Chapter 30: I Didn't Spill Anything?
Translator: RaidenTL
Chapter 30: I Didn't Spill Anything?
I took my mom’s car to the dermatology clinic in Cheongdam-dong.
“Yu-seok, you won’t even be able to step foot inside. Why are you coming along?”
“Because that’s what a road manager does!”
“Right, sure. A road manager who can’t even drive.”
“As soon as I’m old enough, I’m going to get my Type 1 Large and even my trailer license.”
“Why not just get a pilot’s license while you’re at it?”
“Whoa, did Mom tell you? I was actually thinking about getting a pilot’s license later, just in case the pilot has a heart attack while you’re traveling overseas, Noona.”
“...”
I was momentarily speechless, but I guess it would be reassuring.
Wait, why am I unconsciously assuming I’ll keep doing this job?
“We’re here. Be careful. We’ll wait nearby.”
“Okay, Mom.”
This clinic only takes VIP reservations on Sundays. To ensure privacy, they strictly allow only the invited individual to enter. Not even family members are permitted.
‘I heard only women from corporate families and top-tier celebrities can get a reservation here.’
It was a strict referral-only system. Referring someone else meant you were taking responsibility and vouching for them.
‘But what did Yoon Se-rang see in me to trust me this much?’
This body has never had a single skin breakout in its life and doesn't have a single mole, so I didn't think I’d really need dermatological services.
Still, Yoon Se-rang practically begged me to go at least once, so here I was.
I was also a bit curious about what a hospital frequented only by the ultra-elite in total secrecy looked like.
‘She said from Monday to Friday, it operates as a high-end Cheongdam-dong clinic for the generally wealthy.’
As I took off my mask and hat and entered the reception area, the nurses gasped.
“O-Oh, welcome. May I have the name for the reservation?”
“Lee Yu-jin. I’m here through Yoon Se-rang’s referral. The last four digits of my phone number are 1598.”
“Yes, confirmed. I’ll show you the way.”
I was led past the empty waiting lobby and through a side door.
Inside was another lobby, boasting a luxurious interior that made the one I just passed look like nothing.
And there was no one there. I was all alone.
“Am I the only one here?”
“We generally schedule appointments so that our clients do not run into one another.”
“Ah, I see.”
“Please make yourself comfortable and wait here.”
A moment later, a staff member brought out some refreshments.
There were magazines to read if I got bored, but most were promotional catalogs for new products from luxury brands.
‘This feels more like a hotel lobby than a hospital.’
Since none of the magazines looked particularly interesting, I just pulled out my phone to catch up on some legendary League of Legends matches.
Suddenly, I felt a presence—a gaze fixed on me. I stopped the video and took out my earphones.
There was a woman in her mid-thirties who looked elegant at a glance, accompanied by a man in his forties who appeared to be her secretary.
‘What? I thought family wasn't allowed, but she has a secretary? No, wait—didn't they say they schedule it so guests don't run into each other?’
It was a bit of an awkward situation.
Seeing the woman draped in luxury brands, I suddenly felt self-conscious about my own outfit—a cotton T-shirt, slacks, and three-striped slippers, as if I were just heading to a convenience store.
It wasn't my fault. It was Yoon Se-rang’s fault for insisting I dress like this.
“...”
“...”
The woman was staring at me quite intently.
Caught off guard, I gave a small nod with a faint smile and turned my eyes back to my phone.
The woman approached and sat near me.
Not too close, but at a distance that subtly conveyed she was conscious of me.
I’m very sensitive to these kinds of distances, so I can usually tell someone's intention just by how they measure the space between us.
At this distance, she definitely had something to say to me.
“What do you do for a living? I’m just... purely curious.”
“...Me?”
Normally, I would have responded with, “And what do you do?”
But she didn't look ordinary. She had the aura of a wife of a major conglomerate owner.
“I’m just a student.”
“Just a student?”
“Yes.”
“If you don't mind me asking, what school do you go to?”
In my nearly sixteen years of living, I’ve received countless amounts of attention from people I knew and didn't know.
But this was the first time I’d received such interest in a place like this, from a woman who practically radiated the aura of a chaebol wife or daughter-in-law.
The immunity cells within me against the attention of others were failing to do their job for once.
“I’m sorry.”
“...”
I bowed my head slightly and focused on my phone without saying another word. At the same time, I shifted my weight and moved just a tiny bit further away.
