CC 31

“What? Spread what?”

Kim Se-yeon.

A reporter.

Strange rumors.

The words that came out of his mouth were anything but ordinary.

Sara’s eyes immediately narrowed.

Seung-tae spoke as if it were nothing important.

“It’s nothing much. Just some tabloid rumors saying that you lobbied investors to secure funding for your movie.”

“…Is that information reliable?”

“If you’re asking whether that’s really what’s being said, then yes. I heard it directly from reporters.”

“…I see. So it was Se-yeon.”

At that moment, suspicion turned into certainty.

She had intended to wait and see until everything was confirmed, but her anger exploded instantly.

“Wait, what are you doing? Why are you pulling that out?”

“Let go! I’m going to kill Kim Se-yeon! Where are my shoes? Where are my shoes?!”

Completely worked up, she violently shook her right wrist to pull out the IV needle, causing blood to flow back into the tube.

The murderous look in Sara’s eyes was so fierce that if Kim Se-yeon had been standing there, she would have suffered third-degree burns from the glare alone.

Seung-tae firmly grabbed her shoulders as she looked ready to bolt out of the room.

“You’re not seriously planning to go, are you?”

“She spread those rumors to reporters, told Director Eun-young that I was bribing people… Ha… Should I kill her or let her live?”

“Kim Se-yeon even said that to Director Choi?”

“What is there to think about? I should just destroy her. But how should I do it? I’m so angry that I don’t even feel angry anymore.”

Her mind literally went blank.

Everything inside her head evaporated.

The only thing she felt was as though her insides were boiling.

Her fingertips turned cold, sending goosebumps racing up her arms.

“I don’t think you’re listening to a word I’m saying, but you need to stay hospitalized for at least three more days. You absolutely need complete bed rest.”

“Complete bed rest? I’ll only be able to sleep peacefully after grabbing Kim Se-yeon’s hair.”

Her thoughts raced.

Right then, Sara could think of at least forty-five different ways to make Kim Se-yeon’s life miserable.

Seung-tae pushed her gently but firmly back onto the bed.

“That woman won’t last much longer anyway. So please, just lie down.”

“I’ll deal with her slowly first… Huh? Why?”

“Because Kang Do-hyun has found himself a new woman.”

As he spoke, he pulled the rumpled blanket up over her chest.

His calm demeanor slowly cooled Sara’s temper.

“Kang Do-hyun was never the type to stay devoted to one woman. Kim Se-yeon lasted longer than most, but that’s over now.”

“So then…”

“That means Kim Se-yeon’s standing is hanging by a thread. One wrong step, and she’ll fall off the cliff herself. You won’t have to dirty your own hands. There are already plenty of directors and producers who have been waiting for a chance to get rid of her.”

He had meant it to calm her down.

Instead, Sara’s eyes widened and she became even more animated.

“Then I need to hurry even more! What if someone else gets to her before I do? Come on, let me go! At this rate someone else will beat me to it!”

Her train of thought had gone in such an unexpected direction that even Seung-tae was momentarily speechless.

“…Sigh. Ms. Seo Sara. When are you leaving that drama?”

“Huh? Why would I quit? It’s not that I’m scared of crap—I avoid it because it’s filthy. Unless I’m dead and buried, I will never quit because of Kim Se-yeon—!”

Sara passionately declared that she absolutely would not leave the drama.

Seung-tae cut her off without mercy.

“No, I meant your character. Wasn’t she supposed to die halfway through?”

“Oh.”

“So… when exactly does she die?”

“You mean Chae Min-seo? Haven’t you been watching? She already died once and came back to life, so I don’t know what’ll happen now. It all depends on the writer.”

“Really? I guess the script isn’t finished yet. The writer is… Sung Ji-hee, right?”

Something about his expression suddenly looked meaningful.

A sense of foreboding flashed through her.

Without thinking, she grabbed his wrist.

“Wait! You’re not going to tell Writer Sung to write me out, are you? It was embarrassing enough getting kicked off once. I am not going through that a second time. Absolutely not!”

If anyone could actually pull something like that off, it would be this man.

Chae Min-seo’s popularity had been climbing every day, making it seem impossible—but in the broadcasting industry, money and power often spoke louder than popularity.

