RAH 06

Chapter 6 …

Yeji did all of her work at school.

The one person personally singled out and expected great things from author Chloe Choi, who was the object of admiration for young art students.

That fact alone caused jealous and suspicious eyes to follow Yeji everywhere.

But it didn’t last long.

“People just lost steam. Everyone saw what she was doing, didn’t they?”

At some point, students had begun gathering around Yeji, whispering among themselves.

Yeji had known from the start that this would happen.

No matter where you go, if you’re exceptional, people will be suspicious.

Even in her previous life, outstanding skill often attracted doubt.

There was no need for any special response.

In the end, proving it yourself was the best solution.

That was how she had steadily climbed her way up from the very bottom until she became an artist capable of holding invitation-only exhibitions.

Compared to that, the jealousy of a bunch of kids is almost cute.

Yeji deliberately worked only in the studio where all the students came and went.

Layer after layer of paint accumulated, creating a deep blue abyss that seemed capable of swallowing everything whole.

Up until then, everyone thought it was nothing special.

Some even criticized her, saying she was merely making her brushwork look impressive.

But when she began painting flower petals over that endless dark blue, everyone had no choice but to admit it.

“That’s the same sketch we all drew in oil painting class, isn’t it?”

Even if they wanted to deny it, they couldn’t.

Yeji had elevated a practice exercise from class into a true artwork.

While everyone else abandoned the sketches they had practiced and relied on familiar watercolor or acrylic techniques,

Yeji demonstrated a clear difference.

“I heard only one person submitted an oil painting to the Yeonsil Exhibition Competition last year.”

“Of course. Who can finish an oil painting in just a month?”

It wasn’t simply because oil painting was difficult.

Its greatest drawback was the amount of time required for drying.

Let it dry completely, paint another layer, and repeat.

That was the nature of oil painting.

For ordinary students, completing an oil painting in a month would be impossible.

You couldn’t finish an oil painting in a single session.

After applying the base colors, you had to wait several days for them to dry.

Then another layer, followed by several more days of waiting.

If you painted over a layer that wasn’t fully dry, the colors would mix and ruin the piece immediately.

While the paint dried, all you could do was wait.

In practice, that reduced actual painting time to only a third.

For students who weren’t accustomed to completing large works, that was a major loss of time.

But for Yeji, who had already recalled the experience of her previous life, it wasn’t a serious disadvantage.

In fact, while the paint dried, she gained time to study her academic subjects.

“……”

Kim Jian stood among the whispering students and watched Yeji’s back as she immersed herself in her work.

The top-ranked student among all first-year art majors.

Up until now, Kim Jian’s public image had been exactly what adults wanted from a model student.

Compared to her, Yeji had always seemed fairly ordinary.

Out of nowhere, Lee Yeji…

But after Chloe Choi’s sudden appearance, the entire school’s attention shifted to Yeji.

Even her grades from the previous semester had been average at best.

Just a classmate.

Someone Jian had never once considered a rival capable of threatening her position.

Grinding her teeth, Jian stared at Yeji.

Everything has completely changed now.

She had always believed she was the most promising first-year talent receiving attention.

But the situation had changed in an instant.

Jian found Yeji’s sudden rise thoroughly unpleasant.

The fact that she had failed to recognize the abilities of a classmate sitting right beside her all this time made it even worse.

“Hey, let’s go. We should focus on our own work.”

“Seriously… I’m just getting depressed looking at this.”

The students who had watched Yeji with suspicion gradually acknowledged her skill and left.

Even while everyone else looked at Yeji’s painting, Jian kept watching Yeji herself.

More precisely, she watched her hands and her brush.

Pink, yellow, and blue paint were squeezed carelessly onto the palette.

After mixing them a few times with her brush, Yeji placed them directly onto the canvas.

At first glance, it looked like rough, uncalculated brushwork.

Yet after repeating the process several times, the canvas transformed into a landscape filled with dozens of blooming flowers.

“…Done.”

Jian frowned as she heard Yeji mutter to herself.

Applying several colors at once without fully mixing them wasn’t something that could be achieved through ordinary know-how.

