CMT Ch7

“I understand. Well, I’m different from someone who just mooches off others, so I should at least eat this much.”

“Seokyung.”

“I’ll be going now.”

His brother left the house with a curt farewell. Though he spat out nasty words for him to hear until the end, just the fact that he was gone made it easier to breathe. Seoyoon also got up from the table.

“Thank you for the meal.”

“Where are you going today, Seoyoon?”

“I’m going out for a bit to meet a senior.”

As he was having a brief conversation with his mother, his father, who had been eating silently, looked up.

“You don’t need to look for work again. I won’t tell you to earn money, so just study more if you want.”

“I think this is also studying, Father.”

His mother gave his father a disapproving look.

“Why do you keep trying to tie a grown child to the house? To be honest, he needs to get out there to meet good people too. Don’t be so overprotective.”

“What’s the use of meeting just anyone outside? We can introduce him to good people.”

“This is such an anachronism. Is this the Joseon Dynasty? These days, which family wants someone who only studies and doesn’t work? If I were in their shoes, I wouldn’t want to give my sons to someone who doesn’t know how to do anything and was just raised delicately.”

Why did his heart feel more uncomfortable the more he listened, even though his mother was clearly taking his side? Seoyoon quickly interjected into their conversation.

“It’s almost time for my appointment, so I’ll go up to my room.”

Seoyoon cleared his place and went up to his room.

The appointment with his senior wasn’t an excuse he made up to leave, it was real. Having woken up from an unrealistic dream, he had to quickly face reality. Including himself, the whole family had been under the delusion that they could actually obtain something by holding onto a treasure map passed down as legend.

He had made an appointment after hearing that an art gallery he knew was hiring a manager. As he was combing his hair, he lifted his bangs and examined his forehead. The bruise from where his brother had thrown the phone at him had almost completely healed. He had taken a photo when the bruise was at its darkest, just in case, but as always, there would be no occasion to show that photo to anyone.

As he was fixing his hair again, his phone rang. It was an unknown number, including the area code. Sometimes he would ignore calls that weren’t from mobile numbers, assuming they were advertisements, but he couldn’t carelessly hang up while job hunting.

“Hello?”

─ Hello. Is this Han Seoyoon who was in the DP Art Planning Team?

Surprised by the unexpected caller, Seoyoon’s eyes widened. It was clearly a work-related call. He had been standing in front of the mirror, but now he sat down on a chair in one corner of the room and straightened his posture.

“Yes, this is Han Seoyoon.”

─ Let me introduce myself again. I’m Kim Mijung, the Exhibition Planning Team Leader at Hyunsong Art Museum.

“Ah, yes. Hello.”

Hyunsong Art Museum?

Seoyoon could only blink, unable to ask for details.

Hyunsong Art Museum was one of the top 1 or 2 museums in Korea in terms of not only size but also the value of its collection and the quality of its exhibitions, under the Cheongkwang Group.

In other words… managed by Kwon Kijung’s family.

“Thank you for contacting me. What can I do for you?”

─ I saw the resume you submitted. We’re currently expanding our planning team, and if Han Seoyoon is interested, we’d like to have an interview. Have you already found a new position?

“No, not yet. I’m definitely interested.”

Even in his bewilderment, he couldn’t miss this opportunity. For Seoyoon, with his limited practical experience, the planning team at Hyunsong Art Museum was an unimaginable position.

He briefly recalled Kwon Kijung’s face, but didn’t think this had anything to do with him. Perhaps he had been recommended by someone else in the industry, or it was just a coincidence. In this field, it was common to find jobs through personal connections.

─ There will be two rounds of interviews in total. I’d like to set up the interview schedule, when would be convenient for you?

“I should be the one to accommodate your schedule. Please let me know when would be good for you, and I’ll check my availability.”

─ Then how about this Friday with me, and next Tuesday with the director? Around 2 PM? We’re closed on Tuesdays. The director wants to take her time on a day when she doesn’t have other commitments.

Seoyoon closed his mouth, unable to answer immediately.

The director of Hyunsong Art Museum, unless she had been replaced without his knowledge, was certainly Director Kwon Seungsil, the daughter of Chairman Kwon Muntaek. In other words, Kwon Kijung’s aunt. A creeping sense of unease began to set in.

‘What if this isn’t about work?’

He had thought that everything had ended with him bearing the shame alone. There had been no news or other contact since then, and he had been somewhat grateful that Kwon Kijung hadn’t spread any gossip about him.

If word had gotten out that the second son of Daeryung Trading who showed up for the arranged marriage seemed to be out of his mind, that he had a hobby of self-harm, he wouldn’t be leisurely looking for a new job right now.

─ Han Seoyoon?

“Ah, yes. I’ve checked. This Friday and next Tuesday… both are fine.”

─ Is it alright if we meet at our museum?

“Yes. I’ll come there.”

─ Then I’ll see you on Friday. Please call this number when you arrive.

“Thank you. I’ll see you on Friday.”

After hanging up, Seoyoon sat in the chair, staring blankly ahead. Is this some kind of trap? As he started to feel anxious, he shook his head, thinking it was just his own self-consciousness. Why would a place like Cheongkwang set a trap for someone like him?

Though his experience was short, he had worked hard in his own way, so this must be a reward for that. Hyunsong Art Museum was a place where anyone in the art world would want to work at least once. He decided not to dwell too long on the offer he had already accepted.

Thinking there was no need to cancel his previous appointment just because an interview had been scheduled, he continued preparing to go out. As he was choosing an outer coat to wear, his hand suddenly stopped.

“I never got to return it…”

In one corner of the closet hung an oversized dress shirt. Judging by the absence of a brand tag below the collar, it was undoubtedly a custom-made piece far exceeding Seoyoon’s expectations in price. In the confusion of that day, he had forgotten to get his own shirt back and had come home wearing this one.

