The Reborn Genius of an Arts High School - Chapter 37

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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 37.
Asking a customer to help with odd jobs like this.
Seong-su nodded, feeling apologetic as he tidied up some trash.
Ye-ji hesitated for a moment, then seemed to steel herself before speaking.
“So… would it be all right if I used the second floor as a studio?”
She wondered if the request was presumptuous, but she couldn’t stop thinking about the large, spacious area she’d seen earlier.
Besides, searching for a studio rental without knowing anything about the area was terribly inefficient.
“If it’s no trouble. And of course, I’d pay rent.”
Ye-ji added this quickly.
Wouldn’t someone like Seong-su make a perfect landlord?
He was reasonably unobservant and understood art, which would make it easier to ask for favors.
“The second floor?”
“Why not?”
Se-hui answered before Seong-su could, her response immediate and decisive.
“Yeah, why not? Let’s do it.”
He might have seemed reluctant about his niece butting in like that.
But Seong-su seemed to find his cheerful niece nothing but charming, chuckling as he continued.
“You don’t have to pay rent, though….”
Though asking her to move in with no compensation seemed awkward for both of them.
Seong-su didn’t want to be crass about naming it “monthly rent,” and he fell silent in thought.
Se-hui seized the moment again.
“Then what about just covering the Utility Costs? I’ve been so sick of dealing with those bills anyway.”
“Right, that works. So, would you mind handling maintenance while you’re using the space freely?”
The building sat mostly empty during exhibitions and other work periods anyway.
Someone had to keep it maintained.
If someone were using it and taking care of it at the same time, it would actually be a relief to Seong-su.
“Plus… if I rent it to you now, I won’t be able to make excuses later about being too busy, right?”
“Uncle! Keep thoughts like that to yourself!”
Ye-ji found herself laughing at what was starting to feel like a familiar banter between Seong-su and Se-hui.
“I won’t change my mind later, I promise!”
“Anyway, I’ll rent it to you. Don’t worry, just let me know when you’re ready.”
Seong-su confirmed once more, a smile in his voice.
“The second floor really would be better for painting anyway.”
The second floor was already set up to maintain consistent humidity and temperature for storing artwork.
It was naturally the ideal space for Ye-ji to work.
With one concern lifted, Ye-ji felt noticeably more at ease.
Finally, she’d be rid of the Oil Painting smell at home!
Though she was used to the pungent aroma, she’d always felt bad about it for her parents.
Afterward, the three of them snacked on leftovers and made idle conversation.
Seong-su was clearly a shy introvert, so Se-hui mostly drove the conversation.
Ye-ji was grateful Se-hui had come along today.
“Come again next time. Feel free to call, and feel free to….”
How many times was he going to say “feel free”?
Lacking the weight of a true adult, yet utterly serious when it came to his own work—a peculiar sort of person.
Ye-ji’s impression of Seong-su seemed to be solidifying in exactly that way.
After finishing their conversation, as they stepped out of the studio, Se-hui grabbed Ye-ji’s arm.
“Ye-ji, what are you doing now? Got any plans for tonight?”
“Me? Not really….”
Before Ye-ji could finish, Se-hui’s eyes lit up and she bounced excitedly.
“Then let’s go out and have fun!”
Se-hui was already chattering before Ye-ji could respond.
“We were supposed to get closer anyway! Come on, let’s go! A Noraebang! Four-Cut Photos!”
Ye-ji was already being dragged along by Se-hui’s sudden enthusiasm.
It wasn’t that she disliked it; she just kept missing her cues to respond to Se-hui’s unfamiliar exuberance.
The sun hadn’t set yet.
“Okay, let’s go. Come on! Stop tugging!”
At Ye-ji’s words, Se-hui let out a laugh bright enough to match a squeal.
Ye-ji walked down the Hill Road with her, full of energy.
The weather was perfect—a brilliant blue sky without a single cloud.
***
[Da-hye: You’re terrible!]
Suddenly?
The next day, riding in her father’s car toward somewhere, Ye-ji was startled by her phone buzzing.
The message from Da-hye was hard to make sense of.
[What?]
[Da-hye: You went out with Se-hui and didn’t tell me?]
It wasn’t like she had deliberately excluded her….
Before Ye-ji could ask how she knew, another message came.
[Da-hye: I saw it on Park Se-hui’s SNS!]
[Da-hye: You guys posted the Four-Cut Photo you took together?]
That….
Ye-ji didn’t particularly enjoy taking photos.
It wasn’t that she disliked it—more that she didn’t know how, and that awkwardness made her uncomfortable.
Se-hui had even assigned her large Sunglasses and specific poses.
Thanks to that, the photos had turned out quite natural.
‘You’re posting this on SNS?’
When Se-hui asked, Ye-ji had nodded without much thought.
Unexpectedly, it seemed Da-hye really disliked being left out.
[We went to Seong-su’s studio and then just thought it’d be a waste to head straight home.]
[Let’s all hang out next time.]
[Da-hye: Take Four-Cut Photos with me too!]
[Yeah, yeah, we’ll take them together.]
[How about academy—are you done?]
[Da-hye: Of course not]
[Da-hye: I gotta go to art class]
Da-hye complained along with a sad emoji, then shared information about her tutoring.
[Da-hye: Oh, and the tutoring teacher said we should start taking English and Korean History together]
Da-hye shared a schedule to begin next week.
