Return of the Genius Photographer

Meanwhile, Minsoo was feeling uneasy.

“Sigh… I only came to apologize and leave.”

Just as Woojin had predicted, Minsoo had come purely to apologize. He hadn’t expected Woojin to ask for a favor.

It felt like he had come to remove a burden but ended up adding one instead.

‘What could he possibly want?’

If it were something he could do alone, that’d be one thing. But why gather all the other assistants too?

Minsoo racked his brain, but he couldn’t figure out what kind of request Woojin was planning to make.

‘Ah… The guys won’t like this. How am I supposed to explain it to them?’

On top of that, it wasn’t exactly easy for Minsoo to call his senior assistants, who had been helping Jung Woong since the morning and were finally resting.

No wonder his mind was swirling with unease.

‘But I can’t exactly refuse either…’

Yet, it wasn’t as if he could ignore or half-heartedly fulfill Woojin’s request.

His gratitude towards Woojin was genuine.

He still remembered the relief he felt in the morning, thanks to Woojin stepping in. Minsoo had been so worried that he might get kicked out for what happened.

Whenever he closed his eyes, he could still picture the terrifying look in Jung Woong’s eyes, as if he knew everything.

When Jung Woong introduced Woojin and said to stay on good terms with him, it had felt like a warning meant directly for Minsoo.

Even if it wasn’t, what Minsoo had done to Woojin in the morning was undeniably rude.

That’s why Minsoo genuinely wanted to stay in Woojin’s good graces.

‘I guess I have no choice. I’ll just have to explain it to the seniors as it is.’

After struggling between Woojin’s request and his own feelings for a while, Minsoo headed to where his senior assistants were resting.

If he wanted to stay on Woojin’s good side, he’d have to make sure to fulfill his request, no matter what.

Even if the seniors refused, Minsoo was determined to persuade them to come along.

“What? That happened this morning?”

“Yeah, hyung. So, could we all head to Woojin’s studio? He said he needed people for something.”

“Wait, so you’re asking us to help clean up the mess you made?”

“No, it’s not like that…”

As Minsoo had predicted, his seniors weren’t too keen on Woojin’s request. The most resistant of them all was Youngsoo.

“Minsoo, didn’t we tell you not to cause trouble when we drank? It’s obvious that because of what you did, he’s going to think badly of all of us.”

When Minsoo explained both Woojin’s request and the events from the morning, Youngsoo snapped back at him.

“No, no, he said he understood and just asked me to be more careful next time.”

“Minsoo, don’t you get it? He’s calling us over to make us suffer for what you did. It’s obvious that this is all a warning for us.”

“I don’t think he’s that kind of person…”

“How would you know, huh? He could be a real piece of work under the surface.”

Youngsoo dismissed Minsoo’s objections and assumed that Woojin wasn’t genuinely asking for help but rather had some hidden motive.

“Anyway, I’m not going. Just tell him I’m busy or that I’m not around.”

“Hyung, could you just help me this once?”

Minsoo, realizing that the seniors wouldn’t go at this rate, was starting to feel increasingly desperate when—

“Youngsoo, let’s go.”

It was Jinsoo, who had been quietly listening to the conversation, who finally spoke.

“What? Hyung, are you seriously going to listen to some high schooler?”

Youngsoo protested, looking incredulous, but Jinsoo’s mind was made up.

“He’s not just a high schooler. He’s Jung Woong’s student. Do you really want to pick a fight with his apprentice?”

“Come on, hyung. You know exactly what’s going to happen if we go.”

“That’s just your assumption. If he wasn’t a high schooler, would you still be reacting this way?”

“Well…”

“And didn’t Jung Woong tell us to help each other out? It’s only right for us to lend a hand if his apprentice is in trouble.”

Jinsoo’s calm explanation left Youngsoo speechless.

“Besides, how else was Woojin supposed to call us? It’s not like he knows where we are. Don’t jump to conclusions and think the worst.”

“And what if I’m right? What if this isn’t a real favor, but just a ploy to mess with us?”

“Then I’ll speak up in front of him myself.”

Jinsoo patted Youngsoo’s shoulder as if to reassure him.

‘Hopefully, nothing goes wrong…’

As he watched Youngsoo reluctantly nod in agreement, Jinsoo briefly recalled his conversation with Jung Woong.

“You need to give him some help.”

“What exactly do you mean?”

After the shoot earlier, once Woojin had left, Jung Woong spoke to Jinsoo in a concerned tone.

“He’s still just a high school student, so he won’t know the studio atmosphere well. Help Woojin adjust properly.”

Jinsoo had been working here for over eight years, making him a veteran assistant photographer. He had the skills to stand on his own and no longer needed to work under Jung Woong.

But as he had mentioned before, the only reason Jinsoo stayed was his admiration for Jung Woong. And Jung Woong knew that all too well.

Perhaps because of that, Jinsoo was one of the few people with whom Jung Woong could be open and candid inside the studio.

It was on this trust that Jung Woong had asked him to help Woojin.

And calming Youngsoo’s uneasiness was part of that.

‘Is it because he’s still in high school that he doesn’t really understand how this works?’

After meeting Woojin, Jinsoo had been curious, so he’d looked up some of his photos. The images were impressive, and it became clear why Jung Woong had taken him on as a student.

However, despite his talent, Woojin was still a high schooler, and Jinsoo couldn’t help but think he might be a little lacking in these social situations.

“Minsoo, let’s go. The photographer must be waiting.”

With slight concern in his heart, Jinsoo led Minsoo and Youngsoo toward where Woojin was waiting.

‘Minsoo may be okay now, but it seems like Youngsoo’s holding a grudge. How should I handle this…?’

