Chapter 20
Chapter 20
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 20
Chapter Title: Do You Like Macarons?
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Do you like macarons by any chance?
"What's up, unnie? You had breakfast on your own this morning, and you look happier than usual."
On the way back from the shoot, the manager in the driver's seat asked.
"What's so special about eating breakfast?"
"You always say it's a hassle and skip it. Are you finally trying to take better care of yourself?"
"Nah... It just happened that way."
Han Sea-ah fiddled with her phone in the back seat, giving a half-hearted reply.
Bzzz—
Her phone vibrated with a messenger notification.
Han Sea-ah checked the message on the screen and curled her lips into a smile.
"Oh, by the way. There's a famous macaron spot around here. Wanna stop by? You love macarons, unnie."
At the manager's words, Han Sea-ah's ears perked up.
Finally tearing her eyes from the screen, she looked at the manager.
"Yeah. Let's."
"You really love sweets, don't you?"
"No celebrity hates sweets~"
The manager burst out laughing and smoothly turned the wheel.
"You know that runner-up from last year's K Network cooking competition? She opened a dessert cafe herself."
"Oh, I saw that. Wasn't she a baker before?"
"Yep. Her experience in that field is no joke."
"Then the taste must be guaranteed. Hehe, nice."
Han Sea-ah hummed a little tune and turned her gaze to the window.
It was a bright, sunny morning with warm sunlight filtering in.
It was a bright morning with warm sunlight filtering in, but the stairs leading to my home were endlessly dark.
The moment I opened the door, the pungent smell of alcohol hit my nose, making my face scrunch up instinctively.
It hadn't been this bad before. Maybe because I'd just come from Han Sea-ah's fragrant home, but it felt especially revolting now.
So my place always smelled like this. My harsh reality sank in anew.
Empty bottles rolled under the sofa, and my biological mother lay deeply asleep on top of them. Spilled soju on the floor had dried, spreading a thick stench.
Tsk.
If it weren't for the smell, I'd have left it alone. With a sigh, I grabbed a rag, wiped the wet floor, and rinsed it over and over.
On days like today when my biological mother didn't go to work, I usually left the house.
I used to head to a PC bang before, but things were different now. I had to go to the agency. Weekend trainee schedules started bright and early.
'Just grab my stuff and go.'
It was a hassle.
Still, having somewhere else to be wasn't so bad, all things considered.
Of course, that lasted only until I arrived.
Once lessons started and I began dancing to the beat again, all I could think was that this place was pure hell.
"Huff... huff..."
"Good! You're getting better, Sarang!"
The trainer teacher seemed satisfied with my minuscule progress and raised the tempo, her voice full of energy.
Please don't.
Right after my private lesson ended with my breath catching in my throat, a summons from the CEO came.
I felt grimy going there drenched in sweat, but when called, you go. What choice did I have?
"What happened yesterday? Will you tell me?"
Oh Seo-hee asked gravely.
She'd gotten a sudden late-night call from me begging to stay over, so she must have a ton of questions.
"Just... a little fight with Mom."
"Can you tell me more?"
"...Can we skip it?"
"No. As your CEO, I need to know about anything that could affect your trainee life."
Hmm... What to do.
Oh Seo-hee treated me well, sure, but I had no reason to spill everything from start to finish. Not even for her sake.
"Mom's friends came over, it got too noisy and annoying... so I just left."
"...And she had nothing to say about you staying out without permission?"
"She probably doesn't even care."
She might not have even noticed I'd slept out.
"...I must have been mistaken. I thought you two at least got along."
Oh Seo-hee knew my family was poor, but not the gritty details.
If she did, she never would have spent 30 million to bring me on as a trainee. It'd be like buying a ticking time bomb with her own money.
Of course, even if she tried to back out now, I wouldn't return the cash. It was precious future funds for my TV appearances someday.
"Sarang, be honest with me."
Oh Seo-hee took my hand, her gaze deepening.
"Are you... being abused at home?"
It was a blunt question. Her eyes said if I said yes, she'd spring into action right away.
"Nah, she's just indifferent sometimes. We're not on bad terms."
"...Really?"
"Yeah, of course. We're family."
