At Jinwook’s question, the two men fell silent. Jinwook asked:

“Haven’t you looked for her?”

Hyunwook answered:

“I think she went into hiding after her father passed away and the company collapsed. How can we find someone who’s determined to stay hidden?”

Taeseop also said:

“I asked someone who attended Harvard, and they said she stopped coming to school after that incident. None of her classmates know anything about Soyu.”

Jinwook said:

“It’s been five years since Soyu cut off contact. Can we even call ourselves friends? I wasn’t in Korea, so I have an excuse. But shouldn’t you guys have looked for her? Do you know what Soyu means to us?”

Everyone became gloomy.

“I wonder if she’s doing well……”

“What if she met some weird guy and is suffering?”

At Hyunwook’s words, an agitated Jinwook said with spittle flying:

“Jang Soyu? Hah! Even if the world ended, she’s absolutely not that kind of person. Don’t you know? That towering self-esteem? Despite how much we served her, did Soyu ever once say thank you?”

“No. She would never be the type to say thanks.”

“Soyu was probably introverted, that’s why.”

At Taeseop’s words, Hyunwook and Jinwook both lit up with objection.

“Soyu, introverted?”

“Hey. That’s not right.”

Despite his friends’ opposition, Taeseop continued:

“I saw Soyu as extremely introverted. Have you ever really seen her smile? Honestly, we were all running around trying to see her smile, offering tributes.”

“That’s true. We were the ones who initiated it.”

“Right. Soyu seemed to hate us doing that.”

After a moment of silence, the three men sighed. Jinwook spoke first:

“Let’s find her. Now that I’m back, let’s seriously look for her.”

Hyunwook’s eyes narrowed.

“Why are you suddenly so passionate about Soyu?”

“What passion? I’m just saying we should find a friend who’s lost contact.”

“Among the three of us, was there anyone who didn’t like Soyu? We all liked her.”

“That’s exactly my point. How can it be normal that we haven’t even tried to find out whether she’s dead or alive when she’s been missing for five years after we were all so crazy about her?”

Taeseop said quietly:

“I’ve been looking for her continuously.”

Hyunwook also said:

“Me too.”

Jinwook blinked in surprise.

“You’ve been looking all this time? Then why didn’t you tell me?”

“You were in America the whole time.”

“Now that I’m back for good, let’s find her. We need to find her.”

Hyunwook, who had been carefully observing Jinwook, asked:

“Do you really need to find her?”

“Yes.”

“Is there a reason?”

For a moment, Jinwook looked flustered.

“What reason? She’s a friend!”

“No. There’s something more.”

“There isn’t.”

“Really nothing?”

“I said no!”

No matter how much Jinwook denied it, Hyunwook’s suspicious gaze didn’t soften. Taeseop said:

“Should we hire someone?”

“Someone? A detective agency?”

“Yes. If we’re determined to find her, wouldn’t we succeed?”

“That’s Hyunwook’s specialty, so he can handle it.”

“Me?”

“Yes. Don’t law firms find people and such?”

“A law firm isn’t a detective agency.”

“But you must know some detective agencies. Ask them.”

After thinking for a moment, Hyunwook said:

“It should be possible. Why didn’t I think of that?”

“That’s your limitation. Let’s go home for today and start looking tomorrow.”

“Already?”

“Let’s have another drink at home.”

At Jinwook’s words, Taeseop casually asked:

“Your house?”

“No. Your house.”

Hyunwook flinched.

“Your house is right here, so why go all the way to Gwacheon?”

“I haven’t been to your place since you moved. Why? Don’t you want me to come?”

“No, let’s go.”

Taeseop agreed readily, while Hyunwook narrowed his eyes and asked:

“What about a housewarming gift?”

“Do you guys even need anything?”

“Whether we need it or not, bring a housewarming gift.”

“What do you need?”

“Alcohol. Give me that.”

Jinwook’s eyes widened as he remembered what alcohol Hyunwook was referring to.

“Macallan?”

“Thirty-year-old.”

“Seriously?”

“Seriously.”

“You crazy bastard. Do you even know how much that costs? Plus, it’s a limited edition. You can’t get it even if you try!”

“That’s why I’m asking nicely. You haven’t opened it yet, right?”

“Why would I open it! I’m going to pass it down to my child as an heirloom.”

“Not having children is the trend these days. So let’s open it for friendship’s sake.”

“Ugh. You’re just trying to mooch off a poor film director.”

“Ha! Who’s poor? You?”

“Hey. My film only drew 300,000 viewers.”

“Isn’t that a mega-hit for a short film? Plus, you set up a production company in Cheongdam-dong and you’re calling yourself poor?”

At Hyunwook’s words, Jinwook pressed his lips together and glared at his friend. Hyunwook smirked triumphantly.

“People will curse you for saying things like that with your silver spoon. You’ve always done whatever you wanted.”

“And you haven’t?”

As the two were about to get aggressive, Taeseop changed the subject.

“Let’s go. I have Royal Salute at home.”

