CHAPTER 33

After sending the manuscript she had worked on all night through email, and having a long chat with her friend Eunkyung on the phone, it was already evening.

Siyeon took out the side dishes that the Team Leader had packed from the refrigerator and heated rice in a microwave-safe container.

She placed a spoonful of fresh kimchi on the hot rice and took a bite, and an involuntary admiration escaped her lips. The next dish was beef and soy sauce stew.

“It’s really delicious.”

Every time she ate the food the Team Leader had given her, it reminded her of the meals her mother used to make for her back in Ichon-dong. They were made with so much care.

She wanted to repay the Team Leader, not with money but in some other way, but she knew that if she tried to do something for her, the team leaer would surely get angry. Siyeon decided to think that someday she would have the opportunity to repay her gratitude.

Then, her phone rang. The hearty appetite that had surged within her disappeared in an instant when she saw the caller’s name.

“What could it be this time?”

Siyeon put down her chopsticks and answered Gwihyeon’s call.

[I told my parents and grandparents that I’m getting married next spring. When they call to ask, please handle it smoothly.]

“Ijun’s not here anymore, so why don’t this guy just be honest with the adults now?”

Ijun had left for the United States in the spring of last year, right after graduating from school. His father, CEO Jeong, and his grandfather had initially tried to get him to work at the company right after his graduation, but it ended in failure. Gwihyeon must have breathed a sigh of relief when Ijun left.

On the day he told Siyeon about Ijun’s departure, she had gone up to the rooftop and sat at the table and chair without moving until dawn. It was disappointing, but ultimately, it was sad.

[This is a problem between your two families, not ours. I’m trying to minimize the shock and confusion that my Suwon family will face as victims of this grand deception.]

“It’s a problem between both families, but only Mr. Yeongjin and I are bearing the burden.”

[I’ve done what I can for Yeongjin. Since the chairman ordered to switch to public bidding, if you really want to clarify the responsibilities, ask grandfather.]

Siyeon stiffened at Gwihyeon’s cold words. She knew she couldn’t bring up that topic with his grandfather, so Gwihyeon deliberately mentioned it that way.

[Or maybe Ijun used some kind of trick.]

“Why are we talking about Ijun now?”

[It was actually Ijun, not me, who initially asked to see Yeongjin. He was the only person who could make such a request to our grandfather without hesitation.]

“…That’s unbelievable.”

She was stunned. When she first met Ijun in front of the Hannam-dong house, he told her he heard about Mr. Yeongjin from his brother by chance. Gwihyeon also expressed to Siyeon as if it was he who had made the request to their grandfather.

Sometimes, when she felt resentful towards Gwihyeon, she reminded herself of his kindness in fulfilling her request and helping Yeongjin. But it turned out not to be true.

[For Jun, because of that favor, he gave up on going to America to go to school in Korea, and well… he said he’d leave as soon as he graduated, so maybe Grandfather could have persuaded him otherwise.”

“Why are you bringing up this now?”

[Isn’t it important to know who handled it?]

In the end, everything had come full circle. Ijun had left for the United States, and Yeongjin had faced difficulties.

The only consolation she could find was that her biological parents were healthy, and she had the ability to support her them, unlike in the past.

“When are you going to tell them that Eunhye, who works in your office, is the one you want to marry?”

Siyeon’s voice flowed coldly.

[I’ll tell them once everything is sorted out. We need to introduce each other before marriage, don’t we?]

“When do you think I found out that Eunhye and I have been swapped? I need to know too to handle the situation.”

“We’ll say it happened after your birthday. It’s been arranged that Mr. Yeongjin will meet Professor Kim’s house this weekend. After that, finalize the family relationship with both parties’ agreement. Just make sure you don’t about the whole situation, that Eunhye’s foster parents are your real parents.You know very well, if you don’t, things will get complicated.”

It would become complicated indeed. If that happens, Gwihyeon’s father, his grandfather, and those who wondered why Baekya Foods had entered into a contract with Yeongjin in the past would be curious. The most uncomfortable person in that situation would be Siyeon herself.

“Eunhye knows.”

“Yeah, she knows. She was quite surprised when she about it.”

Siyeon wasn’t surprised. She had anticipated it ever since she vaguely heard about Eunhye leaving the Hannam-dong house a few years ago.”

“…I see.”

The play was racing toward its end.

***

It was a play where the role to reveal the truth and the exact timing were predetermined. However, due to unexpected events, Siyeon and Eunhye’s secret was about to be exposed.

It happened on Siyeon’s twenty-fifth birthday, the coldest day of the year so far.

When she woke up in the morning, Siyeon felt a mix of emotions. Today marked her twenty-fifth birthday.

She had planned to spend the day quietly like any other day, but her plans changed early in the morning when she received a text message from Manager Yang.

[Come to the office by 6 p.m.]

Without any further explanation, Manager Yang confidently told her to come to Yeongjin by 6 p.m.

“It’s cold and dark. Why?”

Siyeon muttered to herself as she lay in bed, looking at the text message on her phone. As if in response to her words, a reply appeared on her screen after a moment.

