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Translator: Vine
Chapter: 17
Chapter Title: Chance Encounters
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17.
As Hae-yeong and Han-byeol were proceeding with the contract, Eun-seong stood up.
He’d said he was just here to see the child who’d play his son, and it seemed he really had meant only to see his face.
“I'm leaving.”
“Leaving already? Well, you're a busy man. Take care, and see you on set!”
The director raised a hand in farewell as Eun-seong left. After a moment's hesitation, Yeon-joo followed him out.
The staff member, who had been engrossed in negotiating the contract with Hae-yeong, finally looked back at Han-byeol as they neared the end.
“Alright, let's wrap this up and sign the papers. Your name is Han-byeol, right?”
“Huh? Yes.”
“You should know you're really lucky. You don't meet a director like him just anywhere.”
“The director is the lucky one. Because he got to meet me.”
“Ha.”
*What nerve.* The staff member sighed in spite of himself, while the director burst out laughing. Where did a kid like this come from? His mother seemed like a total pushover, no matter how you looked at her.
*Did he take after his father?*
“Right. You've got guts. Act your heart out and make this old man's movie a blockbuster hit for me. Anyway, an actor needs to be able to control their expressions. Can you cry on cue?”
Before he had even finished speaking, Han-byeol's eyes reddened. Director Park's lips parted slightly as he watched tears well up in the boy's eyes within three or four seconds, his earlobes flushing red.
Then, a few large, fat tears rolled down his cheeks before he wiped them away and put on a nonchalant expression, as if nothing had happened.
“Is this what you meant? I can do it.”
“Ha. Hah. Haha, hahaha! This kid is something else. Haha, hahaha!”
As Han-byeol sipped his juice box as if nothing had happened, Director Park slapped his knee and roared with laughter. Hae-yeong's eyes went wide, and the staff member clapped, saying that was that.
For a child actor found on such short notice, it was a spectacular start.
*
“Hey! Excuse me!”
Eun-seong, who had been walking down the hall, turned around. He put on his sunglasses when he saw Yeon-joo running toward him.
*'Hey'? Did she just call me 'hey'?*
“Just use my name. What's with 'hey'?”
“Ah, yes. Sir. I have something to say to you. Thank you for giving your permission.”
As Yeon-joo stopped in front of him and bowed abruptly, Eun-seong twitched an eyebrow. There was none of the venom or defiance from yesterday in Yeon-joo as she spoke, her hands clasped politely in front of her.
“Thank you. For making a positive decision.”
“Well, it's not like I did it for your thanks. The director casts the roles. Who am I to meddle? I'm not that kind of person.”
“Yes. Still. Thank you.”
After treating him like a ghost and never once making eye contact while they worked, Yeon-joo was now looking at him straight on. What was this about?
*Good thing I wore sunglasses,* he thought oddly, before clearing his throat and continuing.
“Well, I decided to look on the bright side. I suppose you couldn't easily give up the chance to act alongside a great actor like me. I'd probably do the same. So, yeah. I get it.”
“Yes.”
“But remember this. I won't give your son any special treatment just because he's your son. I can't stand people who aren't prepared, whether they're kids or adults. So tell him to do a perfect character analysis, unless he wants to end up a crying mess on set.”
“I understand. I'll make sure he's well-prepared.”
When Yeon-joo nodded in understanding, Eun-seong's expression soured.
*Why is she being so obedient? Is it because she finally got what she wanted?*
“Thank you, really. I know this put you in an awkward position. Thank you again for your consideration—”
“You and I, that's all in the past.”
“...”
“So, to you, I might just seem like a mannequin you pass by, but that's not how it is for me.”
Eun-seong adjusted his sunglasses. He stared at her clear, innocent eyes, then decided that continuing this conversation would only be to his detriment. He gave a small wave.
“I couldn't just intervene and write some cheap drama to get your son kicked off the project. I can't let my past turn into some trashy, third-rate movie. So, whatever it is, let's just do it.”
“...”
