Episode 450
Seong Dae-young was a sensitive person. The reason was that he was careful not to let his real job be discovered. The current situation that Seong Dae-young was in was really not good.
What I want is the rice cake of a painting, but sometimes it doesn’t look like a painting, but I can’t even taste it. The kid who hates it so much keeps arguing about it. It’s okay if I don’t answer the phone, but just looking at the screen with Song In-myeong’s name on it makes me irritated. Even if I could just block him, there were times when I would answer the phone because I wanted to get information about Lee Jae-heon.
“Woooo….”
“Writer, shall we cancel today’s meeting?”
“…No, I will go. “Get ready.”
“yes.”
However, I couldn’t neglect my main job. Unlike Song In-myeong, who was supported by a basic environment from birth, Seong Dae-young was a person who rose to the top on his own. His power comes from his reputation as a writer. If you don’t do your job properly, you’ll end up in the gutter again.
The customer I met this time was a man who had suffered a broken heart.
“I really, really love that person… Ugh….”
“You must be feeling bad.”
“Does this make sense? No matter how much I tried to clean up his friend, he just kicked me out. “We’ve been together for 3 years!!”
“I see….”
“How can love be like this? He said he meant it when he said he loved me. But I kept apologizing, giving consolation money, writing letters, and everything, but they don’t care about me anymore…”
“Oh, that’s right.”
“I’m not even angry anymore. “They completely ignore me…”
Seong Dae-young had more first-time customers rather than regulars. This is because most people came to him to preserve their love relationship intact. Since it was a customer with a familiar story, Seong Dae-young was able to chime in with a familiarity.
“I didn’t want to make you sick.”
“I see.”
“…It won’t hurt over there, right? If you make it into a work of art like that…”
“Yes, don’t worry. “It won’t hurt at all.”
“Thank goodness…”
The man returned with a truly relieved expression.
What you want is to put your broken heart in plaster. Seong Dae-young’s request was to capture the person who was still working in society. The client’s request was that, firstly, the other person would not be in pain, and secondly, that the person’s face be carefully covered with plaster so that it would not be visible.
“Is the capture team ready?”
“Yes, waiting.”
“I need to use some medicine to stop the pain. “Prepare something strong this time.”
“There is room for the mind to recover after the drug’s effects wear off…”
“That should be left. “What are you asking when you know?”
At the client’s request, he may use some strong painkillers and drugs, but Sung Dae-young’s work is completed when the materials trapped inside come to their senses. The client would not have come to see Seong Dae-young without knowing that.
“Anyway, this customer probably wanted the other person to die slowly in fear. It must be some kind of revenge. “They probably wanted it to dry out in a place where not a single ray of light enters… and they didn’t want to see their faces damaged like that again, so they chose a plaster that wasn’t transparent, right?”
Therefore, Seong Dae-young never completely destroyed the spirit of the material with medicine. This is because the moment the spirit is broken, more than half of the value of Seong Dae-young’s works disappears.
“Just bring him in without any injuries. The client seems to be being cautious, so make sure people around you know that you are missing. Of course, the functions of areas such as eyes and ears must also be intact. It’s just enough to make you unable to move, so use a tool like tape that won’t leave any scars, rather than a rough rope or sharp handcuffs. “No matter how hard it is to see it because it is covered with plaster, if there is a scratch on the work, it will be inconvenient for the customer.”
“Yes, author.”
“I’m going to hang around here for a while. Please come back when I contact you. “I need to take a walk to organize my thoughts.”
The place where this meeting was held was a restaurant familiar to Seong Dae-young. It was a win-win because it was a quiet and private place, so the client could feel at ease, and Seong Dae-young could enjoy his favorite meal. This means that it is one of the restaurants that has been selected in advance as a meeting place.
As a result, I knew the geography near the restaurant well. It is quiet and calm as it is a street lined with restaurants and shops frequented by upscale customers. The small park nearby was also well-maintained. Seong Dae-young slowly walked around the quiet park he liked.
‘…Then didn’t you say there was a park in front of the Oseong headquarters?’
It was obvious why the thought suddenly occurred to me. It was because of Lee Jae-heon.
I remember the gaze we met at the event venue. Those dry yet cool eyes. It was the eyes of someone who endured the pain that would come rather than being anxious because they did not know when and by whom they would be attacked. He was wary of Seong Dae-young. However, when talking to Song In-myeong, he was resigned. The gap was too big.
“Haa…”
The more he thought about it, the more he wanted it, but Seong Dae-young couldn’t put his hands on it.
Just how lucky was Song In-myeong? It was as if he was haphazardly snatching up a jewel-like material that had covered itself with mud and disappeared. It was literally like the cow backed away and caught a mouse.
‘Based on what I saw at the event, he must have been a very strong and smart person, but to snatch him away like that. It’s truly ridiculous luck.’
Lee Jae-heon at the event was wary of everyone, but his anxiety was not very evident. Lee Jae-heon’s acting skills could be said to be of a high level, as he was able to recognize Sung Dae-young after hearing the truth from Song In-myeong. I was envious of Song In-myeong, who was able to capture Lee Jae-heon’s soft heart.
“…uh?”
As I was cursing Song In-myeong like that, I saw a vaguely familiar face.
It was Lee Jae-heon’s face, which I had studied diligently through photos.
“…?”
Lee Jae-heon must have seen himself like that, too, as he stopped and frowned slightly. A look that is more suspicious than unpleasant. Only then did Seong Dae-young remember that Lee Jae-heon could not know his face, but he had no time to weigh the facts. I just couldn’t believe the luck that had come my way.
Seong Dae-young spoke to Lee Jae-heon in the most friendly tone possible.
“Are you by any chance Manager Lee Jae-heon?”
“…That’s right, but…”
“Don’t you remember me?”
