Covetous Sponsorship (Completed Main Story) - Chapter 8
“Prove your ability right there.”
“Huh?”
“Don’t I need a reason to bring you along? Try selling one of your paintings for a high price. If you can do that, I’ll say I saw it at the exhibition and bring you with me.”
“…Okay.”
Ga Eul replied, dazed.
“Do your best.”
This was an opportunity.
It was his answer to the unreasonable tantrum she’d thrown yesterday.
Although the response she’d received was one she should’ve been happy about, Ga Eul couldn’t simply feel happy.
He had clearly told her to sell her painting for a high price—at an exhibition featuring works by artists affiliated with TS Gallery.
It was an extremely difficult condition.
Feeling anxious, Ga Eul asked again,
“Han Gi Tae. Just hypothetically—if I can’t sell my painting, or if it sells but not for a high price… what happens then?”
“Hmm. I wonder what would happen.”
His vague reply made Ga Eul groan in frustration.
She sank into thought, recalling the upcoming spring exhibition.
Though the Chairman personally admired her artwork, that might just be his personal opinion. Would her paintings really find buyers outside his circle…?
After deep contemplation, Ga Eul finally lifted her head. His aloof face immediately came into view.
Expression unreadable, he merely leaned against the sofa backrest and gazed at her.
Noticing her hesitation, he gently urged her to give up.
“If you can’t do it, you don’t have to.”
“But if I don’t… you won’t accept me, right?”
He didn’t answer this question. He only shrugged his shoulders.
Ga Eul looked down again at the paper filled with detailed information.
An art competition.
She’d never done anything like this before. While it might be foolish to judge hastily, she wasn’t completely naive about how the world worked.
She might manage to win the competition, but expecting her debut painting to fetch a high price sounded like something out of a drama.
Since she kept delaying her answer, he pressed her again,
“Yoon Ga Eul. So—will you give it a try or not?”
“I… um…”
“Quickly.”
But she had no other choice.
With this opportunity right before her eyes, there was no time left for hesitation.
This was the chance he had given her.
Even if it was a trap set to give him grounds to reject her outright… just as always, she simply had to try.
“I’ll give it a try.”
Determination shone brightly in Ga Eul’s eyes.
This was different from being helplessly tossed around against her will. Now, she would have a fair shot based solely on her own talent.
She wanted to succeed—desperately. Despite the vagueness of the opportunity, her motivation surged like a spring.
“Yeah. Good decision.”
He answered with a slight upward curve of his lips, as if genuinely approving of her choice. Ga Eul stared at his face for a moment.
She’d expected him to nod indifferently, but instead—he smiled.
His smiling face…
She’d never seen it before.
Thinking back, he hadn’t smiled even once during their recent meal together. He’d always remained expressionless.
Though his smile was so faint she almost doubted whether he’d really smiled at all, it was enough to seize her full attention.
Just the slight lift of his lips made him seem a little more approachable. He was still distant, but the coldness had somewhat melted away.
As Ga Eul lingered on this fleeting impression, he had already wiped the expression from his face and continued speaking.
“Well then. Since you’ve said you’ll do it, I suppose we can drop this topic. But why did Grandfather bring you here?”
Ga Eul, who had been staring blankly at him, suddenly jolted in surprise.
His question had been sharp and direct.
Finding the question itself awkward, Ga Eul chose to dodge it vaguely.
“Didn’t you hear from the Chairman…? It’s just… that’s all there is to it.”
“I don’t know why you came to live in our house. He’s not the type to explain every little detail to me.”
“Oh… right.”
Still feeling his expectant gaze on her, Ga Eul sighed deeply and finally answered.
“My father was a well-known painter.”
“Who?”
“If I say Yoon Dae Ho… would you know him?”
He might not recognize the name since some time had passed…
She cautiously spoke her father’s name. But judging by his reaction, her father’s fame clearly hadn’t faded yet.
