《My Girlfriend’s Fortune: 3,141,592,653,589》 Chapter 1 - Opportunity Chapter 1 - Opportunity Chapter 1: Opportunity ¡®It seems they got a refund after all.¡¯ Looking at the empty seats, all sorts of thoughts came to my mind. Only one ticket was sold today, but even that audience member didn¡¯t show up. ¡®I understand it in my head, but¡­¡¯ In theater, actors and audience members make eye contact from just a few feet apart. Sometimes, there are even interactive ys where they converse directly. That¡¯s why, unlike movies and other cultural activities, theater can feel quite daunting for an audience member to attend alone. ¡®It¡¯s bitter.¡¯ Although it¡¯s a familiar urrence, there was no way to get rid of the bitter aftertaste lingering in my mouth. If even one person had watched myst performance, it would have been a decent ending. ¨C Kang Wooju, today is yourst day. The face of the theater director, who informed me with an indifferent expression just before I went on stage, came to mind. He didn¡¯t even look at me. ¨C Director, please look at my face at least¡­ ¨C It¡¯s exactly that face I¡¯m sick of. Hey, you¡¯re almost thirty. Shouldn¡¯t you find a way to make a living, considering your future? ¨C ¡­¡­ Thirty. That word hit my chest with unusual weight. For an actor who makes a living off their face, albeit not as much as an athlete, ¡®aging¡¯ is never a light matter. Every year, younger, fresher juniorse up from below. If you miss the right time, you¡¯re quickly washed up. ¡®¡­I never even had a decent opportunity.¡¯ In this world, it¡¯s tough to even get on stage without proper connections or money. For me, who only had ¡®debt¡¯ to my name, that was out of the question. Even the academic credentials I believed I could earn through effort turned out to be a rigged game, a realization that came toote. ¨C Is that the guy? ¡®That¡¯ senior? ¨C Yeah. He got on the bad side of Professor Park Jae-jin. I heard he can¡¯t even attend acting sses. The moment he registers, he¡¯s set for a D grade. ¨C Then why bother paying expensive tuition and attending college? ¨C To pick up girls, what else. He¡¯s quite handsome, so many fall for him. I heardst year even our student council president¡­ Their voices, purposely loud to be overheard, still rang clear in my ears, even after a long time since I took a leave of absence from school. Despite enduring such harsh scrutiny, there was only one reason I couldn¡¯t leave school. ¡°¡­I just want to act.¡± The thought that unintentionally slipped out of my mouth echoed around the empty theater. Startled at first, I rxed when I reassured myself that I was alone. ¨C Where are you going? The show starts in 10 minutes. ¨C There¡¯s no audience today. ¨C Only one ticket was sold. ¨C Of course, we have to refund it. ¨C Hey! What kind of nonsense is that!? If we offer discounts a walk-up discount, a few more mighte. At the very least, go out in front of the ticket booth¡­ ¨C Look, senior. Let¡¯s take a break when we can, okay? Why sweat it out there when we don¡¯t even make enough to coverbor costs? My face is already burning from the lights. Hearing about the audience count, my juniors grumbled and then left to drink, abandoning the performance. After all, in a situation where there is no audience, it seems there is no sense of duty to participate even in the retirement ceremony of an old senior who is firmly disliked by the the director. ¡®It¡¯s probably for the best.¡¯ Swoosh- Having decided to leisurely enjoy myst performance, I began to reminisce on stage, recalling the props I had made, staying up through the nights. Faces I had forgotten surfaced like mirages. ¡®So this is how it ends for me too.¡¯ Seniors, ssmates, and even juniors I did theater with since college, most of them had long left this field. Up to now, the people who have remained here are just two kinds. One is the toxic bastards like me, and the other, the ¡®stars¡¯ monopolizing every spotlight. ¡®Damn, the lights are so fucking blinding.¡¯ The stage lights, still unfamiliar despite years together, felt unusually bright today. I reached out to them, but they were out of reach. They felt too far, even in thesest moments. ¡®So it¡¯s goodbye to you too.¡¯ -Sigh Sighing deeply, I swallowed the emotions that threatened to burst forth. Whether there was an audience or not, it doesn¡¯t change the fact that this is myst time on stage. I had to save and pour everyst bit of my emotions into this performance on this stage. Though no one was there to witness my fervor, at least one person in this world ¨C ¡®myself¡¯ ¨C couldn¡¯t be fooled. ¡°Aah-¡± So, I cleared my throat again. The role I had practiced hundreds of times in secret, until the script was worn out. ¡®Originally, I¡¯m supposed to y the role of multitasking secretary Kim, but¡­¡¯ With no one watching, there was no need to stick to a single role. I always wanted to y the protagonist at least once. Thus, I now stand on stage as ¡®Park Do-hyun,¡¯ the eldest grandson of South Korea¡¯s wealthiest family. ¡°Secretary Kim, what¡¯s the schedule for this morning?¡± Of course, no answer came. There¡¯s no one here to answer my questions. That¡¯s how it should be, naturally. ¨C At 2 PM, you have a meeting with the chairman. Practicing in front of a mirror, again and again. Years of being a supporting actor, witnessing hundreds of performances. Having done so much image training, it seemed like I could even see illusions now. ¡°What about the gift for the chairman?¡± ¨C Uh¡­ That is¡­ ¡°Is there a problem?¡± ¨C Sorry! I couldn¡¯t prepare the wine you mentioned before. Unexpectedly, a guest from the Middle East, not on the list, showed up¡­ ¡°Secretary Kim.¡± ¨C Yes, Yes! Sir! Secretary Kim bowed deeply. Despite his exceptional demeanor, ¡®Park Do-hyun¡¯ never looked back. He is the eldest grandson of a family that¡¯s never relinquished the top spot in Korea since the government was established. Though formal social sses are gone, one¡¯s entire life still varies based on lineage. Therefore, ¡°You know how important this meeting is, right? I assume you¡¯re at least astute enough to understand that.¡± ¨C Yes, of course! I couldn¡¯t get the 1945 Romanee-Conti you mentioned, but there¡¯s a 1947 Chateau that¡¯s just as good¡­ ¡°Secretary Kim.¡± Gulp-! Secretary Kim swallowed nervously at being called again, but Park Do-hyun, still not looking at him, spoke indifferently. ¡°So, it¡¯s a ¡®second-best¡¯ wine, ast resort purchased because you were pushed around by some oil tycoons. Is that what you¡¯re saying?¡± ¨C Well, if you only consider the price¡­ ¡°Is there a more reliable indicator than price?¡± Finally, Park Do-hyun turned around. Meeting his gaze, Secretary Kim flinched and shivered. In contrast, Park Do-hyun¡¯s speech, gestures, and even his gaze exuded unwavering pride. His manner might seem arrogant, but the dignity emanating from him made him stand out more. ¡®No, this isn¡¯t arrogance.¡¯ It¡¯s overwhelming confidence. From the moment he was granted the surname Park, the immense rights that came with it made all this possible. ¡®This role really doesn¡¯t suit the real me.¡¯ Buying luxury items worth millions of won without a second thought, savoring food more expensive than my monthly sry, all these actions were utterly alien to my true self. However, ¡°Secretary Kim.¡± Click-! Park Do-hyun picked out one of the disyed watches and put it on his wrist. A fake so sophisticated that even an expert might be fooled. ¡°I am Park Do-hyun.¡± At least in this moment, while I wear the mask of Park Do-hyun on stage, I am neither an unknown actor hopping between single-room rentals, nor an old senior actor filling the stage alone. ¡°Second best is meaningless to me.¡± ng-! Park Do-hyun ced the wine bottle he had prepared on the table, shattering it. The shards, glinting brilliantly under the lights, seemed to embed themselves in my retina, refusing to disappear. . . . ¡°¡­When will this be cleaned up?¡± After all performances ended. I sighed deeply, emerging from my immersion. The reality I faced after discarding the mask of Park Do-hyun felt particrly cold. Sigh- Already, pieces of sugar stuck firmly to the floor made me sigh involuntarily. I wanted to throw everything away, but couldn¡¯t bear to do so, feeling pity for the old, ailing stage that had been mypanion. ¡°Let¡¯s clean it. Clean.¡± I forced the words out, trying tofort myself as I prepared to clean up the myst stage as an actor. Just then, p p p-! Sharp apuse echoed from somewhere. Startled, I quickly turned my head towards the source of the sound in the audience seats. ¡°Quite impressive.¡± Center of the front row in the audience seats. A woman sat there, as if it were the most natural thing, a spot most people would feel ufortable even sitting in. Her presence was so overwhelming that it seemed to fill the empty auditorium. ¡®¡­Would it feel like this if Park Do-hyun were a woman?¡¯ It was as if she embodied the character of Park Do-hyun, whom I had just portrayed ¨C someone unfamiliar with failure and frustration, wrapped in narcissism and self-esteem. Having done numerous part-time jobs and encountered various types of people, I was confident in my ability to read people. ¡®She exudes elegance from every pore.¡¯ Just by her looks, she seemed about my age, but we were well past the era where age directly corrted with rank. Regardless of gender, nationality, or race. In an era where anyone could seize opportunities with the right skills and luck. Especially with her beauty, there must be men willing to bend over backwards for her. ¡®Could she be a casting manager!?¡¯ The atmosphere felt strangely familiar. In that moment, I wondered if she might be a professional in this industry. Reaching that thought, I recalled the rumors of a legendary casting manager who secretly scouted talent around college campuses. ¡®¡­This is it.¡¯ No matter how many times I think about it, it¡¯s the same. Even if fellow actors and the director had shown up to support, it wouldn¡¯t have been enough, and I ended up with a ¡®no-show¡¯. There¡¯s nothing I could say even if I had a hundred mouths. ¡®Well, it¡¯s no longer my concern.¡¯ My acting career ended with this stage anyway. Having dreamed of being an actor all my life, it¡¯s daunting to think about what to do next. But at the moment, even such worries were a luxury. Immediate concerns like rent, food, phone bills, electricity, and water ¨C even picking out only the essentials made me doubt if I could live normally. Regardless of my situation or who the other person was, I had to maintain at least the minimum courtesy towards an audience member who made the effort toe to our performance. ¡°Thank you foring all this way, I¡¯m sorry you had to see such a disgrace. I will refund your ticket in full.¡± ¡°Ten million won.¡± ¡°Pardon?¡± ¡°If you¡¯re going to refund, shouldn¡¯t you include the effort and time I spenting here in the calction?¡± Is she crazy? That thought was fleeting. Click- Click- Suddenly, she stood up and walked towards me. The sound of her high heels, as assertive as her confidence, pierced my ears like arrows. ¡°Well, if we consider everything, it¡¯s still my loss. But if you send me ten million won right now, I¡¯ll let it go.¡± ¡°Are you joking with me¡­¡± ¡°I don¡¯t do such things. It¡¯s a waste of time.¡± Click-! Confused by the whole situation, I was lost in thought for a moment wondering what the hell was going on. She approached me, lifting the corners of her mouth yfully and said, ¡°You don¡¯t have the money to refund, do you?¡± ¡°Listen.¡± ¡°How about the opposite, then?¡± ¡°What?¡± ¡°I¡¯ll transfer ten million won to your ount right now. In exchange, you provide me with the corresponding time andbor. Simple, right?¡± ¡°¡­¡­¡± Smirk- Unlike her words that ended with a question mark, her smile was full of certainty, as if the possibility of me refusing didn¡¯t even exist. ***** Note: Hi, I¡¯m a new trantor picking up this series. I will trante around 10-15 chapters and then decide, based on the feedback and poprity, whether I will continue tranting it or drop it. Also, if anyone has any other series that they think are better than this and worth picking, please mention them in thements with their Korean names. Thanks and enjoy! Chapter 2 - Money Laundering? Chapter 2 - Money Laundering? Chapter 2: Money Laundering? ¡°¡­It really was deposited.¡± I was momentarily dazed as I read the notification on my phone. No matter how many times I looked, the reality was hard to believe. ©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤ Mirae Bank Deposit 10,000,000 won. 16:27 Kim Eun-ha ©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤ ¡°Do you believe me now?¡± ¡°Well, I¡¯m still a bit stunned.¡± ¡°Is it not enough?¡± ¡°Not at all.¡± Her shoulders shrugged at my firm answer. I quickly regained my senses and reiterated her request. ¡°¡­So, you¡¯re asking me to act as your boyfriend?¡± ¡°If possible, even as a husband. We¡¯ll need to work out the details from now.¡± ¡°¡­¡­¡± I was dumbstruck by her firm and unhesitating reply. Anyone in my situation would probably react the same. Of course, I acknowledge that she¡¯s exceptionally beautiful. Purely in terms of appearance, marrying someone like her would be more than one could ask for. ¡®That¡¯s what makes it even more suspicious.¡¯ If I look through her phone right now, I¡¯m sure I¡¯ll find a bunch of men who are superior to me in either money or education. Why would she, with so many choices, ¡®specifically¡¯ propose to me? Even mobilizing all my brainpower, I couldn¡¯t find a convincing answer. The only usible response I could think of was, ¡°I¡¯m not religious.¡± ¡°I know.¡± ¡°How do you know that?¡± ¡°Aren¡¯t you?¡± Smirk- She yfully lifted the corners of her mouth again. Her beauty was indeed overwhelming. Being proposed to by someone whose name you don¡¯t even know upon first meeting is a situation so bizarre that it wouldn¡¯t be odd if it scared you. ¡®¡­So that¡¯s why they say beauty can be deceiving.¡¯ Surprisingly, I wasn¡¯t displeased at the moment. Her exceptional appearance yed a significant role in that. If I had beenpletely immune to such things, I might havepletely fallen for it. ¡®Guess those days were useful after all.¡¯ A bitter smile formed as I recalled my college days. Given that acting inherently involves marketing one¡¯s appearance, it was no surprise that most of my peers were remarkably good-looking. ¡®Being pretty doesn¡¯t necessarily mean a good personality.¡¯ In fact, many were full of themselves. That¡¯s why, no matter how attractive someone was, I had be more skeptical, especially the more attractive they were. ¡°Let¡¯s stop the jokes.¡± ¡°A joke?¡± ¡°I don¡¯t know what you¡¯re aiming for, but my life is already hard enough. I¡¯ll return the deposited money right away.¡± ¡°Hmm.¡± Smile-! Despite my clear boundary, her smile deepened. I felt chills but didn¡¯t show it. Instead, relying on my years of honed acting skills, I maintained a poker face and casually picked up a broom. ¡°Could you move aside, please?¡± I deliberately started sweeping where she stood, but she didn¡¯t move, keeping her gaze fixed on me the entire time. ¡°Look, That¡¯s enough¡­¡± ¡°I¡¯ll give you a role.¡± ¡°What?¡± Squint-! As I blinked, pondering what words I had just heard, she took another step towards me and began to speak. ¡°Before starting, you muttered, ¡®I just wanted to act,¡¯ right? I can give you what you want.¡± ¡°No, how long have you been¡­!?¡± ¡°That¡¯s not important right now.¡± Swoosh- Suddenly, she pulled out a business card from her bag. It looked too luxurious to touch with my dusty hands. As I reflexively checked the card, an astonished voice escaped me. ¡°¡­Kim Eun-ha, CEO of Mirae Department Store?¡± Mirae Group. A renowned family, well-known to anyone in our country, acknowledged as the top business owners in South Korea. With dozens of subsidiaries below them. Each subsidiary is a major corporation, ranking first or second domestically andpeting globally. ¡®¡­No wonder she seemed familiar.¡¯ I examined Kim Eun-ha¡¯s face again. Once I knew her identity, memories buried in a corner of my mind began to surface. For months, news had been circting about Chairman Kim Seok-ho¡¯s rapidly deteriorating health and the intensepetition for his session through various media outlets. As a result, I had seen her name and face in passing. Of course, it was only through the screen of my smartphone. ¡°Why me, of all people?¡± ¡°Because you are the most suitable.¡± ¡°¡­Suitable?¡± Grin- As I reacted, Kim Eun-ha raised the corners of her mouth as if she had expected it. She continued with a rxed smile. ¡°First of all, the face is good enough.¡± ¡°It should be more than good enough.¡± ¡°¡­And I like your shamelessness. Well, there were otherplex considerations. But to sum it up, you were the most suitable person to y the role of my husband.¡± Role. My brain, which had dered a strike in the face of the sudden situation, began to whirl furiously again. Clich¨¦s I usually encountered only in dramas or novels started fitting together in my mind, helping me guess what she wanted from me. ¡°¡­You need a figurehead husband.¡± ¡°See? I told you you¡¯re the right one.¡± Hehe- Her pleasantughter added to my suspicion. Kim Eun-ha¡¯s reason for suddenly proposing to me was because she needed a ¡®shield¡¯. ¡®She¡¯s an ambitious person.¡¯ The CEO of Mirae Department Store. Even holding such a position, which ordinary people could only dream of, Kim Eun-ha was aspiring for something higher. ¡®Mirae Group is known for keeping management within the family.¡¯ Kim Seok-ho, the founder and current chairman of Mirae Group, is known to have many children. He did everything possible to ensure his children would inherit the management, and harsh training for potential sessors was part of this effort. ¡®Didn¡¯t Wall Street even talk about it?¡¯ ¡®Korea Discount¡¯ is often associated with the unease of Korea being a ceasefire nation, but that¡¯s only part of the story. One of the biggest reasons Wall Streeters hesitate to invest in Korean stocks is due to familial session. But, ¨C Even if not rted by blood, if they¡¯re good at business, they¡¯re my children and family! Chairman Kim Seok-ho¡¯s famous quote, now a staple in chaebol dramas. Indeed, he gave opportunities to anyone with ability. Kim Seok-ho employed talented individuals regardless of their background, and if they proved their worth, he even arranged marriages with his daughters, sharing his bloodline. ¡®Conversely, he treated some as non-existent.¡¯ In such cases, he wouldn¡¯t share a penny of the family wealth and disowned them. This drove his children to desperation in securing management rights, and those who survived this brutal training are now the CEOs of Mirae Group¡¯s subsidiaries. ¡®Is she nning to jump into the session battle?¡¯ Considering her age, it was astonishing. She had to bepetent enough to stand shoulder-to-shoulder with rtives who were born 20-30 years earlier. ¡®What if I were a part of Mirae Group?¡¯ Thanks to my recent full immersion as Park Do-hyun, the chaebol heir, it wasn¡¯t too difficult to follow their line of thought. Despite her young age, Kim Eun-ha¡¯s outstanding ability must be seen as a threat. ¡®The easiest way to eliminate Kim Eun-ha from the session battle is¡­¡¯ Undoubtedly, it would be ¡®marriage¡¯. Even if times have changed, people¡¯s perceptions don¡¯t necessarily catch up that quickly. Especially in chaebols, strategic marriages for wealth inheritance are still prevalent. ¡°So it¡¯s the same in chaebol families, getting hassled about marriage during holidays?¡± ¡°That would be a relief if it were just that.¡± Shrug- She shrugged her shoulders and sat down on a prop chair nearby. Crossing her legs naturally, she continued the conversation. ¡°After tirelessly working to grow the group, they want me to marry some suitable guy and split off the business. It¡¯s not like we¡¯re living in the Joseon era.¡± ¡°So, you decided to choose your own marriage partner? Someone who won¡¯t interfere with the session battle, a suitable actor to y the role of a screen husband?¡± ¡°You catch on quick.¡± Smirk- Kim Eun-ha leaned forward slightly with a smile. She knew exactly how to present herself most attractively. A person who wouldn¡¯t hesitate to use any means to seize victory. Someone ruthlessly calctive, willing to sell even themselves if the benefits were clear. ¡°I don¡¯t seem to be your type.¡± ¡°Oh, Ipletely agree with you there.¡± ¡°Then why me?¡± ¡°That¡¯s exactly why.¡± Click-! Breaking the silence with the sound of her high heels, Kim Eun-ha stood up again and approached me boldly, her lips twitching slightly. ¡°I don¡¯t have the luxury to be swayed by unnecessary hormones. With you, I¡¯m confident I won¡¯t fall in love.¡± ¡°You¡¯re very sure of yourself.¡± ¡°You think the same, don¡¯t you?¡± Tap-tap- She raised her finger and lightly tapped my lips. Her lips moved as if casting a spell, rich like the color of a witch¡¯s brew. ¡°I¡¯ll make a concession this time.¡± ¡°What concession?¡± ¡°If I¡¯m to pretend to be engaged to you, you¡¯ll need a proper cover. I¡¯ll find you a role in a project soon.¡± ¡°What¡¯s the catch?¡± ¡°¡­I¡¯m making a concession, aren¡¯t I?¡± ¡°That just makes it more suspicious.¡± There¡¯s no such thing as a free lunch in this world. Especially when dealing with a member of a chaebol family. Even if it¡¯s just acting, having briefly stepped into their shoes, I knew they would never make a losing deal. She looked at me nkly for a moment after hearing my thoughts, then burst intoughter. ¡°Pfft-!¡± ¡°¡­What¡¯s so funny?¡± ¡°Oh, sorry. It just seems like you¡¯ve watched too much drama. Of course, you¡¯re not entirely wrong¡­ Ahem. Anyway, do you know how much I donate on average per year?¡± ¡°How much?¡± Chak-! She showed a yful smile and suddenly held up five fingers. ¡°Five hundred million?¡± ¡°More.¡± ¡°Five thousand million?¡± ¡°You¡¯re almost there.¡± ¡°¡­You donate five billion won a year?¡± Shake-shake- Kim Eun-ha¡¯s smile grew wider. She then added a fist next to her open palm. ¡°50 billion!?¡± ¡°That includes donations from the subsidiaries I manage. After deductions, the amount is roughly that.¡± ¡°Is it moneyundering?¡± ¡°¡­Look here.¡± Kim Eun-ha looked at me as if I was being ridiculous, but from my perspective, it was apletely reasonable suspicion. After all, I didn¡¯t even have 50,000 won, let alone 50 billion. Whether she understood my mindset or not, she continued speaking with an utterly calm expression. ¡°Of course, there are benefits like tax reduction and improving the group¡¯s image, but a significant portion is donated with pure intentions, you know?¡± ¡°Ah, I see.¡± ¡°You don¡¯t believe me?¡± ¡°I do.¡± ¡°You¡¯re lying.¡± ¡°How dare you use me of lying.¡± ¡°¡­You have quite an impressive adaptability.¡± Instead of responding, I just shrugged my shoulders. Kim Eun-ha then sighed heavily and continued her exnation. ¡°Anyway! It¡¯s not difficult for me to get you a role. For me, it¡¯s like showing a bit of generosity.¡± ¡°That¡¯s not very ttering to hear.¡± ¡°So, you¡¯re not going to do it?¡± ¡°Of course, I will.¡± Obviously, I had to take the offer. I epted her proposal without hesitation. Of course, even though I agreed, she mightter extract somepensation from me in some form. ¡®That¡¯s a problem for another day.¡¯ If it meant continuing to act, I was even willing to sell my soul to the devil. With no particr attachment left in life, I had no intention of rejecting thisst opportunity handed to me from the heavens. ¡°¡­Master! What should I start with?¡± ¡°First, drop that weird title.¡± ¡°How about ¡®Madam¡¯?¡± ¡°Are you doing this on purpose?¡± Snicker- Augh escaped me at Kim Eun-ha¡¯s displeased reaction. Then, finding my own behavior unfamiliar, Iughed again. ¡°Why are youughing like that?¡± ¡°Because I¡¯m happy.¡± ¡°Happy about what?¡± ¡°About you, Eun-ha.¡± ¡°¡­Stop talking nonsense.¡± ¡°Oh, did it show too much?¡± Even in front of her sharp, almost predatory gaze, I couldn¡¯t help but keepughing. It was a genuine emotion, solely mine, that I hadn¡¯t felt in a long time. Chapter 3 - Where Do You Think You Have Money? Chapter 3 - Where Do You Think You Have Money? Chapter 3: Where Do You Think You Have Money? ¨C I¡¯ll bring the detailed documents next time. Meanwhile, don¡¯t cause any trouble and behave yourself. You know what I mean, right? Kim Eun-ha left these words behind and disappeared abruptly. Seeing her rush out while answering a phone call, it seemed she was quite busy. Anyway, since my boss¡¯s first order was to behave, I quickly finished cleaning and returned home. ¡°What should I do with this now?¡± Lying in my tiny room, I stared nkly at the ten million won showing in my bank ount. It didn¡¯t feel real, and the amount was somewhat ambiguous for actually doing anything. ¡°I thought it was more money than this.¡± 10,000,000 won. It seemed like a huge amount until it was in my ount. Once there, I realized there wasn¡¯t much I could actually do with it. The first thing that came to mind was, of course, my student loan. I couldn¡¯t even graduate because I didn¡¯t have the money, and I wanted to pay it off quickly, but¡­ ¡°That would be too anticlimactic.¡± Even pouring all ten million won wouldn¡¯t cover a year¡¯s tuition. Thinking this, I felt how ridiculously expensive the tuition really was. ¡°Should I get a new phone?¡± My faithfulpanion throughout my 20s. It proudly bore the scars of a hard time, cracked and broken in several ces. I had always envied my ssmates who switched to thetest models as soon as they came out. ¡°Damn, that¡¯s expensive.¡± A quick search revealed that thetest models started at a minimum of one million won, going up to two million. The price range was staggering. They boastedptopparable specs, ultra-wide cameras better than the naked eye. I was tempted by all the advertisements, but the desire to buy vanished the moment I saw the price tag. ¡°I¡¯m not going to y games on my phone.¡± There wasn¡¯t much among the numerous features that seemed useful to me. High-performance cameras are for people who actually have something to photograph. ¡°Then, maybe cryptocurrencies!?¡± I sprang up with a sudden sh of inspiration but quickly abandoned the idea after a few inte searches. With the global economic downturn, both cryptocurrencies and stocks were continuously falling. Of course, experts say you can make more money in a bear market, but¡­ ¡°Like that¡¯s going to happen.¡± Having devoted my life to acting, I was far from such fields. I didn¡¯t even have seed money, let alone being sure about my daily meals. I had some knowledge umted for portraying ¡®Park Do-Hyun¡¯, but knowing something in theory and practicing it were worlds apart. ¡°¡­Should I just give it back?¡± I even had such thoughts. Kim Eun-ha¡¯s offer was too tempting, but the thought of bing the very ¡®parachute appointment¡¯ I despised made me ufortable. ¡°¡­Hmm?¡± As I aimlessly fiddled with my phone, a familiar name caught my eye. My fingers fluttered uncertainly in mid-air. Woong- Thud-! As if waiting for this moment, a call came through with impable timing. Startled by the sudden vibration, I identally dropped my phone on my head. ¡°Ugh¡­ Hello?¡± ¨C Huh? Why does your voice sound like that? Are you hurt somewhere? A familiar voice came through the receiver, filled with concern. I quickly rubbed my forehead, suppressing the pain. ¡°It¡¯s nothing. I just dropped my phone in a hurry.¡± ¨C Be careful. Are you hurt? ¡°No, no. I¡¯m fine. But why are you calling at this time?¡± ¨C You don¡¯t always have to call for something important. I just wanted to check if our son is eating well. Hearing my mother¡¯s worried voice, I swallowed my words, unsure of what to say. However she interpreted my silence, Mom spoke in a much more cautious tone than before. ¨C If you¡¯re busy, son, we can talkter¡­ ¡°It¡¯s okay. I¡¯ve finished everything for today.¡± ¨C You finished earlier than usual? ¡°Well, it just turned out that way. But, Mom.¡± ¨C Yes? A sudden, inexplicable impulse spurred me on. Thanks to that, I blurted out the thought that had popped into my head without any filter. ¡°Are you short on Dad¡¯s hospital bills?¡± ¨C No, I was just calling to check on you¡­ ¡°I¡¯ll transfer some money to your ount right now. That should cover things for a while. Buy something nice for yourself for a change.¡± ¨C Son! Where do you think you have money¡­ Where do you think you have money. Those words echoed in my head. Although Mom meant tofort me, her words painfully pricked at my heart, contrary to her intentions. ¡®Right, money was the issue.¡¯ I had been reluctant to talk to Mom. The updates she shared always weighed heavily on my heart. I consoled myself that not asking my parents for money was an achievement, but in reality, I just wanted to avoid facing the truth. ¡®I¡¯ve been too immature all this time.¡¯ My parents had lived a life of sacrifice. When they were younger, they worked in factories to feed my younger siblings, andter, they gave their all for me and my younger brother. Despite a lifetime of living for others, all they had to show for it were worn-out bodies, far too aged for their years. ¡®The world is so unfair.¡¯ Working hard doesn¡¯t always guarantee a happy life. Just look at my father lying in the ICU. As these thoughts filled my mind, all other worries faded away. My mind cleared remarkably, and I quickly came to a conclusion. ¡°Mom.¡± ¨C It¡¯s okay. Use that money to buy yourself something nice. ¡°I got a job.¡± ¨C Huh? ¡°Inded a decent role.¡± ¨C Oh¡­ Is that so? I swallowed a bitter smile at her unspoken sentiment, feeling her heart through the phone. She probably hoped I would quit acting and get a stable job. Sorry to disappoint, but¡­ ¡°I got a big signing bonus.¡± ¨C You¡¯re not doing anything dangerous, are you? Dangerous, indeed. It might be the most dangerous thing I¡¯ve ever done, getting involved in a mucky battle over billions, maybe trillions of won. But still¡­ ¡°It¡¯s with a very famous corporation, so don¡¯t worry. If this goes well, our family can finally enjoy some luxury.¡± ¨C Hmm, alright. You know best, son. ¡°Of course. Whose son am I?¡± ¨C Anyway¡­ She sounded disapproving, but I could hear the unmistakable joy in her voice. The reward for a single sentence was excessively precious. ¡°Anyway! Use the money I¡¯m sending you well.¡± ¨C No, don¡¯t¡­ ¡°I have to go. An urgent call.¡± ¨C Son! Click- I cut off the call without hearing more and immediately transferred all the money, except for my essential living expenses, to my mother. Woong, Woong-! My phone started to wail madly. Reading the stream of text messages from Mom, I bit my lip in silence. Mom: Son, Son!? Mom: I told you not to send it. Mom: ¡­Can I really use this money? Only then did I reply with a simple ¡°Okay.¡± Even after the notification that my message was received disappeared, Mom remained silent for quite a while. Mom: ¡­Thank you, son! Her response came after a significant amount of time. I had no idea what was happening on the other side of the phone, but somehow, I didn¡¯t want to think too deeply about it. ¡°¡­Money really is good.¡± I had heard her thanks. I was so used to hearingints that this kind of response felt awkward. It was a strange feeling, neither entirely pleasant nor unpleasant. Woong-! Lost in thought and staring at the ceiling, my phone vibrated again. Boss: Hello. Boss: Are you free on Tuesday? Boss: If you read this, answer. Pfft- I couldn¡¯t help but smile as I read the message. The heaviness in my chest surprisingly lifted. Me: I have prior engagements. Boss: Don¡¯t lie. Me: It¡¯s true. Boss: Who are you meeting? Boss: Answer. Boss: Quickly. I could almost see Kim Eun-ha¡¯s scowling face. It¡¯s strange how vividly I could picture her after just one day. Feeling mischievous, I deliberately took my time responding. Me: I¡¯ve promised to have a deep conversation with myself through meditation on Tuesday. Boss: ¡­Stop the nonsense and be at Mirae Department Store by 6 AM on Tuesday. Me: In the morning? Boss: Yes. Her unyielding attitude left no room for negotiation. This made me want to rebel, like a contrary kid. Boss: If you¡¯re even a minutete, our contract is void. And I will reim the ten million won deposited in your ount. Me: I thought it was a donation? Boss: Why would it be? Me: ¡­That¡¯s harsh. Boss: What can you do about it? Boss: Just don¡¯t bete. Me: (Sulking emoticon) Boss: (ring emoticon) Oh- I couldn¡¯t help but exim when I saw thest message. I had thought she was the type who didn¡¯t use emoticons, given her typically stern responses. ¡°She¡¯s got a surprisingly good sense of impact.¡± There was a certain fun in teasing her. Of course, if I crossed the line, she¡¯d mercilessly toss me into the Pacific Ocean. But she seemed more human than I thought. In that case, I should do my best too. After all, I¡¯m a professional who¡¯s being paid for this job. ¡®Yeah, let¡¯s give it a shot.¡¯ Dudu-Du- After suppressing augh, I tapped on my phone,posing a thoughtful reply. I needed to make sure I didn¡¯t offend my valuable employer. * * * Kang Woo-ju: Understood. Madam! Kang Woo-ju: (Loyal emoji) Goodness- After checking the message, Kim Eun-ha shook her head as if she couldn¡¯t believe it. She didn¡¯t respond further and put her phone down on the desk. ¡°¡­I told you not to call me Madam.¡± Doesn¡¯t it make her seem too old? Surely, by their national identification numbers, they should be of the same age. ¡®He must be doing it on purpose.¡¯ Despite it being such an obvious ploy, when she talked with Kang Woo-ju, she felt as if she was getting unnecessarily involved. However, even amidst this, there was something curious: it wasn¡¯t that she felt entirely bad about it. ¡®¡­He has a strangelypelling charm.¡¯ Click-ck- Kim Eun-ha got up from her seat and walked towards the window. Pulling back the blinds, she could see the night view of Seoul through the ss window. It was a dazzling sight, but Kim Eun-ha¡¯s gaze was fixed elsewhere. ¨C This is Park Do-Hyun. As if someone had turned on a video in her mind, Kang Woo-ju¡¯s eyes and voice,pletely immersed in acting, reyed in real-time. The confident gaze stemming from a strong sense of self. It had an atmosphere more chaebol-like than most actual chaebols. It was as if¡­ ¡®It was like looking at my grandfather.¡¯ Sigh- Kim Eun-ha swallowed augh. Comparing a man who sold his life for just ten million won to a chaebol group chairman was absurd. ¨C Second ce is meaningless to me. Yet, even amidst these thoughts, Kang Woo-ju¡¯s method acting kept haunting her vision. Shiver-shiver- Even now, recalling that moment gave her goosebumps, let alone when she first encountered it in person. The moment she saw it, she thought, ¡®This is it!¡¯ ¡®A show window couple¡­¡¯ She hadid out the n, but she had never imagined it would actually proceed. It was a n she had doubts about, but recalling Kang Woo-ju¡¯s face made her think that it might turn out to be a fun experience after all. ¡®Let¡¯s keep him by my side for a while and observe.¡¯ Whether what she had seen was just a fluke or Kang Woo-ju¡¯s true ability would be apparent soon enough. If it¡¯s thetter¡­ Grin- Kim Eun-ha quietly lifted the corners of her lips. Her smile, reflected on the ss window, sparkled dazzlingly, merging with the night view of Seoul. ***** Notes: 1) Show Window Couple ¨C A couple that appears perfect to the public, like a disy in a show window, but may have issues privately. Chapter 4 - Eun-ha, I Have Sincerity Too Chapter 4 - Eun-ha, I Have Sincerity TooChapter 4: Eun-ha, I Have Sincerity Too Early morning. No, it wouldn¡¯t be odd to call it dawn. I barely managed my stiff body and headed towards the center of Seoul. ¡®Is this the ce?¡¯ Looking up, I saw a building with a distinctly modern design. Overall, it was boxy but somehow had a stylish atmosphere. Above all, a huge electronic billboard at the front of the building caught my eye. More precisely, it was the sight of ¡®Seo Jun-woo¡¯ looking down at me from there. ¡®¡­The kid is doing well.¡¯ Seo Jun-woo was a university colleague. However, he lived a life that was theplete opposite of mine, as I was treated like an outsider at school. ¡®He used to get A¡¯s even without attending sses.¡¯ Having been a famous actor since his child actor days, he often missed sses during the semester due to filming. But Park Jae-jin and the rest of the faculty cherished him a lot, and absences due to his acting work were all acknowledged as official leaves. Of course, some of the top studentsined about this. ¨C If you also star in a terrestrial drama, I¡¯ll grant you official leaves too. Everyone shut their mouths after the bone-crushingment from the department head. At the same time, he drew a line that he would never give an (A+) unless the attendance days were fulfilled, so any lingeringints disappeared. ¡°¡­I¡¯m jealous. So jealous.¡± A feeling I couldn¡¯t swallow burst out of my mouth. I¡¯ve always been envious of that guy, from my school days until now. It was more admiration than jealousy. Seeing Seo Jun-woo, who always received the spotlight wherever he went, I thought that one day, I should reach that point too. ¡®The problem is it¡¯s getting farther away.¡¯ Sigh- I couldn¡¯t help but sigh. While my worth was decreasing over time, Seo Jun-woo¡¯s follower count was increasing in real-time. ¡®How many followers did he have?¡¯ He had over a million followers a few years ago and held a follower appreciation event, so now, the number might have changed drastically. ¡°Sigh¡­¡± ¡°Why are you sighing so much?¡± Gulp-! I choked on my breath at the sudden voice. I calmed my protesting lungs and barely turned my head. Then, I saw Kim Eun-ha with a yful smile on her lips. As I felt before, she¡¯s incredibly skilled at concealing her presence. ¡°When did youe?¡± ¡°Hmm, who knows?¡± ¡°¡­You heard everything.¡± ¡°Not exactly. I just heard you say ¡®I¡¯m jealous¡¯ while looking at our department store¡¯s main model, Seo Jun-woo ssi.¡± ¡°That was all I said.¡± ¡°Oh, really!?¡± Kim Eun-ha exaggeratedly widened her eyes and acted surprised. As much as she can see through people¡¯s hearts, she¡¯s also exceptional at scratching their insides. When I silently red at her, Kim Eun-ha continued speaking with a feigned smile on her lips. ¡°Should I change it for you?¡± ¡°What?¡± Swoosh- Instead of answering, Kim Eun-ha turned her head towards the billboard. Following her, I naturally shifted my gaze and once again met Seo Jun-woo¡¯s eyes. ¡°If you want, I can change it right now.¡± ¡°¡­¡­¡± This is not a joke. Kim Eun-ha is the actual owner of this huge department store right before my eyes. She has enough power to execute her words. Even the trivial legal responsibilities and image damage that may arise from this process are within her vast capabilities to handle. ¡®If I¡¯m honest¡­¡¯ I immediately want to nod my head. If my face, even for a brief moment, is engraved in that ce where ten million Seoul citizens look up to, how thrilling would that be? ¡°It¡¯s fine.¡± Despite that, I resolutely shook my head. Then, Kim Eun-ha blinked in surprise and spoke. ¡°It¡¯s not a joke.¡± ¡°I¡¯m not joking either.¡± ¡°You do know how much that¡¯s worth, right?¡± ¡°I know it¡¯s extremely expensive.¡± ¡°Then why reject it?¡± Her reaction seemed genuinely puzzled. It sounded like she was questioning why I was suddenly standing on pride when I had easily epted a parachute position and even a fake marriage. ¡°Eun-ha, I too have sincerity.¡± ¡°¡­Why are you suddenly speaking informally?¡± ¡°¡­You don¡¯t know this line?¡± ¡°I don¡¯t have time to keep up with theater.¡± It¡¯s not theater, but a movie. Moreover, it¡¯s a movie that¡¯s still mentioned as a masterpiece even over 10 years after its release. There have been a series of sequels too. But I wasn¡¯t tactless enough to point out this painful truth. Especially not to an employer who literally held my livelihood in her hands. ¡°Well. It¡¯s a meme that young people these days don¡¯t really know.¡± ¡°But Woo-ju ssi, you¡¯re the same age as me.¡± ¡°I was often called an old soul when I was a student.¡± Zap- A moment of suspicious scrutiny swept over me, but years of thick-skinned resilience shielded me. ¡°¡­Go on with what you were saying.¡± ¡°It¡¯s nothing grand. Just, well. A trophy forced into my hands by someone else doesn¡¯t seem very appealing, does it?¡± ¡°Even though it¡¯s what you wanted?¡± ¡°Especially because it¡¯s what I wanted.¡± I looked up at the electronic billboard once again. Would I really be happy if I got that spot through Kim Eun-ha¡¯s power? ¡®Not at all.¡¯ No matter how many times I thought about it, the answer was the same. I didn¡¯t reject the parachute because it was an ¡®opportunity¡¯ for me to act. The oue depended entirely on me. But having my face on the billboard isn¡¯t an opportunity. It would only diminish both Kim Eun-ha¡¯s and my image. ¡®She must know that too.¡¯ The ownership of Mirae Department Store wasn¡¯t won through a game of luck. Beforeing here, I did some research on her¡­ [¡®Luxury President¡¯ CEO Kim Eun-ha] (TL: Luxury President is a Korean term given to CEOs, etc., by Koreans who own luxury brands.) [Her journey turning adversity into opportunity] [Astounding phnthropy! Kim Eun-ha¡¯s noblesse oblige] Articles praising her were plentiful. Of course, there were some negative opinions, but considering the nature of the inte, they were minimal. At first, I thought it was image management by the group, but it wasn¡¯t just that. [Corrupt prosecutors vs. the second son of a chaebol family] [Connections between certain politicians and famous chaebols?] [The detrimental impact of chaebol monopolies on the Korean economy] In an era where any Korean citizen can broadcast with just a finger, perfect media control is practically impossible. Moreover, the government was particrly targeting Mirae Group for ¡®chaebol hunting¡¯ after some missteps in thest presidential election. ¡®Yet, to still have such a favorable public opinion¡­¡¯ It meant Kim Eun-ha¡¯s capabilities were extraordinary. In fact, Mirae Department Store¡¯s performance had been declining annually, but it reversed after she took charge. So, this question could be a trap. Even if she didn¡¯t intend it to be. ¡°Think about it this way. What would you feel if someone handed you the sessor position of Mirae Group?¡± ¡°I¡¯d think it¡¯s a windfall.¡± ¡°¡­What if the food is spoiled?¡± ¡°My stomach is quite strong.¡± Smirk- Kim Eun-ha lifted the corners of her mouth as if she found my response amusing. It felt like she had anticipated my questions and was already prepared with her response. Irritated by her yful smile, I retorted a bit gruffly. ¡°Randomly eating anything can cause stomach trouble.¡± ¡°I¡¯m not in a position to be picky right now.¡± ¡°Even with everything you have?¡± ¡°Me? You¡¯re joking.¡± As I casually nced at the department store and brought it up, Kim Eun-ha quickly shook her head, denying it. This time, there was no teasing tone in her voice. If her ambition wasn¡¯t to be a top actress, then her response was 100% sincere. ¡°You¡¯re greedy.¡± ¡°If you see the wealth my rtives have, you¡¯d faint.¡± ¡°People should know when to be satisfied.¡± ¡°What about you, Woo-ju ssi?¡± ¡°¡­¡­?¡± Swoosh- I turned my head slightly and found myself looking directly into Kim Eun-ha¡¯s eyes, which had been watching me all along. Her ck eyes, twinkling under the streetlight, seemed to carry the gxy in them, fitting her name ¡®Eun-ha¡¯ (TL: Eun-ha means Gxy). Caught off guard by the unexpectedly serious atmosphere, I hesitated for a moment before she continued in a calm voice. ¡°How much would it take for you, Woo-ju ssi, to be satisfied?¡± ¡°Well¡­¡± I barely stopped myself from responding reflexively, sensing that a light answer wouldn¡¯t be appropriate here. Seemingly reading my hesitation, Kim Eun-ha did not rush me, allowing me time to ponder. ¡®Satisfaction.¡¯ My gaze naturally drifted to the electronic billboard. The immediate goal was, of course, Seo Jun-woo. But if I really reach that spot. What then? Will I stop there? Or will I aim higher? I didn¡¯t ponder for long. ¡®¡­I¡¯ve been too narrow-minded.¡¯ Those who reach the top gain a broader perspective. Having been busy looking up at the mountain, now I stood atop it. But for those with elevated sights, new vistase into view. Such is thew of nature. ¡®Since when did Seo Jun-woo be my goal?¡¯ Even if I reach Seo Jun-woo¡¯s position, I won¡¯t be satisfied. By then, I¡¯ll be looking towards something higher, like Kim Eun-ha now. ¡°I misspoke. I apologize.¡± I bowed slightly towards Kim Eun-ha. Not because she was my employer, but for taking her ambitions too lightly. ¡°I¡¯ll ept your apology.¡± Her response came coolly, without dy. As I slightly raised my head, she was looking at me with a gentle smile on her lips. Beautiful. I found myself thinking involuntarily. Her smile, not contrived but genuine, was truly beautiful. ¡°Aren¡¯t you staring a bit too obviously?¡± Hehe- However, that smile was fleeting. A wave of regret washed over me, but Iposed myself and continued. ¡°Is that not allowed?¡± ¡°No, it¡¯s not.¡± ¡°Why not?¡± ¡°¡­¡­.¡± Huh? A sense of d¨¦j¨¤ vu enveloped me. Before I could unravel this feeling, Kim Eun-ha quickly turned away, hiding her face. ¡°Let¡¯s go inside now.¡± ¡°Are you perhaps changing the subject because you¡¯re embarrassed¡­?¡± ¡°Stop talking nonsense and hurry up. Everyone is waiting.¡± ¡°Huh?¡± Instead of replying, Kim Eun-ha moved briskly. Her pace was so fast that I had to jog to keep up without losing sight of her. ¡°¡­¡­!?¡± As soon as we entered the department store, I was stunned by the unfamiliar scene unfolding before my eyes. From the entrance to the esctor. Dozens of employees dressed in ck suits were lined up on both sides, forming a path. ¡°Wee.¡± Before I could grasp what was happening, the employees bowed in unison, greeting me with perfect precision. A grand reception that seemed like something out of a 2000s drama. And Kim Eun-ha, walking between them as if it was the most natural thing in the world. That¡¯s when it really hit me. The kind of world I had stepped into. ¡°¡­¡­¡± Despite the number of people gathered, not even a breath could be heard. The weight of the silence pressing down on my shoulders sent a chill through my heart. Everyone except Kim Eun-ha had their heads bowed, but I could feel their eyes on me, as if they all had eyes on the back of their heads. ¨C Who is that? ¨C Is he a VVIP? ¨C Surely, he¡¯s not the CEO¡¯s boyfriend? Eventually, I even felt tickled by their voices, which shouldn¡¯t have been audible. My mind felt like it was turning nk. ¨C This is Park Do-Hyun. Was it just a coincidence? Was it mere fiction that I heard the voice of that guy in my ear? If it had been him, how would he have acted in this situation? ¡®¡­He would have walked confidently.¡¯ Because that¡¯s the kind of guy he is. Even in an unfamiliar situation, he would never have been flustered. Especially someone who would take this kind of treatment for granted. ¡®Let me borrow you for a moment.¡¯ As if his spirit had possessed my body. No, as if I had peeled off his skin and draped it over mine. I straightened my shoulders confidently. A cold smile on my lips. I took a bold step forward. Thud- As my firm footsteps broke the silence, I sensed a hint of panic around me, but I never turned my head. My gaze was fixed solely on her. I had to look only at Kim Eun-ha. ¡°¡­¡­¡± ¡°¡­¡­¡± Kim Eun-ha, who had been walking ahead, also stopped at some point. She turned her head to meet my eyes but didn¡¯t say a word. She just wore a satisfied smile. **** Discord Link ¨C https://discord Chapter 5 - Peaceful Chaebol Life Chapter 5 - Peaceful Chaebol LifeChapter 5: Peaceful Chaebol Life ¡°It¡¯s quite impressive.¡± Kang Woo-ju¡¯s demeanor hadpletely changed. Watching him, Kim Eun-ha quietly smiled to herself. The intensity and pressure emanating from Kang Woo-ju, who was immersed in his acting, were beyond expectations, almost unrecognizable from the person she was conversing with just moments ago. Especially when facing his eyes, now cold like frost, she felt a chill run down her spine. ¡°I knew I wasn¡¯t wrong about him.¡± She recalled Kang Woo-ju¡¯s soliloquy on stage. Even alone, he seemed to fill the entire stage. This changed her n to just make a quick check and leave. She ended uppletely absorbed in the y, sitting in the audience as if enchanted until it ended. After parting with him, she had to rush around to adjust her disrupted schedule. ¡°I¡¯m d my efforts paid off.¡± Even in a sudden and unusual situation, Kang Woo-ju didn¡¯t falter but instead took a step forward. Such brazenness isn¡¯t something that can be acquired with brief training. It must be a natural trait. ¡°But¡­ was he always this tall?¡± The height of the heels she wore was always the same, so it wasn¡¯t her issue. It didn¡¯t seem like Kang Woo-ju was wearing anything to make him taller either. She wondered if a change in atmosphere alone could make someone seem taller. ¡°Kim Eun-ha ssi.¡± ¡°¡­Yes?¡± Her response was slightly dyed to the sudden call. Kim Eun-ha, embarrassed by her own mistake, hurriedly adjusted her expression to hide it. Thud, thud ¨C In the meantime, Kang Woo-ju strode towards her. Given their height difference, Kim Eun-ha had to tilt her head up to look at him. ¡°May I ask for a guide?¡± Heh ¨C Kim Eun-ha chuckled inwardly. Kang Woo-ju¡¯s demeanor was so natural that she almost nodded in agreement without realizing it. Why he was summoned to the department store, what they were going to do today ¨C his attitude didn¡¯t seem like that of someone without this information. She was more than satisfied but didn¡¯t want to show it openly. Kim Eun-ha replied with a casual smile on her lips. ¡°Of course. There¡¯s a reason I invited Woo-ju ssi to the department store this early in the morning. Shall we start from the first floor and take our time discussing?¡± ¡°Let¡¯s do that.¡± ¡°¡­Please follow me.¡± Her crisp response came without a hint of hesitation. Feeling as though their roles had somewhat reversed, Kim Eun-ha bit her tongue secretly, managing her expression. * * * ¡°Impressive.¡± Thirty minutes had passed since I started following Kim Eun-ha around the department store. I genuinely admired her as I watched her from a step behind. ¡°Let¡¯s move this product to the back.¡± ¡°Has the Rouge Volupt¨¦ Shine arrived?¡± ¡°I believe Manager Seo Jun-hwan is off today¡­¡± Kim Eun-ha personally checked each store, assessing the condition and arrangement of the products, and even the status of the employees. There were dozens of stores just at a nce, and the fact that she was aware of such detailed aspects was truly admirable. ¡°The employees seem to take it as a matter of course.¡± Usually, it would be quite ufortable if the boss personally went around each store giving directions. But the looks in the employees¡¯ eyes reflected respect instead. ¡°She must have proven herself.¡± Whether in sales performance. Or in employee welfare. It meant that she wascking in neither aspect. The actions unfolding before my eyes were clearly not just for show but something that had been repeated for a long time, almost like a routine. ¡°Just changing the arrangement haspletely transformed the atmosphere.¡± There seemed to be ¡®disy products¡¯ specifically arranged to attract passersby into the store. People who were lured in were greeted with popr bestsellers ced right at the entrance, and at the counter, small essories were arranged thatplemented the products well. ¡°I¡¯ve said it before, but there¡¯s no need to disy limited-edition items openly. The well-informed enthusiasts will find them on their own.¡± ¡°Yes, I understand.¡± The employees nodded at Kim Eun-ha¡¯s instructions. Their reactions weren¡¯t just out of obligation to a superior; they genuinely seemed to agree with her. This must be the secret behind her sess in running Mirae Department Store. That thought suddenly crossed my mind. ¡°Woo-ju ssi, how about this tie?¡± Even amidst all this, she had the leisure to call me over to try on ties and watches. It was clear she was an extraordinary person. ¡®I think I saw the price tag say 12 million¡­¡¯ Of course, that was separate from my opinion of her. Just having such expensive items in my hand made me feel overwhelmed, let alone wearing them. Even if it wasn¡¯t my money, the prices were staggering. But to our madam, it seemed to evoke no particr emotion, which was the problem. ¡°Hmm. This one suits you too. Mina ssi, please wrap this one up. And the one next to it as well.¡± ¡°I have enough ties¡­¡± ¡°It¡¯s a gift.¡± Swoosh- Whenever I tried to refuse out of difort, Kim Eun-ha would look at me with the kindest smile in the world. Facing her was terrifying. She was smiling, but there was no warmth in her expression. If I had to interpret hernguage, it was like saying in my head, ¡®Don¡¯t say anything in front of the employees, just shut up and ept it.¡¯ ¡°You¡¯ll ept it, right?¡± ¡°¡­Yes, thank you.¡± Regardless of my role, it was hard to refuse when an employer insisted like that. Thanks to her, I ended up purchasing various items in luxury stores that I wouldn¡¯t normally even dare to browse. I didn¡¯t even dare ask about the prices. ¡°A watch too¡­¡± ¡°It¡¯s okay.¡± Hmm- Kim Eun-ha pursed her lips at my unusually firm refusal. Her gaze briefly shifted to the watch hanging on my wrist. The watch I wore when portraying Park Do-Hyun. It was a knockoff so meticulously made it was dubbed ¡®mirror-grade,¡¯ far surpassing even S-grade fakes. It was a gift I received once from an old watchmaker who imed his shop had a 50-year tradition. There was no need for further scrutiny; it was undoubtedly mine, so I brought it with me when I left the theater. ¡°Well, if you say so.¡± Kim Eun-ha showed a brief hint of difort, as if something was not to her liking, but it was fleeting. Maybe because we had discussed it before. Even she, who lived among genuine luxury goods, hadn¡¯t recognized it as a fake. ¨C That¡¯s a fake watch, isn¡¯t it? ¨C Is it obvious? ¨C No, even an expert might not know. ¨C Then how did you know it¡¯s a fake? ¨C You wouldn¡¯t wear a watch worth millions, given your financial situation. Just in terms of purchase price, it¡¯s at least worth hundreds of millions. ¨C Hundreds of millions!? After hearing that, I briefly considered selling it on a second-hand market, but after a short deliberation, I decided to keep it. It¡¯s foolish to get attached to things, but it was a gift after all. And it was, after all, a ¡®fake¡¯. Incredibly close to the real thing. But still, just a fake. Perhaps its fate was simr to mine. ¡®Anyway¡­¡¯ While lost in thought for a moment, We had almost finished touring the stores. The employees, having received Kim Eun-ha¡¯s consulting, busily started their opening preparations, and we left them behind as we got on the esctor. Thanks to her sending away all the attendants following her, I could converse with Kim Eun-ha a bit more freely. ¡°Don¡¯t you take the elevator?¡± ording to the floor guide, the CEO¡¯s office was on the top floor. However, the areas Kim Eun-ha personally consulted on, like the luxury goods and women¡¯s sections, were the main focus for the department store¡¯s clientele. These sections were mostly located on the 1st to 3rd floors, so taking the esctor to the CEO¡¯s office on the top floor would be quite inefficient. ¡°That way, you can¡¯t see the employees working.¡± ¡°You¡¯re running a ckpany.¡± ¡°Don¡¯t say that carelessly. Ourpany is one of the few in the country that perfectly implements paid leave and a flexible work system.¡± Kim Eun-ha spoke with firm conviction, clearly proud of her department store¡¯s operations. After all,ing to work at dawn every day and handling intense workloads required extraordinary passion. ¡®And it¡¯s not like she has a substitute like others.¡¯ While employees rotated shifts, Kim Eun-ha was handling all these tasks alone. There might be unseen helpers I¡¯m not aware of, but from what I¡¯ve observed, she doesn¡¯t seem like someone who would easily delegate her responsibilities to others. ¡®I better not touch on sensitive topics.¡¯ Everyone has their sensitive areas. Realizing this about her, I quickly started topliment her. ¡°That¡¯s why the employees¡¯ faces don¡¯t show dissatisfaction. Kim Eun-ha really is different from other luxury brand presidents.¡± ¡°Where did you hear such a thing¡­ Sigh.¡± She pretended to sigh, but I, who had been focusing on Kim Eun-ha, didn¡¯t miss the twitch of her lips. ¡°I¡¯m envious. Have I only met people who want to treat me like a medieval ve? I wish I could work under a boss like Eun-ha ssi at least once.¡± ¡°It¡¯s not much different now, is it?¡± ¡°Then will you also give me paid leaveter?¡± ¡°I¡¯ll send you to the Pacific. With a hefty amount of gold.¡± ¡°¡­That¡¯s not like a severance package, is it?¡± Heh heh- Instead of answering, Kim Eun-ha just quietly swallowed herughter. She seemed to have a sense of humor and more humanity than the chaebols I had in mind. Our casual conversation continued as we ascended the esctor, and soon we reached the top floor. ¡°Pleasee in.¡± ¡°Excuse me.¡± The interior was more ordinary than I had expected. Basic monochrome furniture like a desk, chairs, aputer, and a sofa for guests. ¡°Would you like some coffee?¡± ¡°Oh, yes.¡± As I sat on the sofa, Kim Eun-ha began to make coffee herself. When I tried to stand up in surprise, she shook her head no. ¡°¡­Don¡¯t you have a secretary?¡± ¡°They haven¡¯t arrived yet.¡± ¡°What about driving?¡± ¡°I do that myself.¡± Chirp chirp- From what I could tell as a former coffee shop worker, her hand drip skills were so good she could be scouted as a staff member right away. Even if her secretary was here, they probably wouldn¡¯t make coffee often. ¡°What about a bodyguard?¡± ¡°Oh, are you worried about me?¡± ¡°With assets like yours, I thought most people would have a personal assistant doubling as a bodyguard. Well¡­ I am your husband now, aren¡¯t I?¡± ¡°You have watched too much dramas.¡± Smirk- Kim Eun-ha finished making the coffee with a light smile on her lips. A brief silence fell between us. After a short wait, Kim Eun-ha brought over the coffee she had brewed. ¡°Please enjoy.¡± ¡°Thank you.¡± Eek- My throat was already parched, so I immediately took a sip, but the bitterness was unexpectedly strong, filling my mouth. Startled, I looked up to find Kim Eun-ha trying hard to suppress herughter. ¡°Did you poison it or something?¡± ¡°In a way, it¡¯s simr.¡± ¡°¡­I suppose drinking something as strong as espresso like it¡¯s Americano would be like a caffeine explosion. Surely you don¡¯t drink it like this every day?¡± Shrug- Kim Eun-ha shrugged her shoulders once and then deliberately drank the coffee in front of him. Her action was practically an affirmation, eliciting a wryugh from me. ¡°¡­Well, you seem to know what you¡¯re doing.¡± ¡°Hehe. I like that Woo-ju ssi is quick to catch on. Shall we get to the main point now?¡± ¡°The main point?¡± ¡°Acting as if you don¡¯t know, even though you¡¯ve been looking at it the whole time.¡± Hehe- Kim Eun-ha picked up a yellow envelope she had brought along with the coffee earlier. It was noticeably thick, suggesting it contained more than just a simple contract. ¡°Curious?¡± ¡°¡­Why bring me all the way here just to y coy?¡± ¡°I find Woo-ju ssi¡¯s expressions amusing.¡± ¡°What about my expression?¡± ¡°Hmm- it¡¯s like a child who¡¯s just seen a toy ced in front of them?¡± ¡°¡­¡­¡­¡± I had no intention of denying it. In fact, I had instinctively realized what was inside that yellow envelope. The thickness of the contents couldn¡¯t be hidden by the envelope. ¡°Woo-ju ssi has a surprisingly cute side¡­¡± ¡°Eun-ha ssi.¡± ¡°Here you go- take it.¡± Swoosh- Kim Eun-ha, with a yful pout, extended the envelope towards me. I nearly snatched it from her, hastily checking the contents. I thought I heard a ¡®hmph¡¯ sound, but I dismissed it as my imagination. That wasn¡¯t important at the moment. [Peaceful Chaebol Life] Flutter- Upon seeing the contents, a thrill ran through my body. It was the script, the very one I had longed for. **** Chapter 6 - Black Card Chapter 6 - ck CardChapter 6: ck Card ¡°Is this¡­ really a script?¡± I tried to calm my trembling hands as I looked at Kim Eun-ha. She yfully shook her head from side to side as if asking what I was talking about. ¡°It¡¯s not.¡± ¡°You¡¯re lying.¡± ¡°You ask even though you know.¡± ¡°I can¡¯t believe it. It¡¯s only been a few days¡­¡± Gulp-! I swallowed dryly without realizing it. I didn¡¯t know what the drama was about or what role I was going to y. But for me, just being able to touch the script was a very honorable thing. And even more so. ©¤©¤ ©¤©¤ nning: TvM Script: Jung Ha-rin Direction: Kang In-ho ©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤ ¡°Jung Ha-rin as the writer and Kang In-ho as the PD!? They are the legendary duo who hit it big with the series, right?¡± (TL: Reply 1998) ¡°So they say.¡± ¡°¡­Crazy.¡± Thud- I felt as if all the strength had left my body. I just stared nkly at Kim Eun-ha,pletely buried in the sofa. ¡°How did you manage it? With these people, the broadcasters would be supportingvishly. Why parachute someone in¡­?¡± ¡°What else but money.¡± Click- As I calmed my shocked heart, Kim Eun-ha finished her coffee cleanly. She put the empty cup on the table and continued. ¡°A lot of money goes into producing a drama. Unlike the old days, you can¡¯t just cutbor costs with passion pay.¡± ¡°That¡¯s true, but¡­¡± In the past, it wasmon for staff to work several nights in a row, getting paid less than the minimum wage. But in today¡¯s world, doing such things would immediately bring the wrath ofizens. Consequently, many dramas fail even before airing. Nowadays, not only the work-life bnce of the staff but also the school days of the actors are carefully managed. ¡®¡­How much did she give?¡¯ I couldn¡¯t even guess how much production support was needed to insert a parachute actor with no significant experience. ¡®It wouldn¡¯t be just simple support.¡¯ Kang In-ho PD and Jung Ha-rin, the writer, could be considered ¡®guaranteed box-office hits.¡¯ Not only are they talented, but they also have extensive personalworks, ensuring a production team of excellent people. ¡®In other words, an excellent promotional tool.¡¯ Peaceful Chaebol Life. Just from the title of the work, one could guess that the main characters are from the upper ss. And if they were to act, it would naturally be¡­ ¡°Mirae Department Store as the filming location.¡± Hmm- Kim Eun-ha made a curious noise, as if interested. It seemed my guess was right. Only then did I begin to understand the script in front of me. Even with strong backing from a broadcaster, renting out an entire department store would not be easy. ¡®Of course, they could build a set¡­¡¯ But that would also be costly and the limited space would reduce realism. Moreover, a department store is a special space with many brands gathered. There are numerous ways to naturally integrate PPL (TL: product cement). ¡®It must have been an offer hard for the production team to refuse.¡¯ How to increase the production budget or how to integrate PPL without feeling out of ce or reducing its impact. How many production teams must have torn their hair out over the boundary between reality and ideal? Kang In-ho PD and Jung Ha-rin, the writer, couldn¡¯t have beenpletely free from this dilemma either. ¡°It¡¯s a pity. I was hoping to show off a bit.¡± ¡°You seem quite happy for that.¡± ¡°It was a pretty good deal.¡± ¡°Of course. If the drama is a hit, the department store will enjoy tremendous promotional effects. They might even attract foreign tourists.¡± The public is more influenced by the media than they realize. The luxury items worn by actresses in dramas sell out without even needing promotion. But what if there¡¯s a department store in the drama that the chaebols often visit? Especially if you could actually go there yourself. ¡®Wouldn¡¯t the term ¡°pilgrimage¡± exist for a reason?¡¯ In an era where people desire the desires of others. Commonly apanied by the term ¡®Flex¡¯, these days people believe that what others enjoy, they should too. Once the me of a trend ignites, it¡¯s not easily extinguished. One concern, however, is that in this industry, one-sidedly good deals are rare. Surely Kim Eun-ha must have paid a significant price. For instance. ¡°It was a bold decision. If the drama flops spectacrly, shaking off that image won¡¯t be easy.¡± This is the problem. Everyone knows that a hit drama can create a ripple effect of sess. Yet, there¡¯s a reason why not everyone tries it. An absolute rule in this field is that even authors who have continuously hit the jackpot canpletely flop in their next work. ¡°Right. Theck ofpetition for this tempting deal, and the ability to insert you as a parachute, it¡¯s all because of that.¡± ¡°High risk, high return?¡± ¡°No.¡± I expected a positive response, but Kim Eun-ha shook her head decisively. Seeing my puzzled expression, she continued with a mischievous smile on her lips. ¡°I believe that my husband will surely seed. So, in this case, it should be called ¡®zero risk, high return¡¯, right?¡± ¡°Of course, I don¡¯t n to take it lightly either¡­¡± I swallowed the rest of my words. Somehow, her words seemed to have an underlying meaning. Sure enough, she fiddled with her empty teacup a few times, then spoke in a cold, serious tone. ¡°If the drama fails because of Mr. Woo-ju, I¡¯ll find a suitable redevelopment area nearby and bury you alive.¡± ¡°Ahaha, you really joke in a deadly way.¡± ¡°¡­¡­¡± ¡°¡­It¡¯s not a joke?¡± With a slight smile, Kim Eun-ha just lifted the corners of her mouth without answering. I also responded with a silent smile. She really was a type of person to keep at a distance. ¡°Cough- Anyway, what¡­ What role am I ying in this drama? It must be a fairly significant extra since I¡¯m a parachute, right?¡± ¡°It¡¯s Kang Joo-heon.¡± ¡°Oh, he even has a name.¡± My excitement started to rise again. Even if it wasn¡¯t a nameless role like ¡®Passerby 1¡¯, you never know. p- With that hopeful expectation, I flipped through the script. I was just casually checking to see when this Kang Joo-heon character would appear. ¡°¡­Huh?¡± Something was off. From that moment, my hand flipping through the script became increasingly frantic, and with each page turned, my uncontroble body started to tremble. In the first chapter. And the second chapter. In the next, and the next. The name Kang Joo-heon kept popping up. ¡°Eun-ha ssi, don¡¯t tell me¡­¡± Is he the main character? I couldn¡¯t finish my sentence. It seemed too foolish a question even to myself. At the same time, I didn¡¯t have the leisure to ponder it. I was so engrossed in the script that just flipping the pages left me breathless. ¡®He¡¯s not the protagonist.¡¯ For a moment, I thought he was due to his significant presence, but thankfully (?) after reading through the entire script, I realized Kang Joo-heon wasn¡¯t the main character. However, he had too much presence to be just a supporting character. Especially in the early parts of the first episode, he had more scenes than the protagonist. Mostly provocative performances aimed at capturing the attention of viewers who casually sample the drama. ¡®I get the feeling.¡¯ Kang Joo-heon. This guy is a viin standing in direct opposition to the protagonist. Consumed to the bone with a sense of elitism, a true natural-born. In other words. ¡°¡­The main viin.¡± ¡°Interesting expression. So, as you said, he¡¯s the viin throughout the drama. In fantasy novels, maybe akin to a Demon King?¡± ¡°Isn¡¯t it because, Eun-ha ssi, you want to impose a certain ¡®image¡¯ on me as your husband?¡± ¡°That¡¯s right.¡± Kim Eun-ha readily nodded. Indeed, her offering me a role in the drama was more than just a transaction; it was about imposing a suitable image on me. Therefore, I easily understood the keyword ¡®chaebol¡¯. But being a viin was a different story. ¡®A first role is a serious matter for an actor.¡¯ Look at ¡®Daniel Radcliffe¡¯ from the movie . Despite shaving his head, wearing horns, and even ying a gay role, he couldn¡¯t easily shake off the image of Harry Potter. Simrly, I couldn¡¯t ignore the impact of the image given by my first role. ¡°Don¡¯t you like it?¡± ¡°No, it¡¯s not that. I¡¯m not in a position to be picky. Honestly, I would have been satisfied even with an extra role. But¡­¡± ¡°Does it mean that having a viin image isn¡¯t suitable for acting as your spouse?¡± ¡°Essentially, yes.¡± Frankly, no matter the role, I¡¯d bow down and say ¡®Oh, thank you¡¯, but Kim Eun-ha is different, isn¡¯t she? Regardless of the purpose, I thought a positive image would be more advantageous if she intended to present me as a husband candidate to her family. Reading my expression, Kim Eun-ha spoke with a serious look. ¡°What I want from Mr. Woo-ju isn¡¯t a docile retriever-like image. I¡¯d prefer if you were like a Doberman, ready to bite at any time.¡± ¡°Must your analogies be so¡­¡± ¡°Hehe- Borrowing Mr. Woo-ju¡¯s way of expression, am I a princess taming a Demon King? Come to think of it, that image isn¡¯t too bad.¡± ¡°More like a witch, not a princess.¡± Zap- I quickly shut my mouth at Kim Eun-ha¡¯s sharpening gaze. Anyway, if the client has no problem, then that¡¯s okay. ¡°So, Eun-ha ssi, you want me to act like a Doberman all the time, like today?¡± ¡°Yes. In front of the PD, writer, friends, and if possible, even your parents. Act like you¡¯re possessed by the very ¡®Park Do-Hyun¡¯ I saw before.¡± ¡°You¡¯re nonchntly asking for something huge. Even setting aside the feasibility, having a personality like Park Do-Hyun would make normal human rtionships almost impossible, don¡¯t you think?¡± ¡°That¡¯s exactly it.¡± Snap-! Kim Eun-ha snapped her fingers, agreeing. I stared at her, bewildered, as she continued with a yful smile. ¡°That¡¯s what I want from Mr. Woo-ju. You need at least that much audacity to deceive even my grandfather.¡± ¡°What about people who already know me? They¡¯ll think it¡¯s strange.¡± ¡°Just tell me who they are. I¡¯ll take care of them cleanly.¡± ¡°¡­I¡¯ll handle it myself.¡± Kim Eun-ha¡¯s words were scary because I couldn¡¯t tell if they were a joke or serious. I swallowed a cold sweat and hastily changed the subject. ¡°What about the activity support fund?¡± ¡°Support fund?¡± ¡°To act like a rich person, I need money, right? I have clothes that Eun-ha ssi just bought me, but other than that, I¡¯m just a normal guy in his 20s with no house, no car, nothing.¡± ¡°¡­¡­¡± Kim Eun-ha looked at me with a serious face for the first time. She scrutinized my face as if gauging the truth, then took out her wallet. ¡°Oh- A rare card.¡± ¡°¡­Stop talking nonsense and just take it.¡± ¡°I thought it was a ck card.¡± ¡°That one gets blocked if there¡¯s a change in usual spending patterns. And don¡¯t worry about the limit on this card, it¡¯s unlikely you¡¯ll reach it.¡± ¡°So, can I buy a house with this?¡± ¡°¡­¡­¡± That¡¯s probably too much. I subtly averted my gaze from Kim Eun-ha¡¯s deadly look, holding the card and the script carefully in both hands. Chapter 7 - I Will Prove It Chapter 7 - I Will Prove ItChapter 7: I Will Prove It ¡°Is it really okay for me to live here?¡± ¡°This ce was asionally used like a vi, so it has all the basic furniture. If you need anything additional, you can use the card I gave you.¡± ¡°¡¤¡¤¡¤Madam!¡± ¡°Give me back the card.¡± ¡°Hey, I was just kidding. Just a joke.¡± I quickly stepped back to avoid Kim Eun-ha¡¯s hand. A look of disbelief shot at me like an arrow, but I pretended to be looking around the house and casually shrugged it off. ¡®Indeed, money is a good thing.¡¯ I don¡¯t have a house or a car. I tried to make a light ckedy joke about it. But it seems like a serious issue to her. Kim Eun-ha delegated her work to her secretary who arrived on time and immediately headed to the outskirts of Seoul with me. There, I encountered a splendid two-story detached house, even with a garden. ¡®But it feels a bit deste.¡¯ Maybe because people don¡¯t usually stay here. I heard that a caretaker regrly cleans it up, but it still felt strangely empty. ¡°Where do you usually stay?¡± ¡°In an officetel near the department store.¡± ¡°And you leave such a great house?¡± ¡°It¡¯s inefficient formuting. Even if it¡¯s 1~2 hours a day, that¡¯s 10 hours a week. At least 40 hours a month. It¡¯s a huge national loss.¡± Aah, I see. I barely managed to swallow the words that were about to reflexivelye out. I wonder what kind of life one must lead to be so full of pride, but then again, when you see the results, you can¡¯t help but nod in agreement. The most valuable thing she inherited as the heir of the Mirae Group must be this kind of mental attitude, not just capital ornd. ¡®Did she say she hardly had any financial support?¡¯ I heard that the current Mirae Group Chairman, Kim Seok-ho, is very strict about children¡¯s education. A curriculum that ordinary people couldn¡¯t endure for even a month. Naturally, there¡¯s almost no support for business startup funds. Of course, ¡®almost none¡¯ for chaebols might differ from themon standard. Anyway, the fact that she earned the position of CEO of Mirae Department Store is purely due to Kim Eun-ha¡¯s abilities. I guess I should think of this house in front of me as part of her achievements. ¡°¡¤¡¤¡¤In many ways, it¡¯s impressive.¡± ¡°What is?¡± ¡°Eun-ha ssi.¡± ¡°If you cut off the beginning and the end, how would I know what you¡¯re talking about?¡± ¡°Pretty, rich, and capable.¡± ¡°Bringing that up out of the blue.¡± ¡°¡¤¡¤¡¤¡¤¡¤¡¤.¡± I felt strange with her reaction, different from what I expected. Of course, it¡¯s true, but when the person themselves take it so naturally, it kind of makes me feel weird. With that, I shook my head and continued to explore the house. The kitchen, living room, bathroom, of course. And specialized spaces like a pantry orundry room, even a dressing room. ¡°There are three bathrooms!?¡± ¡°One of them is a bath.¡± ¡°Is there such a luxurious space in the world?¡± ¡°¡¤¡¤¡¤Where have you been living all this time?¡± ¡°Just a normal studio apartment.¡± A kitchen, living room, room, dressing room allbined into a Korean-style all-in-one house. A groundbreaking idea of cramming everything possible into a space barely 10 pyeong, maximizing the number of upants per unit area, the pinnacle of capitalism. (TL: 1 pyeong is roughly 3.3 sqm) After a brief exnation, Kim Eun-ha looked at me with a very doubtful expression and said, ¡°Aren¡¯t you exaggerating?¡± ¡°Actually, it¡¯s the opposite. I was rtively better off, but there are really harsh ones where the bathroom isbined into the studio.¡± ¡°¡¤¡¤¡¤How do youbine a bathroom?¡± ¡°Sitting on the toilet while cooking, or if one wishes, they can eat and relieve themselves at the same time. It¡¯s the extreme of efficiency.¡± Ugh- Seemingly with a rich imagination, Kim Eun-ha covered her mouth with her hand and began to retch. In fact, there were ces even worse than that. But fearing I might really be disliked if I said more, I firmly shut my mouth. ¡°Are you okay?¡± ¡°¡¤¡¤¡¤No. I feel queasy.¡± ¡°You have a weak stomach.¡± ¡°I think I¡¯m quite normal!?¡± Kim Eun-ha retorted, raising her voice. This was a significant gap from the demeanor she had shown before, and it was quite cute. Seeing my thoughts reflected on my face, Kim Eun-ha sighed deeply and said, ¡°¡¤¡¤¡¤Anyway.¡± ¡°If you leave out the context, how am I supposed to understand?¡± ¡°Don¡¯t mimic me.¡± ¡°Mimicking¡¤¡¤¡¤ Yes. Understood.¡± re- Kim Eun-ha red at me with a face void of any smile. Seeing that she might bury me in the front yard if I teased her further, I quickly raised both hands to show my surrender. ¡°¡¤¡¤¡¤Sigh. Anyway, until you pick a suitable car, use mine for the time being.¡± Wow- I couldn¡¯t help but let out an exmation. She was referring to the car we drove together from the department store to here. Surprisingly, it was not a foreign car but a domesticpany¡¯s mid-to-low-priced premium line. It was an odd choice for a chaebol heiress, so when I casually asked about it: ¨C My grandfather also drives a domestic car. ¨C Is it to be mindful of public opinion? ¨C Yes. Negative opinions about luxury goods are starting to arise domestically. We¡¯re being cautious to avoid the image of unting wealth. It also helps in strengthening rtions between domestic groups. That was her response. Of course, when they say mid-to-low-priced, it¡¯s still a car worth tens of millions without any options, and it seemed to have beenpletely customized inside. ¡®At least it looks domestic.¡¯ What¡¯s important now is that I have a personal car to drive. ¡°Just to be clear, be extra careful not to have an ident. Use taxis for non-essential schedules.¡± ¡°I have been a substitute driver for five years. Including my military service as a driver, that makes it seven years, so don¡¯t worry about that.¡± ¡°¡¤¡¤¡¤¡¤¡¤¡¤.¡± ¡°¡¤¡¤¡¤¡¤¡¤¡¤.¡± Kim Eun-ha looked into my eyes silently for a while, as if gauging the truth. When I met her gaze without averting my eyes, she nodded slightly. ¡°I¡¯ll trust you this time.¡± ¡°You won¡¯t regret it!¡± ¡°¡¤¡¤¡¤I¡¯m starting to regret it already.¡± Sigh- Kim Eun-ha let out a deep sigh. After a moment of hesitation, she finally handed me the car keys. ¡°Thank you. But what will you drive in the meantime, Eun-ha ssi?¡± ¡°There are a few more at the department store.¡± Ah, I see. I decided not to impose ordinarymon sense on her anymore. If I¡¯m to act as a chaebol, I need to be more familiar with their ways. ¡°Then, I should head back to thepany. Woo-ju ssi, make sure to prepare for the audition and get anything you need.¡± ¡°Audition? What do you mean?¡± ¡°Oh, did I not mention it?¡± Grin- Meeting my eyes, Kim Eun-ha raised one corner of her mouth. Seeing that mischievous smile, I was sure she did it on purpose. ¡°That¡¯s the production team¡¯s requirement. They want to see if Woo-ju ssi is qualified for the role of Kang Joo-heon.¡± ¡°What if they don¡¯t like it?¡± ¡°Even if I withdraw all support, they can¡¯t give you the role of Kang Joo-heon to someone unsuitable, they were very adamant about that.¡± ¡°I see.¡± It was the first time I heard this, but I nodded calmly. Kim Eun-ha tilted her head, seemingly puzzled by my reaction. ¡°You don¡¯t seem very surprised?¡± ¡°I think it¡¯s only natural. In fact, I would have been disappointed if they had epted me just because of the sponsorship.¡± What¡¯s the use of a high production budget if a single poor actor can ruin the whole work. Viewers are wary of idol-turned-actors for a reason. Awkward acting disrupts immersion and can ruin the production. Moreover, a failed production leaves an indelible mark on everyone involved in its creation, from the actors to the writers, directors, and all staff. No matter how desperate I am for acting opportunities, I don¡¯t want to ruin a production with my own hands. What I need is simply an ¡®opportunity¡¯. ¡°Probably Eun-ha ssi thinks the same.¡± ¡°Hmm?¡± ¡°If I fail the audition, you won¡¯t withdraw your support. Instead, you¡¯ll invest more to bring in a well-known actor. For instance¡­¡± ¡°Seo Jun-woo.¡± Kim Eun-ha cut me off. She looked at me with a cold, business-like expression that was uncharacteristic of her. ¡°As you said. If Woo-ju ssi fails the audition, I¡¯ll bring in actor Seo Jun-woo, the star of Mirae Department Store.¡± ¡°Is that so.¡± ¡°Are you upset?¡± ¡°It would be a lie to say I¡¯m not.¡± I¡¯m human, after all. It hurts to be told to my face that ¡®there are plenty of others to rece you¡¯. But. ¡°I just need to pass, right?¡± ¡°What?¡± ¡°The audition, I mean.¡± ¡°¡¤¡¤¡¤¡¤¡¤¡¤.¡± Seo Jun-woo taking my ce is a story for if I fail the audition. Therefore, the solution is surprisingly simple. ¡°I will prove myself.¡± ¡°You seem oddly confident.¡± ¡°I have nothing to lose. And¡­¡± ¡°And?¡± Kim Eun-ha, her curiosity piqued, pricked up her ears and asked. Recalling the mischievous smile she had just shown, I said, ¡°I have a girlfriend who believes in me, right?¡± ¡°Oh, how boring.¡± ¡°Whoa, has your affection for me already cooled down? Just yesterday you said, ¡®I believe my husband will definitely do it¡¯.¡± ¡°¡¤¡¤¡¤That was this morning.¡± ¡°It¡¯s just a figure of speech. Oh, how boring.¡± ¡°¡¤¡¤¡¤¡¤¡¤¡¤.¡± Kim Eun-ha¡¯s brow furrowed deeply. She seemed to have a lot to say, but her expression showed she didn¡¯t know what to say. ¡°Sigh¡­ Fine.¡± ¡°You¡¯re leaving already?¡± ¡°I don¡¯t like being around you; it¡¯s draining.¡± ¡°I really, really like Eun-ha ssi.¡± ¡°Go away. Just go!¡± Kim Eun-ha recoiled in disgust as I deliberately clung to her. Her look was as if she had seen a cockroach, which honestly hurt a little. Seemingly flustered by her own genuine reaction, Kim Eun-ha¡¯s face reddened. ¡°Suddenly clinging to me like that!¡± ¡°What¡¯s that? Such an innocent reaction.¡± ¡°What else¡­ No, never mind! Stop talking. I really need to go to work now. Prepare well for your audition.¡± ¡°I¡¯ll take you to the department store.¡± ¡°I don¡¯t need it.¡± Click-ck-! Kim Eun-ha, perhaps trying to hide her embarrassment, left with particrly forceful steps. I watched her confident departure and called out, ¡°The exit is on the other side.¡± ¡°I know that! This is my house, after all!?¡± ¡°Then why go that way?¡± ¡°¡¤¡¤¡¤I¡¯m going to the bathroom first.¡± ¡°Aha.¡± ¡°¡¤¡¤¡¤¡¤¡¤¡¤.¡± Kim Eun-ha walked away with determination, as if to prove her point. However, she had overlooked one fact. ¡®What will she use to leave?¡¯ When she arrived, I saw no other car, and she had said the spare ones were at the department store parking lot. Calling a taxi would take a long time to get here. Sure enough, beyond the fence, I saw her pacing indecisively, not knowing what to do. ¡®¡¤¡¤¡¤Such a tiresome type.¡¯ Sigh- I let out a small sigh and immediately headed to the parking lot with the car keys. Then, I drove out in the car Kim Eun-ha had transferred to me. She turned her head in surprise at the sound of the car. I rolled down the passenger side window and cheekily asked. ¡°I was just heading out to pick up some things for the house. Would you like to join me? I can drop you off nearby.¡± ¡°¡¤¡¤¡¤¡¤¡¤¡¤.¡± Nod- Inside the car, Kim Eun-ha didn¡¯t even nce my way. She just silently looked out the window. Only I knew that her neck was blushing like a persimmon due to this. * * * ¡°You¡¯re really going to parachute someone in!?¡± ¡°Ah, my ears are going to fall off from the noise.¡± ¡°Director! How can you do this? You know how much I cherish this project! When you invited me to work on this project, you definitely said¡­¡± ¡°Writer Jung.¡± Gone was Kang In-ho¡¯s usual jovial image; he spoke with a serious expression and tone. This cooled down the heated Jung Ha-rin a bit, and the experienced Kang In-ho didn¡¯t miss this opportunity to continue. ¡°It¡¯s not just Writer Jung who values this project. Do you think I feel any differently? But to survive long in this business, we ultimately have to prove ourselves through ratings.¡± ¡°¡¤¡¤¡¤¡¤¡¤¡¤.¡± ¡°Think about thest project. Celebrating the protagonist¡¯s release from the prison with choctes? This is much better than stuffing the show with awkward PPL, right?¡± Sigh- Watching Writer Jung¡¯s spiritless expression, Director Park swallowed a bitter smile. He sank into the old sofa and continued. ¡°Moreover, they were the ones who suggested the audition first. They even said that if we don¡¯t like the performance, we don¡¯t have to cast him.¡± ¡°Do you believe that?¡± ¡°People might not be trustworthy, but contracts are. Of course¡¤¡¤¡¤¡± Knock-knock- Just then, someone knocked on the door. The two of them, as if by agreement, quieted their voices and turned their heads simultaneously. Click- As if on cue, the door opened boldly, and a man entered. The faces of the two people widened in surprise upon seeing Kang Woo-ju. **** TL: Hi, thanks for reading. English is not my firstnguage, so if the wording feels a bit unnatural, please let me know in thements. Also, I will try to get an editor for this series, and if anyone wants to volunteer, please let me know. Thanks. Chapter 8 - Excuse me, but who are you? Chapter 8 - Excuse me, but who are you?Chapter 8: Excuse me, but who are you? ¡°¡­Who is this?¡± Kang In-ho¡¯s mind raced. The suit was of high-quality material at first nce. Its wearer seemed to carry it effortlessly, exuding a natural grace. Definitely not a staff member. And didn¡¯t seem to be an actor either. After all, he practically had every notable actor in his head, so it was impossible to forget someone with such a presence if they existed. ¡°Could it be an investor?¡± Just by the aura, they reminded him of the chaebol third generation he met recently. Of course, this person seemed much more finicky and had a colder image. Since they clearly weren¡¯t just an ordinary person, Director Kang thought they might be here to invest in the production and quickly stood up. ¡°¡­Excuse me, but who are you?¡± Twitch- The person¡¯s eyebrows twitched at this reaction. Their eyes seemed to say, ¡®Dare you not know who I am?¡¯ which made Director Kang shrink a bit. ¡°I¡¯m sure I arrived right on the scheduled time.¡± A scheduled appointment? A question mark popped up in Director Kang¡¯s head. He nced at Writer Jung for answers, but she too looked clueless. ¡°¡­This is bad.¡± Investors could be so fussy. Many of them acted like they owned the ce even before putting in any money. But as the production team needing investment, they couldn¡¯t afford to upset these investors and had to appease them somehow. ¡°Ah! Yes, that¡¯s right! Ahaha¡­ We¡¯ve been so busy that wepletely forgot. Please, have a seat here! I¡¯ll call someone right away.¡± ¡°I¡¯ll get some coffee!¡± Both Director Kang In-ho and Writer Jung Ha-rin, veterans who had survived years in this field, handled the situation very skillfully. It was as if they had rehearsed this, getting up from their seats in unison. But just when they were about to do so, The man raised a hand, stopping them both. ¡°Let¡¯s proceed with the audition.¡± ¡°Excuse me?¡± ¡°What?¡± The two froze at the man¡¯s unexpected remark. Like broken machines, they stiffly turned their heads, only to see Kang Woo-ju sitting calmly, crossing his legs. ¡°¡­What did you just say?¡± ¡°I said let¡¯s start with the audition. The scheduled time has already passed. If we dy further, it might cause problems for the subsequent schedule.¡± ¡°Excuse me, but may I know your name?¡± ¡°Kang Woo-ju.¡± Kang Woo-ju. Their mouths fell open at the familiar name. It was the name of the parachuted candidate they had just been discussing. Tap, tap. Unaware or indifferent to their astonished reaction, Kang Woo-ju tapped his wristwatch nonchntly and spoke. ¡°Are you not going to start?¡± ¡°¡­¡­¡± His attitude was unbelievable for someone who was supposedly an audition participant. Finally understanding the whole situation, Director Kang In-ho let out a bitterugh. ¡°This is totally crazy¡­¡± ¡°Director, wait a moment.¡± ¡°Huh?¡± Confused by her restraining voice, Kang In-ho looked at Jung Ha-rin with a puzzled expression. However, she was too busy observing Kang Woo-ju. ¡°Um¡­ Kang Woo-ju ssi?¡± ¡°Speak.¡± ¡°So, you mean, you are the Kang Woo-ju who was decided to y the role of [Kang Joo-heon]? The one scheduled for today¡¯s audition¡­ Huh!¡± Swoosh- Instead of a reply, a sharp gaze flew towards Jung Ha-rin, making her gasp for air. She was a veteran who had survived the ups and downs of this industry, but such a piercing gaze was truly rare. ¡®The look in someone¡¯s eyes can be¡­¡¯ Titter- Feeling like she had locked eyes with a wild beast, Jung Ha-rin felt the hairs on her body stand on end, and at the same time, her intuition, which had been her bread and butter till now, kicked in. ¡°Ahaha! Right, you are? Please wait here for a moment! Since a guest has arrived, I should at least serve a cup of coffee.¡± ¡°Writer Jung, what are you suddenly¡­?¡± ¡°Oh, right! Director, where did we put those premium coffee beans we boughtst time? I can¡¯t quite remember, could youe with me?¡± ¡°¡­Uh?¡± ¡°Come on, the actor is waiting, let¡¯s quickly go and return!¡± Jung Ha-rin pushed the bewildered director out of the room. Perhaps due to the mention of premium beans, this time Kang Woo-ju didn¡¯t stop them. As they left the meeting room, Jung Ha-rin¡¯s thoughts went back a few days. To the moment she encountered the beautiful woman who introduced herself as the CEO of Mirae Department Store. ¨C Are you serious? ¨C Of course. ¨C Isn¡¯t it impolite to ask, but aren¡¯t you sponsoring to secure a role? What we¡¯re talking about isn¡¯t a mere formality but a real¡­ ¨C You seem to have a misunderstanding. ¨C Pardon? Kim Eun-ha¡¯s expression, which had been businesslike throughout, turned even colder. She spoke in a stiff tone to the flinching Jung Ha-rin. ¨C I¡¯m ¡®investing¡¯ in this project. I want its sess more than anyone. If Kang Woo-ju¡¯s acting doesn¡¯t satisfy you, you should naturally bring in another actor. ¨C Even if you say so¡­ ¨C If you wish, I can have it notarized in a contract. At that moment, Jung Ha-rin became curious. The person before her was far beyond the category of an ordinary individual. What kind of person would someone so confident rmend as an actor? ¨C Are you curious why I¡¯m pushing this so much? ¨C Yes, honestly. ¨C There¡¯s no special reason. Just¡­ ¨C Just? ¨C I trust my eyes. Smile- Kim Eun-ha showed a soft smile for the first time. So beautiful that it stunned Jung Ha-rin, who had encountered countless actors, making her momentarily lose her thoughts. ¡®She seemed like a nobledy from a novel¡­¡¯ If she wasn¡¯t an investor, Jung would have liked to suggest she try acting. But now, looking at Kang Woo-ju in front of her, she had a simr thought. While Kim Eun-ha gave off a nobledy¡¯s vibe, he seemed more like a count. ¡®Is he really an actor?¡¯ That thought came to her naturally. What kind of actores to an audition and behaves so rudely towards the director and writer? Even if it¡¯s a concept, it¡¯s too much. But the funny thing was that it felt so natural. Even Director Kang In-ho, who had seen it all, stood up to vacate his seat, as if it was a matter of course. ¡®We both instinctively judged him as a superior.¡¯ Kang Woo-ju¡¯s aura was exceptional. It wasn¡¯t just because of the designer clothes he wore. It was the momentum he radiated in his gestures, stride, and confident demeanor. Especially those emotionless eyes seemed insane, making it hard for ordinary people to even make eye contact with Kang Woo-ju. ¡°Writer Jung. What are you thinking?¡± ¡°How does he look to you, Director?¡± ¡°What do you mean? Are you talking about that rude¡­?¡± ¡°Please keep your voice down!¡± Jung Ha-rin quickly covered Kang In-ho¡¯s mouth. This guy had sharp instincts when shooting dramas, but sometimes he could be so clueless. ¡°Does he look like an ordinary person to you?¡± ¡°What, is he an alien or something?¡± ¡°Cool your head and think about it calmly! He¡¯s someone the CEO of Mirae Department Store personally came to ask for!¡± ¡°Uhmm¡­¡± Kang Woo-ju¡¯s behavior was clearly alien. This meant that he had grown up in an environment where acting like that was not a problem. ¡°¡­Now that I think about it, the watch he was wearing. It looked like a ¡®Patek Philippe¡¯ no matter how I look at it.¡± ¡°What is that?¡± ¡°It¡¯s a super high-end watch brand, esteemed even among the rich. It has the most ¡®first¡¯ and ¡®best¡¯ titles in its hundreds of years of history.¡± ¡°It looked just ordinary from the outside?¡± ¡°That¡¯s the point. It¡¯s a brand that epitomizes ¡®ordinary¡¯.¡± ¡°¡­You really know your watches. Anyway, it¡¯s clear that Kang Woo-ju ssi is no ordinary person. We agree on that, right?¡± ¡°For now.¡± As he nodded, Kang In-ho¡¯s mood sharpened. After a moment of serious expression, he spoke. ¡°¡­I¡¯m screwed, aren¡¯t I?¡± ¡°Probably.¡± ¡°Damn. If I knew it would end this hopelessly, I should have spat in that department head¡¯s face.¡± ¡°It¡¯s too early to give up.¡± ¡°Should I go spit now?¡± ¡°No, it¡¯s about Kang Woo-ju ssi!¡± As soon as she finished speaking, Kang In-ho turned around, but Jung Ha-rin quickly grabbed him and cautiously peeked into the meeting room before continuing. ¡°Doesn¡¯t he seem surprisingly suitable?¡± ¡°What, for the role of Kang Joo-heon?¡± ¡°Yes. At first, I was too shocked to react properly. But looking at him now, isn¡¯t it like he just stepped out of the script?¡± ¡°Hmm-¡± At her words, Kang In-ho stroked his chin, deep in thought. He spoke again after quite some time had passed. ¡°Definitely. The way he red at you earlier was extraordinary. It reminded me of scene #048 from the script.¡± ¡°The scene where the protagonist orders to bury all the employees who opposed him?¡± ¡°Right. The subtle annoyance hidden in his emotionless eyes. Just that alone seemed enough to kill someone with cold brutality.¡± ¡°And you left me alone with him!?¡± ¡°Sorry. To be honest, I was a bit scared too.¡± ¡°¡­Even though you¡¯re a director.¡± ¡°Yeah, directors are humans too.¡± Watching him not back down, Jung Ha-rin sighed deeply. However, it was only for a moment. They soon started putting their heads together to gather opinions. ¡°We originally thought of Lim Sang-hoon for the role of Kang Joo-heon, right? When we saw himst time, I thought he was perfect.¡± ¡°Me too. But after seeing Kang Woo-ju ssi, it feels like something is missing? It doesn¡¯t seem like he¡¯s acting at all.¡± ¡°Should we try having him read the script?¡± ¡°Let¡¯s do that. Just in case, I¡¯ll go to the coffee shop and get something to drink. Meanwhile, please talk to him, Director.¡± ¡°¡­Can¡¯t we switch roles?¡± ¡°Be reasonable!¡± Chided by Jung Ha-rin, Kang In-ho wore a long face but to no avail. Eventually resigning, Kang In-ho entered the meeting room with a face like someone being led to ughter. Jung Ha-rin quickly grabbed her coat and wallet. ¡®Somehow, I have a good feeling about this.¡¯ Of course, they hadn¡¯t done the script reading yet, and premature judgment in this industry is taboo. But perhaps because her expectations for a parachute candidate were low, she felt quite positive. If they could capture Kang Woo-ju¡¯s current aura on camera, they couldplete the project without having to cater to Kim Eun-ha, the major investor. Jung Ha-rin¡¯s steps to the coffee shop were lighter than ever. . . . ¡°¡­Why are you alone, Director?¡± ¡°¡­I don¡¯t even know.¡± ¡°Director! You didn¡¯t say anything to Woo-ju ssi, did you!? Like about being a parachute, or having a bad attitude!?¡± ¡°Is that the image I have to Writer Jung!?¡± ¡°Don¡¯t change the subject!¡± Jung Ha-rin, who had returned from the coffee shop, seemedpletely fixated on casting Kang Woo-ju for the role, her eyes wild with determination. Sigh- At that, Kang In-ho let out a long sigh and gestured towards one side of the wall. When Jung Ha-rin turned her gaze, she saw a clock there. ¡°¡­Why the clock all of a sudden?¡± ¡°He left because it was time.¡± ¡°What?¡± ¡°Exactly as I said. While talking, he nced at his watch, and then he just got up and walked out of the meeting room. Said that his scheduled time was over and he had to leave.¡± ¡°When was that scheduled¡­ Oh?¡± The strength drained from Jung Ha-rin¡¯s hand, which had been gripping Kang In-ho¡¯s cor without realizing it. She recalled the conversation she had previously with Kim Eun-ha. ¨C I¡¯ll set the schedule from 1:00 PM sharp to 1:20 PM. At that time, she had agreed without much thought. But what kind of actor leaves an audition simply because the allotted time has passed? ¡®¡­There is one person thates to mind.¡¯ She remembered someone who valued their time above all else, someone who would call off any deal if the other party was even a secondte to a scheduled meeting. The two of them, left alone, looked at the empty space Kang Woo-ju had left and let out a hollowugh. ¡°¡­It¡¯s Kang Joo-heon.¡± ¡°¡­It is Kang Joo-heon.¡± They wondered whether they had just auditioned someone. Or if they were the ones who had been evaluated. They couldn¡¯t quite figure it out. Chapter 9 - Is This What They Call a Date? Chapter 9 - Is This What They Call a Date?Chapter 9: Is This What They Call a Date? ¡°Pretty impressive. I never really expected you to pass.¡± ¡°You weren¡¯t hoping for me to fail, were you?¡± ¡°Of course not.¡± Hehe- Kim Eun-ha quietly swallowed herughter. She took a sip of the coffee in front of her, enjoying a moment of leisure, then slowly continued speaking. ¡°Now that you¡¯ve sessfullypleted the task I gave you, you deserve a fitting reward, right?¡± ¡°That¡¯s okay. What you¡¯ve done for me so far is more than enough.¡± This was my sincere feeling, without any exaggeration. From her perspective, it was merely part of an investment, and even that wasn¡¯t arge amount of money. ¡®Value is always rtive, after all.¡¯ Just take the house Kim Eun-ha lent to me, for example. If I had tried to get a country house like this without her help, I would have been overwhelmed just trying toe up with the deposit. Not to mention the chance to audition for a main role in a project that was half-expected to seed was like a dreame true for me. However, Kim Eun-ha shook her head. As if that alone was not enough to satisfy her. ¡°Is there really nothing you want?¡± ¡°No, there isn¡¯t.¡± ¡°Then, is it okay if I decide on something myself?¡± ¡°¡­¡­?¡± ¡°I¡¯ll move your father¡¯s hospital room.¡± Startled- Caught off guard by this unexpected offer, I flinched. Seemingly waiting for my reaction, her smile grew wider. ¡°I heard that your father was moved from the ICU to a general ward due to a cerebral hemorrhage, for some reason. I also know that despite ongoing treatment, there hasn¡¯t been much progress.