I Became A Renowned Genius At My Arts High School - Chapter 172



Only Noblemtl

Episode 172. Proof of Qualification (1)

Su-hyeon didn’t bring a proper painting from Seoul.

In my bag, I only had a few notebooks and croquis books with simple sketches of ideas. Most of my work was bound for an exhibition, and since I was going to be working on new work in New York anyway, I brought only the bare minimum.

But there was a way to show Peter and the Taylors members his drawings.

“what’s this?”

grunote.net

When I wrote down a short and simple homepage address and handed it to him, Peter tilted his head and asked.

“This is my personal homepage.”

“Wow, you have a homepage too?”

“I’m uploading under the artist name ‘Gru’, and I’ve updated everything except the works I’ve worked on with the gallery. I wish I could show you the actual thing right now, but I’m not in a position to do that.”

“That won’t be a problem. Even if it’s not the actual thing, it’s enough to get a feel for it. Besides, if it’s not work with a gallery, it’s really free work. So it’s a portfolio that definitely shows your colors.”

Peter spoke with sparkling eyes, then quickly wrote something on a note and handed it to me.

“what?”

“This is Taylor’s homepage.”

“Oh. Really?”

“Isn’t it unfair that only we get to see your work in advance?”

Peter shrugged and said,

“Of course I showed you my work, but that’s only a part of it, and you, Soo-hyun, need to know what kind of group Taylors is. So please appreciate it and evaluate whether Taylors is a group that you would want to be a part of. I’m ready to accept both praise and criticism.”

Peter looked serious for the first time.

“Those words sound like they are filled with great confidence. Is that true?”

When Soo-hyun asked playfully.

“Of course. We are a group that is full of passion and not afraid of challenges. You will definitely feel that energy when you see our work. I am also looking forward to the synergy with you.”

Peter said proudly, puffing out his chest.

“Okay. I’ll look into it carefully. And when would be a good time to tell me the results?”

“There’s no reason to drag this out, we don’t have time. I’ll come to the hamburger place in front of here with the kids tomorrow for lunch, so let’s meet there. At noon.”

“Kids?”

“To bring Taylor’s friends.”

“Huh? So suddenly?”

“Haha. I believe it. Everyone will like your drawings the moment they see them. Then you’ll start working together, and if you’re like that, then of course you’ll have to say hello.”

Peter nodded and stood up.

He said he wanted to quickly go to a place with internet access and check the contents of the homepage.

By the way, Soo-hyun also had to find a place with internet access.

It was a moment that made me miss Korean PC rooms.

***

“Wow. You were so confident.”

The next morning, Steve guided Su-hyeon to the public computer lab at his school.

Even though I was an outsider, I was able to freely come and go as long as I was with a current student, so I was able to secure a seat, and thanks to Steve, I was able to use the computer comfortably.

And Taylor’s homepage, which I accessed right away, felt very fresh and interesting.

“It looks like there are quite a few members?”

“Peter, he’s a bit of an extrovert and has a knack for gathering people. But that doesn’t mean the hurdles are low. He’s put together a team of pretty good members.”

“Yes, it looks great. It’s really diverse and interesting. It’s unique.”

“Even though they’re rookies, there’s nothing wrong with them. In fact, if you look closely, they’re all kids who were popular in their hometowns, so their fundamentals are solid.”

“So it feels like regional representatives are competing in a national competition?”

“For example, that’s true.”

Steve smiled faintly and then tapped Soo-hyun, who had a serious expression on her face, and said.

“You too.”

“I?”

“You’ve been active and made a name for yourself at Sehyun Arts High School, Baekhyun Arts High School, and even in Korea.”

“Hey. The exhibition was only once, and high school and college were literally just school days. It’s different now that I dream of becoming a pro. It’s hard to compare.”

But Soo-hyun smiled brightly and reassured Steve.

“Don’t worry, you won’t be discouraged or lose confidence. I’ll work hard. I came here to do that.”

“Yes. If it’s humility to keep your original intention, then there’s no need to stop you. But Soo-hyun.”

Steve said, turning the keyboard towards himself and typing a new address into the Internet window.

“look.”

“uh?”

“Your homepage is also great.”

“what.”

“Just as you were amazed by the work of the Taylors kids, the Taylors kids will be even more amazed by your homepage.”

When Soo-hyun snickered, Steve became serious.

“I’m not saying this because I’m your friend, so let’s go.”

“Where?”

“Taylor’s kids, we’re supposed to meet at the burger place later. Let’s go check out their reactions.”

Steve got up, holding his bag, and urged Soo-hyun on.

There were still about two hours left before the appointment time.

Steve and Su-hyeon decided to walk across the Brooklyn Bridge instead of taking the subway.

It was a path she had wanted to walk once, and she was curious about the scenery, so Soo-hyeon nodded willingly.

And that was a very good thing.

Some scenes were clearly engraved in Soo-hyeon’s mind and made her press the shutter of her heart.

Yeah, I’m really in New York.

As I realized that it was in this city that I began to paint, my mind, which had been creating waves with various thoughts, calmed down.

Soo-hyeon slowly headed towards her destination, filling her heart like that.

Still, there were about 30 minutes left until the appointment time, and when I got there, I didn’t have to wait any longer.