For just an instant, his previously indifferent eyes wavered slightly. Ga Eul caught that fleeting moment.
A moment later, openly showing interest, he even uncrossed his legs and leaned forward toward her. Closing the distance slightly, he looked straight into Ga Eul’s eyes and asked sharply,
“If you’re Yoon Dae Ho’s daughter, you should’ve been able to live comfortably off the money from selling his paintings. So where did all these debts come from?”
“Ah… well…”
‘He really doesn’t know anything. But… do I really have to tell him?’
She didn’t want to go into detail about her father’s death.
Biting back the downturn of her lips, she barely managed to respond,
“There were… some difficult circumstances. It’s hard to explain… I’m sorry.”
“Why apologize?”
Though she’d braced herself for tension, he surprisingly backed off easily.
Instead, he stood up as soon as he’d finished speaking.
That marked the end of their conversation.
Ga Eul reflexively stood up as well, following his lead.
Gi Tae briefly glanced at her as she rose, then quickly averted his gaze and walked toward his office desk.
Ga Eul trailed obediently behind him.
“Why?”
When he noticed her following, Gi Tae stopped and turned to ask.
Startled by his sudden halt, Ga Eul fumbled through her crossbody bag and pulled out a handkerchief.
The handkerchief was still faintly stained with red.
She held it out to him.
“I brought this to return the handkerchief you gave me yesterday.”
“…”
He didn’t take it—just stared down at it silently.
“…?”
Following his gaze downward, Ga Eul saw the faint red mark still lingering on the fabric.
Panicking as he continued to stare only at the stain without taking the handkerchief, she quickly added,
“I did wash it, but the stain wouldn’t come out—no matter how hard I tried. It was already like that when you gave it to me…”
“…Alright. Give it here.”
“Oh! Yes, here. Then… I’ll be going now.”
Having finally returned the handkerchief, Ga Eul smiled brightly for the first time and bowed lightly. Then she turned to leave the office.
“Yoon Ga Eul.”
Just as she took her first step, he called her back again.
Ga Eul immediately turned around at his voice.
Unlike his abrupt call, a brief silence followed.
Ga Eul looked at him, puzzled.
After a moment, he spoke in a flat tone,
“Congratulations on graduating.”
* * *
Three days later, Ga Eul called Joo Ah and Do Jin to a café.
Ever since hearing his proposal, she’d stayed in her studio but hadn’t made any real progress.
She wanted to clear her head and also seek advice—perhaps on good painting subjects or ideas that might stand out in the competition.
“Do Jin-oppa, what kind of painting sells for a high price?”
Taken aback by Ga Eul’s sudden question, Do Jin asked incredulously,
“…Out of nowhere?”
“Yes.”
“Hmm. From our perspective, we’d be grateful just to sell anything at all…”
“But still—any clever tricks you can think of?”
“…”
Unlike Ga Eul’s anxious urgency, the two exchanged glances before turning back to her.
Usually bold, Joo Ah now gently clasped Ga Eul’s hands and asked cautiously,
“Ga Eul, did you suddenly need a lot of money? Did you get into some kind of trouble?”
“No, it’s not that. I just need a groundbreaking way to sell my painting for a high price.”
“But… why would you need such a method…?”
Switching from her earlier caution to a stern expression, Joo Ah pressed again,
“Be honest. Did you get into trouble?”
“No.”
“Tell us the truth.”
Under their persistent, demanding gazes, Ga Eul finally admitted a little more honestly,
“Well… there is something, but it’s not a big deal. I didn’t get into trouble or anything.”
“Then why do you need money?”
“Actually… things at home have gotten a bit tense because of my painting. I thought, maybe if I achieve something big in a competition, things might get better.”
“Oh! So that’s why you need a way to sell your painting for a high price?”
“Yeah. If I can manage that…”
So I can finally be accepted.
Ga Eul nodded. In response, the two simultaneously let out sighs—as if they’d rehearsed it.
Ga Eul looked at them, puzzled by their identical reactions.