“What’s with the silence? Hurry up and promise me you won’t make me leave the drama.”

Her eyes blazed so fiercely that she looked like the heroine from one of her previous films, swearing revenge for her parents.

Seung-tae found the sight unexpectedly adorable and stared at her for quite a while.

As the silence stretched on, Sara’s expression became increasingly serious.

She awkwardly smiled while shaking his wrist.

“Um… Seung-tae? You’re not, right?”

“If you promise to take one week off.”

“Oh, come on. It was just a little fall. Why would I stop filming over… Fine! Fine! I’ll rest. I’ll take a week off.”

Pouting and grumbling under her breath, Sara reluctantly nodded.

Only then did Seung-tae’s expression soften.

“Good. After this drama, you’ll be filming that movie too, so you need to take care of yourself.”

“What movie? Oh! The movie? Of course. I have to stay healthy. It’s an action thriller.”

The irritation on her face vanished in an instant.

Watching her expression change so quickly, Seung-tae couldn’t help but admire it inwardly.

“Did you want to make that movie that badly?”

“It wasn’t about the movie. I just hated seeing Director Eun-young forced to give up her dream.”

“Director Choi Eun-young? You two must be very close.”

“Yes. We’ve known each other since we were kids. I became an actress because of her. I wanted to appear in one of her films.”

“So, Ms. Seo Sara, you—”

“Ms. Seo!”

The hospital room door burst open without so much as a knock.

It was Park Hyun, the head of her agency.

He was carrying a bouquet of hydrangeas—Sara’s favorite flowers.

Both of them turned toward him.

Seeing an unexpected person in the room, Park Hyun couldn’t close his mouth.

“Uh… V-Vice President Yoon? What brings you here?”

“I heard Sara was hurt, so I came to visit her.”

He answered naturally, as if it were the most obvious thing in the world.

As though this had always been the kind of relationship they shared.

“If you don’t mind me asking… how did you hear about it? There hasn’t even been any news coverage yet.”

The suspicion never left Park Hyun’s eyes.

The only people who knew Sara had collapsed were the filming staff and agency employees.

Even fewer knew which hospital room she was in.

Yet here was Seung-tae visiting only a few hours after she’d regained consciousness.

It was less surprising than suspicious.

From Sara’s point of view, Seung-tae shamelessly replied,

“Oh, of course. Sara contacted me.”

“I heard Ms. Seo only woke up a few hours ago…”

“She called me as soon as she woke up. I’m grateful she did.”

Then he casually placed a hand on Sara’s shoulder and gently pulled her closer.

The overly familiar display of affection made Park Hyun’s eyes nearly pop out of their sockets.

Forcing a smile, Sara leaned against Seung-tae’s cheek and whispered,

“We’re starting now? I haven’t even gotten the script.”

“You’re good at improvising, aren’t you?”

“Damn it…”

She had the distinct feeling she’d been swept up in his pace, but since she’d agreed to this herself, she swallowed her complaints.

Thankfully, the patience she’d built over ten years as an actress came in handy.

“Uh… Huh? W-What? You two…?”

Hyun had been making nothing but incoherent noises as he looked back and forth between Seung-tae and Sara.

His jaw hung open so wide that someone ought to close it for him.

“S-So, Ms. Seo… I mean, Sara… and Vice President…”

“Mmm. I guess Sara hasn’t told you about our relationship yet.”

Their so-called “relationship” had only come into existence about ten minutes earlier.

Yet he spoke as naturally as if they had been secretly dating for months.

After hearing Seung-tae’s confident confirmation, Hyun’s eyes widened even further.

“R-Really? Then it’s true? But… when did… Ah, haha. I suppose that doesn’t matter.”

“If word gets out to the media, it’ll hurt Sara’s career. So I’d appreciate it if you could make sure this stays confidential, President Park.”

“Oh, Vice President. I’ve worked with Sara for years. Of course I’ll keep it quiet.”

Hyun smiled obediently.

Seung-tae kept his gaze fixed on the bouquet of hydrangeas in Hyun’s hand.

“Flowers aren’t really ideal for hospital patients.”

“Oh! You’re right. I wasn’t thinking. Should I throw them away?”

“No need to throw them out. Give them to me. I’ll take care of them.”

With a gentle smile, Seung-tae held out his hand.