¡± ¡°¡­¡­¡± Kim Eun-ha¡¯s words struck a sore spot. It felt like my chest was constricted, making it hard to breathe. Although she vaguely mentioned ¡®some reason¡¯, ultimately, the issue was money and connections. My father, suffering from hemiplegia, was unable to move on his own and needed a caregiver 24 hours a day. ¡®I somehow managed the ICU expenses with health insurance, but¡­¡¯ The problem was the number of hospital beds. The ICU had very limited space, and the number of patients was only increasing. Eventually, he had to be moved to a general ward. As a result, my mother had to quit her job and started living in the hospital with my father. ¡®That¡¯s when hell started.¡¯ The couple, who were barely paying off debts with both ies, retired at the same time, naturally leaving the burden to the rest of the family. My younger sibling had just started college and was barely managing on their own. So, the responsibility fell entirely on the eldest son. Despite juggling various part-time jobs and losing sleep, it was a life like a hamster wheel, merely maintaining the status quo. Kim Eun-ha was dering that she would break this vicious cycle of dire poverty. ¡°I¡¯ll move your father to the VVIP room of a hospital used by our group. The facilities and staff are, of course, the best in the country, and intensive care is guaranteed.¡± ¡°¡­¡­¡± ¡°Obviously, it¡¯ll be much morefortable and stable than the general ward he¡¯s currently in. Especially, your mother, who¡¯s living there with him, will feel a big difference.¡± ¡°It¡¯s an offer I can¡¯t refuse.¡± ¡°Then I¡¯ll take it as your eptance and proceed.¡± Click-! Kim Eun-ha immediately picked up the phone to speak with her secretary. The call was brief, as if she had already informed them of the situation. ¡°It¡¯s all set. A private ambnce prepared by our side will transport your father today. Upon arrival at the hospital, we¡¯ll start with a thorough examination.¡± Grinning- Kim Eun-ha wore a faint smile. Facing her expression, an indescribable sense of d¨¦j¨¤ vu washed over me. Although she called it a ¡®reward¡¯, could there really be no hidden intention behind it? ¡®Of course, it could simply be a way to tame me.¡¯ Carrot and stick. There aren¡¯t many better ways to train not just pets but people as well. Indeed, I was already feeling deep gratitude towards her. In the past few days, as I continuously analyzed the script and yed the role of Kang Joo-heon, the heir to a chaebol family, I started to be curious about her true intentions. ¡®It¡¯s too valuable a card to use right now.¡¯ Frankly speaking, there is no greater vulnerability for me at this moment than my parents. Having already achieved the goal of securing a role, there could be no better offer for me than the one to move my father¡¯s hospital room. In other words, it means she has a way to control me effectively. But why would she hand it to me so easily? ¡®Is she trying to make me feel indebted?¡¯ It¡¯s not entirely out of the question. But the timing is too early. If it were Kang Joo-heon, he would have waited for the moment I was most desperate, like if my father¡¯s life was in danger. Of course, it could be an intention to exert pressure by moving my parents to a hospital under her influence, but Kim Eun-ha doesn¡¯t seem that simple. ¡°You seem deep in thought.¡± ¡°I¡¯m curious why Eun-ha ssi is making such a losing deal. Honestly, just the audition opportunity was enough reward for me in this case.¡± ¡°Maybe I like you, Woo-ju ssi?¡± ¡°Even as a joke¡­¡± Heh- Kim Eun-haughed softly at my immediate response. I was quite serious though. After a moment, sheposed herself and continued. ¡°Hmm¡­ So, are you saying that I¡¯ve carelessly used a valuable bargaining chip in dealing with you?¡± ¡°There¡¯s no such thing as a free lunch.¡± This is the unchanging truth I¡¯ve learned through hard experiences all my life. If you gain something, you must pay an equivalent price. Especiallying from her, who is more meticulous in calctions than anyone, this bait. Without careful consideration, I can¡¯t predict what might happen in the future. ¡°It¡¯s a bit disappointing. Don¡¯t you trust me?¡± ¡°On the contrary.¡± ¡°Huh?¡± ¡°I act this way because I recognize Eun-ha ssi¡¯s capabilities. I believe every action, word, and gesture of yours is meaningful.¡± ¡°¡­¡­¡± For a moment, Kim Eun-ha¡¯s expression turned cold. Or rather, it revealed her true self. Her gaze was emotionless, like a machine. It¡¯s a familiar feeling. It¡¯s the same look I always try to emte when I practice in front of the mirror. ¡°You¡¯re being mischievous.¡± Of course, that moment was extremely fleeting. Kim Eun-ha soon wore a gentle smile again, as if nothing happened. ¡°It¡¯s refreshing to be treated this way. Usually, people try to undermine me just because I¡¯m a woman.¡± ¡°¡­¡­¡± At this moment, I thought that Kim Eun-ha might be more suited to acting than I am. Her smile was so natural that even I could be fooled. ¡°Ah, well. I did ask everyone to act in front of me, but I didn¡¯t expect it to apply to me too. A clear mistake.¡± ¡°If the princess wishes, I can be a retriever too.¡± ¡°No, I like it this way. It¡¯s more fun to tame someone appropriately. Especially those who think they¡¯re smart.¡± ¡°Being too careless can get you bitten. Grrr-¡± ¡°¡¤¡¤¡¤You¡¯re really funny.¡± Goodness- As I yfully growled, Kim Eun-ha burst intoughter. That smile, unlike the previous ones, seemed genuinely real. Thanks to that, the previously heavy atmosphere in the room lightened up significantly. Kim Eun-ha then continued in a more rxed tone. ¡°Then,e with me somewhere.¡± ¡°Is that an order, or a request?¡± ¡°Both.¡± ¡°Then I¡¯m happy to follow.¡± ¡°Even without knowing what it is?¡± ¡°Does knowing give me the right to refuse?¡± Shaking her head- Kim Eun-ha shook her head in a resigned manner at my clever response. She then added more seriously. ¡°We¡¯re going to be photographed for a setup shot.¡± ¡°¡¤¡¤¡¤Photographed?¡± ¡°Yes. By now, the rumors must have spread throughout our group. That Kim Eun-ha has gone crazy over a man, giving away a house and a card. It¡¯s caused quite a stir.¡± As she spoke, Kim Eun-ha¡¯s brow furrowed slightly. It seemed the interference from rtives was more serious than I thought. ¡°I thought you brought me to the department store deliberately, aiming for this.¡± ¡°That¡¯s right. But it¡¯s still annoying. It¡¯s as if they¡¯re stalkers, hiring so many paparazzi, I can¡¯t even guess how many.¡± Ah- Hearing this, I couldn¡¯t help but exim. Now I understood why Kim Eun-ha suddenly wanted to move my parents¡¯ hospital room. ¡°So that¡¯s why you moved my parents¡¯ hospital room.¡± ¡°It¡¯s much harder to ess the VVIP room than a general ward. It¡¯s also easier for me to manage.¡± ¡°Thank you for everything.¡± ¡°Just now?¡± ¡°Betterte than never.¡± ¡°¡¤¡¤¡¤Really shameless, aren¡¯t you?¡± Despite her grumbling words, Kim Eun-ha¡¯s expression seemed somewhat softened, suggesting she wasn¡¯t too displeased. ¡°In return, I¡¯ll thoroughly fulfill any option you wish for this weekend. It looks like the drama will need a bit more time anyway.¡± From what I heard from writer Jung Ha-rin, the script reading for ¡°Peaceful Chaebol Life¡± wouldn¡¯t start until next month. The production costs were resolved with Kim Eun-ha¡¯s participation, and the scheduling was easilypleted. However, the casting of main actors, apart from the role of Kang Joo-heon, had not yet been finalized. ¡°Sounds like you would have refused if you were busy filming?¡± ¡°Still, work and personal life should be separated.¡± ¡°Which one is work for you?¡± ¡°¡¤¡¤¡¤¡¤¡¤¡¤.¡± Swoosh- Even as I turned my head away, sharp nces kept piercing me. If it weren¡¯t for my thick-skinned skills honed over years of part-time jobs, I might have been riddled like a beehive by now. ¡°Well, anyway.¡± ¡°Don¡¯t change the subject.¡± ¡°The point is to use the paparazzi to our advantage. Let¡¯s have a showy date this weekend to solidify our rtionship, shall we?¡± ¡°¡¤¡¤¡¤¡¤¡¤¡¤.¡± ¡°¡¤¡¤¡¤Whether it¡¯s work or personal, Eun-ha ssi is my top priority.¡± ¡°Hehe. Then, shall we go on a date?¡± ¡°¡¤¡¤¡¤Yes.¡± Finally, Kim Eun-ha smiled brightly and took out her tablet. Watching her, I thought she had an innocent side, almost childlike. * * * ¡®¡­Could that really be?¡¯ Bang! Bang! Bang! The searing sound of gunfire pierced my ears, even through the headset. Being a former driver in the military, I was familiar with this noise due to mandatory participation in shooting training. But the problem was who was making that noise. ¡°Is this what they call a date?¡± ¡°What did you just say?¡± Kim Eun-ha spoke as she hung the headset around her neck. In her hand, she held a silver revolver gleaming under the lights. The name: Smith & Wesson 686. It uses the particrly powerful .357 Magnum bullets, considered suitable for advanced users. Apparently, it has a 96% stopping power against people. ¡°Woo-ju ssi?¡± ¡°It¡¯s my first time shooting a handgun, but it¡¯s more fun than I thought.¡± ¡°Right? The stress just flies away with each shot. Especially if you imagine shooting at the face of someone you hate¡­¡± Kim Eun-ha rambled on excitedly, her demeanor resembling a child engrossed in toys. If only the object in her hand weren¡¯t a real gun, it would have been quite adorable. ¡°Are you listening to me?¡± ¡°Of course. The history of the Magnum is quite fascinating.¡± ¡°That¡¯s right. ording to statistics¡­¡± I nodded along to whatever Kim Eun-ha said. Looking at the target she shot, no other thoughts came to mind. Six bullets precisely lodged in the forehead of the target. From what I saw, her bullets had a 100% stopping power against people. **** Chapter 10 - Wish Granting Coupon Chapter 10 - Wish Granting CouponChapter 10: Wish Granting Coupon ¡°Woo-ju ssi is quite good at shooting too.¡± Kim Eun-ha tilted her head while looking at my target. Out of a total of 6 shots, 4 were 10 points each, and 2 were 9 points. Adding up to a total score of 58. Considering it was pistol shooting, I thought it was an absurdly high score to just be called ¡®quite¡¯ good. The problem was that Kim Eun-ha had scored a perfect 60. ¡°The recoil of the pistol was a bit unfamiliar, but aligning the sight and controlling my breathing were simr to when I shot the K-2 in the military, so it was manageable.¡± ¡°Oh, really?¡± ¡°¡­¡­¡± Kim Eun-ha gave a look of amusement, almost as if she was cating a child. Unknowingly, the corners of my mouth twisted. ¡°Do you want to bet with me?¡± ¡°You¡¯ll regret it.¡± ¡°Me? Or Eun-ha ssi?¡± ¡°Hmm¡­ Alright. I didn¡¯t expect you to challenge me after seeing my shooting skills. I didn¡¯t know Woo-ju ssi liked being on the losing side.¡± ¡°Don¡¯t cry when you lose to me.¡± ¡°With just those skills?¡± ¡°Your tongue is too long.¡± Huhu- Kim Eun-ha, with a broad smile on her face, called over an employee. After exining our situation, she promptly got ready for shooting. ¡°The model will be the same. We¡¯ll use a total of 6 bullets. The scoring method will be the same as on the target. Should I give you some sort of handicap?¡± ¡°Are youying the groundwork for excuses?¡± ¡°¡¤¡¤¡¤I don¡¯t know where this confidencees from. So, what will you put on the line for the bet?¡± ¡°In such cases, a wish granting coupon is the universal rule.¡± ¡°That sounds like a loss for me.¡± ¡°Scared?¡± ¡°¡¤¡¤¡¤I¡¯ll ept. I¡¯m going to win anyway.¡± Squirm- Kim Eun-ha¡¯s mouth twisted. That wasn¡¯t acting; it was a real expression of difort. I could instinctively tell. She probably thinks she¡¯ll definitely win. But I feel the same way. ¡®I¡¯ve got the feel from thest shooting.¡¯ I didn¡¯t tell Kim Eun-ha, but I have never missed being an expert marksman in the military. So much so that my battalionmander, amazed by my shooting skills, asked if I had considered bing a sniper. Had I not known that I would have to be a professional sergeant and at least get promoted to staff sergeant, I might have really be one. ¡®That¡¯s not what¡¯s important right now.¡¯ Hoo- I took a long breath to clear my mind. The most basic thing for precise shooting is to have a steady body and mind. ¡®In a way, this is simr to acting.¡¯ When acting, one must carefully control gestures, steps, breathing, and emotions. That¡¯s necessary for the audience to be immersed. Compared to that, shooting is easier. At least there¡¯s no need to manage expressions. ¡°Are you ready?¡± ¡°Yes.¡± While I was doing my own mind control, the employee finished setting up. After answering, I picked up the gun following the employee¡¯s guidance. Ah, this cool and heavy sensation. It¡¯s been a while. ¡°Wow, you¡¯re really trying to win this time.¡± Kim Eun-ha¡¯s sarcasm came from beside me, but it couldn¡¯t affect me at all, as I waspletely immersed. Spread your legs shoulder-width apart. Right hand holds the grip. Left hand just supports. Sss- Hoo- Steadying my breath, I extend my arms forward. Align the front sight with the rear sight and the target. At this moment, stop breathing precisely. Bang-! I felt it the moment I shot. This is undoubtedly a 10 point shot. ¡°10 points!¡± The employee¡¯s shout confirmedter. This is the most dangerous moment. It¡¯s easy to lose your posture thinking you¡¯ve done well. So here, it¡¯s important to calmly ept this as a matter of course. ¡®Hitting 10 points is natural for me.¡¯ So there¡¯s no need to get overly excited. I align the wavering sight again amidst endless self-hypnosis. From the 2nd bullet onwards, rhythm is important. Bang-! Bang-! Bang-! The sound of gunfire resonated in a steady rhythm. I didn¡¯t need to listen to the employee¡¯s shouts that followed. They were all 10 points. ¡°Perfect score, 60 points!¡± ¡°Oooh!¡± p p p- Afterpleting the safety check and putting down the gun, the employees nodded and apuded. I nodded lightly towards them as a way of saying thanks and then immediately turned my head towards Kim Eun-ha. There could be no score higher than mine. The best she could do was to tie with me. Being the second shooteres with much more pressure¡­ Bang! Bang! Bang! Bang! Bang! Bang! The sound of the gunshots spread at regr intervals, in perfect rhythm. Everyone turned their heads towards this beautiful performance without a hint of disarray. ¡°Huh, so it¡¯s a tie?¡± Kim Eun-ha, skillfullypleting the safety check and putting down the gun, untied her hair that she had tied up for smooth shooting and smiled. At first nce, it seemed like she was just re-tying her hair band because it was ufortable, but to me, it was a clear provocation. ¡°Do you want to surrender?¡± ¡°¡¤¡¤¡¤What a funny joke.¡± That day, we ended up using all the Magnum rounds at the shooting range. . . . After all the shooting was over. We entered a private resting room set up on one side of the shooting range. It was a space where we could talk without worrying about other people¡¯s eyes. ¡°Eun-ha ssi.¡± ¡°¡¤¡¤¡¤¡¤¡¤¡¤.¡± ¡°How long are you going to sulk?¡± ¡°I¡¯m not sulking!?¡± ¡°So, you admit defeat?¡± ¡°It was a malfunction!¡± Kim Eun-ha shouted as if she was wronged. During the shooting, a bullet had jammed in the magazine causing a malfunction. As a result, one of Kim Eun-ha¡¯s shots was counted as a miss. Afterwards, I ruthlessly scored perfect points and ultimately clinched victory. ¡°You should have shot more gently.¡± ¡°What does that have to do with anything! Smith & Wesson guns hardly ever malfunction, so it was just purely bad luck¡¤¡¤¡¤.¡± ¡°Have you ever heard that luck is also a skill?¡± Thump-! Kim Eun-ha punched my shoulder. The impact was heavier than I expected, and a groan slipped out, but a smile kept spreading across my face. It was amusing that Kim Eun-ha was expressing her emotions so fiercely. This made her step back from me in shock. ¡°¡¤¡¤¡¤Pervert.¡± ¡°Hey, can you say that to me?¡± ¡°Huh?¡± ¡°I have the ¡®Wish Granting Coupon¡¯ right now. Well, if Eun-ha ssi won¡¯t honor the promise, there¡¯s nothing I can do about it.¡± People like Kim Eun-ha take promises very seriously. It¡¯s a matter of their pride, and they hardly ever break them. Click- Proving this, Kim Eun-ha bit her lip hard. She seemed to have a lot she wanted to say. ¡°What more do you want from me?¡± ¡°Why the sudden informality?¡± ¡°¡¤¡¤¡¤Yo.¡± (TL: The ¡®Yo¡¯ is literal trantion as there isn¡¯t direct trantion to denote formality in sentence like in Koreannguage) Kim Eun-ha added a reluctant ¡®yo¡¯ at the end, her voice shrinking. It was curious why she was suddenly embarrassed after using formalnguage until now. ¡°Ahh, I¡¯ll let it slide because I¡¯m an adult aaaack-!¡± Suddenly, Kim Eun-ha, who had moved closer to me, pinched my side. She pinched so hard that a childish scream, not an act, escaped my lips. I reached out to retaliate but stopped when I saw Kim Eun-ha shielding herself with both hands. ¡°ying dirty, really.¡± ¡°What did I do?¡± ¡°Should I do the same to you?¡± ¡°Go ahead.¡± ¡°¡¤¡¤¡¤¡¤¡¤¡¤.¡± ¡°I¡¯m sorry! I surrender! I surrender!¡± As I approached her seriously, removing all traces ofughter, Kim Eun-ha quickly apologized, waving her hands in the air. ¡¤¡¤¡¤Looks can be deceiving. Unable to stay angry, I let out a deep sigh to end the situation. Then, Kim Eun-ha cautiously approached me, checking my reaction. ¡°Are you okay?¡± ¡°No. I think I got a bruise.¡± ¡°¡¤¡¤¡¤I¡¯ll transfer the treatment cost separately.¡± Kim Eun-ha looked genuinely sorry, probably not having intended to hurt me. I thought it was annoying enough, so maybe it was time to let it go. ¡°How much will you give me?¡± ¡°¡¤¡¤¡¤¡¤¡¤¡¤.¡± Poke poke- Instead of answering, Kim Eun-ha poked my side with her index finger. Her actions, uncharacteristic of her, were surprisingly cute. If even this was a fabricated act, then I thought I wouldn¡¯t be able to trust anyone anymore. * * * ¡°¡¤¡¤¡¤In the end, we just ended up shooting a lot.¡± ¡°Wasn¡¯t it fun?¡± ¡°It was fun.¡± Of course, it would be fun spending thousands of won per bullet like that. That was a problem in its own right. ¡°But weren¡¯t we supposed to be on a date today?¡± ¡°We are on a normal date, aren¡¯t we?¡± ¡°¡¤¡¤¡¤¡¤¡¤¡¤.¡± Seeing Kim Eun-ha¡¯s innocent expression, still not cooled down from the excitement of shooting, I realized that perhaps my understanding of the word ¡®normal¡¯ was incorrect. ¡°¡¤¡¤¡¤Isn¡¯t this normal?¡± She¡¯s quick to notice, sensing something unusual. She began to probe me with a sidelong nce. ¡°Eun-ha ssi, I¡¯m just asking out of curiosity.¡± ¡°Hmm?¡± ¡°Are you a mossol?¡± (TL: mossol is a korean ng meaning single since birth) ¡°How could that be possible?¡± Kim Eun-ha immediately and firmly rebutted without a moment¡¯s hesitation. Her expression was as if to say, ¡®What nonsense are you talking about?¡¯ ¡°With my looks, charm, and even being a part of the Mirae group¡¯s lineage, it¡¯s impossible for me to be mossol. Why would I be looking for a romance?¡± ¡°¡¤¡¤¡¤¡¤¡¤¡¤.¡± An incredible self-indulgence. It was as if she would casually ask the mirror, ¡®Mirror, mirror, on the wall, who¡¯s the fairest of them all?¡¯ when alone at home. The problem is that everything she said was close to objective facts, leaving me without much to rebut. Perhaps growing up in such circumstances, she fell deeper into narcissism. But why do I feel this strange sense of d¨¦j¨¤ vu? ¡°Have you ever dated someone for more than three months?¡± ¡°¡¤¡¤¡¤Of course!¡± She seemed to hesitate for a moment there. Noticing my skeptical look, she quickly added an exnation in her fluster. ¡°I even had a fianc¨¦!?¡± ¡°Eun-ha ssi, were you divorced?¡± ¡°No, why would you say that!?¡± Sigh- Kim Eun-ha touched her forehead and shook her head. After a deep sigh, she borated a bit more. ¡°It was a political marriage arranged by adults. Ah! Of course, nothing formal like documents happened, it was more like a ¡®let¡¯s have a meal together someday¡¯ sort of thing. We didn¡¯t take it seriously¡¤¡¤¡¤.¡± ¡°Why are you suddenly making excuses?¡± ¡°Ugh, I should have kept quiet.¡± Kim Eun-ha closed her eyes tightly, organizing her thoughts. It was quite some time before she opened them again. ¡°Anyway, to me, it was just like a childhood friend.¡± ¡°It¡¯s not Seo Jun-woo, is it?¡± ¡°Why would Seo Jun-woo ssie up in this?¡± ¡°Usually, that¡¯s the clich¨¦¡­ Nevermind. I spoke unnecessarily. It seems like I¡¯ve watched too much drama, as Eun-ha ssi said.¡± ¡°How nd.¡± Pfft- Kim Eun-ha smiled lightly. I responded with the same smile. It felt like digging any deeper would be inappropriate. Of course, I was curious about this supposed fianc¨¦, but after all, I was hired to prevent exactly that. Eventually, I would probably get to hear the details. ¡°What about you, Woo-ju ssi?¡± ¡°Yes?¡± ¡°Are you¡­ a mossol?¡± There was a strange feeling. Kim Eun-ha¡¯s voice and expression were no different from usual, but something made me want to tease her. ¡°Eun-ha ssi. I majored in theater and film.¡± ¡°Huh? What does that have to do with anything?¡± ¡°It¡¯s a ce where all of Korea¡¯s handsome men and beautiful women gather. Especially energetic young people in their 20s. It¡¯s practically the animal kingdom¡­ Where are you going!?¡± ¡°To the bathroom.¡± ¡°You just went.¡± ¡°So what. Don¡¯t follow me.¡± ¡°Are you jealous right now¡­ Cough-!¡± Kim Eun-ha ruthlessly struck my sr plexus. It was as if she had formally learned martial arts; the punch was powerfully effective. I could only watch her leaving without any regret. . . . ¡°¡¤¡¤¡¤Are you okay?¡± Shortly after returning from the restroom, Kim Eun-ha asked with a concerned tone. Seeing the beverages in her hands, it seemed she felt somewhat guilty. ¡°I¡¯m not okay.¡± ¡°How much should I pay you?¡± ¡°Do you think everything can be solved with money?¡± ¡°I¡¯ve transferred two million won to you, including for the previous incident.¡± ¡°Do you want to hit me one more time?¡± ¡°¡¤¡¤¡¤¡¤¡¤¡¤.¡± Zzzzip- There was a murderous look in her eyes, as if another sincere punch was about to fly. I quickly pretended to zip up my mouth. ¡°How can someone be so annoying?¡± ¡°That¡¯s my charm.¡± ¡°You don¡¯t do this in front of others, do you?¡± ¡°Of course not.¡± ording to the contract, even when no one is watching, I¡¯mpletely consumed by the chaebol concept. It¡¯s a mentally exhausting job without a doubt. I feel particrly more rxed around Kim Eun-ha, who knows my situation. ¡°Then that¡¯s a relief.¡± ¡°You seem to be in a good mood.¡± ¡°Do you really want to get hit?¡± ¡°If it¡¯s a million won per hit¡­ Just kidding! Just kidding!¡± I quickly backed off, fearing more hits would chill my bones. Kim Eun-ha red at me intensely. I swallowed an awkwardugh and changed the topic. ¡°Let¡¯s get to the main point now.¡± ¡°The main point?¡± ¡°I¡¯ve decided how to use the Wish Granting Coupon.¡± ¡°¡¤¡¤¡¤What is it?¡± Kim Eun-ha twitched her eyebrows as if anxious. To meet her expectations, I smiled brightly and continued. ¡°Would you like to go to a hotel with me?¡± Crunch-! The can of beverage in Kim Eun-ha¡¯s hand was horribly crushed. **** Join our Discord ¨C https://discord.gg/woopread Chapter 11 - The Eye of the Storm Chapter 11 - The Eye of the StormChapter 11: The Eye of the Storm ¡°Would you like to go to a hotel with me?¡± ¡°¡­¡­¡± The moment I uttered those words, a heavy silence descended around us. It was so heavy that, despite having something to say next, my lips refused to part rashly. ¡°¡­What did you say?¡± ¡°Kim Eun-ha ssi, please calm down and just listen.¡± ¡°Did I hear you correctly? Hotel? H-O-T-E-L?!¡± Kim Eun-ha¡¯s voice was colder than ever before. In contrast, her face turned red hot. Expressions of confusion, distrust, and embarrassment all surfaced. This was the first time I realized how expressive Kim Eun-ha¡¯s face could be. ¡°Yaaaaah-!¡± Swoosh- Kim Eun-ha, having lost herposure, charged at me. Unlike before, I was closely watching her and managed to dodge her attack with rtive ease. Creak-! Kim Eun-ha¡¯s head turned towards me, creaking like a doll¡¯s. The bizarre scene left me speechless as if I were watching a horror movie. ¡°¡­Dodged?¡± ¡°Kim Eun-ha ssi. Please, just calm¡­ Ack!¡± Whoosh! Whisk! Dodging every attack seemed to only fuel her further. The speed of her punches began to increase even more. Fearing that one of us might really get hurt, I had no choice but to grab her wrist. ¡°What now?¡± True to her training in martial arts, Kim Eun-ha immediately swung her other hand towards me. But I¡¯m not one to be beaten easily. I sessfully caught her other wrist before she couldsh out further and cried out in a desperate voice. ¡°Paparazzi-!!¡± ¡°¡­¡­?¡± Kim Eun-ha froze. Unable to attack, the moment I shouted something iprehensible, it was as if she short-circuited. I immediately raised both hands to show my surrender and stepped back from Kim Eun-ha. Then, she looked at me with a somewhat dazed expression. ¡°The whole point of our date today was to use the paparazzi to our advantage, to unt our rtionship, right? So, what better signal than booking a room together? I swear to heaven I had no other intentions! It was half-joking, half-serious!¡± As I rapidly poured out everything I had to say, Kim Eun-ha red at me with half-closed eyes. tter-tter-! The can in her hand crumpled and uncrumpled, screaming in the process. I swallowed dryly, awaiting her verdict. ¡°¡­¡­¡± ¡°¡­¡­¡± As if time had stopped, we stood awkwardly facing each other for a while. Then, very slowly, she rxed her fist. ¡°Have you calmed dow¡­ Ack!¡± Thinking she had calmed down a bit, I approached her, but Kim Eun-ha threw the can at me. Since I hadn¡¯t let my guard down, I narrowly dodged it. ¡°¡­You¡¯re really hateful.¡± ¡°I went too far with my joke. I¡¯m sorry.¡± I bowed deeply, offering a sincere apology. After a long moment of pouting, Kim Eun-ha finally epted my apology. ¡°Just like that?¡± ¡°I¡¯ll transfer my wish coupon to you.¡± ¡°I¡¯ll take it. And one more.¡± ¡°Hey, that¡¯s too greedy.¡± ¡°Three.¡± ¡°Why is the number increasing?¡± ¡°Four.¡± ¡°¡­Two.¡± ¡°Deal.¡± Grin- As soon as the deal was struck, Kim Eun-ha smiled brightly. That¡¯s when I realized she had been exaggerating her actions on purpose. She¡¯s terrifying. I waspletely fooled. ¡°From where was it an act?¡± ¡°Obviously, from the beginning.¡± ¡°But your ears turned red.¡± ¡°¡­I¡¯ll use one wish coupon now.¡± ¡°¡­use it?¡± Smirk- Kim Eun-ha gave an evil smile and shook her head from side to side. She cracked her knuckles and started walking towards me. ¡°Stay still.¡± ¡°Can¡¯t we find a more civilized use?¡± ¡°Shut your mouth too.¡± ¡°¡­¡­¡± Whoom- That sound definitely did note from my mouth. It was the sound of power flowing from the tips of her toes, through her calves and waist, perfectly transferring to the end of her fist. ¡°Cough-!!¡± I soared into the air like an extra in a martial arts movie, only to lose strength in my legs and copse onto the ground. Kim Eun-ha approached me as I sat there. She squatted in front of me, locking eyes as she spoke. ¡°You¡¯re quite good at stunt acting. I almost mistook it for real for a moment.¡± ¡°¡­Was it a bit too fast?¡± ¡°Yes.¡± Thump-! Kim Eun-ha headbutted me right then. This was something I hadn¡¯t anticipated, leaving me no time to dodge. The pain made my head swim. I closed my eyes tightly. . . . Unfortunately, my grand(?) n to head to the hotel was thwarted. Kim Eun-ha issued a cold warning. ¡°Do you think you can handle my grandfather?¡± ¡°What do you mean¡­?¡± ¡°As it turns out, I¡¯m a granddaughter quite cherished by my grandfather. He wouldn¡¯t sit idly by if he found out I went to a hotel with a man.¡± ¡°You¡¯d take my side then, right?¡± ¡°Of course. You¡¯re my husband.¡± ¡°¡­¡­¡± The timing to interrupt her was a bit awkward. It was confusing whether she meant ¡®husband¡¯ or ¡®on the other side,¡¯ so I boldly changed the n. I didn¡¯t particrly wish for a long life, but having barely passed an audition I longed for, I thought I should at least try shooting. ¡°Shall we go watch a movie then?¡± ¡°A movie?¡± ¡°It¡¯s the standard for an ordinary date, isn¡¯t it? Watching a movie, eating, and going to a caf¨¦. Though I¡¯ve heard the trend has changed a bit due to the soaring ticket prices¡­¡± That wouldn¡¯t be a problem for Kim Eun-ha. If anything, she could probably rent out an entire cinema. Hearing my suggestion, Kim Eun-ha chewed on her lip as if pondering, then slowly replied. ¡°Rejected.¡± ¡°Why?¡± ¡°I don¡¯t really like cinemas.¡± Well, can¡¯t help it then. After all, previously, she didn¡¯t even understand a famous line known to every Korean. It was a sufficiently understandable statement. Naturally, I had no intention of forcing her to do something she disliked, so I decided to think a bit more. ¡°How about a y¡­?¡± ¡°Same as movies.¡± ¡°Then, golf?¡± ¡°Do you know how to y?¡± ¡°Right. I can¡¯t y golf.¡± Hmm- Findingmon ground was more difficult than expected due to our vastly different backgrounds. Of course, narrowing down options like we did with the shooting earlier could be an interesting experience, but the problem was the excessive physical energy already spent. At the same time, I was concerned about maintaining my persona. Although it was just the two of us now, acting this way in an open ce could turn all our previous efforts to dust. ¡°Ah, do you like reading?¡± ¡°I do read quite a bit.¡± ¡°How about we go to a book caf¨¦ together?¡± ¡°A book caf¨¦?¡± Kim Eun-ha tilted her head in confusion. I quickly pulled out my phone and showed her pictures rted to it. A ce designed for reading, surrounded by books just like a library. This ce would allow me to maintain my persona while freely showcasing my time with Kim Eun-ha. ¡°Hmm, this could indeed provide a beneficial time for both of us. We get to date and secure time for reading.¡± ¡°It¡¯s also a location easily essible to paparazzi. I think it¡¯s a good ce to naturally promote our rtionship.¡± ¡°Great idea. It¡¯s approved.¡± ¡°It¡¯s an honor, mdy.¡± Thump-! A breathless blow caught me off guard, leaving me gasping for air. Kim Eun-ha had already gotten used to my evasive maneuvers, giving me no chance to dodge this time. * * * ¡°What¡¯s with those people?¡± ¡°The atmosphere is insane, right?¡± ¡°Wow, are those two doing a photoshoot or something?¡± In a book caf¨¦ in downtown Seoul. People quietly reading started to whisper among themselves. The cause was the entrance of Kim Eun-ha and Kang Woo-ju, a couple, ten minutes ago. After ordering some simple drinks, they immediately sat down and began reading, monopolizing all the attention around them with just that. ¡°Why is it so noisy?¡± ¡°Hey, look over there.¡± ¡°Wow. Amazing¡­¡± As the surroundings became noisy, those who had been burying their heads in their books lifted their heads with furrowed brows, but it didn¡¯t take long for their expressions to soften. Being people who considered themselves cultured, none of them tantly stared at the two or raised their voices excessively. However, it was a clear fact that everyone inside the caf¨¦ was focusing on them. ¡°Are they celebrities?¡± ¡°Does anyone know who they are?¡± ¡°No, I¡¯ve never seen them before.¡± ¡°Right. With looks like that, they¡¯d be hard to forget.¡± Curiosity about the two increased naturally, but not many knew their true identities. As unresolved curiosity umted. ¡°Could that be a script they have?¡± ¡°It looks like it. It says TvM on the cover.¡± ¡°Right! I searched it, and there¡¯s an article about a new work being introduced next quarter by writer Jung Ha-rin and director Kang In-ho. The title is ¡®Peaceful Chaebol Life.¡¯ That must be it.¡± People, driven by curiosity, started searching the title peeking out from Kang Woo-ju¡¯s hand, finding answers for themselves. ¡°Ah, that series. I watched all of ¡®Wise Doctor Life¡¯ up to season 2. Huh! Then, are they filming a drama right now?¡± ¡°Eh, there are no cameras around. Maybe it¡¯s for drama promotion? This duo is famous for casting new actors.¡± ¡°Right. But really, the atmosphere is crazy. At first, my eyes were on the actress, but now, I find myself drawn to the actor for some reason.¡± ¡°Right? Those eyes are no joke. I wouldn¡¯t be able to speak properly if I were in front of him. And look at those veins on the back of his hand.¡± ¡°¡­Just looking at them is healing.¡± ¡°¡­So sexy.¡± Quiet praises for the two poured out. Meanwhile, they remainedpletely absorbed in their books, not even ncing around. This indifference only drew people in more, and eventually, there were more people watching Kang Woo-ju and Kim Eun-ha than reading their own books. ¡°¡­Hmm.¡± Meanwhile, a step back, there were people swallowing their saliva as they watched everyone. Using tiny cameras equipped on items like sses or pens, they were busy taking photos of the Kang Woo-ju couple. Tap-tap-tap- The photos taken were immediately attached to messages and sent somewhere. ¨C Omega, in contact with X. ¨C No peculiarities so far. ¨C Will maintain confidential observation. Unlike the noisy surroundings, in the eye of the storm it was utterly silent where Kang Woo-ju and Kim Eun-ha simply continued turning the pages of their books. ********* TL: Hi, I have been on break for quite a while now due to my exams. But I am back now so expect regr releases. Thanks Chapter 12 - Trust and Entrust Chapter 12 - Trust and EntrustChapter 12: Trust and Entrust [Real-time Buzz in a Book Caf¨¦ Couple] [Wow, saw a couple with amazing vibes today.jpg] [Jung Ha-rin, Kang In-ho¡¯s New Work! Actor Leaked? Or Promotion?] Social media was aze. It was amon urrence, but this time, it seemed almost like someone was manipting it from behind. It was spreading fast and wide like a wildfire. ¡°Director, do you think this was intentional?¡± ¡°How would I know.¡± ¡°What do you know, then?¡± ¡°The heart of Writer Jung.¡± ¡°And what is my heart?¡± ¡°Roughly, ¡®Wow, this is golden. The actor who left the audition in-between is even doing the promotion for us. Is there no way to utilize that scene just as it is?¡¯ Something like that.¡± ¡°¡­It¡¯s more annoying that you¡¯re right.¡± Jung Ha-rin stepped a few steps away from Kang In-ho, as if she got goosebumps. Regardless, Kang In-ho¡¯s gaze was still fixed on the Kang Woo-ju couple on the monitor. ¡°I think I understand the director¡¯s thoughts.¡± ¡°How would you know what I don¡¯t.¡± ¡°Half of you wants to cast Kim Eun-ha by any means necessary. The other half is pondering whether to let this situation slide or not.¡± ¡°¡­Now that I hear it, it does seem usible.¡± Kang In-ho scratched his cheek with a bitter expression. Like Jung Ha-rin said, as a director, he couldn¡¯t just be happy about the current situation. Normally, when something like this happens, the director would be angry. Because of the risk of script leakage, it could even lead to legal disputes. Especially since casting wasn¡¯t even fullypleted yet, and there they were, pulling out the script in such a public ce. ¡®The problem is that the oue is excessively good.¡¯ However, it was done, the content was cunningly not exposed from any camera angle. At the same time, the keyword [Chaebol] and the Kang Woo-ju couple¡¯s elegant vibes meshed together to garner massive attention. As a result, it brought about a promotional effect far better than throwing a huge sum for a trailer. And it¡¯s still rising, without knowing where it will end. ¡®¡­Was it really intentional?¡¯ Real chaebols do not act recklessly. Even a meaningless joke can lead to the public overinterpreting it and causing stock prices to fluctuate wildly. Therefore, the actions shown to the public by them are beyond the realm of ordinary calctions. Thus, the actions of the Kang Woo-ju couple were likely intentional. ¡®¡­The problem is, if we just let it slide because the oue is good, it might set a bad precedent.¡¯ This was why Kang In-ho¡¯s frown was deepening. If only there had been some kind of heads up. ¡®No, then I would have never allowed it.¡¯ No matter how powerful the investor or how omnipotent the chaebol, there are lines a director cannot cross. Had he known about their n, he would have done everything in his power to stop it. ¡°Director!¡± Just as Kang In-ho¡¯s thoughts were deepening. Someone rushed into the meeting room in a hurry. It was one of the staff who had agreed to work on the project together. His expression looked unusually urgent, as if something big had happened. ¡°Tell them I¡¯m not here.¡± ¡°I haven¡¯t even said anything yet?¡± ¡°What¡¯s the matter?¡± ¡°The chief is looking for you!¡± ¡°Tell them I¡¯m not here.¡± ¡°¡­Director.¡± ¡°Ah, I¡¯m so busy. Really.¡± Rustle- Kang In-ho irritably scratched his head as he got up from his seat. He grabbed his phone, wallet, and a few other items, looking like he knew this wasing. ¡°I¡¯ll be back shortly. Writer Jung, please continue to monitor the situation, and if possible, try contacting Kang Woo-ju¡¯s side to check what¡¯s happening.¡± ¡°Understood. But, Director.¡± ¡°What now?¡± ¡°You are going to the chief¡¯s office, right?¡± ¡°¡­¡­..¡± ¡°¡­¡­..¡± Grab-! As Kang In-ho was about to turn away without responding, both the staff member who came to deliver the news and Jung Ha-rin simultaneously grabbed his shoulders. ¡°Are you not letting go!?¡± ¡°Leave your phone and wallet here.¡± ¡°I will personally escort you to the director¡¯s office.¡± ¡°Are you guys even my kids!?¡± ¡°Yes, yes, that¡¯s why we¡¯re taking such good care of you, so don¡¯t be too upset. If you don¡¯t go now, the whole schedule might get scrapped.¡± ¡°I¡¯d rather it be scrapped.¡± p-! The truth that had unwittingly slipped out was quickly retracted with a smack on the back from Writer Jung Ha-rin. Thus, Kang In-ho, rubbing his sore back, was dragged all the way to the director¡¯s office. ¡°Hey, Kang In-ho! You¡¯ve finally gone mad, haven¡¯t you?¡± As soon as he opened the door to the director¡¯s office, a loud shout greeted him. Having anticipated this to some extent, Kang In-ho closed his eyes and bowed his head. In times like these, even if it wasn¡¯t his fault, bowing down was the survival tactic in South Korea. ¡°I¡¯m sorry¡¤¡¤¡¤.¡± ¡°Haha! How do you always manage to do such cute things? I believed from the day you first joined that this would happen!¡± ¡°¡¤¡¤¡¤¡¤¡¤¡¤?¡± Caught off guard by thepletely unexpected response, he was momentarily stunned. The chief then stood up from his seat and began patting his shoulders. ¡°When did you scout such excellent actors? The photos are impressive, but the video footage is absolutely fantastic.¡± ¡°That¡¯s¡¤¡¤¡¤.¡± ¡°Enough, enough! You don¡¯t need to exin. Honestly, I was worried sick this project was poking a beehive for no reason. But the response has been very good.¡± ¡°What response are you referring to?¡± ¡°I just had a visit from Mirae Group.¡± ¡°Mirae Group!?¡± Kang In-ho¡¯s eyes widened. Looking at the chief with an incredulous gaze as if asking if that was true, the chief burst intoughter, confirming it. ¡°I was also shocked when I first got the call from the desk. Those guys who usually hang up on me willy-nilly, this time they came to us on their own feet.¡± The rtionship between broadcast stations and chaebol groups is quiteplex. It changes from time to time depending on the gifts exchanged under the table. Of course, both parties cautiously maintain a bnce, but cable broadcasting often finds itself at a disadvantage in these power strugglespared to terrestrial broadcasters. So, unless it¡¯s a big issue, it¡¯s virtually unheard of for them to make a personal visit to the headquarters. If they were caught by journalists, it would cause amotion. ¡°Who exactly¡¤¡¤¡¤?¡± ¡°Heh, Director Baek, that guy, came personally. When that bespectacled guy started talking in a soft voice, I thought he ate something wrong. But guess what? He actually made a request to me.¡± ¡°What kind of request?¡± ¡°Don¡¯t worry. It wasn¡¯t anything difficult. He asked about the list of actors, the script, and the rough schedule of the programming.¡± ¡°How much did you sell it for?¡± Kang In-ho asked, already assuming the information had been passed on. Even if he were the chief, this was not a flow he could have stopped. ¡®This guy is not simple either.¡¯ The reason he has stayed here despite daily scout offers from other broadcasters wasn¡¯t anything special. The industry is so narrow that a single misstep could lead to downfall, but above all, the chief¡¯spetence was exceptional. His talent and judgment, proving that his position wasn¡¯t just luck, were genuine. Of course, his character was another matter. ¡°We got a big advertisement deal out of it.¡± ¡°That¡¯s not too bad then.¡± ¡°Not too bad? It¡¯s a win-win.¡± Indeed, it was. It wasn¡¯t national security secrets being dealt, nor was it a request to scrap the programming entirely. Just a very partial sharing of information. The offer seemed too good for the hyena-like characters to propose, making it suspicious, but the deal itself was almost like a donation. ¡®It seems he also brought some gifts.¡¯ Kang In-ho nodded as he nced at the chief¡¯s wristwatch, seeing a brand he had never seen before in the nearly ten years they had worked together. It wasn¡¯t extravagantly expensive, but it was toovish for a mere courtesy. ¡®¡­What exactly is Kang Woo-ju¡¯s identity?¡¯ While it¡¯s public knowledge that Kim Eun-ha is the granddaughter of Mirae Group¡¯s chairman, information on Kang Woo-ju was suspiciously scarce. And it wasn¡¯t as if Kim Eun-ha was acting in the drama herself, yet the level of interest shown was noteworthy. ¡®Could he really be the chairman¡¯s hidden child?¡¯ Given his extraordinary demeanor and actions, it seemed quite usible. However, curiosity and spection about Kang Woo-ju only intensified over time. ¡®¡­Better not to meddle unnecessarily.¡¯ Unnecessary curiosity can shorten one¡¯s lifespan, especially in South Korea, where politics, religion, and chaebols are almost taboo. Any clumsy attempt at investigation on his part would surely be discovered, so all he could do now was pray that the storm would pass without incident. ¡°Are you listening to me?¡± ¡°Sorry? Ah¡­ Sorry.¡± ¡°Tsk. Pay attention. How can we start shooting like this?¡± ¡°Shooting, you say?¡± ¡°Yeah, let¡¯s move up the schedule.¡± ¡°That¡¯s not possible.¡± Kang In-ho instinctively shook his head. Any discussion rted to Kang Woo-ju had vanished from his mind, bringing him back to rity. ¡°You know we haven¡¯t finished casting yet.¡± ¡°The leads have been confirmed a long time ago.¡± ¡°But we have to consider their schedules too.¡± ¡°What schedules? You¡¯ve picked nothing but new actors this time. If you call them, they¡¯lle running like the pets they keep at home.¡± ¡°¡­¡­¡± He had no retort. The reason he and Jung Ha-rin preferred a lineup of neers was precisely for the flexible schedule management. ¡°Dude, have I worked with you only once or twice?¡± ¡°Still, it¡¯s not possible.¡± ¡°If it¡¯s not possible, make it possible.¡± ¡°I¡¯m a public interest worker.¡± ¡°This guy, really¡­¡± The chief openly frowned, but Kang In-ho didn¡¯t blink an eye, knowing well from their history of working together more than once or twice. Quickly picking up on this, the chief changed his approach, speaking in a gentle tone as if to coax Kang In-ho. ¡°In-ho, you have to row when the wateres in. Do you think this buzz willst? Once it cools down, the expectations rise and it won¡¯t heat up well.¡± ¡°Who doesn¡¯t know that. But, what about those whose scheduling gets pushed back because of us? How do you n to handle that?¡± ¡°Director Park¡¯s lead actor got caught with drugs.¡± ¡°That son of a¡­¡± He was cornered. With drug issues being such a serious societal concern nowadays, the drama hadn¡¯t even started before being branded, leading to an indefinite shooting dy. When someone messes up and vacates their spot, someone else has to fill it ¨C such is social life. The previous conversation was just a prelude; the main argument starts now. The schedule moving up was a foregone conclusion, so now it was time for a tug-of-war. ¡°We still haven¡¯t found all the FDs (field directors), and we don¡¯t even have an assistant director, so Writer Jung and I are running around as it is.¡± ¡°I¡¯ll assign Dong-gyu as the assistant director for you. That should solve most of the issues with the assistant directors, including the FD.¡± ¡°You want us to take over Director Park¡¯s team? No way. Who wants to deal with his temper? He¡¯ll whine every time we go drinking.¡± ¡°From Director Park¡¯s perspective, he should be thankful! If you think about it, you¡¯re basically cleaning up his mess. I¡¯ll make sure there are no hard feelings on his part.¡± ¡°Haah¡­¡± Kang In-ho let out a deep sigh intentionally. With this, the immediate fire has been put out, but the schedule being moved up was a natural progression of events. The real issue is whates next. ¡°Please transfer the advertisement fees from Mirae Group to us. With that,bined with the contracts we¡¯ve already signed, we¡¯ll have enough to cover the shooting.¡± ¡°Hey, you! That¡¯s not happening!¡± ¡°Chief, I see you¡¯ve changed your watch?¡± ¡°¡­Damn you.¡± Kang In-ho carefully observed the chief¡¯s expression, and realizing his sincerity, reluctantly nodded. ¡°So, you owe me one now, Chief?¡± ¡°Just get out, you thief.¡± ¡°Yes, I¡¯ll be leaving then.¡± Bow- Kang In-ho bowed 90 degrees to the chief and promptly left the room. Outside, Jung Ha-rin, who had been waiting, rushed over. ¡°What happened?¡± ¡°We¡¯re moving up the schedule.¡± ¡°¡­Don¡¯t look for me for a while.¡± ¡°Come on, Writer Jung. Don¡¯t be like that. Huh? I¡¯ll push hard for you! I¡¯ll support everything from bonuses for the assistant writers tote-night snack expenses!¡± ¡°Is that all?¡± Jung Ha-rin¡¯s eyebrows twitched. Kang In-ho barely swallowed the sigh that threatened to escape and continued. ¡°I¡¯ll reconsider the actors we had to cut due to exceeding the appearance fees.¡± ¡°Deal. You owe me one now, Director.¡± ¡°¡­Put it on the chief¡¯s tab.¡± Sigh- Exhausted from the continuous tug-of-war, Kang In-ho finally let out a sigh. Jung Ha-rin grinned, either unaware or indifferent to his feelings. ¡°But make sure to contact the lead actors yourself. Dong-gyu will being in as the assistant director, but I don¡¯t want to overburden him right away.¡± ¡°Of course, that¡¯s a given¡­ Ah.¡± ¡°Now what.¡± ¡°What about Kang Woo-ju?¡± ¡°¡­¡­¡± For a moment, the memory of Kang Woo-ju¡¯s audition shed through both of their minds. His merciless back as he left, having waited past the promised time. ¡°¡­I trust and leave it up to you.¡± ¡°Director-!!¡± That day, screams from the two echoed throughout the broadcasting station. ****** Chapter 13 - Oh, My Fate Chapter 13 - Oh, My FateChapter 13: Oh, My Fate ¡°As long as you keep to the shooting schedule, there shouldn¡¯t be any major issues. I was nning to focus solely on acting for the time being anyway.¡± ¨C Thank you so much for understanding! I will make sure to adjust Actor Kang Woo-ju¡¯s schedule, even if it means I have to go to the filming site myself! ¡°Yes, then I¡¯ll hang up now.¡± ¨C Ah, um, that¡­! Click- It seemed like the other person had more to say, but I mercilessly hung up the phone without pretending to hear. Even as I hung up the phone, I was tormented by doubts about whether this was really the right thing to do, but seeing Kim Eun-ha¡¯s smile in front of me reassured me. ¡®¡­The ways of the world are indeed mysterious.¡¯ Originally, Author Jung Ha-rin would have been the overwhelming superior. The idea of hanging up first on her was unthinkable. The current situation couldn¡¯t simply be exined by having Kim Eun-ha¡¯s support. In the end, I had to consider that my act as a chaebol was really working. And that feeling was quite peculiar. ¡°Why does this work?¡± ¡°People tend to believe what they want to believe. In order to prove their beliefs are correct, they only ept information that aligns with their own convictions.¡± ¡°Is it confirmation bias?¡± ¡°Exactly. And when you add the primacy effect (the phenomenon where information encountered first has a stronger impact on memory than information encounteredter), it alles together.¡± Sitting on the sofa, Kim Eun-ha shrugged as if it was obvious. She took a sip of her coffee and then continued. ¡°That¡¯s why they say first impressions are so important in deals. It¡¯s the same reason luxury stores line the first floor of department stores.¡± ¡°I learned about it briefly in psychology ss¡­ But experiencing it in reality feels somewhat bitter.¡± ¡°Does it make you feel a bit misanthropic? People im to be different from animals, but in the end, we¡¯re all governed by instincts.¡± ¡°Even you, Eun-ha?¡± ¡°Of course. However, I believe the possibility of humans lies in our ability to control those instinctive urges to some extent through training. Just like how you¡¯re drinking that coffee now.¡± ¡°Hm?¡± I was about to drink the coffee Kim Eun-ha had made for me when I suddenly hesitated. She quietly swallowed herughter as she watched me. ¡°Hehe. Initially, you made all kinds of faces and forced yourself to drink coffee, but now you¡¯ve gotten quite good at it, haven¡¯t you?¡± ¡°¡­Well, that¡¯s true.¡± When I first tasted the coffee made by Kim Eun-ha, it felt as though my blood had turned into caffeine due to its bitterness. But as an employee, I couldn¡¯t just leave the coffee made by my employer, so I managed to finish it somehow. ¡®To be honest, it¡¯s still not that tasty.¡¯ Certainly, it was more bearable than before. I could somewhat detect the vor of the high-quality beans that I hadn¡¯t noticed at all previously. ¡°That¡¯s the amazing thing about humans. If it were another animal, it would never touch coffee again after tasting its bitterness.¡± ¡°You¡¯re looking at me as if I¡¯ve done something remarkable.¡± ¡°Pretty much.¡± ¡°Like my mom would.¡± ¡°Hey.¡± Chuckle- I couldn¡¯t help but burst intoughter at Kim Eun-ha¡¯s stern look. Definitely, the psychological distance between us has significantly decreased since ourst date. She looked at me disapprovingly, her gaze still fierce but somehow less harmful than before. ¡°I¡¯ve been wanting to ask you something for a while.¡± ¡°Don¡¯t ask.¡± ¡°Why are you so sensitive about age?¡± ¡°¡­¡­¡± Zap-! A fierce aura of hostility pressed against me, so intense that it made all the hairs on my body stand on end, causing me to flinch involuntarily. When teasing someone, knowing when to back off is crucial. One step further, and I would have been done for. Feeling the shadow of death loom up to my chin, I quickly raised both hands to show my surrender. ¡°I was just genuinely curious. Someone as pretty and capable as Eun-ha, plus being in yourte twenties isn¡¯t really considered old.¡± ¡°Mid-twenties.¡± ¡°If it ends with a ¡®?¡¯, then it¡¯ste¡­ But! Right! Eun-ha hasn¡¯t had her birthday yet, so by Korean age, there¡¯s still a long way to go. Ahaha.¡± (TL: In Korean the Hangeul for 28, 29 end with ?) ¡°Do you really want to die?¡± ¡°I¡¯m sorry. Please spare me.¡± Shaking her head- Kim Eun-ha shook her head from side to side, looking displeased. Then, with a look of dissatisfaction, she continued speaking. ¡°¡­You really have an incredible sense of awareness.¡± ¡°Making me blush again.¡± ¡°That¡¯s not apliment!?¡± Thud- Kim Eun-ha put down her teacup on the table. Unlike usual, she made a point of doing so with a sound, indicating she might have reached her breaking point. At that, I straightened up my posture. I wiped the smile off my face and even lowered my voice. ¡°Anyway. What¡¯s the reaction on their side?¡± ¡°It¡¯s weird if you suddenly get serious, you know? Anyway¡­ Pay attention now, I¡¯m going to talk about something really important.¡± ¡°Understood.¡± Thud- As I put down my teacup on the table, Kim Eun-ha opened her mouth with a seriously grave look in her eyes. ¡°It seems someone has interfered with our drama.¡± ¡°Peaceful Chaebol Life?¡± ¡°Yes. I have information that Director Baek, one of the key figures in our group, has made contact with the director of TvM. The reason isn¡¯t clear yet¡­¡± ¡°It¡¯s probably because of us.¡± ¡°Exactly. The timing is too coincidental.¡± Hearing her words, I fell into thought but couldn¡¯te up with any reasonable deductions. That¡¯s understandable since I don¡¯t even know who Director Baek, mentioned by Kim Eun-ha, is. Naturally, the extent of his influence within the Mirae Group is also unknown to me. ¡°Who is Director Baek?¡± ¡°He¡¯s like a snake.¡± ¡°A snake? Snake?¡± ¡°Yes. He¡¯s someone whose intentions arepletely obscure.¡± Following Kim Eun-ha¡¯s exnation, it turned out that Director Baek is a figure with significant authority in human resources within the Mirae Group. Favored by the chairman, he has secured a key position despite his rtively young age. ¡°Is he directly under the chairman then?¡± ¡°For now.¡± ¡°Eh? What does that mean?¡± ¡°I don¡¯t know the details, but I¡¯ve heard that it¡¯s not just about following the chairman¡¯s orders. In some cases, it¡¯s actually the opposite.¡± ¡°Could it be that Director Baek¡¯s loyalty to the chairman isn¡¯t just out of simple devotion?¡± Nod- Kim Eun-ha quietly nodded. At this point, I had a rough idea of what kind of person Director Baek was. ¡®¡­He¡¯s a dangerous person.¡¯ It¡¯s often said that people who threaten openly are less frightening than those who silently sharpen their knives in the shadows. Even if his loyalty to the chairman is genuine, whether it will extend to the next chairman is uncertain. No matter who takes over Mirae Group, there¡¯s a high chance they might be ousted. ¡®He must be aware of that too.¡¯ In the current fiercepetition for session, taking a definite side seems essential for survival, yet it¡¯s surprising that he hasn¡¯t taken a side yet. If he ns to retire along with the current chairman, that would be one thing, but it seems unlikely since he¡¯s only in his early thirties. ¡°The chairman must hold him in high regard?¡± ¡°Obviously. In front of his own children, he¡¯s said, ¡®I wish you were my grandchild.¡¯ Of course, that was probably intended to spurpetition.¡± ¡°For the chairman¡¯s intentions to fully take effect, Director Baek would need to have achievements that are not inferior to the other sessors.¡± ¡°That¡¯s the problem.¡± Kim Eun-ha massaged her temples as if it was a headache. Although she didn¡¯t exin in detail, it seems Director Baek¡¯s capabilities are indeed remarkable. ¡°He¡¯s like a catfish.¡± The catfish effect. Derived from the method of transporting live sardines from the sea to the harbor by cing their natural predator, the catfish, among them. The phenomenon meant that the presence of a powerfulpetitor elevates the potential of otherpetitors. Kim Eun-ha, quickly grasping the meaning of my statement, nodded with a somewhat unconvinced expression. ¡°¡­I¡¯m not thrilled to bepared to a fish. But if we¡¯re just looking at the situation, it seems urate. Ever since Director Baek joined, everyone has been desperately trying to improve their performance.¡± ¡°It might be a bit ufortable for Eun-ha to hear this question. If he¡¯s such an outstanding person, why hasn¡¯t the chairman arranged for him to marry one of his blood rtives?¡± In fact, Chairman Kim Seok-ho was known for arranging strategic marriages between his talented subordinates and his own family members. He was known to mobilize not only his daughters and granddaughters but also the rtives of his sons-inw to somehow bring talented individuals into the fold. ¡°Well, why do you think that is?¡± ¡°¡­Hey, it can¡¯t be what I think it is, right? You mentionedst time that there was already a fianc¨¦, that childhood friend you talked about.¡± ¡°That was merely a formality, I told you. Plus, it¡¯s a story that¡¯s been out for more than 20 years. The situation on that front isn¡¯t great these days.¡± ¡°This is really driving me crazy.¡± There really is no such thing as a free lunch. Although I haven¡¯t been with Kim Eun-ha for long, I¡¯ve had enough time to recognize her abilities. Every time I witness her capabilities, I clearly understand why herpetitors are so desperate to marry her off. I just hadn¡¯t thought that there would be several candidates for a political marriage. This is like a real mess of a drama. ¡°This seems beyond my capabilities. How about we reconsider our contract?¡± ¡°Do you have the money to pay back what you¡¯ve received?¡± ¡°I¡¯ll pay it back over my lifetime.¡± ¡°You¡¯re doing that now.¡± I never had any hopes. Suggesting to undo everything and return to square one at this point is out of the question; I didn¡¯t even want to. However. ¡°¡­Just asking out of curiosity, but there aren¡¯t any more potential fianc¨¦s, are there?¡± Smirk- Instead of answering, Kim Eun-ha quietly raised the corners of her mouth in a smile. Facing her smile, a sigh escaped from deep within me. ¡°Oh, my fate.¡± ¡°It must be nice to have such a popr woman all to yourself.¡± ¡°My mother always used to say, ¡®Men should be wary of alcohol, women, and gambling.¡¯ I should have taken that more to heart.¡± ¡°At least now you won¡¯t have to worry about women.¡± ¡°That¡¯s the biggest problem.¡± Chuckle- Kim Eun-ha quietly swallowed herughter as if amused. Watching her, I couldn¡¯t help but think that the old sayings were indeed right. ¡°Anyway. It¡¯s unlikely that Director Baek will approach you directly for now. But if you ever do meet him, don¡¯t confront him and contact me immediately.¡± ¡°I will.¡± I had no desire to face such a burdensome character alone. Of course, I would eventually meet him, but for now, I wanted to focus as much as possible on the prematurely advanced drama. . . . My n shattered before I even left the department store. As soon as the elevator arrived at the parking lot, a group of well-dressed, robust men quickly approached me. ¡°Good day, Mr. Kang Woo-ju.¡± The man at the forefront addressed me as if greeting a long-time acquaintance, with a very natural demeanor. The sharp impression that round sses couldn¡¯t fully hide made it not too difficult to guess who he was. ¡°My name is Baek Do-young, the executive secretary of Mirae Group.¡± Confirming my guess, Baek Do-young introduced himself, a sly smile ying at the corners of his mouth as he offered his hand for a shake. Chapter 14 - What are you trying to do now? Chapter 14 - What are you trying to do now?Chapter 14: What are you trying to do now? ¡®¡­His actions are really decisive.¡¯ I hadn¡¯t been particrly off-guard. It was just that the opponent¡¯s determination had far exceeded my expectations. Based on the exnation I heard from Kim Eun-ha a little while ago, Director Baek Do-young is someone who holds a significant share in the sessionpetition. In some ways, he might be receiving more attention within the group than Kim Eun-ha, but who would have thought he¡¯d attempt such a bold approach. ¡®He has perfectly grasped our movements too.¡¯ Although it¡¯s nothing new, Kim Eun-ha is a very busy person, so I usually try to adjust my schedule to hers. Most of our meeting ces are in the CEO office of the department store. With the intention of not wanting to disturb her work as much as possible, I had set up a somewhat regr routine, and he sharply honed in on this aspect. ¡®Engaging in a conversation now is definitely a loss.¡¯ Seeing how confident he is, it¡¯s clear he came fully prepared. If we start a conversation, there¡¯s a high chance I¡¯ll be unterally dragged around. The best course of action is, of course, to respond together with Kim Eun-ha, but I can¡¯t just call or text her in front of the opponent. ¡®I¡¯ll have to handle this on my own here.¡¯ Thanks to consistently practicing the role of Kang Joo-heon over the past few days, fortunately, my outward appearance didn¡¯t shake at all, even with the opponent¡¯s surprise appearance. My mind is cold. My heart, even colder. In any situation, never panic. ¡®I am Kang Joo-heon.¡¯ As I repeated this several times, my mind calmed down. The heart that had turned utterly cold spread its chill throughout my body. The actively circting blood froze, significantly reducing the heartbeat. ¡°¡­Kang Woo-ju ssi?¡± Step- Completely immersed, I coolly ignored Baek Do-young¡¯s words and moved forward. The hand he had extended for a handshake trembled as it grasped at thin air. Then, two hefty men waiting behind him stepped forward, blocking the way. They were freaking huge. Their build was so huge that it was hard to believe they were fellow Asians, taking up the volume of almost 4-5 people. ¡®So what.¡¯ Step- Nevertheless, I didn¡¯t back down. Instead, I confidently stepped between them, as Kang Joo-heon would have surely done. They probably didn¡¯t expect me to forcefully make my way through, as their bodies flinched. Of course, they quickly adjusted their stance to block the way, but their panic was evident. ¡°¡­¡­..¡± ¡°¡­¡­..¡± Following their cautious gazes, I leisurely turned my head, and my eyes locked with Director Baek Do-young, who had been staring at me the whole time. The heavy atmosphere pressed down on my shoulders. It felt suffocating, as if I had plunged into the deep sea. ¡®Those eyes are terrifying.¡¯ Director Baek Do-young was clearly not someone who insisted only on clean work. Otherwise, how could he have gained Chairman Kim Seok-ho¡¯s trust in just five years? It would be impossible for someone not of his blood. ¡®How much blood has he stained his hands with.¡¯ The number of missing person cases reported each year averages around 60,000. About 1,000 of them are found dead, and a simr number remainpletely untraceable. Of course, this statistic includes those who choose to end their lives or run away on their own. But, would none of them have experienced ¡®unfortunate idents¡¯? ¡®¡­Kim Eun-ha would say I¡¯ve watched too much drama if she heard this.¡¯ I know all too well that this world isn¡¯t all that beautiful. Reality is several times more cruel than drama. Their way is to meticulously calcte even the value of a human life and weigh it on a scale. Director Baek Do-young in front of me wouldn¡¯t be much different. No, if anything, he might be even more ruthless. It would be a lie to say I¡¯m not scared. Who would have thought that I, who was just an ordinary citizen until recently, would end up in such a movie-like situation? Honestly, I feel like apologizing right now, bowing my head in regret. I want to run away to a ce where their gazes can¡¯t reach me. But. ¡°Do you have something to say to me?¡± Ssshh- Wordspletely opposite to what I was feeling jumped out of my mouth. My voice, cold to the point of being unrecognizable as my own, echoed throughout the parking lot. ¡®I don¡¯t have the option to run away.¡¯ Perhaps due to myplete immersion in Kang Joo-heon, his thoughts and way of thinking had taken over my mind. If I were to tuck my tail and run away now, I might escape the immediate situation, but it was clear that I would eventually be caught and ughtered. ¡®It was just a matter of time.¡¯ From the moment I made the contract with Kim Eun-ha, I anticipated that a day like this woulde. Although it seems too soon, the world is inherently unfair. It doesn¡¯t wait for everyone to be perfectly prepared. ¡°If you have nothing to say, then move aside. You¡¯re wasting my time.¡± Twitch-! Director Baek Do-young¡¯s eyebrows twitched once again. It was a subtle movement that ordinary people might not notice, but having studied countless facial expressions for acting, it couldn¡¯t fool my eyes. ¡°¡­Impressive. I almost fell for it myself. Your acting skills are remarkable, to the point where it¡¯s a wonder why you were unknown until now.¡± ¡°Acting?¡± ¡°ording to our investigation, it seems you weren¡¯t like this during your university days. No, even just a few weeks ago.¡± So he knows about my past. Well, researching that information wouldn¡¯t have been too difficult. In the Department of Theatre and Film, most sses are conducted with a camera. It¡¯s essential to watch and correct one¡¯s acting. Even though I was marginalized in my department, just reviewing the materials from various evaluations and exams would give a rough estimate. ¡°Is that all you have to say?¡± ¡°¡­I¡¯m not sure where this confidencees from. If you think that woman will protect you, you¡¯re greatly mistaken.¡± Smirk- I couldn¡¯t help but twitch the corner of my mouth at his unexpected remark. I quickly rearranged my expression, but it seemed toote. ¡°Don¡¯t you understand the situation?¡± ¡°Ah, I didn¡¯t mean tough at you, Director. It just seems like you¡¯re the one who¡¯s mistaken, not me. You really don¡¯t know anything about Eun-ha.¡± Kim Eun-ha will protect me? I¡¯d be lucky if she doesn¡¯t point a gun at my forehead. It might be due to our contract, but it¡¯s true that Kim Eun-ha treats me morefortably than she does others. However, I must not be mistaken. If she thinks someone is harmful to her, she won¡¯t hesitate to cut them off, no matter who they are. Especially since she contracted with me to use as a disposable shield, not out of some cheap sympathy. ¡°You might want to start your research from the beginning, including the parts that aren¡¯t recorded in the data.¡± ¡°I think the current information is sufficient to drag you out.¡± ¡°Is that so?¡± ¡°¡­¡­?¡± Baek Do-young¡¯s brows furrowed. I looked him straight in the eye and slowly began to speak. ¡°Name Baek Do-young, age 32. Grew up traveling to various countries with diplomat parents, gained experience from a young age, and after obtaining a bachelor¡¯s degree in business, immediately proceeded to an MBA in the USA.¡± ¡°¡­Kang Woo-ju ssi, what are you trying to do?¡± Baek Do-young¡¯s face scrunched up in annoyance. And the highlight hadn¡¯t even been revealed yet. He must have thought I was just fooling around with Kim Eun-ha up there. She¡¯s not as vulnerable as he thinks. ¨C What is this? ¨C It¡¯s information about my potential husband candidates. It includes everything from basic profiles to quite sensitive details. Don¡¯t take it out of this room. ¨C You don¡¯t have mine in there, do you? ¨C ¡­You¡¯re not a candidate. ¨C You hesitated just now. ¨C Just shut up and memorize it. Since the amount of information was almost on the level of an encyclopedia, it was impossible to memorize everything at once, so I focused on studying key figures, including Baek Do-young. Having practiced memorizing scripts quickly from an early age, I managed to cram an amount of information into my head in a short time that would astonish Kim Eun-ha. ¡°I also did some personal investigation on Baek Do-young ssi. It seems you had quite an enjoyable college life, not unlike myself.¡± ¡°¡­¡­¡± Director Baek Do-young swallowed his silence. Unlike before, his expression was unreadable. Earlier, he had probably let his guard down, thinking his opponent was a no-name actor without any significant achievements, and that he was overwhelmingly superior. ¡®¡­Dragging out the conversation any longer wouldn¡¯t be wise.¡¯ Baek Do-young¡¯s atmosphere, which had significantly changed from before, was the moment I finally understood why Kim Eun-ha described him as ¡®an unfathomable person.¡¯ Although I bluffed with all my might using the limited information avable, it was also slowly reaching its limit. Although I didn¡¯t show it outwardly, I was getting anxious that myck of depth would be exposed at any moment. ¡°Interesting. Honestly, I didn¡¯t expect this development. I must admit that I acted toocently today.¡± Indeed, he¡¯s a dangerous man. Not only is his decisiveness impressive, but what¡¯s more irritating is how easily he acknowledges his mistakes. Such a type is good at feedback, rarely making the same mistake twice. ¡®It¡¯s going to be hard to score any more points.¡¯ I swallowed my disappointment, remembering the CCTV cameras in the parking lot. I had hoped he would be more agitated and make a scene. ¡°Reflect on yourself at home.¡± Swoosh- With that, I turned around without any hesitation. After all, leaving this ce was my top priority for now. As if they couldn¡¯t let me go just like that, the bulky men tried to block my way again, but Baek Do-young raised his hand to stop them. ¡°Let him go.¡± ¡°Understood.¡± At Director Baek Do-young¡¯smand, the bulky men stepped aside, creating a path for me. I walked away confidently, as if it was only natural, making sure to keep my gaze fixed straight ahead and paying careful attention not to quicken my pace. * * * ¡°Is it alright to let him go like this?¡± ¡°Then should we go catch him again?¡± ¡°¡­I¡¯m sorry.¡± Smirk- Director Baek Do-young¡¯s lips curled up into a smile. Seeing this, the jittery secretarial staff quietly backed away. Afterward, Baek Do-young stood pondering at the spot where Kang Woo-ju had left. Honestly, he hadn¡¯t expected things to turn out this way when he first started his n. ¡°¡­Hmm?¡± ¡°What is it, Director?¡± ¡°Wait here for a moment.¡± ¡°Huh? Oh, yes. Understood.¡± Leaving his subordinates waiting, Baek Do-young headed somewhere. He passed the corner where the elevator was located and opened the door to the adjacent emergency staircase. ¡°It¡¯s been a while, Kim Eun-ha.¡± ¡°You always had a good sense.¡± Leaning against the wall, Kim Eun-ha slowly got up. A profoundly satisfied smile was on her lips. Baek Do-young, slightly frowning, spoke again. ¡°You¡¯ve found yourself an interesting toy.¡± ¡°Oh, a toy? He¡¯s my precious boyfriend.¡± ¡°Do you think such a prank would work on the Chairman?¡± ¡°Of course it won¡¯t. ¡°Then why¡­¡± ¡°If it were a trick, that is.¡± ¡°¡­¡­!?¡± Baek Do-young¡¯s eyes shed at her umon reaction. Kim Eun-ha¡¯s smile deepened at this rare reaction. Then, as if she had seen all she needed, she turned around without any lingering attachment. ¡°Ah, look at me forgetting myself.¡± As she was climbing the stairs, Kim Eun-ha suddenly stopped in her tracks. Turning her head, she opened her mouth with apletely unsmiling, dry expression. ¡°Do not approach Woo-ju without my permission. I¡¯ll let it slide today because I¡¯m in a good mood, but next time, I¡¯ll break those annoying sses of yours.¡± ¡°¡­Your bad taste remains unchanged. Leaving Kang Woo-ju ssi¡¯s past records deliberately unorganized for me to see as if you did it on purpose.¡± ¡°You¡¯re overestimating me too much.¡± Smirk- Kim Eun-ha¡¯s lips curled into a gentle smile again. After bidding a light farewell to Baek Do-young, she left the ce without any hesitation. Left alone, Baek Do-young slowly turned around after ring at the spot where she had disappeared. ¡®¡­Kang Woo-ju.¡¯ He had thought it was just a bluff to avoid an arranged marriage, but Kim Eun-ha¡¯s attitude was bothering him. Despite having many other options that were more appealing and easier to manage, why did she specifically choose Kang Woo-ju? ¡®Could it be¡­¡¯ No, that couldn¡¯t be it. Baek Do-young immediately dismissed the hypothesis that had formed in his mind. After all, she wasn¡¯t someone to waste her time on a trivial ything. While organizing his thoughts, Baek Do-young had unknowingly returned to his original spot. He asked his subordinates, who looked at him with questioning eyes. ¡°Ah, Director.¡± ¡°What did you think?¡± ¡°Eh? Ah¡­ If you¡¯re asking about Kang Woo-ju, it felt a bit strange. I can¡¯t exin it clearly, but he doesn¡¯t seem like an ordinary person.¡± ¡°Right. Normally, people would at least look back once due to nervousness when we stand behind them, but he didn¡¯t show any signs of that.¡± ¡°Him?¡± ¡°Sorry, sorry! It just slipped out without realizing¡­¡± Hmm- Observing his subordinate¡¯s reaction, Baek Do-young fell into thought again. He, too, had been receiving a somewhat simr vibe. ¡°Do you still have the research material we gathered before?¡± ¡°Yes, we¡¯ve kept everything intact without missing a single detail.¡± ¡°From now on, treat all materials rted to Kang Woo-ju as top secret. Contact the digital morticians to collect all rted materials and delete the originals. Make sure to silence anyone rted as well.¡± ¡°Yes. Understood.¡± The employees, professional as they were, showed no signs of questioning. They simply moved quickly to follow the orders. Baek Do-young, leading them, didn¡¯t waste any more time. He immediately drove off in his car that was parked outside the department store. ¡®I need to investigate this more thoroughly.¡¯ Vroom-! Baek Do-young¡¯s car began to speed off on the road. Chapter 15 - I Leave the Follow-up to You Chapter 15 - I Leave the Follow-up to YouChapter 15: I Leave the Follow-up to You ¡°¡¤¡¤¡¤Ah, I¡¯m dying.¡± As soon as I hurried back home, I threw myself on the sofa. A groan escaped my lips the moment Iy down. The task of immersing myself in a role without a moment¡¯s rest was physically and mentally exhausting. ¡®I somehow managed to get through the crisis.¡¯ As my tension eased, I had the leisure to recall my meeting with Director Baek Do-young. Even now, it felt like a nerve-wracking tightrope walk akin to a circus performance. I hadn¡¯t expected a mid-boss to pop up out of nowhere. And he came fully armed with my weaknesses at that. ¡®I thought I was going to be kidnapped or something.¡¯ The size of the secretaries,rge as houses, flickered before my eyes. Their overwhelming presence was such that I wondered if I should secure a pistol for myself. Of course, I doubted they would resort to physical force in broad daylight at the department store, but one can never be too sure with the ways of the world. ¡®I need to memorize the candidate encyclopedia as soon as possible.¡¯ The existence of such a booklet is ridiculous, but it did help me safely navigate the crisis that came my way today. Considering the hardships that lie ahead, it¡¯s only right to familiarize myself with it in advance. ¡®I also need information about Eun-ha ssi¡¯s family.¡¯ Their goals differ from those of Baek Do-young and other prospective groom candidates. While the assets and influence that Kim Eun-ha holds are important to the groom candidates, what matters most to them is the significance of mixing blood with the Mirae Group. Even in a semi-forced political marriage, Kim Eun-ha¡¯s cooperation is essential for properly integrating into the Mirae Group. ¡®It¡¯s sort of a trophy.¡¯ Though the expression is somewhat crude, to them, Kim Eun-ha is like a trophy. She must be kept in as pristine a condition as possible to retain her value. Therefore, it was likely they would not choose actions that directly harm her reputation or career. For example, revealing a history of bringing a good-for-nothing husband into her home. ¡®This must be why Baek Do-young came to see me personally.¡¯ He wanted to avoid making a big fuss if possible. After all, until recently, I was just a guy who hung around Daehak-ro. He probably thought that threatening me a bit and then giving me some money would resolve the issue. However, if it had been Kim Eun-ha¡¯s family, the situation would have been quite different. They would have sought to exploit the decisive evidence that I was a worthless husband to cause the biggest scandal possible. ¡®They need to find a w, after all.¡¯ What they need is the shares and session rights to the Mirae Group that Kim Eun-ha holds, not her herself. Thus, whether her heart breaks or not. In fact, they might even be happier the more she falls apart. Of course, as long as Chairman Kim Seok-ho is watching with eagle eyes, they wouldn¡¯t dare to cause a scandal big enough to eat into their ownpany¡¯s flesh. ¡®At the very least, they would have threatened her.¡¯ Something like, keep your mouth shut and hand over the shares, or be content with the department store and separate from the conglomerate in moderation. The possible scenarios are endless. Therefore, the ones I need to be most wary of are none other than Kim Eun-ha¡¯s family. I must gather as much information about them as possible. ¡®When you think about it, Eun-ha ssi really has it tough.¡¯ For a family that should provide a ce of mental refuge in a normal household to instead threaten her existence. This part genuinely saddened me. This is a problem that not even a wealth of money can inherently solve. Of course, outwardly, she seems utterly unfazed by it. ¡®Would it have been different if her parents were still around?¡¯ Kim Eun-ha¡¯s parents passed away when she was young, and I don¡¯t really know the details. Simple inte searches don¡¯t reveal much. The Mirae Group must have spent a fortune to keep journalists quiet. It was a time before social media became widely active, so it was entirely possible. ¡°Um. Let¡¯s bury this part.¡± It might be a sort of trauma for Kim Eun-ha. Unless she brings it up herself, there¡¯s no need to stir up unnecessary trouble. ¡°Speaking of which, I think I received a text earlier¡¤¡¤¡¤.¡± When I checked my phone, there was a message from Writer Jung Ha-rin. After roughly summarizing the lengthy text, it seemed to mean ¡®Please contact me when you have time.¡¯ Immediately, I pressed the call button. Beep- Click! Perhaps it was good timing, but the call was answered before the ringback tone could even sound once. ¨C Hello, Woo-ju ssi! Are you avable to talk? ¡°Yes, I am.¡± ¨C Phew, thank you. I was actually contemting whether to contact you again. Did you happen to check the message I sent you? ¡°Yes, did the script schedule get moved up again?¡± ¨C Actually, it¡¯s that¡­ The schedule was already tight due to adjustments, and it has been pushed forward yet again. The production team had no choice but to be mindful of the actors¡¯ schedules. The fact that Jung Ha-rin contacted me directly, even though an assistant director had been assigned, was probably for the same reason. Because of this, Jung Ha-rin started to exin the situation very carefully, in an almost cowering voice. ¨C The schedule was moved up so hastily that it¡¯s been difficult to coordinate everyone¡¯s schedule. There are actors involved in other productions as well. But we are really trying our best, really the best we can! to amodate. ¡°And?¡± ¨C Eek! That, that is¡­ I wasn¡¯t trying to point anything out in particr. It seems my voice still carried the sharpness from the standoff with Baek Do-young earlier. Ahem- I took a moment to move the phone away and cleared my throat, trying to sound as gentle as possible. ¡°Writer Jung Ha-rin.¡± ¨C Yes, Yes!? ¡­A normal conversation seems difficult. I¡¯m not sure why she¡¯s so nervous, but I decided it was best for everyone if I quickly ended the call. ¡°Is there anything else I need to be aware of, aside from what you¡¯ve already mentioned in your message?¡± ¨C No, not at all! That¡¯s the final word! ¡°Then, is there anything else you¡¯d like to say?¡± ¨C Uh¡­ Probably not? ¡°Understood. I¡¯ll see you then.¡± ¨C Oh, okay! ¡°Goodbye.¡± Click- After ending the call, I sighed softly. Receiving such treatment when it¡¯s not in my fate makes my skin crawl. ¡°¡­Well, it¡¯s good to have good things, I suppose.¡± Since there¡¯s no use crying over spilled milk, I decided to look on the bright side as much as possible. In other words, it means my acting is being well-received right now. I ced my phone on the table and immediately picked up the script. To perfectly portray Kang Joo-heon on the day, it¡¯s necessary to back it up with corresponding effort. * * * ¡°Writer Jung! How did it go?¡± Zap-! Director Kang In-ho rushed over to her as soon as the call ended. Jung Ha-rin, annoyed by his presence, red at him silently. ¡°Ah, I¡¯ve been too busy. Next time, I¡¯ll make sure to call myself.¡± ¡°Ah, to think this person is a director.¡± ¡°Just criticize me all you want, but let me know the results quickly. Can we stick to the schedule for that day? Half of the 1st episode¡¯s content is about that jerk!¡± Kang In-ho hurried Jung Ha-rin. It made sense since the most significant and crucial role in the first episode of ¡°Peaceful Chaebol Life¡± was Kang Joo-heon. ¡°It¡¯s settled.¡± ¡°Huh?¡± ¡°He said okay.¡± ¡°Ha-ha-ha! As expected of Writer Jung. I had faith in you!¡± An overjoyed Kang In-ho grabbed Jung Ha-rin¡¯s hand and shook it vigorously. Startled, she quickly withdrew her hand and stepped back. ¡°¡­That look in your eyes really hurts. It¡¯s like you react as if a cockroach clung to you.¡± When Director Kang In-ho genuinely felt disappointed, it was actually Jung Ha-rin who was taken aback. She blushed and continued. ¡°It¡¯s because you suddenly grabbed my hand without saying anything!¡± ¡°So, I should ask for permission in advance?¡± ¡°¡­If you have time to say weird things, go do your work! Actor Kim Young-ho is also participating in this reading, so make sure it goes smoothly without any mistakes!¡± ¡°Ah.¡± Whoosh- Whoosh- At the mention of that magic word, everyone in the office who was working turned their attention towards them. Theedic act between the two in front was amon urrence, but the exmation ¡°Ah¡± was enough to alert everyone. Since it was almost an unspoken taboo in the office, Jung Ha-rin also widened her eyes and raised her voice. ¡°Why!? Is there another problem!?¡± ¡°¡¤¡¤¡¤Actor Kim Young-ho ising for the script reading.¡± ¡°Huh? Since he¡¯s ying Kang Joo-heon¡¯s father, that¡¯s obvious. He¡¯s one of the main characters in our drama. Wait! Don¡¯t tell me he can¡¯t make it to the reading?¡± ¡°He said he woulde. The problem is that Kang Woo-ju will also be there.¡± ¡°Why is that¡­ Ah.¡± As Jung Ha-rin thought over Director Kang In-ho¡¯s words, she finally realized the issue. Kim Young-ho, a venerable senior in the entertainment industry. And Kang Woo-ju, a rookie actor. What would happen when the two met? ¡°Wasn¡¯t there a simr situation before!?¡± ¡°It¡¯smon in this industry. Normally, the rookie actor who arrives on set first would greet the senior with a 90-degree bow as a sign of respect.¡± ¡°¡¤¡¤¡¤Will Kang Woo-ju actually bow?¡± ¡°¡¤¡¤¡¤It doesn¡¯t seem like he¡¯d arrive early.¡± He would probably arrive just in time. With that thought, both of them started to sweat coldly from their backs. They could already envision the tense atmosphere of the scene. Swoosh- Jung Ha-rin and Kang In-ho looked around. The staff members naturally avoided their gazes, knowing well the rumors about Kang Woo-ju. ¡°Writer Jung, so what I mean is¡¤¡¤¡¤¡± ¡°Director, I¡¯ll leave the follow-up to youuuu!¡± ¡°Hey! Jung Ha-rin! Are you not going to stand there!?¡± Feeling an ominous premonition, Jung Ha-rin turned and fled, with Kang In-ho expressing regret as he chased after her. Left in the office were the staff members, who exchanged looks and silentlymunicated, all thinking the same thing. ¡®When exactly will those two start dating?¡¯ Shaking their heads as if on cue, the staff members returned to their work as if nothing had happened. Chapter 16 - I am Kang Woo-ju Chapter 16 - I am Kang Woo-juChapter 16: I am Kang Woo-ju On the day of the script reading, Director Kang In-ho and Writer Jung Ha-rin were pacing around the conference room. As time passed, their strides became faster, as if they were jogging, revealing their anxiety. ¡°Dong-gyu, is it not time yet?¡± ¡°¡­Director-nim. Please ask at least every five minutes. I think we¡¯re going to get neurosis from this.¡± Assistant director Oh Dong-gyu sighed deeply. He had been asked the same question nearly a hundred times within the hour. There was still more than 30 minutes left until the script reading, yet they were so restless. ¡°What kind of person is Kang Woo-ju that you act like this? It¡¯s not like it¡¯s our first day shooting with impressive actors. Why are you acting like amateurs?¡± ¡°Man, if it was just about dealing with an impressive actor, would we be acting like this? Haven¡¯t you read the script? Kang Joo-heon literally walked out of the script. That good he was.¡± ¡°If he acts that well, that¡¯s good for us.¡± ¡°That¡¯s the problem! It doesn¡¯t seem like acting! If actor Kim Young-ho¡¯s mood gets ruined and everything falls apart, we¡¯re all screwed!¡± Director Kang In-ho passionately argued, causing the assistant director to look dubious. Of course, he had read the script in advance and knew what character Kang Joo-heon was. ¡®Isn¡¯t that just your typical sociopath?¡¯ A character who wouldn¡¯t hesitate to do anything if it benefited him or hispany. Amon viin in chaebol dramas. Of course, Kang Joo-heon, with Writer Jung Ha-rin¡¯s unique vor added, appeared much more three-dimensional and attractive than usual. ¡®What do they mean it doesn¡¯t seem like acting?¡¯ He had heard rumors that Kang Woo-ju was a parachuted actor, supposedly receiving full support from a major corporation, though he didn¡¯t know the details. When he first heard this news, he thought it was a disaster. Honestly, he still thinks so. It¡¯s obvious what happens when a neer with no notable qualifications takes on a leading role. ¡®¡­Two consecutive home runs are too much.¡¯ One project had already blown up due to the lead actor¡¯s drug scandal, and now, to have a parachuted actor take the lead in a drama felt like being used as a stopgap. He had beenpletely taken in by the promise of working with the Kang In-ho and Jung Ha-rinbo. ¡®I¡¯d rather they were actually someone who came out of the script like director said.¡¯ About 4% of the poption are said to be sociopaths, often climbing to high positions because they don¡¯t hesitate to sacrifice others for their own benefit. In the broadcasting world, filled with stars, this percentage seems to skyrocket. ¡®I¡¯m used to dealing with such people.¡¯ Perhaps dealing with a perfectionist sociopath like Kang Joo-heon is better than someone who can¡¯t act at all. In the workce, people often prefer someone who ispetent but has a bad personality over someone who is nice but ipetent. ¡®One thing¡¯s for sure, he¡¯s definitely rude.¡¯ Considering his response when he sent a message that also served as a notificationst time. While other actors responded with lengthy, friendly messages, Kang Woo-ju simply replied: ¨C Acknowledged. That terse response was all. Wondering if the message had been cut off, he waited, but no furthermunication came. And that¡¯s not all. Unlike other new actors who arrived an hour early to secure their spots, Kang Woo-ju was nowhere to be seen. ¡®¡­Well, as long as he does his job.¡¯ Oh Dong-gyu had let a lot of things go. After all, there¡¯s now defining how to behave in every situation. If a neer actor has the skills to back it up, he didn¡¯t see a reason toin, although it certainly set a high bar for expectations. ¡°Dong-gyu.¡± ¡°Director-nim. If you¡¯re that worried, why don¡¯t you call him yourself? We¡¯re already busy with camera setup.¡± ¡°That¡¯s a bit¡­¡± Kang In-ho avoided the assistant director¡¯s gaze with a reluctant face, his eyes naturally shifting towards Jung Ha-rin. At that, she widened her eyes and growled in the most ferocious voice in the world. ¡°Why are you looking at me?¡± ¡°Is it now a sin just to look?¡± ¡°Director-nim, it¡¯s a problem because the message ¡®Ha-rin, could you try contacting Kang Woo-ju?¡¯ is leaking out of your eyes.¡± ¡°Ha-rin, could you try contacting Kang Woo-ju?¡± ¡°Ah,e on!¡± ¡°Director-nim! A car has entered the parking lot!¡± ¡°Who! Who is it!?¡± ¡°Uh¡­ That is¡­¡± Under Director Kang In-ho¡¯s gaze, which seemed fierce enough to devour someone, the youngest staff member stuttered. As everyone¡¯s attention focused on him, the youngest staff member, resigning himself to fate, tightly shut his eyes and shouted. ¡°It¡¯s Actor Kim Young-ho!¡± Sigh- Director Kang In-ho and Writer Jung Ha-rin simultaneously let out a deep sigh. The staff, who had been watching the two for cues, naturally became tenser. ¡°What should we do, Director-nim?¡± ¡°We do what we always do.¡± Rustle- Kang In-ho rubbed his head irritably as he organized his thoughts. Then, he began to call over the staff one by one, issuing instructions. ¡°Dong-gyu, check the camera and props again. Jin-ah, go to the waiting room and bring all the neers, and tell them Actor Kim Young-ho has arrived.¡± ¡°Yes, understood.¡± Director Kang In-ho, now exuding charisma that made one question if he was the same person as before, spurred everyone into brisk action. ¡°Our youngest go out front to make sure Actor Kim Young-ho doesn¡¯t lose his way. You understand what I mean, right?¡± ¡°¡­I understand.¡± The youngest nodded with a gloomy face. From now on, he had to buy time so that Actor Kim Young-ho would arrive at the meeting room aste as possible. ¡°Alright, everyone else, same goes for you. Double-check if there are any impediments to your assigned tasks and report directly to me.¡± ¡°Yes!¡± ¡°While the nominal reason is script reading, this is the first time the actors are meeting us. Don¡¯t show any sloppiness or they¡¯ll eat you alive!¡± ¡°Yes, understood!¡± The atmosphere was reminiscent of the military. Thanks to Director Kang In-ho¡¯s nature of being stricter than anyone else on set, despite usually showing a yful demeanor, this was possible. Writer Jung Ha-rin, not to be outdone, quickly went to the assistant writers to give instructions. ¡°We¡¯re the same. We don¡¯t know when we¡¯ll have to revise the script, so try to absorb as much of the actors¡¯ performances as possible. It will be a big help in shaping the image.¡± ¡°Yes!¡± The production team moved efficiently,pleting all preparations. Meanwhile, the new actors began to fill the empty seats one by one. The bustling atmosphere gradually settled down. As if on cue, everyone fell silent, filling the conference room with a strange tension. ¡°Actor Kim Young-ho has arrived on our floor.¡± ¡°Bring him in with all due respect.¡± Although it might seem overly courteous at a nce, Kim Young-ho was a veteran in the industry with decades of experience. Over the years, his naturalwork had grown to resemble a cartel, so getting on his bad side could make life difficult for anyone, actor or director alike. ¡°¡­¡­¡± ¡°¡­¡­¡± Knock- Click-! After a long silence, the sound of a knock came, and the conference room door opened. The youngest staff member who had gone to meet him entered. Following him, a kind-faced middle-aged man stepped inside. Seeing him, everyone rose from their seats and bowed. ¡°Senior, hello!¡± ¡°Hello!¡± ¡°Ah, sit down, everyone. I¡¯m not the lead, so there¡¯s no need to make a fuss. Sorry for making you wait with my slow walking.¡± ¡°Oh, not at all. It¡¯s still a while until the time we notified you of. Please, have a seat here.¡± Director Kang In-ho took over from the youngest and personally guided Actor Kim Young-ho to his seat. Only after he sat down did those who were watching cautiously start to settle back into their chairs one by one. Kim Young-ho, who had taken his seat, leisurely surveyed the room, making eye contact with each person one by one. In the midst of this, he noticed that the seat opposite him was empty. ¡°Director-nim, am I thest one to arrive?¡± ¡°Ah, that is¡­ One person has yet to arrive.¡± ¡°Hmm. I see.¡± Since the staff had prepared seating charts on each table beforehand, there was no one who didn¡¯t know whose seat was empty. The already awkward topic popped out from Actor Kim Young-ho¡¯s mouth, causing everyone to wear an awkward expression. ¡°Ha-ha. It seems like everyone is too nervous since it¡¯s all our first time. How about we lighten the mood with some introductions?¡± ¡°Ahahaha¡­¡± Guessing Kim Young-ho¡¯s intentions, Director Kang In-ho forced a smile. It was everyone¡¯s first gathering. Therefore, starting with simple introductions before the script reading had be an unspoken rule. However, starting introductions now, when not everyone had arrived, would be like treating Kang Woo-ju as if he didn¡¯t exist at all. ¡®¡­It¡¯s awkward to suggest waiting.¡¯ Since a senior was trying to ease the neers¡¯ nerves, voicing a contrary opinion now would not be wise. If they decided to wait for Kang Woo-ju instead of proceeding, a heavy silence would dominate the meeting room. That alone would stress the neers significantly. Resentment would naturally concentrate on Kang Woo-ju, the cause of the wait. As if questioning what makes him so special that he still hasn¡¯t arrived. ¡®Ah, this is really bing a headache.¡¯ It wasn¡¯t about defending him, but rtionships among actors working together could be quite a hassle if they were bad. It was a situation the director would definitely want to avoid. ¡®¡­About 15 minutes left.¡¯ ncing at the clock, he saw there were about 15 minutes left until the scheduled time. Considering Kang Woo-ju¡¯s past behavior, he was not someone who would bete. Betting everything, he decided to stall for as much time as possible. ¡°Then, let us from the production team introduce ourselves first. I am Kang In-ho, the PD in charge. I¡¯m looking forward to working with all of you¡­¡± Director Kang In-ho¡¯s introduction was so long it reminded one of a school principal¡¯s moral lesson. . . . As time passed. All the production team¡¯s introductions were finished. The promised time was nearing, yet Kang Woo-ju had not arrived in the meeting room. Director Kang In-ho wore a resigned expression. ¡®¡­Now, I don¡¯t even know anymore.¡¯ The minute hand was pointing at 59. The prearranged time was almost upon them. He had done all he could; the rest was up to Kang Woo-ju. Just as he was half resigned, Actor Kim Young-ho stood up. ¡°It¡¯s already my turn, it seems. Hello, I am Kim Young-ho¡­¡± Knock-knock- Just then, someone knocked on the meeting room door. The previously warm atmosphere instantly froze, and everyone¡¯s gaze turned to one point. ¡®Damn, of all times¡­!¡¯ The worst timing to interrupt Actor Kim Young-ho¡¯s words. Director Kang In-ho hoped the person entering was anyone but Kang Woo-ju. Click-! The door opened, and a man dressed in a suit entered with a confident stride that seemed to kick aside all their expectations. ¡°And you are¡­?¡± Standing up, Kim Young-ho asked in an unusually deep voice. The man, without avoiding Kim Young-ho¡¯s gaze, answered without hesitation. ¡°I am Kang Woo-ju.¡± His voice and posture, unshaken despite the collective gaze, made for an impressively memorable entrance. However, what truly surprised everyone, including Director Kang In-ho, was his next action. ¡°Nice to meet you, Senior Kim Young-ho.¡± Bow- Kang Woo-ju lightly bowed his head towards Kim Young-ho, leaving Director Kang In-ho and Writer Jung Ha-rin with their mouths agape. ¡®Kang Woo-ju¡­¡¯ ¡®He bowed his head first!?¡¯ Both sharing the same thought, they had to clench their teeth to keep from screaming. Chapter 17 - Are you planning to kill this old man too? Chapter 17 - Are you nning to kill this old man too?Chapter 17: Are you nning to kill this old man too? ¡®Kang Woo-ju is bowing his head!?¡¯ It was a particrly impressive scene given that Kang Woo-ju seemed like someone who would never bow his head to anyone. Of course, unlike the other neers, he didn¡¯t bend his waistpletely, but his series of actions were so natural and elegant that it was perfectly sufficient as a first greeting. ¡®¡­The atmosphere is amazing.¡¯ ¡®¡­He even tailored a suit for this.¡¯ ¡®¡­He looks even better in person than in the photos.¡¯ These impressions were shared by those who hadn¡¯t met Kang Woo-ju in person before. Not only the staff but also the fellow neer actors found themselves unintentionally opening their mouths in awe. Especially the neers, who had memorized the script for today, realized that his appearance matched exactly with [Kang Joo-heon]. ¡®¡­He arrived exactly on time.¡¯ Even this seemed staged. This was amon thought in everyone¡¯s mind. With just his entrance, Kang Woo-ju perfectly imprinted his presence on everyone, leading to a silent admiration pouring out. At the same time, everyone¡¯s gaze turned towards Kim Young-ho, curious about how he would take this situation. ¡®Ho, look at this guy?¡¯ At the same moment. Kim Young-ho was also looking at Kang Woo-ju with interest. Having been in this field for decades, he had met a wide variety of actors. Among them, there were those who, out of a desire to leave a strong impression, resorted to excessive ad-libbing without prior consultation and got kicked out. (TL Note: Ad-lib means doing improvisation in the script on the spot) There were also cases where someone ruined their image by acting like a viin even off-camera,pletely immersing themselves in their role. ¡®¡­He does have a vibe, though.¡¯ Usually, he would ponder how to guide such a brash act of a junior onto the right path. But looking at Kang Woo-ju right in front of him, a strange curiosity arose. To him, the synchronization with the character [Kang Joo-heon] seemed very high. ¡®Especially those eyes are quite something.¡¯ Those calm eyes, revealing a firm sense of self without a hint of doubt, were truly a masterpiece. It was so calming, almost chilling, to continue looking into them. Even Kim Young-ho, who had matched with numerous actors over the years, hadn¡¯t often seen such acting. Suddenly, he became curious. Just how far Kang Woo-ju had prepared. ¡°Ah, has my grandson arrived?¡± ¡°¡­¡­!?¡± Startled- Everyone was startled by Kim Young-ho¡¯s sudden acting. The line he just uttered was from [Kang Han-cheol], the chairman in the introduction of ¡°Peaceful Chaebol Life¡±. The scene where the chaebol group¡¯s chairman Kang Han-cheol and his grandson Kang Joo-heon make their first appearance. It was an important introduction that simultaneously informed about the characters of the two and the direction of the drama. ¡®Wow¡­ To do this on the spot?¡¯ ¡®That¡¯s Kim Young-ho sunbae for you.¡¯ ¡®That¡¯s what experience is all about.¡¯ Both from the actors and the staff. Admiration poured out at Kim Young-ho¡¯s acting. Despite throwing the line without any sign, the immersion was no joke. At the same time, sympathy for Kang Woo-ju also surged. For a neer, responding to such acting on the spot was too harsh. ¡®He¡¯spletely marked.¡¯ ¡®He¡¯s going to have a tough time for a while.¡¯ ¡®If only he arrived early more often.¡¯ Everyone thought that Kang Woo-ju would fail. There were dozens of people sitting here, with cameras rolling as well. Just the number of eyes watching him would easily exceed a hundred. How could any neer respond to that? ¡°I have returned, Chairman-nim.¡± ¡°¡­¡­!!¡± Yet, as if to mock everyone¡¯s expectations, Kang Woo-ju poured out the perfect line without a moment¡¯s dy. At the very least, if he were human, he would have shown a slight sign of panic for a brief moment, but not a single hair on his head flinched. Kim Young-ho, smiling as he watched him, acted ording to the script, but only he knew whether it was genuine or not. ¡°Tsk tsk. Just take a seat over there for now.