“…Why?”
“Oh, we were just worried you’d gotten into serious trouble.”
Realizing their concern made sense, Ga Eul gave an awkward smile—then repeated her question.
“…So, what kind of painting actually sells for a high price?”
Only now did Joo Ah and Do Jin take her worry seriously and begin earnestly sharing their opinions.
“Isn’t it just about skill? If you’re truly talented, whatever you paint should get a good response, right?”
“That’s not helpful at all, Joo Ah. Do you think Ga Eul would ask if she already knew?”
“Then you suggest something, Do Jin! Do you have some brilliant idea?”
Do Jin, who’d seemed ready to speak instantly, merely opened and closed his mouth a few times before letting out a frustrated groan.
“…Hmm. Maybe try a really bold, unconventional theme? You have to stand out first—then people will at least consider buying it.”
“For example?”
“Well… I don’t know specifics.”
“Oh, oppa! Think seriously for once!”
Suddenly, as if struck by inspiration, Joo Ah confidently answered—quite unlike her earlier uncertainty.
“Wouldn’t it help to research paintings that have sold for high prices before? After all, there are only so many collectors who actually pay big money for art. Doesn’t that seem like the most realistic approach?”
“So what kind of paintings are those?”
“How would I know that offhand? We’d have to look into it! Just visiting galleries around Seoul should give us some clues.”
“But that’ll take too long. The exhibition Ga Eul mentioned is in spring!”
“Well then, what do you expect me to do about it!”
It really was difficult.
Ga Eul left the bickering pair behind and sank back into worry.
.
.
.
After hours of racking their brains over the same topic at the café, they still hadn’t found a promising solution.
Trudging back home, Ga Eul headed to her studio to at least loosen up her hands a little.
Just as she was passing the front of the main house on her way to the studio,
“…Chairman.”
“…”
Startled by the sudden encounter with Chairman Han, Ga Eul reflexively bowed her head—so flustered she forgot to pick up her dropped sketchbook.
Though she still found him intimidating after his last scolding, she respectfully waited for his reply.
“…?”
But instead of an answer, she only heard his footsteps growing distant.
Ga Eul cautiously raised her head to look at him.
Clearly still angry with her, he ignored her completely as he left the main building.
She watched his retreating back—being ignored like this…
It was the first time it had happened since she’d moved into the mansion.
His dislike manifested itself as outright coldness.
.
.
.
Past the rear path of the main building, along the garden’s stone pathway, Ga Eul’s studio stood isolated. Originally a storage room, it had been readily offered to her by Chairman Han when she first arrived—a private space of her own.
Over time, she’d gradually renovated it: replacing the lighting, bringing in easels, canvases, and various art supplies. Though not large, it had transformed into a surprisingly proper studio.
As soon as she entered, Ga Eul sighed and muttered to herself,
“Sigh… I really did make the Chairman hate me, didn’t I?”
Shaking her head to dismiss the thought of Chairman Han,
Never mind. Let’s just paint for now.
Regardless, preparing for the spring competition was her absolute priority. If she succeeded, even the Chairman’s attitude might soften. After all, it was him she owed a debt to.
He wouldn’t accept repayment through any other means.
That’s why this opportunity he’d given her was truly her only chance.
Ga Eul pulled over her easel, set up a fresh canvas, and opened a small sketchbook.
Ever since her talk with Han Gi Tae, she’d been scribbling ideas nonstop—so much so that the pages were nearly filled to the end. In her struggle to find a painting that met his criteria, the new sketchbook had already worn out like an old practice journal.
When you don’t know the way, you just have to try painting as widely as possible.
Flipping quickly through the sketchbook, Ga Eul scooped two colors of paint onto her palette and ruthlessly smeared them together with a palette knife.
She kept pressing down firmly on the already-blended paint with the knife.
‘What on earth is Han Gi Tae thinking?’
He’d been so clearly indifferent before—yet suddenly turned kind and even offered her a chance.