Fortunately, Jinsoo’s worries were proven unnecessary, as everything resolved itself in an unexpectedly smooth and rather surprising manner.

* * * * *

The studio was odd from the first impression.

As soon as they opened the door, they saw an empty right wall, and a heap of equipment and supplies pushed to the left.

In the middle of the room stood a desk and computer, dividing the space in two, an arrangement that felt strangely out of place at first glance.

‘Why is the studio set up like this?’

Knowing what a normal studio layout looked like, Jinsoo was filled with curiosity. What was Woojin trying to do by leaving the place in such a chaotic state?

Just as Jinsoo was taking in the peculiar sight, Woojin greeted them with a smile.

“Hello. Thank you for coming. Please, have a seat.”

Woojin gestured to the desk and chairs placed in the middle of the room.

“I’m still unfamiliar with the studio, so I thought it’d be better to gather everyone and have a proper discussion.”

Jinsoo and his group sat at the desk, facing the right wall, while Woojin took a seat across from them and continued speaking.

“I’d like to apologize first if I startled you by calling you out so suddenly.”

“What’s this about? We’re helping with Jung Woong’s shoot, so we might not be able to help you,” Youngsoo replied. His response was somewhat awkward, as Woojin’s polite demeanor seemed to catch him off guard.

Jinsoo found the situation amusing. Now, rather than worry, he was getting curious. Just what kind of request would Woojin make?

“In fact, it’s not exactly a request, but more of a photo assignment.”

Woojin smiled calmly and began explaining in response to Youngsoo’s question.

“You may or may not know, but I promised Jung Woong that I would take some photos for the upcoming exhibition.”

What came next from Woojin’s mouth took everyone in the room by surprise.

“And I’d like to do it together with all of you.”

His words shattered any expectations they might have had.

‘An exhibition for Jung Woong’s work?!’

Jinsoo barely managed to suppress his shock. Woojin’s words carried that much impact.

It was surprising enough that Woojin was asking the assistants to collaborate on someone else’s exhibition, but…

It was Jung Woong’s exhibition.

The honor of having their work displayed in front of the many visitors who would come to see Jung Woong’s name.

And, with that, the opportunity to make a name for themselves in the photography industry.

Woojin was offering to share that with them.

This wasn’t just a simple favor. If anything, this was the kind of opportunity where they should be the ones begging on their knees for a chance to participate.

“What?”

“W-What? An exhibition?”

Naturally, Jinsoo wasn’t the only one shocked. Minsoo, who had been watching the situation unfold with a troubled expression, and Youngsoo, who had been fuming since before they arrived, were both at a loss for words upon hearing about the exhibition.

“I’m not offering this for you to be my assistants. I’m suggesting this to you as fellow photographers.”

Woojin’s words lit a fire in Jinsoo’s heart.

They all carried the dream of becoming photographers, a dream they held close to their hearts. There was no way they would let an opportunity like this slip by.

“I-I’ll help in any way I can!”

“Me too! What do we need to shoot?”

Even before hearing the full details, Minsoo and Youngsoo were already nodding eagerly. The reluctance they had before coming here had vanished, replaced with faces full of anticipation and excitement.

Jinsoo marveled at how the atmosphere in the studio had changed so quickly.

If Jinsoo, Youngsoo, or Minsoo had been in Woojin’s shoes, as Jung Woong’s student, would they have ever suggested something like sharing an exhibition?

Probably not. Even if someone else had been in their place, the thought of sharing the opportunity to participate in Jung Woong’s exhibition wouldn’t have crossed their minds.

It wasn’t that such thinking was wrong—it was just that Woojin’s actions went beyond what was normal.

With just a few words, Woojin had captured the hearts of everyone in the studio. Jinsoo felt ashamed for thinking earlier that Woojin’s youth would hold him back.

‘Perhaps, teacher… this student doesn’t need my help after all.’

His personality, his generosity, and his presence—Woojin exceeded every expectation Jinsoo had.

Just like the first time they met, Woojin’s expression remained calm and confident.

* * * * *

‘Good, I’ve got them on my side.’

I smiled at Minsoo and Youngsoo, who were both nodding eagerly with eyes full of anticipation. Although I hadn’t gotten into the specifics yet, I could tell things would go smoothly from here.

‘At least the hardest part is over.’

They may not have realized it, but getting Jung Woong’s assistant photographers on my side was the most crucial aspect of this shoot.

As I’d mentioned before, the photo mosaic I planned to create would consist entirely of images related to Jung Woong.

Naturally, to achieve this, I would need the help of those closest to him.

However, I knew for sure that these assistants might feel uncomfortable with me, someone who had suddenly appeared as Jung Woong’s new student, just as Minsoo had felt earlier.

To win over these assistants, I needed to make them an offer they couldn’t refuse.

Thankfully, their response to my suggestion was overwhelming. It was almost as if I could see their earlier hostility evaporate before my eyes.

Then again, who would say no to the chance to have their name attached to the exhibition?

In truth, even if I hadn’t made such a big pitch, I had always intended to credit anyone who helped with the mosaic in the exhibition. Even if they contributed just a tiny piece to the mosaic, it was still a significant contribution to the overall project.

It would be selfish of me to display only my name after receiving help from so many people.

Besides, if I won the bet with Jung Woong, the rewards I would gain would far surpass anything from the exhibition alone.

I had no reason, or desire, to be greedy.

“First, this conversation must stay a secret from Jung Woong.”

Regardless of my own goals, creating a good photograph was a mission in itself.

“I’ll explain the kind of photo we’ll be making.”

To create the best photo, I would use any means necessary.

I could feel the attention of everyone in the studio focused on me as I began explaining my plan.