The Mysterious Art Museum

Chapter 162 (1) - The Mysterious Art Museum

"Damn it, you crazy fool! What did I tell you? I told you to tear into him fiercely, didn’t I? After enduring the turmoil inside me, waiting just for this day, you feed me sweet potatoes instead of a refreshing cider? Are you out of your mind?" [T/N: Sweet potatoes are hard to swallow, so korean use it as an idiom for such hard to swallow situations]

The one tearing into things fiercely seems to be you, Young-ju.

As soon as I returned to the waiting room from the press conference, Young-ju rushed over and started scolding me. I patted my friend's shoulder, saying, "Sorry, I saw something recently."

"What did you take in, you son of a... Did you watch a movie filled with love for humanity? A film about Buddha’s life? Preaching forgiveness even to enemies?"

"My mom goes to church. She’d foam at the mouth if she saw me seeking Buddha."

"Then what is it, you little..."

"There’s something, let's go. We have to prepare for the exhibition."

"What’s there to prepare, you idiot. You're not the rookie artist you used to be. Just deliver the work, and that’s it. W Tree will handle everything else!"

"But it’s my exhibition. I should go and check."

Young-ju, furious, slams the door of the waiting room and leaves.

Left alone, I chuckled and scratched the back of my head.

"Young-ju, there was someone who died in silence for the future of a boy who shot him."

Muttering to myself, I was about to leave the press conference venue in the car driven by Seong-chul, who had taken on the role of my manager.

Just as our car was about to exit the parking lot, a luxury car blocked our way.

Startled by the sudden brake, Seong-chul was about to swear when his eyes widened in realization.

"Some jerk is... Huh? Isn’t that Director Seo Young-ju’s car?"

I leaned out of the back seat and asked.

"Wasn’t Young-ju’s car a domestic model?"

"She changed it earlier this year."

"Wow, he bought a BMW 7 Series? Young-ju has grown up."

Seong-chul smiled and said.

"That’s rich coming from someone who drives a Ferrari Roma."

"Hey, I didn’t buy that with my own money."

"Haha, that’s true."

The driver's window of Young-ju’s car, which had blocked ours, rolled down. Young-ju, looking quite displeased, sticks his head out and yells.

"Get in my car!"

Haha, that guy. She left as if she would abandon me, but she came back in the end.

I instructed Seong-chul to just return to the office and then moved to Young-ju's car.

Despite being a subordinate, our friendship came first, so instead of sitting in the comfortable back seat, I sat in the passenger seat and melodramatically grabbed my neck.

"Ouch, my neck seems to have been hurt by the sudden entrance of the car. Shouldn't we go to the hospital first?"

Young-ju, driving roughly, growled in response.

"Go to the hospital, you jerk. I'll pay for all the medical bills, so just lie down there."

"Haha, just kidding."

"Your jokes are crap."

Young-ju's face was red with anger. Looking at her profile, I felt a warm feeling.

Who else in the world, not family, would get so genuinely angry over my affairs? How much anger must have built up over the two years he had to endure this?

I couldn't be more grateful for Young-ju, who was sincerely angry with me.

"Young-ju."

"What!"

"Shall we get married?"

"You crazy bastard! What... what did you say?"

Screech!

Young-ju, who had just come out onto the road in front of the press conference venue, jerked the steering wheel and pulled the car over to the shoulder.

She furiously dug at her ear then turned it towards me.

"I think I'm hearing things because of the shock, say it again."

I smiled slyly and said, "Let's get married."

"......"

Young-ju froze with her hand on her ear and said nothing. I, feeling awkward, continued the conversation.

"What's this? A man confesses and you don't even respond?"

I could see Young-ju's hand, still on her ear, trembling slightly. I quietly waited for her response.

After a while, Young-ju removed her hand from her ear and muttered softly.

"Son of a bitch."

Huh? This reaction is a bit off, isn't it?

I quickly added to Young-ju.

"I'm not joking, I meant it sincerely."

Young-ju's eyes were red. Thinking she was upset because he thought I was joking, I hurriedly explained.

"I've thought about it a lot. I missed you in Italy, and wherever I was, I felt safe knowing you were there. To me, you are like a stable family. You are the person, other than my family, who cares about me the most. That's why I said it. I'm definitely not joking."

Young-ju glared at me with a fierce look and repeated the same words.

"Son of a bitch."

Why, though? I'm not saying this on a whim, really. I don't get it.

"Young-ju, I'm serious."

Young-ju then grips the steering wheel and shifts gears roughly, saying, "You propose like this, without any flair? How long have I been waiting, you son of a bitch?"

"......"

As Young-ju starts driving again, a tear rolls down her cheek.

"Do the proposal properly again. If you fill the trunk with balloons or do something like serenading in a crowded place, I'll kill you."

"......"

I stared at Young-ju with a dumbfounded expression and then burst into laughter.

"Uhahaha!!! Uhahaha!!"

"What are you laughing at, you jerk! It's not a joke! You make me wait for 10 years and then propose in a car? Son of a bitch! Son of a bitch!"

"Uhahaha!!! Damn, it's hilarious, uhahaha!"

"Don't laugh! Bring a diamond ring!"

"Alright, alright! Uhahaha!"

Our steps towards W Tree Hotel were vastly different from the last 10 years.

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