I Was Michelangelo in My Past Life

Not a mural, but a mural project. What did that mean? Was it a riddle?Seol Yeo-jin's gaze naturally drifted toward Kim Yoon-seo, who was standing behind her.

The meaning in Seol Yeo-jin's eyes as she looked at Kim Yoon-seo was clear. Do you understand what he's talking about? That was the question.

Receiving her gaze, Kim Yoon-seo shook her head subtly, almost trembling."I don't know," she said quietly but firmly.

The two locked eyes in midair.

What on earth does that mean?

At that moment, Kang-seok opened his mouth.

"Peonies."

Kang-seok's eyes turned to Seol Yeo-jin.

The tactile memory of the embossed peony on the business card she gave him when they first met. The vase his mother held. The symbol of Peony Gallery—peonies. His mother's bright smile as she said the flowers were beautiful.

What floated through Kang-seok's mind now was the flower.

"I'd like to do a mural project with the theme of peonies. If that's acceptable, I'll take the commission."

"Peonies…"

Seol Yeo-jin repeated the word. Peonies… peonies, huh. Is it because it's Peony Gallery? That sounded plausible, but it was also a very obvious idea—something anyone might think of.

She was a little disappointed. From what she'd learned, Kang-seok excelled at drawing people. She had hoped he would work with that theme instead.

But she pushed aside that thought and lifted a smile to her lips. She knew well that always expecting things to go her way was an arrogant mindset.

"If there's something you want to draw, then you should draw it. Do as you wish—as long as you handle the mural part."

She hadn't planned on rejecting the offer no matter what the subject was.

Besides, it was inefficient to ask an artist to paint something they didn't want to when they already had a subject they felt drawn to. At least, that was Seol Yeo-jin's philosophy as a gallerist.

"Sounds good."

Kang-seok's reply made her feel the same way.

"Then I'll accept comfortably. Should I sign here?"

"Yoon-seo."

"Yes."

At her call, Kim Yoon-seo stepped forward.

"Mr. Kang, I'll guide you."

With that, Kang-seok began reviewing the contract with Yoon-seo's help. Seol Yeo-jin watched in silence.

Technically, Kang-seok was underage—not yet 19—so any contract signed now wouldn't be legally binding. It was not legally enforceable.

In a case like his, his parents would have to act as his legal guardians for the contract to be valid. In other words, this contract was essentially a written version of a verbal agreement. Later, they'd have to finalize things with Kang-seok's parents.

Still, Seol Yeo-jin watched him work. Kang-seok wasn't like an ordinary eighteen-year-old.

She had been convinced of that two days ago, when he had led negotiations over exhibition rights. Kang-seok was more skilled in these matters than most adults.

"Um…"

"I'm Kim Yoon-seo. You can just call me Manager Kim or Secretary Kim."

"In that case, Manager Kim, I'd like to revise this clause. The one about working hours—would that be possible?"

There it is.Seol Yeo-jin curled the corners of her pale pink lips like a dried rose.

If Kang-seok noticed a clause that might put him at a disadvantage, he pointed it out immediately and without hesitation. Kim Yoon-seo, who had prepared the draft, blinked in surprise.

Now you see he's not just an average high schooler, right? Seol Yeo-jin watched him with the pride of someone showing off a hidden treasure.

Before she knew it, she had sunk deep into the sofa.

Click.With the sound of a pen cap closing, the contract was handed back to Kim Yoon-seo. Kang-seok took his copy as well.

Seol Yeo-jin watched him tuck it into his bag, unwrapping a lollipop as she did.

"So, Mr. Kang. When are you thinking of starting the work?"

"...Do you have a preferred completion date?"

The question was returned with another. Seol Yeo-jin pondered while mentally flipping through a calendar. It didn't take long.

"Hmm… It might be a bit tight, but could you finish it within a week?"

A week. She wanted it done by February 15.

Kang-seok closed his eyes and visualized the wall he'd be working on. It wouldn't be done as a fresco like at the Renaissance Mall, and it was about a third of the size.

It was doable.

"Yes. If I start right away, I think I can finish on time."

Luckily, it was still winter break. He'd already submitted the pieces for his solo exhibition. His figure drawing collection was being prepared for publication. There was no news yet from Park Ji-yeop.

As for the sculpture—it was purely a matter of skill.

Kang-seok confidently indicated he would begin immediately. Seol Yeo-jin looked again at Kim Yoon-seo.

Murals require a lot of materials, especially paints and brushes, which wear out quickly from the rough surface.

While some galleries include these costs in their payment, Seol Yeo-jin had a different idea. She gave Kim Yoon-seo a look.

Yoon-seo understood and addressed Kang-seok.

"We have a stock of paints and tools at the gallery, and the quality is excellent. If you don't mind, we'd like to provide them to you free of charge. Would that be okay?"

Kang-seok looked up from his bag. In his sight was Seol Yeo-jin, just now placing the lollipop in her mouth.

Her eyes seemed to say, No need to thank me for this.Kang-seok opened his mouth—and said something completely unexpected.

"Thank you, but I don't need any paint."

"…Sorry?"

"Pardon?"