“uh?”

“what?”

Soo-hyun and Steve tilted their heads at the same time and made eye contact.

“Are they right?”

“I think so?”

Peter was seen sitting at a table with some people.

Even without an explanation, it was obvious that they were members of Taylors, and just from their appearance, they already gave off the feeling that they were artists.

“What should I do?”

“Shall we go to that table over there?”

Soo-hyun said, checking her watch.

There was some time before the appointment time, and there might be things to talk about separately with the friends who had gathered beforehand.

“Or you could just go home and come out on time. It would be awkward to just stay here and run into each other.”

When you’re feeling a little bit lost like that.

“Oh! Soohyun! Steve!”

Peter spotted them both and waved happily.

And when he whispered something to the group, they also smiled brightly and welcomed Soo-hyun and Steve.

“You’re here early?”

“Oh, I was walking back slowly after going to Soho.”

“Did you walk here?”

“Yeah. The weather is perfect for a walk.”

“Yes. I also walk like that sometimes. It’s good for organizing my thoughts.”

Then Peter naturally introduced the members.

“These are the Taylors team members I mentioned yesterday. This is Tom, Jessie, Vanessa, and Martin. Okay, this is Soo-hyun, who I mentioned yesterday. Do you know Steve?”

As we exchanged brief glances and greeted each other, Jessie pointed to an empty seat and told me to sit down.

“I heard about you guys and I really wanted to meet you soon.”

“Yeah. I was so surprised when I heard it from Peter yesterday.”

The Taylors members began to chatter actively.

How shocked I was that Peter’s work was destroyed, how I heard alternative solutions, rushed to adjust the concept, revised the plan, and resubmitted it, and how I stayed up all morning.

But first, I wanted to share the good news that there were no problems participating in the art fair.

“After putting out the urgent fire, I became incredibly curious.”

“Yes. I wanted to know the identity of the hero who saved us from danger.”

As we got to the main point, everyone’s attention was focused on Soo-hyun again.

“But he’s an artist like us.”

“Plus, the work is incredibly good.”

“I never imagined you would be this young. I really enjoyed your drawings. Your homepage is really cool.”

“It was an interesting task.”

Taylors members shared their thoughts on seeing Suhyun’s homepage this time.

“It’s a work that shows the difference in perspective, right? So that you can compare how you can interpret an event or person.”

“There’s a lot to think about. It’s also very emotional. I also like the variety of expressive techniques. You do a lot of experimental work, right? How far have you gone with the materials?”

It was just as Peter said.

The Taylors members were very supportive of Su-hyeon and her work.

It must have been more interesting that there was no overlap with their work, and they seemed very excited about what kind of synergy they could create when working together.

however.

“What? Is this really a place worth coming to?”

Behind the children, a voice that sounded somewhat like a squabble could be heard.

“I thought it was a pretty good place until recently, but when it becomes famous, this is the problem. It loses its class.”

It was no mistake. This was clearly a dispute.

When Soo-hyeon quickly turned around, three young men with strong bodies were standing there. They were looking elsewhere, but they continued speaking in a loud voice as if to make her listen.

“It’s because the owner is kind. He gave us a table even though we didn’t even order the food properly.”

“But when customers come, it’s right to kick out that kind of team. They’re flies that don’t help business.”

Giggle men.

At the same time, Peter’s face, sitting at the table, turned red.

There were seven people, but there were only two glasses of cola and iced tea on the table.

It was clearly a mockery of Peter’s less fortunate friends.

“Do you know him?”

When Soo-hyun asked, Peter let out a long sigh and said.

“That kid is Frankie.”

“uh?”

“The guy who harbored ill intentions toward my ex-girlfriend Sophia. That’s why he called the gift I gave him trash.”

Frankie tells Sophia that the pendant Peter gave her at Sophia’s birthday party is not a luxury item, but a crude piece of handicraft.

Because of this, Sophia was greatly embarrassed and Peter was treated like a fraud.

They say physiognomy is a science.

Soo-hyun shook her head as she glanced at Frankie and his friends.

I don’t like to judge people by their appearance, but this was an exception.

Frankie and his friends looked like they were up for any kind of dirty work. And they had bad attitudes, too.

“Childishness is childishness.”

Steve also seemed uncomfortable with the situation, so he got up and went over to place his order.

There was so much food and drink that there weren’t enough tables.

“We don’t have money.”

Peter, with a surprised look on his face, tried to stop Steve, but Steve just smiled bitterly and said.

“In Korea, there is a culture called ‘Hantok’.”

“A treat?”

“When something good happens, you say something nice. So this is a treat for Soo-hyun and I to celebrate joining Taylor’s.”

Frankie’s group could still hear the snickers, but Steve, Suhyun, and the Taylors members pretended not to notice and happily rushed into the food.

While eating a hamburger and other food, Soo-hyun opened his mouth as if he remembered something.

“That’s right, Peter. You said you made a bet last time, right?”

“uh?”

“You said you made a bet on the outcome of the art fair. What was that?”

“huh?”

“Tell me more. Since I’m already doing this, I feel like I have to beat them.”

Su-hyeon took a big bite of the hamburger with her eyes shining.