LIGHTNOVELONLINE Chapter 64
Chapter 64
Jin Baek-ho, staring blankly at the spot his daughter had just left, called over Park Pyo-chung, who was standing closest to him in a black suit.
“Pyo-chung.”
“Yes, Chairman.”
“Make sure to invest some money into TwoBear so that Yeoreum won’t feel neglected.”
Park Pyo-chung, glancing at him cautiously, asked back.
“How much should we invest?”
Jin Baek-ho looked at Park Pyo-chung as if asking why he needed to ask such a thing and replied.
“So that our daughter can do everything at the top level.”
*
Jin Baek-ho’s reaction was somewhat ambiguous, but since they had completed the quest and received permission for Yeoreum’s recruitment, it was deemed a satisfactory outcome.
“Just go this way,”
“Yes, thank you for the guidance.”
After finishing up, I stepped out of Jinkang’s office building, led by the person in the black suit.
I had actually considered the possibility of being politely kidnapped and cemented in the sea, but the feelings were quite fresh. …Actually, it seemed like my sense of reality hadn’t fully returned yet.
It felt more like I was dreaming a long dream.
To regain my sense of reality, I took out a letter from Jin Yeoreum from three years later and reread it.
While walking down the empty hallway, engrossed in the letter, I suddenly heard hurried footsteps approaching from behind.
Curious, I turned to see who it was, and the person running exclaimed.
“Team Leader Seon!”
It was Jin Yeoreum.
“…Haa. Ha,”
She was panting as if she had run over in a hurry.
“How did you get here, Ms. Yeoreum?”
Only after asking did I notice her outfit.
She wore a suit that looked identical to the black suits from earlier in the president’s office.
Thinking back, there were quite a few women in there too, right?
I couldn’t hide my suspicion.
“Wait, you were in that room, weren’t you?”
Jin Yeoreum spoke with trembling eyes.
“Yes, that’s right. I heard everything.”
“…Oh dear. So you saw that?”
Honestly, it was quite astonishing to know that she had witnessed all of that.
Her suddenly charging in and revealing her identity as a merchant was, even to me, a pretty embarrassing sight.
I felt quite shy.
I was wondering why they had lined up all those black suits, but it seemed like it was not just to intimidate but also to shield their daughter’s appearance.
Jin Baek-ho’s personality isn’t great, huh?
I tried my best to conceal my embarrassment and said nonchalantly.
“That happened. You didn’t seem to be particularly welcoming, but I suppose you received the Chairman’s approval in the end. …You’ve worked hard. There was a lot going on, but it all ended happily.”
Hearing that seemed to touch a nerve with Jin Yeoreum, as she spoke in a muffled voice.
“It’s not everything. The entirety of it doesn’t include Team Leader Seon.”
“There’s no blind person here.”
“Excuse me?”
What nonsense is this?
“In the end, it’s just me getting everything from Team Leader Seon!”
Yeoreum seemed to be misunderstanding something.
Her future didn’t look too bright.
Even though I, along with TwoBear Entertainment, would do my best to help, the one who had to struggle through public scrutiny for success was Jin Yeoreum.
This was not the time to talk about just receiving. It was a moment to worry about a murky future.
“Just receiving? No, starting now, Ms. Yeoreum needs to roll up her sleeves for TwoBear’s success!”
Did you think I’d be the only one suffering?
I’ll make you work hard enough to remember those days of volunteer cleaning fondly.
“…Of course, I plan to do everything I can. However, there’s no reason for Team Leader Seon to do the same.”
I smiled slightly and looked at her.
“There is a reason.”
This was related to my very essence.
Something I had never shared with anyone until now.
“I’ve failed big time once. I was betrayed by those I trusted.”
But that betrayal wasn’t without its cause.
“The betrayer was at fault, but I wasn’t completely innocent either. I was foolish enough to go through such things… I blindly trusted people. I tried to ignore their flaws. Even when I knew there was corruption, when I realized it wasn’t just a suspicion but real plagiarism, I foolishly kept believing and helping that person. I was such an idiot.”
Thinking back, the previous me was indeed foolish. I deserved that betrayal.
“And here I am, someone who gives trust and consideration to people, foolishly.”
“Who are you talking about?”
“Of course, it’s you, Jin Yeoreum.”
“….”
Jin Yeoreum looked at me with a sulky expression.
There was nothing elegant about her face that belied her age. It looked cute instead.
I smiled softly and said, “Do you know how adorable it was to see you, all prickly and defensive, starting to break down the walls after just two days?”
“Cute?”
“Yes, cute. And the way you clung to belief despite being hurt, that stubbornness didn’t seem like anyone else. That’s why I didn’t want to just be someone who betrays you, Ms. Yeoreum. I hoped it would rather turn into a bit of compensation for me. A sort of self-satisfaction.”
