The Reborn Genius of an Arts High School - Chapter 76

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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 76.
Ye Ji stood with her arms crossed, thinking hard for a long time.
Once she actually started working, the images didn’t come to her as naturally as they had during the meeting.
“Can I say something?”
While Ye Ji remained lost in thought, Se Hui carefully opened her mouth.
Since Ye Ji was already pondering, she simply nodded.
“Yeah, what is it?”
Se Hui’s finger stretched out and touched the costume sketch that had been attached beside the Canvas.
“This outfit — the puffed shoulders are the focal point. If there’s wind, it’ll probably flutter quite dramatically.”
At Se Hui’s words, Ye Ji blinked.
She’d known it was a lightweight lace material since it was draped on a mannequin, but she hadn’t considered that particular detail.
“And then those shoes are the focal point too. The model will probably strike a pose to show off both of those.”
Once Ye Ji heard Se Hui’s explanation, the image began to take shape in her mind.
Only then did Ye Ji realize what was different between now and the meeting.
Back then, she’d grasped the designer’s intended focal points of the outfit.
She’d seen the common thread: the flowing skirt hem and the sweeping curves of desert sand dunes.
So she’d been able to immediately imagine an image to smoothly connect the two.
But seeing only a simple photograph like this, that intention didn’t come through, and she couldn’t easily visualize it.
“Anyway, you know as well as I do that models need a deep understanding of the garment they’re wearing. Honestly, if someone let me do it, I’d be amazing at it too….”
As Se Hui began grumbling again, Ye Ji glanced at her.
“I didn’t know that. Thanks to you, I feel like the direction’s become a lot clearer.”
At Ye Ji’s words, Se Hui’s expression brightened immediately.
“The day I actually know something you don’t — it’s finally here?”
She could visually appreciate how well the background and outfit complemented each other.
But understanding the designer’s specific intent wasn’t Ye Ji’s area of expertise.
“Of course. You’re the expert when it comes to this sort of thing.”
“Ahem. Well, that’s true.”
Having gained a fairly good advisor, Ye Ji continued with several questions.
Se Hui, her shoulders brightening, forgot she’d been sulking just moments before and eagerly chattered away.
Thanks to her input, Ye Ji finished the Sketch in no time, and spoke to Se Hui with layers of meaning in her words.
“Could you maybe help with the next phase of work too?”
She couldn’t model directly for the shoot herself, but couldn’t this also become collaborative work?
At Ye Ji’s proposal, Se Hui went momentarily blank.
“…Really? I’d actually be helpful?”
With no reason to refuse, Se Hui suddenly threw her arms around Ye Ji’s neck.
“I’d love that! Ask me anything you’re unsure about!”
Se Hui, bubbling with excitement, spoke in her characteristic bright voice.
“Right, right. You don’t really know much about luxury brands or fashion stuff, do you?”
Having asked that, Se Hui turned on her Mobile Phone and began searching for something to show her.
It was material about Celian’s seasonal collections over the past few years.
Since Ye Ji was collaborating with Celian this time, Se Hui seemed intent on sharing whatever might help.
Company characteristics, direction, history — most of it wasn’t actually that helpful.
“……But honestly, the urban aesthetic has been done to death.”
It was clear they’d tried virtually every concept imaginable.
“But actually, they tried this naturalistic direction way back too.”
With that, Se Hui found a fashion editorial from quite long ago and showed it to Ye Ji.
Though from roughly thirty years prior, it had a fairly similar atmosphere to the new collections coming out now.
“There’s a saying that fashion cycles every twenty to thirty years.”
The retro trend always returned periodically.
She’d never been particularly interested in luxury goods, but she’d definitely heard that theory before.
The image Celian wanted grew increasingly concrete.
***
And as time passed, the day of the shoot drew near.
Arriving on Jeju Island with Seong Su, Ye Ji was able to observe an actual shoot location for the first time.
In fact, there was no real need for her to come all the way to Jeju Island herself.
If she just sent the Artwork, Seong Su and the staff would handle the shoot.
But somehow, she wanted to come and see for herself.
“How do you even find places like this?”
Among the countless Beaches on Jeju Island.
How had they discovered this particular one?
Ye Ji marveled at the beautiful scenery.
As the tide receded, black volcanic stone was laid bare along the shoreline.
Beyond it, brilliant blue seawater continued churning, white foam constantly forming atop each wave.
The contrast between black and blue was almost mystical.
“What else is there? We just pound the pavement.”
Seong Su’s words were light, almost joking, but their substance was heavier.
Scouting this thoroughly by foot would be no small feat.
Ye Ji looked around the location with fascination.
“Watch the power lines over there!”
“We need heavier weights!”
“Are all the lights rigged?”
And Ye Ji quickly grew tired of the chaotic scene.
Being an outdoor shoot, voices calling out from every direction blended with the sound of waves.
Dozens of staff rushed about in the intense summer heat on the beach.
“You can rest in the car if you want.”
Even amid the rush, Seong Su simply stood and observed the situation.
Because of the glare, his usually relaxed expression looked sharp and stern instead.
“No, I want to see it all through.”
Once the numerous lights were positioned, Ye Ji’s Painting finally revealed itself under the sunlight.
“Wow… what is that?”
“Oh…….”
“That’s actually a Painting?”
Under the intense sunlight, the eyes of all the staff fixed on the Artwork.
At first glance, the Painting seemed to be an exact replica of this stretch of Beach.
But there was a difference.
The real sea, with waves crashing and white foam constantly tangling, looked as rough as it did beautiful.
But in Ye Ji’s Painting, the sea was rendered in a serene, deep blue.
Tranquility within harsh nature.
The gasps of admiration made Ye Ji’s shoulders straighten with satisfaction.
But watching the Artwork being moved to the Beach, Ye Ji frowned.
