Jinwook spoke with an urgent voice.

[Soyu. I’ll look into it and call you back. Don’t read the article, whatever you do.]

The call ended. After staring at her phone for a moment, she went to the website. When she entered the dating news section, Jinwook’s dating scandal was displayed as the headline.

[The Double Life of Cannes’ Man, Director Kim Jinwook.]

The title was certainly sensational. She scrolled all the way down to see who wrote it. Someone named Ju Jinwook, a reporter from Kyunghee Daily. As Soyu scrolled back up to check the article, her eyes turned cold. There were photos of her and Yeoul at the Paju museum.

She clenched her teeth. Although her face and Yeoul’s were mosaicked, it wouldn’t be difficult to guess that the child was the one involved in Jinwook’s previous son issue. Looking through the photos, the situation was ridiculous. There was a photo where he almost knelt in the theater, another of them holding hands on a date. There was even a photo of them going up to the school. Fortunately, the school nameplate was mosaicked, but graduates would recognize it. This wasn’t just a random shot—someone had followed them for days to take these pictures.

Next, she read the article.

[Director Kim Jinwook, who won Korea’s first Short Film Grand Prize at Cannes, is currently in a passionate relationship. Previously, there was an issue about the child in the photo being his son when they were spotted at a department store, but he denied it. When this reporter respectfully requested an interview, Director Kim responded coldly. If the child wasn’t his biological son, he could have simply explained this to the public, but he refused with an extremely arrogant attitude.

After investigating, this reporter confirmed that the child is indeed not Director Kim’s. He is currently dating a single mother, Ms. J. The child belongs to Ms. J. According to our investigation, Ms. J is known to be a Harvard graduate and currently runs a company.

The two are high school classmates, and their relationship seems to have deepened after Director Kim recently moved to Gwacheon. It was evident that Director Kim cherishes the child as if he were his own son. I cautiously predict that we might soon hear news of Director Kim’s marriage.]

“Hah!”

Soyu let out a hollow laugh. This reporter had thoroughly investigated them. He even knew the details of her background. If he had been lurking around, why hadn’t she noticed? At this rate, rumors spreading through the kindergarten was just a matter of time. Her biggest concern was whether her son might get hurt.

To think they had been so carefree while a reporter was nearby without them knowing. She never imagined a reporter would be tailing Jinwook. She checked the first part of the article again.

‘He refused with an extremely arrogant attitude.’

It seemed Jinwook had been unkind to this reporter. Was the article written out of spite? The article’s view count was rapidly increasing. She went to the comments section. Soyu frowned. Many comments portrayed her as essentially a gold digger. They claimed that a single mother with a child had deliberately seduced Kim Jinwook under the pretense of being his former classmate.

She closed the article. There was no need to waste energy on such pointless articles. Only Taeseop, Hyunwook, and her mother knew that Yeoul was Jinwook’s child. It wouldn’t matter if it became known, but the issue was whether Yeoul would be hurt. Perhaps she should tell her son the truth. If she did, how would he take it?

“Mom, what’s wrong?”

Soyu turned around and approached her son with a smile. Yeoul was wearing a beret and apron, pretending to be a painter in front of an easel. Soyu’s eyes widened when she saw the drawing book on the easel. Was this abstract art? There was a face drawn, and it looked quite like modern art.

“Who is this?”

“Mom.”

She flinched.

“This is supposed to be me?”

“Yes. It’s Mom. I’m going to draw flowers in your hair too. Is it pretty?”

Soyu critically examined the drawing.

“Yeoul, did you learn about this style of painting from your uncle?”

“What’s a style?”

“The way you drew this picture is close to modern art. It’s something difficult to conceptualize at your age. So I’m asking if you came up with this drawing on your own, or if your uncle suggested you try it.”

“I thought of it myself? Is it strange?”

She crouched down to meet her son’s eyes.

“No. It’s cool. I was just surprised because it seems like our Yeoul really has talent for art.”

When she saw the dinosaur drawing, the level was high but not to this extent. This was quite surprising. At his mother’s praise, Yeoul placed his hands on his hips, tilted his head back, and laughed loudly. That image was exactly like Kim Jinwook.

“So you’re saying I did well? I’m so excited! Mom, I really want to be good at this. I love drawing.”

Soyu smiled. If that’s what her child wanted, she would support him. But that would be put on hold until he was a bit older and could decide his future for himself.

“Yes. You did well. Draw me prettily.”

“I will! Just trust me!”

As she watched her son sketching with his small hands with fond eyes, her phone rang. The caller was Jinwook. She answered the phone and went into the bedroom.

“Yes?”

