"Hmm… This piece is… unusual."
The moment Senior Appraiser Kim picked up the porcelain cup, his eyebrows knitted together in a deep frown, and he muttered under his breath.
Hearing this, Joo Dae-sik, who had been shadowing him closely, felt a surge of vindication. From the elder's tone, the item was almost certainly fake!
He let out a quiet sigh of relief. He'd acted impulsively, making that bet with the Song kid. If by some absurd twist the thing was real, he'd actually have to destroy his car. Smashing it wasn't the end of the world—he'd bought that old Cayenne for a pittance, and it was a gas-guzzling money pit he only kept for show. But being proven wrong, having his expertise publicly debunked by a high school student… that would be a devastating blow to his carefully curated image.
But it seemed his worries were unfounded. Given the boy's family background, how could he possibly possess a genuine late-Joseon blue and white treasure?
Just as this smug thought solidified, a single sentence from the old appraiser shattered it completely.
"A miracle… A true miracle! To think a piece of late-Joseon blue and white could survive in such immaculate condition! This… this is a national-level artifact!"
After more than ten minutes of intense scrutiny—turning the cup under the light, examining it with the loupe, feeling its weight, studying the glaze and the foot ring—Senior Appraiser Kim finally held the cup with both hands, his face flushed with exhilaration. He kept repeating the word "miracle," his voice trembling with awe.
"Young man, there is absolutely no doubt. This piece is authentic. In all my decades, this is the first time I have seen a late-Joseon Moran (Peony) Pattern Paranggul in such… flawless preservation. It's as if time forgot to touch it."
Eun-woo wasn't surprised in the least; the system's output was guaranteed. Seeing the old man's excitement, he offered a modest smile and echoed the knowledge he'd absorbed online the night before.
"To be honest, Abeonim, I had the same reaction when I first saw it. The pristine condition made me suspect a modern replica. But upon closer inspection—the density and color of the clay body, the depth and translucency of the cobalt glaze, the flow of the brushwork in the peony pattern, and the characteristics of the unglazed foot ring—everything points conclusively to the late Joseon period."
Hearing this, Appraiser Kim nodded vigorously, his eyes shining with genuine appreciation for the young man. Such composure, such specific knowledge… This is not an ordinary teenager.
"Truly, the new generation surpasses the old! Young man, you have an excellent eye. I was nearly fooled by its appearance myself. Had I not examined it meticulously, I might have made a grave error. Hahaha!"
As they were speaking, the door to the private lounge area opened. A distinguished-looking middle-aged man in a tailored suit and thin, gold-rimmed glasses walked in. Seeing the crowd, he frowned slightly.
"What's all this commotion? Is there an issue?" Then his eyes landed on the old man. "Ah, Seonsaengnim! No wonder there's a gathering."
He made his way through the onlookers, and upon recognizing Senior Appraiser Kim, his expression instantly shifted to one of respectful warmth.
The staff members immediately straightened up, their greetings hushed and nervous.
"Annyeonghaseyo, Chairman Jeong."
"Good afternoon, Chairman."
The man—Chairman Jeong—acknowledged them with a slight nod before focusing on the scene. It was then that a strangled cry erupted from behind him.
"What?! Abeonim, you're saying it's real? That's impossible! Completely impossible! How could the Song family possibly have something like this? Abeonim, please, you must look again! Don't let this kid deceive you!"
Joo Dae-sik had finally broken from his stunned silence. His face was pale, his eyes fixed on the cup in the appraiser's hands with a mixture of horror and denial.
Hearing this outburst, Appraiser Kim's kindly expression vanished, replaced by a stern, icy displeasure. He turned his sharp gaze on Joo Dae-sik.
"Are you questioning my professional judgment?"
The words hung in the air, cold and heavy. Joo Dae-sik realized his grave error, but the sheer impossibility of the situation overrode his sense of self-preservation. That cup represented more than just porcelain; it was the collapse of the social hierarchy he'd enjoyed over his neighbors. If the Songs had such wealth… his wife's bragging rights, his own perceived superiority over Song Min-soo… it would all evaporate.
Before he could stammer an apology, Chairman Jeong, who had been observing quietly, spoke. His voice was calm but carried an unmistakable edge of authority.
"Director Joo. Control yourself. Senior Appraiser Kim's reputation is impeccable. You will apologize immediately."
The command from his boss cut through Joo Dae-sik's panic. His job, his position—they were on the line. Swallowing his humiliation, he opened his mouth to obey.
But Appraiser Kim waved a dismissive hand, his face still cold. "Humph. Save the apology. You would do better to spend that time acquiring some fundamental knowledge yourself."
The old man's words were a precise, public slap. They were an almost verbatim echo of the condescending "advice" Joo Dae-sik had showered upon Eun-woo just minutes before. The irony was not lost on anyone. A few staff members failed to suppress quiet snickers.
His face burning a brilliant scarlet, Joo Dae-sik could only stand there, utterly defeated.
Appraiser Kim then turned back to Eun-woo, his expression softening once more into a warm, almost grandfatherly smile.
"My apologies for that unpleasantness, young man. Allow me to introduce you. This is Chairman Jeong, the owner of Myeongbo. If you are considering parting with this treasure, I am certain he will make you a more than fair offer."
Chairman Jeong smiled and gave Eun-woo a polite nod, extending his hand. "Please, no need for formal titles. If it's agreeable, you may call me Jeong Seonsaengnim or simply hyeong. The elder is correct. If you wish to sell, Myeongbo would be honored to make you a serious offer."
Though he hadn't witnessed the earlier drama, Chairman Jeong was a shrewd man. He grasped the situation instantly from the tension in the room, the precious object in the appraiser's hands, and Joo Dae-sik's mortified expression.
Eun-woo reached out and shook his hand firmly, returning the polite smile. "Thank you, Jeong Seonsaengnim. I did come today with the intention to sell. However," he paused, his gaze drifting meaningfully toward the ashen-faced Joo Dae-sik, "there was a small… wager made with your Director Joo here, in front of all these witnesses. With your permission, perhaps we could settle that matter first before discussing numbers?"
[To be continued…]