Chapter 98: Can We Talk for a Bit?
Translator: RaidenTL
Chapter 98: Can We Talk for a Bit?
“Let’s end it here.”
Yeong-eun spoke with her head hung low.
“Do you really mean that?”
“Yes… It’s getting hard for me, too.”
“…”
I bit my lip at her sudden words.
“Is there no turning back?”
“No. I think this is as far as we go.”
I thought about reaching out to grab her hand several times.
But I couldn't bring myself to do it.
“…Alright. Let’s end it here.”
“Thank you for everything. And I’m sorry.”
Yeong-eun turned around and walked away.
My heart ached.
It thudded wildly in my chest, but there was nothing I could do.
I could only watch her retreating back.
“That was pretty good, wasn't it?”
Yeong-eun turned back toward me, her face glowing.
Her cheeks were flushed, and she flashed a bright smile that showed her teeth.
“Was it alright?”
“You’re the type who gets immersed in the atmosphere better than I expected.”
“With a great actress performing right in front of me, I just got swept up in it without realizing…”
“I definitely made the right choice asking you, Jae-ho.”
Yeong-eun gave a satisfied smile.
I looked down at the thick script and said, “I can’t believe we actually finished the whole thing.”
It was a script for a movie over an hour long.
We had read and practiced it from beginning to end.
If a scene felt lacking, we read it again; if the delivery felt ambiguous, we performed it once more.
We had been at it for three hours.
Since we were practicing just to get a feel for the atmosphere, we skimmed through some parts, so it ended relatively quickly.
I wondered if it was even okay for her to show me a script of this length, but seeing how nonchalantly she handled it…
I guess it’s fine.
At my comment, Yeong-eun tilted her head.
“You don’t think we’re done after just one session, do you?”
“Pardon?”
“We’re going to practice over and over. Until we can perfectly capture the mood.”
“Was it that lacking?”
“Of course.”
The performance had been so vivid that I’d been swept up in the emotions myself.
And yet, she felt it was lacking.
“The way it looks on set and through a camera lens is different.”
She answered as if she had read my mind.
“Let’s do this again soon. We need to analyze and study various emotions within the same situation.”
“Understood.”
In that moment, I realized something.
Yeong-eun hadn't reached her current position through innate talent alone; it was the result of the immense effort she put into honing that talent.
“Chief Park will give you a ride.”
“No, it’s okay. I’ll head back on my own.”
“Are you sure?”
“It might cause a misunderstanding if people see me getting out of your car.”
“…Alright. Get home safely.”
Yeong-eun’s eyes shimmered with a strange light as she looked at me.
As I left her agency’s office and headed home, I felt a gaze on my back.
At first, I thought it might be Yeong-eun and turned around.
“There’s no one there.”
The agency windows weren't open, and Yeong-eun hadn't come out to the door.
Then, something Yeong-eun said during practice came to mind.
‘My grandfather might have sent someone.’
The possibility that Chairman Yoo Taek-soo had sent someone.
That someone he sent was watching me from somewhere.
A chill ran down my spine.
Things are going to be annoying for a few days.
By the time I reached my house.
I spotted a black car that had been following me at a distance.
That’s the one.
The car carrying the person Chairman Yoo had sent.
However, I didn't let on that I noticed.
If I showed that I knew, they might start observing me from outside my field of vision, which would make them harder to deal with.
As long as they don’t directly harm me.
I went inside.
— Oppa, did you see my match?
When I got home, a text from Hyun-kyung had arrived, asking if I’d watched her match.
“Ah…”
What should I do about this?
*
The person Chairman Yoo sent continued to tail me.
They kept a reasonable distance at all times.
When I went to school, when I worked out with members at the gym, and even when I went to Yeong-eun’s office for acting practice.
They were always there, following from a distance.
It had been four days since I’d picked up the tail.
“…That concludes my presentation.”
After finishing my presentation for a general education class, I stepped down from the podium to the sound of applause.
My hands were soaked with sweat.
I was way too nervous.
I couldn't even remember what I’d said during the presentation.
No matter how much I thought about it, public speaking just wasn't for me.
“Whew.”
“Good job, Senior.”
“Jae-ho Oppa, you were great!”
As I returned to my seat with a sigh, Mi-ju and Ye-seul cheered me on.
“At this rate, I think we’ll all get A’s.”
“Did you see the professor’s face while you were presenting? He looked so satisfied, he was smiling the whole time.”
“Really?”
I had been too nervous to look anywhere else.
