The Woman Who Stole My Flower
Chapter 35
Chapter 35
35.
Kang Joo-heon’s eyes widened instantly. He stared intently at Hyeong-sik for a moment, then spoke with absolute certainty.
“He is my guest, so I will take care of him myself.”
The moment the words left his mouth, the receptionist held out a visitor’s pass. A door that had seemed like an impenetrable fortress to Hyeong-sik swung open with bewildering ease at a single word from Kang Joo-heon.
“Let’s go.”
The electric wheelchair’s battery had completely drained earlier. Seeing Hyeong-sik maneuvering it manually, Joo-heon quickly stepped behind the wheelchair and began pushing it himself. He even tapped the visitor’s pass against the turnstile—just like the ones in the subway—on Hyeong-sik’s behalf.
Hyeong-sik was completely dazed, unable to make head or tail of what was happening. To think he would meet the athlete Kang Joo-heon at his daughter’s workplace. He couldn’t understand why they called him Director, either. And a secretary? Who? Our Yeon-seo?
Entering a vast office alongside Kang Joo-heon, Hyeong-sik found himself sitting face-to-face with him, alone. Joo-heon popped open a can of drink, set it before him, and took a seat across the table.
“It is an honor to meet you. I am Kang Joo-heon, the soccer player.”
Seeing Joo-heon bow with such fresh politeness, Hyeong-sik stared at him, forgetting even to blink.
It really is Kang Joo-heon.
He was such a fan that seeing just one of his matches had been a lifelong wish, but now that the man was right before his eyes, he couldn’t even bring himself to say he was a fan. The player, young enough to be his son, was far larger, more imposing, and possessed a face far more sculpted and handsome than on television. No matter how he looked at him, Joo-heon seemed to belong to an entirely different class of human being—so much so that it was hard even to meet his eyes. It was as if a celestial being had descended from the heavens.
“I heard you were looking for someone in charge earlier.”
“Ah, yes…”
“Right now, I am your daughter’s superior. Please tell me what brought you here.”
So he really worked with Yeon-seo. Hyeong-sik couldn’t tell if this was a dream or reality. Our Yeon-seo never mentioned anything like this.
“Well, the thing is…”
Overwhelmed and trembling, he couldn’t get a single word out. To Hyeong-sik, who remained frozen with tension, Joo-heon spoke in a soothing tone.
“It seems your daughter has stepped away for a moment, but she should be back soon. Would it be more comfortable for you to talk once she returns?”
It seemed he didn’t even know Yeon-seo hadn’t come to work.
“No, my daughter is at home. She didn’t come to work today.”
He had been completely in the dark. Only then did an unsettled look cross Joo-heon’s face.
“Pardon? Is she unwell?”
“It’s not that…”
Our Yeon-seo was probably curled up in her room crying even now. The thought made a sudden wave of heat surge behind Hyeong-sik’s eyes. Truth be told, ever since he had been on the subway, he had been holding back the urge to weep.
As tears welled in Hyeong-sik’s eyes, a startled Joo-heon quickly stood up and approached him.
“Please don’t cry, Father.”
Those words, however, had the opposite effect.
“…!”
Well past the age of fifty, Hyeong-sik pathetically burst into loud, sobbing tears like a child.
“It’s alright, Father.”
At a loss for what to do, Joo-heon gently stroked Hyeong-sik’s frail shoulders.
“I don’t know what has happened yet, but please don’t worry about a thing. I will help you.”
*
He didn’t know why Kang Joo-heon was being called Director at this company, nor how he had become his daughter’s superior.
All he knew was that Joo-heon was genuinely on his side.
He felt as though he could tell this man anything. Thanks to that, Hyeong-sik was able to pour out everything he had come resolved to say. Through his tears, in broken, halting words.
“Someone stole what?”
He truly had no idea. At the news that Yeon-seo had been framed as a thief, the athlete’s handsome face hardened completely.
“They seem to think she stole someone’s phone. Our Yeon-seo, that is.”
Hyeong-sik dabbed at his tears with the handkerchief Joo-heon had handed him as he answered.
“I saw that she had a new phone, too. I just assumed she’d stretched her budget to buy it, so I didn’t ask where she got it. But to say she stole it? That makes no sense at all. Even with a knife at her throat, my daughter is not the kind of child who would ever lay a finger on someone else’s belongings.”
Despite having no evidence, an unwavering response came back.
“I know.”
Overwhelmed with gratitude, the tears that had begun to subside threatened to spill over once more.
“Thank you for believing her.”
“No. That phone—I gave it to her.”
