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This Life’s Hit Song Is Revenge
Chapter 6
Jaei immediately turned her head.
The woman with short curly hair approached her with curiosity written across her face.
“[I came to see my aunt.]”
The woman looked down at the address written on the paper and quickly brightened.
“[Oh! Olivia!]”
Without hesitation, she pressed one of the buttons.
Among them, it was the one whose name had been erased the cleanest.
Jaei quietly let out a sigh of relief.
There was no way she would have found the right button by herself.
After the woman said something briefly into the intercom—
Bzzzt!
The door opened noisily.
The woman pushed the half-open iron gate.
Red rust powder scattered from the old metal door as it screeched loudly down the hallway.
The intercom had sounded like a radio submerged underwater.
The inside looked exactly the same.
It even felt somewhat gloomy, making Jaei shrink back slightly—
Then she heard hurried footsteps coming down from above.
“Jaei? It’s really Jaei, right?”
“Yes! Hello, Aunt.”
Although this was their first time meeting in person, her aunt looked almost exactly how she had imagined.
“Come on. We have to go up to the fourth floor. Do you know how shocked I was when I got your message? Then you disappeared again—I was worried sick, you brat!”
Now she understood what Grandma meant when she called her ‘outgoing Kyungsook.’
Even on their first meeting, her aunt acted like they had seen each other yesterday.
After exchanging quick greetings with the woman who helped them, her aunt gestured for her to follow.
Her aunt’s apartment was much smaller and cozier than expected.
“Did you take a taxi from the airport? If you gave a tip too, it must’ve cost a lot.”
“A tip?”
When Jaei’s tone rose in confusion, her aunt turned around while pouring juice from the fridge.
“Oh my, you didn’t tip?”
“Well… do you have to tip taxi drivers too?”
“Hahaha. That driver probably cursed you the whole way.”
Jaei knew America had a tipping culture.
She just didn’t know where it applied.
Judging from her aunt’s reaction, taxis weren’t exceptions.
Only then did the driver’s strange behavior make sense.
“Ah, forget it! It’s not legally required anyway. Why couldn’t I reach you? Didn’t you get roaming?”
“There were some issues. Sorry for making you worry.”
“As long as you got here safely.”
Her aunt answered coolly with a smile.
After chatting for a while, her aunt suddenly changed the subject.
“How long are you planning to stay?”
“About two weeks.”
Her aunt nodded thoughtfully before speaking again.
“I’m busy with work, so I can’t really take you sightseeing. Sorry in advance.”
“No, it’s okay! I’m grateful enough that you’re letting me stay here. And honestly… I wanted to see you.”
She meant it.
From photos alone, her aunt looked like her mother.
She couldn’t even remember her mother’s face anymore.
She truly wanted to meet her.
Would talking to Mom feel like this?
That was why, when marrying Yoo Youngjae, she suggested going to America for their honeymoon.
‘Who goes to America for a honeymoon these days? Youngjae is busy. What if something happens there? If you’re so desperate to fly somewhere, go to Jeju Island.’
Her mother-in-law’s firm words stopped her from even mentioning her aunt.
Why had she cared so much about everyone’s opinions?
The memory resurfaced, making Jaei close her eyes tightly.
Her aunt said she had a night shift and needed sleep for a bit.
Then she made a place for Jaei on the sofa.
“If you run around before adjusting to the time difference, you’ll spend your whole trip sick.”
Even though she had slept throughout the flight.
Jaei wanted to go sort out her phone first, but her aunt shook her head.
“It’s only bright because summer days are long. Everything’s closed now. Do it tomorrow.”
She wanted to contact someone quickly.
Lying on the sofa, Jaei fell into thought.
Star Entertainment…
YU Entertainment—where Yoo Youngjae was CEO—and Star Entertainment were fierce rivals.
Right now, Star Entertainment was ahead.
But once Yoo Youngjae became CEO, the balance would change.
Jaei remembered a conversation she overheard in Youngjae’s office.
‘This is the title track and concept for the group debuting soon. I also included comeback schedules and teaser videos for the singers.’
Industrial espionage.
Plain and simple.
Figures. Exactly the kind of thing that bastard would do.
When Jaei entered the office back then, the man standing in front of Yoo Youngjae hurriedly left.
I should’ve memorized his face.
She could almost remember it.
Almost.
When she said this was basically theft, Yoo Youngjae had gotten angry instead.
‘What do you know? Don’t interfere. And don’t you dare open your mouth.’
‘Youngjae, you can’t do this. If this becomes a problem later—’
‘As long as you stay quiet, there won’t be any problems. Are you trying to destroy the company my father built with your own hands? Who do you think you are?’
Faced with what was practically a threat, Jaei couldn’t answer.
Because she knew better than anyone how much his father loved the company.
Back then, foolishly, she chose to persuade Yoo Youngjae.
Maybe because she kept pressuring him—
His attention drifted toward Baek Songha, who only laughed sweetly at everything he said.
Jaei looked again at the business card in her hand.
“Star Entertainment CEO. Kang Gibaek…”
Jaei had sensitive hearing.
She remembered sounds well.
Songs she heard once stayed in her head like sheet music.
Sometimes, she even remembered people by their voices.
Once, she immediately recognized a reporter’s voice in Yoo Youngjae’s office from a past phone call.
She couldn’t clearly remember the spy’s face.
But his voice—
That was crystal clear.
If I get another chance to talk to him…
Yes. I’ll recognize him by his voice.
This wasn’t destroying his father’s company.
She refused to stay silent and tolerate crime again.
If his father knew his son was staining the company’s name like this—
He would cry.
Back then, she couldn’t stop anything.
Now, things were different.
Her heart raced not only for the festival—
But for another goal.
The man had already shown goodwill by giving her his business card first.
But that wasn’t enough.
She had to capture his interest.
Quickly.
Decisively.
How do I make him notice me?
Something mildly impressive isn’t enough.
Jaei slowly closed her eyes.
To stop her determination from wavering, she tightened her grip around the business card.
* * *
Hotel Fitness Center
Gibaek gradually increased the speed on the treadmill.
Those eyes.
When the music played—
The woman’s pupils had trembled slightly.
It was only for a moment.
But he definitely saw it.
Was it simple appreciation?
Maybe she genuinely liked it.
Still—
What was this strange feeling?
Yeah.
Maybe he was overthinking.
His heartbeat quickened along with his footsteps.
By the time sweat rolled down his neck, he shifted his gaze toward his phone.
The inspection you requested is complete. No signs of hacking were found. As for the battery…
It wasn’t even his work laptop.
The chance of hacking had been low.
Yet he checked again anyway.
He didn’t really need to open the phone to understand the report.
Still—
Gibaek slowed the treadmill.
What he opened wasn’t his messages.
It was his email.
Nothing but work emails.
The email address he was looking for wasn’t there.
A faint smile formed on his lips.
What exactly had he expected?
The thought was ridiculous.
Waiting for her message? Me?
He roughly tossed his phone back onto the treadmill stand.
Then abruptly increased the speed.
Only after every muscle in his body burned tight did he return to his room.
After standing under cold water for a long time, he sat on the sofa with damp hair.
Then opened his laptop.
Almost automatically, his fingers clicked—
His email inbox again.
“……”
Gibaek stared at the empty inbox once more.
