A child who looks like me

Jeong-oh’s voice made Ji-heon stop in his tracks.

When Jeong-oh confessed that she was a single mom, Eun-bi’s expression suddenly darkened.

“Ah… you’re a single mother? I’m sorry, I didn’t know that…”

Even that apology must be a calculated move.

“It’s okay. There’s no need to apologize. I don’t see it as a flaw. As you mentioned, my daughter is beautiful.”

“Director Lee is so cool. You’re brave. I don’t think I could have made such a decision. But anyway, it must be wonderful to have such a pretty daughter. You’re truly amazing.”

Eun-bi’s sympathetic smile made Jeong-oh want to laugh, but she didn’t show it.

An awkward silence filled the office. The members of the Production Team 1, who had been watching Jeong-oh, quietly averted their gazes.

Assistant Ko Eun-joo frowned in displeasure and shot a glance at Eun-bi. Gi-hoon momentarily looked dazed before turning to Jeong-oh with a worried expression.

Jeong-oh looked at Ji-heon. His expression revealed no emotion, leaving her to guess his thoughts.

Team Leader Seong Mi-ran quickly grasped how to handle the situation and went after Ji-heon.

“Director, I need to discuss something regarding the PT. Do you have a moment?”

“Let’s go.”

At Mi-ran’s request for a meeting, Ji-heon readily led the way. Even as the sound of his footsteps faded, Jeong-oh felt a piercing pain in her heart with every step he took.

“Director, you’re going home, right? I’ll give you a ride. Let’s go.”

A little while later, Gi-hoon confidently offered.

“Uh, yeah. Thanks.”

Gi-hoon even helped carry Jeong-oh’s bag.

Ji-heon went to his office with Seong Mi-ran.

Mi-ran wondered why Ji-heon was just walking without checking what she needed to discuss. Moreover, his steps felt strangely slow and heavy, as if he had weights tied to his ankles, his mind seemingly elsewhere.

With those slow steps, Ji-heon silently opened the office door, letting Mi-ran in while he stood holding the door.

“Director, the thing is, in this PT, Chae Eun-bi…”

“Hold on a second. Just a moment.”

As Mi-ran began to speak, Ji-heon reopened the door he had just started to close. Without giving her a chance to continue, he left the office.

His pace quickened as he walked away from the office. Striding quickly, he reached the Production Team 2 office and confirmed that Jeong-oh’s desk was empty before heading outside.

When the entrance door to the 9th floor opened, he heard a voice coming from in front of the elevator.

“Are you okay, Director?”

“Of course.”

Jeong-oh’s calm voice contrasted with Gi-hoon’s worried tone.

“Well, that’s a relief. Ugh, I’m so angry.”

“Why are you getting worked up, Gi-hoon?”

“Chae Eun-bi is really awful. I didn’t think she would go that far.”

“……”

“Whew. I never thought it would come out like this. I wanted to protect you.”

“I’m really okay. Thank you for worrying about me.”

“Should we go down to the parking lot together, or do you want to wait on the first floor?”

“Let’s go down together.”

While their conversation continued, Ji-heon’s fists clenched tightly.

The office fell silent again.

Eun-bi, filled with joy at having dealt a blow to Jeong-oh, sat down at her desk.

Since the PT preparation meeting seemed to be over, it would be fine to go home right away, but Eun-bi wanted to talk to Ji-heon.

She wanted to tell him in more detail what she had heard and see the shock and hurt on his face.

“If you don’t know anything properly, just stay quiet.”

Assistant Ko Eun-joo grumbled as she packed her things. It was a mutter to herself, but it was clearly directed at someone. Eun-bi instantly recognized that it was aimed at her.

How could the Production Team 2 be so collectively foolish? They were like idiots boarding a sinking ship without realizing it.

Eun-bi thought it wasn’t even worth getting angry over and pretended to organize her work as she sat down.

A little later, Mi-ran appeared, seemingly finished with her meeting with Ji-heon. Soon after, Eun-bi’s internal phone rang.

“Yes, this is Chae Eun-bi.”

“Can I see you for a moment, Chae Eun-bi?” It was Ji-heon’s voice.

