The unfinished canvas flashed through Seo Yi Kyung’s mind, and he shook his head.
“No. I’m not painting at the moment.”
Jung Yoon’s gaze lingered on his profile. His expression had dimmed noticeably from a moment ago.
“Whenever you’re ready, I’d still love to see your work someday.”
She left after making sure to repeat her request. Seo Yi Kyung remained seated in the drawing room for a long while. Butler Do, sitting on the sofa opposite him, looked at the painting and asked,
“Shall I hang it in your bedroom?”
Seo Yi Kyung considered it briefly. His bedroom was not a space he used alone. Besides, several paintings were already hanging there.
He rose and walked into the living room, looking around. Even at a glance, everything in the house was expensive. Many of the walls were already decorated or had paintings hanging on them.
Butler Do followed behind him and pointed.
“How about here?”
“That’s a little…”
Seo Yi Kyung struggled to decide. None of the locations seemed quite right. More than anything, he wanted to place his favorite thing in the house somewhere prominent, where he could see it often.
Maybe it would be best to keep it in the bedroom after all.
“I’ve just received word that the painting was delivered.”
Secretary Park approached Han Seung Jae’s desk, with a sweeping view stretching beyond it. Seung Jae leaned deeply back in his chair, pulling his dark vest taut across his torso.
“Tell them they did well. And did he like it?”
Secretary Park seemed to have anticipated the question, answering smoothly.
“I spoke directly with the gallery director. Im Jung Yoon delivered the painting herself. She said they also had a pleasant conversation about Artist Seok, so I’m sure he was pleased.”
“I see.”
Han Seung Jae gestured in acknowledgment, the motion also conveying that Secretary Park could leave. Secretary Park turned away.
The door clicked open and shut, and he disappeared from view.
Han Seung Jae was about to return his attention to the documents when he turned and looked at the framed artwork hanging on the wall. Setting down his pen, he rose and walked toward it. Shadows fell across his dress shirt.
[This abstract work is by Artist Shin Eui Jin. Its meticulous depiction of light, shadow, and sheen makes the meaning contained within the lines exceptionally clear.]
Han Seung Jae studied the framed work on the wall. It was an abstract piece consisting solely of tangled black ink lines on a white background.
He had never taken much interest in paintings or works of art. He had merely hung a few paintings he had received as gifts out of courtesy.
No matter how long he looked at it, he felt nothing particularly remarkable. Yet the voice of the head of Gawon Shipping echoed in his ears with increasing clarity.
[Meeting Again.]
Lines extending from every direction met one another.
He rubbed his chin with his palm. The tie pin at his chest gleamed in the reflection on the frame’s surface.
Sunlight streamed in long shafts through the curtains. Seo Yi Kyung raised one hand to cover his eyes, then abruptly sat up in bed. He had spent so long pacing in front of the painting the night before that he had overslept.
By now, he had grown somewhat accustomed to waking beneath the ornate chandelier. He went into the bathroom, showered, and rubbed his wet hair with a towel. Now that the cast was off, washing was no longer inconvenient.
Seo Yi Kyung headed downstairs.
“Butler Do.”
Calling to Butler Do in the distance, Seo Yi Kyung hurried over. After thinking about it all night, he had finally decided where to put the painting. He opened his mouth to tell him.
“The painting from yesterday. Is it still in the drawing room?”
“Ah, do you mean Artist Seok’s painting?”
Seo Yi Kyung nodded emphatically.
“Yes. I thought of where I’d like it hung…”
The bedroom seemed perfect. That way, he could see it whenever he opened his eyes. But before Seo Yi Kyung could finish, Butler Do spoke.
“It’s in the painting studio now. Would you like to see it?”
Seo Yi Kyung blinked beneath his long, lowered lashes. As though doubting his own ears, he repeated,
“The painting studio?”
“Yes. Director Han instructed us to place it there this morning. I was just about to wake you.”
Butler Do leaned closer, apparently inspecting Seo Yi Kyung’s clothes. They were clean, though visibly rumpled in places.
“You should change first. He told me to bring you to him once you were awake.”
“…Who did?”
Seo Yi Kyung asked even as he began walking. Though he seemed to be asking the obvious, Butler Do answered dutifully as he opened the dressing-room door.
“Director Han is in the painting studio now.”
The back of Seo Yi Kyung’s neck stiffened. Failing to notice, Butler Do looked through the clothes and handed him a neatly pressed shirt and trousers.
“You may change into these. But it would be best to hurry a little.”
Butler Do deliberately drew out the words. To Seo Yi Kyung, however, his voice seemed to come from far away. Han Seung Jae’s voice had overlapped it.
[I’m looking forward to seeing what kind of painting you’ll show me.]
When Seo Yi Kyung emerged after changing, looking strangely tense, Butler Do approached while checking his wristwatch. He explained that breakfast was being prepared, but they needed to go to the painting studio first.
Even as Seo Yi Kyung followed him, his steps grew increasingly slow. He looked down at his right hand, from which the bruising had already vanished.
I should have pretended it still hurt.
Knock, knock.
