FY 19

Chapter 19

If this had been before he met Ha Seo-yoon, Baek Jeong-oh would have spent all his energy today trying to persuade his older brother no matter what. Like their father said, if his brother could regain interest in management, maybe he could finally be freed from the guilt that had been suffocating him all this time.
But after talking with Ha Seo-yoon, his thoughts shifted ever so slightly.

I’m curious. What on earth is my brother thinking?

For once, he wanted to know what his brother truly wanted. So he didn’t want to create a situation where he was using his brother for his own goals. Even Baek Yun-oh, who was always running away from things, looked uncharacteristically serious today.

“Because I like it.”

He thought hearing the answer would give him some kind of revelation.
But once again, his brother’s unreadable words only confused him.

“I like it like crazy. I can’t sleep because I keep thinking I can’t live without it.”

“What is it that you like so much?”

His brother didn’t answer. He simply stared quietly at Yujeong, then smiled with trembling lips.

“Acting.”

Hearing the answer, Jeong-oh burst into a broad grin. The answer had been right there all along—so easy to find.
Why had he spent so long hovering around his brother like some kind of sinner? In that moment, all the guilt that had weighed him down washed away at once.

“If it’s acting, you can do that here too. And I don’t want you making sacrifices for me anymore, plus…”

“I don’t see why I should stay at BE Entertainment without you there. I want a chance to work with the people I want. Is that too much to ask?”

Jeong-oh had no choice but to shake his head. His brother wasn’t the type to make unreasonable demands in the first place. The real problem was that he felt gross, as if he were selling his brother out for Seol-ah.

“Then let me put my input into the exclusive contract.”

At Jeong-oh’s words, Yujeong nodded quickly. Looking at her bright, eager eyes reminded him suddenly of Seol-ah. Considering all the stories he’d heard about CEO Chae Yujeong treating others like family, she definitely wasn’t someone who would take supporting his brother lightly.

“My only condition is this: guarantee the best possible environment for my brother as an actor—Ko-gyeol.”

“…Well, of course.”

“It won’t be easy. He changes managers like he changes clothes.”

Seeing Jeong-oh grin mischievously, Yujeong answered with a gentle smile, as if such things were nothing to her.

“I’ll remember that.”

“I’ll quickly review the documents you brought today so no suspicions remain about school bullying.”

Hearing that, Yujeong took out the prepared materials from the envelope.
Just like Seol-ah said—CEO Chae Yujeong really was the type to treat other people’s problems as her own.

If my brother has such a solid ally, maybe he’ll soar higher than ever.

Jeong-oh couldn’t stop a quiet laugh from escaping.

“As you can see, she really did drop out of school, but she was absolutely not a perpetrator. Seol-ah was the victim. She was hospitalized and underwent surgery—this is the hospital record. And this is the court document. I brought them just in case.
But I don’t want this issue to draw attention to Seol-ah…”

Listening to him, Jeong-oh placed all the documents back in the envelope and closed it.

“We’ll organize everything with the lawyers too. You’ll help, right?”

“Oh, of course.”

He glanced sideways at his brother, who still hadn’t left.

“Oh, hyung—stay and sign the termination contract.”

“Okay.”

Yujeong prepared the press release with the lawyers that Jeong-oh had arranged.
It was tricky—she needed to clearly state that Seol-ah was not an assailant, while also ensuring Seol-ah wouldn’t become labeled as a victim and dragged into unnecessary controversy.

“So we summarize it like this and publish the article. If more suspicions come out afterward, shall we release rebuttal articles?”

To the lawyer’s question, Yujeong nodded. Even Jeong-oh’s secretary looked relieved, as if everything had finally been resolved neatly.

“Then we’ll wrap it up here for today. Would you like to call it a day?”

“Yes. I’d like to see President Baek for a moment. Has he left already?”

At her question, the secretary checked the time.

“He’s still here. I’ll take you to him.”

After following the secretary down the long hallway, they saw Jeong-oh stepping out of his office, adjusting his loosely untied tie as he walked. His presence was strangely reminiscent of Ko-gyeol’s, and for a moment, she was startled.

“Looks like you’re done with your work too?”