It was an indirect gesture asking her not to talk to me anymore because I felt burdened.
‘But her aura of wealth is no joke. I wouldn't say she’s incredibly beautiful, but that feeling of being from a prestigious family... so that’s what it’s like. I should remember this for later... No, what am I thinking?’
“Ah, was I too excited and rushed things? I’m sorry if I startled you. I was just so taken aback the moment I saw you.”
Excited? Rushed? Taken aback?
She seemed perfectly calm the whole time.
Did that mean, by her standards, she was being excited, rushed, and taken aback?
“This is who I am. I’m not showing off; I’m giving it to you so you won't be on guard.”
The woman slid a business card across the table toward me.
[BAEKHYUN GROUP]
[Lunaris Art Hall]
[Han Ji-woo]
‘Baekhyun Group? Lunaris Art Hall?’
“I’m Director Han Ji-woo. I run a small gallery nearby.”
“Um, by Baekhyun, do you mean the company that makes mobile phones?”
The Baekhyun Group, one of the top five conglomerates in the country?
The woman glanced at my Android phone and smiled.
“Oh my, you’re using a model made by our group? I thought all girls your age used Apple phones.”
I just like my 250,000-won domestic budget Android phone.
The most performance I ever need out of a phone is watching Wetube, anyway.
“I’m really not a fan of Apple phones. Baekhyun phones are the best and most convenient.”
“Really?”
“Yes. Compared to a Baekhyun phone, an Apple phone is just an expensive, useless piece of plastic.”
“Oh my, oh my.”
I shouldn't have humored her.
As if she had been waiting for this, the woman moved even closer to me.
“My husband works in the mobile phone manufacturing division. He’d be so happy to know that someone as beautiful as you said that.”
“Your husband?”
“I’m a daughter-in-law of the Baekhyun family. It’s been about twenty years since I married in.”
Good grief, so she’s at least in her forties?
I was shocked because she didn't look that age at all. I felt a renewed sense of respect for the incredible skill of this clinic’s director.
“You said you’re a student? What’s your major...”
“Customer, we’ll see you this way.”
Just then, a staff member entered the lobby and called for me. I quickly stood up.
“Well then, I hope your treatment goes well.”
“Um, excuse me... After you’re finished, perhaps a cup of tea...”
I hurried out of the lobby.
As I followed the nurse, I couldn't help but let out a small chuckle.
‘What is this now?’
If it’s a gallery, is it like an art museum?
She probably wanted to ask me to be a model for an oil painting or something, but I wouldn't do that even if she paid me a million won an hour. It’s too boring.
I couldn't think of anything else a chaebol daughter-in-law in her forties who owns an art museum would want from me.
*
Director Han Ji-woo watched Yu-jin’s retreating figure with eyes full of lingering regret before turning her gaze to the secretary standing politely beside her.
“Director Kim, what did you think of her?”
“I have never seen anyone so... beautiful.”
“I was startled the moment I saw her, too. I suppose I was destined to meet her today, given how my skin suddenly flared up.”
Han Ji-woo had come today without a reservation because of a sudden skin breakout.
Even though it was a strict reservation-only system, a VVIP like a daughter-in-law of the Baekhyun Group was allowed such exceptions.
Running into other reserved guests in the lobby?
On the contrary, they would be grateful for the luck of being able to exchange small talk with a Baekhyun daughter-in-law for even a moment.
That was the weight the name Baekhyun carried in this country.
“Should I ask Director Jung? Who she is.”
“He won't tell you. You know how strictly he regards client privacy.”
“I know. That’s why I trust him. But I can’t help myself.”
“Director...”
As the secretary looked on with concern, Han Ji-woo chuckled and shook her head.
“Don't worry, I’ll approach her with manners. I’ll just ask him to pass along my request that I’d love to have a cup of tea with her sometime.”
“Knowing Director Jung’s personality, he’ll likely say he will but won't actually pass it on.”
“Then I’ll just have to show even more of my sincere devotion, won't I?”
Her gaze, dripping with attachment, lingered on the direction where Lee Yu-jin had disappeared.
‘Even my kids only use Apple phones.’
Han Ji-woo sighed as she thought of her three sons, who were becoming more of a handful as they grew older.
“Parents with a daughter like that must really enjoy raising her.”
*
The next day.
After school, Ji-hye and I took the Carnival driven by my mom to the filming set. My younger brother came along too.
