Oil On Canvas

He was suspicious.“The restorer’s instinct. I handle a lot of canvases, you know.”“If that’s the case, then it seems that the restorer’s instinct was wrong this time. Unfortunately.”No, the one saying that was the machine.Dojin looked at the man who arrogantly cut off his opinion with an indifferent expression. Without a hint of hesitation, it was as if he was someone who wanted the painting not to be Water Play.Authentication was a sensitive issue.In art history, it was a matter of value, and more directly, money. The weight of determining authenticity was immense. The chances of the analytical equipment being faulty were extremely low. Furthermore, the fresco’s dating hadn’t deviated significantly from expectations.‘If the problem isn’t with the machine, then where could it lie?’For example… if the problem lay with the man in front of him.“Dojin, then let’s revise our contract. You’ve kept your secrets well, so I’ll take the oil restoration work exclusively at Cà D’oro, and let that strange triangle not interfere with the work.”“Wait a moment.”If Luca Orsini was truly the problem? If he had tried to deceive him in any way?“Mr. Orsini, where is the painting then?”“The painting?”“The Water Play, the one assumed to be a forgery or copy.”A fleeting look crossed the man’s face as if wondering why he was asking such a thing, before he took a sip of his drink.“I got rid of it as soon as I confirmed it. As I mentioned before, it belongs to the Batista family, and that’s the foundation’s policy. I respect the rules.”“And you didn’t even show it to me?”“Is it necessary? A forgery, and a painting that was so severely damaged.”You threw it away already? After receiving the authentication today, just like that?The suspicions continued to grow. Luca Orsini had once said that doubt was part of the process of trust. And now, Dojin’s suspicion was evolving into belief.This bastard is trying to deceive me with a blatant lie, trying to claim Water Play for himself.If that was the case, Dojin still had cards left to play.“Mr. Orsini.”Yes, it was time to take a gamble. Dojin looked directly at the smug and sly Luca.“You said before, that an auctioneer’s asset is their quick reflexes.”“Ah, you remember that.”“You also said that I don’t understand myself well. So I thought about it too. If an auctioneer needs reflexes, what does a restorer need?”It was a somewhat off-topic question, but Luca’s face showed interest. His long fingers tapped lightly on the glass.“Observation skills and imagination come to mind.”“The restorer’s asset is doubt. Just by looking at a stain, they can tell if it came from moisture during preservation, the artist’s intention, when it occurred, how to restore it, and after starting the restoration, they constantly doubt if they’re on the right track, if they’re following the artist’s intentions at every moment.”“Interesting.”With a completely uninterested face, Luca Orsini simply observed Dojin attentively.“I’m not sure why you brought this up.”“So, Mr. Orsini, I’m beginning to have some doubts about you.”Luca’s faint smile remained, but one of his eyebrows lifted. Soon, that handsome face was about to contort. His proud nose would crumple.Dojin took out two thin cloths wrapped around something from his bag.“I have something I couldn’t return before.”The two largest pieces of Water Play were revealed: part of Signora’s face and a portion of the Venetian landscape.The smile disappeared from the sculpted man’s face. This was the reaction Dojin had been waiting for.“I suppose I’ll have to follow the foundation’s policy and dispose of it. It seems right to proceed after that.”Dojin grabbed the edges of the two pieces of canvas and headed toward the fireplace. The fire flickered as if it would consume everything. The canvas, which he had carefully preserved by adjusting humidity and temperature, was now dangerously close to the flames.‘Wow, I’m losing it.’It felt like his insides were burning. Luca Orsini’s eyes, which had neither denied nor affirmed, only narrowed slightly. Dojin’s insides churned.‘Is he really going to burn it? Really?’Had he thought wrong? Should he pull it back now? His hands, holding the canvas fabric, trembled, but Luca remained silent.“Burning it would be the simplest thing, wouldn’t it?”With a cracking voice, Dojin shouted once more. It seemed like the small embers might land on the canvas. It was a dangerous gamble, and in Bae Dojin’s peaceful life, he had never enjoyed gambling—not once.But there was some conviction in the card Dojin had turned over.