Synopsis and Starting Chapter Chapter 2
Chapter 3
Chapter 4
Chapter 5
Chapter 6
Chapter 7
Chapter 8
Chapter 9
Chapter 10
Chapter 11
Chapter 12
Chapter 13
Chapter 14
Chapter 15
Chapter 16
Chapter 17
Chapter 18
Chapter 19
Chapter 20
Chapter 21
Chapter 22
Chapter 23
Chapter 24
Chapter 25
Chapter 26
Chapter 27
Chapter 28
Chapter 29
Chapter 30
Chapter 31
Chapter 32
Chapter 33
Chapter 34
Chapter 35
Chapter 36
Chapter 37
Chapter 38
Chapter 39
Chapter 40
Chapter 41
Chapter 42
Chapter 43
Chapter 44
Chapter 45
Chapter 46
Chapter 47
Chapter 48
Chapter 49
Chapter 50
Chapter 51
Chapter 52
Chapter 53
Chapter 54
Chapter 55
Chapter 56
Chapter 57
Chapter 58
Chapter 59
Chapter 60
Chapter 61
Chapter 62
Chapter 63
Chapter 64
Chapter 65
Chapter 66
Chapter 67
Chapter 68
Chapter 69
Chapter 70
Chapter 71
Chapter 72
Chapter 73
Chapter 74
Chapter 75
Chapter 76
Chapter 77
Chapter 78
Chapter 79
Chapter 80
Chapter 81
Chapter 82
Chapter 83
Chapter 84
Chapter 85
Chapter 86
Chapter 87
Chapter 88
Chapter 89
Chapter 90
Chapter 91
Chapter 92
Chapter 93
Chapter 94
Chapter 95
Chapter 96
Chapter 97
Chapter 98
Chapter 99
Chapter 100
Chapter 101
Chapter 102
Chapter 103
Chapter 104
Chapter 105
Chapter 106
Chapter 107
Chapter 108
Chapter 109
Chapter 110
Chapter 111
Chapter 112
Chapter 113
Chapter 114
Chapter 115
Chapter 116
Chapter 117
Chapter 118
Chapter 119
Chapter 120
Chapter 121 - Portrait Of Titus (2)
Chapter 122 - Visitor From The Desert (1)
Chapter 123 - Visitor From The Desert (2)
Chapter 124 - Visitor From The Desert (3)
Chapter 125 - Visitor From The Desert (4)
Chapter 126 - Rookie Of Boston Red Sox (1)
Chapter 127 - Rookie Of Boston Red Sox (2)
Chapter 128 - Buddhist Scripture Written With Gold (1)
Chapter 129 - Buddhist Scripture Written With Gold (2)
Chapter 130 - Buddhist Scripture Written With Gold (3)
Chapter 131 - Chaebol, Painting, And Happy Tears (1)
Chapter 132 - Chaebol, Painting, And Happy Tears (2)
Chapter 133 - Chaebol, Painting, And Happy Tears (3)
Chapter 134 - Enemies Are Everywhere (1)
Chapter 135 - Enemies Are Everywhere (2)
Chapter 136 - More Paintings (1)
Chapter 137 - More Paintings (2)
Chapter 138 - To Florence, Italy… (1)
Chapter 139 - To Florence, Italy… (2)
Chapter 140 - To Florence, Italy… (3)
Chapter 141 - People Who Are After The Masterpiece (1)
Chapter 142 - People Who Are After The Masterpiece (2)
Chapter 143 - People Who Are After The Masterpiece (3)
Chapter 144 - The Medici And The Aristocrats (1)
Chapter 145 - The Medici And The Aristocrats (2)
Chapter 146 - The Medici And The Aristocrats (3)
Chapter 147 - The Medici And The Aristocrats (4)
Chapter 148 - The Medici And The Aristocrats (5)
Chapter 149 - Drawings In The Charity Auction (1)
Chapter 150 - Drawings In The Charity Auction (2)
Chapter 151 - Drawings In The Charity Auction (3)
Chapter 152 - Drawings In The Charity Auction (4)
Chapter 153 - Drawings In The Charity Auction (5)
Chapter 154 - Now, To London… (1)
Chapter 155 - Now, To London… (2)
Chapter 156 - Now, To London… (3)
Chapter 157 - Now, To London… (4)
Chapter 158 - Seeing The Light Again (1)
Chapter 159 - Seeing The Light Again (2)
Chapter 160 - Seeing The Light Again (3)
Chapter 161 - Seeing The Light Again (4)
Chapter 162 - Uninvited Guest (1)
Chapter 163 - Uninvited Guest (2)
Chapter 164 - Uninvited Guest (3)
Chapter 165 - Uninvited Guest (4)
Chapter 166 - Dark Shadow (1)
Chapter 167 - Dark Shadow (2)
Chapter 168 - Dark Shadow (3)
Chapter 169 - Change And Progress (1)
Chapter 170 - Change, And Progress (2)
