’re all done already?”
Han-gyu, who had been busy overseeing the installation of Hae-yun’s works, arrived a bit late.
“Yes, since the pieces were light, it actually finished quickly.”
Ye-ji answered with satisfaction, gazing at all two hundred and fifty works properly hung.
“The real struggle was with your grandfather’s works, apparently?”
The workers who had finished installing Ye-ji’s pieces were already moving toward Hae-yun’s section.
It seemed that side had mostly large pieces, so moving them took considerably longer.
Hanji is incredibly durable, but it’s naturally more fragile than plywood or fabric.
If someone mishandled even one piece and damaged a work worth hundreds of millions of won….
“I was breaking out in a cold sweat the whole time. But now that we’ve moved everything and positioned it all, we just need to finish the installation.”
Han-gyu didn’t sound like he was exaggerating—even in the still-chilly weather, he wore only a light short-sleeved shirt.
“The master put a lot of care into this exhibition. Recently, he hasn’t done anything on this scale.”
Han-gyu’s words made it sound as though Hae-yun had done all this for Ye-ji’s sake.
But wouldn’t this be good for Hae-yun too?
No matter how great an artist becomes, they can only keep that title if their works are widely shown and people keep coming to see them.
Staying hidden away in the countryside only guaranteed being forgotten in this modern age.
It was a wise decision to come out reluctantly while people still sought him out.
“Are you done for the day?”
“No, I’m just grabbing a bite to eat, then coming back to tidy things up a bit more before heading out.”
Han-gyu, having worked hard, looked rather pitiful.
“Then let’s go together. When will your grandfather arrive?”
“He’ll probably come up tomorrow around the time of the opening.”
As Ye-ji continued talking with Han-gyu, she suddenly caught sight of a familiar face.
They were among Hae-yun’s other students who would be exhibiting in the Annex.
“You’re not going to check on the Annex exhibition?”
“They need to handle that themselves. They’re not children, and I’m not obligated to oversee everything.”
Any mistakes are their responsibility to bear.
Such was the pragmatic logic of adults.
“Tomorrow will be quite hectic, so get some good rest.”
Han-gyu, who had casually thrown on a jacket, offered Ye-ji one final piece of advice.
“It’s best to arrive an hour or two before the opening.”
Ye-ji bowed lightly in gratitude at his words.
At last, tomorrow.
Ye-ji tried to calm her excitement as she headed home.
***
The opening day of an exhibition was when Seohwa Gallery’s curator became busiest.
Especially a master artist’s exhibition that the director had personally planned and arranged, rather than the curator herself.
Especially a master artist’s exhibition that the director had personally planned and arranged.
‘God, this place is way too big…!’
Curator Seo Su-jin, dressed in heels and formal attire, was sprinting at full speed.
Of all days to be late!
All she could hope was that the director wouldn’t find out.
“Oh, this must be one of Master Jeong’s new works.”
“I heard he made quite a few new pieces for this exhibition.”
“Remarkable, isn’t it? Master’s work seems to gain more energy with each passing day.”
The curator wove through the people admiring the works, offering greetings naturally as she passed.
Acting as though she’d been here all along, not just arriving.
She casually hid her bag behind her and made her way toward the elevator.
Other staff members had surely arrived first and arranged everything properly, so the event itself would go without a hitch.
But she was the one responsible, arriving later than the guests—that wasn’t good.
Superiors never liked discovering such things.
‘What….’
Why was it so crowded in front of the elevator?
For a moment she felt irritated, but then Su-jin’s worry took over.
Had something gone wrong?
As she pushed through the murmuring crowd, she caught their voices.
“This isn’t Master Jeong’s work, is it?”
“Ye-ji…? It’s someone else’s work.”
“Who is it?”
Ye-ji.
Hearing that name, Su-jin carefully moved closer to the elevator.
There were many people, but no one was actually using the elevator.
She pressed the up button immediately, then finally turned to look back.
“….”
She’d definitely seen Ye-ji’s pieces coming in yesterday.
But because she’d left the gallery early to check on catering, she hadn’t seen the final installation.
Ding—
The elevator arrived with its mechanical chime, but Su-jin remained standing, lost in thought as she gazed at the works.
The overall panels seemed both separate and unified, achieving a subtle harmony.
And the perspective was flawless.
For modern students, expressing depth through drawing wasn’t easy.
Yet the viewpoint had been maintained with remarkable skill and consistency.
Not just one concept—divided into four concepts matching the title “Four Seasons”.
She had used different materials for each while maintaining a cohesive feeling throughout.
‘Surely….’
Wasn’t Ye-ji just a high school student who’d only turned eighteen this year?
“……Manager Seo? Aren’t you getting in?”
Su-jin nearly cried out in shock at the voice of Director Seo Tae-kyung from beside her.
She’d been so absorbed in the works that she hadn’t noticed him approach.
Before she could react, Su-jin found herself in the elevator with him, scrambling for an excuse.