“…Wait.”Right.Eventually, Luca Orsini’s locked voice stopped Dojin.“Is there a problem?”Saying that, Dojin quickly placed the canvas fragments at the farthest spot from the fire.Despite the boldness of his shout, his hands were trembling. Luca looked down at Dojin’s movements silently.His face was like that of a disgruntled king, arrogantly cold.“Do these fragments look real to you?”Saying this to such a face was no easy task. The man’s eyes, which had narrowed as if gauging his intention, softened at Dojin’s words. Surprisingly, his face looked slightly amused.How dare he deceive someone.“I had it appraised myself, you know. The authentication.”Even after hearing that, the solid and composed air surrounding Luca didn’t change. The man showed no signs of regret, embarrassment, or irritation from being caught. He just appeared relaxed. That was what Dojin couldn’t tolerate.“It’s a breach of contract. I added that clause at the end. This contract is based on mutual trust, and if that trust is broken, the contract is automatically terminated. You saw it and signed it too, Mr. Orsini.”“That’s true. Dojin’s right.”“Huh?”“I said it’s true. So, what now? What will you do from here on?”Dojin was surprised by Luca’s cool agreement. It was as though Luca had already expected Dojin’s response, with not a trace of surprise or hesitation. Doubts arose again.“Did you know I had it appraised in advance?”“Of course, I didn’t know.”But why is he so calm and collected?He wasn’t sure what Luca was really feeling, but on the surface, it seemed like whatever Dojin had said hadn’t affected the swindler in the slightest. It was absurd.“Aren’t you ashamed?”“Well, I’m aware it’s not something to brag about.”“You tried to scam an innocent foreign worker and got caught. Don’t you feel guilty?”“If I felt guilty, I wouldn’t have done it.”It was a valid point. Dojin was beyond disbelief; he was now completely perplexed. Luca Orsini stood up and refilled his glass.“If you’re okay with it, I’d like to continue with the discussion.”There was no time to retort to such nonsense.“Tell me your plan, Dojin. What will you do from here on?”“What, why should I tell you?”“Oh, you don’t have a plan yet?”That was an accurate remark.Of course, Dojin had no other plan than to restore Water Play to perfection. He had never imagined that this man would fraudulently act with such a shameless face.However, he did want to press that indifferent expression into the ground.Dojin still had a few cards left to play. They weren’t the ones he was particularly fond of, but they were cards nonetheless.“No. First, I’ll go to Claudio Orsini and tell him what happened.”At the mention of that name, Luca’s face subtly stiffened. The change was so slight that only a restorer like Dojin, trained in noticing such details, would have caught it. It was an effective strike. But Luca quickly regained his composure.“Will they believe you? I know my family. Buying, selling, and collecting art is essentially saying I’ve been scammed and have scammed others in the process.”‘No one over there will believe a word you say.’ It was a statement that was neither surprising nor shocking. Given Luca’s personality, it was clear that this scheme wouldn’t have emerged without some level of cunning.“I’m just saying this because I’m concerned about you.”His voice, which carried no trace of sympathy—indeed, one that would be utterly incapable of offering any—sounded all the more insincere.Moreover, belief in something wasn’t based on trust, but on documentation.Hadn’t he already prepared the paperwork in case something like this happened?“You’ll have no choice but to believe me. After all, the contract is right here.”“Do you think I’ll just stand idly by and watch while you do something that doesn’t help me?”“Are you going to tear up the contract?”“There are easier ways. For example, what if my official answer is that I’ve never seen that contract, never signed it, and never had a separate meeting with Dojin?”“There’s a signature, and it’s your handwriting—stop talking nonsense.”“Then my lawyer would argue that, in fact, for restorers, forgery isn’t that difficult. Even without going to Tom Keating or Eric Hepburn.”“Are you comparing me to forgers now? Wait, are you threatening me?”“I’m just mentioning the potential variables that might arise if you act recklessly.”Hearing that, Dojin couldn’t help but think, What the hell is this bastard doing, treating someone like a forger?