Chapter 71
- Bring Him Here 2022.01.01.
A languid afternoon without meetings. Jeong-o continued her work, stretching her neck to check Eun-bi's seat. Chae Eun-bi, who had left for outside work in the morning, had not yet returned. An Chan-seop, the team leader of Production Team 1, was heard asking where Eun-bi had gone several times.
‘She’s probably running around saying she’s going to sue.’
Is she going to run to her Oppa and tattle? Then who will Chae Eun-yeop be a lawyer for? Chae Eun-yeop will naturally abandon Lee Jung-o and side with Chae Eun-bi. From the start, he approached her under the name Ha Jin-cheol, so once he gets the necessary information, he'll cut off contact right away.
‘I’ll only be able to meet Chae Eun-yeop once or twice more. And even that will require a lot of resolve.’
While Jeong-o was pondering how to mess with Chae Eun-yeop, Chief Park Young-gwang approached her.
“Assistant Manager Lee, Director Jeong wants you in his office.”
“Ah, yes. I understand.”
Jeong-o wondered why Ji-heon was looking for her and got up from her seat. Gi-hoon turned his chair to look at Jeong-o and asked.
“Should I go with you?”
“No, it’s okay. I’ll go alone. Thanks.”
Jeong-o smiled at Gi-hoon. Seong Mi-ran, the team leader, stared blankly at the scene before quickly turning her head when she met Jeong-o's eyes. Yesterday, there was a commotion in the restroom. Jeong-o hit Eun-bi, and Eun-bi harshly criticized Jeong-o. Perhaps because of that incident, Jeong-o felt that her colleagues were even more wary of her. The only person who treated her consistently was Assistant Manager Go Eun-ju.
“I’ll be back.”
Jeong-o quietly reported and left for the office. The secretary who always sat in front of the office was not at her desk. Knock knock.
“Director. This is Lee Jung-o.”
“Yes.”
It sounded like the reply came from close to the door. Jeong-o tilted her head and opened the door. And, whoosh. As soon as she opened the door, an arm reached out from inside and pulled her in. Just like at the hotel in Melbourne. Click. Ji-heon hugged Jeong-o and reached behind her to close the door. Although his embrace was wide and cozy, Jeong-o was worried about his actions.
“The secretary will notice right away if we do this.”
“Secretary Yoon is on vacation today.”
“Don’t call me to your office when you have nothing to do.”
“Why do I have nothing to do? You’re the biggest thing I have to do.”
Ji-heon, who was leaning his head on Jeong-o's shoulder, said. He pressed her even harder as she tried to escape.
“I feel suffocated.”
“I feel suffocated too.”
“Really? You feel suffocated too?”
“No. I feel suffocated because Oppa is squeezing me too hard.”
Jeong-o pushed away his embrace with all her might and retorted. Ji-heon, who was pushed away, looked at her with narrowed eyes as if he didn't like it.
“Director, there’s an order to things. People feel uncomfortable if it doesn’t fit that order.”
Jeong-o glared at Ji-heon fiercely.
“Our problem involves a love affair, so it’s the perfect material for people to gossip about as they please. We need to sort it out properly. And some time needs to pass.”
“But Yena is waiting.”
“Still, we can’t rush it.”
“……”
“Oppa’s whims might only last a few days.”
“What?”
Ji-heon, who was about to nod obediently even though he felt hurt by her lecture, was dumbfounded.
“You think my heart will change?”
“You never know what might happen.”
He wanted to warn her not to change, but he didn't have the strength to argue. He couldn't deny that he was mostly to blame for not remembering her for seven years.
“Don’t worry about that.”
“……”
“I’ll never change.”
He said seriously. In fact, Jeong-o knew that he was unlikely to change. He was a man who approached her with the same instincts as he had seven years ago, so how could she not expect it?
“Okay. I’ll believe you, so Oppa should set an example too. Don’t do things half-heartedly at work, and work hard. Huh? You’re in the head of business division position, so you need to become a true leader.”
