Chapter 47
- People Who Know Her 2021.10.09.
Clatter, clatter. With even Do-yoon napping, the sound of water breaking over the dishes filled the quiet house clearly. Mixed in between were Jin-seo's sighs. Yesterday, after arriving at the hospital and regaining consciousness, Jin-seo underwent several tests while still disoriented. The last place she was guided to was the emergency room of the obstetrics and gynecology department. And there, she heard unexpected news.
“A third child.”
So that's why I've been so depressed. How honest our bodies are. The strange symptoms of the past few days—the lack of energy throughout my body, the occasional dizziness, and the loss of appetite—culminated in pregnancy. Already, the baby was building a tiny house the size of a bean in its mother's belly, making a thumping heartbeat. Even after hearing the heartbeat, Jin-seo couldn't believe it.
“A third child.”
Children grow up so fast. Mothers can't keep up with the speed at which children grow. Although I'm a mother who's far behind, I'm still trying. I haven't even been a good mother to my two children yet, and now there's another one coming. Do-bin is going to elementary school next year, and will I be chasing after Do-bin with a big belly? What if the third child is born on the day of the entrance ceremony? Just imagining that day made my vision darken. So that's why I collapsed. Instinct is such a scary thing.
“A third child……”
Seung-gyu, who came out to the living room after finishing the dishes, cautiously sat next to Jin-seo, noticing her muttering. He took a day off work to take care of Jin-seo, but Seung-gyu couldn't say anything next to his wife.
“We're going to have a third child.”
“……”
“It's not just me who's having a hard time. Right? You must be having a hard time too.”
Seung-gyu shrank back at Jin-seo's voice, which was monotonous and indifferent.
“Honey, I did something wrong……”
“Wrong? The baby can hear you. Don't say things like that.”
Even as she pointed it out to Seung-gyu, her voice lacked vitality.
“A child should be blessed.”
“……”
“When our Do-bin enters puberty, the third child will be about Do-yoon's age.”
Seung-gyu lowered his head and swallowed hard. He didn't know how it had come to this. The first child was also a result of speeding, and Seung-gyu, who had started married life unprepared, felt sorry for Jin-seo all along. And now, a third child.
“Honey, I'll do well. I'll take childcare leave or something. I'll do anything. Don't worry too much.”
If only he could give birth instead, but. Although that's what he felt, Jin-seo gave a weak smile. It felt like her life was changing every time she gave birth to a child. It felt like she was entering her fourth life. \ The hand that had lightly tapped him was held. Ji-heon, holding Jeong-o's hands in one of his, lowered his head and easily kissed her. Jeong-o didn't know what to do and closed her eyes. The tears that had welled up in her eyes trickled out. At that moment, she felt his lips touch the corner of her eye, and Jeong-o flinched. His lips, which continued to kiss as if licking her eyelashes, moved down. The kiss, which was no different from the kiss on the back of her hand, became more intense as it was repeated. When he finally reached her lips again, he devoured them without hesitation. He firmly held her as her legs lost strength. He was the same as he was seven years ago. No, he had become an even more aggressive and greedy man. His hands, his eyes, his breath—everything about him was wicked. As if he had decided that there was no need to save face, his rough breath rushed into her. Every time she fidgeted in his arms, his breath deepened. As if he was trying to fill her up with his breath until she couldn't hold any more. She had confidently said he was her man, but it felt like he had captured even her heart. I still don't know this man well enough, so I shouldn't like him too much, I shouldn't fall too deeply. Even as her vision blurred, she repeated this countless times in her mind, but the sensations he offered were so overwhelming and thrilling that Jeong-o made a crying face with her lips sealed. Her uncontrollably racing heart kept blocking her thoughts. She really didn't know what to do. Why is he going so fast? Can't he step on the brakes? I'm a person with a child. My side is a school zone! Slow down. Well, if you hide the sign and give a warning, it won't sound like a warning. He was going too fast, so I couldn't trust him. But on the other hand, I wanted to trust him. Ji-heon's large hand grabbed the back of her neck and pulled her in. Just as he had been pushed away, she willingly let herself be caught by him. The tips of his fingers pressing on her scalp were hot all the while.
There was definitely a time when death felt easy. Ji-heon had the thought for the first time that he was so glad to be alive and healthy now. Her threats to try to stay sane even with temptation right in front of her tickled his heart. He knew what she was worried about. But that didn't mean he could stop. The loveliness of the person named Lee Jung-o had already exceeded the limit. He couldn't be a gentleman and hold onto his reason in front of her. He could no longer hide the instinct that was making the inside of his body hot. Anyway, she accepted his advances even while waving her spicy hand. Her soft lips, the sweet breath inside them, were dizzyingly pleasant.
“But I'm not your man yet, am I?”
He asked her, getting close and releasing his breath in front of her lips.
“Make it quick. Make me your man.”
She glanced at him, as if misunderstanding that he was still teasing her. Even that was so cute that he couldn't help but laugh.
“Make me yours.”
I don't know how you're going to give me to you, but I'll give you everything you ask for. \ After parting with Ji-heon, Eun-yeop contacted his younger sister, Eun-bi. He met his sister secretly, away from the Max Planning building. As soon as Eun-yeop met his sister, he frowned deeply and questioned her.
