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Translator: Vine
Chapter: 28
Chapter Title: A Localized Downpour
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The wind was brisk and cool, but the daytime sun was bright and brilliant. The sky stretched high, heralding a rare, clear autumn day, and Eun-seong tilted his head back to look up.
What a beautiful day. The day Go Yeon-joo broke up with me ten years ago was just as beautiful as this.
‘What are you doing tonight, after work?’
‘Oh, tonight? This evening? Ah, um… I’m sure I’ll be doing *something*. Anyway, I’m busy. I definitely have something.’
‘Don’t lie.’
‘I’m not lying. I really do have something to do. Anyway, I do. I absolutely do.’
Ten years ago, he had been standing in the middle of a day just like this when he received the breakup text.
Gazing up at the sky, Eun-seong slowly closed his eyes and stood with his arms slightly outstretched. It was a day just like this. On a day like this, under this very sun, he had received the message that she was leaving him.
Yes. That’s right.
‘I might even do some late-night gymnastics. The point is, I’m busy.’
She turned me down.
*Haaa…* A long sigh escaped him. He had only casually asked what she was doing that evening, but her face had gone pale as proofed dough as she instantly drew a line between them.
It wasn’t like he had planned to ask for anything more. That would be impossible, and it shouldn’t happen anyway. He had just been about to suggest a short drive to kill some time.
He had even come up with a plausible reason: wasn’t it more comfortable to be with someone who shared a few old memories than with a talkative and distracting manager?
‘But why? Is there something you need me to do?’
In that moment, seeing her look at him with such a tense expression, he had lost his words.
He felt like if he so much as breathed the word ‘drive,’ the ferocious Go Yeon-joo would tear him to pieces.
“If I’d asked her to grab a meal, she probably would have tried to kill me.”
Maybe he should have let her. Then he could have captured her and claimed self-defense.
Standing blankly and just breathing for a long while, Eun-seong finally lifted his eyelids. A sudden wave of self-awareness washed over him as he wondered why, exactly, he had so abruptly and without warning started going crazy for Go Yeon-joo again.
He had thought that since they had to be together all the time, his heart might flutter a little at some point. He’d also figured that just because time had passed didn’t mean his steadfast tastes would change, so it was only natural for his heart to react to Go Yeon-joo once more.
So he believed he could just keep his feelings in check each time. Even if his gaze lingered and his heart strayed, he was confident he could reset by the next morning.
Eun-seong gently placed a hand on his chest. He muttered quietly, as if pleading with the part of him that was desperate to be with Go Yeon-joo in any way possible.
“Get a grip and calm down. Just calm down. Please…”
This was all because he’d found out that Go Yeon-joo was single.
Because I found out you were alone. My heart saw an opening, and now it refuses to listen to reason.
As the thought continued, Eun-seong shook his head again.
This wasn’t the time to lose his mind and recklessly stare only at Go Yeon-joo. It wouldn’t be what she wanted, and even if she did, he couldn’t take responsibility for anything.
Just as he had once felt a surge of gratitude for her leaving so suddenly, this time too, he would be thankful later for having reined in his heart.
“…Pathetic.”
It was absurd how nothing had changed between ten years ago and now.
To have everything, he had to give up on having a heart. He had to live a dry, empty life, as if his insides were stuffed with sawdust. Then and now, the rule remained the same.
Get a grip. Get a grip. Once it passes, it’ll be nothing. You’ve been through it before, so you know.
Eun-seong repeated the mantra over and over.
Let this just be a passing breeze. Let these unsettling emotions churning inside me disappear completely.
…Just then, as he was fruitlessly trying to compose himself, he spotted Yeon-joo standing some distance away.
Eun-seong stopped breathing for a moment. The heartbeat that had just started to calm down began to race again, and an irregular pulse throbbed through his entire body.
Who was she waiting for now? Standing against the wind, her hair fluttering gently, she reminded him of a gentle, timid deer, its ears pricked to catch the sound of the wind.
His feet twitched instinctively, but he stopped himself. She looked as if she were wary of the world, prepared to bolt at the slightest sound.
My heart doesn't feel safe anymore, and I don't think I can leave you there alone—
After watching her for a long time, Eun-seong finally turned away.
He let out a heavy breath, realizing it had started all over again, just for him. On such a clear, bright day, a localized downpour had struck his heart.
*
“Mr. Joo!”
