Chapter 25: The Art Class and a Resolve to Reconcile

“Wooju-ssi.”

“Yes, yes?”

“In times like this, you should say that you shouldn’t be touched suddenly instead of just staying still.”

A long, elegant finger pressed firmly on soft skin.

Hah! I finally came to my senses and hastily removed Cheon Yuhyeon’s finger that was still on my lips.

I tried to lean back as far as possible into the chair, but I didn’t actually gain much distance.

“Director!”

Surely, did he deliberately touch my lips from the beginning to see how I’d react?

For an NPC, Cheon Yuhyeon sure likes to act unexpectedly.

Honestly, I thought my heart would drop to my feet.

“Even so…”

My lips pouted out.

I wanted to whine a bit because of the surprise, but seeing Cheon Yuhyeon’s calm face, I swallowed it back.

After all, there was no denying it was the best way to instill caution.

“Anyway, Wooju-ssi, just behave naturally while keeping your own rules.”

“……”

“Besides what’s on the surface, getting to know who a person really is takes time.”

Cheon Yuhyeon whispered softly.

Under the dim, warm lighting, his beautiful features shone faintly.

I almost got charmed by him again, but I quickly shook my head and composed myself.

It seemed all the characters in this game were too good at using seduction, so I had to stay alert.

“By the way, I wonder if I was of enough help to Wooju-ssi today.”

“Oh, of course. You were a huge help!”

At least in my head, I felt I understood it perfectly.

It might be a bit anticlimactic for a martial arts manual, but Cheon Yuhyeon’s theory itself had no gaps.

Applying it in practice from now on was entirely up to me.

“You must be busy, so thank you for making time and listening to me, Director.”

“Not at all. It was a refreshing break for me too.”

“Really?”

“Of course. When else could I talk to someone from another world if not now?”

I chuckled at his witty answer.

Maybe because of his way of speaking that doesn’t lower himself but still puts others at ease, talking with Cheon Yuhyeon automatically made me feel good.

I thought I should learn this too.

“Then, thank you for today. I’ll look forward to seeing you next time!”

I stopped in front of the steep stairs leading to the exit.

I finished my farewell cheerfully, but when it came to actually leaving, my steps wouldn’t move easily.

I savored the sweet madeleine scent lingering on my tongue and turned back for no reason.

“Oh, wait, Director.”

At that moment, a painting on the wall caught my eye.

It was a picture of a basket of luscious fruits placed on a sunny shelf.

The colors depicting the ripening fruit skin were colorful, and the expression of volume that felt like I could touch it with my fingertips was excellent.

“Wow…”

I took a step closer to the painting.

As I faced it head-on, it conveyed a sense of humble reverence and also an overwhelming presence.

But even though the painting style was clearly familiar, I tilted my head thinking it was a work I’d never seen before.

“Director, is this a work by Franz Verhardt? It seems like I’ve never seen it…”

“I’m glad you recognized it.”

“Oh, I was right!”

“It’s from my private collection. I was lucky to get it at a non-public auction two years ago.”

Though Cheon Yuhyeon said it as if it was nothing, my mouth fell open at the mention of a private collection and a non-public auction.

Of course, this time, it was admiration for his immense wealth and network, rather than for Cheon Yuhyeon himself.

Verhardt is one of my favorite painters, but I’d never seen this work in a catalogue or online archive.

I’d read that wealthy collectors sometimes keep works not shown to the public in art museums or galleries as private collections.

Even when I read about it in books, it felt like a story from a completely different world, but here it was right in front of me.

“Oh, do you attend things like non-public auctions, Director?”

“I’d say it’s both a job and a hobby. I do love collecting aesthetic things.”

I glanced around the interior again, which I’d thought displayed refined taste from the moment I first entered.

The only thing I could recognize was the Verhardt painting, but the objects that looked out of the ordinary must also be incredibly valuable and rare, right?

“So, are all the works at the Full Moon Art Museum collected by you as well?”

“I don’t get involved in every curation or exhibition planning, but yes, I have the final decision.”

