The warm spring sunshine. The white petals, having overcome the cold and embraced the first warmth, joyfully revealed their undeniably beautiful appearance.

On one side of the window in Ga Eul’s room, the magnolias boasting a soft texture peeked out their heads, beautifully embroidering her room.

Despite the lingering cold requiring the collars to be closed, the green lives that had just pierced through the ground were fresh.

The slightly subdued scenery seemed to provide a small hope that this year would be a bit different.

Ga Eul’s heart was beating fast with anticipation and tension.

“It will go well. You worked hard on the painting.”

Ga Eul, dressed in a neat and elegant beige-toned suit, finally put on her cross-body bag and left the room. The outfit was stiff due to the importance of the day.

Ga Eul crossed the living room and reached the shoe closet.

Hee Sun, who was still in the annex, quickly approached Ga Eul, who was about to leave the house, and spoke to her.

“Ga Eul!”

Ga Eul stopped putting on her shoes and looked at Hee Sun with surprise.

“Oh? Mom, you were still here?”

“Yes. The chairman is going to work late today.”

“Ah, I see.”

“Ga Eul, what should I do about not being able to go see the exhibition?”

“It’s okay. You can’t come because of work.”

“Aish, still. Should I tell the chairman now and go out together?”

Ga Eul refused with a bright smile.

“No. When would you get ready and leave? I’m fine.”

Hee Sun, who thought Ga Eul would be disappointed, was relieved to see her cheerfully answering and also smiled brightly at her daughter.

Then, she gave her the most energetic encouragement possible.

“Okay. Then, do well and come back. Our daughter. You can do well at the exhibition today, right?”

“I already submitted the painting earlier, and there’s not much for me to do at the gallery today…”

“Be confident. Someone who recognizes the value of the painting will come.”

“Alright.”

Ga Eul nodded her head vigorously.

Hee Sun was unaware of a certain deal between Gi Tae and Ga Eul. Still, the kind voice gave Ga Eul strength, consciously and unconsciously.

Facing the complete being that allowed her to endure, Ga Eul suddenly felt the anxiety that had been rushing in subside.

‘Yes. It will sell. Because it’s a meaningful painting to me too.’

Ga Eul repeated her mother’s encouragement positively and left the annex.

* * *

The Seoul branch of TS Gallery was the place Han Gi Tae put the most effort into, and I heard it was the largest among the gallery branches he owned.

In front of the unique gray building, which made one naturally nod at his emphasis that TS Gallery was his, there were already quite a few people who seemed to be collectors, having heard the news and come to visit.

10:30 AM. Ga Eul, who arrived exactly at the gallery’s opening time, was able to enter without waiting by joining the crowd.

‘My painting is over there…’

Is it natural to go see the highly anticipated painting first?

Since it was already promoted which artist’s painting was hung, the places people were heading to were all the same. It was far from where her painting was hung.

Ga Eul passed by the people heading only towards the main booth of the gallery and exited the gallery again. Then, she fumbled through her cross-body bag at the entrance and pulled out her cell phone.

[When are you all coming?]

As soon as she posted on the group chat with three people, a reply arrived quickly within a few seconds.

[Do Jin oppa: I’ll be there soon, Ga Eul.] [Ju A: Me too! I just got off the bus.] [Do Jin oppa: Great. Baek Ju A. I just have two more stops to go. Let’s meet at the bus stop and go in together. Wait there.] [Ju A: Ah, really… Come quickly, oppa.] [Do Jin oppa: OK]

They’re bickering again. Ga Eul gave a faint smile for a moment at the conversation between the two, no different from usual.

At that moment, a large crowd gathered at the entrance of the gallery. Even though the collectors should have already entered and none would be left.

Ga Eul looked around, puzzled by the phenomenon. Then, a conversation between a couple reached her ears.

“What. Did you like looking at his paintings? Why the sudden gallery visit?”

“No. I was just curious. It looked fun seeing so many people. We have time, so should we go in and take a look?”

“…Well, okay.”

‘Ah, it really stands out. This gallery.’

