A child who looks like me

The next day.

Ji-heon was busy from the morning.

He had a business trip to Incheon, where he had lunch with a client, and in the afternoon, there was a meeting at headquarters.

It wasn’t until around quitting time that Ji-heon returned to the office, where his secretary greeted him.

“Director, you’re back.”

“Did anything come up?”

“Executive Jea-eun from Ja-eun Construction contacted you this morning, and CEO Rahahn from Rahahn Ceramics said he would reach out separately. Lawyer Chae Eun-yeob also came by for a brief visit this morning.”

Chae Eun-yeob. He was Ji-heon’s high school classmate and Eun-bi’s older brother. A capable lawyer working at a prestigious law firm, Eun-yeob had been consulting for the Saeran Group, so he had been visiting Ji-heon’s company quite often.

It seemed he had stopped by this time to see Ji-heon’s face after his consulting visit.

“Got it.”

“Oh, by the way, Assistant Lee Jeong-o came by yesterday.”

The secretary conveyed what she hadn’t mentioned before as Ji-heon was about to enter his office.

Ji-heon turned back, still holding the doorknob.

“When?”

“She came while you were in the lounge. I told her you were in the lounge.”

Didn’t she say she came to read a book yesterday?

He was sure it was an excuse, but after confirming, a small smile escaped him.

Did she look for me that hard? Why? Is it because she felt wronged after being scolded by Park Seung-kyu?

“Call her back.”

For some reason, he felt glad.

.*. *. *. *. *. *.

Tasks were gradually falling off.

Throughout the morning, Jeong-o revised the online advertising copy drafts, and in the afternoon, she received the client’s confirmation and began working on variations. Sitting next to Gi-hun, she checked dozens of banners one by one, and dizziness began to set in.

It might also be due to her not having slept properly for a while.

“Uh? Assistant, I think there’s a typo here.”

As she stared blankly at the monitor, Gi-hun pointed at the confirmed draft.

Jeong-o stretched her neck and examined the text.

– Prime Outlet First Season OFF Sale! Up to 75% Murder! Enjoy the benefits at prime prices!

“Gasp.”

She had mistakenly written ‘75% murder’ instead of ‘75% discount’!

What was supposed to be an exciting sale was nearly a horrific murder scene.

Jeong-o quickly covered the confirmation draft with her hand, making sure no one could see.

How could this have been confirmed? Thank goodness it went unnoticed.

Since the confirmation draft was nearly 30 pages long, the client probably just skimmed through it.

Gi-hun chuckled and teased her.

“If you only murder at 75%, isn’t that attempted murder?”

“It’s a secret, Gi-hun. Please keep it a secret.”

Jeong-o lowered her voice and pleaded.

“Show me.”

“Please don’t. Gi-hun, is there something you want to eat? I’ll treat you to dinner?”

“I don’t think one meal will cut it.”

Gi-hun was even more amused by Jeong-o’s serious expression. In the meantime, the office phone rang at her desk. Jeong-o crossed over to answer the call.

“Yes. This is Lee Jeong-o.”

[Hello, Assistant. This is Yoon Ae-ran, Director Jeong Ji-heon’s secretary. Director Jeong would like to see you.]

Jeong-o froze, still holding the receiver.

“What is it about?”

Why? Why, again?

[It seems to be about your visit yesterday.]
“…Yes. Understood.”

After the slow response, Gi-hun asked Jeong-o,

“Is there something going on, Assistant?”

“Hmm? No… I’ll just step out for a bit.”

“Where to?”

Unable to even answer Gi-hun’s question, Jeong-o moved her feet.

She had an idea of why she was being called. It must be awkward since she had shed tears right in front of him yesterday. Jeong-o regretted hastily showing her emotions.

Knock, knock.

“Director, this is Lee Jeong-o.”

“Yes.”

Jeong-o entered.

Ji-heon stood up from his seat.

As usual, he looked pale, and she bowed her head slightly in greeting.

It was the first time he had summoned a mid-level employee to his office twice.

“I came because you called.”

His gaze drew a line, and his expression was cautiously guarded.

He was trying hard to appear nonchalant.

Yet, the fear was evident.

Even while being this tense, he was as bold as anyone.

That charming gap continued to pique his interest.

‘This isn’t normal.’

Ji-heon was beginning to realize this feeling wasn’t normal.

His feelings towards this woman had already crossed the boundaries of mere employee relations.

He just needed to understand her better.

What kind of person she was.

