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Chapter 33
What Makes Someone Change Their Mind
“Then you don’t know where the son who used to live with him is living now?”
“Oh my, how would I know? These days, it’s not so easy to know what’s going on even next door.”
The woman’s face looked strangely out of place compared to her wrinkled hands.
Her unnaturally tight face, as though she had received Botox injections, drew Won’s attention. He glanced at the dog nestled in her arms.
The dog panted happily with its tongue hanging out. Smiling, Won waved at it before nodding in understanding.
“Thank you for telling me.”
“Well, it’s not like I really told you much.”
“If you happen to see him later, please contact me here.”
The woman casually looked at the business card Won handed her, then suddenly widened her eyes in surprise.
As Won turned to leave after saying goodbye, she hurriedly grabbed his arm.
“Ah, wait. Just a moment.”
Won stopped walking at the woman’s action.
Pulling her dog closer to her chest, she lowered her voice and asked,
“The man living next door now… is he some kind of criminal or something?”
“Pardon?”
“I mean, you were asking what kind of person he is, whether I know when he comes home, and now this business card too…!”
“Oh, no. Nothing like that.”
“Goodness, this feels exactly like something out of a crime drama, and it’s making me nervous.”
The woman nervously glanced toward the neighboring apartment.
Seeing how frightened she looked, Won waved his hand dismissively.
“No, really. It’s nothing like that. You don’t need to worry.”
Even after his reassurance, the woman continued glancing anxiously toward the neighboring unit before speaking again.
“Anyway, if that man really does turn out to be a criminal or something, please don’t arrest him in our apartment complex.”
“…Excuse me?”
“If rumors like that spread these days, property values will drop.”
Just imagining it seemed horrifying enough to make her shudder.
Her puffed-up face twisted into a bizarre grimace.
“…Ah, yes. I’ll do my best.”
“What do you mean? A dating rumor?”
“Ah, maybe I phrased it weirdly, but if something does come out, that’s probably the kind of story they’ll spread.”
“…”
“The day I first met you, when I was with CEO Joo Taeuk in the underground parking garage, someone took pictures.”
Only after hearing Arin’s explanation did I remember the moment she was referring to.
“Wasn’t I there too?”
“That’s how paparazzi work. They never miss the brief moment when two people are alone.”
“…”
“I think they got a shot during that short window.”
Seeing the irritation on Arin’s face, I finally understood why she had been constantly checking her surroundings and adjusting her mask.
As she ruffled her long hair in annoyance, I carefully asked,
“But is it okay for you to come to JT? If a dating rumor might break, isn’t coming here kind of risky?”
“Well, I called it a dating rumor to make it easier to explain, but it probably won’t get released. This industry may look like everyone’s constantly tearing each other apart, but there’s still some professional courtesy.”
“What?”
“People don’t just throw around photos like that.”
“Ah…”
“But I was curious.”
“About what?”
“How CEO Joo managed to instantly calm down our CEO when he was absolutely furious about those photos. I’m dying to know the secret.”
Muttering, “Since I’m here, I should learn a thing or two,” Arin made me laugh.
For some reason, I felt like I could understand the struggles of the agency CEO who managed her.
As I laughed, Arin stared at me and let out a thoughtful hum.
There was mischief in her expression.
“What’s with that look?”
“…?”
“If there’s a chance I might end up in a dating rumor with your husband, you seem awfully calm.”
“You said it probably wouldn’t happen.”
“I said it probably wouldn’t. I didn’t say it definitely wouldn’t.”
“If you try word games with me, Arin-ssi, your chances of winning aren’t very high.”
At my relaxed response, Arin pouted.
Waving her hand dismissively, she leaned back against the sofa.
“Well, I know you married without feelings involved, so it doesn’t matter to me. But you should still be careful.”
“…”
“Your husband might be rumored to be having an affair with a young, beauti—well, maybe not beautiful, but anyway! A famous actress!”
Her grumbling made me smile.
Leaning back on the sofa, I slowly looked her over from head to toe.
Arin’s face scrunched up in displeasure.
“What are you doing right now…?”
“You’re pretty.”
“…What?”
“I said you’re pretty, Kim Arin.”
Watching her freeze in shock, I continued casually.
“To be honest, when I heard there might be a dating rumor involving you and Taeuk, my heart skipped a beat without me realizing it.”
“…”
“And that was despite having no feelings involved. If I had truly loved Taeuk, I probably wouldn’t be sitting here this calmly.”
“What exactly are you doing here?”
“Ah, CEO Joo!”
Jihun was holding a bouquet of flowers.
Kang, JT Entertainment’s head of security, finally breathed a sigh of relief when Taeuk appeared.
“You’re quite late to work today.”
“What is all this about so early in the morning?”
“I felt I was rather rude to you yesterday, CEO Joo.”
Smiling brightly, Jihun prompted Taeuk to let out a disbelieving laugh.