“Didn’t you say you respect the rules?”“I tend to interpret the rules subjectively.”What an asshole. With such a polished, elegant demeanor, what did ‘rules’ even mean when he was also a master of threats? All polished on the outside but a petty and rotten person at the core.If this was about showing his true nature, Dojin was also in a desperate situation. He wasn’t exactly innocent either and didn’t want to reveal the card he had left until the very end. Taking out his phone, Dojin played a recording. It wasn’t of great quality, but the voice was clearly audible.“Even if I don’t believe it, wouldn’t you believe Orsini’s voice?”At that, Luca’s proud face slightly crumpled. It was undeniable evidence, so it was no surprise. With just a brief playback, Dojin turned off the file. The man immediately drank the remaining wine in his glass.“Thorough and suspicious. Well, sure. If Claudio believes it.”He had no choice but to believe it. The contract, the recording—he wouldn’t have prepared anything like that even if they were divorcing. Dojin smirked internally.“So?”“So, what?”“Then who gets the painting?”“Excuse me?”“Dojin, think about it. We’re not even sure whose property this painting is, so a ownership dispute will arise. If it was Signora’s personal property, it goes to me. If it was Marisa’s, it goes to the foundation. But have we seen any property transfer documents for that? It’ll take time to find them, and once the dispute starts, we’ll have to go to court.”“But of course, restoration will happen with mutual consent.”“What if I don’t consent?”Luca’s abrupt statement immediately brought one thought to Dojin’s mind.This crazy bastard.If Luca Orsini, a valid owner candidate, didn’t agree to the restoration, the situation would get even more complicated. Lawsuits, warnings, court filings—restoration would still happen, but the entire process would take annoyingly long.“Dojin, you know Italy. Trials take a long time. Incredibly slow. If the restoration drags on for months, how would you feel?”It was already a miracle that Water Play had been preserved without damage from mold or insect larvae in the crate.If Water Play were revealed to the world, that would bring another set of problems. The more public interest, the more danger to the artwork. Theft, terrorism, vandalism—every possible issue flashed through Dojin’s mind.“Even if that’s not the case, I don’t think Claudio or the Batista Foundation would let you restore it. If you ask Claudio with that condition, I’ll still oppose it. I won’t allow you to restore it.”“What exactly… do you want to say to me?”Well, Luca Orsini wasn’t wrong. Dojin wanted to crush that shameless man’s sense of victory, but it was impossible without his help.Was this bastard trying to say he’d won and would keep winning?“Dojin.”In life, Dojin had met all kinds of people, and this was one of them. Not even wanting to respond, he just stared at Luca.“I’ll admit I was wrong about this.”“Huh?”“So, how about you strangle my neck, and I restore it?”“What? Wait, what?”“I’m asking for another chance.”The flow of the conversation had taken a completely confusing turn.The words “admitting my judgment was wrong” seemed somewhat like an apology, but then came a proposal to literally strangle his neck, which, in Dojin’s position, was actually an enticing offer, followed by…Restore it? Me? Another chance?This was an absurd proposal in this situation.“You want me to restore it? After all this? And keep your secret… like the contract?”“Exactly.”“No, why should I trust you?”“You probably can’t. But you really want to restore it, don’t you? As we’ve discussed, there’s no other way.”Dojin was pissed off, but he kept his irritation in check. Actually, Luca wasn’t wrong. He nodded, inviting Dojin to speak more.“I’m not going to ask you to trust me. The situation is what it is now. This is the conclusion based on considering what’s best for both sides.”“You’re saying we’ll form a team?”“Yes. We’ll be a team without trusting each other. Loaded with safeguards, so that neither of us can betray the other.”“You’re speaking as if I was the one who betrayed you.”Even so, Dojin assessed the pros and cons.Either I won’t recover my costs, or I’ll join forces with this despicable businessman.It wasn’t even a decision that required much thought. Though reluctant, the most beneficial choice was clear.“Pay me the full restoration fee. The salary alone won’t cut it.”