¡± ¡°Yes.¡± The two exchanged dialogue as naturally as breathing, continuing their act. It wasn¡¯t limited to just the dialogue. At some point, Kim Young-ho¡¯s posture had slightly bent like that of an old man, and his overall movements became slower. In response, Kang Woo-ju confidently found his ce and sat down after ensuring Kim Young-ho had taken his seat. ¡°You¡¯re still looking well.¡± ¡°You brat. Even if you covet this old man¡¯s position, shouldn¡¯t you at least wish me a long life with your words?¡± ¡°Wouldn¡¯t it be better for you to live longer by enjoying clean air and ying golf with your friends?¡± ¡°Tsk tsk. You¡¯re too outspoken. That¡¯s why your uncles and aunts are so desperate to get rid of you.¡± Gulp-! Someone swallowed dryly, but it was impossible to tell who. Everyone felt simrly. Not only Kang In-ho and Jung Ha-rin but also everyone sitting in the meeting room didn¡¯t dare to interrupt. They simply became spectators of a scene from a drama, rolling their eyes while holding their breath as much as possible. ¡°So, I heard that the project in Taiwan was sessfully concluded. It must have been a challenging task since it also heavily involved semiconductors. You did well.¡± ¡°Did you wish for my failure?¡± ¡°Of course not. I just think that if you were born ten years earlier, I wouldn¡¯t have aged this much. It seems there really is something to the idea of talents passing down through generations.¡± ¡°I still have a long way to go to catch up to you, Chairman-nim.¡± ¡°Oh, now you¡¯ve learned how to tter?¡± ¡°You know my personality.¡± ¡°You rascal. You¡¯ve only gotten better with words.¡± Tsk tsk- Kim Young-ho let out a pleasedugh. Kang Woo-ju, in tune with him, slightly lifted the corners of his mouth. Their interaction was so natural it felt like watching an actual grandfather and grandson. However, the warm atmosphere was brief. Kim Young-ho then sharply continued with a tense line. ¡°But I¡¯ve heard an interesting rumor.¡± ¡°¡­Rumor?¡± ¡°That our grandson used a bit too much force in handling things this time? There¡¯s some strange noiseing from thebor union.¡± ¡°¡­¡­¡± Kang Woo-ju fell silent for the first time. Although this was also part of the script, those watching were impressed once again. Kang Woo-ju, who had not shown any sign of difort until now, subtly changed his posture and expression. Just that was enough to convey his difort to the audience. ¡®Silence speaks as well¡­¡¯ ¡®To express it this way?¡¯ ¡®The script only had dots for this part!?¡¯ Beyond memorizing the entire script, it seemed he had also prepared how to express this scene through every movement and facial expression. The production staff smiled at the absurdity, and the neer actors bit their lips with a mix of admiration and anxiety. ¡°¡­..I will take care of it quickly.¡± ¡°Never mind. I¡¯ve already taken care of it.¡± ¡°Grandpa, you?¡± ¡°You only call me Grandpa at times like this.¡± ¡°The act of addressing someone can be a sufficient bargaining chip. Weren¡¯t you the one who taught me that, Chairman-nim?¡± ¡°Our CEO Kang is good in many ways butcks cuteness. After all, even taming a puppy is supposed to be fun because it has its charms.¡±¡± Tsk tsk- Everyone clicked their tongues at Kim Young-ho¡¯s ease in portraying aplicated sentiment, indicating he was somewhat pleased despite chiding. ¡°Thank you for your help, Grandpa.¡± ¡°Are those just words? Though it¡¯s not like me to say, it was quite a bothersome task. What was it again? Ah, right. Thewyer known as ¡®Mad Dog¡¯¡­¡± ¡°Is she still alive?¡± Ssshhh- Everyone in the meeting room twitched at the chilling voice of Kang Woo-ju. Even without any particr rise or fall in his tone, it was clear he was angry. ¡°You¡¯re going to give me a heart attack, you little brat!¡± ¡°I asked if she was alive.¡± ¡°Haha, now that I see, that mad dog isn¡¯t a dog, but a fox. Okay, what if she¡¯s dead? Will you kill this old man too, like your uncle?¡± ¡°¡­¡­¡± ¡°¡­¡­¡± The two red at each other in silence. The air quickly grew heavy, and those watching held their breath all at once. They feared that even a slight breath might disrupt the mood. ¡­Among them, there was someone secretly clenching his fist while watching the back and forth between the two; it was Oh Dong-gyu, the assistant director. ¡®It¡¯s said that life is full of ups and downs.¡¯ He had felt dizzy when he heard the news that the lead actor was involved in drugs. Not just because of the money involved, but because his love for the work, whether as a writer or an actor, was second to none. ¡®I didn¡¯t expect much.¡¯ A project hurriedly scheduled as a stopgap, and on top of that, aplete mess with a parachuted lead. It would have been stranger to expect it to seed. But what was this bizarre scene unfolding before his eyes? ¡®It¡¯s been a while since I¡¯ve felt this way.¡¯ His heart was racing. It was simr to the first time he held a camera. The desire to record this moment with his own hands. The ¡®anticipation¡¯, which had gradually worn down with each passing year to the point where even its traces were hard to find, was back. ¡°Everyone, grab the cameras.¡± ¡°¡­Eh? Ah, yes!¡± ¡°Lower your voice. From now on, respond by nodding your head. Make sure our voices don¡¯t get picked up by the mics.¡± Oh Dong-gyu quietly woke up the staff who werepletely lost in the acting. If it was the actors¡¯ job to immerse themselves in the performance, it was the staff¡¯s role to take a step back and observe as objectively as possible. ¡°Everyone, pull yourselves together. From now on, we be the camera itself. Don¡¯t take your eyes off for a second. Record everything that happens here.¡± Nod-! The staff nodded in unison. Led by the skilled direction of Oh Dong-gyu, the production team got into position. ¡®The director and writer¡­ seem to be handling things on their own.¡¯ Director Kang In-ho quickly regained hisposure like the veteran he was. He adjusted the situation so that the other neer actors could naturally continue the script reading. Jung Ha-rin was also busy writing something with the assistant writers, probably noting down ideas or changes inspired by the scene they had just witnessed. ¡®I can¡¯t lose out either.¡¯ Whirring- Feeling passionate for the first time in a while, Oh Dong-gyu took hold of the camera himself. He then zoomed in, filling the screen with Kang Woo-ju¡¯s figure. As if he didn¡¯t want to miss a moment of his acting. Chapter 18 - My Stomach Hurts Already Chapter 18 - My Stomach Hurts AlreadyChapter 18: My Stomach Hurts Already After all the reading finished, the staff, under the direction of Kang In-ho, started to clean up the site. ¡°Come on, let¡¯s wrap this up quickly and all go out for a meal! Today, the director has specially granted us the corporate card. Let¡¯s eat till we burst!¡± ¡°Director-nim! Is it beef by any chance!?¡± ¡°Nope! It¡¯s obviously pork belly.¡± ¡°Boo-¡± ¡°But, the drinks are unlimited refills!¡± ¡°Wow-!!¡± The staff were exchanging banter with Kang In-ho in a free-spirited atmosphere. Everyone in the meeting room had a smile blooming on their faces at this scene. ¡°If the actors don¡¯t have other schedules, please join us! Days when we can fill our stomachs generously like today won¡¯te often once we start shooting!¡± Hahaha- As Kang In-ho joked around, the actors also helped with the cleaning, all smiling brightly. Among them was actor Kim Young-ho. ¡°Ah, sunbae! We can take care of this.¡± ¡°I can help out this much. It would be troubling if you treated me as an old man just because I yed a 70-year-old just a while ago?¡± ¡°Of course not. Your performance today was really amazing. I felt like we could just add CG to the background and turn it into a drama right away.¡± ¡°It¡¯s all thanks to that friend.¡± ¡°¡­Are you talking about actor Kang Woo-ju?¡± Kim Young-ho quietly nodded and turned his head. His gaze swept over the spot where Kang Woo-ju had been sitting, now conspicuously empty. ¡°¡­Really a remarkable junior in many ways.¡± As soon as the script reading ended, Kang Woo-ju had left the meeting room with just a light greeting, as if not wanting to waste even a second. It was an absurdly abrupt departure, but those who had beenpletely engrossed in Kang Woo-ju¡¯s performance during the past few hours didn¡¯t even dare to hold him back. ¡°¡­I think so too. Especially when he asked the chairman ¡®Is she still alive?¡¯ It gave me goosebumps all over.¡± ¡°To be honest, I was a bit scared myself for a moment. I thought this guy was really going to kill me?¡± ¡°Even those who weren¡¯t the target felt a chill down their spine. And yet, you didn¡¯t show it at all, truly sunbae.¡± ¡°It¡¯s not always like that. I just clenched my teeth and endured because I didn¡¯t want to show a shameful side in front of my juniors. Perhaps Kang Woo-ju, that friend, is the truly remarkable one?¡± Kang In-ho inwardly agreed with his words. The performance was so impressive that he wondered if Kang Joo-heon himself had participated in the reading. From naturally epting the sudden script reading to perfectly delivering every line that followed. ¡°He had memorized the entire script.¡± ¡°That too was just like Kang Joo-heon.¡± ¡°Right. It¡¯s like the rolepletely consumed him. At this point, I¡¯m worried about my own safety. I heard rumors he¡¯s a parachute from Mirae Group? Maybe this script too¡­¡± ¡°No. The character definitely wasn¡¯t created with actor Kang Woo-ju as the motif. Actually, writer Jung Ha-rin is always surprised every time she sees him.¡± ¡°Hmm, is that so.¡± Both of them forcefully suppressed their soaring curiosity. Having too much curiosity in this field is a shortcut to an early demise. ¡°¡­Huh, huff! Director-nim! ¡± ¡°Hmm?¡± Just then, Jung Ha-rin burst into the meeting room. She came in so hurriedly that she was gasping for breath and couldn¡¯t evenplete her sentence properly. At this, everyone¡¯s gaze focused on her, especially Kang In-ho, who was surprised and quickly approached her. ¡°Are you okay? What¡¯s wrong!?¡± ¡°Well, that, actor Kang Woo-ju¡­¡± ¡°What! Why!? Did that guy have something he didn¡¯t like today? Did he snap at writer Jung or something? Where is that guy right¡¤¡¤¡¤.¡± ¡°No, no! That¡¯s not it!¡± Jung Ha-rin hastily waved her hands and covered the director¡¯s mouth. Then, she lifted something she was tightly holding in her hand up to the sky. ¡°¡­What¡¯s this card for?¡± ¡°Actor Kang Woo-ju treated us!¡± ¡°Huh?¡± ¡°Actor Kang Woo-ju has treated all of us to beef! He reserved the entire ¡®Hanwoo Jeong¡¯ restaurant in front of us, telling us to go and enjoy to our hearts¡¯ content!¡± ¡°¡­Hanwoo Jeong? The Hanwoo Jeong I know?¡± ¡°Are you talking about that top-tier Hanwoo ce?¡± Suddenly everyone started murmuring at this unexpected deration. They hesitated for a moment, looking at each other, wondering what all this meant. ¡°Wow-!!!¡± ¡°Kang Woo-ju! Kang Woo-ju! Kang Woo-ju!¡± ¡°Crazy. He really was a chaebol!?¡± Not just the staff, but even the always hungry rookie actors screamed at the top of their lungs. Already, watching Kang Woo-ju¡¯s acting had made them suspect if he was ¡®real¡¯, but now, with this act of a different ss, they were utterly convinced. ¡°Writer Jung, is that true?¡± ¡°It is! I was outside organizing things, and suddenly he came up to me and said, ¡®Use this for the staff meal.¡¯ Wow, it was like there was a halo shining behind him!¡± ¡°¡­Aren¡¯t you too excited about this?¡± ¡°Of course, I am. When was thest time we had beef!?¡± Kang In-ho muttered under his breath, seemingly annoyed, while looking at Jung Ha-rin, who seemed as if hearts would pour out of his eyes any second. Noticing this, Jung Ha-rin shed a mischievous smile and whispered softly enough for only Kang In-ho to hear. ¡°You were quite cool earlier too, director-nim. Thinking so nobly about scolding Kang Woo-ju on my behalf?¡± ¡°Uh¡­!?¡± ¡°Come on! Let¡¯s just finish up what we¡¯re doing and head over! Today, the director and I will go ahead and set everything up for everyone!¡± ¡°Yes-!!¡± Jung Ha-rin pushed Kang In-ho¡¯s back, leading him out of the meeting room amidst the loud cheers of everyone, whose direction was unclear. * * * While the team was busy grilling beef, I was driving with Kim Eun-ha seated in the passenger seat. ¡­The whole thing started with a text message. After the script reading, I checked my phone and saw a message from Kim Eun-ha. Boss: When will you be done? Me: Just finished now. But it seems like we¡¯re all going out for apany meal. I¡¯ll just have one drink and sneak out early. Boss: No need for that. I¡¯ll take care of it. Come down to the first floor as fast as you can. I¡¯ve been waiting for 30 minutes already. Me: Eh? Who has? Boss: Me. Me: Why? Boss: Juste down ¡ª ¡ª Me: Okay. After putting everything aside and going downstairs, I saw Kim Eun-ha sitting gracefully at a nearby coffee shop. Wondering what was going on, I quickly ran to her. ¨C What brings you here? ¨C Detailed exnationter. For now, just take my card and tell them to have thepany meal at ¡®Hanwoo Jeong¡¯ in front of here. ¨C Why don¡¯t you do it yourself? ¨C You¡¯ve been asking a lot of questionstely. ¨C I¡¯ll be back then. With an aura that seemed like she¡¯d sew my mouth if I said any more, I quickly went back to the meeting room and handed the card to Jung Ha-rin. As I went back, I started to understand a bit why Kim Eun-ha might have done such a thing. Perhaps she wanted to help improve my image, which was seen as being ced by ¡®parachute¡¯. ¡°Are you really okay with this?¡± ¡°What do you mean?¡± ¡°There are quite a lot of people, and they¡¯re all young, so a piece or two won¡¯t fill them up. You might really break the bank this way.¡± ¡°I thought you were worried about something else. Changing Woo-ju¡¯s image from ¡®does his job well but has a bad attitude¡¯ to ¡®a person who rightly deserves his position¡¯. With this, it¡¯s rather a bargain.¡± Kim Eun-ha shrugged her shoulders as if it was nothing. Looking at her, I decided to stop thinking about it. Talking about money-rted issues with her only made my sense of reality grow weirder and weirder. ¡°¡­This is going to cost millions of won easily.¡± Just counting the heads of the staff in the meeting room, there were dozens. Add to that the rookie actors, hungrier than hyenas. Filling their stomachs with Korean beef, not pork, the dinner expenses could amount to how much? Noticing the expression on my face, Kim Eun-ha smiled and said, ¡°Sometimes, when I take the directors out for meals, depending on what we order, the prices can vary greatly, but we usually budget about 500,000 won per meal.¡± ¡°Is that per person?¡± ¡°Of course. Although we don¡¯t always spend that much, prices can double if we¡¯re scheduling for dinner, especially with alcohol involved.¡± ¡°¡­Is there that much of a difference?¡± ¡°Alcohol does add up.¡± Listening to her talk about a world so different from mine made my head spin. Kim Eun-ha chuckled at me as if she found it cute. ¡°You should start getting used to it.¡± ¡°¡­I don¡¯t know about my stomach, but my head can¡¯t ept food that expensive.¡± ¡°Let¡¯s experiment today.¡± I had no choice. What the boss says, goes. After all, she had put off department store work and even came out to meet me in person. Even if it was a decision based on meticulous calction, I was grateful for it. ¡°So, what kind of food does the ce we¡¯re going to serve? Just by the name, I can¡¯t even guess the category.¡± [Kim Dae-han 1945] The name of the ce was anything but ordinary. It would be hard to think of it as a restaurant. Even the path guided by the navigation was toward a residential area. It definitely wasn¡¯t a location known for essibility. Despite that, the fact that the restaurant could sustain itself meant it must be a ce of quality, worth making an effort to visit. ¡°I won¡¯t know what dishes are prepared until we get there. They only serve seasonal food that matches the date of visit.¡± ¡°¡­It must be incredibly expensive?¡± ¡°Well, enough that you won¡¯t regret not joining thepany dinner.¡± I flinched at Kim Eun-ha¡¯s words, surprised by her direct hit. Indeed, excluding unlimited refill ces, I had never freely eaten pork belly, let alone top-grade beef. Moreover, Kim Young-ho sunbae, whom I had respected since my student days, was someone I wished to converse with as long as possible today. ¡°¡­Did it show?¡± ¡°Not really? Probably no one would notice unless they were really observant.¡± ¡°Wow. I was that clumsy.¡± ¡°¡­¡­¡± Poke. Poke. Poke. Kim Eun-ha poked my cheek repeatedly with a sleepy look in her eyes. It was troublesome since she wouldn¡¯t stop her finger even when I told her it was dangerous because I was driving. ¨C You have arrived at your destination. The navigation has ended. While I was unterally being poked, we arrived at the parking lot. I heard we had to park the car and walk inside. Thanks to that, we got out of the car and walked together under the night sky, now darkened, greeted by the gentle light of the streetmps. ¡°It really is different in a rich neighborhood.¡± ¡°What is?¡± ¡°The fences and walls are incredibly high. Each one could be called a ¡®castle¡¯ without exaggeration. And they even pay attention to thendscaping around¡­¡± ¡°Hmm. Now that you mention it, it does seem that way.¡± Seongbuk-dong. A neighborhood famous for being inhabited by wealthy families for generations. Hence, it¡¯s known for housing what¡¯smonly referred to as ¡®foundational chaebols¡¯. ¡­Wait. Foundational chaebols? A sudden, ominous premonition crossed my mind. ¡°Today¡¯s dinner isn¡¯t at your family home, and when we open the door, the chairman and rtives are gathered around the dining table for a family meeting, right? Haha¡­ Ha?¡± ¡°¡­¡­¡± ¡°Um, right? Eun-ha ssi?¡± ¡°¡­¡­¡± Kim Eun-ha suddenly started looking at a distant mountain. Cold sweat, which hadn¡¯t appeared even during the script reading, started running down my back. Chapter 19 - I Like Eun-ha-ssi Chapter 19 - I Like Eun-ha-ssiChapter 19: I Like you, Eun-ha-ssi ¡°Puhaha-! Woo-ju ssi, you were totally nervous, right?¡± ¡°¡­¡­¡± Kekeke- It was by far the biggestugh I had ever seen from Kim Eun-ha. She was busy teasing me to the point of tears. In response, I quietly lifted the menu to cover my face, feeling relieved that this ce wasn¡¯t Kim Eun-ha¡¯s family home. ¡°Croaker cheese seaweed roll, Korean beef trotters, Seokchon water¡­ It¡¯s full of dishes I¡¯ve never seen in my life. These are served as a course meal, right?¡± ¡°Hmm. Are you trying to change the subject because you¡¯re embarrassed?¡± ¡°Such pranks are bad for the heart, so please refrain as much as possible. I¡¯m not yet ready to face Eun-ha ssi¡¯s family.¡± ¡°Hehe. How cute.¡± ¡°¡­¡­¡± Feeling like I would continue to be teased no matter what I said, I shut my mouth and looked around. This kind of experience is something people often can¡¯t buy even if they wanted to. I should memorize as much as I can for when I actter. ¡®It looks more like a gallery than a restaurant.¡¯ There were that many unique art decorations. The path from the entrance through the garden to here felt more like a home than a simple restaurant. There was only one table where we were sitting. Of course, it was long enough that it seemed like it could easily fit ten people. ¡°The structure is quite unique, isn¡¯t it?¡± ¡°Indeed.¡± ¡°The chef here wants this ce to be aplex space where people can feel Korean culture, rather than focusing solely on cooking.¡± ¡°I see. Since I haven¡¯t been exposed to such spaces much, it feels somewhat exotic to me, but it might be different from the perspective of foreigners.¡± ¡°Right.¡± Kim Eun-ha smoothly continued the exnation. Apparently, celebrities including Prince Andrew of Ennd had visited this ce. They only take one table reservation per day and prepare food only for those guests all day long. ¡°It must be quite expensive.¡± ¡°About 1 million won per person?¡± ¡°¡­This will be the most luxurious meal of my life.¡± No sooner had I finished speaking than the chef who first guided us came to our location with his staff. With soft smiles on their lips, they politely greeted us, and we slightly bowed our heads in response. ¡°Hello. My name is Kim Dae-han, and I run this ce. It is truly an honor to have both of you here today.¡± ¡°Don¡¯t mention it.¡± ¡°First, let me briefly introduce our staff and today¡¯s menu, and we will soon bring out the prepared food. Starting from the far left¡­¡± Chef Kim Dae-han smoothly continued his exnation, and as soon as all introductions were over, the prepared food began to be served immediately. Watching the whole process, I thought that indeed, expensive ces offer a different level of service. ¡®It¡¯s like looking at an artwork.¡¯ Chef Kim Dae-han exined not only the types of ingredients with each dish but also where they were sourced from and the meaning behind them. It was not just about the dishes; his pride and passion for the entire space were clearly conveyed. ¡®The food is also served in sync with the pace of the guests¡¯ eating.¡¯ The staff frequently checked the amount of food and seemed to maintain an appropriate speed. It didn¡¯t feel like we were being watched from somewhere; they just seemed to manage it cleverly on their own. Was it because it was my first time? I thought this level of service was quite impressive, but ording to Kim Eun-ha, it¡¯s not necessarily so. ¡°Actually, in terms of service level, there are ces much better than this. But they tend to have a much more solemn atmosphere.¡± ¡°That would be somewhat burdensome for me now.¡± ¡°Right. From the dress code to all sorts of little manners, you need to be aware of everything. You might not even know where the food is going.¡± Indeed. Like during script readings, if there¡¯s no script or significant details required, acting as Kang Joo-heon as usual should suffice. But how would I know the etiquette of eating formally in a fancy restaurant? Learning from just books or videos clearly has its limits in certain areas, and anyone with a bit of knowledge could easily spot that. ¡°So, that¡¯s why you brought me here.¡± While getting used to the luxurious atmosphere, a ce where Kim Eun-ha and I couldfortably chat alone. Essentially, a beginner¡¯s course. ¡°Right. This experience will be a great foundation for when you act as a chaebol. It will also be helpful when you dine with my familyter.¡± ¡°Thank you for your consideration.¡± I said it with all sincerity. The old me wouldn¡¯t have even known a ce like this existed. Thanks to Kim Eun-ha, my horizons are broadening. Hehe- Kim Eun-haughed as she looked at me, then looked straight into my eyes and spoke. ¡°That¡¯s what I like about you.¡± ¡°Huh?¡± ¡°Saying thank you when you¡¯re grateful, and admitting what you don¡¯t know. It¡¯s surprisingly rare to find someone as honest as Woo-ju ssi.¡± ¡°¡­I consider myself to be quite ordinary.¡± ¡°Not at all.¡± Kim Eun-ha shook her head decisively, as if there was no room for debate. The frustration below that gesture was palpable. It seems she¡¯s umted a lot, knowingly or unknowingly, from running the department store. ¡®¡­It won¡¯t be easy.¡¯ Especially since the service industry, which is prone to misanthropy, involves dealing with VVIPs who are particrly challenging. ¡°Did something happen today?¡± ¡°¡­No.¡± It was only for a moment, but I could read a hint of difort hidden beneath his expression. There was definitely something. But given Kim Eun-ha¡¯s prideful nature, it¡¯s unlikely she would open up to someone about her troubles. ¡®Let¡¯s not forcibly pry.¡¯ That would only stir up a ho¡¯s nest. It¡¯s better to align with her mood for now and smoothly change the subject. ¡°I like Eun-ha-ssi.¡± ¡°Eh?¡± Kim Eun-ha sounded foolishly surprised by my sudden confession. Realizing what she had done, she quicklyposed herself and retorted. ¡°Are you trying to get back at me for teasing you earlier?¡± ¡°No. I¡¯m serious.¡± ¡°Hmph. It¡¯s my wealth you¡¯re after, isn¡¯t it?¡± Kim Eun-ha snorted, dismissing the idea. But I had anticipated this reaction. I kept a leisurely smile on my lips and said. ¡°To be precise, the wealth is ¡®also¡¯ nice. Where else can you find a woman as beautiful and financially sessful as Eun-ha ssi?¡± ¡°Why did you leave out ¡®young¡¯?¡± ¡°You¡¯re still young.¡± ¡°Still?¡± ¡°People age eventually.¡± ¡°¡­You never lose a word battle, do you?¡± Smirk- Kim Eun-ha red at me fiercely as I simply smiled, but the corners of her mouth twitched slightly. ¡®That¡¯s why life needs humor.¡¯ Life is inherently difficult. Although there are degrees of hardship, it¡¯s certain that all humans continuously suffer from their own concerns and circumstances. Appropriate humor can lighten a heavy atmosphere and alleviate gloomy feelings to some extent. This has been scientifically proven. Kim Eun-ha is surely aware of this too. That¡¯s probably why sheughs along with my childish jokes. ¡®Thanks to that, I can also throw jokesfortably.¡¯ If every joke I made was met with a cold response, I wouldn¡¯t be able to have suchfortable conversations with her. We would have stuck to strictly business talks, and even this luxurious meal would have felt like just another work obligation. Kim Eun-ha must be thinking something simr. Proving my point, she threw a yful joke in return. ¡°So, you¡¯re saying if a woman with more money, a prettier face, and younger than mees along, you¡¯d fall for her?¡± ¡°No.¡± ¡°That¡¯s unexpectedly decisive?¡± ¡°Because such a woman wouldn¡¯t approach me without any ulterior motive. Unless she¡¯s part of a cult or looking for a career-oriented husband.¡± Zap-! This time, the look in her eyes was definitely filled with a will to live, unlike before. In response, I quickly raised both hands to show my unconditional surrender. ¡°Even if such a situation arises, I wouldn¡¯t leave Eun-ha ssi for someone else.¡± ¡°¡¤¡¤¡¤Let¡¯s hear why.¡± ¡°Because I¡¯ve already made a contract with Eun-ha ssi.¡± ¡°What if I say I¡¯ll let you terminate the contract without any conditions?¡± ¡°I still wouldn¡¯t leave.¡± How can I believe that? ¡­I was about to throw a joke, but stopped myself. The look in Kim Eun-ha¡¯s eyes was oddly serious. Of course, Kim Eun-ha isn¡¯t a fool who takes every joke literally. But there are things that shouldn¡¯t even be joked about sometimes. ¡°I like Eun-ha ssi.¡± ¡°I¡¯ve heard that before.¡± ¡°¡¤¡¤¡¤I don¡¯t know what Eun-ha ssi thinks of me, but I am spending the most meaningful time of my life right now.¡± This was no joke. I am truly grateful to her. After all, wasn¡¯t Kim Eun-ha the one who threw me a lifeline when I was just enduring life, powerless against the flow of fate? Thanks to her, my father could receive proper treatment, and sunlight has reached my mother¡¯s voice, which was always filled with worries. ¡®Above all, my life has changed the most.¡¯ I got a car, and a house. The suit I¡¯m wearing now, The food and drinks I consume. All were gifts from her. And there¡¯s more. I became the lead in a drama I couldn¡¯t even dream of, and I even did script reading with a senior actor I¡¯ve always respected. ¡°At least as far as I remember, I can confidently say that this moment I¡¯m spending with Eun-ha ssi is the happiest. I wouldn¡¯t trade it for all the money in the world.¡± ¡°¡­¡­¡± Kim Eun-ha was silent for a moment. But she didn¡¯t avoid my eyes. Instead, she looked into mine as if trying to see the truth. The atmosphere rapidly became awkward. In response, I let out an awkwardugh and said, ¡°In other words, it means my body¡¯s price has gone up! I hope you¡¯ll consider that during the next sry negotiation. Ahaha¡¤¡¤¡¤.¡± ¡°Permanently frozen.¡± ¡°Ack-¡± The most resolute voice in the world. Thus, the negotiation(?) unfortunately broke down, but fortunately, her mood seemed softer than before. I achieved my initial goal, at least. ¡°Are you done with your meal?¡± ¡°Thanks to you, I¡¯m full.¡± ¡°Then, let¡¯s slowly head out.¡± Kim Eun-ha quietly stood up. We thanked Kim Dae-han, the chef, and the staff, then went outside. ¡°Eun-ha ssi, the car is that way?¡± ¡°You said you¡¯re full, right? Let¡¯s take a light walk for digestion.¡± ¡°Then at least change into sneakers. Climbing a hill in such high heels will scrape your heels.¡± ¡°I can handle this much.¡± Kim Eun-ha walked ahead as if she wouldn¡¯t ept any objection. Reluctantly, I also started to follow her up the hill. During the climb, we didn¡¯t speak to each other. It wasn¡¯t exactly awkward, but it just wasn¡¯t the right atmosphere for conversation. ¡°¡­¡­¡± ¡°¡­¡­¡± One step. Another step. Kim Eun-ha¡¯s breathing became more rapid with each step up the hill. However, she didn¡¯t utter a single word ofint and continued to move forward. The heavy light from the streemps above our shoulders added to the weight as we climbed the slope. ¡°Eun-ha ssi.¡± ¡°Huff¡­ What is it?¡± ¡°Shall we start heading back down?¡± Swoosh- Kim Eun-ha¡¯s head turned upwards. She pondered for a moment while trying to catch her breath. Meanwhile, my gaze fell on her heels. ¡°¡¤¡¤¡¤I knew this would happen.¡± I quickly stepped in front of her and turned my back, then immediately bent my knees. Her voice came from behind, flustered. ¡°¡¤¡¤¡¤Woo-ju ssi!?¡± ¡°Stop talking and get on.¡± ¡°I¡¯m fine.¡± ¡°How do you n to go to work tomorrow with those legs? Your socks arepletely soaked red with blood. Quickly take off your shoes and get on my back.¡± ¡°¡¤¡¤¡¤¡¤¡¤¡¤.¡± I could feel her hesitating. Then, I slightly turned my head back to meet Kim Eun-ha¡¯s eyes. I opened my eyes aszily as possible towards her, who flinched. ¡°I¡¯ll only count to five.¡± ¡°I¡¯m fine, really. I can¡­¡± ¡°If you don¡¯t get on quietly, I¡¯ll carry you over my shoulder. 5, 4, 3¡¤¡¤¡¤.¡± ¡°Okay, okay! I¡¯ll get on, happy?¡± Unable to withstand my sincere persuasion, she finally got on my back, albeit reluctantly. ¡°Ugh-!¡± ¡°¡¤¡¤¡¤Hey.¡± ¡°Just kidding. You¡¯re lighter than I thought, gave me a shock. Are you even a celebrity? You¡¯re not short, but why so light? This would roughly be forty¡¤¡¤¡¤.¡± Thump! Thump! Thump! Kim Eun-ha hit my head as if to shut me up. Perhaps because she felt sorry for being carried, her hands were incredibly gentle. ¡°Let¡¯s go, then.¡± ¡°Huh? Woo-ju ssi, where are you going!?¡± ¡°Weren¡¯t you eager to see something up here? Since we¡¯vee this far, let¡¯s at least reach the summit.¡± ¡°It must be heavy¡­¡± ¡°If you know that, cling to my back like a cicada. It¡¯s harder if you¡¯re half-heartedly clinging on.¡± ¡°¡¤¡¤¡¤¡¤¡¤¡¤.¡± Swoosh- Seemingly deciding she couldn¡¯t change my mind, Kim Eun-ha quietly entrusted her body to my back. Perhaps because of the sweat from climbing, there was a strange sensation as if our skins were touching. This led to an involuntary exmation from me. ¡°¡¤¡¤¡¤Oh.¡± ¡°¡¤¡¤¡¤¡¤¡¤¡¤!?¡± ¡°Aaack-! What did I do!? My ear! My ear! It¡¯s dangerous! You might fall and get hurt!¡± ¡°Just die, you pervert.¡± Aaaah-! Kim Eun-ha pulled on my ear for quite some time. Despite the significant pain, I endured, fearing she might fall and hurt herself, almost resulting in my ear being torn off first. Sigh- Kim Eun-ha let out a loud sigh, as if meant for me to hear. While I contemted whether I should put her down, she leaned against my back again. The sensation felt much clearer than before, but based on the lessons learned, I kept my mouth shut. ¡°Let¡¯s get moving already.¡± ¡°Yes, ma¡¯am.¡± Thud-! With her urging (or rather, whipping?), I started climbing the hill again. Although the path was much tougher and more challenging than expected, a smile somehow never left my lips. ***** TL Note: This marks the end of today¡¯s mass release. Chapter 20 - Full Moon Chapter 20 - Full MoonChapter 20: Full Moon I¡¯m out of breath. My arms feel as heavy as a thousand pounds. Sweat is dripping all over my body. I want to just drop everything and lie down right now. Yet, I clench my teeth and take another step forward. What is it that keeps me going in such extreme conditions? It would be easier to give up, so why am I steadfastly enduring? Is it because I am usually ying the role of Kang Joo-heon? Acting out his spirit of never giving up no matter what. ¡®¡¤¡¤¡¤That¡¯s not it.¡¯ If that were the case, this situation wouldn¡¯t have happened in the first ce. After all, he is a character who cannot stand anyone looking down on him, even at the brink of death. Then what exactly is supporting my legs right now? ¡°¡¤¡¤¡¤Are you okay?¡± Tap, tap, tap- The gentle touch tapping on my skin. Kim Eun-ha carefully wiped the sweat off my forehead with her handkerchief. Her voice is weaker than usual. Surely, she must feel sorry for me. ¡®It¡¯s unlike her.¡¯ Kim Eun-ha today is different from usual. Even ifing to the broadcasting station was a strategic move for image improvement, choosing to wear heels and climb a steep hill was a choice that didn¡¯t suit her at all. ¡®¡¤¡¤¡¤So that was it.¡¯ That¡¯s when I realized what was supporting my legs. Right now, I am ¡®worried¡¯ about her. Perhaps due to my family environment, I¡¯ve been sensitive to others¡¯ emotions from a young age, and this sensitivity only deepened as I studied people¡¯s expressions and emotions for acting. I can see through lies of nine out of ten ordinary people, and even for professionally trained actors or poker yers, I get it right more than half the time. ¡®¡¤¡¤¡¤Unnecessarily perceptive.¡¯ Kim Eun-ha is very skilled at hiding her expressions, but as the time we spent together increased, I eventually got used to it. Even if I can¡¯t precisely identify the emotion, I can tell that her emotions are fluctuating to a noticeable extent. Thanks to this, I noticed her subtle changes, and that became the driving force behind my actions. ¡°I can walk on my own.¡± ¡°You¡¯re struggling¡­ Quiet¡­¡± ¡°¡¤¡¤¡¤So stubborn.¡± Tap, tap, tap-! A bit more force entered the hand of Kim Eun-ha, who was wiping my sweat. Knowing well that I wouldn¡¯t let myself be helped, she was doing her best in her own way. ¡°We¡¯re almost there, just a little more strength.¡± ¡°¡¤¡¤¡¤¡¤¡¤¡¤.¡± I had no energy to respond. Despite her rtively light weight for her height, she is still an adult woman. ording to my experience as a robust Korean youth who has served in the military, it felt like carrying a fully packed military backpack with personal firearms and everything elsebined. It¡¯s killing me, but I¡¯m not about to copse just yet. ¡°Just ten more steps!¡± Kim Eun-ha¡¯s voice, trying to boost my energy or forcibly raising the tension, tickled my ears. Before I knew it, like during a march, I had my head down. She was leading the way and setting the direction instead of me. ¡°Ten! Nine! Eight!¡± Thanks to Kim Eun-ha counting down, strength surged into my legs. The hope that just ten more steps would free me from this agony moved me. ¡°Seven! Six! Five!¡± ¡°¡¤¡¤¡¤¡¤¡¤¡¤.¡± ¡°Four! Three! Two!¡± Just one more step. The summit is within sight. I gathered all the strength in my body to take thest step. At the same time, I lifted my head and gasped for air. That was the n, at least. ¡°One and a half!¡± Cough-! With a dying gasp, my body staggered. My legs almost gave out from thispletely unexpected development. Kim Eun-ha, not anticipating this either, hugged me tightly, pressing her body against mine. I was about to fall, but with truly extreme mental strength, I barely managed to hold on. ¡°¡¤¡¤¡¤¡¤¡¤¡¤.¡± ¡°I, I¡¯m sorry! It wasn¡¯t meant to be a joke, a real mistake! I didn¡¯t calcte how the stride shortens as the slope increases!¡± As I silently turned around, a flustered Kim Eun-ha quickly offered an apology. Judging by her unusually urgent voice, she seemed genuinely sorry. ¡°But we really are almost there! Look ahead!¡± Kim Eun-ha grabbed my ears and turned my head forward. It was a gentle grip,cking any force, but her actions were so adorable that I willingly turned my head. Then, a rather magnificent nightscape unfolded before my eyes. I stepped forward as if I was enchanted by something. ¡°How is it? The view is nice, isn¡¯t it?¡± ¡°¡¤¡¤¡¤Indeed.¡± I nodded in agreement. Right in front of us, a fortress stretched along the road, and beyond it, the open view and the closely-packed night view of Seongbuk-dong captured our attention. Especially since tonight was a full moon, a muchrger and clearer full moon greeted us than usual. ¡°When I was a child, I used toe here often with my parents.¡± Prompted by the nightscape, Kim Eun-ha began to share her story. ¡°On full moon nights, we would go for a walk after dinner together. My left hand was always held by mom, and my right by dad.¡± ¡°¡¤¡¤¡¤¡¤¡¤¡¤.¡± ¡°And when I started whining about my legs hurting, my dad would carry me. Mom would poke my cheek, telling me not to bother her boyfriend.¡± ¡°Poking cheeks must be hereditary.¡± ¡°The consensus is that acquired traits aren¡¯t inherited, you know?¡± Poke, poke, poke- Even as she said that, Kim Eun-ha yfully poked my cheek. The touch wasn¡¯t unpleasant, so I quietly smiled. ¡°That was the happiest time for me. Unlike now, with session battles and running a business, where every action and its meaning need to be calcted. The time when my parents indulged my whims.¡± ¡°¡¤¡¤¡¤¡¤¡¤¡¤.¡± ¡°So, I was honestly a bit shocked when I heard what Woo-ju ssi said earlier. When you said, ¡®This moment is the happiest for me,¡¯ it felt like someone hit me on the head with a hammer.¡± ¡°¡¤¡¤¡¤Is that so?¡± ¡°Yes.¡± Swoosh- After sitting up to view the nightscape, Kim Eun-ha leaned her body back against me once more. This time, she buried her facepletely against me, so I could feel her breath directly. Her warm breath tinged my neck red. ¡°Of course, I still feel the same. I feel the happiest about the time when my parents were alive. And it¡¯s likely to stay that way in the future. However.¡± ¡°¡¤¡¤¡¤However?¡± ¡°I started thinking that if I keep enduring, maybe one day I¡¯ll also find happiness. Even if it doesn¡¯t measure up to that time. Just a little. Very little.¡± ¡°¡¤¡¤¡¤¡¤¡¤¡¤.¡± Suddenly, Kim Eun-ha stretched her hand towards the full moon. As if she wanted to grasp it, she repeatedly clenched and unclenched her fist. Of course, her hand would never reach the full moon. That¡¯s something that no amount of effort could achieve. Soon realizing this fact, Kim Eun-ha lowered her hand with a slightly bitter smile. ¡®Ah¡¤¡¤¡¤.¡¯ Watching her, a memory suddenly shed through my mind. The spotlight I saw from the stage, left alone after everyone else had left. Even though I knew I couldn¡¯t reach it, I mindlessly reached out to it back then. ¡°Would Eun-ha ssi be happy if she could touch that full moon?¡± ¡°?¡± ¡°Of course, she would be happy. But only for that moment. However, she could never be satisfied. Because then, Mars or Uranus or some other far-off would catch her eye.¡± ¡°¡¤¡¤¡¤¡¤¡¤¡¤.¡± ¡°Then can we really call that happiness? Isn¡¯t it just ¡®pleasure¡¯?¡± Kim Eun-ha was silent. Her hand, which had been wrapped around my neck, lost its direction and fidgeted as if she was deep in thought. After a pause, I carefully added, ¡°I think of happiness not in terms of intensity but frequency. There¡¯s a phrase ¡®more happiness¡¯ in the world, but ¡®more intense happiness¡¯ sounds a bit odd, doesn¡¯t it?¡± ¡°Frequency, not intensity¡­¡± Kim Eun-ha repeated my words as if savoring them. Little by little, strength began to enter her hands. ¡°When do you usually feel happy, Woo-ju ssi?¡± ¡°Um, it¡¯s really nothing special. Like when I suddenly look up and the sky is so clear, or when someone I meet on the street recognizes me?¡± ¡°¡¤¡¤¡¤That¡¯s really simple.¡± ¡°Ah! There¡¯s also when I crack an egg into my ramen and it turns out to be a double yolk. That day, the broth feels twice as rich. And I feel much more satisfied.¡± ¡°Pfft-! What¡¯s that about?¡± Kim Eun-ha burst intoughter. It seems she was expecting something grand. Of course, there are those grand moments, but the small joys have been what sustained my life up until now. ¡°Even now.¡± ¡°Huh?¡± ¡°Because I feel happy when Eun-ha ssiughs. So, I try throwingme jokes, and even go hiking in the middle of the night. Well, things like that.¡± ¡°Woo-ju ssi¡¤¡¤¡¤.¡± ¡°I can¡¯t feel my limbs anymore, though.¡± Oops- It seems she just realized that she was still being carried on my back. A flustered Kim Eun-ha tried to get down quickly, but I didn¡¯t let her go easily from my side. ¡°You can get on whenever you want, but getting off isn¡¯t as easy.¡± ¡°It was half-forced when I first got on!¡± ¡°Ah, now that I think about it, that¡¯s true.¡± ¡°Then please let me down quickly.¡± ¡°Let¡¯s just stay like this for a bit more.¡± ¡°¡¤¡¤¡¤You¡¯re really strange, seriously.¡± Sigh- Kim Eun-ha sighed and let her body rely on me again. She must know that resisting any further would only make things harder for me. Kim Eun-ha and I didn¡¯t speak for a while. We just nkly stared up at the full moon. ¡°¡­I¡¯ll admit it.¡± How much time had passed like that? Kim Eun-ha murmured in a voice so soft I could barely hear. I wasn¡¯t sure I had heard her correctly, so I asked again. ¡°What did you say?¡± Kim Eun-ha¡¯s lips came close to my ear. Her breath hit my eardrum like thunder. Perhaps it was the wine we had in the evening. A sweet fruity scent emanated from her. With the bright yellow full moon as a backdrop, drinking in her scent felt quite intoxicating, and I became a bit lightheaded. ¡°I said I¡¯ll admit it.¡± Given the situation, this time I heard her clearly. However, I still couldn¡¯t fullyprehend what she was talking about. Noticing my confusion, Kim Eun-ha took another breath. Then, very slowly, and in a clear voice, she whispered in my ear. ¡°That at least in this moment, I¡¯m happy too.¡± The full moon filled my view. Today, it seemed unusually bright and feltrger than usual. Perhaps that¡¯s why I had the premonition that this moment would take a long-standing ce in my memory. A day, a month, a year. Maybe even a lifetime. From now on, every time I see the moon, I¡¯ll remember this moment, and Kim Eun-ha. Chapter 21 - Hes a Divine Being Chapter 21 - He''s a Divine BeingChapter 21: He¡¯s a Divine Being I don¡¯t know how I got home afterward. Kim Eun-hay sprawled on the bed without even thinking of removing her makeup. It would have been unimaginable for her normally, but today, she had no leisure in body or mind. ¡°¡¤¡¤¡¤¡¤¡¤¡¤.¡± Shiver-! Her body, lying down like a corpse, twitched. The tremors grew more intense with every memory of the moments spent with Kang Woo-ju. ¡°I¡¯m crazy, I¡¯m crazy, I¡¯m crazy-!!¡± Thump thump thump- Eventually, Kim Eun-ha iled her arms and legs, trying to push away this bizarre feeling, but the more she tried, the clearer it became, just like the full moon she saw today. It was just a walk with him carrying her on his back, but even that made Kim Eun-ha too embarrassed to lift her head. Whining to someone else like a child, that was something that should never happen to her. ¡®How did ite to this¡¤¡¤¡¤!?¡¯ She hadn¡¯t drunk much. At most, a few sses of wine. She wasn¡¯t particrly weak to alcohol due to her family background, so the idea of getting drunk was not even an excuse she could make to herself. As she wandered looking for the most rational reason, something suddenly caught her eye. A photo of herself smiling broadly, just entered elementary school. On either side, she was holding her parents¡¯ hands tightly. ¡®Mom, Dad¡¤¡¤¡¤.¡¯ Seeing the faces of her parents, she began to understand a little why she acted so childishly. The reason she went all the way to Seongbuk-dong was because today was their death anniversary. Of course, it¡¯s been over ten years since her parents passed away. While remembering them brings a heaviness to her heart, no more intense emotions arise. ¡®I can¡¯t even remember their voices anymore.¡¯ Just once a year, on the anniversary of her parents¡¯ death, she would habitually visit the neighborhood where she lived with them during her childhood to reminisce. Even that, she hadn¡¯t walked up the hill for a while, but today, for some reason, she found herself heading in that direction without really knowing why. ¡°Kim Eun-ha. You¡¯ve be weak again.¡± She buried her face into the pillow. She knew the makeup would stain the pillow, but she had no energy to care about that. There was no other way she could think of to take her eyes off the family photo. ¡®¡­This wasn¡¯t part of the n.¡¯ She entrusted her entire body to the bed. Though her body and mind werepletely exhausted, insomnia made it difficult for her to fall asleep. Perhaps it was a blessing in disguise. She began to review her actions over the past few days. ¡®I¡¯ve been overdoing it recently.¡¯ Already tight on time, she had worked without taking breaks in between, just to make time to spend with Kang Woo-ju. Of course, not for romantic reasons, but rather to send a silent message to those who might be watching her from somewhere. ¡®¡­I might have enjoyed it a bit too much.¡¯ Kim Eun-ha admitted her mistake. Honestly, the time spent with Kang Woo-ju was quite enjoyable. Perhaps because they met under a contractying all conditions on the table, there was no need to be cautious like she would be when meeting other people. ¡®Does he feel simr to me?¡¯ Whether it was acting or sincere, Kang Woo-ju never showed any difort when meeting her, often making frivolous jokes. Sometimes his teasing went too far, making her angry, but dissipating her stress unknowingly as if blowing off steam. ¨C When Eun-ha ssi smiles, I feel happy too. Bang-! Suddenly, Kang Woo-ju¡¯s voice popped into Kim Eun-ha¡¯s head, and she hit the mattress hard. Otherwise, she felt like she might scream. Kang Woo-ju¡¯s smile lingered on her retina. The more she tried to erase it, the more vividly the memories, especially the sensation of being carried on Kang Woo-ju¡¯s broad back, scrambled through her mind. ¡°Anyway, that stubborn¡¤¡¤¡¤.¡± I can¡¯t count how many times I asked to be put down. Yet, Kang Woo-ju, gasping for breath, stubbornly carried me up the hill. Normally, there¡¯s no one as sly as him, but sometimes he can be surprisingly inflexible. ¡®And he was wearing dress shoes, too.¡¯ Kang Woo-ju was wearing the suit I bought for him. The shoes, of course, were matching dress shoes. Of course, they weren¡¯t as high-heeled as mine, but they were just as unsuitable for climbing a hill. When I pointed this out at the time¡­ ¨C My feet are so calloused, it¡¯s fine. He dismissed my concern with those words. It wasn¡¯t aplete lie since, unlike me, his heels didn¡¯t bleed. That doesn¡¯t mean the pain disappeared, though. Swish- Kim Eun-ha gingerly touched her heel. The smooth texture of the band-aid greeted her. On the way home, Kang Woo-ju suddenly asked the chauffeur to stop the car in front of a convenience store, then went in to buy medicine and band-aids, applying them himself. ¨C I can do it¡­ ¨C Don¡¯t move. Was it because my body was so tired that I was on edge? Thepliant Kang Woo-ju was nowhere to be seen. Thanks to him, I did let him take care of it, but now that I think about it, it was embarrassingly kind. Thump thump thump thump-! Aaaaaah-! The scream that I couldn¡¯t hold back any longer burst out. If the pillow hadn¡¯t served as a sound barrier, I would have been reported for noise between floors, that¡¯s how intense the tension was. It¡¯s not like we were filming a drama, but why did we end up doing so many embarrassing things? ¡®¡­Could it be that he¡¯s actually trying to seduce me?¡¯ Even that suspicion crossed my mind. No matter how much I¡¯m the employer and Kang Woo-ju is ying the role of a boyfriend. His excessive care made me more nervous. ¡®He said he hasn¡¯t dated anyone since college.¡¯ When I asked him at the shooting rangest time, he bragged as if he had a lot of dating experience, but Kim Eun-ha knew it was a lie. It wasn¡¯t just a hunch. Before we agreed on the contract, I happened to learn a fact while researching about him. ¡®Despite the nicknames he had, he was clean when it came to women.¡¯ Something like bomb or such. Kang Woo-ju had some rather unsavory nicknames during his college days. But upon investigation, it turned out to be malicious rumors spread by some faculty members and students. In reality, Kang Woo-ju was too busy earning tuition and living expenses to even think about dating, let alone have time to eat. He even worked as a chauffeur as a college student. ¡®¡­But why does he seem so experienced?¡¯ I haven¡¯t felt fluttered by men that often in my life, but because of our special rtionship, I keep feeling strangely. People say ¡°we click,¡± right? At least 30% of his random jokes make me smirk. His considerate words and actions towards me aren¡¯t bad either. No, they¡¯re actually quite excellent. ¡®¡­That¡¯s objectively a problem.¡¯ It would be a relief if Kang Woo-ju is deliberately trying to woo me. But if he¡¯s doing all this unconsciously¡­ ¡®Does he always act this way around others!?¡¯ Then, it¡¯s a serious problem. So far, he might have been too busy with life to afford dating women. But hasn¡¯t this issue been neatly solved by me? He got a house and a car. And a card to use as much as he wants. ¡®Of course, if he¡¯s sane, he wouldn¡¯t use my card to date other women¡­¡¯ For someone like Kang Woo-ju, it wouldn¡¯t be unusual for women to open their wallets first. This is also a reasonable inference derived from data. ©¸ I¡¯ve finally found the famous reading man! He was intimidating even in photos, but in person, he¡¯s really¡­ I thought I was going to suffocate and die when I identally sat next to him ?? ©¸ Seriously, only those who¡¯ve seen him in person know that pressure lol. I read in an article that he¡¯s going to y a sociopathic chaebol heir in a drama. Really looking forward to turning on the TV for the first time in ages. ©¸ And it¡¯s his first shooting ever. ©¸ He is a divine being. That one-time event of a reading caf¨¦ date with Kang Woo-ju, intended to keep up with reading time and to make it easier for paparazzi to approach. The response was hotter than expected. Authors like Jung Ha-rin and director Kang In-ho even called personally to ask if we could do it a few more times. As a result, Kang Woo-ju started visiting the reading caf¨¦ regrly, and whenever he appeared, social media buzzed with ¡°The wild reading man has appeared!¡± ©¸ I¡¯m definitely getting his number today. ©¸ ¡­Please don¡¯t. I¡¯ve already seen more than 10 people get rejected. He started ignoring people halfway through. If you ask for his number, he just stares at you intently. ©¸ Isn¡¯t that a reward? ©¸ I guess so. asionally, just for gathering information. Really, very asionally when I search. Each time, the reactions of people be even more intense. Not just asking for his number, but there were also women who confessed out of nowhere. And many bought him coffee or snacks through the caf¨¦ staff. ¡®¡­Do I not look like his girlfriend?¡¯ I also go to the reading caf¨¦ with Kang Woo-ju whenever I have time to make our rtionship obvious. Naturally, many photos circting online include both of us, and articles specting about our rtionship are pouring out. [The meeting of a rookie actor and a third-generation chaebol.] [Is Kim Eun-ha, the head of Mirae Department Store, in a rtionship!?] [Director Kang In-ho denies the nepotism allegations against Kang Woo-ju. ¡°You¡¯ll understand when you watch¡­¡± Bes a hot topic¡­] As usual, sensational titles and content dominate, but anyway, the atmosphere openly acknowledges Kang Woo-ju and me as a couple. ¡®But why do these bitches keep hitting on him?¡¯ Of course, when I¡¯m by his side, no one dares to approach openly, but if I leave even for a moment, hyenas rush in. Of course, I don¡¯t think Kang Woo-ju would fall for such cheap temptations while being with me. ¡®¡­I should tell him not to go alone anymore.¡¯ Hmm-hmm- Not for any other reason, but like the time Director Baek Do-young approached, unexpected incidents could happen. Just that. It¡¯s definitely not because I¡¯m bothered by the women flocking around Kang Woo-ju. ¡®But why hasn¡¯t he contacted me yet?¡¯ Kim Eun-ha checked her phone, which was thrown next to her. There were plenty of messages, but none from Kang Woo-ju. It¡¯s been a while since he should have been here, and he always contacts me when he arrives home. ¨C The customer is not answering the phone¡­ Kang Woo-ju not answering messages or calls. At this, Kim Eun-ha¡¯s extraordinary brain began spinning, producing all sorts of scenarios. Maybe he took a wrong turn. Or was he kidnapped? Perhaps he copsed on the street from severe muscle pain after carrying me for mountain climbing earlier. Ugh- After worrying for a while, Kim Eun-ha sat up from the bed. She hastily put on the coat that was thrown over the chair. ¡°¡­It better be nothing serious.¡± Click-! She quickly fixed her makeup and, despite her tired body, left the house again. . . . Just as Kim Eun-ha reached his house, there was someone lying sprawled in front of the front door, asleep and oblivious to the world. His name was Kang Woo-ju. ¡°Eun-ha ssi¡­ Hehehe.¡± Kang Woo-ju appeared to be dreaming something happy. The sensor light illuminating him flickered pitifully. Chapter 22 - Hes a Player Chapter 22 - He''s a yerChapter 22: He¡¯s a yer There are days like this. Days when you suddenly wake up from your sleep. Moments when you be strangely clear-headed, recalling the days when you was always muddled with fatigue, contemting ¡®Should I sleep for 5 more minutes?¡¯. Every time this happens, something alwayses up. Like beingte for school, or receiving aint call from a client I took over for yesterday. ¡°¡­¡­¡± It¡¯s chilling. It feels as if a dagger has been thrown into the back of my head. Feeling the presence around me, I stealthily opened my eyes slightly. Then, the silhouette of someone standing behind me entered my vision. I closed my eyes again. And ponder for a moment. Now, what did I do yesterday? ¡®¡­After the walk, I took Eun-ha ssi to her officetel.¡¯ 365 days a year. There are no days off for her who goes to work every single day without rest. Since she said she¡¯s going to work tomorrow too, I dropped her off at the officetel near the department store. Afterward, I moved to the house Eun-ha ssi had provided for me, along with a substitute driver. I checked the parking, received the keys, and handed over the money. ¡®So far, so good.¡¯ The problem is what happened next. Today, I had just finished an intense script reading session with Actor Kim Young-ho. After that, I went hiking with Kim Eun-ha on my back. If we only consider the distance in simple kilometers, it might not seem much, but taking the slope into ount, I thought it was close to the difficulty of a march. As a result, after locking the front door, I barely managed to take off my shoes and sprawled out on the wooden floor, thinking, ¡®Just lie down for exactly 5 minutes and then take a shower,¡¯ before falling asleep immediately. ¡®¡­Then, the silhouette now is likely Eun-ha ssi.¡¯ No matter how desperately I try to recall, I don¡¯t feel like I touched my phone before falling asleep. Meaning, I fell asleep without contacting Kim Eun-ha. I don¡¯t know how much time has passed since I fell asleep, but judging by how my mind is racing, it seems like a lot of time has flown by. ¡®Uh oh. I¡¯m screwed.¡¯ No matter how much I think about it, that¡¯s the conclusion. No matter how much I ponder, I can¡¯te up with a way to smoothly resolve the problem I¡¯m facing. Especially creepy is the fact that Kim Eun-ha is standing still without saying a word. If it weren¡¯t for the pathetically blinking light, I might not have even been aware of her presence. ¡®¡­What to do.¡¯ I can¡¯t keep pretending to be asleep forever. But getting up and greeting her cheerfully seems like it would genuinely earn me a p in the face. Stuck in this indecision, a cool shadow fell over my face. ¡°Kang Woo-ju ssi.¡± ¡°Yes, Eun-ha ssi.¡± The answer came out reflexively. I realized my mistake, but it was already toote. I slowly opened my eyes and our gazes met directly. Like looking into the eyes of Medusa, my body froze. ¡°I¡¯m sorry¡­¡± ¡°Go wash up and sleep in bed.¡± ¡°What?¡± ¡°You¡¯ll catch a cold if you sleep like this.¡± I said something stupid because I didn¡¯t catch the context for a moment. Given her personality, I thought I was going to hear a lengthy scolding. I even thought maybe she woulde back with a physical reprimand. But Kim Eun-ha did not take any further action. It¡¯s better to be hit first. Seeing her act differently from usual made me very anxious. ¡°I¡¯ll leave now, then.¡± Swoosh- With those words, Kim Eun-ha turned around. She opened the door without a moment¡¯s hesitation. ¡°Wait, just a minute!¡± Finallying to my senses, I sprang up from my spot and grabbed Kim Eun-ha¡¯s hand. Then, she looked down at her hand, held by me. As someone who has studied people¡¯s expressions for a long time, the meaning behind Kim Eun-ha¡¯s expression was clear. Oh, you dare to hold my hand? What the hell are you doing? Let go of this hand immediately? ¡°¡­¡­¡± ¡°¡­¡­¡± The suffocating silence continued. I wanted to immediately let go of her hand and step back, but that was definitely not the right choice. Even though I may not have enough experience to fully understand women¡¯s hearts. Even so, I knew that letting her go now would be the worst of the worst decisions. ¡®Let¡¯s at least have a conversation.¡¯ Whatever the reason, it was clear she hade all this way to check on my condition after dragging her tired body here. Seeing that she was still in the clothes she wore for dinner, it was evident she hadn¡¯t had proper rest. Then, at the very least, shouldn¡¯t I offer Kim Eun-ha ssi some warm tea before she leaves? ¡®But the time¡­¡¯ I sneakily nced at the clock next to the front door, and it was already way past 11 PM. Even if I were to take her to the officetel right now, it¡¯s more than a 30-minute trip one way. Assuming she goes to shower, removes her makeup, and immediately goes to sleep, it would easily be past 1 AM. That would leave Kim Eun-ha ssi, who starts her day every day at 5:30 AM, with only about 3-4 hours of sleep at most. ¡°Stay and sleep.¡± Crazy. I was startled that such words had slipped out of my mouth. I must still be half asleep. Or maybe my brain had overloaded from using it too much in a short time. ¡°¡­¡­¡± ¡°¡­¡­¡± For whatever reason, saying it outright without considering the context in front confronted me with a harsh reality. The silence that followed was iparably heavier than before, pressing down on my shoulders. Just as I was about to add a detailed exnation in a rush. ¡°Okay.¡± ¡°?¡± Kim Eun-ha ssi simply nodded and took off her shoes, then bypassed me, who was still in a daze, and walked inside. I was the one surprised this time. Not knowing how to react, I turned around in a daze, and Kim Eun-ha ssi, while letting down her tied-up hair, said, ¡°Is it okay if I shower first?¡± ¡°¡­Ah, yes, of course!¡± Kim Eun-ha ssi nodded lightly and headed to her room without looking back. Since it was originally her house, and since I hadn¡¯t touched anything in her room, it should have everything she needs to change into. ¡°¡­What exactly is this situation?¡± Left alone, I tried topose myself from the absurdity. Thinking that it was rather odd for me to be the one panicking. ¡®Anyway, the house is too big.¡¯ The house was spacious enough to be considered excessivelyrge for two people. There were more than enough unused rooms, not to mention a separate guest room. Compared to that, the furniture was only the bare essentials, making therge detached house feel empty from afar. ¡®¡­What was I even imagining.¡¯ Scratch scratch- I scratched my messy hair, clearing the random thoughts that had surfaced in my mind. Her staying over was just a practical choice made for convenience. If I harbored any strange misunderstandings and it showed, I would no longer have the face to meet Kim Eun-ha ssi. ¡®I should also quickly shower and clear my head.¡¯ Thankfully, in this unnecessarilyrge house, there were two bathrooms on the first floor alone, allowing us to shower at the same time without crossing paths. Kim Eun-ha ssi meant she would use the shower room first. This ce had such luxurious spaces to offer. With that thought, I headed to another bathroom that wouldn¡¯t ovep with hers. While washing off the sweat-stained body, I also hoped to rinse away the cluttered thoughts. * * * Where am I? Why am I doing this? Submerged in the bathtub, Kim Eun-ha stared nkly at the ceiling, lost in thought. Immersed in warm water, her brain felt soft and mushy. ¡®¡­I was nning to be angry.¡¯ When she first came to check on Kang Woo-ju¡¯s condition, her annoyance was brimming to the top of her head. Wondering why she was doing this when she had to go to work the next day, what she should do if he wasn¡¯t home, and so on. Stress piled up from all sorts of hypotheses. However, the moment she opened the front door and saw Kang Woo-ju sprawled out on the floor, all her irritation melted away like snow in the sun. ¡®He must have been really tired.¡¯ The moment she saw Kang Woo-ju, Kim Eun-ha¡¯s keen mind understood the whole situation and its cause, including the part where she had been carried by him. Reaching that thought, she found herself unable to be angry. In fact, she was almost amused by his state. ¡°Ha¡­¡± Irritation and sympathy. Gratitude and guilt, etc. A typhoon of emotions, both positive and negative, swirled chaotically, leaving her unable to say anything. She just watched. While she watched, Kang Woo-ju¡¯s breathing started to sound odd. Because she had been watching him all this time, she could even notice the slightest movement of his eyelids. And yet, his pretending to continue sleeping almost made her chuckle. ¡®Sometimes, he has his cute moments.¡¯ Wondering how long he would keep up this act, she left him alone, but seeing no sign of him waking up, she eventually broke the silence. Having confirmed he was home and breathing fine, she was about to leave when Kang Woo-ju¡¯s sudden grip stopped her thoughts in their tracks. ¨C Stay and sleep. Ssh-! The moment Kang Woo-ju¡¯s voice came to mind, Kim Eun-ha identally pped the water without realizing it. Then, embarrassed by the loud noise, she quietly held her breath and looked around. Listening for any noise from outside, fortunately, she didn¡¯t sense anything unusual and let out a sigh of relief. ¡®What am I even doing?¡¯ She easily guessed the meaning behind Kang Woo-ju¡¯s words. She also thought staying and sleeping here was the rational decision. Especially since the rooms were far apart, there wouldn¡¯t be much ovep in their paths. But the idea of sleeping under the same roof made her feel oddly conscious. ¡®I should go to sleep quickly¡­¡¯ But she couldn¡¯t calm her mind, not even a few hours left before she had to leave for work, she ended up filling the bathtub for a half bath. Time heals all wounds, they say. As her body became drowsily warm, sleepiness crept up on her. Kim Eun-ha quickly got up from the tub to avoid the unfortunate event of falling asleep in it. ¡°Huh?¡± Just as she was about to change into thefortable clothes she had prepared and leave the shower, she paused, noticing the items neatly ced in front of the door. Banana-vored milk. And right next to it, a pristine white straw. ¡°¡­Seriously.¡± Wondering when he hade and gone. She could imagine Kang Woo-ju tip-toeing silently, heel lifted, to quietly ce the items there, feeling guilty for having fallen asleep without contacting her and making here all this way. Pff- Kim Eun-ha inserted the straw into the banana milk. Taking a long sip, a gentle sweetness swirled in her mouth. Her parched throat was soothed, bringing a refreshing feeling. Unknowingly, the corners of her mouth lifted. ¡®Jeez, really¡­¡¯ He¡¯s a yer. Shaking her head, Kim Eun-ha entered her room. It was a night she fell into afortable sleep, a stark contrast to the years of insomnia that had gued her. Chapter 23 - Newlyweds Chapter 23 - NewlywedsChapter 23: Newlyweds ¡°¡¤¡¤¡¤¡¤¡¤¡¤?¡± Something was strange. That was the first thought that Kim Eun-ha had when she woke up in bed. An unfamiliar sense of refreshment enveloped her body like a spring breeze. Even the sunlight entering from the window warmly embraced her. It was such a refreshing morning that she wondered if she had ever experienced such a sensation in her life before. All her questions started from here. ¡®¡¤¡¤¡¤What?¡¯ Ever since her parents passed away, she had never experienced such a peaceful morning. It was always loud rms or terrible nightmares that woke her up. She wasn¡¯t particrly sleepless, but since she couldn¡¯t sleep anyway while lying in bed, she had adopted a mindset to make the most of that time by working. ¡®I shouldn¡¯t be doing this¡¤¡¤¡¤.¡¯ However, even these negative feelings be familiar over a decade of repetition. It was the moment Kim Eun-ha realized ¡®a good night¡¯s sleep¡¯ again, which she had forgotten for half her life. A tremendous sense of anxiety began to overwhelm her. ¡°¡¤¡¤¡¤Am Ite!?¡± Kim Eun-ha bolted upright in bed. Her body felt so light that she didn¡¯t feel groggy at all despite just having woken up. ¡°How long did I sleep!?¡± The panic that escaped her lips unfiltered. She hurriedly fumbled around to find her cell phone. ¡°¡¤¡¤¡¤Why is the rm off?¡± She didn¡¯t remember turning off the rm, so she wondered if perhaps the phone¡¯s battery had died, but it was properly on and plugged into the charger. Maybe she had unconsciously turned off the rm and gone back to sleep. All sorts of question marks began to invade her mind. ¡°No, this isn¡¯t the time for that.¡± Whisk-whisk- Kim Eun-ha shook her head to clear the distracting thoughts. Now was not the time to analyze the cause; she needed to start getting ready for work immediately. She nned to charge her phone a bit while she showered, and somehow get in touch with her secretary tomunicate her situation. It felt a bitte, but she had to ask to adjust the department store opening preparations and her morning schedule. ¡®The luxury goods section will be taken care of by Manager Park¡¤¡¤¡¤.¡¯ The luxury goods exhibit area had a system set up to run smoothly even when she was absent due to emergency business trips, so that was somewhat reassuring. She imagined the employees who had arrived early in the morning waiting for her, and her eyes squeezed shut. The reputation and trust that had been built up with difficulty over a long period of time would be cut down in chunks. ¡°Ah! First, I need to call a taxi¡¤¡¤¡¤.¡± Knock-knock- Just then, there was a sudden knocking sound at the door. Startled, Kim Eun-ha turned her head, and a voice came from outside. ¡°Eun-ha ssi, are you up?¡± It was Kang Woo-ju. Hearing his voice, Kim Eun-ha forcefully pulled open the door. Kang Woo-ju, standing there, was taken aback and his eyes widened in surprise. ¡°Woo-ju ssi! Sorry to ask this early in the morning, but could I borrow your car keys? And if possible, to the front gate¡¤¡¤¡¤.¡± ¡°If it¡¯s about the department store, it¡¯s okay.¡± ¡°What?¡± ¡°I had already contacted the secretary earlier. I told her that Eun-ha ssi had an emergency business trip this morning and to adjust the schedule ordingly.¡± Uh- She was momentarily dumbfounded, unable to follow the context. Then, Kang Woo-ju shed an awkward smile and said. ¡°I had taken the secretary¡¯s number before, just in case you were too busy to take calls, so I could ry messagester. It turned out to be useful now.¡± ¡°Why did you decide on your own¡¤¡¤¡¤.¡± ¡°I¡¯m sorry. Originally, I was going to knock to take you to the department store, but the door opened unexpectedly, and I saw inside without meaning to.¡± ¡°¡¤¡¤¡¤¡¤¡¤¡¤.¡± Kim Eun-ha had a habit of slightly leaving the door ajar when she slept. If he had knocked without knowing this, the current situation would have unfolded. ¡°So, did you turn off my rm?¡± ¡°¡¤¡¤¡¤Yes. I was heading back to my room when your rm started ringing. But you were just frowning and didn¡¯t wake up, so I turned it off.¡± ¡°You didn¡¯t try to wake me up?¡± ¡°Uhm¡¤¡¤¡¤.¡± Instead of answering immediately, Kang Woo-ju averted his gaze. He scratched his temple hesitantly and then cautiously began to speak. ¡°You were sleeping so soundly, Eun-ha ssi.¡± ¡°What? Ah¡¤¡¤¡¤!?¡± It took a few seconds for Kim Eun-ha to grasp the meaning of his words, and her face turned red. It meant that Kang Woo-ju had been staring at her face while she was asleep. Unable to imagine what that must have looked like, Kim Eun-ha opened her mouth in disbelief, and Kang Woo-ju, seeing her reaction, frantically waved his hands and added an exnation. ¡°Please don¡¯t misunderstand! It was still dark before dawn, so I couldn¡¯t see well, and I left right after turning off the rm.¡± ¡°¡¤¡¤¡¤¡¤¡¤¡¤.¡± She crossed her arms and red at him silently, causing Kang Woo-ju¡¯s face to turn red. Uncharacteristically, even his neck reddened, which she found somewhat cute. Of course, it was right to scold him for unterally deciding to push back her schedule, but it was clear that there was no malice in his actions. ¡®Rather the opposite.¡¯ Considering how light her body felt and how good her condition was, the sound sleep had been extremely effective. All thanks to Kang Woo-ju. Since they shared their schedules to make time for each other, he must have known there were no particrly important appointments this morning. Although it was quite offending that he entered her room without permission, she had to admit, more of the faulty with her. ¡®All things considered, themendable points outweigh.¡¯ Honestly, she felt like patting Kang Woo-ju on the head. Although it wasn¡¯t an action she could really take right then, she instead said. ¡°But something is a bit off.¡± ¡°What is it?¡± ¡°Woo-ju ssi. There¡¯s no need for you to be that embarrassed. Is it your first time entering a woman¡¯s room or something?¡± ¡°No, that¡¯s not it.¡± ¡°¡¤¡¤¡¤¡¤¡¤¡¤.¡± Her attempt to tease him had backfired due to his very firm response, making her the one who felt awkward. As Kim Eun-ha looked at him incredulously, Kang Woo-ju continued with a yful smile. ¡°I have a younger sister.¡± ¡°Kang Byul ssi?¡± ¡°You knew already.¡± ¡°Well¡¤¡¤¡¤.¡± Kim Eun-ha swallowed her words. One of the most important things she had focused on during her background check on Kang Woo-ju was his family. She had alreadypleted her investigations regarding his sister. There wasn¡¯t anything particrly notable about her, and Kang Woo-ju¡¯s rtionship with her seemed quite distant, so aside from ensuring security, she hadn¡¯t paid much attention. ¡°My sister¡¯s room has aputer, so I ended up going in there more often than you¡¯d think. She is (XX) chromosomally too, of course. But the state of her room is worlds apart from yours, Eun-ha ssi.¡± (TL: (XX) chromosomally means she is a female too) Feeling a bit guilty, Kang Woo-ju responded with a grimace. Seeing his expression, Kim Eun-ha snorted as if amused. ¡°What was so bad about the room?¡± ¡°There¡¯s too much in there, and too little here.¡± ¡°Exin a bit more.¡± ¡°¡¤¡¤¡¤Um. To be honest, my sister¡¯s room was like a pigsty. Clothes and cosmetics among other things were strewn around like mines.¡± Kang Woo-ju shook his head seriously, furrowing his brow at the mere memory of it. Now that she knew what his sister¡¯s room was like, she was mildly curious, but what was more important wasing up next. ¡°And what about me?¡± ¡°Just the opposite. I felt it the first time I came to this house; it¡¯s like only the essentials needed for living are here.¡± ¡°¡¤¡¤¡¤¡¤¡¤¡¤.¡± ¡°It¡¯s excessively tidy, I initially thought I was looking at a model home. Your office has a simr feel. Though, I suppose the officetel you actually live in might be different.¡± Was that so? Hearing suchments about herself from someone else was a first for her, and it sounded a bit novel. Upon reflection, it did seem to make sense. She had a vague sense of why that might be, but she didn¡¯t want to delve deeper into it. ¡°What about other ces? Apart from your family.¡± ¡°I¡¯d rather notment on that.¡± ¡°So, there aren¡¯t any?¡± ¡°Does it bother you?¡± Ugh- A pang of guilt almost made her scream out loud, but she managed to hold it back with the thick-skinned fortitude she had built up over years of dealing with VVIPs. It seemed better here to push the issue directly rather than dodging the question or beating around the bush. ¡°Of course, it bothers me.¡± ¡°Why?¡± ¡°Even though it¡¯s just a contract, you¡¯re still my boyfriend.¡± ¡°It¡¯s polite not to dig into a lover¡¯s past. Learning about it just ends up hurting both parties for no reason. What matters is how they treat you now, not who they were in the past.¡± ¡°What if the present is built on that past?¡± ¡°That¡¯s exactly why. Everyone has a first time, and it¡¯s rare to find someone who¡¯s perfect from the start. As long as it¡¯s not a serious crime, it shouldn¡¯t matter.¡± ¡°Like what, for example?¡± ¡°Murder, robbery, arson¡ªserious crimes like those.¡± ¡°¡¤¡¤¡¤You¡¯re really no fun.¡± His too-correct response left her with no desire to argue. Kang Woo-ju then suddenly brightened up and continued smilingly. ¡°Well, let¡¯s leave that topic here. Aren¡¯t you getting hungry? Let¡¯s go have breakfast before it gets cold.¡± ¡°Breakfast?¡± Kim Eun-ha followed him with a puzzled look but gradually her doubts gave way to the confident air he projected. They moved to the living room where avish spread awaited on the dining table. Rice and kimchi were the basics, along with side dishes like braised eggs and spicy kimchi stew to settle the stomach. The sweet fragrance wafting from each dish made Kim Eun-ha¡¯s mouth water. ¡°You¡¯ve set the table well.¡± It was clear that all the dishes had been prepared by the housekeeperdy. After all, the same side dishes were stocked in her officetel¡¯s fridge too. She was someone who visited the house twice a week to clean and prepare side dishes. She was also an excellent cook who had various cooking certifications, including Korean, Chinese, and Japanese cuisine. ¡°I did fry the eggs and make the rice myself, though.¡± ¡°I¡¯m looking forward to it.¡± At Kang Woo-ju¡¯s yful boast, Kim Eun-ha chuckled lightly and sat down at the table. Eating breakfast with someone. No, just having breakfast itself was a rarity and brought a fresh surge of emotions. After a brief hesitation, Kim Eun-ha picked up her chopsticks. Her first target was the fluffy rice. ¡®¡¤¡¤¡¤It¡¯s delicious.¡¯ Usually, she ate more for nutritional needs than for taste. But now, perhaps because of a newfound mental peace, she could fully appreciate the savory taste of the rice. Kim Eun-ha then twisted her chopsticks to pick up a piece of the fried egg. Cutting it into small bites, she savored the rich, slightly salty vor. ¡°¡¤¡¤¡¤It¡¯s delicious.¡± ¡°Right?I¡¯m amazing at making fried eggs.¡± Kang Woo-ju beamed at her, evidently pleased with himself. A subtle smile spread across Kim Eun-ha¡¯s lips as well. Would it feel like this to be a real newlywed couple? Without realizing it, Kim Eun-ha found herself entertaining the thought. ****** Join our Discord ¨C .gg/woopread Chapter 24 - Its Not Like That Chapter 24 - It''s Not Like ThatChapter 24: It¡¯s Not Like That ¡°Wee, CEO-nim.¡± ¡°Ah, Secretary Yoon!¡± Early afternoon. Kim Eun-ha, who hade to workter than usual, arrived at the department store where Secretary Yoon hurriedly came over to greet her. ¡°I¡¯m sorry for changing the schedule so abruptly.¡± ¡°It¡¯s alright. I¡¯m paid a good sry to handle the CEO¡¯s tasks in times like these. Let me quickly start with a briefing rted to work.¡± ¡°Please do.¡± Secretary Yoon started the briefing with a gentle smile. The organization was impable enough to satisfy even the meticulous Kim Eun-ha. ¡°The luxury boutique on the first floor is running smoothly, as you have trained them for a long time. Especially Manager Park is controlling everything well.¡± ¡°That¡¯s a relief.¡± ¡°As for the other stores, they all opened on time without any issues, and there isn¡¯t a significant difference in salespared to usual.¡± ¡°What about the VVIP side?¡± Kim Eun-ha¡¯s expression sharpened as she asked. While all the mentioned points were important, in reality, most of the department store¡¯s revenue came from VVIPs. The purchasing power of the top 1% was already remarkable, but recently, as prization increased, they ounted for up to 80% of the total sales at the department store. It was essentially a battle among department stores to attract the top consumers. Secretary Yoon knew this all too well. With a serious demeanor, she began to speak. ¡°This morning, Park Hye-jeong~nim from Daema Construction made an unscheduled visit.¡± ¡°The wife of the constructionpany¡¯s owner?¡± ¡°Yes. She told me she came to have a casual look with her daughter, but I personally apanied them around the store.¡± ¡°You handled it well. That person is not someone whose words should be taken at face value. If Secretary Yoon hadn¡¯t personally apanied her, there definitely would have been issues afterwards. As expected of our Secretary Yoon.¡± ¡°Thank you.¡± Secretary Yoon bowed her head slightly at the rare praise from Kim Eun-ha. When she lifted her head again, a bright smile was on her lips. ¡°That concludes the briefing, but there is one more thing I would like to suggest to the CEO.¡± ¡°Go ahead.¡± ¡°How about adjusting your arrival time like today, maybe just two days a week?¡± ¡°What? Why all of a sudden¡­¡± Thud- Startled by the unexpected suggestion, Kim Eun-ha loudly set down her teacup. Turning to Secretary Yoon, who had sinceposed her expression, she continued speaking. ¡°All of us, including Manager Park and the other employees, have been trained directly by you for the past three years. As you can see, even if youe in a few hourste, there are no significant problems.¡± ¡°Continue.¡± ¡°Maybe it¡¯s time you trusted us and delegated some of your duties?¡± Kim Eun-ha stared intently at her. Secretary Yoon, with a light smile, did not avoid her gaze. After a brief tug-of-war, the winner was none other than Secretary Yoon. Kim Eun-ha took another sip of her coffee and then asked, ¡°This suggestion doesn¡¯t seem like it¡¯s just based on today¡¯s observations. I¡¯d like to hear more detailed reasons.¡± ¡°You looked very rxed today.¡± Cough-! Kim Eun-ha jolted at the unexpected reason, as Secretary Yoon, with eyes full of knowing, smoothly continued, ¡°I have been serving under you for three years now, but this is the first time I¡¯ve seen you like this. You always seemed sharp.¡± ¡°¡­Was I like that?¡± ¡°Yes, but today, the atmosphere was much softer. Perhaps that¡¯s why everyone was saying you looked much prettier than usual.¡± ¡°What, how does that have anything to do with this!?¡± Kim Eun-ha¡¯s voice rose in her fluster. However, Secretary Yoon continued without losing herposure. ¡°It is very much rted. Firstly, the tension among the employees has significantly eased, and naturally, their focus and motivation for work have noticeably improved.¡± ¡°¡­¡­¡± ¡°Additionally, one reason I¡¯d add is that perhaps it¡¯s time for you, CEO, to start working more efficiently.¡± Efficient. Secretary Yoon was probably the only person who could dare use such a word in front of her. She had been the only one by Kim Eun-ha¡¯s side, witnessing all her deeds. ¡°Until now, I wondered if you were like Da Vinci or Napoleon, a ¡®short sleeper¡¯ gically able to function well on little sleep. But today, I¡¯m sure of it. It wasn¡¯t that; you were just enduring.¡± ¡°¡­¡­¡± ¡°You¡¯ve been working with me for more than a day or two; you surely didn¡¯t think you could fool me with just a phone call?¡± ¡°¡­I¡¯m sorry.¡± ¡°I didn¡¯t bring it up to receive an apology. Honestly, I was fooled by Kang Woo-ju¡¯s call at first. I only realized it after seeing your expression.¡± ¡°My expression?¡± Whisk- Kim Eun-ha turned her head unknowingly. It was towards the direction where a mirror was in the office, but unfortunately, it was too far to check right away. ¡°Ha-ha, that¡¯s exactly my point. Normally, you would never show such a cute side to others.¡± ¡°¡­¡­¡± ¡°It made me realize just how much you have been overworking. Right now, I¡¯m genuinely grateful to Kang Woo-ju.¡± ¡°Secretary Yoon¡­¡± The two had always gotten along quite well, almost like friends or sisters. This lent a strong persuasive power to Secretary Yoon¡¯s voice. ¡°I think you yourself felt how good your condition is today.¡± ¡°¡­¡­¡± Kim Eun-ha kept her mouth shut. Because Secretary Yoon¡¯s words were true. In fact, she was enjoying a feeling today that she couldn¡¯t normally feel, having consumed only one cup of coffee as opposed to her usual several. The phrase ¡®my mind is spinning¡¯ felt all too real, and she found no words to argue. ¡°What I¡¯m suggesting about adjusting your schedule isn¡¯t just out of concern for your health, but also because it would be far more efficient. You agree, right?¡± ¡°¡­Partially.¡± Under Secretary Yoon¡¯s relentless pursuit, Kim Eun-ha finally nodded. Her logical mind found no room to argue against such reasoning. Secretary Yoon¡¯s smile grew wider. She parted her lips as if she wasn¡¯t finished yet. ¡°Most importantly, you¡¯ve just started experiencing real love. If you want to spend happy times with Kang Woo-ju like today¡­¡± ¡°It¡¯s not like that!?¡± Oops- Kim Eun-ha, greatly embarrassed, blurted out informally without realizing. As she bit her lip, realizing her mistake, the corners of Secretary Yoon¡¯s mouth reached her ears. ¡°You¡¯re reacting too strongly.¡± ¡°I¡¯m just not fully awake yet.¡± ¡°My, my.¡± ¡°¡­¡­¡± Realizing whatever she said would disadvantage her, Kim Eun-ha mmed up. Watching her, Secretary Yoon slowly opened her mouth. ¡°It¡¯s really fortunate, though.¡± ¡°What are you going to say now?¡± ¡°It¡¯s just that I was the one who originally nned this project. Even as I speak, I was unsure if it was the right n¡­¡± Secretary Yoon paused for a moment. She calmly settled the inexplicable emotions bubbling inside her before continuing slowly. ¡°I¡¯m really d you¡¯ve found your match, CEO. Finally, for someone who was practically a Mossol! I¡¯m truly moved to tears.¡± (TL: Mossol is a korean ng for a person who has never had a romantic partner) ¡°I told you that¡¯s not it! Once you start entertaining the idea, there¡¯s no end to it. And I¡¯m not a Mossol either! You have no idea how many men have tried to woo me¡­¡± ¡°Yes, then I¡¯ll go back to work now.¡± With that, Secretary Yoon quickly reverted to a professional demeanor as if she had said all she needed to. Kim Eun-ha looked at her incredulously, but Secretary Yoon was notoriously thick-skinned. ¡°Then, CEO~nim, fighting!¡± ¡°Hey-!¡± Thump. Secretary Yoon quickly escaped and closed the door behind her. Kim Eun-ha watched the empty space she left behind and chuckled in resignation. ¡°¡­.It¡¯s really not like that.¡± She sipped the remaining coffee and sank deep into the sofa, pondering over the proposal Secretary Yoon had given her repeatedly. * * * Meanwhile, Kang Woo-ju, who had dropped Kim Eun-ha off at the department store, was also on his way to work. He was headed to a pre-release poster shoot, the first gateway to officially announcing the drama to the public. ¡®The timing is a bit awkward.¡¯ Matching the exact time was challenging. It wasn¡¯t like he could teleport; how could he perfectly time his arrival to meet the appointment exactly? Previously, he had used pedestrian routes and public transport to sneak into the broadcasting station and then entered the meeting ce at the precise time. But now, that method was no longer possible. Especially because just standing at a bus stop would create a scene¡­ ¨C Isn¡¯t that guy the famous cafe man? ¨C Oh my, yeah. That¡¯s him!? ¨C Is he trying to catch a bus? ¨C No way, surely not. This sort of atmosphere was precisely why. The subway, crowded with people, was even worse. Although the car and card Kim Eun-ha had given were meant to be used sparingly, circumstances forced his hand. Moreover¡­ ¨C Let me just ask him for his number real quick! ¨C Seriously, didn¡¯t you see the video on SNS yesterday? Even 300,000 followers didn¡¯t get it. His aura is seriously chilling even when he just looks on. ¨C That¡¯s why I¡¯m doing it. ¨C ¡­Then I¡¯ming too! This strange trend started at the reading cafe he frequented. Asking for his number and getting rejected had be some kind of meme. Whether he changed cafes¡­ Stood at bus stops or train stations¡­ Or even went to the supermarket near his home¡­ People woulde up in groups to ask for his number and enjoy being rejected. He got tired of answering, so if he just stared quietly, they liked it even more ¡®¡­I really don¡¯t get why they like it.¡¯ It started as a part of the daily acting concept due to his contract with Kim Eun-ha, but even he couldn¡¯t understand why people were fond of such a character. If he were doing something like taking care of them like a tsundere might, then maybe. But he was just outright ignoring them, which was supposedly appealing. ¡®The world really is hard to figure out.¡¯ Because of this, he ended up using the car Kim Eun-ha had provided even for short distances. The difficulty of precisely timing his entries had also significantly increased. If anything happened en route that caused him to bete, then the concept, whatever it was, would be blown. ¡®Time to go.¡¯ I parked the car in the parking lot and walked towards the shooting location at a carefully moderated pace, neither too slow nor too fast. Upon entering the studio I had been told about, writer Jung Ha-rin recognized me from a distance and started running towards me. ¡°Actor Kang Woo-ju!¡± Seeing her cheerful expression, it seemed I had luckily arrived just on time. I sighed with relief inwardly, but outwardly, I continued to walk confidently. This was it, the long-awaited moment. My life¡¯s first official shoot. ****** Join our Discord ¨C .gg/woopread Chapter 25 - The Real Actors is Right Here Chapter 25 - The Real Actors is Right HereChapter 25: The Real Actors is Right Here ¡°Sunbae-nim, how are you?¡± ¡°Oh, look who¡¯s here, my dear grandchild.¡± I bowed my head in greeting to Kim Young-ho, who had arrived earlier and was preparing for the shoot. He warmly smiled back in wee, a stark contrast to his demeanor during thest script reading, which made a smallugh escape my heart. ¡®It feels like I¡¯m being acknowledged.¡¯ I had to put a lot of effort into keeping my smile from fully breaking out. If other people hadn¡¯te to greet him, a little bit of myughter might have leaked out. ¡°Hello!¡± ¡°Thank you for the beef.¡± ¡°It was the happiest day of my life.¡± Everyone from the staff to the actors, who initially were cautious around me, now greeted me casually. It seems that the card Kim Eun-ha gave during thest script reading, which they used for the team dinner, was a clever move indeed. Even Kim Young-houghed heartily and praised me. ¡°I¡¯ve been acting for quite a long time, but it was the first time I¡¯ve filled my stomach with top-quality Hanwoo beef. I wondered several times if it was really okay to do so.¡± ¡°Is that so?¡± ¡°Of course! Our profession isn¡¯t exactly well-fed, is it? You, a green young junior, threw your card and ran off, and we all worried it might exceed the limit.¡± Even if the head of the broadcasting station came and offered to pay, it would be suspicious, let alone a rookie actor treating the entire production crew to a beef dinner. It would be hard for me to believe it too. ¡°Right. And suddenly, writer Jung Ha-rin shows us a ¡®ck Card¡¯, right? I¡¯ve only heard of it, never seen one in person.¡± ¡°Ah, that color is still vivid in my eyes.¡± ¡°Just numbers instead of a name on the card.¡± ¡°And it was just two digits.¡± ¡°Really, it was.¡± The people who participated in the dinner all nodded in agreement with Kim Young-ho¡¯s words. At the same time, they nced at me, subtly asking for an exnation. However, the character I was ying was not kind enough to satisfy their curiosity, and I couldn¡¯t think of the right words to exin even if I wanted to. ¡®¡­What if I say it was my girlfriend¡¯s card?¡¯ Since the card didn¡¯t have a name on it, everyone firmly believed it was mine. Probably, Kim Eun-ha also counted on this. Then, I too should fully utilize it. There¡¯s no need to ruin the expensive red carpet sheid out. ¡°I¡¯m d you enjoyed the meal.¡± ¡°¡­¡­!!¡± With ordinary politeness and a light smile, everyone around suddenly flinched and stepped back. For a moment, I wondered what I had done wrong as I looked around, only to find everyone avoiding my gaze, their mouths shut. Except for one person. Kim Young-ho. ¡°Hehe, so you do know how to smile.¡± ¡°What do you mean?¡± ¡°Both during thest script reading and all of today, you¡¯ve had such a frozen expression. Just like the real Kang Joo-heon.¡± ¡°Kang Joo-heon smiles when necessary.¡± ¡°Right, when he¡¯s about to kill someone?¡± ¡°¡­¡­¡± Chuckle- Kim Young-houghed as if he found the situation amusing. Then I understood why everyone avoided my gaze. To them, I appeared exactly like the character [Kang Joo-heon]. Though he is more of a sociopath than a psychopath, such gentle smiles are indeed rare from him. ¡®It¡¯s better to loosen up here.¡¯ If I were Kang Joo-heon, how would he have acted in this situation? That question popped into my mind. He isn¡¯t just a rude chaebol third generation; he¡¯s a man who maniptes everyone around him using whatever means necessary, including feigning love or leveraging his enormous wealth. Sometimes, even using fear as a tool. ¡®Surprisingly, his way of thinking is simple.¡¯ If it¡¯s something that benefits me, I will do it, even if it means acting. So, the position I need to take here is not that of a cold-hearted person. Rather, by showing them my human side, it¡¯s better to make everyone feel a sense ofmonality, that we are all the same. ¡°There seems to be a small misunderstanding.¡± ¡°Hmm? What misunderstanding?¡± ¡°I¡¯m just very shy.¡± ¡°¡­¡­¡± A moment of silence followed. Even Kim Young-ho couldn¡¯t find words to continue. People just rolled their eyes, not sure how to take it. In the midst of my pondering whether I had pushed it too far, writer Jung Ha-rin, who had been quietly listening to our conversation, suddenly burst intoughter. ¡°Hehehe- Right. Actor Kang Woo-ju has quite the tsundere aspect to him. Otherwise, why would he treat us to beef?¡± ¡°¡­Now that I think about it, yes. If someone owns a ck card, they must be making a staggering amount of money and have extensive connections.¡± ¡°Right. At first, I thought he might not want to mingle with the likes of us, but then I saw the Challenge video and it wasn¡¯t like that at all.¡± ¡°Oh, that trendy thing on SNS?¡± ¡°Yes, I¡¯ve seen that too!¡± The Being Insulted Challenge, of all things. Why would anyone participate in such a thing? From my point of view, I couldn¡¯t understand why I was doing such things, but everyone seemed convinced, so I decided to listen a bit more. ¡°These days, there are all sorts of strange trends.¡± ¡°But up close, it seems to make sense. Kang Joo-heon¡­ I mean, actor Kang Woo-ju has that mysterious aura.¡± ¡°Right, and now it¡¯s like he¡¯s be aplete meme. They¡¯re just starting to shoot the drama posters and it¡¯s already creating buzz?¡± ¡°We¡¯re benefiting again. Thank you!¡± ¡­I didn¡¯t want to be thanked for this. Everyone, not knowing my feelings, casually thanked me with sly smiles. They must be used to facing the camera. ¡°Actor Kang Woo-ju, I have a question!¡± At that moment, one of the actors, who had been part of the gathering, raised her hand energetically. Her child-like action was effective in grabbing everyone¡¯s attention. ¡°Please speak.¡± ¡°¡­Uh.¡± Anticipating a strange question, I gave her a sharp look, and she hesitated to ask. But she was a confident actress. Soon, with a determined expression, she spoke up. ¡°Who is the woman you often go to the cafe with? I¡¯ve read in articles that she¡¯s your family, and others say she¡¯s your girlfriend.¡± ¡°She¡¯s my girlfriend.¡± ¡°What?¡± His straightforward answer left her, and everyone else, dumbfounded. They gaped open-mouthed in disbelief. ¡°Really!?¡± ¡°Not a female friend, but a girlfriend!?¡± ¡°Wow, I never really believed it until now.¡± I was the one surprised by their reactions. Isn¡¯t it normal to assume they¡¯re a couple if they sit together at a cafe continuously? Upon gently probing their opinions, their responses were interesting. ¡°First of all, there¡¯s no couple-like behavior.¡± ¡°They barely talk to each other.¡± ¡°Their distance seems a bit too much for a couple.¡± Everyone spoke as if they had seen it firsthand, which wasn¡¯t strange given the proliferation of videos and photos on SNS. What shocked me was that we appeared to the general public more like a business couple or siblings. ¡®Listening to them, it¡¯s pretty clear¡­¡¯ Whenever Kim Eun-ha and I went to a cafe, I was always busy memorizing scripts, and she wasn¡¯t one to chit-chat as she read her books. Both of us tend to be so engrossed in what we are doing that we don¡¯t see anything else around us, often spending hours just reading until one of us had to leave for a schedule. ¡®¡­Lack of physical contact is the biggest issue.¡¯ We really are a business couple. Like other couples, it¡¯s impossible for us to look into each other¡¯s eyes and smile sweetly or interlock fingers, at least not in front of others. When it¡¯s just the two of us, the atmosphere is quite good, and there was even a historic (?) instance of physical contactst time. But that was a special case. ¡®The human touch is truly frightening.¡¯ The Being Insulted Challenge, was it? Maybe this public perception influenced such an unbelievable act. If people really thought we were a couple, there would have been quite a few ufortable with it. Unlike now, there might have been morements scolding the man with a girlfriend, asking what he was doing. ¡®I¡¯ll have to discuss this with Eun-ha next time.¡¯ Although it would be resolved if Kim Eun-ha officially acknowledged it, it¡¯s difficult for her to express it directly due to her position. With hyenas lurking around her, eager for any slip, and significant potential impact on thepany¡¯s stock price, ¡®In the worst case, I need to create a way out for Eun-ha.¡¯ If Kim Eun-ha doesn¡¯t officially acknowledge it, the narrative could be set as ¡®the man thought it was true love, but in fact, he was just a toy to the woman¡¯. Her image might suffer somewhat, but by then, a strategic marriage would be assumed, and the media maniption would begin, so it wouldn¡¯t really matter. ¡°Woo-ju, then perhaps¡­¡± ¡°Alright, everyone, let¡¯s stop chatting and get to work.¡± Yes- Just as someone was about to ask another question, Director Kang In-ho cleverly intervened. With his natural charisma, perhaps even stronger than Kang Joo-heon¡¯s when he¡¯s holding the megaphone, he quickly dissolved the gathering of staff and actors, taking control of the shooting atmosphere. ¡°Really, everyone behaving like amateurs. This is why being popr is exhausting. This is why I chose to be a director, not an actor.¡± ¡°Did you have a choice, Director~nim?¡± ¡°Hey.¡± In the meantime, Jung Ha-rin, showing off her chemistry with Kang In-ho and easing the atmosphere on set, seemed truly to be his soulmate. ¡°What are you doing here today, Writer Jung? You have no work to do during the poster shoot.¡± ¡°Who says I don¡¯t have work?¡± Suddenly, Jung Ha-rin looked at me and smiled slyly. Director Kang In-ho¡¯s gaze then intensely shifted to me. His look was so fierce that even Kang Joo-heon himself would have flinched if he were here. ¡°Actor Kang Woo-ju, here¡¯s your card!¡± ¡°I¡¯m sure I said you could return itter¡¤¡¤¡¤.¡± ¡°Ah, how could I? I was holding onto it tightly even on my way here in case I lost it.¡± Hehe- Jung Ha-rin returned the card with a mischievously sweet smile, which made one side of my face heat up. Not because of her, but because of Kang In-ho¡¯s intense stare. A foreboding feeling that the shoot would be grueling. ¡°Director~nim! Can I sit next to you during the shoot?¡± ¡°¡­Uh? Well, sure.¡± ¡°Yay! I¡¯ll write the script while watching the actors.¡± However, my worries proved to be unfounded as Jung Ha-rin¡¯s few words magically lightened the mood. Watching this scene unfold, a thought suddenly struck me. ¡®¡­Am I being used right now?¡¯ The real actor is right here. There¡¯s a reason she writes the script so well. I swallowed a hollowugh as I headed to the set. ****** Join our Discord ¨C .gg/woopread Chapter 26 - Is he an Actor or a Model? Chapter 26 - Is he an Actor or a Model?Chapter 26: Is he an Actor or a Model? ¡°We will now begin shooting the poster for !¡± The voice of the youngest staff member reverberated across the set. People who had been yful just moments ago suddenly took on serious expressions and began the shoot. In particr, the staff under Oh Dong-gyu, who had filmed numerous dramas and were true professionals, ensured the process moved along quickly. ¡°We will start with actor Kim Young-ho!¡± It was naturally Kim Young-ho who started first. After all, he was the lead for the first half. Whether by age or by seniority, he was the most experienced. While others were free to be anywhere else during someone else¡¯s shoot, everyone kept to their ces, observing Kim Young-ho¡¯s performance. ¡°Ha, this always makes me nervous no matter how many times I do it.¡± Contrary to his words, Kim Young-ho stood at the center with a very rxed expression. The words he had just uttered were likely a joke to ease the watching juniors. Indeed, a brief nce at the faces of the rookie actors revealed a bit more rxation. Before, they had looked as if they were headed to a battlefield. ¡®¡­Who am I to talk.¡¯ I, too, felt a rush of excitement at the word ¡®first shoot.