“Yes, understood, Director.”

After cheerfully responding, Eun-bi hung up the phone and hummed a little tune as she headed for the office.

At the end of the hallway leading to the office, she spotted Ji-heon, who seemed to be approaching without the need to go all the way to the office.

Feeling uneasy, Eun-bi’s steps halted as Ji-heon drew closer.

“There’s no need for the Sound Telecom competitive PT anymore. You’ve been excluded.”

“Uh… why?”

“Because it’s not necessary. Just accept that and focus on your main job.”

So that was what Mi-ran’s meeting had been about. Although her pride was slightly hurt, Eun-bi quickly agreed. She wasn’t particularly enthusiastic about the competitive PT where Production Team 2 would take the lead either.

“Got it. Is that all?”

“Am I yours?”

Ji-heon shot back a question at Eun-bi’s inquiry. His tone was so confrontational that Eun-bi responded with a stiff expression.

“…Huh?”

“You told Jeong-oh, didn’t you? ‘Am I yours?’”

Ji-heon pointedly repeated his question.

In the company hallway, where anyone could easily eavesdrop, Eun-bi felt anxious about someone overhearing Ji-heon’s voice, but he seemed completely unconcerned.

Tears welled up in her eyes again.

“Did Jeong-oh say that?”

“I heard it directly. Right in front of the restaurant.”

So it wasn’t just me!

Jeong-oh had also said something about being ‘my man’ or whatever!

And after hearing all that, he only targets me? He just laughed at Jeong-oh a moment ago!

“After telling you to sort out all the lies you’ve told, you’re spreading even stranger rumors.”

“……”

“If you keep tarnishing my reputation, I’ll have to resolve this legally.”

Eun-bi’s hands began to tremble at his merciless words.

Moreover, how dare he talk about the law to someone from a family of lawyers?

With tears welling in her eyes, Eun-bi asked, “But, oppa, isn’t there anything you’re thankful for?”

In response to Eun-bi’s accusatory tone, Ji-heon tilted his head and crossed his arms.

“Shouldn’t you be thankful? Jeong-oh was just saying that you’re her man. What about the woman who has been lying to you like it’s nothing, as a single mother? You don’t think you should thank me for revealing what kind of person she is?”

Just as Ji-heon had done, Eun-bi didn’t care about her surroundings as she pressed him.

After delivering her words forcefully, she saw that his expression had turned even more terrifying.

Taking half a step closer, Ji-heon spoke quietly, “Shut your mouth. Okay?”

It was a rough and chilling warning delivered in a disturbingly polite tone.

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

Late at night, Jeong-oh lay beside her sleeping daughter, Yena, gently brushing her hair.

Even though she had come home earlier than usual, she couldn’t show Yena a bright face.

I’m sorry. Mom is sorry.

Mom is always sorry to her daughter.

It had been a rollercoaster of a day.

Her heart had dropped, soared, and now felt like it was crashing down.

Having tasted the bitterness of life many times, she realized that the bitterness comes in many forms. But today, she didn’t cry.

Jeong Ji-heon was a man who could never be hers. He always had been. Perhaps due to that resignation, she didn’t feel utterly hopeless.

‘It doesn’t matter.’

Jeong-oh steeled her heart. She felt a bit uneasy that he seemed to be pressing forward without any reservations.

Now that the brakes had been applied, he would probably keep his distance again. Given the current situation, that might be for the best. After all, being associated with the rumors of Chae Eun-bi and Jeong Ji-heon breaking up could be risky.

While she was sorting out various thoughts in her mind, her phone vibrated. The screen displayed the name of Team Leader Seong Mi-ran.

“Yes, Team Leader.”

“Is this assistant okay?” Mi-ran asked with a concerned voice.

“Yes, I’m fine.”

“I spoke to the Director. It would be best to exclude Chae from our competitive PT since she’s not much help.”

“Oh, really?”

“The Director also agreed. Today, Chae was quite rude. From what I hear, she and the Director have broken up. I wonder if she’s taking her frustration out on you.”

“……”

“Still, stay away from the rumors, Assistant.” Mi-ran briefly explained what had happened that night and added a word of caution. Jeong-oh let out a weak laugh.

