Covetous Sponsorship (Completed Main Story) - Chapter 14

“Ah, my head….”

Along with her slowly returning consciousness came the pounding hangover. Ga Eul pressed her forehead and sat up in bed.

Feeling she needed something to drink to settle her stomach, she entered the kitchen—only to find a pot of her mother’s bean sprout soup waiting for her.

“Mom must’ve made it before leaving.”

Ga Eul placed the pot on the stove right away and crouched down in front of it while it heated.

She wasn’t someone who usually drank heavily, nor did she particularly enjoy alcohol—but yesterday, her mood had gotten the better of her, so she’d drunk more than usual.

It ended up being a more enjoyable evening than she’d expected.

He seemed like someone with rich and varied experiences, and she’d found herself asking him all sorts of questions without even realizing it. In particular, nothing made her happier than hearing his insights about the art market’s future.

He’d also offered a few pieces of advice about her paintings, which he’d seen during his visit to her studio.

“I’ve never painted myself,” he’d said, “but after traveling all over the world and meeting numerous artists, I’ve naturally picked up a few things.” Indeed, his discernment and perspective on art were truly impressive.

But then…

“How did I even get home…?”

She must’ve really overdone it. Even during her graduation party, when she’d drunk heavily, she’d still managed to find her way home and remembered everything clearly—but this time, she couldn’t recall a single thing about how she’d gotten back.

She remembered chatting with the President while enjoying the night view, discussing art endlessly… and then… umm…

Ga Eul bit her lip. Nothing after that came to mind.

“Oh…! It’s boiling over!”

While trying to piece together yesterday’s memories, the bean sprout soup spilled over before any memories resurfaced.

‘I hope I didn’t do anything too embarrassing…’

After wiping up the spilled soup, Ga Eul ladled it into a pretty bowl and carried it to the table. She took a small sip of the clear broth.

“Ah, I think I’ll survive.”

It felt like her stomach was starting to settle.

Ready to eat properly, Ga Eul picked up her spoon—but the moment she tried to take another bite, the spoon slipped from her hand.

Clang!

The spoon hit the floor with a sharp clatter, but Ga Eul didn’t even think about picking it up; she just opened her mouth in shock.

—President.

—Hm? What is it?

—Prezzy…

—…

—Prezzy…

—If you’ve got nothing to say, don’t call me.

—…Okay.

What was that? Why did I even do that…?

She couldn’t understand why, but fragmented memories resurfaced—of clinging to his back and repeatedly calling out to him.

What else did I do?

Ga Eul bolted up from her seat and paced anxiously around the dining table. But those fleeting fragments were all she could recall.

Groaning in discomfort, she squeezed her memories for a while longer, then finally picked up her phone from beside the table.

‘I think he carried me home because I was drunk. I should apologize first—and maybe subtly check if I made any other mistakes.’

After typing, deleting, and rewriting several times, Ga Eul finally sent a concise, clean message.

[President, I’m really sorry about last night.]

Contrary to her expectation that he’d reply late due to being busy, his response came quickly.

[Are you awake now?] [Yes. President… did I do anything embarrassing yesterday…?]

Leaving her now-cold soup behind, Ga Eul stared fixedly at her phone screen—and soon after, another message arrived, his tone unmistakably clear as if spoken aloud.

[You really shouldn’t drink.] [I’m sorry.] [It’s fine.]

So she had messed up after all.

Still, having managed to apologize, Ga Eul hesitated over what final message to send him—when he suddenly asked first.

[How’s your hangover?] [My head hurts a little, so I’m having some hangover soup now.][Is that so?]

That seemed to be all he wanted to ask; no further messages followed.

If she stopped here, the conversation would end.

But… should she send something more…?

After a moment’s hesitation, Ga Eul gathered her courage and typed a few more words.

[What about you, President? Are you okay?] [I didn’t drink much to begin with.] [I’ll drink more moderately next time. I really am sorry about yesterday.] [Alright.]

After exchanging a few more brief messages, he suddenly signaled it was time to wrap up.

[That’s enough. I have a meeting now.]

Ga Eul had been about to send a simple “Okay,” but hesitated and added a few more words.

[Okay. See you again, President.]

His reply came immediately—blunt as ever.

[Yeah. You must have a headache—go back to sleep.]

Though he seemed indifferent, he’d answered every one of her messages without fail lately, and Ga Eul smiled softly at that.

* * *

“Ga Eul, your father is truly an incredible man.”

Ga Eul met up with Joo Ah and Do Jin for drinks—a long-overdue gathering that also doubled as a celebration for the competition’s conclusion. They chose a barbecue place near campus, a spot they hadn’t visited since graduation—the very same one from their graduation party.

The moment she saw Ga Eul, Joo Ah immediately launched into excited chatter. Already a fast talker, she spoke even quicker than usual in her enthusiasm.

“When you mentioned at the exhibition that you were his daughter, I was so curious—just how famous is your dad that everyone reacted like that?”

