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Chapter 24
Eunyoung Unnie
Sorry. I’m busy, so I don’t think I’ll be able to stay in touch for a while.
That was the reply that came five hours after Sarah had sent Eunyoung a long, rambling message.
It was more shocking than when people had whispered about her at the Rockstar filming site.
“What are you staring at like that?”
“Nothing.”
“Nothing, my ass. You look like death.”
Mu-gyeom dragged a chair from afar and sat down beside Sarah.
Sarah shoved her phone into the pocket of her padded jacket.
He sipped his coffee in silence, then suddenly muttered:
“Kim Seyun looked pretty thrilled.”
“Oppa, I don’t have the energy to care about her right now.”
“She’s been running her mouth with weird nonsense.”
“What nonsense?”
At that, Sarah finally lifted her head from where it had been drooping toward the ground.
“She’s spreading ridiculous rumors to the staff. Acting like she’s some Sunday reporter.”
Normally, Sarah would’ve stormed over to confront her immediately. But now, drained of every bit of strength, she didn’t even feel like arguing.
She slumped deep into her chair and said,
“Let her talk all she wants.”
“You sure you’re okay?”
“Is this the first time I’ve dealt with stuff like this? The less I care, the more it’ll piss her off.”
“No, I mean… not that.”
“Hm?”
Sarah had assumed he was talking about Seyun spreading gossip about the investor mess, but his next words caught her off guard.
“Director Choi found out. That you met with an investment company. I heard it from Chief Cho.”
“Oh… yeah.”
Sarah’s face instantly clouded over.
She couldn’t think of anything to add, just fidgeted with the phone in her pocket.
Sensing her gloom, Mu-gyeom spoke casually, as if it were no big deal.
“Things got a little tangled, but you did it for Director Choi’s sake, right? Don’t beat yourself up.”
“Yeah. I’m fine.”
“Fine? You don’t look fine at all. What are you doing tonight? Want to grab a drink?”
“Tonight? Maybe, it’s been a long—”
Before she could finish, her padded pocket buzzed.
Clutching at that tiny shred of hope, Sarah quickly pulled out her phone.
[Is this yours, Ms. Seo Sarah?]
It was a message with a picture attached.
Unfortunately, the sender was Yoon Seung-tae.
In the photo was a single earring that looked very familiar.
“Oh, my earring.”
“What earring?”
“Nothing.”
She must’ve dropped it in Seung-tae’s car that day.
[Yes, it’s mine. But you can just throw it away.]
[Why? Seems a waste to toss it.]
[I have plenty like that at home.]
[That’s a shame. I was going to use this as an excuse to see you again.]
Sarah’s fingers froze mid-reply.
Suddenly, she was reminded of the debt she owed him.
As she hesitated over what to write back, the screen flashed and Seung-tae’s name filled it in bold.
Startled by the sudden call, Sarah jumped to her feet.
“Oppa, I need to take this.”
“Huh? Oh, sure.”
Clutching her phone tightly, Sarah headed to a quiet corner.
Only after making sure no one was nearby did she answer in a low voice.
“Hello.”
[You really are like Cinderella.]
The moment she picked up, Seung-tae spoke with a laugh in his voice.
“What are you talking about all of a sudden?”
[Just like leaving behind a glass slipper—you left behind your earring.]
“You’re still on about that Cinderella nonsense?”
[I may not be a prince, but I’m still searching for the Cinderella who left this behind.]
“Lucky for you, anyone with pierced ears could wear that.”
When Sarah shot back bluntly, he chuckled again.
She’d noticed before—he laughed a lot.
[How’s filming going?]
“Good. Not many tough scenes left.”
[Nothing out of the ordinary?]
“No.”
After her answer, there was a long silence.
Sarah even checked to see if the call had disconnected, but it was still ongoing.
“Hello?”
[Did you make up with her?]
“Her? Oh—Eunyoung unnie?”
[Yeah.]