The size was too big for him to wear, but it was too expensive to throw away, and given the unique nature of its owner, there was no proper way to dispose of it. However, keeping it in his room made him flush with embarrassment every time he saw it, recalling the bewilderment he felt that day. If he happened to get the job and become acquainted with Director Kwon Seungsil, perhaps an opportunity to return it would arise.

Seoyoon closed the closet door, shutting away the embarrassing memory.

The early spring weather grew warmer with each passing day. It was about the time when flowers would start blooming in the south.

Perhaps because of the nice weather, or because the interview location was a well-decorated art museum rather than a stuffy office, Seoyoon headed to the appointment with a relatively relaxed mind despite it being quite a nerve-wracking occasion.

It was also thanks to the Friday interview going well. The team leader was younger and more approachable than he had expected. He had thought that such a large-scale museum would be unconditionally conservative, but that turned out to be just his own prejudice. Moreover, from what he heard, this recruitment was definitely unrelated to Kwon Kijung, and was the result of internal discussions within the museum.

If that was the case, there was nothing to feel guilty about. Upon arriving at the museum, he called the team leader.

“Hello, Team Leader Kim. This is Han Seoyoon.”

─ Ah, have you arrived?

“Yes. Where should I go?”

─ I’ve already informed them that you’d be coming for an interview today. There’s a staff-only back entrance on the opposite side of the west wing’s main entrance. Go in there and up to the third floor. If you say you’re here for an interview, they’ll guide you to the director’s office.

“Yes, I’m sorry to bother you on your day off. I’ll see you later.”

─ It was the director who wanted to have the interview on a day off, not us. Good luck with the second interview. We hope we can work together with Han Seoyoon.

“I’ll do my best.”

─ Yeah, don’t be nervous. The director isn’t a scary person. Fighting.

After hanging up, Seoyoon calmed his elevated spirits and entered the building, which boasted the largest scale among private art museums in Seoul.

“I have an interview appointment with Director Kwon Seungsil.”

“Yes. Please go to the third floor for guidance.”

Thanks to it being a closed day, there were no visitors to see the exhibition. Seoyoon inhaled the tranquil air as he walked through the quiet interior.

While the exhibition halls would have adjusted lighting, the lobby allowed bright sunlight to enter through skylights. Seoyoon quietly appreciated the architecture of the museum, which had received architectural awards for its effective use of light.

As he arrived in front of the director’s office, nervousness finally set in. The staff member who had guided him knocked twice before opening the door.

“Director, Han Seoyoon is here for the scheduled interview.”

“Oh, come in.”

The person standing in front of a large bookshelf turned to greet Seoyoon. Seoyoon bowed deeply to the woman before him.

“Hello. I’m Han Seoyoon, scheduled to meet you today.”

“Welcome. It seems you did very well in the first interview. Team Leader Kim was strongly advocating for your hiring.”

Seoyoon sat across from her on the guest sofa, following her gesture. The guide who had left earlier had somehow returned and placed tea in front of them. The director said with a smile,

“I chose the tea without even asking what you’d like. Is green tea okay?”

“Yes. I’m good with anything.”

She was a person with clear eyes and a good build. She looked a bit younger than Seoyoon’s parents. As Seoyoon blinked after sipping the tea, the director asked,

“Is the tea good?”

“Ah, yes. It’s quite different from the tea I usually drink in cafes.”

“You can tell the difference in tea taste, I like that. I’m not fond of people who just gulp down whatever you give them like water. Being easygoing is good in its own way, but to handle artworks, you need to have a bit of a picky and sensitive side.”

“I often hear that I’m sensitive.”

When Seoyoon answered with a smile, the director laughed out loud too. The atmosphere wasn’t bad.

“You haven’t directly managed an exhibition at DP, right?”

“I haven’t led as the main planner yet, but I’ve been in charge of a lot of communication with institutions and other cooperating parties. Many of my ideas were reflected, and when I was a student, I also organized an alternative space exhibition with friends from the painting and sculpture departments.”

“Hmm, I see. Well, if Team Leader Kim likes you, you must be good.”

Generally, the second interview anywhere is more about the top executive getting an impression of the new hire rather than a detailed review of their background. This place seemed to be the same, as the director briefly skimmed through the resume and cover letter before putting them down and changing the subject.

“Actually, I had a different reason for wanting to see Han Seoyoon.”

“Pardon?”

His heart sank. The anxiety he had suppressed suddenly rose to the surface.

Was it really not about work, but because of the previous arranged marriage incident that she wanted to see him in person? Seoyoon gently clenched his hands resting on his knees.

“Why don’t you paint anymore these days?”

“…Excuse me?”

However, the director asked something completely unexpected. It had been years since he was last asked a similar question. Feeling like he was facing a suddenly unearthed artifact, Seoyoon blinked a couple of times before forcing an awkward smile.

“It’s been… a long time since I stopped painting.”

“That’s what I mean. Why did you stop? Han Seoyoon, you caused quite a stir when you won the Grand Prize at the Art Grand Prize when you were young. It’s an annual student competition, so the winning works aren’t always exceptional, but when I saw that year’s winning piece, I expected that this student would become a wonderful artist someday. But then there was no news of you.”

“Thank you. I’m embarrassed.”

“Have you completely given up on painting?”

“Yes. I think it was just a brief moment of shine back then. I was lucky. If I had intended to continue painting, I would have chosen a creative major.”

The director looked at Seoyoon with eyes that didn’t seem quite convinced, but instead of pressing further, she tilted her teacup.

“I see. Well, they say even a comfortable life is no good if you don’t like it.”

“It’s not that I didn’t like it, it’s just that that was truly the last time.”