Was it sheer audacity, or did she have some ulterior motive?

He wanted her, but he didn’t want to give his heart.

This was Ji-heon’s way of not trusting anyone.

“Please, have a seat.”

Jeong-o sat down in the chair Ji-heon offered.

He also sat across from her.

In this space with just the two of them, Jeong-o became unnecessarily tense, remembering what kind of person he was.

Her gaze, lowered, caught on his broad chest.

She discreetly stole a glance at his chest, rising and falling slowly with each regulated breath.

Even that physiological phenomenon felt obscene due to memories.

Jeong-o shook off her thoughts and lowered her gaze.

On the table, a box of cookies was placed.

“Take as many as you want. They’re the cookies from yesterday.”

“Excuse me?”

“That cookie you asked me why I threw away, that one.”

“…That cookie? …You picked it up from there?”

“Is that a problem?”

“Oh, no.”

Jeong-o blankly picked up a piece of cookie packaging and placed it on her lap.

He couldn’t possibly be inviting me to taste a cookie he found in the trash.

Sure enough, after a moment, Ji-heon got to the point.

“I heard from my secretary that you were looking for me yesterday.”

“Ah… Yes.”

“You should explain why you were searching for me.”

“I was also looking for you because of the cookies.”

Jeong-o boldly presented the answer she had prepared.

“I wanted to say that if you’re going to throw away food, please give it to me instead.”

Yes. You might be suspicious. But please believe me! You must believe me!

“I’m serious about food.”

“Is that why you were looking for me?”

“Yes.”

“And you cried because you couldn’t say that?”

“That was… just because there were other circumstances.”

“What other circumstances?”

“It’s just personal circumstances.”

With her lips pressed tightly together and Ji-heon squinting at her, Jeong-o felt anxious that he might see right through her.

However, Ji-heon posed an unexpected question.

“Did Deputy Park Seung-kyu threaten you or something?”

“Excuse me?”

“Park Seung-kyu. The Deputy from the HR team.”

“Oh, no. Not at all. I think Deputy Park Seung-kyu is a nice person.”

Jeong-o waved her hands in surprise.

But Ji-heon still looked at her as if he couldn’t believe her.

‘Ah, I can’t show weakness.’

Her heart ached with pity as she felt warmth rising in her nose.

The man who hadn’t even told her who he was or what kind of family he came from.

The man who had never shown any friends or even said he loved her.

And the man who had forgotten all that.

The man who couldn’t trust her…

He didn’t even know that she had a child. He couldn’t remember.

Was he a bad person or a pitiful one?

‘Ah, but…’

Jeong-o’s eyes widened as she looked at him with pity.

There was certainly a mismatch.

Seven years ago, after his accident, he had lost his memory.

‘But I clearly spoke with you after the accident.’

How could he have called if he had lost his memory?

‘Did he think I was a stalker, treating me coldly even though he didn’t remember me?’

Yes, that could be possible. But even if he thought she was a stalker, he should at least remember her name.

The man she had run into in the hallway just the day before had a blank expression, not even knowing the name Lee Jeong-o.

‘What if he knows me but is pretending not to?’

Was he putting on a huge act?

She couldn’t be certain.

The Ji-heon she knew from seven years ago and the Ji-heon now seemed like completely different people.

No, he could have always been that kind of person, playing a role in front of her. If he had approached her from the start just to fulfill his desires, he wouldn’t have needed to imitate a pure-hearted man.

If he hadn’t had the accident, he might have been the one to take her to the hospital to get rid of the child himself.

But.

‘Maybe he isn’t the one who did it.’

Her thoughts spiraled into doubt.

Seven years ago, in mid-November, Jeong-o received a call from him. She clearly remembered the cruel words he had said then.

[“I know my mother met you instead of me. Didn’t that end everything?”] [“Haven’t I conveyed my opinion through that?”] [“Because it’s burdensome, can you not contact me anymore?”] [“You wouldn’t want to be a hindrance in someone else’s life, would you?”] [“You better be prepared if you contact me again.”] [“I’ll assume you understood and hang up. Take care.”]

But was that truly his voice?

In an emotional state, she had just assumed that his call was genuine.

What if it wasn’t his voice? What if that call was manipulated?

They had broken up due to someone’s scheme.

“Um, Director.”

Jeong-o mustered up her courage and called out to him.

“Yes.”

“Have you ever heard my name at least once?”

She pronounced her name clearly.

“My name is Lee Jeong-o.”

Her heart raced all over her body.

