19 - The Second One is Proficient
The second time, skillfully.
Episode 19
“I don’t think you understand very well.”
At his words, Ji-man frowned. He looked like he didn’t understand what he didn’t know at all.
Geon-ha was also confused at first. Whether Se-ah liked acting or was just living as things flowed. He thought she wasn't interested in acting because she had only done radio for several years and hadn't looked at other works.
But recently, she was starting to engage in full-fledged activities, such as going to auditions. He was curious about what had changed her mind, but after seeing Ji-man today, he felt like he knew.
“She won’t give up easily.”
He didn't know the details, but he knew that she, who had been wavering, had chosen acting over marriage.
“……”
Geon-ha passed by Ji-man, who was frowning as if he was displeased, got into the car, and drove off.
He had deliberately come to Se-ah's radio schedule, but he felt sorry that he couldn't have a proper conversation with her. In the quiet car, the sound of tapping on the steering wheel echoed.
“It feels like she’s avoiding me.”
He didn't know why. The reason he came here today was because he wanted to talk to her one more time after watching the music video.
She continued to act, but it felt like she was avoiding things related to him. If that happened, there might be a problem with Director Kim Seong-cheol's casting of ‘Hide’. That's why he wanted to have a conversation. And she said incomprehensible things like she didn't want to cause any more damage.
Still, he conveyed his opinion that he wanted to work with her.
All he could do was hope that she would know the charm of ‘Hide’ and choose it. Even if this work doesn't work out, there will be another opportunity as long as Se-ah has decided to act. Anyway…….
“Marriage, huh.”
He recalled Ji-man introducing himself as her fiancé. For some reason, he felt frustrated and opened the car window. The dawn air ruffled his hair coolly.
What is the probability that she will quit acting because of Ji-man? A picture of Se-ah standing next to that man was drawn in his head. A sudden unpleasant feeling surged up. Where does this feeling come from?
Geon-ha knew that the thoughts and feelings he usually saw and felt were helpful in acting. He pondered deeply about the sudden emotion. But only for a moment.
“I think there’s something I can help with.”
Se-ah's face occupied his mind. If she wanted to get away from Ji-man, if she wanted to continue acting, there must be something he could help with. He stopped at a red light and took out the business card he had received earlier from his pocket.
First of all, he should look for good reporters. He didn't know when or how it would be used. Geon-ha's face was determined as he stepped on the accelerator at the green light.
Se-ah, who closed her tired eyes tightly and opened them, got out of Ye-won's car and headed home. Ye-won must be tired too, but she was really grateful for accommodating her in everything. Just now, she gave her a warm thermos, saying she had worked hard.
It was ginger tea, perfect for drinking right now. The perfect spring weather was warm, but the daily temperature range was severe. She told her to drink it before going to bed. How long has it been since someone took care of her like this? The corners of her lips turned up pleasantly.
“Im Se-ah.”
The corners of her smiling lips hardened at the sound of Ji-man's voice, which she didn't want to hear.
“Why are you……?”
How did he know her house? No, he must have already shared a lot with her father, so it would be easy for him to find out her house. Her good mood plummeted in an instant.
“I had a conversation with CEO Im about the wedding.”
“What did you say?”
It was really absurd. She expected him to ignore her opinion that she would not get married, but she couldn't believe he would suddenly talk about the ceremony.
“If we prepare right away, an outdoor wedding in the summer wouldn't be bad.”
“Listen, Park Ji-man.”
“I think it would be best to have the wedding hall at our hotel. Let's go on our honeymoon around November when the project is over.”
Ji-man kept glancing at his watch.
“Okay. Book the wedding hall.”
At her reaction, Ji-man smiled and made a face that said, "I knew it." But his face soon contorted horribly at the words that followed.
“Even if you book it, I have no intention of going out.”
“Im Se-ah.”
He lowered his voice and turned his head slightly threateningly. With a deep sigh.
“Don’t make me do annoying things when I’m busy.”
It was an act that was no different from a threat, but Se-ah rather raised the corners of her lips as if mocking him. She said, confidently facing him without avoiding his gaze.
“I know you put someone on me.”
Ji-man's lips twitched, wondering how she knew, even though he had hired someone who was excellent at tailing. She could see him thinking that CEO Im had informed her, and she laughed. He must already know that she doesn't have a good relationship with her father.
“Actors are sensitive to cameras.”
It was information she knew because she had regressed, but she once again reminded Ji-man that she was an actress. He looked suspicious, but didn't ask any further.
“I don’t know why you’re trying to do such an annoying thing as marriage when you’re busy.”
Ji-man's eyebrows shot up as if he didn't expect Se-ah to be so openly sarcastic. He knew that he was getting married to inherit the chairmanship of An.B Group, but there was no need to say it here. He might be suspected of something strange if he said it.
“I misunderstood Se-ah a lot.”
He had heard that she was submissive and timid. Ji-man muttered that you only know a person's true face after you get to know them.
“That’s right. You can only say you know someone after watching them for at least four seasons.”
She recalled the most difficult time in her previous life. The first year of her marriage to Ji-man was terrible. The problem was that she got married without knowing him properly.
