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Episode 8
The dinner party ended like that.
The number of people whose gifts Chairman Joo accepted was nine in total. Among them, the gift that received his applause was, without a doubt, Sae-i’s performance alone.
While the distinguished guests were leaving Jaedamjae one by one, Saei, guided by the secretary, entered inside.
“Why are you coming in here?”
“The Chairman is waiting for you, Young Miss.”
Joo Soo-yeon, who had stopped while climbing the stairs, snorted. The secretary answered her question on Sae-i’s behalf.
“Ha, Grandfather is?”
“…”
She repeated as if she couldn’t believe it. Sae-i simply nodded instead of answering and averted her gaze.
The place she arrived at following the secretary’s guidance was Chairman Joo’s private room. Perhaps remodeled to his taste, unlike other spaces in Jaedamjae, it had a traditional Korean hanok structure.
The secretary who brought Sae-i stood guard at the door. It was the Chairman’s order to prevent even other Joo family members from eavesdropping.
‘This is my first time here.’
Sae-i scanned with her eyes the ceramics filling the room. It was such a private space that she had never entered here even when she was treated as part of the Joo family.
“Stop looking around and come sit here.”
Chairman Joo broke her observation. Sae-i obediently went and sat in the spot he indicated. An awkward silence hung in the air.
“Seems there are quite a few answers I need to hear.”
“Please ask freely, Chairman.”
At the address ‘Chairman,’ Chairman Joo closed his mouth for a moment. Soon, he posed his question.
“How did you come to know about that script?”
“I heard it from my mother before. That Grandmother wrote works herself. I went to the Dongwoo Foundation to see if there were more of Mother’s belongings and found it.”
“So you prepared the performance?”
“Because the moment I saw it, I thought I had to show it to you, Chairman.”
Sae-i answered without hesitation. As if she had anticipated questions of this level.
“A child who was always busy running away from the Joo family.”
“…”
“Came saying she’d show me that.”
After briefly closing his mouth, he continued as if some doubt still remained.
“Since when did you learn acting? I’ve never received any report that you knew how to act.”
“I studied by myself.”
While Chairman Joo was taken aback, Sae-i quickly added.
“I’m Grandmother’s granddaughter too. I wanted to resemble her in some way like this…”
“Enough.”
Chairman Joo cut her off and ruffled his hair. As if mentioning his wife brought up overwhelming emotions.
“I heard all you said.”
“…”
“The words I can say are… Thank you, I suppose that’s the right phrase. Thanks to my granddaughter, I feel like I’ve regained my spring days.”
This was sincere.
Among the piranhas who only brought up their own businesses as gifts, Sae-i’s gift was like a natural monument.
“You.”
“Yes.”
“Do you want to become an actress?”
As if the expected question had arrived, Sae-i’s eyes lit up. Without a moment’s hesitation, she affirmed.
Chairman Joo stared intently at the nodding Sae-i, then pulled a document from a drawer. He handed the papers to Sae-i.
[Regarding the Establishment Plan for Wave Actors]
It was a report prepared ahead of the launch of that agency that Chairman Joo Tae-baek had secretly established.
“I’ve grown weary of nurturing companies now. So, following your late grandmother’s wishes, I thought I’d try polishing some uncut gems somewhere.”
Staring at his stiff granddaughter, he brought up the main point.
“Seeing your performance today… I thought I could consider you as the first figure in my plan.”
“…Me.”
“Yes. However, I, Joo Tae-baek, am not so reckless as to include someone in the plan based on a brief performance alone.”
Sae-i, as if understanding, pulled down the corners of her mouth. Her expression showed disappointment, convinced she wouldn’t be recruited.
She’s still a child. Chairman Joo laughed inwardly, seeing Sae-i whose thoughts were all over her face.
“Therefore, Joo Sae-yi
“…Yes.”
“Can you prove yourself to me?”
The old entrepreneur’s eyes shone like a young man’s.
He had no intention of leaving his granddaughter alone from the start. Because he felt her capturing the attention of everyone in the venue the moment she began her performance.
‘She’s no pearl covered in mud. That child… will undoubtedly become a once-in-a-generation great actress.’
The reason he suppressed the desire to recruit and support her immediately was, ironically, because of the plan he had established.
Seen without knowing the head was Joo Tae-baek, ‘Wave Actors’ was nothing but a rookie agency.
Joo Sae-yi was also a rookie actress.
If the combination of a rookie agency and a rookie actress soared high from the start, they would undoubtedly face suspicious glances.
