Artifact Reading Inspector

Chapter 59: What is Hidden, What is Revealed (3)

She nodded sadly.

“Yes. Asking you this kind of thing is too embarrassing, but you know what kind of trouble I am in now. Plus, if Hyoyeon gets this gallery, it will be turned into a huge middle merchant that illegally trades artifacts with China and Japan. We cannot let it happen.”

That was right. If a gallery with the powerful Hwajin on its back starts illegal artifact trading, the harm would be beyond anyone’s expectation.

“Okay, but don’t think I can surely do something just because I’ll come. Unless a fake is being sold openly, there’s nothing I can do.”

“I know. I am willing to take that risk. However, you must know that among the artifacts that celebrities own and trust, there are massive amounts of fakes.”

“I know that. It’s just that you will have to be extremely lucky. Hyoyeon would also have to be extremely unlucky.”

It would be great if a fake comes out but, if it doesn’t happen, there’s nothing Haejin could do.

“Well, I don’t think I’ll have to be very lucky, judging from the artifacts Hyoyeon is contacting. Anyway, I can’t wait.”

“What would happen if Hyoyeon’s special exhibition gets ruined?”

Eunhae smiled for the first time today.

“What would happen? The board would think of her as stupid. They need a good reason to kick me out. However, if my replacement does something that stupid, the board cannot fire me.”

Eunhae looked so na?ve and innocent, but she was strong when needed.

“Your uncle will be really mad if things go your way.”

“What can he do? Hyoyeon is also not good enough to run a gallery yet. I admit Yaerin has an experienced eye, even though she is rude. Oh Jaepil is teaching her about art history and antiques. But Hyoyeon? She’s still a child.”

After hearing this, Haejin thought he couldn’t let that baroque exhibition end in glory.

“Okay. I will stop by a month later, during the exhibition.”

Apart from the friendship with Eunhae, Haejin couldn’t let that happen as he had to protect the Korean artifacts.

He was shocked by the fact that the man who wanted the golden buddha was Sungjun.

He had thought Jongmyeong could do that, but…

Haejin ate lunch with Eunhae. After that, he went to Insadong to pick up Sujeong and they went to Taean.

Sujeong had asked him to take her with him as she was about to get depression by staying inside the workshop and restoring things.

Byeongguk was with them, of course, and he was looking forward to seeing the porcelains excavated from Taean.

Sujeong certainly brightened up after a few days in Taean with the sushi and the sea breeze.

She checked in at a nearby hotel and recovered her self-pride through stopping by at the restoration spot to give some advice. Then, the excavation finally reached its end. It was exactly a week away from the opening of Haejin’s museum.

Haecheol came down from Seoul to celebrate. He then called the reporters and promoted the place.

Additionally, the next day, Haejin had lunch with Haecheol. He was very satisfied with the excavation being finished without anyone getting hurt.

“I used to think this could happen one day, and it did. It’s all thanks to you.”

“I won’t deny that.”

Without the exact point, finding a ship that had been wrecked centuries ago and pulling out treasures in that murky West Sea would have been terribly hard, so Haejin didn’t have to be humble.

Especially when it was time to divide the booty.

“I couldn’t help but be shocked when I saw that blue prunus vase, you brought up the first time, in the news. It was so beautiful and fantastic. There is nothing else like that under the sky. I’ve never been jealous of what others had but, for the first, time, I wanted it.”

“Do you want it?”

Haejin asked calmly. Yaerin shifted. She wanted to say something, but she couldn’t speak first as her grandfather was there.

“You are testing me. Will you give it to me if I say I want it?”

“Yes.”

Haecheol put down his chopsticks.

“Are you serious?”

“I am. If you want, you can have it.”

Haecheol looked into Haejin’s eyes for a while. They had a strange staring match like that, but then Haecheol picked up his chopsticks again.

“No. Don’t test this old man’s heart again.”

Yaerin couldn’t understand that.

“Grandfather! He said he will just give it to us!”

At Yaerin’s protest, Haecheol stroked her head.

“Child, nothing is free in this world. If I take that, this young man will ask me something of more value than that or won’t work with Yuseong again. Don’t forget you should not try to gain from other’s hospitality.”

Haejin quietly exclaimed. As Haecheol said, if he had asked for that celadon, Haejin would have given it without any regret. However, he would have never again worked with Yuseong.

Haejin had tested Haecheol by giving up that expensive and valuable prunus vase because he would get to excavate countless sites in the future, and he won’t be able to work alone sometimes.

