Translator: Nox

Chapter 50

50. Why Mom? 2021.10.20.

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The next day. Wednesday morning. As soon as Seung-gyu arrived at work, he went to see Ji-heon. And with tearful eyes, he expressed his gratitude.

“I survived thanks to you the other day, thank you so much, my dear friend.”

If Ji-heon hadn't visited the other day, he might have had to take all three kids to the hospital. Just imagining it made him dizzy.

“Somehow, we ended up with a third child… I’m worried because my wife seems to be having a really hard time.”

After expressing his gratitude, he sat down and began to lament his situation. But Ji-heon showed no reaction to Seung-gyu.

“What’s wrong? Did something happen?”

“Could you look into Lee Jung-o for me?”

To his friend who asked what was wrong, Ji-heon abruptly asked for a background check. Seung-gyu was a little surprised that the target was Lee Jung-o.

“Lee Jung-o… why?”

“I heard she has a child. A single mother.”

“Wow.”

“Just a simple check is enough. Who she’s living with, if she has a man, if she had one, if she still does.”

“……”

“If possible, find out what kind of guy he is too.”

“……That doesn’t sound simple.”

Seung-gyu replied in a trembling voice. But Ji-heon didn't correct his request.

“You’re the only one I can trust. Please.”

He had never done a background check on anyone before, so he was flustered, but Seung-gyu couldn't say anything more. It was also the first time Ji-heon had made such a request. \ The second Wednesday of every month is Black Bean Noodle Day for Production Team 2, who are serious about black bean noodles. Jeong-o didn't forget to bring a black T-shirt. She was still feeling gloomy from yesterday, but she couldn't resist black bean noodles. As her heart and clothes became one with black, she felt a catharsis of blackness rising. As she walked down the hallway to the conference room, Gi-hoon, who was also wearing a black T-shirt, spoke to her.

“We look like a couple dressed like this.”

“Don’t say things like that. It’s already widely known that I’m a single mom.”

“Maybe it’s also widely known that I like you, Assistant Manager.”

“Oh my. You’re asking for it, Gi-hoon.”

Jeong-o lightly tapped Gi-hoon's arm. Gi-hoon, who had a good personality, chuckled even as he was hit. The faint smile he managed to make quickly disappeared as he looked straight ahead. Ji-heon was walking towards them. Ji-heon passed by them without showing any reaction. She felt something breaking in her heart. It had only been a day since she felt they had returned to being lovers. No, a few hours. That short rendezvous disappeared like a dream. Back to normal, really back to normal. She was back to being alone. Jeong-o quickly accepted the change. It’s okay, I’m fine. I’m not weak enough to be devastated by something like this. \ In the midst of the chaos, the PT D-day was fast approaching. Despite having prepared perfectly, there were constant revisions, so the final proposal ended up going from 'final' to 'really, really, truly, absolutely final.' And so, on the day of the PT, the elite members, fully prepared, boarded the vehicle. The PT attendees were the planning team leader, Seong Mi-ran, Chief Park Young-gwang, and Jeong-o and Ji-heon. While moving to the Sori Telecom headquarters, the PT venue, Ji-heon instructed,

“If we win the ad contract due to the urgent launch, we’ll need to schedule the shoot right away. PD-nim, please keep that in mind and be ready to answer any questions about the shooting schedule. Since we have some overseas filming, we can score points by giving them confidence in the overseas locations.”

“Yes, Director. I’ve prepared well for that part and I’m confident.”

Chief Park Young-gwang replied to Ji-heon's words.

“I also believe it will go well.”

Ji-heon, smiling reassuringly, shared additional information.

“As you know, the CEO of Sori Telecom is said to like emotional appeals. He has a habit of leaning back and sticking his head forward to watch the presenter closely if the story is interesting. And if he ultimately likes it, he leans back in his chair and relaxes. Pay close attention to the CEO's intentions, manage your time well, and let's get good results.”

Jeong-o quietly nodded, only thinking about her presentation portion for the day. Since the fact that Jeong-o was a single mother was revealed, Ji-heon had never approached Jeong-o privately. Even when he had something to say to the presenter, he only spoke publicly in front of everyone. Jeong-o also unknowingly began to avoid Ji-heon. As Mi-ran advised, she didn't want to have any contact with Ji-heon until the rumors in the company died down, and she also wanted to focus on preparing for the PT. Jeong-o thought it was the right thing to do. Since then, Eun-bi's harassment had stopped, and the PT preparation had also gone well, so she had regained her daily life.