…….
The sunlight was too strong.
Clear skies without a single cloud weren’t actually ideal for photography.
The intense light created shadows that were far too dark.
And that applied equally to Ye Ji’s Artwork, which used thick paint to create dimensional texture with the Impasto Technique.
“Go grab every Reflector you’ve got and bring them out.”
As Seong Su surveyed the situation with obvious concern, he urgently called over a staff member.
Everyone seemed to recognize the problem — the lighting positions they’d barely locked down were immediately being adjusted.
“Is it….”
Could it be the dimensional quality created by her use of the Impasto Technique that was causing the issue?
When Ye Ji carefully broached the subject with Seong Su, he cut her off, clearly already understanding what she was about to say.
“That’s not it. If the Painting’s getting that much shadow, the model’s face will have serious shadows too.”
Sometimes such dramatic lighting was intentional, but not this time.
Natural and peaceful — humanity within nature.
The Artwork didn’t need dark shadows; it needed harmony between the two.
“Don’t worry.”
Seeing the concern on Ye Ji’s face, Seong Su gently patted her shoulder.
Since Seong Su had mostly worked on outdoor shoots, this was manageable as complications went.
“Rain would be worse.”
At Seong Su’s words, Ye Ji’s eyes widened.
‘He’s got a point.’
Besides, Ye Ji had several reasons for wanting to see this shoot location directly.
How the Artwork would be used outdoors, what additional considerations might be needed.
To verify whether there were any overlooked details.
There would be at least five shoots in five different countries after all….
“What do you do if it rains?”
“If it’s light, we often just shoot through it. If it pours, we’d have to reschedule.”
At Seong Su’s words that you learn what to do once you’re on location, Ye Ji nodded.
Certainly, among the countries included in the project, some were approaching rainy season.
Ye Ji found herself suddenly thinking about the waterproofing of her Artwork and turned her attention back to the bustling activity.
***
“So? I got blocked?”
Yun So Hui — a world-class model.
Having come to Jeju Island for the Celian collection shoot, she snapped at her manager.
“You really think that makes sense? They don’t even know who I am?”
The unexpectedly long wait time wasn’t welcome.
Right now, So Hui had a bigger problem.
“How can I not be able to buy a single Painting from some high school student and get blocked for it?”
Several months ago, she’d seen a Painting by chance at a department store.
One that SS Group’s Shin Myung Hui, the chairwoman herself, had personally purchased.
A Painting by a high school student named Ye Ji.
At first, it had been nothing more than a casual thought — it would look nice hung in her living room.
That was the extent of her interest.
It was a pretty, decent Painting, after all.
But real interest had come later.
When customers began flocking to it, Shin Myung Hui had the Painting removed early.
A VIP room’s Painting usually hung for at least a month, sometimes an entire season.
Yet it was withdrawn after just two weeks?
‘There’s something to this.’
The wealthy never shared how they actually make money with ordinary people.
And later, she learned that the artist had even won recognition in a prestigious competition.
So she’d approached actively, trying to purchase the Artwork again.
But the student Ye Ji had taken a long time to respond, and when she finally did.
She’d given the usual excuse about focusing on schoolwork, thanked So Hui politely, but said she couldn’t sell her work — then blocked her entirely.
“It’s not just us. The artist apparently blocked everyone and set their account to private.”
The manager continued explaining, as if to absolve himself of blame.
“The granddaughter from that Daemyerae department store — even she got blocked.”
At the manager’s words, So Hui swallowed her anger and exhaled deeply.
Even a chaebol heiress was blocked — which somehow made it feel like a deliberate slight.
Over a single Painting, though — couldn’t the artist just….
‘Oh, to not have a single Painting at home…. Though, I suppose people who’ve never had anything tend to be cheap about money.’
So Hui found herself biting her lip as she thought of the rival who’d constantly looked down on her, chipping away at her pride.
She herself was what they called a dragon born from an ordinary stream.
With her natural physique and diligence, she’d climbed to this position, but among those born into the upper class, she’d faced consistent condescension.
Even with her current career, she was treated as little better than a servant in their circles.
If she didn’t fit their standard, was she just meant to accept that?
This world itself was almost the exclusive domain of the elite.
To be invited to the runways of various brands, she had to mingle with them.
“What does some artist matter….”
That sort of thing.
What meaning did a world that only the wealthy understood hold?
So Hui stopped herself from biting her lip again, managing her expression so her makeup wouldn’t smudge.
Knock-knock.
“We’ll begin shooting in ten minutes.”
At the sound of a staff member knocking on the vehicle, So Hui rose from her seat.
“Don’t mind what others say about you.”
You’re amazing without any of that.
The manager knew why So Hui had suddenly become obsessed with the Painting.
At his words, So Hui gave a bitter smile.
“I know, yeah. Anyway, thanks for all your hard work. Sorry for the attitude.”
At So Hui’s words, the manager shook his head, saying not to worry about it.
Anyway, she had to do well with this shoot too.
Recalling the concept she’d received beforehand, So Hui adjusted her blouse sleeves and stepped out into the burning sun.
The shoot location below the Beach came into view.
This shoot was for Celian’s new collection lookbook.
Lights and Reflectors gathered light toward the spot where she would stand.
So Hui steadied herself and took a confident step forward.
A single Painting was already positioned in the space.
A flat canvas standing tall against the undulating waves of the Beach.
It was beautiful, as if it had captured a fleeting moment and held it frozen.
Imagining herself standing before that Artwork, she felt a thrill run through her.
Just moments ago, she’d inwardly cursed — ‘That petty art, that nonsense.’
But….
“……Min Su,”
So Hui quietly called to her manager.
“Yes? What do you need?”
“While I’m shooting, ask them — who’s the artist?”

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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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