She quickly distanced herself, fearing that he might create a seat for her in the secretary's spot, or even in a corner of his office.
“And Director, please be mindful of titles at the company. And don’t call me for unnecessary things either.”
“But seeing you stimulates me and helps me remember more…”
“Let’s just work at the company. Got it!”
The one who had changed during the seven years they lived apart was not Ji-heon, but Jeong-o. She fiercely maintained her reason.
* A day that passed more peacefully than yesterday. Jeong-o also left work early to help Guk-soon at the restaurant. There were quite a few customers today, so they didn't close the restaurant until after 8 p.m. By the time she finished cleaning up and returned home, it was past 9 p.m. Jeong-o, who had put Yena to bed first, came out to the living room and sat next to Guk-soon. Guk-soon, who was folding laundry, glanced at her and asked bluntly.
“What? Are you hungry again?”
“Does Mom think I’m just a glutton?”
Jeong-o grumbled and picked up a towel. The two of them didn't say anything about what had happened at the restaurant last night or about Jeong-o's letter. There were things they knew without saying. A solid love that didn't need to be spoken. But the story she was about to tell now was something that could never be known unless she spoke.
“Mom. I have something to tell you.”
Jeong-o, who had neatly folded a towel and stacked it well, carefully opened her mouth.
“Why are you kneeling like that? It’s scary.”
Guk-soon frowned and asked as Jeong-o, who was nervous, readjusted her position.
“Did you quit your job or something?”
“Oh, Mom. Why would I quit my job?”
“Then what is it? What’s the problem now?”
“……I met Yena’s father.”
The mouth that had been open in disapproval of her daughter's behavior opened even wider at her daughter's subsequent confession. But as always, Ms. Lee Guk-soon didn't get too excited.
“……Are you okay?”
Whether her daughter was okay was her first concern.
“Of course, I’m okay.”
“What kind of guy is he? Is he doing well?”
“Yeah. He’s doing very well.”
Even with the answer that he was doing very well, Guk-soon's expression didn't improve. She remembered the man who had come to the restaurant with Jeong-o a few days ago. He was said to be a director at the company, but the way he looked at Jeong-o seemed different. Could it be that guy?
“The director who came to the restaurant with me that time. It’s him.”
She had suspected it, but wow. Hoo! Guk-soon let out a rough sigh. Jeong-o could clearly see that her mother was grinding her teeth inwardly. The neatly folded T-shirt that Guk-soon was holding was now crumpled. Jeong Ji-heon. If you were here right now, something would have been broken……. Jeong-o carefully explained the situation, watching Guk-soon's reaction.
“There’s a story. He has amnesia.”
“……”
“He didn’t know I was pregnant. He had completely forgotten about me.”
“Forgotten? For seven years?”
“Yeah. For seven years.”
“That awful man. How could he forget that? Is it true? Not a lie?”
“Yeah. I’ve confirmed it all.”
“Oh, my goodness.”
“……”
“Oh, my goodness. Oh, my goodness……”
Guk-soon braced her hands on the floor as if she were in the middle of an earthquake zone. She felt even more sorry for her daughter when she saw her blinking face, watching her mother's reaction. How hard must this young one have had it all this time? How much pain must she have been in? She felt a pang in her heart, as if she couldn't fathom all of her feelings.
“Bring him here. Right away tomorrow.”
Guk-soon got up from her seat, straightened her back, and sternly ordered.
“Tell him to be prepared because I’m going to give him a good scolding.”
Jeong-o, who had risen from her seat following her mother who was leaving unexpectedly, asked.
“Where are you going?”
“To break off a switch.”
“At this hour? Ah, no, are you going to hit someone else’s child?”
“It’s an initiation ceremony.”
“……”
Click. Without even scoffing at Jeong-o's rebuttal, her mom abruptly left the house. Having successfully navigated one hurdle, Jeong-o immediately called Ji-heon.