“How much?”“Just give me what you think is fair. By the way, do you remember how much Picasso’s restoration fee was?”“Dojin, you’re quite ambitious.”A few thousand dollars wasn’t something that would surprise him, so Luca wasn’t shocked. Instead, Dojin was surprised when Luca nodded in agreement.“There’s something else I need to add.”“You’re bold, I’ll give you that. I’ll listen.”“We need to find the documents that can prove whose the painting is. Whether it’s Marisa’s or the grandmother’s. Help me find that.”“Why do I have to search for it with you?”“If this painting is mine, even if things go wrong in the middle, Dojin will keep restoring it. And we can’t let more people know that this painting still exists. The more people there are, the more likely Claudio will hear about it. Not just Claudio, there are others who covet this painting.”It sounded like quite a hassle, but since Dojin’s benefit was also calculated into the equation, it wasn’t something he could outright refuse.“Alright. Let’s look for the certificate together. But what if the certificate says that the painting actually belongs to Marisa?”Luca Orsini briefly looked at Dojin as though wondering why that was even a concern, then pointed at the burning flame with his slick index finger, snapping his fingers as he did.‘Signora’s grandson’s farming venture is completely ruined.’Such decisive gestures. Did that scam Dojin tried to pull on him finally make him begrudgingly admit it? It was both funny and infuriating.“It seems like it would be quite problematic, both ethically and legally.”“Unfortunately, that’s true.”“You don’t really seem that disappointed about it though.”Dojin’s thoughts, suppressed by reason, finally burst out. The other party didn’t even seem bothered by it.He seemed to have a low sense of ethics, so perhaps he was more tolerant of others. Not wanting to seem rude, Dojin cautiously threw out a question he hadn’t asked before.“I thought you weren’t interested in the painting. Isn’t money more important to you?”“I’m not interested in the painting. I plan to restore it well and sell it.”Sell it?When asked why he didn’t sell My Dear Daughter, he had said money wasn’t an issue. Of course, one couldn’t compare the two, but if money was the problem, he already had paintings. Why go through this trouble and expend energy on something like this? And on top of that, a restoration expert asking for thousands of dollars, and he didn’t even bat an eyelash.Money, money, yet Luca Orsini’s actions suggested that money meant nothing to him.It was hard to understand, and his confused expression must’ve shown, because Luca softly curled his lips as he looked at Dojin.“In my company’s first auction, there will probably be the biggest stake ever in the world.”His demeanor was different now. When talking about the work itself, his eyes had lost their usual indifference and became more animated. Dojin didn’t exactly feel happy about it.‘It’s still not a good fit.’Dojin didn’t like the idea of a valuable piece being given to only one person. It wasn’t surprising that the positions of the restoration expert and the auctioneer differed.Bae Dojin and Luca Orsini were fundamentally different people. Dojin hadn’t been unaware of it, but now he felt the difference more deeply.“Don’t you think about sharing it with humanity or displaying it in a museum?”“Of course, it won’t stay a private work. Once the restoration is done, we’ll reveal it in an auction preview. After that, anyone can see it online or in photos.”He talked as though he were making a great sacrifice, but in the end, it was clear he intended to use it for auction promotion.“You’re the director of Cà D’oro now. If you hang it in your museum, you’ll attract a lot more visitors.”“I don’t like crowds.”“That doesn’t sound like something the director of a museum would say. Though, I guess you don’t seem like someone who’d feel a sense of responsibility about such things.”Dojin muttered without any filter. The slight respect he had once had for Luca, or the discomfort one might feel when dealing with a superior, had long since vanished.A slick fraudster with a shiny exterior.There was no need to be polite with such a person.“You see it correctly.”Luca didn’t seem to care, even smiling at Dojin’s rude remark.“I’m not interested in taking over Cà D’oro. I’m looking for a suitable person. Since it’s a family business, it would cause too much gossip to bring in an outsider.”Operating a museum was a kind of business, and it wasn’t a small one. From Dojin’s perspective, Luca Orsini’s many strengths were valid for running a museum as well.