“You certainly arrived quickly, didn’t you? Hmm?”
Anyone could hear the sarcasm in his tone.
But Tae-kyung seemed to be in an excellent mood.
Su-jin decided to simply apologize instead of making excuses.
“I’m sorry….”
“Never mind. You’ve been so busy lately. It happens.”
As expected, the cheerful Tae-kyung brushed off her lateness as no big deal.
A mixture of lingering impressions and relief washed over Su-jin, and she let out a long sigh.
So what was she supposed to do first again….
She’d definitely thought of a list of things on her way here.
But her mind had gone blank—all she wanted was to go back down and look at those works again.
“Go grab some water and come back down. Master Jeong will be arriving soon.”
“Yes, of course!”
At least it had worked out without incident.
Even as she thought that, Su-jin was certain of one thing.
The reason Tae-kyung looked so pleased—
—surely had quite a bit to do with student Ye-ji.
***
“Wow….”
Ye-ji opened her mouth in wonder at the gasp that escaped her mother’s lips.
There were far more people at the opening than she’d expected.
“Now I understand why you said to come early.”
It was still an hour before the opening event was scheduled to begin, yet the place was already crowded.
People viewing the works must have arrived much earlier.
Ye-ji had hurried as much as she could, but due to an unexpected traffic jam in Central Seoul, she’d arrived a bit late.
After taking her parents on a quick tour of the Annex and leaving,
she ran into Han-gyu, who was greeting guests.
It was their first meeting since seeing him in the countryside, and the first time she’d seen him properly dressed.
“Hello. It’s been a while.”
“Oh, how wonderful to see you. You look so impressive all dressed up.”
“Thank you so much for taking such good care of our Ye-ji.”
At the greetings from both her mother and father, Han-gyu waved his hand.
“Not at all. Ye-ji did all the work. Have you seen the pieces?”
After exchanging these light pleasantries, they all returned to the Main Building together.
“They’re all people of some standing. Making connections with them won’t hurt.”
True to Han-gyu’s words, everyone present was impeccably dressed.
They didn’t check who entered, but the opening was fundamentally an invitation-only event.
Assorted finger foods and champagne were arranged throughout the exhibition space, and people leisurely browsed the works with unhurried ease.
The atmosphere was lavish yet appropriately lively.
As Ye-ji glanced around, Han-gyu answered first.
“He’ll arrive at the appointed time.”
True—someone like Hae-yun had no need to mingle in this bustle beforehand.
The star always arrived last.
“…….”
Even as these thoughts crossed Ye-ji’s mind, she felt a distinctly prickling gaze at the back of her head.
Unfortunately, because she had intuition, she couldn’t help but notice that subtle attention.
Ye-ji whispered quietly to Han-gyu.
“The exhibitors in the Annex don’t seem to like me very much.”
“More accurate to say they hate you.”
At Han-gyu’s blunt words, Ye-ji exhaled sharply.
Of course, she knew there was no reason for them to like her.
They must have followed some elite path of their own.
It made sense they’d resent a sudden newcomer like her.
But she was still just a student, far younger than they were.
It bothered her more than the wariness she’d received from Ji-an, her peer.
“Just enjoy it. Once you reach your level, you’ll need to get used to this treatment for life.”
A talent outside the ordinary.
Those who recognized Ye-ji’s abilities regarded her at that level.
So naturally, the gazes directed at her would be extreme.
Favoritism, or jealousy.
“Just tell yourself it’s all because you’re too talented, and move on.”
At Han-gyu’s words, Ye-ji wasn’t sure whether to laugh or not.
Fortunately, her works displayed in the Main Building were quite popular.
Though the narrow corridor certainly contributed to the sense of crowding whenever even a few visitors gathered.
So many people admiring her work.
Simply watching them was enough to make Ye-ji happy.
“Not much time left now.”
At her father’s words, Ye-ji also checked the time.
The opening would be starting soon.
After the opening introduced the artists,
there would be light docent-led tours in both the Main Building and the Annex.
“Oh, Ye-ji. Your master has arrived. Want to go greet him together?”
At Han-gyu’s words, Ye-ji immediately followed him.
It was more an act of courtesy to an elder than any sense of obligation.
At the news of his arrival, people had gathered slightly at the entrance.
Han-gyu and Ye-ji passed through them and went to Hae-yun’s vehicle.
The car door opened, and Ye-ji was about to cheerfully greet her grandfather, whom she hadn’t seen in some time—
“……?”
But the person who stepped out of the back seat wasn’t Hae-yun.
An exceptionally refined middle-aged woman.
And from the other side, Hae-yun emerged.
He’d said he had no daughter, so was she perhaps a relative, or another guest?
The question arose, but faced with an elder, Ye-ji reflexively bowed in greeting.
And immediately after, she could glean the identity of this strange woman from the murmurs around her.
“Wait, isn’t that the chairwoman of SS Group…?”

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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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