“…Was it really like that?”

“Of course! So as soon as I got home, I looked up your father’s name online. Wow… All the paintings he did—I recognized every single one! I was genuinely shocked. Why didn’t you ever tell us before?”

Do Jin, who’d been sitting beside her, chimed in abruptly.

“Yeah, honestly, I was surprised too. Master Painter Yoon Dae Ho is your dad…?”

Joo Ah seemed unaware of the details about her father but knew all his famous works by heart, while Do Jin appeared fully informed—he just hadn’t realized Yoon Dae Ho was her father.

“Sorry. I didn’t intentionally hide it.”

As she apologized, Ga Eul couldn’t help but smile softly.

She felt genuinely happy seeing others still held her father in such high regard.

Since she respected him more than anyone else, she felt even more flustered by their praise than if they’d complimented her directly.

Just then, Joo Ah, who’d been studying Ga Eul’s bright expression, teased playfully,

“By the way, Ga Eul—your face has really lit up since the competition ended!”

“…Huh? Really? I feel the same as always.”

“No, no—it’s totally different! During the competition prep, you seemed like you were carrying the weight of the world on your shoulders. How is this the same at all? I was so worried back then. Honestly, I even wondered if you’d gotten into some trouble.”

“Hahaha… What are you talking about?”

Ga Eul laughed awkwardly.

Now that she thought about it, she’d lost all sense of ease back then, obsessed with producing the perfect painting to fulfill her deal with him.

Looking back, Joo Ah was absolutely right—she really had changed recently.

Ga Eul readily admitted it.

“You’re right, Joo Ah. I do feel much lighter now—like I’ve finally regained some peace of mind since the competition ended.”

Over the past few days, everything had been going smoothly exactly as she’d hoped, giving her a sense of stability.

Plus, having secured a spot at a gallery everyone dreamed of, she’d felt secretly thrilled and taken on even more work than usual.

Her thoughts drifted naturally from TS Gallery to him.

He’d refused to let her in, citing fairness—even against the Chairman’s wishes—but once she’d met the contract terms, he’d honored his promise without hesitation. Though he’d seemed cold at first, he was clearly a man of his word.

It still felt surreal that she’d not only finalized a deal with someone who’d always seemed so distant, but had even shared a relaxed dinner and conversation with him—it almost seemed like a delusion upon reflection.

She’d once doubted they’d ever grow close before she left that mansion… Now, she was struck by how unpredictable life truly was.

Oh! She should tell Joo Ah and Do Jin about this news too.

These two had always stood by her through tough times, offering constant support and comfort. She wanted them to be the first to hear about her contract—they’d surely be the happiest for her.

Ga Eul’s cheeks had already flushed a soft peachy pink. Smiling at her own barely suppressed joy, she turned to them and said,

“Actually…”

“…?”

“A few days ago, I signed a contract with a gallery.”

Instantly, both Joo Ah and Do Jin’s eyes widened. Ignoring the curious glances of other diners, they shouted out loud,

“What? Really, Yoon Ga Eul?”

“Ga Eul!”

Just as she’d expected—they were celebrating it as if it were their own success.

“Which one? Which gallery did you sign with??”

Meeting their eager gazes, Ga Eul answered shyly,

“TS Gallery.”

At that, Joo Ah and Do Jin erupted into excited exclamations.

“Wow, that’s seriously amazing! Not just any gallery—TS? It’s so hard to get into that place!”

“You’re the first among us to sign a contract. I’m genuinely happy for you, Ga Eul.”

Rrrr… Rrrr…

As they continued showering her with congratulations, Ga Eul’s phone suddenly rang.

“Sorry—just a sec.”

Leaving behind her two beaming friends, Ga Eul rummaged through her handbag and picked up her phone.

Her pupils briefly trembled at the unexpected caller.

[Come to the main house for dinner in two days.]

A message from the Chairman.

He hadn’t summoned her even once since she’d mentioned moving out—two whole months had passed…

Could he have already heard the news? Was that why?

Ga Eul bit her lip, feeling unusually tense about meeting him again after so long—especially after angering him the last time they’d met.

* * *

Two days later, Ga Eul arrived at the main house right on time.

‘He must’ve calmed down by now.’

Otherwise, he wouldn’t have called her.

Before entering, she checked and adjusted her outfit once more, nerves making her unusually fussy over small details.

Still, it was certain the Chairman had already heard about her contract.

“Haah…”

Taking one last deep breath, Ga Eul straightened her shoulders and opened the front door. As she entered the dining room, Chairman Han greeted her warmly.

“Oh, there you are, Ga Eul. Have a seat.”

“Yes, Chairman.”

‘Good—he seems to have cooled off.’

Relieved, Ga Eul was about to sit down when she suddenly spotted a guest and froze.

‘Huh…? Who’s that…?’

Now she understood why the Chairman was in such a good mood—an unexpected guest was joining them for dinner.

