Chapter 127 (2) - The Mysterious Art Museum
Monica glances over the painting that covers the entire store and smiles.
“Think of it as a bonus then. The owner is very pleased with the painting.”
Monica’s appreciation is felt. Probably Youngju will also agree to this. If I go to the launch event, I’ll probably get photographed by journalists, and there will be a lot of material that can serve as references for the company, so it aligns with Youngju’s reasons for sending me here.
I stood up, rummaged through my bag for my phone, and then, gesturing towards the store’s exit, said,
“I’ll step out and call Korea for a bit.”
“Alright, spend some time with me tonight. Let’s have a drink, it’s been a while.”
“Sounds good.”
I left Monica alone and went outside to make a call to Korea.
**
After Jung Hoon left, Monica, now alone, looks at the paintings in her store, her eyes quivering.
“Such beautiful paintings. They're almost too good for my store.”
Impressionism mixed with Abstract Expressionism, perhaps?Youur favorite stories at novelhall.com
Jung Hoon had captured the pond, sky, and reflections on the water, transforming the entire store into a beautiful, sunlit pond.
“It should have gone to an art gallery, not here.”
Despite feeling it’s a waste, Monica was paradoxically moved that her store can be so beautiful.
Willow trees over the pond, flowers of the season.
Some flowers are white, others are red, and there are also purple ones.
Then, amidst them all, a flower stands out, far yet with an overwhelming presence.
“The black water lily.”
Black water lilies don’t exist.
Well, with the advancement of genetic engineering, they might be artificially made, so it’s not entirely non-existent or impossible.
Monica's gaze again settles on the black water lily in the center.
"Black water lily, Black Label."
A smile spreads across Monica's face as she looks at the painting.
"Got it."
Monica immediately calls Cicci.
"We'll make the Black Label our logo for the luxury line. The premium line will feature the black water lily logo, while the others will use various colors. Please proceed with the differentiation process for the Black Label."
After ending the brief call, Monica's gaze shifts back to Ban, still on the phone.
She watches him, seemingly with many things to ask, smiling widely during the long conversation.
"A painter who inspires others. Maybe this person is not just a star in the East but could become a star of the world."
Just then, Monica's phone rings.
Recognizing the name of a magazine editor with whom she had a relationship since her previous company days, Monica quickly answers.
"Editor Silvio, this is Monica. It's been a while since we last spoke. I was actually about to contact you, but you beat me to it."
As she speaks on what seems like a business call, her eyebrows twitch. She then looks out the window at me and speaks.
"About Ban? Yes, he's the painter I brought in."
Monica listens intently to the person on the other end of the phone and then breaks into a grin.
"Yes, he is the one who painted the mural in the village. He's quite a famous painter in Korea. Understood, I'll arrange a meeting soon. See you at the launch event, Editor."
After hanging up, Monica looks out the window and smiles with her eyes.
"What do you think, Ban? It seems like your return to Korea might need to be postponed a bit longer."
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