[It’s nothing serious. I had a bit of a disagreement with the reporter who wrote the article, so he must have been in a bad mood when he did his investigation. Don’t worry too much. I’ll ask them to take it down.]

“Do you think they’ll take it down just because you ask?”

[He wrote about you. And having Yeoul’s photos circulating doesn’t feel good either.]

“Yes. Ask them to take it down.”

[Are you… okay?]

“While they didn’t write anything untrue, it doesn’t feel good to be investigated without permission.”

[Did… you see it?]

“Yes. The comments were quite something.”

A sigh came through the phone.

[I’m sorry….]

“You don’t need to apologize. Just handle the audition first, then deal with this later. You’re in the middle of work.”

[I’m really sorry….]

Soyu laughed at Jinwook’s dejected voice.

“What’s this? Is Kim Jinwook losing spirit over something so minor? I hate seeing you like this. Think more boldly. It’s not like we won’t get married, and Yeoul is your son, so what’s there to be afraid of? We’re not having an affair.”

There was a moment of silence on the other end of the phone, then suddenly a scream erupted.

[Wah! Wah! Really! We’re getting married? Wah! Jang Soyu! Woah! I’m going crazy! Right now! Kaok!]

Soyu grimaced and pulled the phone away from her ear at his excessive screaming and cheering. Ah, my ear hurts.

[Is that true? You’ll marry me? If you take it back later, I’ll really be upset. No, say it again. Let me record it.]

She flinched.

“What?”

[How can I trust what you say? If you later claim you never said such a thing, I’ll be left high and dry. Say it again.]

“Hah. Are you crazy? I’m hanging up.”

[Ah, whyyy! Please say it. Hm? Yu-ya. Do you love me? You do, right? Actually, you’ve loved me very much all along, haven’t you?]

Soyu’s face contorted. She really wanted to take it back. She abruptly hung up, but the phone rang again. After glaring at the phone as if it were Jinwook himself, she turned it off. Then she fanned the collar of her T-shirt to cool down. Ugh. I shot myself in the foot. Why did I say something like that? She lay face down on the bed, kicked her feet, and screamed “Argh!”

Despite his frantic attempts to call her back, Jinwook’s smile wouldn’t fade even after hearing her phone was turned off. He chuckled softly. Soyu had said they would get married. This was a perfect proposal. At this moment, his mind couldn’t focus on the article or the audition. All he could think about was Soyu saying they would get married. Just then, the emergency exit door opened, and Team Leader Ahn poked his head in.

“Are you okay?”

Jinwook stood up from the stairs, flung the door wide open, and embraced Team Leader Ahn while shouting, 

“Team Leader! I’m getting married! Hahaha! I’m getting married!”

Team Leader Ahn, caught in his embrace and being shaken back and forth, wore a blank expression. What’s going on? A dating scandal breaks, and suddenly he’s talking about marriage?

“Excuse me, Director. This is a serious matter. You need to let go and assess the situation…”

“Just leave it. Thanks to this article, I’m getting married! I should treat this reporter to a meal.”

“But the comments are quite concerning…”

Jinwook made a gesture with his palm to stop him.

“I’m extremely happy right now. Don’t rain on my parade.”

“But Director…”

“I can just announce my marriage, right? I can do that soon. Don’t worry.”

After patting Team Leader Ahn’s shoulder, Jinwook left the emergency exit with a grin. Left alone, Team Leader Ahn watched Jinwook’s retreating figure with a dumbfounded expression. When Jinwook started dancing in the corridor, Team Leader Ahn’s face twisted. He’s definitely not an ordinary person. How am I supposed to handle this? Team Leader Ahn looked like he had aged ten years in that short moment.

As Jinwook entered the audition room, Hajun asked, 

“What’s with the article?”

Jinwook replied nonchalantly, 

“Oh, that? It’s nothing.”

“It doesn’t seem like nothing. Are you dating a single mother?”

“Ah. To be precise, she’s not exactly a single mother.”

Jinwook moved his face close to Hajun’s and whispered, 

“She’s my first love. I’ve liked her for fifteen whole years.”

Hajun’s eyes widened.

“Wow. I didn’t know Kim Jinwook had that side to him.”

Jinwook smiled happily.

“Yes. I’m surprised myself.”

“But the comments are concerning. I think it might be good for the film if you made some kind of statement.”

“No. It will die down in a few days anyway. I’ll prove myself through my films. This is my private life. Hajun, if I have a wedding, could you possibly officiate?”

Hajun’s eyes widened at his unexpected request. He had never seen someone so happy when a scandal broke. What’s with this guy? Hajun became genuinely curious about the person called Kim Jinwook.