I had no intention of defending my biological mother.
But if her illegal activities got exposed, the fallout would hit me hardest.
Rumors spread faster than words in this day and age.
It'd only be a matter of time before "prostitute's daughter" became the neighborhood and school label, followed by mockery and finger-pointing.
Hiding it until adulthood and then cutting ties independently was the least stressful option all around. I still needed her legal protection for now.
Parental custody rights were surprisingly ironclad.
Even if I rented a place on my own, she'd just demand I come back, and the landlord would have to comply.
That's how Korean law worked.
I'd actually tried something similar as a kid once. She got hauled into the station, and in the end, Yu-na Aunt punished me for it.
She was usually sweet, but when it came to her sister, she didn't hesitate to lay hands on me too.
I couldn't move for a week and missed school. Even now, thinking back makes my body tremble a little.
"Really?"
"Yes, really!"
Oh Seo-hee double-checked.
I smiled and nodded, and only then did her face relax with relief.
"Sarang, if you ever need a place to crash like last time, call me anytime. Got it? Don't think it's a bother. Just call."
"Yes! Thank you, CEO."
"Good. Promise?"
Oh Seo-hee held out her pinky.
It felt a bit childish, but I hooked mine with hers anyway.
"Alright, enough heavy talk. Actually, I have something to tell you, Sarang."
"Go ahead."
"I heard from your acting teacher. She said you have unparalleled talent for it."
She was talking about the previous acting class.
"She insisted I suggest it to you. Ever thought about switching to acting?"
"Acting?"
"Yeah. Our agency's main focus is idols, but we're branching into actors too."
Retired idols turning to acting was common.
Han Sea-ah was one such case.
"What about you, Sarang? Interested in acting?"
"No thanks to acting."
I shut it down firmly, leaving no room for doubt.
My cold tone made Oh Seo-hee look a bit taken aback.
"Not even a little interested?"
"No."
"Got it. Then I'll cut the acting lessons and reschedule around stage performance."
I didn't particularly want to be an idol either, mind you. But no need to rain on Oh Seo-hee's enthusiasm.
I could bring it up later when debut contracts were on the table.
"Alright, that's settled. You can head back now."
I stood, bowing deeply to Oh Seo-hee.
"Thank you so much for last night, CEO."
"No need to thank me. It's what I should do as your CEO."
As your CEO.
Yeah, figures.
"Okay. Off to practice then."
"Yeah. Fighting!"
As I turned to leave the warm atmosphere behind, just as I reached the door—
"Oh, right."
Oh Seo-hee called me back, like something just occurred to her.
"Han Sea-ah really likes you. She even had you make her breakfast?"
"Ah... It wasn't much of a breakfast. Just salad."
"Still. That brat Han Sea-ah asking for it first? Probably a first in her life."
"Asking for what?"
"You'll find out soon."
Would it kill her to use a subject? It just leaves the listener frustrated.
I wonder if she actually enjoyed the salad.
Glad it helped at least a little. Feeling a faint sense of relief, I left the CEO's office.
Arriving at the B-Class practice room, my eyes met Lee Seo-yoon's first. I swallowed a sigh inwardly and plastered on my usual smile.
"Seo-yoon unnie!"
As always, I scurried over and linked arms with her.
She didn't push me away anymore, even complaining about the sweat.
"Oh, right, Seo-yoon unnie, do you have any siblings?"
"Huh? Yeah, one little sister."
"Makes sense. That voice on the phone back then—was that her? She sounded so pretty, just like you."
"Pretty? You have no idea how annoying she is. Might as well have no family."
"...Is that so?"
Might as well have no family.
She looked genuinely repulsed, but her eyes clearly held affection despite her words.
As a brief silence fell—
A faint vibration buzzed in my pants pocket.
I pulled out my phone and checked the screen: one new message.
Only Lee Seo-yoon unnie and the CEO had my number.
Not Seo-yoon unnie, so maybe the CEO? I unlocked the screen.
My eyes widened at the message content.
[The salad this morning was great! Save my number >.<]
Bzzz.
It vibrated once more right after.
A new message followed on screen.
[Do you like macarons by any chance?]