The Mysterious Art Museum

A natural rockfish sashimi restaurant.

The owner keeps glancing at us as he picks out several rockfish.

“Mister, pick the ones with larger sizes. This one, this one looks good. Give us this one.”

Usually, he would grumble, saying they are all tasty, so why bother picking. But today, he carefully selects the larger rockfish I mentioned without a word.

Then, as the three ladies engage in a conversation among themselves, he whispers to me in haste.

“What are you, really? Yesterday, you brought a pretty Korean lady, so I thought you were capable. And today, you’ve brought two foreign women who look like goddesses and another who's as elegant as a chaebol’s daughter? Are you someone important?”

“Huh? Haha, no. They’re just friends.”

“All your friends are so beautiful? And what kind of guy only has female friends?”

Hmm, that’s true. Why don’t I have any male friends?

If Minyoung, who has a lot of experience, hadn’t been a bit away from the restaurant, wary of tourists recognizing Irina, all three would have burst into laughter upon hearing this.

I had nothing to say, so I just scratched the back of my head and laughed.

The owner glanced at me and then went to the kitchen to prepare the sashimi, saying,

“You seem happier, though.”

“Huh?”

“When you first came alone. You look better now than then. Maybe it’s because your friends visit often, or you have good friends. Coming all the way to this rural area to see a friend’s face. I’m envious, really envious.”

The owner was right.

I saw the three of them looking at me from a distance, their eyes filled with concern.

Monica probably came from abroad because of me. Irina too, I guess.

Minyoung has recently been tasked with managing another hotel branch due to the success of the theater project in Hannam. She must be incredibly busy, yet she came to see me.

I scratched my temple and smiled awkwardly.

“I guess I’m someone who causes a lot of worry.”

The lady in the kitchen poked her head out and said,

“You young people. Just be thankful your friends come to see you.”

I grinned at her words. Although she was the one who would punch her husband for staring at pretty women, she was right.

After buying a generous amount of sashimi and drinks, I returned to the lodging and set up a table in the yard.

It was the middle of the day, but a drinking party was about to start. Well, why not? I can start painting tomorrow.

During this time, Monica and Irina, who were touring inside, suddenly exclaimed.

“My goodness! What is this lily painting? Ban! Did you paint this?”

“Oh, it’s so beautiful! It's as if you can smell the fragrance of the flowers!”

Minyoung, who was helping me set the table, heard them and rushed inside, then came out with a flushed face.

“Painter Ban. Did you paint the picture inside?”

“Ah, yes.”

Minyoung hesitated for a moment and then said softly,

“Can W Tree Group purchase it?”

“Haha.”

Suddenly, Monica bursts through the door, shouting.

“Minyoung! Are you trying to cut in line? I found it first! Ban, I’ll buy it! I’ll put it in our village church! Thanks to Ban’s murals, the number of tourists has been steadily increasing. Last month, we had over ten thousand visitors. The murals are not enough, let’s decorate the church too, our village’s pride.”

Irina pokes her head out, pushing Monica away.

“Ban! I want that painting to stand next to me when I perform. Sell it to me.”

Monica pushes Irina away, shouting.

"One piece for ten thousand euros (about 14 million won)!"

Irina frowned and shouted,

"Are you kidding? Someone who knows the current value of Van's paintings in Italy! Van, don't trust this merchant, business people are all like this. 100 thousand euros!"

Wow, they're bidding over a hundred million won?

Monica angrily shouted back,

"110 thousand euros!"

Irina countered,

"120 thousand euros!"

Min-Young came beside me and whispered,

"I'll offer 300 million won."

Why are they like this, ha-ha. But it feels good.

I calmed down the three, who had turned the yard into an auction.

"Wait, wait, this painting already has an owner."

The disappointed group. But Monica, persistent as ever, didn't give up.

"Who's the owner? I'll buy it from them. Just give me their information! I'll pay double to buy it."

Upon hearing Monica's words, all three look at me with curiosity. I chuckle briefly and say,

"The owner... is Youngju."

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