The Reborn Genius of an Arts High School - Chapter 80

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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 80.
Seliane Headquarters in Italy.
People in crisp attire and polished demeanor were absorbed in their work with fierce concentration.
A top-tier brand leading haute fashion.
Though the finest professionals gathered here, not every task flowed smoothly.
“Are you joking? If permission hasn’t come through, keep trying until it does!”
The moment a loud voice erupted from the Marketing Office, employees began sidling away from the area.
“It’s just that they keep refusing on their end….”
At the stammering employee’s words, the Marketing team leader’s eyes grew sharp.
“Which company do you work for?”
Though there wasn’t a single curse in that cutting voice, the employee thought profanity might have been gentler by comparison.
“You’re drawing a salary from Seliane, so why are you worrying about their concerns?”
Shouldn’t you be working for the one paying you?
The employee’s shoulders drooped at the boss’s words.
It wasn’t wrong, but saying it was one thing and doing it another.
What could you do when they said no?
The protest rose to the employee’s throat but had to be swallowed in the end.
When your boss says jump, you jump—that’s the wage earner’s lot.
“…Yes. I’ll contact them again.”
The boss, looking disgruntled, set the report aside and fell into thought.
Watching the employee slip away, he gestured.
“Wait.”
He pulled the report back and reviewed it again.
“Was our project’s intent communicated properly?”
“We did communicate it. But because of security concerns, the images we can actually show are limited.”
From the employee’s standpoint, the situation was equally bewildering.
The project’s nature didn’t allow for ordinary backdrops.
The location had to be both distinctive and fitting to the concept.
Fortunately, the photographer Seong Su had personally selected several candidate sites, sparing them the search effort.
Yet coordinating with the relevant countries presented considerable difficulties.
“There are so many cases where crews claim one thing and then damage the site during actual filming. They just don’t trust a proposal on paper alone.”
The distrust stemmed from the scarcity of disclosed materials.
No matter how hard the employee pushed, perfect persuasion seemed impossible.
A naturalist message harmonizing with the environment.
Of course, every step of the shoot had to proceed in a way that caused no environmental harm.
So much so that the only prop was a single painter’s work emphasizing harmony with nature.
Beyond that stood only the model in costume.
Simple, yet for that very reason, each element’s quality mattered.
Even after all that planning and construction, it remained theory on paper.
Until seeing the completed photographs, it was understandable to remain doubtful.
“…Release more materials and use those to persuade them again.”
The team leader position at a luxury brand wasn’t occupied by just anyone.
Whether laziness below or a genuinely difficult situation—
having made his judgment, the team leader’s words lifted the employee’s spirits a little.
“Thank you.”
Watching the employee depart with brightened expression, the team leader again reviewed the materials from Korea.
Photographs taken on an island in Korea.
A beach blanketed in deep black volcanic stone, brimming with brilliant blue water.
Before it stood a single model, and behind, a painting rising majestic in support.
…….
Before the turbulent deep blue of the crashing waves, the painting held a horizon split in two as if drawn by ruler.
While the actual sea crashed rough and wild, the painting behind the human figure cradled a tranquil ocean.
It seemed composite, yet examined closely, a different alienation surfaced.
The grain of pigment on the flat surface cast subtle shadows along the brushstrokes, lending dimension.
Combined with the model’s dreamlike eyes, the project’s true theme revealed itself.
The peace of a human surrendering to vast nature.
Like a dream, the painting rendered nature not as an object of fear but as something far gentler.
“Certainly….”
Remarkable.
The grand expanse of nature and the poise of a top-tier model commanding all eyes.
The painting standing between them did not yield an inch.
After a moment’s consideration, he began reviewing all the files received from Korea.
‘…If it’s this…’
If persuasion materials were lacking, sending examples would help.
And fortunately, on his desk lay a photograph that could perfectly explain all of this.
Of course, security was vital for a new project.
Yet releasing select portions would prove beneficial.
It could instead heighten public anticipation.
A smile slowly spread across the team leader’s lips.
***
Ina ended the call with a bright expression.
For a moment she had to cover her mouth and regain composure.
Otherwise she might have squealed with excitement.
‘The Korea shoot footage is being released as a sneak preview for promotional use.’
That was the essence of the call from headquarters.
‘Oh my goodness, oh my goodness.’
She wasn’t sure why they’d suddenly made such a decision, but it meant the work had impressed them deeply.
What’s more, headquarters was explicit about it.
They wanted to actively release behind-the-scenes photos, especially shots focusing on Goyo’s artwork and the model’s silhouette.
And praise was added for her, who’d planned this whole project.
So the judgment was that her eye for projects was sound and they’d entrust her with the rest?
“Phew….”
Ina took several deep breaths to settle her racing heart.
Calm down, calm down.
First, execute perfectly what’s been asked of you.
With a light tap on both cheeks to center herself, Ina steadied her mind and returned to work.
And that evening.
Reviews of the shoot were posted to Seliane’s official social media and Yoon So Hee’s personal account.
Like fueling anticipation for the upcoming runway show, the clothing details were entirely concealed.
The released images—still only hints—naturally highlighted everything but the garments.
Yoon So Hee’s enigmatic gaze and the silhouette of her billowing sleeve puffs.
And behind her, positioned like a backdrop, the artwork of ‘Goyo’.
The serene blue light with its tranquil horizon perfectly conveyed the ideal the brand pursued.
Uploaded to accounts with millions of followers, the photographs spread across the globe in moments.
***
Before long, September began.
