Chapter 74
- Double Standard
2023.07.13.
Tae-joon's office.
The phone screen Tae-joon showed Eun-pyo was a text message window.
Eun-pyo naturally glanced at the letters that appeared in the message window.
So-eun was meticulously sending replies to Tae-joon's messages.
See you later.
I was going to leave work with you.
I have something to talk about with Chief Jang Eun-pyo. I'll go to So-eun's house after we're done talking.
Okay. Would you like to have dinner together?
Tae-joon showed Eun-pyo the phone screen and pressed the text messages with his index finger.
The short word 'Good' was entered in the message window.
"If you think even this is fabricated, you can press the call button."
"......"
"Would it help you to give up?"
The polite warning chilled him to the bone. Even the hairs on his pores seemed to bristle.
"Actually, I don't care, but Han So-eun is uncomfortable with rumors spreading to other employees. If she knew I told Chief Jang this, she might find even this burdensome."
So that's why you called me. That's why you only called me.
"Can you keep it a secret? We're friends, after all."
How is this friendship?
Eun-pyo was dumbfounded by Tae-joon's insistence. But he couldn't say anything.
So that's why. Eun-pyo's memory, recalling the past, reached the company dinner. He remembered Tae-joon's expression when he heard that her ex-boyfriend had come to the company and scolded So-eun in excitement. And Kim Tae-joon's over-the-top appearance when she accidentally drank alcohol, rushing over and telling her to spit it out.
So-eun's words that she had a boyfriend were true.
"Anyway, thank you for liking our So-eun. I look forward to your continued support as So-eun's colleague. And if Han So-eun is ever treated unfairly in a place I don't know about, please let me know."
Tae-joon smiled casually and asked. Eun-pyo thought that this man, who was pressuring someone who hadn't even finished confessing with his smooth talk, was truly terrifying. It was the first time that a face that looked so handsome even to a man seemed so brutal.
The bus came quickly, so So-eun arrived home soon. After arriving early, she wondered why Tae-joon had called Eun-pyo separately.
'Did Chief Jang Eun-pyo make a mistake?'
Chief Jang Eun-pyo was unfortunate, but thanks to Tae-joon's appearance at the right time, she was able to avoid a difficult situation.
The problem was how to face Chief Jang Eun-pyo from tomorrow.
It was a day when big things poured out all at once. Sending group emails to company colleagues, receiving comfort through reply emails, my personal affairs being known on the internet, and in the evening, Yang Heejin calling and spewing all sorts of curses.
As soon as she heard the words 'Who would like someone like you,' she thought it was perfect timing to receive a confession from Chief Jang Eun-pyo.
The information about Madam Kim Mal-hee that was briefly posted on the internet had now completely disappeared. It seemed to be Tae-joon's work, who had a knack for erasing things. There was no need to worry about Yang Hee-wook's family, but if this matter grew, So-eun could also be swept up, so he seemed to have taken the initiative to erase the internet traces.
He was being so considerate, but they were so ungrateful.
She couldn't understand the purpose of calling out of the blue. What did they gain by saying those things to me? Just to break my heart?
Anyway, thanks to Heejin, the word 'marriage' swirled through her body once and then left.
In fact, So-eun had similar thoughts. That she wouldn't be able to get married.
Han So-eun, when viewed as someone else, was clearly a good person, but she knew very well that whether that good person could be accepted as family was another matter.
By resigning herself and becoming detached, she wasn't hurt. She just thought she should let go of a little more greed.
Even if she was on good terms with that person now, she wouldn't expect the future. She would just enjoy the secret love affair now.
But, even if she vowed to let go of greed, she still imagined fearful moments.
Our affection will fade someday, but what if that person's heart leaves and I'm still holding on? What if we break up as I keep liking him more and more?
He's also at the age to marry, so he'll find a real partner and get married someday, but will I be able to sincerely wish him happiness then?
Ding-dong. The long, continuous reverie was abruptly cut off by the sound of the doorbell.
"It's me. Kim Tae-joon."
Before So-eun could ask who it was, Tae-joon's voice was heard from beyond the front door. So-eun quickly got up and opened the door.
So-eun was just happy to see him, but Tae-joon's expression was a little sulky.
"Aren't you opening the door too readily?"
"It was Director's voice."
"Someone with the same voice as me could have asked you to open the door."
Be careful every moment. Be alert. Of course, she agreed with such claims.
"Director, do you think I'm Han So-eun?"
So-eun also asked with a sulky expression, raising her chin.
"Where else is there someone like you besides Han So-eun?"
"Exactly."
Isn't it obvious? Just as you're sure of me, I can be sure of you too.
Tae-joon quickly seemed to agree with So-eun's claim. The corners of Tae-joon's eyes, which had been sharply raised, lowered.
"Let's go out. Let's eat something delicious."