“I've never been a parent, so I don't really know, but I guess it's right to protect one's dreams. But this industry is dirty and cheap, and it doesn't care if you're a kid or an adult, so make sure your son doesn't get hurt. Plenty of people chase their dreams here only to leave in tatters. I'm going.”
He turned, considered taking the elevator for a moment, then took the stairs right next to it to go down. Yeon-joo stood still, just listening to the sound of his footsteps descending the stairs.
After standing there for a long while, she leaned against the railing and slowly closed her eyes.
*‘To you, I might just seem like a mannequin you pass by, but that's not how it is for me.’*
Acknowledgment is harder than denial.
Last night, it seemed he had accomplished that difficult task.
*‘I can't let my past turn into some trashy, third-rate movie. So, let's just do it.’*
She could sense his resolve not to tarnish his safely settled past, and she felt she understood the thought process that led him to accept this situation.
I am a piece of his past, stuck fast to him. A fixed past that can't be removed, but one he can live with as if it weren't there.
A tiny fragment of memory, one so small you wouldn't even know it was stuck there unless you deliberately shook it.
“How could you be a mannequin? There's no way I'd see you like that...”
*Phew.* Yeon-joo swept her hair back and looked toward the office where the contract was being signed. *I have to go back.* Realizing she had left Han-byeol alone for too long, she hurried down the hall.
In the meantime, the contract had been neatly finalized, and Han-byeol was now a child actor under Changrok Entertainment.
*
It was a day with no filming, but even on days like these, the costume team was busy.
Market research and back-to-back meetings were essential to secure better outfits.
With a formidable staff led by Hae-yeong, including second and third assistants, there was no need for Yeon-joo to voice her opinions, but she was busier and had to move around more than anyone else.
Around seven in the evening, she stopped by Namdaemun Market to pick up some fabric she had ordered.
After picking up the leather fabric from a small office that primarily produced filming costumes, Yeon-joo dozed off on the bus home.
Narrowly avoiding the crisis of missing her stop, Yeon-joo got off the bus. The leather fabric was quite heavy for its size, and she hurried home, lugging it with her.
Her house could only be reached by passing through a market and a park, and somewhere along that route was the Iroun Animal Hospital.
“I should go say hello to Dr. Joo.”
Yeon-joo muttered as she passed the animal hospital.
Every time she passed by, it was closed, making it awkward to stop in and say hello. Her commute times were typically too early or too late, making it difficult to catch the hospital during its operating hours.
Even though it was closed, there was a phone number on the animal hospital door with a note to call in case of an emergency. Yeon-joo stared at the phone number, momentarily conflicted.
She wanted to express her gratitude, but it wasn't the kind of thing worth calling the doctor for after he had already closed up and gone home.
“I'll have to find the right time.”
She glanced at the unlit hospital sign before starting to walk again. Just as she neared the park she had to cross to get home, Yeon-joo stopped dead in her tracks.
“Dr. Joo?”
Having stopped after glancing at a man lying flat under a truck, Yeon-joo now looked at him more closely.
The sight of a perfectly normal-looking man plastered to the asphalt like a piece of gum was suspicious, so she looked carefully and saw that it was none other than the director of the animal hospital.
“Dr. Joo, what are you doing here—”
“Shh!”
As Yeon-joo approached and acknowledged him, Dr. Joo brought a finger to his lips, signaling her to be quiet.
Yeon-joo pressed her lips together in confusion, a blank look on her face. Dr. Joo unhesitatingly gestured with his hand.
“Go over there and watch the back for me.”
“Huh? Watch for what?”
“There's an injured cat here. We need to rescue it, so hurry.”
“Ah, yes. Where should I go?”
Yeon-joo put down her things and moved as if mesmerized, following Dr. Joo's gestures. Following Dr. Joo's hand signal to get down behind the wheel, she lay flat on the ground.
She looked around for a while, wondering where on earth the cat was, and finally saw one in a standoff with Dr. Joo. *I don't know about anything else, but it's really cute.*
“It might run if I reach for it. Do you think you can catch it?”
“Me? The cat? Uh, I'll give it a try.”
