I Became A Renowned Genius At My Arts High School - Chapter 247



Only Noblemtl

Episode 247. Bridge (1)

“This is Walter.”

After meeting him a few times, I thought I knew.

Walter’s nostrils flare when he gets excited, especially the right nostril, which seems to be about 1.2 times larger than the left.

Soo-hyeon didn’t miss the complicated expression on Walter’s face when he found Whitney, who had immediately run out upon hearing that he was revealing the main character of the painting.

“I definitely thought there would be something. Oh, but Whitney, I never thought you were the owner of the painting.”

Walter shook his head.

“There was a misunderstanding. About the friend who took the painting and the person who currently owns it.”

Whitney explained, with a slightly embarrassed look on her face, why she had denied the painting.

“I stubbornly refused to communicate, so there was no other way. But now that things have gotten this big… … I’m worried that it might be a bit too much to reveal that I’m the owner of the painting.”

Whitney spoke thoughtfully and with consideration for the positions of many people.

Honestly, Whitney had nothing to lose.

If you look closely and find out that it is a painting you drew a long time ago, people will be convinced.

The problem is the source of all the rumors attached to the ownerless painting, namely the words leaked by AMF.

Well, apart from the fact that it was just a single painting left at the fire scene, nothing really fit.

“That is not for you to consider.”

But Walter, who had now returned to his professional appearance, spoke leisurely.

“You could say it was part of marketing, but you could just make it up and put it on. Besides, you were recently involved in a counterfeiting incident, so everyone would understand if you said you were wary of that. You could also say that there was a slight miscommunication when we received the picture because of the language difference. Of course, there was an issue of trust, but that can be covered up with other issues.”

Walter, who had relieved Whitney of her burden first, spoke with shining eyes.

“But I want to tell you that there is also this option.”

“Is it a choice?”

Whitney tilted her head.

“The unknown artist who painted that picture miraculously recovered and started painting again thanks to that, right?”

“yes?”

“It’s true that you have healed your wounded heart, isn’t it?”

“Uh… … That’s true.”

As Whitney blinked, it was Soohyun who opened her mouth.

“I told you earlier. The painting was so good that it didn’t need anyone’s name. Walter and Harry decided to buy the painting without knowing the artist who painted it. They decided to make the painting known because they valued its value so highly.”

“but.”

Walter grinned as Whitney shook her head.

“Did you know that your early works started selling for more than the paintings you’re doing now?”

“Yes, I heard. But isn’t it just a temporary phenomenon?”

A still confused face. Walter gave it some assurance.

“No, I don’t think so. I just checked, and there are a lot of people who want to buy it. The New York art world is buzzing with excitement, wondering if there are any other paintings. This is a phenomenon observed among discerning collectors. So, the popularity of your early works is not a bubble. Rather, it is a great relief that they have been discovered now. And if possible, I would like to see a few more paintings in that style. This is not just my opinion, but the opinion of many people. So, Whitney.”

Walter swallowed hard and said.

“Are you willing to be twice as busy?”

“yes?”

“There is a way to gain immense wealth and fame.”

“What is that… … .”

“Wouldn’t you be willing to paint a few more pictures under a different name, that is, under the name of that unknown artist?”

Walter looked at Whitney expectantly.

***

“I’m not in my right mind.”

After finishing her meeting with Walter, Whitney collapsed on the sofa in her studio.

“I feel like I was dreaming. Is this really happening?”

Whitney opened her mouth, her eyes unfocused and staring into space.

It was a face wandering somewhere in the past.

“It must have been the fall of 1996. When I finished with Takeshi, I decided to throw away all the paintings from that time. Most of them were burned in a fire, but I thought that paintings in that style were hopeless. It was a failure, but it was also a painting that gave me a great sense of loss.”

Whitney took a long breath and continued.

“At that time, I wanted to be reborn completely. To do that, I thought I should not paint pictures that express my complicated emotions, but rather bright, clear, carefree, joyful, and lively pictures. After much deliberation, the new pictures I started received a lot of positive responses. I even had the opportunity to exhibit them in Japan and overseas, and that’s how I ended up in New York.”

Whitney quietly touched her face. Whitney, who had even changed her face in hopes of being reborn.

Luckily, a big opportunity opened up for her. Whitney was living the life she wanted, and she thought that was all there was to it.

“But, I wonder what is happening that this painting from the past suddenly appeared on the market and was belatedly loved, and that it was even better evaluated than the painting I am making now.”

“Don’t be confused. It was just a matter of timing. Think of it as your talent being recognized enough. Whether it’s a painting from the past or the present, it’s all born from your hands.”

“oh my god.”

Whitney looked at Soo-hyun with eyes that said she couldn’t understand.

“How can you do that?”

“yes?”

“Actually, I heard that a painting by an unknown artist recently became a hot topic.”

Whitney recalled the New Year’s party.

“I was so anxious about who would shake up the market with just three paintings that I was going crazy. I felt a sense of crisis. Su-hyeon, you became a famous person in the New York art world in just one year, right? I worked hard to get here, but amazing new artists kept appearing, and this time, it was as if they had fallen from the sky. I felt unpleasant, anxious, and jealous. In fact, that’s why I followed Harry to his office. I wanted to see the painting with my own eyes. I couldn’t accept it just by hearing about it.”

