CHAPTER 61

<This is Drumstick.. I will inform you of the meeting time and place. However, for safety reasons, I plan to have a private security guard nearby. Please understand that this is for the sake of my undisturbed writing activities.>

“I sent it like this.” 

After reading the email out loud, Siyeon said to Eun-kyung.

“You’re planning to call a security guard?”

“No. It’s just to scare them. The cafe has a lot of customers, so who’s going to know who the guard is.”

“Smart, aren’t you?”

“If it really bothers me, I can ask a friend for help.”

“No need for your friend. I now understand why you’ve been hiring only male part-timers all this time.”

Eun-kyung glanced at Siyeon and chuckled.

Having solved a big problem, Siyeon called her mother while in the moving car. Since they hadn’t been in touch for a week, her mother must have been very curious about her recent situations.

Receiving Siyeon’s call with delight, her mother continued the conversation cheerfully.

[Your husband ate kalguksu (knife-cut noodles) here, did you know?]

“Ijun… had kalgukusu there?”

[Yes. Why? A few days ago, he suddenly dropped by in the morning and had a meal with your Dad before leaving. Didn’t Ijun mention it?]

“…No,  He did. I heard it, but… I must have forgotten because I’ve been busy.”

She responded with a slightly flustered voice.

Her mother casually referred to Ijun as ‘Jeong Seobang (Husband).’ It was probably to ask about her whereabouts, but the fact that he had a meal at the house where it was uncertain if she was there was unexpected.

[Siyeon.]

“Yes?”

[I’ve decided not to worry about you anymore. Honestly, even until you got married, I was a bit uneasy, but now I feel relieved. After switching to the doctor that your husband introduced, your father also improved a lot too. According to the doctor, it seems like Dad has regained psychological stability. I can sense that he really likes your husband, even though he hasn’t said it explicitly.]

“…I see.”

In just a week of absence, there had been a significant change in the family dynamic. Her parents had grown to like Ijun.

Siyeon couldn’t decide whether to be happy or sad about it. However, the fact that her father had found psychological stability and had become much happier was genuinely heartwarming.

[I know you’re busy, but next time, don’t let your husband come alone. I’ll make something delicious next time.]

“I will.”

After ending the call, Siyeon called Director Yang this time. There were several unread messages from her, and she felt guilty for not replying.

[You don’t answer calls or reply to messages. I thought something happened, darn girl!]

Director Yang shouted abruptly as soon as she answered the phone.

“I’m sorry. I turned off my phone because of work.”

Siyeon apologized again in a remorseful tone. She hadn’t thought that Director Yang would be desperately looking for her during the past week.

[I was so curious after Director Jeong visited here!]

“…What? Ijun went there…?”

[Yeah! Director Jeong said you’re doing well, but you’re unreachable. But the boss seems happy again. If you hadn’t contacted me in a day or two more, I was seriously thinking of reporting it to the police!]

“I promise not to surprise you again. But when did Ijun visit the factory?”

[Hey, hey, it’s really strange. A few days ago, he suddenly appeared at the factory, picked up the boss, and left. He even called him ‘Dad’ so casually.]

Her eyes widened. She had no idea what Ijun had been up to while she was away. 

[But you know… Director Jeong gave too much money for the factory staff dinner.]

“Really?”

[There aren’t that many factory staff. Besides, we just had pork belly and soju but we ate a lot at the pork belly restaurant we sometimes go to, and there was still a lot of money left, so we split the rest… It should be fine, right? Oh, before that, I got permission from the boss first. It felt like getting a big bonus. People really liked it.]

“……”

[It’s good to have a chaebol son-in-law. The boss seems secretly proud. He speaks more comfortably and laughs more often now, just like before. Anyway, the atmosphere at the factory is suddenly better and more lively these days.]

Listening to Director Yang’s words, Siyeon furrowed her brow. By now, she felt an urge to meet him immediately.

She needed to talk to him. She needed to understand why he was managing his image and showing kindness to her family and acquaintances while discussing marriage prospects over dinner at Eunhye’s house.

Except for two missed calls from Ijun, there had been no further contact.

“Eun-kyung, why does Ijun treat my parents and my friends so well when our relationship is not that great?”

After ending the call, Siyeon asked Eun-kyung. She needed an objective perspective as a third party to understand his mindset.

“He might be trying to butter up, or he might genuinely want to get along well with you.”

“Isn’t that too extreme?”

“But the truth might be like that. If he wants to get along with you, he could just treat you well. Trying to win over people around you leaves room for interpretation.”

“Just asking Ijun directly might be better.”

“Yeah, that’s a good idea.”