¡¯ The difference with other neers might be that from the moment I left the house, I had started acting, so my nerves didn¡¯t show on the outside. ¡°Um¡­ Woo-ju ssi, this is your first shoot too, right?¡± A rookie actor next to me, seemingly curious, hesitantly struck up a conversation. She had been looking like she wanted to talk for a while but had only just managed to muster the courage. ¡®Her name was Park Soo-bin, right?¡¯ She¡¯s the female lead in this . She ys the official heroine, romantically involved with the protagonist, and also the woman [Kang Joo-heon], the character I y, most loves and hates. ¡°Yes, it¡¯s my first official shoot.¡± ¡°Me, me too!¡± Oops- Her voice inadvertently raised, and she quickly looked around, startled by her own volume. Luckily, we were far enough from the center of the shoot to avoid drawing too much attention, but it was clear she was quite nervous. ¡°I see.¡± But I merely nodded nonchntly, not offering more. If it were up to me, I would have tried to ease her tension, but that wouldn¡¯t suit the character of Kang Joo-heon. ¡®I¡¯m getting used to this role more and more.¡¯ Park Soo-bin wanted to talk to me. Perhaps she wanted to relieve her nerves before the action started. It¡¯s also a chance for actors to build camaraderie. Of course, I knew that. However, I had to pretend I didn¡¯t know, or rather, act as if I wasn¡¯t interested. ¡°Uh¡­ um¡­¡± Her difficulty in continuing the conversation after her question made it painfully clear, and Park Soo-bin visibly panicked before managing to speak again. ¡°But you don¡¯t seem nervous at all.¡± ¡°I wasn¡¯t, actually.¡± ¡°¡­Are you always so terse?¡± ¡°I just don¡¯t prefer unnecessary conversation.¡± The longest reply in our brief exchange twisted Park Soo-bin¡¯s expression. Normally, she might back off at this point, but fitting for someone who, despite being a neer, was cast in a leading role, she took another step forward. Perhaps the previous conversation had somehow spurred her adrenaline. Gone was her trembling demeanor, reced by a confident expression as she offered a handshake. ¡°The meat you boughtst time was really delicious. I¡¯m ¡®Park Soo-bin,¡¯ ying the female lead in this drama. Please take good care of me during the shoot.¡± Quite impressive. In that moment, the heroine of the drama and Park Soo-binpletely ovepped in my view. It was clear why she was chosen as the lead of this drama. In the drama, her character is a prosecutor leading the hunt for chaebols. Eventually cklisted, she quits to be awyer, yet she symbolizes unwavering perseverance. She¡¯s nicknamed ¡®Mad Dog.¡¯ She is also the woman Kang Joo-heon both loves and hates in the drama. ¡®Feels like we¡¯re already shooting.¡¯ The first scene where we meet in the script was simr to this. It was the scene where she boldly offers a handshake to Kang Joo-heon, saying, ¡°I will make sure you end up in prison.¡± The well-memorized script ys back in my mind. That¡¯s exactly how Kang Joo-heon had responded then. ¡°Looking forward to it.¡± My gaze isn¡¯t on Park Soo-bin. As if she doesn¡¯t matter at all, I only look straight ahead. Naturally, Ipletely ignore her handshake, and her hand, lost for something to grasp, tightly clenches the air. ¡°Actress Park Soo-bin! Please prepare for the next shoot!¡± Just then, the voice of a staff member running from afar. Park Soo-bin res at me for a moment before turning away swiftly. Watching a scene unfold exactly as in the script, I swallowed a bitter smile inwardly. ¡®It used to be really ufortable at first.¡¯ Ever since I was born to my parents, I¡¯ve always been cautious of others. To me, the phrase ¡®you shouldn¡¯t do that¡¯ was heard perhaps dozens of times more than ¡®you should do this.¡¯ ¡®Of course, I¡¯m not ming my parents¡­¡¯ During part-time jobs, it was the customers. During school, it was the teachers. In the military, it was thepanymander. Having spent half my life amodating others, when such situations arise, my ears open up and my mouth starts moving on its own. On one hand, I also wanted to chat with Park Soo-bin and shake off the nervousness. That¡¯s what they call socializing, after all. ¡®At least that¡¯s what I believed until now.¡¯ But ever since my contract with Kim Eun-ha, my mindset has been changing. ying a third-generation chaebol and adopting their habits, at some point, I began to think like them too. They don¡¯t try to open their mouths eagerly. Just watching Kim Eun-ha work from the side is enough evidence. ¡®Maybe a 9:1 ratio?¡¯ The ratio of listening to speaking. Kim Eun-ha listens quietly as the employees present the data they¡¯ve gathered. The only time she opens her mouth during these moments is to drink coffee. After all employees finish briefing, then you can finally hear Kim Eun-ha¡¯s voice. Execute it as is. Or prepare it again. Usually, it boils down to these two sentences. ¡®It¡¯s somewhat simr in everyday life too.¡¯ Though not as extreme as during work, it¡¯s quite rare for her to initiate conversation with anyone. Usually, people who recognize here to greet her, trying their best to leave a good impression. Watching Kim Eun-ha up close and applying that to my acting made me realize that social life could be different. ¡®After all, personality isn¡¯t really a big issue.¡¯ If your abilities back you up, then that kind of thing isn¡¯t a problem at all. From then on, it¡¯s not about being rude, but about being seen as chic. Even the famous Steve Jobs was said to have zero social skills. Just a quick search spills out numerous notorious anecdotes. It¡¯s not about being clueless, It¡¯s about not having to mind. ¡®A privilege of the wealthy.¡¯ Of course, my current situation is entirely thanks to Kim Eun-ha. Like a fox riding a tiger. However, they can¡¯t discern whether I¡¯m truly a tiger or a fox. Thus, there¡¯s no need for me to bow my head first. That way, they won¡¯t realize that I am just a fox. * * * ¡°¡­Really ridiculous.¡± After the poster shoot, Park Soo-bin crossed her arms and wore a dazed expression, thinking back to the conversation she had just had with Kang Woo-ju. ¡°What¡¯s wrong?¡± ¡°Yeah, why that look?¡± ¡°The photos turned out spectacr, though.¡± At that moment, fellow actors approached her. They were all people who had be close during the dinner after the script reading. Given that almost all of them were neers without managers, their situations were quite simr, which made them feel a kinship and brought them closer together. ¡°Because of Kang Woo-ju.¡± ¡°What about Actor Kang Woo-ju?¡± ¡°What the hell. I can¡¯t even vomit the meat I¡¯ve already digested. Ah, really! How can someone be so unlucky!?¡± Park Soo-bin¡¯s eyes were fixed on Kang Woo-ju the whole time. Despite being a novice, she had confidently approached the camera as if she was used to it from the start. She had hoped he would make even a small mistake so his confidence would be crushed, but annoyingly, he was almost perfect. Veteran Kim Young-ho, who had finished all his shooting earlier, even came out of the waiting room to watch Kang Woo-ju on camera and couldn¡¯t help but express his admiration. ¡°Cut! Okay! That¡¯s a wrap for Actor Kang Woo-ju.¡± ¡°What!? Already?¡± ¡°Crazy, insane.¡± ¡°If there are no NGs, it can finish this fast.¡± It was about ten minutes since Kang Woo-ju¡¯s shooting started, and everyone was shocked to hear it was already okayed. Everyone else had taken at least 30 minutes to an hour because the shoot was conducted very meticulously by Kang In-ho, despite it being just for photographs, not video or action. ¨C Let¡¯s go again. ¨C Your expression is too stiff right now. ¨C Don¡¯t take it lightly because it¡¯s a photo, immerse yourself in the role! Again, again, and again. The shooting was endlessly repetitive, and it seemed like thousands of pictures were taken just for one individual poster. But then. ¨C Yes, that¡¯s the feeling! ¨C Good. That¡¯s really good. ¨C Just like that! Okay, it¡¯s perfect. Director Kang In-ho kept shouting okay, smiling satisfactorily as if he was ttering someone. Indeed, there were rumors of nepotism, but the problem was that even the actors couldn¡¯t deny Kang Woo-ju¡¯s talent. ¡®¡­Are they shooting an ad?¡¯ ¡®¡­Is he an actor or a model?¡¯ ¡®¡­I¡¯m just relieved he¡¯s ying apletely different role from me.¡¯ While everyone expressed it differently, they all agreed precisely. That¡¯s why, despite Kang Woo-ju¡¯s rigid attitude, they couldn¡¯t entirely hate him. The one who felt the most troubled was definitely Park Soo-bin. Thanks to this, she could immerse herself fully in her role. ¡®¡­I¡¯ll win in the final poprity vote.¡¯ Objectively, it seems impossible right now. The difference in recognition alone is too vast. But once the drama starts, it will be a different story. She was determined to win over even the audience Kang Woo-ju brought in with his acting. That way, she would definitely crush his arrogant nose. Her eyes zed as if they could ignite a fire with just a spark. Seeing her like that, her fellow actors nced at each other and quietly backed away. ****** Join our Discord ¨C .gg/woopread Chapter 27 - Its All Acting Chapter 27 - It''s All ActingChapter 27: It¡¯s All Acting Gulp-! Park Soo-bin, who had once vowed to humble Kang Woo-ju, secretly swallowed her saliva. The reason was none other than Kang Woo-ju himself. He was ring at her right in front of her eyes. ¡®How did it end up like this!?¡¯ She wanted to turn her head away from his gaze immediately, but even that wasn¡¯t possible because Kang Woo-ju¡¯s hand was gripping her chin. His eyes shone with a subtle madness, like moonlight. Facing him felt like being tightly bound by a giant snake. ¡®¡­Am I going to be devoured!?¡¯ The best she could do in this situation was to avoid screaming. She prayed for this situation to end as quickly as possible. However, contrary to her wishes, Kang Woo-ju¡¯s face got closer and closer. Now, their breaths were close enough to touch each other¡¯s skin. Realizing this, Park Soo-bin held her breath, but she had inhaled too hastily to hold it for long. Just when she felt like she was drowning alive, a voice of salvation was heard from somewhere. ¡°Cut!¡± Director Kang In-ho¡¯s voice echoed through the filming set. Her mind, which had been drifting away, snapped back. When she came to her senses, Kang Woo-ju was already standing a good distance away from her, as if nothing had happened. Huff- Only then could Park Soo-bin barely exhale the breath she had been holding back. Even amidst this, her gaze was still fixed on Kang Woo-ju. ¡®¡¤¡¤¡¤Is that guy¡¯s acting really acting!?¡¯ Of course, she had thought he was peculiar ever since she first saw him at the script reading session. He showed up precisely at the scheduled time, not even a minute off. He didn¡¯t flinch even in front of the veteran actor Kim Young-ho and confidently pushed forward. Though she knew firsthand how desperate new actors are for a fixed role, she wondered if he really had to immerse himself in the character to that extent. ¡®Until he bought us beef¡­¡¯ In hindsight, something seemed off since then. She heard that the dinner that day cost over 7 million won. No matter how immersed he was in the chaebol character, there¡¯s no way a rookie actor could casually cover such an amount. ¨C Director. About Kang Woo-ju. I¡¯ve heard through the grapevine that he¡¯s a parachute hire¡­ (TL: grapevine is a social media for professionals) Just when everyone was stuffed with alcohol and Hanwoo beef, a conversation about Kang Woo-ju emerged from the staff. ¨C Oh, yeah. He is a parachute hire. ¨C ¡­!!? Kang In-ho acknowledged the fact nonchntly. It wasn¡¯t something he said just because he was drunk. Rather, Kang In-ho wiped the yful smile from his face and addressed the production team. ¨C So what? ¨C What? ¨C You saw it earlier. How he acted. ¨C ¡­ The bustling atmosphere of the dinner quieted down instantly at Kang In-ho¡¯s words. Scratching his head, Kang In-ho continued. ¨C I don¡¯t know where someone like him suddenly appeared from, but even if he wasn¡¯t a parachute hire, I would have chosen Kang Woo-ju. ¨C Oh,e on. You didn¡¯t even know his name at first. ¨C Ah, it¡¯s just a figure of speech! A figure of speech! That¡¯s how this industry works. No matter how good-looking or talented you are, if you don¡¯t have connections, it doesn¡¯t matter. ¨C Well, that¡¯s true. Phew- Even as he sighed, the persistent back-and-forth between Jung Ha-rin and Kang In-ho echoed in her ears. ¡®Co, could it be¡¤¡¤¡¤!?¡¯ A hypothesis suddenly popped into Park Soo-bin¡¯s head. At the time, she just let it go, but now it seemed suspicious. It¡¯s certain that Kang Woo-ju has a lot of money. But his acting skills are a bit too much. It feels like he isn¡¯t acting but is naturally like that. Especially the videos and ounts circting on social media all had simr impressions to hers. Especially those intense eyes she had just seen¡­ ¡®Could it be that Woo-ju ssi has feelings for me¡­!?¡¯ Honestly, she herself wondered how she got cast as the lead in . She had made all sorts of mistakes on the final audition day. But what if Kang Woo-ju personally selected her? Come to think of it, she heard that the role of [Kang Joo-heon] didn¡¯t even have an audition. ¡®What if he¡¯s not a parachute but an investor!?¡¯ Then it would make sense why Director Kang In-ho and Writer Jung Ha-rin treat him differentlypared to other rookie actors. ¨C Everyone should thank Kang Woo-ju! Because of him, you don¡¯t have to do weird PPL like sleeping in a massage chair! Hahaha-! (TL: PPL = Product cement) The drunken words of Director Kang In-ho caused a huge wave in Park Soo-bin¡¯s heart. A production budget sorge that they didn¡¯t have to worry about PPL. This wasn¡¯t just a parachute; it was practically a custom order. In that case, it would be perfectly possible for him to personally choose his co-star. ¡®¡­Oh my god. Seriously.¡¯ With that thought, Park Soo-bin began to look at Kang Woo-ju with a fresh perspective. Upon closer inspection, even his indifferent gaze seemed somewhat cool. ¡®But didn¡¯t he say he had a girlfriend?¡¯ That question briefly crossed Park Soo-bin¡¯s mind. However, she didn¡¯t have the luxury to think deeply about it. ¡°Soo-bin ssi!¡± ¡°¡­Yes, yes!?¡± It was Director Kang In-ho¡¯s sharp voice that snapped her out of her daydream. Park Soo-bin quickly turned her head toward him. ¡°What are you doing over there?¡± ¡°Ah, well¡­¡± ¡°Hurry ande check the footage.¡± ¡°Yes! I¡¯ll be right there!¡± Park Soo-bin straightened up like a new recruit and quickly moved towards him. The sharper Kang In-ho¡¯s gaze became, the faster her steps quickened towards him. When he held a megaphone, his charisma was extraordinary,pletely different from his usual self. ¡°Do you see the footage here?¡± The camera Kang In-ho pointed to showed the scene she had just filmed with Kang Woo-ju. The standout, without a doubt, was Kang Woo-ju. He disyed a decadent charm that seemed straight out of a romance web novel cover. His hand gripping her chin prominently showed his veins, and his beast-like eyes that she had faced directly were impressive. ¡°Soo-bin ssi, not there. Here, here.¡± Then, Kang In-ho, seemingly frustrated, pointed directly at the photo with his finger. There, her face, pale with fear, was clearly captured. Only then did Park Soo-bin understand why Kang In-ho had called her over separately. No matter how stunning Kang Woo-ju looked, if his co-star appeared terrified, it was a problem¡­ ¡°It was really perfect.¡± ¡°What?¡± ¡°Among all the shots we took today, I like your cut the best! Those eyes that seemed frightened yet subtly stirred. Gosh, it¡¯s hard to believe this is a rookie¡¯s acting.¡± ¡°Th-thank you?¡± Director Kang In-ho¡¯s praise was so unexpected that Park Soo-bin, despite her bewildered feelings, nodded earnestly. It was the firstpliment she had received from him today, but it wasn¡¯t her intended acting. ¡°Let¡¯s wrap up the scene with these shots. Once they¡¯re touched up and posted on the board, get ready for your phones to blow up.¡± ¡°¡­Yes.¡± Director Kang In-ho seemed very pleased. As he turned away, Park Soo-bin quickly scanned the area, looking for someone. The root of this situation. ¡°Huh?¡± When she finally spotted her target, a silly sound escaped Park Soo-bin¡¯s lips. Kang Woo-ju, being such a noticeable person, wasn¡¯t hard to find. However, she had to question what she was seeing. The Kang Woo-ju of all people was smiling ¡®gently.¡¯ ¡®That person¡­¡¯ Park Soo-bin¡¯s gaze naturally shifted. At the end of it stood a woman with such beauty that even another woman couldn¡¯t help but be amazed. She wasn¡¯t wearing anything particrly eye-catching. Just a white dress shirt and a ck zer. Despite this, she exuded a chic career woman vibe that kept drawing Park Soo-bin¡¯s eyes. ¡®She looks familiar. Where have I¡­ Ah!¡¯ She finally remembered where she had seen her. She was the woman often seen with Kang Woo-ju in photos on social media. The one he had referred to as his girlfriend. ¡°Oh? CEO Kim Eun-ha!?¡± ¡­CEO? It was as if Director Kang In-ho, who was sitting next to her, stood up to solve the question in Park Soo-bin¡¯s mind. ¡°Everyone, let¡¯s take a 10-minute break!¡± Without any hesitation, Kang In-ho halted the shooting and hurried towards where Kim Eun-ha and Kang Woo-ju were standing together. Just who is she? That question swirled in Park Soo-bin¡¯s mind. Suddenly, Kim Eun-ha turned her head slightly and made eye contact with her. ¡°¡­!?¡± Creepy-! The moment their eyes met in mid-air, Park Soo-bin felt a shiver run down her spine. Even though Kim Eun-ha was smiling kindly, an indescribable eerie feeling crawled up her legs like a snake. Compared to that, Kang Woo-ju¡¯s gaze from earlier was child¡¯s y. It felt like locking eyes with a tiger in the mountains. ¡®¡­I must be crazy.¡¯ Park Soo-bin instantly realized how absurd her previous thoughts had been. Only someone like Kim Eun-ha could date a man like Kang Woo-ju. She felt so embarrassed by her earlier fantasies that she wanted to p herself. ¡®I must have watched too many dramas.¡¯ Ever since she was cast as the lead for the first time, she had been binge-watching dramas for acting practice. It must have messed with her head a bit. ¡®¡­I should just focus on acting.¡¯ Swish- Park Soo-bin subtly shifted her gaze to avoid Kim Eun-ha¡¯s. It was a half-instinctive action. * * * ¡°¡­Eun-ha ssi, what brings you here?¡± Seeing Kim Eun-ha suddenly appear at the shooting set, I couldn¡¯t hide my surprise. Her mere presence was enough to catch me off guard, and the timing was the worst. It was right in the middle of filming an intense scene where I was about to kiss the female lead, portraying aplex love-hate rtionship. ¡°I had some business nearby, so I dropped by.¡± ¡°I know Eun-ha ssi¡¯s schedule too.¡± ¡°What was that scene just now?¡± ¡°¡­It was purely for the scene. Just for the scene.¡± Though Kim Eun-ha was tantly changing the subject, it wasn¡¯t the right moment to point it out. I felt a cold shiver down my neck. ¡®¡­I didn¡¯t do anything wrong, so why do I feel guilty?¡¯ Watching Kim Eun-ha smile silently made me break out in a cold sweat. It felt like I had been caught in the act of cheating. While pondering how to handle this situation, Director Kang In-ho happened to walk over. ¡°CEO.¡± ¡°Hello, Director!¡± ¡°What brings you here?¡± ¡°Of course, I came to support my boyfriend¡¯s first shoot!¡± ¡°¡­?¡± Suddenly, Kim Eun-ha hooked her arm around mine. I felt dizzy for a moment, wondering if it was okay for her to openly acknowledge our rtionship. Kim Eun-ha, on the other hand, held my arm even tighter as if nothing was wrong. ¡°Oh, CEO Kim Eun-ha!¡± ¡°Writer Jung! How have you been?¡± ¡°Thanks to you two. It must not have been easy to align schedules with us, and you even treated us to beef. We are truly grateful. Right, Director?¡± ¡°¡­Oh, yes. That¡¯s right. Yes.¡± Jung Ha-rin naturally closed the distance between herself and Kang In-ho as she spoke. It was a movement so subtle that one might have overlooked it if not paying attention. She was definitely a smooth operator. ¡°I¡¯m sorry. I didn¡¯t mean to disrupt the filming.¡± ¡°Oh no. It looks like you even brought snacks and coffee for our staff. Such attention is always wee from our perspective!¡± ¡°I¡¯m relieved to hear you say that.¡± Hoho- The two women exchanged friendly nces and engaged in a warm conversation. Stuck in the middle, Kang In-ho and I exchanged awkward smiles as well. ¡°But Director.¡± ¡°Yes, CEO-nim.¡± ¡°I¡¯m just asking out of curiosity. Will the scene you just filmed be used for the poster?¡± ¡°¡¤¡¤¡¤¡¤¡¤¡¤.¡± Kim Eun-ha smiled. Her face was brighter than ever. ****** Join our Discord ¨C Chapter 28 - Did Something Happen? Chapter 28 - Did Something Happen?Chapter 28: Did Something Happen? ¡°Will the scene you just filmed be used for the poster?¡± At Kim Eun-ha¡¯s question, not only I but also Director Kang In-ho and Jung Ha-rin flinched. Even though she had a bright smile on her face, there was no warmth in her expression. Sensing the tense atmosphere, Kim Eun-ha quickly waved her hand and continued. ¡°Don¡¯t misunderstand. As I mentioned before, I have no intention of interfering with your authority. I want this drama to be a hit more than anyone else.¡± ¡°¡­Is that so?¡± ¡°It¡¯s true. Of course, as a girlfriend, there are some things that concern me, but this is acting and work after all.¡± ¡°Haha, right. Isn¡¯t that what the profession of an actor is all about? Later, he¡¯ll have to shoot kissing scenes with actresses too¡­¡± ¡°Director!¡± Jung Ha-rin nudged Kang In-ho in the side with her elbow, as if to tell him to be more considerate. Realizing his mistake, the director awkwardly smiled. Kim Eun-ha also flinched at the mention of a kissing scene. Although it wasn¡¯t obvious on the surface, I could feel her trembling through her arm that was holding mine. ¡®¡­So that¡¯s what it was.¡¯ I understood why she was acting this way. The reason she suddenly revealed our rtionship in front of everyone. ¡®It¡¯s about the image.¡¯ From Kim Eun-ha¡¯s perspective, she wanted to imprint the idea that we were a couple into people¡¯s minds. If a heated photo with another actress was released before that image was clearly established. ¡®Eun-ha would be overshadowed.¡¯ Even now, there¡¯s a lot of talk about whether we are a couple or not, and after the poster is released, there¡¯s a high chance she¡¯ll be seen as just a ¡®female friend¡¯. ¨C They don¡¯t even have couple rings. ¨C They hardly talk to each other. ¨C They seem too distant to be lovers. The words I heard right before the shoot ovepped in my mind, confirming my suspicions. It was definitely a troublesome situation. There¡¯s not much I can do here. It¡¯s absurd for an actor to overstep the director or writer¡¯s authority. So what should I do in this situation? The answer came to me quickly. ¡°¡­?¡± Taking advantage of the moment when Kim Eun-ha¡¯s grip loosened, I gently pulled my arm out of her hold. As everyone looked at me in bewilderment, I wrapped my left arm around Kim Eun-ha¡¯s waist and ced my right hand on her chin. ¡°Gasp!¡± ¡°Huh?¡± ¡°Whoa¡­¡± Ignoring the different exmations from the three, I took a pose simr to the one we had during the shoot. As our noses almost touched, I could feel Kim Eun-ha¡¯s quickened breath on my skin, startled by the sudden situation. ¡°¡­¡± ¡°¡­¡± Silence fell around us due to my unexpected action. Normally, I wouldn¡¯t be able to do such a thing because of others¡¯ attention. But I was different now. This is why the image I¡¯ve built up over time is important. To them, I was a character who didn¡¯t care about others¡¯ opinions. ¡®It¡¯s the first time I¡¯ve seen her this close.¡¯ Her pupils, seen up close, were a rare light brown for a Korean. In the light, they looked almost golden, creating a mysterious gaze. I used to think the phrase ¡®beautiful like a jewel¡¯ was too clich¨¦, but seeing it up close, it wasn¡¯t entirely wrong. ¡°You¡¯re pretty.¡± The words slipped out before I realized it. I was more surprised by my own words. This wasn¡¯t acting; it was my true feelings. Maybe that¡¯s why. The surrounding noise of the filming equipment seemed louder in the silence. I could feel all eyes on us. Now they will be our spokespersons. Of course, before the official poster goes up, it would be necessary to do simr acts in a more public ce. ¡®This should be enough.¡¯ If the awkward atmosphere drags on too long, it will be hard to manage. And since it¡¯s not just the two of us, it¡¯s not a situation where I can make a joke either. Having finished all my calctions, I let go of Kim Eun-ha¡¯s hand. Or, to be precise, I was about to. ¡°¡­!?¡± Suddenly, Kim Eun-ha grabbed my chin with both hands. Then she began to move towards me as if she were about to kiss me. I thought this was too much, but at that moment, she brushed past my face and whispered softly in my ear. ¡°I¡¯ll let it slide just this once.¡± Then, slowly. Very slowly. So slowly that it looked like slow motion, Kim Eun-ha moved away from me. Tap-tap- She then knocked lightly on my lips with her index finger as if knocking on a door. Her previously startled expression was now reced with a yful smile. ¡°We¡¯ll finish this at home.¡± Hic-! The response came not from me, but from elsewhere. Director Kang In-ho, who had been watching our actions, was so flustered that he held his breath, but his hups continued. Wow- Meanwhile, Jung Ha-rin, who was beside us, had her mouth wide open and was looking at Kim Eun-ha with sparkling eyes like a girl in love. ¡°CEO-nim! Can I use this?¡± ¡°Pardon?¡± ¡°Seeing you two just now gave me an idea for a scene. I¡¯d like to put it in my scriptter. Oh! Not with Woo-ju as the target, of course!¡± ¡°Then it¡¯s fine.¡± ¡°Thank you!¡± Bowing-! Jung Ha-rin bowed her head to Kim Eun-ha in gratitude. Without a moment¡¯s hesitation, she turned and hurriedly left somewhere. Seeing her pulling out her phone and typing furiously, it seemed she was trying hard not to lose the inspiration that had struck her. Hic-! Left alone in an instant was Director Kang In-ho. For a while, the sound of his hups echoed loudly around the set. . . . ¨C I¡¯ll be off so as not to be a hindrance. After Kim Eun-ha left the set, the remaining shoot proceeded rtively smoothly. It seemed that Jung Ha-rin wasn¡¯t the only one inspired by us, as the directing team actively presented their ideas to Kang In-ho, most of which were epted. As a result, the shootsted a bit longer than originally nned, but everyone was satisfied with the oue. ¡°You¡¯re here quitete today?¡± ¡°I cleared my schedule for the shoot day.¡± ¡°That¡¯s a relief. Honestly, I was worried you¡¯d leave abruptly again. I was a bit disappointedst time, you know?¡± ¡°I¡¯ll keep that in mind for future scheduling.¡± ¡°Alright, let¡¯s have a drink together.¡± ¡°It would be an honor.¡± Since the poster shoot involved having all the main actors in one ce but only one or two stepping out in turn, there was more time for the waiting actors to converse. As a result, I had the chance to have quite a conversation with Senior Kim Young-ho. ¡°I was half-joking earlier, but it¡¯s good to keep the whole day free on days like this. Sometimes the shoot takes longer than expected, and you end up staying up all night.¡± ¡°Does that still happen?¡± ¡°Less often than before, but it¡¯s not unheard of. Especially when shooting outdoors, the rental period for locations is limited.¡± ¡°I see.¡± Although I wasn¡¯t in a position to talk much, Kim Young-ho didn¡¯t seem to mind. Instead, he offered various tips on shooting to me and the other rookie actors, creating afortable atmosphere for conversation. ¡°And I saw your girlfriend again today.¡± ¡°What do you mean?¡± ¡°Thedy who brought this coffee and desserts earlier, isn¡¯t she your girlfriend?¡± Kim Young-ho shook the coffee he was holding as he spoke. For a moment, I was uneasy about what mighte out of his mouth, but I nodded without showing it. ¡°¡­Yes, but?¡± ¡°Hoho. Love is truly amazing. At first, I wondered if our junior here was a robot. But you have quite a human side to you.¡± ¡°I don¡¯t understand what you mean.¡± ¡°ying dumb, are you? I¡¯ve made a living off acting for 30 years. Do you think you can fool me after showing such passion?¡± He grinned. Kim Young-ho lifted the corners of his mouth, looking like a child who found a new toy. His sharp gaze was impressive. It felt as if he was seeing through my iron mask, still in character as [Kang Joo-heon]. I wasn¡¯t sure how much he had figured out, but it was clear he wasn¡¯t an ordinary person. It was best not to say anything rash here. ¡°Your girlfriend is stunning.¡± ¡°Yeah, even from a distance, she has great style. At first, I thought she was an actress who got a special casting.¡± ¡°Her choice of coffee and desserts was amazing too.¡± ¡°I¡¯ve never had such sweet macarons before!¡± Fortunately, other actors shifted the topic. Especially among the female actors, a cheerful atmosphere prevailed, with Park Soo-bin being the most enthusiastic. ¡°How did you two meet?¡± ¡°That¡¯s a secret.¡± ¡°How long have you been dating?¡± ¡°That¡¯s a secret.¡± ¡°Are you a secret agent?¡± ¡°That¡¯s a secret.¡± Tsk- Park Soo-bin clicked her tongue but didn¡¯t seem particrly upset. After Kim Eun-ha¡¯s visit, it felt like the psychological distance between us had significantly lessened. I didn¡¯t feel as tense while filming other couple scenes either. Focusing on the acting rtively calmly made the shooting smoother. Even the other actors, not just her, seemed to feel much closer to me physically and psychologically. ¡®¡­Is this thanks to Eun-ha?¡¯ It might be because of the ¡°human side¡± Kim Young-ho mentioned earlier. I¡¯d never shown any vulnerability before. ¡°But your girlfriend seems to really like you. She came all the way to the set to look after everyone.¡± ¡°It¡¯s probably a coincidence. She¡¯s not someone with a lot of free time. As she said, she likely had a nearby schedule and dropped by.¡± ¡°Oh my, you¡¯re really in trouble for saying that! She didn¡¯te because she had time, she made time toe!¡± Park Soo-bin scolded me in astonishment. To her, who didn¡¯t know the details of our rtionship, it must have seemed that way. ¡°Is that so?¡± ¡°Yes, really! The way she looked at you, her eyes were full of love. But when she looked at me¡­ugh.¡± ¡°Hmm? Did something happen?¡± ¡°No! Nothing! Absolutely nothing?¡± Brrr- Contrary to her words, Park Soo-bin rubbed her arms, trembling. If it was acting, her terrified expression was impressive. I was very curious about what had happened to her, but I didn¡¯t bother to ask. Surely, it was nothing. ¡­I wanted to believe that. ****** Join our Discord ¨C Chapter 29 - Personal Matters Chapter 29 - Personal MattersChapter 29: Personal Matters ¡°Good job, everyone!¡± ¡°Good job!¡± After all the filming was over. Both the staff and actors, exhausted from a schedule much longer than originally nned, felt worn out. In the early stages, the atmosphere was lively with everyone chatting and nning to go out together for a wrap party. However, by the end, everyone was shaking their heads. ¡°¡­I didn¡¯t know it would be this tough.¡± ¡°¡­Right. Who would have thought it would go way past 10 o¡¯clock.¡± ¡°¡­If just the poster is this hard, I can¡¯t imagine how tough the actual filming will be. Forget the wrap party, I might pass out as soon as I get on the bus.¡± Sigh- A sigh escaped everyone¡¯s lips simultaneously. Most of the actors were rookies, so they started sharing their impressions of their first shoot. Most of theirments were about how hard it was, but despite their words, they all had satisfied smiles on their faces. ¡°But it was fun, wasn¡¯t it?¡± ¡°Yeah. It really feels like we¡¯ve passed the audition, doesn¡¯t it?¡± ¡°Honestly,pared to the time when I was juggling theater life and part-time jobs, this is nothing. Here, the staff even clean up after us.¡± Nod, nod- Everyone nodded in agreement with each other¡¯s words. Their gazes especially lingered on the staff busily tidying up the set. At first, they tried to help with the cleanup, but Oh Dong-gyu, the assistant director, firmly drew the line and pushed the actors away. ¨C Thanks to the hard work of the actors, we also enjoyed the shoot a lot. So please leave the rest to us. We¡¯re already grateful for your intention. With such firm words, there was no choice but toply. Of course, part of the reason was also to prevent idents from actors handling unfamiliar equipment or crossing boundaries. Anyway, just by looking at the expressions of the staff, it was clear that they genuinely enjoyed the shoot. ¡°Isn¡¯t it all thanks to Woo-ju ssi?¡± ¡°Yes, absolutely. We received so much because of you. Starting with the coffee and snacks your girlfriend brought, and even the dinner boxes.¡± ¡°I¡¯ve never had such delicious lunchboxes in my life. The shrimp tempura on top tasted like it was freshly fried from a restaurant¡­¡± Now the actors started showering me with praise. It wasn¡¯t really my doing; most of the credit went to Kim Eun-ha. As the filming stretched past dinner time, everyone was getting hungry and irritable. Just then, Secretary Yoon arrived with lunchboxes. ¨C Sent by CEO Kim Eun-ha. Not just for me, but for the staff and actors as well. Secretary Yoon, along with department store staff in formal attire, brought a truckload of lunchboxes, causing everyone to look at me with sparkling eyes. ¡°Woo-ju ssi, what exactly is your job?¡± ¡°I¡¯m an actor.¡± ¡°Before this project?¡± ¡°I was an aspiring actor.¡± Puhaha- People burst outughing at my honest answer. They must have thought I was joking. This is why it¡¯s important to conduct yourself well in daily life. ¡°But, Senior Kim Young-ho, since we¡¯re new to filming, it¡¯s notmon to eat such expensive meals while chatting, right?¡± ¡°Right. The TV station¡¯s budget is limited, so even basic lunchboxes are considered a luxury. There¡¯s not much time to gather like this, to begin with. And most importantly¡­¡± Kim Young-ho slyly turned his head towards me. As our eyes met, he continued with a mischievous smile. ¡°Actors with such wonderful girlfriends are indeed rare. I didn¡¯t expect to be indebted twice in one day.¡± ¡°It¡¯s not such a big deal.¡± ¡°Maybe not for you, but for us, who are used to going hungry, it¡¯s different. Just one of those lunchboxes must cost as much as a whole chicken.¡± ¡°¡­¡­¡± It¡¯s a misunderstanding. To me, it¡¯s an unnecessarily extravagant and expensive meal. If I had to buy it with my own money, my hands would have trembled. Unable to say that, I kept my mouth shut, and Kim Young-ho burst outughing and said. ¡°Hehe. Thanks to you, we had a hearty meal and enjoyed the shoot a lot. As a senior, it feels a bit inadequate to just say thanks, but I sincerely appreciate it.¡± ¡°Ah, me too! Thank you!¡± ¡°Thank you!¡± Starting with Kim Young-ho¡¯s words, the actors around me also began expressing their gratitude one by one. I was somewhat embarrassed by this unexpected situation. Not knowing how to respond properly, I just bowed my head lightly, and they seized the opportunity to tease me. ¡°You know how to bow your head too.¡± ¡°Right. I thought you had steel rods in your neck and spine. The more I see you, the more human you seem.¡± ¡°Oh? Woo-ju ssi is blushing!¡± ¡°I am not.¡± Hehe- Now, whatever I said seemed to amuse them more than before. It felt like the distance between us had significantly shortened over the day. At first, they saw me as a crazy sociopath, then a crazy rich guy. Now, they seemed to view me as a ¡°peculiar guy who always buys us meals.¡± Since there hadn¡¯t been any significant change in my acting, it was clear that the credit belonged entirely to Kim Eun-ha. Thanks to her, the atmosphere on set had be very amicable. ¡°But are you nning to have a public rtionship?¡± Suddenly, Senior Kim Young-ho directed a question at me. Everyone looked at me with eager eyes, seemingly curious about the same thing. ¡®¡­A public rtionship.¡¯ By this point, it was practically already public. His question was probably asking if I would openly say we were a couple, regardless of when or where, or who asked. For actors, having a known partner generally brought more disadvantages than advantages. It made gathering a fanbase several times more difficult. ¡®It¡¯s really fascinating.¡¯ Even though people realistically knew their chances of dating a celebrity were slim, their interest often plummeted once they learned that the celebrity was in a rtionship. This applied to actors, idols, and even inte broadcasters. There was a reason they meticulously hid their dating lives. ¡®Probably because it shatters the illusion.¡¯ It was not umon for the number of followers on social media to drop drastically once a public rtionship was announced. In the case of actors, I heard that the range of characters offered to them also significantly narrowed. It was particrly critical for rookies with low recognition and fanbases. However, ¡°There¡¯s no reason to hide it.¡± I did not hesitate to answer. My situation was entirely different from that of typical celebrities. I was able to get the role of [Kang Joo-heon] because of Kim Eun-ha. Without her, I would likely have quit acting and be job hunting by now. She also valued promises highly. As long as our contract remained, I could continue acting. ¡®Of course, such growth must be sustained¡­¡¯ If I continued to grow steadily, there shouldn¡¯t be any major problems. To ensure that, I had no intention of being picky about any roles given to me. In other words, themon disadvantages of a public rtionship didn¡¯t apply to me. There was only one thing that bothered me. ¨C Woo-ju ssi, to what extent will you be satisfied? I suddenly remembered what Kim Eun-ha had said to me before. My thoughts at that time were still valid. Being human, I also had ambitions. Higher, even higher. I wanted to reach a ce where there was nothing more to look up to. ¡®Announcing our rtionship might create some distance.¡¯ Perhaps the wings Kim Eun-ha attached to my back were those of Icarus. I might fly toward the sun recklessly, only to have all the wax melt and fall helplessly to the depths of the sea. ¡®But it doesn¡¯t matter.¡¯ In any case, I had a life with nothing more to lose. Despite working in the same ce for years, not a single person came to see me perform in a y. I didn¡¯t have many opportunities to stand on stage, and even when I did, it was usually as an extra whose face barely appeared. Compared to those times, this is truly a dreamlike situation now. Kim Eun-ha gave me a new life. Because of that, if she needs me, I¡¯m willing to give her anything she wants. ¡°Ah, youth is indeed wonderful. You¡¯re a rare young man in today¡¯s world. Hmm, saying this makes me seem old, doesn¡¯t it?¡± ¡°Not at all, sunbae-nim.¡± Hehe- Kim Young-houghed heartily, then looked at me again and tossed a casual remark. ¡°You really like that girl, don¡¯t you?¡± He had a mischievous smile on his face. * * * ¡°CEO-nim. Although I was the first to suggest it, I never imagined you¡¯d actually have me deliver lunchboxes to your boyfriend.¡± ¡°That¡¯s work too.¡± ¡°It¡¯s a personal matter.¡± ¡°Why? I¡¯m just following the n that Secretary Yoonid out step by step. Isn¡¯t that a public matter?¡± ¡°There¡¯s personal emotion involved.¡± ¡°¡­¡± At the end of the conversation, Kim Eun-ha pressed her lips together. Seeing this, Secretary Yoon looked rather taken aback. ¡°What are you doing, going silent on me?¡± ¡°Because I think you¡¯re right.¡± ¡°What?¡± ¡°Thinking about it carefully, it¡¯s rare for me to sacrifice anything for someone else without any reason.¡± ¡°You donate a lot. You even make time to volunteer at orphanages. There must be hundreds of kids whose lives have changed because of you.¡± ¡°¡­If someone asked me if it was out of pure heart, I wouldn¡¯t be able to say yes. Honestly, a big part of it is for my own peace of mind. It also helps with image management.¡± Kim Eun-ha candidly shared her honest feelings. Seeing this rare side of her, Secretary Yoon quietly smiled. She felt a strong urge to take out her phone and record her expression right then and there, but knowing she couldn¡¯t, she felt deeply regretful. ¡°So, adjusting your schedule suddenly and having me deliver lunchboxes wasn¡¯t just for image management?¡± ¡°¡­Half and half?¡± ¡°CEO-nim, when you lie in bed these days, do you find yourself thinking of Kang Woo-ju?¡± ¡°Who do you think you¡¯re talking to? A teenage girl!?¡± ¡°You¡¯re not denying it.¡± ¡°¡­¡± Kim Eun-ha took a deep gulp of the coffee in front of her as if her throat was dry. Seeing her being so candid, Secretary Yoon stifled herughter again. After quenching her thirst with coffee, Kim Eun-ha closed her eyes for a moment and sank into thought. Her sharp mind quickly drew a conclusion. ¡®¡­Kim Eun-ha, this is just a simple hormonal reaction.¡¯ It¡¯s just a chemical reaction that naturally happens when a young man and woman are together. In time, it will pass and be indifferent as if it never happened. She visited the set today because she heard that someone was taking couple photos of Kang Woo-ju, and she went there for management reasons. ¡®Yes, that¡¯s right. It is, but¡­¡¯ However, as if to contradict her conclusion, dramatic moments flooded her mind. Especially the moment when Kang Woo-ju suddenly grabbed her chin and brought his face close. It was still vivid. His eyes at that moment were like deepkes, reflecting her heart as if they were mirrors. ¨C Pretty. tter-! The sound of Kim Eun-ha putting down her teacup echoed loudly. ****** Join our Discord ¨C Chapter 30 - A Troublesome Matter Chapter 30 - A Troublesome MatterChapter 30: A Troublesome Matter [Title: Did you see the pre-release posters for this drama?] : I¡¯m not usually the type to look for these things, but since Coffee Guy is so famous, I checked it out. The viin vibe is insane. I can¡¯t even make eye contact with him in the photo. ©¸ Right? No matter how you look at it, he¡¯s the main character, lol. ©¸ The actor ying the main character isn¡¯t bad, but it feels like he¡¯s a bit out of his league or something. There¡¯s something missing. ©¸ [Info] Both are rookies. ©¸ How can you say he¡¯s a rookie? He didn¡¯t seem out of ce at all in the photo with Kim Young-ho. ©¸ Agreed. When information and pre-release posters for were simultaneously released on the TvM homepage, themunity went wild. The role of Kang Woo-ju, which had been surrounded by rumors, was finally revealed. People were divided over the fact that he was not the main character, but the viin. ©¸ Well, he never really had a kind image to begin with. ©¸ But that doesn¡¯t mean he has a bad personality. Last time, when a confession ry broke out at a cafe, he apologized for themotion and bought coffee and desserts for all the tables. ©¸ Right. He doesn¡¯t talk much, but it seems like he¡¯s never caused harm to anyone. So I naturally thought he¡¯d be the main character. ©¸ How do you fill the audio with a character like that as the main? lol ©¸ Just add a chatty supporting character. Fortunately, no sides were taken, and no fights broke out. Most people just expressed their eagerness to see the drama and asked if the airing date could be moved up. ©¸ But looking at the plot, it feels like Kang Joo-heon is obsessed with the female lead. Why isn¡¯t there a couple shot of them? Isn¡¯t that usually the main thing? ©¸ The Kang In-ho & Jung Ha-rinbo usually only takes individual or group posters. The romance is just a part of the whole story. ©¸ But there are a lot of couple shots of other characters? ©¸ I don¡¯t know either. Haah- Kang In-ho sighed deeply as he watched themunity¡¯s reactions after the information was released. A dedicatedmunity for was created in real time and even made it to the rankings. Reporters, who had received the materials in advance, and various SNS leakers were eagerly waiting to release articles, leading to a great boom. ¡°Haah¡¤¡¤¡¤.¡± ¡°Why do you keep sighing?¡± ¡°Do I look like I wouldn¡¯t be sighing right now? Look at this, if we had just released the photo of Kang Woo-ju and Park Soo-bin together, it would have been twice, no, three times more chaotic than it is now!¡± Kang In-ho clenched his fists in frustration. Jung Ha-rin looked at him in disbelief and shook her head. After Kim Eun-ha had visited, the two had a long discussion and decided not to release the couple shot of Kang Woo-ju and Park Soo-bin. ¡°Should we post it now!?¡± ¡°I¡¯m going to tell CEO Kim Eun-ha-nim.¡± ¡°She herself said she wouldn¡¯t interfere with our work! Even when we asked if we could use the poster, she said to do as we see fit.¡± ¡°She meant to handle it well. You saw the CEO¡¯s mood then. Oh, look at this. Just imagining it gives me chills!¡± Jung Ha-rin suddenly rolled up her sleeve and showed her arm to Kang In-ho. He quickly backed away in surprise. ¡°¡¤¡¤¡¤W-What are you doing!?¡± ¡°What do you mean? I¡¯m just showing you the goosebumps on my arm. Are you really tired these days? You¡¯re overreacting a lot.¡± ¡°It¡¯s because of you.¡± ¡°¡¤¡¤¡¤¡¤¡¤¡¤.¡± Jung Ha-rin suddenly pressed her lips together tightly at Kang In-ho¡¯s words. Feeling embarrassed, he raised his voice. ¡°What, why are you silent now? It makes the atmosphere weird.¡± ¡°Sigh, forget it. Anyway, I need to get to work now.¡± ¡°Already?¡± Kang In-ho raised the end of his sentence regretfully. Seeing his honest reaction, Jung Ha-rin¡¯s lips twitched involuntarily, but she firmly nodded her head. ¡°If we¡¯re going to start filming next week, time is tight. Although we¡¯ve prepared up to episode 5, there are many scenes that need to be filmed in advance depending on the location.¡± ¡°As a director, I can¡¯t argue with that.¡± It¡¯s easy to think that dramas are filmed in order from the first episode, but in reality, they often shoot episodes out of sequence. Especially when filming in locations like museums or private estates. Since you never know how situations might changeter, they try to film as many scenes as possible at such locations all at once. Fortunately, Jung Ha-rin¡¯s tendency to stockpile as much script as possible before diving into a project meant that despite the tight schedule, they had some breathing room. ¡°And there¡¯s one more problem.¡± ¡°Huh? What is it?¡± ¡°I think we need to make significant revisions to the script.¡± ¡°Hey-!¡± Kang In-ho shouted in frustration. However, Jung Ha-rin, having anticipated this, had already covered her ears with both hands, so she wasn¡¯t much affected. ¡°Why?¡± ¡°We start filming next week; where do we find the time!? Besides, even if we submit the current script to a blind contest, it would win! It¡¯s good enough as it is!¡± ¡°But what can I do? I got a feeling.¡± ¡°Damn it. Of all times¡­¡± Kang In-ho rubbed his forehead in frustration. He even sighed in resignation, looking up at the ceiling. Having worked with Jung Ha-rin multiple times, he knew all too well how maddening her ¡°feeling¡± could be. ¡®Last time, she got the feel and suddenly flew to Japan and was unreachable for a week.¡¯ New scripts arrived punctually every day, so filming wasn¡¯t disrupted, but it was a nerve-wracking habit. Despite simr incidents in the past, the reason Kang In-ho continued to work with her was simpler than one might think. ¡®Because the results are good.¡¯ Scenes that she overhauled after getting her inspiration always turned out to be huge hits. Even lines and scenes that seemed doubtful during filming became some of the most beloved and memorable moments once they aired on TV. Therefore, Jung Ha-rin¡¯s deration that she ¡°got a feeling¡± was both a blessing and a curse for Kang In-ho. Once the switch was flipped, it was impossible to change her mind. The best course of action was¡­ ¡°To what extent?¡± ¡°About 80%?¡± ¡°Hey-!!¡± ¡°Ugh, I¡¯m not deaf, you know!?¡± ¡°So, please, just tell me. Why? What don¡¯t you like that you want to overhaul everything!? You know we¡¯re right on the brink of filming!¡± Seeing Kang In-ho¡¯s desperate expression, Jung Ha-rin felt a bit guilty and her momentum waned slightly. However, her words remained as unreserved as ever. ¡°Actually, it¡¯s the opposite.¡± ¡°The opposite? Wait, you don¡¯t mean¡­¡± ¡°Yeah, probably what you¡¯re thinking. I got the feel from watching Kang Woo-ju. But, of course, I don¡¯t mean changing the main character! Just increasing his prominence a bit?¡± ¡°A bit is 80%?¡± ¡°He was already a lead with lots of screen time, but if the character changes, so do the attitudes and actions of the other characters who interact with him.¡± ¡°Oh, my goodness¡­¡± What on earth is up with Kang Woo-ju? That thought momentarily shed through Kang In-ho¡¯s mind. Ironically, his well-honed instincts as a broadcaster told him to trust Jung Ha-rin. Just like themunity reactions he¡¯d seen earlier. In truth, Kang Woo-ju¡¯s overwhelming presence was a concern. ¡®The problem is that he overshadows all the other leads.¡¯ Aside from veteran actor Kim Young-ho, everyone seemed overwhelmed by Kang Woo-ju¡¯s presence. Some even appeared to feel a sense of awe. This cannot be allowed. From the start, revolved around fierce power struggles and mind games among the chaebols. ¡®¡­At least Park Soo-bin seems to have somewhat ovee it.¡¯ Since thest shoot, it was clear that every time she saw Kang Woo-ju, she disyed openpetitiveness. It was almost as if she had truly be the female lead of the drama. It would be great if the other rookie actors could awaken like that, but the truth is, that¡¯s nearly impossible. As Director Kang In-ho fell deep into thought, Jung Ha-rin squinted her eyes and asked in a subtle tone. ¡°Actually, you also want to change the script too, don¡¯t you?¡± ¡°¡­Absolutely not. If we change the script now, Dong-gyu will grab me by the cor and throw a fit. How am I supposed to handle his temper? And what about the other staff and the actors who have already memorized the script?¡± ¡°But you¡¯re still going to do it, aren¡¯t you?¡± ¡°I¡¯m not doing it.¡± ¡°Your face says you¡¯re already wavering.¡± ¡°¡­¡± Smirk- She smiled victoriously at the silent Kang In-ho. Having worked with him for a long time, she could roughly tell what he was thinking just by his expression. ¡°Can you do it?¡± In the end, Kang In-ho surrendered. Jung Ha-rin nodded with a serious look in her eyes. ¡°I¡¯ll churn out at least up to episode 3, even if it means not sleeping until the shooting day.¡± ¡°Don¡¯t do that.¡± ¡°You know me. I can do it!¡± ¡°I know. You¡¯re a capable writer. Butst time you did that, you were bedridden for several days. So just work diligently at a reasonable pace.¡± ¡°¡­¡± ¡°There were plenty of times in the past when we shot with scripts written on the day of filming. We have enough leeway with two episodes. I¡¯ll handle the actors and staff somehow.¡± ¡°Director¡­¡± Kang In-ho started to quickly organize his tasks, shaking his head as if he had no choice. He waved his hand in the air without even looking at her, as if to hurry her along. Thanks to that, he didn¡¯t see it. The incredibly gentle smile on Jung Ha-rin¡¯s face. * * * ¡°There are no issues. However, I probably won¡¯t have time to go pick up the script myself.¡± ¨C I intend to send it to you via message first¡­ ¡°Messages are vulnerable to security breaches.¡± ¨C The first episode primarily focuses on exining the lead characters, excluding some extras. More importantly, I have absolute faith in actor Kang Woo-ju! ¡°¡­It¡¯s sudden, but if the director deemed the script change necessary, I¡¯ll trust and follow him.¡± ¨C Thank you for understanding. ¡°Yes. Then.¡± Click- After hanging up the phone, I sat on the sofa, staring nkly at the ceiling for a moment. My mind was flooded with various thoughts and emotions that needed sorting out. ¡°¡­I¡¯ve already memorized the whole script.¡± Ah- A sigh escaped me involuntarily. It was like finding out the night before the test that the range covered was chapters 4 to 6, not 1 to 3, which I had memorized diligently. Although I was confident in memorizing scripts, it didn¡¯t mean I waspletely free from stress. ¡°You seem to be in some trouble.¡± Swoosh- At that moment, Kim Eun-ha quietly walked up from behind and ced a teacup in front of me. I expected it to be coffee, but today, surprisingly, it was ck tea. ¡°It¡¯s hot, so drink it slowly.¡± ¡°Thank you.¡± I drank the ck tea she had made for me, trying to sort out the emotions that arose. Naturally, she sat across from me and started drinking tea as well. ¡°Maybe it¡¯s thanks to the tea. I¡¯m calming down faster than I expected.¡± ¡°You recover quickly.¡± ¡°It¡¯s just that I¡¯m resilient. I¡¯ve often faced much worse hardships. In fact, ever since meeting you, I¡¯ve been incredibly lucky.¡± ¡°You always say such nice things.¡± Kim Eun-ha shook her head with a smile. Then, she slowly savored her tea, taking her time. I also picked up my teacup. The tea had a unique, slightly astringent yet pleasantly nutty aftertaste. I wasn¡¯t usually a tea person, but I might start enjoying it more often. As I took another sip, Kim Eun-ha set down her teacup and spoke. ¡°Then, I¡¯ll just speak inly. I have a blind date arranged for this weekend.¡± ¡°Cough, cough-!¡± Her sudden revtionpletely caught me off guard. In my effort to avoid spraying tea at her, I choked on it, and the tea went down the wrong pipe. While I was coughing and spluttering, Kim Eun-ha quietly enjoyed her tea, calmly savoring it. ****** Join our Discord ¨C Chapter 31 - Peaceful Daily Life Chapter 31 - Peaceful Daily LifeChapter 31: Peaceful Daily Life ¡°Suddenly, a blind date?¡± ¡°It¡¯s just as sudden for me. I got the call an hour ago. Actually, maybe I should say it was more like a notification? Or perhaps even a threat.¡± ¡°Who on earth¡­ Could it be the Chairman?¡± ¡°Well, on that side, the Chairman is still the Chairman.¡± ng- Kim Eun-ha responded as she ced her teacup down louder than usual. I immediately understood the meaning behind her words. ¡°It¡¯s Beta (¦Â), isn¡¯t it?¡± ¡°As expected, our Alpha (¦Á) is quick-witted.¡± Haha- Kim Eun-haughed as if she found it amusing. The talk of Alphas and Betas referred to the ¡®Candidate Encyclopedia¡¯ she had shown me earlier. It contained detailed information on various arranged marriage candidates, all organized in order. Each candidate wasbeled with Greek letters like Beta, Gamma, Delta, Epsilon, etc. Only we could understand who was who. ¡®It started feeling strange with Beta¡­¡¯ The Alpha in question was me. The data was made for me to memorize, so it naturally didn¡¯t include information about myself. Plus, it seemed to have a bit of lip service added. Anyway, the person called ¡®Beta (¦Â)¡¯ now was essentially the top candidate for an arranged marriage. He had the appropriate family background, wealth, looks, and even connections, all making him close to a true Alpha. His name was Park Ji-hoon. Kim Eun-ha¡¯s childhood friend. ¡°Weren¡¯t you already done talking with him about this? Fighting together for the freedom of third-generation chaebols! That¡¯s the impression I got.¡± ¡°That¡¯s just what we say among ourselves. The elders think differently. It seems the performance we did at the caf¨¦st time had quite an effect.¡± ¡°Ah¡­ You mean that incident.¡± Recalling the moment, I scratched my temple awkwardly. After finishing the poster shoot, Kim Eun-ha and I thought we should deliver a more clear message to the public after a brief discussion. Of course, we couldn¡¯t hold a press conference, so we headed to a nearby caf¨¦ instead. ¨C Gasp, it¡¯s Kang Joo-heon! ¨C I enjoyed the poster! ¨C But who is that next to him? She¡¯s really pretty. After the poster was released, I was called by my character name [Kang Joo-heon] more often than ¡®Caf¨¦ Guy¡¯. My poprity soared to the point where even Kim Eun-ha became a subject of curiosity. ¡®Well, I wasn¡¯t very interested before the contract either.¡¯ Few people knew who the boss of a department store in central Seoul was. Even fewer knew her face. Of course, Kim Eun-ha, as the heir to the Mirae Group, frequently appeared on various SNS and media. But when people met her in person, they were often mesmerized by her striking appearance. ¡®Eun-ha¡¯s existence has be even more ambiguous.¡¯ With all theseplex reasons intertwined, people were not only curious but also ufortable about our rtionship. Perhaps feeling provoked, Kim Eun-ha took a bold step. With a moreposed voice than usual, she spoke to me. ¨C Let¡¯s hold hands. ¨C Huh? All of a sudden¡­ ¨C No more words. Kim Eun-ha firmly said as she extended her palm towards me. Suppressing my doubtful expression, I ced my hand on hers. ¨C Hmm. Your hand is bigger than I expected. ¨C Maybe Eun-ha¡¯s hand is small? But more than that, the public¡¯s gaze is so intense that my cheeks are stinging. ¨C Really? I think it¡¯s stillcking. ¨C What kind of life have you¡­ Eun-ha!? Then Kim Eun-ha suddenly interlocked her fingers with mine. The thrilling sensation of our fingers touching. The first thought that came to mind was, ¡®It¡¯s soft.¡¯ The sensation was iparable to anything like a doll, and if possible, I wanted to keep touching it. At the same time, through our touching skin, Kim Eun-ha¡¯s warmth and pulse were transmitted to me, which made my heart pound harder. As feelings I should never have for my employer began to surface, I instinctively tried to withdraw my hand. But she gripped it tightly as if she would never let go. ¨C Uh, Eun-ha ssi!? ¨C Hehe. Why would someone with so much experience be embarrassed by something like this? Was it all a lie? Be honest. Hmm? ¨C Let¡¯s start by letting go of my hand¡­ ¨C I won¡¯t let go until you answer honestly. Her grip was firmer than I expected, making it difficult to gently pull away. If I forced it, I could probably break free, but I wasn¡¯t confident about dealing with the aftermath. So, we stood there, fingers intertwined, in a public ce for quite some time, and naturally, the scene was captured and spread on social media. Someone had even recorded a video of us, and it turned into a meme, garnering hundreds of thousands of views. ©¸ Crazy, haha, that¡¯s such an old-fashioned tactic. Someone actually does that? But why does it make me more excited watching them? ©¸ Isn¡¯t that usually something old guys do? But when a girl does it first, it feelspletely different. So this is what they call fox behavior. ©¸ Foxy. Since the video was shot from the left behind me, it captured Kim Eun-ha¡¯s coquettish smile perfectly as she intertwined our fingers. As a result, Kim Eun-ha¡¯s presence, which had faded since the poster release, surged again, and stories about her identity started to spread. ©¸ I¡¯ve seen that person somewhere. ©¸ She¡¯s the boss of Mirae Department Store. ©¸ Really? ©¸ Yeah, seems right if you look it up. She¡¯s the granddaughter of the Mirae Group Chairman. Wow, she¡¯s pretty andes from a powerful family? The world is truly unfair. ©¸ Kim Eun-ha¡­ A woman with everything¡ªlooks, body, money, family. But I, Byeon Pil-kyu, 32nd descendant of the Wonju Byeon n, cannot have her. ©¸ Yeah, even if she gave herself to you, you wouldn¡¯t take her~ There were many amusingments that were fun to read. Of course, there were some nastyments too, but they were surprisingly few. ©¸ I went to high school with Kim Eun-ha, and that¡¯s all stic surgery and makeup. You¡¯d be shocked if you saw the original. ©¸ You¡¯re just trying to nder her. Kim Eun-ha was called a goddess even in middle and high school. Besides, you should delete yourment. Seriously, for your own sake. ©¸ Why should I? Are you Kim Eun-ha herself? ©¸ Do you think the Mirae Group¡¯s legal team is a joke? They¡¯ve been managed by Park & Jang from way back. And they don¡¯t need money, so if you get caught, they won¡¯t go easy on you. Thatment was deleted soon after, but it had already been captured and widely shared. There had been previous publicized cases of masswsuits, which had cleaned up thement sections nicely. It shows that money indeed has its perks. ¡®So that¡¯s why they took action on that side.¡¯ I always thought they would make a move eventually. Rather, it felt like everyone except Secretary Baek was taking too long. Of course, Kim Eun-ha must have been doing various things behind the scenes, but this blind date seemed like something beyond her control. This meant someone powerful was moving. Based on Kim Eun-ha¡¯s earlier words, it was obvious who the other party was. ¡®Chairman Park Min-chul of Daehan Group.¡¯ Mirae Group is indisputably the number one in the country, but the only group known to be on par with them is Daehan Group. In fact, Mirae Group¡¯s Chairman Kim Seok-ho and Chairman Park Min-chul recognize each other as rivals. Despite this, they are quite close, often dining together or hosting joint events. If he made the move personally, it would have been difficult for Kim Eun-ha to refuse in many ways. ¡°But Beta. No, I think I heard that Park Ji-hoon ssi is currently in Germany. Something about a technological coboration to globalize Daehan Motors.¡± ¡°He¡¯sing back briefly.¡± ¡°¡­Not because of the blind date, right?¡± ¡°The possibility isn¡¯t zero.¡± Kim Eun-ha shrugged as she put down her teacup. Seeing it empty, it seemed she was quite thirsty despite her calm demeanor. ¡°Do you have a reason to refuse?¡± ¡°I have a date with my boyfriend that day.¡± ¡°¡­That¡¯s a perfect n.¡± ¡°I think so too.¡± ¡°So what¡¯s the real n?¡± ¡°I just told you.¡± ¡°? ?¡± We looked at each other simultaneously, as if we had nned it, with expressions that seemed to ask what on earth we were talking about. The result was that I astonishingly realized Kim Eun-ha¡¯s n of ¡®having a date with her boyfriend¡¯ was genuinely her n. ¡°Do you think that will work?¡± ¡°I¡¯ll make it work.¡± ¡°How?¡± ¡°Hmm. For now, I thought we could take a light trip to Japan. If I¡¯m not here when he arrives in Korea, he won¡¯t be able to meet me.¡± ¡°¡­Japan?¡± It was really refreshing to hear her talk about going abroad as if she were going for a stroll in the neighborhood. The only ne I had ever been on was the one to Jeju Ind during a school trip. ¡°I have a shoot next week.¡± ¡°You don¡¯t film on weekends.¡± ¡°The script has changed too.¡± ¡°You can memorize it all in a day.¡± This woman was serious. This was 100% serious. I couldn¡¯t believe someone would actually go through with an overseas escape just to avoid a blind date. And I had to be the person involved. Was it really such a simple problem that could be solved just by avoiding the meeting? When I pointed this out, Kim Eun-ha answered smoothly, as if she had expected it. ¡°The current situation of Daehan Group isn¡¯t very good. They made a substantial investment in the electric vehicle battery industry, but it got rejected in the US.¡± ¡°So Park Ji-hoon¡¯s project in Germany is crucial and he can¡¯t afford to be away for long?¡± ¡°That¡¯s right.¡± Nod- Kim Eun-ha acknowledged it calmly. However, there was still one question lingering in my mind. ¡°On the contrary, doesn¡¯t that mean he considers this blind date important enough to put his project on hold ande back?¡± ¡°¡­Sometimes, I can¡¯t tell if I¡¯m talking to Woo-ju or Kang Joo-heon from the drama.¡± Sigh- Kim Eun-ha sighed deeply, uncharacteristically. It meant that my assumption was correct. She continued her exnation to prove it. ¡°As known to the public, the rtionship between Mirae Group and Daehan Group isn¡¯t bad. But that¡¯s strictly in a business partner sense.¡± ¡°¡¤¡¤¡¤¡¤¡¤¡¤.¡± ¡°With the global economic downturn andplicated national affairs, our group¡¯s situation has worsened, but Daehan Group is worse off. They invested too much in the automobile industry recently, so they¡¯re short on cash.¡± ¡°If an incident urs before the automobile industry stabilizes, it would be very troublesome. The onlypany that can help with this issue domestically is Mirae Group.¡± ¡°That¡¯s about right.¡± Daehan Group needs cash. But because of their massive size, there aren¡¯t manypanies domestically that can act as their safety. ¡®At best, only Mirae Group.¡¯ However, Mirae Group¡¯s economic situation is not favorable either. Listening to Kim Eun-ha, it seems they have enough cash to support Daehan Group. ¡®But they have no reason or obligation to do so.¡¯ No matter how long they¡¯ve worked together or how good their rtionship seems, in the end, they arepetitors and rivals. Especially since the automotive sector, where Mirae Group has faced bitter defeats, is an area where they haven¡¯t extended their influence. They probably don¡¯t have much affection for Daehan Motors. ¡®But what if Kim Eun-ha and Park Ji-hoon get married?¡¯ Chairman Kim Seok-ho and Chairman Park Min-chul would be inws. Through this familial tie, they would gain a legitimate reason to help each other. In the end, the two of them would serve as a bridge for their respective groups to exchange what they need. ¡°So you want me to ruin this important blind date?¡± ¡°You did take my money.¡± ¡°¡­Poverty is a sin. A real sin.¡± I tried to swallow a sigh and picked up my teacup, only to find it empty. I must have drunk it all without realizing it. ¡°Let me pour you more.¡± ¡°Thank you.¡± Kim Eun-ha reached over and naturally took my teacup to refill it. It was a peaceful everyday moment, like the calm before a storm. ****** Join our Discord ¨C Chapter 32 - Blind Date Chapter 32 - Blind DateChapter 32: Blind Date In the end, the overseas escape n proposed by Kim Eun-ha fell through. And for a very simple reason. ¡°Seriously, who doesn¡¯t have a passport these days!? Have you really never traveled in this global era!?¡± ¡°To be precise, I should say ¡®couldn¡¯t go.''¡± My father is in the hospital after a stroke, and my mother is taking care of him. Where would I have had the time or money for that? Of course, my father copsed after I became an adult, but even before that, our family wasn¡¯t exactly well off. ¡®Sometimes I did feel a sense of despair because of that.¡¯ When school friends came back from vacations bragging about trips to Disnend or traveling to Europe to see original works by Renaissance painters. ¡®¡­at least Japan would have been something.¡¯ Nowadays, the cost of traveling to Jeju Ind or Japan is pretty simr. So many people prefer to go abroad instead. But what difference does it make? Even that was a luxury for me. ¡®I couldn¡¯t even afford a bus fare, let alone a ne ticket.¡¯ During the day, I would try to make some free time to do day jobs, and at night, I worked as a substitute driver, dealing with heavily drunk men. In between, I somehow managed to keep up with my grades, always going to sses with bleary eyes and a weary body. ¡®¡­I was almost like a zombie.¡¯ Of course, since I didn¡¯t want to waste money, I never dozed off or cked off during ss. But I couldn¡¯t participate in internal departmental events like MTs or theater festivals. (Trantor Note: MT = Membership Training) Looking back at my school days now, it¡¯s no wonder that the looks from professors and ssmates became increasingly sharp. ¡°Hmm¡­ Sorry.¡± It seems I spent more time reminiscing about the past than I realized. Kim Eun-ha suddenly apologized, perhaps misunderstanding my silence. ¡°I made a slip of the tongue. After all, I am one of the few people who know your situation well.¡± ¡°It¡¯s okay. It¡¯s not something I care much about anyway. From your perspective, Eun-ha, not having a passport would indeed seem odd.¡± While Kim Eun-ha knows everything about my past due to her extensive connections and wealth, what I know about her is only fragmentary facts. Still, it¡¯s not hard to guess that she followed the so-called ¡®elite course.¡¯ Probably from elementary school. No, even from kindergarten, the families of the children around her must have been outstanding. Didn¡¯t she say that Park Ji-hoon, who ising for the blind date this week, was a childhood friend? ¡°¡­Even so, everyone has their own circumstances, and it was clearly a mistake to get excited and say the wrong thing. These things need to be settled properly when they happen.¡± ¡°Hmm. Now that I think about it, you¡¯re right. It was ament that could indeed cause significant emotional harm. A proper apology is needed.¡± ¡°¡­Alright. How much do you want?¡± ¡°No, I don¡¯t need the money.¡± ¡°¡­!?¡± Kim Eun-ha¡¯s eyes widened as she started to tremble more than when I said I didn¡¯t have a passport. At first, I thought she was joking, but her expression was genuinely serious. ¡°Are you saying Woo-ju is refusing money!?¡± ¡°¡­What kind of image of me do you have in your head, Eun-ha? I don¡¯t remember asking for money in the first ce.¡± ¡°But you always epted money without fail.¡± ¡°I¡¯m not the type to refuse free money.¡± Despite everything, Kim Eun-ha was quite considerate. She provided a house, a car, and even moved my parents to a better hospital as a basic gesture. She even gave me her credit card, but when she realized I wasn¡¯t using it, she started depositing an allowance directly into my ount. At first, I refused because it was too much, but she said it was a kind of sry and told me to work as much as I received. ¡®¡­I don¡¯t know how much harder I have to work to earn that much every month.¡¯ In terms of amount, I received much more than when I was at the top in the designated driver industry. Thanks to that, along with the ten million won I first received from her, I had long since paid off my overdue tuition fees, and I¡¯m saving the rest. ¡°So, what do you want?¡± ¡°Hmm. Let¡¯s see.¡± Actually, I brought it up as a light joke, but seeing Kim Eun-ha react so intensely made me want to tease her a bit more. Swoosh- I deliberately stroked my chin. Then, I half-closed my eyes and slowly scanned her body from top to bottom. ¡°¡­!?¡± Whoosh-! Realizing my intention, Kim Eun-ha red at me and lunged. Since I had anticipated the attack, I could dodge it quite leisurely. However, she seemed to expect my evasion and took a deeper step forward. Using her right foot as a pivot, her body rotated, and all her strength was concentrated into her left fist. ¡®Oh?¡¯ Thud-! The moment her perfectly executed liver blow hit my skin, I rolled several times and sprawled on the living room floor like a corpse. Kim Eun-ha walked over to me and crouched down beside me, poking my cheek as she spoke again. ¡°Are you okay? Your reaction seems slower thanst time. It feels like there¡¯s some sensation left in my hand.¡± ¡°¡­¡± ¡°Woo-ju?¡± ¡°¡­¡± ¡°Oh my god!? Woo-ju!!¡± When I didn¡¯t respond, she shook my shoulder in genuine shock, thinking something might have happened. It was only then that I managed to raise my hand to show I was still alive. ¡°I¡¯m, I¡¯m okay.¡± ¡°Okay, my ass! We need to go to the hospital right away! I¡¯ll call an ambnce¡­¡± ¡°Eun-ha, calm down.¡± ¡°¡­?¡± As I suddenly stood up as if nothing had happened, Kim Eun-ha stared at me with wide eyes. Her face was filled with a mixture of emotions. ¡°¡­Your acting skills have improved a lot?¡± ¡°No. This time, I really got hit.¡± I grimaced and rubbed my stinging abdomen. If I hadn¡¯t desperately thrown myself at thest moment, I would have ended up in the hospital for sure. ¡®She did say she was semi-pro¡­¡¯ After her parents passed away, she needed the strength to get back on her feet, and Chairman Kim Seok-ho diagnosed that vigorous exercise was the best thing for her mental health, so he personally took her out. However, she found the exercise much more enjoyable than expected, and for a while, she trained almost at the level of elite athletes. ¡°Weren¡¯t you a bit too carefree just because it¡¯s me? If I had dodged a bitter, you could have actually be a widow, Eun-ha.¡± ¡°I¡¯m not married yet, so it¡¯s okay.¡± ¡°Do you even realize what you¡¯re saying¡­¡± At first, she wasn¡¯t this brazen, but as she spent more time with me, she seemed to have be much more shameless. ¡°Anyway, lift your shirt a bit. If you have a bruise or a deep wound, you might need a thorough checkup at the hospital.¡± ¡°I¡¯m fine.¡± ¡°Hurry.¡± ¡°No, seriously, I¡¯m fi¡­¡± ¡°I said take it off!¡± Finally, Kim Eun-ha grabbed the hem of my T-shirt and started to lift it. Genuinely flustered, I stumbled backward, but she just moved closer. After a brief scuffle, Eun-ha managed to check my bare skin and nodded indifferently. ¡°Fortunately, there¡¯s no serious problem.¡± ¡°Sigh¡­ I¡¯ve never shown this to anyone.¡± ¡°Please, don¡¯t say things that others might misunderstand. And what do you mean you¡¯ve never shown it? Didn¡¯t you work as a nude model during school?¡± ¡°What!? How did you know that¡­!?¡± Kim Eun-ha¡¯s informationwork left me speechless. Even my parents didn¡¯t know about this. I only did it once because the pay was good for the time spent, and I wanted to gain various experiences as an actor. How did she find out about that? ¡°Do you think there¡¯s anything I don¡¯t know about you? I considered all those aspects when I made the contract with you.¡± ¡°What do you mean by those aspects?¡± ¡°¡­Let¡¯s get back to the main topic.¡± ¡°This is too big of a topic to just brush off now!¡± After bickering for quite some time, we finally managed to get back to the main point. Exhausted from the long exchange, I slumpedpletely onto the sofa, barely moving my lips. ¡°So, what¡¯s n B?¡± ¡°You have to go on a blind date.¡± ¡°And then?¡± ¡°Woo-ju, you handle the rest.¡± ¡°What?¡± Surprised by her cryptic response, I looked up to see Kim Eun-ha smiling mischievously at me. Whoosh- The most chilling expression I¡¯ve seen from her so far sent shivers down my spine. It seemed this task was going to be anything but easy. * * * A secluded restaurant. Next to each table, ssical music flowed at a volume that was not too loud. Waiters in elegant suits stood ready at various spots, prepared to respond to any call from the guests. In that ce, where anyone could tell that the food would be quite pricey, a man was lost in thought while gazing at the night view through the ss window. ¡°¡­She¡¯ster than I thought.¡± The man, wearing a clean custom suit and sporting a neat hairstyle matching the overall ambiance of the restaurant, was none other than Kim Eun-ha¡¯s childhood friend, Park Ji-hoon. His eyes, as he looked at his watch, were sharp as cold steel, and his tightly pressed lips were stiff. There was still some time left until the appointed hour, but typically, for a blind date, one would arrive at least ten minutes early. ¡®¡­Did I get stood up?¡¯ An uneasy expression slowly surfaced on the man¡¯s face, his presence so formidable that diners at nearby tables couldn¡¯t help but nce at him. But only for a brief moment. He soon smiled softly, an impable smile that wouldn¡¯t look out of ce on an actor. ¡®No way.¡¯ Kim Eun-ha, whom he had known since childhood, was a very rational and intelligent woman. She surely understood the significance of today¡¯s meeting. Even if unforeseen circumstances forced her to decline, standing him up would be unthinkable unless she was in a traffic ident. Yet, with less than a minute left until the appointed time, his punctuality seemed nearly certain. The man¡¯s eyes turned icy once again as he anticipated ate arrival. ¡®¡­Is she deliberately beingte?¡¯ Some heads of powerful nations sometimes intentionally arrivete at official events to disy their authority. Though it¡¯s extremely unpleasant for the other party, it¡¯s difficult to openly criticize it due to diplomatic concerns. In such cases, the other party is already at a disadvantage from the start, making it a high-level psychological battle. ¡®This is really too much.¡¯ Even though we¡¯re childhood friends. Feeling increasingly ufortable, Park Ji-hoon crossed his arms and closed his eyes. Counting the remaining time in his head, he wondered if Kim Eun-ha would show up within that timeframe and how he should respond if she did. ¡®Five, four, three¡­¡¯ As the countdown in his head continued, a shadow suddenly fell over his face. She had arrived right on time. ¡°Hmm. It¡¯s been three years since I saw your face?¡± ¡°No. This is our first meeting.¡± ¡°¡­What?¡± A deep voice, entirely different from what he expected. Opening his eyes to check his counterpart, Park Ji-hoon¡¯s eyes widened in shock. ¡°You are¡­!?¡± ¡°I¡¯m Kang Woo-ju.¡± Without hesitation, Kang Woo-ju finished his introduction and, ignoring the speechless Park Ji-hoon, took the seat opposite him without a second thought. Thus began the unexpected blind date between two men, each silently staring at the other. ****** Join our Discord ¨C Chapter 33 - You sure talk well for a fake Chapter 33 - You sure talk well for a fakeChapter 33: You sure talk well for a fake ¡°¡­Kang Woo-ju!?¡± Park Ji-hoon¡¯s eyes shed. First, there was surprise, then curiosity, followed by anger. His eyes turned various shades. Park Ji-hoon knew very well who the other party was. After all, it was the person who made him rush to Korea in the first ce. But no matter what, he never expected Kang Woo-ju to take part in the arranged date set up by their families on behalf of Kim Eun-ha. ¡°Why are you here¡­? This is absurd. Are you ying games with me? What the hell is this?¡± Hiss¡ª It was natural for Park Ji-hoon¡¯s voice to be much colder than usual. However, Kang Woo-ju didn¡¯t seem to care about his emotions. ¡°Let¡¯s order first.¡± ¡°¡­Huh.¡± Seeing him lift the menu confidently whilepletely ignoring his gaze, Park Ji-hoon couldn¡¯t help butugh dryly. Even more ridiculous was that he immediately called a waiter and began ordering in a very fluent manner. ¡°I¡¯ll have the main course with a side of barley shrimp.¡± ¡°And how would you like it cooked?¡± ¡°Medium.¡± The staff bowed lightly, showing courtesy, and Kang Woo-ju naturally epted it. Watching the scene unfold before him, Park Ji-hoon was so bbergasted that he couldn¡¯t even make a remark. Then the staff turned to him. They were asking how he wanted his steak cooked. At this rate, the situation was entirely in Kang Woo-ju¡¯s control, but for now, Park Ji-hoon decided to y along to grasp the situation better. ¡°¡­Rare.¡± ¡°Would you like wine with that as well?¡± Smirk¡ª As soon as the staff asked, Park Ji-hoon¡¯s lips curled slightly. He immediately thought of a way to dete Kang Woo-ju¡¯s confidence. ¡®You¡¯re still just amoner.¡¯ He hadn¡¯t left Kang Woo-ju unresearched. It seemed Kim Eun-ha¡¯s side had preemptively cleaned up his past with the help of their secretaries. But it¡¯s impossible topletely silence everyone. Park Ji-hoon, using Daehan Group¡¯s informationwork, had also gathered some understanding of Kang Woo-ju¡¯s past. ¡®I almost fell for your confidence¡­¡¯ Kang Woo-ju was an actor. And he had struggled with significant financial difficulties. Naturally, he wouldn¡¯t have much experience dining in such a restaurant. His acting was quite good, but the actions he was performing now were obviously part of the act. A little probing into the details should do the trick. ¡°Why don¡¯t you choose for us?¡± This single question would suffice. Anyway, this restaurant only had one main course, so there was no great difficulty in ordering just by mentioning the side. ¡®But wine is different.¡¯ There are countless varieties, and selecting the perfect wine toplement the meal is no easy task. It¡¯s called [marriage] in French, the key being to harmonize the different tastes of the wine and the food. ¡®Stupid bastard. He even chose a difficult side dish.¡¯ When exining simply to wine novices, it¡¯smon to say that seafood pairs with white wine and meat with red wine. However, Kang Woo-ju ordered barley shrimp as a side dish. In other words, seafood. This side dish had apletely different texture and vor from the restaurant¡¯s main dish, a thick American-style steak. Even for Park Ji-hoon, choosing a wine that paired well with both was a challenging task. If Kang Woo-ju tried to avoid the question, he could take control of the situation, and if he pretended to know, Park Ji-hoon could point out hisck of basic knowledge. Either way, Kang Woo-ju¡¯s facade would crack. ¡°Then let¡¯s go with [Pinot Noir Burgundy].¡± ¡°¡­!?¡± Startled once more by the unwavering order, Park Ji-hoon was taken aback. Moreover, it was precisely the menu item he considered the most appropriate. Pinot Noir. A grape variety grown in the ¡®Burgundy¡¯ region of eastern France. It is a prominent ingredient in red wine. ¡®It¡¯s quite light for a red wine.¡¯ Among the varieties of red wine, it is rtively light, often paired with raw meat dishes. Of course, it¡¯s still a bit heavy to pair with seafood, but as a bridge to the steak that follows, it¡¯s certainly not a bad choice. ¡®Or perhaps, it¡¯s the best choice?¡¯ Considering it was for dinner, finding a better option would be difficult. Reflecting on this, he wondered if ordering the barley shrimp as a side dish from the start was all part of a n. Predicting his reaction perfectly. ¡°¡­Which kind?¡± ¡°Do you have [Vosne-Roman¨¦e] here?¡± ¡°Yes, we have it.¡± ¡°Then, please bring that.¡± ¡°¡­¡± Even within Burgundy, from the ¡®C?te d¡¯Or¡¯, known as the ¡®Slope of Gold.¡¯ And Kang Woo-ju further dived into more specific regions without hesitation. Even someone who prided themselves on their wine knowledge would recognize this as an excellent choice. ¡°Shall I prepare it that way then?¡± Park Ji-hoon nodded in affirmation to the waiter who looked at him. Shortly after, the waiter who took their order brought the wine, and their sses began to fill with a deep crimson color. ¡°Why did you specifically choose this wine?¡± ¡°Don¡¯t you like it?¡± ¡°No, I¡¯m genuinely curious about your reasoning.¡± It was quite detailed, but it could have been prepared in advance. It was also possible he chose it because it was the safest bet. ¡°Hmm. The reason¡­¡± For a moment, Kang Woo-ju¡¯s eyes darkened. At the same time, a cold smile formed on his lips. With a delicate touch that even another man would find ¡®elegant,¡¯ he lifted his ss. Then, gently swirling the ss, he looked at the wine as if it were truly lovable. ¡°Pinot Noir is versatile and beloved throughout the year. It¡¯s the least prizing choice when sharing a drink with someone you¡¯ve just met.¡± ¡°That¡¯s not wrong.¡± ¡°And this is from ¡®Louis Latour¡¯, a renowned winery with almost 300 years of history in winemaking.¡± ¡°¡­¡± ¡°As you may already know, this ce is also famous for its eco-friendly cultivation methods. I thought it matched well with the electric vehicle project you¡¯ve been promoting recently.¡± ¡°You¡¯re quite considerate, contrary to what I¡¯ve heard.¡± Smiling faintly¡ª Instead of replying, Kang Woo-ju lightly lifted his ss. Naturally inviting a toast, Park Ji-hoon unconsciously reached for his own ss. The situation had progressed too far to refuse. Swallowing a bitter smile, Park Ji-hoon raised his ss in response. ¡®¡­I¡¯ve been bested pleasantly.¡¯ Ting¡ª The thickest part of the wine sses, the bowl, made a light sound as they clinked. From the way he ordered, held the ss, proposed the toast, to how he savored the wine, there was not a single w in Kang Woo-ju¡¯s behavior. ¡®He¡¯s certainly not ordinary.¡¯ At this point, it was beyond method acting¡ªit was possession level. He looked more like a chaebol than himself. Park Ji-hoon, ncing sideways at his opponent, savored the wine. Today, the aftertaste felt particrly heavy. Silently setting his ss down, he spoke in a more serious tone than before. ¡°So, why are you here, Kang Woo-ju?¡± Deciding it was no longer meaningful to test him, Park Ji-hoon¡¯s attitude changed significantly as he subconsciously acknowledged Kang Woo-ju. Kang Woo-ju¡¯s eyes sharpened, sensing the shift. The pleasantries were over; now the real battle began. ¡°On the contrary, I¡¯d like to ask you first, Park Ji-hoon. Why are you hitting on Kim Eun-ha?¡± ¡°¡­Did you say I was hitting on her?¡± Park Ji-hoon¡¯s eyebrows twitched. With his family background, honor, wealth, and even appearance, women never ceased to be around him. What could he possibly becking? ¡°Isn¡¯t it too tant? Usually, in such cases, one would choose a room to stay out of sight. Yet, you picked such a visible location. And also¡­¡± Kang Woo-ju suddenly turned his head to look at another table. The couple sitting there flinched and quickly turned away. ¡°I see some familiar faces too.¡± ¡°¡­You¡¯re the one who started this.¡± ¡°You seem to be mistaken. Eun-ha and I didn¡¯t stage that; we were photographed without us knowing. Why is everyone so interested in other people¡¯s private lives?¡± ¡°You sure talk well for a fake.¡± ¡°Fake?¡± Kang Woo-ju tilted his head as if to say ¡®go on¡¯. Park Ji-hoon felt reluctant to answer, thinking he was ying into his hands, but staying silent here would be foolish. ¡°Did you think I wouldn¡¯t know? Moving your parents to Mirae Group¡¯s VVIP room. Providing your home and car, and paying off your student loans.¡± ¡°Seems Secretary Baek isn¡¯t aspetent as I thought.¡± ¡°¡­You crazy bastard.¡± Park Ji-hoon¡¯s poker face crumbled at Kang Woo-ju¡¯s casual mention of Baek Do-young, a figure even he couldn¡¯t treat lightly. Even amidst this, Kang Woo-ju calmly swirled his wine ss, unperturbed. After wetting his lips with the deep red wine, he spoke again. ¡°So, what are you trying to say?¡± ¡°¡­What!?¡± ¡°Everything you said is true. I am indeed receiving financial support from Eun-ha. But why is that an issue?¡± ¡°So you think it¡¯s normal to act as a paid boyfriend?¡± ¡°No. That¡¯s obviously abnormal.¡± ¡°Then¡­¡± ¡°You¡¯ve simply got the order wrong.¡± Interrupting Park Ji-hoon, Kang Woo-ju dered firmly. For a moment, his gaze turned icy. Even Park Ji-hoon, who had faced numerous influential people from a young age, flinched momentarily. The air around them seemed to freeze under Kang Woo-ju¡¯s ck eyes. ¡°Let me make this clear. Kim Eun-ha and I are in a formal rtionship. We genuinely love each other and can provide what the other needs.¡± ¡°That¡¯s nonsense¡­¡± ¡°Believe it or not, that¡¯s up to you. But the reason I came here in her ce today is to warn you.¡± ¡°A warning?¡± Park Ji-hoon¡¯s brows furrowed instinctively at his sharp tone. But Kang Woo-ju, seemingly indifferent, moved his dark red lips. In a voice low enough for only Park Ji-hoon to hear, yet striking his ears with precision, in a way that defied understanding. ¡°Don¡¯t mess with my woman.¡± ¡°¡­¡± Park Ji-hoon wanted to retort, but he couldn¡¯t move his lips. He was caught by the stark madness in Kang Woo-ju¡¯s eyes. A feeling he had experienced somewhere, sometime before. ¡®What the hell is this¡­?¡¯ Even as Kang Woo-ju stood up and walked away from the table, Park Ji-hoon¡¯s mind remained nk. Only when he saw Kang Woo-ju¡¯s back confidently walking out through the door held open by a waiter did a namee to him. ¡®¡­Chairman Kim Seok-ho?¡¯ For a long time afterward, Park Ji-hoon stared at the empty seat in front of him, lost in thought. * * * Leaving Park Ji-hoon behind, I quickly exited the restaurant and got into the elevator. I wanted to get out of there as soon as possible before my nerves gave out. ¡°Phew, I feel like I¡¯ve lost at least a month off my lifespan.¡± Cold sweat was trickling down my back, but I couldn¡¯t show any signs of it until I got home. As I reyed the conversation with Park Ji-hoon in my mind, staring at the mirror in front of me, I suddenly remembered something I had missed. ¡°Oh no! Eun-ha told me to pay the bill before leaving.¡± Ugh¡ª Going back now would be too embarrassing. After a brief moment of contemtion, I decided to leave it as it was. ¡®That guy is quite rich, he can handle it.¡¯ Ding¡ª With that thought settled, the elevator arrived at the first floor. Iposed my expression once more and stepped outside. The people waiting to get on the elevator flinched and took a few steps back, but I didn¡¯t have the time to worry about them. ¡®Damn it, I have a shoot tomorrow. I spent all my time memorizing the script Eun-ha prepared for me.¡¯ I¡¯d probably have to stay up all night to memorize the drama script. The thought of pulling an all-nighter after such a long time already made my head throb. ****** Join our Discord ¨C Chapter 34 - This Guy is Really a Crazy Bastard Chapter 34 - This Guy is Really a Crazy BastardChapter 34: This Guy is Really a Crazy Bastard The meeting with Park Ji-hoon ended much more smoothly than expected. It was because the script Kim Eun-ha wrote for me was almost perfect. ¨C Memorize this first. ¨C All of this? ¨C It¡¯s alreadypressed to the maximum. She said this while throwing a book at me. Inside it were Park Ji-hoon¡¯s mindset and behavioral principles, as well as various expected questions and answers. It felt like I was looking at a character setting book, and I couldn¡¯t help but be amazed at Kim Eun-ha¡¯s ability to create something like this in a day. ¡®The problem was that I had to memorize it.¡¯ As a result, I ended up studying everything from the major wine-producing regions, which I had never paid attention to before, to the histories of various families. Even though I¡¯m good at memorizing, I thought it would be impossible to cram that vast amount of information in a few days. This is where Kim Eun-ha was very helpful. ¨C It¡¯s better than having a bullet lodged in your head, isn¡¯t it? Given that I had seen her shooting skills firsthand, I couldn¡¯t take it as a mere joke. I had no choice but to memorize the setting book as if my life depended on it. Naturally, my misced resentment turned towards Park Ji-hoon, which also surprisingly helped me immerse myself in the role. ¨C I¡¯ll be beside you to teach you for a while. Of course, Kim Eun-ha didn¡¯t just make grim jokes. She even took a leave from the department store to correct my detailed actions. For instance, I had previously learned table manners by skimming through a 1,000,000 won meal, but this time, I learned them properly. ¨C Now, this is a knife. To someone who didn¡¯t know, it might sound obvious, but the number of cutlery on my table outnumbered the dishes. From the outside in, there were fish knives, butter knives, dinner knives, sd forks, dessert forks, dinner forks, dessert spoons, and so on. It was only natural to miss the days when I could conquer all foods with just one pair of chopsticks. ¡®Eating wasplicated too.¡¯ The direction in which to scoop soup differed depending on whether it was American or British style. You weren¡¯t supposed to dip bread in the soup either. I had to memorize the reasons for these differences. It felt like I had returned to my student days, as I shut myself in at home to study. I was getting older, and fatigue quickly set in, but what kept me going was: ¨C Park Ji-hoon is used to European style, so let¡¯s scoop the soup from the outside in. ¨C Is American style different? ¨C Yes, it¡¯s the exact opposite. The fact that Kim Eun-ha was right beside me like a tutor. She even took leave to invest time in my education. ording to Secretary Yoon, she had never taken leave since her appointment unless it was an absolute necessity. ¨C You should hold the wine ss like this. Of course, she didn¡¯t intend it, but the asional touch was quite a stimulus for a healthy man in his twenties. When I first contracted with her, I thought it wouldn¡¯t be a big deal since I had already lived with a woman around. (TL Note: He is talking about his sister) But spending time with Kim Eun-ha made me realize why she was paid so much. ¡®It might be because I¡¯ve be more rxed.¡¯ Recently, besides the matchmaking issue, the script of the drama changed suddenly, so I stayed up all night. But I experienced much worse things when I was a university student. During exam periods, and even normally, I worked as a designated driver fromte evening to early morning, so I was always short on sleep. So staying up two nights was really nothing. At least, that¡¯s what I thought. ¡°Ho, did something unpleasant happen¡¤¡¤¡¤. Hieek-!¡± The junior staff member who made eye contact with me backed away, startled. I didn¡¯t do anything special. I just looked at him to call him. ¡°What¡¯s wrong?¡± ¡°Yes, yes!? Ah¡­ well¡­ um¡­¡± In response to my question, the staff member hesitated and mumbled, unable to give a clear answer. Then, the junior staff member nced nervously behind him. I also turned my head to look behind him and saw writer Jung Ha-rin and director Kang In-ho flinching and pretending to be busy. Having spent a long time as a junior in the theater world, I could roughly guess what was happening. Since I remained silent, the junior staff member started trembling even more. ¡°It¡¯s alright.¡± ¡°Yes!? What did you just say¡­?¡± ¡°I just haven¡¯t had enough sleeptely. I¡¯ll make sure it doesn¡¯t show once the cue is given, so you don¡¯t need to worry.¡± I gave the junior staff member a gentle smile, and she looked at me nkly for a moment before quickly nodding her head. ¡°Th-thank you!¡± ¡°Good job.¡± She bowed politely, almost bending her waist, and then ran off towards Jung Ha-rin and Kang In-ho. ¡°Ahem! How are you feeling today?¡± Kang In-ho cautiously approached me and asked. Behind him, Jung Ha-rin was clinging to his back like a turtle shell. ¡°I¡¯m not much different from usual. It¡¯s just that everyone seems to be avoiding me today, and I¡¯m a bit curious about the reason.¡± In fact, the junior staff member I had just spoken to wasn¡¯t someone I was meeting for the first time. During the poster shoot, she had cheerfully chatted with me. Not only her but other fellow actors also seemed to be avoiding me. Even Kim Young-ho barely managed to greet me. ¨C Hello, sunbae-nim. ¨C Oh¡­ um, yeah. Something going on? ¨C What? ¨C Ah, I think the makeup team said they needed to redo your makeup. Ahem¡­ Sorry, but I¡¯ll excuse myself first. He said that and then left. I thought it was just because everyone was tired and nervous about the first shoot. But seeing these two in front of me, it didn¡¯t seem to be the case. Kang In-ho quickly waved his hands in denial of my words. His expression was clearly flustered. ¡°No, no, there¡¯s no reason for us to avoid you, Woo-ju ssi. It¡¯s just that, well¡­ the atmosphere feels sharper than usual.¡± ¡°Sharper?¡± ¡°No, no! Not a lot. Just a tiny bit?¡± ¡°¡­¡­¡± Even if I hadn¡¯t studied people¡¯s expressions for acting, I could easily tell that Kang In-ho¡¯s words were a lie. Even though I stayed up all night, I didn¡¯t think I was much different from usual. What had changed? The answer came from Jung Ha-rin. ¡°You, you really seem like Kang Joo-heon!¡± ¡°Huh?¡± I couldn¡¯t understand what she meant for a moment, so I asked again, and Jung Ha-rin flinched noticeably and hid behind Kang In-ho again. Then she barely stuck her head out (still avoiding eye contact) and continued speaking with difficulty. ¡°I mean¡­ even before, you felt like Kang Joo-heon had stepped out of the script, but today, you really, really seem like him!¡± ¡°In what specific way?¡± ¡°Uhm, it¡¯s hard to pinpoint exactly, but your overall behavior seems subtly more detailed?¡± Hmm- After listening to Jung Ha-rin¡¯s words, I nodded slowly, thinking. It was probably the result of the training I did with Kim Eun-ha over the past few days. Even before, the overall framework was simr, but thanks to her correction of very minute details, I had taken one step closer to the ¡®real¡¯ thing. ¡®Just like this wristwatch.¡¯ I nced down at the watch I always wore. Kim Eun-ha had said before that it was at a level where even experts would find it hard to distinguish. After a brief check, I found out that the original cost of the watch was, literally, in the billions. It was so intricately made that it was a brand that people wouldn¡¯t even think to make replicas of. Even if it was a knockoff, it would still be extremely expensive. I wondered who the old man at the watch shop was, who gave me such an item for free. When I learned the truth and went back to find him, the shop had already disappeared. Despite its 50-year history, it vanished without a trace. ¡°¡­Woo-ju ssi?¡± ¡°Oh, my apologies.¡± I finally snapped out of my thoughts at Jung Ha-rin¡¯s cautious voice. What was important now wasn¡¯t the watch but the shoot in front of me. Of course, I couldn¡¯t exin the series of events I experienced over the past few days, so I had toe up with a reasonable excuse. ¡°I stayed up all night memorizing the script, so I might be a bit sharper than usual. I didn¡¯t realize it was noticeable enough for others to see.¡± ¡°I¡¯m sorry!! Actually, when I saw you at the poster shoot, I got so inspired that I added a lot to the script. You must not have been able to memorize everything, so we¡¯ll disy the script for you¡­¡± ¡°I memorized it all.¡± ¡°What? Oh, the first scene? As expected, you¡¯re amazing¡­¡± I shook my head quietly at Jung Ha-rin¡¯s words. She widened her eyes and stared at me. I then ced the script I was holding on the table as if to show it off. ¡°This script.¡± ¡°You memorized all of that?¡± ¡°Yes.¡± ¡°All of it?¡± ¡°All of it.¡± I responded to their incredulous expressions with a light smile. * * * As the actual filming began, Kang Woo-ju¡¯s statement, which they half-thought was bravado, turned out to be true. ¡®¡­He really memorized all of it.¡¯ Jung Ha-rin was astounded as she watched Kang Woo-ju wlessly deliver a one-minute monologue. As she continued to watch, she realized that he had memorized not only his own lines but also those of his counterparts and the directing notes. Literally everything. ¡®Honestly, I don¡¯t even remember many of these things¡­¡¯ Though she had written the script with the assistant writers, she only remembered the general flow and had to look at the script ording to the scene numbers. But since Kang Woo-ju ced the script on the table a moment ago, he hadn¡¯t looked at it once. ¡°I¡¯m sorry, can I look at the script again for a moment¡­¡± ¡°The next line is, ¡®Are you always this unlucky?''¡± ¡°¡­Thank you.¡± The actors were equally stunned by the fact that he had memorized their lines too. In fact, they felt it even more. Despite the obvious difference in the volume of his lines, Kang Woo-ju handled it all seamlessly. ¡®Did he receive the script in advance?