\ Ji-heon, who had been eagerly awaiting Jeong-o's call, answered the phone like a shot.
Thump-thump-thump...
Haaa... Tension released, all the strength drained from his body. Ji-heon leaned back deeply in his chair and secretly sighed in relief, without Jeong-o knowing.
Unable to see her expression, only hearing her voice, it was ambiguous whether she was serious or joking. Jeong-o added a hopeful plan to soothe his confused heart.
His heart pounded again. \ The next day, afternoon. In front of the Baduk academy. The kindergarten bus arrived and Yena got off. Due to Jin-seo's pregnancy, Yena was once again using the kindergarten bus for both going to and from school. The Baduk academy teacher, who had been waiting for Yena, greeted her with a welcoming face. With her hair tied up like a ballerina and wearing a pretty dress, Yena looked like a princess.
Although she said she didn't know, Yena somehow felt like she did. The man had come to see her this morning too. Mom's director. The man didn't wave his hand in front of the kindergarten bus and say, 'See you tomorrow,' but said, 'See you later.'
Does Mom like the director too? If so, today's guest must be the director, right? For some reason, Yena, the little detective, felt a little sad about that. Yena took the teacher's hand and entered the building where the Baduk academy was located.
The teacher led Yena to the elevator that had arrived just in time. Yena entered the elevator with the teacher. Just as the elevator door was about to close, someone stuck their hand in between. The door reopened and a woman entered the elevator. She was a tall, upright middle-aged woman. The clothes and accessories she wore looked expensive, so Yena's teacher thought the woman didn't really fit in with this building. The woman stared intently at Yena, who was holding the teacher's hand tightly. So, it's you. You're Yena.
The teacher asked first because the woman didn't press a button. The woman pressed a button as if she had belatedly remembered. Yena, who was standing right next to the button, took a step back, but the woman's fancy bracelet caught on Yena's hair.
Yena cried out.
The woman quickly took off her bracelet, looking flustered. It happened so fast that the teacher standing next to her didn't even have time to look.
Yena screamed even louder. Jeong-o's beautifully combed hair from this morning was disheveled. Knowing that her hair was a mess, Yena's face also became tearful.
The woman said embarrassedly and took out money from her wallet. It was a 50,000 won bill.
The teacher stepped between the woman and Yena and said.
Since she repeatedly apologized, neither the teacher nor Yena could get angry.
Yena, who had been taught to forgive those who apologize first with a generous heart, replied firmly. The elevator door opened and Yena and the teacher got off the elevator first. The woman waved at the child. Holding the bracelet tightly. A little later, the elevator stopped on the upper floor, but the woman did not get off and pressed the button for the first floor again. The woman who got off on the first floor got into the car waiting in front of the building.
Youngmi sighed as she looked at the building from inside the car. And she took out a strand of hair from the bracelet she had brought and put it in an envelope, handing it to Driver Choi.
Driver Choi, who answered, started the car. * Eun-yeop waited anxiously for Driver Choi. After waiting for about 10 minutes, Driver Choi's figure came into view.
Eun-yeop showed the driver the electric car for children behind him.
Eun-yeop had put in quite a bit of effort today for this meeting. Having learned that Driver Choi had a child from the greetings they exchanged from time to time, Eun-yeop kept contacting him, saying he would give him the electric car his nephew used, while also keeping an eye on Ms. Jang's movements. He was convinced that Ms. Jang, having confirmed Yena's existence from Eun-bi, would immediately take action. Sure enough, Ms. Jang went directly to the Baduk academy to find Yena.
Driver Choi lifted the large electric car with a happy expression. Meanwhile, Eun-yeop examined the front seat of the car the driver had brought. There wasn't a single deviation. A white envelope was visible right next to the driver's seat. Eun-yeop quickly opened the door and picked up the envelope, examined the inside, and replaced the envelope containing the hair with the one he had brought. That's it. Eun-yeop's eyes shone, having accomplished everything.
