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Translator: Vine
Chapter: 26
Chapter Title: The Fiery Commute
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The next day.
Still a perfectionist, meticulous about time, and wanting to be a model for others.
"Why is time crawling by so slowly?"
No, to be precise, it was Eun-seong, who wanted to be more exemplary than anyone else for Go Yeon-joo, who woke up with a clean face, free of any hangover.
He was so used to sleeping away from home—spending very little of the year there—that it was important to stick to a routine regardless of the location.
He woke up as usual, took his vitamins, and finished his workout. After a protein shake and a shower, it was six in the morning.
The call time was eight, so it was still early, but Eun-seong paced around his room, waiting for his manager, Dong-hwan.
"Whoa, Hyeongnim. Are you all ready?"
"What time do you call this?"
Dong-hwan arrived with his hat pulled down low, his eyes barely open, and Eun-seong chided him.
Dong-hwan glanced at his watch and mumbled, letting out a huge, stifled yawn.
"There's no one out there, Hyeongnim. Even if we go to the set now, you'll just have to wait for a long time."
"I'll get there on my own, so run an errand for me."
"Huh? An errand?"
Eun-seong handed Dong-hwan a few bankbooks. He entrusted him with various tasks today, just as he had done for a long time, having Dong-hwan handle his banking for him.
"But, Hyeongnim, the bank won't open for a while."
"Rest a bit, then go. You can come to the set late. Actually, you don't even have to come, so just get some rest."
"What? No way, I can't just leave you, Hyeongnim."
As Dong-hwan waved his hands dismissively, Eun-seong stepped closer and sniffed the air around him.
"Ugh, you reek of alcohol. Still drunk, huh?"
"Do I really smell that much? Ah, I did drink a bit yesterday. There were a lot of managers I'm close with."
"Smelling like this is practically drunk driving. If you get breathalyzed, you'll be arrested for sure."
Eun-seong recoiled with a grimace, and Dong-hwan sniffed himself. *That's weird. I don't think I smell that bad.*
"Get some proper sleep, sober up, and then go. Don't get yourself into any trouble."
"Understood. I'll get some sleep and then head out. How are you going to get to the set?"
Dong-hwan asked, and Eun-seong gave a sly smile. Seeing that expression, Dong-hwan felt a sudden chill and his lips drooped.
"I have my ways. You think there's no one who'd give me a ride?"
"Ah, right. Hyeongnim."
Eun-seong waved him away and then picked up his phone.
As soon as Dong-hwan left, Yeon-joo's voice came through the phone.
"It's me. When are you leaving?"
— *Who is this?*
*Unbelievable.*
"Did you not save my number yesterday?"
— *Oh. Ah, yes. Hello.*
"Skip the pleasantries. I asked when you're leaving for the set."
Perhaps caught off guard, Yeon-joo didn't answer right away. Eun-seong, who was looking over the jackets he'd laid out, waited for a moment. A faint smile touched his lips when he heard her voice.
— *We're about to leave soon, but why?*
"My manager isn't here. Give me a ride. You have room, right?"
— *What? Ah, uh, yes. Well, yes. I guess so? There should be, right? It's not my car, though.*
"See you in the lobby. I'm heading down now."
— *Uh, I'm still getting ready!*
"Hurry up. Don't make me wait. I'm on my way down."
Eun-seong hung up abruptly and scoffed.
*Um, well. I don't have a husband.*
Yesterday, while wandering aimlessly near the temporary waiting room, hadn't he discovered an incredible truth?
*You probably misheard. I don't have one. I'm raising him alone.*
Go Yeon-joo didn't have a husband.
When he first heard it, he thought he must have misheard. He even wondered if they were talking about someone else.
But it was definitely about Go Yeon-joo. And coming from Director Jin, it was 100% accurate.
"So you lied right to my face, Go Yeon-joo."
She must have lied because she didn't want to leave even the slightest opening. She probably didn't want to admit she was single to an ex-lover she'd run into by chance after breaking up.
He could more or less understand her position.
*How did she end up alone? A divorce? Or was she widowed?*
He couldn't possibly imagine she had been single from the start. Since there was no doubt Han-byeol was nine years old, it was only natural to lean toward divorce or bereavement.
...The unaskable questions just kept piling up.
In any case, the most important fact was that Go Yeon-joo was single. Go Yeon-joo's husband did not currently exist.
"She should have just told me from the start. Hiding something like this... So uncool."
He convinced himself that she had lied because she couldn't bring herself to say it to his face, applying the most realistic explanation to her situation.
*How infuriating. No, it's infuriating, but I'm also grateful. I should treat her well.*
Eun-seong mumbled as he picked out his favorite jacket and put it on. He stood before the mirror for a moment, scanned his face, and then flashed his most charming smile.
*Go Yeon-joo. You're in big trouble now.*
"Alright, shall we get going?"
*Because I know everything now.*
* * *
"Yeon-joo-ssi!"
After ending the call with Eun-seong, Yeon-joo came out with her luggage. Mr. Joo, who had pulled the car around and was waiting, waved at her.
It was such a bright and friendly smile for so early in the morning.
"Seonsaengnim!"
Yeon-joo smiled back at Mr. Joo and waved in response.
"Hey, your hands are full. No need to wave."
"You waved, so I just followed suit without thinking. It's nice to see you."
"Let me get your bags."
