I Became A Renowned Genius At My Arts High School - Chapter 186



Only Noblemtl

Episode 186. The Business of Relationships (1)

Even as she walked for a long time after leaving J-House, Soo-hyun’s heart was pounding loudly.

“I feel like I’ve used up all my luck.”

No, that was not the right word.

After returning to the past, everything that happened was an opportunity and luck.

“But how can this be?”

I also thought Maria had reason to be suspicious. Jacqueline, whom I had met by chance at a cafe in Soho and chatted with, was a key figure in the New York art world, and she was joining a new group she was supposed to raise. It was an unbelievable thing.

But Soo-hyun had only just taken her first step. The stairs that stretched out before her eyes were far away.

So I tried to calm my excitement and looked down at the note in my hand.

“Your name is Henry.”

A note with your address, name, and contact information.

Jacqueline handed it over with a brief explanation.

“As you know, Su-hyeon, the art world is a very narrow and relationship-based business. This is a rule that applies all over the world. You can’t buy a piece of art if you like it and have money, and you can’t become famous just because you have great technique and are very active. So, to become an insider, there are things you have to do that are separate from talent or effort.”

It was a cold but accurate statement.

In a narrow art world with tight-knit relationships, it was naturally accepted that one had to go through a rite of passage to enter the mainstream world.

Jacqueline has named some of the hottest names in New York right now.

If I could build relationships with them and gain their recognition, I would definitely be recognized in the New York art world, so I was told to become friends with at least one of them.

The lineup was spectacular.

There were also people who controlled the American economy, the incredibly wealthy, politicians, famous actors and directors.

So, the methods of becoming close to each other were different, but broadly speaking, they were getting to know each other through hobbies or parties, meeting each other regularly, or getting to know each other head-on through drawings.

Soo-hyun’s choice was obviously the latter, and Jacqueline made a strange expression.

Perhaps I chose the most difficult method and opponent.

“Still, doesn’t this side have a chance of winning?”

Su-hyeon stopped walking.

A loft in Soho, home to the nouveau riche. This building has the most extravagant exterior.

It was said that a man named ‘Henry’ lives in the penthouse of this building.

“So, all you have to do is draw a funny picture of a whale.”

Su-hyeon muttered.

Henry, who was born into a wealthy family, was a model son with a brilliant mind and good looks.

Moreover, he was successful in investing at a young age and accumulated a large amount of wealth, living in a penthouse in Soho and forming his own network.

He had a strong presence in the art world, but he was also called an eccentric, and he said it was because he had been ordering whale paintings for several years.

It was a passage that allowed us to guess the extent of Henry’s influence, as it was said that an unexpected whale craze swept through New York.

but.

“He could be a troublesome person.”

Su-hyeon shook her head slightly.

Henry said that the whale painting that he really liked had not yet appeared.

That’s because Henry didn’t like any of it.

It was said that the galleries that had been showing whale paintings here and there and the artists who had been bringing in new whale paintings were starting to get tired.

Of course, Henry said he would give the gallery a fee for its work and the artists who brought the paintings a certain amount of money for their work.

He said it wasn’t an act of eccentricity just to attract attention.

Even if that didn’t happen, he was a person who was in the spotlight, so there was no reason for him to do something that would negatively affect his reputation.

Anyway, Jacqueline said that just the fact that a new challenger has appeared in the stale whale painting search will get Soo-hyun noticed.

If it’s Soo-hyun’s drawing, it’s bound to be something new, and if so, it’ll grab the attention of viewers regardless of Henry’s wishes, and he’ll be able to make a name for himself using Henry.

“hmm…….”

But if possible, Soo-hyun wanted to draw a picture of a whale that would please Henry.

I don’t know the details, but I felt a sense of desperation and longing because he had been obsessed with whales for so long.

Tiiiii-.

When I pressed the bell on the front door, a harsh sound rang out.

After stating my name and purpose of visit, the door to the lobby opened and the manager verified my identity.

When I gave him the business card I had received from Jacqueline, he called the penthouse to confirm that the scheduled visit was indeed possible.

Only after going through careful procedures was Soo-hyun able to take the elevator to the penthouse.

***

Thump thump thump.

The elevator got louder as it got closer to the penthouse.

And the ringing.

As the elevator door opened, a new world unfolded.

“omg.”

Su-hyeon opened her eyes wide.

I came here to avoid the party, and there’s a party here too?

People whose eyes had opened in broad daylight were staggering around and shaking their bodies.

I was briefly contemplating whether to close the door again, when my eyes met with someone inside.

“They’re here! They’re here!”

“uh?”

“Hey, that’s that guy.”

“Oh, right.”

A man and a woman wearing heavy makeup smiled brightly and pointed at Soo-hyun.

“Welcome!”

“welcome!”

A man who gave a musical greeting with exaggerated gestures pressed the elevator button himself and motioned for Soo-hyun to come inside.

It felt like someone had already had a conversation about him.

As Soo-Hyeon carefully entered inside, observing the flow of air, this time applause erupted.

“bravo!”

“It’s an honor to meet the hottest newcomer.”

A moment when you’re confused as to whether it’s a favor or a tease.

“Nice to meet you. I didn’t expect to see you here.”

A man suddenly extended his hand and asked to shake hands.