Thump! Thump!
My heart, which had been racing harder than after an hour of cardio, finally began to settle down.
“Phew.”
Relieved, I belatedly watched the other teams' presentations with a relaxed mind.
Ah, whatever. The presentation is over.
My body felt limp with relief.
“The weather has gotten quite chilly. Final exams are coming up soon, so everyone, please start preparing.”
After class ended, I walked out flanked by Mi-ju and Ye-seul.
Mi-ju linked her arm with my left, and Ye-seul took my right, neither showing any intention of letting go.
“Oppa, now that the presentation is over, let’s have lunch together.”
“I agree! I agree! I found a great tteokbokki place nearby. Want to go there?”
“I’m in! Let’s get rose tteokbokki! If we dip fried chicken in the sauce, seriously, haaa…”
The two women pushed their suggestions without even waiting for my opinion.
They really seem to want tteokbokki.
Do you girls have any idea how many calories are in that?
Just as I was about to say something.
“Mr. Choi Jae-ho?”
An elderly man in a suit stepped out of a luxury black car and called my name.
Mi-ju and Ye-seul, who had been excited about lunch just a moment ago, looked back and forth between the old man and me in surprise.
“It is a pleasure to meet you. This is who I am.”
I knew who he was even without taking his business card.
He was the one Chairman Yoo had sent.
It was that same familiar black car I’d been seeing.
— Jeil Group, Choi Woo-sung.
“Please feel free to call me Secretary Choi.”
“Ah, yes. Nice to meet you.”
“I apologize to the two young ladies you were speaking with, but Mr. Jae-ho, could you spare a moment of your time?”
“Girls, I’m sorry. I don’t think I can eat with you today.”
At my words, Mi-ju and Ye-seul looked dejected.
They looked like puppies who had just had their treats taken away.
“Oppa, nothing’s wrong, right?”
“Is… is something bad happening, Senior?”
“It’s nothing. So don’t worry too much.”
I reassured the panicked girls.
If a black car suddenly pulled up and a man jumped out to take me away for a talk, I’d be startled too.
“I’ll contact you later. You two eat together today.”
“Please, get in.”
Secretary Choi had me sit in the back while he took the passenger seat.
A young man was driving.
He stared straight ahead with a dull gaze, as if his emotions had been surgically removed.
“I have been following you for the past few days, Mr. Jae-ho.”
Secretary Choi was the first to break the silence.
“I had a feeling.”
“What is your relationship?”
“With what?”
“With our Young Lady Yeong-eun.”
“We are good partners.”
“Is that so?”
Choi Woo-sung turned his body to face me in the back seat.
Behind his veiled smile were sharp eyes that were clearly sizing me up.
I realized he was not someone to be trifled with.
“I see your father is in business…”
“He runs a small company.”
“I wonder why there are rumors that the second son, Choi In-ho, will be the successor instead of you, the eldest?”
“Are you suggesting I was kicked out because I did something useless?”
“Heaven forbid. Not at all.”
He shook his head.
“I am simply… asking if you approached her intentionally, or if it was merely a coincidence.”
“…You mean working with Yeong-eun?”
“Yes.”
“Yeong-eun approached me first. Not the other way around.”
“Is that so…?”
He stared at me in silence, trying to discern the truth of my words.
Go ahead, stare all you want.
See what you find.
Since there wasn't a single lie in my words, I remained composed.
“It seems you are running a gym…”
After a moment of reflection, Secretary Choi looked at me and asked.
“Would it be alright if I took a look at it?”
“…”
“It’s not impossible, is it?”
“It’s not impossible, but it is a bit inconvenient.”
“Why is that?”
Secretary Choi’s eyes glinted like a predator’s.
I really can't afford even a minor slip-up.
“Because it’s a women-only gym.”
“I am not saying I will become a member. I simply wish to see how you operate the facility.”
His wrinkled eyes were full of intensity.
“Understood. I’ll give you the address. Let’s go.”
I had nothing to hide.
I guided him to the gym’s chain branch.
Of course.
I couldn't take someone who hadn't been hypnotized to my private place and tell him that was my gym.
“The interior is cleaner than the building would suggest.”
Secretary Choi muttered as he looked around the gym.
“Do you run this alone?”
“Yes. As a rule, I provide one-on-one PT and instruction between the trainer and the member.”
“It seems quite large for a single client to use.”
“There are times when I take on multiple members. And to satisfy various needs, one requires a diverse range of equipment, don't you think?”