No paint for a mural project?

Seol Yeo-jin and Kim Yoon-seo looked at each other in confusion, wondering if they'd heard correctly. Both of their eyes showed disbelief.

Did I hear that right?Seems like it.

After confirming with Kim Yoon-seo's nod, Seol Yeo-jin slowly turned back to Kang-seok. His expression was as calm as before.

"May I ask what kind of mural you're planning?"

"Yes. I mentioned peonies as the theme, but more specifically, I'm thinking of a three-dimensional mural."

A 3D mural. The first thing that came to mind was trick art, which uses special paint and optical illusions to fool the human eye or camera.

But even that involves paint. So what was he talking about?

Just then, Seol Yeo-jin remembered Kang-seok's gaze—where it had landed.

He had been looking at a glass bowl when he said that. Come to think of it, didn't he say he majored in sculpture, not painting? Glass. Glasscraft! Eureka! Seol Yeo-jin hastily pulled the lollipop from her mouth.

"Are you thinking of doing glasswork?"

Kang-seok turned to face her. Slowly, he nodded.

"Yes. I plan to make peony flowers out of crafted glass and display them on the wall."

Hundreds of transparent glass peonies covering the wall—that image filled her mind. It was beautiful.

A wall of glass flowers.

As someone who loved visually striking and intuitive beauty, Seol Yeo-jin nodded in satisfaction.

"Is there anything we can help with for the 3D mural?"

"I may need budget support. I want to use glass to make the flowers, and there's a glass workshop nearby. I'll need money for materials and rental fees. I'll know more once I look into it."

"All right. Go ahead. You have my number, right?"

"Yes."

"If you need anything, contact me anytime. Or if not me, Yoon-seo here is my right-hand woman, so you can contact her too."

"I'll give you my number when you leave."

Kang-seok smiled, clearly pleased.

"I like it."

So do I.Seol Yeo-jin stifled a laugh.

It was a good deal—just as she had hoped.

Click.

With the sound of the door closing, Kim Yoon-seo returned. She had seen Kang-seok out after the contract was signed.

Seol Yeo-jin, who had been tidying up paperwork, looked up.

"You're back?"

"Yes."

"He didn't seem uncomfortable?"

"What could we have done to make him uncomfortable? Not at all. He looked right at home."

"...Really?"

Seol Yeo-jin smiled slightly, the lollipop still in her mouth. She signed a document with energy, clearly in a good mood. Watching her, Kim Yoon-seo muttered.

"But are you really going to let him do the work?"

"What?"

Seol Yeo-jin glanced up at her.

"Mr. Kang. He doesn't seem to have any experience with glasswork. And this isn't a fresco or a paint mural—it's a 3D mural made of glass flowers. Aren't you worried?"

Kim Yoon-seo looked genuinely uneasy. While she wasn't a major, she had visited workshops before and had some experience.

Glasscraft—especially 3D flower work—involved dealing with fire and was one of the more difficult crafts. Glass was a tricky material to shape in three dimensions. And creating peonies—complex flowers with many curved petals—beautifully out of glass?

With a material he'd never used before, using one of the hardest techniques—could he really pull it off?

It was only natural to feel doubtful.

It wasn't just a matter of aesthetics—if the balance wasn't perfect, hundreds of glass flowers could turn into nothing more than shattered glass, posing a serious safety hazard.

"I doubt you've ever worked with glass in your sculpture major. Kang-seok's family runs a furniture store. A specialty store for wooden furniture, at that. So the only material he's probably handled is wood…"

"Yoon-seo, enough."

Seol Yeo-jin rolled a strawberry-flavored lollipop around in her mouth. Her eyes had drifted down to her phone screen. Looking at the glass bas-relief posted on the "Seoki Furniture" account, she smiled.

"There's no harm in judging after seeing the final result, is there?"

Normally, there is. The cost of materials and time invested in a finished work means any mistake results in a loss. But Kim Yoon-seo held her tongue. She knew all too well that Seol Yeo-jin's sense of economics deviated wildly from the norm.

Young and rich.

That's just who Seol Yeo-jin was.

"Let's wait and see, okay? Oh, and don't forget to get a copy of the contract again from Mr. Kang-seok's parents."

"…Okay."

When ordered, she obeyed. Kim Yoon-seo nodded, reaffirming her mindset as a corporate employee.

Blue skies.

Kang-seok pedaled his bicycle.

Chrrrk. The wheels turned, and the chain spun. As the familiar sound filled his ears like white noise, the conversation he'd just had with Seol Yeo-jin replayed in his mind.

— "When do you think you can finish?"

— "…It's a bit tight, but do you think you could complete the work within a week?"

A week. That meant by February 15th. Clearly, she had Go Doo-han's solo exhibition, opening on February 16th, in mind.

He used to think Seol Yeo-jin constantly needled Go Doo-han. But seeing this, maybe she didn't actually dislike him all that much.

Either way, Kang-seok owed Go Doo-han a lot.

— "Then stay after class."

Master of figure drawing. A rising star in the art world. If Go Doo-han hadn't noticed his shift, hadn't made that offer, things probably wouldn't have been going so smoothly.