Jihun held out the bouquet.
“Yesterday’s flowers were for Gyeoul, but these are for you.”
“…”
“They’re meant as an apology for yesterday.”
People passing through the lobby glanced curiously at the two men.
Jihun extended the bouquet once more.
He’s really good at managing his image.
Following Taeuk’s gaze, Sangwoo could be seen running toward the lobby.
After receiving word that Taeuk had entered through the parking garage, Sangwoo had hurried downstairs, only to be greeted by this scene.
“Good morning, sir.”
Taeuk acknowledged the greeting with his eyes before accepting the bouquet from Jihun and handing it to Sangwoo.
Caught off guard, Sangwoo blinked.
Taeuk smiled.
“He says it’s an apology for yesterday.”
“Ah.”
“Though it seems a bit lacking in consideration. There was more than one person owed an apology.”
Embarrassing Jihun to his face, Taeuk left Sangwoo nervously glancing at him.
Seeing Taeuk act far more hostile than usual, Sangwoo realized just how much he disliked Jihun.
“Anyway, since you’ve at least formally apologized, there shouldn’t be any reason for Actor Choi to come here anymore. I’ll be going up now—”
“Please let me see Gyeoul.”
Taeuk’s expression hardened as Jihun interrupted him and finally revealed his true purpose.
He had known from the start that the apology wasn’t the real reason for his visit, yet it still left a bitter taste.
“Why do you keep trying to meet another man’s wife?”
“She’s my friend.”
“…”
“My only friend of more than twenty years.”
A faint laugh escaped Taeuk.
Pretending not to notice, Jihun smiled casually.
“And honestly, does being married mean that much these days?”
“…”
“One out of every three couples gets divorced, after all.”
“Choi Jihun.”
“People can love each other enough to die one day and become strangers the next.”
Sangwoo swallowed nervously.
Anyone could tell Jihun’s words were aimed directly at Taeuk.
Yet despite looking like he might explode with anger at any moment, Taeuk remained silent.
“Not that I’m saying that’s what you’ll do, of course.”
“…”
“It’s just that there are rumors saying you didn’t marry Gyeoul for love.”
“…”
“As her friend, I find that worrying.”
Jihun finished with a bright smile.
Taeuk slowly curled his lips upward.
Seeing him smile only made Sangwoo’s spine tingle with unease.
“I understand perfectly. I doubt you’ll have to worry about that anymore.”
“CEO Joo.”
“I just thought of a much better way for you to confirm whether Gyeoul is doing well without constantly visiting her agency.”
“…”
“Take care on your way out.”
After giving Jihun a brief farewell, Taeuk turned and walked away first.
Sangwoo hurried after him.
The expressionless face with which Jihun touched the corner of his eye felt like something that would haunt his dreams.
“Then for this pilot program, should we invite—”
“Shh.”
Youngseok squeezed his eyes shut, pretending not to hear the writers whispering in front of him.
The pilot program being planned for the Lunar New Year special was only meant as a small preview of the larger project scheduled for autumn.
If you want to do the program you proposed this fall, make this pilot a success first.
Right.
If the director hadn’t said that, he might never have called Taeuk in the first place.
Youngseok ran a hand through his hair in frustration as he remembered Taeuk’s firm refusal.
“PD, I made a list of celebrity newlyweds who got married recently.”
“…”
“I think this couple wouldn’t be a bad choice. They’re both well-known and—”
The head writer’s quick suggestions barely registered anymore.
No matter what alternatives were presented, only Taeuk and Gyeoul’s couple remained in his mind.
“PD?”
“Is it really impossible…?”
“It’ll probably be difficult. Considering Han Gyeoul’s situation, and CEO Joo doesn’t like media exposure either.”
“Ha…”
The writer’s practical summary forced Youngseok to nod reluctantly.
Yeah. It can’t be helped.
“Then let’s proceed with this couple for casting first—”
Just as he was finally trying to let go of his lingering attachment, his phone rang loudly from his pocket.
[CEO Joo Taeuk]
His eyes widened at the name displayed on the screen.
Raising a finger to his lips, he quickly answered.
“Ah, yes. CEO Joo.”
Yujeong, the head writer working with Youngseok on the pilot, frowned as she watched his expression change by the second.
“Oh, of course. Don’t worry. I’ll make sure the editing is handled as carefully as possible. Yes, yes. Take care.”
When Youngseok ended the call with a radiant smile, Yujeong suddenly had a feeling.
Her heart began pounding with excitement.
“PD, that call… could it be…?”
“He’s doing it! Joo Taeuk said he’ll do it! Hahaha! What kind of miracle is this?!”
“No way!”
Recalling Taeuk’s voice agreeing to participate in the pilot program, Youngseok shivered with exhilaration.
It felt as though he had finally obtained the forbidden apple he could never have reached.