I didn’t want to remain as one of those who exploited Jin Yeoreum. Not like those conniving jerks who struck me from behind when I was drained of all my energy before my regression.
In the end, my true intention was this.
“So you don’t need to worry, Ms. Yeoreum. I’m already quite satisfied.”
In the past, I remember her winning awards in rhythmic gymnastics and smiling brightly.
In the future, I remember her awkwardly posing for a photographer while kindly smiling.
In the present, I remember her smiling with satisfaction as she watched us doing volunteer work.
I liked her smile. So, I wanted to make her smile.
And since she held my hand and smiled at me, I was satisfied.
But it seemed that Jin Yeoreum was not satisfied with just my response.
“…That can’t possibly be enough!”
She clung to me, shaking the hem of my clothes.
“Arrogant, self-righteous, stubborn! Acting like you’re strong-willed but just being swayed by those around you! The fact that Team Leader Seon sacrifices for someone like me, who always ruins things pretending to be considerate, hasn’t changed at all! Why do you keep sacrificing for me like this?!”
“…I told you, that’s not something worth calling a sacrifice. I was satisfied, you know?”
What more do you want from me when I say that? If the person involved is okay with it, believe them a bit.
“I’m anxious! I’m not someone who deserves such treatment. So it’s not strange at all if Team Leader Seon’s consideration disappears at any time. But if that consideration disappears, I think it’ll be really tough for me.”
“…”
Jin Yeoreum shook me as if waiting for an answer.
“Ah.”
Because of her shaking, I accidentally dropped the letter I was holding.
Startled, Jin Yeoreum quickly picked it up with an apologetic expression.
“…I’m sorry.”
“What are you apologizing for? It’s fine.”
…Wait, if Jin Yeoreum sees that letter, won’t it be quite a predicament?
It’s a letter written in her handwriting, but she has no memory of writing it. If she sees it, it would be a thoroughly embarrassing experience.
“But, Ms. Yeoreum, please, don’t look at the content….”
[‘Incoming message from anywhere’ has contacted the sender. The sender’s memories from the time of writing are being transmitted.]
Yeoreum’s body froze as if it had hit pause.
Huh?
“…What’s this?”
Memories from the time of writing are being transmitted?
So that means the memory from when I was writing the letter three years later while studying abroad is now being sent to the current Yeoreum?
…Isn’t that regression?
As Yeoreum started to move again, she looked around in confusion as if something had come to mind and said,
“…Team Leader Seon? We’re in America, how did you… huh?”
She murmured, clutching her head with wide eyes, as if she had entered a panic.
“…I was definitely studying abroad and studying economics. This is….”
Then she whispered, as if she had reached an epiphany.
“…Did we really just go back in time?”
“It seems so. Like, for real.”
Whoa, now there are two time travelers? How the heck are we gonna handle this?
…But wait, is it even necessary to handle it? Just using the info we have could be super helpful.
Jin Yeoreum looked like she was seriously freaking out about this unexpected situation, trembling and crumbling like a cookie at any moment.
From her perspective, it must feel like she’s suddenly traveled through time. If she doesn’t have any knowledge about regression, this could be a terrifying experience.
I definitely shouldn’t just leave her like that.
“Ms. Yeoreum, take a deep breath and calm down. Let me tell you the real reason why I’m bringing you on board.”
She looked at me with trembling eyes filled with vague hope. It seemed like she was looking for answers to this situation from me.
Yeah, I mean, who wouldn’t be dumbfounded by an unexpected regression?
Hiding it from her wouldn’t do any good.
Don’t worry, Yeoreum. I’ll fill you in.
I spoke with the determination to be the guiding senior she needed.
“You mentioned in your letter that you wanted to be an idol, right?”
Jin Yeoreum gasped in surprise and muttered.
“…That’s definitely three years from now… No way?”
I was too excited to hold back the truth in front of her shocked face.
“So I pulled some strings. Honestly, I wanted to be an idol with you, too.”
Her expression, her movements, her breath stopped completely.
“…Ah.”
And then, as if she realized something, she let out a gasp. Two streams of tears rolled down her pure white cheeks.
Jin Yeoreum’s face twisted in an indescribable blend of emotions as she ran towards me.
Before I knew it, she pounced on me and wrapped her arms around me, clinging tightly as if she’d never let go.
Jin Yeoreum buried her face in my chest and rubbed her face against me.
I gently patted her back.
“…Team Leader Seon, you’re really, really, really a strange person.”
“I’m a bit embarrassed to say this, but I’m well aware that I’m strange myself.”
“…Really.”
Jin Yeoreum looked at me and laughed. She dropped all her usual elegance and looked like a goofball.
“Meeting such a weird person like you might be the greatest fortune of my life.”
That ridiculously pure smile looked so beautiful.
Among all the summers of the past and future, she was the best one.