Hyunwook turned his head sharply and pouted.

“When I suggested drinking that, you said no.”

“I was saving it for when Jinwook returned. Let’s go. Jinwook can stay over at our place tonight.”

Hyunwook jumped up.

“Who says that bastard can stay at our home?”

Jinwook smiled maliciously and said:

“Is that house yours? The actual homeowner is Song Taeseop. You’re just a freeloader.”

“Hey! I did all the remodeling! I even contributed money when buying the house!”

“Still, you’re not the homeowner, just a roommate. Let’s go, Seop.”

As Jinwook got up and left with Taeseop, Hyunwook beat his chest in frustration.

“Ugh. I was living so well without seeing that bastard’s face for years.”

Grumbling, Hyunwook followed his friends.

After buying the peach cake, Soyu got into her car. She placed the cake box on the passenger seat and started the engine. As her car pulled away, three men emerged from Rollin, located in the building right next to the bakery. While waiting for their designated drivers, Taeseop asked Jinwook:

“Did you call three drivers?”

“No, just two.”

“Two?”

“Yes. I don’t trust my car to anyone else.”

Jinwook nodded toward a Ferrari parked in the lot.

“How could I entrust that to someone? I don’t even like designated drivers.”

Hyunwook asked:

“How will you get back tomorrow morning?”

“You’ll have to drive me back.”

Hyunwook’s lips twisted.

“Are you crazy? On my precious weekend?”

“Or I could just stay at your place for the weekend.”

“I hate that idea.”

“How do you view our 30-year friendship? Am I worth that little to you?”

“Wow. Have we really been friends for 30 years?”

“Yes. I’m surprised too.”

Taeseop laughed and said:

“A 30-year friendship isn’t easy. Should I drive you back?”

“Why bother? I’ll just stay at your place if it works out.”

Hyunwook grimaced.

“Hey. Why are you trying to mooch off us when you have your own palace of a home?”

Jinwook laughed softly and put his arm around Hyunwook’s shoulder.

“Wook-ah. Take responsibility for me.”

Hyunwook shook off his friend’s arm and genuinely shuddered in disgust.

“Call me that again and you’re dead. You were better when you were in America. Such a high-maintenance bastard.”

Jinwook giggled.

“I admit it. I am a bit high-maintenance.”

Just then, the designated drivers arrived, and Jinwook got into Taeseop’s car. Shortly after, the two cars left Cheongdam-dong.

Soyu arrived at her home in Gwacheon and got out of the car with the cake box. Her house was a small, shabby detached home. After opening the gate and crossing the yard, the front door opened and Yeoul came running out.

“Mom!”

Yeoul clung to his mother’s legs and looked up. With large eyes without double eyelids, peach-colored cheeks, and an apple-shaped head, the child looked like a girl but was definitely a boy. As soon as she saw her son, Soyu’s face softened like a spring day.

“Welcome home!”

“Yes. Have you been listening to Grandma well?”

“Yes! Mom, what about the cake?”

When his mother showed him the box in her hand, Yeoul squealed and jumped up and down.

“But you have to eat dinner first.”

“Okay! Mom, should I carry that for you?”

Soyu smiled and handed him the box, saying:

“You need to carry it without shaking the cake.”

“I will!”

A bright smile spread across Soyu’s face as she watched her excited son go inside. When she entered the house, her beautiful mother Jeongeun welcomed her daughter.

“Were you late because you went to buy the cake?”

“Yes.”

“Making Mom work so hard……”

“It’s fine.”

“Let’s have dinner.”

“Okay.”

It was an ordinary home that could be seen anywhere. Children’s toys were scattered on the floor, and many photos of Yeoul hung on the walls, but there were no pictures of his father. Soyu went to her room to change clothes and came out. After washing her hands briefly, Yeoul called for her.

“Mom! Come quickly!”

“Yes, coming.”

While Jeongeun set the table, Soyu served the rice. With doenjang jjigae (soybean paste stew), steamed eggs, bulgogi, and side dishes, a wonderful dinner was prepared. The three family members sat at the table. Yeoul exclaimed:

“Let’s eat well!”

Everyone began eating. Soyu smiled contentedly at the scene of her happy family. It had been a long, difficult journey to reach this point. As soon as she discovered she was pregnant with Yeoul, her father passed away. Following that, her father’s furniture company, which he had dedicated his life to, went bankrupt. Her studies were no longer the issue. She had to survive.

After abandoning everything and returning to Korea, her mother was there. A woman who had never earned money on her own in her entire life was nearly dying. She had to handle company matters while carrying a growing child in her womb. There was no time for despair. She fiercely dealt with everything that came her way. After five years, things finally seemed to be stabilizing.

“Mom, mix my rice for me.”

“Mix it?”

“Yes.”

After mixing rice with the steamed eggs, her son asked:

“Can I have cake after I finish my rice?”

“Yes.”

The child gobbled up his rice. His eating habits were exactly like someone she used to know. For a moment, the image of Jinwook at the film festival flashed through her mind, but Soyu’s expression remained serene.