Chapter :03
“They Say My Daughter is a Genius”
“That concludes the presentation! Everyone did a great job~!”
Teacher Chae-eun called out the closing remarks for the presentation.
Just then, the school bell rang to signal the break.
Yurina, who had finished her class, hurried over to me at the back of the classroom.
As she approached, I felt a subtle tension building inside me.
“Dad, we should go now, right?”
“Yeah, we should. You did so well today. Our daughter… when did you even prepare a drawing like that? Incredible.”
I ruffled Yurina’s hair, doing my best to hide the shock in my chest.
Though honestly, my legs were still trembling.
‘Don’t shake, Kang Sung-woon…’
About fifteen minutes earlier, seeing Yurina’s drawing presentation had sent me into a panic.
The sketches in her presentation weren’t just simple childlike drawings of me, her grandmother, and herself.
From the clean, precise lines to the vivid, detailed coloring despite being done in crayons…
They looked at least like portraits and self-portraits a university art student would draw.
Seeing such impressive work, I was completely at a loss for reaction.
I didn’t even clap, just stood there dumbfounded. Teacher Chae-eun seemed restless at my lack of response.
Yurina’s drawing had left me utterly stunned.
‘Now I understand why everyone praised her so much… How could I have been so blind until now…’
As the school teachers had said, Yurina really was gifted at drawing—truly talented.
“Dad… was my drawing not good?”
“Huh? Of course not. That was an amazing drawing.”
“Really? But earlier… you looked like you didn’t like it…”
I flinched. Seeing my frozen reaction had clearly upset her.
“No, no! Dad was just surprised, that’s all!”
I quickly waved my hands and reassured her.
“I was so impressed by how well you drew, I was just shocked. Haha…”
Feeling a little guilty, I tried to soothe her.
‘Come to think of it, not even clapping was a bit much…’
But I couldn’t help myself. As her father, seeing Yurina’s drawing, I immediately imagined her having an exhibition in France.
‘Sorry for being so ridiculous, Yurina.’
“Did I really draw it well?”
“Of course! How did you get so good at drawing? You take after your mom so much.”
Finally, praising her, Yurina’s face brightened.
“Mom was really good at drawing too, right? Dad said she was a painter.”
“Yeah, she was excellent, just like you.”
My wife had once held solo exhibitions and had a remarkable career as an artist.
Clearly, Yurina had inherited her talent from her mother.
Thinking of that made my chest tighten in a good way.
My angelic daughter, resembling her mother, had been blessed with such talent…
‘You gave her all the best, didn’t you, honey?’
If my wife had seen Yurina’s drawing, she would have been thrilled.
A pang of longing hit me.
“There are more drawings at home! I’ll show you after dinner!”
Yurina’s heels clicked with excitement.
But then, she suddenly looked downcast.
“No… Dad’s busy and will come home late for dinner…”
She muttered softly, disappointed.
“…Yurina.”
Her expression, both subdued and resigned, pierced my heart.
The thought that she had always believed I was too busy to spend time with her… how much hurt must she carry after three years?
Looking at her made my chest ache.
“No, today Dad’s coming home before you.”
“Really?”
“Yes. We’ll eat something delicious together, and I’ll see the other drawings you made.”
I knelt down to meet her eye level.
I ruffled her hair and smiled brightly.
“Yurina, you’ll play with Dad after dinner, right?”
A smile spread across her lips.
“Yes!! Let’s have fun!!”
There was no way I could disappoint a daughter who had given such an impressive presentation.
I had already planned to settle some things today.
This life couldn’t continue as the last one had.
And for that, there was one priority task I had to complete first.
“Where have you been!!!”
After the presentation, I drove straight to Director Hwang’s studio.
Seeing thirty-six missed calls, I had a rough idea of what to expect, but as soon as I entered, Hwang’s roar hit me.
“…I’m not deaf, Director.”
“Then you ignored me on purpose?! If you weren’t deaf, why didn’t you answer the calls?!!”
I had steeled myself before coming, but facing Director Hwang in person, I couldn’t speak.
‘I have to say it. I promised.’
I closed my eyes, then looked him squarely in the eyes, and said what I had prepared.
“Director, I have something to tell you.”
“Yeah, please, just tell me why you’re late.”
