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Translator: Vine
Chapter: 10
Chapter Title: Lingering Feelings
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10.
Before the first day of shooting, no, during his martial arts training, Eun-seong had practiced the sequence over thirty times. The desperate struggle of a secret agent searching for his son was to be captured entirely in this one scene.
He moved his body exactly as planned. Though he was entangled with a dozen extras, not a single kick or punch was thrown without prior choreography.
Executing the moves that were now second nature to him, so familiar he could do them with his eyes closed, Eun-seong flawlessly continued the one-take shot.
‘You know, just looking at you, you seem like the DINK type. What do you think? Do you have kids?’
Just then, his throat went dry, his Adam’s apple bobbing up and down like a pendulum. What was the big deal, especially when she was already married? Yet his heart constricted with tension.
‘Yes. I have a son.’
‘Oh, really? You have a son? You don’t look like a mother at all. How old is he?’
‘He’s in the second grade of elementary school this year.’
It felt as if the ground beneath his feet had split open, spewing hot lava.
‘Oh my, you had him early. Goodness, if he’s in the second grade, how old were you when you gave birth? Twenty-five? My goodness. In this day and age, you’re a winner, a real winner.’
Hearing that in the two-odd years since their breakup, she had gotten married and even had a child, his breath came in short, sharp gasps. A throbbing headache seemed to set in.
He had no desire to rekindle anything with the woman he had met again, but thinking of the time he had struggled to get over her, a hollow laugh escaped him.
A wave of dizziness, the likes of which he had never felt before, washed over him.
‘So you started working to chase the dream you couldn’t fulfill while raising your kid? That’s not easy, you’re pretty cool, you know?’
‘Ah… Yes. That’s right. It’s my dream.’
Unaware that you had become another man’s wife, I thought of you from time to time. I even wondered if the reason I felt unfulfilled, despite reaching a peak where there was nothing higher to climb, was perhaps because of you.
Because we broke up when my heart burned so fiercely. Because we were cut off when I had more feelings to give than I had already given. That’s why the regret lingered so stubbornly, I had thought.
But I, too, had run toward the open road to success rather than holding onto you, so what could I say? What right did I have to blame you for finally coming to find your dream now?
*Yes. I have a son.*
Eun-seong moved his body frantically, performing the high-difficulty action sequences. As he looked at the extras, their numbers never seeming to dwindle no matter how many he took down, it suddenly struck him that they were like his lingering feelings, finally taking physical form.
“Cut! Okay!”
As the director’s “okay” rang out, Eun-seong, who had an extra by the collar with his fist raised, dropped his arm.
The extra let out a huge gasp of air. He knew it was just acting, but for a moment, the ferocious energy pouring off Eun-seong had truly frightened him.
He even had the ridiculous thought that if the director had called “cut” a moment later, he might have actually taken a rough punch.
“Good work.”
“Ah, yes. You too, Baeunim! Great work!”
Eun-seong helped the extra, who was still reeling from his energy, to his feet and finished his greeting. In that time, a staff member approached and handed him a bottle of water. Eun-seong drank more than half of it without taking a breath.
*Hoo, hoo.* No matter how many hot breaths he exhaled, he couldn't seem to calm down. He wanted to believe his heart was just racing from the realistic brawl, but the rhythm of his pulse was vastly different from anything he’d experienced before.
He crushed the remaining water bottle in his hand. A staff member’s eyes went wide before they quickly scurried away.
In the time people gave him space to let the actor burn off his residual emotions, Eun-seong squeezed his eyes shut.
*What do you think? Do you have kids?*
Calm down. No need to make a scene now. There’s nothing to question.
It was your choice.
*Yes. I have a son.*
It is the result I brought upon myself.
*
At Yeon-joo’s house lived Yami, an eight-year-old dog. He was a brown poodle, the youngest son to Yeon-joo and a little brother to Han-byeol.
He’d been frail since he was a puppy, but thanks to their devoted care, he grew up without any major illnesses. Just when they thought he was doing well, he developed a skin problem, so Han-byeol and his grandmother visited a nearby animal hospital.
In the examination room sat a young director whose very demeanor radiated sincerity. The area around his desk was filled with photos of animals he had rescued while volunteering with animal protection groups.