The two of us changed into our costumes inside the car. During that time, my brother voluntarily put on an eye mask and plugged in his earphones.
“Yu-jin, Yu-jin! How was the dermatology clinic yesterday?”
“It was good. High-end among high-ends. It really felt like a place only the ultra-elite go.”
“Wow, I want to go to a place like that too.”
“Can’t you go?”
“My mom is well-off, not me. You said the director is a man, right? Did he try to hit on you or anything?”
“He’s a married man with kids. Nothing like that happened at all.”
I did cause a bit of a stir, but it was far from anything impure.
「A person who shouldn't be here has come. You don't need to come back from now on.」
「Pardon?」
「You were just born with it. Come back only if you have a breakout. You don't need any special treatments; just maintain your usual routine. Your skin is already perfect.」
「Then I can keep drinking three large Cokes every day like I do now?」
「Please, please, just cut back on the Coke a little. You’re fine now because you’re in your teens, but that will come back to haunt you with interest later.」
Jang Ji-hye clutched her stomach and laughed at the story I told.
“Ahahaha! That’s so funny! Seriously, Yu-jin, there’s never a dull moment when I’m with you.”
Since Jang Ji-hye’s reactions were so good, I also told her about meeting the Baekhyun Group daughter-in-law.
I left out the part about her being from the Baekhyun family.
“Really? Some rich lady said that?”
“Yeah, apparently she owns a gallery or something.”
“Whoa, she probably wanted to ask you to be a model.”
“I thought so too, so I bolted immediately.”
“Why? It sounds like it could be fun.”
“It’s a hassle. Boring. No fun.”
“Have you ever been a model for an oil painting?”
“I’ve had plenty of offers. But isn't it boring just thinking about it?”
After hanging out with Jang Ji-hye for a bit, I put on an eye mask and took a nap.
Once we arrived at the set, I greeted the people who welcomed me, changed into my costume, waited for my turn, and then stood before the camera to perform my action scenes.
Today, I worked hard clashing swords—clang, clang, clang!—with my senior, Park Seong-gu.
“Oof, Yu-jin. Take it a little easy on me. This old man’s wrists won't survive.”
“I’m sorry. I was actually taking it really easy on you.”
“...Would you like to try arm wrestling me once? I’ll wear gloves.”
“Oh, come on, let’s just do it normally.”
“I can’t. I appreciate the sentiment, but I’m afraid of how my wife would look at me if she found out.”
“Understood.”
And so, we arm-wrestled in front of everyone.
I pretended to squeeze out every ounce of strength before narrowly letting him win.
In the past, I used to crush men with pure strength, but I’d gathered enough big data to know that only leads to more trouble for me.
“Whoa! Still, Yu-jin, your strength is no joke! To hold out that long against Park Seong-gu...”
“You’re amazing, Yu-jin.”
However, Park Seong-gu was the only one not satisfied with the outcome.
“Yu-jin, be honest. You let me win on purpose, didn't you?”
“I used every bit of strength I had. Just holding out that long against you makes me part of the top 0.1%, doesn't it?”
Anyway, the filming set was the same as usual today.
Until Yoon Se-rang arrived.
Spotting me from a distance, Yoon Se-rang approached with clicking heels, grabbed my wrist, and pulled me aside.
‘What’s going on?’
After taking me to a place where no one could overhear, Yoon Se-rang scrutinized my face.
I felt a bit embarrassed by her gaze, which was even more observant than usual.
“What did you want to say?”
“Just how much charm were you spilling at the dermatology clinic yesterday?”
“Pardon? I didn't spill anything.”
“Then why is the Baekhyun Group daughter-in-law so completely smitten with you?”
“What?”
“You must have spilled a lot for her to be that hooked. No?”
“She said it was interesting that I use a phone made by her company, so I just gave her a soulless compliment saying their phones are much better than Apple phones. That was it.”
“So you said that to a woman whose husband is the president of Baekhyun Electronics' Mobile Division, while holding a Baekhyun phone with that face of yours? That is hooking her.”
Her husband is the president of the mobile division?
I was momentarily stunned into silence, but Yoon Se-rang suddenly smirked and pinched my cheek.
“The director told me.”
“Told you what?”
“That Director Han Ji-woo desperately wants to meet you again, and he asked if I could check with you to see if it’s okay for him to ask you.”
Yoon Se-rang chuckled lowly.
“Are you going to end up filming a commercial before you even debut?”