Yeon-joo ran toward Mr. Joo as he finished training the German Shepherd.
“Wow, you look great dressed like that, Mr. Joo.”
Yeon-joo smiled brightly as she looked at him in his training uniform. Wiping away his sweat, Mr. Joo smiled back.
“Don’t get too close. I smell like sweat.”
“It’s fine. I don’t smell anything.”
Yeon-joo shook her head as Mr. Joo took a step back, wary of his own scent. While Eun-seong’s shoot was in full swing, Yeon-joo had found a spare moment and sought out Mr. Joo for a reason.
“Mr. Joo. What are you doing tonight?”
“Me? Hmm, I’m not sure.”
“We’re going to roast marshmallows outside the dorms tonight. Would you like to come, if you have time?”
The dorm had announced a small autumn event, and just a little while ago, Hae-yeong had led the charge in getting several staff members to agree to roast marshmallows together.
At Yeon-joo’s words, Mr. Joo nodded without hesitation. He had no particular reason to refuse.
“I’ll go. As long as I won’t be intruding.”
“Director Jin told me to ask you, too. It’ll be nice to have you. It starts at eight.”
Mr. Joo gave a warm smile at Yeon-joo’s slightly excited tone. When was the last time he’d had a marshmallow? Elementary school? Middle school?
He wasn’t a fan of their uniquely sweet and sticky texture, but that didn’t matter. As long as he was eating with her, he felt that anything would be fine.
“Oh, Mr. Joo. About what you asked this morning.”
“Yes? Oh, right.”
‘The person who’s supposed to believe you have a husband. Is it Im Eun-seong?’
Mr. Joo’s expression grew a bit tense as Yeon-joo hesitantly brought it up. In truth, he had been regretting his question all day.
He’d belatedly realized that not only had he pried into a story she wanted to keep hidden, but he had also put her in an awkward position.
He had been blinded by a moment of jealousy and had overstepped. As Yeon-joo merely pursed her lips, Mr. Joo waved his hand.
“Uh, Ms. Yeon-joo. You don’t have to say anything. I overstepped with my question…”
“You’re right. It’s Actor Im Eun-seong.”
Mr. Joo’s lips parted slightly as she readily admitted it. Yeon-joo shrugged.
“I can’t tell you all the details, but I had to lie to Actor Im Eun-seong.”
“Ah. I see, Ms. Yeon-joo.”
“It’s not some grand story, it just happened because I wanted to make work easier. It was a bit awkward to explain that Han-byeol doesn’t have a father, and it would have required more explanation.”
“…”
“But Actor Im Eun-seong and I aren’t close enough to share such personal details, so the lie just slipped out. And once I said it, I couldn’t take it back.”
Mr. Joo nodded as Yeon-joo finished her explanation with a calm gaze. She hadn’t told him *why* the lie was necessary, but what she had said was enough.
“I’m sorry, Ms. Yeon-joo. For making you have to say all this.”
“No. It’s something I brought on myself. And I’m the one who dragged you into it as an accomplice.”
Let’s just focus on roasting marshmallows tonight. I’m looking forward to it.
As she smiled serenely, Mr. Joo’s eyes held a complex meaning before he raised his eyebrows.
“So, Im Eun-seong will have to believe you have a husband until the very end.”
“What? Oh, yes. Well, it would be good if he could.”
“We’ll just have to make him believe it.”
Mr. Joo mimed zipping his lips. His face quickly turned playful, and Yeon-joo let out a small laugh, mimicking his gesture.
“Thank you, Mr. Joo. I’ll treat you to something delicious when we get back to Seoul.”
“Delicious food is nice, but please set aside some time for me on a day off. There’s a place I’d like to go with you.”
Yeon-joo nodded at Mr. Joo’s suggestion.
“Yes. Of course.”
It seemed that today’s incident, which hardly even qualified as a happening, would end just like that.
*
Having finished filming, Eun-seong entered the temporary waiting room. Director Jin, who was wrapping things up, greeted him.
“Are you done now? You worked hard, Eun-seong.”
Hearing Hae-yeong’s voice, Yeon-joo realized Eun-seong had arrived. She straightened up from her bent position and quickly approached him.
Taking the actor’s clothes was also part of the junior staff’s duties, so Yeon-joo held out her hands to take the jacket Eun-seong was wearing.
It was a sponsored jacket from a luxury brand, valued at 18 million won. From putting it on to taking it off, Yeon-joo handled it with care, staying by Eun-seong’s side.
