Chapter 32
Chapter 32
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Translator: uly
Chapter: 32
Chapter Title: Pride on the Red Bomber Set
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A street in Jongno had been cordoned off for a movie shoot.
The film was titled *Red Bomber*.
It followed a female detective chasing Red Bomber, a terrorist in a red mask who plants bombs across the city.
Jin Suyoung, who had earned the nickname "Nation's First Love" for her adorable alien role in the SF melodrama *Introduction to Earth Studies*, was starring in an action flick to reinvent her image.
Inside Jin Suyoung's van, parked off to one side of the set.
She sighed as she scanned the script.
"This won't be enough revenge."
Three days earlier.
Jin Suyoung had halted negotiations for a contract with Daehan Construction.
All to appear in an ad for Seojin Construction.
It was a decision meant to screw over Daehan Group—no, Lee Daehwan specifically.
But even she knew Lee Daehwan wasn't the type to bat an eye at something like this.
"Is there no other way?"
As Jin Suyoung racked her brain.
Someone knocked on the van door.
"Suyoung-ah, people from Daehan Construction are here."
It was her manager, Kim Seung-hyuk.
Her face soured at the mention of Daehan Construction.
"Can't you handle it, oppa?"
"Come down for a quick talk.... They're waiting right outside."
Jin Suyoung's cheeks flushed at Kim Seung-hyuk's response.
Even someone as thick-skinned as her couldn't help feeling embarrassed in this situation.
"Got it. Coming out now."
Thud—!
Stepping out of the van, Jin Suyoung glanced back and forth between Lee Daehyuk and Joo Hyomin standing in front of her.
"Hello. You must be Joo Hyomin, right? Nice to meet you."
She flashed a bright smile at Joo Hyomin.
Unlike the irritated expression from moments ago, she now embodied the beloved actress Jin Suyoung, adored by all.
But Joo Hyomin wasn't fooled.
*Bet her face itches like hell. Yeah, right.*
He'd overheard her annoyed tone from outside the van.
Plus, someone truly as nice as the public believed wouldn't torpedo a deal like this.
But what could he do?
They were both here for business.
Which meant donning their "masks."
Joo Hyomin smiled back and continued.
"We came to talk things over. We're worried we might've slipped up somewhere. If there's a chance, we'd love to give it another shot."
"A chance?"
Wrinkles formed on the bridge of Jin Suyoung's nose.
*How clingy.*
A flicker of annoyance hit her, but she responded even more gently.
"Sorry if I came off rude. I'm just really sensitive, so after a lot of thought, this is how it ended up. Better not waste any more time. My apologies."
As Jin Suyoung offered a half-hearted apology, a vein bulged in Joo Hyomin's temple.
*Wasn't that basically "I don't want to waste time, so get lost"?*
*Damn, she pisses me off.*
Smiling like some saint while screwing them over.
Tremble—!
*Calm down. Gotta hold it in.*
Joo Hyomin forced back his anger with a strained smile.
"Still, let's talk it out. We'll match whatever conditions we can."
"What's your position, Mr. Joo?"
"...I'm a deputy manager."
Joo Hyomin answered, feeling a strange humiliation.
He'd clearly stated his rank at their last meeting.
Asking again now...
*Know your place, huh?*
As Joo Hyomin clenched his teeth.
Jin Suyoung barely stifled a laugh upon hearing his rank.
How could a mere deputy manager meet the demands of a top star like her?
But she was the angelic actress.
She had to reject him softly.
"Too bad. I can't discuss contracts during shoots. Gotta stay focused as an actress. Let's carve out time later for a long business talk, Deputy Manager."
She emphasized "Deputy Manager" at the end before turning away.
Or trying to.
"Wouldn't it be worth hearing us out fully? Our offer might benefit you, Ms. Jin."
If only Lee Daehyuk hadn't cut in.
*Ha, benefit?*
Jin Suyoung scoffed inwardly.
But turning with her elegant, pure angelic actress facade, she asked brightly.
"And what's your position...?"
"I'm Lee Daehyuk, an entry-level employee."
Lee Daehyuk handed her his business card with a smile.
"......"
When this unfamiliar employee suddenly offered his card, Jin Suyoung felt awkward.
Not arrogant, exactly... but his face seemed oddly familiar.
*...Who is he?*
Puzzled, Jin Suyoung took the card anyway.
And in that brief instant.
Their fingers brushed.
At the same moment.
Flash—!
A burst of light flooded Lee Daehyuk's mind with Jin Suyoung's information and memories.
.
.
.
*'Lee Daehwan's sponsorship is over now.'*
And in a way that left Jin Suyoung utterly humiliated.
She vowed revenge.
She'd jumped to Seojin Construction not for money, but to spite Lee Daehwan and Daehan Group.
Of course, she knew it too.
Such petty rebellion wouldn't faze Lee Daehwan at all.
That's why, while searching for other ways to get back at him, they showed up.
*'I can help with this.'*
As Lee Daehyuk smirked meaningfully.
Jin Suyoung's voice trembled slightly.
"You..."
Lee Daehwan's half-brother and bastard son of Daehan Group.
Jin Suyoung recognized Lee Daehyuk.
For her revenge, she'd done her own digging into Lee Daehwan and his family.