“Hmm…”
He looked around the interior without a word.
To be honest, I never expected him to show up so openly.
It was clear he had been tailing me to determine whether I was someone who would be harmful to Yoo Yeong-eun.
I thought he would just observe from a distance for a few days and then leave.
Is it because he couldn't find anything substantial?
Or was it the confidence that they could do whatever they wanted?
I didn't know the reason, but this was actually an opportunity.
An opportunity to get rid of the eyes following me.
And perhaps, by gaining his trust, I could even bring him over to my side.
After quietly observing the interior, Secretary Choi spoke.
“The facilities aren't as good as I expected.”
“There are limits to what an individual can build.”
“Hmm…”
His eyes were sharp as he scanned the gym.
Search all you want. See if anything comes up.
It was time to end this tedious scouting mission.
“You can stop judging me based on appearances now.”
“…”
“You didn't come here just to see if I’m an ideal partner for Yeong-eun, did you?”
When the other party is uncertain about you, it’s better to confront them head-on.
This man was essentially the prelude to a meeting with Chairman Yoo.
It would be much better to leave a deep impression now for my future encounter with the Chairman.
“A partnership, you say…”
Secretary Choi’s eyebrows twitched.
What was he thinking?
He was a man whose inner thoughts were impossible to read.
“I don’t know much about the ecology of chaebol families, but there’s no need to dig any deeper, is there? I believe the most important thing in working together is skill.”
“Skill is important. Yes, I agree it is important.”
“The facilities might not be much, but I am confident in my skills. If Yeong-eun went as far as terminating her existing contracts to work with me, I don’t think any more words are necessary. Unless…”
I paused for a moment.
“Are you doubting Yeong-eun’s judgment?”
“That is not the case. How could I doubt the Young Lady’s eye? I am already aware of your skills, Mr. Jae-ho. Isn't the world-class tennis player Hyun-kyung, who is currently active in the U.S., also a member here?”
So he did know.
“I did not come here because I doubted your skills. Whether you believe it or not, I have already acknowledged your abilities through my prior investigation.”
“Then why are you here?”
“It was for a reason other than your skills, but it seems you haven't realized that yet.”
“Another reason?”
“Ah, did the Young Lady not tell you?”
“…”
What?
He didn't come to see if I was suitable as Yeong-eun’s personal trainer?
Then why was he here?
My mind suddenly felt blocked.
What on earth was it?
What was I missing?
“It seems you truly don’t know. If I may be so kind as to enlighten you, the reason I came is…”
It was then.
Ding!
The bell hanging on the door rang.
“Huh? Secretary Choi, why are you here?”
Yeong-eun, dressed to the nines, walked in.
“You’ve arrived, Young Lady.”
At Yeong-eun’s words, Secretary Choi smiled gracefully and bowed his head.
It was a perfect posture without a single flaw.
“I stopped by for a moment to see what kind of person the trainer you cherish is.”
“You didn't have to go this far.”
“You know well that I am not in a position to refuse the Chairman’s orders.”
Yeong-eun bit her lip.
It was a look of flustered embarrassment rarely seen on her.
“I was worried that some thug might have seduced you, Young Lady… but it seems my fears were groundless.”
Secretary Choi’s expression softened somewhat.
He looked back and forth between Yeong-eun and me, then soon broke into a benevolent grandfatherly smile.
“The Young Lady is a woman after all. Hahaha.”
“Hey! Secretary Choi! You’ve got it all wrong!”
“I shall take my leave now. I don’t know if this is news the Chairman will like… but I will report back positively in my own way.”
What?
What does that mean?
Am I the only one who doesn't know?
“My loyalty got the better of me, and I believe I was rude to you, Mr. Jae-ho. You seem to be a solid young man, so I believe I can rest easy.”
Secretary Choi bowed to me.
“Ah, yes…”
Since the man who had been glaring at me like a beast just moments ago had changed so suddenly, I found myself bowing back instinctively.
“Ah, Mr. Jae-ho.”
“Yes?”
“The Chairman will be calling for you soon. Please be prepared.”
Chairman Yoo is calling for me?
Why?
“Secretary Choi, please tell my grandfather not to do this.”
“You know how he is. Even if I try to stop him, he always carries out what he wants to do.”
Having finished his piece, Secretary Choi pumped his fist as he left.
“Good luck, Young Lady.”
“Secretary Choi! I told you it’s a misunderstanding!”
It looked like today’s PT was going to be quite a struggle.