Not everything in life turns out well.

In that sense, Go Doo-han was a truly good person to him. Lately, he even felt that Go treated him seriously, as one artist to another, regardless of age.

Kang-seok didn't want to mess up Go's solo show either. So the mural needed to be finished before the exhibit. Time to hurry. He pedaled harder.

A bright, sunny day.

Outside, the air was cold, but inside the workshop, heat surged. With furnaces roaring between 1,200 and 1,600 degrees Celsius, the room hit 54°C—hotter than midsummer.

Sweat streaming down his face, Jo Dong-beom wiped it off roughly and exhaled.

The heated glass was beginning to take shape. Huff, puff. With each breath, bubbles formed, altering the shape. Glass-blowing was sculpture through fire and wind.

Rolling the glass on a pipe to form it, Jo Dong-beom suddenly snipped the end off. The piece wobbled like a kite with a broken string before he tossed it into a container filled with failed works.

Another failure.

"Damn it."

He'd worked with glass for years, but maybe it was time to accept reality. Maybe he was only fit to make ordinary products.

Even after moving just to create more ambitious work, perhaps running one-day classes and hands-on sessions was more his calling. Was it worth clinging to something with no results?

Wouldn't it be better to spend that time earning money? Jo Dong-beom was on his seventh existential crisis—just today.

Then—

Bang, bang.

A knock on the wall pulled him out of it. Who could it be? The one-day class was over. No other guests were expected.

Wiping his face with a towel, he opened the door.

"Hello."

"...Uh, hello. Can I help you?"

He didn't recognize the visitor. Looked like a high school freshman at best. Jo Dong-beom greeted the boy with confusion.

"I was wondering if I could use your workshop. I can fully pay for the materials and rental costs."

What the… A college student, maybe? Dong-beom blinked against the sting of sweat in his eyes. He had more workshop space than he needed. Money was always welcome.

"If you'd step inside for now."

"Sure. Thank you."

As Dong-beom wiped his sweaty face with a towel, he watched the confident boy step inside. Civilian clothes revealed nothing. What should he do—start with pricing?

This was different from a one-day class or school tour. The price point had to reflect that. As he tried to figure out how to begin:

"So, what kind of work are you planning to do?"

"I'd like to make glass flowers."

"Ah, glass flowers."

Could be tricky or simple depending on the detail. Dong-beom's eyes dropped to the boy's hands—no calluses or burn marks. His curious glances around the studio showed no sign of prior experience.

Maybe this is just a private class?

"How many are you planning to make?"

He needed to know to calculate duration and cost. Dong-beom slowly walked toward his desk. The second drawer probably had some extra class forms.

He shuffled over. Then—

"About… 999?"

What?

Words that could not be ignored hit him from behind. Dong-beom turned around, wondering if he'd misheard. Maybe baby's breath? Something small?

"What kind of flower?"

"Peonies."

Peonies. Of all things, one of the largest flowers. Nine hundred ninety-nine of them.

Material cost and time immediately ran through his brain like an abacus. Clack-clack-clack. This was big. Huge.

Dong-beom twitched a smile. Making nearly a thousand peonies—one of the most difficult flowers—would take daily dedication.

He might earn an entire year's income at once. Turning toward the furnace, Dong-beom asked:

"Have you ever done this before?"

"Nope."

A jackpot. A mega-jackpot. Dong-beom threw some pipes into the kiln, forgetting all about his earlier exhaustion.

"Want me to show you a demo?"

Perfecting a peony wasn't easy, but even a rough one could impress a beginner. He moved with precision, gazing into the fire.

That roaring 1,200°C blaze looked like a pot of molten gold.

"You start with glass beads melted for about eight hours, attach them to a heated pipe, shape them, puff in some air to open up the bud like a glass cup, then roll it, roll it… shape it round… soft like this… mold it a bit… see this?"

He was just stacking the second layer. Even as a rushed demo, it was pretty charming. How much time had passed? Dong-beom lifted his head.

Watching the whole process must be boring. Time for the boy to try.

"From here, you carefully attach dozens of petals to form a three-dimensional flower… but since it's tricky, let's do a free trial first and figure out the length of the… huh? What is that?"

Dong-beom's eyes widened.

Kang-seok was just detaching a finished flower from his pipe. Unlike his own two-layer sample, this was a perfect, complete flower.

The boy smiled brightly.

"Is this how you do it?"

"This is fun," Kang-seok murmured as he carefully turned the glass flower.

Dong-beom rushed over in shock.

Wait—when did he even do that? How did he know? Wasn't he afraid of the fire?

He couldn't understand. Dong-beom stared back and forth between Kang-seok and the peony.

Each petal, paper-thin, showed meticulous layering. The thinner the glass, the harder it is to sculpt. There were no molds—each petal had a unique shape.

So… he shaped each one by hand?

"How…"

Then came a sigh. Dong-beom looked up.

Kang-seok's expression was suddenly serious.

"It's my first time, so it's lacking. If this edge curled inward by 0.3mm, it would've looked softer. Right now, it feels too rigid and straight-lined, right?"

"…What?"

...What is that. How do you even do that?