“Yes. I will.”

“I feel like I’m overstepping, but I’m doing this because I’m worried you might get hurt. After some time has passed, after they’ve settled things, then you’ll feel more at ease.”

“Yes, you don’t have to worry, Team Leader.”

“Oh dear. Okay, get some sleep.”

“Yes, you should rest too, Team Leader.”

Jeong-oh quickly said goodbye and hung up the phone.

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

Although he had given Eun-bi a warning, Ji-heon couldn’t just stand by.

On his way home, he called Eun-yeob.

“Oh, Ji-heon. What’s up?” Eun-yeob answered cheerfully. Ji-heon went straight to the point.

“Did you meet Eun-bi today?”

“……Did Eun-bi tell you?”

“No. I just thought so. Did you talk properly?”

“What about?”

“Tell her not to spread rumors.”

As Eun-yeob received Ji-heon’s call while working late, the smile vanished from her face.

[You’re my brother, so I’ll listen to you a bit. I told you clearly last week, but she’s still going around saying I’m her man. You know that’s defamation, right?]
How dare he bring up defamation in front of a lawyer? Truly an arrogant kid.

Eun-yeob silently scoffed but responded kindly without showing her feelings.
“I’ll say it again.”

[Thanks. I’m counting on you. Oh, and I just recorded this call. Understand?]
“That you would record a conversation between friends is quite hurtful.”

[After being treated like this by your friend’s sister, I find the world quite frightening.]
“……”

[Then I’ll hang up. Take care.]
Click.

It was an unpleasant call from start to finish.

After the call ended, Eun-yeob, unable to suppress her anger, swung her arms and knocked everything off her desk.

Crash! Papers, documents, and other items fell, creating a loud mess.

The office assistant was startled and opened the door. Eun-yeob shot a cold glance at the assistant before stepping out of the office and said, “Clean it up.”

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

Seven years ago.

Eun-yeob learned that Ji-heon’s mother, Jang Young-mi, was searching for a young male voice actor.

Considering Ji-heon was in a coma from a hit-and-run accident, Young-mi’s actions were even more puzzling.

Afterward, Eun-yeob secretly approached the voice actor under the guise of a coincidence. After planning his movements and having a chance meeting about three times, she was able to become friends with him.

“I joined a law firm and mostly provide counsel to large corporations, but it seems like the children of the group chairmen are all troublemakers. It’s really tough. Have you ever met anyone from a chaebol family?”

“There are a lot of weird people in chaebol families. I don’t have personal connections, but I did visit a chaebol mansion recently for work.”

Once Eun-yeob broke the ice, the voice actor began to spill information. Eun-yeob’s eyes lit up.

“You visited a chaebol mansion? For what?”

“Well, you must not tell anyone, okay?”

“Of course. Confidentiality is essential for a lawyer.”

The voice actor lowered his voice.

“They said it was a food group, but I thought it would be rude to ask which one. Anyway, when you enter the mansion, there’s a marble fountain right in front.”

A food group with a marble fountain? Eun-yeob easily deduced that it was Ji-heon’s home.

“I had been in contact with the lady of the house, and after we exchanged a few messages, I was called to go. But I received a really strange request.”

“What kind of request?”

“They handed me a phone and asked me to call a woman I had never met before and say some harsh words. There was a script, too. Things like, ‘Can you please not contact me anymore since it’s too burdensome?’ and ‘You should be prepared if you contact me again.’ You get the idea, right?”

Eun-yeob felt chills run down her spine.

The voice the actor had performed was unmistakably Ji-heon’s.

“The woman was clinging to the house’s son, but since the son couldn’t make the call, they wanted me to pretend to be him and chase her away.”

“……Was it just that one time? No other requests?”

“Since then, I haven’t heard from them. I wonder if my acting was effective, and if that woman really backed off.”

“Indeed, chaebols are something else. To demand such words to a woman whose name and face they don’t even know.”

“I at least know her name. I remember it.”

Eun-yeob’s eyes narrowed at the voice actor’s response.

“It was Lee Jeong-o. That was the name.”