So-eun stared blankly at the hand he held out. As she was having useless thoughts about marriage, she looked at that large hand and superimposed the image of a groom taking care of his bride and marching down the wedding road. So-eun lowered her eyelids, chased away the fantasy, and took his hand.
Tae-joon's hand was so big that So-eun's hand seemed to be caught inside it. The two of them held hands tightly and walked down the stairs.
It was a complicated time to travel by car, so So-eun and Tae-joon set out to explore the local restaurants.
So-eun asked first.
"What did you talk about with Chief Jang Eun-pyo?"
"We didn't talk about anything special. I just saved you because I thought you might not be able to answer after hearing the confession."
"Ah, I see. So you heard about that......"
"So how did you feel?"
Tae-joon asked while So-eun mumbled and nodded.
"Yes?"
"Your feelings after receiving Chief Jang's confession."
His sidelong glance was burdensome. Look, if you answer wrong, I'm going to sulk, a firm energy pricked So-eun's skin.
"......I was quite embarrassed."
"You were reading my face just now."
So-eun gave a bland smile. She felt like she had to give you the answer you wanted to hear. But Tae-joon seemed even more disappointed by that.
"Don't read my face and act awkwardly with Chief Jang, just do what you've been doing."
"......"
"If So-eun acts like nothing happened and treats him the same way, Chief Jang won't be able to say anything. If he has any sense."
I'm telling you not to read my face, and Chief Jang Eun-pyo has to read my face?
She wanted to point out that double standard, but So-eun was reading his face again because he seemed to be smiling in an unpleasant state.
The footsteps of the two people were calmly imprinted on the darkening alley. There were many things that had happened, but she was amazed at the present, where everything was settled like the scenery of a quiet evening.
"But Madam Kim Mal-hee's photos and everything else disappeared completely, right? I was surprised that it was resolved so quickly. My post disappeared even faster."
She should have brought this up first. So-eun regretted bringing up the story of Chief Jang Eun-pyo first, unable to contain her curiosity, and chattered on.
"My post was leaked to the outside like a flash event and then disappeared at some point."
Tae-joon must have taken responsibility for deleting her leaked post. So-eun was sure of it. She was briefly resentful of the person who leaked her post to the outside, but everything passed without incident, so it was all fortunate.
Tae-joon followed the thread of the story and brought up the initial story.
"The person who posted the post in the first place. It was Yang Heejin."
"I thought so."
"She bought an ID account from a retired employee and posted the post."
"......"
"The company sued the person who sold it."
He took all the measures he could in that short amount of time. As if he had been preparing in advance. And now he even had the leisure to smile while talking about these past events.
Is this what it's like to enjoy sadism? So-eun didn't really understand why he was smiling while punishing someone.
She hadn't seen him do anything in particular, but it really seemed like this man could do anything. So-eun felt both reassured and worried about that.
Tae-joon finished dinner with So-eun and came home early.
There were many noisy things, but everything was neatly resolved by night. There would be a rush of busy work from tomorrow, but he was relieved that he could finish today with satisfaction. His steps toward the bathroom after finishing his night workout were light.
Brrr.
Tae-joon turned around at the sound of the vibration in the quiet. He thought it was So-eun's contact, but what appeared on the screen was an international phone number. It seemed to be a Philippine counselor.
[Dear customer, I'm sorry for calling you late at night. I have something to tell you, so I called.]
"Yes. Please tell me."
Previously, Tae-joon had been introduced to a Philippine counselor to find the whereabouts of Han So-eun's father. It seemed that he had found Han So-eun's father.
[We found Han So-eun's father, Han Hong-gyu. He died in the Philippines in April of this year.]
He had been thinking about how to tell Han So-eun if he found him, but his heart sank heavily at the news the counselor gave him.
"What was the cause of death?"
[It seems there was a brawl over money.]
"Was a funeral held?"
[There was no separate funeral, and since there were no family members in the area, close acquaintances seem to have organized the Relics.]
April of this year. Han So-eun's father also passed away at the very time Han So-eun was undergoing a liver donation surgery.
It was a tragic spring.
It felt like bitter water was pooling in his mouth.
"Didn't he leave anything like a will?"
[I didn't hear about a will separately, and it seems he left about 500,000 pesos in assets.]
Should he tell her?
Because of 500,000 pesos, really?
The person who had left Han So-eun alone until now? The heartless father who had never looked for her while the lonely child grew into an adult?
"Can you take care of it?"
[Yes?]
"I hope the Philippine affairs are settled in the Philippines. So that the news doesn't leak into Korea."
Tae-joon made a decision without difficulty. I only need to have Han So-eun. There was no need to bring in a father who only lived in the memories of the past and bring up the incident from 20 years ago.
[Yes. I will try to sort it out well.]
Thank you, Tae-joon politely said goodbye and hung up the phone.
