The Reborn Genius of an Arts High School - Chapter 41

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

Episode 41.
A remote countryside, a traditional Korean house nestled along a mountain path.
Jeong Haeyun’s studio, located there.
Even at mealtime, his main house remained quiet.
Amid the gentle clinking of dishes, Haeyun suddenly shouted at Han Gyou, displeased about something.
“Can’t you put that phone down during meals?”
Jeong Haeyun was so meticulous as to be downright cantankerous.
Of course, this time it wasn’t simply his stubbornness—there was another reason.
Han Gyou was still glued to his phone despite it being mealtime.
But Han Gyou answered without any sign of displeasure.
“Ah, that. Master. It’s today.”
“What is?”
He asked reflexively, but soon Haeyun grasped what he meant.
Today. Of course.
“Yeji’s results for the France competition. The Phase 1 Physical Artwork Review results are coming out today….”
……coming out?
Han Gyou’s sentence trailed off there.
Haeyun’s brow furrowed sharply at the incomplete words caused by Han Gyou’s focus on his screen.
Noticing Haeyun’s expression a moment too late, Han Gyou hurried to add more.
“The time has passed, but the results still haven’t come out.”
The online review had come back quickly, so he’d expected the same this time.
“But why is the physical review taking so long….”
Han Gyou’s voice trailed off again mid-sentence.
Just as Haeyun was about to launch into a lecture, Han Gyou spoke once more.
“It’s up. It’s here. Just a moment.”
Han Gyou finally set down even the spoon in his hand and began checking the announcement that had appeared on his screen.
In that moment, Haeyun too forgot his complaints and watched Han Gyou in hushed anticipation.
Whatever the result was for that girl—it didn’t matter.
She was still young, overflowing with drive and talent.
Yet despite what he should have said, Haeyun found himself holding onto a small hope for good news.
The possibility he saw abundantly in her work.
Would it be visible to the world’s eyes as well?
“…….”
Because the announcement was written in unfamiliar French, he read slowly.
A brief apology for the delayed announcement.
Basic information about the successful candidates.
And soon the list began with the nationalities and names of those who had passed.
“Twenty total have been selected. Three from France….”
The list continued with Germany, Italy, and Japan.
Being an international competition, the entries were listed by country.
When arranged alphabetically, South Korea was placed awkwardly.
The order varied depending on how it was written.
Just as Han Gyou reached nearly the end of the list with growing tension.
A familiar country name and a name appeared.
“South Korea, Yeji Lee.”
At the name that came from Han Gyou’s lips, Haeyun struck his knee without thinking.
Han Gyou was so startled by his hearty reaction that he jumped.
“I knew it! I said she’d make it!”
Just how much had Haeyun been expecting.
Han Gyou bit back his laughter at the sight of the old master muttering repeatedly that he’d known all along.
He was a man who always appeared taciturn.
This excited expression was something Han Gyou was seeing for the first time.
“Yes, you did. I didn’t think she’d fail, but it’s really happened. Should I offer congratulations….”
“No!”
Haeyun gestured for Han Gyou to wait, waving his hand.
“Leave it. She’ll call first!”
And Haeyun stared at his phone.
If Yeji saw the news, how quickly would she contact him?
It was a silly question, but one that had suddenly become quite important to him.
“The announcement was late anyway. Yeji might see it later.”
Han Gyou added gently, seeing right through Haeyun’s transparent eagerness.
But Haeyun’s ears had already stopped listening properly.
No matter how old one grew, there was no escaping human nature.
In the end, we prove our worth through someone’s recognition.
It was an instinct born of being a social creature.
So humans, for all their reason, could never stop being bound to results.
And artists—they were even more so.
Even if they adopted a dignified air and spouted philosophy as if they understood everything, the essence was the same.
But the artist’s impulse was often twisted in a particular way.
It wasn’t themselves they wanted recognized—it was the artwork born from their hands and mind.
The reason artists seemed eccentric to most people stemmed largely from that disconnect.
‘That girl, though young, has already acknowledged and accepted that truth.’
Her aspiration to create work that left a deep impression on people.
From that moment, Haeyun began to place great expectations on Yeji.
“Master. The food is getting cold.”
Han Gyou spoke with a hint of amusement in his voice.
By now, Haeyun had fallen into contemplation, his gaze fixed only on his phone.
“Ahem. I’ll eat. I’ll eat.”
Just as Haeyun, aware of his own foolishness, reached for his spoon again.
Buzz—
His phone rang.
Before the vibration had even finished, Haeyun snatched up his phone with surprising speed.
***
“Oh, picking up right away…. Grandfather! How have you been?”
Yeji greeted Haeyun with a cheerful voice.
Jimin, clapping in celebration, and Sungsu immediately relaying the news to Sehee.
Because the two of them were making a commotion before her, Yeji continued with a lilt of laughter in her voice.
“Yes, what is it.”
To Haeyun’s still-gruff voice, Yeji matched his tone as evenly as she could.
“Oh, nothing much. You know that painting I finished at your place before?”
“The Montrebleu International Youth Art Competition?”
Yeji was taken aback to hear the full name of the competition from Haeyun’s lips.
He had a good memory.
“Yes, that one. The Phase 1 Physical Artwork Review results came out.”
“And?”
At Haeyun’s offhand tone, Yeji blurted out just as casually that it was nothing.
“So, I passed. I’m calling to tell you that, and to say hello too.”
“What do you mean it’s nothing special, making a fuss about it. Who taught you.”
Haeyun rebuked her, as if it were obvious and not something to make a show about.
But because his words kept going on longer than usual, Yeji eventually burst into laughter.