¡¯ Such thoughts dominated the actors¡¯ minds. During the break, when Kang Woo-ju stepped away, they looked at his script and were all shocked. ¡°¡­Wow.¡± ¡°¡­This guy is really a crazy.¡± ¡°¡­Right. I thought I was working hard, but this makes me reflect a lot. You need to be at this level to perform like that.¡± Kang Woo-ju¡¯s script was so worn out after just a day that it was hard to believe. The entire script was marked up to the point that it was difficult to decipher what was written. Judging by the traces, he seemed to erase each line after memorizing it. Not only his memory but the level of effort was on a different scale. ¡°This¡­ this is truly motivating for an old man like me.¡± Ha ha ha¡ª Even Kim Young-ho, who hadn¡¯t made a single mistake in his lines, couldn¡¯t help butugh heartily. It was unimaginable how much effort Kang Woo-ju had put in behind the scenes. ¡°Alright, this is what it takes to get there, huh?¡± In response, Park Soo-bin¡¯s eyes lit up with determination. Having just received some unexpected help from Kang Woo-ju, her gaze became even fiercer. Not only her, but all the other fellow actors also ignited a passion they had never shown before. ¡°Yeah, let¡¯s show them what we¡¯ve got.¡± ¡°We can sleep when we¡¯re dead!¡± ¡°We may not win with money, but we won¡¯t lose in passion.¡± Oh-oh! The actors shouted their fighting spirit among themselves. From a distance, director Kang In-ho and writer Jung Ha-rin watched them and smirked at each other. ¡°He really is an amazing person in many ways. Honestly, I thought he wouldn¡¯t get along with anyone, but at this rate, even I might fall for him.¡± ¡°I can do that much too, you know?¡± ¡°Please, do.¡± ¡°¡­Just watch.¡± Kang In-ho started to burn with a slightly different kind of passion. Watching him, Jung Ha-rin let out a light-heartedugh. ****** Join our Discord ¨C Chapter 35 - Sleep Well Chapter 35 - Sleep WellChapter 35: Sleep Well The shooting continuedte into the night. Although it¡¯s typical for drama shoots to have uncertain end times, the set of was exceptionally busy. ¡®¡­Damn, I can¡¯t believe I¡¯m filming a live broadcast drama. It¡¯s unbelievable that it airs in just two weeks.¡¯ Live broadcast drama. This term is used when there¡¯s not enough production time, resulting in day-of filming that airs almost live. It usually urs when pre-production is insufficient or during times when scripts are rushed. In severe cases, they would film and edit on the day of the broadcast. This mostly happenes during thest episodes after constant dys. ¡®Starting the first shoot just two weeks ago. Thinking about it again, it¡¯s insane.¡¯ Because of this, not only the main filming team but also teams B and C were created. They were even saving time on dismantling and setting up equipment to keep filming. ¡®Considering the editing time, we need toplete at least half of the first episode by today.¡¯ Despite being in the middle of shooting, anxiety kept building up. This made Kang In-ho bite his lip. Originally, this project was nned for the next quarter, so even if there were many NGs, there would have been rtively more leeway. (TL Note: NG = No good i.e. Shot or take that is not good or worth using) Now, with the sound of the ticking clock in his ears, he felt extreme stress, raising his voice involuntarily. ¡°Hey-!!! Who¡¯s chattering in the back right now!? It¡¯s all getting picked up by the audio. Are you out of your mind!?¡± ¡°I¡¯m sorry!¡± There aren¡¯t many directors who get along well with the staff or actors on set. Actually, it¡¯s more unusual if they do. Time constantly moves forward, and modern society calctes everything strictly in terms of money. Not justbor costs. There¡¯s the expense of renting filming locations, food costs, even the electricity bill for the equipment. Everything is money, money, money! Therefore, someone has to take the lead. ¡®This industry isn¡¯t small for no reason.¡¯ There are limited slots for broadcasts. New directors and aspiring actors keeping, but the market isn¡¯trge enough to amodate them all. Hence, opportunities are rare, and even if one gets the chance to shoot, if they fail to prove themselves, they get ignored. ¡®Especially fatal for rookies.¡¯ Actors like Kim Young-ho, who have an established career, can find opportunities again even if their projects fail. It might sour their mood, but they¡¯ll bounce back. However, most of the actors in are rookies. For them, this project might be their first andst. ¡°¡­¡­¡± Swish- Kim Young-ho¡¯s gaze scanned the rookies scattered around the set. These actors didn¡¯t even have proper managers or waiting areas. Despite hiding in corners to avoid disrupting the shoot, their eyes still shone with passion. ¡®My work must not be their grave.¡¯ Instead of a stumbling block, He must be a stepping stone. He had to exert all his abilities. That¡¯s why Kang In-ho raised his voice again today. The director¡¯s role is to draw out all the potential, even the ones they themselves aren¡¯t aware of. ¡°From the top!¡± ¡°With a slightly brighter expression.¡± ¡°Come here for a moment and see for yourself. Do you see how tired you look here?¡± As the shoot dragged on, everyone became fatigued. Naturally, their concentration waned, but this was when the director needed to be most alert. ¡®¡­Still, for a first shoot, things are going quite smoothly?¡¯ Despite the hectic situation, Kang In-ho realized that the filming was progressing much more smoothly than usual. Typically, rookies make frequent mistakes as they struggle to adapt to the fast-moving cameras. The script had been changed hastily, so it was natural that the number of NGs increased. It also meant there were more corrections to be made, so he thought at least one or two people would feel discouraged. ¡°I¡¯m sorry!¡± ¡°I can do better!¡± ¡°Please, let me try again!¡± Strangely, not a single person seemed down today. Some even bit their lips with dissatisfied expressions, despite receiving the OK sign. ¡°Um¡­ Director. I know it¡¯s shameless for a rookie to say this, but could we please, just once more, shoot this scene again?¡± ¡°Why? You did well enough just now.¡± ¡°If you look here¡­ This scene! I think my expression was a bit off.¡± ¡°Hmm¡­ Alright, let¡¯s do it again.¡± ¡°Thank you!¡± Park Soo-bin bowed deeply. She wasn¡¯t the only one. Others were simrly enthusiastic. Rather than needing to push them, he almost had to tell them it was enough. ¡®¡­What¡¯s going on?¡¯ Even for Kang In-ho, who had worked with various rookies on many shoots, it was a sight he found hard to understand. He wondered what the reason could be. ¡°Secretary Kim. Do you know what I absolutely cannot stand?¡± The moment he heard Kang Woo-ju¡¯s voice, he realized the reason. The intensity in his voice was the cause of everything, even through the screen. All the distracting thoughts vanished from his mind, and Kang In-ho stared at the monitor as if entranced. ¡°¡­I¡¯m sorry.¡± ¡°Don¡¯t apologize, just answer.¡± ¡°¡­I don¡¯t know.¡± ¡°It¡¯s simple. Touching my belongings without permission. Someone broke my toy while I was away for a while.¡± Kang Joo-heon, adjusting his tie, asked this question. His gaze remained fixed on the mirror, and his voice carried no warmth. Secretary Kim shivered. This reaction was scripted, but the actor¡¯s performance made it seem real. ¡°¡­I will handle it cleanly.¡± ¡°You¡¯ve already set up a private office, haven¡¯t you?¡± ¡°With all due respect, I don¡¯t think she has the personality to be awyer. If you contact the prosecution, they will make arrangements for her toe back.¡± ¡°No need. She¡¯s not that stupid. If we act now, she¡¯ll definitely notice, so for now, we¡¯ll observe and ren.¡± ¡°Yes, sir.¡± Secretary Kim bowed deeply. But Kang Joo-heon still didn¡¯t look at him. He waspletely focused on perfecting the creases in his clothes as he looked into the mirror. Familiar with this sight, Secretary Kim straightened up. Then he bowed lightly and greeted him. ¡°I will take my leave now.¡± ¡°Oh, Secretary Kim.¡± Just as Secretary Kim turned to leave the room, Kang Joo-heon spoke in a calm voice. ¡°You¡¯re fired as of today.¡± ¡°¡­What?¡± ¡°Why do you think I put you in that position with such high pay? I clearly told you to watch her closely.¡± ¡°But this matter was under the Chairman¡¯s¡­¡± ¡°That¡¯s why you¡¯re failing.¡± Kang Joo-heon cut him off firmly. Only then did he turn his gaze to Secretary Kim. Despite informing someone he had worked with for years of his termination, his eyes showed no hint of remorse. ¡°You should have prioritized my orders, regardless of the other party. If you keep a dog to guard the house, what should you do if it wags its tail at a thief?¡± ¡°C-CEO! I¡¯m sorry! From next time¡­¡± ¡°Next time.¡± Secretary Kim, more than anyone, understood what it meant to be fired by Kang Joo-heon. Although he knelt and pleaded desperately, Kang Joo-heonpletely ignored him and turned his gaze back to the mirror. ¡°Why should I?¡± ck-! Suddenly, the door opened, and severalrge men in suits entered the room. They immediately bowed to Kang Joo-heon. ¡°You called for us, CEO.¡± ¡°Lee Ji-han. From now on, you are the executive secretary. I trust you know what your first task is. Do not disappoint me.¡± ¡°Yes, sir.¡± ¡°CEO! CEO! Please¡­! Mmph-!¡± Lee Ji-han, newly appointed as the executive secretary, dragged Secretary Kim out of the room with the other office staff. It wasn¡¯t until long after that Kang Joo-heon, who had been adjusting his tie the whole time, finally spoke. ¡°Tsk. No matter what, it¡¯s never satisfactory.¡± Kang Joo-heon eventually untied his tie and tossed it into the nearby trash can. Simultaneously, the filming set fell into a tense silence. ¡°¡­Director!¡± ¡°Oh, okay! Cut!¡± Kang In-ho, who had been so absorbed he didn¡¯t realize the scene had ended, finally came to his senses thanks to the assistant director next to him. There was no need to watch it again. He was confident that everyone would bepletely immersed even without additional editing. ¡®No wonder the rookies are all working so hard.¡¯ Now he realized it wasn¡¯t about practicing to do better, but more about trying to survive. It was like throwing a catfish among minnows. Kang Woo-ju, who didn¡¯t seem like a rookie at all. Any subpar performance in front of him would get devoured. ¡°Good, just like this¡­¡± ¡°Director.¡± ¡°Yes? Huh? ¡­Oh.¡± Startled by Kang Woo-ju¡¯s sudden call, Kang In-ho inadvertently used honorifics. While he was confused, Kang Woo-ju stepped closer. The [Kang Joo-heon] he had just seen ovepped with the current Kang Woo-ju, and the surrounding staff naturally moved aside to make way for him. As if it was only natural, Kang Woo-ju walked over and pointed at the camera that Kang In-ho had been watching, then slowly spoke. ¡°Can we shoot it again?¡± ¡°Huh? What? Why? Why?¡± ¡°I didn¡¯t like my performance just now. Especially in the scene where Secretary Kim is being dragged out, I couldn¡¯t help but nce at him.¡± ¡°I don¡¯t see that¡ª.¡± ¡°Please.¡± ¡°¡­Alright.¡± Unconsciously nodding his head at Kang Woo-ju¡¯s rare request, Kang In-ho gave permission. As soon as he received the permission, Kang Woo-ju confidently returned to his position, contrasting sharply with the pale-faced Secretary Kim being dragged away. ¡®Director, are we really shooting again!?¡¯ ¡®¡­Yes, it¡¯se to that.¡¯ ¡®I¡¯ll really die at this rate!¡¯ ¡®It¡¯s okay. People don¡¯t die that easily.¡¯ ¡®Director!¡¯ The two exchanged a brief nce. Kang In-ho pretended to look at the screen, subtly avoiding the eyes of the actor ying Secretary Kim. . . . ¡°Good work, everyone!¡± ¡°Wow! Good job, everyone!¡± With all the filming finally wrapped up, the staff and actors shouted, squeezing out everyst bit of energy they had left. It was a sessful first shoot, but everyone was so exhausted that they didn¡¯t even have the strength to p. Originally, a simple get-together was nned, but the unexpectedly intense performances of the actors extended the shoot, so it was temporarily postponed. ¡°Good work, Director.¡± Kang Woo-ju, who usually left without a word, surprisingly greeted first. Remembering his chilling performance earlier, Kang In-ho felt a shiver inside but tried not to show it. ¡°Actor Kang Woo-ju worked the hardest.¡± This wasn¡¯t just a polite remark. Kang Woo-ju already had a lot of screen time, and with Jung Ha-rin drastically revising the script, his share in the first episode surpassed even the main character¡¯s. Even after more than ten hours of filming, Kang Woo-ju didn¡¯t show a hint of fatigue, which was astonishing. ¡°You¡¯re too kind. I¡¯ll head home first.¡± ¡°Sure. Take care.¡± It wasmon for Kang Woo-ju to leave immediately after filming ended, so Kang In-ho didn¡¯t find anything unusual about it. * * * Pffft-! Kim Eun-ha suddenly burst intoughter. Startled by her own reaction, she quickly looked around to check if anyone was nearby. After confirming that the office was empty, she leaned back in her chair, relieved. Her gaze returned to her phone. Kang Woo-ju: I got home now. A text that felt so desperate it could be mistaken for a dying message if someone else saw it. He must have sent it before falling asleep, just to let her know and ease her worries, likest time. ¡°Honestly¡­¡± Noticing this, she hesitated for a long time about whether to reply or not. Finally, she began typing a response very carefully. Typing, then erasing. Typing again, then erasing again. After much struggle, she finally sent a single sentence. ¨C You worked hard. Sleep well. After pressing the send button, a gentle smile spread across Kim Eun-ha¡¯s face. ****** T/N: Hi, I have created a Patreon with advanced chapters, so if you wish to support me and read them, please feel free to do so. Patreon Link ¨C Join our Discord ¨C Chapter 36 - Shouldnt there be a reward for a job well done? Chapter 36: Shouldn¡¯t there be a reward for a job well done? Keueuung- When I woke up, my whole body screamed in protest. Just how long had I slept? My body was so stiff that even stretching felt exhausting. I had stayed up several nights memorizing lines to deal with Park Ji-hoon, and then filmed for over ten hours. It¡¯s a wonder I managed to endure it all. ¡°Let¡¯s take a shower first.¡± I don¡¯t remember washing up before falling asleep. No, I didn¡¯t even take off my clothes and justy on the sofa. It¡¯s a shame to have left sweat-stained makeup on an expensive sofa, but I didn¡¯t have the luxury to think about that at the time. ¡°¡­Huh?¡± As I tried to get up, I felt something strange in my hand. It turned out to be a nket draped over my waist. When did I get this? I had never seen such a nket before. Maybe because I hadn¡¯t fully booted up yet, my brain couldn¡¯te up with a clear answer. I stared at it with half-closed eyes for a while before a sudden thought struck me like lightning. If I didn¡¯t bring it in my sleep, someone must have covered me with it. How many people have ess to this house anyway? ¡°Could it be Eun-ha ssi¡­¡± With that thought, I quickly regained my senses. I looked around the house like a meerkat, but there was no sign of anyone. Then I noticed a yellow post-it note stuck to the small table in front of the sofa. I got up quickly and checked the content. ¡ºSince you seemed very tired, I didn¡¯t wake you and just covered you with a nket. I¡¯ve prepared some food that¡¯s easy on your stomach, so please heat it up and eat it.¡» The moment I saw the neatly written letters, a wave of relief washed over me. ¡°¡­The housekeeper must have been here.¡± She regrly visits to prepare side dishes and clean up. She¡¯s like a caretaker. She knows a bit about the rtionship between Kim Eun-ha and me. She¡¯s usually very aloof, so we just exchange brief greetings when we meet. When I was out, she would often leave post-it notes like this, so I was quite familiar with her handwriting. ¡°How long did I sleep anyway?¡± I didn¡¯t even hear the sound of the front door password being entered, which means I slept very deeply. Did I sleep for a whole day and night? I hurriedly searched for my phone and checked the date and time on the main screen. ¡°¡­It wasn¡¯t just one day.¡± The drama shoot was on the 5th, but my phone now showed the date as the 7th. I had slept on the sofa and lost an entire day. Even though the shoot went on until dawn, I had been asleep for almost 24 hours. ¡°My body isn¡¯t what it used to be.¡± In my early twenties, I could stay up all night and wake up fine after just 8 hours of sleep. How did I change so much after just a few years? Sigh- I let out a small sigh and fiddled with my phone. In just one day, I had a ton of missed calls and messages. The first thing I checked, of course, was the message from Kim Eun-ha, which I had pinned to the top. Boss: Woo-ju ssi. Boss: Kim Eun-ha has transferred 1,000,000 won. Boss: What? Are you really sleeping? Boss: Call me when you wake up. Hehe- I couldn¡¯t help butugh at Kim Eun-ha¡¯s message. Sometimes she can be really cute. It seemed she wanted to check if I was deliberately ignoring her messages. Even without the money, I always check my boss¡¯s messages first. ¡°¡­Huh?¡± Haha- I was momentarily taken aback to find the transfer message was real, but then I couldn¡¯t help but burst intoughter, thinking it was just like her. Me: I¡¯m back home now. Boss: Good job. Sleep well. As I sent the message, I found the text I sent yesterday and Kim Eun-ha¡¯s first reply. If you nce at it, her message might seem very formal and mundane, but that¡¯s only if you don¡¯t know Kim Eun-ha. Normally, her reply would have ended with ¡°Good job.¡± The sentence that followed. Only three characters long, but why does that short sentence stick in my mind so much? I couldn¡¯t understand it. Boss: ? While I was organizing my thoughts, a new message suddenly appeared. Startled, I quickly scrolled down. Boss: Why are you ignoring my message? Me: It¡¯s a misunderstanding. Boss: What misunderstanding? Me: I just woke up, checked my messages, and was about to reply. But our timing is impable! Boss: (ring emoji) Fortunately, it seemed like Kim Eun-ha was letting it go without further questioning. She probably heard about my situation from the housekeeperst night. Boss: If you¡¯re awake, get ready to go out. I¡¯ll finish what I¡¯m doing and head over there. Me: Why? Even though I wasn¡¯t particrly tired after sleeping for a whole day, I instinctively questioned her because I wanted toze around at home for today. Boss: There¡¯s a ce we need to go. Me: Do I have to go too? Boss: You don¡¯t want to? In a familiar situation, PTSD suddenly struck me. I could almost hear the drill instructor¡¯s voice saying, ¡°You¡¯re not going to it? Do you want to get dragged here?¡± Of course, unlike the army, this was half a choice I made, but I¡¯m only human and sometimes want to rest for a day. Me: What time should I be ready by? However, my superior frontal lobe managed to block suchzy thoughts. My brain, tainted by a lifetime of social experiences, identified the current situation as a ¡°crisis.¡± It gave the correct answer almost automatically. Boss: It will take me about two hours to finish work and get there. Allow for a 30-minute margin of error, so be ready. Me: ¡Ï(¡®-¡®*) I thought about lying down for just five more minutes, but I quickly shook my head to clear my mind. I got up immediately, stretched, and headed to the bathroom to take a shower. I didn¡¯t know what would happen, but from past experience, when Kim Eun-ha gave such notifications, it usually wasn¡¯t an urgent matter. If it were as serious as the situation with Park Ji-hoon, Kim Eun-ha would have been right in front of me when I woke up. It seemed I could afford to rx a bit. ¡°¡­What¡¯s going to happen today?¡± Saaaa- But since there are no absolutes, I pondered again under the stream of water pouring over my head. * ¡°You arrived right on time.¡± ¡°Got a problem with that?¡± ¡°Water too¡­ Never mind.¡± I was about to make a joke, but I stopped because even I thought it was inappropriate. Seeing Kim Eun-ha¡¯s momentary look of disdain, it seemed like a very wise decision. ¡°Come on out. We need to leave right away.¡± ¡°You must be tired. How about a drink before we go?¡± ¡°We¡¯ll bete.¡± Whatever was so urgent, Kim Eun-ha quickly grabbed my hand and pulled me outside. Feeling the soft touch of her skin against mine, I decided to go along with it. Since it didn¡¯t feel right to make her drive again after she rushed all the way here, I quickly took the car keys. ¡°Where to?¡± ¡°Just follow the navigation.¡± Unfortunately, the navigation only showed an address, so I couldn¡¯t tell where the destination was. All I knew was that it was somewhere on the outskirts of Seoul. Since she wouldn¡¯t answer even if I asked, I silently started the engine and pressed the elerator. ¡°Did the shoot go well?¡± ¡°Yes, thanks to you.¡± Since the destination was farther than expected, we had some small talk. Most of our conversation was about the past two days, including the day of the shoot and the day I slept through. ¡°What do you mean I did a lot?¡± ¡°You did a lot. When I went to the set, people were really surprised. Especially writer Jung Ha-rin, who said I seemed more realistic.¡± ¡°Huh? What do you mean by that?¡± ¡°You made me memorized the script meticulously to deal with Park Ji-hoon. You also corrected all my detailed mannerisms over the past few days. Thanks to you, my immersion in [Kang Joo-heon] improved.¡± Aha- Kim Eun-ha nodded with a short exmation, continuing the conversation as if something resonated with her. ¡°Indeed. The atmosphere did seem to change subtly. I couldn¡¯t exin it precisely, but now I understand.¡± ¡°I don¡¯t really know myself.¡± ¡°It¡¯s hard for the person to notice.¡± ¡°Speaking of which, Eun-ha ssi, you¡¯ve changed a lotpared to when we first met. Did you know that?¡± ¡°Me?¡± ¡°Yes.¡± Kim Eun-ha tilted her head as if asking what I meant. I exined with a yful smile. ¡°Honestly, at first, you seemed like a narcissistic, extremely selfish third-generation chaebol, and a sociopath, just like in dramas. But now, you¡¯re different.¡± ¡°¡­You are so casually say some incredible things. I do acknowledge some of it, but anyway, what¡¯s different?¡± ¡°You¡¯ve be cute.¡± ¡°¡­?¡± Whoosh- I felt an intense gaze from the passenger seat. It was so hot it felt like it could fry an egg. Thankfully, I was driving and kept my eyes on the road. If I had looked directly at her, my heart might have stopped. ¡°What did you just say?¡± ¡°Nothing.¡± ¡°You said I became cute?¡± ¡°I misspoke. Seeing your gaze now, oh wow, you¡¯re sharper than when we first met.¡± ¡°¡­Oh, that mouth of yours.¡± Kim Eun-ha shook her head, as if she couldn¡¯t believe it. Finally, the suffocating air lifted a bit. Though I¡¯ve be more rxedtely, I mustn¡¯t forget that she could erase me from this world anytime she wanted. ¡®¡­This isn¡¯t baseball.¡¯ Life isn¡¯t like baseball, where you get three strikes. Life is real. You only have one life. Let¡¯s think about Kang Joo-heon, the character I yed the other day. How coldly he disposed of Secretary Kim after working together for years. I didn¡¯t see it firsthand, but remembering my first impression of Kim Eun-ha, she probably has that cold side sleeping within her as well. ¡°¡­¡± Grip- With that thought, I tightened my grip on the steering wheel. I kept silent and drove toward the destination. Kim Eun-ha also kept quiet, and we drove in heavy silence. ¨C You have arrived at your destination. The mechanical voice of the navigation broke the heavy silence. I never found the tactless machine so wee. ¡°Eun-ha ssi. Why are we here?¡± ¡°Get out first.¡± ¡°¡­¡± Following her order, I got out of the car and obediently followed her. We arrived at a car showroom. A vast lot filled with sports cars, sedans, and various expensive cars. ¡°Choose one.¡± ¡°What?¡± ¡°If you did a good job, you should get a proper reward, right?¡± ¡°¡­¡± Her smile was more mischievous than usual. Looking at her, I was at a loss for words. ***** ?? Join our Discord ¨C Chapter 37 - Parents Chapter 37: Parents ¡°If you did a good job, you should get a proper reward, right?¡± ¡°Reward?¡± ¡°Even though the time was quite tight, you did an excellent job with the task I entrusted to you this time. The reaction from that side was quite heated.¡± Hehe- Kim Eun-ha let out a satisfiedugh. It was probably something rted to Park Ji-hoon. Of course, I don¡¯t think either Baek Do-young or Park Ji-hoon would give up just because of this, but for the time being, it might be okay to not worry about it. ¡®¡­Whatever the reason, that¡¯s not the problem right now.¡¯ The thing I need to focus on right now is that Kim Eun-ha is trying to buy me a car. I had only heard rumors about the existence of such a luxury showroom. It was the first time I saw it in person, and it was truly overwhelming. ¡®¡­As expected, it¡¯s probably for VVIPs only.¡¯ It was located in a much more secluded ce than I thought. Apart from Kim Eun-ha, the staff, and me, there was no one else around. In other words, it means that Kim Eun-ha rented this entire ce to give me a car. ¡®Or it¡¯s a ce that only opens upon request.¡¯ Anyone could see that this was not a ce just anyone coulde to. I never imagined I would experience a private motor show just for me. ¡°Even though it was a short time, you showed more than I expected. I was thinking about what an appropriate gift would be, and the moment I saw the car you were driving, I thought ¡®this is it!¡¯¡± ¡°¡­The car you lent me is already good enough, though.¡± I was a driver in the military, and after that, I worked as a chauffeur, driving other people¡¯s cars my whole life. Of course, the car I drive now is ultimately Kim Eun-ha¡¯s, but ever since we signed the contract, she hasn¡¯t sat in the driver¡¯s seat even once. I was sure she would never ask for the car keys back. Thanks to that, I treated it as if it were half mine, taking great care of it. ¡°But it¡¯s still just borrowed, right?¡± ¡°What?¡± ¡°This one will be under your name. Of course, any taxes or legal issues rted to it will be handled cleanly without any trouble.¡± ¡°¡­¡­¡± I¡¯m going to own a car. I could hardly believe it. Of course, before signing the contract with Kim Eun-ha, I had vowed to have my own car someday. That dream had grown more distant as my days as an unknown actor dragged on and my father fell ill. Nevertheless, my desire for my own car remained strong. ¡®¡­They have almost all the famous cars.¡¯ Not only domestic cars but also well-known brands like Porsche, Audi, and Lamborghini were there, as expected. The variety was extensive, ranging frompact cars to camping cars, and even including an 8-ton truck. It was the epitome of ¡®I didn¡¯t know what you¡¯d like, so I prepared everything¡¯. ¡°Since I didn¡¯t know your taste, I asked them to prepare as many options as possible.¡± ¡°Isn¡¯t a car a bit too much, though?¡± ¡°Haha, take your time and look around.¡± Grin- Seeing me bewildered by the extravagant gift, Kim Eun-ha lifted the corners of her mouth in a smile. I always thought she was pretty, but today she looked especially beautiful. I nodded obediently and started to walk. ¡°Oh, they have this car too?¡± No matter how many cars I looked at, I never got tired of them. Each brand and series had its unique characteristics, and the ride quality varied greatly. The cars that were publicly recognized certainly lived up to their reputations, but there were also many good models among the lesser-known ones. ¡°Shall I exin in detail?¡± ¡°Yes, please.¡± Moreover, staff members were waiting in each area, ready to give detailed exnations whenever I had questions or encountered something I didn¡¯t know. Thinking that one of these cars might be mine made it enjoyable just to listen. Meanwhile, Kim Eun-ha stayed by my side. She asked questions, showing genuine interest. ¡°I used to think cars were just convenient means of transportation, so I didn¡¯t pay much attention to them. But seeing them like this today, there are quite a few nice ones. The designs are pretty too.¡± ¡°Right? Each one has its own charm.¡± ¡°What kind of car do you think would suit me?¡± ¡°If I were to rmend one, excluding the professional aspects, I¡¯d say this one. It has a sophisticated feel but is a line that¡¯s hard for younger people to buy.¡± ¡°Hmmm. It¡¯s really pretty, just like you said.¡± Kim Eun-ha nodded as she listened, and I, feeling even more excited, wandered around with her, checking out almost every car. There were so many cars that even though I started skipping some, it took much longer than expected. There was no time limit, but I could see that Kim Eun-ha was getting a bit tired. It seemed like it was time to say goodbye to these cars. ¡®Choosing just one from all these¡­¡¯ Tears welled up momentarily. But thinking again, having just one of these means holding a dream car that many people long for all their lives. That thought made me smile continuously. ¡°Are you that happy?¡± ¡°Of course. It¡¯s a dream I¡¯ve always had.¡± ¡°You turned down the billboard before, though?¡± ¡°That and this feel different. Like you said, this isn¡¯t something just given to me; it¡¯s a result of my efforts.¡± Of course, Kim Eun-ha is gifting it to me, but I earned it by doing a good job acting as her boyfriend, so I had no intention of turning it down. Besides, both Kim Eun-ha and I were making light, jokingments without any serious meaning. ¡°Let¡¯s push through a little more. Once we check over there, I think we¡¯ll have seen everything.¡± ¡°You can take another round if you want.¡± ¡°Then I won¡¯t hold back¡­¡± ¡°As much as you like.¡± Grin- It was the same smile as before, but this time it somehow felt cold. I returned her smile but shook my head. ¡°I¡¯ve already lined up the choices in my mind. But out of respect for those who prepared this, I¡¯ll just quickly check over there and then decide.¡± ¡°Please do.¡± Kim Eun-ha nodded lightly. Together, we walked to thest section of the showroom. I intended to just skim through quickly. ¡°¡­Huh?¡± There was something totally unexpected there. As we stopped, a staff member quickly came over, but I raised my hand to stop him. There was no need for an exnation for this car. I had heard about it so much before that I could recite its specs like a script. ¡°Do you like this car?¡± ¡°No. Of course, it¡¯s a great car, but it¡¯s not really to my taste. There are better cars here.¡± That¡¯s probably why it was in a corner farthest from the showroom entrance. I hadn¡¯t paid any attention to it until I saw it with my own eyes. But once I saw it, my thoughts halted as if enchanted. Ferrari, Volkswagen, Audi¡ªevery car I had considered in my mind faded away as if they were lies. ¡°¡­Woo-ju ssi?¡± ¡°Oh, sorry.¡± Lost in thought for a while, I snapped out of it at Kim Eun-ha¡¯s concerned voice. I soon made up my mind and turned to her. ¡°I¡¯ll go with this one.¡± Without any regret, Or hesitation, In the firmest voice. * ¡°Honey, how are you feeling today?¡± ¡°Much better. I can put quite a bit of strength in my right hand now. Soon, I might be able to peel fruits myself.¡± ¡°Don¡¯t overdo it.¡± ¡°No, I need to push myself to get better.¡± Kang Woo-ju¡¯s father. Kang Nam-woo looked around the spacious hospital room, nodding to himself. It had a private bathroom, a table for visitors, and even a bed for a caregiver. He had been staying in this VVIP room, which was better than most homes, for over a month now. Even the person who came to check on his health regrly was the hospital director himself. ¡®I can¡¯t even guess how much the hospital bill is per day.¡¯ In the past, he had been hospitalized a few times for minor reasons, but the medical bills were always so expensive that he resented his sick body. Even with insurance covering a six-person room, the cost was enough to make his hands tremble. He couldn¡¯t imagine how much a ce like this would cost. ¡®Thanks to it, my body has improved incredibly, but¡­¡¯ At the previous hospital, getting the results of an MRI would take a whole day, but here, the analysis came out right after the scan. Moreover, a doctor, whom the hospital director introduced as the best in the country for cerebrovascr diseases, had scheduled an emergency surgery. ¨C You were lucky. If you hade anyter, we wouldn¡¯t have even considered a second surgery. Once the surgery is over, you should be able to return to normal life. ¨C Oh, thank you, doctor. Thank you so much! ¨C Haha¡­ No need to thank me. You should thank your son. He even sent a private jet to bring me back from my vacation in the U.S. ¨C Huh? What do you mean by that¡­ ¨C Ah, just pretend you didn¡¯t hear that. No matter how much Kang Nam-woo asked, the doctor wouldn¡¯t say any more, but it was clear that his son was involved in something extraordinary. His son called regrly, and sometimes he heard from hometown friends that his son had be incredibly famous. But still, wasn¡¯t he a rookie actor without a single notable work? This sudden change was hard to believe. ¡®I don¡¯t think he would do anything bad, but¡­¡¯ He had been a kind-hearted child since birth. He took on the role of the family head in ce of his sick father, supporting not only his parents but also his younger sibling. However, the situation was so unrealistic that it was hard not to be suspicious. At first, he even wondered if he was hallucinating because of the brain hemorrhage. ¨C The story your son submitted has been selected. Of course, the men in ck suits who brought him here had exined some usible event. But Kang Nam-woo wasn¡¯t naive enough to believe it outright. ¡®It would be nice if he could at least show his face.¡¯ Since his son became an adult and moved out, they saw each other maybe once or twice a year. Since he fell ill, the chances to see him had decreased even more. Even now, just before the surgery, he had only heard his son¡¯s voice over the phone. ¨C I can¡¯t guarantee 100%, but¡­ The doctor¡¯s words shed through his mind. He said it had been left unattended for too long to be certain. It was a miracle that he was still mentally sound. ¡®¡­This might be thest time.¡¯ With that thought, Kang Nam-woo reached for the phone beside him. His wife, noticing, handed him the smartphone and asked, ¡°What are you trying to do?¡± ¡°I¡¯m just going to call our son.¡± ¡°¡­What!? You!?¡± ¡°Is it so surprising for a father to call his son?¡± ¡°You¡¯ve never done it in your life.¡± ¡°¡­¡­¡± She was right. He had rarely called his son first in his entire life. Even then, most of the conversations were formal. He had no right to call now, but despite that, Kang Nam-woo mustered up the courage and pressed the number 2. Or rather, he was about to when¡ª Knock, knock! Someone knocked on the hospital room door. He was momentarily frustrated by the timing, but his wife quickly stood up and raised her voice. ¡°Come in!¡± Creak! The door opened immediately, and someone entered the hospital room. A man impably dressed in a suit from head to toe. Even at a nce, his aura was different from the people they had seen before. Yet, somehow, his face looked familiar. ¡°¡­Huh?¡± His wife seemed to have a simr reaction, her mouth agape, struggling to find words. As the two stood there bewildered, the familiar-faced man spoke with a slightly awkward smile. ¡°It¡¯s been a while. Mother, and¡­¡± As he turned his head, and their eyes locked. Familiar yet unfamiliar. His eyes, filled with determination, were distinctly different from thest time I saw them. ¡°Father.¡± The voice was unmistakably familiar. However, seeing his son¡¯s drastically changed appearance, Kang Nam-woo couldn¡¯t easily speak. ¡°¡­¡­¡± ¡°¡­¡­¡± An awkward silence filled the hospital room. In the increasingly stifling atmosphere, it was none other than Kang Woo-ju who broke the silence. ¡°Shall we go for a family drive?¡± Dangling from Kang Woo-ju¡¯s upraised right hand was a car key he had never seen before. ***** ?? Join our Discord ¨C Chapter 38 - Youre Making a Promise to Me Chapter 38: You¡¯re Making a Promise to Me ¡°A drive?¡± ¡°Yes. I already got confirmation from the doctor. He said a simple outing without being exposed to the cold wind should be fine.¡± ¡°Son, no matter how safe it might be, isn¡¯t it a bit risky to go outside? My surgery is just around the corner¡­ And we haven¡¯t seen each other for almost a year. We should at least talk a bit. I might forget your face.¡± His mother, ¡®Kim Ji-hye¡¯, who had stood up abruptly upon seeing her son, patted Kang Woo-ju¡¯s shoulder. She carefully scrutinized his face, sensing that his aura had distinctly changed since before. ¡°I¡¯m sorry, I¡¯ve been busy with work.¡± ¡°You have nothing to apologize for. First, sit down! Have you eaten? Should I peel an apple for you?¡± However, Kim Ji-hye tried not to show her feelings. Regardless of how his appearance had changed, the fact that he was her proud son remained unchanged. ¡°Yes, please.¡± Kang Woo-ju did not refuse his mother¡¯s offer. In fact, it wasn¡¯t the right atmosphere to eat something, but he understood that she needed a role to y. It wasn¡¯t just about peeling an apple; he knew it was her way of wanting to do something, anything, for her son. ¡°Wait just a moment!¡± With a gentle smile on her face, Kim Ji-hye began to peel the apple neatly, which was conveniently nearby. The people who had brought them here regrly supplied fresh fruit and beverages, so there was no problem preparing it. ¡°¡¤¡¤¡¤¡¤¡¤¡¤.¡± ¡°¡¤¡¤¡¤¡¤¡¤¡¤.¡± The father and son, facing each other, were silent for a while. They were not close enough to have affectionate conversations in the first ce. Kang Woo-ju, abandoning his usual demeanor, simply didn¡¯t know what to say. Even though he had prepared numerous scripts and scenarios beforeing here, none of them came to mind. ¡°You¡¯ve changed a lot.¡± ¡°Have I?¡± ¡°Yes. I can hardly recognize you.¡± ¡°¡¤¡¤¡¤¡¤¡¤¡¤.¡± Though his memory was a bit hazy, he had indeed changed a lotpared to thest image he showed them. After working several nights without rest, he had barely managed to visit upon hearing his mother was ill. He had shown up in old sweats, unshaven and disheveled. So, it was natural that the neat suit he wore now gave off a different impression. ¡°That¡¯s truly fortunate.¡± ¡°¡¤¡¤¡¤What?¡± His father, Kang Nam-woo, wearing a gentle smile he had never seen before, spoke words that confused even the usually unshakable Kang Woo-ju. Ha-ha- Kang Nam-woo chuckled heartily, amused by his son¡¯s reaction, and added an exnation. ¡°To be honest, I was worried you might have gotten involved in something bad. It¡¯s not easy for people like us to amass a lot of money quickly.¡± ¡°¡¤¡¤¡¤¡¤¡¤¡¤.¡± ¡°But now, looking into your eyes, I can see. Though your exterior has changed so much I can hardly recognize my son, the inside remains the same. You¡¯re still our eldest son.¡± Although Kang Nam-woo¡¯s body had weakened from his long hospital stay, his eyes shone sharper than ever. Facing that gaze, Kang Woo-ju couldn¡¯t help but feel a bit taken aback, though he didn¡¯t show it outwardly. ¡°¡­As expected, I can¡¯t fool my father.¡± Sigh- Kang Woo-ju sighed deeply, releasing the tension in his shoulders. That alone softened the previously rigid atmosphere. Following Kim Eun-ha¡¯s request, he had tried to act in front of his family as well, but deceiving his parents was indeed not easy. ¡°Not in ten years.¡± ¡°Will it be possible in twenty years?¡± ¡°Well, by then, you might stand a chance.¡± ¡°Then you have to stay alive for a long time.¡± ¡°¡¤¡¤¡¤Yes. I should.¡± Kang Nam-woo had a faintly bitter smile on his lips. He wanted to ask how such a miraculous thing had happened, but his lips refused to part. ¡°Son, did you win the lottery or something?¡± Cough-! The unexpectedment from Kim Ji-hye caused both father and son to gasp. But, as if she didn¡¯t notice, she ced the beautifully peeled apple on the table and gave Kang Woo-ju a warm smile. Swish- Kang Woo-ju inadvertently turned his head to avoid the gaze of his pure-hearted mother, whose face showed not a hint of malice. ¡°¡¤¡¤¡¤Well, it¡¯s something like that.¡± ¡°It seems too big a change to brush off so easily. You even sent money to help your sibling with tuitionst time.¡± ¡°Did Byul really mention that?¡± ¡°Byul may seem a bit strong on the outside, but she¡¯s a very thoughtful child. She was worried, thinking her brother might be doing something dangerous.¡± There were too many things he wanted to correct, but if even his rather coarse sibling was worried, it would be hard to gloss over. It would indeed be strange if his family, who weren¡¯t fools, didn¡¯t sense something was off. As Kang Woo-ju pondered how to exin, Kim Ji-hye took the initiative. ¡°Did you get a job at a host bar?¡± ¡°Honey!¡± ¡°Honestly, there are a lot of things that can¡¯t just be exined by winning the lottery. Our son has a good body and is handsome, so realistically, that seemed the most likely.¡± ¡°Even so¡¤¡¤¡¤.¡± Cough-! Taken aback by her relentless attack, I ended up gasping. Likewise, my father, eyes wide with suspicion, began to look at me as if to say ¡®No way.¡¯ In a hurry, I waved my hands to dispel their misunderstanding. ¡°That¡¯s absolutely not it!¡± ¡°Then what is it?¡± ¡°Well¡¤¡¤¡¤.¡± While it wasn¡¯t a host bar, pretending to be a fake lover for money wasn¡¯t exactly a socially respectable job(?), making it difficult to exin. If I tried to brush it off, it would only invite more probing and expose weaknesses. So, I made a decision and took out my phone. Then, with swift fingers, I opened the gallery. ¡°I have a girlfriend.¡± ¡°¡¤¡¤¡¤A girlfriend?¡± I showed them the couple photos I had taken with Kim Eun-ha as a precautionary measure. There were shots taken by staff at a shooting range we visited and staged photos of us with our arms around each other. ¡®Since we had agreed on this beforehand, it should be fine.¡¯ Kim Eun-ha had asked me from the beginning if I could consider marriage, so she was naturally prepared for such situations. However, it had been a long time since I had seen my parents, and my mother¡¯s straightforward fastball had caught me off guard, causing a slight dy in my response. ¡°She has a very pretty smile.¡± ¡°She¡¯s even prettier in person.¡± ¡°Oh my, for my son to say such a sweet thing¡¤¡¤¡¤. Sniff¡¤¡¤¡¤.¡± ¡°Mom!?¡± Kim Ji-hye suddenly burst into tears, catching the two men off guard. She wiped her eyes with a handkerchief before speaking again. ¡°I never heard you talk about a girlfriend with that face. Honestly, I thought you were gay. I was waiting for you to tell me first, but hearing you have a girlfriend made me cry¡¤¡¤¡¤. Sniff!¡± ¡°Oh dear, really¡­¡± In these days when many young people don¡¯t date, let alone marry, who would have thought she had such a ridiculous misunderstanding. The reason I hadn¡¯t mentioned it at all was to avoid making her feel guilty, thinking it was her fault that I didn¡¯t have time to meet women. As Kang Woo-ju felt awkward watching theedic scene unfold, his father surprisingly remained calm. Handing a tissue to Kim Ji-hye, his demeanor suggested he was used to such scenes and was not particrly concerned. ¡°So?¡± ¡°So what?¡± ¡°I¡¯m asking what the connection is between you having a girlfriend and the current situation. You¡¯ve left out the most important part.¡± ¡°¡¤¡¤¡¤¡¤¡¤¡¤.¡± Honestly, I hoped they would just let it slide. But of course, he wasn¡¯t that easy to fool. Dealing with Park Ji-hoon ten times would be easier than this. ¡°She¡¯s the granddaughter of the Mirae Group.¡± ¡°Huh?¡± ¡°You know the Mirae Department Store nearby? The CEO there¡­ She¡¯s my girlfriend. So, she has a lot of, really, a tremendous amount of money.¡± ¡°¡¤¡¤¡¤¡¤¡¤¡¤.¡± Plop- At my words, my mother¡¯s tears stopped. My father, too, was left speechless with his mouth agape. ¡°This hospital is also sponsored by the Mirae Group, so my girlfriend has been paying special attention to us. Among other things¡­ Mom!?¡± Kim Ji-hye, who had been quietly listening, suddenly slumped down on the bed. She covered her mouth with her trembling hand and said, ¡°¡¤¡¤¡¤My son is a host.¡± ¡°I told you, it¡¯s not that!¡± I couldn¡¯t remember thest time I raised my voice like this. Probably the first time since I became an adult. This was actually a sign that both Kim Ji-hye and Kang Woo-ju had be morefortable. Kim Ji-hye, who had always felt indebted to her son, couldn¡¯t make such jokes before. And Kang Woo-ju, who seldom showed his face and avoided conversations, was now more open. All these changes came about because the situation around them had drastically improved thanks to his contract with Kim Eun-ha. ¡®¡¤¡¤¡¤So this is how it looks to others.¡¯ Even amid this, Kang Woo-ju felt a pang of realization. Unlike when Park Ji-hoon mentioned it, it was clear now how abnormal their rtionship seemed. A love story crossing the social strata between an unknown actor with nothing and a chaebol with everything¡ªthis was no fairy tale. ¡®It¡¯s like those novels where the storycks usibility.¡¯ While real life often has events more unbelievable than dramas, such abination is generally hard to ept. Realizing this anew, Kang Woo-ju reignited his determination for sess. ¡®I just have to prove it.¡¯ Prove that he is someone worthy of Kim Eun-ha. That she didn¡¯t fall for him blindly, but rather discovered a gem with her keen eye. As the name ¡®Kang Woo-ju¡¯ rises in fame as an actor, her value will also skyrocket. From the start, this was a contract that could seed because their goals aligned so well. ¡°Anyway, I think you understand the situation now. Let¡¯s really go for a drive. It¡¯s been a while since we¡¯ve eaten out.¡± Feeling that any more conversation would lead to endless discussions, Kang Woo-ju quickly escorted his parents out of the hospital room. As they boarded the elevator, Kang Nam-woo spoke up. ¡°Woo-ju, I should have mentioned this earlier, but there aren¡¯t many cars I can ride in with this body¡¤¡¤¡¤.¡± Kang Nam-woo was currently in a wheelchair due to symptoms of hemiplegia. As he said, there wouldn¡¯t be many suitable vehicles. However, Kang Woo-ju gently smiled and massaged his father¡¯s shoulder, signaling not to worry. ¡°Of course I thought of that, Dad.¡± ¡°¡¤¡¤¡¤Is that so.¡± ¡°Absolutely.¡± Ding-! Whirrr- Momentster, the elevator doors opened, and the state-of-the-art electric wheelchair, which men in ck suits had brought some time ago, moved forward. When we stopped in front of the vehicle parked in the VVIP section, my father, having an inkling of the situation, began to tremble. ¡°Woo-ju, this can¡¯t be¡¤¡¤¡¤.¡± ¡°It is exactly that.¡± Kang Woo-ju carefully took his father¡¯s hand and ced the car key in it. Kang Nam-woo, unable to believe it, opened and closed his hand around the key. In front of him was a high-luxury limousine, the kind sessful celebrities usually rode. ¡°Dad, you always said it was your dream to go on trips with the family. Every time, you said you wanted this car.¡± ¡°¡¤¡¤¡¤You still remembered that?¡± Before he copsed from a stroke. Even though they weren¡¯t incredibly wealthy, they would order pizza or chicken once a week andugh together as a family. Those were the memories Kang Nam-woo had. He had told his young son and daughter that once he made enough money, he would take them and their mother on trips in a good car. The car he always mentioned was this Carnival. (T/N: Probably talking about Kia Carnival) Back then, he drove a small car that felt cramped with four people. The kids didn¡¯t really like riding in it. ¡°Seeing this car made me think of you, Dad.¡± Grin- With a yful smile on his face, Kang Woo-ju looked at his father. Seeing his son¡¯s bright expression for the first time in a long while made Kang Nam-woo feel emotional. His wife, always full of emotions, was already crying her eyes out. ¡°And I added a special feature to this car. Could you press the button at the bottom? The one with the chair symbol. Yes, that one.¡± ¡°Hmm?¡± Click- Swallowing his emotions, Kang Nam-woo obediently pressed the button as his son instructed. The door automatically opened, and a luxurious-looking chair slid out of the car and lowered to the ground. With the chairing out to greet him, it was incredibly convenient for someone in a wheelchair. Kang Nam-woo was speechless at the luxurious, even extravagant, feature. ¡°I¡¯ll take care of the driving for now. Once you have your surgery andplete your rehabilitation, then the car will be all yours.¡± ¡°¡¤¡¤¡¤¡¤¡¤¡¤.¡± Grip-! Without a word, Kang Nam-woo tightly held the key his son had given him. His hand, which usually struggled to hold chopsticks, gripped the key with surprising strength. ¡°Now, shall we take it for a test drive?¡± Kang Woo-ju raised his voice slightly, trying to lighten the slightly awkward atmosphere. As Kang Nam-woo moved to the seat with the help of his son, who willingly offered his back, he quietly said, ¡°Next time, I¡¯ll take you to a nice ce.¡± ¡°You¡¯re making a promise to me?¡± ¡°Yes, I promise.¡± The three of them got into the car and spent a joyful time together for the first time in a long while. It was like that spring day when they shared a chicken leg andughed together. ***** ?? Join our Discord ¨C Chapter 39 - Husband Chapter 39: Husband ¡°CEO-nim. You spent quite a bit of money this time. Even bought a new car. And a very stylish sports car at that.¡± ¡°If you prepare such a grand meal and only pick one dish, who would serve us side dishes next time? You already know all this, so why are you asking?¡± ¡°Originally, the CEO-nim I knew wouldn¡¯t have made such unnecessary expenditures. I was wondering if there had been a change in your mindset.¡± ¡°If we want to maintain our VVIP status, we need to meet the quota, and that level of spending doesn¡¯t even count. Secretary Yoon, are you doing this on purpose?¡± ¡°Of course not. I wouldn¡¯t dare. How could I, to the CEO-nim.¡± -Smirk Secretary Yoon deliberately interrupted his speech here and there, showing a slight smile. Watching him, Kim Eun-ha clicked her tongue in disbelief. ¡°Seriously. The one who¡¯s changed the most is you, Secretary Yoon. When did the once strictly business-like person be so cheeky?¡± ¡°Hmm, let me see. Perhaps since the CEO-nim started getting a good night¡¯s sleep? You¡¯ve be generous enough to tolerate my jokes.¡± ¡°What exactly are you trying to say?¡± ¡°CEO-nim, you like Woo-ju, don¡¯t you?¡± Cough-! Kim Eun-ha, who was drinking coffee as usual, was startled and flinched. Not wanting to spit it out in embarrassment, she forced herself to swallow and choked. Seeing Kim Eun-ha¡¯s intense reaction, Secretary Yoon smiled knowingly, like a mother. Then, Secretary Yoon handed a handkerchief to Kim Eun-ha and started speaking in a yful tone. ¡°So it was true.¡± ¡°It¡¯s absolutely not like that.¡± ¡°Really?¡± ¡°I told you, it¡¯s not.¡± ¡°Then why did you cancel all your appointments that day? You had many othermitments after visiting the exhibition, including dinner.¡± ¡°¡­It was the first time I saw that expression.¡± ¡°Huh?¡± Watching her seriously caress the teacup, Secretary Yoon momentarily lost her words. Kim Eun-ha, uncharacteristically, traced the rim of the teacup with her index finger and slowly continued. ¡°Whether it was a short or long time. But during that time, I thought I had seen almost all his expressions. But that was just arrogance.¡± ¡°¡­¡± ¡°In that brief moment, there was joy, sorrow, countless worries, and decisions. Literally, a face full of mixed emotions. I could feel how precious his parents were to him, conveyed through his whole body.¡± ¡°¡­¡± Secretary Yoon kept silent. It wasn¡¯t the right atmosphere for jokes anyway, and talking about parents was a particrly sensitive topic in front of Kim Eun-ha. As she listened quietly, Kim Eun-ha let out a bitter smile and spoke. ¡°Actually, both of my parents passed away when I was young, so I don¡¯t know exactly what that feeling is. But seeing Woo-ju¡¯s expression, I just couldn¡¯t ignore it.¡± ¡°¡­So that¡¯s what happened.¡± ¡°Yeah. Thanks to that, things got a bitplicated here, but if I hadn¡¯t let Woo-ju go at that time, it would have kept bothering me. In the long run, it¡¯s beneficial.¡± ¡°That¡¯s true. Maybe it will even be the reason Woo-ju falls for you, CEO-nim.¡± ¡°¡­!?¡± Kim Eun-ha¡¯s eyes widened for a moment. Realizing her slip, she quicklyposed herself, but Secretary Yoon didn¡¯t miss that brief moment. Seeing Kim Eun-ha slightly avert her gaze, Secretary Yoon gave a genuine smile. ¡°Hehe. Your expressions are easy to read today.¡± ¡°¡­Think whatever you want.¡± ¡°I will faithfully follow orders.¡± Zap-! Kim Eun-ha¡¯s sharp gaze, aiming urately towards her target. Secretary Yoon deflected it with a cheeky smile. ¡°By the way, looking at the current situation, it seems you haven¡¯t told Woo-ju yet why you chose him.¡± ¡°There¡¯s no need for me to say it myself. It¡¯s not like our rtionship will change because of it. Besides, he doesn¡¯t seem to remember.¡± ¡°Are you upset because he didn¡¯t recognize you?¡± ¡°Not at all. It just means he was that focused on his own work. In fact, that¡¯s why I liked him and chose him. Anyway, let¡¯s end this conversation here.¡± ¡°Yes, understood.¡± Secretary Yoon didn¡¯t press further on her firm statement. Immediately, Kim Eun-ha, who had returned to her usual serious expression, carefully began to speak. ¡°But CEO-nim, the movements of the Daehan Group recently are unusual. Park Ji-hoon hasn¡¯t returned to Germany and is still staying here.¡± ¡°Ha, what¡¯s he up to now?¡± Kim Eun-ha held her forehead as if she had a headache at Secretary Yoon¡¯s report. Just thinking about Park Ji-hoon¡¯s face made her frown. ¡°Officially, he¡¯s reorganizing the loosened internal structure while he was abroad. Although not as much as us, they too are in the middle of a sessorpetition.¡± ¡°That¡¯s true.¡± Chairman Kim Seok-ho of the Mirae Group and Chairman Park Min-chul of Daehan Group are of simr age, meaning they have both been in their positions for a long time. As a result, not only their direct descendants but even their grandchildren are eagerly eyeing the chairman¡¯s seat. ¡®Though it¡¯s somewhat sorted out¡­¡¯ This was because Chairman Park Min-chul of Daehan Group had already designated his eldest son, Park Ki-tae, as his sessor. The problem arose from the fact that Park Ki-tae¡¯s abilities were not as exceptional as expected. Of course, he was undoubtedly more capable than ordinary people, butpared to his siblings, his abilities were rtivelycking. ¡®Chairman Park dyed his retirement for too long.¡¯ Despite being a giant who built a leading conglomerate, he couldn¡¯t help but be weak in front of his children. In his efforts to ensure his eldest son, Park Ki-tae, could manage thepany properly, the atmosphere had be rather awkward. ¡®That¡¯s where Park Ji-hoones in.¡¯ Park Ji-hoon, the grandson of Chairman Park Min-chul and the eldest son of Park Ki-tae, was more capable than his father. Since he was young, he had a brilliant mind and never failed to be at the top in schools filled with gifted students. With his exceptional intelligence, he had even helped his father avert a major crisis for thepany while still in high school. ¡®But being too exceptional also became a problem.¡¯ As Park Ji-hoon stood out, Chairman Park Min-chul took a direct interest in him, leading to talks about considering a generational leap in session. Although he didn¡¯t seem to dislike it, he dived intopany work right after graduation, achieving significant results. However, many didn¡¯t view this favorably, including his father, Park Ki-tae. Park Ji-hoon had made too many enemies before gaining enough strength to withstand the storms. ¡°To him, I must seem like a golden ticket straight to the chairman¡¯s seat.¡± Park Ji-hoon, cornered by his conflict with his father, took a high-risk gamble by venturing into the electric car business. This moment is the critical juncture to determine sess or failure. What if, at this moment, he were to marry Kim Eun-ha and gain the vast support of the Mirae Group? Even just borrowing the name value of his inws would make things much easier, not to mention the substantial liquid assets Kim Eun-ha had built on the foundation of Mirae Department Store. This would dramatically increase the stability of the electric car business, and as momentum builds, the neutral internal personnel would gradually shift their stance. ¡®Conversely, if he fails, it¡¯s straight to ruin.¡¯ Park Ji-hoon had already taken the step of returning to Korea for the arranged meeting. If he were to go back without any results, it would deal a significant blow to his image. In an already unstable situation, the moment bad news spreads, everyone will turn their backs coldly, seeking their own survival. Therefore, for Park Ji-hoon, Kim Eun-ha is an absolutely indispensable, no, a crucial card he cannot afford to lose. ¡®The problem is that even this side wants it.¡¯ If Kim Eun-ha were to enter into a strategic marriage with him, it would be a wee event for thosepeting for session. Since she has already given up her shares in Mirae Department Store, they might think it better to give up a big piece. ¡®There¡¯s a high possibility of an under-the-table deal as well.¡¯ They might push for the marriage on the condition that Kim Eun-ha transfers her shares in Mirae Groupter on. Or they might help him strengthen his position by promoting a business connected to Daehan Group. In any case, it is a structure where both sides inevitably benefit. Indeed, a few quick-witted individuals are already attempting to contact Park Ji-hoon. ¡®Grandfather seems to be in a wait-and-see mode for now.¡¯ Chairman Kim Seok-ho rarely directly involves himself in the sessionpetition. His philosophy is ¡®the one who survives is the strongest,¡¯ and he believes it¡¯s eptable to use some means and methods to achieve that. He only steps in when he deems it significantly harmful to the entire group. There¡¯s no reason for him to oppose the marriage between Kim Eun-ha and Park Ji-hoon, which has more benefits. ¡°¡­I really have no allies.¡± Sigh¡ª A sigh naturally escaped her. Feelingpletely drained, Kim Eun-ha let herself sink into her chair. Afterward, she barely managed to move her lips to make a request to Secretary Yoon. ¡°Secretary Yoon, could you make me a cup of tea?¡± ¡°Sorry? Not coffee?¡± Ah¡ª Secretary Yoon looked puzzled. She rarely made such personal requests, and whenever she did, it was invariably for a strong espresso. ¡®¡­Well, at least there¡¯s one person.¡¯ When her thoughts reached that point, a face suddenly came to mind. The person who made her switch from coffee to tea. ¡°Not as ally, but ashusband.¡± ¡°Sorry?¡± ¡°Nothing, never mind.¡± -Hehe Kim Eun-ha quietly suppressed augh. Seeing this, Secretary Yoon tilted his head in confusion for a moment, then quickly understood and silently left with the teacup. * ¡°Did you manage to arrange the meeting?¡± ¡°I¡¯m sorry. She outright refuse to evene into contact with us.¡± ¡°So Kim Eun-ha is really ying hard to get?¡± Hearing his subordinate¡¯s report, Park Ji-hoon frowned. They shared many memories from childhood as ymates. While marriage would be the best oue, even if not, she could at least take some actions to appease the shareholders. ¡®¡­Is it because of that guy?¡¯ Kang Woo-ju. The arrogant face of the guy who ruined all his ns by showing up in her ce at the meeting shed before his eyes. Moreover, he ordered the most expensive food and drinks and didn¡¯t even pay the bill. Of course, covering such an amount wasn¡¯t difficult, but being left with the bill in a situation where the arranged meeting was rejected made him very unhappy. ¡°Isn¡¯t there a way to handle this quietly?¡± ¡°It¡¯s quite challenging. Secretary Baek is directly controlling the information, and the public interest is at its peak right now¡­¡± ¡°Think of a way! A way!¡± As nothing went his way, Park Ji-hoon, frustrated to the brim, raised his voice. Then suddenly, his frown deepened. ¡®Wait¡­ I don¡¯t have to struggle all by myself, do I?¡¯ -Grin A rather good idea came to Park Ji-hoon¡¯s mind, and a sly smile appeared on his lips. ***** ?? Join our Discord ¨C Chapter 40 - This Noona Will Take Care of It Chapter 40: This Noona Will Take Care of It ¡°It¡¯s been a while. Kang Woo-ju ssi.¡± ¡°I don¡¯t think we¡¯re close enough for friendly greetings. Director Baek.¡± Smirk- As I firmly drew the line, Director Baek Do-young pushed up his sses. The smile underneath somehow bothered me. Unlike before, he came alone this time, suggesting he had something important to discuss. ¡®¡­He¡¯s really a troublesome person after all.¡¯ Today, Director Baek had also figured out not only my filming schedule but also my expected routes, waiting in the parking lot in advance. It felt like an unspoken pressure that he could get rid of me at any moment once Kim Eun-ha¡¯s protection was gone. ¡°Haha, no matter how many times I see it, Kang Woo-ju ssi¡¯s acting skills are astonishing. They don¡¯t match at all with the past videos or the stories from people around you, which is quite intriguing.¡± ¡°I have another schedule, so please get to the point.¡± ¡°If you insist. To get straight to the point, I received a call from Park Ji-hoon CEO of Daehan Group. He asked if I had any thoughts on ousting you together.¡± ¡°¡¤¡¤¡¤¡¤¡¤¡¤.¡± I swallowed my silence. There were two reasons for that. The first was that it was surprising that the prideful Park Ji-hoon would extend his hand first to one of his strongestpetitors, Baek Do-young. The second was that I still didn¡¯t understand why Baek Do-young was straightforwardly telling me this. ¡°Aren¡¯t you curious why I¡¯m telling you this directly, Kang Woo-ju ssi?¡± ¡°Please continue.¡± ¡°I¡¯m short on time as well, so I¡¯ll be blunt. Stay away from Kim Eun-ha ssi as soon as possible.¡± Director Baek Do-young pushed up his sses once more. The sses, reflecting the parking lot lights, gleamed sharply. In response, I silently stared at Baek Do-young. Locking eyes with him through the ss, trying to figure out his true intentions. ¡°What if I refuse?¡± ¡°I¡¯ll temporarily join hands with CEO Park Ji-hoon. I¡¯ll hand over all the information I have about your past and contact the media.¡± ¡°¡¤¡¤¡¤¡¤¡¤¡¤.¡± ¡°I wonder if title [Peaceful Chaebol Life] seems fitting, don¡¯t you think? It¡¯s quite amazing how you chose such a coincidental title.¡± Although Baek Do-young didn¡¯t give a detailed exnation, it was starting to be clear what actions he would take without needing to hear them. He would maliciously edit my past records and spread them through the media and all SNS tforms, hiring people to stir up negative public opinion. Among those would be many malicious nicknames that floated around during my university days. ¡®It wouldn¡¯t be that difficult.¡¯ Just hiring a few juniors I don¡¯t even know to say, ¡°That sunbae did terrible things to me¡±, would be the endgame. The media, backed by tworge corporations, would scatter the prepared articles everywhere. The witch-hunted me would be socially buried, struggling with everyday life, let alone acting. ¡®¡­He¡¯s ying quite a bold move.¡¯ If this method were used, the one to suffer wouldn¡¯t just be me. Inevitably, talks about nepotism woulde up, and Kim Eun-ha, who had already been seen on a few dates with me, would also get embroiled in the controversy. That¡¯s why this method was not one Baek Do-young and Park Ji-hoon, including other engagement candidates, would typically use. This was also the reason Director Baek had been controlling my information until now. ¡®So that¡¯s why you came to me first.¡¯ If left as is, it would be disastrous, so he¡¯s saying he wouldn¡¯t care even if the trophy got some scratches. Their extreme reactions implied that Kim Eun-ha and I posed a significant threat to them, yet it was still a rather bold decision. ¡°I don¡¯t want to hurt Eun-ha ssi either. When there¡¯s a way for everyone to be happy right before our eyes, why go the long way around?¡± ¡°Interesting. Does that ¡®everyone¡¯ include me and Eun-ha ssi properly?¡± ¡°Of course.¡± Smirk- As if he had been waiting for that question, Director Baek Do-young lifted the corners of his mouth. It seemed he had both the stick and the carrot prepared. ¡°Of course, I¡¯m not telling you to break up empty-handed. I¡¯ll guarantee the safety of your family, including yourself, and arrange for you to appear in dramas andmercials sponsored by Mirae Group.¡± ¡°¡¤¡¤¡¤¡¤¡¤¡¤.¡± ¡°In addition, I¡¯ll ensure you have a house and a car, as well as enough cash to use until you be self-sufficient.¡± ¡°How much will you give me?¡± Perhaps thinking I was halfway convinced, Baek Do-young¡¯s grin widened. He spread his hand wide before my eyes. ¡°500 million won. If you ept the offer, I will pay you 500 million won in cash, in addition to what I¡¯ve already mentioned. This should be enough¡¤¡¤¡¤.¡± Tsk- Seeing him confidently mention 500 million won made me involuntarily burst intoughter. Though Baek Do-young¡¯s eyes sharpened, it was hard to suppress theughter once it started. ¡°Just that?¡± ¡°¡¤¡¤¡¤Just that? It seems you¡¯ve lived like a chaebol recently and started to think you¡¯re actually something. Don¡¯t misunderstand, Kang Woo-ju ssi.¡± He¡¯s right. In fact, 500 million won is a massive amount of money. Thinking back to before I met Kim Eun-ha, there were many times I only ate one meal a day because even food expenses were a burden. And that meal was often a triangle kimbap or ramen. I didn¡¯t have even a million won in my bank ount, let alone 100 million won, and I worried every night about being kicked out of my home the next month or if I could pay for my father¡¯s hospital bills. ¡®Then why does it seem soughable?¡¯ They say the position shapes the person. Despite him offering everything I once desperately desired, it didn¡¯t resonate with me at all. ¡®How much did Eun-ha ssi say on the first day?¡¯ was it 5 billion won? She mentioned that amount after depositing 10 million won into my ount immediately. Of course, she was referring to the total amount she donated to society in a year. It was also an analogy that if I signed a contract with her, I could receive a corresponding value every year. I¡¯m currently reaping those benefits in real-time. ¡°Oh, I¡¯m sorry. 500 million won is indeed arge amount. However, it doesn¡¯t feel like a particrly attractive offer. Maybe if it were ten times that amount.¡± ¡°¡¤¡¤¡¤You¡¯re quite greedy.¡± ¡°I mentioned the minimum amount I could consider, but it seems too much for Director Baek. I understand, of course. If you were ¡®Kim Do-young¡¯, it might have been a bit different.¡± ¡°You¡¯re crossing the line.¡± Shaa- I slightly touched hisplex, and Baek Do-young reacted more intensely than expected. He red at me with eyes like a viper targeting its prey. ¡°¡¤¡¤¡¤Do you really want to challenge me?¡± ¡°You should know who crossed the line first. I didn¡¯t expect you¡¯de here to make such an unreasonable threat. What a waste of time.¡± I openly checked my wristwatch. If I didn¡¯t want to bete for filming, it was time to head in. My attitude must have genuinely angered Baek Do-young, as his face flushed red. However, proving he didn¡¯t secure his director position through sheer luck, he showed remarkable patience. ¡°I¡¯ll give you onest chance. Leave Kim Eun-ha. If not, you¡¯ll lose everything you have, literally everything.¡± ¡°Is that all you have to say?¡± ¡°¡¤¡¤¡¤What?¡± ¡°Then let me give you one final warning.¡± Step- I strode towards Baek Do-young. Looking him straight in the eyes, I fueled the emotions that had been boiling inside me. ¡°Baek Do-young.¡± Kang Joo-heon. No, an even colder voice emerged from my throat. A strange sensation enveloped me, making me feel unfamiliar with myself. This wasn¡¯t acting. I was genuinely angry. ¡®Why?¡¯ For a moment, that question floated to the surface, but it soon evaporated in the boiling rage. Thump, thump, thump, thump-! My heart pounded like crazy, pumping adrenaline. I could feel the blood coursing through my veins, spreading throughout my body, expanding my senses. However, the colder my head became, the more intense my gaze grew, like the winds of a winter storm, and my breath formed white steam. Baek Do-young, facing me, did not retreat an inch, but conversely, that was all he could muster. ¡°Stop poking around clumsily. If you¡¯re going to gamble with someone else¡¯s life, you should be prepared to stake your own.¡± ¡°¡¤¡¤¡¤¡¤¡¤¡¤.¡± ¡°If you n to target my life, you better be fully prepared to go all in. Because¡¤¡¤¡¤.¡± Step- Suppressing the anger that had risen to the top of my head, I took another step closer and whispered softly into Baek Do-young¡¯s ear. ¡°I¡¯ve already gone all in.¡± Gulp-! In my heightened senses, I heard the sound of a dry swallow. It must have been one of the two people here. But it wasn¡¯t me. ¡°Oh my. Look at the time. I have to go to my filming now. Next time, please make an appointment in advance.¡± ¡°¡¤¡¤¡¤¡¤¡¤¡¤.¡± Swish- I checked my watch and turned away without hesitation. Kang Joo-heon never misses an appointment, no matter what happens. * ¡°¡¤¡¤¡¤Woo-ju ssi, you sometimes do incredibly audacious things without batting an eye. There are few people who could speak to Director Baek like that to his face.¡± Kim Eun-ha shook her head as she watched Kang Woo-ju casually sip his ck tea across from her. Who was Baek Do-young? In just a few years since joining thepany, he had gained theplete trust of Chairman Kim Seok-ho and swiftly ascended to the position of Executive Secretary. Chairman Kim Seok-ho, who wouldn¡¯t hesitate to marry off his daughters and mix blood to acquire talent. In some ways, Baek Do-young was an even more dangerous candidate than Park Ji-hoon, who was entangled with Daehan Group. ¡®In other ways, too.¡¯ Though I hadn¡¯t seen it with my own eyes, I had heard that he was the type who wouldn¡¯t hesitate to dirty his hands to achieve his goals. Moreover, as the person responsible for obtaining and controlling all kinds of information while working in the secretary¡¯s office, even Kim Eun-ha¡¯s high-nosed rtives were extremely cautious when dealing with Director Baek. ¡®¡­Not bad.¡¯ Kim Eun-ha picked up her teacup to hide the twitching corners of her mouth. As she enjoyed the subtle fragrance of the tea and took a sip, she noticed something. She saw Kang Woo-ju¡¯s teacup trembling slightly. ¡°Puhup-!¡± ¡°Are you alright!?¡± ¡°Co- cough! I¡¯m, I¡¯m fine.¡± ¡°Here, take this handkerchief!¡± Kang Woo-ju jumped up with a worried expression. He quickly pulled a handkerchief from his pocket and handed it to her. In the process, Kim Eun-ha noticed once again that Kang Woo-ju¡¯s hand was shaking. She hadn¡¯t heard of him having any tremors before, so it was likely because of Director Baek. ¡®¡­This is serious.¡¯ Even as she coughed and spluttered, Kim Eun-ha thought about it. Kang Woo-ju, looking at her, was fidgeting, not knowing what to do. Despite being more scared than anyone inside, he was trying hard not to show it. The gap between his usual self and this vulnerable side was¡­ Adorably cute. She wanted to pinch his cheeks right away. ¡®¡­This isn¡¯t right.¡¯ Facing a major crisis, she was having such trivial thoughts. Kim Eun-ha wanted to suppress this budding desire inside her. ¡°¡­Eun-ha ssi?¡± Ah- When she came to her senses, her hand was already pinching Kang Woo-ju¡¯s cheek. The two of them exchanged awkward nces. Kim Eun-ha wanted to turn back time, but there was no way to gather spilled water. With things as they were, it was all or nothing. Making up her mind, Kim Eun-ha strengthened her grip on his cheek. ¡°Don¡¯t worry. This Noona will take care of it.¡± ¡°¡­What?¡± Seeing the bewildered Kang Woo-ju, Kim Eun-ha quietly lifted the corners of her mouth. Chapter 41 - The Enemy of My Enemy is a Friend Chapter 41: The Enemy of My Enemy is a Friend Clop clop- The sound of high heels echoed loudly in the quiet corridor. People at the desk naturally turned their eyes in that direction. ¡°¡­Wow.¡± The moment they confirmed the person¡¯s face, an exmation involuntarily burst out from everyone¡¯s mouth. The employees working in the Daehan Group¡¯s secretary office weren¡¯t easily impressed by appearances, but the figure before them was truly on another level. ¡°Is Park Ji-hoon inside?¡± ¡°Park Ji-hoon¡­ Ah! Our CEO?¡± They were momentarily mesmerized by the beautiful voice, but quickly snapped back to their senses at the sudden mention of the CEO¡¯s name. Normally, if someone showed up unannounced like this, they would be turned away unless they were from the direct lineage of Mirae Group. However, the employees knew very well who the person in front of them was. They also knew that their CEO would not refuse her visit. ¡°Please wait a moment.¡± The secretary quickly reverted to a professional demeanor and picked up the phone directly connected to the CEO¡¯s office. ¡°Kim Eun-ha is here to see you. Yes, yes. Understood.¡± Click- That was the entirety of the conversation. The moment the call ended, the employee nodded, and the other staff moved swiftly, standing on either side of therge door. As Kim Eun-ha approached the door, the staff opened it and bowed their heads. She epted this as natural and entered the room smoothly. ¡°Seems like you¡¯re in quite a hurry? Coming all the way here yourself.¡± Park Ji-hoon, who was seated, smirked provocatively. However, Kim Eun-ha sat on the guest sofa without any reaction. She then crossed her legs leisurely as if it were her own office and looked at Park Ji-hoon silently. ¡°Oh, scary.¡± Park Ji-hoon chuckled as if finding her reaction amusing and slowly stood up. He walked leisurely and sat on the sofa opposite Kim Eun-ha. ¡°You seem to have be even more beautiful.¡± ¡°CEO Park, you seem to have gotten a lot more wrinkles. I heard things aren¡¯t going well in Germany, looks like the situation is worse than expected?¡± ¡°That¡¯s how work usually is, isn¡¯t it? I knew from the start it was high-risk. Once it¡¯s resolved, there¡¯ll be a huge return.¡± ¡°Is it alright to leave such an important task for so long? If you need funds, I could lend you the price of a ne ticket to Germany.¡± ¡°Eun-ha, you¡¯ve be quite sly while I wasn¡¯t here. Why are you using such formalnguage between us? It¡¯s almost hurtful.¡± ¡°CEO Park Ji-hoon.¡± ¡°¡­¡± At Kim Eun-ha¡¯s firm voice, Park Ji-hoon¡¯s brow twitched. She had clearly drawn a line in their rtionship with her earlier statement. Not as childhood friends, but as a CEO to a CEO. ¡°If you didn¡¯te as a childhood friend, do I have any reason to continue an unscheduled meeting with CEO Kim Eun-ha?¡± ¡°No, there¡¯s no reason.¡± ¡°Then why on earth¡­¡± ¡°I came to talk about your current car business. If you¡¯re not interested, I¡¯ll just leave.¡± Swish- Without a moment¡¯s hesitation, Kim Eun-ha stood up as soon as she finished speaking. Park Ji-hoon¡¯s brow furrowed, but the issue was too important to let his pride get in the way. Knowing Kim Eun-ha¡¯s personality, she wouldn¡¯t bluff. Gritting his teeth inwardly, Park Ji-hoon forced a smile. ¡°¡­I apologize for my earlier rudeness. Shall we talk over a cup of coffee?¡± ¡°It¡¯s fine. I didn¡¯t schedule an appointment, so it would be too rude to even get a drink. I¡¯ll just say what I came here to say.¡± ¡°Well, go ahead then.¡± Kim Eun-ha sat down calmly as if nothing had happened, and Park Ji-hoon met her gaze with a now serious face. Bright brown pupils that are rare among Koreans. When light hit them, they sometimes looked almost golden, giving a strange sense of alienation. ¡®¡­It doesn¡¯t feel like dealing with a person.¡¯ Like a tiger, lion, or eagle. Sometimes,bined with Kim Eun-ha¡¯s pale skin, it felt like looking at a vampire from a movie. It wasn¡¯t just because of her eye color, but also because the indifferent emotions contained within those eyes were clearly conveyed. ¡°Shall we hear what you have to say?¡± Pushing aside such impressions, Park Ji-hoon spoke first. He hadn¡¯t expected a friendly atmosphere from the start. Kim Eun-ha responded with a distinctly businesslike smile. ¡°First, congrattions on your victory in the ¡®Big Game¡¯. You made a rather bold bet in the recent German general election. Thanks to that, you¡¯veid some groundwork for Daehan¡¯s automotive business.¡± ¡°¡­You receive information very quickly. Even our executives aren¡¯t well aware of this yet.¡± Though he didn¡¯t show it outwardly, Park Ji-hoon was greatly surprised. His involvement in the election was extremely top-secret. In reality, contrary to the surface, the groundwork for a technical exchange in car manufacturing between the two parties had already beenid. If this fact were revealed now, the hesitant executives would turn to his side. However, ¡®Father would not sit still and watch.¡¯ His father, Park Ki-tae. It was hard to say this as a son, but he was a bundle of inferiorityplexes. Thanks to the chairman¡¯s insistence on primogeniture, he had been confirmed as the next chairman long ago, but his abilities always fell short of expectations, leading to constantparisons with his siblings. The inferiority built up over decades was so great that he even felt jealousy towards his own children. ¡®¡­Just thinking about it makes my teeth grind.¡¯ What he had done to help his father ended up triggering Park Ki-tae¡¯s inferiorityplex. As a result, he was blindsided in an unexpected way and had to waste a lot of time recovering. ¡®It¡¯s not the right time to reveal it yet.¡¯ Recalling that memory, Park Ji-hoon bit his lip. He vowed not to make the same mistake again. Now was the time to hide his ws as much as possible and determine who were his enemies and allies. Until then, he needed stable funds that would act as a shield and a cloak. ¡®If only I could get Kim Eun-ha¡­¡¯ Naturally, the best means to secure this was a strategic marriage with Kim Eun-ha, who was right in front of him. Her looks would ensure beautiful wedding photos. Although it would be a formal arrangement, he would also gain the strong backing of Mirae Group. That¡¯s what he had been thinking. At least until now. ¡°But while hearing about you, CEO, I came across a very interesting rumor.¡± ¡°¡­¡± Kim Eun-ha twisted her lips into a smirk. The smile was so unsettling that it felt like looking at a ck rose with deliberately exposed thorns. An uneasy feeling began to crawl up his leg like a snake. ¡°What rumor are you talking about?¡± ¡°I heard that besides the electric car industry, you¡¯re also involved in another eco-friendly business.¡± Snap-! The snake crawling up his leg finally bit Park Ji-hoon¡¯s neck. With a stinging sensation, a bleak poison seemed to spread through his body. This wasn¡¯t something that could be mentioned based on mere spection. Kim Eun-ha had far more extensive information about him than he had thought. Gulp-! Park Ji-hoon¡¯s throat felt dry, but there was nothing to quench his thirst except his parched saliva. ¡°¡­I don¡¯t know what you¡¯re talking about.¡± ¡°What does marijuana taste like?¡± ¡°Kim Eun-ha-!!¡± Park Ji-hoon sprang up from his seat, ring at Kim Eun-ha with wide eyes, but she didn¡¯t even flinch. Instead, her smile grew even wider. ¡°They say the ruling party changed for the first time in 16 years in this recent election. SPD (Social Democratic Party of Germany), which was almost certain to plummet out of parliament until two months ago, made a dramaticeback.¡± ¡°¡¤¡¤¡¤¡¤¡¤¡¤.¡± ¡°There are various reasons, but anyway, the SPD advocated for the legalization of marijuana, and I heard it finally passed this time.¡± ¡°¡­So?¡± In response to his question, Kim Eun-ha shrugged lightly. There was no need for her to say more. Tremble- Park Ji-hoon¡¯s clenched fists trembled. This was a business he had been conducting with secret funds stashed in a Swiss ount, even unknown to his father. ¡®Kim Eun-ha didn¡¯t just deduce this from my reaction. She already had solid information in her hands. But who on earth¡­¡¯ Very few people knew about this, both domestically and locally. The source of the leak was already giving him a headache. However, he couldn¡¯t afford to show any more weakness. The negotiations were just beginning. ¡°Did you really think you could ckmail me with that? I supported the SPD for the sake of the automotive business. I have nothing to do with marijuana.¡± ¡°Of course. You¡¯re very meticulous in such matters. You must have set up multipleyers of shellpanies and figureheads.¡± ¡°You knew that and still came to see me?¡± ¡°Facts aren¡¯t what matter here, are they?¡± ¡°¡­¡± Park Ji-hoon fell silent, understanding the meaning behind Kim Eun-ha¡¯s words. It was almost identical to the method he had nned to use against Kang Woo-ju. Whether or not he had actually touched marijuana, rumors rted to it would severely damage his image. Especially in South Korea, where the image of marijuana was extremely poor, even being mentioned in rtion to it could be devastating. However, Park Ji-hoon smiled instead. He had his own ace up his sleeve. ¡°Do you think that will work? Not a single article with my name will go out. Surely, you know who I¡¯m allied with.¡± ¡°The enemy of my enemy is a friend¡­ Honestly, I didn¡¯t expect that. I thought you two would never team up. But did you know this?¡± ¡°¡­?¡± Kim Eun-ha lifted her lips again into a smile. She looked so confident, like the goddess of victory herself. ¡°That saying doesn¡¯t only apply to you.¡± ¡°What do you mean¡­?¡± Knock, knock, knock-! Click! Just as Park Ji-hoon was about to question her, there was an urgent knock at the door. As he turned his head, the door swung open on its own. ¡°Who dares¡­!!¡± ¡°Sorry! I have something urgent to tell you-!!¡± Park Ji-hoon, who was furious to the point of his head boiling over, felt a chill run through his body the moment he saw the urgent expression on his secretary¡¯s face. The secretary, ncing cautiously at Kim Eun-ha, quickly approached Park Ji-hoon and whispered in his ear. ¡°CEO Park Ki-tae has arrived.¡± ¡°What!? Why would my father suddenly¡­?¡± Swish-! In an instant, the worst-case scenario shed through Park Ji-hoon¡¯s mind, and he turned his head reflexively. There, he saw Kim Eun-ha with a rxed smile on her lips. ¡°Kim Eun-ha, you couldn¡¯t have¡­¡± ¡°CEO. I¡¯m sorry, but there¡¯s one more thing to tell you¡­ Just now, Director Baek Do-young unterally notified us that he is severing ties.¡± ¡°What kind of bullshit is that!?¡± Unable to hold back, Park Ji-hoon finally exploded. Kim Eun-ha, who had been silently observing him, slowly stood up from her seat. ¡°It seems you have a visitor, so I¡¯ll be leaving first.¡± ¡°Hey! You think you can get away with this¡­¡± ¡°Oh, by the way, I haven¡¯t yet told your father about the ¡®eco-friendly business¡¯. I¡¯m mentioning this in advance so he doesn¡¯t identally find out. Goodbye then.¡± Click, click- With a light nod of farewell, Kim Eun-ha walked out confidently, just as she had entered. ¡°¡­¡± Park Ji-hoon¡¯s gaze wandered aimlessly as he watched her departing figure. Only a momentter did the realization hit him. The negotiation had already ended. From the very moment she stepped into this room. ****** Join our Discord ¨C Chapter 42 - Would You Like to Have Dinner Together? Chapter 42: Would You Like to Have Dinner Together? ¡°It¡¯s been a while.¡± ¡°Oh my, Vice Chairman-nim!¡± After finishing her conversation with Park Ji-hoon, Kim Eun-ha encountered Park Ki-tae at the end of the hallway as she was exiting the room. Although the gaze scanning her up and down was not very pleasant, Kim Eun-ha, ustomed to it wherever she went, smiled without showing any sign of difort. ¡°What brings you here?¡± ¡°I had a small errand to run.¡± ¡°What kind of errand?¡± ¡°It¡¯s a personal matter, so it¡¯s a bit embarrassing to share.¡± Even when persistently questioned, Kim Eun-ha deftly dodged the inquiries like a slippery eel. Seeing this, Park Ki-tae furrowed his brows. Despite being much younger, her exceptional skills were recognized both inside and outside the group. It was fortunate that Kim Eun-ha was a woman. Chairman Kim Seok-ho was quite old-fashioned, after all. If she were a man, she would have received even more attention from Kim Seok-ho, and she would have be a truly bothersomepetitor. ¡®¡­Still, I can¡¯t stand her.¡¯ A fox-like woman. That was Park Ki-tae¡¯s honest feeling. Mirae Group and Daehan Group. Under the leadership of the two chairmen, they had seen each other often since childhood, but she always seemed extraordinary. Even at a young age, she had an uncanny aura that made her difficult to approach, and after her parents died, she became even more ruthless. On the contrary, this made him believe without a doubt that she would be a reliable ally if she married into his family. At least, until he startedpeting with Park Ji-hoon for the chairman position. ¡®Could she be nning to join forces with Ji-hoon?¡¯ Although he was often considered inferior to his siblings and even to his own son, it did not mean that Park Ki-tae was ipetent. Having experienced countless ups and downs under the chairman¡¯s protection, he was not to be underestimated by any ordinary person. ¡®Recently, the atmosphere in Mirae Group has been unusual.¡¯ The fight over the sessor position was fiercely intense. Kim Eun-ha, standing before him, was also one of the contenders. However,pared to others, shecked internal support within the group, and Chairman Kim Seok-ho had assigned her the independently oriented department store. ¡®If she has given up on the sessorpetition¡­¡¯ The highest position she could aim for next was not hard to guess. If she offered a helping hand to Park Ji-hoon, who had many enemies both inside and outside, she could easily secure the position of Daehan Group¡¯s chairwoman. Although there seemed to be rumors about her having a scandal with a rookie actor, such matters were mere amusements to chaebols. ¡®It¡¯s good that I hurried.¡¯ He had heard earlier that Park Ji-hoon was trying to meet Kim Eun-ha upon returning to the country, but felt relieved upon hearing that he had been tly rejected. However, there was an inexplicable feeling in the back of his mind. As expected, news came that the two were meeting today, and so Park Ki-tae postponed his meeting and rushed over. The best timing would have been to interrupt their conversation directly, but these cunning people had already noticed and left. He almost missed seeing them. ¡°It¡¯s been a while since west met. How about a cup of tea?¡± ¡°Unfortunately, I have another appointment.¡± ¡°Oh dear. I¡¯m asking so nicely¡­¡± ¡°I¡¯m sorry. Please excuse me.¡± Drawing a firm line, Kim Eun-ha lightly bowed her head, a farewell filled with determination not to continue the conversation. As she passed by Park Ki-tae, he roughly grabbed her wrist. ¡°You¡¯ve be quite insolent. What could be more important than talking with the future chairman of Daehan Group?¡± ¡°¡­..¡± Saaah- Silently looking down at her wrist held by Park Ki-tae, a chilling aura emanated from Kim Eun-ha¡¯s eyes. Even the great Park Ki-tae felt something was wrong, sensing a hint of subtle murderous intent beyond her emotionless gaze. Of course, it was only a fleeting moment. Taking advantage of the brief moment Park Ki-tae was stunned, Kim Eun-ha naturally withdrew her wrist and spoke with a fresh smile on her face. ¡°Isn¡¯t it also been a while since you¡¯ve had a face-to-face conversation with your son? I wouldn¡¯t be so tactless as to interrupt the bonding opportunity between father and son.¡± ¡°¡­¡­¡± ¡°I¡¯ll formally greet you again next time. Goodbye then.¡± Ttok-ttok-ttok- After bowing her head again to finish her farewell, Kim Eun-ha turned and walked away. Park Ki-tae watched her back intently. The phrase she used at the end, ¡°I¡¯ll formally greet you again¡±, bothered him immensely. He wanted to grab her by the hair right then and there, but thest thread of his rationality barely held him back. ¡°Father.¡± At that moment, he saw his son running towards him in a hurry, fearing he might be making a move on Kim Eun-ha. ¡°Yes, it¡¯s been a while.¡± ¡°What brings you here?¡± ¡°Does a father need many reasons to see his son? You seemed very busy, so I came to see you myself.¡± ¡°¡­I¡¯m sorry. I should have visited you first, but I¡¯ve been swamped with various matters. By the way, what did you talk about with Eun-ha?¡± ¡°Nothing much.¡± The returned answer made Park Ji-hoon¡¯s eyebrow twitch slightly in dissatisfaction. He wondered if Kim Eun-ha had hinted at anything about ¡®business¡¯ to his father. ¡°Is that really true?¡± Park Ki-tae felt equally uneasy. In a situation where he needed to thoroughly iste Park Ji-hoon, Kim Eun-ha was too significant a variable. The fact that they were having a secret meeting indicated that their rtionship wasn¡¯t bad. If they got engaged, it would be troublesome for his side. ¡°Why, is there something you¡¯re hiding from your father?¡± ¡°What could I possibly hide from my father?¡± ¡°That¡¯s not incorrect.¡± Unable to urately grasp what kind of rtionship the other had with Kim Eun-ha, their conversation grew more confusing. The onemon thought both of them had was: ¡®I¡¯m in a better rtionship with Kim Eun-ha than you are¡¯. ¡®¡­That cunning woman. Now that I think about it, it was Eun-ha who leaked information about the meeting. Is she weighing me against others?¡¯ ¡®¡­I¡¯ve been yed thoroughly.¡¯ As they conversed, both realized they had been yed by Kim Eun-ha¡¯s scheme. However, it was a swamp they couldn¡¯t escape. Park Ji-hoon needed to silence Kim Eun-ha, and Park Ki-tae needed to prevent their marriage. Unable to fully understand each other¡¯s exact situations and entangled in variousplex circumstances, it was a headache-inducing situation. ¡°Shall we go inside and continue the conversation?¡± ¡°Yes, let¡¯s do that.¡± Even as they moved towards the reception room, they ground their teeth thinking about Kim Eun-ha. In a situation where they couldn¡¯t join forces, the weight of Kim Eun-ha, who could tilt the scales instantly, was not something they could easily give up. Moreover, excluding herpletely was nearly impossible unless the father and son teamed up. ¡®¡­For now, I¡¯ll have to endure it knowingly.¡¯ The father and son began devising ns to win over Kim Eun-ha. * Meanwhile, after finishing her meeting with Park Ji-hoon and his father, Kim Eun-ha returned to the department store and headed straight to the washbasin. She scrubbed the wrist that Park Ki-tae had grabbed. She washed it so many times with soap that her delicate skin became chapped. ¡®¡­Disgusting.¡¯ She clearly remembered Park Ki-tae¡¯s eyes as he looked her up and down while grabbing her wrist. The more she remembered, the harder she scrubbed. Although she didn¡¯t want to see the two of them ever again, she knew that was not an option considering the future. Of course, this time she had acted somewhat impulsively, unlike herself, but she had gained a lot from it. ¡®That side will be quiet for a while.¡¯ The possibility of the two people fighting for the same position joining forces was very low. They wouldn¡¯t have the luxury to worry about this side for a while. ¡®The problem is Baek¡­¡¯ Upon thinking about it calmly, there didn¡¯t seem to be any major issues there either. After all, it was Baek Do-young who had provided information about marijuana in the first ce. ¨C Why did you suddenly change your mind? ¨C ¡­¡­ Baek Do-young didn¡¯t answer her question. He simply handed her a USB containing the relevant information and quietly left. Though it was unclear what his intentions were, she had a few guesses. ¡®¡­Did Grandfather intervene?¡¯ Regardless of the reason, Director Baek had tried to join hands with a strong contender for Daehan Group¡¯s session. If that had irked Chairman Kim Seok-ho, it wasn¡¯t hard to understand his actions. However, if this hypothesis was correct, much more troublesome situations would arise in the future¡ªproblems far greater than the current one. ¡°¡­Phew.¡± After washing her hands for nearly thirty minutes, Kim Eun-ha straightened up and sighed deeply before returning to her office. ¡°Huh?¡± There, she locked eyes with Kang Woo-ju, who was sitting on the guest sofa, waiting for her. As their gazes met in mid-air, Kang Woo-ju shed a soft smile and stood up to approach her. ¡°Woo-ju ssi, what brings you here¡­?¡± ¡°What is this injury?¡± Grabbing¡ª! Kang Woo-ju interrupted her, grabbing her wrist. The smile he had shown earlier vanished, reced by a cold, stern expression. His gaze was fixed on the area around her wrist, which had been grabbed by Park Ki-tae. It seemed she had washed it so excessively that it had gotten injured. ¡°It¡­ it¡¯s nothing! I just scratched it after a bug bit me¡­¡± Embarrassed by the sudden and inexplicable shame, Kim Eun-ha even stuttered. She tried to pull her wrist away quickly. ¡°Hold still.¡± ¡°¡­¡­¡± Kang Woo-ju¡¯s voice was firm. He examined her injury with the care of someone handling an ancient artifact. His brows furrowed and his mouth slightly parted in concentration. Kim Eun-ha stared at him nkly, as if spellbound. ¡°The wound is worse than I thought. Does it still itch? Could it be an allergic reaction? Did a mite bite you? Or maybe¡­¡± ¡°Wait, wait, wait!¡± Overwhelmed by his barrage of questions, Kim Eun-ha hurriedly stopped him. Though his mouth stopped moving, he stared at her with a highly dissatisfied expression. ¡°Let¡¯s go to the hospital first.¡± ¡°It¡¯s just a small wound. There¡¯s no need for the hospital.¡± ¡°That¡¯s neglecting your health. Haven¡¯t you heard of killer mites? Ignoring it could lead to serious trouble. With this kind of allergic reaction¡­¡± Pfft¡ª Watching him nag so seriously, she couldn¡¯t help butugh. He then pouted, looking even more annoyed, but it was somehow cute. Although she hadn¡¯t taken any medicine, the unpleasant feeling that had been choking her just moments ago disappeared like a lie. She felt refreshingly light-hearted. ¡°Just in case¡­¡± ¡°Woo-ju ssi.¡± ¡°Yes?¡± ¡°I¡¯m hungry. Would you like to have dinner together?¡± ¡°¡­¡­¡± Understanding that she was asking him to stop nagging, Kang Woo-ju stopped talking and stared at her. When Kim Eun-ha didn¡¯t back down and stared back, Kang Woo-ju eventually sighed deeply and took a step back. ¡°At least put some ointment on it.¡± ¡°Okay.¡± Later, Kang Woo-ju indeed went to the pharmacy and bought a bunch of ointments and anti-inmmatory creams. He even applied them to Kim Eun-ha¡¯s wound himself. Kim Eun-ha, who willingly offered her hand, had a deep smile on her face. ****** Join our Discord ¨C Chapter 43 - Preview Chapter 43: Preview ¡°It¡¯s been a while since I¡¯ve had a day off.¡± I sprawled on the sofa, feeling like a squid. Despite being quite confident in my stamina, the past few weeks had been extremely tough. Even just the drama filming had such a tight broadcast schedule that there were times when I stayed up all night, went home, and then came back out in the afternoon. ¡®At least I¡¯m better off¡­¡¯ As an actor, I could take naps here and there while others were filming. Sometimes, like today, I had days when there was no filming at all. But the staff had to dedicate themselves to the drama day and night, practically wearing themselves out. From the start, the previous drama schedule had fallen through, so we had to step in urgently without enough extra personnel. ¡®I heard the editing room is like a zombiend.¡¯ Especially in the editing room, where they had to watch all the footage and select only the best scenes, there hadn¡¯t been a single day they went home since filming began. The filming hours themselves were massive, and because each scene was shot from multiple angles simultaneously, the editors¡¯ work time was doubled. ¡®There are so many hardworking people in the world.¡¯ Even though I was often told that I was pretty intense, looking around, there were people even more extreme. That didn¡¯t mean I could do anything special for them, just asionally sending them some free snacks through Director Kang In-ho. ¨C Woo-ju. ¨C Yes, Director. Director Kang In-ho, who finally started speaking casually to me after spending days together at the filming site. Although the awkwardness hadn¡¯tpletely disappeared, the distance between us had noticeably lessenedpared to before. He was originally a friendly type who shared all joys and sorrows with the actors, so this change was actually a bitte. In fact, the only person he still used formalnguage with on set was Actor Kim Young-ho, making me the only exception. I preferred it this way too. ¨C Here, take this. ¨C What¡¯s this letter for? ¨C The editing team asked me to give it to you. They said they¡¯re grateful for all the snacks and coffee you send. But at the same time, they kind of hate you. ¨C Huh? What reason could there be to hate someone who generously supports them financially? As I tilted my head in confusion, Kang In-ho chuckled and exined. ¨C They said your scenes are so well done that they can¡¯t decide what to cut, which makes the editing process much longerpared to others. ¨C That¡¯s apliment. ¨C No, I think they genuinely want to kill you. Of course, you probably won¡¯t need to visit the editing room, but just in case, be careful. ¨C ¡­ Despite various happenings, we sessfullypleted the filming for two episodes. Of course, the next shoot was already scheduled, but no matter how strong you are, everyone is still human. So, we were given just one day off. ¡°¡­ Well, today is the day the preview is released.¡± Normally, everyone would gather to watch it together, but Director Kang In-ho firmly sent everyone home, saying we would all copse if we had a gathering in this state. Kim Eun-ha also had separate matters to handle today, so for the first time in a long while, I had some alone time. ¡®¡­ I was told not to worry about Park Ji-hoon for a while.¡¯ I didn¡¯t know the details, but Kim Eun-ha assured me with such conviction that I felt I could rx a bit. With nothing particr to do and no energy left to do anything anyway, I was just lounging on the sofa waiting for the preview after calling my parents to check in. ¡°Oh, is it finally up!?