Chapter 2
Translator: RaidenTL
Chapter 2
After studying fashion in college, Yeon-ju scraped by as a freelance fitting assistant for men's online shopping malls.
It was a constant struggle to find steady work. Like any market, online malls vanished as quickly as they appeared, only to be replaced by new ones just as fast. She was always on the move, portfolio in hand.
Just when she thought she was building solid experience, the work would dry up. It was a relentless cycle of starting, stopping, and starting all over again.
It was during one of these dry spells that her close friend, Hae-young, called with a request. Hae-young had explained the previous night that one of her staff members had suddenly resigned due to an emergency, leaving them desperately short-handed.
"Yeon-ju, it's a job for the most junior assistant on a movie costume team. It's mostly simple tasks, so someone with your skills can handle it easily. Just help me out this once, okay?"
At the mention of a "movie," Yeon-ju’s thoughts briefly flickered to Eun-seong. But knowing full well he was in the United States, she quickly brushed the idea aside. It couldn't be.
It's fine. I don't need to worry. He's not in Korea.
For the past ten years, she had done everything in her power to avoid crossing paths with him. But now, with so much time having passed, she realized that even within the same industry, the chances of them running into each other were slimmer than a camel passing through the eye of a needle.
Looking back, the years she’d spent running away felt ridiculous. There was no chance of them meeting anyway, yet she had been hiding as if her life depended on it.
Summoning a burst of courage she didn't normally possess, Yeon-ju had accepted Hae-young's request. Ordinarily, she would have declined without a second thought, but last night, the offer had held a strange appeal.
Perhaps it was because she felt a pressing, visceral need for a job that would let her build a proper career, rather than drifting from one gig to the next forever.
And in truth, she also needed the money right away.
"Yeon-ju, you're here! Come on in."
"Wow, Unni, you look amazing. Just walking into your office, I can practically smell the scent of success."
Arriving at Chang-rok Entertainment, the agency where Hae-young worked, Yeon-ju beamed. Befitting a corporate director, Hae-young's office was on a high floor, offering a sweeping, panoramic view of the city.
Moreover, the trophies lining an entire wall stood as a testament to just how successful she was as a fashion director.
"Scent of success, my foot. I have a fear of heights, so this place actually terrifies me. Have a seat."
Hae-young was the head costume designer for this movie. Having swept the Fashion Influencer Award last year and the Stylist of the Year Award this year, she was a prominent figure at Chang-rok Entertainment.
"I can barely believe this is the same Unni who used to eat my mom's hangover ramen while getting nagged right alongside me," Yeon-ju murmured, her eyes scanning the trophies.
Hae-young let out a chuckle.
The two had become close friends by chance seven years ago. Sharing a background in fashion design, they had spent countless nights lost in passionate, endless discussions.
Yet, despite their shared, extraordinary passion for fashion, their current positions were worlds apart. Hae-young, who had studied abroad at a prestigious institution, had become a director at a major entertainment agency—
while Yeon-ju had ended up as just another mediocre freelancer.
"Oh, right, Unni. Here's my resume."
"Ah, you brought it. I'll take it; I need to hand it over to HR."
Yeon-ju pulled out her resume and handed it to Hae-young. Although Hae-young knew Yeon-ju's background well enough to recite it by heart, she opened the document bearing the name "Go Yeon-ju" out of professional courtesy.
「Withdrew from the Department of Fashion Design」
Hae-young's eyes lingered on that single line.
Yeon-ju had dropped out of college before graduating. No matter how close they were, it was a private matter, so Hae-young had never asked. However, she suspected that Yeon-ju's withdrawal had been due to childbirth.
Feeling a sudden wave of bitterness, Hae-young's nose crinkled slightly.
"Anyway, Yeon-ju, thank you for coming. This is going to be a huge help."
"I'm the one who should be thanking you. I know how much you always look out for me, Unni."