[Yoonsoo will come to pick you up, so just leave the house at 5:50.]

“Does he know he’s supposed to pick me up?”

[He took a day off today, so he’s free. Just wait for him and get in the car.]

Manager Yang seemed as though she were engaged in a conversation with Siyeon.

“What’s so special about today?”

Siyeon sent her a message. She assumed that Manager Yang was unaware that it was her birthday, as she had never told her. The possibility of an early year-end party seemed most likely.

[Don’t you know what day it is?]

“Is it an early year-end party?”

[It’s your birthday.]

How did she know it was my birthday today?

Siyeon tried to recall, but she had never informed anyone of her birthday.

“How did you know?”

[I handle HR for the part-timers, you know?]

“Ah….”

Only now did Siyeon realize how she might have found out about her birthday. She remembered submitting her resident registration and bank account copies when she started her part-time job.

[See you later!]

“….”

Siyeon put her phone down and went to the window, opening her bedroom window wide. She wished for snow to fall, but all she could hear was the howling wind, strong enough to make the window rattle.

The small trees planted in the yard shook their feeble branches in the harsh wind, and on the street, withered leaves tumbled through the air. It was a wintry scene.

Siyeon, still staring at the scene, got ready to go out after sending her manuscript she had written last night to the publishing house.

At 5:50 p.m., Siyeon, dressed warmly in a coat with a hood, a muffler, and gloves, sat waiting on the porch and only left the house when Yoonsoo’s car pulled up in front

Yoonsoo, glancing at Siyeon, who was bundled up tightly in a hooded coat, muffler, and gloves, handed her a shopping bag from the passenger seat, as she got into the car.

“Is this my birthday present?”

“Shouldn’t you at least ask, ‘What is this?’ first? Or maybe act surprised a little bit just out of a matter of courtesy?”

Yoonsoo tsked as he watched Siyeon open the bag left and right.

“Oh, this is expensive.”

Siyeon lifted the lid of the rectangular black box with a white ribbon tied to it. Inside, she found a long black wallet with a familiar logo imprinted on it, and her eyes widening in surprise.

“It’s not that expensive, and it’s something you can use. You need to carry a good wallet to attract money.”

“Did you three chip in to buy this? Even if you did, this is too much.”

Even if they split the cost three ways, it would still be well over a million won. Siyeon quickly divided the amount in her head and wore a worried expression.

“What? Pooled money? Ha! Seriously, how do you see me?”

“If not that, is this possibly a fake…?”

“Hey, get out! Walk to the factory.”

Yoonsoo scowled as if he was displeased but didn’t start the car.

“Just because you’re Mansoo, buying something this expensive is not a good idea. You might not mind, but if other people see this, they might think you like me.”

“What’s with this clear boundary? And if I do like you, it’s an honor for the family. Seriously, this is unbelievable.”

“You can’t like me. It’s forbidden to like me. But I’ll graciously accept the gift. Thank you, Man-soo-nim.”

Siyeon carefully put the wallet back in the box and then into the shopping bag.

“I must be crazy, I should’ve just given you a chicken coupon.”

“I don’t like chicken. If you want to give something, give me a coffee coupon.”

“I don’t want to. Today’s birthday party food is chicken and pig’s trotters. I’m graciously yielding on the legs because it’s your special day.”

They arrived at the factory yard.

“I absolutely won’t eat the trotters.”

“Such a fuss…”

Leaving Yoonsoo flabbergasted, Siyeon quickly got out of the car and hurried into the office.

***

In the office, loud music blared, and Yoonsoo had turned on a birthday song MR (music recording) on his phone. People sang along with the music as it played.

On the table, there was delivered chicken and pig’s trotters, beer, and rice cakes and fruit. It might not have been extravagant, but it was a touching birthday party for Siyeon.

“Happy birthday, dear Siyeon, happy birthday to you!”

As the office staff sang, Siyeon looked at the candles on the cake with a joyful expression. Everyone was so engrossed in the moment that they didn’t notice someone coming in through the entrance.

After the birthday song ended, Siyeon blew out the candles on the cake, and the three of them congratulated her with loud applause.

“Thank you, Yang Unnie. And team leader, thank you.”

With a touched heart, Siyeon expressed her gratitude to the two people who had arranged the birthday celebration.

“Brr, it’s cold. Why were you born on such a cold day? Your mother must have had a hard time giving birth to you on a day like this. Now, let’s cut the cake!”

“She was in the maternity ward, so she probably wasn’t cold.”

Siyeon carefully drew a line on the cake with the plastic knife handed to her by the team leader.

“You said your home was in Gangdong-gu before, so you were born in Seoul, right? Or did you live in Gangdong-gu your whole life?”

“No. I was born in Seongbuk-dong, at Seongbuk-dong Royal Maternity Clinic. I lived there for a while and then moved to Ichon-dong and stayed there.”

It was when she casually answered and started cutting into the cake that it happened.

“Oh my, CEO-sir! When did you arrive?”

Manager Yang, looking past Siyeon’s shoulder, widened her eyes and exclaimed and Siyeon froze in place.