Chapter 57
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Translator: Ebonarch
Chapter: 57
Chapter Title: Mi-so's Request
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When I woke up, it was already afternoon.
I'd slept longer than expected.
Mom was no longer beside me.
The thought of being alone brought on an odd sense of loneliness.
Even though I'd always slept and woken up by myself until now. Why was that?
I got out of bed and headed straight for the shower.
After being with Mom, I hadn't even washed up before passing out.
The water stung as it hit my skin.
Glancing down, I saw deep nail marks across my stomach.
Scratches Mom had left during our lovemaking.
Every time with Mom, I end up with some kind of mark.
Last time on my back, this time on my stomach.
I wonder where next time?
For some reason, I was looking forward to it. It felt like collecting scars.
Would I get a special prize if I completed the set?
After washing up, I ate the meal Mom had prepared and sat down at the piano.
"Hmm... still a bit sore."
I clenched and unclenched both hands.
There was some pain, but nothing too bothersome.
Still... if Mom were here, she wouldn't let me play.
I obediently closed the piano lid.
I'm a good boy who listens well, after all.
Probably just one more day of rest, and it'd be fine.
I could play the piano anytime from now on.
No need to rush it at all.
"So... what should I do?"
Thinking about it, I didn't really have much to occupy my time.
School was on hold—Mom had filed for a leave of absence the moment I collapsed.
No real hobbies, no part-time job.
Hmm... speaking of part-time jobs.
In a few days, I had a lesson scheduled with actress Hwang Su-ah.
Me giving acting coaching to her.
No matter how I looked at it, this wasn't a normal situation.
But the promise was made, so I'd have to give it my all.
Maybe I should read through the script?
....
............
I carefully went over the script I'd copied from Mom.
Hmm...
I had no idea.
I read it focusing on the character Hwang Su-ah was playing, but it just didn't click.
My first thought was, 'Why doesn't she just divorce him?'
Hwang Su-ah's character, Shin Ah-young.
Joo Jung-hwan's character, Hwang Jin-woo.
Shin Ah-young and Hwang Jin-woo are married, with a seven-year-old daughter named Soo-jung between them.
Her husband, Hwang Jin-woo, is the son of a mid-sized company's chairman and the heir apparent.
He's currently a department head, with a promotion to president on the horizon once his ongoing project succeeds.
Talented, wealthy, handsome. He's the drama's male lead, so of course.
But as a husband? Zero out of ten.
Married with a kid, yet he's still swayed by his first love, snapping at his wife and mother-in-law instead.
Indifferent to his young daughter, pouring all his attention into his first love, Kim Sun-ah (played by Shin Ji-hye).
And Sun-ah doesn't seem to mind, keeping this ambiguous thing going with the married man.
It's basically cheating.
Shin Ah-young, played by Hwang Su-ah, is capable and from a great family.
But after marriage, living with the in-laws, she doesn't get treated well.
Her mother-in-law (played by Mom, Im Shin-hye) nags her daily, her husband belittles her.
Even her father-in-law doesn't approve, and her only daughter is in full rebellion mode.
Shin Ah-young is isolated in her own home.
Yet instead of resenting her husband, she's working hard in hopes he'll come around.
"Why doesn't Shin Ah-young leave her husband?"
The script didn't give clear answers.
The lines were there, but no deep dives into the character's emotions.
Should I ask the writer?
But this drama's screenwriter is a huge name. No way I'd get to casually ask something like that.
She might even make a fuss about an outsider like me reading the script.
Hmm...
Guess I'd have to go with my imagination.
Shin Ah-young: capable, great family, stunning looks.
A perfect woman like that wouldn't lose value just from a divorce label.
So why stay? Love for her husband?
For the kid? To protect the family?
I circled all those options and pondered.
From here on, it's my speculation.
Husband Hwang Jin-woo is a cheating scumbag now, but he wasn't always like that.
Back when they dated, he was cool and kind. That's why Shin Ah-young fell for him and married.
She believes he'll return to that good husband soon.
The in-laws weren't prickly from the start either.
Good people, but recent company troubles have them on edge.
Then their only son ignores a key project to chase a woman, won't listen no matter what they say. So the frustration spills onto the daughter-in-law.
Things are rough now, but if the husband shapes up, the in-laws will be good again.
The daughter Soo-jung too.
She was once a precious little girl you wouldn't hurt even if you poked her eye.
But Dad's affair left her neglected, so she went off the rails.
If Dad comes back and the family showers her with love, she'll straighten out.
Hmm...
Even writing it out like that, it doesn't feel convincing.
What if I were in Shin Ah-young's shoes?
Mom, Noona, Mi-so—all hating me.
I'm the black sheep of the house.
They grimace and complain whenever they see me.
Wondering aloud why something like me is in their home.
