Chapter 76
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Translator: 8uhl
Chapter: 76
Chapter Title: Was It Just Dumb Luck?
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Scene.76
Was it just dumb luck?
As everyone bustled about, exclaiming that Jennifer had arrived, Elizabeth looked at Jo Seong-hyeon with a curious expression.
“Jennifer? Who is that?”
“Ah, you wouldn’t know, Elizabeth. She’s a singer who’s active in Korea.”
“Oh, a singer...”
“Even though she’s a Korean singer, she’s been on the Billboard charts. I guess you’re not familiar.”
“I don’t pay much attention to Billboard. When I rest, I’m more inclined to read and listen to classical music.”
“Ah. I see...”
“She must be quite famous. A Korean girl group?”
With the spread and globalization of the Korean Wave, the word she’d heard most was K-pop. Even for someone like her with little interest in pop music, she knew that Korean boy groups and girl groups were immensely popular.
At Elizabeth’s question about a Korean girl group, Jo Seong-hyeon let out a small laugh.
“She’s a singer-songwriter. A solo artist. It’s only been about six years since her debut, but her accomplishments in that time are no joke. I wonder if you’ve heard the expression ‘a celebrity’s celebrity.’”
Elizabeth nodded, indicating she understood that much.
“A star of stars?”
“Exactly. Jennifer is a perfect example. An unrivaled character that everyone likes. You can think of her that way.”
At Jo Seong-hyeon’s words, Lee Ha-na and Seong Ye-rim also nodded as if they fully agreed with Jennifer’s musical prowess.
Just then, Yu-hyeon appeared at the table.
“That must be the new person.”
“Ah, Camu.”
“Writer-nim.”
“Chief.”
“Hyung-nim!”
The four of them greeted Yu-hyeon, each calling him by a different title.
They were subtly vying for the seat next to him when the murmuring grew louder.
Kim Seong-hui entered the garden, leading the newly joined members. And among them, one woman shone brightly on her own.
Everyone’s eyes, without exception, were fixed on Jennifer.
Kim Seong-hui introduced Jennifer to the group.
“She’s so famous, I wonder if she needs a separate introduction. But I should do it anyway, right?”
At Kim Seong-hui’s words, everyone cheered briefly, saying, ‘Of course you should!’
“The one who will be responsible for our drama’s OST and promotional music video, the greatest female singer in the Republic of Korea. Miss Jennifer.”
“Oh! Welcome!”
“Jennifer! I love you!”
“Please give me your autograph later!”
The crowd welcomed Jennifer’s arrival with applause. Jennifer bowed her head to the people in greeting.
“Thank you for the warm welcome. I look forward to working with you all during my stay here.”
Another round of applause erupted at Jennifer’s greeting.
Jo Seong-hyeon, who was watching from an inner table, nodded his head.
“As expected of the star of stars. Just her appearance alone brings a shower of applause.”
Seong Ye-rim added a comment to Jo Seong-hyeon’s remark.
“We should probably be on our best behavior.”
“Huh? What do you mean by that?”
At Seong Ye-rim’s words, Jo Seong-hyeon, Lee Ha-na, and even Elizabeth tilted their heads in confusion.
“You’re all behind on the news. The music video shoot. I heard Jennifer is in charge of it. Haven’t you heard yet?”
“What does that mean...? Jennifer is in charge of the music video?”
Lee Ha-na looked at Seong Ye-rim with an expression of disbelief. She had heard that singers sometimes participate in the concept of their music videos, but being in charge of the whole thing was news to her.
“I heard that all her music videos so far have been directed by her. She’s young, but she’s already a master in this field.”
At Seong Ye-rim’s words, everyone looked quite surprised.
“Ye-rim, were you a fan of Jennifer?”
“Yes. Our fields are different, but I feel a sense of respect for her. It makes me think about what I was doing at her age.”
The prideful Seong Ye-rim nodded, admitting that while she might not acknowledge others, she certainly acknowledged Jennifer.
“Wait a minute. Jennifer’s age is...”
“Twenty-two. Her birthday is probably next week.”
“You must be a real fan, knowing even her birthday.”
Lee Ha-na looked as if she had never seen Seong Ye-rim praise and acknowledge someone like this before.
“She composes, writes lyrics, plays instruments, and sings. And she controls all the video production too. The saying ‘a genius of geniuses’ didn’t come from nowhere.”
“Oh. She’s coming this way.”
As Kim Seong-hui brought Jennifer over to their table, not only Jo Seong-hyeon but everyone else stood up from their seats.
It was an acknowledgment of Jennifer’s status, regardless of her age.
With Kim Seong-hui’s help, Jennifer exchanged pleasant greetings with the actors seated at the table. Yet, her gaze never seemed to leave Yu-hyeon.