On the first day of September, Ye Ji entered the classroom for the school reopening, and her mind was whirling.
From her friends’ perspective, this was the first time seeing her since she’d placed in Montrebleu.
“I saw the article!”
“Oh~ Ye Ji~”
“Hey! You must have been busy over break!”
Under the flood of greetings from all sides, Ye Ji’s cheeks flushed slightly.
It was embarrassing, but as always, not entirely unpleasant.
“Hey!”
Hyun Min, ever the noisy one, bounded over with exaggerated fanfare.
He plunked Ye Ji down in her seat and then spun his chair around in the seat ahead of her.
“Did you see this?”
A few days ago, Seliane had unveiled the collaboration with Seong Su.
It seemed to be a sneak preview of sorts, released before the fashion show itself.
Hyun Min, who managed Ye Ji’s account, was thrilled at the followers skyrocketing vertically.
“‘Global’ really isn’t just something tacked onto anyone’s resume, huh.”
Along with the unveiling of the collaboration with Seong Su, Ye Ji’s collaboration was also revealed.
Of course, this time under the pen name ‘Goyo’ rather than Ye Ji’s real name.
Additionally, Seliane had made a few requests.
[Team Leader Yoon Ina (Seliane Marketing): Would you mind uploading a few behind-the-scenes photos from the shoot with us?]
The photos Ina had sent were behind-the-scenes shots.
Dozens of crew members transporting her artwork.
And her painting installed before the Jeju Sea.
While the shots with the model and artwork were beautiful, as if nature itself had become a gallery—
the image of her single painting standing tall before the crowds moving past held particular meaning for Ye Ji.
The work, capturing the mystical blue of Jeju authentically.
Seeing her own artwork through another’s lens, its appeal so accentuated, gave her a peculiar feeling.
Not long after uploading the photos, her followers multiplied in an instant.
“Hi, Ye Ji. Hey Hyun Min, where’s your own seat? Why are you here again?”
Da Hye arrived with a greeting, shooting Hyun Min a look, but he brushed it off lightly and thrust his phone forward.
The screen Hyun Min held displayed the follower count on the Goyo account.
“A hundred thousand as of today.”
“What?! Really?!”
Da Hye, startled, tossed her bag aside and took the phone.
A hundred thousand followers meant influence on par with some fairly famous influencers.
It was certainly a sudden viral moment, but Ye Ji still couldn’t quite believe it.
In any case, a hundred thousand people were now viewing her paintings, impressed enough to follow her account themselves, weren’t they?
“Look at the comments too.”
Da Hye held out the phone again to dazed Ye Ji, scrolling down through the feed.
Comments in every language. Among them, naturally the most eye-catching were those in Korean.
[Whoa, is this artist Korean?]
[Living up to the name]
[Lol seriously, the artwork and name match so perfectly]
[First time seeing this, new artist?]
[Definitely not new. Seems like an established artist who took a new pen name]
[Is this just a group or corporate account?]
Koreans too were speculating and marveling at the artist’s identity.
Ye Ji felt clearly that commercial art drew more attention than pure art ever did.
‘Is that just how it is….’
Being recognized for accessibility and mass appeal, apart from money.
Only now did she feel viscerally that this was genuinely appealing.
“Ye Ji, Ye Ji!”
The voice of Se Hee, arriving as loudly as ever.
Ye Ji’s classmates, now accustomed, didn’t even spare a glance as Se Hee entered freely.
“You’re here.”
Da Hye’s familiar tone drew a smile from Ye Ji as well.
Though she’d been thrown off at first by Se Hee’s exuberance, she’d grown used to it over time.
“What, what! You’re causing an absolute uproar~!”
Se Hee bounced on her feet as she chattered excitedly.
“Did you see this? Here! Here!”
With that, Se Hee showed her a behind-the-scenes shot posted to Seliane’s official account.
Ye Ji stood small in a corner, among the crew—barely noticeable unless you knew to look.
“Getting photographed for Seliane’s official account is my dream! And you’ve already done it~”
I’m so jealous~!
Se Hee added with playful exaggeration.
Though she’d spoken lightly, Ye Ji sensed Se Hee was genuinely disappointed at missing out on the project.
Ye Ji offered an awkward smile and shook her head.
“It’s thanks to your help.”
“Ahem. Well, I suppose I didn’t hurt matters. Even I can admit that much.”
Pleased by Ye Ji’s words, Se Hee tossed her long hair with unabashed confidence in her reply.
Though the Seliane project remained nearly a secret among the four of them gathered here, Ye Ji felt more at ease for it.
The Montrebleu award alone had already made school quite tumultuous.
Had news of Seliane been added to that, surely—
her friends’ congratulations would have tipped from joy into burden.
“Oh! There’s the bell. See you later!”
Quick-footed Se Hee wrapped up her chat with Ye Ji and hurried back to her own classroom.
And so began the second semester of tenth grade anew.
Once classes actually started, school time felt almost like a respite for Ye Ji.
It was the result of spending the entire break holed up in the studio, pushing her concentration to its limit.
Study rooted in genuine learning became a welcome counterbalance, clearing her mind of distracting thoughts.
Grades no longer mattered—she’d be grateful if they were good, unbothered if they weren’t.
And after regular classes ended at seventh period.
“I’m heading to the Special Class now.”
“Sure, take care~ See you tomorrow~”
Ye Ji left the classroom with her parting words to Da Hye.
Slung over her shoulder was a large, flat bag.
Inside was the assignment Young had given her before break.

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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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