Sponsorship Stigma
Chapter 22
Something Only Jung Yeonjae Can Do
A brief knock broke the silence of the office.
Jeheon paused as he was leafing through a stack of documents.
“Come in.”
At his permission, the door opened.
Jeheon looked up as the sound of approaching footsteps was accompanied by the rich aroma of coffee drifting to his nose.
The secretary placed a steaming cup down in front of Jeheon.
“Is this it?”
“Yes. I asked them to roast it as similarly as possible.”
At Jeheon’s question, Seongjae, who was standing beside the secretary, stepped forward.
Jeheon glanced at Seongjae and picked up the cup. He brought it close to his nose as if taking in the scent, then lowered it to his lips.
Watching the coffee slowly pass his lips, the two assistants swallowed nervously.
They had sought out some of the most prominent roasting cafes in Seoul, but this had already been rejected five times.
Determined to see it through today, this was their second newly roasted batch.
He had always been particular about his coffee, but after tasting the beans Yeonjae had sent, he had become even more exacting.
He was now even rejecting the coffee he used to drink, throwing the secretarial team in the CEO’s office into a state of emergency.
“How is it?”
Seongjae asked, anticipation gleaming in his eyes.
“You mentioned the previous batch had a sour aftertaste, so we adjusted it to be heavier.”
“…”
“Since drip coffee varies depending on technique, we even had a professional come and brew it personally.”
Taking a sip, Jeheon set the cup down.
Looking at the two people awaiting his verdict, Jeheon pushed the cup away. Another rejection.
“Too bitter.”
Jeheon picked up a glass of water and rinsed his mouth.
Even after washing it down with water, an astringent, bitter taste lingered in his mouth.
This is why I don’t drink just anything.
Displeasure swiftly settled over Jeheon.
“It should go down smoothly at first and leave a nutty, pleasant bitterness at the end.”
“…”
“This tastes burnt and harsh. It won't do.”
At Jeheon’s harsh critique, a look of dismay crossed the secretary’s face as they took the cup back.
The secretary glanced at Seongjae, pleading for help with eyes that said they couldn’t do this anymore.
Seongjae felt the same way.
Both the cafe staff waiting outside and the cafe owner had already told him that any further adjustments would be difficult.
Even with the promise of ample compensation, who would want to take on a task with no end in sight?
Jeheon rose from his seat and walked over to the table by the window.
It was a table with a pour-over dripper set.
He fitted a paper filter into the dripper resting atop a large glass server.
Then he tilted the kettle filled with boiling water.
As the kettle tipped, a thin stream of water poured out, causing the ground coffee to bloom.
Watching this, Seongjae quietly dismissed the secretary standing next to him.
Then he stepped up to Jeheon’s side.
“To be frank with you, CEO, recreating those exact beans is going to be difficult.”
Jeheon let out a soft chuckle at Seongjae’s unusually bold remark.
As he swirled the glass, the coffee inside sloshed gently.
His nose twitched as it naturally followed the aroma.
These were definitely unfamiliar beans to him, yet the fragrance felt strangely familiar, as if he had tasted it somewhere before.
“Is that so?”
Jeheon replied nonchalantly, transferring the coffee into a mug and taking a sip.
A smooth flavor spread across his palate.
Ever since waking up three months after the traffic accident, he had constantly lacked caffeine.
Before, he had at least been able to drink it, but lately, his aversion had grown particularly strong.
It had remained an unsolved dilemma for the secretaries who had assisted him for years.
And Jung Yeonjae had solved it in a single stroke.
Not only did she know Jeheon’s coffee preferences—which neither Myeonghee nor Manager Joo Minyoung knew—she had even crafted the beans herself.
“This is why I’m confused.”
Acting like she still had feelings for him.
No, honestly, unless she still loved him, her actions made no sense at all.
The corner of Jeheon’s mouth twitched as Yeonjae’s face formed in his mind.
“Pardon?”
Thinking Jeheon had spoken to him, Seongjae asked, but Jeheon merely shook his head.
“Nothing. Just talking to myself.”
“Ah.”
Nodding in understanding, Seongjae spoke up carefully.
“I think only Jung Yeonjae-ssi can make it.”
Because despite searching everywhere and trying everything, they had failed every time.
Seongjae bowed his head, bracing himself for the sparks to fly.
Hearing a low laugh, he lifted his head.
“I know. To think only Jung Yeonjae can do it.”
When their eyes met, Jeheon was smiling.
“Nothing else for it, then.”
Not understanding at all, Seongjae could only tilt his head in confusion.
* * *
Yeonjae gazed at her reflection in the mirror.