Joo Tae-baek did not want to burden that child with such a stigma.
“It doesn’t matter what it is. I’m asking if you can create, with your own hands, a reason for me to put you forward.”
Therefore, this was a plea disguised as an order.
Whatever it is, just create a foothold for me to recruit you. Even if it’s trivial, leave proof that you started this before any contract.
Now the acceptance was up to Joo Sae-yi. And Sae-i,
“Of course.”
Accepted his proposal without fail.
“Who did you take after, being so bold?”
“Haha, I wonder.”
The history of ‘Wave Actors’ began. Chairman Joo already felt restless. He wanted to see the countless human figures Joo Sae-yi would show.
“Look how late it’s gotten already. You may go home now.”
Afraid he might propose a contract right away if he kept her longer, he decided to dismiss her first.
“I heard you came in Jeonghee’s car today. I’ll have my driver take you, so you can ride comfortably.”
“Thank you, Chairman. Then I’ll take my leave now.”
Saei politely clasped her hands and bowed. Her retreating figure without a trace of lingering was seen by his eyes.
The moment she left the private room, Chairman Joo muttered briefly.
“Stubborn thing… She still doesn’t call me Grandfather since that day.”
The very day his eldest daughter and Sae-i’s birth mother, Joo Jeongwol, died.
From that day on, the child made a frightened face whenever she saw Chairman Joo.
The little one who used to call him ‘Grandfather’ in a sweet voice not only started addressing him as ‘Chairman’ but also refused to leave Jaedamjae, never showing her face at events.
Today, he had hoped since she wasn’t scared, but the address remained the same.
“Do you dislike me that much? Is that one word, ‘Grandfather,’ really so difficult?”
Joo Tae-baek, opening the window of the private room and looking up at the moonlit sky, murmured softly.
“Jeongwol-ah, your bloodline is truly difficult for me.”
He felt sorry for his daughter, who left before her father, especially today.
Ah, I’m tired.
“Hey! Are you ignoring me?”
I’m tired because of Joo Soo-yeon, really.
Whether it bothered her so much that I was summoned by Grandfather to his private room, she hasn’t let me go since the Jaedamjae lobby.
“Who do you think you are to have a private meeting with Grandfather? You’re not even treated as family!”
I really can’t take it anymore. I abruptly stopped walking and turned around.
“Suyeon-ah.”
“W-what!”
“Is your ass on fire that much? As you said, I’m just the daughter of the deceased eldest daughter, not even treated as family.”
Joo Soo-yeon’s face instantly turned red. She seemed to know it was shameful.
‘You should consider the weight class and be cautious, that’s why.’
Leaving the huffing Joo Soo-yeon behind, I crossed the Jaedamjae garden without looking back. Soon, the moment I stepped out the main gate.
“Joo Sae-i. Let’s talk for a moment.”
“You startled me! Why are you planted here?”
“Because you weren’t coming out.”
Joo Soo-yeon, and Ryu Do-kyung. A double headache.
“I guess I’m not even allowed to worry.”
Ryu Do-kyung frowned slightly with his thick eyebrows, gritting his teeth. He still had an unreadable, dissatisfied expression.
“When did you learn acting?”
Ah, how many times is this question?
“Why did you show up again?”
“…”
“Why, did you leave everything behind and now have regrets?”
What on earth is this oppa talking about?
“I’m not doing this because I have regrets.”
“Then.”
Ryu Do-kyung was always like this. Even though he knew I liked him and followed him around pitifully, he always ignored me. Yet, he was still curious about many things and would ask like this.
“Even if I tell you, you won’t understand, so please stop asking.”
That’s why my words came out sharp.
Maybe my icy answer was the problem. Ryu Do-kyung silently blocked my path, only stepping aside after the driver arrived.
I passed by him with a brief nod. Then he said as if in passing.
“I’m not interested in dating. I can’t date you, me.”
“…I was?”
Suddenly dating? It was so absurd I couldn’t ignore it. At my reaction, Ryu Do-kyung’s eyes widened momentarily, then slumped.
“Joo Sae-i.”
He barely caught the hem of my clothes.
“Don’t you… have any regrets about me now?”
Why is he looking at me with those eyes? Despite holding on, Ryu Do-kyung let me go readily.
After getting into Grandfather’s car, I peeked at Ryu Do-kyung through the tinted window.
With his hands in his pockets, my first love just walked down the dimly lit street in front of Jaedamjae. Without a driver or attendants.
Somehow, Ryu Dohyeong’s retreating figure looked lonely.
