Chapter 60
The gallery, located in the heart of Hong Kong’s Central district, boasted a distinctive circular dome-shaped structure when viewed from the outside.
Although it displayed the sign of art, in reality, it was a means of money laundering.
Using artworks for money laundering was a common tactic. Because of their high value and easily fluctuating prices, uncovering such activities was not easy.
Most transactions were made in cash, leaving no record, and since no taxes were levied, it was suitable for avoiding scrutiny by law enforcement agencies.
The gallery had a surprisingly serene atmosphere, not something one would imagine for a city-owned facility. The all-white spaces gave a feeling similar to Baekcheon Square.
But…
“Coincidentally, they’re exhibiting something that suits my taste. You’ll probably like it too.”
Should I say it fits my taste?
Indeed, it was a piece of work that one wouldn’t easily forget after seeing it once. The thick, intense colors that seemed like they would stick to your fingers intertwined, blurring the boundaries of form.
Feeling overwhelmed by the painting was a first for me. The more I looked, the more I felt sucked into the sensation as if I couldn’t breathe.
amor eterno.
“What does it mean?”
“It’s in Spanish.”
The deep crimson color, reminiscent of flowing blood or blazing flames, particularly caught my eye.
“Eternal love.”
An unexpected name was deeply engraved in my mind at the end of my gaze. I turned my head to look at Angel.
“But you know Spanish too?”
“I can read, write, and speak to some extent.”
…She knows it perfectly.
“Ah!”
At that moment, a petite girl, barely reaching my waist, ran towards me and bumped into me. One side of her neatly braided golden hair came loose and flickered as it dangled from her shoulder.
“Are you okay?”
The girl lifted her head towards me. It was only then that I noticed things I hadn’t seen before, captivated by the sparkling golden hair.
Flushed cheeks, worn-out thin clothes, a small body that seemed to collapse with a slight push.
“You! Stand right there!”
A loud voice from not far away made the girl tremble.
“Huff, huff… Thank you for catching her.”
A large man, who hurriedly ran over, gasped for breath as he reached out towards the girl.
Angel stepped in front of me and the girl, blocking his hand. Her emerald eyes glowed with vigilance.
The man hesitated and then looked us up and down. Rolling his eyes, he seemed to consider us as potentially wealthy customers and put on a business-like smile.
“This little one is quite nimble… Always lurking around here and even finding the back alley. Quite a daring kid, I must say.”
The small hand grabbed my cardigan. I took her hand and moved Angel aside.
“What’s going on?”
“Oh, it’s nothing. This kid has been loitering around the gallery for days. Despite several warnings, she still enters the exhibition area without permission, so I’m just going to hand her over to the police.”
“You’re going to involve the police?”
“Yes, we need to nip bad habits in the bud…”
“Why?”
Interrupting his speech, I asked with a smile, which froze the expression on the employee’s face.
“…Yes?”
“Why did she do that?”
“T-That’s… um…”
Turning my gaze away from the stuttering employee, I looked at the girl again. Her blue eyes were shaking with anxiety.
I turned back to the employee and chuckled.
“It seems like you chased her away without even asking why she was hanging around for days.”
“That’s what the director…”
“You did well to speak up. Where is the director? I came to see him.”
The employee blinked rapidly and wiped his dry lips nervously.
“I’ll, I’ll check.”
While he held the phone and sweated profusely, I took off my cardigan and draped it over the girl’s shoulders. I bent down to her eye level and met her clear gaze.
“What’s your name?”
“…Ivy.”
Despite her clothes being worn-out and her thin frame, her eyes sparkled brightly.
“Hello, Ivy.”
I smiled gently, but the vigilance in her eyes deepened.
“I may not seem trustworthy, but I’m not a bad person.”
“…”
“If it’s okay with you, would you tell me yourself?”
“…”
“The reason you came here.”
Ivy pursed her lips. Her face looked serious as if she was contemplating. After a while, Ivy lifted her head towards me and raised her braided hair to my ear.
“…Dad.”
“…”
Her blue eyes were serious. At that moment, the employee who had just finished the call returned.
“The director is in his office. He asked you to come up.”
The employee awkwardly smiled and said he would guide us to the director’s office. Following him, we entered an area where only authorized personnel were allowed to enter.
The director’s office was located on the top floor of the gallery.
Throughout the corridor leading to the director’s office, there were black-suited bodyguards standing guard. They were more likely to be organization members than hired bodyguards.
Knock, knock.
I lightly knocked and immediately opened the door.