For a moment, Siyeon forgot her fear of the stalker as she pondered about Ijun. Beyond the car window, bizarre-looking trees passed by rapidly. It had already been 10 years. Time seemed to pass so quickly.

“…What will I be doing around this time next year…?”

“You’ll probably be getting older somewhere.”

“…You think so?”

She swallowed the words “I hope so” inwardly.

“Let’s travel when you turn thirty. If you have a little one by your side, take the little one with you.”

“That sounds like a dream.”

“Maybe it’s a dream for others, but it’s reality for you. As Drumstick and the daughter-in-law of a conglomerate, you’re already living in other people’s dreams.”

“…”

As Eunyoung mentioned, Siyeon might indeed be living a dreamlike life, possibly since the moment the opportunity to change her life was given.

However, not all dreams are happy. Just as there are moments when one desperately hopes to wake up from a dream, there may come a time when she too desperately wishes to break free from this dream and shed tears.

“For now, just worry about the stalker.”

“Yeah.”

But she definitely didn’t want to live a third life like this.

***

[I have something important to attend to, so let’s postpone our meeting to tomorrow. Let’s meet at the same place, same time.]

A reply email came from Siyeon’s devoted reader. The next morning, as she was working in Eunkyung’s apartment, she checked her email and twisted her lips in frustration.

She had suggested meeting the stalker for lunch today, but he suddenly changed the date, saying he had an urgent matter to attend to.

Siyeon, who had to spend another day in tension, couldn’t help but feel annoyed. She immediately informed Eunkyung about the change in schedule, but she hadn’t replied to the stalker yet. She planned to send the email late at night, close to midnight.

“Oh, right! The package!”

As Siyeon pondered whether everything had been resolved, a deep frown appeared on her face. There was still a lingering curiosity that she hadn’t solved. 

Who could possibly…! 

As she was thinking about it, a sudden thought crossed her mind, and her eyes widened.

‘No way.’

If it was the stalker who knew all about her daily life, it was entirely possible. Come to think of it, when she received the package, it was marked as a direct delivery from the company, and the sender’s name was not revealed. She hadn’t bothered to check the sender at the time and had casually overlooked it.

Siyeon opened the email window to the stalker and started writing an email to him.

“Did you deliver the package to our house?”

[Yes. That’s correct.]

She received an immediate response from him. Siyeon was no longer trying to avoid him; instead, she became increasingly curious about his existence. She wanted to confirm who this person was and why they showed such persistent interest in her life.

“I don’t know if you’re aware… but I’m married and have a family. And my husband is not the kind of ordinary person you can deal with. Since you call yourself a fan, I sincerely express my concern.”

[You seem to underestimate me. I am a man with much more capability than what you may think.]

When Siyeon sensed his annoyance in the message, she hesitated. There was nothing good about provoking him. She had intended to meet the fan, to say that he should only cheer from afar while carefully crafting her words to keep a respectful distance. It seemed like it wouldn’t be as easy as she thought.

“I’ll give you my autograph when we meet.”

[That’s not necessary.]

He flatly refused. This man, who didn’t want an autograph and wanted to show off his abilities, left Siyeon wondering what he really wanted.

“Well then, what do you need?”

Somehow, it turned into a chat rather than an email. Siyeon had sent the email and was waiting for a reply, but she didn’t receive an immediate response from him. As she waited for a reply, Siyeon suddenly got up from her seat and went to make some coffee.

[Drumstick.]

A belatedly arrived email blinked on the screen.

***

The next day, Siyeon went to work with Eunkyung. She spent the morning with an anxious heart, helping her with her work based on her past experience. The meeting time was set for noon, the busiest time for customers.

From a little past 11:00, Siyeon sat at the table right in front of the counter, waiting for him. Sitting and looking towards the entrance, she opened her eyes wide and scanned the entrance to find the suspicious man entering alone.

With every rustle of the door opening, her head involuntarily lifted. Her palms were sweaty with nervousness.

Each time, she turned her head and met eyes with Eun-kyung. Beside Eun-kyung, reliable male part-timers stood with their eyes wide open. Their demeanor seemed fierce, as if they were ready to pounce on anything she said, unable to contain their strength.

“Um, for now, I’m not trying to catch a thief.”

Siyeon calmed down the overly excited state of the staff. It seemed like she needed to say this in advance for some reason.

At that moment, a rustling sound was heard. At the sound, Siyeon turned her head towards the entrance. She recognized the suit fit of the man entering slowly. Recognizing him as Ijun, Siyeon hurriedly lowered her head before he could recognize her.

Her heart pounded. She regretted why she had to be sitting in such a conspicuous place.

Ijun, who had been visiting acquaintances one by one, had come to Eunkyung’s store this time.

Of all times, it had to be at this crucial moment when she had to meet the stalker!