¡± Just then, a notification rang from the official channel I had set up. With a mix of excitement, anticipation, anxiety, and nervousness, I turned on my phone. But then. ¡°Oh¡­ Who made this?¡± On the screen, the text ¡°First Release in 10 Minutes¡± appeared along with the phrase, ¡° .¡± People who had apparently set notifications like me rushed in and angrily typed in the chat. ¨C Hey, are you kidding us from the start? ¨C Oppa, do you really want to drive me crazy? ¨C I¡¯m going to lose my mind, I¡¯m going to lose my mind, I¡¯m going to go¡­ Since the drama had been a hot topic across variousmunities, the chat was filling up at an astonishing speed. Although there were some annoying trolls, most were cuteints, making it somewhat fun to watch. ¨C Oh, the countdown is starting! ¨C The big moment is reallying now! ¨C Herees the notice game. ¨C 10! ¨C 10. ¨C Can¡¯t even count properly, lol While the viewers amusingly dragged out the time, the numbers on the waiting screen steadily decreased. ¡®¡­How will it turn out?¡¯ Because Kang In-ho had strictly kept everything secret from both staff and actors, I had no idea what it would look like. There wasn¡¯t enough time to film separate footage for the trailer, so they must have taken scenes from the first and second episodes. Usually, teasers are less than a minute long. I was very curious about how much of my part would be shown. ¨C 5, 4, 3, 2, 1. As the numbers decreased, the speed of the chat also rapidly slowed down. At this point, I put my phone down and turned my head towards the TV. A gigantic screen,rge enough to resemble a small cinema. Connected to my phone, the teaser began ying with magnificent sound. * A dignified, antique-looking office. In front of it, with a full view of Seoul¡¯s nightscape, stood a man with his back turned. The scenery was so beautiful it could be called a spectacle, but the man¡¯s gaze remained indifferent. After silently gazing out the window for a long while, the man suddenly took out his phone. Beep¡­ Click! The call connected before the dial tone even rang once, and a heavy voice of a middle-aged man came through the receiver. ¨C Yes, CEO-nim. ¡°You¡¯rete with the report, unlike you.¡± ¨C My apologies. The resistance from the Beta side was tougher than expected, so the n got a bit dyed, but Alpha has been secured. ¡°Proceed as nned. Do not disappoint me any further.¡± ¨C Understood. Click- The man who hung up the phone ced it on the table and picked up a wine ss with his empty hand. Even while doing so, his gaze remained fixed out the window. More precisely, he was silently watching the people bustling around like ants. ¡°¡­¡­¡± People he could crush anytime if he wished. It should have been like that. As he lightly waved his hand, the dark red wine in the ss began to swirl and mix. Immediately after, he took a sip of the wine. The dark red liquid stained his lips, standing out vividly against his pale skin. ¡°¡­The taste has changed.¡± Drip- With a slight frown, the man tipped the ss, spilling all the wine inside. The top-tier wine, worth tens of thousands per sip, sshed onto the floor. His gaze followed the falling wine. Under the soft lighting, it sparkled and almost looked like blood. £ª The moment the wine that flowed along the floor like that soaked into the carpet, the scene changed. Captured on screen was a man copsed on a quiet asphalt road, bleeding. Blood was flowing profusely from his head, and his wide-open eyes had lost all signs of life. ¡°He is definitely dead.¡± ¡°Handle it as usual.¡± ¡°Yes.¡± After a brief exchange, the men in suits began to move busily. Someone picked up the body and ced it into a pre-prepared container to move it to the truck, while others used tools brought from somewhere to clean up the blood and flesh scattered on the ground. The operation was carried out swiftly and meticulously, almost like a cleaning service. The chief watching the scene from the side clicked his tongue. ¡°Tsk. Knowing this was going to happen, I don¡¯t understand why they bothered so many people. Because of this, my neck is also in danger.¡± ¡°Is it because of Beta?¡± ¡°Yes. I don¡¯t know where she disappeared to. Seeing there are no traces left, it must be the work of professionals like us¡­¡± The chief briefly nced towards the truck, imagining someone who would not have even a single strand of hair left, dissolved in a chemical container. ¡°Could it be Daehan¡¯s side?¡± ¡°No, that¡¯s unlikely. Lee Dae-ri wasn¡¯t that stupid. He must have hired someone through his personal connections.¡± ¡°¡­A traitor is always a headache. If the news that we lost Beta reaches the top, what will happen to us?¡± ¡°What will happen, you ask?¡± Tsk- The chief clicked his tongue, looking at his subordinates who were watching him with anxious eyes. Ugh- After a moment of contemtion, the chief scratched his head nervously and let out a deep sigh. ¡°Bury it.¡± ¡°¡­What?¡± ¡°Don¡¯t make me repeat myself. The opponent is a professional too. By now, they¡¯ve likely crossed the border by boat. Realistically, tracking them is impossible.¡± ¡°¡­¡­¡­¡± ¡°Everyone connected to Alpha is under our surveince, so they won¡¯t go there. The chances of them returning to the country are extremely low.¡± ¡°No matter what¡­¡± ¡°Unless you want to take a bath in that drum, shut up and do as I say!¡± The chief¡¯s eyes gleamed with madness. Seeing this, the subordinates quickly bowed their heads. As he said, if the fact that they lost Beta became known, everyone here would be as good as dead. Thus, they decided to follow his orders. ¡°Such a professional wouldn¡¯t provide daycare services. No matter how skilled she is, what can a high school girl do alone?¡± Tsk- The chief clicked his tongue and turned his body. The other employees silently followed him. Vroom- The employees got into their respective vehicles and started the engines simultaneously. As the vehicles gained momentum and sped forward, the scene changed again. £ª ¡°I swear!¡± ¡°I swear!¡± Following the loud cry of the girl standing at the front, everyone raised their right hands. On the name tag worn by the woman on her left chest, the words ¡®Seoul Central District Prosecutor Park Soo-bin¡¯ were clearly engraved. ¡°That I will work as a courageous prosecutor who dispels the darkness of injustice. A warm-hearted prosecutor who takes care of the powerless and the marginalized. A fair prosecutor who follows only the truth¡­¡± The deration continued on and on. And then, a man¡¯s face watching her from behind was also shown in a close-up. Soon, a cold smile appeared on his lips as the trailer ended. Gulp- After watching the entire trailer, I unconsciously swallowed dryly. I hoped I had a lot of screen time, but this waspletely¡­ ¡®It¡¯s like I¡¯m the main character!?¡¯ It made sense because the scene with the male lead was just him standing with Park Soo-bin, the female lead, as they took the oath. ¡®Is this okay?¡¯ As I pondered this and nced at my phone, the chat, which had been frozen as if someone had hit the pause button, started moving again. ¨C ??? ¨C What is this? ¨C What did I just watch? As expected, all sorts of question marks started flooding in. Just as I was biting my lip, thinking the editing might have beenpletely off. ¨C Wow¡­ This is crazy. ¨C Kang Joo-heon is seriously insane. I thought the expectations were horribly ruined, but I waspletely entranced from the moment the trailer started. ¨C I¡¯m reying thest scene of Kang Joo-heon smiling over and over. I think I¡¯m really crazy, lol. My heart is pounding uncontrobly. Just ten more times and I¡¯m joining his fan club! With the name Kang Joo-heon, the chat was flooded with overwhelming praise to the point it seemed tog. ¡°Uh¡­ um¡­¡± Seeing this, I scratched my cheek awkwardly, not knowing how to react. After a while, I finally nodded my head. ¡®¡­Well, this is a good thing, right?¡¯ Swoosh- I naturally leaned back on the sofa, silently offering some constion to the male actor who yed the main character role. ***** ?? Join our Discord ¨C Chapter 44 - The Superstar has Arrived-!! Chapter 44: The Superstar has Arrived-!! ¡°The Superstar has arrived-!!¡± ¡°Everyone, clear the way!¡± ¡°¡­¡­¡± As I entered the filming set, Park Soo-bin announced my arrival in a loud voice. In response, the staff and actors stepped aside, making way for me. It was like something out of medieval Europe when a king made his grand entrance. The crew lined up on either side, wearing serious expressions. I waspletely off guard, I almost burst outughing. ¡®Looks like I¡¯ve gotten quitefortable.¡¯ Watching the people joking around with me felt nostalgic. At first, everyone was so scared and tried to avoid me at all costs. Of course, even now, there are only a handful of people who talk to me personally, but they must have realized from past experiences that I tolerate this level of jokes. ¡®¡­ It went as nned.¡¯ In this industry, people with stiff necks tend to have their heads broken quickly. The entertainment world is a ce with suchplex human rtionships that it¡¯s impossible to express it in a few words. Especially if bad rumors start spreading on the set, one can disappear from the media without a trace. ¡®This is not something Eun-ha-ssi can handle alone.¡¯ Unless she¡¯s content with producing independent films with her own money or sticking to personal SNS channel, this drama could be hisst official appearance. Therefore, while ying the role of a strict chaebol third-generation, I subtly added a tsundere-like image. Using the excuse that I was thirsty and hungry, I ordered luxurious coffee and snacks. Sometimes, I quietly signed autographs for staff members who came with requests from their rtives or nieces and nephews. As these incidents umted one by one, people still found me difficult, but they no longer feared me like before. ¡®But that doesn¡¯t mean I can show any weaknesses.¡¯ Swoosh- After briefly ncing at the production crew lined up on either side, I walked through the middle as if it was the most natural thing, without showing any reaction. ¡°Should have expected that?¡± ¡°Not even flustered by this.¡± ¡°Just what kind of life has he lived¡­¡± I heard whispers behind me, but most were saying things like ¡®cool¡¯ or ¡®amazing¡¯. In the past, I would have awkwardly waved my hand, denying such remarks, but I¡¯ve slowly gotten used to this kind of reaction. ¡®I understand why chaebols are so confident.¡¯ When you are worshipped from birth, it¡¯s impossible not to develop narcissism. Moreover, with a well-padded wallet, winning people over is easy. For the wealthy, even hundreds of cups of coffee are just pocket change. ¡®Even if it¡¯s not my money, the price makes me shudder¡­¡¯ By the way, the cost of the coffee and snacks for the production crew was all covered by Kim Eun-ha. Initially, I covered it with my allowance, but I got scolded when she found out. ¨C You can¡¯t just spend money like that! ¨C No matter how much money Eun-ha-ssi has, I can¡¯t ept help for personal matters like this. I should handle this myself. ¨C Your intention is noble, but that¡¯s not what I want to say. If you keep being too generous, it can backfire. ¨C If kindness continues, it¡¯s taken as a right? ¨C Exactly! That¡¯s the perfect way to put it! ¨C It¡¯s a famous movie line. ¨C ¡­¡­ Kim Eun-ha, after ring at me sharply for a moment, added an exnation. In short, she was telling me not to be a pushover. ¨C From now on, when buying snacks for the staff, only use my card. Knowing your nature, you¡¯ll likely reach out first, so I can adjust the frequency and timing appropriately. ¨C Please take care of it. There are hundreds of department store employees under her alone. She was much morepetent than I was at handling people, so I nodded without a word ofint. Maybe thanks to her, I was able to maintain good rtionships with both the actors and the staff. Of course, there¡¯s always that one person who stands out. ¡°Woo-ju-ssi, did you see the teaser?¡± That person was none other than Park Soo-bin. Unlike others, even the senior Kim Young-ho, she was much morefortable around me. It was quite the opposite at first. ¡°Yes, I saw it.¡± ¡°It was amazing, right? I don¡¯t know how they managed to whip up such a teaser in just a few days. Especially thest part where I shouted, ¡®I swear!¡¯ My whole family stood up and apuded.¡± ¡°Is that so.¡± ¡°¡­Sigh. Actually, they were shouting at you, Woo-ju-ssi, saying you looked cool. I don¡¯t know how many times they reyed your smiling scene at the end.¡± ¡°¡­¡­¡± Even without my response, she kept chatting beside me. At first, I wondered if she had some ulterior motive. But as I watched, I realized she was just a naturally bright person. The type who can¡¯t leave someone alone if they see them by themselves. ¡°Well, anyway, can you sign this for me? My mom threatened to withhold breakfast unless I got it.¡± ¡°No.¡± ¡°What?¡± Park Soo-bin¡¯s eyes widened in shock at my firm refusal. Her expression was just like her character in the drama. It was no surprise since writer Jung Ha-rin had cast someone simr to her character and then heavily revised the script to make them identical. She even changed the character¡¯s name to her real name, ¡®Park Soo-bin¡¯. It¡¯s getting harder to tell where the character ends and the real person begins, just like me now. ¡°Why!? You always signed without a word when people asked before. Why are you refusing now?¡± ¡°Because my value has gone up.¡± ¡°Wow¡­ Wow¡­ I usually don¡¯t say things like this to people¡¯s faces, but that was really annoying, you know that?¡± ¡°I know. I¡¯m a great person.¡± ¡°¡­¡­¡± Park Soo-bin, speechless, stood with her mouth agape. I walked past her without giving her a second nce. Thud, thud, thud- Then I heard the sound of quick footsteps behind me. Park Soo-bin caught up and walked beside me. ¡°¡­How much?¡± ¡°It¡¯s beyond your means, Park Soo-bin-ssi.¡± ¡°Are you going to keep ying hard to get?¡± ¡°I¡¯m just getting what I deserve.¡± I ignored her sulky expression and continued walking towards the director. Suddenly, a junior staff member came running from somewhere. ¡°Ka-Kang Woo-ju actor-nim!¡± Huff- Huff! She must have run a long way, as she was out of breath. When I looked at her silently, she finally caught her breath and bowed deeply, holding out a paper and pen. ¡°C-can I have your autograph? My sister saw the teaser yesterday and fell in love with Kang Woo-ju actor-nim! So, um¡­¡± Swipe- I snatched the paper and pen from the stammering junior staff¡¯s hands. Having gotten used to this through several book cafe events, it wasn¡¯t difficult. ¡°What¡¯s the name?¡± ¡°Whar? Oh, um¡­ Kim Ji-hye!¡± ¡°Not you, your sister.¡± ¡°Oh! Kim Seul-gi!¡± Scribble- Confirming the sister¡¯s name, I swiftly wrote on the paper. Using the signature I had carefully crafted over a long time. Kang Woo-ju. The three Korean characters were inscribed on the paper in a bold script. Below it, I wrote today¡¯s date and ¡®To Kim Seul-gi.¡¯ ¡®¡­I¡¯ve had my share of troubles with autographs too.¡¯ I had considered using the signature I created as a ss assignment during my college days, but it was too shy and didn¡¯t match my current image. Using Chinese characters seemed awkward too. After much deliberation, the current signature came to mind. ¡®Even now, it¡¯s still a really honest signature.¡¯ Kang Woo-ju. A truly arrogant signature that exins everything in just three letters. I put in a lot of effort to make the script look as neat as if drawn with a ruler to avoid it seeming insincere. Initially, I was a bit worried, but the fans who received my signature reacted much better than I expected. It even became a hot topic on the inte under the title ¡®Unique Signature¡¯. ¡°Here you go.¡± ¡°Thank you so much!¡± Bow-! As I handed back the signed paper, the junior staff member bowed deeply again and ran off with a bright smile. I nced back to see her quickly taking a photo to send as proof to her sister. ¡°Hey. Kang Woo-ju-ssi.¡± Then, the person I had momentarily forgotten spoke up beside me. Her tone was low enough for anyone to recognize she was upset. ¡°Why are you discriminating against people?¡± ¡°Discrimination?¡± ¡°You refused to sign for me but did it right away for Ji-hye-ssi! If that¡¯s not discrimination, what is it?¡± ¡°It¡¯s not discrimination; it¡¯s a difference.¡± ¡°Huh?¡± Swoosh- I finally turned my head to look directly at Park Soo-bin. She flinched noticeably but tried not to avert her gaze. ¡°Park Soo-bin-ssi.¡± ¡°¡­W-why?¡± ¡°She paid enough to receive the signature. She prepared paper and pen in advance and ran over from a distance to bow as soon as she saw me. How could I not sign after seeing that effort?¡± ¡°¡­Are you saying I should do the same?¡± ¡°No. Actually, there¡¯s a different reason I didn¡¯t sign for you, Soo-bin-ssi.¡± ¡°¡­¡­?¡± Park Soo-bin tilted her head in confusion. I then tantly looked her up and down before continuing. ¡°Have you gained weight recently? Around 1.7 kg.¡± ¡°H-how did you know¡­!?¡± ¡­It was a joke. But seeing her reaction, I couldn¡¯t brush it off as a joke anymore. After a brief moment of thought, I continued speaking. ¡°On camera, it¡¯s more noticeable than you¡¯d think. Irregr rhythms due to filming might be an issue, but it¡¯s likely because of breakfast. It¡¯s usually hard to control your diet at home.¡± ¡°Oh, so¡­¡± Although my response was flimsy, Park Soo-bin nodded as if she understood perfectly. I realized she seemed to have grown up very pure. ¡°Then, will you give me your autograph if I return to my original weight!?¡± Nod- Seeing her face so close with a strange gleam of determination in her eyes, I nodded unconsciously. With a look of firm resolution, Park Soo-bin nodded to herself and then disappeared somewhere. Watching her retreating figure, I quietly shook my head. * ¡°CEO-nim.¡± ¡°¡­¡­.¡± ¡°Kim Eun-ha CEO-nim!¡± ¡°Huh!? What is it, why are you suddenly shouting?¡± ¡°Do you know how many times I¡¯ve called you? If you want Kang Woo-ju¡¯s autograph, just ask for one.¡± ¡°¡­It¡¯s not like that!¡± ¡°Please close your inte window before you speak.¡± On Kim Eun-ha¡¯s phone screen was a photo of Kang Woo-ju¡¯s autograph uploaded by a fan. Hastily hiding it, sheposed her expression. ¡°Secretary Yoon.¡± ¡°This is beyond my capability.¡± ¡°I haven¡¯t even said anything yet?¡± ¡°You¡¯re going to ask me to get Woo-ju-ssi¡¯s autograph.¡± ¡°¡­¡­.¡± ¡°I¡¯ll resign as of today.¡± ¡°Hey-!!¡± After a bit of scuffle, Kim Eun-ha eventually seeded in obtaining Kang Woo-ju¡¯s autograph. ***** ?? Join our Discord ¨C Chapter 45 - If You Understand, You Should Respond, Shouldnt You? Chapter 45: If You Understand, You Should Respond, Shouldn¡¯t You? ¡°Hello, Director.¡± ¡°Our star actor is here.¡± ¡°Are you going to do that too, Director?¡± ¡°Well, it¡¯s true. By the way, did you watch the trailer?¡± ¡°Yes.¡± I nodded my head obediently. I may be acting calm now, but at home, I was hitting refresh every ten seconds to check thements. ¡®¡­Honestly, it¡¯s a bit unnerving.¡¯ The trailer for surpassed 500,000 views in less than a day. Considering the average view count for drama teasers is around 300,000, it¡¯s an incredibly high number. It even made it to the trending videos, so the view count is still increasing in real-time. At this rate, reaching a million views is more than possible. Perhaps because of this, the atmosphere on set was generally bright. Everyone seemed to sense a big hiting. Director Kang In-ho¡¯s face also bore a constant rxed smile¡­ ¡®Not at all!?¡¯ Contrary to my expectations, Director Kang In-ho¡¯s face waspletely pale. His eyes were somewhat dazed, like a madman. Director Kang In-ho tried to force a smile, but his stiff lips trembled. ¡®¡­Is that for cold sweat?¡¯ I wondered why he had a towel around his neck, and it turned out he was sweating so much that his hair looked drenched. ¡°¡­Are you okay?¡± ¡°No, not at all. Not even a little bit.¡± His reply was absurdly firm. I asked if he was sick, but that didn¡¯t seem to be the case. ¡°He¡¯s under a lot of pressure.¡± The answer came from elsewhere. Jung Ha-rin, who spotted us from a distance and approached, sighed deeply while looking at Kang In-ho. ¡°Honestly, we thought it might get around 100,000 views. Even that would be amazing for the first day. But this far exceeded our expectations.¡± ¡°But isn¡¯t this a good thing? Being in the spotlight means good news for us.¡± ¡°The problem is that the expectations are too high. If viewers feel the trailer was the peak, we¡¯re done for. And for us, it¡¯s basically¡­¡± Tap, tap, tap- Even while talking, Jung Ha-rin was wiping the cold sweat off the dazed Kang In-ho. Her genuinely pitying expression was a bonus. However, the most ridiculous part was Jung Ha-rin¡¯s appearance. She was wearing round sses and hair rollers, something you¡¯d never normally see. Dark circles extended heavily beneath her eyes. It was clear she hadn¡¯t slept for several nights. It didn¡¯t seem like the right time for her to be worrying about others. ¡°By the way, how¡¯s the script¡­?¡± Creak-! The moment she heard the word ¡°script¡±, Jung Ha-rin turned her head like a broken robot. Her unfocused eyes rolled, then suddenly gleamed as she red at me. If this scene were captured on camera, it could appear in a horror movie without any edits, it was that eerie. ¡°The script? Hahaha¡­ Yes, I need to write it. The script. I have to write it¡­ I¡¯ve been sitting in front of the keyboard for twenty hours a day¡­ Why isn¡¯t there more content? Hehehe.¡± ¡°¡­¡± Seeing these twopletely out of their minds, I realized today¡¯s shoot wouldn¡¯t go smoothly. If I said the wrong thing here, it would probably only make things worse, so I quickly turned away. I found a suitable spot as usual and sat down to memorize my lines, but a man suddenly appeared and disrupted all my ns. ¡°Oh! Isn¡¯t it our superstar, Kang Woo-ju-nim?¡± The man, with his arms wide open and making somewhat excessive gestures, was Choi Ji-hwan, the protagonist of . After a fierce struggle, he pushes away Kang Joo-heon, the viin in the story, and achieves a typical narrative where he wins the love of the female lead. Like Park Soo-bin, he also used his real name for the role. ¡®It seems like he didn¡¯t like the trailer much.¡¯ Unlike the yful greetings from Park Soo-bin or Director Kang In-ho earlier, his tone was unmistakably sarcastic. Well, it¡¯s understandable. His screen time in episodes 1 and 2 was cut by more than half due to sudden script changes, and he lost his presence in the main trailer. ¡®Choi Ji-hwan must be very upset.¡¯ A rookie actor. In other words, someone who barely snagged a lead role after a long period of anonymity, only to have a parachute neere and take away his screen time. I can¡¯t deny that I got the role through connections. Of course, Writer Jung Ha-rin and Director Kang In-ho wouldn¡¯t have revised the script for such petty reasons. ¡®I can understand how he feels.¡¯ But that¡¯s as far as it goes. It¡¯s not like I can hug him tofort him or apologize for it. So, I behaved as I always do. I kept my eyes fixed on the script without reacting at all. This character image suits me perfectly at times like this. ¡°¡¤¡¤¡¤¡¤¡¤¡¤.¡± Squeeze- Through my peripheral vision, I saw Choi Ji-hwan clench his fist tightly. He probably wouldn¡¯t punch me, but my behavior had clearly irritated him. Even though he was the one who provoked me first. ¡°Kang Woo-ju-ssi.¡± ¡°Yes. Go ahead.¡± ¡°Isn¡¯t itmon courtesy to at least look at each other when having a conversation?¡± Swoosh- Finally, I lifted my eyes from the script and turned to Choi Ji-hwan. Contrary to his earlier words, he flinched when our eyes met. I turned back to the script again, implying he could leave if he had nothing more to say. Angrier, Choi Ji-hwan trembled slightly and continued speaking. ¡°You¡¯re very different from what the rumors say. Sunbae-nim.¡± ¡°¡¤¡¤¡¤¡¤¡¤¡¤.¡± Sunbae-nim, huh. I get it now. With that one word, I understood where Choi Ji-hwan¡¯s confidence came from. This guy is from the same department as me. ¡®¡­This damned university is useless in real life.¡¯ The gap in our graduation years must be only one or two. If he passed an audition right after graduation, it could be up to three years. Depending on military service and other factors, we might have crossed paths on campus a few times. But I don¡¯t remember him. I barely kept in touch with a handful of juniors. ¡®It¡¯s probably the same for him.¡¯ Given how he was being all polite recently, it¡¯s clear he didn¡¯t know who I was. But I¡¯ve recently risen to fame on social media as the ¡°Cafe Guy¡±, and hit it big with the drama trailer. Someone from our department must have recognized me. I don¡¯t know Choi Ji-hwan¡¯s circle of friends, but seeing us in the same project probably prompted someone to contact him. ¡®¡­It probably wasn¡¯t good news.¡¯ Otherwise, Choi Ji-hwan wouldn¡¯t be ring at me with such burning eyes. He might think he found my weak spot. ¡°Haha, now you¡¯re finally looking at me properly. Your acting skills are so great that I can¡¯t understand why you were an unknown.¡± ¡°¡¤¡¤¡¤¡¤¡¤¡¤.¡± ¡°Yesterday, I had drinks with some ssmates. We were watching the trailer together, and someone recognized you, Sunbae-nim. I only remembered after they mentioned it.¡± As I continued to stare silently, Choi Ji-hwan, thinking he had guessed correctly, began to chatter away with a bright smile. ¡°Call sunbae. He never attended department drinking parties, but if someone called him after it ended, he¡¯de running like a ghost. That¡¯s why we called him that.¡± ¡°¡¤¡¤¡¤¡¤¡¤¡¤.¡± ¡°And then he got on the bad side of the professors and senior members of the academic society, couldn¡¯t attend sses properly, and eventually ran off to Daehak-ro without graduating, right?¡± That was half true. There were various reasons, including my father¡¯s cerebral hemorrhage, and the need to earn tuition and living expenses to graduate. ¡®In a way, I did run away.¡¯ At that time, I had many thoughts while watching Seo Ju-heon, who lived a dazzling lifepletely opposite to mine, despite being the same age. I thought that if I could get on stage, If I was given just one chance, I would quickly be in the spotlight. ¡®Reality was harsher than that.¡¯ In a world filled with people who had good educational backgrounds, looks, and even came from wealthy families, how many ces would want a high school graduate with no connections? Moreover, without any proper acting lessons, what did I have that was better than others? ¡®I only realized that after actually getting on stage.¡¯ I yed the role of a stand-in for a multitasker, thinking it was my chance, but Ipletely ruined the performance. Though I had memorized the lines and actions perfectly, my overall expressiveness wascking. I can still vividly remember the cold stares of the audience. ¡®Well, it made me snap out of it.¡¯ I halved my already meager living expenses. I also cut down on sleep to practice more. I practiced acting in front of the mirror until I passed out, and once I regained consciousness, I practiced again. Even while working as a designated driver, if the customer fell into a deep sleep, I would practice being a secretary on my own. All those efforts umted one by one, creating the person I am today. Of course, without Kim Eun-ha, I might not have seen the fruits of my efforts. ¡°And now, that person managed to seduce an innocent chaebol¡­¡± ¡°Choi Ji-hwan.¡± Maybe that¡¯s why. I canugh off insults directed at me, but when Kim Eun-ha¡¯s name is mentioned, my patience quickly wears thin. Thud- Eventually, I closed the script I was reading. Then, I silently stood up and red at him. * ¡°Choi Ji-hwan.¡± Swoosh- As Kang Woo-ju¡¯s cold voice echoed, the surrounding air froze. Along with it, Choi Ji-hwan¡¯s lips dried up instantly. That¡¯s acting. It had to be. ¨C Kang Woo-ju, isn¡¯t he a bum? ¨C Yeah. I heard he even worked at a hostess bar at night. ¨C Haha, he¡¯s just using his skills to be a kept man, isn¡¯t he? The conversations I had with my university friendsst night shed through my mind. Kang Woo-ju, who suddenly rose to fame from obscurity, was a perfect topic for gossip. ¨C Yeah, that sunbae was famous since university. He would never be seen at gatherings, but if girls got drunk, he¡¯d show up like a ghost and take them away. ¨C Right. I heard from another sunbae too. They said to be really careful about Kang Woo-ju. But look at him brazenly showing his face around. ¨C Hey, don¡¯t ever mention this elsewhere. Apparently, recently the sunbaes and professors got in touch with everyone, telling them not to talk about Kang Woo-ju anywhere. They even paid them off? ¨C No way, really? Truth and lies cleverly intertwined, and the rumors about Kang Woo-ju grew. Thanks to this, the jealousy and envy growing unconsciously in Choi Ji-hwan¡¯s heart awakened. ¨C No wonder¡­ ¨C Why, Ji-hwan, what is it? ¨C Yeah, you¡¯ve seen him up close, tell us. ¨C Actually, he got into this drama through connections. The other day, someone came to the set iming to be his girlfriend, and the director and head writer stood up and greeted her. ¨C Crazy¡­ Was the rumor true? As the conversation continued, Choi Ji-hwan¡¯s admiration for Kang Woo-ju¡¯s acting began to distort in his mind. The beef dinners and meals he had treated them to were all reinterpreted as bribes, and eventually, Kang Woo-ju was reduced to the image of a parachute actor covering hisck of skill with money. ¡®It must have been like that¡­¡¯ Gulp-! But what was this overwhelming pressure he was feeling now? Forced to look up at Kang Woo-ju due to their height difference, Choi Ji-hwan screamed internally. Looking into those pitch-ck pupils, as endless as the universe, felt like staring into a poison-filled swamp. Slowly. Very slowly. It felt like his soul was beingpletely sucked into some unknown force, eventually to be devoured. Choi Ji-hwan wanted to turn and run away immediately, but his entire body was frozen, and he couldn¡¯t even move his eyelids at will. ¡®What kind of person has eyes like this¡­?¡¯ I¡¯m going to die. I¡¯m going to die. I¡¯m going to die. Just as he was about to faint, mesmerized by those murderous eyes, someone reached out to save him. ¡°Ji-hwan-ssi! Woo-ju-ssi! It¡¯s almost our turn! Don¡¯t practice alone,e quickly!¡± Park Soo-bin, who was standing a bit away, waved brightly and called out to them. She seemed to think the two were practicing together. Gasp-! Though it was a misunderstanding, it provided some relief for Choi Ji-hwan. As he panted heavily, Kang Woo-ju, who had been looking down at him, slightly lowered his head. Making sure Park Soo-bin couldn¡¯t see his mouth, he whispered in an emotionless voice. ¡°Choi Ji-hwan-ssi.¡± ¡°Y-Yes!?¡± ¡°I don¡¯t care what you think of me. However, if your loose lips cause any disruption to my ns, you¡¯d better be prepared.¡± A dark shadow loomed over Choi Ji-hwan¡¯s head, choking him. Even without physical contact, he felt suffocated. ¡°Stop lingering around me so annoyingly.¡± ¡°¡¤¡¤¡¤¡¤¡¤¡¤.¡± ¡°If you understand, you should respond, shouldn¡¯t you?¡± ¡°Ah¡­!¡± So tense that he couldn¡¯t even speak, Choi Ji-hwan nodded desperately. Only then did Kang Woo-ju turn around and walk toward the filming set as if nothing had happened. Choi Ji-hwan could only stare nkly at his retreating figure. ¡®¡­Is that really just acting?¡¯ It would be more believable to say his entire university life was an act. Maybe he was secretly the son of a chairman¡­ ¡°Ji-hwan-ssi! Hurry up!¡± ¡°I-I¡¯ming!¡± Choi Ji-hwan¡¯s thoughts were cut short by Park Soo-bin¡¯s urging. He managed his expression and hurriedly ran over. Thanks to that, Choi Ji-hwan didn¡¯t realize that the words Kang Woo-ju had just uttered were all lines from . ***** ?? Join our Discord ¨C Chapter 46 - Lovely Juniors Chapter 46: Lovely Juniors ¡°Um¡­ sunbae.¡± After a day¡¯s worth of filming ended. Choi Ji-hwan cautiously approached me. Perhaps because of what happened in the morning, he had been avoiding me all day, but he somehow mustered the courage. ¡®He must have been worried.¡¯ In the drama, Choi Ji-hwan¡¯s role is to bring down Kang Joo-heon, who looks down from a lofty position. But the acting he showed today on set was rather disappointing. Whenever we had scenes together, he kept being overly conscious of me. ¨C Ji-hwan-ssi, why are you so stiff? Where did all the spirit you showed at the first audition go? ¨C ¡­Sorry. ¨C ¡­Alright. Let¡¯s try again. Fortunately, when we were filming earlier scenes, it wasn¡¯t unusual for other actors to feel intimidated by me, so no one seemed to suspect anything specific between us. However, we still have a mountain of scenes to shoot together. Today, we had few face-to-face scenes, so we barely managed to get through it. In the uing courtroom scenes, we¡¯ll be shooting for almost an hour straight. If Choi Ji-hwan keeps this up, it will be problematic for both of us. ¡®Let¡¯s at least hear what he has to say.¡¯ Seeing how he followed me all the way to the parking lot right after filming ended, he must have something to say. Hopefully, he wouldn¡¯t dramatically pull out a knife here. I hoped it wasn¡¯t the worst-case scenario where someone like Director Baek or Park Ji-hoon, or other candidates, instigated him, or where jealousy drove him to pull out a knife. ¡°I¡¯m sorry-!!¡± Fortunately(?) what I feared didn¡¯t happen. As soon as Choi Ji-hwan met my eyes, he immediately bowed deeply and apologized. As someone who fully understood his feelings, part of me wanted to generously let it go. ¡®But our Joo-heon says not to.¡¯ Kang Joo-heon, who had taken up residence in my mind, firmly shook his head. He said I shouldn¡¯t go easy on someone who dared to mention Kim Eun-ha lightly. ¡°I¡¯m pretty sure I warned you.¡± Flinch-! Choi Ji-hwan, who was bowing, noticeably flinched. I looked down at the back of his head with a cold gaze and spoke. ¡°Do you even know what you did wrong?¡± ¡°¡­Yes, I¡¯m reflecting on it.¡± ¡°Tell me.¡± ¡°What?¡± Choi Ji-hwan lifted his head slightly. He nced at me cautiously and slowly raised his back, looking like he didn¡¯t understand what I meant. ¡°You said you know what you did wrong.¡± ¡°Ah! Well, actually¡­¡± After hesitating for a long time, Choi Ji-hwan finally started speaking. Once he began, he started pouring out various things, as if his mouth had loosened up. He talked about what was discussed when he gathered with his peers yesterday, and why he acted the way he did. ¡°To be honest, even if you weren¡¯t parachuted in, I knew you were the best fit for Kang Joo-heon. It seems I made a mistake out of momentary jealousy.¡± ¡°It seems?¡± ¡°I made a mistake! I¡¯m sorry!¡± Whoosh-! Once again, Choi Ji-hwan deeply bowed and apologized, his voice resonating loudly in the parking lot. ¡®¡­Well, if I thought a parachute was taking a lead role I worked hard for, I¡¯d lose my mind too. People make mistakes.¡¯ I fully understood his feelings. He acted impulsively with youthful exuberance, butter, when he came to his senses, he realized how bold his actions were. ¡®A parachute is quite something.¡¯ It¡¯s a roundabout way of saying someone has taken a spot without merit, but conversely, it means they hold significant power. Especially in the case of dramas, the person must have enough influence to directly or indirectly impact the broadcasting station. Even if it¡¯s the lead role in a drama, he¡¯s just a rookie actor in his first project. Even the great Kim Young-ho doesn¡¯t touch me recklessly, not just because I act well. ¡®Still, I need to settle this.¡¯ I wasn¡¯t sure how much of Choi Ji-hwan¡¯s apology was calcted, but I could feel his sincerity. However, it seemed a bit too easy to end it here. Usually, considering social rtionships, this would be enough to forgive and move on. Yet, Kang Joo-heon within me frowned once again. ¡°Choi Ji-hwan-ssi.¡± ¡°Yes! Sunbae!¡± Choi Ji-hwan, like a soldier on high alert, quickly raised his head. I gave him a very soft and gentle smile. ¡°I want to treat our cute juniors to a meal.¡± ¡°Yes!? You, you don¡¯t have to¡­ No! I¡¯ll gather everyone from my year and below you. Just give the order!¡± Seeing my junior, who was ready to share even thest grain of rice with his peers, brought a benevolent smile to my face. * ¡°Wow, the atmosphere here is amazing.¡± ¡°Choi Ji-hwan, are you sure this is okay?¡± ¡°¡­Huh? What do you mean?¡± ¡°I came here once with my ex-boyfriend, and even the cheapest dish was tens of thousands of won. And that was just some breadcrumbs.¡± A remark loaded with implications of whether he was overextending himself brought an awkward smile to Choi Ji-hwan¡¯s face. He scratched his cheek for a moment before reluctantly exining. ¡°¡­It¡¯s okay. Although I gathered you all here today, our school¡¯s sunbae is paying.¡± ¡°What!? Why didn¡¯t you mention something so important earlier!?¡± ¡°A sunbae? Who is it? A guy or a girl? No, at this level, could it be Seo Jun-woo sunbae!? Wow, that would be amazing.¡± ¡°Sorry, he asked me to keep it a secret. But let¡¯s start ordering. He said we could order anything on the menu.¡± ¡°Wow¡­ This is top ss.¡± ¡°It must be Seo Jun-woo sunbae.¡± ¡°Oh my gosh! It really is!¡± The peers began to specte among themselves, and Choi Ji-hwan awkwardly averted his gaze, unable to respond. ¡°Is heing here in person?¡± ¡°No, he¡¯s very busy.¡± ¡°But you never know, right?¡± ¡°¡­Well, maybe?¡± ¡°I¡¯m going to the restroom for a moment!¡± ¡°Me too!¡± The girls, who hade in full makeup and matching dress codes from when Choi Ji-hwan invited them to the fancy restaurant, now rushed to the bathroom to double-check their appearance at the mention of Seo Jun-woo. The guys, unable to hide their excitement, were also looking at the menu with thrilled expressions. ¡°Ji-hwan, there are no prices listed here.¡± ¡°Yeah, that¡¯s how ces like this are.¡± Wow- His answer drew exmations of awe from his peers. Watching them, Choi Ji-hwan let out a secret bitter smile. It was his first time here too. ¡®¡­I have no idea what any of this is.¡¯ Cassoulet, Boeuf Bourguignon, Quiche Lorraine, etc. The menu was filled with dishes whose ingredients he couldn¡¯t even begin to guess. As a result, the peers searched for each dish on their phones. An employee, seeing this, approached them cautiously. ¡°If you don¡¯t mind, may I rmend some dishes for you? The VVIP requested that you all be treated to a full-course meal.¡± ¡°F-Full course¡­¡± Though taken aback, they all nodded, and immediately, an array of dishes began to pour out. Starting with appetizers to stimte their appetites, followed by universally beloved steaks. Every bite melted in their mouths like snowkes, stimting their dopamine. ¡°Ji-hwan, thanks for this luxurious treat.¡± ¡°Really. Honestly, seeing the prices, I wouldn¡¯t be able to eat this with my own money, but since someone else is paying, it¡¯s incredibly sweet.¡± ¡°But is sunbae~nim really noting? You should try contacting him.¡± ¡°Ahaha¡­¡± Choi Ji-hwan could only give another awkward expression at his peers¡¯ praise and questions. He didn¡¯t really have anything he could say. He had just been told to reserve a restaurant he knew and let his friends have a fortable¡¯ meal there. ¡°Come to think of it, you came here right after filming today, didn¡¯t you? How was that guy? Did he show off and act all high and mighty again?¡± ¡°¡­That guy?¡± Choi Ji-hwan swallowed his unease at the innocent question from his peer. However, their greasy tongues, possibly thanks to the delicious food, didn¡¯t stop. ¡°Who else would it be, of course, I¡¯m talking about Kang Woo-ju. That guy must have a lot of money now. Why doesn¡¯t he host an event like this?¡± ¡°Yeah yeah, I took a ss with him, and I¡¯ve never even gotten an ice cream from him. How can you call such a person a sunbae?¡± ¡°He hasn¡¯t even graduated, so what kind of sunbae is he? In terms of graduation years, we¡¯re actually above him. Next time you see him, tell him to give us a proper bow.¡± Heh heh- The ridicule started again. Perhaps because these people had a lot of grievances with their seniors due to various injustices, they couldn¡¯t stop talking once Kang Woo-ju became the subject. ¡°Honestly, I¡¯m so jealous of Kang Woo-ju. I wish I could hook up with a chaebol and make my life easy. Why doesn¡¯t one fall from the sky for me?¡± ¡°With your looks, it¡¯s impossible.¡± ¡°Tsk tsk, what ignorant mortals. None of my ex-girlfriends ever stopped contacting me. One night is enough for anyone.¡± ¡°So that¡¯s why you always ghost them?¡± ¡°Ugh, you filthy bastards.¡± The girls pretended to be disgusted by the boys¡¯ crude conversation, but their upturned eyes indicated that they didn¡¯t really mind. ¡°Are those guys really men?¡± ¡°Ah, I miss Jun-woo sunbae.¡± ¡°It was so happy back when we were in school together. I heard a rumor that he¡¯sing back soon. I¡¯d re-enroll just to follow him around.¡± ¡°How can people from the same ss be so different?¡± No matter how the topic changed, it always circled back to the same subject like a ghost. After all, everyone here was either an aspiring actor or a supporting actor. The jealousy towards Kang Woo-ju was especially intense. None of them had seen his acting firsthand, and only a few had even had a proper conversation with him. ¡°¡­He doesn¡¯t seem like such a bad person.¡± ¡°Huh? What did you just say?¡± ¡°Did I hear that right?¡± ¡°What¡¯s with you all of a sudden?¡± The table, which had been bustling withughter and chatter, suddenly fell silent. All their sharp gazes turned towards Choi Ji-hwan. Flinching, but not retracting his statement, Choi Ji-hwan continued in a clearer voice. ¡°¡­When you actually get to know him, he doesn¡¯t seem like such a bad person. No, is he bad? I¡¯m not sure myself. He¡¯s a bit odd in many ways, but¡­¡± Shaking his head as if he didn¡¯t quite understand his own words, Choi Ji-hwan took a big gulp of the expensive wine he barely knew the name of to soothe his itchy throat. But his condition didn¡¯t improve at all, and he found himself stifling a bitterugh as he looked at his peers, who were staring at him as if he had lost his mind. ¡®When I leave, they¡¯ll probably talk behind my back just like they do about the sunbae.¡¯ He wasn¡¯t any different from them. He was fully aware of that. But the difference between them and himself was. ¡°¡­This wine is more astringent than I anticipated.¡± As if he had eaten spoiled food, his mouth, tongue, throat, and even his stomach all felt nauseous. Whether it was because of the wine or the reflection of his own image in the empty ss, Choi Ji-hwan couldn¡¯t decide. He stood up from his seat, looking around at the group. ¡°I don¡¯t feel well, so I¡¯m leaving early. You guys finish your meal.¡± ¡°Hey, Choi Ji-hwan! What¡¯s wrong with you?¡± A peer next to him grabbed his arm, but Choi Ji-hwan silently pulled his hand away. The peers who saw this let out derisiveughs. ¡°He was chatting just fine before, and now suddenly he¡¯s pretending to be all noble. Is it because hended the lead role and now needs to manage his image?¡± ¡°Did he get paid off by Kang Woo-ju or something?¡± ¡°¡­¡± Choi Ji-hwan silently listened to the increasingly harsh insults from his peers. Normally, he would be furious at their excessive criticism, but for some reason, the more he listened, the more ashamed he felt. This was because he saw his own past behavior reflected in them like a mirror. If he could, he would sew up his past self¡¯s mouth. ¡°I¡¯m leaving.¡± With nothing more to say, he turned to go. Or at least, he was about to when it happened. ¡°Leaving already?¡± ¡°¡­!?¡± Choi Ji-hwan turned his head in the direction of the voice, eyes widening in surprise. His peers also stood speechless, mouths agape. All eyes were on a man confidently walking into the restaurant. ¡°Sunbae¡­¡± Kang Woo-ju lightly patted Choi Ji-hwan¡¯s shoulder, who was staring at him nkly. He then sat in the seat the quick-witted staff had prepared, as if it were the most natural thing. He looked around at the stunned group and smiled. ¡°Judging by your faces, I don¡¯t think I need to introduce myself.¡± He was smiling. His tone was soft. But why did it feel so suffocating? ¡°Nice to meet you, my lovely juniors.¡± Gulp- The sound of dry throats swallowing echoed from all around like a chorus. ***** ?? Join our Discord ¨C Chapter 47 - If You’ve Done Wrong, You Should Be Punished, Right? Chapter 47: If You¡¯ve Done Wrong, You Should Be Punished, Right? ¡°¡¤¡¤¡¤¡¤¡¤¡¤.¡± ¡°¡¤¡¤¡¤¡¤¡¤¡¤.¡± A heavy silence descended over the table. Since Kang Woo-ju had rented out the entire ce, there were no other guests present. The employees who had been waiting nearby quietly retreated, sensing the tension, which only made Choi Ji-hwan and his colleagues feel more ufortable. It felt like all the gourmet food they had stuffed themselves with until their stomachs were full was about toe bursting out. ¡°Hm. It seems you¡¯re not pleased with the special course I prepared. Or is it that dining with me is ufortable?¡± ¡°¡­Not at all!¡± ¡°Please, speak freely!¡± Those who had been eyeing each other warily quickly raised their voices at Kang Woo-ju¡¯s chilly tone. They were excessively polite, like freshmen who had just entered school meeting a senior student. ¡°Is that so? If you think about it, I haven¡¯t even graduated yet. By graduation year, you all are actually my seniors.¡± Grit- At Kang Woo-ju¡¯s words, one person tightly closed their eyes, another bit their tongue, and yet another bit their lip. Although their expressions differed, the thought that came to their minds was chillingly the same. ¡®¡¤¡¤¡¤He heard everything!¡¯ It wasn¡¯t clear how he had overheard, but that wasn¡¯t important now. When gossip reaches the subject¡¯s ears, it should only be in the form of ¡®rumors¡¯. The origin must remain untraceable. asionally people deliberately let someone overhear gossip about themselves, talking behind their back to their face, but that only happens if the target is deemed truly insignificant. ¡®¡¤¡¤¡¤Shit. We¡¯re really screwed.¡¯ ¡®¡¤¡¤¡¤Looks like we¡¯re in serious trouble.¡¯ ¡®¡¤¡¤¡¤How did ite to this?¡¯ Of course, Kang Woo-ju did not fall into that category. Perhaps in the past, but certainly not now. He was currently the hottest new actor in South Korea, someone with enough influence to affect the broadcastingworks directly. ¡°Ahaha¡­ You joke well. Who cares about graduation years in this field? Once a senior, always a senior!¡± ¡°Of course! Please, speakfortably. It¡¯s actually more ufortable for us if you don¡¯t.¡± ¡°Yes, sunbae-nim!¡± The juniors, who had been badmouthing Kang Woo-ju earlier,pletely changed their attitude. They put on desperate smiles, showcasing their lifelong honed acting skills. Since they couldn¡¯t undo what was already done, they had to get down on their knees and lick it up if necessary. ¡°If that¡¯s the case, then go ahead and finish your meal.¡± ¡°Huh?¡± ¡°I haven¡¯t done anything for my juniors so far. We might not get another chance to gather like this. I¡¯ve prepared plenty of food, so enjoy as much as you want.¡± ¡°¡¤¡¤¡¤¡¤¡¤¡¤.¡± At Kang Woo-ju¡¯s words, everyone exchanged wary nces again. They swallowed their nausea, remembering their already full stomachs. They had stuffed themselves, thinking they wouldn¡¯t get to eat such delicious food again anytime soon. ¡°Sunbae-nim, we¡¯re fine¡¤¡¤¡¤.¡± ¡°Ah, are the menu names a bit unfamiliar?¡± ¡°Did you call for me?¡± When Kang Woo-ju raised his hand, an employee who had been standing far away quickly ran over with a menu. The employee even opened the menu wide, making it easy for him to order. ¡°Hm. What should we get¡¤¡¤¡¤.¡± Gulp-! Watching Kang Woo-ju ponder over the menu, everyone swallowed nervously. He looked like the King of Hell scrutinizing the Book of Life and Death. They desperately signaled towards the dishes on the table, but it was useless. ¡°Give us everything on the menu.¡± ¡°Cough, cough-!¡± Unintentionally, someone gasped at the word ¡°everything¡±. However, Kang Woo-ju and even the staff who had witnessed the earlier meal ignored them. ¡°We¡¯ll prepare it quickly.¡± Ignoring the juniors¡¯ desperate nces, the manager respectfully addressed Kang Woo-ju. As soon as he disappeared, other waiting employees swarmed in and cleaned the table spotlessly, making it look brand new. ¡°I¡¯m not sure about my juniors¡¯ tastes. At least one of the dishes should suit you.¡± Smirk- Kang Woo-ju smiled kindly. His juniors, facing him up close, trembled all over. They had no doubt that if a devil existed, it would look just like him. However, they couldn¡¯t possibly confront him in this situation. Their misced anger turned towards the colleague who had led them to the executioner¡¯s block. ¡®¡¤¡¤¡¤Choi Ji-hwan!¡¯ ¡®¡¤¡¤¡¤It¡¯s all your fault!¡¯ ¡®¡¤¡¤¡¤How dare you betray us?¡¯ Their eyes, filled with murderous intent, focused on one spot. But Choi Ji-hwan epted all their res calmly. Because their stares only made the suspicion growing in his heart blossom. ¡®¡¤¡¤¡¤I¡¯ve been mistaken all along.¡¯ He thought everyone here was his friend. No, he was sure of it, at least until he met Kang Woo-ju directly. ¡®There¡¯s no one to me but myself.¡¯ Everything was his fault. It was his jealousy that made him act cocky towards Kang Woo-ju. He called his colleagues to this ce knowing what could happen. Everything was his doing. An adult should take responsibility for their actions. Choi Ji-hwan humbly epted this fact. ¡°The food you ordered is here.¡± Right then, the table started filling up with various top-tier dishes. Choi Ji-hwan¡¯s stomach was already ufortably full, though perhaps not as much as his colleagues. Yet he picked up his fork and knife without hesitation. He immediately started cutting into his steak. It seemed to be ordered rare, as the knife revealed bright red flesh that looked like blood. ¡°¡¤¡¤¡¤¡¤¡¤¡¤.¡± His colleagues watched in a daze. Despite being the center of their attention, Choi Ji-hwan didn¡¯t waver. He even boldly put the freshly cut meat into his mouth. The texture, as if he were chewing raw meat, and the juices bursting forth stimted his senses. The unfamiliar texture of the rare steak and the difort in his stomach made him want to spit it out. But Choi Ji-hwan ignored all signals from his brain, chewing and swallowing the meat thoroughly. ¡°Sunbae-nim.¡± Havingpletely gulping the meat in his mouth, he slowly turned his head to meet Kang Woo-ju¡¯s gaze. ¡°Thank you for giving us this opportunity.¡± Seeing Choi Ji-hwan not averting his gaze, Kang Woo-ju raised an eyebrow as if surprised, while his colleagues widened their eyes as if realizing something. Opportunity. No one here failed to understand the meaning behind those words. It implied that if they finished the meal in front of them, they would be forgiven. ¡®Are you both out of your minds!?¡¯ ¡®There¡¯s no way that¡¯s possible.¡¯ ¡®We¡¯re not food fighters. Even if we were hungry, it would be impossible. He¡¯s just doing this to screw us over!¡¯ Of course, the immediate thought in their heads was rejection. These days, if a senior treated a junior like this, it would be considered harassment and could even lead to prison. Nom nom- However, seeing Choi Ji-hwan constantly shoveling food into his mouth right in front of them, they couldn¡¯t bring themselves to voice their objections. Despite his expression showing no signs of enjoyment, his mouth didn¡¯t stop. Watching him eat with a desperate resolve to survive, his colleagues¡¯ thoughts began to change gradually. ¡®Opportunity, huh¡¤¡¤¡¤.¡¯ ¡®Is he really going to forgive us?¡¯ ¡®If what he said is true¡¤¡¤¡¤.¡¯ Even so, they couldn¡¯t bring themselves to touch the food. At that moment, one colleague, as if making a decision, picked up a knife. ¡°Thank you for the meal, sunbae-nim!¡± Nom nom-! With a voice filled with desperation, she started shoving food into her mouth. ¡°Hey, Jang Hee-jin! Why are you doing this too!?¡± Gulp-! Whew- Whether it was because of the food she had forcibly swallowed or because she was ufortable bringing up the truth she had buried for so long, Jang Hee-jin¡¯s throat kept feeling parched. She quickly downed the remaining wine in her ss. Then, with eyes now sharper, she looked around at her colleagues. ¡°¡¤¡¤¡¤Now that we¡¯re talking about it, honestly, I knew that sunbae-nim Kang Woo-ju wasn¡¯t that kind of person.¡± ¡°What!?¡± Ignoring the confused looks from her colleagues, she bowed her head towards Kang Woo-ju. ¡°¡¤¡¤¡¤Back then, I was grateful. And I¡¯m sorry. Even though I knew everything, I still badmouthed you behind your back with the others. I¡¯m truly ashamed.¡± ¡°What are you talking about¡¤¡¤¡¤.¡± ¡°You all vaguely remember, right? At the freshmen wee party, some of the girls couldn¡¯t refuse the drinks the seniors were giving them and ended uppletely passed out, almost being taken advantage of.¡± ¡°¡¤¡¤¡¤¡¤¡¤¡¤.¡± A heavy silence fell over the group at Hee-jin¡¯s words. Those hearing this for the first time widened their eyes, and some of the girls bit their lips and turned away. ¡°I don¡¯t remember exactly because I was also out of it, but¡­ I recall someone trying to drag me away and then getting into a serious fight with someone else. When I came to, I was in a room with the other girls.¡± ¡°¡¤¡¤¡¤¡¤¡¤¡¤.¡± ¡°At the time, I was too dizzy to understand what was happening, but thinking back on it, I believe sunbae-nim took care of us drunk girls. Am I right?¡± ¡°¡¤¡¤¡¤¡¤¡¤¡¤.¡± Kang Woo-ju neither confirmed nor denied, but sometimes silence speaks volumes. Choi Ji-hwan and the others felt the pieces of a puzzle they had stashed away in a corner of their minds falling into ce. ¡°Then that rumor¡¤¡¤¡¤.¡± ¡°Was maliciously spread by someone.¡± She spoke indirectly, using the term ¡®someone¡¯, but everyone knew she meant the other seniors who tried to take advantage of the drunk juniors. ¡°Anyway, it¡¯s true that sunbae-nim took the unconscious girls to a motel. Adding a bit of malicious embellishment to that wouldn¡¯t have been difficult.¡± ¡°Why didn¡¯t you say anything until now¡¤¡¤¡¤.¡± ¡°Because I was scared!¡± Jang Hee-jin bowed her head deeply. Trying to suppress her emotions, her tightly clenched fists turned white. ¡°You know too. In this industry, once you¡¯re marked, someone from an ordinary family like mine has to give up on their career. I was afraid of being marked if I opened my mouth in front of you or other seniors. I was scared that my dream would disappear! I was so terrified¡¤¡¤¡¤.¡± Sniff- Finally unable to hold back, a tear fell from her face. But without thinking of wiping it away, Jang Hee-jin stabbed some food with her fork and shoved it into her mouth, as if trying to swallow all her emotions. ¡°That¡¯s¡¤¡¤¡¤.¡± The group watching her lost their words. The things they had said and done until now shed through their minds like a panorama. Their gazes naturally converged in one ce. There stood Kang Woo-ju, eyes closed as if deep in thought. ¡°Enough.¡± When he finally opened his eyes. Kang Woo-ju raised his hand, stopping Choi Ji-hwan and Hee-jin, who were still eating, and slowly stood up. ¡°Choi Ji-hwan.¡± ¡°Yes, yes! Sunbae-nim!¡± ¡°I¡¯ve lost my mood. I¡¯m leaving first. You clean up ande back.¡± ¡°¡¤¡¤¡¤Sunbae-nim. I¡¯m sorry!¡± Choi Ji-hwan sprang up from his seat and bowed deeply. Seeing him, the others quickly stood and bent their bodies as well. ¡°We¡¯re sorry!¡± ¡°¡¤¡¤¡¤¡¤¡¤¡¤.¡± Swish- Kang Woo-ju nced over his juniors briefly before turning away and leaving without a word. After Kang Woo-ju left, and amidst the slightly chaotic atmosphere where everyone was just eyeing each other, Choi Ji-hwan stepped forward. ¡°¡¤¡¤¡¤Let¡¯s clean up and head back.¡± ¡°Hey, is that what you should be saying?¡± ¡°Yeah! You suddenly called us to an expensive restaurant, and now this. If you had given us a heads-up, this wouldn¡¯t have happened! Trying to score points with the senior¡¤¡¤¡¤.¡± ¡°Jang Hee-jin, you¡¯re the same!¡± ¡°What do you mean¡¤¡¤¡¤.¡± As soon as Kang Woo-ju disappeared, the group began the me game again. The first target was Choi Ji-hwan, who had organized this meeting, and the second was Jang Hee-jin, who had joined midway. ¡°Your acting was pretty good today, huh? Who in our department doesn¡¯t know? You knew everything but kept quiet. But now you¡¯re ying the victim with those fake tears.¡± ¡°It¡¯s not like that¡¤¡¤¡¤.¡± ¡°Shut up, fuck! Why do I have to deal with this bullshit even after graduation? Kang Woo-ju, that bastard thinks he¡¯s something because he¡¯s dating a chaebol. But he¡¯s just¡¤¡¤¡¤.¡± ¡°But he¡¯s just what.¡± ¡°¡¤¡¤¡¤¡¤¡¤¡¤!?¡± The group quickly turned their heads at the unfamiliar voice. Standing at the end of their gaze was a woman radiating a sharp aura. ¡°Where have I seen her before¡¤¡¤¡¤. Ah!¡± Realizing who she was, they covered their mouths with both hands. Especially the one who had been badmouthing Kang Woo-ju moments earlier turned pale as a ghost. ¡°Go on, continue.¡± ¡°It, it¡¯s not like that¡¤¡¤¡¤.¡± ¡°If it¡¯s not like that, then what?¡± ¡°I-I¡¯m sorry!¡± ¡°I already heard that earlier.¡± Swish- Kim Eun-ha grabbed the trembling woman¡¯s chin and lifted it. Forced to meet her gaze, the woman¡¯s pupils dted in fear. A cold smile yed on Kim Eun-ha¡¯s lips, devoid of any warmth. ¡°Woo-ju is too kind-hearted. He even wants to forgive irredeemable trash like you.¡± Swish- Kim Eun-ha scanned the group, making eye contact with each one. Her piercing gaze made them freeze like statues. ¡°What can we do? An ideal coupleplements each other¡¯s shorings, don¡¯t they?¡± ¡°I-I¡¯m the one who¡¯s wrong¡¤¡¤¡¤.¡± Shh- Kim Eun-ha brought her index finger to her lips. The silent pressure from her presence kept everyone from speaking. ¡°If you¡¯ve done wrong, you should be punished, right?¡± The smile on Kim Eun-ha¡¯s face deepened. ***** Join our Discord ¨C Chapter 48 - Perfume Chapter 48: Perfume ¡°Eun-ha ssi, you seem to be in a better mood than usual today. Did something good happen?¡± ¡°Hmm, I wonder. Maybe it¡¯s because I cleaned after a long time?¡± ¡°¡­Cleaning?¡± ¡°Yes! I tidied up some trash and did some recycling. It really clears my mind, you know?¡± Heh- From her tone and expression, to the way she was now openly humming, it seemed something had made her extremely happy. I doubted it was really the cleaning, but I felt like I shouldn¡¯t ask further. So, I decided to cast aside my random thoughts and focus on the situation in front of me. ¡°But are you really okay with this?¡± ¡°With what?¡± ¡°Meeting my parents all of a sudden. Well¡­ I mean, honestly, I wonder if there¡¯s really a need for it.¡± ¡°Hmm. Are you perhaps embarrassed of me?¡± ¡°No, not at all.¡± Kim Eun-ha raised the corners of her mouth in satisfaction at my immediate response, which hadn¡¯t even taken 0.1 seconds. I sighed in relief internally, but I still wasn¡¯t sure if it was really okay to have my parents and Kim Eun-ha meet. ¡®It¡¯s something that has to be done eventually¡­¡¯ But with my father¡¯s surgery imminent, I wasn¡¯t sure if now was the right time. Tap tap- As if she read my mind, Kim Eun-ha lightly tapped my nose with her finger. With a broad smile, she said, ¡°There are many reasons why I asked to meet your parents at this time, but the biggest reason is because of you.¡± ¡°Because of me?¡± ¡°Yes.¡± Kim Eun-ha nodded firmly. Seeing my puzzled expression, she continued, ¡°Your father¡¯s surgery is tomorrow, right?¡± ¡°That¡¯s right.¡± I couldn¡¯t not know since my mother called me every day. She must have told me over a hundred times, exaggerating a little. ¨C Son! Do you remember thedy who lived on the 5th floor where we used to live when you were little? She contacted me today, saying how wonderful you look now¡­ Most of the calls were from rtives or acquaintances after the pre-released trailer videos were out. It wasn¡¯t pleasant to have people who ignored us when we were struggling now contacting us. ¡®¡­Mother must feel differently though.¡¯ How many parents in the world would dislike someone praising their child? She¡¯d been looking forward to having something to brag about after always having to ask for favors from others. I could vaguely guess how happy she must be. So I just told her to be careful of strange requests like asking to borrow money or to meet me. ¨C This child, you¡¯re worried about everything. Oh, and your father keeps talking about you, it¡¯s getting quite annoying. Maybe¡­ ¨C I¡¯m sorry. I¡¯m busy with filming. ¨C I see¡­ I understand. Always take care of yourself. ¨C Sure. I¡¯lle by when I have time. Our conversations always ended this way. Just filming the drama took up all my time, not to mention studying economics, politics, and more to perfectly act as Kim Eun-ha¡¯s boyfriend. ¡®¡­What help would it be if I went?¡¯ Every time I heard my mother¡¯s disappointed voice, I felt suffocated. I knew how my parents felt, but what could I do with no time to spare? That¡¯s what I thought. At least, until today. ¡°It might be a bit ufortable for you, Woo-ju ssi, but from my perspective, it looks like you¡¯re making excuses to avoid meeting your parents.¡± ¡°What? Me?¡± ¡°What do you think of your parents, Woo-ju ssi?¡± ¡°Well¡­ hmm.¡± I instinctively stopped myself from answering and pressed my lips together. Kim Eun-ha¡¯s eyes, facing me directly, were unusually serious. I love and respect them. That wasn¡¯t the kind of clich¨¦d answer she wanted to hear. As if to prove this, Kim Eun-ha didn¡¯t rush me for a response. Thanks to this, I was able to deeply contemte the question she posed. ¡®¡­Is it really like that?¡¯ If someone asked me about my rtionship with my parents, I would answer without hesitation, ¡°It¡¯s not bad.¡± We talk on the phone regrly. We don¡¯t have arguments where we get visibly angry. Literally, our rtionship isn¡¯t bad. But saying we¡¯re close would be a bit ambiguous. We don¡¯t go on family trips together or act like friends without boundaries. ¡®I think our family is just average.¡¯ We weren¡¯t well-off enough like silver spoons or golden spoons, but it¡¯s not like they didn¡¯t do their best for their children. There were things they couldn¡¯t provide, but nothing they didn¡¯t try to give. ¡®We just grew up in different times.¡¯ South Korea. A country that experienced both colonization and civil war, transforming barrennd into a miraculous sess. The only country in the world to go from a developing country to a developed one in just over 50 years. This is a remarkable achievement, but such rapid development didn¡¯t only bring positive impacts. Especially, the generational gap due to age became severe, and this wasn¡¯t an exception between parents and their children. ¡®Come to think of it, maybe Eun-ha ssi is right¡­¡¯ Honestly, the existence of parents isn¡¯t alwaysfortable. As a kid, there were many days I cried because of their strict discipline. Of course, it was their first time being parents, and it was a time when child-rearing methods weren¡¯t well established. I fully understand this intellectually. ¡®People don¡¯t always act rationally.¡¯ Rather, we often act irrationally based on instinct. In this sense, there might betent traumas within me that I¡¯m not even aware of. ¡®Moreover, Eun-ha ssi lost her parents early.¡¯ For her, it might be ufortable to see the distant rtionship between my parents and me. With this thought, I slowly nodded. I somewhat agreed with Kim Eun-ha¡¯s point that I was avoiding facing my parents. ¡°¡­Certainly. There¡¯s some truth in that. No matter how busy I am, I could have at least dropped by the hospital to show my face.¡± ¡°Hmm. If you had denied it, I had about 17 examples prepared to counter, but you epted it faster than I thought.¡± ¡°Of course, I should. It¡¯s something you pointed out, Eun-ha ssi.¡± ¡°What?¡± Kim Eun-ha tilted her head as if she didn¡¯t understand. I then briefly exined my usual thoughts about her. ¡°To me, Eun-ha ssi is an incredibly amazing person. It¡¯s hard to believe we¡¯re the same age given how deep your thoughts are, and how vast your knowledge and experiences are.¡± ¡°¡­¡± ¡°Of course, a lotes from the material and mental wealth gained from being born into the Mirae Group. But not everyone in the same environment turns out like you.¡± For instance, within the Mirae Group itself, there were people who faced public bacsh for abusing their power. The reason she contracted with me in the first ce was because her rtives were trying to force her into marriage. Given she grew up in such a harsh environment, Kim Eun-ha could easily act like other chaebols, but she had many unexpectedly delicate sides. ¡®¡­Maybe it¡¯s more urate to say she¡¯s rational?¡¯ The distinction is a bit ambiguous, but at least from what I know, Kim Eun-ha never wielded power without reason. Rather, she frequently did things that reminded me of ¡°noblesse oblige¡±, like consistently volunteering at orphanages. Even if it was for image management, I genuinely respected Kim Eun-ha. After I briefly shared this, she looked at me with a somewhat pouty expression. ¡°Did I say something wrong?¡± ¡°The fact that you don¡¯t know is the biggest problem.¡± ¡°If you tell me what it is, I¡¯ll try to fix it.¡± ¡°¡­It¡¯s not necessary. Anyway, let¡¯s stop talking and head up, shall we? Your parents must be eagerly waiting.¡± Kim Eun-ha tantly changed the subject. However, there was no benefit in prying further, so I nodded silently. After parking the car, we tidied each other¡¯s appearances while facing one another. ¡®¡­Now that I think about it, Eun-ha ssi¡¯s outfit is different from usual.¡¯ It was quite refreshing to see Kim Eun-ha, who usually stuck to office attire, wearing a dress. Of course, it was still elegant and neat, making her look more feminine than usual. Even her makeup seemed lighter. I was also different. From the early morning, I had been dragged around to a hair salon and department store by Kim Eun-ha. ¡®Who would have thought I¡¯d be wearing a couple look.¡¯ A couple look isn¡¯t just matching clothes but coordinating materials, colors, and patterns. Thanks to this, it was neither in nor childish, creating an obvious couple vibe. ¡®¡­I¡¯m getting nervous.¡¯ Even though I wasn¡¯t introducing a real girlfriend, the thought of presenting Kim Eun-ha to my parents felt strange. ¡®Well, it¡¯s not entirely wrong.¡¯ If Kim Eun-ha achieves her goal sooner than expected or fails and no longer needs me, the chances of us getting married could increase. Though I might unintentionally deceive my parents, I couldn¡¯t tell them the truth either. To my parents, Kim Eun-ha would be remembered as my real girlfriend and future daughter-inw. ¡°Why do you look like that?¡± ¡°Just¡­ a bit nervous.¡± ¡°Hehe. It¡¯s not like you, Woo-ju ssi. Don¡¯t act like that in front of your parents. Let¡¯s practice beforehand.¡± ¡°¡­!?¡± Kim Eun-ha suddenly linked arms with me. Though our skin didn¡¯t touch, the sensation through our clothes was noticeable. With the reduced distance, her subtle fragrance hit my nose. At first, it was fresh and cool like fruit, catching my attention. Then, a calm woody base followed, giving a deep sense of stability. ¡®¡­Impressive.¡¯ I usually didn¡¯t like perfume. Strong scents gave me headaches. No matter how good the perfume, mixed with shampoo or body scent, it felt overwhelming. I¡¯d never met anyone who cared about these details. Thus, I had a negative image of perfume. ¡®So this is why people wear perfume.¡¯ Kim Eun-ha¡¯s perfume was on another level. Knowing her, it was likely customized to her natural scent. It was a pleasant scent, so much so that I regretted how my nose quickly grew ustomed to it and the fragrance gradually faded. ¡°Woo-ju ssi, are you ready?¡± ¡°Ah, yes.¡± I snapped out of my daze at Kim Eun-ha¡¯s call. When I looked up, we were in front of my father¡¯s hospital room. Interestingly, the VVIP room of this hospital was on the first floor, so we didn¡¯t need to use the elevator or stairs. Anyway, it was time to go in. ¡°Phew¡­¡± Knock knock- After taking a deep breath, I slowly knocked on the door. Then, I heard someone quickly get up and rush over from inside. Click-! The door soon opened, revealing my mother¡¯s familiar yet unfamiliar face, blooming with a bright smile, weing us. ***** Join our Discord ¨C Chapter 49 - Our Son Chapter 49: Our Son ¡°It¡¯s been a while¡­¡± ¡°Our new daughter-inw is here!¡± As if her own son was invisible. My mom didn¡¯t even nce at me and swiftly brushed past, heading straight for Kim Eun-ha. My mother immediately grabbed Kim Eun-ha¡¯s hands tightly, shaking them up and down with intense enthusiasm. ¡®¡­This is bad!¡¯ Kim Eun-ha doesn¡¯t like it when someone touches her without permission. Who would, but she¡¯s the kind of person who thinks the world revolves around her¡ªsomeone at the pinnacle of narcissism. No matter how much she is my mother, touching her like that without warning could lead to serious trouble. I was extremely startled and quickly tried to separate the two. ¡°Mother, have you been well?¡± ¡°Of course! Thanks to our new daughter-inw, we¡¯ve been living luxuriously! Look at these wrinkles, they¡¯re practically gone. The cosmetics you gave mest time worked wonders¡­¡± ¡°I¡¯m d to hear that. They are good cosmetics, but I was worried they might not suit your skin. I¡¯ll bring more next time, so you can use them generously.¡± ¡°Oh, you don¡¯t have to do that.¡± Hohoho¡ª Watching the two women exchange conversation naturally, I stood there blinking nkly. Just before knocking, I was worrying about how to introduce Kim Eun-ha to my parents. But now, what is this natural conversation unfolding right in front of me? Since when did they be acquainted? ¡°Come on in, daughter-inw.¡± ¡°Father. How¡¯s your health?¡± ¡°Thanks to our daughter-inw, my mind feels at ease, and my body feels much lighter than before. I almost feel like I¡¯m in my twenties again. Look at this. Oomph¡ª!¡± Like someone trying to show off his muscles, my father bent his arm in an ¡®L¡¯ shape, flexing, while my mother shook her head side to side as if embarrassed. It was such a childlike sight that I couldn¡¯t believe these were the people I had known for over 20 years. ¡°¡­ ¡­ ¡­¡± Caught off guard by the unexpected situation, I couldn¡¯t figure out what to say. Naturally, my gaze turned to Kim Eun-ha, the root of all this, and she was also looking at me, so our eyes met. Smirk¡ª Kim Eun-ha greeted me with her characteristic mischievous smile. She pretended not to know anything on purpose just to see me flustered. ¡®Did I miss something on the schedule?¡¯ We share our schedules regrly to coordinate our dates (showmanship). We provide a brief overview in 30-minute increments, including filming, meetings, home time, and leisure time, though not in detailed content. Kim Eun-ha has been using this method since she was very young. Initially, it was somewhat cumbersome, but as I got used to it, it greatly improved my time management. Thanks to the detailed breakdown, my memory also improved significantly, so I could easily recall about a month¡¯s worth of where we were and what we did. ¡®¡­Was that [meeting] listedst week this?¡¯ I quickly remembered the item marked with a highlighter and red stars above the title. Considering Kim Eun-ha, who hardly ever makes such markings, I thought she was going to meet someone very important, like the Chairman or a VVIP customer of the department store. ¡®¡­To think it was my parents.¡¯ Although Kim Eun-ha and I share our schedules, it¡¯s strictly a contractual rtionship. Therefore, unless the other party tells first, we do not ask about it¡ªan unspoken agreement. Moreover, with the department store-rted work packed in her schedule, who could have guessed such a n? Especially when it¡¯s Kim Eun-ha. ¡°Oh, I must have forgotten to mention it before. Last week, I came separately to meet Woo-ju¡¯s parents.¡± ¡°¡­Why didn¡¯t youe with me?¡± ¡°You were obviously exhausted from filming for three days and nights straight. How could I wake you? Besides, there was no other time avable, so it was really unavoidable.¡± ¡°¡­ ¡­ ¡­¡± Unavoidable, my foot. Still, after watching Kim Eun-ha¡¯s face for quite a long time, I could now tell what expression she was making just by looking at the corners of her eyes. That said, Kim Eun-ha wasn¡¯t entirely lying either. She must have really squeezed in time to meet my parents. ¡°Hoho¡ªIt¡¯s been a while since I¡¯ve seen you so flustered, my son. When I saw the trailer on TV, I couldn¡¯t believe it was really you.¡± ¡°¡­You saw that?¡± ¡°Of course. Why ask something so obvious?¡± ¡°Dear, let¡¯s sit the kids down and talk. We can¡¯t keep our precious kids standing outside like this.¡± ¡°Oh my, look at me losing my mind.¡± My mother quickly ushered us inside. The VVIP room was more like a top-ss studio apartment than a hospital room. It even had a table and sofa for visitors. As we followed my mother¡¯s lead and took our seats across from her, my father slowly walked towards us from the bed. ¡°¡­¡± My father, supported by my mother, limped over to us. Watching him, I realized that what Kim Eun-ha had told me wasn¡¯t wrong. ¡®The man who was once so vigorous¡­¡¯ As a child, my father was like a towering mountain to me. He was the only pir and roof of our family, wielding the authority befitting that role. In those days, when proper child-rearing practices were not yet established, my father would punish me without negotiation whenever I did something wrong. While this did instill in me a socially correct character, it also made me somewhat fearful of my father. He was both a figure of fear and the person I respected the most. ¡°¡­¡± But now he struggles to move on his own. Even the smile on his face seems half-frozen and awkward. His once sturdy back and shoulders have shrunk from long hospital stays, and deep wrinkles line his face that couldn¡¯t escape the passage of time. ¡°¡­¡± Clench¡ª I unconsciously bit my lip at the sight of my father, who looked like he could be toppled over with a push. Yes, I knew. I knew that if I came to the hospital, I would face this scene again. When I gave him the car as a giftst time, I didn¡¯t really look at father properly. I didn¡¯t want to see the aged and sickly figure of the father who always stood at the forefront, protecting our family. I wanted to deny it somehow. I feared remembering such a vulnerable image as myst memory of him. Maybe I had been unconsciously dying this moment as much as possible. ¡°¡­¡± Tap- At that moment, my father suddenly flicked the bridge of my nose with his finger. When I looked up, I saw his face right in front of me. ¡°Son, why do you look like that?¡± ¡°¡­Huh?¡± ¡°Consider yourself lucky to have me as your father. If some guy had a gloomy expression like yours and wanted to take my daughter, I wouldn¡¯t let him, even if it killed me.¡± Grin¡ª My father smiled brightly. Even though half of his body was paralyzed and only trembled, and his lips couldn¡¯t move properly, there was no falsehood in that smile. Seeing him, I tried to smile back. Given how much I¡¯d practiced this over half my life, I didn¡¯t think it would be difficult. But my lips wouldn¡¯t move. They just trembled. Unlike usual, they wouldn¡¯t listen to me. ¡°¡­?¡± Umpf¡ª Meanwhile, my father, who had sat opposite, suddenly reached out his hand. He put his elbow on the table and leaned forward. ¡°Shall we arm wrestle, for old times¡¯ sake?¡± When I was young, I often arm-wrestled with my father. He would offer his calloused hand, saying he wanted to see how much his son had grown. At first, he used one finger. Then two fingers. As I got older, the strength in my father¡¯s hand gradually increased. Thest time was probably just before I went to the military. ¡®¡­It was quite a shock back then.¡¯ Surprisingly, I had never once beaten my father in arm wrestling. His strength, developed through years of hardbor, was beyond imagination. His grip, honed from turning screwdrivers, could crush walnuts barehanded. The muscles thickened by hammering seemed impervious to even the prick of a needle. However, the hand he extended now looked so frail. It seemed as if a little pressure might cause it to copse. ¡°Ah, what are you doing.¡± ¡°¡­Tomorrow is your surgery. Don¡¯t overexert yourself.¡± ¡°Oh ho, look at you, thinking you¡¯ve grown up and now you¡¯re looking down on your old man? No matter how weak I¡¯ve be, I¡¯m not going to lose to you yet.¡± Wiggle wiggle- My father beckoned with his fingers as if daring me toe at him. Hesitating, I felt a slight push on my arm from Kim Eun-ha. Though she said nothing, the message she conveyed was clear. ¡°¡­I won¡¯t go easy on you just because you¡¯re a patient.¡± ¡°Just don¡¯t cry when you lose.¡± I cautiously grasped my father¡¯s hand. His arm, now much thinner than I remembered,y in mine. For a moment, a surge of emotion threatened to overflow from my heart, but I converted it into a light smile. ¡°Honey, could you referee for us?¡± ¡°Oh geez, you¡¯re not kids anymore¡­¡± Despite her words, my mother¡¯s eyes reddened as she ced her palm over our sped fists. Through the touch of their skin, I felt the warmth of both my parents. I tightened my grip to push it away. ¡°Alright, let¡¯s start. Three, two, one!¡± ¡°¡­!!¡± As soon as the countdown ended, my father put all his strength into his hand. It was as if he were giving it his all. But it was too weak. I could easily overpower him whenever I wanted. However, what was in that hand was more than just physical strength. It held the weight of being the head of the family, the heaviest burden in the world. Momentarily faltering, I quickly regained myposure and adjusted my posture. As I applied more force, my father¡¯s hand slowly began to bend. The years contained within that hand. Slowly, they began to tilt. Thud¡ª Eventually, my father¡¯s knuckles touched the table. Out of breath, he had given it his all. Just as everyone rose with worried expressions, my father waved his hand in the air, signaling he was fine. After catching his breath, he slowly lifted his head again. A clear smile was etched on his face. ¡°You¡¯ve really grown up now.¡± ¡°¡­¡± Never in my life have I been so grateful to be an actor. If I had chosen a different path, what expression would I be making right now? I responded to my father¡¯s smile. Just as I had practiced countless times in front of a mirror, I naturally lifted the corners of my mouth, forcing out my submerged voice. ¡°Shall I take you on with two fingers this time?¡± ¡°You brat¡­! Ugh¡ª!¡± ¡°Dad!?¡± ¡°Honey!?¡± ¡°Mom, the button! Call the button!¡± Amotion erupted as my father clutched his neck and fell. Thankfully, it turned out to be nothing serious, but we had to endure over 30 minutes of the doctor¡¯s scolding. As we were half-forced out of the room, my father¡¯s spirited voice echoed behind us. ¡°Kang Woo-ju! Don¡¯t worry about your old man! I won¡¯t die before seeing my grandchild¡¯s face. Focus on your work! Got it!?¡± Heh¡ª I let out a chuckle at my father¡¯s words, swallowing the bittersweet thought, ¡®Then father, you will never die in his lifetime.¡¯ ***** Join our Discord ¨C Chapter 50 - Since When Have You Been Watching? Chapter 50: Since When Have You Been Watching? ¡°Thank you, Eun-ha ssi.¡± As soon as I left the hospital room, I expressed my gratitude to Kim Eun-ha, who was next to me. She tilted her head yfully, smiling. ¡°For what?¡± ¡°You know exactly why.¡± ¡°Hey, you shouldn¡¯t assume that the other person knows everything without saying it. No matter how smart I am, I¡¯m still human. I can¡¯t see into your heart.¡± ¡°But you know what¡¯s in my heart today, don¡¯t you?¡± Wink- I gave a light, yful wink, which made Kim Eun-ha take a startled step back, warningly raising her index finger. ¡°Don¡¯t. Do. That.¡± ¡°Why? What¡¯s wrong with it?¡± ¡°¡­Just don¡¯t do it if I ask you not to.¡± ¡°Hmm.¡± Win¡­! Ouch-! Before my eyelid was even halfway closed, I got a proper hit from Kim Eun-ha, who had anticipated my action. As we spent more days together, Kim Eun-ha¡¯s skills in dealing with me were improving steadily. If I don¡¯t work harder, I might soon end uppletely at her mercy. ¡°¡­Violence is never the answer.¡± ¡°Then don¡¯t do things that deserve a hit.¡± ¡°I think resorting to fists immediately is a wrong approach. We can solve things peacefully.¡± ¡°Woo-ju ssi.¡± Suddenly, Kim Eun-ha turned to me with a serious expression. The atmosphere was noticeably different, and I paused for a moment. ¡°When dealing with others, especially people like me who have money or power, there¡¯s one thing you must always remember.¡± ¡°What is it?¡± ¡°The easiest way to solve problems throughout history has ultimately been ¡®force¡¯. Always keep that in mind.¡± ¡°¡­¡± Listening to Kim Eun-ha¡¯s words, I fell into thought, trying to grasp the true meaning and intent behind her words. As always, she waited patiently for me to think it through, allowing me toe up with a somewhat eptable response. ¡°Well, if I were Genghis Khan at his peak, there wouldn¡¯t be a need to bow down to a weak country. If things didn¡¯t go my way, I could just crush them.¡± Genghis Khan, who created thergest empire in human history, massacred a quarter of the world¡¯s poption at the time from Asia to Europe. As a result, the number of people using coal also significantly decreased, leading to the joke that Genghis Khan dyed global warming by 200 years. ¡°¡­I¡¯m not sure if that¡¯s the right example, but it¡¯s somewhat close.¡± Kim Eun-ha made a slightly discontented expression but didn¡¯t entirely disagree. After contemting for a moment, she added more exnation. ¡°Nowadays, with the development of SNS and such, it¡¯s harder to wield power openly. But that doesn¡¯t mean using force is impossible. On the contrary.¡± Kim Eun-ha continued her serious exnation. She mentioned things from the ¡®MKUltra Project¡¯ where the CIA conducted mind control, brainwashing, and hypnosis experiments on civilians from the 1950s to the 70s. To the assassination weapon that could fire a special 3mm bullet filled with poison extracted from a shellfish, leaving no trace and mimicking a heart attack. And the ¡®Tuskegee Syphilis Experiment¡¯ that makes ck people distrust vines even today. She said there were many cases where things thought to be mere conspiracy theories turned out to be true. ¡°These are just the publicly known examples.¡± Most of these were from over half a century ago. Considering how technology has advanced dozens of times since then, it¡¯s a bit scary to think how much more sophisticated and discreet things must have be. ¡°I gave some grand examples, but I think you understand what I mean.¡± ¡°Eliminating one person isn¡¯t a big deal, really.¡± ¡°Exactly.¡± In an instant, the faces of Director Baek Do-young and the other staff members of the secretarial office shed through my mind. I wondered what kind of work they typically did. It was a moment that reaffirmed just how dangerous a situation I was involved in. ¡°Because of this, their mindset often deviates frommon sense. There¡¯s hardly anyone who can stop them.¡± ¡°Hmm. Indeed¡­¡± Some say thatws are made to protect the weak, but if you analyze it closely, that¡¯s only half true. After all, the people who createws belong to the power hierarchy. How manyws would be against their interests? Even if suchws exist, they are the ones who decide guilt or innocence. Therefore, thew is just nicely packaged as [for the weak]. In reality, it often sides with those in power. ¡®¡­Eun-ha ssi is no exception.¡¯ If Kim Eun-ha decided to, she could easily eliminate my family and me, both physically and socially. This applies to Park Ji-hoon, who must be grinding his teeth watching us closely right now, as well as other potential suitors like Director Baek Do-young. The reason they hesitate to take action is, paradoxically, because I have ¡®Kim Eun-ha¡¯ as a shield. ¡°Si vis pacem, para bellum.¡± ¡°¡­If you want peace, prepare for war.¡± ¡°Hoo hoo. Woo-ju, you are already doing exceptionally well, beyond my expectations. But there are still many more hurdles ahead of us. I¡¯m telling you this to remind you not to let your guard down and stay cautious.¡± ¡°Hmm¡­ Since we¡¯re on the topic, there¡¯s something I¡¯d like to ask.¡± Kim Eun-ha tilted her head curiously as I hesitated. After a moment of contemtion, I carefully spoke. ¡°That¡¯s fine for me, but are you really okay without having security personnel around you, Eun-ha? You never know what might happen.¡± ¡°Oh my, are you worried about me?¡± ¡°To be precise, it¡¯s ¡®my¡¯ concern. If something happens to you, I won¡¯t be safe either. I¡¯d like you to pay more attention to your safety.¡± Hmmph- Kim Eun-ha¡¯s lips twitched as if she was trying hard to suppress herughter. ¡°Honestly. You¡¯ve been watching too many dramas.¡± ¡°Reality is several times more brutal.¡± ¡°That¡¯s true. But don¡¯t worry too much. I¡¯m not walking around without any safety measures.¡± Swish- Suddenly, Kim Eun-ha turned her head to look out the window, raised her right hand, and made an iprehensible signal. Dada-da-dash-! Out of nowhere, people began to run towards us. Startled by the sudden situation, I instinctively moved Kim Eun-ha behind me, pressing my back against the wall to narrow the angle as much as possible. ¡°Gotcha~¡± Just as I was fully tensed, Kim Eun-ha grabbed my shoulders from behind and whispered softly in my ear. Startled, I turned around to see Kim Eun-ha smiling, no longer trying to hold back herughter. ¡°Were you very surprised?¡± ¡°¡­¡± In response to herughter-filled question, I answered with silence and subtly turned my head forward. There stood people of various genders and ages, dressed inpletely different attire, looking like ordinary people you wouldn¡¯t think were bodyguards. They were staring at me with expressionless faces devoid of any warmth, as if they were ready to tear me apart at their master¡¯smand without hesitation. ¡°Are you alright, Miss?¡± The oldest-looking man among them, a middle-aged man, spoke up. He looked like he was in his early to mid-40s, and despite the t-shirt he wore, it couldn¡¯t hide his well-toned muscles. Even as he spoke, he never took his eyes off me, as if warning me not to move a hair. As I continued to meet his gaze without flinching, a subtle tension built up between us. ¡°Alright, that¡¯s enough!¡± At that moment, Kim Eun-ha stepped forward, inserting herself between us. The veil of silence that had covered the area vanished instantly. ¡°I¡¯m sorry, Team Leader Kang. Woo-ju here worries about me a lot. I thought it was time to introduce you.¡± ¡°¡­Miss, there were better ways to go about this. This could expose our identities. In a simr situation, if Alpha were to have a change of heart, our response might be dyed.¡± Alpha. It was clear who that term referred to. The man called Team Leader Kang was still ring at me. ¡°It¡¯s okay. I¡¯d win if we fought anyway.¡± Kim Eun-ha half-jokingly, half-seriously tried to lighten the mood, but Team Leader Kang didn¡¯t rx his expression. ¡°That won¡¯t be the case.¡± ¡°What?¡± ¡°Your reaction just now, and what I¡¯ve observed from before, show that you fight quite well. No matter how skilled you are, if ambushed, there¡¯s a high chance you¡¯ll lose.¡± ¡°¡­¡± He was sizing me up seriously, examining me from head to toe. His intense gaze felt like that of a humanbat power gauge. ¡°Even now. Knowing there¡¯s no imminent danger, you¡¯re still tense, ready to pull Miss back at any moment.¡± ¡°¡­¡± ¡°ording to your profile, you haven¡¯t had formal training inbat. Achieving this level from just an action school is truly remarkable.¡± ¡°Team Leader Kang, givingpliments? That¡¯s unusual.¡± ¡°I¡¯m just stating what I see.¡± With a snap of his fingers, all the bodyguards, except for him, dispersed instantly, vanishing from sight. It was more dramatic than a drama scene. ¡°¡­Since when have you been watching?¡± ¡°Woo-ju, I¡¯ll exin that.¡± In the continued subtle standoff, Kim Eun-ha stepped forward with an apologetic look. ¡°I¡¯m sorry if it seems like I deceived you. This is Team Leader Kang Dae-ho, who has been watching over me since I was a child.¡± Kang Dae-ho. The name suited him well. Baek Do-young¡¯s stare was intense, butpared to Kang Dae-ho, it was like that of a puppy. ¡°¡­Did you teach Eun-ha how to fight?¡± ¡°That¡¯s right. Team Leader Kang taught me personally. He also taught me many other things in ce of my parents who passed away early. He¡¯s practically like my second parent.¡± ¡°Please, don¡¯t say that. I¡¯m just an employee.¡± ¡°Oh,e on, why are you being so distant?¡± ¡°¡­¡± Twitch- Kim Eun-ha made an uncharacteristically disappointed sound, causing Kang Dae-ho¡¯s brow to twitch, a man who seemed unppable even if a bomb exploded right in front of him. It seemed he didn¡¯t dislike being thought of as a parent by Kim Eun-ha. It gave the impression that he truly cared for her sincerely. ¡®He seems to know about our rtionship as well.¡¯ From the moment Kang Dae-ho called me [Alpha], it was pretty much confirmed. Judging by how things were unfolding, it appeared he had been watching over us all along. ¡®¡­Wait, does that mean even when we went to Seongbuk-dong?¡¯ Suddenly, the moments I spent with Kim Eun-ha shed through my mind. The most vivid memory was when we went for a walk up the hill after having dinner together. I had carried Kim Eun-ha on my back up the mountain because her heels were sore. Although there wasn¡¯t any particr physical intimacy beyond that. ¡®¡­Didn¡¯t she say he¡¯s like a parent to her?¡¯ Imagining Kang Dae-ho, with his eyes wide open, watching every scene from somewhere, made cold sweat trickle down my back. The faint sense of menace in Kang Dae-ho¡¯s re wasn¡¯t just my imagination, it seemed. ¡®Danger.¡¯ The danger sensor that had always rescued me in crisis situations began to ring wildly. At the same time, my brain, now on high alert, worked at full speed, making a swift decision for survival, and I followed that decision without further thought. ¡°Team Leader, nice to meet you! I¡¯m Kang Woo-ju, who is with Kim Eun-ha! Please take care of me!¡± ¡°Huh?¡± ¡°What?¡± As I suddenly bowed my head, the bewildered voices of the two people hit the back of my head. For a moment, I wondered if breaking character was the right thing to do, but I didn¡¯t lift my head. I wasn¡¯t entirely sure why, but I instinctively felt that this was a very critical juncture. ¡°Haha¡­¡± How much time had passed? The one who broke the silence heavier than a mountain was none other than Kang Dae-ho with a hollowugh. ***** Join our Discord ¨C Chapter 51 - Chicken? Chapter 51: Chicken? ¡®¡­Really, an unpredictable guy.¡¯ Seeing Kang Woo-ju suddenly bow towards him, Kang Dae-ho inwardly clicked his tongue. Given that it was rted to Kim Eun-ha¡¯s safety, everything about him was thoroughly investigated down to the smallest detail. From just his profile, Kang Woo-ju didn¡¯t seem to have a particrly unique or wed personality, nor did he have any standout traits. Perhaps because of his special family background, he was extremely diligent and wholesomepared to his peers. In other words, that was all there was to him. ¡®¡­This is why you have to see people with your own eyes.¡¯ There are many things about a person that you can¡¯t know just from documents. Even if you were topare the profiles of Park Ji-hoon and Baek Do-young side by side. Even if Kang Woo-ju included all his part-time job experiences in his specs, he couldn¡¯t match even half of the two. ¡®In the end, specs aren¡¯t everything.¡¯ Swoosh- Kang Dae-ho subtly shifted his gaze to check Kim Eun-ha¡¯s expression. She too was clearly flustered. This meant that the current situation was not prearranged. It was something Kang Woo-ju had decided and acted upon independently. This matched the reports from the subordinates assigned to monitor Kang Woo-ju. Even when Baek Do-young suddenly approached him, he handled it without panic and responded optimally. ¡®Overall, he¡¯s quick-witted and adapts well.¡¯ Even now, it was evident. Who could have predicted that someone who seemed fully immersed in ying the role of a chaebol would suddenly bow? ¡®¡­A clever guy.¡¯ As an employee of the Mirae Group, he was tasked with maintaining a strictly professional rtionship with Kim Eun-ha. But after all, he was also human. Kim Eun-ha, who lost her parents at a young age and was left alone. How could one not be moved when such a child has looked up to him as a parent for over a decade? ¡®It would be a lie to say there was no affection.¡¯ However, he had to maintain the boundaries of an employee. Kim Eun-ha knew this and only yed appropriate pranks. But Kang Woo-ju, understanding this ambiguous rtionship in an instant, had suddenly bowed to him. A guy who rarely bowed to anyone else. Interpretations may vary, but this meant he saw him as a parent figure to Kim Eun-ha. ¡°Haha¡­¡± At that thought, Kang Dae-ho couldn¡¯t help butugh a little. With the rapidly changing circumstances around him recently, he found himself reflecting on how easily his guarded heart was softened by just one bow. ¡®¡­Is this why?¡¯ Even though it was a shield to avoid an arranged marriage, he could somewhat understand why Kim Eun-ha had specifically chosen Kang Woo-ju among many candidates. Given her near perfectionist nature, unpredictable variables are a significant source of stress. Naturally, she should hate sudden actions like now. But the variables Kang Woo-ju created surprisingly made people feel good. ¡®It¡¯s a curious thing.¡¯ Kim Eun-ha¡¯s face, nced at briefly, also had a hint of a smile like his. If possible, he wanted to capture it in a photo. It was a very rare scene, even for Kang Dae-ho, who had been with her for many years. It was not a mocking or fabricated smile. A smile born from pure joy. It seemed to appear more frequently these days. ¡®¡­Quite aplicated feeling.¡¯ Kang Woo-ju. A person you couldn¡¯t just simply like or dislike. Of course, Kang Dae-ho did not show his conflicted feelings outwardly. ¡°Young master. It would be problematic if you bow to just anyone. Especially to an employee like me, it could damage the young miss¡¯s honor.¡± Kang Woo-ju finally straightened his back after Kang Dae-ho finished speaking. However, his eyes were more serious than ever, and his voice that followed was unwavering. ¡°I will take your words to heart. But I never think of you, Team Leader-nim, as ¡®just anyone.¡¯¡± ¡°¡­?¡± ¡°I don¡¯t know the detailed circumstances. However, having personally experienced other chaebols and Eun-ha ssi, her character was entirely different. This must bergely due to your influence, Team Leader-nim.¡± ¡°¡­¡± Such ttering words could have seemed like sycophancy, butbined with Kang Woo-ju¡¯s sincere expression, it didn¡¯t feel that way at all. Kang Dae-ho struggled to keep his lips from curling up uncontrobly. However, Kang Woo-ju was the persistent type who wouldn¡¯t let go once he saw an opportunity. ¡°If both of you would permit, I would also like to learn martial arts from you, Team Leader-nim.¡± ¡°Martial arts from me¡­?¡± ¡°Yes. In fact, after being hit several times by Eun-ha ssi¡­ Ugh!¡± Kim Eun-ha struck his side, as if to tell him to stop saying unnecessary things. To Kang Dae-ho, it seemed like a perfectly executed original punch. But what surprised him even more was that, in that brief moment, Kang Woo-ju had reacted to Kim Eun-ha¡¯s attack, minimizing the impact. ¡®Sure enough¡­ He¡¯s got a natural sense for it.¡¯ Following in the footsteps of his martial artist father, Kang Dae-ho had endured rigorous training from a very young age. Before being scouted by the Mirae Group, he ran a private dojo, and afterward, he was responsible for training the group¡¯s bodyguards. Given that the Mirae Group directly paid their bodyguards, he had seen many top fighters in the field. However, few had impressed him. ¡®It could be fun to train him.¡¯ Even Kang Dae-ho was impressed by Kang Woo-ju¡¯s reflexes and sense. Despite having no experience in other martial arts, not even inmon Taekwondo, he was like a nk canvas. If trained well, he could grow much faster than someone who had learned martial arts clumsily. ¡®His innate physique is also good.¡¯ The basic gic foundation was so excellent that he should bow to his parents several times in gratitude. If professionally honed, his body would literally be like a sculpture, and he wouldn¡¯t be easily overpowered in terms of strength unless facing an exceptionally sturdy opponent. ¡®It¡¯s tempting, but¡­¡¯ Sigh- Kang Dae-ho, realizing his position, swallowed his drool as he snapped back to reality. ¡°I¡¯m sorry, but I must decline.¡± ¡°May I ask why?¡± ¡°I am here solely as Kim Eun-ha agassi¡¯s bodyguard. I do not have the leisure to spend personal time.¡± ¡°What if it also benefits Eun-ha ssi?¡± ¡°¡­?¡± Everyone tilted their heads at his subsequent words. How could learning martial arts benefit their security? ¡°Of course, personal reasons are significant. It would certainly help me in future stunt actions. And I could survive longer¡­ against Eun-ha ssi¡¯s attacks.¡± This time, prepared, Kang Woo-ju dodged Kim Eun-ha¡¯s iing attack and continued speaking naturally. Heh¡ª Seeing him, Kim Eun-ha let out a faintugh as if she couldn¡¯t believe it, and Kang Dae-ho, feeling more intrigued, felt his lips twitch. ¡°Those are purely personal reasons. That¡¯s not enough justification for me to make time.¡± Not enough justification. This implied that if the justification were sufficient, he would be willing to teach martial arts himself. Kang Woo-ju, realizing this, continued more seriously than before. The sudden shift in atmosphere made the other two suppress their smiles. ¡°Although you and the other bodyguards are always nearby, you can¡¯t stay right next to Eun-ha ssi like I can.