YDCFGD 03

Inside Jaedamjae—specifically, within the private study that no one could enter without Chairman Joo’s permission.

“…You’re saying that child came by?”

Chairman Joo Taebaek, who had just set down his teacup, asked his youngest daughter in a bewildered tone.

He had thought that after losing her mother and cutting ties with her maternal relatives, the girl would never come back on her own.

Yet she had shown up herself.

And she had almost been turned away at the door.

“That fool Sudeok must’ve been too busy fooling around to notice. I’ll just call him in and lecture him.”

“You’re really going to step in personally, Father? That’ll just make Oppa even more hostile.”

When he thought about it, his youngest daughter had a point. Chairman Joo nodded lightly.

“If I scold him carelessly, the wrong child might end up being hurt. I’ll just observe for now.”
“That’s better.”
“Jeonghee, why don’t you check what that child is really thinking?”
“Me? About Saei?”
“Yes. What she was looking for at Dongwoogwan, why she came back here. I’m curious.”

With a small groan, Joo Jeonghee nodded.

Well, it’s not like it’s awkward to meet her.

She picked up her phone and contacted her secretary.

[Send me my sister’s daughter’s number. This is Father’s order, so make sure it doesn’t leak anywhere.]

A reply came immediately. She showed the number on her screen to Chairman Joo.

“Treat her well while you’re at it. She’s at an age where she needs affection.”
“When have you ever cared about things like that?”

Jeonghee replied curtly, then added as she left the study,

“It’s okay if I give her some pocket money, right? Just a little. Not enough to burden her.”

Of course, the answer was already decided.

A problem had come up.

She had obtained the script, and she could read every word written on it.

But…

How am I supposed to get to the dinner party?

After her mother passed away and she and her father became independent from the Joo family, they had never attended such events.

For about two years, invitations had arrived, but after they ignored them, even those stopped coming.

Should she ask for one now? From whom? Her uncle would desperately try to block it…

Isn’t there some lifeline I can grab onto?

While she was clutching her head in worry—

Ping!

A CocoaTalk notification sounded.

[I’m Aunt Jeonghee. I’d like to meet and talk.]

Found it. My lifeline!

She wanted to ask whether going from “Aunt Jeonghee” to just “Aunt” wasn’t a bit too sudden, but now wasn’t the time.

[I’m free from now on! I’ll come whenever it’s convenient for you :>]

Someone who wouldn’t be swayed by her uncle. Through her aunt, she could get to her grandfather’s dinner party.

[Tomorrow at 3 p.m. Haeeum Atrium, VIP Lounge.]

She had to persuade her.

At Haeeum Atrium—practically her aunt’s home base.

The next day, Saei prepared for the meeting as soon as she woke up and arrived at Haeeum Atrium thirty minutes early.

Although she was part of the Dongwoo Group family, she had no personal driver, so sneaking out without her father knowing meant taking the bus.

Which was all because of “Gyeonggi-do resident time calculations,” anyway…

In any case.

When Saei mentioned her aunt’s name—the owner of the atrium—she was easily allowed into the lounge.

Should I message her that I’m early?

As she was thinking and looking around, she spotted her aunt sitting with someone.

I can’t just walk up and greet them…

She sent a light message saying she had arrived. After checking it, her aunt looked around, as if searching for her.

And then—

“Come sit here.”

Before she knew it, Saei was pulled into their table. Across from her sat a woman who looked slightly younger than her aunt.

“Huh?”

Their eyes met, and the woman smiled lightly.

The moment Saei saw her eyes, she recognized her.

“Are you Actress Sung Hyesim?”

Sung Hyesim—Korea’s renowned method actress.

Later, she would even become a theater director, and in her previous life, she had praised Saei as a genius and recruited her into her troupe.

That very person was sitting right in front of her—looking younger than before.

“You recognized me right away? You must watch a lot of TV.”
“You’re so famous… I just didn’t expect you two to be together.”

While Saei was still stunned that Sung Hyesim knew her aunt, her aunt introduced her.

Sung Hyesim extended her hand.

Memories of the time she had once been acknowledged by her welled up, and tears nearly spilled. Saei lowered her head and shook her hand.

After telling her to wait a moment, her aunt resumed talking with Sung Hyesim.

“I thought if it was Jeonghee unni’s taste, she’d pick something good…”
“How many scripts are there?”
“One I like. The rest… I’m not sure.”

It sounded like they were discussing her next project.

Saei quietly listened.

What did Sung Hyesim film around this time?

Nothing, right?

Despite being known for her prolific work, she had no projects then. It was her so-called hiatus.

If she had so many scripts but didn’t choose any…

She hadn’t liked any of them enough to act. In short, she was in a slump.

So this was when it happened…

Saei knew why. She had read an interview after Hyesim returned with a ten-million-viewer hit.

She said she’d lost interest.

She had almost quit acting, until she discovered a genius named Seo Hajoon and regained her passion through working with him.

If I step in here…

This was a chance to prevent her slump—and to impress her aunt.

Having listened silently, Saei cleared her throat.

“Um… could I read the script too?”
“You?”
“There’s only one today… Are you interested, Saei?”
“Yes. I want to read it with you, ma’am.”
“In front of me? You mean act?”

Sung Hyesim’s eyes widened.

Saei looked straight at her and nodded.

Almost entranced, Hyesim handed over the script. Saei flipped through it quickly.

Her aunt called her several times with curiosity, but Saei didn’t answer—she was too absorbed.

Meanwhile…

I know this script.

KDS’s mega-hit, Your Blue Name.

Nicknamed Youblueness. From episode one, its famous scenes and lines went viral.

The role offered to Hyesim was the protagonist’s mother.

A woman who mourned her dead son, neglected her remaining daughter, and later realized her mistakes.

In Saei’s past life, a famous “nation’s mom” actress had played it.

I’m done.

After one read-through, the lines came back to her.

She’d always been good at memorization.

Hyesim observed her closely.

It was an actor’s instinct.

She’s like an uncut gem.

Hyesim had been contemplating retirement. Acting had stopped being fun. What once brought her joy had become tiresome.

Maybe this kid could shake me out of my boredom…

It might be wishful thinking, but she felt a faint hope.

Soon, Saei closed the script.

“I’m ready.”
“Already? Which part do you want?”
“Any. I’ll match whatever you choose.”
“Anywhere?”

Saei smiled.

Hyesim tilted her head in amazement.

Only forty minutes.

Had she really memorized everything?

“Just in case, let me ask…”
“Yes?”
“Do you want me to go easy on you, like playing with a niece? I thought you meant as fellow actors…”
“Please treat me as an actor.”

Her gentle expression hardened.

“What are you trusting so much? What are you trying to show me?”

“You said you’d match whatever I chose.”

Then—

“What… what should Mom do… What should Mom…”

In an instant, Hyesim’s voice changed. Soft turned rough.

She had begun acting.

It was the mother’s line.

But this scene had a trap.

“Mom did everything wrong… Open the door, please… Son…”

Her partner in this scene wasn’t the daughter.

It was the son, appearing in a special role.

Would she really know this part too?

Could a young girl portray a boy on the verge of suicide?

Hyesim swallowed and looked at Saei.

Then her eyes widened.

Her son was standing there.

Saei had become the despairing son, staring at her with hollow eyes.

“Huh… ah…”

Hyesim let out a breath.

It was the first time her acting had broken—

Before they had even exchanged lines.