When he spotted her, Jeong-oh smiled. Seeing him smile so comfortably without Seol-ah around was new, and Yujeong found herself staring. Not romantically—just simply curious at the drastic change in mood.

“Yes. I was going to check on how things went with Ko-gyeol…”

“The termination contract went well. After Seol-ah’s article goes out tomorrow, I’d like to publish both the termination notice and the exclusive contract with SoulMake together. What do you think?”

At his question, she blinked rapidly.

“Are you sure we can really sign him exclusively?”

“Of course. The actor wants it. Why wouldn’t we? What, are you suddenly backing out of taking responsibility?”

Her lips curled into a laugh at his teasing tone.

“I do want to take responsibility. I’d even take care of his grave plot when he dies, if I have to. Is that too much?”

Jeong-oh smirked and stuffed his hands in his pockets.
Just then, Ko-gyeol appeared, watching the three of them.
When Yujeong smiled brightly at him, he turned away stiffly and walked off.

Is he actually upset about the termination?

Watching Ko-gyeol’s retreating back, Jeong-oh tilted his head.

“Didn’t you say you came together earlier?”

“We did.”

“And you’re not going after him?”

“Oh—no. We were just going in the same direction, so I hitched a ride.”

Hearing her politely refuse to trouble anyone, Jeong-oh scratched his head in frustration. He glanced at his secretary, but the secretary avoided his eyes—apparently still busy.

“Then… should I drive you?”

He meant well, but she shook her head quickly.

“No, it’s okay. I actually have something to do nearby. If you have time, you should visit Seol-ah. The clarification article will be out soon, so everything will be fine.”

“Thanks. Honestly, I’ve been going crazy worrying about her.”

They took the elevator together, but Yujeong got off at the lobby first.
She planned to take a taxi, so there was no need to leave with him.

Ko-gyeol stood in the parking lot, completely unsettled by the storm of emotions inside him.

“Because I like it.”
“I like it like crazy. I can’t sleep because I feel like I can’t live without it.”

He’d only ever seen lines like that in scripts—never imagined he’d actually think them for real.
Yes, he had gone to find Chae Yujeong repeatedly because she kept appearing in his mind like crazy—but he hadn’t realized he liked her the way he said it out loud.

“Sigh…”

Chae Yujeong was going to be his half-brother’s future wife.
Wasn’t this like something out of a trashy B-movie?
Falling in love with his brother’s future wife—no one would ever understand or accept such a feeling.
The moment he saw her in the hallway smiling warmly at his brother, he had wanted—instinctively—to grab her wrist and drag her away.

We’ve barely met a few times… how can I fall this deep this fast?

From the first meeting, she caught his eye.
At the second meeting, he couldn’t look away.
Even with her fragile, delicate air, he’d learned she had a warm heart—one that could embrace others.
And before he knew it, he’d been helping her again and again.

“It’s better this way. She’ll be happier marrying Jeong-oh than… than with some other trash man…”

But just as he gripped the steering wheel with that thought, he saw Jeong-oh getting into his car alone.
When Jeong-oh’s car left and Yujeong wasn’t with him, Ko-gyeol’s brows furrowed.
He waited a few more minutes, just in case.
Then, almost unconsciously, he shifted into D and drove off.

Unable to find a taxi, Yujeong finally pulled out her phone—using an app would be faster.
Just then, a familiar car stopped in front of her.
Through the open window, Ko-gyeol stared at her.

“Are you waiting for someone?”

“Huh?”

“If you’re not waiting for anyone, get in. Cars are lining up behind me.”

As he said, there was a long line of cars behind his.
Flustered, she frantically shook her hands.

“I’m fine, really. Just go ahead. We’re going in different directions—”

When she checked behind her again, Ko-gyeol was already getting out of the car.

Clack.

“Get in.”

He personally opened the passenger door for her, leaving her gaping in shock.
As car horns started sounding behind them, she reluctantly got in.
She only did it to avoid holding up traffic, but she was so startled she froze in place.
Ko-gyeol leaned in close and pulled her seatbelt for her.

“Oh—thank you.”

As she glanced at him, he immediately began to drive.
Her mind went completely blank.
She’d only caught a glimpse of him in the hallway earlier and thought she’d imagined his mood—but now, up close, it was clear:

Something about him… felt angry.