Sponsorship Stigma
Chapter 49
49. Master of the Bedroom
“Mom, I want to play it just one more time before we go!”
Sitting on the sofa, Yeonjae lifted her head at the youthful voice.
Jiwoo was turned around on the piano bench, looking at her.
The child’s little legs swung back and forth in midair.
A bright, beaming smile spread across his face, as if he loved practicing that much.
“All right. Then Mom will tidy up around here in the meantime.”
“Okay!”
Jiwoo answered cheerfully, turned back around, and began playing again.
Today was a lesson day.
Even after a full two-hour lesson, it hadn't felt like enough for the child, who stayed behind to keep practicing.
He had agreed when Yeonjae said they would leave after just one hour of practice.
Yet an hour had passed, and his ‘just once, really just one more time’ had already dragged on for thirty minutes.
Since it had come to this, Yeonjae figured it was better to do some cleaning, and set about organizing the surroundings.
Just yesterday, Jiwoo and Yeonjae had finished moving into the separate living quarters.
Even so, moving without a word weighed on her conscience, so late last night she had passed the message through Secretary Oh.
Though he must have heard the news, Jeheon had not called or visited since that day.
He probably didn't like it.
Yet Yeonjae felt it was better that way.
Ever since confronting Myunghee in his office, Yeonjae hadn't been able to sleep easily.
Time and again, she would jolt awake from her sleep, imagining she could hear Myunghee's voice.
Staying by Jeheon’s side meant she could run into Myunghee at any time.
She had been far too naive.
With each passing hour, the thought crystallized: it was time to put distance between them.
‘And above all…’
She had no confidence that she could remain by Jeheon’s side without her own feelings wavering.
Tidying up the area, Yeonjae let out a soft sigh.
Would Jiwoo’s life at the foundation really go smoothly?
As complicated feelings crowded her chest, a dark shadow fell across Yeonjae’s face.
She was lost in such thoughts when it happened.
“Mom! Jiwoo is all done!”
“Shall we head back, then?”
Yeonjae put away the cleaning supplies she was holding.
At that, Jiwoo neatly packed his sheet music into his bag, slung on his backpack, and came over to her.
“Yes.”
Walking ahead of Yeonjae toward the hallway, Jiwoo suddenly stopped in his tracks.
“Mom, what’s this room for?”
Where the child had stopped was at the very end of the hall—Jeheon’s bedroom.
Pointing at the firmly shut door, Jiwoo looked up at Yeonjae.
Though it had been weeks since they arrived at the residence, this was a space forbidden to Jiwoo.
Interest and curiosity shimmered in his big eyes.
“Jiwoo, while we’re staying here, there are places we aren't allowed to enter.”
“Places we can’t go in?”
“Yes. You shouldn't open this door carelessly. This room has an owner.”
Yeonjae repeatedly stressed that he must never enter someone else's space without permission.
Understanding, the child didn't try to go inside the bedroom.
Yet, unable to suppress his curiosity, he tugged at Yeonjae’s sleeve.
“Can’t we open it just once? Just a tiny bit.”
Jiwoo held his thumb and index finger so close they almost touched, adding, “I really just want to peek.”
How curious an unknown space must be to a five-year-old child.
She understood that feeling well, but Yeonjae remained firm.
“Jiwoo, Mom isn’t the owner of this bedroom, so I can’t give you permission.”
“Then, if I get permission from mister, can we go in?”
Yeonjae fell silent for a moment.
Looking up at her, the child’s eyes held not a single trace of malice.
Met with a gaze brimming with pure curiosity, Yeonjae gave a reluctant nod.
“Sure. If mister allows it… we can go look then.”
If Jeheon allowed it, there was no reason for Yeonjae to object.
Satisfied with her answer, Jiwoo broke into a wide smile.
Holding Yeonjae’s hand as they walked toward the entryway, the child’s face was filled with excitement.
“Mom, when is mister coming over to play? Did he say he doesn’t miss Jiwoo?”
Even while putting on his shoes, the child chattered away to Yeonjae without pause.
“One, two, three. I think it’s already been more than a week!”
While tying Jiwoo’s shoelaces, Yeonjae looked up.
Her eyes trembled faintly.
Seeing him count the days with such surprising accuracy, Yeonjae found it hard to find the right words.
It felt as though Jeheon had already taken up a large place in Jiwoo’s heart.
To the point that the boy was counting down the days, waiting for him.
“Can’t we tell mister to come over and play?”
Eyes full of anticipation gazed at Yeonjae.
Looking at the child asking with the brightest smile, Yeonjae’s lips parted, then closed.
You shouldn't see him so often anymore, Jiwoo.
The words she couldn't bring herself to say scattered silently inside her mouth.
“Mister must be busy. Shall Jiwoo wait a little longer?”
Even as she spoke, Yeonjae’s mouth felt parched and dry.
* * *
Straightening his shirt collar, Jeheon stepped back from the mirror.
Walking deeper into the dressing room, he paused in front of the watch cabinet.
Jeheon opened the glass door and pulled out the display tray.
He ran his hand over the smoothly gliding showcase.
Watches were neatly arranged by brand and type.