Butler Do knocked on the painting-studio door. It opened as though the person inside had been waiting. Secretary Park appeared in the doorway.
“I’ve brought him.”
When Secretary Park opened the door wider, Han Seung Jae turned from the far side of the studio. Dressed in trousers that encased his long legs and a dress shirt, he held a paintbrush in one hand.
Seo Yi Kyung stepped inside. The enormous painting studio was shaped like a vast dome, its ceiling and walls carved with various patterns. The painting of a languid afternoon hung on one wall. Shelves, worktables, oil paints, and assorted tools had been arranged neatly throughout the space. In one corner stood well-worn belongings he had used at the Seo family home.
Seo Yi Kyung slowly looked around. A wooden easel stood before Han Seung Jae, supporting a large canvas.
Is he planning to paint?
As though he had read Seo Yi Kyung’s mind, Han Seung Jae held out a slender brush.
“Take it.”
Seo Yi Kyung accepted it reflexively.
Does he expect me to paint?
Han Seung Jae picked up a thick brush from the worktable. It, too, was new.
“If you want to visit an art supply store yourself, you can. But if there’s anything you still can’t find, tell Secretary Park. Whatever it is, he’ll get it for you.”
Seo Yi Kyung curled his fingers tightly around the brush. He could not readily grasp what Han Seung Jae meant. As though finally getting to the point, Seung Jae indicated the blank canvas and tapped it lightly with his brush.
“You can paint whatever you want, but remember this.”
“…….”
Seo Yi Kyung swallowed dryly. Butler Do pretended not to be listening, but the focus in his eyes suggested otherwise.
Secretary Park was looking at the paintings Seo Yi Kyung had left scattered around the studio. Director Han had come here early that morning, before Yi Kyung arrived, and examined the canvases he had painted.
He had carefully looked over all of them, including unfinished works, paintings with rough lines, and older pieces whose colors appeared faded. He had not offered a single comment, largely because he had never had much exposure to art. Yet ever since visiting the art museum exhibition, he seemed to have developed a sudden interest in it.
No—more precisely, ever since getting married.
Han Seung Jae flicked the large brush in his hand.
“Every painting you create belongs to me.”
Seo Yi Kyung’s entire body froze like ice. The words were wholly unexpected.
“I’ll pay for them, so don’t worry.”
As if anyone would ever worry about money where Han Seung Jae was concerned.
“Just paint without worrying about anything.”
Han Seung Jae set the large brush on the table. Turning away, he murmured,
“I’ll fill these walls for you whenever we visit an exhibition.”
Seo Yi Kyung looked around the vast studio walls. For now, his own paintings hung there at wide intervals. In the most prominent spot was the painting he had grown attached to at the art museum exhibition, the one depicting a languid afternoon.
Seo Yi Kyung lowered his head and stared at the slender brush in his hand.
What would “Seo Yi Kyung” have felt if he had been the one to hear those words?
The thought came to him suddenly.
If he had…
Seo Yi Kyung raised his head and looked around.
He probably would not have made that choice here.
Seo Yi Kyung sat at the ceramic dining table. Butler Do bustled about setting down plates for the two men’s late breakfast. In contrast, Han Seung Jae approached at a leisurely pace after finishing his conversation with Secretary Park. Butler Do pulled out his chair, and Seung Jae sat across from Yi Kyung.
Seo Yi Kyung murmured,
“Aren’t you going to work today?”
Han Seung Jae met his gaze over the water he was drinking. Seo Yi Kyung knew perfectly well that Seung Jae had been busier than anyone. After the wedding, he had barely had time to sleep as he worked through the schedule that had been disrupted. Even so, he had gone to the exhibition, returned to the office, eaten with Yi Kyung, and then gone back to the office again.
“I’m thinking of meeting someone this afternoon.”
“Who?”
Butler Do’s expression darkened at Seo Yi Kyung’s question. It would have been better not to ask. It was no exaggeration to say that no one would refuse if Han Seung Jae asked to meet them. Nor was there anyone who could stop him from meeting whomever he chose.
Han Seung Jae set down the glass in his hand. A round ring of condensation formed around the tumbler containing the remaining ice.
“Seo Young Hwan.”
Butler Do, who recognized the name at once, went still.
“Seo Young Hwan…?”
Seo Yi Kyung repeated Han Seung Jae’s words more slowly, testing the name on his tongue. His face soon turned pale.
“My father?”
Compared to Seo Yi Kyung’s startled tone, Han Seung Jae’s answer was exceedingly matter-of-fact.
“Why? Are you afraid I’ll send him to the hospital too?”
Seo Yi Kyung’s lower lip parted and trembled. It was not a question he could answer easily. When Han Seung Jae’s gaze shifted to Butler Do, the butler bowed and walked away from the table.
Seo Yi Kyung seemed to say something to Han Seung Jae. Was he asking him not to do it? From that distance, Butler Do had no way of knowing what they were discussing.
Haseon Hospital.
Secretary Park stepped out of the front passenger seat and opened the sedan’s rear door. Seo Yi Kyung emerged wearing a suit. On the opposite side, Han Seung Jae opened his own door and stepped out.