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CHAPTER 26
Truthfully, he hadn’t planned to come here.
He just found himself here before realizing it.
When the door opened, it wasn’t Jung Hana he saw, but Kang Dasom—dancing ballet fiercely, as if she were the star of the world.
This wasn’t the weak, fragile Kang Dasom he always knew.
“So… you can make a face like that too.”
Her expression, full of focus and passion, shocked him. It felt like he was seeing her real self behind the mask for the first time.
Later, when she left, her hair still half-wet, Kang Dasom saw Yoon Jinwoo sitting in the hallway.
“You came?”
“I just wanted to see your face.”
“Whose face? Which sister’s?”
Jinwoo didn’t answer. Dasom didn’t push him.
They talked lightly about his filming, and about Daniel—her past ballet sponsor.
Jinwoo asked again about Daniel, though he didn’t know why he kept repeating that question.
Dasom handed him a folded note.
Before Jinwoo could react, Jung Hana appeared. Jinwoo quickly stuffed the paper into his pocket and stood.
They exchanged a few words, but Jinwoo excused himself, saying he had other plans.
Dasom stayed behind with Hana and later had dinner with her.
That night, at the hotel lounge bar, Dasom waited.
After thirty minutes, Jinwoo walked in and sat across from her.
“I didn’t think you’d come.”
“You’re the one who told me to.”
The note she had given him earlier said:
[Seoyoung Hotel, 7th floor lounge bar, 10 PM. I have something for you.]
Jinwoo frowned.
“You even lied to Hana, saying you had a schedule. Impressive.”
“Whatever I do, it’s none of your business. What is it you’re giving me?”
Dasom placed a small recorder on the table, with old earphones attached.
“Listen to it.”
“….”
“It’s illegal anyway, so just take it.”
“You say that so boldly.”
“You can’t use it as legal evidence, that’s all.”
Jinwoo shoved the recorder into his pocket. He didn’t want to listen.
No—he hated that he could already guess what was inside.
Dasom sipped her drink and stared at him.
Her hair was loose and messy from practice, her face bare of makeup.
And yet, Jinwoo found himself drawn to her more than ever.
“Who is the ‘sister’ you keep talking about?”
“….”
“Me, or Jung Hana? I wish it were me.”
Jinwoo snapped:
“If you want the Chunmyung Group, go after my elder brother. Not me.”
“I don’t care about that.”
“What?”
“The Chunmyung Group, the company, the money—I don’t care.”
Dasom’s eyes darkened. She didn’t want wealth.
She wanted revenge—on Yoon Sunghoon and Jung Hana.
“Hana was the one who stayed by me when I was struggling,” Jinwoo said.
“Doesn’t that seem strange?”
“….”
“When you left home to become an actor, Hana—daughter of TK Entertainment—just happened to approach you. Don’t you think it was too perfect to be coincidence?”
Her words pierced his chest like arrows.
Yes, he had wondered before. But he told himself it was just luck.
“All I wanted… was to act.”
“Why do you want to act?”
“….”
“Remember—acting isn’t just for the stage. Everyone acts. Everyone wears a mask.”
Dasom stood, ready to leave. Jinwoo instinctively grabbed her wrist.
For the first time, she thought: ‘He looks like a lost puppy. Cute.’
Part of her wanted to use him.
But another part wanted him to escape being used—like she once had been.
‘One ruined life like mine is enough.’
“Let go.”
“You called me here.”
“So?”
“At least have a drink with me.”
“…Sunday morning.”
“…?”
“I’ll be practicing alone. Come then.”
She pulled free, then sat back down and ordered drinks.
They drank together. Jinwoo didn’t even taste the alcohol—he only remembered the sharp look in her eyes as she watched him.
“Nunim.”
“What?”
“What should I have done, then?”
“I don’t know. But one thing I do know—”
She leaned forward.
“Truth is cruel. It hurts so much, it feels like your whole life is being denied.”
“That’s… how I feel now.”
“No. You can still choose.”
Jinwoo thought back. He had already made choices—firing Hana’s chosen manager, hiring his own, even joining a movie she opposed.
“An adult handles his own life. Not by leaning on others.”
“But what if the movie fails? I only wanted to prove I was right. But if I’m wrong…?”
Ever since childhood, Jinwoo’s life was ruled by fear.
He was born with everything—but had never done anything by himself.
He still remembered voices:
‘Just leave it to the experts.’
‘What do you even know?’
‘Without the Chunmyung name, you’d be nothing. Be grateful.’
Dasom cut in:
“If you’re wrong, then you’re wrong. So what? Out of all the things in life, it’s just one mistake.”
“One mistake?! Do you know how much that one chance means to me?!”
“I don’t know. But if you can’t even handle failure, then that’s all you’ll ever be. Why do you think you’re the only one who fails?”