His hand, naturally reaching for the one he wore most often, halted in midair.
Patek Philippe.
It was the very watch Yeonjae had returned to him not long ago.
Crafted as a one-of-a-kind piece by Patek Philippe in 1935, it was a timepiece Jeheon had acquired through a fiercely competitive auction.
He had even traveled to Europe in person just to win the bid.
Among all his collections, it was one of his most cherished possessions.
“Insane.”
The winning bid alone was well over three billion won.
A piece he rarely wore unless he felt like a change of pace, yet he had worn it out that day.
When he left that morning, Jeheon hadn't even planned on heading to the residence.
And he certainly never imagined he would leave his watch behind on the sofa as if bewitched.
Jung Yeonjae, who had walked in so boldly and set it down on his desk without even knowing how expensive it was.
A single scratch on it would cost more than her entire life savings.
No, since she was utterly clueless about such things, he shouldn't have left it there in the first place.
A three-billion-won watch, used for a petty trick.
“Completely out of my mind.”
It was a choice devoid of even a shred of rationality.
Something Jeheon, who violently abhorred inefficiency, would never normally do.
And the encounter manufactured through such means had ultimately fallen to pieces because of Myunghee.
When Myunghee’s eyes had gleamed like a hyena’s, turning toward Yeonjae.
He had stepped in front of Yeonjae before he even realized it.
The first emotion that flared had been anger.
She always did the exact opposite of what he told her, and in the end, trouble had erupted today.
None of this would have happened if she had just come to the restaurant on time.
It was a consequence Jung Yeonjae had brought upon herself, so he could have just left her to deal with it.
His reason told him that would be fine, yet his body had moved on its own.
Going out of his way to drag Myunghee out and lead her all the way to the reserved restaurant.
Since when had he ever cared so much about other people's business?
‘What on earth… did I just do?’
At the hollow feeling that naturally crept in, he pressed his fingers firmly against the corners of his eyes.
A faint, self-mocking chuckle escaped his lips.
At the sound of footsteps walking across the dressing room, Jeheon lifted his head.
Beyond the mirror on the watch cabinet, an approaching figure came into view.
“Are you ready, sir? Everything is set for departure.”
It was Secretary Oh.
“I’ll be right out.”
“Yes, sir. Oh, and there is something I need to report.”
Jeheon fastened a casually chosen watch around his wrist.
“What is it?”
“Well, it’s not company business, but… Ms. Jung Yeonjae contacted me last night.”
“Jung Yeonjae?”
At the sound of her name, Jeheon turned toward Sungjae.
Secretary Oh, who had stepped closer, nodded and continued.
“Yes. She said they moved into the staff quarters. And today, she only stayed for the lesson before heading right back.”
Thud. The showcase snapped shut with a harsh, resounding noise.
“She really doesn’t listen, does she.”
Jeheon’s lips twisted into a derisive sneer.
With a look of disbelief, he ran a hand through his hair.
“Since when were you so close to Jung Yeonjae, Secretary Oh? I didn't get a single call from her.”
Irritation dripped from every word Jeheon muttered in a low voice.
“Pardon? No, sir. All I did was buy Jiwoo a cup of hot chocolate once.”
“…”
“She must have felt more comfortable reaching out to me, I suppose.”
“Right. Because I’m uncomfortable.”
Did I do something wrong? Secretary Oh merely blinked, feeling unnecessarily self-conscious under his gaze.
Ever since walking out of his office like that, Yeonjae had never reached out first.
He had been waiting to see when she would contact him, but seeing this, it was clear she had no intention of doing so at all.
When his thoughts reached that point, a sudden surge of heat welled up in Jeheon’s chest.
Jung Yeonjae was clearly the one in the weaker position, so what gave her the right to act so proud?
Just the thought of her twisted his mood. It felt utterly insolent.
“I didn’t mean it that way, sir…”
Secretary Oh’s face filled with awkwardness.
He belatedly added that she probably just found it easier to talk to him because he was the secretary, but it was no use.
“Ah, also, Jiwoo started his formal lessons yesterday. Ms. Yeonjae said she won't be coming by the residence much unless it's for Jiwoo's lessons or practice.”
Jeheon had already heard as much, so it came as no surprise.
“Oh, and she said there was no need for you to come by, either. She mentioned that if you try to move their things back, she will look for another house to move into.”
At what was practically a threat, Jeheon swallowed a dry laugh.
Having stood in silent thought for a moment, a faint glimmer lit up his eyes.
Without hesitation, his lips parted.
“Did you say the tuner stopped by?”
“Yes, sir. It seems the piano was tuned properly, and Jiwoo was very pleased during the lesson.”
“Call the tuner again.”
“I will do so right aw—excuse me?”
Secretary Oh, who had taken out his phone to take notes and readily agreed, hastily looked up.
The face of the man giving this absurd order looked remarkably bright.
“He already came by, sir.”
“Call him one more time. We need to double-check. Oh, and one more thing.”
A stark contrast to his rigid demeanor just moments ago, Jeheon now looked almost amused.
“Once it’s tuned, tell Jung Yeonjae that she must inspect it in person to make sure there are no issues.”