While Yeon-ju expressed her gratitude, Hae-young requested a payment transfer from her secretary. Moments later, a notification popped up on Yeon-ju's phone: ten million won had been deposited into her account.
Checking the amount, Yeon-ju's eyes widened.
"Why did you pay me so much? I thought it was just an assistant job."
"Don't be silly. It only looks like a lot because you're getting paid in a lump sum."
"But still, this is way too much."
"Didn't you say your rent deposit was going up by ten million won?"
As Yeon-ju’s lips parted in surprise, Hae-young waved her hand dismissively.
"I just took a little from my own fee. Think of all the meals your mother has cooked for me over the years—I have to pay for my food somehow."
"Who pays ten million won for food? You're making me so embarrassed."
Staring at the unexpectedly large sum, Yeon-ju could only fidget with her phone. At a time when securing a housing loan was nearly impossible due to her unstable employment, she was deeply grateful to Hae-young for being so considerate.
As if to change the subject, Hae-young checked her watch and stood up.
"Alright, let's talk more on the way."
"Okay, Unni. I mean, Director."
Hearing the title change the instant the money hit her account, Hae-young gave her a playful, affectionate glare.
Heading down to the underground parking lot, Hae-young got into her foreign sedan—a common sight in Gangnam.
After transferring the deposit to her mother's account and sending a quick text, Yeon-ju buckled her seatbelt and spoke up.
"By the way, Director, what kind of movie is this?"
"It's an action film. The lineup is absolutely insane, and the budget is astronomical."
Hae-young beamed with pride as she spoke, boasting about the massive star-studded cast.
Since the cast was a continuous string of household names, Hae-young glanced at Yeon-ju, her eyes sparkling.
"The male lead is Im Eun-seong."
"……What?"
What? Yeon-ju's face froze. In an instant, all the color drained from her cheeks.
Hae-young found her reaction amusing and burst out laughing, assuming Yeon-ju was just starstruck by a name as massive as Im Eun-seong’s.
"What, shocked because he's an S-tier star? A project needs to be at least this big to make the work exciting. You think I'd take on just any project?"
"Ah..."
"We're actually on our way to his fitting right now. Don't look too shocked when you see him. You've got to keep your poker face on."
One shock piled on top of another. Yeon-ju's mind went completely blank as she swallowed hard.
"I-I thought... wasn't Im Eun-seong in the US?"
Why is he here? He's supposed to be in America.
"Oh, that. It's still confidential, but he returned to Korea a few days ago. No official articles have been released yet, so everyone is keeping it quiet."
A shockwave ripped through her, shattering her composure. Yeon-ju couldn't even close her parted lips as she squeezed her eyes shut and opened them again.
No wonder I wanted this job so badly. No wonder a job I would normally reject felt so strangely appealing. Was it because you were waiting for me?
"Yeon-ju, are you a fan of his? You even knew he was in the US. Have you been looking up articles about him?"
"Oh, no... No, it's not like that. I just happened to see it by chance."
Her chest felt as if it were being torn apart by anxiety.
He was the one person she must absolutely, under no circumstances, ever meet.
"He really is breathtakingly handsome. Looking at him, you finally understand what people mean when they say someone's face is a work of art."
He was her former lover, etched vividly in her memory.
And the father of Han-byeol—a secret known to no one else.
*
While Yeon-ju's heart burned with anxiety, they arrived at Eun-seong's agency.
Hae-young stepped away to take a business call, leaving Yeon-ju alone in the spacious office.
【 Yeonildam Entertainment 】
The office, adorned with a grand logo, had a vastly different atmosphere from Hae-young's.
It was a sanctuary of sheer luxury. CEO Min's extravagant tastes were evident everywhere, including a rare, large-scale model car displayed in a perfect replica.
It was a replica of one of Tae-gon's prized possessions, a Lamborghini Aventador SVJ Roadster, built entirely from tiny Bearbricks. The model alone had taken a staggering four thousand hours to assemble.
With the highly detailed, functional model at the center, photos of Eun-seong were displayed on either side. Yeon-ju stared blankly at the pictures.