In the process, she'd seen basic info and a photo of the illegitimate son, Lee Daehyuk, enough to recognize his face.
But she hadn't paid much mind.
Who would care about some depressed patient?
Yet.
The illegitimate son she'd ignored was now standing before her, posing as a Daehan Construction newbie.
With eyes gleaming brightly, no less.
*'No way... a lookalike?'*
Jin Suyoung felt confused.
No matter how similar, they couldn't be identical unless twins.
*'Did Lee Daehwan send him? No, that bastard wouldn't bother with me this much.'*
Jin Suyoung still had some rational judgment.
She was the only one burning with vengeance, grinding her teeth.
To Lee Daehwan, she was just an insignificant "bug."
Do humans hold grudges against bugs?
They just spray insecticide or squash them with a finger.
So then...
*'Did he come looking for me on purpose?'*
That was the only plausible answer.
That's when Lee Daehyuk spoke.
"I've heard a lot about you, Ms. Jin. Makes meeting you in person even nicer."
"You've heard a lot? Now I'm curious what stories."
The tales Lee Daehyuk heard were probably about her and Lee Daehwan.
Lee Daehyuk smiled softly.
This was a psychological battle now.
The highest level of psych war wasn't words, but expressions.
A subtle smile like this could unsettle the opponent.
"......"
Did it work?
After a moment of silence, Jin Suyoung pressed her lips tight.
*'This feels off. Can't focus on the shoot like this.'*
Sending them away was too late now.
Sweat beaded on her nose bridge from the tension.
Sweeping back her bangs, Jin Suyoung said.
"You wanted to talk?"
"Yes."
This time, Joo Hyomin nodded in response.
"Just 30 minutes of your time."
At Joo Hyomin's request, Jin Suyoung turned to her manager, Kim Seung-hyuk.
"Oppa, about an hour till the next scene?"
"With lighting and setup, yeah, around that."
Kim Seung-hyuk estimated roughly.
Jin Suyoung puffed her cheeks.
Annoyed, but for the shoot's sake, she needed to wrap this up.
"There's a quiet coffee shop nearby. Let's go there."
***
Contracts were ultimately psychological warfare.
Exchanging barbs to squeeze out every advantage.
But.
In the coffee shop, Jin Suyoung and Kim Seung-hyuk faced off against Lee Daehyuk and Joo Hyomin, trading only glances instead of words.
Truth be told, Jin Suyoung hadn't come for the contract.
She wanted to gauge Lee Daehyuk's intentions.
And probing motives always brought anxiety.
Unlike her, eyeing Lee Daehyuk tensely.
He sipped his coffee leisurely.
Clink—!
As he set down his cup, the silence-weary Jin Suyoung fired first.
"I'm sorry for backing out, but verbal agreements fall through all the time, right? Bugging someone over this feels a bit much."
"From our side, we have to bother you, Ms. Jin."
Joo Hyomin parried, taking a sip of his orange juice.
Now the real game began.
She didn't know why Jin Suyoung agreed to this meeting.
But some shift in her mindset seemed clear, so they needed results.
"You're negotiating with Seojin Construction, right?"
"Word travels fast."
Jin Suyoung shrugged.
Nothing shameful about it.
No ethical lapse, and legally clean.
"My agency politely declined Daehan Construction's ad, and we're talking with Seojin. Wasn't two-timing, so don't be too mad."
Jin Suyoung skipped the apology.
Here, she had to stand firm, even if they badmouthed her.
Apologizing now could spark weird rumors.
She kept smiling sweetly through it all.
From Joo Hyomin's view, her expression control was infuriating.
Shudder—!
Not loyalty to the company.
Her personality just boiled at types like this.
That's why she'd clashed with parachutists at work and been sharp with Lee Daehyuk too.
*'Right... this is work.'*
Suppressing his anger again, Joo Hyomin pressed on.
"As you know, Ms. Jin, Daehan and Seojin Construction are rivals. But..."
"If I do Seojin's ad, it's humiliating for you. Something like that?"
Jin Suyoung smiled chillingly.
Was it the business talk?
Her true colors peeked through.
Tap—!
Like signaling her to mind her face, Kim Seung-hyuk nudged her left arm.
Jin Suyoung flashed her signature angelic smile, beaming.
"Sorry about that part. But what can you do? Competitions have winners and losers. And Daehan's used to losing, right?"
Hitting the bullseye, Jin Suyoung made Joo Hyomin's face redden.
She avoided directly damning words.
Still enough to rile him.
*'Hold it, hold it. Yeah, talk conditions first.'*
Joo Hyomin's lips quivered, barely containing curses.
Whew—!
As he sighed to calm down.
Jin Suyoung countered.
"Don't bother with ad fees. It wasn't about money—it was the image."
"Image?"
"Yeah. The image of Seojin apartments being the best. And the image I'd get as their luxury ad model. That's why Seojin."
Joo Hyomin was dumbfounded.
Image over money?
She'd cut off negotiation entirely.
Then Lee Daehyuk interjected.
"Just the image?"
"What else?"
"I figure you value something more than image, Ms. Jin."
At Lee Daehyuk's nonchalance, Jin Suyoung's eyes narrowed.
"Like what?"
Lee Daehyuk paused at her question.
He knew this brief silence would rattle her.
And then.
He struck at her core.
"For example... shall we call it pride?"