Chapter 171 - Change, And Progress (3)
Chapter 172 - Appraiser Talks Through Appraising (1)
Chapter 173 - Appraiser Talks Through Appraising (2)
Chapter 174 - Appraiser Talks Through Appraising (3)
Chapter 175 - Appraiser Talks Through Appraising (4)
Chapter 176 - Appraiser Talks Through Appraising (5)
Chapter 177 - Inheritance Left By The Parents (1)
Chapter 178 - Inheritance Left By The Parents (2)
Chapter 179 - Inheritance Left By The Parents (3)
Chapter 180 - Inheritance Left By The Parents (4)
Chapter 181 - Star Appraiser (1)
Chapter 182 - Star Appraiser (2)
Chapter 183 - Star Appraiser (3)
Chapter 184 - Terms Of Return Of Artifacts (1)
Chapter 185 - Terms Of Return Of Artifacts (2)
Chapter 186 - Terms Of Return Of Artifacts (3)
Chapter 187 - Terms Of Return Of Artifacts (4)
Chapter 188 - Terms Of Return Of Artifacts (5)
Chapter 189 - Artifact From North Korea (1)
Chapter 190 - Artifact From North Korea (2)
Chapter 191 - Artifact Match (1)
Chapter 192 - Artifact Match (2)
Chapter 193 - Artifact Match (3)
Chapter 194 - Artifact Match (4)
Chapter 195 - Artifact Match (5)
Chapter 196 - What Happened In Austria (1)
Chapter 197 - What Happened In Austria (2)
Chapter 198 - What Happened In Austria (3)
Chapter 199 - What Happened In Austria (4)
Chapter 200 - Bait To Catch The Big Fish (1)
Chapter 201 - Bait To Catch The Big Fish (2)
Chapter 202 - What The Depressed Man Left (1)
Chapter 203 - What The Depressed Man Left (2)
Chapter 204 - Where The Faith Leads Him To (1)
Chapter 205 - Add Painting To Painting (1)
Chapter 206 - Add Painting To Painting (2)
Chapter 207 - Add Painting To Painting (3)
Chapter 208 - Finally, To There… (1)
Chapter 209 - Finally, In There… (2)
Chapter 210 (End) - Epilogue
Categories Genre: All, Completed, Fantasy, Supernatural Status: Completed ______
Total Chapters in book: 210
Estimated words: 468205 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 2341(@200wpm)___ 1873(@250wpm)___ 1561(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 468205 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 2341(@200wpm)___ 1873(@250wpm)___ 1561(@300wpm)
______
LIST OF LAST 10 CHAPTERS:
Page No. 210 Page No. 209 Page No. 208 Page No. 207 Page No. 206 Page No. 205 Page No. 204 Page No. 203 Page No. 202 Page No. 201 Page No. 200 Chapter 8
Chapter 8: New Work (2)
Haejin’s heart took a roller coaster ride, as if Eunhae just said that she loved him.
Curious about me? She probably doesn’t mean that she wants to date me…
“Ha! Don’t get nervous. I didn’t mean it like that.”
Haejin was a little disappointed, but he kept a straight face lest Eunhae misunderstood.
“Haha, really? Then, I was surprised for nothing.”
“Hmm… most men quite like me but, this time, I somehow feel like I have been dumped. Am I
wrong?”
Haejin realized he could not let her take control. He answered even more boldly.
“I’m not that kind of guy who falls in love easily because of their appearances.”
“Oh, then you are saying that I am beautiful. Thank you.”
She was a strong opponent.
“Kmm… then, you want something from me?”
“Actually, I manage a gallery that my grandfather left me.”
Inheriting a café was great enough, but she had inherited a gallery. She was a real silver spoon
owner.
“That’s great.”
“It might look great to others but, to me, it’s not easy. You heard it yesterday, I was conned.”
It was something that people would find embarrassing; however, she sounded calm when mentioning
it.
“Yes. I heard.”