The texture and amount of paint, as well as the pressure applied with the brush, normally caused the colors to blend and change.

Yet Yeji was using the impasto technique—something Jian had only ever seen in theory books—with perfect execution.

Her brushwork controlled everything, laying color onto the canvas in a single stroke.

No wonder she still has time left over even while doing oil painting…

But… she’s really doing that so easily?

After secretly observing Yeji for some time, Jian had even asked her academy instructor about it.

The tuition was nearly double because she studied under a highly qualified teacher with an impressive background.

“To paint at that level with oils requires tremendous practice. If you practice enough, you can do it too.”

Because of that answer, she had confidently believed it was simply a skill anyone could learn with effort.

“But you know nobody uses oil painting for college entrance exams, right? Are you really going to ruin your admissions chances just for one school exhibition?”

However, the answer she received afterward differed from what she expected.

And strangely enough, it convinced her.

It was true.

Giving up efforts that could secure admission to a good university simply to leave an impression on a famous artist was foolish.

Her path toward a successful future was planned with absolute precision.

But still…

“I’m heading out first. See you tomorrow, everyone!”

Watching Yeji pick up her bag with a satisfied expression, Jian turned away.

Looking at that canvas, she felt a sense of deprivation she both understood and desperately didn’t want to understand.

One week remained until the Yeonsil Exhibition Competition deadline.

It was too late to change her own painting now.

Jian could only do her best with what she had.

No matter what it took.

She had to produce results.

Hellish commutes and boring classes.

Days filled with brushstrokes and pressure passed in the blink of an eye.

And before anyone realized it—

Excuse me! Coming through!”

“H-Hey! Stay back! This isn’t dry yet!”

“What is this on my clothes? Who got pink paint on me?!”

The submission deadline for the Yeonsil Exhibition Competition had arrived.

Students carried their works inside.

Others were installing them.

Some were still making final adjustments with their paintings hanging on the walls.

Amid the chaotic noise, the second-year students managing the registration desk watched the commotion with bored expressions.

“Ugh…”

A first-year student approached while carefully avoiding the chaos.

The painting appeared to be around a No. 20 canvas size, wrapped in protective packaging.

The second-year student at the desk asked expressionlessly.

“Class and name.”

Round eyes.

A gentle-looking face.

A small, slender build.

After briefly examining the approaching first-year student, the second-year student mechanically pulled out the registration list.

Then he heard a particular name.

Class 1, Lee Yeji.

Class 1… Lee Yeji?

The second-year student checking the list nudged the friend beside him.

Hey, wasn’t that her name?”

“Yeah… that’s her?”

“What? I heard she was doing an oil painting. It’s already dry?”

According to the rumors, she had definitely been working in oils.

They had expected her to carry it in carefully because it wouldn’t be fully dry yet.

But Yeji was nothing like they imagined.

The fact that she had safely packaged it with cushioning material meant she had finished the work early enough to allow it to dry completely.

Standing there under their blatant stares, Yeji slightly furrowed her brows.

Only then did the second-years check off her name.

Cheongrim had its own exhibition hall and performance venue on campus, the Yerim Art Center.

Naturally, the exhibition and performances for the Yeonsil Exhibition Competition were also being held there.

Over there. Class 1 works go in Section A on the left.”

One of the second-year students pointed toward a section labeled A.

Just hang it where your name is posted. If you need any help, call one of the installation staff.”

The explanation was brief.

After hearing it, Yeji gave a polite nod and turned to leave.

The second-years immediately became busy talking again.

Hey, hey. Why’d you let her go? Yura asked us to check her artwork.”

“Oh, right.”

“Seriously… Hey! First-year! Wait a second!”

One of the arguing second-years finally raised his voice and stopped Yeji.

Me?

Yeji turned around with that expression.

The student got straight to the point.

“Can we see your artwork?”

Surely a first-year wouldn’t argue with a senior.

He had intended to take a photo and send it as requested.

But Yeji simply blinked while staring at him.

“You’ll see it once it’s hung up anyway. Just come back later.”

After replying firmly, Yeji headed toward her assigned section.

The second-years looked displeased, but teachers were constantly passing through the area.