“Hello, Han-byeol. Yami’s here?”
Joo Geon-hee, the director of Iroun Animal Hospital, knew Yami well.
“Dr. Joo. Yami keeps scratching.”
“Since when?”
“The day before yesterday.”
As Han-byeol described the symptoms, Dr. Joo examined Yami’s skin. Poodles, with their thick curls, were susceptible to moisture and thus prone to skin diseases.
“Let’s see, there’s a little inflammation in his ear too. Yami must have been very itchy.”
“I dried him well, this is weird. Hey, why are you itchy? Your big brother dried you properly.”
Han-byeol muttered, scratching his head as if it were his fault, and Dr. Joo smiled. Yami, busy scratching away, oblivious to his brother’s predicament, looked adorable.
Dr. Joo stroked Yami and spoke.
“Drying the undercoat is important, but regular brushing is also key, so please be mindful of that. It’ll get better quickly with some ointment and medicine.”
“Yami runs away when I try to brush him. Why does he run away?”
“He’s not used to it. But you have to keep doing it for Yami’s sake, so try to make it like a game.”
“Okay. I will.”
Holding Yami, who had just received a shot, Han-byeol finger-combed his fur. The sight was so endearing that Dr. Joo smiled warmly.
“Well, goodbye then.”
“Okay. Take care.”
“By the way. Dr. Joo, why do you always speak so formally to me?”
*Hmm?* Dr. Joo looked perplexed. Han-byeol pointed outside and said.
“Formal speech is for adults like my grandma. I’m younger than you, so why do you speak formally to me?”
“Ah. Well, because you’re a customer at our hospital?”
Realizing his answer was lackluster, Dr. Joo immediately waved his hand. He felt compelled to give a more sincere response.
“Because everyone deserves to be respected. Even though you’re young, Han-byeol, you’re a precious individual, so I believe you should naturally be respected.”
Pleased with his own answer, Dr. Joo smiled. Han-byeol, however, wore a lukewarm expression, as if to say, *what kind of nonsense is that?*
“My mom is filming a movie.”
“Oh? Is that so? Who is she? An actress?”
“Not an actress. She dresses people. Appropriately.”
*Appropriately.* The word the child chose was somehow quaint and cute, bringing a smile to his face.
“Ah, so your mother is a stylist. Wow, your mother does something really cool.”
Even to the child’s seemingly random comment, Dr. Joo didn't give a thoughtless reply. Han-byeol, who had been itching to brag about his mom, puffed out his chest, and Dr. Joo smiled.
“By the way, Han-byeol, did you come alone?”
“No. I came with my grandma, but she doesn’t like coming to the hospital because she’s old and worried she’ll get ripped off. My grandma worries a lot. I think I’ll just have to come alone from now on.”
“Ah… ripped off…”
Dr. Joo’s voice trailed off.
He didn’t know whether to laugh or not at the thought of a young grandson coming alone in place of his grandmother, who was afraid of being overcharged at the vet.
“Your mom and grandma must be so proud to have someone as sharp and smart as you, Han-byeol.”
“Well, what can you do? I have to take care of them. I just need to get the medicine and go, right? I’ll give it to him for a few days and come back.”
“Alright.”
As Han-byeol opened the door and left, Dr. Joo thought better of it and followed him out. He stood before Han-byeol’s grandmother, who was sitting on the sofa watching TV, and bowed politely.
“Ma’am. Our hospital doesn’t over-treat, so please feel free to come anytime without worry.”
“Pardon?”
Madam Na, who had no idea what was going on, looked at Han-byeol with a flustered expression. Wondering what kind of trouble this little one had stirred up now to make the doctor come out and say something, she just waved her hand dismissively.
“I’m going to lose my mind. Oh my, Dr. Joo, please don’t trouble yourself. We’ll see you next time.”
“Yes. Please get home safely, Ma’am.”
Dr. Joo even opened the door for them, seeing the two off. As he was about to go back inside, he glanced up at the animal hospital’s sign and let out a short sigh. *Hmm.*
“Does the sign not inspire trust? Should I change the name?”
The worries of the director of Iroun Animal Hospital deepened.
*
“CEO, you’re here?”