As Ye-ji exchanged messages with Da-hye, they arrived at their destination in no time.
“We’re here.”
The car came to a stop with her father’s voice.
As she stepped out, Ye-ji recognized the Canvas Factory she’d visited before with Han-gyu.
“Oh, you made it?”
Stepping inside, Ji-min greeted them warmly, working even on a Sunday.
It seemed she came in herself on weekends without staff.
Ji-min bowed politely to Ye-ji’s father and asked.
“What are you planning to paint this time?”
Ji-min, dressed casually today, led both of them to the office as she asked.
The office looked slightly different from before.
The middle section of the wall that had been filled with artwork now stood empty.
As Ye-ji stared at the wall instead of answering, Ji-min smiled and spoke.
“Your painting will go up there.”
Ah, right—she’d spent quite a bit buying paintings back then.
Ji-min added teasingly with mock complaint.
“Now you should buy from me. Celebrated newcomer that you are.”
Ye-ji laughed at her joking comment and nodded.
“This time it’s a commissioned piece anyway, so I should.”
“So you’re using Linen Canvas?”
“Yes. How big is an 80 S again?”
“S?”
Ji-min seemed puzzled and asked back.
“Let me take you to the Warehouse to look first?”
Before that, Ji-min glanced at Ye-ji’s father and asked.
“Would you like some tea, sir?”
After offering him refreshment so he wouldn’t have to enter the dusty Warehouse.
Ji-min and Ye-ji headed to the Warehouse.
The Canvas Factory’s Warehouse felt like a treasure trove to Ye-ji.
Canvases ranging from massive sizes to ones small enough to fit in her palm.
Among the varied stacks, Ji-min deftly pulled one out.
“This is a square—112.1 centimeters.”
Even though Ji-min was taller than Ye-ji, it extended past her waist.
Quite large, actually.
Ye-ji quietly assessed the size, then nodded.
“Perfect. Send me two of these, and ten 50 F’s, and about five 100 F’s.”
She rattled off orders for dozens more in smaller sizes on top of that.
Ji-min nodded while writing them down, then paused.
100 was huge—almost as tall as Ye-ji herself.
Even 50 F was quite large, with its longer side exceeding one meter.
“You found a studio?”
When painters suddenly bought large sizes in bulk like this, the answer was predictable.
“Either they’ve expanded their workspace, or they’ve got a solo exhibition lined up. It’s almost always one or the other.”
Ye-ji nodded in agreement.
“Yes, I got the number from when I sold that piece. From my uncle.”
As Ye-ji spoke, Ji-min, who’d been tapping her calculator, let out a small laugh.
“Uncle…. What kind of connections do you have? Jeong Hae-yun as a teacher and Seong-su as an uncle?”
Ji-min’s voice carried envious admiration as she continued.
“Anyway, so? Did he introduce you to a studio?”
Ye-ji realized belatedly that this sounded like bragging.
But since she’d need to arrange delivery for the canvases, not mentioning it would seem odd.
“No, it’s not like that. I’m just renting some empty space in my uncle’s studio.”
“……You’re sharing a studio with Seong-su?”
“Well, it’s not exactly….”
Strictly speaking, was it not sharing?
She hesitated between denying or confirming, then ultimately nodded.
“It’s kind of like that.”
“Wow, so he really did just ignore me and run away that day?”
Ah.
Ye-ji’s mouth went shut at Ji-min’s words.
Before, she might have thought it was rude, but the Seong-su she saw yesterday….
“He’s really shy about meeting new people. I only got to talk with him because my friend happened to be his niece—same school and all.”
“And he’s supposed to be a grown man at that….”
Ji-min grumbled with dissatisfaction, then handed over an estimate.
In the meantime, she’d professionally finished calculating the price.
“I quoted you for the best quality.”
Saying so, Ji-min showed her a smooth canvas made from fine wood.
She added that she’d produce all of them to the same specifications.
“You have to use good canvas, or you’ll hear complaints later.”
It was certainly expensive, but Ji-min had a point.
Using cheap canvas that degrades would be the worst-case scenario.
Since she’d be using this same canvas for the piece commissioned by the chairman, quality mattered.
“Thank you. In return, could you make delivery free?”
“……Because it’s you. Only because it’s you.”
Ji-min made a playfully reluctant face, then laughed.
“I’ll deposit the payment to your account later.”
“Sure, do that.”
As they left the Warehouse and headed back to the office.
Ji-min suddenly remembered something and asked.
“By the way, that Mont Lavaleur Youth Contest you entered—haven’t the results come out yet?”
“Oh, that….”
She’d been busy and had half-forgotten about it.
“The final results come out next week.”
“What? Next week?”
At Ye-ji’s answer, Ji-min paused to calculate the dates.
Even if it was next week, today was Sunday, so….
“Wow, you must be nervous.”
“It’s out of my hands now anyway.”
It’s lucky she’d forgotten about it.
Especially now, when her mind was occupied with the next piece—it was a relief on multiple fronts.
She was prepared not to be disappointed regardless of the outcome.
“Delivery will be within next week…. When exactly is the announcement?”
“Next Friday.”
“Then I’ll bring them myself next Friday evening.”
Ye-ji laughed at the obvious intention behind her words.
Curiosity was ultimately just interest and anticipation.
She didn’t know if she’d place, but she’d given it her best.
She could certainly share the results with someone who cared.
“Sounds good. See you next week then.”

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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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