“I hurried because I thought I could get a good artifact, but I was conned. The problem is that I cannot
tell the police. My family… no, if others find out about this, I will probably lose the gallery.”
At first, Heajin thought that her family is probably not normal but, clearly, there was a dispute within
the family.
“You are in a trouble.”
“Yes. But it’s not just because I lost the money. I can forget about that money but, if things like this
keep happening, words about my mistake could get out. Yaerin hates me, but she would never speak
about that out loud, so I’m not worried about her… anyway, I cannot let others know about this.”
“The woman you had a quarrel with yesterday, is she Yaerin? Her lips must be heavier than I thought.
She didn’t appear to be so…”
“No, her lips are lighter than a feather. It’s just that I know one of her secrets, too. So, she won’t be
able to babble about mine.”
“Oh… then you want me to catch those frauds quietly…”
“Pft! Oh, I’m sorry.”
Haejin almost felt a little mad, but her smile made that feeling melt like snow.
“It’s okay,” Haejin said.
“It’s not like you’re a private detective. I want you to help me.”
Haejin now recalled the man who was Yaerin’s appraiser.
“You want me to be your private appraiser?”
“Yes. I know it’s rude. We just met, but I am asking because it is urgent. Think of it as me recruiting
you. You will receive as much as a section chief.”
“Section chief….”
“A salary of 8,000 with a 400% bonus. I will also give you additional bonuses when you get me good
artifacts at a low price. Plus, you will get a half-size sedan. It would be the company’s car, but you can
use it as your own. After a year, you can become a full-time employee if we both agree.”
Those were excellent conditions. If it had been before Haejin got the porcelains, they would have
been even greater. However, the best part was that he would get to work with Eunhae. Haejin’s
answer, however, was not what Eunhae expected.
“I am sorry. I don’t think I can take your offer.”
“Hmm… why? I would like to know the reason.”
“I’ve always dreamt of being a playboy. Call me if you need my help. I will help you from time to time
as a freelancer. Of course, I will keep your secret if you want.”
Eunhae stared at him with a strange expression.
Then, she crossed her arms and asked, “I guess I was too arrogant. I thought you would think my
offer was good enough after you told me that you work in the construction industry…”
She said, ‘work in the construction industry’ instead of ‘construction worker’. She was very
considerate. She was rich, therefore it was easier for her to look down on others. It appeared that she
had been educated well.
“Your offer is good. However, I didn’t work as a construction worker just because I needed the money.
I wanted to show my father… should I call it defiance? Anyway, I earn enough money through the
hard way on purpose for that reason. Well, it’s not like I have great ability, but I have no reason to do
physical labor now. I am also not poor enough to have myself tied to a job… let me just say, I just
want to live with ease.”
“I see. Then, will you work for me if I treat you as a freelancer?”
“Of course, I will always work for you, Miss Eunhae.”
“Ha, I like that. Good. Then, I will officially give you a case. Please come to my company to talk about
the details. Have you heard of Saeyeon Gallery?”
Haejin had not just heard about that place, he had even been there.
“You mean the gallery in Bukcheon?”
“Oh, you know it well.”
Haejin knew it very well. He had seen the artifacts his father sold abroad exhibited at Saeyeon Gallery
a few times. Therefore, he was surprised.
The artifacts had been sold as stolen goods in China and other countries, so Haejin wondered how
they ended up in a gallery in Korea. However, it’s not like he could ask the director where she had
gotten it, so he just backed off. And… that director was in front of him now…”
“Hmm… okay. I will see you there tomorrow. I am already excited, about the case.”
“I am also glad that we got to work together.”
Eunhae drove Haejin back to the bookstore again.
She asked where he lived, but he didn’t want to tell her. He couldn’t tell her that he lived in the slums
where even thieves didn’t dare to rob you.
At first, he had just planned to sell the porcelains but, now that he thought about it, he realized that he
couldn’t live without antiques.
He had done physical labor to stop his father from grave robbing. That was no longer necessary, so
he thought since things turned out this way, he should move to Seoul and start over.
Although my father lived the life of a grave robber, I will become a real antique appraiser. No, I will do
even more than that. I will find that evil art dealer who threatened my father and made him die like that
and I will also retrieve the Korean artifacts that were taken away from us.
As he thought, his heart started to pound. He didn’t think everything had just happened by
coincidence. Maybe the recent events were a sign, telling him to fulfill his father’s dying wish…
Haejin kept making some crazy excuses while biting his lip. He couldn’t take it lightly, so he was going
to start from the beginning.
