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Chapter 8
“Don’t go anywhere dangerous! And if anything happens, call your aunt right away!”
Her aunt only came home briefly between working three jobs.
Today was no different.
“Yes! Have a safe day, Auntie.”
After walking her aunt to the door, Jaei returned inside with an excited expression.
The first thing she did was pull out her wallet.
The bills Mark had given her yesterday were neatly stacked together.
At first, she refused.
She never intended to earn money in the first place.
But Mark insisted persistently, and in the end, she accepted enough for a sandwich.
‘Money earned from singing…’
It felt completely different from the money she earned singing wedding songs.
This wasn’t just income.
It felt like proof that someone had acknowledged her.
One bill.
Two bills.
As the thin pieces of paper piled together into something substantial—
Her confidence seemed to grow too.
Jaei’s eyes suddenly darted toward the clock.
“Cleaning first!”
The time to meet CEO Kang Gibaek was getting closer.
A little while later, she checked the time again.
The place he mentioned was thirty minutes away.
Because she moved quickly, she still had about twenty minutes left.
Sunlight filtered through lace curtains and brushed against her toes.
To cool down after cleaning, Jaei opened a cold bottle of apple juice.
Sweetness spread through her mouth.
But bitterness twisted inside her stomach.
A name suddenly came to mind.
Baek Songha.
They used to be like friends.
Since Songha was a year older, she would be twenty-three now.
Baek Songha gained recognition through I’m Your Singer.
Then, that same year, she hit it big as the leader of a group called A-Two.
A-Two was also Yoo Youngjae’s first produced group.
Jaei’s brows naturally furrowed.
‘Maybe… that guy who leaked information was already helping them back then.’
For a girl group member, Songha wasn’t particularly young.
But they actively used that fact for marketing.
A challenger who never gave up.
Passion for music.
Her multiple failed debut attempts were repackaged into perseverance and inspiration.
“The only word I never knew was giving up. Receiving this much love reminds me of those days—sob…”
The image of Songha pretending to be fragile while crying during interviews flashed through her mind.
Back then—
She cried in security guards’ arms.
Later—
She cried in Jaei’s husband’s arms.
How disgusting.
“Wouldn’t it have been better if you looked like this when you first debuted? You were prettier back then.”
Baek Songha never had humility.
Her crying performances were more memorable than her singing.
‘She’d suit acting better.’
That thought made Jaei shake her head firmly.
‘No. She shouldn’t become anything.’
Thanks to A-Two’s massive success, Yoo Youngjae shook off accusations of being a nepotism hire.
Eventually—
He even became CEO.
Thinking back on their success no longer just left bitterness.
It made her blood boil.
“This time, you won’t laugh your way out of it so easily.”
Before even meeting CEO Kang—
Her fighting spirit was already burning.
‘Today, I’m going to make him hand me a contract.’
With that determination, she finished the remaining apple juice in one gulp.
* * *
She arrived about ten minutes early.
“So this is why they call it the Windy City.”
The nickname suited Chicago perfectly.
Cool air brushed gently through her hair.
Jaei turned toward where the wind was blowing.
A park stretched before her with deep green grass.
People walked peacefully.
The scenery looked like something painted with oil pastels.
Everyone wore gentle smiles.
Friends chatting while walking.
Parents carrying children on their shoulders.
Everything looked relaxed.
Watching them, Jaei slowly followed the walking path with her eyes.
Looking at those happy faces—
One word came to mind.
Peace.
Then suddenly—
A voice behind her interrupted.
“Excuse me… you’re the person who was busking earlier, right? You seemed Korean. Do you speak Korean?”
She turned toward the voice.
And—
Gasp—!!
Her breath caught in her lungs.
Under the burning sun—
She froze solid.
Thump.
Thump.
Thump.
Only her heart refused to stop.
The man who called out scratched his head shyly.
When Jaei swallowed dryly, he spoke again.