There was no way to stop the bold first-year any further.

In a crowded registration area, they wanted me to unwrap all the protective padding?

What if the painting got damaged?

What a ridiculous request.

As she walked away, Yeji shook her head with an incredulous expression.

And why were they talking about me right in front of my face?

Did they think she had no ears?

Acting all high and mighty just because they entered school a year earlier.

To Yeji, whose mind carried the memories of a thirty-year-old French artist, a one- or two-year age gap seemed laughable.

And someone wanted to see her painting through an intermediary?

There was no way that sounded innocent.

…But who is Yura?

Probably one of the second-years.

Yeji had lived quietly at school, so she wasn’t familiar with students in higher grades.

After committing the unfamiliar name to memory, she headed toward Section A.

Oh, you’re here?

“You came pretty late.”

Most of the familiar works and familiar classmates were already there.

Isn’t the deadline six o’clock?

She asked because there was still plenty of time left.

But she soon understood why everyone had arrived early.

Moving a painting before the paint had fully dried could easily ruin it.

Everyone had hung their paintings on the walls and was making final adjustments.

Only one empty space remained.

Yeji quickly found her own name.

Lee Yeji (Art Department, First Year, Class 1)

《Full Bloom》

Oil on Canvas, 60.6 × 72.7 cm

The caption she had submitted in advance was already attached to the wall.

Standing before it, Yeji began removing the protective wrapping from her work.

“Yeji, you’re here?”

Dahye, who was still making adjustments even after hanging her painting, greeted her.

Dahye’s work was an intricate detailed painting that showcased her meticulous sketching skills.

The thin layers of acrylic paint formed geometric shapes arranged according to an intriguing pattern.

“Yeah. You came early.”

Rather than emphasizing flashy techniques or creativity, the piece highlighted geometric designs carefully calculated using fundamentals and the golden ratio.

It perfectly showcased Dahye’s strengths.

I came early to finish things up. By the way, you’ve become pretty famous.

After briefly studying Dahye’s work, Yeji let out a small laugh.

Because of Chloe?

“Obviously. Chloe herself said she was looking forward to your painting.”

Feeling oddly conflicted at Dahye’s words, Yeji lifted her unwrapped painting.

A month of work.

Layer after layer of paint built up while she adapted to both her memories and the passage of time.

That’s true. I was looking forward to it too.

To seeing what she could accomplish.

As she moved her brush day after day, her anticipation had continued to grow.

After hanging the painting properly, Yeji stepped back and looked at it.

For a moment, emotion welled up inside her.

She realized that she was finally seeing her artwork properly.

No longer did she have to move around, peering through fading eyesight just to make out her own paintings.

Now she could see it completely.

At a single glance.

The remnants of the original image remained in the form of a white wall and a window dividing the center of the composition.

Everything else had essentially been repainted.

Beyond the window stretched a blue-violet sky.

Its blueness seemed to flow inward through the window itself.

The vase that had originally stood before the window had disappeared entirely beneath layers of blue.

…I think it turned out pretty well.

In its place were hundreds of flowers submerged beneath blue water.

The blossoms blooming beneath the surface shimmered with distorted colors created by the rippling waves.

It’s still lacking a bit of refinement.

But refinement wasn’t the most important thing about this painting.

The wistfulness and heaviness conveyed by the blue depths and the flowers submerged within them.

And yet, the hope that could still be felt among those fully blooming flowers.

It was the embodiment of Yeji’s feelings toward her new life.

What the… That’s really a first-year’s painting?

“No way. Didn’t some academy draw it for her?”

“Is that her? Lee Yeji?”

Before she knew it, Yeji realized the area around her had become noisy.

Turning around, she saw students gathering around.

Apparently they had obediently followed her advice and come to see the work later.

Even upperclassmen had gathered nearby to look at it.

Your skills have improved a lot.

At that moment, Jian—someone she wasn’t particularly close with—approached and spoke.

Since it sounded like a compliment, Yeji figured she should respond politely.

While she was considering a suitably modest answer, Jian continued.

Anyone looking at it would think somebody else painted it for you.