“….”
“I saw you at the event that day. “We talked for a while.”
Lee Jae-heon’s face hardened at those words. Because we were both wearing masks, I couldn’t remember right away, but I seemed to remember that Lee Jae-heon had a conversation with a man who had the same tone of voice as Seong Dae-young that day.
“…Ah, then.”
“I guess you remember now.”
“It flies.”
A short answer in a choppy tone.
“….”
“Then can we go now? “I don’t think we’ll ever see each other again.”
Somehow, I felt like I was more alert than when I first saw him at the event that day.
‘Damn it.’
Seong Dae-young easily guessed that Song In-myeong had probably been saying all sorts of things to Lee Jae-heon. I even stopped by that guy’s studio the other day. That shallow brat created a bad image for the industry, which is why it is receiving such prejudiced attention.
Even as he internally gritted his teeth, Seong Dae-young tried to make his expression as gentle as possible.
“I’m sorry if I brought back bad memories. “I was so happy that I stopped being rude.”
“No, not really…”
“Are you uncomfortable?”
When asked directly, Jaeheon Lee’s mouth fell shut.
“…Nothing like that…”
I liked how his voice became quieter, as if he thought Seong Dae-young was angry. There was no intention to discourage. I was just annoyed that I was trying to get rid of it while I was just talking to Song In-myeong. But when I saw that I was weaker than I thought, I suddenly felt better.
Oh this. Do I even have a chance?
“Do you come to this park often?”
“…I stopped by for a moment because I had something to do.”
“Oh really? “I also had a meeting at a restaurant nearby, so I came out.”
“Meeting?”
Lee Jae-heon’s eyebrows twitched as he mumbled as if he was thinking about it. If it were a meeting related to Seong Dae-young’s main job, someone would die, so perhaps that was inconvenient. If I needed to gain favor, I would have to make an excuse here, but for some reason I didn’t feel like doing so.
Would Song In-myeong have flattened Lee Jae-heon and flattered him to bring him into this industry? Probably not. The conglomerates must have oppressed and threatened people to the point where they were so scared. This means that he didn’t show his disapproval as soon as he realized Seong Dae-young’s identity for no reason.
In that case, there was no reason for Sung Dae-young to attract Lee Jae-heon through his goodwill.
“Yes, I was entrusted with an interesting request this time…”
“….”
“Now that I think about it, Jaeheon Lee also bought one of my works last time, right? How about this. This is a field that I am quite confident in taking on. “I received help from many craftsmen to ensure that the glass was completely wrapped without damaging the material.”
“okay. “I’m sorry, but I’m not curious.”
“Really?”
Lee Jae-heon’s face was still dry and stiff and there was no change, but Seong Dae-young could tell.
Jaeheon Lee was feeling anxious right now. At the same time, I was listening to Seong Dae-young. This was evidence that he was showing great interest in the ‘meeting’ hosted by Seong Dae-young.
Seong Dae-young continued speaking as if he were a hunter waving meat in front of a wary wild animal.
“Aren’t you really curious at all?”
“What are you talking about?”
“What is the name of the woman in that work? Who is your family? Were there any other friends? How did that woman disappear from society and how are the people around her living?…” “
…You now….”
“Do you know what kind of meeting I had today? The customer asked us to make a work of art of a loved one. “I gave the order, so they will be caught in a few days.”
Why? Seong Dae-young caught Lee Jae-heon by clearly revealing the customer’s information that he had always paid so much attention to. Lee Jae-heon, who did not know Seong Dae-young’s desperation, was embarrassed, despised, and anxious, but did not run away and just hesitated. Just as he remained there in front of Song In-myeong because he was worried about the hostage.
That’s exactly what made Seong Dae-young feel good. This uplifting feeling as if the self-esteem that had been scratched by Song In-myeong was being restored. I felt like a winner.
“If you want, I can show you my work. “I can tell you the name of the piece you purchased that day and the origin of the material.”
“What are we going to do?”
“I’m trying to become friends.”
Do you know that I’ve been having trouble because of you for days already?
Looking at Lee Jae-heon in bewilderment, it seemed as if the pain and patience he had endured had been rewarded. Did the man who asked me feel this way? I wonder if this is how the customers who have wanted his work so far have felt. My senses gradually become clouded with the thought that maybe I could really turn Lee Jae-heon into a work of art.
In fact, that was what Lee Jae-heon and Song In-myeong were aiming for, but Seong Dae-young did not know that. I was just very excited at the thought of being able to escape from the pain of creation and from Song In-myeong’s annoying demon.
“I won’t force you. However, if you are interested in Gumi, please contact me at the number on my business card.”
“Someone is contacting a guy like you…”
“Is that so? If you don’t like it, drink it. I really offered this out of kindness, but it’s unfortunate. “I planned to complete this work as quickly as possible.”
“….”
“Oh, I guess you’ve already thrown away the business card from back then?”
I took out a business card from my wallet and handed it to Jaeheon Lee.
“This is also my favor.”
“…Why are you doing this?”
“I told you. “I do it because I want to become friends with Jaeheon Lee.”
“This is something like this…”
His voice is shaking slightly.
Seong Dae-young took a step away from Lee Jae-heon, who was confused between embarrassment and resignation. He couldn’t throw away the business card right away. That alone was enough evidence that they took the bait thrown by Seong Dae-young. I thought he might have done that out of despair at having become involved with a writer named Seong Dae-yeong following Song In-myeong.
Seong Dae-young clenched his hands in excitement and then relaxed them.
“….”
“Then I’ll just leave.”
“Wait a minute…”
“Have a good evening.”
Seong Dae-young left without saying any more.
When I returned home and passed midnight, I received a text message from Jaeheon Lee asking if I could visit his studio.
(Continued in the next part)