Of course, all of those painful mistakes were her own fault for being foolish. Se-ah, who had lowered her gaze slightly and was lost in reminiscence, looked back at Ji-man.
“……?”
Ji-man was staring at her with a strange look on his face.
“You’re interesting, Im Se-ah.”
Se-ah, who momentarily muttered harsh words, frowned without caring about the wrinkles. Ji-man giggled at that expression.
“I never knew you had such charms hidden.”
He laughed as if he was genuinely amused, saying that he didn't know she had such an unexpected side that was a bit rough while saying everything she wanted to say confidently. She found Ji-man's face disgustingly repulsive. Throughout their married life, he always said that she was boring and uninteresting. How much effort did she put into that?
Se-ah's white fingertips touched her temples. A headache arose. Along with a sigh that was coming out.
“Was the Philippine resort built well?”
At the meaningful words she spat out, Ji-man's eyes hardened coldly.
The words were Philippine resort, but the location was not the Philippines. Ah, of course, they weren't really building a resort either. It was just a trick to raise funds. Only a very small number of people knew this. The atmosphere of the silent Ji-man was chilling.
He was probably considering all sorts of possibilities in his head.
Where it was leaked from, how much he knew, etc. He would think that it was most likely leaked by her father, CEO Im. Because that's the easiest approach.
Since it was funds prepared with CEO Im, there was evidence on both sides. He would think that it came out while talking about marriage-related matters.
“I hope nothing goes wrong.”
Se-ah met his gaze with a face as cold as Ji-man's.
As if she wouldn't stand still if he touched her any further. And she passed by him, who didn't say anything more, and entered the house.
She listened to the sound of Ji-man's footsteps as he leaned against the front door, where the light had turned on and off, until the end. Only after the engine started and the sound of the engine faded away did she slump down on her trembling legs.
“Evidence.”
She needed evidence of corruption. It would be in the safe hidden deep in her father's study.
“Are you okay?”
In the dim evening. Ye-won asked worriedly after the web drama filming was over. There was no more filming today, so they had just gotten into the car.
“Yes. I’m okay.”
She couldn't sleep because of what happened yesterday morning. It was a schedule where she couldn't even sleep for a few hours, so she practically stayed up all night. She put the eye mask that Ye-won gave her on her dry eyes. She groaned involuntarily at the warm temperature.
Geon-ha came and said he wanted to work with her. Ji-man came and talked about the wedding. She was extremely tired. It was even more so because she couldn't understand why they were doing that.
“There’s no schedule after this, so go home and get some rest. Get some sleep too.”
“No, Sister. Please go here.”
At Ye-won's words to go home and rest, Se-ah, who had put on the eye mask, handed over a note. Ye-won raised her eyebrows as if asking where this was at the mysterious address.
“It’s my parents’ house.”
“Ah. Are you going to see your parents?”
“I’m going to stop by for the first time in a while.”
Ye-won nodded in agreement and started the engine. She was followed by nagging that she must be tired and should rest and go later. She smiled as she put on the eye mask again at the friendly nagging.
“Anyway, get some sleep now, even if it’s just a little.”
Thanks to Ye-won, who ended her nagging shortly, she was able to relieve her fatigue with the warm eye mask while going to her parents' house.
A little later, Se-ah, who arrived at her parents' house, unbuckled her seat belt.
“Shall I come here tomorrow?”
She pondered briefly at Ye-won's question of whether she was going to sleep over.
“No. I’m just going to eat dinner and leave.”
She asked if Ye-won would wait, but she refused. She could ask the driver who was stationed at her parents' house. She had done that often when she slept over. It felt like a distant past now.
She got out of the car and pressed the doorbell of the large gate. The large iron gate opened with a creaking sound.
When her mother was alive, she must have been happy in this house. Se-ah, who was standing still looking at the open door, slowly moved her steps.
“Oh my, it’s been a while!”
Yongsan Housekeeper, the live-in housekeeper, opened the front door with a bright face. She had been working since she was young, so she was almost like family.
“Have you been well?”
“Of course! I also saw the advertisement you filmed this time. I was so proud! Have you eaten?”
“No.”
“Then let’s eat first.”
Yongsan Housekeeper took her bag and led her to the dining table.
“Where’s Father?”
“He’s eating. He doesn’t seem to know. You didn’t contact him before coming, did you?”
At her answer that she didn't, Yongsan Housekeeper was surprised and said that he would be surprised and that she was a filial daughter. He wouldn't be surprised and she couldn't be a filial daughter, but Se-ah didn't bother to correct Yongsan Housekeeper's words.
She knew that he ate dinner at his parents' house every day. She also knew that he would go back to the company or make appointments after dinner.
Se-ah was planning to stop by her father's study in the meantime. Secretly.
“What’s going on.”
As expected, her father only asked why she came in a blunt manner. She sat down on the chair that Yongsan Housekeeper had pulled out and said.
“Executive Director Park Ji-man came to see me.”
She looked at her father while looking at her tableware that was being set up quickly. He seemed to have just started eating. It was the first time she had seen her father directly since she regressed. The father in her memory had gray hair and a lot of wrinkles.
“I told him that I wouldn’t attend even if he booked the wedding hall.”
At Se-ah's words, CEO Im put his chopsticks on the table as if throwing them down.
