It was a day when autumn began to settle over Neulbom-ri.

The sunlight spread long over the low village walls, and the persimmon leaves flipped slowly whenever the wind passed. Morning dew clung to the grass growing between the stone walls, and the roof tiles of the old Hanok took on a soft glow in the gentle sun.

Several days had passed since Léo Richard settled here.

The Hanok, which he had purchased and painstakingly renovated himself, now held a fair amount of the warmth of daily life. A few items left to organize remained on the sun-drenched porch, and sketchbooks brought from France sat neatly alongside small potted plants bought in Korea by the window. For the past few days, Léo's routine involved coming out to the yard in the morning to check on the plants and heading to his studio, ten minutes away by car, in the afternoon.

He walked slowly through the village while adjusting to his new environment.

The hour when the sun crested the mountain ridge, the moment the light mist cleared over the rice paddies, the way ivy shadows draped over old walls. Léo's gaze lingered long on such small scenes. He took in the position of the light and the direction the shadows lengthened, capturing the scenes that remained in his heart in his sketchbook.

The light and color of Korean nature.

Since he came here for the series that would be the centerpiece of his solo exhibition, every day spent in Neulbom-ri was a precious time of observation in itself.

And after several days of walking, Léo completed several small paintings.

They were landscapes viewed from the entrance of the village. The lines where low roofs overlapped, the mountain ridges revealing themselves in between, the fields soaked in late afternoon sun, and even the wildflowers blooming quietly beneath stone walls. Rather than flaunting flashy techniques, the paintings calmly recorded the beauty he first discovered in this village.

Léo looked at the finished paintings for a long time, a gentle smile playing on his lips.

"This should be enough for a first greeting."

Léo carefully wrapped the landscape painting, which still smelled of freshly dried paint, and placed it in an envelope. After picking up a neatly packaged box of rice cakes, he left the house with a serene smile.

Starting from the first neighbor's house, he visited them one by one to introduce himself, gifting them rice cakes and the village landscapes he had painted. To residents curious about the scenery in the paintings, he explained the light and colors of that day; to busy residents, he offered a warm smile along with a brief greeting.

"I look forward to being your neighbor. Have a wonderful day."

After visiting several houses, only one gift remained in his hand. Léo looked down at the last envelope containing a painting, then looked up at the house next door. It was time for the final greeting.