Chapter 39
39. Welcoming Guests 2021.09.11.
Friday morning. Jeong-o was the first to wake up. Yena, who had snuggled into her arms and fallen asleep, had already escaped the blanket and was near the door. What exciting dream was she having to go all the way over there? Jeong-o smiled quietly, wanting to peek into her daughter's dream. She wrapped Yena in the blanket, laid her back down in her place, and left the room. Jeong-o went to the kitchen and drank the honey water that Guk-soon had made. The tasting event last night went well. The Remi Remi client was a bit of a pain, but Chief Park Young-gwang and An Chan-seop took care of him, so Jeong-o was fine. Jeong Ji-heon, who had even eaten dinner saying he was going to the tasting event, didn't show up until the event was over. Did something urgent suddenly come up? Or was he too ashamed to cross the line and didn't come? Or was he unable to come because his cheek hurt from being hit by her? She was a little worried, but Jeong-o closed her heart. There was something more important. She had overheard Eun-bi's phone call. Eun-bi was laughing and talking on the phone right next to her as if she wanted her to hear it, so Jeong-o didn't do anything wrong. Jeong-o was sure that the person Eun-bi had talked to yesterday was Ms. Jang. Jeong Ji-heon's mother, Ms. Jang Young-mi. Chae Eun-bi and Ms. Jang seemed to be close. They would become mother and daughter-in-law, so it was natural that they were close.
‘But it didn't seem like the two of them were sharing anything about me.’
This was also natural. Ms. Jang didn't need to tell her future daughter-in-law about Ji-heon's old girlfriend. If there was a problem, she would probably handle it alone. Or maybe Ji-heon's other family members helped Ms. Jang.
‘First of all, it would be good to think about Ms. Jang.’
That wrong phone call seven years ago. It was highly likely that Ms. Jang had manipulated it as well. And maybe she knew about Yena's existence. Maybe the attempted kidnapping of Yena was also Ms. Jang's scheme. Jeong-o had entered Ji-heon's company, so she might have scared her to prevent her from approaching Ji-heon.
‘But if that's the case, why didn't she step up herself and use someone else? It would be much more certain to talk directly.’
And if Jeong Ji-heon and Chae Eun-bi's wedding was approaching, wasn't it very urgent? Wouldn't it be much more effective to speak directly than to give a roundabout scare? There were so many questionable points that she couldn't conclude her speculation with certainty.
\ Ji-heon stayed in his office all morning, constantly pounding on the keyboard. His head was fuzzy for two days, and he forgot that there was a group monthly report in the afternoon. He was completely out of it. He hadn't even met the real Lee Jung-oh a few times, but it felt like about twelve Lee Jung-ohs were running around in his head. And he had to work in the midst of all this. Still, thanks to concentrating for two hours, he was able to fill out a few reports decently. Ji-heon sighed deeply and clicked the mouse. How nice would it be if he could just cancel everything and go to headquarters? Save? Save. Don't Save. Cancel. Don't Save. Click.
“Huh!”
Ji-heon was startled and jumped up. What am I doing? Overwhelmed by the desire to cancel all his schedules, he pressed the "Don't Save" button next to Cancel! A mistake that even an elementary school student wouldn't make! Me! Ji-heon immediately reopened the document program and searched for the record. He regretted his irresponsible past for not setting up an automatic save function. Two hours of hard work had gone to waste... Even in that moment, Lee Jung-oh came to mind.
“If I worked hard for three hours to make data and it all flew away because I didn't press save... No, two hours.”
The litany of curses that Jeong-o had reeled off flashed through Ji-heon's mind. It was a curse for Lee Jung-oh's ex-boyfriend. Why me! Ji-heon gritted his teeth and opened a new document again. This time, he changed the settings to automatically save every five minutes. He had to give up lunch. Knock knock. He straightened his posture and stared at the monitor when he heard a knock.
“Yes.”
He moved his gaze from the monitor to the door. The door opened and Jo Si-nae, a deputy from the Management Headquarters, came in. Si-nae flinched when she saw Ji-heon's expression. Ah, he had called Jo Si-nae. He remembered that he had contacted Jo Si-nae and told her to come to his office before lunch. Ji-heon got up from his seat with a slow reaction.
“Sit down, Deputy Jo Si-nae.”
When Ji-heon offered her a seat, Jo Si-nae sat down with a frightened expression. Ji-heon sat across from Si-nae and asked.
“How is the work environment?”
Except for being comfortable, there was nothing else. She wanted to ask why he was asking about the work environment after banishing her to the outskirts, but Si-nae answered quietly.
“It's okay.”
“I called Deputy Jo Si-nae today because I have something personal to ask.”
Ji-heon said what he wanted without delay.
“Have you heard any rumors in the company that I'm getting married?”
“I, I didn't spread any rumors!”
Si-nae's voice rose at Ji-heon's question. Her expression showed her injustice.
“No, I'm not grilling Deputy Jo, I'm just asking. There's something I want to know.”