As Mr. Joo took her luggage, Yeon-joo held on to half of it. She scanned her surroundings, looking for Eun-seong, but he was nowhere to be seen.
*He said he was coming right down, but he's not here yet?*
"Yeon-joo-ssi, has Director Jin already left? I heard she said she had to leave early yesterday."
"Yes. She said she was traveling with the head makeup artist."
"Then it'll just be the two of us. Shall we grab some coffee on the way?"
"Ah, about that."
Yeon-joo hesitated, and Mr. Joo looked at her as he closed the trunk. With a slightly troubled expression, Yeon-joo began to speak.
"Well... Im Eun-seong-baeunim asked if we could give him a ride to the set."
"What? Im Eun-seong-ssi?"
Yeon-joo nodded quickly.
"It seems his manager has something to do. He said he couldn't get to the set and asked me if we could possibly give him a ride..."
"Ah. I see. We have room. Of course we can give him a ride."
Mr. Joo smiled as if it were no big deal.
"Thank you, Seonsaengnim."
"Why are you thanking me? Im Eun-seong-ssi is the one getting the ride."
"I agreed without asking for your opinion first. I was just flustered."
"It's fine, it's fine. We have plenty of room."
Mr. Joo said it was perfectly fine while observing Yeon-joo's expression. She looked a little flushed and kept glancing around, seemingly preoccupied with waiting for Eun-seong.
"That's strange. He said he was coming right down. Why isn't he here?"
Watching her, he felt a strange pang of jealousy. Mr. Joo watched Yeon-joo wait for Eun-seong with bated breath before he spoke.
"Um, Yeon-joo-ssi."
"Yes? Yes, Seonsaengnim. Baeunim said he was coming right down. Should I give him a call?"
"It's not that. There's something I'm curious about."
He didn't think he could bear this curiosity any longer. Yesterday, at the cast dinner, among the outdoor tables that others had vacated—
He had seen Yeon-joo talking with Eun-seong. He had also seen them exchange phone numbers.
"By any chance, do you already know Im Eun-seong-ssi?"
"What? Y-Yes? Ah, uh, ah? Ah..."
"I see."
Having confirmed the truth in her stammering, Mr. Joo nodded lightly. By the time she came to her senses and tried to add something, she felt she had missed her chance, so Yeon-joo had no choice but to confess the truth.
"Actually, we went to the same university. He was an upperclassman I knew of through mutual acquaintances. I know him a little, just a tiny bit."
"I see."
"But how did you know? I haven't told anyone."
*No reason. You told me yourself, Yeon-joo-ssi.*
Mr. Joo couldn't bring himself to say it and just smiled warmly. Now that his question had been answered, an even stronger heat rose in his chest.
If there was nothing between them, she wouldn't have been so flustered and stumbled over her words. Nor would her face have turned so red.
"Um, can I ask one more thing? No, I'm going to ask."
As Mr. Joo announced his next question, Yeon-joo's expression became extremely tense.
Early in the morning. Under the refreshing morning sun, with the fresh chirping of diligent sparrows in the air.
"The person who said he had to believe you had a husband."
Yeon-joo's expression quickly fell.
"Is it Im Eun-seong-ssi, by any chance?"
"Ah..."
She was so shocked that her lips parted slightly. At the same time, her eyes caught the prominent bob of Mr. Joo's Adam's apple as he swallowed dryly.
Her thoughts tangled into a quick, complicated mess, and Yeon-joo could only blink stiffly, as if she had short-circuited.
Just as both the questioner and the questioned stood frozen.
"Sorry I'm late. I was on a call."
Eun-seong appeared out of nowhere and opened the door to the premium seat of the parked car.
She thought he was about to get in himself, but he suddenly looked at Yeon-joo and gestured with his head.
"Get in. I can't get in until you do."
Eun-seong urged her again, telling her to hurry up because they were short on time.
Her mind felt like it was completely filled with fog. As Yeon-joo hesitated with a pale face, Mr. Joo opened the passenger door.
"Take the passenger seat, not the back."
"What are you doing? I told you to get in here. We don't have time, hurry."
"Get in this way. Come on."
Eun-seong held the door to the premium seat while Mr. Joo held the passenger door, both of them looking at Yeon-joo.
Wondering what on earth was happening, unable to do anything, Yeon-joo stared at the two wide-open car doors.
It felt like either seat would be a bed of thorns. If she were Solomon, she would have split her body in two and sat them down amicably.
*...Ah, no! Snap out of it!*
"Baeunim, please sit first. Where were you planning to sit?"
Since it was difficult to choose, she deflected with a question. Eun-seong raised an eyebrow.
*Me? I'm sitting next to you.*
"What do you need to know for? Just get in, quickly."
If he told her he was going to sit in the back with her, she would definitely take the passenger seat. Since no one but Mr. Joo could drive, they would end up sitting in the front and back anyway.
If they had to be separated, he couldn't let Go Yeon-joo sit in the passenger seat. He didn't want her sitting next to Mr. Joo.
When she showed no sign of moving and just stood there, Eun-seong let out a short sigh and trudged over.
Then, he slid into the passenger seat that Mr. Joo had offered her.
A moment later, Eun-seong reached out an arm and slammed the door shut. Mr. Joo looked at Yeon-joo and shrugged.
"I guess we'll have to get coffee at the set."
"Yes. I guess so."
She shrugged back and got into the back seat.
The fiery commute to work had begun.