Seven years had passed, but...
How could she ever forget that face?
The man who had appeared before her just as he had on that first day, without telling her his name or where he lived, and then left just as suddenly without a word!
Jennifer barely managed to hide her trembling emotions and spoke to Kim Seong-hui.
“Writer-nim. That person over there is?”
“Ah! I forgot the most important person.”
Seong-hui led Jennifer over to Yu-hyeon’s side.
While others saw Jennifer’s actions as natural, Im Han-sol, who had cherished and protected her for six years, immediately sensed something was off.
He had noticed Jennifer’s gaze constantly drifting in one direction since they arrived, and at the end of that gaze sat a man he had never seen before.
Im Han-sol quietly spoke to Choi Pil-yeon.
‘Sunbae. Who’s that pretty-boy punk?’
At Im Han-sol’s sudden use of the derogatory term, Choi Pil-yeon flinched.
A pretty-boy punk?
Of all people, the CEO of an agency was spouting such nonsense?
As Choi Pil-yeon frowned at him, Im Han-sol looked back with a puzzled expression.
‘Why are you looking at me like that?’
‘I think I see why Line Art almost went bankrupt.’
‘What? What’s that all about, suddenly?’
‘If you don’t have an eye for people, you should at least have some tact.’
‘Who is that guy to make you say that?’
‘The original author of *Urus Club*.’
‘Ah, the original author...’
Im Han-sol nodded as if that explained it, but his eyes still showed disapproval.
‘And the co-writer of *Lovers in Malta*.’
‘Yeah. I saw something about that in the news.’
‘And he’s also the executive producer.’
‘What? Why is a writer the executive producer? Wasn’t CP Yu Han-seong in charge here?’
‘Before Fox invested, he was the drama’s biggest investor.’
‘An investor? The writer?’
‘And he’s also the person who cast Elizabeth Veil with a single phone call.’
At the mention of Elizabeth’s name, Im Han-sol’s expression changed slightly.
‘He’s the writer of *Urus Club*, so I guess he has connections.’
Choi Pil-yeon looked at Im Han-sol’s reaction with an expression that said, ‘Is this guy crazy? What’s with this reaction?’
‘No, I mean. I’m just concerned because Jennifer is showing interest. For us, all that matters is making a good OST and promotional music video. We don’t really have any reason to get entangled.’
At Im Han-sol’s response, Choi Pil-yeon clicked his tongue.
‘I know Line Art was saved because of Jennifer, but if you react so sensitively to every little thing, it’ll never last. Do you know how many relationships I’ve seen get ruined that way? Tone it down a bit.’
As Choi Pil-yeon offered his unsolicited advice, Im Han-sol let out a small “Huh?”
After exchanging greetings, Jennifer hadn’t taken a seat and was still standing there, staring at Yu-hyeon.
This was unexpected even for Choi Pil-yeon, who now wore a slightly puzzled expression like Im Han-sol.
‘What’s this? Don’t tell me it’s love at first sight. Is that it? No. Even so. This is a bit strange.’
They weren’t the only ones with puzzled expressions. Everyone who had cheered for Jennifer’s arrival, as well as Elizabeth, Lee Ha-na, Seong Ye-rim, and Kim Seong-hui at the same table, all looked quite bewildered by Jennifer’s unexpected behavior.
Yu-hyeon was just as baffled.
Yu-hyeon looked at Seong-hui.
‘What is this? Is there something else I don’t know about?’
Seong-hui shook her head at Yu-hyeon’s glance.
‘No. I... don’t know either.’
Yu-hyeon turned his head back to look at Jennifer.
“Do you have some business with me?”
“.......”
If Yu-hyeon was bewildered by Jennifer’s actions, Jennifer was quite shocked by Yu-hyeon’s.
‘Is he... pretending not to know me, or does he really not know me?’
As Jennifer stood silently in response to Yu-hyeon’s question, Im Han-sol subtly intervened.
“Oh dear, our Jennifer took a long flight right after her concert ended. She must be very tired. Writer-nim, if you could just show us to her room.”
“Ah, the room. Yes. Just a moment.”
Kim Seong-hui looked around and spotted Kang Man-dong. But Kang Man-dong was urgently shaking his head.
Seong-hui discreetly excused herself and approached Kang Man-dong.
“President-nim. Is there a problem...?”
Kang Man-dong pointed at Jennifer and Yu-hyeon.
“That young lady... seems to know Yu-hyeon.”
“What? No. How?”
Jennifer was a singer active in Korea, while Yu-hyeon was either a research professor at a university or had been living here in Malta.
There was no way the two of them could have a connection.
“I don’t know what’s what either. But Alang said they might have met in America seven years ago.”
“Seven years ago? In America?”