Therefore, whether he could trust Yuseong or not was very important.

Yaerin silently asked if Haejin had really meant that, but Haejin just ate without saying anything.

At this, she frowned and drank beer.

“Khh… I really don’t like you.”

“Haha, what would you do if you like him? Are you going to ditch the man I’ve picked for you?”

“You mean that man in the U.S who I haven’t even met before? I saw his SNS once, there are photos of him and girls having fun.”

Yaerin was being sharp, but Haecheol smiled sheepishly.

“Didn’t you ask for a rich man? It’s not like you asked for a rich man with a clean love life and will devote only to you, so you cannot blame me now.”

Haecheol said it as if it was unfair. Yaerin’s eyes sparkled.

“I would like that kind of guy. Who is he?”

“I don’t know. I’ve never seen anyone like that in my life. I don’t think I’ll get to see one in the future.”

“Huh…”

Haejin watched this with a smile, and then he spoke.

“Then, is there something special you want to have?”

“What if I do? Will you let me have it?”

Haecheol narrowed his eye and smiled.

“Even if you made a promise, I happened to get that prunus vase, so I understand your disappointment. So, you should choose first.”

“Even though we will get the ship?”

“You have spent a lot, so I can do that for you.”

Haecheol took a sip of beer and looked at Yaerin. She nodded.

“Mr. Oh picked it as the best one.”

Mr. Oh was probably appraiser Oh Jaepil who used to accompany her.

Haecheol looked back at Haejin.

“Would you answer me if I ask which porcelain is the most valuable to you?”

Haejin calmly shook his head.

“As you know, when it comes to antiques, others cannot tell you to buy or not to buy this or that.”

“Yes, you are right. I must make the decision, with business and with women. It is the only way to not regret. I get it.”

They finished having lunch and went to the restoration spot. In there, thousands of porcelains that had been found were standing under a large tent.

The reporters had all left, and those who were remaining were the staff who had participated in the excavation and the security workers hired to protect the artifacts.

“About five thousand porcelains were excavated in total, is that right?”

Yaerin answered, “Yes, 3,858 celadons, 1,429 white porcelains and about 3,000 coins. There are also bamboo books that have records of all things, books and paintings. We are dividing them into those which can be restored and those which cannot be restored.”

“Well done. Then let’s see…”

Haecheol moved. Yaerin and Jaepil, who had shown up from somewhere, followed.

He moved in big steps and stopped in front of a huge prunus vase that was yet to be restored. There was a large piece of it right next to it, so it seemed that restoring it wouldn’t be a problem.

“I will choose this one.”

Restoring it wouldn’t be hard, and its beauty after cleaning it was not much less than Haejin’s prunus vase. It would be a national treasure.

Haecheol looked at Haejin. It meant it was his turn.

“Then…”

He walked forward and picked a kettle that was about 30cm tall. It had a peony pattern that made it even more luxurious.

“I’ll take this.”

Haecheol looked at Jaepil. He was asking how it was, and Jaepil faintly smiled and nodded.

It probably meant it wasn’t the best celadon among the remaining ones, unless he thought so.

Haecheol got confidence. He moved with Yaerin’s guide. Soon, he stopped in front of a flower vase in the shape of a Korean melon.

It was about 25cm tall and had a wide-opened mouth, and the chrysanthemum pattern on it was excellent.

“I’ll take this.”

“It is great.”

Haejin meant that. He admired Jaepil’s skills, but he admired more the vase that had kept its shape intact during all those days under the water.

“Your turn.”

“Then…”

This time, Haejin stopped in front of a small dish that looked very ordinary. It appeared to be an ordinary dish, so Haecheol, Yaerin, and Jaepil were all confused.

But soon, they all quickly came to Haejin. As Haejin had chosen it, they thought he might have found something they hadn’t.

In fact, this dish had been recently cleaned. So, even Oh Jaepil wasn’t able to realize it.

Haejin had also ignored it, but he luckily found it thanks to Taeju who made him take a closer look at it.

“I’ll take this.”

“Really?”

“Yes.”

Haecheol glared at Jaepil. It meant he should find out what it was quickly.

At this, Jaepil took out his magnifying glass and knelt down. About a minute later, he abruptly looked up.

A single drop of sweat ran down his forehead and his eyes were shaking as if he had seen something he shouldn’t have.

“Mr. Chairman, this…”

“What, what is it?”

“Ru, Ruyo…”

“What? Speak louder!”

Haecheol yelled. Jaepil was surprised and continued speaking.

“This is from Ruyo.”