Van Gogh Reborn! - Chapter 316:

316

The Final Showdown (21)

Adam Gladstone and Edward Jenner were secretly delighted.

They had a feeling that today’s auction would be the most meaningful one in Christie’s history.

was a work that symbolized Chocolatier.

After the war, the ideology, and the individual were trampled on.

The artists valued their individuality and freedom more than anything else.

In the process of diversification, where countless individuals looked back and cherished themselves, people suffered from the side effect of lack of communication.

A wall that could not be broken was created among modern people who built their own walls to avoid being hurt by those who did not respect others.

Through the media, loneliness and hatred grew, and human values gradually faded.

In such a time, Chocolatier talked about love.

In a world where passionate and tender love became a story in novels, dramas, and movies, Ko Hun said to love and to love more.

His voice gradually reached the people and the occasion that made the flowers bloom was the street painting at Dali Square.

With that precious meaning, the heir of the French tycoon Henri Marso and the heir of the giant group WH, the third largest market capitalization in the world, competed.

They had no doubt that it would be as controversial as Vincent van Gogh’s , which was traded for $82.5 million at the New York Christie’s auction 40 years ago.

“The current price is $12 million. Do you have any intention to bid?”

Auctioneer Adam Gladstone resumed the auction.

“$13 million.”

-$14 million.

As soon as Baedobin finished speaking, Henri Marso raised the price.

The conductor of the Berlin Philharmonic opened his eyes.

The most stubborn man in Berlin was uncomfortable.

He had encountered an unexpected work at the auction house where he participated to give a gift to his elderly grandfather, and there was interference.

He had seen many artworks through his mother and heard enough from the auctioneer about what meant.

But before that, appealed to him especially as he cried out for humanity.

Baedobin decided to exhibit at the Baum Museum, which his grandfather named by combining his surname ‘Bae’ and the ‘um’ of Museum.

He had no intention of giving up.

“Henri Marso has bid $14 million.”

“$15 million.”

Baedobin bid before the auctioneer asked for his opinion.

-$16 million.

Henri Marso was the same.

The auctioneer could not intervene between the two men who glared at each other and just watched the situation.

“$17 million.”

When Baedobin raised the price again, Henri Marso’s expression changed.

He had shown his will by immediately counter-bidding, but he was wounded by his pride when the other party did not bend his will.

People only looked at the sudden silence.

Only auctioneer Adam Gladstone tried to heat up the auction.

“The current price is $17 million. Henri Marso.”

-Shut up.

But neither Henri Marso nor Baedobin were the ones to be fooled by the auctioneer’s trick.

Both of them were very annoyed, but they knew well that neither of them was an easy opponent.

“Hmm.”

Bang Taeho, who was watching the situation, groaned.

He could not know exactly, but both of them had tens of trillions of won in cash assets, even with their disclosed wealth.

The current bid of $17 million was not the problem.

The two men, who were famous for their strong pride, would not give in to each other, and the price would soar to the sky.

It was not a good thing for Ko Hun.

“Teacher.”

Bang Taeho called Kohoosul.

Kohoosul also had a bad expression.

The situation was already going dangerously.

Even if it was sold right now, Ko Hun’s next works were likely to be unsold.

With the market price abnormally high due to , which was sold for $14 million.

If was also sold for tens of millions of dollars, the number of people who would come forward to buy Ko Hun’s works would decrease.

There were very few people who had enough money to invest in art, and only a few of them were attracted to Ko Hun’s works.

If he made a mistake, Ko Hun could become what he feared, ‘the artist who only Henri Marso buys’.

-Twenty.

As Henri Marso was about to call $20 million.

A sharp voice stopped him.

“Stop!”

Ko Hun blamed Henri Marso.

“Are you out of your mind? What are you thinking, doing this?”

-You don’t know?

Henri Marso asked back.

-What were you thinking, putting that up for auction? Don’t you know what that means?

“I know! That’s why I’m trying to stop you!”

The fact that the whole world was watching them didn’t matter to them.

-No. You don’t know anything.

Henri Marso narrowed his eyes.

To him, was a work that symbolized his bond with Ko Hun.

The day when countless sunflowers bloomed in the Dali Square, Henri Marso felt a strange emotion.

In his world, which was no different from a battlefield, art was a means to protect himself.

He couldn’t even think of joy or happiness.

The enemy was too many and too strong, and Henri Marso had to fight alone.

He fought on, lonely, desperate, earnest, and brave, hoping that the next generation would be better, but he was human after all, and sometimes he got tired.

The Dali Square was an opportunity for him to hope that the world could change and to find the courage to stand up again.

That was why he willingly helped Ko Hun when he founded Chocolatier.

-If you had any thoughts, you should have hung it in the Chocolatier gallery. Why are you trying to give it to someone who has nothing to do with it? Do you have any thoughts, or not?

Henri Marso blamed Ko Hun.

-I don’t care about your understanding. Just shut up and don’t interfere. Whether it sells for ten million dollars or twenty million dollars, no one will say anything to you.

Henri Marso had lived with misunderstandings all his life, because he was clumsy at expressing his emotions and stubborn.

He had given up on being understood by others when he was very young.

He had no reason to do so, and he had the power to do so.

He did what he thought was right, no matter what others said.

Ko Hun felt sorry and frustrated for Henri Marso.

“Do you think I’m doing this because of your twisted personality? I knew you had a shitty character a long time ago! If I hated you, I wouldn’t have talked to you in the first place!”