The director’s office had a similar atmosphere to the gallery. White walls, white furniture, neatly arranged documents. It was so immaculate that it felt compulsively clean.
Among them, the person with the most colorful presence was the owner of this place.
“You called me and didn’t even come out to greet me?”
Doshiyu lifted his head from the documents he was looking at.
I glanced at his geometric-patterned shirt and then met his gaze. He seemed focused or perhaps awkwardly serious.
His narrowed brows relaxed.
“Huh?”
It was the familiar face again.
“What’s up?!”
“What’s up with you?”
“…Right. I invited you here.”
Doshiyu, who stood up abruptly, blinked his wide eyes and approached me.
“Do you want some tea? Sit down for now. Do you like coffee?”
“…?”
“Huh. Did I just ask if you wanted tea?”
What’s going on? He doesn’t seem to know what he’s saying either.
“I’m good with tea.”
“Alright, tea it is then. How about you?”
Despite his words, Doshiyu took out teacups, and Angel’s gaze sharpened as she observed him.
“I don’t need any, thank you.”
Dosiyu, who didn’t notice anything strange until the end, placed a teacup in front of me and sat down across from me.
“Looks like you’re quite busy.”
“A bit?”
His orange hair, now devoid of water, was tousled like dandelion fluff.
“What’s up all of a sudden?”
Doshiyu scratched his stubbly chin and twisted his lips into a smile.
“You firmly refused last time.”
I fiddled with the teacup, not even thinking of drinking from it.
“Do you not want to visit the gallery with me?”
“…Mm.”
“I’ve really prepared everything,”
“I don’t want to.”
I did refuse firmly.
I regretted it after realizing that it wasn’t just any hairpin, but a hairpin similar to a precious pin that would be hard to replace, even if it was lost.
I even told him to take it and throw it away. Even if I threw it beyond the terrace railing right then and there, there would be nothing to say.
“But who’s that little girl?”
Doshiyu pointed with his chin at Ivy, who was sticking close to me. I decided it was time to speak up.
“They’re going to hand her over to the police.”
“Really? This is the first I’m hearing of it.”
He said it was on the director’s orders. Since he asked me to contact Doshiyu, I suspected it might be a lie.
“Can I take her with me?”
“Why did you bring her here if you’re going to do as you please?”
“But the director asked me to. I thought I’d better show some manners.”
Dosiyu chuckled and tilted his head.
“Oh, thank you, miss.”
“Ivy. Can you tell that gentleman what you told me earlier? He’s the boss here.”
“Mister? With this face, I’m the older brother.”
Ivy stuck close to me, staring at Doshiyu with round eyes. Her tightly closed lips seemed unwilling to open.
“Ivy? Don’t you want to talk to the gentleman?”
“Lynn.”
Doshiyu called out to the employee with neatly tied brown hair.
“Take care of this kid for me. Do as she wishes.”
His grip on my clothes tightened. I glanced at the employee and Ivy before returning my gaze to Doshiyu.
“I’ll try to accommodate her wishes. If she doesn’t say anything, well, there’s nothing I can do.”
“Really?”
When I hesitated and asked again, Doshiyu smiled quite trustworthily.
“It’s my gallery, so I should take responsibility.”
I was worried because I didn’t think I could do much. But Doshiyu would be more helpful than me.
“Ivy, are you okay? If you’re not comfortable, it’s okay for me to go with you.”
Ivy looked back and forth between me and Doshiyu, then nodded. She got off the chair and ran towards the employee.
As I watched her small figure leaving the director’s office, I began to worry again.
I wish I could take full responsibility.
“My dad is gone.”
It might be meddling, but it kept weighing on my mind.
“Keep me updated.”
“Why? Don’t you trust me?”
Dosiyu raised an eyebrow.
“Do you seem trustworthy?”
“I’m hurt. I’m really hurt.”
I shrugged silently.
“Okay, okay. Let’s get back on track. Why did you come here?”
Finally, back to the main point.
“To get back the hairpin you took that day.”
I smiled as if I didn’t remember anything I said that day. It might seem audacious, but that’s what I learned from being in this body again.
“You told me to throw it away.”
Doshiyu leaned back on the sofa, smirking as if he expected it. His arrogant posture with crossed legs was quite something.
“I didn’t really throw it away.”
“What?”
His eyes, hiding behind orange irises, narrowed playfully.
“I usually listen to what you say.”
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Editor : Red
Translator Note:
Hello there! This is Sid. I hope you liked it<3
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