“Both of you just need to do as well as you did during yesterday’s rehearsal.”

Jeong-o smiled nervously at Ji-heon's encouragement. When her eyes briefly met Ji-heon's, Jeong-o lowered her gaze. The members who arrived at the PT venue were guided to the waiting room. Max Planning was the last of the three advertising agencies to present. Jeong-o saw the members of the team right before them leaving the conference room with frustrated sighs. She greeted the presenter with a nod, and the presenter said with a bitter smile.

“It’s not a PT, it’s a pressure interview. Good luck.”

Hearing the presenter's comments made her even more nervous. Jeong-o steeled her mind and entered the conference room. A solemn atmosphere, a sea of dark suits. No matter how she looked, she couldn't see anyone her age. She worried if she could do well in front of the executives who didn't seem to have any sense of humor. Mi-ran held Jeong-o's hand tightly under the table. Mi-ran's hand felt strangely cold, which made her head feel clearer.

“Director Jeong Ji-heon came himself.”

The CEO of Sori Telecom seemed to know Ji-heon. Since he was the son of the Seryun Group chairman, they might know each other.

“Yes. Hello. I look forward to working with you.”

Ji-heon gave a brief greeting and passed the baton to the planning team leader. The presentation began immediately. While the planning team leader presented the plan, Jeong-o observed the executives' expressions. The CEO nodded occasionally, but his expression hardly changed. Not many people laughed at the jokes that the planning team leader, with his seasoned experience, made. Still, he finished the presentation smoothly. Then, it was Jeong-o's turn. Looking at the audience while sitting and looking at them while standing were definitely different. She took in the faces of the members who had attended with her, right at the end of the audience. And in the middle of them, Jeong Ji-heon. His gaze, looking at her indifferently, felt somehow trustworthy.

“Hello. I’m Lee Jung-o, copywriter at Max Planning.”

Jeong-o began her presentation. Jeong-o's presentation was better received than the plan. During the presentation, the CEO of Sori Telecom leaned back in his chair, rested his chin on his hand, and looked at Jeong-o. His expression didn't change, but he had a rather interested look in his eyes. Jeong-o watched the CEO's reaction and adjusted her pace. After Jeong-o's presentation ended successfully, the planning team leader presented the overall schedule and media plan again. As expected, after the presentation, questions were asked about the shooting schedule, and Chief Park Young-gwang stood up and emphasized that they could guarantee overseas filming. The planning team leader answered the questions about the media smartly. Ji-heon answered directly about the cooperation plan with the Seryun Group affiliates, increasing credibility. There were no particular questions about the production plan. Just when they thought it would end like that, the CEO called Jeong-o last.

“Copywriter Lee Jung-o?”

“Yes.”

Jeong-o stood up from her seat.

“Can our brand show the heart of a mother?”

“……”

“What is ‘mother’ to copywriter Lee Jung-o, what are ‘mothers’?”

It was a question about 'Why Mom?' Was this what the pressure interview that the competitor's presenter had mentioned was like? Jeong-o closed her mouth and thought quietly. Her own mother came to mind, and her child, who called her Mom, came to mind. As she thought of her child, Ji-heon, who was looking at her in front of her, came into view even more clearly. And then, various expressions of her child came to mind again. I love you. I love you. I’m so sorry because I love you so much. She felt sorry for everything she had done her best but ultimately failed to do. The face of her mother, who always said she was sorry, also came to mind. Jin-seo's appearance, saying several times that she was a lacking mother, also flashed by.

“Mothers. Mothers are…”

In the silence, Jeong-o opened her mouth.

“They are those who find things they haven’t given even after giving so much, and feel pain.”

The CEO, who had been looking at Jeong-o with his chair pulled back, lowered his hands from the table and straightened his spine.

“I am confident that MianTalk will become an app that shares hearts. I hope it will become an app that looks into the love and pain of a mother that is melted in the words ‘I miss you.’”

Soon, the CEO, who had relaxed his shoulders, leaned back comfortably in his chair. The CEO, who smiled faintly, said.

“Thank you for your hard work. You may leave.”

The members of Max Planning gathered their equipment and went outside. Everyone sighed quietly, as if they were thinking of something they regretted. Seong Mi-ran's face looked noticeably uncomfortable. Jeong-o's legs were also shaking as if she had just finished a pressure interview, but Ji-heon's expression alone looked annoyingly relieved.