It was Chairman Shin Min Cheol of Daelim Construction, who’d previously confronted her at the exhibition, passionately defending the authenticity of his painting, convinced it had been plagiarized.

Unlike their last encounter, he now wore a gentle expression, almost like a completely different person.

Though puzzled, Ga Eul respectfully bowed her head in greeting.

“Hello, Chairman.”

“Yes, please sit down first, Miss Ga Eul.”

Why had she been invited to a dinner with an outside guest?

Chairman Han, in unusually high spirits, drank more than usual and kept bursting into hearty laughter. The dining room soon filled with his booming chuckles, and Chairman Shin Min Cheol across the table joined in just as heartily.

The two seemed quite close personally, and their conversation flowed effortlessly.

Feeling out of place and with nothing to contribute, Ga Eul simply offered occasional polite smiles at their exchange.

Then, Chairman Shin suddenly turned to Ga Eul.

“I was surprised to learn you’re Yoon Dae Ho’s daughter—but even more surprised to find out you’re the young lady Chairman Han has been mentoring. It’s a pleasure, Miss Ga Eul. We met at the exhibition, didn’t we? I bought your painting that day.”

Ga Eul was inwardly startled he’d addressed her directly but replied calmly,

“Of course. I remember clearly, Chairman. It’s been a while since then.”

“Yes.”

He warmly accepted her greeting, then proudly continued,

“Hanging your painting right next to your father’s looked absolutely wonderful. Perhaps because they’re part of a series?”

“Oh, yes… That means so much coming from you—truly an honor.”

Surprisingly, he then offered an apology.

“I feel bad—I think I came on too strong that day. The fact is, is the piece I value most among all my collection. That’s why I got upset—worried someone had made a counterfeit.”

“Oh, I see…”

“I’m sorry about that.”

“No, Chairman…! It’s really okay…”

Ga Eul tried to wave it off, but her words trailed off as she lowered her head.

She silently repeated the title of her father’s painting—now in his possession—over and over in her mind.

It was his masterpiece, the highest-selling work of his career.

When they’d planned the series together, she and her father had carefully decided what to include, agreeing it should be their most cherished things.

But those “cherished things” weren’t extraordinary at all.

Because her father had always indulged her as a child, Ga Eul had suggested painting the beautiful roses they’d seen on a trip together. She’d also wanted to capture all the other flowers and landscapes they’d enjoyed that year.

Though others saw those scenes as beautiful simply because they were painted by Yoon Dae Ho, in truth, each piece was brimming with memories shared with Hee Sun and Dae Ho.

Thus, became the first work of the series.

—”Then I’ll paint the roses. Ga Eul, why don’t you paint the next one?”

—”Yes! I’d love to!”

Thrilled at the chance to realize her dream of becoming an artist alongside her father, young Ga Eul had eagerly agreed—and Dae Ho had hugged her tightly, whispering warmly,

—”You can do it, our Ga Eul, right?”

—”Of course!”

—”These paintings are something only you and I can create together.”

Only the two of us.

The stunning rose garden, with its captivating red hues, had left a lasting impression.

Though photos taken before its sale still circulated online, their poor quality couldn’t do justice to the real thing.

She hadn’t known who’d bought it—until the exhibition day, when she discovered it now hung in Chairman Shin’s home.

‘I miss it… Dad’s painting.’

A bittersweet smile tugged at Ga Eul’s lips.

After her father passed away, she’d sold every single one of his works. Selling those filled with memories had been agonizing.

He’d eagerly proposed the series when she’d first declared her dream of becoming an artist.

was the fruit of that first promise.

She never wanted to part with it—yet ironically, it became his most expensive sold piece.

Sometimes, the longing to see her father’s paintings would suddenly overwhelm her—only to remember not a single one remained in her possession, while someone she didn’t even know proudly displayed it in their home.

That fact hurt—not just a little, but quite deeply.

“Miss Ga Eul…? Are you alright?”

Startled back to reality by Chairman Shin’s concerned voice, Ga Eul forced a smile and managed a reply.

“I’m sorry—I drifted off for a moment. I’m fine. Please don’t apologize for what happened then.”

Though Ga Eul tried to sound composed, Shin Min Cheol had already seen through her.

“Ah, I see—you must miss your father’s work.”

“…”

Ga Eul’s lips trembled as if to say something, but she quickly pressed them shut, saying nothing.

…Had she been too obvious?

She usually kept her emotions hidden, always acting more mature than her peers.

But whenever anything involved her father, she became utterly defenseless. In those moments, she couldn’t help but feel like a helpless child.

Since she couldn’t deny it, he gently offered,

“It’s only natural—you’d want to see your father’s work.”

“…?”

Ga Eul looked up at Shin Min Cheol.

He gave her a kind, easygoing smile and casually proposed,

“Come see it.”

Stunned by the unexpected invitation, Ga Eul could only stare at him blankly.