“Ah! Sorry. Should I have greeted you in English?”
He apologized for being rude and switched into smooth English.
“My name is Youngjae Yoo.”
The racing heart inside her crashed to the ground.
At the same time—
Something surged violently from deep within her chest.
‘Why here?’
Was the man in front of her really Yoo Youngjae?
Millions of question marks flashed through her mind.
If she had stayed in Korea—
If she had found another part-time job to pay rent—
She probably would’ve met Yoo Youngjae around now.
But this was America.
‘No way…’
Were certain things destined to happen?
‘No. That can’t be it.’
Jaei blinked rapidly.
Too many things had already changed.
‘Then why?!’
When she didn’t answer—
Yoo Youngjae smiled awkwardly and leaned closer.
The shorter distance made his face clearer.
Gentle-looking eyes.
Sharp jawline.
Clean features.
That slightly raised corner of his lips.
He looked exactly the same.
Exactly like before.
“There must be lots of people approaching you, so I understand. I’m not a bad person.”
‘Not… a bad person?’
Jaei repeated his words in her head.
Then a genuine scoff escaped her lips.
“Ha—! That’s funny.”
“Huh?”
Jaei looked him directly in the eyes.
She could clearly see the confusion in his expression.
For a moment—
What she wanted most was to slap him.
But she swallowed it down.
‘When you’re at the top, stones thrown from below are only annoying.’
But stones hitting you when you’re already at rock bottom—
Those hurt.
A lot.
She forced a smile.
“It’s funny. The situation.”
“Really? I could make it even more fun. What’s your name?”
Yoo Youngjae smiled brightly at her response.
His words reminded her of their first meeting.
“Your name’s pretty too. Lee Jaei. Want to go do something fun with me?”
That word again.
Fun.
She had grown to hate it.
“Ah! You must like singing. Then maybe this introduction would sound more appealing. I’ll actively promote myself.”
Yoo Youngjae searched his pocket and handed her a business card.
[YU Entertainment — PD Yoo Youngjae]
Jaei quietly stared at it.
Thinking she was hesitating, Yoo Youngjae quickly added:
“Don’t misunderstand. This isn’t anything heavy like casting. You looked really beautiful while singing. How should I put it… exactly my type?”
A mocking sigh rose inside her.
‘My type? Seriously?’
She barely managed to control the twitching corners of her lips.
“I’ve honestly never done this before, but I just had a feeling. You know it’d be too hasty to decide without even talking first, right?”
Jaei thought quickly.
How could she end this cleanly?
She could cut him off harshly.
But showing hostility right now wouldn’t benefit her.
Then—
Behind Yoo Youngjae—
She spotted a tall man approaching.
‘Perfect.’
Cheering internally, she deliberately looked at Yoo Youngjae with regretful eyes.
“Sorry, but I already have plans.”
Instead of backing away—
Yoo Youngjae stepped closer.
“I won’t take much time. I gave you my contact information, so call me—”
“Gibaek! Over here!”
Jaei raised her voice, naturally cutting him off.
At her call—
Gibaek turned his head.
“Then enjoy your trip.”
After giving Yoo Youngjae a cold farewell—
She immediately turned toward Gibaek.
But something strange happened.
Gibaek’s confident stride slowed.
‘No way…’
Please don’t say:
“Go finish your conversation.”
Or:
“It’s okay.”
Jaei’s eyes shook desperately.
Gibaek’s gaze briefly passed over Yoo Youngjae.
His expressionless face.
Unreadable eyes.
Her heart pounded nervously.
‘Please, CEO Kang! Just stay quiet!’
Urgent words rose to her throat.
Then—
Gibaek stopped walking.
“Sorry. Traffic was bad.”
That alone would’ve been enough.
But then—
He opened his arms toward her.
‘…Why the arms?’
And then—
In a low, gentle voice she never expected—
He said:
“Honey.”
‘H-Honey?!’