He didn’t seem like the type to give opportunities so freely.
Either way, there wouldn’t be a second chance. She wanted to succeed.
Her deep anxiety and desperate yearning spilled directly onto the canvas.
Male lead Asks for a Divorce Every Day
It’s not often you come across a plot like this in the female-dominant genre — make sure to check it out!
This is a novel I’m planning to reread as well.
The male lead is strong, skilled in martial arts, and not the usual fragile type you often see in matriarchal novels.
Meanwhile, the female lead is a scientist—rational and logical. Even when she falls for the male lead, she doesn’t let her emotions cloud her decisions.
If you push through the first few chapters, you’ll gradually find the story really intriguing.
It has a mix of mystery, detective elements, and romance.
The author’s writing style is like crafting a puzzle—except they deliberately leave out a few pieces, making it hard to predict what happens next, yet keeping you hooked.
In the end, everything will come together and be explained.
One-sentence summary: Wife, stop playing with beakers and look at me!
In a laboratory accident, research scientist Zhu Wansheng accidentally travels to a matriarchal world. The original owner of the body is an eighteen-year-old only daughter of a wealthy rouge merchant, already married with a handsome young man.
Zhu Wansheng grins: Nice! She always said she was heaven’s favorite granddaughter. After a life of toil in her previous life, she can enjoy blessings in this one.
However, her joy lasts no more than three seconds as bad news arrives: the original owner’s family is about to go bankrupt, and her husband wants a divorce.
Even worse, she’s stuck with a research system full of restrictions.
Zhu Wansheng: ? Is this the destiny of a research dog?
——
Faced with this mess, Zhu Wansheng pours herself a bowl of wine to drown her sorrows. In her drunken haze, her husband arrives.
His figure is imposing, holding a long sword, with a dignified air that captivates Zhu Wansheng.
Gu Yingqing, however, looks at the alcohol-reeking Zhu Wansheng with undisguised disgust and coldly asks, “Divorce or not?” The intoxicated Zhu Wansheng mumbles vaguely, “I think… it’s not… it’s not… impossible!”
——
The next day, after sobering up, Zhu Wansheng is full of energy, rolling up her sleeves ready to make a big move. As for yesterday? She has no memory of it.
Zhu Wansheng is ambitious; a research dog fears nothing!
Upgrading rouge, extracting fragrances, producing perfumes, researching lipsticks… all shall bow to the power of modern technology!
The original owner’s dying rouge shop is revitalized. Her mother is pleased and with a wave of her hand, passes on the family business to her. As she takes control and her experimental results gain popularity, it’s the pinnacle of her life…
——
But there are always those who can’t stand to see her doing well. Jealousy, scheming, assassination attempts – they want nothing less than her life.
The person who has always kept his distance from her suddenly holds her tightly in his arms, eyes full of concern.
She is unharmed, but he falls into a pool of blood…
Zhu Wansheng feels guilty, “I can grant you one wish.”
Gu Yingqing tentatively circles his arms around her, carefully resting his head in the crook of her neck, pleading softly, “I regret it. Can we not divorce?”
Zhu Wansheng: ? When did I agree to a divorce?
[Small Theater]
The newly developed rouge is beautifully packaged, and Zhu Wansheng is eager to try it.
Gu Yingqing suddenly appears: “My lady, may I apply it for you?”
Cool fingertips lightly brush her lips. His Adam’s apple bobs as he leans in for a light bite.
Zhu Wansheng: ?
Gu Yingqing: It smells so good, I wanted to taste it…
On a warm spring day, Zhu Wansheng tries a new perfume: “Spring Night.” Gu Yingqing corners her against a wall.
Warm breath lingers on her neck.
“My lady, from now on, may I test the fragrances for you?”
[Humorous female scientist vs scheming live-in son-in-law male lead]
[Touch the gear icon in the bottom right corner of the screen to move to the next chapter if you want.]
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