“No. Haven’t even been able to see her properly. She must be really busy.”
Her voice was clearly deflated, dragging low.
[But you apologized, right?]
“Yeah. I guess I should go find her in person and say sorry directly.”
[More importantly… do you even know why she’s mad? I can’t imagine you did anything to make someone hate you. Did you make some mistake?]
They’d only met a handful of times, but in that moment he felt as familiar as a decade-old friend.
Before she knew it, Sarah found herself spilling everything.
“Actually, Eunyoung unnie’s a film director. She’s been struggling to find investors for her project, so she was having a really hard time. We tried meeting investors together, but it didn’t go well…”
[But that’s not your fault.]
“No, she’s not upset about that. She’s upset because afterwards I went behind her back, meeting investors on my own. She found out.”
Her voice grew smaller the more she spoke.
Seung-tae responded lightly,
[Hmm. So she’s mad because you met investors without telling her.]
“Exactly.”
[But why not tell her? Was there any real reason to hide it?]
“Well… um…”
Sarah hesitated. It was Eunyoung’s private matter—she wasn’t sure if she should say it aloud.
A short silence followed.
He waited patiently, without pressing her.
“Her works are really good artistically, but commercially they didn’t do well… so investors are a bit reluctant.”
[So that’s why you were sneaking off to meetings.]
“Yeah. That restaurant yesterday—I was there for a meeting. But somehow unnie found out and showed up…”
As she said it, a question occurred to her.
How had Eunyoung known exactly when and where Sarah would be?
Even Mirae only knew vague rumors.
[What about the script?]
Her doubts dissolved quickly at his next question.
[The movie Eunyoung’s trying to get funded—have you read the script?]
“Of course! It’s a female-led action thriller, and it’s so good. I stayed up nights reading it. It has real commercial potential too. By any chance…”
[Hm?]
“Do you know any film investors? Could you introduce me? I’ll buy you dinner. Something really fancy.”
Seung-tae burst out laughing, as if he’d just heard a joke.
Sarah almost snapped at him for laughing, but held back, clinging to even the slimmest chance.
“You do know an investor, don’t you?”
[I do. But there’s a condition.]
“What is it? Just say it. As long as it’s not something weird, I’ll agree.”
[Weird?]
“Like insisting on a trashy adult film and dumping the script for it.”
[There are people like that?]
“They exist.”
She replied cynically. She didn’t have to look far—just yesterday she’d been handed such a script.
[I don’t want you drinking poison and killing yourself, so let’s skip that.]
This time Sarah laughed.
Just then, her manager Jooyoung came running up from a distance, waving frantically.
“Nunaaah—hah—where have you been? I’ve been looking everywhere!”
“Why? Time to shoot?”
“Yeah, the director’s calling for you.”
“Okay, let’s go.”
“But who were you on the phone with for so long? I tried calling over and over, but you didn’t answer, so it took forever to find you.”
“Huh? What? Obviously a friend. Who else would I be talking to?”
It was a casual question, but Sarah’s guilty conscience made her raise her voice a little.
Jooyoung gave her a suspicious look.
“Noona, you’re heading straight home after this, right? I have to report to Chief Cho every day.”
“Got it. I’m not sneaking off anywhere, don’t worry.”
Even with her reassurance, Jooyoung still stuck close by her side as they moved.
The scene they were filming was an ordinary one, nothing too difficult.
But when it came to a scene with just Seyun and Sarah, Seyun’s cheerful smile suddenly dropped. She slouched, her whole posture dripping with annoyance and resentment.
Anyone could see she was brimming with irritation.
Still, Sarah kept her professional smile and led the scene.
“In this part, I’ll trip you as I deliver my line.”
“Yeah, whatever.”
“Want to try your line after that?”
“You don’t even know your place. That’s what happens when you wear clothes that don’t fit you.”
“Pretty sure that’s my line.”
Sarah narrowed her eyes halfway, meeting Seyun’s gaze.