“I saw you at the Big Wave Art Fair. And your work. And that Maria getting humiliated.”

A man who laughs heartily.

Could this person be Henry? Soo-hyun nodded, holding back her words.

“I didn’t mean to embarrass anyone. I just wanted to correct you because I thought you might have misunderstood.”

“That was the point. One side was so excited that they fell backwards, while the other side was very calm and spoke their mind.”

The man giggled.

“Maria made excuses and ran away, but most people know the truth about the incident. Maria has been the talk of the town for a while now. Everyone has even made bets on when she will collapse. Of course, it won’t be now. Maria’s pockets are still full of bullets.”

“Uh.”

Soo-hyeon interrupted him and asked.

“I came to see Henry. Maybe.”

The man waved both his hands and smiled brightly at the question in his eyes, “Are you Henry?”

“I’m Mark. Don’t confuse me with a kid like Henry. I’m a Broadway star after all.”

The others burst into laughter as Mark struck a pose that he would only assume for a photo.

I don’t know what’s funny, but Soo-hyun smiled awkwardly and looked around again. And.

“Soohyun?”

This time, a voice that seemed like it was Henry called Soo-hyun.

Su-hyeon turned her head in the direction of the voice and froze for a moment.

“henry?”

The man, or rather the boy, nodded.

“nice to meet you.”

A boy with a young face who looked to be around thirteen or fourteen at best smiled faintly.

***

“I thought it was a stranger because I heard the name from Jacqueline. I asked if it was a man or a woman, and she told me to check for myself. Well, it wasn’t important, though.”

An attitude that seemed familiar when dealing with people. Henry guided Soo-hyeon to a small, renovated living room beyond the kitchen and handed her a drink from the refrigerator.

“first.”

And Henry looked at Soo-hyun with slightly wary eyes.

“Jacqueline, I know exactly what you want from me.”

“… … ?”

By Korean age, she’s now in her 6th year of elementary school, or at best, in her first year of middle school.

However, the speech and attitude felt very foreign to me because they were those of an adult with a lot of social experience. It felt like something more than what I had learned.

It really felt like experience had accumulated and insight had emerged.

“Actually, many people have already approached me for that purpose.”

Henry looked at Soo-hyeon as if he was going to pierce through her, then pointed to the door to the next room.

“Seeing is faster than talking. I have something to show you.”

Crunch.

The door opened gently.

Beyond the wide open door was a huge pile of paintings.

“her.”

Su-hyeon looked around every corner of the room in surprise.

A room the size of an elementary school classroom.

The walls on all four sides were covered with paintings, and the ones that couldn’t be hung were lying on the floor or standing upright.

I didn’t know it would be this much. Even after hearing Jacqueline’s explanation, Su-hyeon was very surprised. All the pictures were pictures of whales.

“oh my god.”

It wasn’t just the sheep that were numerous.

Each painting did not overlap, and each painting style was unique.

To add a little more exaggeration, it seems like all the whale pictures in the world have been collected together.

From classical paintings to contemporary styles, whales have been depicted on countless canvases in varying sizes, textures, and moods. Some have even been erected as sculptures.

“That’s why I’m called the whale collector. I’ve poured a lot of my wealth into it.”

I also caught a glimpse of works by famous artists. From cute whales, majestic whales, scary whales, baby whales, to whales rotting in corpses, all the whale images that humans can imagine were already collected.

But Henry didn’t like a single piece of work. What kind of whale is he waiting for?

“What kind of picture do you want to see?”

Soo-hyun asked.

The answer that came back was simple.

“It’s a real whale.”

Looking at the picture that was supposedly depicting something lifelike and left to one side, it didn’t seem like it was a picture that looked like a real whale.

So, is it a feeling? How does Henry perceive the whale?

“When you think of a whale, it’s the image that comes to mind. I asked them to draw a picture that would be immediately recognizable as a whale. But, it must have been really difficult. Even after spending so much money and time, no one has been able to draw it.”

Henry shook his head with a slightly annoyed expression and looked at Soo-hyun.

“Recently, no one has come forward to draw whales. There have even been rumors that I am a harasser who harasses artists by being mean.”

Henry’s eyes flashed for a moment.

Even though he was a child, I somehow felt it was difficult to talk to him carelessly.

“But I was so happy when Jacqueline contacted me a little while ago. She’s a newcomer who just arrived in New York, so she probably didn’t know the situation and jumped into it. Adventures are always more attractive the higher the risk.”

Henry nodded and walked towards one of the paintings.

“Jacqueline is my best friend. We’ve done a few businesses together. We’ve even borrowed money from each other. So I’m happy to accept Jacqueline’s offer. If I’m going to do it, I’m going to make it big.”

Henry raised his hand, grabbing something small and shiny that was sitting on the window table.

And then, choaaaak-!

“omg.”

Su-hyeon was so surprised that she covered her mouth with her hand.

“no!”

There was no time to stop it.

Choaaaak-.

Henry raised his hand once more and slashed at the canvas.

What he was holding in his hand was a small knife.

“What are you doing?”

Without answering the question, Henry drew the picture next to him, and then the picture next to him without hesitation.

After executing more than ten whales, Henry looked back and smiled.

“I don’t need those pictures. So, Soo-hyun, you go find my whale and bring it to me.”

It was a look of madness that went beyond second-year middle school syndrome.