Ji-heon spoke gently as if to appease Si-nae. Si-nae looked around and opened her mouth again.
“...It's not so much a rumor as it is a fact that everyone knows. That you're getting married to Section Chief Chae Eun-bi within this year...”
“Then Chae Eun-bi must have said it. How did Deputy Jo find out?”
Ji-heon nodded briefly and asked again. His voice was polite, but his eyes were sharp.
“I'd like you to tell me any personal things you've heard about me, anything that comes to mind. Anything.”
\ Late in the afternoon, Jeong-o visited Ji-heon's office. Ji-heon's secretary contacted Jeong-o. Ji-heon was looking for her, so she told her to bring the old Tawon Liquor's first report data to his office. Jeong-o was puzzled that he had ordered his secretary to do it instead of directly instructing her. Moreover, when she actually went to his office, Ji-heon was not there. Jeong-o asked as she left the office.
“Excuse me, the director isn't here. Did you tell me to come now?”
“Yes. He said to wait a little bit. He went to headquarters and is on his way now.”
“Then I'll come back later.”
“He's almost here, so please wait inside.”
The secretary's recommendation was firm, so Jeong-o went back into the office. What was he doing, calling a working person? Jeong-o waited for Ji-heon, kicking the innocent sofa. *
[I casually asked Ji-heon if you guys had any problems, and he said he'd tell me soon. He said it in a very serious voice.]
“Ah... Oppa said that? He said he'd tell you soon?”
[Yeah. So I told him not to make Mom and Dad too tired. And he said he understood.]
Eun-bi recalled her phone call with Ms. Jang last night. What was Ji-heon going to tell her mother? She vaguely said to Ms. Jang, 'I think he's going to tell you about the wedding,' but she kept feeling uneasy. Ever since she revealed Lee Jeong-o's past the day before yesterday, Eun-bi hadn't been able to talk to Ji-heon. Ji-heon kicked her out of his office as if he would never see her again, and he never looked for Eun-bi once. Eun-bi was so anxious that she couldn't focus on her work. In the meantime, Ji-heon, who had returned to the company after finishing the headquarters meeting, called Eun-bi.
“Section Chief Chae Eun-bi. Can I see you for a moment?”
It was the first time he had publicly called Eun-bi after being appointed to Max Planning for a month. His voice was quite friendly.
“Yes!”
Eun-bi stood up from her seat with a flushed face. She felt like she was going to burst into tears. The day before yesterday, he kicked her out of his office as if he would never see her again.
‘That's right. My mother likes me so much, you can't treat me carelessly.’
She was glad that she had gone to Ms. Jang and poured out her heart. You have no choice but to be grateful to me for going to your mother after work with my tired body. She was satisfied that everything seemed to be resolved. Eun-bi followed Ji-heon. Ji-heon was walking so fast that Eun-bi had to run several times.
“Oppa, what's wrong?”
Eun-bi asked with a smile. Ji-heon didn't respond to Eun-bi's question and just moved towards his office. The two of them arrived at the office in no time. Click, the door opened and closed. Ji-heon, who had entered the office with Eun-bi, slowly turned his head and looked around. As if he needed to make sure that no one was around. Come to think of it, there was no secretary in the annex room either. Eun-bi's heart was pounding. The man who had kindly asked her to see him for a moment was now nowhere to be seen. The expressionless, but sharp-eyed, original Jeong Ji-heon. No, it was Jeong Ji-heon with an even fiercer face. Eun-bi was scared again.
“Why do I keep hearing that you and I are getting married?”
The smile that she had tried so hard to put on fell off at Ji-heon's question.
“Tell me with your own mouth.”
“……”
“Have I ever asked you to marry me?”
The threatening question blocked her words. Because we'll end up getting married! Because everyone wants that! She had to speak confidently, but it was hard to make a sound as if someone was choking her.
“Still, we, someday...”
“Just the facts.”
“……”
“Tell me only the facts, Chae Eun-bi.”
“……”
“Did I ask you to marry me?”
Eun-bi clenched her fists at Ji-heon's attitude of pushing all the responsibility onto her.
“...We were going to do it someday.”
“Why would I?”
“……”
“You seem to be greatly mistaken, but I don't want to do anything with you.”
“……”
“How awful. If I hadn't been appointed to this company, you would have been spreading that bluff even more enthusiastically.”
“Oppa, you don't have a girlfriend anyway.”
Eun-bi snapped back, feeling resentful at his words that seemed to be deliberately insulting her.
“What does it matter who you marry if you don't have a girlfriend? Whether we've dated or not, I can get married and maintain a marriage well enough. Where else can you find something more comfortable than this?”
Once the blocked path was opened, words poured out as if she was releasing her resentment.
“Oppa, don’t you remember? Seven years ago! If I hadn't reported your hit-and-run, you would have died. What do you think would have happened to your mother if you had died? That's why we have to get married! You, your family, should be grateful to me for the rest of your lives.”
I should make sure he remembers how I saved him for the rest of his life!
