Minje commented as he observed Ha-yeon’s sketch. Giuliano’s plaster statue looked significantly different depending on the viewing angle. This was because his neck was tilted compared to other plaster statues.
Even without Minje’s comment, Ha-yeon wasn’t entirely satisfied with the outline sketch.
“It’s fascinating how the plaster statue remains unchanged, yet it looks different every time you draw it.”
Ha-yeon awkwardly smiled and rolled her eyes. Since she couldn’t predict how he would teach, she couldn’t help but be attentive to his reactions.
He solemnly compared the sketchbook and the plaster statue, switching between them.
‘Wow, if I were the plaster statue, I would’ve said something.’
Ha-yeon chuckled inwardly as she watched him. His gaze, which seemed to scrutinize the plaster statue, felt like it was burning, making it hard to breathe. If there were someone on the receiving end of that gaze, they would probably have turned into ash by now.
“Here, here…”
Minje pointed to two parts of Ha-yeon’s sketch.
“The proportions are off. It would be better to make some adjustments.”
“Ah, yes…….”
Ha-yeon, holding a pencil, drew lines on the part he pointed out. Since his gaze was now fixed on her hand, it felt quite burdensome.
Despite her efforts to regain composure, her determined gaze made her fingertips tremble slightly. Moreover, even if she tried not to feel his gaze, the fragrant scent of his shampoo kept reminding her of his presence.
Minje, who had been silently watching Ha-yeon, finally reached out when it seemed like it wouldn’t work.
“Give it to me; let me try.”
“Really? Are you sure?”
Awkwardly smiling, Ha-yeon handed him the pencil. As his touch approached slightly, her shoulders shivered involuntarily, regardless of her will.
Minje, sensing Ha-yeon’s self-conscious attitude, casually brushed back his hair. Normally, he acted confidently, seemingly unaware of embarrassment, so it was quite evident how tense she was when seen like this.
The problem was that every time Ha-yeon made such an expression, he, too, became swayed. The subtle tremor that couldn’t be understood seemed to make the air between them tense.
Watching Ha-yeon’s trembling eyelashes, he thought it was a strange feeling and cleared his throat. Then, as if getting rid of any moral qualms, he swiftly adjusted the sketch with the pencil.
“Oh, it looks completely different when you do it this way.”
When she concentrated completely on the drawing, Ha-yeon’s eyes sparkled, as if she had been tense until now. It was quite interesting to observe the gap between them.
Minje chuckled and handed her the pencil again.
This time, it was intentional contact. Before he could think about it, his body moved first because he wanted to see how her expression would change.
Sure enough, when Ha-yeon held the pencil, it seemed like she gripped it excessively. Her already pale hands turned even whiter as she tightly clenched the pencil, and once again, various subtle emotions stirred complexly.
Since childhood, he had a habit of instinctively grasping people’s tendencies to survive. Like the proverb “You can know the road but not the inside of a person,” he couldn’t accurately understand a person’s inner thoughts.
However, as time passed, the insight naturally acquired was not only effective when looking at artworks but also when looking at people.
He had a habit of observing people’s tendencies to survive instinctively since childhood. Like the proverb “You can know the road but not the inside of a person,” he couldn’t accurately understand a person’s inner thoughts.
However, as time passed, the insight naturally acquired was not only effective when looking at artworks but also when looking at people.
He thought that Ha-yeon, who seemed cheerful and lively on the surface, might not be using such behavior as a defense mechanism. In fact, she seemed to need someone to lean on more than anyone else. She wanted to act weak to her heart’s content, pretending not to want to rely on anyone, but in fact, it was a learned behavior.
It was like a pufferfish that swelled its body when it felt threatened.
“Now, since I helped you with the modifications, let’s diligently work on shading from now on.”
Minje deliberately used a strict tone to break the awkward atmosphere.
“Yes.”
Ha-yeon couldn’t say anything else and just pouted her lips. Having done that, she began to focus on the drawing with a serious expression.
“Don’t forget to bring out the sense of lumpiness while shading.”
Minje casually spoke and then sat at the desk across from her, starting to read.
Imitating Minje’s words with a grin, Ha-yeon shot him a glance. Who wouldn’t know that! Even if you know, you can’t do it, right?
Ha-yeon, exhaling sharply, lifted her spirits and focused on sketching with a twisted heart. Within the quiet space, only the sound of the pencil rapidly adding shading echoed crisply.
“By any chance…”
Ha-yeon’s hand abruptly stopped at Minje’s sudden question.
“W-what? By any chance what?”
Thinking that she was caught sketching with a slightly twisted mindset, Ha-yeon gulped nervously. Was he about to pour out a stream of complaints?
However, the question that came from him was completely unexpected.
“By any chance, do you like pufferfish?”
“What? Pufferfish?”
Ha-yeon mumbled with a blank expression. How should she interpret this sudden talk about pufferfish? Is he perhaps deciding on the menu for a celebration after getting a job?
“Yes, I-I like it. Especially with soju for pufferfish stew….”
Before she could finish her sentence, Ha-yeon examined Minje’s face. What’s this? Is this not it? Suppressing laughter, a slight twitch appeared at the corners of his mouth.
“Well, it’s fortunate that you like it.”
She couldn’t understand exactly what he found fortunate, but Ha-yeon didn’t ask. Asking unnecessarily might lead to another round of angry sketches.
Seeing Ha-yeon’s slightly swollen face, Minje thought of pufferfish even more. Flying squirrels and now pufferfish. A woman who conquers everything from mammals to fish. He had never heard of such a thing.
Although he held a book, the words didn’t register in his eyes. Considering it calmly, it wasn’t that funny, but laughter kept coming out.
It was the first time he had tried so hard to restrain laughter in his life.
Ha-yeon realized that her attention was being stolen by Minje instead of focusing on her sketch. Just sitting across from her was irritating enough, but his constant chuckling made her even more conscious.
Moreover, she had intended to look at the Julio de’ Medici plaster statue, but her gaze automatically went to his face first. Well, she seemed to know why. After all, her eyes were specialized detectors. It might not be a general-purpose detector, but it was a handsome guy detector, after all.
“Darn, who would have thought such a problem would arise.”
Ha-yeon chuckled in amazement. Unable to see the plaster statue of the idol of the plaster statue world, Giuliano de’ Medici, in front of her because of a handsome man.
Moreover, it wasn’t just any handsome man but the face that Michelangelo had devotedly crafted.
‘I didn’t expect such a dilemma from this tutoring.’
Ha-yeon sighed softly without realizing it.
The Villainous Demon Lord Laid an Egg for Her (Female-Dominated)
Several months after transmigrating into a book, Yu Wu found herself facing the demon lord Li You, who could no longer conceal his dragon horns. With one hand on her aching waist and the other gripping a sharp sword, she stared at him.
The demon lord’s eyes were red with fury:
“This is all your doing! Today, I won’t rest until I kill you!”
Yu Wu rubbed her temples. Putting aside the taboo against bloodshed during pregnancy, wasn’t it this very man who willingly walked into her trap that day?!
Warnings:
- Male pregnancy.
- Height ratios are set to mirror typical male-female height proportions.
- Characters include a foot-loving demon lord and an eldest daughter from an immortal family’s concubine lineage.
