The paintings selected for the competition were in the most remote booth, the last place one would see before leaving the gallery. Certainly not an advantageous spot.
After checking the painting, they stepped back, worried about hindering the flow of guests.
Curious about the reactions, they stayed back and observed.
Then, Jooah quietly commented on Autumn’s painting.
“…Hmm, this painting of Autumn’s seems quite different from usual.”
Autumn nodded in agreement.
It had to be different. It was almost a direct translation of Yun Daeho’s paintings, evoking a sense of déjà vu to his style.
Autumn had her reasons for painting this way.
Jooah’s ignorance worried Autumn, but she was confident others would remember her father.
Ki-tae had recognized her father, after all.
Her approach to meeting his challenge wasn’t a groundbreaking subject, her best skill, but rather her father’s fame.
Regardless of the deal, she had to be acknowledged in this exhibition.
‘Please help me, Dad.’
Autumn clasped her hands tightly, feeling cornered.
That evening, Director Park rushed out of the gallery at dusk upon seeing a black sedan arriving.
“You’ve arrived, Director.”
“Yes. How was the response to the exhibition today?”
“Good. Many paintings sold, and more people attended than usual since it was the first exhibition in a while.”
“Glad to hear that.”
As closing time approached, the gallery, now empty, was steeped in silence, with only the sound of men’s shoes echoing uniformly off the floor.
Ki-tae, having already seen the main booth’s paintings, continued walking. He hadn’t witnessed the exhibition firsthand, but the good response he’d heard about seemed genuine, judging by Director Park’s unwavering smile.
Catching a glimpse of Park’s face, Ki-tae shifted his gaze from his own artists’ works and walked towards the last booth, where Autumn’s painting was displayed.
“…What? Autumn’s painting sold?”
Intending to check Autumn’s painting and leave, Ki-tae’s eyes landed on the bare wall where it had hung.
Busy with work, he hadn’t checked the competition details, left to his subordinates. He was curious what kind of painting it was, especially since it sold on the first day of a week-long exhibition.
Noticing his interest, Park, who had been smiling, seemed to have something to say, hesitating and opening his mouth repeatedly.
“Just speak, Director Park.”
“Well, there was a small commotion today in the gallery, concerning the painting by Yun Autumn that you’re looking at. It wasn’t serious, and it was resolved amicably, but…”
“What happened?”
“Today, the chairman of Daerim Construction who visited claimed that Autumn’s painting, ‘Pure White Roses’, appeared to be a copy, resembling a piece he owned, questioning its authenticity and criticizing us for displaying a plagiarized work.”
Shocked by this news, Ki-tae’s eyes sharpened.
“Didn’t you check such things? What were you doing?”
“I’m sorry. I was preoccupied with our own artists’ works and didn’t have time to scrutinize…”
Ki-tae, concerned about potential plagiarism, narrowed his eyes.
He almost regretted giving her a chance.
“So, what happened?”
“Other collectors who heard this also scrutinized Autumn’s painting, agreeing it seemed very similar…”
“Which artist’s work did she copy?”
“Painter Yun Daeho, remember him? The one who passed away about ten years ago. It was his ‘Rose Garden.'”
Impossible to forget. Yun Daeho was Autumn’s father.
Ki-tae’s gaze returned to the empty wall where her painting had hung, now impossible to verify firsthand.
Director Park cautiously continued.
“The crowd gathered around this booth because of this, but when I arrived to manage the situation, Autumn was already explaining to the collectors.”
“…”
“She clarified it wasn’t plagiarism, but part of a series related to ‘Rose Garden.’ Apparently, her style resembles her father’s, as she learned art solely from him without formal education. She explained that she and her father had planned several collaborative works for exhibition when she became an adult, with ‘Rose Garden’ being one of them. She pointed out details to prove it was part of the series.”
Listening to Park’s excited explanation, Ki-tae realized the extent of what she had done.
Meanwhile, re-realizing that Autumn was Yun Daeho’s daughter, Director Park, engrossed in this fact and even without further inquiry from Ki-tae, excitedly continued his report.
“She chose her debut work as a symbol of having grown enough to keep her promise with her father, although she can’t have an exhibition together with him anymore. The newly graduated daughter keeping her promise to her father, even if it’s late, is really…”
“What did the chairman of Daerim Construction say?”
“He also agreed, realizing it was his daughter and a part of the series they had planned together. He even commented that her painting was quite good, reminiscent of her father’s style, saying that as part of the series, it was impeccable. It was really a relief that it ended as a minor disturbance. Thanks to Autumn stepping forward to explain, it didn’t escalate into a major issue.”
“Ah, I see.”
As Ki-tae responded somewhat blandly, Director Park added an unexpected piece of news.
“Oh! Thanks to that, Autumn’s painting sold for the highest price among the artists in the competition.”
It sold for a high price?
“People reacted quite a bit to it being part of a series called ‘Rose Garden’ by Yun Daeho’s daughter. It turned out to be an impressive debut at TS Gallery.”
“…”
“You’re alright, aren’t you, sir? It wasn’t a big commotion. I even checked for journalists at the scene, in case it turned into an article.”
Ki-tae nodded in acknowledgement, offered a brief farewell to Director Park, and quickly left the gallery.
Outside, now shrouded in darkness, Ki-tae got into his sedan and made a phone call.
“Send me Autumn Yun’s phone number.”
She did something quite cunning, selling that painting.
A slight smile formed on Ki-tae’s lips.
An Indifferent Woman is the One Men Desire the Most
One-line summary: The female lead is actually cold-hearted and extremely rational. She has stage-by-stage relationships and won’t two-time, but there will always be someone who secretly likes her.
This novel has the following triggers, so if you’re sensitive to these, please don’t read:
1. The female lead has had many relationships, but she treated each one seriously and broke up properly.
It’s just that the men unilaterally pestered her incessantly. For the female lead, when she doesn’t like someone anymore, she simply doesn’t like them.
(This applies to her relationships with Male Lead 1, 2, 3, and 4 as well, but she’s loyal in each 1-on-1 relationship!)
2. In this novel, Male Lead 2 and the female lead kiss in a car, and Male Lead 1 sees it and beats up Male Lead 2.
The female lead calls the police and sends both Male Lead 1 and 2 to the police station! Male Lead 1 begs the female lead not to break up with him.
3. Male Lead 1 has a gentle appearance but an obsessive personality.
Male Lead 2 has a delicate and soft appearance, slightly green tea-like (two-faced).
Male Lead 3 is a youthful college student and a smart person who has secretly liked the female lead for a long time.
Male Lead 4 is the female lead’s father’s special assistant, a business elite with deep, hidden thoughts.
4. At the beginning of this novel, the female lead has already broken up with Male Lead 1 (Chapter 4) and gotten back together with Male Lead 2 (ex-boyfriend).
5. Enter with caution if you have triggers!!!
