Chapter 7

“Hello.”

Their eyes met, and Woo-yeon greeted him in a slightly stiff but neat tone.

Just like that day, she politely bowed her head while holding both hands together, showing an attitude that was neither excessive nor lacking.

When Jung-heon finally began to walk, she carefully stepped aside, as if making way for him.

“I’m sorry for asking you to meet so suddenly.”

“Not at all. If there are any artworks you would like to see, please visit us anytime, regardless of the hour.”

Unlike Ji-woo, who replied with a friendly smile, Woo-yeon simply waited quietly for him to enter.

Neat attitude. Neat face.

Her hands were still neatly clasped together, the backs of them covered by the thin chiffon blouse.

Long sleeves in this scorching season.

“I’ll show you this way.”

The inside was cooler than she had expected.

Is he still sick?

Just as Woo-yeon was wondering about it, Ji-woo went ahead.

Jung-heon passed right by Woo-yeon.

A moment later, the sound of quiet footsteps followed behind him like a shadow.

Whenever each artwork was revealed, Ji-woo gave a detailed and fluent explanation of it.

To properly explain an artwork, you needed not only to know the information about it by heart, but also to have a deep understanding of the work.

Sometimes, before giving a guided explanation, she even memorized all the information about the artwork.

But when selling an artwork directly to a customer, it was more important to establish clear selling points.

For that, it was useful to understand not only the artist’s intentions but also the artist’s life story.

“This artwork is by Artist Choi Geun-woo, who is represented by our gallery…”

While Ji-woo continued explaining, Woo-yeon quietly watched from beside her.

After graduating from art college and obtaining her curator’s qualification, Kim Ji-woo had joined Nason Gallery as her first workplace.

Woo-yeon had taught her everything from the very beginning.

Having watched Ji-woo go through all the growing pains of becoming a galleryist while learning everything Woo-yeon had accumulated over the years, Woo-yeon felt proud of her.

She suddenly remembered the moment when Ji-woo had been completely frozen with nerves during her first sale.

Woo-yeon smiled faintly.

Then, somehow, her cheek began to feel hot.

Woo-yeon subtly moved her gaze, just enough so that it would not be noticeable.

Jung-heon was sitting on the sofa with his legs crossed, listening to the explanation just as he had that day.

He looked quite serious.

As Woo-yeon quietly watched him, his gaze suddenly flew toward her while he was listening to the explanation.

Their eyes met.

Once.

Twice.

Three times.

And several more times after that.

Without saying anything.

His eyes would briefly glance at her, then casually return to the painting.

It made her uncomfortable.

But Woo-yeon quietly let it pass.

Throughout Ji-woo’s recommendations, Jung-heon remained as emotionless as if he were reviewing a business plan.

He did not clearly state what he wanted, yet he was still difficult to deal with.

Ji-woo calmly explained that it was perfectly fine to choose a painting based simply on one’s feelings.

But just as during his first visit, it was impossible to tell what Jung-heon was thinking.

“What do you think of this one?”

Kim Ji-woo’s soft, clear voice and gaze were completely focused on Jung-heon.

She swallowed nervously.

Anticipation filled her eyes as she looked at him with admiration.

At the same time, Jung-heon moved his lips.

“What else?”

“I’ll show you the next piece right away.”

For a very brief moment, Jung-heon took his gaze away from Ji-woo as she prepared the next artwork.

Then he slightly turned his head and looked at Woo-yeon.

Their eyes met again.

This time, the gaze lasted a little longer.

His gaze seemed to pierce straight through her.

Woo-yeon’s heart suddenly dropped.

“This time, Ms. Go Woo-yeon…”

Ji-woo, who had been moving politely, stopped.

Woo-yeon did the same.

“Recommend something.”

Even as he said it, their eyes remained locked.

His voice was indifferent, as if it were nothing important.

But he had clearly singled Woo-yeon out.

Ji-woo gave an awkward smile and tactfully stepped away.

“I just noticed that the teacups are empty. I’ll go get some more.”

At last, only the two of them remained in the space.

Only then did Jung-heon lean back against the sofa with his arms crossed and smile leisurely.

Go ahead. Let’s see what you can do.

His arrogant attitude seemed to reveal his true nature.

Silence.

Their gazes collided.

His gaze was like the blazing summer sun, making her cheeks sting.

Woo-yeon quietly swallowed.

The air was tense with nervousness.

Although this was the place where Woo-yeon spent most of her life, at this moment everything felt unfamiliar.

Woo-yeon deliberately flipped through the catalog, trying to appear calm.