¡± It wasn¡¯t wrong. Ideally, he would want to stick close to Kim Eun-ha and provide close protection. However, doing so would hinder her social rtionships. Therefore, disguising themselves as ordinary people and watching over her from a distance was the best they could do. ¡®While it¡¯s rtively easy to control situations in the office or at specific events¡­¡¯ The problem was when she walked around densely popted ces like inside the department store or traveled by car. They did their best to clear out potential threats (drunkards or suspicious individuals) around the path she was taking, but there were clear limitations. ¡®It¡¯s practically impossible to control.¡¯ If an attacker disguised as a regr citizen suddenly rushed at her, realistically, their response would inevitably be dyed. Of course, Kim Eun-ha was aware of this fact, and she avoided entering crowds whenever possible, but there were many unavoidable situations. ¡®But what if close protection became possible?¡¯ Unlike them, Kang Woo-ju could stick close to Kim Eun-ha without raising any suspicion. Moreover, he had been frequently visiting crowded ces recently for showmanship dates. Each time, they had to rack their brains to n the security routes and response measures. What if he could share their workload? ¡®Just holding out for five seconds would be enough.¡¯ If Kang Woo-ju could buy just five seconds in an emergency, the standby bodyguards could sufficiently join in. ¡®Above all, he has the will to protect young miss.¡¯ When the bodyguards, who had received the signal, rushed in earlier, Kang Woo-ju instinctively moved Kim Eun-ha behind his back. It was too short a time to act calctedly. It could only be considered an instinctive judgment. Whatever the reason, it was clear that Kang Woo-ju sincerely tried to protect Kim Eun-ha. This was sufficient justification to move Kang Dae-ho¡¯s heart. ¡°¡­¡± Swoosh- Kang Dae-ho, finally making up his mind, turned his gaze to Kim Eun-ha. Although the reasons mentioned earlier were important, ultimately, everything depended on her permission. Kim Eun-ha, who quickly noticed his feelings, looked at the two men and shook her head as if they were incorrigible. ¡°There is a condition.¡± ¡°A condition?¡± ¡°Start after ends. It¡¯s almost like a live broadcast drama now, and you can¡¯t even sleep properly because of the filming.¡± ¡°Hmm¡­ I understand.¡± Kang Woo-ju looked momentarily disappointed, but Kim Eun-ha was adamant about notpromising on this point. ¡°And the second.¡± ¡°Huh? There¡¯s more?¡± ¡°Now it¡¯s three conditions.¡± ¡°¡­Go ahead.¡± ¡°Let¡¯s have a 1:1 match, Woo-ju ssi. If I win, we¡¯ll consider it unnecessary for you to protect me, and all previous talks will be nullified.¡± ¡°¡­!?¡± Both men simultaneously widened their eyes at Kim Eun-ha¡¯s sudden deration. Especially Kang Woo-ju, who shook his head in disbelief. ¡°No way, that¡¯s a bit¡­¡± ¡°Hmm. Not confident?¡± ¡°It¡¯s not that. How could a humble person like me dare toy a hand on Eun-ha ssi¡¯s noble body?¡± ¡°So you¡¯re not confident?¡± Swoosh- Kim Eun-ha deliberately raised one corner of her mouth, provoking him. Seeing this, Kang Woo-ju¡¯s yful expression slightly hardened. ¡°Then how about a shooting rematch instead? That would be the fairest¡­¡± ¡°Chicken?¡± Fwoosh-! It seemed as if the sound of mes igniting could be heard from Kang Woo-ju¡¯s eyes. His brows began to twitch upon hearing the magic word. ¡°You¡¯ll regret it.¡± ¡°Too much talk.¡± ¡°¡­¡± Kang Woo-ju received back the words he once said at the shooting range. He tightly closed his mouth, but the fiery gaze conveyed his determination. Kim Eun-ha, not avoiding his gaze, leisurely raised the corner of her mouth, her confidence in her victory clearly reflected on her face. ¡®¡­Hmm. I thought they were like water and fire,pletely different, but that¡¯s not entirely true.¡¯ From a step back, Kang Dae-ho watched the two quietly. A gentle smile, unlike any he had shown before, appeared on his lips. ****** Join our Discord ¨C Chapter 52 - Gotcha Chapter 52: Gotcha ¡®¡­Indeed, both of them are far from ordinary people.¡¯ Kang Dae-ho clicked his tongue as he looked at Kang Woo-ju and Kim Eun-ha, who had changed into blue and white uniforms respectively. It was impressive in many ways that Kim Eun-ha, who suddenly suggested a one-on-one sparring match, and Kang Woo-ju, who epted it seriously, were both extraordinary. ¡®They even have strongpetitive spirits.¡¯ Seeing Kang Woo-ju¡¯s eyes zing, he couldn¡¯t help but nod. Students with strongpetitive spirits tend to improve quickly because they find it hard to ept that they aregging behind others. Sometimes, if it¡¯s too excessive, it can be problematic. But if there¡¯s someone who can adjust their motivation and guide them in the right direction, it¡¯s beneficial. ¡®With his natural physique, sense, andpetitive spirit, it¡¯s hard to find a better talent than him.¡¯ Kang Dae-ho¡¯s desire to teach Kang Woo-ju sincerely began to grow. At the same time, he felt regret that he couldn¡¯t do so. ¡®¡­He won¡¯t be able to beat the young miss.¡¯ Seeing Kim Eun-ha neatly dressed in her uniform made him nod again. Kim Eun-ha was second to none inpetitiveness. Moreover, she had been honed under Kang Dae-ho¡¯s personal guidance for nearly 20 years since she was a child. She had mastered everything from practicalbat techniques focusing on striking andbat sports to various grappling techniques, ground fighting, and joint locks. ¡®The young miss is always impressive, no matter when you see her.¡¯ Even among the bodyguards of Mirae Group, there aren¡¯t many who can guarantee a victory against her. That¡¯s including men who are superior in weight ss. Among women, she has no match. ¡®A half-hearted weight difference won¡¯t be enough to win.¡¯ Of course, Kang Woo-ju is several weight sses above her, but he is a total beginner when ites to martial arts. If it were a street fight with no rules, it might be different, but in a sparring match with set rules, Kim Eun-ha¡¯s chances of winning increase dramatically. ¡®¡­Still, it¡¯s a pity to leave it as it is.¡¯ Hmm¡ª Kang Dae-ho, predicting the oue of the two, let out a groan. After contemting for a while, he decided to give Kang Woo-ju a slight advantage. ¡°Seo Baek-ho, Han Yeo-ryeong, step forward.¡± At his call, a man and a woman walked forward. They were members of Kim Eun-ha¡¯s security team and had been working with Kang Dae-ho for several years. Their weight sses were simr to that of Kang Woo-ju and Kim Eun-ha. If he had good eyes, he could learn a lot from watching them. ¡°Team Leader Kang.¡± Shiver- Kang Dae-ho shivered silently at the voice that contained both slight displeasure and sharpness. Just by calling Seo Baek-ho and Han Yeo-ryeong, Kim Eun-ha had noticed his intention and showed her discontent. But there was no turning back now. ¡°Since Kang Woo-ju probably doesn¡¯t know the rules well, I¡¯m just going to show him a demonstration match with a simple exnation.¡± ¡°Is that really all?¡± ¡°¡­Of course. That¡¯s really all.¡± Hmph¡ª He felt like he heard a snort by his ear, but there was no way the great Kim Eun-ha would have done that. So it must have been an illusion, thought Kang Dae-ho, as he avoided Kim Eun-ha¡¯s gaze. ¡°Considering the weight ss difference between the two, standing strikes are prohibited. Also, excessive joint locks that could severely injure the opponent are excluded.¡± ¡°Yes, understood.¡± ¡°Since you¡¯re probably not warmed up yet, the first match will be considered practice. Warm up properly while moving around, and then we¡¯ll decide the winner in a best of five. Any objections?¡± ¡°None!¡± ¡°Good, then get up there.¡± With short answers and a nod, the students moved to the center. Watching their backs, Kang Dae-ho made a simple prediction about the oue. Although Han Yeo-ryeong was superior in terms of skill, Seo Baek-ho was likely to win due to the weight difference. ¡®Let¡¯s see how good his eyes are.¡¯ When Kang Dae-ho turned his gaze, there was Kang Woo-ju, watching his fellow trainees with a burning look in his eyes. He, too, immediately understood Kang Dae-ho¡¯s consideration and seemed to light a fire within himself to refer to the match of the two ahead. ¡®¡­Of course, I don¡¯t think he can fully follow everything just by watching once or twice.¡¯ Regardless of all victories and defeats, he wanted to see purely how much potential Kang Woo-ju possessed as a martial artist. ¡°Seo Baek-ho, Han Yeo-ryeong. Are both of you ready?¡± ¡°Yes!¡± ¡°Good, then get ready¡­ Start!¡± ¡°Hoo-!¡± As Kang Dae-ho raised his hand high, the demonstration match began. Both of them didn¡¯t take it lightly just because it was a practice match and did their best in the game. The result was as Kang Dae-ho had predicted. ¡°Seo Baek-ho wins.¡± Phew¡ª As the decision was made, Seo Baek-ho stood up with a deep sigh, and Han Yeo-ryeong bit her lip in frustration from her defeat. Since standing strikes were restricted, they had to rely mainly on grappling, such as judo, jiu-jitsu, or wrestling, to subdue their opponent. It started with a fight to grab each other¡¯s cors. Naturally, Seo Baek-ho, who had a longer reach due to his weight ss, had the upper hand. This was the same on the ground. No matter how skillfully Han Yeo-ryeong escaped, it was ultimately difficult to overturn the result. ¡°Take a deep breath again. Ready. Start!¡± ¡°Hoo-!¡± The matches continued afterward. The result was a 3:1 victory for Seo Baek-ho. Although she lost, Han Yeo-ryeong was not easy to defeat. She managed to score a point by cleanly throwing Seo Baek-ho after luring his attack. Though still looking unhappy about her defeat, she appeared better than when she lost two matches in a row. ¡°Team Leader, it¡¯s our turn now, right?¡± At that moment, Kim Eun-ha stepped forward and spoke. She seemed unable to wait any longer, her body heated from watching the previous match. In response, Kang Dae-ho nced sideways to check Kang Woo-ju¡¯s condition. A faint smile formed on his lips. ¡®He¡¯s ready too.¡¯ Kang Woo-ju, with a more serious expression than before, seemed to have thought about something from watching the earlier match. His eyes, cold andposed unlike before, didn¡¯t mean his passion had cooled down. The burning desire to win inside his deep eyes was even more evident than before. It was just that his mind had be cooler for the sake of victory. ¡®¡­This is a big deal.¡¯ Kang Dae-ho suppressed a wry smile as he found himself liking Woo-ju¡¯s demeanor more and more. * ¡®This is what I like about Woo-ju.¡¯ Kim Eun-ha nodded inwardly as she looked at Kang Woo-ju¡¯s serious eyes facing her. You could tell just by looking at his eyes. He had no intention of holding back just because she was a woman. Rather, he acknowledged hisck of skill, carefully watched the previous matches, and even now, he was nning to give it his all from the start. ¡®He¡¯ll actively utilize his weight ss.¡¯ Using reach for standing strikes is against the rules. And he hasn¡¯t mastered ground techniques either. Therefore, the most rational choice for Kang Woo-ju would be to charge at her like a bull, using his weight to overpower her without giving her a chance to use her skills. This method is actually difficult to counter even if you know it¡¯sing. Seo Baek-ho, who demonstrated earlier, also won two matches in this manner. ¡®In that case, I¡¯ll¡­¡¯ She imagined Kang Woo-ju charging at her in her mind. She nned when, where, and how to use her hands and feet. Of course, it¡¯s impossible to expect everything to work out perfectly like a math form, but the more she narrowed down the possibilities, the more advantageous it would be. Meanwhile, Kang Dae-ho approached the two and spoke. ¡°Are both of you ready?¡± ¡°Ready.¡± ¡°Me too.¡± ¡°Then let¡¯s begin.¡± Chak-! As Kang Dae-ho¡¯s hand went up, adrenaline started coursing through her veins. ¡°Ready¡­¡± As she focused intensely, time seemed to split and stretch, making each second feel like ten. Sss- Hoo- She calmed her rising excitement with deep breaths and maintained her body¡¯s tension just right. She waited for the signal. ¡°Start!¡± Tat-! As soon as the match started, Kang Woo-ju charged like a bull, just as she expected. His sturdy build, which usually felt reassuring, now came at her like a tidal wave. But Kim Eun-ha¡¯s body didn¡¯t shrink back. Instead, she lowered her stance and stepped forward, as if she had been waiting for this moment. ¡®A high wave is a disaster in itself¡­¡¯ To a surfer waiting for the wave, it¡¯s just a mere ything. She swiftly moved inside Kang Woo-ju¡¯s body, extending her arms. With her left hand grabbing his sleeve and her right hand slipping under his armpit, she used her pre-positioned foot as a pivot to rotate her entire body. Puh-uck-! Using her body like a lever, she redirected Kang Woo-ju¡¯s charging force and threw him to the ground. ¡°Guh-!¡± Kang Woo-ju let out a cry. If it hadn¡¯t been for the special mat used in internationalpetitions, designed for safety, he would have been seriously injured from the impact. It showed how much force he had put into his charge. If she had misjudged the timing even slightly, she would have been knocked down like someone hit by a truck. ¡°Hoo- Woo-ju ssi, are you okay?¡± ¡°¡­¡± Kang Woo-ju didn¡¯t respond. At first, she was startled, thinking he might be seriously hurt, but he gently shook his head with his eyes closed. Lying t on the ground, he seemed to be deep in thought, likely reviewing the situation that just happened. ¡°Hm¡­¡± After a short while. Kang Woo-ju suddenly sprang up. He adjusted his disheveled uniform as if nothing had happened and returned to his ce. Then he faced Kim Eun-ha again. His gaze was unchanged, just as before, with not a hint of defeat in his eyes. In response, Kim Eun-ha silently assumed her stance. The arena fell silent at the sight of the two. ¡°Ready.¡± Kang Dae-ho, with a much more serious expression than before, raised his hand. Then, he gave the signal. ¡°Start!¡± Thump-! As if to prove that his choice wasn¡¯t wrong, Woo-ju charged in at the same angle as before. However, his speed had increased even more, and his momentum had be overwhelmingly ferocious. It felt as if a dump truck was bearing down on her, rather than a tidal wave. In contrast, Kim Eun-ha remained calm. Like a deepke, she didn¡¯t move from her spot and waited patiently for her opponent toe at her. Boom-! The result was the same as before. Kang Woo-ju was once again thrown to the ground, while Kim Eun-ha stood firmly in ce. But there was one difference. ¡°¡­Huh?¡± ¡°Did something feel off just now?¡± ¡°So, it wasn¡¯t just me?¡± The bodyguards began to murmur. Kim Eun-ha, too, looked down at her hand with a peculiar feeling. When she reached out, Kang Woo-ju had slightly tilted his shoulder, trying to slip past her grip. That part could be understood as an instinctive movement, but there was something unsettling about it. ¡°¡­Hmm. It felt like this, I think.¡± In the meantime, Kang Woo-ju had already gotten up again, muttering to himself as he returned to his spot and assumed his stance once more. But watching him gave her a strange sense of d¨¦j¨¤ vu. Something had definitely changed from before. ¡°Ready.¡± Just as she was about to grasp it, Kang Dae-ho raised his hand again. Kim Eun-ha shook off her distracting thoughts and focused her gaze straight ahead. ¡°Start!¡± Ta-ang-! It felt like she heard an echo. Kang Woo-ju¡¯s speed as he lunged forward was on a different level than before. Gone was the clumsy figure. He had fully utilized the strength from his feet to propel himself forward, making it possible. ¡®Could this be¡­!?¡¯ In her surprise, she reflexively reached out her hand, but astonishingly, Kang Woo-ju twisted his shoulder slightly and deflected her hand. Everyone watching the match widened their eyes at that movement. They realized what Kang Woo-ju had done. ¡°¡­Seo Baek-ho!?¡± His movements were exactly the same as those in the match where Seo Baek-ho had won. Breathing, movements, even his gaze. For a moment, everyone present saw Kang Woo-ju and Seo Baek-ho¡¯s figures ovep perfectly. The mysterious d¨¦j¨¤ vu was finally exined. Kang Woo-ju had ¡®acted out¡¯ Seo Baek-ho from the earlier demonstration match. ¡®This is ridiculous¡­!!¡¯ As Kim Eun-ha was stunned by this incredible feat, Kang Woo-ju had already reached her, grabbed her shoulders, and pinned her to the ground. With a thud, the two fell to the floor, lying side by side. With their faces so close they could feel each other¡¯s breaths, Kang Woo-ju, like a child, smiled and said, ¡°Gotcha.¡± Gulp-! Facing his ck eyes, which resembled those of a beast, Kim Eun-ha involuntarily swallowed dryly. ***** Join our Discord ¨C Chapter 53 - Can We Do It One More Time? Chapter 53: Can We Do It One More Time? ¡°What do you think, watching yourself?¡± Hehe- Han Yeo-ryeong suppressed augh that seemed like it would burst at any moment and nudged Seo Baek-ho¡¯s side with her elbow. However, Seo Baek-ho quietly observed Kang Woo-ju without any reaction. Though his personality was originally straightforward, he seemed much more aloof than usual, causing Han Yeo-ryeong to nod her head with interest. ¡°At first, I thought, ¡®Why is it so clumsy?¡¯ I could definitely tell he was a novice. But in the second round, there was something strange about him.¡± ¡°¡­¡­¡± ¡°It seems like he used the first two rounds to practice mimicking you. Even if your body types are simr, they aren¡¯t exactly the same, so there must have been some discrepancies.¡± ¡°You look quite entertained.¡± ¡°It feels refreshing to see you flustered. Being crushed by that straightforward technique is really unpleasant.¡± Shaking her head side to side, Han Yeo-ryeong recalled the demonstration match that had just taken ce. Seo Baek-ho then spoke in a calm voice. ¡°Han Yeo-ryeong. I didn¡¯t intend to make you feel bad. It¡¯s just that pure technique alone wouldn¡¯t give me a high chance of winning against you, so I made the most rational choice.¡± ¡°¡­What¡¯s with you, all of a sudden?¡± ¡°I just stated a fact.¡± At Seo Baek-ho¡¯spliment, Han Yeo-ryeong instinctively put a bit of distance between them, feeling a strange sense of difort. But Seo Baek-ho didn¡¯t mind. No, more urately, he didn¡¯t have the luxury to care. Just watching Kang Woo-ju performing an unbelievable act in front of him required all his mental strength. ¡®¡­He¡¯s a monster.¡¯ Watching Kang Woo-ju made him naturally think that. What Kang Woo-ju had just imitated wasn¡¯t simply a technique relying on physical strength, as Han Yeo-ryeong said. Considering that the opponent had much superior skills, if he had clumsily charged straight at him, he would have been thrown just like in the previous rounds. Therefore, cornering the opponent to reduce their movement range and dragging them into a situation where they couldn¡¯t use their skills was a highly important psychological strategy. ¡®Did he really imitate that after just three attempts?¡¯ Honestly, it¡¯s unbelievable. No matter how good his athletic ability and sense were, it¡¯s impossible. If anyone could do that, they should be aiming for the Olympics, not acting. But seeing Kang Woo-ju aplish it as if it were natural left Seo Baek-ho feeling hollow. ¡®No matter how much the position shapes the person¡­.¡¯ They had some understanding of Kang Woo-ju¡¯s past, given that they were guarding Kim Eun-ha 24/7. They also knew that he wasn¡¯t like this from the beginning. However, as if to prove why he was chosen by Kim Eun-ha, he was performing such unbelievable acts. An absurdugh naturally escaped. ¡®¡­Master seems to be enjoying this too.¡¯ A slight smile was visible at the corner of Kang Dae-ho¡¯s mouth as well. Considering that he rarely showed emotions, he must be truly pleased. That likely meant Kang Woo-ju had greatly impressed him. Realizing that made Seo Baek-ho feel inexplicablyplicated. ¡°Hey, Baek-ho.¡± At that moment, Han Yeo-ryeong, who had been standing beside him, spoke again. This brought him out of his thoughts, and he turned his head to respond. ¡°Speak.¡± ¡°Who do you think will win?¡± ¡°CEO Kim Eun-ha will win.¡± ¡°¡­You¡¯re so adamant. But Alpha won the previous round perfectly, so why are you so sure?¡± Han Yeo-ryeong tilted her head. Seo Baek-ho watched the two preparing for the next round as he answered. ¡°CEO Kim Eun-ha isn¡¯t someone who¡¯ll fall for the same trick twice. She probably noticed by now that Alpha is mimicking me. At that point, the match is already over.¡± ¡°Why?¡± ¡°Well¡¤¡¤¡¤.¡± Kang Woo-ju¡¯s acting skills were exceptional. To the point where it seemed almost excessive. Ironically, that revealed a critical w. ¡°Because I can¡¯t beat CEO Kim Eun-ha either.¡± Whoosh- Boom-!! Argh-!? As soon as he spoke, Kang Woo-ju was mmed onto the floor. The attack, seemingly filled with emotion and devoid of any restraint, left Kang Woo-ju gasping for breath. ¡°Young miss wins.¡± ¡°Yes-!!¡± Kim Eun-ha pumped her fists and expressed her emotions intensely. It was a side she never showed when sparring with the bodyguards. Beating Kang Woo-ju must have made her extremely happy. Realizing her own excitement, she quickly tried to adjust her expression and posture, but it was far toote. Seeing her unfamiliar demeanor brought a smile to the usually stoic bodyguards¡¯ faces. Although none of themughed openly, most of the people here had been watching over Kim Eun-ha for a long time and had developed a fondness for her. ¡°Haha. So, young miss had that side to her. Normally, she just helps her opponent up and gives a formal greeting.¡± ¡°Yeah, that¡¯s true.¡± ¡°In that sense, don¡¯t you think they look quite good together?¡± ¡°¡­¡­?¡± When Seo Baek-ho tilted his head, not understanding her meaning, Han Yeo-ryeong, who was known for her cold demeanor, continued with a rare smile on her face. ¡°Those two over there. Honestly, I don¡¯t know much about Alpha since he¡¯s not my charge and we weren¡¯t acquainted before. But the young miss has definitely be brighter than before, hasn¡¯t she?¡± ¡°¡­Yeah, that¡¯s true.¡± Kim Eun-ha was known to be kind to her bodyguards. She remembered all their names, and she paid a lot of attention to their work-life bnce and vacations. She was very strict about work but didn¡¯t interfere beyond that. Because of this, she was popr among the bodyguards. When guarding other members of the owner family, they often ended up as literal punching bags and faced a lot of job-rted stress. In contrast, being a direct bodyguard for Kim Eun-ha was so enviable that it became a silent rumor among them. As a result, the voluntary resignation and job-switching rates were almost zero, and they all knew each other for a long time. ¡®Which made it all the more regrettable¡­¡¯ Even though Kim Eun-ha always treated them with a smile, after working under her for years, they couldn¡¯t help but notice the hidden wounds beneath that smile. She always maintained a smile with everyone, but no one here was unaware that it was half an act. ¡®But that smile just now¡­¡¯ It was genuine. She was truly enjoying herself. Since Kang Woo-ju joined her, something had subtly changed in her daily life. Her once lifeless smile now had a touch of life, and she began sharing her workload with Secretary Yoon, giving herself a bit more room to breathe. Seo Baek-ho, Han Yeo-ryeong, and all the other bodyguards had sensed this change, but it was only now that they felt certain about it. ¡°Han Yeo-ryeong. You¡¯re right.¡± ¡°Huh?¡± ¡°They do look good together.¡± ¡°See, I knew it, right?¡± The two shared small smiles. Their gazes were fixed on the si-like scene unfolding before them. Kim Eun-ha, realizing btedly what had happened, hurriedly patted Kang Woo-ju¡¯s shoulder to check his condition, but he didn¡¯t move an inch, lying still like a dead man. ¡°Woo-ju! Are you alright!?¡± ¡°¡­¡­¡± Panicking, she turned to call an ambnce, only to be startled when Kang Woo-ju suddenly sat up, flipping her upside down. In an instant, he mounted her, holding her hands with both of his. With a fiery look in his eyes, Kang Woo-ju spoke. ¡°Can you go one more round?¡± ¡°W-What are you talking about!?¡± Flustered by Kang Woo-ju¡¯s intense gaze, Kim Eun-ha¡¯s skin began to flush red. She tried to twist and overturn their positions again, but the size difference was too great, and Kang Woo-ju didn¡¯t budge. Moreover, the position he was using was the same technique Seo Baek-ho had used against Han Yeo-ryeong. Everyone watching was at a loss for words, shaking their heads in disbelief. However, Kang Woo-ju seemedpletely oblivious to their gazes, focusing solely on Kim Eun-ha. He moved his face close to hers, as if he were about to kiss her. ¡°Just one more time.¡± ¡°Ah, get off me for now!¡± Thunk! Kim Eun-ha headbutted him squarely, sending him rolling on the floor. She quickly stood up and put some distance between them. Though her face was bright red, she started scolding him, but Kang Woo-ju¡¯s determination was unwavering. The bodyguards, who had been watching the entire scene, nodded in unison as if they had made an agreement. ¡®They look good together.¡¯ ¡®They¡¯re in that wonderful stage.¡¯ ¡®It would be great if they actually started dating.¡¯ Watching the two bicker, the bodyguards shared simr thoughts. Warm smiles spread across their faces, a sight rarely seen before. * ¡®¡­It¡¯s a pity.¡¯ Returning home, I showered and then sank into the sofa. Tilting my head backpletely and closing my eyes, I reflected on the match with Kim Eun-ha. ¡®She really has been going easy on me.¡¯ When I asionally got hit while ying around with Kim Eun-ha, I thought I might really die. But today, I realized that was just child¡¯s y. Even now, when I close my eyes, I can see her serene and calm gaze. The depth of her eyes was like a gxy, just like her name. Looking into them made me feel entranced and dazed. ¡®With my current level, it¡¯s impossible.¡¯ Thanks to Team Leader Kang Dae-ho¡¯s consideration and my overwhelming physical advantage, I managed to win one set by mimicking Seo Baek-ho in the previous demonstration match. But that was close to a fluke. Getting thrown down immediately in the next set was proof of that. Even if I properly learned martial arts, it would take quite some time to beat her in an official match. ¡®Still, it¡¯s a relief I got her permission, right?¡¯ Although I was utterly defeated, winning one set wasn¡¯t entirely meaningless. Kim Eun-ha didn¡¯t like the idea of losing to a novice like me and pouted, but she granted me permission to receive martial arts training. ¨C But there¡¯s a condition. The final episode of must have an average viewership rating of over 10%. Until then, focus solely on the drama. Of course, it was conditional. However, even if I had won the sparring match, I had nned to start training after the drama finished. So, it wasn¡¯t surprising. In this era where people don¡¯t watch TV as much, achieving a 10% viewership on a public broadcastingwork is incredibly challenging. ¡®¡­But I have no choice but to try.¡¯ Anyway, to achieve my goal of bing a well-known actor, I had no intention of cking off on the drama filming. ¨C Woo-ju, don¡¯t visit until the drama is over. ¨C Yeah, your sister ising up this week too. Don¡¯t worry too much about here and leave it to Mom. Just focus on your filming, my son. ¨C Honey, hang up the phone quickly. ¨C Hehe. See youter, son! As soon as I called home to let them know I had arrived, these words came back at me. The call ended abruptly before I could say anything else, leaving me a bit flustered, but my parents¡¯ concern and care were clearly conveyed. ¡®I mustn¡¯t disappoint them after they¡¯ve done so much for me.¡¯ Hup- I infused energy into my body and stood up. After some light stretching, I picked up the script from the table. ¡°Ah- Ahem!¡± Clearing my throat, I walked to the full-length mirror. Facing the other me reflected in the mirror, I slowly began to speak. ¡°Park Soo-bin ssi, if you¡¯re awyer, act like one and focus on your work. Why do you keep pushing and irritating me like this? Because of your constant interference¡­.¡± As I continued reciting the lines, the smile that had been lingering on my lips disappeared. Beyond expressionless, my face became utterly devoid of any human emotion. Deeper, even deeper. As I lowered my voice and gaze. ¡°You make me want to break you even more.¡± Siiik- The man in the mirror lifted the corners of his mouth. There was no longer any trace of Kang Woo-ju in him. ***** Join our Discord ¨C Chapter 54 - If its you, Eun-ha ssi Chapter 54: If it¡¯s you, Eun-ha ssi ¡°¡­What on earth could it be?¡± ¡°¡­Well. I don¡¯t know the reason either, but I can definitely tell it¡¯s something incredibly serious. It was always intense, but now I can¡¯t even talk to him.¡± ¡°Director-nim, you shouldn¡¯t be like that too!¡± ¡°Then how about our Writer Jung, who¡¯s close with Woo-ju ssi, go talk to him first? My life¡¯s goal is to live a long and prosperous life.¡± Zap-! When Writer Jung Ha-rin¡¯s intense gaze was directed at him, Director Kang In-ho subtly turned his head to avoid her eyes. However, even in doing so, he did not stop rolling his eyes around to check Kang Woo-ju¡¯s condition. This was not a situation exclusive to Kang In-ho. Regardless of whether they were actors or staff, everyone on set was ncing at Kang Woo-ju. ¡°Could he have fought with CEO Kim Eun-ha?¡± ¡°Nah, no way.¡± Kang In-ho shook his head left and right, as if it was absurd. The others around him also showed simr expressions. What kind of person was Kang Woo-ju? He was a person who used his time down to the second. You could see this even during the brief breaks during overnight shoots. While everyone else was busy nodding off with their eyes closed, he was the monster who leisurely drank coffee and read the script. ¡°Um¡­. I can¡¯t imagine that guy worrying about rtionship problems. What makes you think that?¡± ¡°Just watch carefully. Normally, Woo-ju ssi rarely takes out his phone, but now, except when filming, he¡¯s staring at the phone¡¯s ck screen all day.¡± ¡°¡­So what?¡± ¡°Oh, really!¡± Even after pointing this out, seeing that Kang In-ho still had no clue, Jung Ha-rin stomped her feet in frustration. ¡°¡­I can see why Director-nim haven¡¯t been in a rtionship.¡± ¡°Hey, what¡¯s that got to do with this!?¡± ¡°Come on, why would Woo-ju ssi, who doesn¡¯t even y games, just stare nkly at his phone? Think carefully.¡± ¡°Well, maybe he¡¯s on social media or something?¡± ¡°Woo-ju ssi doesn¡¯t have any personal social media.¡± ¡°How do you know that?¡± ¡°¡­¡­.¡± Sliiide- At Kang In-ho¡¯s words, she subtly turned her head. Scratching her cheek awkwardly under his piercing gaze, Jung Ha-rin quickly changed the subject. ¡°Anyway! If Woo-ju ssi, who neither ys games nor uses social media, is holding his phone all day, there¡¯s only one possibility.¡± ¡°He must be waiting for someone¡¯s call or message.¡± ¡°Exactly! That¡¯s it!¡± Assistant Director Oh Dong-gyu, who had joined the conversation at some point, excitedly jumped in, finally feeling relieved. Jung Ha-rin, whose frustration seemed to have been lifted, poured out the words she had been holding back. ¡°See, that¡¯s why Director Oh is married. There¡¯s a reason for it.¡± ¡°This is basic stuff.¡± ¡°Mm-hmm, yeah. It¡¯s basic stuff.¡± ¡°¡­¡­.¡± Nodding in strong agreement, Jung Ha-rin felt awkward as Kang In-ho muttered and opened his mouth. ¡°How are you so sure it¡¯s the CEO?¡± ¡°If Woo-ju ssi started it, sure, but how many people in the world are there who he would seriously wait for a call or message from?¡± ¡°¡­You really know how to write a script. But no matter how much I think about it, it doesn¡¯t seem like that to me.¡± ¡°Why do you think so?¡± Hmm- At the returning question, Kang In-ho, rubbing his chin, fell into deep thought. After thinking for a while, he voiced the thoughts that came to mind. ¡°After all, we¡¯ve been watching him closely while working together these past few days. From what I¡¯ve seen, that expression must mean a problem far more serious than a rtionship issue.¡± ¡°What kind of problem?¡± ¡°¡­Well, maybe something like his parents?¡± Hmm- At Kang In-ho¡¯s words, everyone around him hummed in unison. They quickly racked their brains, but no one could think of anyone that fit. ¡°Woo-ju ssi¡¯s parents¡­.¡± ¡°It¡¯s hard to even imagine what kind of people they are.¡± ¡°Maybe they¡¯re like some hidden power controlling South Korea?¡± Gasp- Just then, everyone gasped at the usible suggestion someone threw out. Kang Woo-ju¡¯s identity was truly shrouded in mystery. ¡°That¡¯s right! Come to think of it, wasn¡¯t Ji-hwan a junior at the same school as Woo-ju ssi? I remember seeing it on the profiles when we were selecting actors.¡± ¡°Oh, really?¡± ¡°¡­¡­.¡± At Kang In-ho¡¯s words, everyone turned their gaze towards Choi Ji-hwan. Startled, he widened his eyes. ¡°Ji-hwan ssi, what was Kang Woo-ju like in school? At his level, everyone in the entire school must have known him, right?¡± ¡°I don¡¯t know! I really don¡¯t know anything!¡± Before the other person could even finish speaking, Choi Ji-hwan hastily waved his hands in denial. Everyone tilted their heads at his intense reaction. ¡°What the heck, why are you suddenly shouting?¡± ¡°Look!? Look at the cold sweat on his forehead. Ji-hwan ssi, are you sick? Are you okay?¡± ¡°I-I¡¯m fine! But¡­ um¡­ it¡¯s just that¡­ my head! My head feels a bit dizzy. I¡¯ll go rest in the shade for a bit!¡± ¡°¡­¡­?¡± Without giving them a chance to say more, Choi Ji-hwan quickly left the scene. Watching his retreating figure only heightened everyone¡¯s curiosity. Just then. ¡°What are you all talking about?¡± ¡°Oh, Soo-bin ssi.¡± Park Soo-bin, who had been memorizing her script from afar, took Choi Ji-hwan¡¯s spot like a baton pass. Jung Ha-rin turned her gaze towards Kang Woo-ju as she exined the situation, and after hearing everything, Park Soo-bin immediately turned her body. ¡°So now¡­ Soo-bin ssi!?¡± ¡°I¡¯ll go ask him directly.¡± ¡°¡­¡­.¡± Without hesitation, Park Soo-bin walked straight towards Kang Woo-ju. Everyone was left speechless by her bold action. At the same time, they all strained their eyes and ears to eavesdrop on the conversation between the two. ¡°Park Soo-bin ssi?¡± ¡°Woo-ju ssi, can I ask you something?¡± ¡°Go ahead.¡± ¡°Did you fight with your girlfriend by any chance?¡± ¡°¡­¡­?¡± Kang Woo-ju silently stared at Park Soo-bin as if wondering what absurd question she was asking. She shrugged her shoulders and spoke again. ¡°Today, you¡¯ve been staring at your phone unusually long, so I was wondering if something happened. Everyone is worried about you, Woo-ju ssi.¡± ¡°Ah¡­.¡± At her words, Kang Woo-ju nced around. People who met his eyes all coughed awkwardly and looked away. Understanding the situation, Kang Woo-ju pushed the phone he was holding into his inner pocket and spoke. ¡°My apologies. I made a mistake, which is unlike me.¡± ¡°Oh, it¡¯s not something you need to apologize for. It¡¯s just that the atmosphere around you feels a bit different today, so everyone, including myself, is worried about you.¡± ¡°Did it really show that much?¡± ¡°Well, it¡¯s hard to pinpoint, but it feels like you¡¯re more on edge than usual. Honestly, when we were filming earlier, it was so intense I thought I was going to suffocate.¡± Whew- Imagining it made Park Soo-bin shiver as she rubbed her arms. However, a broad smile soon spread across her face. ¡°But I actually liked it.¡± ¡°¡­¡­?¡± ¡°Until now, I thought Woo-ju ssi was either a robot or a psychopath. But today, you seem a bit more human. For the first time, it feels like I¡¯m meeting ¡®Kang Woo-ju¡¯ and not [Kang Joo-heon].¡± ¡°¡­¡­.¡± ¡°Oh! But your acting was perfect. Actually, I think you appeared even more captivating on camera. You know, sometimes it¡¯s hard to empathize when someone seems too inhuman. Sometimes I also¡­¡± As usual, Park Soo-bin rambled on. Watching her quietly, Kang Woo-ju spoke in a low voice. ¡°Didn¡¯t you ask earlier if I fought with my girlfriend?¡± ¡°Yes? Ah, yes, I did.¡± Momentarily flustered by Kang Woo-ju¡¯s sudden remark, Park Soo-bin quickly nodded, as this was something she was ustomed to. ¡°I usually don¡¯t answer personal questions, but since my mistake was the cause this time, I¡¯ll make an exception. This has nothing to do with Eun-ha ssi.¡± ¡°Then¡­.¡± ¡°It¡¯s nothing you need to worry about.¡± Kang Woo-ju drew a firm line, as if to say not to ask any further. Even though he didn¡¯t raise his voice, it echoed throughout the entire set. Everyone realized that his words weren¡¯t directed solely at Park Soo-bin, and they all turned their heads in response. ¡°Yes, I understand perfectly.¡± Just as Park Soo-bin, slightly pouty from his cold attitude, was about to turn away, she suddenly heard a small voice from behind, only loud enough for her to catch. ¡°Thank you, Park Soo-bin ssi.¡± ¡°¡­¡­!?¡± Startled, she quickly turned her head. However, Kang Woo-ju was already walking past her towards the set as if nothing had happened. . . . ¡°Great job, everyone!¡± ¡°Good work, everyone!¡± With all the scheduled filmingpleted, the actors and staff forced their tired bodies up and exchanged greetings. ¡°Woo-ju ssi, you did great today¡­. Huh?¡± Kang In-ho, who was naturally greeting everyone, tilted his head in confusion. Kang Woo-ju was nowhere to be seen. ¡°Kang Woo-ju left right after filming ended.¡± ¡°Well, that¡¯s nothing new¡­.¡± Kang In-ho scratched his head as he looked towards where Kang Woo-ju had disappeared. Normally, they would at least exchange greetings before he left. Kang Woo-ju, who rarely showed his emotions outside of acting, made everyone keenly aware of any changes in him. Of course, whenever the word ¡®action!¡¯ came out of his mouth, he would wlessly portray Kang Joo-heon as if nothing had happened. ¡°¡­Wow, did you just see that?¡± ¡°¡­Yeah, I did! Totally swoon-worthy.¡± ¡°¡­I didn¡¯t know he could smile like that.¡± Pondering the reason for Kang Woo-ju¡¯s behavior, Kang In-ho overheard some peculiar conversations. Looking over, he saw a group of staff gathered, nkly staring towards the exit. ¡°What are you all doing here?¡± ¡°Oh! Sorry! We¡¯ll get back to work¡­.¡± ¡°No, I¡¯m not scolding you. I¡¯m genuinely curious. What were you all looking at over there?¡± ¡°Um¡­.¡± The staff exchanged nces at Kang In-ho¡¯s question. It seemed they decided who would step forward with just that brief eye contact, and one of them finally stepped up. ¡°Well¡­ Kang Woo-ju ssi smiled.¡± ¡°Huh? What do you mean by that?¡± ¡°So, um¡­¡± As the exnation continued, it turned out that they were waiting by the entrance to organize the equipment as soon as filming ended. But Kang Woo-ju moved faster than them. ¡°At first, we wanted to greet him and say he did well, but he was on the phone, so we couldn¡¯t interrupt. His expression looked kind of urgent too.¡± ¡°That¡¯s right. But then suddenly, Kang Woo-ju ssi¡¯s frownpletely disappeared, and he smiled a little¡­ Wow. It was amazing.¡± ¡°I finally understood what it means when they say winter passes and springes. I almost screamed like a high school girl.¡± Once the floodgates opened, the staff chatted excitedly among themselves. As Kang In-ho patiently listened, he began to piece things together. ¡°It happened so quickly that I couldn¡¯t catch the whole conversation, but I definitely heard him say ¡®Eun-ha ssi¡¯ and then smile!¡± ¡°Me too, me too!¡± ¡°¡­Honestly. I¡¯m so jealous of CEO Kim Eun-ha. A smile reserved for just one woman? I thought that only existed in dramas!¡± Sigh- With thosest words, they sighed together. Kang In-ho, watching them, shook his head and quietly left the scene. * ¨C The surgery went smoothly, so there¡¯s no need to worry. I even saw him for a moment before he went into the operating room. After all the filming was over. The moment I heard Kim Eun-ha¡¯s calm voice over the phone, a sigh of relief escaped my lips. At the same time, I felt immense gratitude towards Kim Eun-ha, who had squeezed in a hospital visit despite her tight schedule. ¨C Eun-ha ssi, I will definitely repay this favor. ¨C You know you shouldn¡¯t say things like that lightly, right? I¡¯m not a big fan of formalities. I¡¯ll make sure to collect a hefty price. Heh- Kim Eun-ha¡¯s yful voice made me momentarily forget I was outside, and a smile spread across my face without me realizing. ¨C I don¡¯t mind. ¨C Oh, I wasn¡¯t joking. ¨C Neither am I. Really, you can ask me for anything. Before speaking again, I cleared my throat, feeling a tickle. Then, I spoke, pouring all my current feelings into each word. ¨C If it¡¯s you, Eun-ha ssi. My sincerity flowed directly from the depths of my heart, without even passing through my frontal lobe. ***** ?? Join our Discord ¨C Chapter 55 - Orabeoni! Chapter 55: Orabeoni! Fortunately, my father¡¯s surgery ended sessfully. As long as he focuses well on rehabilitation, he should be able to manage daily life on his own. Given that too much time had passed since the initial brain hemorrhage, even the top-ranked doctors in the world couldn¡¯t guarantee the surgery¡¯s oue. ¡®¡­It¡¯s truly a miracle.¡¯ If my father, who was once deemed lucky just to be alive, can stand on his own two feet again, it would be a tremendous mentalfort. Moreover, thanks to Kim Eun-ha, we now have some financial leeway. Both of them can focus solely on recovery without overexerting themselves. ¡®¡­I never imagined that my mom¡¯s health was in such bad shape.¡¯ A few days ago, my mother, under Kim Eun-ha¡¯s insistence, underwent aprehensive examination, starting from a simple X-ray to MRI and endoscopy. However, the results were rming. Her small body was harboring so many minor ailments that it was difficult to list them all. ¡®I was really too neglectful all this time.¡¯ My mother, as the eldest daughter in the family, had endured a hard life from a very young age. Taking care of my father was not easy for her, both physically and mentally. It was only natural. All this while, I was so busy taking care of myself that I unconsciously ignored the signs of my mother¡¯s deteriorating health. ¡®It¡¯s a relief to have found out now, at least.¡¯ Luckily, she didn¡¯t have any severe illnesses like my father, and some could be resolved with simple procedures. It could have escted into something serious, but fortunately, it was discovered in time to prevent any major issues. Despite her initial refusal, saying she wanted to stay by my father¡¯s side until his rehabilitation wasplete, I stood firm on this matter. After a bit of back and forth, I finally managed to get them to agree to focus on their treatments together after my father¡¯s surgery. ¡®I¡¯m really d we caught it before it was toote.¡¯ When I heard about my mother¡¯s health, my heart sank, and I realized why the saying ¡°Take care of them while you can¡± exists. If we had continued to drift apart like before I met Kim Eun-ha, we would have faced this issue in an even more irreparable situation. ¨C Psychological stability is very important in treating illnesses. Since both of them seem to care about you a lot, frequentmunication will surely help. The doctor¡¯s advice shed through my mind. Following his words, I should visit and keep in touch regrly from now on. Of course, they sternly warned me not toe near until the drama was over. But I know that if I visit, they willin about why I came, but secretly they¡¯ll be happy. ¡®They don¡¯t need to overexert themselves for living expenses anymore.¡¯ The reason my mother endured her illness in silence was ultimately because of money. Hospital bills were a problem, but she didn¡¯t have the luxury to spend hours waiting in a hospital. Even if she received a detailed diagnosis, it would only make her feel more troubled, and she wouldn¡¯t want to burden her children further. ¡®It¡¯s different now.¡¯ Even though I got the job through connections, the contract fee I received as a formal actor is substantial. It¡¯s apletely different level than before. Moreover, with Kim Eun-ha, a solid support, there shouldn¡¯t be any financial issues for our family. ¡®Of course, they will consider it all as debt.¡¯ Naturally, they wouldn¡¯t just ept all this without feeling indebted. Even if they were handed money, they would probably refuse, and they would try to repay whatever they had received so far in some way. This is something I can¡¯t do anything about. They probably think repaying the debt financially is too difficult, so they might try to treat Kim Eun-ha better instead. ¨C Oh my, our daughter-inw is here!? I recalled my mother¡¯s enthusiastic wee when I visited the hospital with Kim Eun-hast time. My father was no less weing. It will probably continue to be this way. They will repay the debt in their own way throughout their lives. ¡®Even though our rtionship is an act¡­¡¯ Fortunately, Kim Eun-ha didn¡¯t seem to dislike it. No matter how much of a contract it is, she would never force herself to do something she hates. Maybe, for her, who lost her parents early, this could be much more valuable than money. ¡®¡­I need to try harder too.¡¯ The contract with Kim Eun-ha. The rtionship with my parents. These are things I can¡¯t afford to lose. That¡¯s why I resolved not to visit my parents whenever I have time, but to make time to go see them. If I include regr visits with my parents in my schedule, it will somehow work out. As I organized my thoughts one by one, I found myself arriving at the caf¨¦ in front of the hospital. ¡®¡­It starts from today.¡¯ My father needs to takeplete rest for the time being, and not even a caregiver is allowed to stay with him. Thanks to that, my mother, who had always been by my father¡¯s side, was forcibly given some free time. She seemed clueless about what to do, having been a caregiver for so long. Although I can¡¯t spend a lot of time with her due to filming, I decided to at least see my mother¡¯s face, who must have been anxious throughout the surgery. ¡®Was it the 3rd floor?¡¯ After parking, I entered the caf¨¦ building. Being in front of thergest hospital in Korea, the caf¨¦ was a three-story building. It was rtively quiet inside, possibly because visiting hours were over. I climbed the stairs, trying not to attract attention. But just before I stepped onto the third floor, a strangely familiar yet unfamiliar voice reached my ears. ¡°¡­Doesn¡¯t it seem a bit suspicious?¡± ¡°I don¡¯t know. Mom doesn¡¯t think so.¡± ¡°No, seriously, think about it. Why would the granddaughter of Mirae Group need to date Kang Woo-ju!?¡± Ah- Even without seeing their faces, an inexplicable anger rose from deep within me. The instinctive reaction of my body made it clear who the voice belonged to. ¨C Yeah, your [sister] ising up this week, so don¡¯t worry too much about here and just focus on your filming. I vaguely remembered hearing this during ourst call. My sister wasing to visit our parents after a long time. It had been so long since I¡¯d seen her that I had almost forgotten her existence. ¡°What¡¯s wrong with your oppa?¡± ¡°No, seriously, listen. With all the drug issues and cults these days, the world is so dangerous. What if there¡¯s some dangerous contract between them¡­¡± ¡°Stop talking nonsense.¡± ¡°¡­!?¡± I had no intention of eavesdropping any longer and immediately intervened in their conversation. Startled as if caught at a crime scene, she averted her gaze sheepishly. ¡°Oh my, our Joo-heon is here.¡± ¡°Huh?¡± ¡°Haha, these days, I¡¯ve been getting so many calls from people around me. They¡¯re all so smitten with you that they keep mentioning you as Joo-heon instead of Woo-ju.¡± ¡°¡­.¡± Contrary to my concerns, my mother seemed to be in a very good mood. Her expression alone showed that a huge burden had been lifted from her shoulders. After all, my father¡¯s surgery had ended sessfully, and I had be quite famous, enough for people to reach out to her first. Thanks to that, she even started making jokes she normally wouldn¡¯t, showing that her mind was at ease. I also didn¡¯t dislike this change in her. ¡°¡­.¡± On the other hand, my sister¡¯s tant suspicion as she stared at me silently was extremely unpleasant. Since childhood, we fought so fiercely that we were far from the angelic siblingsughing together in dramas. ¡®If anything, we are more like enemies.¡¯ Although we became somewhat distant as we grew older and lived separately, seeing her after a long time brought back those feelings vividly. Especially those ring eyes¡ªso lovely that I almost wanted to bite her head off. ¡°Kang Byul.¡± Pfft-! Cough, cough! Startled by the sudden call of her name, she spat out the coffee she was holding in her mouth. Fortunately, my mother was sitting next to me, and my sister desperately turned her head, avoiding a messy situation. I nearly got sshed in the face. ¡°¡­What the hell are you doing!? Don¡¯t suddenly try to act all serious. It¡¯s seriously creepy. Do you think you¡¯re Kang Joo-heon or something?¡± She wasn¡¯t kidding as she rubbed her arms and shivered. Seeing her like that, I felt an even stronger urge to tease her. ¡°Byul-ah.¡± ¡°Hey, are you really crazy!?¡± ¡°Then what should I call you?¡± ¡°Just call me like you always do! Hey, you, there, that person, etc. You¡¯ve been calling me that all your life, so why suddenly use my name?¡± Kang Byul recoiledpletely, showing intense disgust. Her reaction was so over the top that it almost made meugh. This girl really hasn¡¯t changed. Even after years, she¡¯s still the same. ¡°Your personality is still as bad, I see.¡± ¡°Hey, are you picking a fight?¡± ¡°Kang Byul.¡± ¡°Seriously, this bas¡­ Ugh, whatever. Call me whatever you want, y your little character. Just answer my question.¡± Shaa- Suddenly, there was a steely resolve in Kang Byul¡¯s eyes. The air around us froze, creating a very serious atmosphere. ¡°What exactly is your rtionship with Kim Eun-ha?¡± ¡°¡­.¡± Whether it¡¯s a family trait or not, Kang Byul has always been very quick-witted. She immediately hit the core of the issue. Unlike Baek Do-young or Park Ji-hoon, Kang Byul had no information about me and Kim Eun-ha. Of course, being family, she had plenty of clues to infer my rtionship with Kim Eun-ha. But the look in her eyes wasn¡¯t just a casual probe. ¡°Lovers.¡± Of course, I had no intention of revealing the truth. Keeping it under wraps was better for both of us. Even if she finds out the truth, nothing will change. Rather, despite her outward appearance, she¡¯s soft-hearted inside, so she¡¯ll just worry needlessly. ¡°Stop bullshitting.¡± ¡­I take back the soft-hearted inside part. Anyway, the truth wouldn¡¯t benefit her in any way, so I maintained my stance. ¡°You asked a question, and I gave an answer. Whether you believe it or not is up to you, but don¡¯t worry our parents with baseless spection.¡± ¡°Did you visit the Joseon era in your dreams or something? What¡¯s with your speech!? Do you think acting like this will make me let it slide? Are you involved in something dangerous¡­ Hey!¡± Taptap- When I ignored her and fiddled with my phone, she raised her voice, her face turning red. For some reason, the third floor was empty except for us, so we weren¡¯t bothering anyone else, but her voice was loud enough to hurt my ears. ¡°When someone is talking to you, don¡¯t just y with your phone¡­¡± Vrrr! Vrrr! The familiar rhythm in Kang Byul¡¯s speech instinctively came to a halt. Her phone, which she had ced on the table, started vibrating. It was a vibration pattern I knew well, having used the same phone until recently. It was the notification for a deposit. ¡°What are you¡­?¡± ¡°Why don¡¯t you check it first?¡± ¡°¡­¡± Kang Byul gave me a suspicious look, but she couldn¡¯t resist the deposit notification. She cautiously picked up her phone. As she turned on the screen and entered the pattern, her pupils quickly dted in surprise. She raised her head slowly towards me, her eyes wide open as if she couldn¡¯t believe it. ¡°¡­What is this?¡± ¡°Pocket money.¡± ¡°500,000 won as an pocket money!?¡± ¡°It depends on how you see it. I might increase it based on your behavior.¡± ¡°¡­Based on my behavior?¡± Whirr-! I could almost see the illusion of her eyes spinning like a pachinko roulette. Being the smart girl she was, she quickly did the math. Her eyes, now bearing a (?) symbol, focused intently on me. ¡°Orabeoni!¡± (TL: More formal and respectful way to address elder brother) My sister finally expressed the joy of our reunion. As a magnanimous person, I decided to generously overlook our petty past. Indeed. Money is the best. ***** ?? Join our Discord ¨C Chapter 56: Lets Have the Wedding First TL: Aniea "Orabeoni!" "Yes." As the tearful reunion between Kang Woo-ju and Kang Byul came to an end, Kim Ji-hye, who had been watching the whole process, smiled and said a word. "Son?" Thenguage of humans is truly mysterious. The same word can take on countless meanings depending on the context or situation, just like now. At her call, Kang Woo-ju hesitated for a moment before quickly adding more words. "I have prepared a separate gift for you, Mother." "Oh, you didn¡¯t have to." Hoho- Contrary to her words, a smile blossomed on Kim Ji-hye''s face. She was surprised at herself forughing with a hint of humor, something that had note easily until recently. ''...I never thought life could change so dramatically.'' Until recently, she had felt sorry even to talk to her children, let alone meet them with a smile. After her husband, Kang Nam-woo, copsed, their family was in no condition to joke around. It was, of course, something she couldn''t be unaware of that Kang Woo-ju was cutting back on his already insufficient sleep to support them. Her daughter was also managing her studies and part-time jobs simultaneously, covering her tuition and living expenses herself. Sometimes, she even sent leftover pocket money. ''...I felt so guilty and ashamed.'' It took a lot of contemtion to bring up her son''s number on the screen and press the call button. She worried if she might disturb him while he was working or sleeping. She feared that she might only add to his stress when he was already tired. As a parent who couldn''t even help her children, it brought tears to her eyes to ask for help in such a miserable situation. ''I heard nowadays kids call parents like us dirt spoons?'' It was something she had heard during a text conversation with a friend from her hometown. They said that a child''s life also changes based on the parent''s social status or economic power. When she heard those words, she felt utterly devastated, thinking she and her husband had passed on poverty to their children. ''It''s a world where it''s hard to take care of oneself...'' In such a situation, how hard must it be to carry the burden of sick parents on their backs? Several times, she even thought that it might be better for her to die early for their sake. If they weren''t held back by their parents, her proud son and daughter, who could certainly soar high, very high, with their abilities, would do so. "Oppa, but is it really okay for me to use this money?" "Is it not enough?" "No! Not at all. You know that''s not what I meant. It''s just that it''s money I could only barely earn by working full-time during the vacation." "That''s why I''m giving it to you. This semester, take it easy for a bit. You¡¯re a college student too, so you should enjoy campus life like others sometimes." "..." Listening to the conversation between her two children, Kim Ji-hye felt something welling up inside her again. They always fought and snarled at each other when they met, but it was nice to see them unhesitatingly extend a helping hand when the other was in trouble. Especially seeing Kang Woo-ju take care of his sister, doing the parental role they couldn¡¯t fulfill, made her think a lot. "By the way, the expiration period is until this month. The usage should include cultural activities like shopping or traveling. You need to write a report on where and how much you spend and get my approval." "Are you crazy. Why should I do that!?" "Otherwise, you''ll just use it to repay your student loans or save it all. That''s not what this money is for." "..." Kang Byul couldn¡¯t easily find words to respond, as if he had hit the mark. Since she was very young, Kang Woo-ju had always been attuned to his family''s thoughts. Even if they didn¡¯t ask for help, he would step forward and scratch their itches. "What do you know..." "What did you say?" "No, Boss! Please calm down first. Listen to what I''m saying. I know you have a lot of money now, but if you keep spending it recklessly like this, you''ll be in big troubleter!" "Don¡¯t worry, nothing like that will happen. Just use it." "Ah, really, you stubborn mule!" Watching the two of them brought back old memories. During their school days, when the household hadn¡¯t faced such hardships, these kinds of arguments were frequent. They would raise their voices over even the smallest things, always ending with the same conclusion. "Mom!!" Just like now. Kang Byul, who could never win against Kang Woo-ju alone, would always call for backup in the end. "Mom, say something! Being an actor is already an unstable job, but if he keeps developing this habit of spending money recklessly, it¡¯ll be a disaster!" "I probably manage my expenses more systematically than you do." "Oh,e on. I''m not blind. No matter how hot of a rookie actor you are these days, you must have been a nobody when you signed the contract. How much could you have earned..." "Our daughter is really interested in her oppa." Huhu- Kim Ji-hye, who was reminded of old memories, didn''t hide her smile. It felt like she had been granted the role of a parent again after a long time. It had always been her job to mediate their fights. She felt a nostalgic sensation. "Byul, don''t make things too difficult for your oppa." "...Mom!?" "Honestly, Mom still can''t believe the current situation. I''m so happy that I''m scared if everything will turn out to be a dream when I wake up." "Mom..." Kang Byul called her in a low voice, filled with sincerity, and Kang Woo-ju quietly looked away. Although not many words were exchanged, her true feelings seemed to have been clearly conveyed to both of them. "Not only has your father, who was told he''d never walk again, sessfullypleted his surgery, but as a parent, it¡¯s so heartwarming to see you two having friendly conversations like before." "...How is this a friendly conversation." "Huhu. I understand what my daughter is worried about. You¡¯re concerned that your oppa might be involved in something bad, right?" "No, I''ve never worried about someone like him." "Is my daughter feeling embarrassed now?" "...Absolutely not?" Kang Byul pouted and grumbled, but to Kim Ji-hye, even that was adorable. It meant that they had enough leeway to joke around with each other. "We don''t know the full details either. For now, we just decided to trust your oppa, Woo-ju. He¡¯ll exin everything when the timees." "...Mom." "It''s been a while since I heard you call me that. Ever since you met your girlfriend, you¡¯ve always put strength into your voice and called me ''Mother,'' haven¡¯t you?" "Ahem." With no valid rebuttal, Kang Woo-ju merely cleared his throat. Watching him, Kim Ji-hye quietly smiled again. How long had it been since she felt this familial atmosphere? If her husband were here, it would have been even noisier with him teasing Kang Woo-ju. ''Soon, such a day wille.'' She couldn¡¯t even remember thest time she imagined a happy future. Life had been so heavy and tough that she couldn''t dare look ahead to the future. But now, the image of a happy family was so easy to imagine. The number of people in her mind started to increase one by one. ''...He would be sitting over there.'' Her husband, Kang Nam-woo, would sit beside her. Naturally, Kang Woo-ju¡¯s position would be across from them. Next to Kang Woo-ju would be his wife, Kim Eun-ha. An incredibly pretty child with a bright smile. Beyond just her looks or abilities, she was a deeply considerate child. ''Thanks to her, I endured today too.'' A risky surgery with no guaranteed sess. Her son was busy with filming, and her daughter had ovepping exams. Under normal circumstances, she would have had to endure the long hours alone. - Mother, I¡¯m here. - Daughter-inw!? What brings you here¡­ - Woo-ju asked me. He said Father is undergoing surgery today and he was worried about you being alone. - Oh dear, I know you must be busy too. Just seeing your face is enough to give me strength. You should go back to your work. - It¡¯s alright. Although I am actually busy, luckily, I have some free time today. Can I sit next to you? Kim Eun-ha said this as she naturally sat beside her. She stayed by her side for hours. She spoke so beautifully. Talking with her made her smile without realizing it. - That time, I caught Woo-ju charging at me and flipped him backward! He was so furious and wanted to go again! - Woo-ju does have a bit morepetitive spirit than others. - Right? Oh, speaking ofpetitive spirit, I just remembered something else. Before, when I went shooting guns with Woo-ju. There¡­ - CEO-nim, we really have to leave now. - Already!? When her secretary came to tell her it was time to leave, she looked so apologetic. Even though she had to leave for work, she kept looking back, so she had to be gently pushed out. ''She''s really too good for us in many ways, but...'' With all the talk around, it was impossible not to know her identity. The granddaughter of the Mirae Group''s Chairman, the most prestigious in Korea. Honestly, it was a bit burdensome. She worried about why someone who had everything would be with her son. But today, during their one-on-one conversation, watching Kim Eun-ha¡¯s varied expressions, she understood a little. ¡®¡­Such a pretty child.¡¯ In the imagined future family in her mind, another person was added. A small, precious life nestled in Kim Eun-ha''s arms. Though she didn¡¯t have a prophetic ability, the child¡¯s face was so vividly clear. ¡°...Mom?¡± ¡°Oh, sorry. I was lost in thought for a moment.¡± ¡°Speaking of which, you said you were not feeling well. If you¡¯re unwell, let¡¯s go home and rest early, okay? How about sleepingfortably at home instead of the hospital for once?¡± "This child, I''m telling you the hospital room is better than our house." Hoho- Laughter kept bubbling up. She felt as if she wanted this moment tost forever. * ¡°Where are we going now?¡± ¡°To the house where I live.¡± ¡°¡­Did you buy a house already?¡± ¡°No, Eun-ha lent it to me temporarily.¡± ¡°¡­Damn. The ss difference is real.¡± The brief reunion at the caf¨¦ ended. I headed home with my mother and sister. Despite my mother¡¯s insistence on waiting at the hospital, the doctor''s assurance that he wouldn¡¯t wake up until at least tomorrow afternoon finally made her give in. ¡°¡­Wow. You really live here?" ¡°¡­It¡¯s much bigger than I heard.¡± ¡°Mom, look over there! It even has a garden!¡± Not the semi-basement we used to live in, but Kim Eun-ha¡¯s mansion where I was currently staying. Naturally, I had asked for her consent in advance. - Sure. I think giving Mother the master bedroom on the first floor and Byul the guest room on the second floor would be appropriate. I¡¯ll inform the housekeeper. - Thank you very much. - You know this is all a debt, right? - Absolutely. No doubt about it. Kim Eun-ha agreed readily. She even suggested that my parents stay at this house after being discharged. Truly, she¡¯s a generous person. ¡°Mom! The dining table is set too!" ¡°Oh my¡­ What is all this?¡± ¡°There¡¯s someone who regrly cooks and cleans. It seems Eun-ha specially requested it for today because you¡¯reing.¡± ¡°Oh my¡­¡± The table was set with a feast, far more than usual, enough for three people. From braised short ribs to kimchi stew, the luxurious spread made our mouths water, and we happily filled our stomachs. ¡°¡­Alright, I¡¯ve decided.¡± In the midst of our meal, Kang Byul put down her chopsticks, which she had been clutching tightly as if someone might snatch them away, and mumbled to herself. Curious about what she was up to, I looked at her. She met my gaze with a serious expression. ¡°Oppa.¡± ¡°¡­?¡± ¡°Let¡¯s get the wedding over with quickly. No, first, just sign the papers! We need to settle this before my sister-inw realizes the truth!¡± ¡°¡­What?¡± ¡°Oppa, remember what I¡¯m saying. This is truly a heaven-sent opportunity. I really don¡¯t understand why someone like her likes you, but¡­!!¡± ¡°Oh, this crazy girl." ¡°Hmm? You understand, right? Are you listening to me?" "Just eat your food, you brat!" Even with the rare swearing from our mother, my sister¡¯s determined eyes didn¡¯t waver, and I let out a quiet sigh in my heart. Chapter 57: VVIP TL: Aniea That night. Kang Byul, who hade up to the city after a long time and had dinner with her family,y on her bed after finishing her bath in the spacious tub and was stunned. "...This is really unbelievable." It was cozy. The pillow and bed were so soft that it made her feel like she had misunderstood the word "cozy" her whole life. The sensation enveloping her entire body felt like it perfectly recreated the feeling of falling asleep in her mother''s arms when she was a child. For someone who had spent her life either sleeping on the floor or at best on the hard mattress of a dormitory, this was a profound mental shock. ''...The food was delicious too.'' She wasn''t particrly picky about food, but the food she ate today was on a different level. Even the kimchi stew she had was exceptional. How many times had she encountered kimchi stew in her over twenty years of life? Dozens of times, just counting various restaurants. ''Today''s was undoubtedly the best among them.'' Perfectly aged, high-quality kimchi. Meat that melted in her mouth as soon as she tasted it. All of thisbined to tantalize her taste buds. Salty, sour, spicy, sweet. These vors bnced precariously like a circus act. It couldn''t bepared to ordinary home-cooked meals or the mass-produced food from typical restaurants. What she had been eating until now wasn''t kimchi stew. It was just ''stew with kimchi.'' ''...Other dishes were delicious too.'' And that wasn''t all. It had been ages since she enjoyed a full-body bath. The enormous tub was spacious enough to stretch her whole body, and the housekeeper had even filled it with water beforehand. The tub had a function to maintain the water temperature, so she could soak in the hot water for quite a while. Her entire body felt rxed as random thoughts clouded her vision like steam, and Kang Byul had many thoughts within that haze. ''How long has it been since I rxed like this....'' Come to think of it, it seemed like it was the first time since she became an adult. Until now, she had been busy studying for schrships and working to earn living expenses, so there were countless days when she couldn''t sleep for even four hours a day. When her friends bragged about going on overseas trips or buying luxury bags with their allowances. She couldn''t even think about overseas trips; she just wished she could restfortably for just one day. ''...It all feels like a dream.'' Kang Byul buried her head deeper into the pillow. The subtlevender scent in the cover and the soft texture of the bedding that epted her every move. It was undoubtedly expensive stuff. She finally understood why people spent hundreds or even thousands of dors on a bedroom where they only slept. ''...It feels strangely good.'' The perfect environment drew her into a dreamy world. As time passed, her thoughts sank deeper and deeper. Half-hearted distractions gradually disappeared. Naturally, her true feelings, which had been hidden deep down, began to surface. ''...Is oppa really okay?'' They hadn''t been in contact much since they became adults, except when necessary. Both were busy, and knowing each other''s circumstances, there wasn''t much to say. The first time she heard news about Kang Woo-ju was when she was working part-time. A teaser for came on the TV installed in the store. - Hey, did you see that? - Of course, I did! But I never get tired of it, no matter how many times I watch it. It''s the first time I''ve ever looked forward to Monday! Ah, I want to see Kang Woo-ju-nim in person. Kang Woo-ju. Was there another name as familiar and unique as this? Even though she was busy cleaning, that name stuck in her ears clearly. At first, she thought she had misheard. But she kept hearing Kang Woo-ju, Kang Woo-ju everywhere, and she couldn''t deny it anymore. So she stopped what she was doing and looked up. Lo and behold, Kang Woo-ju was really on TV. And in a way that didn''t match her memories at all. ''What the hell....'' When her part-time job was over, she would usually be busy lying in bed, trying to fall asleep, but that day, her mind was unusually clear. From then on, she began searching the inte for information about Kang Woo-ju and confirmed that he had been cast as the lead in a drama. Naturally, she also learned about the existence of Kim Eun-ha and ended up meticulously reading all the spective posts circting online. ¡º©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤ [Analysis of the Rtionship Between Kang Woo-ju and Kim Eun-ha] ¡ù Long post, spective content warning. ¡ù If you disagree, you''re right. ¡ù Summary in three lines at the end. Firstly, it''s clear that Kang Woo-ju is a rookie actor. This is universally acknowledged without controversy. Nheless, he was selected as the lead in the highly anticipated Kang In-ho & Jung Ha-rin drama, which guarantees a hit. This production is known for casting rookies, but the key point is that there was no audition for the role of [Kang Joo-heon] that Kang Woo-ju ys. In other words, it was either a pre-designated role or there was a private audition. However, there are rumors within the broadcasting station that he was parachuted in... (omitted) Recently, with rumors of Chairman Kim Seok-ho''s retirement from the Mirae Group, thepetition for session is intensifying. This suggests that Kim Eun-ha is... (omitted) Most suspiciously, the two neither confirm nor deny their rtionship. They appear together in public as if nned, but there''s no couple rings or overt physical affection. They seem just close enough to be able to brush off any issuester by saying they are ''just friends.'' ording to my analysis, the reason is... (omitted) Conclusion 1. Kang Woo-ju is a parachute case. 2. Kim Eun-ha directly ced him there. 3. The two are in a contractual couple rtionship. (Kim Eun-ha supports Kang Woo-ju in exchange for him serving as a shield to prevent her from a strategic marriage) ©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤¡» She didn''t know how many times she read through the most rmended post. It was so usible that by the middle, it gave her chills. ©¸ Hahahahahahahaha ©¸ Just write a novel already. What are you, from the Joseon Dynasty? Do you really think forced strategic marriages happen these days? ©¸ Aren''t they just dating? ©¸ The writer is about to get sued by the Mirae Group''s legal team. ©¸ This is a piece of writing that retains the warmth of a dead person. Of course, it wasn''t just highly rmended. There were just as many oppositions, and mostments mocked the writer. ©¸ Why, I think it''s quite usible. Recently, even the Daehan Group''s grandson returned to the country. If this analysis is true, it all fits perfectly. ©¸ ??. And the one talking about strategic marriages seems really naive. Even middle-ss families scrutinize the other family a lot lol ©¸ A nameless actor is perfect for a show couple. Their acting skills are somewhat guaranteed, and it''s easy to use them and then discard them. ©¸ Yeah, this makes sense. There were manyments that added more information to make it more realistic. Especially in Kang Byul''s case, knowing exactly what kind of life Kang Woo-ju had lived, her trust in this post increased even more. - Your father is having surgery. - Huh? Mom, what are you suddenly talking about!? And then came the sudden news of her father''s surgery. A surgery that was supposedly impossible to schedule within a year was suddenly being done within a week. ''...Oppa has always cared deeply about family since he was young.'' At that point, her suspicion turned into certainty. Kang Woo-ju was not someone who would choose to be parachuted in simply for his own sess and fame, but it was a different story if his family was involved. Originally, she had nned to confront Kang Woo-ju about his rtionship with Kim Eun-ha if she ever met him face to face. ¡°.......¡± Kang Byul silently turned on her phone. It was over five years old, worn out, and cracked in various ces. When she checked the screen, it showed the 5 million won that Kang Woo-ju had sent her, deposited in her ount. ¡®...With this money, I can quit one of my part-time jobs.¡¯ With the newfound free time, she would be able to focus more on her studies. Naturally, her grades would improve, and earning a full schrship would be much easier. ¡®But he said to spend all this money on cultural activities?¡¯ He casually tossed her such arge sum of money, telling her it was allowance for cultural activities. Kang Byul, who hadn¡¯t properly enjoyed such things even once since bing an adult, couldn¡¯t tell if he was serious or joking. He even asked her to draft a n on how she would use the money. She had no idea what to write. ¡®...I have no clue.¡¯ Thinking back, she realized that until now, she had just been busy living life as it flowed. That alone was chaotic enough. So this freedom felt rather ufortable. It kept raising questions for her. What do you like? What do you want to do? Numerous hooks seemed to wrap around her neck from different directions. Just imagining it made her feel suffocated, but there was no clear solution. "...I hate myself like this." Her father''s surgery and her mother''s smile. These weren''t given for free. They must havee from Kang Woo-ju''s sacrifice. Knowing this, she couldn''t help but feel conflicted. During mealtime, she had joked half-seriously that he should get married right away, but as a family member, she now wondered if that was the right thing to say. ¡®If only....¡¯ If the two of them were really dating. If that were the case, she could have epted the happiness in front of her purely and joyfully. Srrrk- While thinking about this and that, she unconsciously closed her eyes. Like fog clouding her vision, her consciousness gradually blurred. The drowsiness from the full-body bath. The softness of the bed. The sense of security from the ample money in the bank ount. In the end, the fatigue umted in her body over the years surrendered to the overwhelming capital, and she fell asleep without reaching any clear conclusions. * Ding dong-! I jumped up from my seat at the sudden sound of the doorbell. There shouldn''t be anyone pressing the bell here. Setting aside my curiosity, I checked the inte. The screen showed a very familiar face. I tilted my head for a moment, then went ahead and opened the door. ¡°Hello, Woo-ju ssi.¡± ¡°Why didn''t you juste in?¡± ¡°I thought your mother and Kang Byul ssi might need some time to prepare themselves mentally. Especially since it''s Kang Byul ssi''s first time meeting today.¡± Smile- Kim Eun-ha exined with a light smile. Her detailed consideration made me click my tongue inwardly in admiration. ¡°Would you like toe in?¡± "Then, excuse me." There was no need to excuse herself since it was her own house to begin with. But I didn''t bother to question it. Her atmosphere was a bit different from usual. It felt somewhat serious and calm. So, I silently let Kim Eun-ha into the house. When we went to the living room together, my mother, who had been waiting, greeted her. ¡°Wee, daughter-inw!¡± ¡°Mother, I''m sorry for leaving early yesterday. I had an unavoidable schedule.¡± ¡°No need to apologize. Thanks to you, I forgot all about him going into surgery. By the way, is it okay for you to be here today?¡± ¡°Yes. The department store is closed today.¡± ¡°Oh, I didn¡¯t know there were such days.¡± ¡°Only once a month, though.¡± Haha- Hoho- The two women, who had be close before I knew it, chatted naturally as if they had known each other for a long time. Meanwhile, Kang Byul, looking slightly awkward, watched Kim Eun-ha and cautiously opened her mouth first. ¡°Hello.¡± ¡°Oh my, you must be Kang Byul ssi?¡± ¡°Yes, that''s right.¡± ¡°You''re as beautiful as I''ve heard. You hardly seem to wear any makeup, but your features are so distinct. You must have inherited your mother''s nose.¡± ¡°What? Ah... well...¡± ¡°You can call me whatever you feelfortable with. You can call me unnie if you like, or if that feels awkward, you can just call me Eun-ha ssi.¡± Kim Eun-ha''s words flowed out like a stream, leaving Kang Byul unable to open her mouth. Seeing Kim Eun-ha''s bright, smiling face, the sharp questions she had prepared so diligently just moments ago got stuck in her throat and wouldn''te out. "U-unni, I''ll call you that." "Hehe, thank you. I always thought it would be nice to have a younger sister. Actually... Ah! This isn''t the time for this." p-! Kim Eun-ha pped her hands as if she had remembered something. Then, she grabbed Kang Byul''s hand and led her towards the door. "Let''s talk while we go." "...W-where are we going?" "Oh my, didn''t Woo-ju ssi tell you?" "I thought it would be better to show you directly." In truth, he had no confidence in exining it verbally. Realizing this, Kim Eun-ha quietly drew an arc with her eyes, signaling her understanding. "We''re going to the department store." "You said it was closed today...." "It is. For the general customers." "......?" For a moment, the pupils of the mother and daughter, who couldn''t quite grasp the meaning, began to widen. When it reached its peak, Kim Eun-ha said with a yful smile on her lips. "Today is the day thates once a month, exclusively for VVIP customers." "......!?" Haha- Kim Eun-ha quietly swallowed herughter as she watched the mother and daughter stand there, mouths agape in astonishment. Chapter 58: Suitable for Ages 12 and Up TL: Aniea ¡°Wee.¡± ¡°.......¡± As soon as they parked the car in the VVIP-only parking lot and entered through the entrance, the staff who had been waiting in advance all bowed in unison. Kim Ji-hye and Kang Byul, slightly flustered, bowed their heads with dazed expressions. Although they had heard some of it whileing by car, it seemed difficult to remainposed when faced with it directly. ¡°You¡¯ve arrived, CEO-nim.¡± In the meantime, Secretary Yoon approached and greeted them. She also gave a slight bow to Kang Byul and her mother before continuing her work. ¡°Nothing happened while I was away, right?¡± ¡°Yes, all the VVIP customers who informed us in advance of their participation have arrived. They are currently enjoying their shopping.¡± ¡°How about the cultural performance?¡± ¡°The musical team has finished all preparations and is currently in the final rehearsal before the performance. Everything will be ready on time.¡± ¡°Please double-check again just in case, and since there might be unexpected visitors, I¡¯ll have to ask everyone here to work a bit harder.¡± Bow- The staff all bowed their heads again at Kim Eun-ha''s words. Unlike the business smiles they showed earlier, a warm sincerity was conveyed. It was a scene that clearly demonstrated how much trust Kim Eun-ha had earned from them. ¡®...She¡¯s amazing.¡¯ Kang Byul, who had been silently observing from behind, thought to herself without realizing it. The sophisticated demeanor she was showing now was so different from the gentle image she had shown to her and Kim Ji-hye earlier. It felt like a proper disy of what it means to be a career woman. ¡®...It¡¯s suddenly sinking in.¡¯ The same realization dawned on Kim Ji-hye as well. She finally grasped who Kim Eun-ha truly was. To her, Kim Eun-ha was just a lovely and pretty new daughter-inw, but in front of others, she was the granddaughter of the Mirae Group and the owner of the department store. She also realized the enormous gap between Kim Eun-ha and themselves. To the point where she wondered if it was really okay to leave things as they were. ¡°.......¡± Swoosh- Kim Ji-hye subtly moved her eyes to observe her son. Immediately, the corners of her lips curled up. The atmosphere around Kang Woo-ju had changed at some point. He now looked exactly like Kang Joo-heon from , a drama she had watched more than a hundred times without exaggeration. The dignified and serious aura of a chaebol was emanating from him like smoke. Even she found it hard to casually strike up a conversation. ¡®My son has really grown up.¡¯ The calm expression on Kang Woo-ju¡¯s face had never looked so reassuring. The tension that had been unknowingly gripping her eased uppletely. Kim Ji-hye¡¯s previously tense body began to rx. A hint ofposure appeared on her face as well. ¡®I mustn¡¯t embarrass the two of them.¡¯ When she first heard about participating in the VVIP-only department store event, she honestly felt a bit burdened. After all, she had rarely visited a department store even as a regr customer, let alone as a VVIP. Although she couldn¡¯t refuse Kim Eun-ha¡¯s request and followed along, she felt overwhelmed from the entrance itself. ¡®...This is something you only see in dramas.¡¯ Having dozens of staff lined up next to the red carpet, all bowing in unison¡ªit¡¯s something that an ordinary person rarely experiences. However, seeing the confident expressions of Kim Eun-ha and Kang Woo-ju changed her perspective a bit. It wasn¡¯t that she gained confidence, but she didn¡¯t want her timid appearance to be a burden to them. - But Ji-hye unnie, are you really okay with this? - What do you mean? - What do you think? Chaebols are extremely picky about the other family¡¯s background. Honestly, our family isn''t in the same league as theirs. If you look online, everyone¡¯s saying Woo-ju is just a trophy husband! - ....... She recalled a conversation she once had with her younger cousin while in the hospital room some time ago. On the surface, she pretended to be worried, but in reality, she must have been jealous. However, it was true that the words she had said had pierced her heart like a dagger. Even if she couldn¡¯t give her child wings, she thought a lot about how she shouldn¡¯t hold them back. ''There''s no need to forcefully put on airs.'' She doesn''t try to imitate clumsily. That would only make her look more foolish. So, she decided to remain calm. Just like her son standing beside her. For now, that would be enough. ¡°...Mom?¡± The first to notice her change was Kang Byul. She had been sticking close to Kim Ji-hye ever since they entered the department store, so she sensed it more keenly. On the surface, there wasn¡¯t much difference from before. But if there was one thing that had changed significantly... ¡®...Her gaze has changed.¡¯ Kim Ji-hye''s new resolve had seeped into her gaze, and that look closely resembled that of Kang Woo-ju when he yed the role of Kang Joo-heon. Almost simultaneously, small smiles appeared on the faces of both Kang Woo-ju and Kim Eun-ha. They didn¡¯t say anything, but the admiration in their eyes was evident. ¡°Daughter-in... Oh.¡± Kim Ji-hye hesitated for a moment as she was about to call Kim Eun-ha ¡°daughter-inw¡± as she usually did. She briefly wondered if it was appropriate to use that term in front of others. Noticing this, Kim Eun-ha smiled gently and spoke up. ¡°Mother, there¡¯s no need to worry about what others think. You can call me ¡®daughter-inw¡¯ as usual. I really like that term.¡± ¡°...Really?¡± ¡°Hehe. In fact, I would appreciate it if you did.¡± Kim Eun-ha stifled a quietugh, genuinely pleased. It seemed like Kang Woo-ju''s parents were adjusting much faster than she had originally expected. ¡®The youngdy might still need some more time.¡¯ On the other hand, Kang Byul, who had rtively less social experience, still had a somewhat bewildered expression. Of course, it seemed like she had somewhat caught on to the atmosphere, but it was clear that she was putting on a bit of a show, trying to puff up her shoulders. However, that wasn¡¯t necessarily a bad thing. After all, it¡¯s impossible to change one¡¯s mindset overnight. In fact, it was probably Kim Ji-hye and Kang Woo-ju who were exceptionally extraordinary. But more than anything... ¡®So cute-!!!¡¯ Maybe it was because she was still a college student, not yet fully tainted by the ways of society, but everything she did was just so adorable. Kim Eun-ha screamed internally, struggling to contain herself. When she looked at Kang Byul, it reminded her of a chick trying to show off by puffing up its tiny chest full of air. And when she looked at Kang Woo-ju and Kang Byul side by side, it was clear to anyone that they were siblings, they looked so much alike. ¡®...It¡¯s an expression I could never see on Woo-ju¡¯s face!¡¯ Kim Eun-ha had to make a concerted effort to calm her twitching fingers. Otherwise, she might just reach out and pull on Kang Byul¡¯s cheeks right then and there. ¡°CEO-nim.¡± ¡°Huh? Ah, yes.¡± Ahem- At that moment, Secretary Yoon called out to her in a cautious voice, snapping her back to reality. Kim Eun-ha quicklyposed herself. ¡°Mother, and Byul, I¡¯m sorry, but I need to go greet the VVIPs for a moment.¡± ¡°Don¡¯t worry about us at all. There¡¯s no need to feel sorry for doing what¡¯s expected of you. I¡¯m more worried that we¡¯ve disrupted your schedule, daughter-inw.¡± ¡°Not at all. Then, I¡¯ll be back shortly with Woo-ju. Please make yourselves at home and take a look around. If you see anything you like, just let the staff know.¡± ¡°Oppa is going with you too?¡± Kang Byul tilted her head, curious that Kang Woo-ju was going with her. In response, Kim Eun-ha maintained her warm smile and spoke softly. ¡°Yes. It¡¯s just that I feel uneasy without Woo-ju by my side, even for a moment.¡± Gasp- Kang Byul covered her mouth with both hands in shock at Kim Eun-ha''s bold words. Watching her, Kang Woo-ju, looking a bit exasperated, spoke up. ¡°You¡¯re joking too much.¡± "Oh my, I''m being serious though?" "Wouldn''t it be the other way around?" ¡°Come on, Woo-ju ssi should be more popr. Our department store has quite a few young, pretty, and wealthy female VVIP members, you know.¡± ¡°But none of them couldpare to you, Eun-ha ssi.¡± ¡°Oh, stop it. You¡¯re embarrassing me in front of people.¡± Thump thump-! Kim Eun-ha pounded on Kang Woo-ju''s chest with her fist, as if embarrassed. The sound was a bit too heavy to be just a simple disy of affection, and Kang Woo-ju¡¯s face even twisted in pain. However, aside from Secretary Yoon, who knew the situation between the two, no one else noticed this. ¡°.......¡± Watching the two exchange words that would make even a drama script seem cheesy, the others could only shake their heads as if they couldn¡¯t believe it. Seeing them act so lovey-dovey right in front of her, it made all the rumors circting online seem utterly baseless. ¡®...Are they really dating?¡¯ Even Kang Byul, who had been skeptical about their rtionship, couldn¡¯t help but think so, which eased her tension considerably. ¡°Hurry. Or rather, take your timeing back.¡± ¡°Thank you for your consideration. Oh, and by the way¡­¡± ¡°Hmm?¡± Out of nowhere, Kim Eun-ha leaned in close to Kang Byul¡¯s ear and whispered in a voice only she could hear. ¡°You don¡¯t need to worry so much. The thing you¡¯re concerned about won¡¯t happen. So just rx and enjoy yourself for now.¡± ¡°Huh? What do you me...?¡± Before Kang Byul could fully grasp the meaning behind those words, Kim Eun-ha straightened up again. She then shed a quick smile at Kang Byul before reaching out to link arms with Kang Woo-ju. Only then did Kang Byul realize the meaning behind Kim Eun-ha''s words, and her eyes widened in surprise, feeling as though her thoughts had beenpletely read. ¡°Well, we¡¯ll be off then.¡± Bow- Without giving Kang Byul a chance to respond, the couple bowed slightly and turned to leave the entrance. ¡°Sweetie, what¡¯s the matter?¡± ¡°...Oh, it¡¯s nothing.¡± As she watched the two of them walk away, Kang Byul found herself lost in deep thought. * A little time passed. After distancing ourselves from the others, Kim Eun-ha and I spoke in hushed tones, low enough for only the two of us to hear. ¡°Is it really necessary to go this far?¡± ¡°Of course it is. Our VVIPs are all influential voices in this industry. By tomorrow, rumors will be all over the ce.¡± ¡°I think we¡¯re already at the limit. If this goes any further, it won¡¯t just be a matter of brushing it off as a ¡®male friend¡¯ anymore.¡± ¡°Woo-ju ssi, do you remember the first thing I said?¡± As she spoke, Kim Eun-ha tightened her grip on my arm. The increased contact between us stirred a primal desire, which I tried to suppress while recalling our first meeting. It wasn¡¯t that long ago, so it didn¡¯t take long to figure out what answer Kim Eun-ha was looking for. ¡°If you mean the first thing you said.... No way?¡± ¡°That¡¯s right.¡± Kim Eun-ha suddenly stopped in her tracks. I halted my steps as well. When I turned to look at her, I was greeted by Kim Eun-ha¡¯s yful, teasing smile. At that moment, I realized that the inevitable hade. I had somewhat anticipated it from the moment we entered the VVIP event with my family, but wasn¡¯t this progressing a bit too fast? ¡°Eun-ha ssi, one more time....¡± ¡°Shh.¡± Suddenly, she spun around and stood in front of me. Then, she ced her index finger on my lips, signaling me to stay quiet. The soft touch of her finger left me momentarily dazed. As if entranced, I looked down at her, and Kim Eun-ha boldly leaned her face closer to mine. Just as I was about to step back in surprise, she grabbed my chin with both hands, holding me in ce. ¡°Woo-ju ssi. Don¡¯t turn your head. Just quietly listen to my voice. Someone behind us is watching us right now.¡± ¡°......!?¡± ¡°It¡¯s probably one of our department store¡¯s VVIPs. They can¡¯t see my face clearly because you¡¯re blocking me from their view. Anyway, I think this is the perfect opportunity.¡± ¡°Opportunity?¡± Kim Eun-ha let out a sly smile. It was different from her usual mischievous expression, more like a carefully calcted, mischievous grin. ¡°I¡¯ve been toocent. These people aren¡¯t the type to be fooled by clumsy puppy love. So from today on..." Gulp-! Anticipating what she was about to say next, I swallowed hard without realizing it. Kim Eun-ha¡¯s face drew even closer to mine. By now, our noses were practically touching, and she continued in a whisper. ¡°I¡¯m going to raise the rating from ¡®suitable for all ages¡¯ to ¡®12 and up¡¯. Make sure you keep up with my pace.¡± ¡°Okay, w-wait...¡± Thump- Before I could say anything more, something soft pressed against my lips, silencing me. Chapter 59: This Much Should Be Enough to Make Them Believe, Right? TL: Aniea "......!?" Kim Eun-ha slightly tilted her head, lifting herself onto her tiptoes. As our noses brushed against each other, a strange emotion stirred within me. Physically, it was just a fleeting moment, but to me, it felt like an eternity. What Kim Eun-ha wanted from me was obvious. She desired not just a clumsy rtionship like that of a male friend, but the perfect position of a boyfriend. ¡®Originally, the n was just to greet the VVIPs together...¡¯ To anyone watching, we would look like lovers, but if we insisted hard enough, it could somehow be passed off as a misunderstanding. But what if, as Kim Eun-ha said, someone was watching us from behind? In a ce that''s neither entirely public nor entirely private. A couple sharing a secret rendezvous in such a halfway location. Nosy and influential people with loud voices would spread tales of our secret rendezvous everywhere. They''d say, ¡®I saw the two of them secretly kissing.¡¯ ¡®If we want, we can always deny it.¡¯ Because there''s no clear evidence. Unless a photo was taken and spread around, it would just be a rumor, after all. The source of the rumor wouldn''t dare reveal themselves openly, fearing the reaction of the Mirae Group. ¡®...Besides, today is the VVIP event.¡¯ How many people could be inside the department store right now? Especially with over hundreds of CCTV cameras everywhere. If we wanted, we could easily track down the person. If we employed a bit of a more forceful method, we could even pressure the person directlyter, making them confess that they spread false rumors. ¡®It certainly is an excellent opportunity.¡¯ It¡¯s a clever move that solidifies the rtionship between the two of us while still allowing Kim Eun-ha to control the situation depending on how things unfold. The only problem is... My heart is beating too fast right now. ''...It feels like it might burst any moment.'' Thump, thump, thump, thump-! I have no idea how many times my heart has pounded in such a short span of less than a second. Moreover, we were so close that even our faint breaths touched, so I couldn''t breathe out as I pleased. I was terrified that my heated breath, spurred on by my pounding heart, might reach her. I was utterly frozen in ce. ¡°Hoo-¡± ¡°......!?¡± I''m not sure if she did it on purpose, but at that moment, Kim Eun-ha¡¯s breath touched my skin. Maybe it was just my imagination, but her breath felt rough and hot as well. It felt like the skin touched by her breath was turning a bright red. ¡°.......¡± ¡°.......¡± In the silence where even the sound of deep breaths couldn¡¯t be heard, we gazed into each other''s eyes. A distance where it was hard to even focus properly. My pupils wandered, not knowing where to rest. As I hesitated, unable to do anything, her pupils suddenly drew an arc. ¡°......?¡± Tap- Suddenly, something touched my lips. I was startled by the soft sensation, but only for a moment. If my eye measurement wasn¡¯t wrong, there should still be a slight distance left before our lips met. Sure enough, as I lowered my gaze slightly, I saw Kim Eun-ha¡¯s finger intervening between us. The sensation I felt was her index finger. ¡®Were you perhaps expecting something?¡¯ Her eyes seemed to ask me that question. At that moment, countlessplicated emotions flooded my mind along with the thought, ¡®She got me.¡¯ I suppose even this much would look sufficiently like a kiss to someone watching from behind. ¡®...Let¡¯s calm down first.¡¯ I tried to soothe my still-racing heart, endlessly reminding myself to regainposure. We aren¡¯t real lovers. It¡¯s all just acting... Chu- At that moment, Kim Eun-ha''s face moved slightly closer, and I felt a new weight on my lips. ¡°......!?¡± She had ced her lips on top of her own finger. Though our lips didn¡¯t actually touch, my heart dropped. "This much should be enough to make them believe, right?" When I looked at Kim Eun-ha with a slightly dazed expression, she took a step back, smiling bashfully. Seeing her mischievous smile, I couldn¡¯t say a word. I was afraid that if I opened my mouth, my heart would jump out of my chest. "Hmm. It seems like our spectator has disappeared now, so shall we go greet the customers? I¡¯m sorry for treating you like an essory, Woo-ju-ssi, but please bear with me today." "...Don¡¯t mention it. That¡¯s my role, after all." "Please continue to y that role well in the future." Hehe- Kim Eun-ha giggled pleasantly as she linked arms with me again. I could only hope that the unprecedentedly loud beating of my heart didn¡¯t reach her. * "Mom, isn¡¯t that bag pretty?" "It is pretty, but..." "Let¡¯s go in and try it on." "No, I don¡¯t think it¡¯ll suit me." "You say that, but you¡¯ve been hovering around this area for a while now. My legs are starting to get tired, so let¡¯s just look around a bit. Just a look. Okay?" "Sh-should we?" Pushed by Kang Byul, Kim Ji-hye entered the store. The interior was much more luxurious than it appeared from the outside, making her feel a bit intimidated. "Wee." The store employee¡¯s courteous greeting only added to her difort, making her want to turn around and leave immediately. However, the employees following behind Kang Byul subtly blocked the way, making even that impossible. Reluctantly, Kim Ji-hye stepped further into the store. "Is there anything you¡¯re looking for?" "We wanted to take a look at that bag." "Ah, you mean the Capucines. Please wait here for a moment, and we¡¯ll prepare it for you." "...Yes, please." The mother and daughter just nodded at the word, unsure if it was English or some othernguage. Their awkward expressions clearly indicated that this was their first visit to a luxury brand store. But the employees, trained directly by Kim Eun-ha, showed no signs of looking down on them based on their appearance. After all, today was an exclusive VVIP-only day. "Here it is." The employee carefully brought over a bag with gloved hands. It was the very item disyed at the center of the store that had been catching Kim Ji-hye¡¯s eye. Seeing it up close, she liked it even more, and her pupils subtly trembled as she couldn¡¯t hide her interest. "Usually, Louis Vuitton is known for its logo y, but the Capucines has just one logo in the center, making it an easy match with any outfit. It¡¯s a very popr item." "...I-I see." Indeed, it was a much morepact designpared to the ¡®I¡¯m a luxury brand¡¯ bags her friends would boast about. Even someone like Kim Ji-hye, who didn¡¯t know much about luxury items, found it to be simply beautiful. "It¡¯s made with Taurillon leather, offering both softness and luxury, making it a highly rmended choice for a daily bag." Nod- As the employee continued to exin, Kim Ji-hye quietly nodded. She had no idea what Taurillon leather was, but it sounded like it must be very expensive. "Also, this particr piece is an ¡®Artycapucines¡¯, specially brought in for our VVIP customers today. It¡¯s a limited edition not yet avable in the country, so it offers a unique touch if you decide to wear it." "A limited edition... Does that mean it¡¯s a special edition!?" "Yes, there are only 300 pieces in total. Normally, you¡¯d need to confirm the item on a tablet andplete the purchase before you could see the actual product, but we¡¯ve prepared it in advance for our valued customers." "Wow, that¡¯s amazing..." Gulp-! Hearing the exnation, Kang Byul¡¯s mouth dropped open, and Kim Ji-hye swallowed nervously. She was regrettinging into the store when she should have been satisfied with just looking. Of course, Kim Eun-ha had told her to ask the staff for anything she wanted, but as an inw, how could she ept such an offer so readily? Despite already receiving more than enough from her husband''s VVIP hospital room, to the house and car her son was using, it all felt too much. "Would you like to try it on?" "What? No, I¡¯m satisfied with just this..." "Mom, we¡¯re already here. I won''t ask you to buy it. But at least try it on. When will you get another chance like this?" "¡­should I?" Pressed by Kang Byul, Kim Ji-hye reluctantly moved in front of the mirror. The staff immediately nked her, assisting with the fitting. ''...It really is pretty.'' She had dressed up a bit to go out with her daughter-inw, but how many nice clothes could she possibly own? Most of them were affordable, cost-effective pieces costing less than tens of thousands of won. But just by adding this bag, everything looked like luxury goods. "Oh my, it suits you so well." "It looks like you could just walk out with it right now." "Hmm. I¡¯m not saying this because I¡¯m your daughter, but this bag really is perfect for you. It suits you even better than I imagined." "This child. You''d say I look good even with gold paint on my face." "I''m being sincere." Kang Byul and the staff took turnsplimenting Kim Ji-hye. Though some of thements were clearly sales talk, the truth was that the bag really did match her well, so thepliments felt more natural. "Uh... What¡¯s the price, by the way?" "The retail price is 10.5 million won." Gasp- The moment she heard the price, Kim Ji-hye''s face turned pale. It felt like the weight of the strap hanging on her shoulder suddenly doubled. She wanted to put it down immediately, but she couldn¡¯t dare touch it for fear of damaging it, so she just stood there anxiously. "Excuse me, I heard there¡¯s an Artycapucines here." A woman adorned with visibly extravagant jewelry entered the store. Beside her was a young woman in her mid-20s, who appeared to be her daughter. Recognizing who she was, the staff hurried over to them. It was none other than Park Hye-jeong and her daughter from Daema Construction, known for makingints over even the tiniest issues. "Ma''am, I¡¯m sorry, but that product is currently..." "What? I postponed my trip to Japan just for this bag. If it¡¯s sold, you should¡¯ve at least informed me... Huh?" As expected, Park Hye-jeong¡¯s voice was growing sharper when her eyes caught sight of the luxury bag on Kim Ji-hye¡¯s shoulder. Realizing immediately that it was the item she was looking for, Park Hye-jeong narrowed her eyes. ¡®Who is she? I¡¯ve never seen her before.