The already large building was located in a bustling central area, making it stand out. And today, with the collectors who gathered after hearing the news of the exhibition, even those who were not interested in art were peering in with curiosity.

It made her realize once again that it was an amazing gallery.

Even if it weren’t for the chairman’s orders, anyone who loves paintings would dream of having a solo exhibition at this gallery.

I heard from the chairman that the small and shabby buildings of TS Gallery in its early days were all torn down, and the current TS Gallery building was born after a large-scale construction.

To erect a new building and gain its current reputation. All of it hid the efforts of Han Gi Tae.

As Ga Eul was looking at the building for a while, Ju A appeared in her sight. She pushed through the large crowd and ran to the entrance of the gallery, catching her breath and said,

“Ga Eul. Sorry I’m late.”

“No, it’s okay. I didn’t arrive too long ago either.”

Do Jin, who arrived with Ju A, also greeted Ga Eul.

“Ga Eul, hello.”

“Yes, oppa. Hello.”

“Did you see the painting?”

“No, I waited to see it together.”

When Ga Eul, who was dressed up for the rare occasion, answered with a bright smile, Do Jin, who was standing blankly for a moment, walked ahead and muttered.

“Th- then, let’s go in quickly too.”

The paintings selected from the contest were hung in the most corner booth that could only be seen last before leaving the gallery. It was definitely an inconspicuous location.

The three people who checked the paintings slightly stepped back so as not to interfere with the passage of the visitors.

However, curious about people’s reactions, they didn’t leave and secretly observed their reactions from a distance.

At that moment, Ju A stared at Ga Eul’s painting and muttered quietly.

“…Hmm, but Ga Eul’s painting this time seems quite different from usual.”

Ga Eul also nodded in agreement.

Of course, it couldn’t look the same as her usual paintings.

A painting that made one mistake it for her father’s painting, as if it had faithfully copied Yoon Dae Ho’s painting.

Ga Eul had a reason why she had to paint like this.

Ga Eul was a little worried that Ju A couldn’t immediately think of her father, but she didn’t doubt that there would be people who remember her father, so she decided to let go of her worries.

Han Gi Tae also recognized her father.

Apart from the deal, in order to fulfill his proposal, the method Ga Eul chose was not a provocative subject, not the subject she could paint best, nor anything else, but her father’s reputation.

As long as it was related to her father, Ga Eul had to be recognized at this exhibition no matter what.

‘Please help me, Father.’

Feeling like she was driven to the edge of a cliff, Ga Eul tightly clasped her hands together.

* * *

That evening, as the sun was setting, Park Gwan Jang ran out of the gallery when he saw the black sedan arrive.

“You’re here, CEO.”

“Yes. How was the response to today’s exhibition?”

“It was good. Many paintings were sold, and it was more crowded than usual, perhaps because it was an exhibition held after a long time.”

“That’s good.”

The gallery, which was now empty as the closing time approached, was quiet with the darkness descending. Only the sound of men’s dress shoes echoed uniformly on the floor.

He continued to walk past the main booth paintings he had already seen.

Although he didn’t directly see the exhibition site today, the smile on Park Gwan Jang’s face seemed to never fade, as if the good response to the exhibition was a truth without a single lie.

Gi Tae, who glanced at that face, took his eyes off his gallery’s artists’ paintings altogether and walked towards the last booth. Ga Eul’s painting would be hung in that booth.

‘…What. Yoon Ga Eul’s painting is sold.’

Gi Tae’s eyes turned to the empty wall where he had intended to just check Ga Eul’s painting and leave immediately.

He had a lot of work, so he couldn’t check even the small details and had his subordinates take care of the matters related to the contest. What kind of painting would it have been?

Since it was an exhibition that lasted a week, he became curious that it was sold on the first day.

As Gi Tae was staring at the empty spot with a sharp face, Park Gwan Jang, who had been smiling until then, kept opening and closing his mouth as if he had something to say.

If he had something to say, he should say it. Gi Tae, who was annoyed by Park Gwan Jang constantly opening and closing his mouth as if checking the mood, spoke to him first.

