Chapter 78
Translator: RaidenTL
Chapter 78
Eun-seong loaded the luggage into the mini caravan, a camping trailer he rarely used. Yeon-ju climbed into the back seat, settling the sleeping Han-byeol across her lap.
As if navigating a familiar route, Eun-seong drove toward her house. He kept his hands silently on the wheel, while Yeon-ju stared out the window without a word.
Things she had to say, things she wanted to say.
Things she wanted to say but couldn't. Things she didn't want to say but had to.
A tangled mess of words cluttered her thoughts. Having mulled them over countless times, she eventually found it hard to distinguish her true feelings from the lies. What her heart truly wanted had grown so faint that she couldn't grasp it herself, leaving her utterly confused.
As Yeon-ju slowly blinked, lost in her complicated thoughts, Eun-seong glanced at her in the rearview mirror. She was staring out at the passing scenery with her lips pressed tightly together, like someone determined not to speak first. Her face looked so thin and gaunt, as if she might crumble at a single touch.
His own lips twitched. Fearing he might blurt something out, Eun-seong pursed them and looked away from the mirror.
Before long, they arrived at her house, and Eun-seong unloaded the luggage. After tucking Han-byeol into his room, Yeon-ju came out and stood before the mountain of gifts.
Eun-seong checked the trailer thoroughly to make sure nothing was left behind, then dusted off his hands and closed the door. He turned to face Yeon-ju. They had exchanged a few hurried words at his house because of Han-byeol, but now, with the child asleep, standing together felt awkward.
Yeon-ju brushed her hair back and bowed slightly.
"Thank you for driving us home. We got back so easily thanks to you."
"Of course. You should get inside."
"And thank you for the gifts. Han-byeol is going to love them—you picked out all his favorite things."
"I have a few acquaintances with kids Han-byeol's age, so I asked for advice. I'm just glad if he enjoys them."
"Yes."
"Well, I'll be heading out."
The moment he spoke of leaving, Yeon-ju bit her lip. When he turned his back as if he had no lingering attachment whatsoever, she hastily called out to him.
"Um… excuse me."
Eun-seong turned around.
"Are you still on a strict diet?"
"Me? No. Well, not completely, but I'm not being that strict. Why?"
"Because… you look like you've lost some weight."
As Yeon-ju spoke with a hesitant expression, Eun-seong stared at her. After a brief silence, he let out a short sigh and ran a hand through his hair.
"I guess so. Lately, I feel like I'm losing weight just by breathing."
"..."
"Don't worry about it. It's not like you look particularly great, either."
"I've always…"
Stopping mid-sentence, Yeon-ju looked at Eun-seong. He stared back with an expression that clearly said, ‘Always,’ my foot, and she cleared her throat for no reason.
Their faces were equally gaunt, and they exchanged a look of mutual pity.
"Um, if you have some time, could we talk for a moment…?"
"No. Not right now."
Ah. Shut down instantly.
At Eun-seong's flat refusal, Yeon-ju's eyes darted around awkwardly. Seeing this, he raised a hand slightly and continued.
"It's not that. I'm just exhausted and need to get home."
"Ah, right."
Hearing that he was simply tired, Yeon-ju’s eyebrows rose in understanding. He had just spent four hours pouring all his energy into playing with a child; of course he was exhausted. She had forgotten.
"You must be worn out."
"I'm dying. This is more tiring than an all-night shoot."
"Playing with a kid is no joke. It completely drains you."
Sigh. As Eun-seong massaged his stiff neck, Yeon-ju let out a small laugh. He probably had no idea that trying to match a child's energy level was a losing battle—the adult always collapses first.
Waving a hand one last time, Eun-seong said he didn't even have the energy to stand. Yeon-ju nodded, telling him to go on.
"Can you drive?"
"I have to. I'm going to pass out the second I get back."
"Yes, please do. Thank you so much for today."
"I'll come find you soon to hear what you wanted to say."
"Ah, yes. Drive safe."
After Yeon-ju said her goodbyes, Eun-seong immediately got into the car. Watching the vehicle drive away, she bent down to pick up a box. Then she froze.
I'll come find you soon to hear what you wanted to say.
"Find me? What on earth does that mean?"
She tilted her head, completely baffled. The important thing was that, in her daze, she had somehow ended up agreeing to see Eun-seong again.
* * *
The next morning, the first thing Han-byeol did upon waking was run to his gifts. He followed his grandmother, who was busy making breakfast, showing off one toy after another.
"Grandma, look at this! This is so cool! If you do this, it transforms! Grandma, did you see?"
"Goodness, I don't care if it transforms or not, go play over there. Grandma is swamped."
His grandmother, Mrs. Na Shin-hye, had little interest in who Eun-seong was. When Yeon-ju had walked in yesterday buried under a mountain of packages, she’d wondered what was going on. But upon hearing they were gifts from the lead actor, she simply concluded he must be incredibly generous and left it at that.
Mrs. Na had simply been reminded that there were all kinds of people in the world, and some of them spent money like it was Niagara Falls.
As she seasoned some vegetables, Mrs. Na looked at Yeon-ju, who had come over to pour a glass of water. She gestured for Yeon-ju to take the wandering Han-byeol to the living room, then asked again out of concern.