-What?

“Do you think I’m doing this because I’m embarrassed and care about what others think? I like money too! I’ve seen all kinds of things because I had no money, and I couldn’t eat!”

All eyes in the auction house turned to Ko Hun.

Ko Hun, who was respected as a giant in the art world and famous for loving his grandson, was flustered.

“Why did I put it up? Because I have to run Chocolatier! I need money to give snacks to the kids. I want to give them at least one more crayon if they have nowhere to play. I want to help people who have talent and work hard like Eunchan, but don’t get recognized, to have more opportunities!”

The audience was stirred.

Some were shocked that a young painter of only twelve years old was working for the sake of children and poor painters.

Some were looking for who Eunchan was, whom Ko Hun mentioned.

-Then what’s the problem. Just use it.

“You!”

Ko Hun finally said what he had been holding back.

“An outsider? Weren’t you there? You drew it as big as a door! Are your eyes just for decoration? Why do you act like it’s someone else’s business! Are we strangers?”

He thought he was the person he could rely on the most.

He regarded him as the person he would draw a happy world with, but Henri Marso always acted like a stranger.

When he entered the Art Nouveau contest.

When he boasted about the Marso Museum, Henri Marso only saw Ko Hun as the protagonist of the next generation, not as a colleague who lived in the same era.

He didn’t think of growing Chocolatier together, he just invested his money.

He wanted to be on equal footing with him.

His desire to not owe him anything came from wanting to be with him.

-You…

“Shut up! Listen to me!”

Once he broke the ice, the emotions he had been holding back poured out uncontrollably.

“You don’t want to give it? Do you think I’m doing this because I don’t want you to take my painting? I like it too! You’re the one who knows me best!”

-…

“But what’s the point of buying what we drew ourselves? You blockhead!”

-Blo, blockhead? You little brat, have you said enough?

“I’ve said it all! Just buy it. I’ll never see you again!”

Henri Marso understood what Ko Hun thought of him, but he didn’t know how to react.

He just hid it by getting angry.

-Who do you think you are, giving orders!

“Stop talking nonsense and tell me. It’s me or that.”

-What?

“Is that me in the picture?”

Henri Marso couldn’t answer.

[Ko Hun’s Flower sold for 17 million dollars at Swiss Art Basel]

[The highest price of the year for art auction! What does the flower mean?]

[Ko Hun, “That’s me.”]

[Henri Marso hung up the video call without a word. He threw the microphone during the world art forum lecture.]

[Bae Dovin, “I’m satisfied. I bought it as a birthday gift for my grandfather. I support the love of the two painters.”]

Henri Marso was shocked when he saw the interview article of Bae Dovin.

“Birthday gift? Birthday gift?”

He was furious that Bae Dovin had bought the that symbolized their bond as a mere birthday gift.

He got up with the intention of running to Berlin and grabbing Bae Dovin by the collar.

“Where are you going?”

Michelle, who was with him, asked casually.

“Berlin.”

“What for?”

“I have to get it back. It’s not something to collect for such a ridiculous reason.”

“Really?”

Henri Marso glanced at Michelle, who was trimming her nails.

She looked the same as usual, but the atmosphere was strangely different.

“What’s wrong?”

“What?”

“What’s the problem?”

“Nothing?”

He couldn’t believe what Michelle was saying.

“What are you doing? You said you were leaving.”

“…”

Henri grabbed the doorknob with suspicion, and Michelle sighed.

“Some people can’t even date properly. You’re making a drama out of it. I don’t know why you’re doing this, going to Berlin and making a fool of yourself.”

Henri turned around.

“What?”

“What?”

“Why are you acting like that?”

“What am I doing?”

The conversation was not progressing at all.

Michelle seemed to have a lot of complaints, but he couldn’t figure out why.

“Tell me quickly. Don’t you know my personality?”

“So what do you want me to say?”

“You must have some dissatisfaction to act like this.”

Michelle stared at Henri.

They spent some time without talking, just looking at each other’s eyes.

Finally, Michelle opened her mouth.

“Say you love me.”

“What?”

Henri frowned.

“Quickly.”

“Did you eat something wrong? What are you talking about?”

“You. Do you think this is nonsense?”

Michelle’s voice trembled.

“Why can’t you say it to me when you can say it to Hoon? You shout it out loud in front of everyone. Why can’t you say it to me?”

Henri’s eyes shook.

“If you want me, don’t I have to have you too? But why do you have everything? Did you ever think about how I feel when you’re with Hoon?”

“What are you talking about? Don’t be ridiculous. How can you compare yourself to him?”

“Why? To others, I’m just your business partner. But Hoon is your soulmate, right?”

Henri Marso was confused.

The person he loved the most in the world was picking a fight over something absurd.

“Choose.”

“What?”

“Me or Hoon.”

Henri furrowed his brows.

He couldn’t answer the same question he had been asked yesterday.

“Fine.”

Michelle got up and kicked her seat.

Henri grabbed her wrist and turned her around.

“What are you doing?”

“Let go of this.”

“No.”

“Let go!”

“No.”

They glared at each other.

“Break up with Hoon.”

“No.”

“Then let go of this hand.”

“No.”

“Do you want to date me and play with Hoon too? Why are you so selfish?”

Michelle called him a lovely idiot.

She wanted to show him how contradictory his heart was to monopolize someone.