“Pardon?”
Such an expensive item, to our Yeon-seo? Hyeong-sik asked back in astonishment, but Joo-heon did not answer. Face set in stone, he was glaring silently at a single spot, clearly deep in thought.
He wore such a terrifying expression that Hyeong-sik shrank back in instinctive fear. It was a look so ferocious it seemed someone might end up dead if they crossed him.
Yet, just as quickly, Joo-heon relaxed his hardened features and looked at Hyeong-sik. As if nothing had happened, his gaze was gentle.
“Please don’t worry about a thing, Father. I will take care of it.”
He didn’t explain what he intended to do, but his tone radiated absolute trustworthiness. A certainty took hold that our Yeon-seo wouldn’t be wronged, that Kang Joo-heon would clear her name.
“Then I will place my trust in you, Kang Joo-heon.”
“Yes, you can count on me.”
The reply came without a single shred of hesitation.
With his mind at ease, the reality that this was his favorite athlete finally began to settle in. Should he tell him he was a fan? Would it be too much to ask for just one autograph?
Timid as he was, Hyeong-sik hesitated and ultimately couldn’t bring himself to speak. Unable to ask even for a simple handshake, he offered his farewell.
“I apologize for taking up your time. And thank you for listening to me.”
“Not at all. Please, don’t mention it.”
Joo-heon hastily waved his hand and stood up.
“I will escort you home.”
It was Hyeong-sik’s turn to be startled. Listening to his story and promising to clear his daughter’s name was more than gracious enough, but to take him all the way home? Such a thing was unimaginable.
“Oh goodness, a busy person like you, how could you…! It’s quite alright, I can manage on my own.”
Hyeong-sik hurriedly waved both hands, but Joo-heon was already dialing a number.
“I’m heading down now, hyung. I’m escorting the gentleman from earlier, so please clear out the trunk so we can load his wheelchair.”
And so, Hyeong-sik went down to the parking garage once again with Joo-heon and got into his car.
“Excuse me for a moment, Father.”
Joo-heon lifted Hyeong-sik effortlessly from his wheelchair and settled him into the car. However short and thin Hyeong-sik might be, he was still a grown man, yet Joo-heon showed not the slightest hint of strain. His arms were so dependable that Hyeong-sik found himself entertaining a greedy thought for the first time in his life. Having a daughter was wonderful, but how great would it have been to have a son like this, too?
The manager drove, while Joo-heon sat in the back alongside Hyeong-sik. He even fastened Hyeong-sik’s seatbelt for him with his own hands.
“Are you cold at all?”
When Hyeong-sik mentioned feeling a slight chill, Joo-heon adjusted the seat warmer to a comfortable heat. Despite having a face so striking it seemed daunting to even strike up a conversation, he was extraordinarily kind and attentive from beginning to end.
He had been a fan until now, but Hyeong-sik resolved to cheer for him for the rest of his life. From this day forward, Kang Joo-heon and I are one. An enemy of Kang Joo-heon is an enemy of mine!
“Head to the snack bar, hyung.”
By some miracle, Kang Joo-heon already knew the address to his home before he had even spoken it. For Hyeong-sik, the whole situation was an endless string of mysteries.
“Um, but Kang Joo-heon… how did you come to be at my daughter’s company…?”
On the way home, Hyeong-sik plucked up the courage to ask.
“I am the brand ambassador for Bellator Korea. I was appointed as an honorary Director, so I am working at the company for the time being.”
Even with the explanation, it was hard to grasp. Did advertising models usually commute to the office like regular employees?
“Since I’ve only ever focused on sports since I was young, I don’t know much about corporate work. I’ve been relying heavily on your daughter’s help.”
Ah, so that’s why he’s being so kind to me. It crossed his mind that such kindness felt far too generous just for that reason, but Hyeong-sik couldn’t take the thought any further. No matter how much of a doting father he was, linking Yeon-seo and Kang Joo-heon was far too much of a stretch. Even sitting right beside him like this and sharing a conversation, the man felt like someone from a different world entirely.
“By the way, Kang Joo-heon, how is your ankle injury?”
“It is completely healed now.”
“Then why haven’t you signed with a new club and returned to the pitch… The fans have been waiting so long.”
Feeling somewhat shy, Hyeong-sik couldn’t bring himself to confess that he was one of those fans.
“There is something more important I need to attend to first. I plan to resolve that matter before making my return step by step.”
Having answered, Joo-heon turned the question back to Hyeong-sik.
“What kind of daughter is Jung Yeon-seo-ssi at home?”
“Our daughter?”