“You're the one who should be grateful, but I'm the only one who did well. I'm the only one who tried. Think about how well I treated your mother. Have you ever properly celebrated Mother's Day or her birthday? I took care of everything. I called her every week to check in, visited her when the time came, greeted her, went shopping with her, and bought her gifts.”
Oppa should remember how hard I tried to maintain this relationship. I was so good to your beloved mother, so you should just be grateful to me.
“Do you know how picky your mother is when it comes to choosing gifts? Do you know how much I suffered?”
“Then why did you go through all that trouble? Did I ever ask you to?”
Eun-bi's eyes welled up with tears at Ji-heon's attitude, taking her favors for granted and now trying to deny everything.
“Why are you blaming me for something you did because you wanted to? I didn't ask you for anything.”
“We agreed to date! That was the promise! If we're dating, that's how much effort you should put in! That's why I've put in this much effort!”
“Chae Eun-bi.”
Even with her shouting through tears, Ji-heon's eyes remained unchanged.
“The reason we agreed to date was just to quell the rumors from four years ago. You said so yourself. Don't you remember?”
Ji-heon's voice became calm, as if to soothe the agitated Eun-bi. Four years ago, Ji-heon was particularly plagued by rumors. It was unknown who kept spreading them. One day, his mother barged into the house, lamenting that she couldn't live because of the rumors about her son. In the midst of all this, Chae Eun-bi became the latest victim of the rumors. Eun-bi came to him as soon as the rumors started, lamenting like his mother, and suggested that they create a real relationship by the time she left. Ji-heon accepted indifferently. He thought it was fortunate that the rumors disappeared like a lie and that he was no longer bothered by people. He thought it would end with a brief lie, but Chae Eun-bi clung to the charade for a long time. Ji-heon realized this too late. If she hadn't been assigned to Max Planning, he would never have known. And someday, he might really be pushed into marriage.
“You should have ended it after that. Instead of creating false rumors.”
“……”
“Stop it now. End it within a week. I'll turn a blind eye to all your boasting and lies until now.”
Eun-bi shook her head violently at his demand.
“Oppa, you can't do this to me. Look at everything I've done for you.”
“I appreciate you reporting the incident seven years ago. I'll prepare a reward for you now, so take it.”
“……”
“I won't care whether you say you dumped me out of respect for you, or whether I dumped you, so just end it right away.”
Eventually, thick tears fell from Eun-bi's reddened eyes. Nevertheless, Ji-heon maintained a calm attitude without wavering.
“If you're embarrassed about lying to the people at work, it might be okay to change jobs.”
“……You'll regret this, Oppa.”
“Yeah. I will. So please let me regret it now.”
His words and eyes were as cold as ice, but his tone was as gentle as could be. With that, he opened the door to his office, which had been closed.
“Get out now.”
“……”
“I have to greet a guest. Leave.”
Eun-bi clenched her fists tightly, glared at Ji-heon, and reluctantly left. She didn't know who the guest was, but she couldn't let them see her in this state. As soon as Eun-bi left, the office door was firmly closed.
‘I’m going crazy!’
Jeong-o covered her mouth with both hands and hid behind the sofa. She had arrived at the office ten minutes ago. No one was in the office, and when she told the secretary, she told her to go in and wait. She plopped down on the sofa in the office and stared blankly ahead. There were cookies on the table. As if they were there for her to eat. She was so bored that she opened the cookies. They were so delicious that she felt a little better. Why does my heart soften so easily in front of food?
‘I’m bored, should I eat one more?’
The delicious cookies were a good snack since she was hungry. That's when she heard footsteps outside. She would have just stayed still if possible.
“Oppa, what's wrong?”
She heard Chae Eun-bi's voice. It was the same situation as the other day. Facing Chae Eun-bi and Jeong Ji-heon in the office. And I'm even stealing cookies! For some reason, she didn't want Chae Eun-bi, who was always next to Jeong Ji-heon, to see her like this. Jeong-o stamped her feet, stuffed the cookies into her mouth in one bite, and quickly hid behind the sofa. A moment later, the door opened and closed, and an argument began. And Jeong-o unexpectedly learned the two people's secret... She didn't expect this. She didn't expect this situation to happen. She didn't expect to hear the two people's history live. She wanted to get up and run out of the office even in the middle, but the two people's conversation was so serious that Jeong-o had no choice but to hold her breath. Throughout the two people's argument, her heart fluttered as if a flying fish lived in her chest.
“……You'll regret this, Oppa.”
Eun-bi, unable to break Ji-heon's momentum, left the office with those words. Ji-heon seemed to remain there.
‘What do I do now? How do I get out of here?’
She was in despair because of her situation of being trapped in the office while eating cookies. She was so busy trying to find a way to escape.
“Guest.”
She heard Ji-heon's voice. Very close by. Jeong-o was startled and looked up. This can't be.
“If you've heard everything, why don't you get up now?”
Ji-heon leaned down behind the sofa and smiled at her.
“Do you understand properly now?”
His smile looked so trustworthy and so evil that Jeong-o couldn't figure it out.
