🔊 TTS Settings
Episode 5
Pyeon Ji-wook grinned as he spoke.
“Ah, I was thinking it might be good for Y Airline to form a collaboration with our K J Group as well. What do you think, Chairman?”
A broad smile spread across the usually blunt face of Bae Geun-ho.
“If that happens, wouldn’t it be a tremendous opportunity for our Taesan?”
It had been a very long time since Si-hyeon had seen Bae Geun-ho make such an expression.
Well, a collaboration with K J Group would surely send Y Airline’s stock price soaring day by day, and all of Taesan Group’s products would sell out completely.
It would be an incredibly good opportunity, but somehow it seemed like there was a hidden agenda.
I sincerely hope he’s not having any useless thoughts.
“Representative Bae, no appetite?”
Her eyes met Pyeon Ji-wook’s.
Unlike the others, only her plate remained untouched.
“Vice President Pyeon Ji-wook is quite gentlemanly, isn’t he?”
Her stepmother, Kang Hui-won, who had been tilting her white wine glass, wore a faint smile.
“Paying so much attention to our Hyo-ju. Don’t you think so, dear?”
With enemies on all sides, Sihyeon couldn’t be at ease.
“It would have been really nice if our Eun-seong could have seen Vice President Pyeon Ji-wook’s face too.”
Pyeon Ji-wook looked around as if searching for someone.
“But, I don’t see Bae Sihyeon.”
“…”
“I heard she’s living here at the main house.”
“Yo, you know our Si-hyeon?”
“Yes. I heard about her often through Hyo-ju. Ah, you probably wouldn’t know, Chairman, but five years ago, I was a regular at the flower shop where Bae Sihyeon worked.”
Bae Geun-ho’s expression became full of difficulty, and he forced a weak smile.
“Seeing that, the world is really small.”
“Indeed it is, Chairman.”
At the sound of her own name, mentioned so casually, Si-hyeon choked. Wiping her mouth with a napkin, she took a sip of water.
Even though Bae Geun-ho had officially registered Sihyeon in the family registry, only a very few in the political and business world knew of Sihyeon’s existence.
Sihyeon’s heart kept pounding.
But why was he looking for me?
They weren’t close enough for Pyeon Ji-wook to seek her out.
Five years ago, they had only had a long conversation on that day he bought the forget-me-not bouquet; they hadn’t shared any particular stories.
‘I’ve been a regular all this time. We never even exchanged names, did we?’
Back then, only Pyeon Ji-wook had said his name; Si-hyeon hadn’t even introduced herself.
‘I’m Pyeon Ji-wook.’
Her gaze met Bae Geun-ho’s, who was sitting across from her, in mid-air.
“Right. Sihyeon isn’t seen. I wonder if she’s still sleeping.”
Bae Geun-ho hinted.
“Ah. I’ll go call her.”
Rising from her seat, she left the dining room.
Turning her head sharply, Si-hyeon hurriedly unbuttoned her shirt as she ran across the garden.
Running so hastily, she slightly twisted her ankle, but it wasn’t a major problem.
Sihyeon lived in the annex, not the main house.
Bae Geun-ho had created a separate space in the annex, thinking that her stepmother or the servants might discover her living her sister’s life.
Although she could live outside, it was intended, like ‘it’s dark under the lamp,’ to keep her close and dispel suspicion.
But to Sihyeon, it felt like a kind of surveillance.
It felt like being locked in a cage, lest Sihyeon have any other thoughts and try to run away.
Click.
After completely locking the door, Sihyeon first threw off the stifling wig.
A silk mesh net was wrapped around her hair. As she pulled down the fixing net, the long hair hidden inside cascaded down.
Soon after, she took off all her clothes one by one.
She looked at her naked body reflected in the mirror. She saw the long surgical scar situated below her stomach.
Now it was time to return to Bae Sihyeon, not Bae Hyo-ju.
To her plain, make-up free true self, not the glamorous version.
While tilting wine glasses and conversing with Chairman Bae, Pyeon Ji-wook’s gaze naturally drifted towards the door.
Bae Geun-ho asked with a curious expression.
“Is there somewhere you need to be? You keep looking outside.”
“No, Chairman.”
Pyeon Ji-wook gently wiped the corner of his mouth with a napkin and rose from his seat. Like a thief whose guilt shows, Bae Geun-ho spoke urgently.
“Where are you going?”
“I’ll just step out to the restroom for a moment.”
“Oh my. Have I made our Vice President Pyeon unable to even use the restroom? I was having such a good time I lost track of time.”
He let out a hearty laugh.
“Well then.”
Wearing a fake smile, Pyeon Ji-wook moved.
He went straight to the restroom and thoroughly washed his hands first. As the phone in his jacket’s inner pocket vibrated, he pressed the call button.
“What’s with the sudden call? Bae Hyo-ju.”
I’m tired, so I’ll go first. Have a good conversation with the Chairman.
“What?”
You probably showed up at the main house to torment me. I think it’s been enough. Meeting you is too exhausting.
Pyeon Ji-wook turned off the faucet and leaned against the sink.