After confirming that Eun-seong’s jacket was collected neatly, Hae-yeong turned and spoke loudly to the staff.
“Alright, everyone, let’s pack up and go. It’s already seven-twenty. Let’s hurry and go roast some stuff.”
“Okay—!”
Roast what? Pork belly? Pork neck?
“Director. It seems the costume team is having a dinner outing today.”
“No. They’re roasting marshmallows over a bonfire behind the dorms, so I thought I’d take the staff to check it out.”
Hae-yeong answered Eun-seong’s question. Ah. A bonfire and marshmallows. The very thought felt romantic, and Eun-seong let out a small chuckle.
The laugh escaped him at the thought that Go Yeon-joo had finally found something to do in the evening.
“If you’re not too tired, would you like to join us, Eun-seong?”
“I’m fine. It’s a rare chance for the team to bond. You’ll have a lot to talk about, so please enjoy yourselves.”
“Okay. We will.”
Suppressing his smile, Eun-seong glanced at Yeon-joo. A faint memory from the distant past surfaced—of her smiling brightly in front of a campfire—and a fleeting sense of tenderness washed over him.
She must be tired from work; he hoped she would have a pleasant time for a change. He couldn’t possibly disrupt a moment like this for her. He hoped she would make many beautiful memories.
“Yeon-joo. Hurry and go get Mr. Joo. He doesn’t know where it is.”
“Yes, Director.”
Why is Mr. Joo going there! That’s against the rules!
Belatedly realizing that Mr. Joo had been invited to the costume team’s bonding event, Eun-seong’s eyes flashed. He had just suppressed his own desire to attend and encouraged the team to have fun, but now what was this?
Who’s coming? Anyone else is fine, but Mr. Joo is absolutely not allowed!
Subtly blocking Yeon-joo’s path as she was about to go find Mr. Joo, Eun-seong spoke.
“Marshmallows, they must be delicious when you roast them, right?”
“Pardon? Oh, yes.”
“They must be. The more I think about it, the sweeter and more delicious they sound.”
So? What are you getting at…?
Her path blocked, Yeon-joo hesitated before trying to turn again, only for him to block her once more. She looked up, her brow furrowed.
“Actor Im Eun-seong. You worked very hard today as well.”
“Thinking about marshmallows… I’m finding it hard to leave.”
As Eun-seong muttered, his manager Dong-hwan, who had been watching with a blank expression, snapped his fingers and chimed in.
“Hyeongnim. Then should I roast some marshmallows and bring them up to your room?”
“Oh my! That’s a great idea! You must be tired, Eun-seong!”
Dong-hwan, the truly clueless manager who only ever thought of Eun-seong’s convenience, made the suggestion with a bright face, and Hae-yeong eagerly accepted.
The lead actor’s condition must be protected at all costs!
But Eun-seong had no intention of backing down so easily.
“You have to eat marshmallows when they’re freshly roasted and warm. They’ll get cold if you bring them to me.”
“I’ll deliver them at top speed. I’m a fast runner, Hyeongnim.”
Shut up! Before I roast you first!
As Eun-seong fell silent and just stared, Yeon-joo’s face showed her displeasure. Hae-yeong, after a moment of thought, quickly approached.
“I don’t think roasting them will take much time. If you’re okay with it, please join us, Eun-seong.”
“Well, I suppose. It seems like anyone can attend.”
Hmph. Did you really think I would just stand by and watch you all laugh and chat among yourselves?
Not a chance! Don’t even think about it!
Hae-yeong’s eyebrows shot up when Eun-seong agreed to attend. Several teams were planning to roast marshmallows separately, and having the nation’s top actor join the costume team gave her a subtle boost of pride.
“Alright, listen up! Actor Im Eun-seong will be joining our costume team bonding session today! Everyone, a round of applause!”
The staff clapped loudly as if on cue. Eun-seong lifted his chin, looking at Yeon-joo as if to ask why she wasn’t clapping. Left with no choice, Yeon-joo also clapped half-heartedly.
The corners of Eun-seong’s mouth curved into a smile.
…A deepening autumn night, sweet marshmallows, a bonfire, and Go Yeon-joo.
This was perfection itself.
“Then I’ll head out first and see you all there later.”
“Okay, Eun-seong. See you later.”
It was the perfect lineup. Not a single flaw.