Every time she turned from side to side, the chiffon fabric of the dress swayed softly along the curves of her body.
It was a dress she used to wear before giving birth to Jiwoo.
“This still fits.”
Today was the day of Jiwoo’s concert.
With not only the performance but also kindergarten teachers and children present, she needed to dress appropriately for the occasion.
Wondering what to wear, Yeonjae had opened her wardrobe and immediately regretted it.
She didn’t have a single neat outfit suitable for a concert.
The only places Yeonjae ever went were the kindergarten, the cafe where she worked part-time, and the academy.
And occasionally Professor Lee’s house.
Because of that, she had never needed pretty clothes. She had even less reason to dress up to impress anyone.
After rummaging through her closet for a long time, what Yeonjae found was the very dress she was wearing now.
When she had cleared out of the studio apartment and left, she had abandoned most of her clothes.
The dress she was wearing was the only one she had kept back then.
“It suits you well. Let’s take that one.”
“How much is it? Oh my, that’s way too expensive! What kind of dress costs a million won? I don’t need this. Just a T-shirt or something…”
“We’ll take it.”
During a day trip to Busan, all the clothes she was wearing had gotten completely soaked after going into the sea.
It was a dress Jeheon had picked out for her in person at a department store, saying they should buy one.
She had left behind everything touched by Guil, but this single dress was something she couldn’t let go of.
Comforting herself that it was all right to keep at least this much as a memento.
She had never imagined the day would come when she would wear the dress she had brought with her like that.
Yeonjae stared intently at her reflection in the mirror.
On special anniversaries, she used to wear this dress. Even if he didn’t say it out loud, she had liked that Jeheon seemed to recognize it.
“He wouldn’t know now, though.”
Since he had no memories, he would have naturally forgotten about this dress as well.
Even knowing he wouldn't recognize it, she couldn't help the slight flutter of worry in her heart.
As Yeonjae stepped out of the room, Jiwoo, who was sitting on a chair by the table, lifted his head.
“Mom!”
The boy sitting on the chair came pattering over and wrapped his arms around Yeonjae’s waist.
Clinging to Yeonjae, Jiwoo peered up at her face before letting out an exclamation.
“Whoa, a dress! You look super pretty today!”
“Really?”
“Yeah! Mom, wear dresses every single day. You're pretty. You look like a celebrity!”
“That’s the best compliment! As expected, Mom only needs our Jiwoo.”
Yeonjae gently stroked the cheek of the brightly smiling Jiwoo.
Even though Jeheon was no longer there to tell her it looked good on her, she had such a lovely little angel.
That fact alone brought her immense comfort.
Looking down at her wristwatch, Yeonjae gathered her handbag and Jiwoo’s belongings.
Considering the rehearsal, it was time to leave now.
“Shall we go?”
“Yes!!”
* * *
Perhaps because it was a city-sponsored concert, the parking lot was packed.
Contrary to the city's reputation as a cultural wasteland, crowds filled the area.
Jiwoo, perhaps seeing this many people for the first time, opened his eyes wide in wonder.
“Mom, why are there so many people?”
“I know. It must be because there are so many students participating in the concert, just like you, Jiwoo.”
It was because the performance brought together not only the kindergarten division, but also elementary, middle, and high school divisions.
Holding Jiwoo’s hand tightly, Yeonjae walked into the Arts Center where the hall was located.
Not long after passing through the crowded lobby, she ran into Hyekyung, who greeted them warmly.
“Jiwoo’s mom! Jiwoo!”
“Hello, Auntie.”
“Hey there, Jiwoo. Teacher Tami said they'd start the rehearsal as soon as you arrived.”
“Really?”
“Yes. Let’s go get changed, and Jiwoo can head straight to the waiting room. Seoha is already there.”
Without a moment to catch her breath, Yeonjae changed Jiwoo into his performance outfit.
Dressed in a black suit complete with a bowtie, Jiwoo looked completely transformed to her eyes.
It felt as if he had suddenly grown up enough to perform the piano.
“Mom! You have to watch Jiwoo perform, okay?”
“Of course. You can do a great job, right?”
Jiwoo nodded his head repeatedly.
Then, taking the hand of the teacher who had come to the waiting room, he disappeared into the hall where the rehearsal would take place.
Hyekyung followed after them, saying she had something to give Seoha.
The waiting room, bustling just moments ago, fell quiet.
Yeonjae was organizing Jiwoo’s bag, which had been left in disarray from their hurried outfit change.
“Jung Yeonjae?”
At the sound of her name being called, Yeonjae turned around.