‘And since he was born into the Orsini family, the game is already over.’He was trying to give up that position and start his own auction house, which seemed like digging a hole when a well-paved path was already laid out.Not that he was concerned about Luca.‘After all, I’m the one digging the hole for the painting restoration, so it makes sense.’That was Luca’s strategy. He wasn’t going to use a perfectly fine path but instead was digging a tunnel, needing dynamite to make it easier, and to acquire Water Play, all for this devious battle.To Dojin, it seemed like nothing more than a futile attempt.“What a shame. It’s going to become personal property.”“If you’re still thinking about just yourself, Dojin, didn’t you want to restore it?”‘Well, who’s judging whom?’Dojin was complicit. He had already teamed up with this unscrupulous man to become the restorer of a great piece. Plus, if he listened closely, the words Luca said weren’t entirely wrong, though they were still irritating.‘That’s what makes him more annoying.’If one looked closely at Luca Orsini, under his decadent eyes, one could see a person who understood his own desires very well. He managed to hide it well enough that few would notice, but it was obvious to Dojin.When talking about the auction and the company he planned to start, his eyes would shine with excitement as he imagined it all coming together.The eyes of someone whose desires were blazing bright. Luca’s eyes only came alive when they revealed his desires.“If you don’t have anything else in mind, I’ll write the contract now.”“Wait a minute.”Dojin, irritated by Luca’s frustrating eyes, suddenly remembered something. A petty and unethical thing he had always wanted to try. He had thought about it but never actually intended to do it, intentionally ignoring it.Like a match igniting when it touched the rough surface, maybe those olive-green eyes had transferred their desire onto Dojin.“I just thought of something I want to add.”“Something more?”“Consider this the price for trying to scam me.”“You’re pretty greedy.”Though it was almost a scolding, Luca’s face didn’t show the slightest displeasure. His face seemed to say, “Go ahead, tell me,” and Dojin, feeling emboldened, began to speak. But for some reason, the words didn’t come easily.‘It’s petty, childish, and way too much of a grudge to follow through.’Dojin took a few deep breaths before he could finally speak.“Dojin, tell me.”‘It’s nothing. Let’s just sign the contract.’If it weren’t for Luca’s sticky voice, he would have said that.“Yeah?”Dojin, who had been rubbing his thumb with his index finger, was swayed by the soft prodding and ended up giving in.“Geon Kim. You know who he is, right?”“Time Trick. Yes, I know.”Geon Kim’s most famous work, Time Trick. Luca nodded.He had once handled the auction for it, and it became famous. It wasn’t necessarily the main reason for its fame, but Luca Orsini’s auction had played a key role at the decisive moment of Geon Kim’s career. It had been an unexpected jackpot for everyone involved.“It doesn’t matter when. I’m sure you’ll have other auctions to handle. If you get another chance to auction it.”Dojin exhaled a short breath.“Please let it fail.”Failure. When an item put up for auction doesn’t sell and is returned as invalid. That was the dictionary definition.Luca, who rarely showed any change in expression, turned his head and looked at Dojin.To say not to sell the item at auction. No, to make sure no one buys it. Even Dojin, who was saying this, knew how ridiculous it sounded.“Dojin, do you know that an auctioneer doesn’t use magic to sell items?”“Yes.”“Then, you know that auctioneers can’t just decide if something gets passed, right?”“But it’s not really that difficult, is it? For someone like you, Mr. Orsini.”Dojin knew that it probably sounded like childish whining. However, he was certain that Luca could pull it off.The Orsini family background, the people Luca knew across various places, his schooling and vast knowledge of art, his meticulous work ethic and the ability to captivate bidders. Luca Orsini’s auctions were more of a show than a mere sale.Even Dojin, who had only seen it through video, was captivated by them. The people who were actually there must have been even more impressed. After all, he hadn’t become the head auctioneer at such a young age for no reason.