“If you’re satisfied with just this, you might as well quit now. You’re halfway there—don’t waste it flaunting how far you’ve come!”
She could tell from how chatty he’d become that he was in a good mood.
To Yeji’s ear, his words sounded like encouragement for her efforts.
He really was an honest old man in his own way.
“Oh, right. I don’t know what the Phase 2 theme is yet—they haven’t announced it….”
“Why does that matter? Don’t worry about it. What matters is your mindset.”
Yeji nodded at his words.
He was right.
This year’s competition format was different from previous years.
So worrying and thinking about it ahead of time would be a waste of effort.
Including the unpredictable timing of result announcements, it seemed the Phase 2 theme would also be kept secret.
“That’s true. By the way, have you eaten?”
At Yeji’s question, Haeyun answered briefly that he had, then asked back.
“When is it being announced?”
“What?”
“The Phase 2 competition theme!”
So he did care, despite telling her not to worry.
“I’m not sure. They said they’d send a separate email, but I don’t think they’ll reveal the theme. It seems a lot has changed from last year.”
At Yeji’s words, Haeyun fell silent for a moment, seemingly lost in thought.
“Understood.”
And with that, the call ended abruptly.
The call dropped the moment his business was concluded.
Laughing at this, Yeji turned her attention elsewhere.
Before her stood two eager adults who had been watching intently for the call to end.
“What did he say?”
“You two are really close with Haeyun, aren’t you?”
At Jimin and Sungsu’s questions, Yeji answered with an awkward laugh.
“Close… I’m not sure about that. It just seemed like the natural reaction for him.”
Speaking with an embarrassed smile, Yeji shared the news of her success with her parents and friends.
Her parents were probably on their way home from work anyway, so a message would be easier than a call.
As several chat rooms began to buzz with activity once she uploaded a screenshot of the Phase 1 winner announcement.
“Ah, you shouldn’t stay! Get home right away!”
Jimin pushed Yeji out the door.
At her insistence that Yeji should celebrate with her parents on a day like this, Yeji found herself being ushered toward the exit.
“I’ll take care of the canvas—I’ll move it somewhere convenient for you to use when you get back.”
Jimin, subtly referring to herself as “unnie,” prompted Yeji to offer a polite demurral.
“I’m sorry for the trouble….”
“No, don’t be. Go home early today. I’ll make sure to check on it.”
Even Sungsu joined in, trying to send her back home.
Though she had to admit Sungsu’s recent words sounded a bit dubious.
“Then…. Thank you so much!”
Instead, Yeji made Jimin promise once more.
Then, swept along with the congratulatory messages flooding her phone, she ran down the hill road.
***
Yeji spent a chaotic night fielding congratulations from all directions.
The congratulations that poured in came with oddly cautionary undertones, as if telling her not to feel burdened.
‘It’s already amazing to get this far!’
For a competition that carried the title of “international.”
At most, three people would take home awards in the end.
The Grand Prize, the Judges’ Award, and a kind of Audience Popularity Award that reflected spectators’ reactions.
There had been times when no award was given at all if no work was deemed suitable.
It was meant as a kind gesture toward Yeji, but it only stirred her competitive spirit instead.
‘I could be one of those three, couldn’t I?’
Stop here, they said.
If that were the case, she wouldn’t have started in the first place.
Due to the time difference, Yeji didn’t check the detailed email until the next morning.
‘Montrebleu….’
Here she was, receiving an email with that name again.
Rubbing her tired eyes from staring at her phone late into the night, Yeji opened the email.
The email contained the same content in two versions—French and English.
A final list of twenty artists.
The twenty physical artworks would be showcased in special booths installed in a gallery.
It began with standard language giving the option to withdraw the work if she disagreed.
Since they had curated good work and selected finalists, displaying them seemed only natural.
As Yeji scrolled through the standard language, she was stunned by what came next.
“……What?”
Am I reading the French wrong right now?
Yeji opened a translation app and reinterpreted the sentences.
She ran the English version through translation again, and her lips pressed into a thin line.
===
We are delighted to congratulate you on your outstanding artistic inspiration and technique, as your work has been selected as one of the **final 20 finalists** after successfully passing Phase 1 of our competition.
…(abridged)…
1. Phase 2 Judging Guidelines: Live Performance
Description: To assess the artist’s pure creative process and improvisational skills, this competition operates on the principle of on-site creation judging.
Duration: You will create a new work over a total of 10 days in a designated Atelier provided for you. (Theme will be revealed on-site)
2. Schedule Coordination
Given the nature of an international youth competition, we wish to accommodate the academic and holiday schedules of participants from each country.
Phase 2 will take place in July, and we are currently reviewing a plan to divide participants into 2–3 groups.
Request: Please reply within 3 days of receiving this email with your detailed availability in July.
3. Support Provisions (Hospitality)
Financial Support: Our foundation will cover round-trip airfare (economy class) and accommodation in Paris (approximately 7 days) for the artist and one guardian.
Production Support: Basic materials needed for on-site creation will be provided by the foundation; if you require specialized materials, please request them in advance and we will prepare them.
…(abridged)…
All judges look forward to seeing how your brilliant talent will bloom under the light of Paris.
Once again, congratulations on your selection.
===

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