“If you have something to say, say it. Manager Park.”

“Ah, well, actually… there was a small commotion at the gallery today.”

“Commotion? What do you mean?”

“I’m talking about Miss Yoon Ga Eul’s painting that you’re looking at. It wasn’t a big deal and it ended well, but…”

“What is it?”

“The Daelim Construction chairman who visited today said that Miss Yoon Ga Eul’s seemed to have copied another artist’s painting, and that it was very similar to the work he owned. He complained about displaying a possibly plagiarized work without checking if it would lower the value of the work…”

Gi Tae’s eyes sharpened at the absurd news.

“Ha, you didn’t even check that and what were you doing?”

“I’m sorry. I should have stepped up and investigated, but I was short on time because I was taking care of our gallery artists’ works…”

What kind of painting did she paint? That could be a big problem if done wrong.

Gi Tae’s eyes narrowed sensitively after hearing about a situation that could become a big issue.

For a moment, he was about to regret giving her an opportunity for nothing.

“I’m not blaming you, Manager Park. So?”

“After hearing that, other collectors also looked closely at Miss Yoon Ga Eul’s painting and added that it seemed to be plagiarism and was very similar.”

“Whose work did she copy?”

“Artist Yoon Dae Ho, you remember him, right? The one who passed away about ten years ago. It was his painting .”

How could he not know? It’s Yoon Ga Eul’s father.

Gi Tae’s gaze turned back to the empty wall where Ga Eul’s painting had been hung.

The existence of the painting that had already been sold could no longer be confirmed. He could only hear about it through reports.

Manager Park carefully continued speaking to Gi Tae, who looked upset.

“So there was a commotion in front of this booth, and when I heard the news and rushed to handle it, Miss Yoon Ga Eul was already talking with the collectors.”

“…”

“She said it’s not a copy, but a sequel to . She explained that since she learned painting only from her father without receiving any other art education when he was alive, the style became similar. She said there are a few sequel works that she and her father planned together to exhibit side by side when she became an adult, and is one of them. She also pointed out and explained the points that prove it’s a sequel.”

Manager Park, who was muttering with twinkling eyes, made Gi Tae realize what she had done.

Meanwhile, Manager Park, who was reminded of the fact that Ga Eul is Yoon Dae Ho’s daughter, continued reporting with excitement as if he was immersed in that fact again, even though Gi Tae didn’t ask further.

“She said she chose her debut work as a meaning that she has grown enough to keep the promise she can no longer keep with her father to hold an exhibition together. The daughter who just graduated from college, to keep the promise with her father, even if it’s late, really…”

“What did the Daelim Construction chairman say?”

“The chairman also conceded, saying it could be the case after hearing that she’s the daughter and it was a sequel they planned together. He also commented that her painting seems good, taking after her father. He said it’s a painting of a level that is not lacking when viewed as a sequel. Really… it was fortunate that it ended as a small commotion. Thanks to Miss Ga Eul stepping up and explaining first, it didn’t spread into a big commotion.”

“…Ah, yes.”

As Gi Tae was answering reluctantly, Manager Park added unexpected news.

“Ah! Thanks to that, Miss Yoon Ga Eul’s painting was sold at the highest price among the artists who participated in the contest.”

In the midst of this, the painting was sold at a high price?

“Since it was said to be a sequel to by Yoon Dae Ho’s daughter, there was quite a reaction. It became an impressive debut at TS Gallery.”

“…”

“Uh… CEO, it’s okay, right? It really wasn’t a big commotion. I checked the entire site to see if there were any reporters in case an article was released.”

Gi Tae, who nodded roughly as if he understood, gave a quick greeting to Manager Park and immediately left the gallery.

Before getting into his sedan in the darkness that had fallen outside, Gi Tae made a call to someone.

“Give me Yoon Ga Eul’s phone number.”

Telling her to sell a painting, she went and did all sorts of mischief.

The corners of Gi Tae’s mouth rose, drawing an arc.