The Reborn Genius of an Arts High School - Chapter 92

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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 92.
Ye Ji’s eyes widened at Lee Na’s sudden suggestion.
“What if you created one more work? And we’d draft an additional contract for it.”
An additional work?
“A new piece would draw more attention, and it would make the difference much clearer, don’t you think?”
It was true—merely exhibiting the physical works already released might fall a bit short, as Lee Na suggested.
The clearer way to show the real difference between Go Yo and Julien leaned more toward the latter.
“And through the additional contract, we prove you’re truly Go Yo. Of course, you’d be compensated accordingly as well.”
Lee Na’s proposal, delivered with a playful wink, was far more aggressive than Ye Ji’s.
This time, Lee Na turned the same question back on Ye Ji.
“Will it be difficult?”
Ye Ji understood it then.
Why this woman had climbed to such a high position in such a large corporation.
She was certainly not an easy person to deal with, but working alongside someone like her inspired far more trust.
Ye Ji nodded.
“One work is nothing. It won’t be difficult.”
At Ye Ji’s answer, Lee Na nodded as well and stood from her chair.
She retrieved her business card from her desk and handed it to Young, offering a formal greeting once more.
“I’m Kim Lee Na, Marketing Team Lead at Celliang. I’ll report to headquarters and then set up a formal meeting.”
Whatever you need, I’ll make it work.
Lee Na’s eyes flashed sharply, burning with competitive spirit.
How dare they plan something that would capitalize on the trend she had driven at Pradel.
And on top of that, trampling the sensibilities of such a precious new artist who could endlessly elevate her career?
“We’ll make sure to demonstrate our class difference properly.”
Lee Na spoke with solemn resolve.
With nothing more to discuss from her end, Ye Ji rose from her seat, hoping to meet again soon.
The meeting had gone better than expected.
Arriving at the same goal was already a successful meeting in itself.
With relief settling over her, Ye Ji left Celliang with Young.
“I’ll drop you off in front of the school.”
“Yes, thank you.”
As Lee Na had said, Ye Ji still had time to be at school.
But it wasn’t uncommon for Cheonglim students to skip class for work.
If there was documentation to prove it, they’d appreciate that, but as long as it didn’t affect graduation, everyone was generally lenient about absences.
Though this was Ye Ji’s first time missing class.
Ye Ji climbed into Young’s flashy car once more and asked a question.
“…Isn’t this uncomfortable for you?”
“What—cars like this aren’t exactly rare in Seoul these days.”
That was true enough.
Ye Ji, turning over how well things had gone, fell into thought for a moment.
If her works were displayed in Paris’s luxury boutiques, and more genuine witnesses came forward…
Naturally, doubts would arise about whether Julien was truly Go Yo.
Moreover, Pradel would be baffled as well.
They’d agreed to collaborate, and now they were extending a project with a competitor.
That would damage Julien’s credibility with them.
Deep in thought, Ye Ji suddenly spoke.
“I’m sorry for keeping you so busy all winter because of me.”
Young’s expression brightened considerably at her words.
When this went public, acquaintances would likely go crazy.
They’d hound him endlessly about how he’d managed to secure a collaboration with Go Yo, of all people, when no one even knew who she was.
Just thinking about it was fun.
Being near a secret others didn’t know about was remarkably enjoyable.
Unaware of Young’s thoughts, Ye Ji offered her thanks.
“Thank you.”
Of course, Ye Ji could have handled this alone if she’d wanted to.
But with time constraints, she’d inevitably have to sacrifice some quality in her solo exhibition.
Was retaliating against Julien more important than her exhibition?
Was it more important than her pseudonym?
In the face of such questions, her priorities naturally tilted toward the exhibition.
‘If it had been otherwise…’
Following Lee Na’s suggestion, she could easily have Celliang’s certification and simply notify Pradel that she wasn’t Julien.
Ending it quietly would have been the best way out.
But that wasn’t a perfect solution.
Pradel would naturally be humiliated at being deceived and would quietly bury the matter.
But what about the other brands?
There might be a second wave of victims who’d only heard rumors.
People without scruples never understood the concept of moderation.
‘Julien might not stop—he could go on deceiving others, grasping at more opportunities.’
People who showed no reflection or change from their youth were even worse.
Now, rooted not as a seedling but as a weed, removing it required an equally potent herbicide.
Ye Ji would publicize her works widely, appealing to the clear difference between herself and him.
“Because of you, I can proceed with things exactly as I’d planned.”
Ye Ji thanked Young once more.
Could it be that her new life was reacting like a rebound to the misfortunes of her past life?
Everyone she met seemed blessed by fortune—she had good luck with people.
As she turned these thoughts over gratefully…
Young opened his mouth.
“I’m the grateful one.”
By any measure, it was true.
Just being part of the Celliang project was good for Young’s career.
But it didn’t end there.
“Would I have had a chance to see something this fun if I’d stayed buried in New York?”
The time spent in Cheonglim had been healing and peace itself for someone on the brink of burnout.
Yet no single day had been boring.
And now this massive dopamine of an event had erupted.
Young felt deeply grateful to Ye Ji.