Ah. This was too different, way too different.
He pressed his stiff neck firmly with his large hand.
“You’ve completely changed?”
People change. You will too, I’m sure. Well then, I’ll hang up now. Pyeon Ji-wook.
Click. Staring at the disconnected call, he let out a snort of laughter.
Pyeon Ji-wook, who had come out pressing the back of his neck, suddenly stopped walking.
At the same time he lifted his head, his eyes met those of a woman coming down the stairs.
Pyeon Ji-wook’s pupils shook faintly.
His eyes took in the lush long hair tied up in one bunch, the long neckline, and her upright posture.
She looked momentarily surprised at the sudden encounter with Pyeon Ji-wook, then bowed her head in greeting.
Her white hand slowly swept down the handrail as she descended.
Bae Si-hyeon was still white and lovely.
She was like a white snowflake, and her large eyes sparkled as if stars were embedded in the night sky.
His gaze slowly roamed her face.
Her round forehead, small face, and delicate features. His gaze naturally drifted towards her particularly full lips.
Her slightly parted lips were strangely sexy. Her make-up free appearance only fueled Pyeon Ji-wook’s interest even more.
She was still beautiful.
Si-hyeon, on the other hand, felt her lips parching.
Her heart raced violently, afraid that he might recognize her, playing two roles. However, she did not avoid his gaze.
“It’s been a long time.”
He spoke towards Si-hyeon.
His voice was friendly, as if they had known each other for a long time.
“Exactly five years, isn’t it? Have you been well?”
“Yes. I’ve been well. But, you were looking for me?”
“You haven’t forgotten my name, have you?”
“I remember. I also know you’re sister’s close friend.”
“That’s a relief. I heard about you through Hyo-ju too. Maybe that’s why it feels even nicer to see you.”
Si-hyeon nodded vaguely.
Even though the conversation had briefly ended, Pyeon Ji-wook’s gaze showed no sign of leaving.
“Would it be burdensome if I said I missed you?”
A flustered voice escaped her.
“Ex, excuse me?”
Pyeon Ji-wook quickly answered.
“Still, I came to buy flowers three times a week five years ago.”
“Ah, yes.”
“You don’t work at the flower shop part-time anymore.”
“I quit.”
Again, the conversation stalled.
His gaze lingered on her so intently it was burdensome.
Afraid he might suspect if she avoided his gaze, Sihyeon deliberately kept her eyes straight ahead as she came down the stairs.
Staring straight ahead while descending, her ankles suddenly tangled. Her body, losing balance, swayed forward.
Ah… ah!
The moment her body tilted, Si-hyeon squeezed her eyes shut. He pulled her body into a strong embrace.
Leaning against Pyeon Ji-wook’s shoulder, Si-hyeon blinked her large eyes. Pyeon Ji-wook also had a look of circuits temporarily halted by the sudden accident.
Held in his embrace, Sihyeon pushed hard against his shoulder with both hands. Pyeon Ji-wook’s body weakly pushed back and tumbled down two steps.
Thud—!
With a loud noise, he sprawled onto the floor.
Her jaw dropped in astonishment.
This man, who hadn’t budged no matter how much she pushed in the representative’s office, was now weakly pushed away.
Sihyeon quickly came down the stairs. Before she could speak, a startled voice burst out.
“Oh my, Vice President Pyeon Ji-wook!”
Kang Hui-won, who had just come out of the dining room at that moment, made a fuss. Bae Geun-ho, who had been tilting his wine glass, also hurried out to assess the situation.
Pyeon Ji-wook, narrowing his brow and holding his back, met her eyes.
“Bae Sihyeon. Did you just push me down the stairs?”
“I’m sorry.”
Despite Sihyeon’s apology, Bae Geun-ho sat on the living room sofa, massaging his throbbing forehead.
Sihyeon, sitting across from him, just hung her head low like a criminal.
Pyeon Ji-wook, who had hurt his back, was receiving treatment in the guest room.
“Why are you always making mistakes like this? Don’t you know who he is? He’s the most important business partner for our company! Try to imitate even half of Hyo-ju!”
Sihyeon’s head drooped lower and lower, like a burning matchstick.
“Oh, honey. Vice President Pyeon might hear you. What fault could Sihyeon have in what just happened?”
Kang Hui-won, pretending to defend her, was actually fanning the flames of the fire.
Unlike the active Bae Hyo-ju, Si-hyeon only lived in the annex.
A reclusive loner.
That was Bae Sihyeon’s image.
She was active when everyone else was sleeping, and slept when others were awake.
Living like that made playing two roles possible, and no one ever touched or bothered Si-hyeon.
She looked at Professor Kim, who was coming down the stairs.
“How is he? Vice President Pyeon Ji-wook?”
“Fortunately, there’s no major problem; he should be fine after resting a while.”
“Thank you, Professor Kim. For coming at this late hour.”
Si-hyeon let out a sigh of relief.
As Bae Geun-ho stood up to head towards the stairs, Professor Kim stopped him.
“Vice President Pyeon Ji-wook said no one else needs to come, but to call for Si-hyeon.”
“…Me, me?”