Ji-heon seemed to think for a moment before responding formally.

“Have you filmed an advertisement famous enough for your name to be known?”

He doesn’t know.

This cold man.

Jeong-o became convinced.

The call from seven years ago was manipulated!

Tears almost spilled out again.

What should she do now?

If he truly forgot her, would it be right to reveal her identity and the existence of Ye-na?

They had lived not knowing each other for seven years. Now this man would be getting married and building a real family?

But the time for deliberation wasn’t long.

It was better for him to know now than to find out after he got married.

For him, for Ye-na.

And for herself.

“I have something to say, Director.”

Jeong-o bravely began.

.*. *. *. *. *. *.

Ye-na let out a sigh as she got off the kindergarten bus.

They had said they would come pick her up from the academy, but no one showed up.

It was unlikely they had purposely not come. The bus driver had been driving pretty fast.

Accepting the situation, Ye-na thought she would have to go alone. It was a path she walked every day, so it wouldn’t be difficult to go alone.

Had she taken about ten steps?

“Ah? You were here? The teacher was looking for you for a while.”

A woman came over and spoke to her. It wasn’t the teacher who usually came to greet her.

“But who are you?”

“I’m the new teacher. You’re Ye-na, right?”

It was nice that the teacher knew her name, but it was also puzzling. She instinctively shrank back.

The woman grabbed Ye-na’s hand and pulled her along. It was a bit forceful.

“Let’s go. We need to hurry. It’s getting late.”

The woman held Ye-na’s hand and walked briskly. A seven-year-old child struggled to keep up with her pace. Ye-na had to almost run.

But the direction the woman was going wasn’t towards the Go academy building.

“But where are we going?”

“Where else would we go but the academy?”

“That’s not the way to the academy.”

“The academy moved. Didn’t you know?”

A child couldn’t withstand the pressure of an adult. Ye-na didn’t want to follow but found herself being led by the adult who was holding her hand.

Then fear began to creep in. When she looked back, the sign of the Go academy was nowhere to be seen. She missed her mom.

“I want to call my mom.”

Stubbornly stopping in her tracks, Ye-na glared at the woman. The woman turned around.

But then she looked even more startled and let go of Ye-na’s hand.

“Oh my, who are you?”

The woman crumpled her face as if she had touched a terrible reptile and left before Ye-na could say anything.

In an unfamiliar place, Ye-na was left all alone.

“Mommy…!”

Her pitiful voice echoed along the roadside.

.*. *. *. *. *. *.

Do-bin, who had arrived early at the Go academy, waiting eagerly for Ye-na, was becoming increasingly anxious.

‘Is Ye-na not coming today?’

Do-bin couldn’t hold back any longer and went to ask the teacher.

“Teacher, is Ye-na not coming today?”

“No, she should be here soon. It’s about time for her to arrive. I’ll go get her.”

As the teacher stood up, Do-bin grabbed her pants.

“Can I go too?”

“Sure, let’s go together.”

With a happy heart, Do-bin followed the teacher out.

In front of the Go academy building, Do-bin straightened his clothes several times as he excitedly waited for Ye-na.

However, ten more minutes passed, and Ye-na still hadn’t arrived.

“Teacher, why hasn’t Ye-na come yet?”

“Hmm, I think I should call the kindergarten.”

The teacher searched for Ye-na’s kindergarten phone number and dialed.

“Hello. This is the Go academy where Ye-na from the deer class attends. She hasn’t arrived yet.”

[“Oh? Ye-na got off the bus about 15 minutes ago.”]

The teacher’s lips went dry as she hung up the phone.

“What did they say, Teacher?”

“…They said Ye-na got off the bus? Could she have gone up to the academy by herself?”

The teacher called the principal of the Go academy.

[“Ye-na hasn’t arrived yet?”]

The principal’s reply drained the color from the teacher’s face.

Do-bin felt the same way.

“Teacher, is Ye-na missing?”

The teacher couldn’t find the words.

No, she couldn’t live in a world without her. They had to find Ye-na as soon as possible.

Do-bin cupped his small hands around his mouth and shouted loudly.

“Ye-na! Lee Ye-na!”

All he could do was call out for her.

“Lee Ye-na!”

His hoarse voice caught the attention of everyone passing by.

“Lee Ye-naaaaaaaaaa!”

An elderly man passing by chuckled at Do-bin.

“Hey, you really have a loud voice.”

“You shouldn’t be laughing! Ye-na is missing right now!”