The Value of Art (6)
Journalists lingering around Yonghan lit up their eyes.
This was because Seo Young-ju, known as the closest aide to Ban Jeong-hun, approached Yonghan. An impatient journalist tried to stick close behind Yonghan, but a more experienced journalist stopped him.
“We're known as journalists. Don't make them cautious and raise their guard. The recorder is already on.”
The journalist who tried to approach responded with a troubled face.
“But senior, it's hard to grasp the situation if we just write articles based on the recording without knowing the whole story.”
“Are we here to write facts? We're here to write fiction, so why bother understanding the whole situation?”
“…….”
“Just stay put and don't mess things up.”
“Yes…….”
Suddenly, one journalist exclaimed in surprise.
“Se, senior. Look over there!”
Their eyes turned towards Yonghan.
They saw Yonghan take out a recorder from his pocket, throw it on the ground, and crush it under his foot.
“That guy must be crazy.”
“Let's hurry over there.”
The journalists rushed towards where Yonghan and Young-ju were.
Yonghan, after giving the journalists a glare, spoke to Young-ju.
“If it’s not rude, I’d like to have a word with Artist Ban Jeong-hun.”
Young-ju glanced at the journalists and said.
“He actually asked me to let him know if you were looking for him. Please wait.”
As Young-ju went to fetch Jeong-hun, the journalists behind Yonghan started whispering.
“Why did he crush the recorder? What? Is he insane?”
“Maybe it got caught on Seo Young-ju. He pretended to break it to get a new one.”
“Shh! Ban Jeong-hun is coming!”
Yonghan bit his lip as he saw Jeong-hun walking towards them, escorted by Young-ju.
Jeong-hun stood in front of a painting, arms crossed, and stared pensively at it.
“The colors are dull, aren’t they?”
“…….”
“Lea said she found this painting scary. Do you feel the same?”
“…….”
All the words he wanted to say.
All the words he wanted to throw.
All the words he wanted to spit out.
Yet, this man only talks about the painting.
Yonghan, standing in front of the painting Jeong-hun was looking at, spoke seriously.
“No, although the colors are dark, I could see the hidden hope in it.”
Jeong-hun slightly smiled.
“I see.”
“The phone might ring soon.”
“Unfortunately, it didn’t.”
“Will it ring tomorrow?”
“Maybe it would have.”
“The socks look nice.”
“I saw the day before this painting was made, her children on land sent her new socks. She cherished them so much. She only opened one pair out of twenty, saying she would wear them sparingly.”
“So, that’s why the socks looked new. But does she really live without any furniture like this?”
“Yes, she only has a dressing table and the drawers under the TV.”
“Did you get permission from the grandmother to paint this?”
“Of course. But I only got her permission after helping her plant peanuts in the field in front of her house late into the night.”
“You even did farming?”
“She said I didn’t need to pay a model fee, haha.”
The journalists, with wide eyes, waited for something substantial to come out of their conversation, but their talk was solely about the painting. The journalists looked at each other, confused.
Then, an unexpected statement came from Yonghan.
“3 million each, and 5 million for that person over there.”
Wondering what he meant, they looked towards Yonghan, to see Yonghan and Jeong-hun staring back at them. Yonghan glared at the most senior journalist and said.
“The reporters here were bribed by President Kim Young-min of the entertainment company to side with us. The amount I just mentioned is what they were paid.”
“!!!!!!!!!”
The reporters are shocked by the bombshell revelation. Simultaneously, a group of reporters who had suddenly appeared began snapping photos. The senior reporter panicked, waving his hands and shouting.
“No! This is all nonsense! You believe this? Even though you're reporters too!”
But his defense is weak. Reporters capturing Yonghan's words and taking photos are invigorated by their flustered expressions and keep clicking away.
“No! It's not true! Don't take pictures! Who gave you permission? Hey! Yonghan, have you lost your mind?”
Yonghan responds with a cold expression, but his words are not directed at the reporter but rather at Jeong-hun, who is silently observing them.
“That reporter is the one who planned the scenario for me to play the victim on television after the clash with the artist. For that, he received 30 million won from President Kim Young-min.”
“Crazy!”
As the situation escalates, three reporters hesitantly back away and eventually flee from the exhibition hall.
Some reporters follow them to the end, capturing their escape on camera.
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