Ah.
No good. My eyes are tearing up.
Just imagining it rips my heart apart.
But if it were real?
Would I leave home? Or fight to bring back the happy family?
No question.
I'd never abandon my family, not even in death.
If I messed up, I'd listen and fix it.
If that didn't work, I'd beg for forgiveness.
If still no... I'd keep trying until forgiven.
Leaving them isn't an option for me.
So is Shin Ah-young the same?
In this unfair mess, she chooses to fight for her family instead of walking away?
Has to be. Otherwise, she'd have divorced or run off ages ago.
In the end, it's all about Hwang Jin-woo's heart.
Turn his heart, get rid of Kim Sun-ah, and everything falls back into place.
Husband, in-laws, daughter.
Happy family restored.
But it won't go that way.
This is a drama. A so-called "makjang" one.
In the end, the heroine Kim Sun-ah wins Hwang Jin-woo and builds a new family.
The male lead probably ditches wife, kid, and parents for her.
The "villains"—his mother and wife Shin Ah-young—swallow bloody tears of regret after he leaves.
Company crumbles, family shatters.
Only heroine Sun-ah and Jin-woo get the happy ending. Daughter Soo-jung might tag along too.
That's how it'll end, no doubt.
That's the "catharsis."
"Hmm... but is this really cathartic?"
For wife Shin Ah-young, it's nothing but sweet potatoes.
But most viewers will empathize with heroine Kim Sun-ah, so watching the villain Shin Ah-young choke down those sweet potatoes will feel satisfying instead.
"What a trash male lead."
Not my place to say, but this guy's irredeemable garbage.
Viewers might see him as cool and angelic for doting on Sun-ah.
But he's still a deadbeat who irresponsibly abandons his family for an affair.
If that's his plan, he never should've built a home with Shin Ah-young.
Shin Ah-young clinging like this, waiting for him to change.
Doesn't make sense unless she's blinded by love.
"What the hell did this guy do to make Shin Ah-young so desperate?"
My analysis continued.
"I'm home!"
Before I knew it, night had fallen outside.
Mi-so came back late for dinner.
I went to the entryway to greet her.
"Welcome back."
"Oppa! I'm home!"
Mi-so came running and threw herself into my arms.
I hugged her tight.
A faint whiff of a young girl's sweat.
She probably came straight without showering.
Busy day, as always.
"Sorry, Oppa. Do I smell?"
She startled and pulled away when I instinctively sniffed. Oops.
"No. Smells nice."
"Pervert."
Mi-so pouted but didn't seem upset, hugging me again.
Her blushing face was adorable.
I hugged her back without hesitation.
"Ah, Oppa, I have a favor to ask."
Then she pulled away again.
"What is it?"
Mi-so asking me for a favor?
She's moody and spoiled, does what she wants on a whim.
For her to seriously ask... didn't feel good.
"Come sit here for a sec."
I followed her to the living room sofa.
What was this about?
Barging into my bath without a care.
I braced myself and waited for her words.
"Actually, the president saw your piano video."
"President? Your agency's president?"
Why him?
I eyed her to continue.
Mi-so hesitated awkwardly before speaking.
"One of them's you playing piano while I sing. 'For You.' He suggested posting it on our SNS."
"Huh? That one?"
Why that specifically?
If they want a song, just shoot a new one.
"I said no, but he insisted it's an opportunity—strike while the iron's hot. So he told me to ask you."
Mi-so finished awkwardly.
Hmm... posting an amateur video like that on SNS.
Her agency's not hurting for cash. Is there even value in it?
Better to hire pros and do it properly, right?
Maybe the amateur vibe is the point? Or Mi-so looking natural?
Her agency president is a pro in that world.
Reasons I don't get, but probably valid.
"Yeah. It's fine. Go ahead."
"Really?!"
I nodded lightly after a moment's thought.
"Yeah. If your president says so, it can't hurt you. I'm happy if it helps Mi-so in any way. Kinda embarrassing, though."
"Oppa..."
Mi-so's eyes sparkled with emotion.
I'd been a useless brother forever, so if I could help even like this, great. Though who knows if it really would.
Viewers would focus on Mi-so anyway; I'd be background.
No cost to me, just swallow a bit of shame.
"Oppa! Thank you!"
Mi-so hugged me again.
I held her and stroked her back.
Hmm. Mi-so's body really is soft.
The feminine scent drifting from her made my lower half react.
Mi-so noticed, giving a knowing smile.
"Oppa, I'll make it up to you as thanks. You held back a lot yesterday, right?"
No need to mention Mom already took care of it this morning.
That was half-finished anyway, and I'd recharged with sleep and food after.
Mi-so's service? Always welcome.
"Shall we go to your room then?"
Mi-so grinned lewdly and tugged my hand.