If he could really get back the Korean artifacts scattered abroad, if he could retrieve them from those
who took them away and argued that it was part of their collections, wouldn’t that be more
meaningful?
That night, Haejin looked up at the night sky and planned what to do with his future for the first time.
The next day, he went straight to a nearby housing agency and found a studio that was closer and at
the right price. He had to spend 10,000,000 of the money he had left as the deposit, but he still had
5,000,000 won left.
He took a taxi and went back to his home and packed his things till late evening. He didn’t have much
to pack since he gave the things he couldn’t move or didn’t need to his neighbors. He had only three
boxes of things he needed. He had them delivered to his new home and came back to the hotel. It
was just past midnight.
The next day, he checked out from the hotel, went to a nearby department store and bought a pair of
suit. It cost 500,000 won but he thought it was necessary. He had to look like an expert, so he couldn’t
go to the gallery wearing something casual.
He arrived at Saeyeon Gallery at around 11 o’clock. It was the perfect time to talk about business and
have lunch together.
He went into the gallery where he first spotted a huge flower vase with luxuriant colors. It had the
painting of a deer playing in the mountains. It was in great condition, so its color was clear and looked
beautiful.
Anyone would think of it as a precious artifact. The vase was not unfamiliar to Haejin, his father had
excavated it and sold it to a Chinese dealer.
People who were interested in porcelains knew that the vase had been made in China, but it had
been brought into Korea without a problem. That was strange.
“Beautiful, isn’t it?”
Her voice was clear and beautiful, just like her face.
Haejin turned his head. Eunhae, in a tight H-line skirt and a blouse, was looking at the vase proudly.
“Yes, it’s a good artifact.”
“It was one of my grandfather’s favorites.”
“Oh… you must have liked him a lot.”
“He really loved me. Although he is now gone, when I miss him, I keep looking at the things he liked.
Then, I feel like he is talking to me.”
She was sensitive. If it had been anyone else, Haejin would have thought that person was whining,
but he somewhat felt sorry for Eunhae. Was it because of her beauty?
“I can see why he loved you so much?”
“Hoho, really? Shall we go in? We cannot talk about business here.”
“Okay.”
Eunhae took Haejin to an office deep in the gallery.
As people of wealth and power often visited, her office was in a simple white mood but luxurious with
valuable paintings.
“Actually, I need your help urgently. A while ago, the man I’ve been mainly dealing with got a problem,
so I have to find someone new… but I don’t know who to trust.”
“Got a problem. Does that mean he… um, should I call you CEO?”
Haejin didn’t know what to call her. She smiled.
“You can call my name. The CEO or the director doesn’t fit my age.”
“Your title wasn’t on your name card.”
“Officially, I am the director of the department, but I didn’t write that on that name card. It’s not for
people I meet for business.”
Haejin didn’t know if that was true, but it made him feel good.
“Oh… I see. Khmm… to continue, you got a problem, meaning the broker gave you an artifact with a
problem?”
“Yes. He fooled me with a fake. I am looking for him now, but I have a bigger problem than finding that
fraud. I don’t have enough artifacts for the upcoming exhibition.”
“The jade buddha we found at the preview?”
“I am keeping it in mind, but you talked so loudly, therefore I might not be able to get it. I can only a
spend a certain amount of money at auction this year.”
“I see. Then, do you mainly get artifacts through brokers?”
“I get 70% of them from auction and get the others through Insadong. As you know, there can be
really good artifacts in Insadon that are at a really low price, but there can also be some fakes. Just
like in this case, so I get worried every time I make a deal.”
“I have a question. I don’t think you keep all the artifacts you get in this gallery… what do you do with
them?”
“The group buys them often. Actually, my cousin really wanted the vase you saw at the entrance. He
said he wanted to have it…”
“The group…”
“Hwajin Corporate Group. My cousin is Hwajin’s vice chairman.”
Wow… I assumed she was from a rich family, but she is a member of the family that owns the biggest
enterprise in Korea…
“Oh… what a great family!”
“No. Strictly speaking, we have nothing to do with Hawjin. Not even 1% of it is at stake. Anyway… are
you going to help me?”
She didn’t have to ask.
“Of course.”
Total Chapters in book: 210
Estimated words: 468205 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 2341(@200wpm)___ 1873(@250wpm)___ 1561(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 468205 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 2341(@200wpm)___ 1873(@250wpm)___ 1561(@300wpm)
______