“I don’t like losing out on my own work, though. How about you double the restoration fee instead?”“Please let it fail.”Luca stared at Dojin for a long while. His expression seemed to ask, “Why Geon Kim? Why let it fail?” But that wasn’t openly revealed.“I don’t know what kind of grudge you have, but double isn’t a small amount.”Dojin didn’t respond. Luca, who had been looking at him with a discerning gaze, let out a laugh.“Dojin, are you selling forgeries or something?”“Don’t just poke around because you’re upset. We’re still negotiating the contract, you know.”“Alright… I see. Shall we try? Is ‘try’ enough?”“Trying is fine. Yes.”After several rounds of contemplation, Luca accepted the proposal cleanly.After all, what happens to the item is up to the buyer. Not selling something that’s been put up for auction isn’t easy, but if it’s just about trying, then that’s enough. No, it was better that way.Luca Orsini brought over a nearby laptop.“Then let’s sign the contract.”“Yes.”“Don’t do anything cute like secretly recording.”“It was self-defense. It worked, didn’t it?”The agreement was quick since the discussions were already over. Two copies of the contract were printed and signed, then placed into envelopes. No recording was involved.Since it had started late at night, by the time it ended, the night was already deep. Luca was the one to speak to Dojin, who had been estimating the time for the last bus.“Let’s have a drink. To celebrate us becoming a team. Do you drink spritz?”If it was to celebrate becoming a team, it didn’t seem like it would take long. Dojin nodded.“I’ll have Aperol.”“We don’t have Aperol here.”Not offering any other suggestions, Luca handed over a mixture of white wine and red liquor. It was a spritz with Campari. People drank Campari often, but Dojin had never tried it before.‘What’s with this drink?’Compared to Aperol, it was less sweet but twice as strong. As Dojin lightly sipped, his expression noticeably hardened, and Luca smiled faintly as if amused.“Why are you laughing?”“Because it’s funny?”Had he never seen someone who couldn’t drink? No, he had seen someone drunk before. Since Luca found it amusing, Dojin glared at him and asked.“Can I ask one question now that the contract is signed?”“Even if I say no, I don’t think you’ll stop.”That was accurate. Dojin took it as permission and asked his question.“Why did you try to deceive me?”“Because I didn’t know the restorer’s instincts were that good?”“I told you I hired him separately. What instincts are you talking about?”“Then because you didn’t know I would hire him separately.”“So you didn’t think you’d get caught.”Luca didn’t deny it. As long as he didn’t get caught, it didn’t matter. His personality was no different from those who sold expired goods without a care.Dojin had already figured out that he was a man with no morals, so this new revelation didn’t surprise him.“Why did you want to exclude me?”What Dojin wanted to know was the reason.Why, when you didn’t want to increase the number of people who knew about the painting, did you try to exclude Dojin, someone who knew about it and had the restoration skills, from the plan?“Was my restoration ability not good enough for you?”“If that was the case, I wouldn’t have asked you before, would I? I think it was you who turned me down.”“Then why? You had to entrust the restoration to me eventually.”It couldn’t possibly be used anywhere unless it was modern art. Luca silently watched Dojin for a moment before downing the rest of his drink in one go. That wasn’t the kind of drink you were supposed to drink like that—this fleeting thought shattered the moment Luca opened his mouth.“You irritate me.”“What?”“You, Dojin.”“Sorry?”The words didn’t quite connect in his mind. They were simple enough to understand, but hard to process.“I… irritate you?”“Yes.”It was something he had never heard in his life. Irritating. Luca twisted his lips into a smirk as he spat out such words.“I can’t work with someone who irritates me.”“Then why did you say we should work together back in the elevator, talking about the auction company and all that?”“Who knows…”The flimsy reasoning of “irritating” was easily rebutted. There was clearly another reason. It could have been Angelo or Lorenzo’s meddling, rumors, or collusion of some sort. But the answer Luca eventually offered was disarmingly simple.“I didn’t realize you’d irritate me this much back then.”A scoff escaped Dojin’s lips.