Hae-yeong, who was eating a ball of gongjindan during a short break, stood up. She looked at Tae-gon, dressed in a bespoke gingham check suit, and gave him a thumbs-up.
“I can never keep up with our CEO’s fashion sense. How do you dress so well? You know you’re a talent I truly covet, right?”
“Director Jin, you have a rookie on your team. The new one.”
“Sorry? Ah, yes.”
Despite her polite greeting, Tae-gon cut right to the chase.
Hae-yeong, who was trying to chew the slow-dissolving gongjindan, made a sour face. Tae-gon sat on the sofa and raised a hand.
“Let’s let the rookie go.”
“Let the rookie go? Why?”
“We have someone at our agency who’s exclusively in charge of Eun-seong. Hyeong-mi.”
“Yes. I know Team Leader Lee Hyeong-mi. What about her?”
Being told to fire Yeon-joo out of the blue, Hae-yeong’s expression soured slightly. The already bitter gongjindan felt even more so, and she spat the chewed-up ball into a wet wipe.
“Hyeong-mi brought in a junior who needs experience, so I was thinking of having her join this team. It would be great if you could look after her and teach her the ropes, Director Jin.”
“That’s something your agency should handle. Why should I take care of someone from your agency? She’s not even one of mine.”
“There’s no ‘yours’ or ‘mine’ on a team. We’re all family while we work together. Replacing one rookie isn’t that hard. Do it for me, Director Jin.”
Tae-gon spoke in a commanding tone.
Hae-yeong stared at Tae-gon for a moment before laughing as if it were the most absurd thing she’d ever heard. Just when she thought she’d seen it all, she realized there was still much more to experience, and that enlightenment was a long way off.
“So, you’re telling me to kick out my family to take care of yours?”
“What’s with you? Don’t act like you don’t understand.”
“What’s with *you*, CEO? You should make a request that I can actually grant.”
As Hae-yeong stood her ground, Tae-gon’s eyes narrowed with displeasure.
In the entertainment industry, Tae-gon’s position was that of a top 0.1% power player, with few who could rival him. For a mere director to act so presumptuously made his insides twist.
Time passed with neither side bending nor backing down. Only their gazes met, like wild animals sizing each other up before a fight.
After a while, Hae-yeong raised her hand slightly and spoke.
“I can’t let the rookie go. Her salary has already been settled.”
“How much is it? I’ll pay it.”
“A billion won. Will you pay it?”
“I’ll pay it. Let her go.”
A subtle change appeared on Hae-yeong’s face.
At this point, it seemed Tae-gon was hell-bent on getting rid of someone, more so than just placing his own person.
“CEO, do you know our rookie?”
“How would I know who she is? I’m telling you to get rid of her because we need the spot.”
Seeing that Tae-gon showed no signs of backing down, Hae-yeong raised an eyebrow.
There was no way Hae-yeong had paid the rookie a billion won, and no way Tae-gon would actually hand over a billion won. They had simply tested each other’s resolve through their words.
As Tae-gon shot back quickly, Hae-yeong let out a short sigh and shrugged.
“That friend, the junior of Team Leader Lee Hyeong-mi, just send her to me. I’ll teach her well myself. I guess we’ll just expand the family.”
When she offered a compromise, Tae-gon’s brow furrowed. He wanted to say that wasn’t what he wanted, but pushing any further would be impossible.
Saying no more, Tae-gon left. Hae-yeong stared down at her hand. She looked at the half-eaten gongjindan wrapped tightly in the wet wipe and scowled.
“What a damn waste. I try to eat something good for my body, and that bastard CEO can’t stand to see it. Ugh.”
Finding it too much of a waste to throw away, she began to nibble on the gongjindan. The slow-creeping thought that she had just been played made a belated anger surge through her.
“Who the hell does he think he is, telling me to fire my new kid when I wouldn’t even touch her myself? Ah, getting angry while eating gongjindan negates its effects, but this is seriously pissing me off. Should I just take the billion and give it to Yeon-joo? Argh.”
*Hoo, hoo.* Composing her breathing, Hae-yeong finished the rest of the gongjindan. She chewed it slowly and thoroughly, as if grinding Tae-gon between her teeth, and swallowed it down.