I felt anew how real Cheon Yuhyeon’s job as museum director and art foundation representative was.

I thought he was amazing, and I envied his talent and leisure to make what he loved his job.

Since the director encounters so many artworks, maybe he has a special eye, and that’s why he can see people too?

“I used to paint too… I’m taking a break for personal reasons, but I definitely plan to do it again.”

As I lingered in the museum’s secret space, I felt a strong thirst to paint right away.

Maybe I was inspired by Cheon Yuhyeon, who cultivated his taste and turned his daily life into art.

“I see.”

“…Of course, I’m still an amateur.”

“If you ever paint again, please let me know.”

“……”

“I too look forward to the day I see your painting, Wooju-ssi.”

Even if it weren’t me, Cheon Yuhyeon would meet many talented aspiring painters through his work.

I wondered if I’d said something I wasn’t asked, so I trailed off, but unexpectedly, Cheon Yuhyeon welcomed my dream.

I blinked in a bit of a daze, then soon smiled at him.

“I hope I can show you my painting too, Director!”

Of course, Cheon Yuhyeon, an NPC in the game, probably doesn’t exist in the real Full Moon Art Museum.

But I thought it would be nice if I could really show him a painting I drew.

I walked out of the museum and onto the street.

The sting of exhaust fumes and the blaring horns honed my sense of reality.

Leaving behind the comfortable space like a sweet dream, it was time to get back to tackling the game.

It’s strange how people’s minds work.

Just having talked with Cheon Yuhyeon boosted my confidence.

Like the words ‘special guest,’ Cheon Yuhyeon treated me with particular respect during my stay at the museum.

Just having someone who watches over you, cheers you on, and believes you can do it, Wooju, made me feel like it was worth trying.

Even though I had to face the fierce reality of the game again, I felt I could endure it better because of him.

“Hmph, class is over already? I haven’t finished coloring the petals.”

“Teacher Wooju, Teacher Wooju, when are you coming again?”

“Teacher, will you really bring pretty glitter pens next time?”

“I want to draw on a piece of paper as big as this next time!”

Sunday came around again for the art therapy volunteer work at the hospital.

Though it was only the second time, the kids quickly let down their guard toward me.

Unlike last time when they pouted and stared, now they all ran to “Teacher Wooju” and clung to me.

“Of course, you can do that! Teacher will come again next Sunday~”

“Yay!”

Thanks to that, I learned that teaching drawing to preschoolers and lower elementary school kids isn’t just done with words and hands, but with your whole body.

On the other hand, I felt sorry for the kids who were stuck in a narrow ward instead of running around at an age when they should be playing, thirsting for new relationships.

After the two-hour class ended, the kids with sketchbooks in their arms scattered.

Some were exchanging drawings among the messy desks and chairs.

I approached Minju, who was sitting apart from the kids, holding a cloth doll with a sulky face.

“Minju, how was our princess’s class today? Was it fun?”

“Well… yes. I think it was better than last time.”

Minju turned her head slightly and answered sulkily.

Contrary to the other kids, Minju seemed to have become shy of me after a week.

The paper mask that was a temporary treatment on the doll was removed, and button eyes were reattached.

“Are you going to read a fairy tale book after class today, Minju?”

“……”

As expected, Minju’s interest seemed to be more in fairy tale books than art class.

She didn’t answer with her mouth shut tight, but her eyes looking up at me shone even more.

I could see she was secretly proud.

“Wow, I’m so jealous. Can’t you take Teacher too?”

With the conversation with Cheon Yuhyeon as a catalyst, I made up my mind to apologize to Kang Taeyang first.

I still don’t understand why Kang Taeyang was so angry that day.

And apart from that, I was hurt by the harsh things he said to me.

“…Hmm, fine.”

But being proud means losing relationships.

Of course, this was also a situation where I shouldn’t be proud.

Since I didn’t want to lose him, I held Minju’s hand and headed side by side to the hospital lounge where Kang Taeyang was.

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