Tasked with this heavy responsibility, Yeon-joo spread her arms wide. Just as she was thinking that she'd never be able to catch a cat in such a clumsy posture, Dr. Joo finally reached out his arm.
Predictably, the cat darted out.
“Catch it!”
“Aaaah!”
Startled, Yeon-joo flailed her arms about wildly.
But of course, the cat wasn't so easily caught. It leaped right over her flailing form as if she were a joke and fled.
It zipped under another car, and Dr. Joo shot off after it like a bolt of lightning. Yeon-joo left her bag and packages behind and blindly ran after Dr. Joo.
The cat darted here and there, with Dr. Joo and Yeon-joo chasing after it, flailing like fools. How long did they keep that up?
“Gotcha, you little rascal.”
“Woooow, you caught it.”
Dr. Joo had finally caught the cat. It had taken him thirty minutes.
As Dr. Joo held the cat in both hands and let out a deep sigh, a smile crept onto Yeon-joo's lips.
“What's wrong with it?”
“Its hind leg. It's been limping for a few days, so I need to examine it.”
“Oh, but it runs so well.”
“It runs despite the pain because it thinks it's in big trouble if it gets caught. I need to treat it quickly.”
Dr. Joo, who had been completely focused on the cat, shook his head a couple of times as if returning to reality and looked at Yeon-joo.
He smiled brightly, as if he were only just now recognizing her.
“Oh, it's you, Ms. Go Yeon-joo.”
“Yes. Dr. Joo. You know my name.”
“I saw it on your ID badge last time. Anyway, thank you. I was able to catch this little guy thanks to you.”
Since all she'd done was trail after him without providing any actual help, Yeon-joo looked sheepish at the excessive praise.
The cat, not understanding the situation, let out a few meows. Dr. Joo, his face dripping with sweat, lifted his chin.
“First, I need to get to the hospital. Could you help me open the door?”
“Yes, Dr. Joo.”
The lights of the animal hospital turned back on.
*
After finishing the cat's emergency treatment, Dr. Joo brought out two cups of tea.
Yeon-joo, who had been sitting in a chair in the consultation room looking at photos, welcomed the tea.
“We don't have any coffee at the hospital. I'm sorry.”
“It's fine. I drink so much of it normally, I'm trying to cut back anyway.”
“If you look, there are quite a few good caffeine-free teas. I can recommend some for you.”
“Yes, thank you.”
Placing their mugs down, Dr. Joo and Yeon-joo faced each other.
After taking a sip of tea, Dr. Joo noticed Yeon-joo's dirty clothes and furrowed his brow.
“Ah, your clothes got dirty because of me, Ms. Go.”
“This? It's fine. I can just wash it.”
“I'm sorry. I'll pay for the cleaning.”
“No. To be honest, it was a little rewarding. Even though I didn't actually rescue the cat.”
As Yeon-joo smiled gently, Dr. Joo looked apologetic. Yeon-joo asked a question as if to change the subject.
“It seems you often rescue animals like this. There are a lot of photos.”
“I can't just pretend I didn't see them.”
“You do wonderful work.”
“I'm just doing my job. This is why I became a veterinarian.”
He was a truly good person. Even without exchanging many words, Dr. Joo's honest expression said a lot.
Having such a good person in the neighborhood warmed her heart. Yeon-joo took a sip of her tea, a gentle smile on her face.
“Oh, by the way, did Han-byeol end up getting the part in the movie?”
“Huh? My Han-byeol? How did you know about that?”
“A friend of mine works there. He's the props director.”
“Oh, that's right. Yes. We somehow managed to sign the contract and all... it's been a whirlwind.”
As Yeon-joo spoke with a nod, Dr. Joo congratulated her, saying it was great news. Feeling a bit shy, Yeon-joo smiled with her eyes closed, and Dr. Joo took a deep breath.
He hadn't even had coffee today, but his heart was pounding again.
“That's right. It looks like I'll be able to see you and Han-byeol on set from time to time.”
“What? On set?”
Yeon-joo's eyes widened at Dr. Joo's unexpected words. He wore a very proud expression as he wiggled a finger.
“I'll be working on set too. As an animal trainer.”