While he was out in Paris on her behalf, if he happened to run into Julien directly…
Wouldn’t that be fascinating?
Just imagining it, his heart already raced.
‘And besides…’
Ye Ji wasn’t the type to be distressed by something like this.
Beneath that soft, gentle appearance lurked how many sharp thorns.
Anyone who tried to break her would receive a wound without filter.
Probably continuing forward.
Ye Ji would grow ever higher and wider, and such incidents would keep happening.
“And this was supposed to be a secret.”
Because the autumn sun was strong, Young casually pulled out his sunglasses as he spoke.
The fact that they were Pradel’s made Young smile even more.
“I came to Cheonglim because of you.”
At Young’s words, Ye Ji’s gaze shifted from the window to him.
“I saw your work displayed at Montrabluee.”
What work…
As Ye Ji was thinking, realization dawned and her lips parted slightly.
Her first-round judging piece.
When it was selected for the final twenty, it was displayed at Montrabluee alongside other participants’ works.
In that exhibition, which emphasized the artists were high school students, only the school name and artist name appeared in the caption.
If seeing “Cheonglim” written there led to an offer for the Special Class…?
The timing from last semester lined up perfectly.
“…Ah!”
Seeing Ye Ji finally understand, Young let out a soft laugh.
“Exactly.”
Ye Ji would think she was lucky, but Young saw it differently.
“I was the lucky one.”
Sharing a space with famous people, as it turned out, wasn’t as rare an opportunity as one might think.
But the ability to make such people look twice…
And to make them speak to you—that came from pursuing diverse opportunities and the charm and talent you possessed.
Ye Ji was someone who knew how to express and reveal herself very effectively.
Effectively enough that others looked at her first.
By the time their conversation ended, they’d arrived in front of the school.
Ye Ji, who’d been lost in thought, stood up at his words.
“Well then, I’ll see you in class.”
Young’s car pulled away with a loud rumble.
***
After changing into her uniform and entering school, lunchtime was well underway.
Everyone had already finished eating and was enjoying their free time.
Some female students circled the field like conveyor belt sushi, and a few boys were playing soccer.
But most were first-years.
The second-year students were all in their classrooms.
Even though Ye Ji had arrived late, everyone was too busy with their own affairs to pay much attention.
After exchanging brief greetings and taking her seat, Hyun Min quietly approached her.
“You’re here? How did it go?”
Ye Ji nodded at his question.
“It went well. We’re going to display Go Yo’s work in Paris. People will recognize her first.”
That Julien could never be Go Yo.
At Ye Ji’s firm declaration, Hyun Min also let out a long breath and nodded.
Only then did his expression ease slightly, but soon his brow furrowed.
“Seriously though, how do you keep running into such assholes?”
Hyun Min spoke quite harshly, as if growing exasperated and incredulous the more he thought about it.
Ye Ji, who’d just been thinking she had good luck with people, answered in confusion.
“I don’t think that’s…”
the case.
But now that she thought about it, maybe it was a pattern.
Very few people knew Go Yo’s true identity.
Two school friends of Ye Ji’s and two friends connected through Montrabluee.
And people deeply involved in the Celliang project, like Lee Na, Sung Su, and So Hee.
Altogether, probably not even ten people.
They all had reasons to keep the secret—either personal trust or business concerns.
So realistically, rumors couldn’t leak from Ye Ji’s side.
In a way, it wasn’t strange to encounter impersonation once you’d gained such fame.
From that perspective…
“I’m actually glad it’s that person.”
That’s what Ye Ji thought.
Because she knew his nature through and through—wasn’t that fortunate?
At Ye Ji’s words, Hyun Min shook his head in disapproval.
Sometimes he found her way of thinking difficult to follow.
“Whether that’s optimism or just weirdness…”
“Let’s go with optimism.”
Hyun Min waved his hand in resignation at Ye Ji’s words.
He was reassured, at least, that Ye Ji wasn’t the type to just endure everything.
He’d seen it many times over—she favored fundamentally sound solutions.
So that similar problems wouldn’t bother her again.
‘When I think about it again, I’m glad I’m her friend.’
As a friend, she was the most reliable; as an enemy, absolutely not someone you’d want to have.
Just then, Da Hye returned from brushing her teeth and latched onto Ye Ji’s side.
“Did you eat? Have you had lunch?”
“Oh, right. I came in without eating.”
“Then want to go to the snack bar together? I need another cream bun.”
Whatever they’d been discussing just before, at moments like this she was inevitably just an ordinary high school girl.
As the two gathered their wallets excitedly, Hyun Min spoke with exasperation.
“Hey, didn’t you brush your teeth because you weren’t going to eat?”
“I brushed them to start fresh and eat again.”
Don’t start with me?
Watching Da Hye wave dismissively, Hyun Min had no choice but to follow along with a disgruntled expression.
No matter how deeply she’d waded into the complicated affairs of adults, there was much that never changed.
Ye Ji’s way of not relinquishing the leisure of life that her peers enjoyed.
That aligned with the direction of life Hyun Min pursued as well.
“Yeah, let’s go. Come on.”
Late autumn, still warm with the lingering sun.
A season where cool winds blew alongside it.

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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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