“yes…….”

“Apart from the fact that it was actually my painting, my mind was so dirty at the time. Even though there is no first or second place in art, many artists actually compete and compare themselves to each other. Do you understand?”

“Yes.”

Su-hyeon sympathized as she recalled several faces.

“But why did you help me?”

“yes?”

“It’s none of your business. Nozomi and I are people we’ve only known for a short time, and honestly, we’re complete strangers. Even if there were some misunderstandings and tragedies between us, there’s no reason for you to step in and resolve them. But, Soo-hyun, you approached this issue in a truly amazing way. And as a result, you brought great luck to both Nozomi and me.”

“I just liked that picture.”

Su-hyeon shrugged her shoulders.

“It was a good painting, so I wanted to see it with more people for a longer time. And I also had some things to check with Walter.”

“To Walter?”

“I wanted to see what kind of attitude he and AMF have when it comes to discovering artists and their works. Whether they calculate based on factors like the background or sympathize with the true value of the painting. Walter seems to have made things worse by adding to the misunderstanding, but in any case, through this incident, I was able to learn a little about what kind of capabilities AMF has and how friendly it is to artists.”

“okay.”

Whitney nodded.

“Anyway, I owe you a lot. I won’t forget you, Soo-hyun.”

Whitney nodded.

After that day, Soo-hyun didn’t see Whitney for a while.

Su-hyeon was busy with new work and preparations for the new semester, and Whitney was also busy drawing two versions of the painting.

The two met again in the spring that had begun after winter had passed.

So it was one day in March.

Lunch the day after the evening auction at Felici Auctions.

Whitney came to Su-hyeon’s studio.

“Congratulations, Whitney.”

Soo-hyun greeted Whitney with a big smile.

At yesterday’s Felici Auction, an early Whitney work by AMF was sold for a whopping price.

Of course, the achievement was not made in Whitney’s name.

‘May’.

The new author’s name, now Whitney’s alias, has been revealed for the first time at an auction.

“As Walter said, I’ve become twice as busy, but I also feel like life has become twice as enjoyable.”

Whitney said, winking.

“By the way, who took the painting? Do you know anything about it?”

Soo-hyun asked something she had been curious about.

Bidding is available on-site as well as by phone.

And the work of Whitney, or rather Whitney’s alter ego ‘May’, was ultimately sold to someone who bid over the phone after recording the asking price in the auction house.

“Rumors will start spreading soon… … .”

It was a question I asked in hopes that Whitney, the owner of the painting, would know, and as expected, Whitney smiled meaningfully.

“Actually, I bought it through an agent.”

“Ah… … Yes?”

Su-hyeon opened her eyes wide and asked at the unexpected answer.

“No, you are your picture?”

“I have to be precise. Whitney bought May’s painting.”

“Oh, that’s true, but… … .”

Whitney nodded as he mumbled the reason behind it.

“Because I don’t have any memories of the past. I’ve been intentionally erasing them for years, but I’ve been trying so hard to erase them that there’s really nothing left. That’s why I wanted to keep them. Instead, May’s new paintings will be released on the market soon, so those who missed this opportunity will soon have another chance.”

“Hmm. Okay.”

Su-hyeon nodded.

After hearing the explanation, I could understand it on the one hand, but it was an action that was hard to picture when I just thought back to Whitney’s appearance on the first day.

This painting has become very popular and has a high price, but there is a risk that the price will fall depending on the market trend. But he bought his own painting despite the risk.

Should we see this as an attachment to the past?

But that wasn’t all that surprised Soo-hyun.

“I came to say thank you.”

“Thank you?”

“I was able to reconcile with my old self, who I could call a love-hate relationship, and start drawing the pictures I had back then. I felt good when I started drawing again. I felt like I had gotten deeper. New materials came to mind. Oh, Walter came to my studio a week ago to look at my work, and he gave me a very good review. And also.”

Whitney smiled shyly and opened her mouth.

“I got a call from Nozomi.”

“Nozomi?”

“Thanks to you, I was able to pay off my debt and things went well. And I also told him that I was able to contact Takeshi.”

“Really?”

“I’m so lucky to have met you, Soohyun.”

Whitney’s eyes sparkled with tears.

“There are signs that Takeshi’s problem is being resolved… … It has been revealed that Takeshi was an innocent victim, and the conman has been caught committing other crimes.”

“ah.”

“So I’m going to Japan now.”

“Right now?”

“I was able to talk to Takeshi with great difficulty thanks to Nozomi’s help. We promised to finish talking in person what we couldn’t over the phone. Soo-hyun.”

“Yes. Go ahead, Whitney.”

“Please pray for me, for us. And.”

Whitney said with a big smile.

“I want to repay you.”

“What is grace?”

“I don’t have time. I have to leave for the airport in two hours.”

Nozomi checked her watch and woke Suhyun up.

“There is a place you should go with me.”