"This is insane..."
Her mother had already transferred the deposit to the landlord, meaning she couldn't return the money to Hae-young. It was also impossible to fabricate a plausible excuse to back out when she had promised to do her best less than an hour ago. But did she have the nerve to face Eun-seong? Absolutely not.
A heavy sigh escaped her lips. The reality of having to introduce herself as an assistant stylist to her ex-boyfriend—who had grown into an untouchable, S-tier star—felt like a sick joke, drawing a hollow laugh from her.
And he wasn't just any ex-boyfriend. He was Han-byeol's father.
Her mind ground to a halt, leaving her completely paralyzed. She lacked the courage to run away, yet she lacked the courage to stay.
As she stood frozen in indecision, time marched relentlessly forward, and the door opened.
She desperately hoped it would be Hae-young, who had promised to arrive before Eun-seong, but the person who walked through the door was Eun-seong himself.
"Ah..."
The moment their eyes met, reality dissolved into a dreamlike haze.
An involuntary gasp escaped Yeon-ju as she rose awkwardly to her feet. Her terrified body refused to move, and she felt as though she might burst into tears at any moment.
Just as her body felt ready to shatter under the weight of uncontrollable emotions, Eun-seong, who had taken a couple of steps forward, froze. Recognizing her instantly, his expression faltered, crumbling for a brief moment.
As a tense silence stretched between them, the manager walked in behind him, completely oblivious, and spoke to Yeon-ju.
It was a saving grace.
"You're from Chang-rok, right? I don't think we've met before."
"Ah, yes. That's right. I'm Go Yeon-ju. Um... our Director is currently..."
"Right, right. I saw her on the phone. Hyung, come sit over here."
As the manager gestured toward the sofa, Eun-seong, who had been momentarily dazed, snapped out of it and moved.
While Yeon-ju stood hesitating, her hands clenched tightly, Eun-seong walked past her without a second glance and sat on the sofa.
"It's been a while."
"Oh? Hyung, you know her?"
"Of course not."
As Eun-seong gave the flat reply and looked down, the manager glanced between the two of them. Yeon-ju, her face burning, couldn't find the words to respond and simply nodded.
Sensing the manager's suspicious gaze on her, Eun-seong spoke in a detached tone.
"A junior from college. Just a casual acquaintance."
"Ah, your college junior. I see."
"Get me some coffee."
"Sure, Hyung."
The manager left the office, leaving the two of them alone.
Yeon-ju kept her mouth tightly shut, her breath coming in shallow, ragged gasps. It felt as though the oxygen had been sucked from the room, making it hard to breathe. If she kept standing there, she was sure her knees would buckle.
Her head throbbed violently, and her vision blurred until she could barely make out her surroundings.
"Why is Director Jin so late? She said to meet at two."
When Hae-young still hadn't returned by 2:05, Eun-seong checked the time and muttered to himself.
Looking up from his phone, he turned his gaze to Yeon-ju.
"Did you come here to work under Director Jin?"
"What? Oh, yes. I joined the costume team for this movie."
"Impressive. In more ways than one."
Leaving her with his loaded remark, Eun-seong stood up.
Glancing at the small bag that clearly contained fitting equipment, he took off his jacket. Then, unbuttoning his shirt one by one, he stripped off his top without hesitation.
Tossing his shirt carelessly onto the sofa, Eun-seong spread his arms. His upper body was packed with lean, sculpted muscle, so toned that every contour was sharply defined.
He looked at her with a face that betrayed absolutely no trace of their past. Meeting his brilliant, piercing gaze—the kind that commanded awe with a single glance—Yeon-ju was forced to recall a thought she had buried deep in her heart for a very long time.
Yes. There was a time when I believed that no matter what I did, I would never be able to escape him.
"What are you doing? If you came here to work, don't just stand there. Get to work."
For he was a man who seemed born to hold everyone's heart in his hands.
"Come closer."