YDCFGD 06

Chapter 06

Do You Think You’ll Run Into Your First Crush at a Dinner Party?

“You ran away like that, and now you’re ignoring even me?”

Be careful. Something like this can happen.

Yeah. I was completely frozen right now.

Because Ryu Dogyeong was glaring at me with eyes as cold as minus forty degrees.

‘How could I ever forget this face?’

Ryu Dogyeong.

I used to like him once. It was when I was really young. After I became independent from the Joo family, we lost contact.

Even after growing apart, I still heard his name often. Turn on the news, and Ryu Dogyeong would show up.

Before my regression, when I had just turned twenty…

• Seohae and Dongwoo to Become In-Laws? Business World Tense Over Heir Engagement Rumors

• Seohae Group Heir Ryu Dogyeong (21), Rumored to Be Engaged to Dongwoo Group’s Joo Suyeon (20) — “Completely False”

There were even rumors that he was engaged to Joo Suyeon, Joo Sudeok’s daughter and my age-mate. But until the day I died, he never got engaged to her.

Whenever his face appeared in news or video clips, I would sniffle and think,
“Wow, he grew up so well… I really had good taste…”

But I never dreamed I’d meet him again like this!

‘My forehead’s going to get pierced by that stare…’

He was a whole head taller than me and glaring like he wanted to kill me. I hurriedly avoided his gaze.

“Stop rolling your eyes. It’s noisy.”

Ryu Dogyeong grabbed my cheek and turned my face toward him. Our eyes locked tightly in midair.

“Why aren’t you answering? Did you forget how to talk? Or maybe…”
“……”
“Do you not want to talk to me?”

Of course I don’t!
I squeezed my eyes shut and briefly recalled the past.

Back when I used to follow him everywhere, after getting scolded by my mom, I’d cried and said to him:

‘What do I do? Mom says she’s going to marry me off to some idiot… Sniff… Can’t I marry you? Can’t you just become an idiot for me?’
‘Joo Saei, stop following me and apologize to your mom. Forget marriage and everything, you idiot.’

…Ah.

I even remembered blowing my nose on his sleeve.

When I stood there blankly, Ryu Dogyeong tapped my forehead with his finger.

“You’re the one who never showed your face.”
“……”
“Should I feel like an unwanted guest?”
“N-No!”

No matter how embarrassing my past was, he was still the young power-holder of Seohae Group—and famously cold-blooded. If I ignored that remark, I might get on his bad side.

When I waved my hands desperately, he finally tilted his head, as if satisfied that I’d reacted.

Just as he was about to speak again—

“Chairman Joo is entering.”

Perfect timing!

The main character of the dinner party—my real reason for coming—had arrived.

***

“Thank you all for coming.”

Chairman Joo’s rough voice filled the now-quiet hall. His handmade hanbok shimmered in the sunlight.

Business and political figures returned to their assigned tables. Ryu Dogyeong did as well.

Saei’s seat was at the Joo family table, next to my aunt.

After lightly greeting everyone, Chairman Joo stopped in the center of the hall and slowly scanned the tables.

His gaze lingered on one spot.

‘…So she really came.’

Joo Saei.
The seat of the granddaughter left behind by his eldest daughter.

“Tsk.”

He clicked his tongue.

She had shown up at Dongwoo Hall recently, and now she’d even managed to get invited to this dinner.

‘She used to avoid coming no matter how much I called her.’

His face showed confusion at my sudden change.

When he sat at the head table, servants immediately began serving warm dishes.

“How does it make sense that I have to eat with her?”

Even though Joo Suyeon was openly showing her displeasure, my mind was full of stray thoughts.

I had to act in front of Grandpa.
If not today, I might never get another chance.

I turned my gaze away, trying to calm myself. Many guests had finished eating and were watching the chairman carefully.

Then—

“Chairman, Chairman Ryu has sent a special gift.”

With a gentle smile, Ryu Dogyeong spoke up boldly.

“I prepared something too! Let’s talk slowly!”
“Chairman, we also—!”

Guests who had been waiting raised their hands one by one.

“Ho ho… Dogyeong spoke first.”
“……”
“Let’s hear them one by one. What you prepared, and why.”

The reins of legal flattery were released.

***

Chairman Joo immediately rejected any gift he didn’t like.

In the noisy atmosphere, Joo Sudeok, his daughter, and my aunt chatted with acquaintances.

I guarded the empty table alone and secretly glanced at Ryu Dogyeong.

He had gone first and passed with his father’s gift.

Maybe that’s why—he now sat back, watching calmly.

‘It’s almost my turn.’

My hands were shaking.
I was tens of times more nervous than when I acted in front of Actress Seong Hyesim. My future depended on this.

I lowered my head and recited my lines silently. It helped steady my mind.

“Hey.”
“Eek!”
“Why are you so startled? Am I going to eat you?”

When did he get here? Ryu Dogyeong stood over me with his hands in his pockets.

“You kept staring at the floor and mumbling.”
“Uh… You saw that?”
“It was obvious.”
“I see… It was obvious…”

I nodded blankly.

“You’re being overly polite. Doesn’t suit you.”
“Y-Yes.”
“Talk casually.”
“No… I’m more comfortable like this…”

His eyes widened slightly.

‘Why is he surprised?’

It had been years since we’d met. I was even someone who had confessed a hundred times, gotten rejected a hundred times, then disappeared.

“Do you…”
“……”
“Are you uncomfortable around me?”

Of course I am!
I swallowed the urge to shout.

He had already sat beside me, staring intently.

“That’s strange…”

Ignoring him, I cleared my throat. It was really my turn now.

Hoo.
I took a deep breath and stood up. He lightly grabbed my arm.

“He’s merciless, even to family.”

He seemed to realize what I was about to do.

His playful look vanished, replaced by seriousness—the Ryu Dogyeong I knew from the news.

“I know.”
“Are you ready?”
“I prepared something he’ll like.”

He tilted his head in disbelief.

“What is it? If you get scolded after coming back for the first time in years—!”

…Is he worried about me?

But I had no time for him anymore. I shook off his hand.

“You’ll see.”

I turned—

“Joo Saei.”

Grandpa called me.

I walked toward him calmly.

“You wouldn’t come no matter how I called. You wouldn’t return without a reason.”
“……”
“So now I’m curious. Show me what you prepared.”
“My gift is…”

I looked at him confidently.

“It’s what you treasure most.”
“……What?”
“Something you believe no longer exists in this world.”

The hall fell silent.

Everyone was listening.

I continued calmly.

“I’ll return it to you through acting.”

“That’s ridiculous! Treasured thing? Acting? Father, what does she know about your heart?”

Starting with Joo Sudeok, people began murmuring.

I had expected this. I waited only for Grandpa’s permission.

“She’s saying she’ll act like some street performer in front of everyone! You should send her away!”
“Sudeok.”
“Father!”

Grandpa hesitated.

A granddaughter who suddenly appeared now wanted to perform. It was all or nothing.

If I stayed silent, I’d be sent back without showing anything.

Just as I was about to speak—

“Chairman.”

Ryu Dogyeong raised his hand.

The murmurs stopped.

“I want to see it. Saei’s acting.”

Whether he trusted me or was mocking me, I didn’t know.

“…Fine. Let’s see.”

His words placed me on Grandpa’s test stage.

And I welcomed it.