Even while keeping her eyes lowered and moving as little as possible, his gaze continued to cling to her.

It was almost playful, as if poking her again and again.

Yet at the same time, it was sharp, digging deeply into her.

As if trying to wipe away that persistent gaze, Woo-yeon lightly brushed her cheek with the back of her hand.

When she raised her head, Jung-heon’s gaze was still there.

Their eyes met again.

Her heart thumped.

A guarded look appeared in her nervous eyes.

Woo-yeon slightly frowned, looking somewhat annoyed.

But curiosity suddenly rose in Jung-heon’s eyes.

He seemed even more interested than before.

Seeing the strange black light in his eyes, Woo-yeon unconsciously bit lightly on the inside of her closed lips.

Is he a pervert?

It reminded her of the type of person who enjoyed teasing others more the more uncomfortable they became.

Among the customers Woo-yeon knew, there were occasionally people who enjoyed making others uncomfortable as a small form of entertainment.

The world is big, and there are many strange people.

“I’m ready.”

“Shall we see?”

Jung-heon uncrossed his arms and stood up.

Then he strode forward, quickly closing the short distance between them.

Woo-yeon took one step back.

“Why? Are you afraid I’ll eat you?”

A small laugh escaped Jung-heon’s lips.

“No.”

She had not meant to show it.

Did he notice anyway?

Her upper body instinctively leaned back slightly.

Exactly as much as Jung-heon had moved closer.

But even so, Jung-heon’s large body standing in front of her blocked her view.

His broad, solid chest was covered by a neatly arranged orange-toned tie.

The dense pattern representing the brand’s logo seemed to ripple inside Woo-yeon’s eyes.

Even wearing heels, she had to raise her head just to meet his gaze.

And that was only when Jung-heon lowered his head considerably.

“I would recommend these two.”

Woo-yeon calmly turned her body slightly, as if pulling her foot out of a puddle.

The view that had been blocked by Jung-heon changed like a scene switching, returning to the familiar gallery space.

His gaze fell on the two artworks she had presented.

One was a work that expressed an infinite universe by layering pigments.

The other expressed lines by gradually placing dots.

“This one is by the Korean artist Lee Soo-chang, and this one is by Oh Se-eun, a rising new artist who is currently receiving a lot of attention.”

“Artist Oh Se-eun mainly works with themes related to the universe.”

“Her oil painting, ‘Planet,’ compares the vast universe to the deep loneliness that exists at the very foundation of human beings.”

“Although she created it by layering oil paint, the colors and textures are wonderfully expressed in a way that does not feel like a typical oil painting.”

“She is a new artist, so she doesn’t have many works yet. But personally, considering her potential for growth in the future, I would recommend this piece.”

Silence followed again.

He spent a long time looking at the paintings without saying anything.

Seeing Jung-heon remain indifferent without revealing his intentions, Woo-yeon felt that today would not be easy.

Based on her experience from last time, his taste was difficult and sophisticated, yet impossible to predict.

He seemed to like contemporary art.

But he also had considerable interest in antique artworks.

And he seemed particularly interested in abstract paintings.

That was why she had recommended works by a promising new artist she had been watching closely, as well as a famous artist well known even within the gallery.

His narrowed eyes contained an intense black light.

Perhaps it was a habit he had when thinking.

His clearly defined eyebrows, dark and sharply angled, repeatedly rose and lowered slightly.

“Manager Go Woo-yeon.”

“Yes, Director.”

Has he made up his mind?

After a long time, his voice finally came.

Woo-yeon immediately moved closer to him.

“I’m asking because I can’t really make a decision right now.”

His careful eyes flowed toward Woo-yeon once again.

“Have you eaten?”

“What?”

After all that thinking, he asks if I’ve eaten?

Woo-yeon unconsciously frowned.

She was just as unable to understand his judgment.

Surely he isn’t about to ask me to have dinner with him.

Jung-heon checked his watch and spoke again.

“It’s dinner time now. I’m hungry, so I can’t concentrate.”

So?

Woo-yeon slowly blinked, patiently listening to him.

“Let’s eat first and look at them again.”

He turned around.

At the same time, Ji-woo entered carrying freshly brewed tea.

She froze when she saw Woo-yeon standing there with a completely bewildered expression.

“Didn’t you hear me?”

He looked at Woo-yeon.

“I said let’s eat and look at them again.”

Ha.

For the first time, Woo-yeon let out a dry laugh right in front of a customer.

For a moment, she was too stunned to react.

Then he urged her again.

“What are you doing? Aren’t you coming?”

“No, I…”

“Let’s go.”