Kim Seong-hui’s expression became even more confused, as if she didn’t understand what that meant.
“So. According to Alang...”
“What?”
As Kim Seong-hui raised her voice in surprise, Kang Man-dong quickly covered her mouth.
“Shh!”
“Ah... Yes. I didn’t mean to.”
Kim Seong-hui quickly explained why she had been so surprised.
“Jennifer is twenty-two years old. Seven years ago, she would have been fifteen? Around that age. If what Mr. Alang says is true, then.”
“A... a minor... No. Yu-hyeon wouldn’t do that. Writer Kim, you know it too. Yu-hyeon is the type who doesn’t even go near women.”
Kang Man-dong shook his head vehemently, denying it over and over.
“I... I know that. But... still... you know how things are... between a man and a woman...”
“I said no! As much as I’m dying for a daughter-in-law, that’s not it!”
“Ahem. Yes. It can’t be. Of course. We know what kind of person Yu-hyeon is.”
As Kang Man-dong watched the situation with anxious eyes, Yu-hyeon spoke again.
“Excuse me... Do I know you, by any chance?”
At Yu-hyeon’s words, Im Han-sol stepped forward.
“This is the first time we’re meeting, so how could that be? Jennifer, let’s get some rest first. You haven’t even adjusted to the time difference, you’re pushing yourself too hard...”
“President-nim.”
“Yes. Go on.”
“You know our contract ends next month, right?”
At Jennifer’s words, Im Han-sol felt his heart drop to his stomach.
“Jennifer, why bring up the contract all of a sudden...”
“Exactly. I don’t want to talk about it here either. So, please move.”
Jennifer’s voice, asking him to move, sounded less angry and more tinged with sadness.
Im Han-sol wondered what on earth was happening, but for now, he made a strategic retreat.
Having pushed Im Han-sol aside, Jennifer once again stared intently at Yu-hyeon.
“If I know you?”
Yu-hyeon nodded at Jennifer’s question.
“Of course, I know you.”
“Me?”
When Yu-hyeon still looked confused, Jennifer’s eyes welled up with tears of frustration.
As Jennifer teared up, insisting that he must know her, Yu-hyeon’s expression became even more perplexed.
No matter how hard he searched his memory, he had no recollection of ever meeting this woman.
“I think you’ve mistaken me for someone else. I’ve never...”
Jennifer unslung the guitar from her shoulder. She opened the case, took out the guitar inside, and handed it to Yu-hyeon.
“No. Why the guitar...”
Yu-hyeon, who had taken the guitar in a daze, was about to ask why she was giving it to him when he paused.
A phrase written on the neck of the guitar had caught his eye.
The first step to getting the things you want out of life is this: Decide what you want.
Jennifer recited the words on the guitar calmly, as if they were her destiny.
“The first step to getting the things you want out of life is deciding what you want.”
Memories from a brief encounter seven years ago began to surface one by one in Yu-hyeon’s mind.
A small, dark-skinned girl with freckles, singing while holding a worn-out guitar.
He had once helped her by chance when she was crying after being robbed by street urchins who also broke her guitar.
But the woman standing before him now...
Her face wasn’t tanned from the harsh LA sun, and the dense freckles on her nose were gone. Most importantly, that girl had been tiny, barely reaching 160 centimeters.
Yu-hyeon looked at Jennifer with an expression of disbelief.
“That little kid... was you?”
As Yu-hyeon finally recognized her, Jennifer let the tears she had been holding back fall.
“You bad man... you coward. You should have taken responsibility to the end. How could you just abandon a girl and leave without a word... I was all alone... I was so...”
The expressions of the people who had been watching, wondering what was happening, changed in an instant.
“What? No. Hey! What are you talking about!”
Yu-hyeon frantically waved his hands at the onlookers, trying to tell them it wasn’t what they were thinking, when Jennifer suddenly threw herself at him.
“Mister... I really, really!!! missed you! Why did you leave like that back then!”
As Jennifer hugged Yu-hyeon, Im Han-sol’s face was a picture of devastation.
Seeing Jennifer’s reaction, it seemed that the man she had been so desperate to find was none other than that pretty-boy punk.
“They say an unlucky man breaks his nose even when falling backward! I came to Malta to keep her from going to America, and now this...”
As Im Han-sol stomped his feet as if he were going crazy, Choi Pil-yeon, who was watching from the side, wore a look of disbelief.
‘The reason he survived without going under when he should have... was it just dumb luck?’
He had managed to acquire Jennifer without any significant signing bonus and revived his company. Now, through that same Jennifer, he had effortlessly stumbled into a golden connection.
‘They say a lucky man will find money even when falling backward. First Jennifer, and now Writer Yu-hyeon. This is absurd.’