“What did you do to Jeong Ji-heon? What did you do to make Jeong Ji-heon say he's giving up the fake relationship with a completely disgusted look on his face?”
Tears welled up in Eun-bi's eyes.
“Ji-heon Oppa did? He did? With a completely disgusted look?”
“What the hell happened!”
Eun-yeop shouted, not caring. His sister's successful marriage. In fact, Eun-yeop had thought that his sister would achieve that goal before she turned thirty. But Jeong Ji-heon's wall was surprisingly high and solid. If he had invested in another guy, his sister would have been married already. Somehow, time had passed like this. At some point, it had become a matter of pride for Eun-yeop as well. Now that they had come this far, he had to get his sister married to Jeong Ji-heon no matter what. There was no turning back. Eun-bi sobbed, and with a tear, she revealed the truth.
“It's because of that girl.”
“That girl?”
“Oppa has been acting strange since that girl came to the company. She keeps flirting with Ji-heon Oppa. She lied to Oppa that she looks like her father, then she said she looks like her ex-boyfriend…… She keeps flirting like that. She keeps following Oppa around, trying to stick to him no matter what……”
“Is Jeong Ji-heon the kind of guy who would fall for someone just because they're flirting?”
“That's why it's so strange!”
Eun-bi raised her voice because words weren't enough. And.
“Oppa do it.”
“……”
“You've always taken care of the women who hit on Jeong Ji-heon, Oppa. You're good at that, right? Huh?”
She clung to her Oppa. Eun-bi also knew that her Oppa, Eun-yeop, was the one who had created all sorts of rumors about Jeong Ji-heon four years ago. He had effectively conveyed those rumors to Ms. Jang Young-mi, making it impossible for Ji-heon to move, and as a result, Ji-heon had cooperated with the fake relationship. Since then, Eun-yeop had been constantly trying to block any woman who showed signs of sticking to Ji-heon.
“Try to seduce him, play with him, do something!”
Eun-bi shouted. It was the first time he had seen his sister speak so desperately. Eun-yeop also began to take it seriously.
“What's that woman's name?”
“Lee Jung-o.”
“……”
“Copywriter Lee Jung-o, Deputy Manager of Production Team 2.”
Lee Jung-o. Eun-yeop's eyes widened at the name. Eun-yeop had heard that name before. * Eun-bi was anxious. Time was of the essence. Just then, she received a call from a headhunter. Skipping overtime and leaving work early, Eun-bi went to meet the headhunter. The meeting place was quite far away. Eun-bi willingly endured the trouble of having to move a lot.
“Manager Chae Eun-bi.”
As she entered the cafe, the headhunter waved her hand. A woman in a suit was sitting next to her. Her target.
“Manager, this is the AE I mentioned. Ms. Nam Jiae, Deputy General Manager.”
“Hello. I'm Chae Eun-bi from Max Planning.”
Following the headhunter's introduction, Eun-bi greeted the AE cheerfully and fabricated her reason.
“Actually, I don't know if you know, but my boyfriend is the head of Max Planning. I ended up working in the same headquarters, and it's uncomfortable in many ways. I like working, but I feel like I'm not being recognized purely for my abilities. So I'm thinking about changing jobs. I heard that Two H has a good company atmosphere, so I'm interested and looking into it.”
The headhunter and the AE smiled contentedly and listed various aspects of the company. All of it was unnecessary information for Eun-bi, but she enthusiastically agreed with their words.
“Thank you so much for the information I heard today. It will be helpful. I'll contact you again soon.”
“Yes, Manager. It was nice meeting you too. I'll be waiting to hear good news.”
The AE also responded pleasantly to Eun-bi's greeting. To that AE, Eun-bi said the real reason, as if passing by.
“Oh, Deputy Manager Lee Jung-o was a colleague at your company, right?”
“Oh, Deputy Manager Lee Jung-o? Ah! Max Planning acquired Ivory Planning, right! So Deputy Manager Lee Jung-o is there? At Max Planning?”
The AE's eyes lit up following the welcome topic. Eun-bi also cheered inwardly.
“Yes. I'm in Production Team 1, and Deputy Manager Lee Jung-o is in Team 2.”
“Is she doing well? Deputy Manager Lee Jung-o.”
“Yes. She seems to be doing well.”
“She's a truly sparkling talent.”
“It seems so.”
Eun-bi felt like throwing up at Jeong-o's compliment, but she smiled politely.
“She’s good at her job, pretty, and smart. This is a secret, but there were occasionally advertisers who had ulterior motives towards Lee Jung-oh. If Lee Jung-oh didn’t have a child, she would have received tons of proposals.”
“……She has a child? Lee Jung-oh does?”
“Oh? Didn’t you know? Ah…… Should I not be talking about this?”
Joy filled Eun-bi's eyes. Even if the sky falls, there's a way out!
“It’s okay. Go ahead and tell me. I have nowhere to spread rumors.”
“She has an incredibly cute daughter. The child must be about seven years old now?”
From the top of her head to the tips of her toes, a thrill ran through her entire body. She couldn't hide her joyful smile. How dare a mother touch my man?
‘Now it’s done, now!’
Her heart pounded at the thought of how to expose this fact. Not knowing it was Pandora's box.