"Yeon-ju. Is it really okay to accept all this without giving him something in return?"
Yeon-ju glanced at the gifts piled in the living room. She hadn't calculated the exact cost, but it had to be well over ten million won.
"The actor is very generous. I thanked him, but…"
"Shouldn't we at least make him some gimbap? Oh, that's right. You quit your job."
As Mrs. Na muttered with an uneasy expression, Han-byeol slipped into his room. Fearing his grandmother might tell him to return the gifts, he decided his best strategy was to stop showing them off and lay low.
"Han-byeol, time to eat."
Just then, Yeon-ju entered and called to her son. Han-byeol, who was sitting on the bed, looked up as she approached and sat beside him.
"Are you feeling down because Grandma is worried?"
"Yeah. A little. I'm sad."
Yeon-ju had read her child's mood perfectly. At her words, Han-byeol pouted even more and slumped his shoulders. She smiled warmly.
"Grandma just doesn't know him. She doesn't know how much he likes you, or how close you two are. She's just worried it might cause trouble later."
"It won't cause trouble. Mister and I are really close. It was just a gift."
"Grandma doesn't know that. But Mom does, so don't worry, Han-byeol."
Han-byeol, who had been fiddling with a toy figure, finally looked a bit more relaxed.
"I wish you had been there yesterday, Mom. I don't think I'll ever forget it."
"Hmph. Was it better than having a birthday party with me, Grandma, and your friends?"
"Ah, it's not that! That was good too, but… this was good too!"
Realizing his mistake, Han-byeol hastily backpedaled, making Yeon-ju burst into laughter. He laughed along, still fiddling with the figure.
"Mom. You know what? I like Mister Eun-seong."
His voice was completely pure, without a trace of pretense.
"I really like him. Really, really. Reeeally like him. I… I wish he was my real dad."
"..."
"Ah, no. That's not what I meant."
Having blurted out the first thing that came to his mind, Han-byeol's eyes widened as if snapping back to reality, and he stared at his mother. He should have kept that thought to himself, but the wish was so strong it had just slipped out.
"No, yesterday Mister said that… uh, once a father and son on set, always a father and son. I suddenly remembered that. He said it's a law. There's a law like that."
The child's words tumbled out faster as he watched his mother's reaction. Not knowing what expression to make, Yeon-ju looked at her son with a tender, aching gaze.
The child kept babbling, feeling guilty for simply wishing for a father. That sight, that thought, made her heart ache even more.
"Mom. Let's eat. I'm hungry. Okay? Let's go eat."
Looking at Han-byeol, who had finally changed the subject, Yeon-ju smiled.
"Okay. Let's eat. Grandma made the egg soup you like."
…A very long time ago.
She thought everything would end if she just let him go.
She thought that if she disappeared from his world, even their blood ties would be severed.
Had she been that foolish? The punishment for her past ignorance felt so heavy now.
"Mom. But you know I love you the most in the world, right?"
Yes. There was no way it could be severed so easily.
A blood tie, a parent and child sharing the same blood, could not be broken that easily.
"Of course I know. And Mom loves our Han-byeol the most, too."
* * *
"Ugh, this color again. CEO, why are you doing this to me? I told you this color doesn't suit me."
"Hey, it's pretty, it's pretty. It looks great on you, so what's the complaint?"
"It looks cheap. I'm trying to build a chic concept on my social media."
After Han-byeol went to school, Yeon-ju resumed her work as a stylist. There were many shoots for winter outerwear, so today was another outdoor shoot with the same actor.
The narrow-shouldered, rude young actor was running his foul mouth again. He hated the brightly colored coat, and though he would wear it eventually, he threw a fit every single time. This time, even the CEO had to step in to coax him, making the shoot a difficult process.
"You're having a hard time, Yeon-ju."
The CEO came over and said quietly while she was organizing the clothes. Yeon-ju just smiled.
"Not at all. Thank you for calling me, CEO."
"That bastard was so quiet when he first started, but ever since his personal channel took off, he's done a complete 180. In this industry, the moment they get a little popular… Sigh, it's disgusting."
"CEO, I'll go get him fitted."
"Oh? Yeah, go ahead. I'm counting on you."
When the model's shoot ended, Yeon-ju quickly approached with the next outfit. While she was untying the muffler he was wearing, the fabric got tangled, briefly tightening around his neck.
"Ah, fuck, you're choking me. Can't you do it right?"
"I'm sorry."
"And is this the only color you have? Listen to what I'm saying. I'm not just talking to hear myself speak."
"We had to match the texture and tone of the coat. There was no other choice…"
"Who does she think she is, Jin Hae-young? Hey, are you trying to be Jin Hae-young right now?"
The model began to sneer.
"Where do you get off acting smart with me? I know more about fashion than you do. Don't get cocky and try to teach me."
"Let me help you put this on. Just a moment."
Avoiding eye contact, Yeon-ju silently did her job. It was then, as she was helping the model into the coat, that the surroundings suddenly grew noisy.
Passersby started screaming, and Yeon-ju's eyes widened in confusion. The model, who was looking straight ahead, let his mouth fall open. Yeon-ju turned to follow his gaze.
Stepping out of a car was Eun-seong.