¡¯ Park Hye-jeong, who attended most social events and recognized the faces of almost all the wives from prominent families, had never seen Kim Ji-hye and her daughter before. This made her voice take on a more cautious tone. "Hello, ma''am." "Ah, yes. Hello." As they exchanged greetings, a curious glint appeared in Park Hye-jeong¡¯s eyes. Her eyes, ustomed to seeking out luxury goods all day, quickly scanned Kim Ji-hye and her daughter. ¡®Other than the bag, she isn¡¯t wearing any other luxury items. Judging by that awkward demeanor, she doesn¡¯t seem to be part of this circle. How did she get in here?¡¯ Her radar, finely tuned to distinguish between the strong and the weak, had already made its judgment, but Park Hye-jeong didn¡¯t act rashly. After all, this was an event exclusively for VVIPs. They could very well be from a newly rising chaebol family. "I¡¯m sorry, I don¡¯t think we¡¯ve met before, so I didn¡¯t catch your name. If you don¡¯t mind, could I ask your name?" "Oh, I¡¯m Kim Ji-hye." "Kim Ji-hye... And your daughter?" "She¡¯s Kang Byul." Sensing something off, Kang Byul¡¯s tone turned a bit sharper, but Park Hye-jeong, lost in thought, paid no attention to it. No matter how hard she searched her mental database, she had never heard of anyone named Kim Ji-hye or a newly rising chaebol family starting with the name "Kang." "Mom, I think they¡¯re the ones." At that moment, her daughter seemed to notice something and carefully whispered into Park Hye-jeong¡¯s ear. "You know that actor, right? The one rumored to be Kim Eun-ha¡¯s boy toy. I think his name was Kang Woo-ju. She has exactly the same eyes as him." "Ohho...." Finally realizing who they were dealing with, the corners of Park Hye-jeong¡¯s mouth curled upward. Her posture straightened, and her voice gained a noticeable edge, just like when she had first entered the store. "Kim Ji-hye." "...Yes?" "You haven¡¯t bought that bag yet, have you?" Kim Ji-hye and Kang Byul¡¯s expressions turned cold in response to the tantly pointed question and attitude. * "CEO-nim! We have a problem!" "Secretary Yoon?" In the middle of smoothly greeting the VVIPs, Kim Eun-ha furrowed her brows as she noticed Secretary Yoon rushing toward her from a distance. Kim Eun-ha asked the VVIP she was speaking with for a brief moment of understanding before moving aside. "What¡¯s going on?" "Mrs. Park from Daema Construction is here with her daughter!" "Hmm?" She wasn''t on today¡¯s attendee list, but as a VVIP, it wouldn¡¯t be too problematic for her to show up unexpectedly. "...Don¡¯t tell me she caused trouble again? She didn¡¯t hit any of our employees, did she? Last time, I let it slide with just an apology, but this time I won¡¯t let it go." As Kim Eun-ha narrowed her eyes, Secretary Yoon, who had just managed to catch her breath, shook her head frantically. "It¡¯s the opposite!" "Huh?" "Mrs. Park Hye-jeong was the one who got her hair pulled!" "???" Kim Eun-ha was even more confused by the exnation that followed. However, Kang Woo-ju, who was standing beside her, reacted differently. His face turned pale as he began to tremble. "Secretary Yoon. Where is my mother right now?" "She¡¯s at the Louis Vuitton store on the first floor!" "Eun-ha, we need to hurry." "What? Oh¡ª!?" Before she could fully grasp the situation, Kang Woo-ju grabbed Kim Eun-ha¡¯s hand and bolted towards the esctor. Though taken aback by his uncharacteristically urgent behavior, Kim Eun-ha quietly followed him. As they rushed, Kang Woo-ju cautiously began to exin. "It seems Mrs. Kim might have done something." "If you mean Mrs. Kim... You mean your mother!?" "Yes, although my mother is usually very gentle, when she loses her temper, she literally bes unstoppable. And..." "And?" "She¡¯s really good at fighting." "......?" Momentarily failing to grasp the context of the conversation, Kim Eun-ha tried to rify. But Kang Woo-ju didn¡¯t respond further. Or rather, he couldn¡¯t respond. His face had turned ghostly pale, and he simply bit his lip, as if facing some kind of deep trauma. The Novel will be updated first on this website. Come back and continue reading tomorrow, everyone! Chapter 60: Water and Oil TL: Aniea "You haven¡¯t bought that bag yet, have you?" Before Secretary Yoon delivered the news. At Park Hye-jeong¡¯s tant remark, the expressions of Kang Byul and her mother turned cold. Something felt off from the moment they entered the store. Sure enough, her attitude changed in an instant, like flipping a hand. ¡®...I shouldn¡¯t cause any trouble here.¡¯ But still, Kim Ji-hye held back. She wasn''t sure exactly who the other person was, but she was clearly a well-to-do madam. Moreover, she was also Kim Eun-ha''s guest. VVIPs, at that. It was better to hold back and let this slide than to cause a scene and bring trouble to Kim Eun-ha and Kang Woo-ju. "Yes, I haven¡¯t bought it yet." "That¡¯s a relief. I¡¯ve been working really hard to get that bag. In fact, the only reason I came here today was because of the Artycapucines." "Ah, I see." So what? The words were on the tip of her tongue, but she didn¡¯t let them slip out. At that, Park Hye-jeong and her daughter casually approached and began to touch the bag. "Hoho. The craftsmanship of artist Seo I-ryeong is truly amazing, isn¡¯t it? Every year, six contemporary artists coborate to make a limited edition. I heard this time a Korean artist was included." "Indeed. The painting techniques of painter Seo I-ryeong that we saw at thest exhibition are perfectly captured here. It¡¯s subtly unique and truly beautiful." "......" Park Hye-jeong and her daughter started making detailed remarks that Kim Ji-hye might not know about, subtly undermining her. It wasn¡¯t the first time they¡¯d done this. The mother and daughter duo were perfectly in sync. "While Seo I-ryeong''s work itself is attractive, the reinterpretation by Louis Vuitton is also quite appealing. I¡¯m d I came to see it in person." "Exactly. The texture can¡¯t be conveyed through a tablet at all, and sometimes I wonder if they¡¯re being too bold with their sales tactics." "But it''s Louis Vuitton, after all. As kind-hearted people, we should be understanding, right? Oh, by the way, there¡¯s something I wanted to ask you, Mrs. Kim Hye-ji." "......" Grit- A grinding sound was heard from somewhere. Kang Byul, unable to bear it any longer, was about to step in andsh out, but Kim Ji-hye quietly extended a hand to stop her. "It¡¯s Kim Ji-hye. The name uses ÖÇ (Ji, wisdom) and »Û (Hye, intelligence). This much, I¡¯m sure even you can remember, right?" "......" Flinch- At Kim Ji-hye¡¯s unexpectedly calm response, Park Hye-jeong¡¯s eyebrows twitched. But only for a brief moment. Her eyes soon narrowed, like a snake that had found its prey.n/?/vel/b//jn dot c//om "I just wanted to ask why you came to the department store today. This isn¡¯t a ce where just anyone can walk in." "That''s right. It''s not a ce where just anyone cane." "...What did you say?" "Today¡¯s a VVIP event. Like you said, it¡¯s not a ce where just anyone can enter, right?" "......" Smirk- Kim Ji-hye smiled calmly. At this, the wrinkles on Park Hye-jeong¡¯s face became more pronounced. The expression of disdain she had maintained all along gradually crumbled, and in its ce, anger began to surface. Kim Ji-hye, fully aware of this, continued to speak with a rxed smile. "You asked why I came to the department store earlier, right? I was invited by someone I know." "Someone you know..." "I don¡¯t think it¡¯s very polite to mention names when the person isn¡¯t present. So, it¡¯s a bit difficult for me to exin in detail." Kim Ji-hye firmly drew the line. At this, Park Hye-jeong realized that her opponent wasn¡¯t as easy as she¡¯d thought. Simultaneously, the feeling of "How dare she?" began to swell within her. ''This woman really doesn''t know anything.'' It could be that she''s just momentarily angry andshing out like amoner, but that subtly confident and rxed attitude was extremely irritating. She was probably relying on her son and Kim Eun-ha. But that was the kind of naive thought that even a passing dog wouldugh at. ¡®Does she even know what kind of bitch Kim Eun-ha is...?¡¯ At a nce, she might seem like a cheerful person who smiles easily and is full of consideration, but beneath that surface, her insides were not just dark¡ªthey were aplete abyss. The sessorpetition within Mirae Group, where even dipping your toes in could cost you your neck, was proof enough. She had enteredte and still managed to survive until now. ¡®She doesn¡¯t even realize that her son is just a disposable shield.¡¯ To Kim Eun-ha, Kang Woo-ju was nothing more than a tool. A kind of talisman to ward off misfortune. But if that tool causes problems, the oue is obvious. Even if the issue is caused by his family rather than him personally, to Kim Eun-ha, it¡¯s all the same. Kim Ji-hye, standing right in front of her, didn¡¯t realize that her trivial pride could cause everything to be lost in an instant. So, it had to be made clear to her. Where she truly belongs. "Oh, now that I think about it, I heard your son is making his debut in a drama this time. And as the lead, no less? People are saying it''s quite a bold decision." "I think it¡¯s a reward for his hard work. Not just because he¡¯s my son, but Woo-ju has really worked hard." "A reward for his hard work... Well, I suppose. It does take effort to seduce a woman, after all." "......" This time, it was Kim Ji-hye''s eyebrows that twitched. Though the smile on her face remained, it seemed as if all warmth hadpletely disappeared. "What do you mean by that?" "Don¡¯t pretend you don¡¯t know. Ah, or maybe you really don¡¯t, Mrs. Kim Ji-hye. This industry values connections over talent. Without a strong ''sponsor'', it¡¯s hard to even get your foot in the door." "......" "I heard your son was cast without a proper audition this time? From what I¡¯ve heard, Mirae Group gave a massive amount of advertising to TvM recently. Do you think that¡¯s just a coincidence?" Hoho- Unlike before, the impact of her words was clear, and a smile finally formed on Park Hye-jeong¡¯s face. She continued speaking without a pause. "Normally, they¡¯d at least hold a formal public audition and pretend to pick someone. But this time, it was so tant that no one could miss it." "Sess isn¡¯t achieved by wealth and connections alone, though." "Of course not. But you know better than anyone how rare that possibility is, don¡¯t you? ¡®Mrs. ''Wisdom¡¯?" "......" Kim Ji-hye couldn¡¯t easily refute her words. Thest few years, or rather, even thest few months alone, had clearly demonstrated that. Her husband, who could barely get a proper diagnosis, had surgery from the best doctor in the country. Her son, who was just a no-name actor, suddenly skyrocketed to stardom andnded a leading role. And even the reason she was here at this very moment was due to the dramatic changes brought about by just one person, ¡®Kim Eun-ha¡¯. ¡®...Not a single thing she said is wrong.¡¯ All the things she¡¯d just recalled were things she couldn¡¯t have done herself, even if she¡¯d wanted to. As someone who had experienced all of this firsthand, Kim Ji-hye couldn¡¯t deny the truth in her words. "Ma''am, I think that''s enough..." A store employee, unable to watch any longer, stepped forward to try to mediate, but Park Hye-jeong, as if she had been waiting for this, raised her voice, her eyes ring. "Hey! Are you out of your mind? How dare a mere employee interrupt a conversation between madams!? What¡¯s your name? Where¡¯s the manager here!?" "I-I¡¯m sorry. I was just..." "And now you¡¯re talking back? What kind of employee training do they do here? Do you even know who I am? Do you know how much money I spend here every year...!" Swoosh-! It seemed as though Park Hye-jeong was trying to release all the pent-up frustration she had umted during her conversation with Kim Ji-hye, as she raised her hand high into the air. Just as her hand, full of strength, was about to swing down unrestrained toward the employee¡¯s cheek¡ª "That''s enough." Smack- Kim Ji-hye grabbed her wrist. Park Hye-jeong frowned and immediately tried to pull her hand away, but her opponent''s grip was so strong that she let out an involuntary scream. "Aaaah-! Let go of me!" "If I let go, will you stop?" "You crazy bitch, know your ce! Kyaaah-!" As Park Hye-jeong roughly yanked her hand free and attempted to p her again, Kim Ji-hye casually stepped back to avoid it and then grabbed a fistful of her hair. Not used to pain, Park Hye-jeong couldn¡¯t even put up a proper struggle, only screaming in agony. "Mom!" "Where do you think you''re going?" As her daughter tried to intervene, Kang Byul naturally stepped in to block her path. She, too, was a veteran at dealing with troublesome customers after working countless part-time jobs. Already seething with anger, she felt this situation was oddly satisfying. "There''s a limit to looking down on people. Real wealthy folks are usually moreid-back and kind, but it''s always those who are just in the middle who cause problems." "You little...!!" "What? You want to take me on too?" "......" Under Kang Byul¡¯s fierce re, Park Hye-jeong¡¯s daughter unconsciously averted her eyes. Seeing this, Kang Byul clicked her tongue in annoyance. "Aaaaah-! Are you really not going to let go!?" "I asked if you''ll behave if I let go." "Just let go already!!" "Guess that¡¯s a no." As Park Hye-jeong twisted her entire body in a fit of rage, Kim Ji-hye skillfully maneuvered her around the store as if she were bullfighting, keeping her from damaging any of the merchandise. The way she controlled Park Hye-jeong while avoiding any harm to the store''s goods was nothing short of an art form. "...My mom is still the same." Kang Byul shuddered. Since childhood, Kang Woo-ju and Kang Byul had literally fought until they were bruised and bloody. And it was always Kim Ji-hye who had to mediate. But you couldn¡¯t stop the fierce fights of young, hot-blooded people with just words. It was Kim Ji-hye who had physically managed to do just that. "Daughter." "Yes, Mom!?" "Hold Mom''s bag for a moment." Even while subduing Park Hye-jeong, Kim Ji-hye carefully handed over the Artycapucines bag with her free hand. Watching the almost circus-like performance, the store employees couldn¡¯t help but gasp in awe. Siiik- Siiik- After a few rounds around the store, Park Hye-jeong finally exhausted herself, her strengthpletely drained. Panting heavily, she spat out her words. "Do you think you¡¯ll get away with this? My husband is the CEO of Daema Construction!" "And my daughter-inw is the granddaughter of the Chairman of Mirae Group." "Kek! You crazy bitch. You¡¯re calling her your daughter-inw." Pfft-! Even with her hair still being pulled and her appearance disheveled, Park Hye-jeong couldn¡¯t stopughing. She spoke as if she couldn¡¯t believe what she was hearing. "Just because she donated some pocket change, you think you¡¯re something special. You¡¯re deluding yourself into thinking you¡¯re actually family. But you were born different from us! Like water and oil, we can never mix!" "Even water and oil can mix under the right circumstances." "......!?" Surprisingly, the response didn¡¯te from Kim Ji-hye but from another direction. The weighty voice that naturallymanded attention made everyone turn their heads in shock. There stood Kang Woo-ju. His eyes colder than ever before. Chapter 61: Ill Return Them As It Is TL: Aniea Her expression was so terrifying that even the great Kim Ji-hye couldn''t carelessly open her mouth. "Mother, please let go." "...I am ashamed." "You don''t need to apologize. There must have been a reason why Mother grabbed her hair. I''m sure there was some circumstance." "......" Kim Ji-hye felt a surge of emotion at Kang Woo-ju''s words. With that, she cautiously let go of Park Hye-jeong''s hair and quietly stepped back. Now free, Park Hye-jeong couldn''t contain her rising anger. She was ready to throw whatever was nearby and scream at the top of her lungs. But at that moment. Her eyes met Kang Woo-ju''s cold, emotionless gaze. It felt as if something had choked her, preventing her from making a sound. ''...W-What is this!?'' Park Hye-jeong, experiencing an unfamiliar sensation for the first time in her life, found her mind going nk. She wanted to turn her head and avoid Kang Woo-ju''s gaze somehow, but his icy stare wouldn''t even allow her the act of blinking. ''What kind of eyes...'' She had met countless people who were at the top of their social circles. Among them were CEOs of well-knownrge corporations and even young self-made chaebols, some around Kang Woo-ju''s age, who had gained wealth overseas. They all carried an aura of distinction, but none could be described as ''overwhelming'' the way Kang Woo-ju now was. ''...Am I trembling?'' Suddenly, Park Hye-jeong realized her body was trembling. She wanted to believe it was the aftershock of the earlier fight with Kim Ji-hye, but unfortunately, her brain¡ªquick to discern the strong from the weak¡ªhad already made its judgment. The reason her body was trembling wasn''t anything else but the predator, ''Kang Woo-ju,'' who was staring down at her with such indifference. "Park Hye-jeong-ssi." Step, step¡ª Kang Woo-ju started walking toward her. Even just that was enough to capture everyone''s attention with his overwhelming presence. "Oh, um... That..." Park Hye-jeong tried desperately to speak, but her voice wouldn''te out properly. In the meantime, Kang Woo-ju had already reached right in front of her. His first words, meeting her gaze, were shockingly blunt. "Your makeup is quite thick." "...!?" "Have you ever heard of ''surfactants''? The very cosmetics you ther on to cover your wrinkles are a mixture of water and oil." "W-What does that have to do with anything!?" Finally, Park Hye-jeong managed to voice a response, though her voice was cracked and strained from her tension. Hoo¡ª Kang Woo-ju sighed softly as he looked at her. His breath spread through the room, making the atmosphere even colder. "I suppose trying to have a rational conversation with someone unreasonable is meaningless. Though I don''t like it, shall we talk at a level that suits you?" "......?" "Daema Construction. It''s apany that''s managed to stay afloat for over 10 years. Ah, if we count the time before it changed its name, it''s exactly 24 years." "W-What are you talking about...?" Twitch¡ª! Park Hye-jeong''s eyes widened at Kang Woo-ju''s words. She instinctively realized that he was about to say something dangerous. ''No, it can''t be.'' The past of Daema Construction was a secret known only to a very few, including herself and her husband. Even her daughter didn¡¯t know about it. While she denied it in her mind, the number ''24'' Kang Woo-ju mentioned stuck with her. And even more troubling was the confidence in his eyes, as if he knew all the truth. "You''re still wearing suits just like back then, though the material has changed a bit. But your actions remain that of a lowly thug." "You...!" "It''s not ''you''; it''s Kang Woo-ju. Park Hye-jeong-ssi." Kang Woo-ju firmly cut her off. Park Hye-jeong quickly tried to speak again, but he raised his hand, gesturing for silence. "It seems you haven''t fully grasped the situation yet. Why do you think I''m bothering to bring this up right now?" "You... No, Kang Woo-ju. Do you know who you''re messing with? I don¡¯t know how much you know, but what makes you so confident to act like this?" "I''ll return those words right back to you." "...What?" Click, click¡ª Kang Woo-ju''s footsteps echoed throughout the entire department store. The pressure he exerted as he approached Park Hye-jeong was so immense it felt like it was filling the whole space. Park Hye-jeong felt like she was suffocating, her face turning pale as if something was strangling her. ''I-I can''t breathe-!!'' As if her thoughts didn''t matter in the slightest, Kang Woo-ju drew closer and slowly lowered his head toward her. Like an anaconda coiling around its prey, suffocating it. He locked eyes with her and then opened his mouth wide. "Park Hye-jeong. Do you know who you''re messing with?" Park Hye-jeong saw it clearly then¡ªthe first time an emotion appeared in his cold, emotionless eyes. A clear intent to kill. The moment she recognized it, her body reacted on its own, without any control from her. Her eyes rolled back, and she copsed to the side. "...Mom!" Only then did her daughter, who had been standing behind her, rush forward and grab Park Hye-jeong. But even she didn¡¯t dare to meet Kang Woo-ju''s gaze. "Call an ambnce! Call 119, quickly!" "......" Her daughter screamed at the helpless employees around them. But they, too, were frozen in ce, their bodies stiff. Secretary Yoon, who had managed to regain herposure, quickly raised her phone, but someone reached out and stopped her. "CEO-nim!?" "From her symptoms, it seems like a simple fainting spell from shock. It doesn''t seem to be an epileptic fit or any other critical condition, so I don''t think an ambnce is necessary." "...Understood. Then I¡¯ll call the emergency medical team within the department store. I''ll also move the musical performance up a bit so that other VVIPs don¡¯te down here." "Please do." "Leave it to me." Having worked together for years, Secretary Yoon''s attentiveness and ability to handle matters were unmatched. She quickly identified the solution Kim Eun-ha wanted and immediately moved to implement it. "Employees, please return to your posts. As required, you must keep what you saw here to yourselves. If any word gets out, everyone here will bear the consequences." "Yes!" The employees responded loudly to Kim Eun-ha¡¯s order and dispersed in an orderly manner, like well-trained soldiers, as if nothing had happened at all. The people who had been surrounding the area disappeared in an instant. Now only Kang Woo-ju''s family, Kim Eun-ha, and the Park Hye-jeong mother and daughter were left. Park Hye-jeong''s daughter, Lim Bora, was overwhelmed with shame at the situation and couldn''t bear it. Her rage, unable to find a proper outlet, turned toward none other than Kim Eun-ha. "Kim Eun-ha. You..." "I¡¯ll warn you just once." As if Lim Bora had chosen the wrong person to confront, Kim Eun-ha ruthlessly cut her off. She looked down at Lim Bora with a gaze colder than ever. Her face, nowpletely devoid of the slightest smile, was so terrifying that it made anyone watching tremble. Lim Bora was no exception. "From now on, you''d better think long and hard before you open that loose mouth of yours. One careless word from you could very well decide the future of Daema Construction, don¡¯t you think?" "......" "Well, though it seems like it''s already toote." Smirk¡ª Kim Eun-ha''s lips curled into a slight smile, as if she hadn¡¯t been so stern just moments ago. However, there wasn¡¯t a trace of warmth in that smile. No one dared to speak. * After some time passed. Kang Woo-ju''s family and Kim Eun-ha sat in a lounge area set up in a corner of the department store, talking among themselves. "Mother, I''m sorry. I should have stayed with you to make sure something like this didn¡¯t happen..." "Don''t worry too much about it. In fact, I''m the one who should apologize. I''m worried that I caused such a scene by losing my temper unnecessarily." "You don¡¯t need to worry about that. Believe it or not, I''m actually quite capable. I''ll handle everything smoothly without any noise. Oh, and also..." "Hm?" Kim Ji-hye tilted her head in curiosity. Seeing this, Kim Eun-ha gave a soft smile and handed her a neatly wrapped shopping bag. "What is this?" "I heard from the staff earlier. They mentioned you really liked the Artycapucines on disy. So, I prepared one for you." "......"N?v(el)B\\jnn Kim Eun-ha looked a bit apologetic, as if she felt guilty for the events that unfolded. Kim Ji-hye stared at the shopping bag in front of her for a moment before handing it back to Kim Eun-ha. "I''ll just ept the thought." "...What?" "It might not seem like much to you, my dear daughter-inw, but this is too expensive a gift for me. From my perspective, it feels burdensome." "...Mother." "Honestly, I was a bit too harsh with Park Hye-jeong, wasn¡¯t I? There were things she said that pricked at me, so Ished out without even realizing it." There was really no need to pull her by the hair. She could have easily subdued her with less force. But the words Park Hye-jeong had said pierced her heart like knives, and as a result, she acted more aggressively than usual. No matter the reason, since the incident happened at her daughter-inw''s workce, it was only right for her to apologize a hundred times over. "They say people should live within their means. Of course, I''ll keep trying to ensure I don''t burden you two, but I think I¡¯ll need a bit more time for that." "......" Kang Woo-ju and Kang Byul couldn¡¯t easily respond to Kim Ji-hye¡¯s honest words. It would have been nice if their story ended like a fairytale¡ª¡®The two got married and lived happily ever after.¡¯ But in reality, love was filled with countless hurdles, proving that the simplicity of fairytales was just that¡ªfiction. ¡®The environments we grew up in are just too different.¡¯ Kang Woo-ju nodded to himself. As someone at the center of the situation, he felt this more keenly than anyone else. Although things had improved a bit by now, there were still moments when he felt like he was suffocating every time he wore a tie that cost hundreds of thousands of won. ¡®Today¡¯s incident is just the tip of the iceberg.¡¯ In this world, bizarre situations that defiedmon sense happened regrly. It was just that the power of those who formed the cartel was so immense that such things never became widely known. That¡¯s why Kang Woo-ju understood Kim Ji-hye¡¯s emotions better than anyone and couldn¡¯t bring himself to say anything. "......" Kim Eun-ha, too, was well aware of what they were feeling. She closed her eyes for a moment, deep in thought. How much time passed? Eventually, Kim Eun-ha opened her eyes and cautiously began to speak. "Since Mother brought it up first, I¡¯ll be honest too." "Please, speak as freely as you¡¯d like." "Thank you." Sss- hoo¡ª Kim Eun-ha took a deep breath, as if she was about to say something serious, causing everyone to stare at her lips with tense expressions. "In the future, I n to marry Woo-ju." "...!?" Her statement was so far beyond what anyone expected that even Kang Woo-ju''s mouth dropped open in shock. Chapter 62: The Top Husband Candidate TL: Aniea ¡°In the future, I n to marry Woo-ju ssi.¡± The one most shocked by Kim Eun-ha¡¯s sudden bombshell was none other than ¡®me.¡¯ Of course, from the beginning, we had made a contract based on the premise of marriage. We¡¯d even discussed it recently. However, I didn¡¯t expect her to announce it so suddenly in front of my family, so I broke out in a cold sweat,pletely forgetting we were in front of others. ¡°...Eun-ha ssi, of course, I share the same thoughts as you. But don¡¯t you think it¡¯s a bit early to bring this up?¡± ¡°I apologize for mentioning it without consulting you first, but I felt this was the perfect moment. It¡¯s a conversation we had to have sooner orter anyway.¡± ¡°Well, that¡¯s true, but...¡± I quickly darted my eyes to gauge the reactions of the others. My mother and sister were both so startled that they were covering their mouths with both hands. Their eyes were trembling violently, revealing such aplex mix of emotions that it was hard to read them. Whether or not she was aware of this, Kim Eun-ha continued speaking with a serious expression. ¡°As I mentioned earlier, I intend to marry Woo-ju ssi. However, the path to that won¡¯t be easy. Today¡¯s event will seem like child¡¯s ypared to what¡¯s toe.¡± ¡°...¡± ¡°I¡¯d love for the two of us to elope, but in reality, that¡¯s difficult. That¡¯s why we need the support of family members." ¡°...Support?¡± ¡°The thing people say most often when they see Woo-ju ssi is that he¡¯s a kept man, or that he got in through connections. Every time I hear that, it breaks my heart.¡± ¡°Eun-ha ssi...¡± That¡¯s all true, though. I barely managed to swallow those words. Except for her final remark, there wasn¡¯t a single thing she said that was wrong. From the beginning, I was hired as her ¡®kept man¡¯ to block her arranged marriage. And since I got an exclusive private audition in return, I couldn¡¯t deny the ¡°connections¡±ment either. Of course, it¡¯s not like I could tell my family that, but the reason I called her name wasn¡¯t for any other reason. ¡®...Was she always this good at acting?¡¯ Her expression, the tremble in her voice, even the subtle detail of cing her tightly clenched fist over her chest and letting it shake lightly. To anyone watching, she appeared genuinely upset. She was always skilled at hiding her emotions, but for her to disy this level of acting ability now? Honestly, she could star as the lead in a drama right this second without any issues. ¡°...Daughter-inw.¡± ¡°...Unnie.¡± Even I was unsure if this was real. How could my family not fall for it, then? They were allpletely taken in by Kim Eun-ha¡¯s performance, beginning to sympathize with her emotions. My mother¡¯s eyes were already brimming with tears. Seeing the two women like that, Kim Eun-ha nodded her head firmly, as if making a resolution, and looked them both in the eyes with an earnest gaze. ¡°Unfortunately, our Chairman isn¡¯t a generous man. If things continue as they are, he will never approve of my marriage to Woo-ju ssi.¡± ¡°...¡± ¡°The reason I brought you both to the department store today is for that very reason. To wash away Woo-ju ssi¡¯s negative image, I need your family¡¯s support as well.¡± ¡°So, right now, we¡¯re not up to their standards?¡± ¡°Mom!¡± The one most taken aback by my mother¡¯s blunt words was Kang Byul. She hurriedly grabbed my mother¡¯s arm to stop her, but Kim Ji-hye gently pushed her away and looked at us with an unusually serious expression. ¡°Daughter-inw, did I understand you correctly?¡± ¡°It¡¯s a bit of a blunt way to put it, but... If we¡¯re dividing things in ck and white, I¡¯d have to answer ¡®yes.¡¯ Even if I don¡¯t think that way, my family certainly does.¡± ¡°So, we could be your weakness, just like today?¡± ¡°Yes, that¡¯s definitely possible.¡± ¡°...Thank you for being honest with me.¡± At Kim Eun-ha¡¯s resolute answer, my mother gave a heavy nod. She then closed her eyes, falling into deep thought. It wasn¡¯t the kind of atmosphere where one could easily break the silence, so everyone quietly waited for her to speak. After a while, my mother opened her eyes. Her throat must have been dry, as she took a sip of the green tea that was on the table to soothe herself. "Having a son like you has given me quite the range of experiences." "Mother..." "I¡¯m not ming you. Quite the opposite, actually. Who wouldn¡¯t recognize how rare and valuable this situation is?" Heh- My mother gently ced the teacup back on the table, letting out a soft chuckle. Though I couldn¡¯t quite grasp the full meaning of that smile, one thing was clear. There was no longer any trace of anxiety or nervousness in her expression. "Daughter-inw." "Yes, Mother." "So, what do you suggest we do? I have a feeling you¡¯ve already thought of a n, seeing how you brought this up." "As expected of you, Mother." Acknowledging my mother¡¯s words with a nod, Kim Eun-ha remainedposed. Then, as if waiting for the right moment, she picked up the receiver on the table. "Pleasee in." Click¡ª No sooner had Kim Eun-ha spoken those two words and hung up the phone than the door to the reception room swung open. Several female staff members entered in a line. None of them came in empty-handed. They brought ss cases beautifully disying essories and clothing racks lined with luxury outfits. "Please leave this part entirely to me." Heh- My mother and Kang Byul, entranced by the scene that looked straight out of a drama, were utterly captivated. Kim Eun-ha watched them, quietly suppressing a smile. . . . - Woo-ju ssi, please wait outside for a moment. It had been about two hours since Kim Eun-ha had politely asked me to step out. I had been quietly memorizing my script in the waiting room when Secretary Yoon came to get me. "The CEO-nim is asking for you." p¡ª I closed the script I had been reading and adjusted my clothes. Then, I followed Secretary Yoon to the reception room where Kim Eun-ha and my family were waiting. As I opened the door and took a step inside, I involuntarily stopped in my tracks at the sight before me. "How is it, Woo-ju ssi?" "...Clothes really do make the man, or in this case, the woman." That was the only thought that came to mind at the moment. That¡¯s how astonishing my mother and Kang Byul looked, having undergone aplete transformation under Kim Eun-ha¡¯s consultation. "You look at least 20 years younger." "Don¡¯t tease me." "I¡¯m serious." My mother was wearing a white dress with ck ents. She also had on earrings and bracelets, which she didn¡¯t usually wear, and had topped it all off with the Artycapucines that Kim Eun-ha had gifted her. The essories drew attention away from any minor details, making her look much younger than usual, while still maintaining a bnced, elegant style without going overboard. "...It feels a bit awkward since it¡¯s my first time in clothes like this." Although she seemed ufortable with the skirt and high heels, the faint smile at the corner of her lips suggested that she didn¡¯t entirely dislike it. ¡®She seems to like the bag too.¡¯ Seeing how she was holding the luxury handbag¡ªwhich she had initially refused¡ªwith such care, it seemed that even my mother couldn¡¯t resist Kim Eun-ha¡¯s persistence. Normally, she never talked about these things, so I assumed she had no interest at all, but now I realized that wasn¡¯t quite true. ¡®I¡¯ll have to take her shopping more often.¡¯ Once my father gets discharged from the hospital, I¡¯ll bring them both to the department store. After a few visits, they¡¯ll quickly get used to it. Of course, I can¡¯t just impulsively buy a luxury handbag worth millions like Kim Eun-ha, but with the money I¡¯ve saved, I should be able to afford something nice from a more modest range. "Oppa, how do I look? Pretty amazing, right?" As I was sorting out my thoughts and nodding to myself, a voice suddenly called out from beside my mother. It was the ¡°dwarf¡±, who had been standing next to her. She was wearing a bright navy suit, which was quite different from my mother¡¯s attire. Paired with a sharply pressed dress shirt, she gave off the air of awyer. "You look like someone who¡¯s good at killing people. Especially with that face." "Then you''d be the first target." "You?" "Yeah, you." "You think just because you changed clothes, you''re untouchable now?" "Kyaaa! Unnie!" As I stepped forward to instill a bit of discipline, Kang Byul made a fuss, hiding behind Kim Eun-ha. "That doesn¡¯t seem like the right choice. Why don¡¯t youe here quietly while I¡¯m still being nice?" "You¡¯re flustered, so that must be the right answer." "Eun-ha ssi, could you hand that rascal over to me?" "Hmm... That might be a bit difficult." At Kim Eun-ha¡¯s words, their emotions visibly shifted. Kang Byul stuck her tongue out at me from behind Eun-ha, smiling victoriously. Watching this, I wasn¡¯t really boiling with anger¡ªmore than that, I was curious why Kim Eun-ha didn¡¯t side with me. "Why?" "While you were outside, Woo-ju ssi, I had quite a few conversations with Kang Byul ssi. I received a lot of things from her, so I feel a bit guilty." "Could I hear about these conversations too?" "Unfortunately, it¡¯s a secret between women." Heheheh¡ªha ha ha¡ª Kim Eun-ha gave me a mischievous smile as she looked me up and down, while Kang Byul continued to tease me from behind her. Seeing this, I shook my head left and right as if I had no choice, and a faint smile crept onto my face. Regardless of the reason, seeing those two get closer wasn¡¯t a bad thing for me. Although... "You¡¯re not getting any more allowance." "Ack! Oppa!" "It¡¯s toote, kid." Hohoho¡ª Everyone burst outughing as Kang Byul dashed forward, pleading for forgiveness. Although there were a few small incidents like this, I found myself wishing for more days like today in the future, without realizing it. * After all was said and done, the VVIP event at the department store came to an end. But Kim Eun-ha¡¯s ns didn¡¯t stop there. It wasn¡¯t just about transforming my family¡¯s outward appearance; she seemed intent on elevating our inner dignity as well. "Hello. I¡¯m Park Hyun-joo, and I¡¯ll be helping you adjust from today." "Nice to meet you, Hyun-joo ssi." "Yes. I look forward to working with you." Park Hyun-joo greeted us with a graceful bow. Her face was quite familiar to me. It wasn¡¯t surprising, as she was thedy who handled the cooking and cleaning at Kim Eun-ha¡¯s house. "From now on, she¡¯ll visit you every day. She¡¯ll be helping you learn things like table manners and subtle etiquette so that your family can adapt to this culture." I¡¯d heard that she had been with Kim Eun-ha since childhood, serving almost like a nanny. If Kang Dae-ho had filled the role of a father figure, providing external protection, then she had filled the void left by the absence of a mother. There was a slightly distant feeling between them, but I figured that was due to Park Hyun-joo¡¯s personality¡ªshe was someone who clearly drew the line between public and private matters. ¡®She¡¯s the exact opposite of Team Leader Kang Dae-ho.¡¯ On the outside, Kang Dae-ho appeared tough and rigid, but once you got to know him, he was incredibly warm-hearted. On the other hand, Park Hyun-joo seemed gentle and kind on the surface, but she never allowed anyone to cross certain boundaries. It was hard to say which of the two was better, but it was clear that there was a distinct ¡®wall¡¯ around Park Hyun-joo, making her the more difficult one to approach. ¡®Maybe that¡¯s why she¡¯s more trustworthy.¡¯ Since she doesn¡¯t fully open her heart, no matter how long you spend with her, it¡¯s impossible to trust herpletely. It¡¯s a strictly business rtionship with no room for emotions to interfere. Ironically, this makes her someone you can trustpletely when ites to dry, professional tasks¡ªshe¡¯ll handle them without fail. "Ajumma. If possible, I¡¯d like to learn alongside them. Would that be okay?" "No, that won¡¯t be necessary." "¡­What?" "You¡¯ve already surpassed what I can teach, young master. For more detailed aspects, it would be better for you to learn directly from the youngdy." "Ah, I see¡­" Park Hyun-joo tly rejected my request. Feeling awkward, I instinctively turned my gaze toward Kim Eun-ha. She happened to be looking at me too, and for a moment, our eyes met. But then, unexpectedly, she subtly averted her gaze, unlike her usual self. Just as I was about to wonder why¡ª "However, I could teach you cooking, at least." "¡­Cooking?" At that moment, Park Hyun-joo caught my attention again, and as I turned my head, I was startled. There was a small smile at the corner of her lips. Itsted only for a brief moment, but it was so shocking that I couldn¡¯t possibly mistake it. "Yes, these days, domestic men¡ªespecially chefs¡ªare considered top husband candidates. Such scenes often appear in dramas too, so it would be good for you to learn, young master. Above all¡ª" "¡­?" Park Hyun-joo trailed off, drawing everyone¡¯s attention. She then whispered in a low voice, as if revealing a great secret. "Our youngdy isn¡¯t very good at cooking." "Nanny!" "It¡¯s the truth, isn¡¯t it?" "Truth or not, that¡¯s not the point!" Kim Eun-ha¡¯s face turned bright red¡ªan unusual sight. She was so flustered that she used the familiar term ¡°nanny,¡± which she normally didn¡¯t. Meanwhile, Park Hyun-joo remained as calm and expressionless as ever. Yet, strangely, there was a warm aura in her otherwise neutral expression. ¡®¡­I still have a long way to go.¡¯ It really goes to show that you can¡¯t judge people by their appearance. Watching Kim Eun-ha and Park Hyun-joo bicker, I quietly stifled augh. How much time had passed? Finally, having regained herposure, Kim Eun-ha looked at me and spoke again. "Anyway, I¡¯ll handle things here. Woo-ju ssi, you should focus on your main job. The first episode of is just around the corner." "That¡¯s true." In the past few days, starting with my father¡¯s surgery, so many things had happened, but merciless time kept moving forward even at this moment. Whether it¡¯s cooking or anything else, learning cer. Now, it¡¯s time for me to focus on my main job once again. ¡®¡­Although, at this point, I¡¯m a little confused about which one is my real job.¡¯ Whether it¡¯s being a show-window couple or acting in a drama, the essence of both is the same¡ªacting. As a professional, I can¡¯t neglect either. Bnce is key, no matter where you are. ¡®This experience will definitelye in handy.¡¯ By apanying Kim Eun-ha to meet the department store¡¯s VVIPs, I got to observe what kind of people they were and how they behaved. Thanks to that, I realized a few details I had overlooked before, allowing me to act with even more realism.N?v(el)B\\jnn Only two days remain until the first episode airs. From now on, this will mark the true turning point in my life. Chapter 63: Special Dinner TL: Aniea "Alright, cameras rolling. Ready! Action!" As usual, filming continued today without interruption. Especially for Kang Woo-ju, who had been absent two days ago due to the VVIP event, it was a day packed with shooting his scenes. ¡°Do you even know who I am to be treating me like this? How exactly do they train their staff here? Get the manager out here right now!¡± A middle-aged actress, ying a minor role as a difficult customer in a luxury store, was giving a passionate performance. Each time her booming voice echoed across the set, people silently expressed their admiration. ¡®Feels like my eardrums are tearing.¡¯ ¡®It can¡¯t be this bad in real life, right?¡¯ ¡®Ugh, this is giving me PTSD from my part-time job days.¡¯ Her acting skills were impressive enough to stir up such reactions, which also meant that her counterpart, who had to overpower her character in the script, would feel a lot of pressure. However, there was not a single person on set worried about it. After all, her counterpart was Kang Woo-ju. ¡°What seems to be the problem?¡± He portrayed [Kang Joo-heon] with his usual expressionless face and a voice devoid of any highs or lows. Calling it ''expressionless'' was putting it nicely. Every character who faced him ended up saying the same thing. ¡®He really seems like a psychopath.¡¯ ¡®He doesn¡¯t look at people like they¡¯re human.¡¯ ¡®It feels like he¡¯s choking me just by looking at me.¡¯ This actress ying the minor role was no exception. The confidence she had just moments ago vanished without a trace as soon as she met Kang Woo-ju¡¯s gaze, making her flinch visibly. Given the tight schedule, the atmosphere would plummet if a supporting actor caused an NG, so she tried her best to speak. ¡°Uh¡­ I¡­ uh¡­¡± But her voice wouldn¡¯te out properly. Originally, she was supposed to demand if he was the manager, only to btedly realize Kang Woo-ju¡¯s true identity, creating a clich¨¦ scene of sudden bewilderment. ¡®But I haven¡¯t even done anything yet!¡¯ The moment she locked eyes with Kang Woo-ju, she had the overwhelming urge to sp her hands together and shout, ''I¡¯m sorry, I was wrong!'' ¡°Cut!¡± Unable to watch any longer, Director Kang In-ho signaled a cut. Only when Kang Woo-ju looked away did the supporting actress finally release the breath she had been holding. ¡°I-I¡¯m sorry!¡± She quickly bowed her head to the director, the staff, and Kang Woo-ju, anticipating a barrage of criticism. ¡°It¡¯s alright.¡± ¡°It¡¯s understandable, since it¡¯s your first time.¡± ¡°Everyone has the same reaction when they meet Woo-ju for the first time.¡± Instead, words offort came her way. Most of them were spoken with voices filled with sympathy and pity. ¡°I still haven¡¯t gotten used to it.¡± ¡°Today, he seems even sharper than usual.¡± ¡°Right? Even from behind the camera, I got chills. It was like he was looking at his parents¡¯ murderer.¡± ¡°Mhm, mhm.¡± Particrly, the actors who had previously faced Kang Woo-ju firsthand shared a deep sense of empathy, whispering among themselves. Every one of them had, at some point, faced him head-on. With this atmosphere, Director Kang In-ho didn¡¯t scold her either. He merely said... ¡°You¡¯re doing great already. Fighting!" ¡°¡¤¡¤¡¤¡¤¡¤¡¤.¡± It was a sincere message of encouragement. It was almost puzzling how the charisma he disyed during the previous shoots hadpletely vanished. ¡°I-I¡¯ll do my best!¡± ¡°Okay, let¡¯s go again. Ready! Action!¡± The actress, forcing herself to push aside her confusion, focused on the shoot. As she delivered her line, Kang Woo-ju¡¯s piercing gaze shot towards her once more. Those eyes seemed to gleam with a madness that screamed he could strangle her and erase her existence from this world at any moment. It was hard to believe that someone like him was a rookie actor, making her wonder if they had brought in an actual psychopath killer. ¡°Are you the manager here!?¡± Thanks to having gone through it once before, she managed to endure it for a moment. Somehow, it even seemed like Kang Woo-ju''s gaze was slightly softer than before. Her voice was trembling a bit, but since the director hadn¡¯t called for a cut, she continued to deliver her lines as best as she could. "Why aren¡¯t you answering!?" "Something like that. I¡¯m the one in charge of training the staff.¡± ¡°If you¡¯re the manager, then say you¡¯re the manager! What¡¯s with this ¡®something like that'' nonsense!? This isn¡¯t a joke. Your attitude toward a VVIP customer is absolutely uneptable.¡± "Park Hye-jeong-ssi." Shaa¡ª The moment Kang Woo-ju said the name ''Park Hye-jeong'', the entire filming set froze. Apparently, he had requested the director and writer to change the name just before the shoot began. Did that name hold some special significance for him? No one knew the exact reason, but one thing was certain- Kang Woo-ju was showing something that went beyond mere acting. "Do you perhaps not know who I am?" ¡°......¡± ¡°If you did this knowing who I am, then you have incredible guts. If, on the other hand, you imed to be a VVIP here without even knowing who I am, then I¡¯ll take this opportunity to enlighten you. Which is it, Park Hye-jeong-ssi?¡± ¡°Th-that¡­¡± Her following words weren''t acting. Kang Woo-ju''s performance was so terrifying that she involuntarily answered without thinking. Her mind went nk, and shepletely forgot her original lines. At this point, it wouldn¡¯t have been strange if an NG had been called, but the director still hadn¡¯t signaled a cut. ¡°Answer me.¡±n/?/vel/b//jn dot c//om ¡°I-I¡¯m sorry!¡± ¡°Did I ask for an apology, or did I ask for an answer?¡± ¡°Aah¡­¡± They had already strayed far from the original script. This was no longer ad-libbing; it hadpletely gone off the rails. Despite that, the camera kept rolling, and as time went on, Kang Woo-ju¡¯s pressure intensified, making her feel more and more suffocated. "Park Hye-jeong-ssi." "Eek-!" When Kang Woo-ju said her name for the third time, she becamepletely entranced, as if he were the Grim Reaper himself. Her legs, which had been shaking since earlier, finally gave out under the pressure, and she copsed to the floor. ¡°Cut!¡± Though she had yed minor roles for quite a while, this was the first time she felt like the director¡¯s voice calling ''cut'' was a voice of salvation. ¡°Are you alright?¡± "Eek-!" ¡°¡¤¡¤¡¤¡¤¡¤¡¤.¡± ¡°I-I can get up by myself!¡± Avoiding Kang Woo-ju¡¯s gaze, she pushed herself off the floor, cing her hands on the ground for support. She couldn¡¯t believe how much she despised her legs for shaking uncontrobly. ¡®¡­That wasn¡¯t acting!¡¯ She had heard stories about Kang Woo-ju beforeing to the set, but she had assumed they were exaggerated. But after experiencing it firsthand, she realized he had beenpletely underestimated. No, this wasn¡¯t even acting- how could you even evaluate something that wasn¡¯t acting? ¡®I can¡¯t do this; I¡¯ll die from a heart attack at this rate!¡¯ The thought of quitting now wasughable, though. Though she might never work in this industry again, at least that''s better than dying. ¡°Um, Director-nim¡­¡± ¡°Wow, that was some amazing acting just now. Not only Woo-ju, but you brought the character of Park Hye-jeong, a mere minor role, to life with such ir.¡± ¡°¡­Huh?¡± ¡°It strayed a bit from the script, but I¡¯m sure Writer Jung Ha-rin will understand. It doesn¡¯t affect the main storyline. Let¡¯s just go straight to the ¡®double action¡¯ for this shot.¡± ¡°¡¤¡¤¡¤¡¤¡¤¡¤!?¡± Double action. This means reshooting the same scene from different angles. During this, the actors must repeat their movements and lines exactly as before. Otherwise, it would look awkward when editing between cuts, so directors often repeat filming until they¡¯re satisfied. ¡°D-Director¡­¡± ¡°You can do it.¡± "What?" ¡°And if you faint while acting, that¡¯s fine too. We¡¯ve hired someone with an EMT certification for situations like this. We¡¯ll take full responsibility for your health, so don¡¯t worry and just focus on acting.¡± ¡°Wh-what do you mean by that¡­?¡± ¡°Alright, let¡¯s get started before you lose the feel for it. Besides, you can¡¯t quit now, right? Finishing this quickly is best for everyone. And I¡¯ll personally guarantee the final results!¡± ¡°Eh¡­?¡± Pushed by the director to return to her initial position, she walked back. Along the way, the staff and actors who happened to meet her eyes quickly looked away. It was as if everyone but her hade to some kind of unspoken agreement. By the time she snapped out of her daze, a new camera was already rolling. ¡°Are you ready?¡± "W-wait..." ¡°Action!¡± Without even a ''ready'' cue, the scene started abruptly, and Kang Woo-ju approached her as if he had been waiting for this moment. The blood drained from the face of the actress ying Park Hye-jeong. *** ¡°Cut! Okay!¡± ¡°Good work, everyone!¡± "Waaah-! Great job, everyone!¡± The long filming that started at 6 AM finally ended, and it was already afternoon. Despite the filming stretching over 12 hours, everyone¡¯s faces were filled more with excitement than fatigue. Today was the day the first episode of Peaceful Chaebol Life would air. ''...Fi-finally it''s over.'' Of course, there was at least one person who didn¡¯t care about the first episode airing and just wanted to run away from the set as fast as possible. That person was, undoubtedly, the actress who had yed Park Hye-jeong. ''They made me reshoot that 27 times!?'' Because it was a double action scene, even the slightest difference in dialogue or acting immediately led to an NG. The ''OK'' cut had already deviated from the script, so she had to memorize both the script and her actions all over again while looking at the camera on set. The most shocking part, though, was that every NG was her fault alone. Kang Woo-ju had repeated the same actions from start to finish like a robot, not making a single mistake. ¡°That guy¡¯s crazy. Absolutely crazy." ¡°Who are you talking about?¡± ¡°Eek¡ª!?¡± Speak of the devil, and he appears. As she was quietly sneaking off the set, Kang Woo-ju suddenly appeared in front of her. Even his signature, emotionless gaze, which she¡¯d been forced to endure for hours, had somehow be familiar. But her body reacted before her mind could. ¡°Do¡­ do you need something from me?¡± ¡°I came to apologize.¡± ¡°Huh? What do you mean¡­?¡± ¡°I put personal feelings into my performance today. It seems I ended up taking it out on you unintentionally. I¡¯m here to apologize.¡± ¡°¡¤¡¤¡¤¡¤¡¤¡¤!?¡± Bowing his head abruptly, Kang Woo-ju¡¯s gesture took her by surprise, causing her to flinch. ¡°Ah, no, it¡¯s fine! Thanks to that, we got a more realistic scene, so it actually worked out well. I even got almost three times more screen time than I originally expected. Ahaha¡­¡± Wanting to escape quickly, she muttered something to smooth over the situation. But just as she was about to leave, Kang Woo-ju stopped her again. ¡°Will you be joining the dinner?¡± ¡°No, I don¡¯t think so¡­ I¡¯m just a supporting role, so¡­¡± It felt a bit awkward for her to attend an after-party, considering her position. She swallowed the rest of her words, and then Kang Woo-ju pulled out a thick paper envelope from inside his jacket. ¡°Here, take this.¡± ¡°¡­What is this?¡± ¡°An invitation.¡± "What?" Since when did people hand out invitations to after-parties? And it wasn¡¯t just a piece of paper- the envelope itself was unusually thick. ¡°Of course, you¡¯re not obligated to join. It¡¯s just that, if you feel likeing, you shouldn¡¯t feel pressured about anyone else¡¯s opinion. You¡¯re wee to bring family or friends with you as well.¡± ¡°¡­?¡± ¡°Oh, and for your information, we¡¯ve also prepared a separate viewing room for children, so you don¡¯t need to worry. We¡¯ve even hired certified childcare professionals.¡± ¡°???¡± The more Kang Woo-ju spoke, the more baffling the situation became. While she tilted her head in confusion, Kang Woo-ju gave her a brief nod and then disappeared somewhere. Left alone, her gaze naturally drifted down to the envelope Kang Woo-ju had handed her. ''This isn¡¯t some kind of bomb, is it?'' Gulp. She swallowed nervously, pushing down her unease, and carefully opened the envelope. As she looked at the contents, her eyes grew wider and wider. ¡°Th-this is¡­!?¡± Inside was cash that seemed to be at least twice her day''s acting fee, along with an elegant invitation. The money alone was surprising, but as she continued to examine the invitation, she couldn¡¯t help but let out a smallugh in disbelief. ©¤©¤©¤©¤ In celebration of the monumentalunch of , we have prepared a private gathering. We would be honored if you could attend and grace the event with your presence. Venue: Yongsan IPark Mall Guests: Up to 4 people (no limit for family members) ©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤ Below that, details on the private bus schedule and other event timings were meticulously listed. The more she read, the more absurd it seemed. ¡°What kind of drama wrap party rents out an entire movie theater!?¡± Anyone would think it was some kind of press screening. Unable to believe this bizarre reality, she stood there, staring nkly at the spot where Kang Woo-ju had just been. Chapter 64: Class TL: Aniea ¡°The bus has arrived! Those who want to leave right now, please get ready, and if anyone wants toeter with friends, feel free to go ahead!¡± ¡°Yes-!!¡± The youngest junior staff member came in and loudly announced the arrival of the bus. As a result, the already quick pace of wrapping up elerated even more. Even though they were seasoned veterans who¡¯d been in this industry for a long time, this was the first time they¡¯d ever experienced anything like this. ¡°This is seriously insane ss.¡± ¡°Not just renting out a movie theater, but a private bus too!?¡± ¡°I thought the usual rule for first broadcasts was staying at home with fried chicken and beer.¡± Naturally, their gaze fell on the mastermind behind this situation: Kang Woo-ju. The incident traced back to this morning. Before filming began, Director Kang In-ho had shared an announcement with everyone. - There¡¯s a dinner today to celebrate the first broadcast. Well, it¡¯s more of a get-together. We have to film again tomorrow, so we won¡¯t be drinking much. Just whoever wants to join for some light conversation. - What about snacks? - Snacks are just dried fish. - Today¡¯s actually my mother¡¯s birthday... - You said the same thingst week, didn¡¯t you? - Ah right, today it was supposed to be my father. - Bullshit. Attendance isn¡¯t mandatory, so if you don¡¯t want toe, no worries. I know everyone¡¯s exhausted from the tight filming schedule. - Yes, sir~ Since everyone knew Director Kang In-ho wasn¡¯t the type to pressure anyone, there was an atmosphere of trying to avoid the gathering if possible. There was a lot of umted fatigue, and nobody knew what the mood on set would be depending on the viewership ratings. Then. - Director. - Oh, Woo-ju. What¡¯s up? - I just got a message from my girlfriend that she¡¯s secured a venue for the dinner. It¡¯s a bitst minute, but if it¡¯s alright, let¡¯s change the location to there. Twitch-! The ears of the surrounding staff, who were listening in on the conversation, perked up all at once. Kang Woo-ju. Who was he? At thest dinner, he was the one who¡¯d treated everyone to unlimited servings of the highest-grade Hanwoo beef with perfect marbling- a true young and rich guy. The living embodiment of noblesse oblige in this era. Wasn¡¯t he a role model that all chaebols should aspire to be? - His girlfriend, that would be.... - Isn¡¯t it CEO Kim Eun-ha? - The granddaughter of Mirae Group¡¯s Chairman, current CEO of Mirae Department Store, and a woman with both wisdom and beauty- Kim Eun-ha!? Gulp-! The staff unconsciously swallowed. Just where would the dinner venue that Kim Eun-ha prepared be? Unconsciously, they leaned in closer to listen to the conversation, curious about the details of the two. And Kang Woo-ju, fully aware of their curiosity, graciously satisfied their suspense. - So, where¡¯s the venue? - It¡¯s at Yongsan IPark Mall. - IPark Mall... could it be...? - I think it¡¯s exactly what you¡¯re imagining. She said she reserved the entire movie theater, and set it up so we can watch our drama on IMAX. - Crazy. Overwhelmed by the unimaginable ss, Kang In-ho muttered his honest feelings without realizing. Having filmed nearly ten dramas, they always hadpany dinners with the production team for the first episode. But usually, that meant reserving a small bar in front of the broadcasting station to watch it on a small TV. If too few people joined, they¡¯d just watch the first episode in the broadcasting station¡¯s break room while monitoring the viewership ratings. ¡®...But IMAX?¡¯ And not just any IMAX, but thergest screen in Yongsan. To be able to watch a drama he had filmed himself on that massive screen? This was something that would be difficult even if he were a film director, and working in broadcasting, he never would have dreamed of it. The other staff felt the same way. The moment they heard Kang Woo-ju¡¯s words, it was like the fatigue that had piled up in their bodies vanished like a lie. - There are plenty of seats, so you can even bring your family. We¡¯ve reserved two private buses, so once filming wraps, you can all head over together. After it¡¯s over, the buses will drop everyone off in Jamsil. - ....... - Ah, and for those with families, there¡¯s a children¡¯s movie prepared and dedicated teachers as well. So even those with kids can rx and enjoy themselves. - Crazy. At Kang Woo-ju¡¯s words, spoken almost as if he wanted everyone to hear, the entire staff reacted with astonishment. It was a statement aimed right at the hearts of the married men, who wanted to attend but were hesitant, thinking of their wives who would be left alone at home with the kids. - Director, you haven¡¯t finalized the list for the dinner yet, right? - This time, I definitely want to attend, no matter what. - Turns out my dad¡¯s birthday is actually next week. I think I can join too! - I see right through you guys. Seriously, you¡¯re so transparent. Sigh- Watching the staff¡¯s eyes gleaming with excitement, Kang In-ho let out a quiet sigh. Yet, there was an unmistakable smile on his face. - You know we have a lot to film today, right? If filming drags on, the dinner is off, no questions asked. If you want to go to Yongsan, prove it with your skills! - Yes, sir! The staff answered with enthusiasm. Their voices echoed through the set, and despite it being a longer shoot than usual, not a single person seemed tired. The actual efficiency increased surprisingly, and. What would normally have continued until dawn ended before evening. ¡°If only we could work like this every day.¡± "We''d all copse soon if we did this every day, wouldn''t we?" ¡°Well, that¡¯s true. By the way, are you nning to join too, Writer Jung? You look so worn out, maybe don¡¯t overdo it?¡± "When have I ever not looked like this?" Jung Ha-rin shrugged at Kang In-ho¡¯sment. With her baseball cap hiding her messy hair,rge sses, and even hair rollers wrapped up, she looked nothing short of aplete shut-in. She had rewritten the entire script at thest minute, and was typing away, barely sparing time to eat or even go to the bathroom. Yet, she still made it to every filming session where Kang Woo-ju was present, both to keep a promise she¡¯d made earlier and to gather inspiration, or so she imed. ¡°Well, get some rest after the gathering tonight. Thanks to all the hard work you put in, we have about a day¡¯s worth of leeway.¡± ¡°Director, you¡¯re a terrible liar, you know.¡± ¡°What lie did I tell?¡± ¡°We¡¯re running onst-minute scripts every single day. Do you really think I don¡¯t know you¡¯re just covering with your experience?¡± ¡°...At times like this, could you just pretend not to notice?¡± Snicker- Jung Ha-rin stifled augh, watching Director Kang In-ho shake his head. With a smile lingering at her lips, she continued. ¡°It¡¯s fine. This isn¡¯t a one-person show, after all. Still, I appreciate your thoughtfulness, Director. You mightck delicacy sometimes, but that''s what I like about you asionally." "...S-stop saying weird things and go take a shower! You''re not nning to go to dinner like that, are you?" ¡°What? Are you embarrassed of me?¡± ¡°No, that¡¯s not what I meant....¡± Shake shake- Watching the two bicker, the production team quietly turned away, each dly working a little harder to cover their share. ¡°All done!¡± ¡°Great job, everyone!¡± ¡°The bus will depart at exactly 8:30 PM. If you want to use the showers or visit a nearby bathhouse, please be quick!¡± ¡°Yes-!!¡± After wrapping up together, the staff and actors scattered in different directions, each heading to their own destination to freshen up. After a quick reorganization, they gathered again in front of the bus. ¡°...This isn¡¯t just any ordinary bus.¡± ¡°...When did they even prepare something like this?¡± ¡°...Acting really is just a hobby for him, isn¡¯t it?¡± Everyone let out a hollowugh when they saw the bus. No wonder, they found that the front, back, and sides of the bus were all covered with promotional slogans and posters for . [Another Peaceful Day in the Lives of Chaebols] [Do not disappoint me any further.] [Saturdays and Sundays, 9 PM on TvM. Premiering tonight!] There was a noticeable emphasis on Kang Woo-ju¡¯s face among the main cast, and his popr line from the trailer was prominently disyed, overshadowing even the lead actors. No one found this offensive- not even the lead actors, Park Soo-bin and Choi Ji-hwan. ¡°Well, the trailer did present it that way from the start.¡± ¡°And the recently released script reading video also blew up.¡± ¡°You mean the one where he exchanges lines with Kim Young-ho sunbae?¡± "Yes. It was almost like a special broadcast level, wasn''t it?" When the trailer ignited such a strong response, Kang In-ho decided to strike while the iron was hot and made a bold move. He edited the first script reading session where Kim Young-ho and Kang Woo-ju shed in a tense showdown and released it as a second preview video. - Special feature? Are you kidding? Do you think we have time for that? Just edit the script reading footage and release it! - Combined with the trailer, that¡¯s practically half of episode one being spoiled... - Evenbined, it¡¯s only five minutes. And plenty of people will enjoy seeing the contrast between the script reading and the actual drama scenes, which will only draw them in more. - The editing team says they¡¯ll die before doing it. - Can they say that in front of Woo-ju? - ...They said they¡¯ll find a way. The edited version was a massive hit. The sight of a rookie actor snarling back and forth with a veteran who could intimidate anyone was a huge topic of discussion. ©¸ Isn¡¯t Kang Woo-ju being way too rude? No matter what, that¡¯s a senior actor. He should be on his knees bowing before him. ©¸ -Okay Boomer- ©¸ Keep it in context (it¡¯s just a show). Does anyone here seriously believe this was done without prior agreement? ©¸ Lol obviously it¡¯s all performance. What kind of rookie would pull that stunt on Kim Young-ho? If he were really that crazy, he wouldn¡¯t even have made it onto this drama. Initially, there were quite a few sharp criticisms, but most were quickly buried under a flood of supportivements. Kang Woo-ju¡¯s image had benefited greatly from building up a mystique both on and off screen, such as the visit to a book cafe with Kim Eun-ha, that made him seem like he had ''something special''. ©¸ But they''re both seriously good at acting ©¸ ¡°So, you think you can kill this old man too?¡± That part was chilling. And the way Kang Woo-ju responds without flinching... it¡¯s like he¡¯s insane too, lol. ©¸ I mean, Kim Young-ho is a proven actor, but who the hell is Kang Woo-ju? Where did this monster suddenlye from? ©¸ Exactly. It¡¯s hrious that people still call him a nepotism hire even after watching this video, lol.N?v(el)B\\jnn This was the general response. Thanks to this, the excitement around the trailer, which had started to die down, reignited, and the attention on itself surged. ¡°Honestly, at first, I felt frustrated, but now I¡¯vee to ept it. He¡¯s just... someone who lives in a different world.¡± ¡°Mm-hmm. Exactly.¡± Some of the actors who had initially eyed Kang Woo-ju with jealousy and resentment hadpletely changed their attitude in just a few days. After the beef dinner gathering, they had frequently enjoyed treats like coffee and snacks, courtesy of him. Looking back, it wasn¡¯t as if Kang Woo-ju had ever done anything bad to them. In fact, thanks to Kang Woo-ju, the drama, which might have faded into obscurity, had skyrocketed as a highly anticipated project. ¡®...The trickle-down effect is real.¡¯ Most of the actors in this production were rookies starving for public attention, and the interest spilling over from Kang Woo-ju naturally flowed to them. Their personal SNS followings surged, and now they not only acknowledged Kang Woo-ju but genuinely respected him. ¡°We¡¯re about to depart! If you¡¯re ready, please start boarding from the back seats!¡± "Let''s go too." "Yeah, the junior''s voice is going to go hoarse." The production team who had been observing the promotional bus moved at the junior staff member''s desperate cry. Their footsteps were light and fresh, hard to believe that they had just finished a long 12-hour shoot. The Novel will be updated first on this website. Come back and continue reading tomorrow, everyone! Chapter 65: Let’s make a splash of our own TL: Aniea "Hello, CEO-nim!" "Good afternoon-!!" The production crew, stepping off the bus, simultaneously bowed deeply upon seeing Kim Eun-ha, who had personallye out to greet them. It wasn¡¯t as though anyone had told them to do so, but the instincts of social etiquette ingrained in their DNA made it happen naturally. "Wee! You all must have worked so harding all the way here with your tired bodies." Smile- Kim Eun-ha, shing a radiant smile as she received their greeting, caused not just the men but even the women to clutch their hearts, shaking their heads in disbelief. "Oh no, it wasn¡¯t that hard. We were all in first-ss seats and slept like babies. Who would have thought you¡¯d send not one bus, but three?" "The whole way here, the roads werepletely dominated by Peaceful Chaebol Life ads. Honestly, I caught the eyes of at least a dozen people who were sneaking a look out their car windows." "There are already photos of us circting on social media. It feels almost wasteful to use something this extravagant for just one day, doesn¡¯t it? Hahaha...." Led by Kang In-ho and Jung Ha-rin, the production crew took turnsplimenting her as if on cue. There might have been a bit of exaggeration mixed in, but it all stemmed from genuine admiration. Even from the perspective of the recipient, it didn¡¯t feel off-putting. However, as Kim Eun-ha listened quietly, she tilted her head slightly in thought. "Ah, didn¡¯t I mention this before?" "Huh?" "You¡¯ll be using these buses for the entire duration of the Peaceful Chaebol Life shoot. The bus drivers will operate in two shifts, so they¡¯ll take you anywhere, anytime." "......?" At Kim Eun-ha¡¯s words, the production crew collectively tilted their heads in confusion. They nced back and forth between the buses and her face, only to finally understand what she meant. "...Good heavens." "...Are you saying these are ours?" "...For the entire filming period!?" As the staff widened their eyes in disbelief, Kim Eun-ha continued in a calm tone, as though it were the most natural thing in the world. "I heard your schedule is so tight that you have to relocate several times a day. And I was told you¡¯re often short on vehicles, so you end up crammed in with your equipment?" "Wow, you¡¯re spot on." "It¡¯s pure hell, no doubt about it." "Mmhmm." At her words, everyone nodded with teary-eyed expressions. While the broadcastingpany did its best to provide support, they couldn¡¯t prioritize just one team¡¯s conditions. This often left their working environment less than ideal. To save time, they divided into ABC teams, pre-setting equipment at each location and moving as lightly as possible, but ¡®Realistically, it¡¯s impossible to manage.¡¯ ¡®It¡¯s like having our own sauna on wheels.¡¯ ¡®I can never get used to that oppressive heat.¡¯ Still, there were essential materials they had to move together, and with a shortage of vehicles, everyone was always crammed in, packing the vehicles to their limits. The result? Their bodies ended up stiff and sore, with no chance of restful sleep. On top of that, the mingling of sweat and other bodily odors made for a living hell. "Ohhh! Our Goddess!" "Kim Eun-ha! Kim Eun-ha! Kim Eun-ha!" "Thank you! Thank you! Thank you!" Having received an unexpected gift, the staff exploded with adrenalin, their behavior almost resembling a scene from a cult. "Make sure to thank Woo-ju oppa. He¡¯s the one who asked me to do this, saying you all were struggling in such harsh conditions." "......!!" Whoosh- As soon as Kim Eun-ha spoke, all heads turned sharply in one direction. There stood Kang Woo-ju, as expressionless as ever. Yet even for someone like him, the hundreds of eyes radiating unhinged fervor were overwhelming. Although he didn¡¯t show it outwardly, he subtly averted his gaze and locked eyes with Kim Eun-ha. ¡®You did this on purpose, didn¡¯t you?¡¯ ¡®Of course I did. What would I gain from receiving gratitude from the crew? It¡¯s far more efficient to use it to improve your image, Woo-ju oppa.¡¯ ¡®Seriously...¡¯ Reading her thoughts through her gaze, Kang Woo-ju shook his head internally in defeat. "Kang Woo-ju! Kang Woo-ju! Kang Woo-ju!" "So cool! So handsome! So sexy!" "Lovable even at a nce!" Meanwhile, the production crew¡¯s excitement was growing, their behavior increasingly consumed by fervent energy. Kang Woo-ju, sensing that things might spiral out of control if this went on, slowly raised his right hand. All eyes naturally followed his movement. When Kang Woo-ju clenched his hand tightly into a fist mid-air, the noisy scene abruptly fell silent, as if by magic. Before the sudden quiet could devolve into awkwardness, Kang Woo-ju quickly spoke. ¡°It¡¯s almost time to begin. Let¡¯s head inside.¡± ¡°...Yes!¡± As if under a spell, everyone nodded in unison. They began moving into the building, following the prearranged signs for guidance. Watching this unfold from the back, Kim Eun-ha approached him with a smile tugging at her lips. ¡°Not bad.¡± ¡°I learned it from you, Eun-ha ssi.¡± ¡°You sure know how to say sweet things.¡± ¡°That¡¯s a natural talent of mine.¡± ¡°...This is why I can¡¯tpliment you.¡± Heh- Despite her words, Kim Eun-ha¡¯s face was bright with amusement. Seeing her expression, a soft curve formed at the corner of Kang Woo-ju¡¯s lips as well. ¡°You should head in before you¡¯rete, Woo-ju ssi. You haven¡¯t had dinner yet, right? There are snacks set up inside that¡¯ll be perfect to eat while watching the drama, so make yourselffortable.¡± ¡°Hm? Aren¡¯t youing in?¡± ¡°...I have something I need to take care of.¡± Kim Eun-ha hesitated ever so slightly before answering. It was such a brief pause that an average person wouldn¡¯t have noticed it, but Kang Woo-ju, of course, did. ¡°What¡¯s going on?¡± ¡°It¡¯s nothing important.¡± ¡°For you to be leaving at this hour, it seems important enough. Or is there some special reason why you need to lie to me?¡± ¡°You¡¯re unusually persistent today.¡± ¡°You looked troubled.¡± Vrrrr- Kim Eun-ha red silently at him for a moment. Kang Woo-ju, unfazed, met her gaze without wavering. An unspoken standoff began between the two. After a brief tug of war, Kang Woo-ju emerged victorious. Kim Eun-ha finally averted her gaze, muttering under her breath. ¡°...You¡¯re annoyingly perceptive when ites to things like this.¡± ¡°I can hear you, you know.¡± ¡°I said it for you to hear.¡± Sigh- Kim Eun-ha let out a short sigh as she finished speaking. For a moment, she seemed uncharacteristically hesitant before reluctantly opening her mouth. ¡°...I¡¯m just feeling unusually tired today. I thought I¡¯d go home and rest.¡± ¡°That¡¯s also a lie.¡± ¡°Can¡¯t you just let it slide this time!?¡± ¡°I could, but....¡± ¡°But?¡± Swoosh- This time, Kang Woo-ju awkwardly nced away, scratching his cheek as he spoke slowly. ¡°I¡¯m just worried, that¡¯s all.¡± ¡°...Why? Afraid you¡¯ll lose your financial sponsor?¡± ¡°Well, that¡¯s not entirely untrue.¡± ¡°I take back what I said earlier about you speaking nicely.¡± ¡°Have you ever heard the saying, ¡®You can¡¯t scoop spilled water back into the cup¡¯?¡± ¡°Woo-ju ssi, do you want to get hit?¡± ¡°There are a lot of people watching us right now.¡± ¡°So what?¡± Crack! It wasn¡¯t a joke, Kim Eun-ha rolled her neck and flexed her wrists as she closed the distance between them. Seeing this, Kang Woo-ju quickly raised both hands to indicate surrender. ¡°Alright, alright. Then let me at least drive you home.¡± ¡°It¡¯s fine. I¡¯m not feeling that dizzy. Besides, I can¡¯t leave the event I worked so hard to n. What would the point be if the main star disappeared?¡± ¡°Still....¡± ¡°Shh-! Don¡¯t make my efforts meaningless. You know how much money went into this event without me needing to spell it out, don¡¯t you?¡± Tap, tap- Kim Eun-ha lightly tapped the bridge of Kang Woo-ju¡¯s nose, as if scolding him yfully. In response, Kang Woo-ju gave a wry smile and shook his head. ¡°Alright, if that¡¯s the CEO¡¯s order.¡± ¡°As expected, you¡¯re our Employee of the Month.¡± Heh- Suppressing a quietugh, Kim Eun-ha turned on her heel, and Kang Woo-ju apanied her as far as the parking lot. * "Money really is the best." Munch, munch- Kang In-ho¡¯s eyes reddened as he stuffed a piece of sushi into his mouth. With every bite, the rich, savory texture of the tuna melted his heart. Not only had Kim Eun-ha rented out the cafeteria next to the theater, but she had also arranged for a full catering buffet. Thanks to her efforts, the entire production crew was now enjoying a hearty meal. Since most of them hadn¡¯t even had proper lunches, let alone dinner, because of the shoot, they were busy devouring food like there was no tomorrow. ¡°She always goes above and beyond our expectations. I can¡¯t even begin to guess how much she¡¯s spent just for today.¡± Chomp, gulp! Beside him, Jung Ha-rin, who was ravenously wolfing down her food, nodded in agreement. The same could be said for the assistant writers seated in a row next to her. Some of them even had tears streaming down their faces. ¡°To think she thought of people like us¡­¡± ¡°If we put something like this in a script, people would call it unrealistic and scold us for it.¡± ¡°Yeah, it¡¯s a shame. In reality, there are plenty of people who spend hundreds of millions of won in a single day, but people are too stuck in their own little bubbles.¡± ¡°Hey, hey, if you¡¯ve got time to talk about depressing stuff, just focus on eating! When do you think we¡¯ll get another day like this? All we have to do is say, ¡®Thank you, Goddess,¡¯ and keep eating.¡± ¡°Thank you, Goddess!¡± Watching the script team, who had essentially be Kim Eun-ha¡¯s cult followers, Kang In-ho shook his head quietly. This is exactly why money is so scary. It¡¯s such a simple way to earn people¡¯s goodwill. ¡®...It feels like the entire crew is being trained as a group.¡¯ She gives us ad cements. She buys us premium beef. Coffee and desserts? That¡¯s just a given. She rents out an entire movie theater. And now she¡¯s even provided us with private buses. And all of this¡­ is free. ¡®Well, maybe not entirely free....¡¯ At least on the surface, she wasn¡¯t asking for anything in return. She simply delivered exactly what was needed, precisely when it was needed. The only price we had to pay was our hearts. Maybe that was more expensive than anything else, but the problem was that it didn¡¯t feel bad at all, even though we knew it. ¡®Ah, forget it. Let¡¯s just enjoy it for now!¡¯ Kang In-ho gave up thinking any further. When else would he get to experience something like this? Maybe only if his next project was also with Kang Woo-ju. Chomp, chomp- Kang In-ho swallowed his swirling thoughts along with the food. There was no point in stressing over things he couldn¡¯t control anyway. ¡°Themercials are almost over! If you¡¯ve finished eating, please head inside quickly!¡± The booming voice of the youngest staff member rang out, as reliable as ever. Those who had emptied their tes began grabbing popcorn and filing into the theater one by one. Kang In-ho, along with Jung Ha-rin, also entered the theater. As the director, he was naturally given one of the best seats, out of respect from the crew. ¡°...Wow, the screen doesn¡¯t even fit into my field of vision.¡± ¡°...They said this is the biggest screen in Korea, but I didn¡¯t think it¡¯d be this massive. And our drama is going to y on it?¡± ¡°Yeah. Even seeing it, I still can¡¯t believe it.¡± Heh heh- The two of them let out chuckles, half in disbelief. Around them, the rest of the crew murmured simr sentiments. Half of the chatter was admiration for the enormous screen, while the other half was spection about the drama. ¡°What kind of ratings do you think we¡¯ll get?¡± ¡°At least 5%, don¡¯t you think?¡± ¡°I think we can hit 10% easily.¡± ¡°Come on, that¡¯s a bit much. KBC and MBS both have massively popr dramas airing right now. To break 10%, we¡¯d have to steal their entire audience.¡± Listening to their conversation, Kang In-ho nodded to himself. The drama , currently airing on KBC, was smoothly sailing with ratings in the 7% range up to its 16th episode, and this week was its finale. Meanwhile, MBS''s newlyunched drama, , had drawn attention with its star-studded cast, featuring the most popr actors of the moment. What¡¯s more, that drama was a directpetitor to , airing on the same day, at the same time, and even with the same number of episodes nned for its run. It was clear they were aware of thepetition, as they kicked off with special programming and ramped up their efforts to set the tone for the rivalry. ¡°What do you think, Director?¡± ¡°Well, normally, since we were brought in to fill a gap, the odds would be high that we¡¯d fade away without a sound....¡± ¡°But it feels different this time, doesn¡¯t it?¡± ¡°Yeah.¡± Maybe it was because his belly was full and his back felt warm, but that was exactly how he felt. There wasn¡¯t even the slightest hint of anxiety gnawing at him. ¡°15%.¡± ¡°...Are you serious? We¡¯re a cable show.¡± ¡°Yes. I¡¯m serious.¡± Smirk- Recalling his unwavering expression, the corners of her lips turned up involuntarily. ¡°Let¡¯s make a ssh of our own.¡±n/o/vel/b//in dot c//om Crunch-! With a refreshing smile, Kang In-ho bit into a piece of popcorn. The sweet taste and aroma of caramel popcorn delighted his sensespletely. The Novel will be updated first on this website. Come back and continue reading tomorrow, everyone! Chapter 66: A Peculiar Couple TL: Aniea ©¸ 5 minutes before begins. ©¸ Why is the title like that? Is this a si or something? ©¸ ?? It''s a drama. I don''t really know about the title either. But since Seo Jun-woo and Choi Kang-hee are in it, I''m just going to watch it without questioning. ©¸ Sure~ I''m watching 2725. Fromst week''s preview, it looks like the male and female leads are finally getting together in episode 15. Must. Watch. Live. Social media and intemunities were more fired up than usual. The reason? None other than dramas. On one side, fans were excited about the news that two of Korea¡¯s top actors, Seo Jun-woo and Choi Kang-hee, were teaming up. On the other side, it was the final week for the drama, abbreviated as 2725, a drama so popr in Korea that you''d be called a spy if you didn''t know about it. Originally, was supposed to naturally take over 2725''s spot in terms of ratings. However, an unexpected variable appeared. ©¸ You drama newbies, lol. ©¸ Ikr. Obviously, we should watch . ©¸ I can''t even count how many times I¡¯ve rewatched the preview and script reading scenes. It¡¯s been ages since I sat in front of the TV waiting for a live broadcast. ©¸ FR lol That variable was starring Kang Woo-ju. The previously released preview and script reading footage had garnered so much attention that it climbed the SNS trending videos list, throwing the anticipated ratings battle into chaos. ©¸ Which show do you think will get the highest ratings? ©¸ Honestly, 2725 probably won''t surpassst week¡¯s peak rating of 7%. Realistically, it¡¯s a showdown between and . ©¸ Come on, let¡¯spare apples to apples. is airing on a majorwork with a star-studded lineup, it¡¯s a guaranteed hit. That other one¡¯s on cable with a bunch ofplete rookies. ©¸ Are you ignoring Kim Young-ho right now? ©¸ No, that guy''s a different story; As the broadcast time approached, the debate grew fiercer. For viewers eagerly awaiting the dramas, this kind of spection was half the fun. However, there were people who didn¡¯t find it fun at all and instead were nervously swallowing dry gulps. Those were none other than the production team of . ¡°Damn it, their show might¡¯ve been thrown togetherst minute, but we spent over 5 billion won just on casting fees! We cannot lose!¡± Tap- Tap- Tap- Director Jang, who worked for MBS, couldn¡¯t hide his anxiety, biting his nails as he spoke. His bloodshot eyes were already glued to the ratings graph disyed on one corner of the broadcasting station. ¡°Director, please calm down for now.¡±n/?/vel/b//in dot c//om "How can I calm down right now!? If this drama fails, not only me but my whole family''s livelihood will be cut off for a while!" ¡°.......¡± ¡°And Jun-woo, don¡¯t think this has nothing to do with you. This will tarnish your profile too! Besides, that Kang Woo-ju guy is your ssmate, isn¡¯t he? Doesn¡¯t this piss you off?¡± Sigh- At Director Jang¡¯s words, Seo Jun-woo let out a deep sigh. He¡¯d known this man ever since his first step into the broadcasting station, but no matter how many times he witnessed it, he could never get used to the director¡¯s over-the-top dramatics. ¡®¡­Well, he¡¯s not entirely wrong.¡¯ Kang Woo-ju. These days, his name kept popping up here and there. It wasn¡¯t just in their old ssmates'' group chat, but also in chats with the student council and alumni groups, his name was mentioned over and over to the point where ignoring it was impossible. ¡®Even back in school, he was someone I couldn¡¯t help but pay attention to.¡¯ There were some strange rumors circting about him back then, but most of them turned out to be false. Seo Jun-woo already knew the truth, thanks to an incident he¡¯d heard about during a faculty dinner he¡¯d attended back in their school days. Apparently, Kang Woo-ju had refused to pay membership fees, iming there was ack of transparency in how the funds were being used. As a result, he became a target for criticism. But instead of backing down, he pushed back hard, making the situation even worse. ¡®He supposedly gathered all kinds of evidence and reported it to the education office, didn¡¯t he?¡¯ Thanks to that, the entire school was turned upside down, and a massive audit of the ounting records of every student association, including the general student council, wasunched. As a result, the embezzlement and corruption that had long been tacitly tolerated within the associations were fully exposed. This led to an unprecedented situation where over 90% of the student association presidents at the time were expelled from the university. Naturally, the scandal became a hot topic in newspapers, and the university faced tremendous humiliation. Enraged, the professors and the associations began a ''hunt for the culprit''. The education office, tired of dealing with their anger, quietly leaked the name of the whistleblower. That name was none other than Kang Woo-ju. ¡®I never really paid attention to him since we didn¡¯t have much inmon¡­¡¯ At the time, Seo Jun-woo was rarely on campus due to his packed schedule with drama andmercial shoots. As such, it was rare for him to even see Kang Woo-ju¡¯s face, let alone interact with him. And on the few asions they crossed paths, they barely exchanged polite nods. ¡®I never thought I¡¯d run into him here.¡¯ The entertainment industry is a world that runs on strictworks and the logic of capital. It¡¯smon for professors to pick students they like and directly ce them into projects. But who could have guessed that someone like Kang Woo-ju, a student disliked by every professor and someone who had even taken a leave of absence due tock of funds, would secure a lead role in a drama and end up face-to-face with him? ¡°...Interesting.¡± ¡°What?¡± At Seo Jun-woo¡¯s words, which escaped almost unintentionally, Director Jang¡¯s eyebrows shot up reflexively. However, their rtionship wasn¡¯t one of superior and subordinate. Seo Jun-woo, who had built up a strong portfolio and reputation since his days as a child actor, wasn¡¯t someone to be taken lightly. ¡°Why don¡¯t we just wait and see? The live broadcast hasn¡¯t even started yet. We didn¡¯t rush through production on our show to the point where we¡¯d lose to something thrown together at thest minute.¡± ¡°Well, that¡¯s true, but¡­¡± ¡°Both shows are starting now. There¡¯s no need toin until we see the results. Let¡¯s observe with patience for now.¡± ¡°Y-yeah, I guess¡­¡± Reluctantly nodding at the underlying confidence in Seo Jun-woo¡¯s tone, Director Jang stepped back. Sessfully silencing the nuisance, Seo Jun-woo sat down and crossed his legs. He alternated his gaze between the two monitors disying and as he stroked his chin. ¡®Kang Woo-ju, Kang Woo-ju¡­¡¯ Watching Kang Woo-ju¡¯s face fill the screen in his first appearance, Seo Jun-woo quietly raised the corners of his lips. *** ¡°Wow, the squid is seriously so good.¡± ¡°There¡¯s cheese balls and skewered sausages too.¡± ¡°Popcorn is a ssic when ites to the theater.¡± The production team waiting for the screening was busy chatting while stuffing various snacks into their mouths. This wasn¡¯t a typical movie screening. It was more of a celebratory gathering mixed with apany dinner, and there were no other audiences present. As a result, the atmosphere wasn¡¯t at all quiet like in a normal movie theater. It was as lively as a World Cup viewing party, with everyoneughing and talking freely. ¡°Oh!?¡± ¡°It¡¯s starting!¡± ¡°Wow, my heart¡¯s pounding.¡± Kyaaah-! Screams erupted as the drama they had painstakingly created appeared on the giant screen. Even though they all already knew the full content of the drama, not a single person could take their eyes off the screen. The massive screen that filled their field of vision and the majestic sound system that felt like being on setpletely captivated them. "...They even did the upscaling perfectly." The cinematographer, who had been watching the screen, couldn¡¯t help but express his admiration. He understood better than anyone just how impressive this feat was. Each type of camera has a rmended resolution, and IMAX cameras are entirely separate and specialized. With the exorbitant cost of such equipment, it¡¯s obvious that standard broadcasting cameras can¡¯tpete. That¡¯s where ''upscaling'' (image quality enhancement)es into y. ¡®It¡¯s a technique often used in actual films.¡¯ Even in IMAX movies, not every scene is shot with an IMAX camera. Or rather, it¡¯s more urate to say it can¡¯t be. Because of this, only a few key scenes are shot with IMAX-specific cameras, while the rest either have their resolution changed or undergo upscaling. The reduced quality from the stretched resolution is then corrected during post-production to make it appear seamless. So, when they first heard the drama would be screened in an IMAX theater, they were initially skeptical. ¡®Of course, it¡¯s not like the edited parts arepletely invisible¡­¡¯ From the perspective of the average viewer, though, the adjustments were so smooth that you¡¯d never notice unless you were specifically looking for them. The people around were simply eximing in awe. The first episode had been finalized only a few days ago. In such a short time, how much manpower and resources must have been poured in to achieve this level of upscaling? ¡®Supporting from behind the scenes really is on another level when you¡¯re the owner of a conglomerate like Mirae Group.¡¯ Crunch- Crunch- The cinematographer stifled an incredulousugh by chewing on his popcorn. He decided that since things had already turned out this way, he might as well stop overthinking and enjoy the experience like everyone else. After all, getting to see a project he had worked on screened in an IMAX theater was a fresh and unprecedented experience, one that might never happen again. ¡°Director, look over there! Our ratings have already hit 7%!¡± On one corner of the screen, a small number disyed the real-time viewership ratings. This was a feature coordinated by Kim Eun-ha and Kang In-ho ahead of time, linked with a broadcasting station staff member to allow real-time updates. ¡°...Hmm. That¡¯s a bit ambiguous.¡± ¡°Ambiguous? We¡¯re on cable, and we¡¯ve just started! A 7% rating is insane! The only way now is up!¡± ¡°It¡¯s good to be confident, but you can¡¯t predict the market¡¯s evaluation until you see the results. I wonder what the ratings for MBS are right now?¡± ¡°Well, if we¡¯ve snatched up 7%, it¡¯s obvious. is in its final build-up, so they¡¯ll probably get around 10%. That means they will be stuck at 3-4%, don¡¯t you think?¡± ¡°Oho, as expected from Writer Jung. Such precise analysis.¡± ¡°Huh?¡± Swoosh- Director Kang In-ho suddenly held out his phone toward Jung Ha-rin, who was tilting her head in confusion. [Director, the current ratings for are at 3.2%.] After confirming the message on the screen, Jung Ha-rin¡¯s lips curved into a delighted smile. Kang In-ho, unable to hide his own joy,ughed along. ¡°Pfft. Director Jang¡¯s face must be a sight to behold right now.¡± ¡°Haha. I bet it feels like a funeral over there. They went all out on their schedule nning to crush us, but now they don¡¯t even have room for excuses.¡± ¡°Still, we can¡¯t let our guard down. This is just the beginning.¡± Kang In-ho put on a deliberately serious expression. From the start, had generated far more buzz. It was only natural for its initial ratings to be higher. The real question was whether they could hold onto those curious viewers and keep them watching. If they failed, the ratings could flip in just five minutes. ¡®Of course, I don¡¯t think that¡¯s going to happen.¡¯ Looking at Kang Woo-ju¡¯s face on the screen gave him a sense of reassurance. The actor¡¯s uniquely cold andmanding presence transcended dimensions, overwhelming the audience. There was no narration. No background music. Not even any dialogue. It was just a slow, distant close-up of Kang Woo-ju staring out over Seoul¡¯s nighttime cityscape through a ss window. ¡°.......¡± ¡°.......¡± Even that was enough to make the previously noisy theater fallpletely silent. The production team, despite already knowing the full content of the first episode, couldn¡¯t help but be drawn in by Kang Woo-ju¡¯s maism. As the close-up finally ended, the screen was filled with Kang Woo-ju¡¯s expressionless face. Then, very slowly. Ever so slowly. His lips began to move. The motion was so faint it felt suffocating to watch, almost like it was choking the air out of the room. Smirk- At the moment his wine-stained lips finally formed aplete smile, the entire screen gradually darkened and the title appeared. ¡°...Whew.¡± "...Still gives me chills even watching it again." "...Seeing it on the big screen makes it even more overwhelming somehow. I literally couldn''t breathe while watching." As the title appeared on the screen, everyone collectively released the breaths they had been holding. Even though they had seen this scene several times before, the lingering impact was undeniable, leaving the audience shaking their heads in amazement. Then, as if it had been nned, everyone¡¯s gaze naturally shifted to one side of the screen. ¡°Huh?¡± ¡°What?¡± ¡°Wait, is that broken!?¡± Soon, people began wearing puzzled expressions. The viewership rating number on the screen had started fluctuating wildly. 7.3% 7.4% 7.5¡­ As the number kept climbing without pause, everyone stared in stunned silence, their mouths agape. Even Kang In-ho and Jung Ha-rin were caught off guard, blinking in confusion. The shocking number kept climbing, seemingly without an end, leaving the audience in disbelief. By the time it finally stopped, a significant amount of time had passed since the opening scene. ¡°...11.4%!?¡± Kang In-ho shouted in disbelief, his voice booming through the previously silent theater. ¡°Woooaaahhh-!!¡± ¡°We actually did it!¡± ¡°Kang Woo-ju! Kang Woo-ju! Kang Woo-ju!¡± Soon, the theater erupted into deafening cheers. Without exception, everyone stood up from their seats, giving a standing ovation. Kang In-ho and Jung Ha-rin hugged each other tightly, shouting with joy. They turned toward the back of the theater, searching for the protagonist to share this moment with. ¡°Huh?¡± But no matter how hard they looked, the star of the day was nowhere to be found. The seat where they thought Kang Woo-ju had been sitting was empty. ¡°...Where did he go?¡± ¡°If you¡¯re talking about Kang Woo-ju, he left a while ago.¡± ¡°What!? When did that happen¡­?¡± ¡°I bumped into him when I went to the restroom earlier. He said something urgent hade up, so he had to leave. Judging by the circumstances, it¡¯s probably something rted to CEO Kim Eun-ha.¡± ¡°Oh my¡­¡± Jung Ha-rin covered her mouth with her hand, trying to suppress the smile that kept creeping onto her face. Her gaze lingered on the empty seat where Kang Woo-ju had been sitting. ¡°They really are a peculiar couple, aren¡¯t they?¡± ¡°Indeed they are.¡± Pfft- Jung Ha-rin and Kang In-ho exchanged a nce and burst outughing at the same time. Afterward, as if nothing had happened, they turned their attention back to the screen. The smiles on their faces, however, refused to fade. The Novel will be updated first on this website. Come back and continue reading tomorrow, everyone!