“I was helping my daughter get ready for school. But what I want to tell you is something else.”
“Helping her get to school is already a problem. Should I hear the rest and then scold you all at once?”
Hwang, nicknamed the “Tiger Director,” ground his teeth with ferocity.
“I’m sorry, but I want to quit working on the project as of today.”
His furious expression froze at my words.
“…What?”
He asked, his voice subdued, clearly shocked.
“I truly apologize!! I told you I could sacrifice childcare for the film, but I cannot leave my daughter alone! Leaving a motherless child with her grandmother while I pursue my dream feels too wrong! So… I’m sorry, but I must focus on raising her!”
I spoke honestly, bowing 90 degrees in apology, unable to look at him.
My heart pounded, hands sweating with nervousness.
“…?”
But no matter how long I waited, Director Hwang didn’t respond.
I tilted my head and looked up, only to find him gone.
“…Director? Where are you?!”
Bang! The door to the studio’s lounge slammed open.
Startled, I flinched.
Director Hwang had entered and come out carrying my suitcase.
“Pack quickly, we’re busy.”
He tossed the suitcase to me with the coolest farewell imaginable, then sat back at his desk as if nothing had happened.
“Not mad? Not even going to stop me…?”
Feeling a little abandoned, I whined.
“Stop it,” he said, laughing dryly, not even looking at me.
“You quitting shows it’s worth more than the movie. Pack your things and leave!”
He was precise. Cold, even.
Bang!
The door slammed shut.
I packed quickly and left the studio like I’d been kicked out.
Three minutes, and I was out—definitely kicked out.
“….”
I exhaled a laugh at the firmly closed door.
It felt empty. In my previous life, we had broken box-office records together, and now this connection ended like this.
“No! Couldn’t you have held me back just once?!!”
I yelled at the front door, but no answer came.
‘…I guess I’m just being sentimental.’
I leaned on the door, looking at the sky. The weather was surprisingly clear.
Looking at the clean sky, my wife’s face came to mind.
It felt like she was telling me I had made the right choice.
‘I really did the right thing, didn’t I, honey?’
Back home, I collapsed in the middle of the living room.
It was only 12:30 PM, but the mental exhaustion weighed me down.
“Ha… what do I do with my life now?”
I stared up at the ceiling.
I remembered standing in front of millions as a screenwriter with blockbusters—my greatness now just a memory.
‘Still, it was a good experience.’
Those three years with Director Hwang were the golden period of my writing career. Probably the period of greatest growth.
“Ah~ Forget it, first I need a job. If I give back the advance, there won’t be anything left.”
I sat up and turned on my phone.
Looking through my contacts, I started reaching out for job leads.
Then suddenly, my phone buzzed.
The screen showed a call from [Yurina’s Homeroom Teacher].
‘Teacher Chae-eun? Why are you calling?’
I answered.
“Hello?”
- Mr. Yurina’s father, did you get home safely?
“Yes, but… what’s this about?”
- Oh, it’s nothing. Earlier, we noticed you left a piece of clothing on top of the classroom locker.
“Clothing?”
Hearing that, I felt a sudden relief.
I had gone out wearing a jacket, but now I was only in a T-shirt.
“Oh! I left it behind?!”
- Haha, looks like you forgot it.
I’d been too shocked by Yurina’s presentation to pay attention.
I had taken off my jacket from the heat and excitement, leaving it on the locker.
- I’ll make sure she brings it home during homeroom.
“Thank you. I’m so scatterbrained. Haha… The presentation was wonderful.”
- By the way! Did you enjoy it? Earlier you looked a bit unhappy…
I flinched. Teacher Chae-eun said the same thing Yurina had.
‘Did I really look that bad…’
I rubbed my forehead in embarrassment.
“I honestly didn’t expect her to be so good at drawing. If I had known, I might’ve started early art lessons for her. Haha…”
I tried to joke to ease the awkwardness.
But Teacher Chae-eun eagerly responded.
- Exactly! Yurina really should get professional guidance!
“Huh?”
- I actually know a good art academy nearby. Shall I introduce it?
“Oh… yes, that would be great…”
- I’ll send the address by text!!
The teacher seemed more excited than me.
Yurina often said this teacher felt like an older sister, and I could see why.
- Make sure she goes! It could be great for her education!