“Thank you for your hard work. Let’s go back now.”

Ji-heon said to everyone. At that moment, the conference room door opened again and a man shouted.

“Max Planning representatives. We would like you to come back in.”

Ji-heon's annoying smile deepened. Ji-heon took the lead. Jeong-o widened her eyes and followed behind. When they entered the conference room, the CEO stood up from his seat and approached Ji-heon to shake his hand.

“The executives unanimously decided to go with Max Planning.”

Ji-heon, as if he knew it would happen, maintained a business smile and shook the CEO's hand.

“We will work hard. Thank you for your trust.”

“The schedule is tight. You’ll need to start preparing for the shoot right away.”

“Yes, CEO. I will discuss it with the staff.”

It was a very refreshing decision. Only then did Jeong-o, who had been holding her breath, feel clear tears welling up in her eyes. She felt like her efforts and hard work had been rewarded, and she was about to burst into tears. But Seong Mi-ran's expression was even worse than before. Even though the air conditioning was cold enough to make her shiver, Mi-ran's forehead was covered in beads of sweat. On the way back, putting aside her joy for a moment, Jeong-o asked Mi-ran.

“Team Leader, you don’t look so good. Are you feeling unwell?”

“I know, I think I need to go to the hospital…”

Seong Mi-ran said, groaning. She looked like she was about to collapse any minute. The car carrying the PT attendees went straight to the hospital. Mi-ran was now barely able to walk. The others returned to the office, and Jeong-o stayed behind as the representative to be by Mi-ran's side. The diagnosis was acute appendicitis. Surgery was performed urgently. Mi-ran's face, after being wheeled into the operating room and back out, seemed to have halved in size in the meantime. Jeong-o informed those who were worried and continued to stay by Mi-ran's side. Mi-ran, waking up from the anesthesia, was groggy but the first thing she did was check her schedule.

“There’s a cosmetics meeting this afternoon.”

“Yes. Chief Park Young-gwang will take care of it. It seems you’ll need to be hospitalized for four days.”

“I have to go on a business trip this Friday…”

Mi-ran, looking at the opposite side, sighed deeply and turned her head with difficulty to speak to Jeong-o.

“Assistant Manager Lee, you have your passport, right?”

“If I look for it, I’m sure it’s somewhere…”

“That’s good enough. Go and come back.”

“……Australia? Me?”

“You said you’ve been there before, Assistant Manager Lee. It’ll be easier since you know the place.”

“Well, that was seven years ago…”

“Assistant Manager Lee is the best person for the job. Go and come back.”

Jeong-o couldn't readily answer and looked at Mi-ran.

“You know I’m from a copywriter background, right? You’re going to be a CD (Creative Director) someday, Assistant Manager Lee. These are all things you’ll have to do then.”

Even in her disoriented state, Mi-ran smiled to ease Jeong-o's burden.

“Please do a good job. I’m sure you can do it.”

With Mi-ran's repeated persuasion, Jeong-o eventually accepted the mission. A 5-day overseas schedule as Mi-ran's substitute. Jeong-o's heart pounded with pressure and excitement. The filming location was none other than Melbourne, Australia. Jeong Ji-heon, the place where we first met. I'm going back there. * With a tight schedule until the on-air date, Chief Park Young-gwang had no time to share the joy of winning the advertisement and immediately got to work. The overseas filming trip was confirmed for Friday, and the planning team leader, Chief Park Young-gwang, and Assistant Manager Lee Jung-oh would be leaving as representatives. Young-gwang immediately prepared the documents and reported to Ji-heon.

“Due to Team Leader Seong Mi-ran undergoing surgery, Assistant Manager Lee Jung-oh will be joining. Assistant Manager Lee Jung-oh prepared the PT most diligently and also has experience living in Australia during his student days, so I think he will be helpful in many ways.”

“He lived in Australia?”

“Yes. He says he knows the area around the filming location well.”

Ji-heon looked at Young-gwang with narrowed eyes before looking down and signing the documents.

“No matter how well Assistant Manager Lee Jung-oh does his job, there is a difference in rank with Team Leader Seong Mi-ran, so the client who trusted us and entrusted us with the work will inevitably feel disappointed.”

“But there is no one as suitable as Assistant Manager Lee Jung-oh…”

“I will go too. That should balance things out.”

“……Pardon?”

“I’ll go separately on Sunday, so you don’t have to worry about it.”

Ji-heon answered in an indifferent tone and handed over the documents.