Part 16

“Congratulations on your comeback, Yoon Seowoo!”

“Thank you.”

“Welcome back, Seowoo.”

Three wine glasses clinked in the air.

It was Seung-min and Jung-ah’s efforts that had convinced her to come back. After her divorce, even when she was in hiding, they took care of her.

“We’ll have your comeback news released tomorrow. Before that, we should have a small party among ourselves.”

“That sounds great. Now I’ll be back to being Yoon Seowoo’s stylist.”

Jung-ah took a sip of her wine with an overjoyed expression.

Currently, Jung-ah held the position of manager at the company, but she had insisted, almost to the point of obsession, that if Seowoo were to return as an actress, she would be the one to fill the role of her stylist.

“I’m not sure if it’s the right thing to do. I don’t even know if I’m still good at it.”

“It’s the comeback of the leading actress Yoon Seowoo. Talent like yours is always welcome. However…”

Seung-min’s voice trailed off, and he wore a slightly awkward expression.

He knew how many discussions would arise with her comeback, and he was a little worried about that.

He worried she might get hurt in the process.

She was already exhausted, and he didn’t want her heart to be broken anymore.

“Oppa, why are you hesitating?”

Jung-ah chided Seung-min. They’d known each other for so long that they often spoke freely in private.

“I know what you’re going to say.”

Seowoo spoke with a faint smile.

“You know nothing.”

“I know everything.”

He didn’t have to say it, but Seowoo could tell from his worried expression.

What Seung-min would say.

Seowoo’s all-knowing tone made Seung-min chuckle.

“Don’t worry about it, I made my decision after considering all that. And I’m really fine now. I mean it.”

“I know. Anyway, the noise will go away after the drama.”

Seung-min’s furrowed brow slightly relaxed as Seowoo spoke. While serving food on Seowoo’s plate, Jung-ah asked with curiosity.

“Have you seen the synopsis? I’m really curious about what you’re going to do.”

“Yeah. I decided after reading the synopsis and the script.”

Even though they hadn’t officially released any news about Seowoo’s return, rumors about it had already spread far and wide. That’s why numerous synopses were flooding in for her consideration.

“Stop it. There were so many, and I cut out most of the mediocre ones in the middle. I was afraid you might collapse again if you read.”

“Ugh, Oppa, you worry too much. Yoon Seowoo may seem weak, but she’s resilient.”

“Heo Jung-ah is right.”

Seowoo responded positively.

“Still, you should tell us if you’re having a hard time. Don’t suffer alone.”

Jung-ah glanced at Seowoo. Seowoo, who never showed any signs of distress, always stood out to Jung-ah. Despite whatever turmoil might be brewing inside, Seowoo never let it show on the outside, and Jung-ah was well aware of that.

“But why did you suddenly change your mind?”

Seung-min asked with a puzzled expression. Though he really hoped she would shine brightly again on the stage.

He had put in so much effort to pull her out of the world, to keep her burrowed away, disconnected from everything. Then one day, out of the blue, he received a call from her.

‘Hey, I’m thinking about getting back into acting.’

He could never forget the day he received that call. Seung-min was the one who had hoped for her return more than anyone else.

“I’ll tell you later… After this project is over.”

Seowoo smiled faintly as she raised her wine glass.

After her marriage, she’d been trying to keep her acting heart at bay.

She had convinced herself she would never do it again. She had lived thinking she would never have a career again, but the opportunity unexpectedly presented itself.

“Right. What else could be important? Yoon Seowoo making a comeback is the most important thing. She is back in the game again.”

Jung-ah replied with a smile.

As someone who couldn’t help but feel sorry for her friend hiding away, Jung-ah was genuinely delighted by Seowoo’s return. Having such welcoming allies made Seowoo feel even more confident.

“After the news comes out tomorrow, I’ll be busy. I haven’t said anything, but just the advertising inquiries alone are massive.”

“Wow, that’s amazing.”

“I’ve hooked a big fish. Signing a contract with Yoon Seowoo.”

Seung-min’s mouth curved into a smile. Seowoo laughed and took a sip of wine as if it were ridiculous.

Just then, Seowoo’s phone, which had been placed beside her, vibrated.

“You have a call. But does anyone know your new number?”

She had only changed her number a few days ago, so only a few people knew the new number.

“Hmm, must be an advertising call.”

Seowoo picked up her phone and checked the caller ID. Her expression hardened as she saw it. Even though she hadn’t saved the number, she recognized it immediately.

“Why? What’s wrong?”

Jung-ah asked in a worried voice, noticing the change in her expression.

“I don’t recognize the number. It’s probably another reporter. I shouldn’t answer it.”

“Yeah, just ignore unknown numbers. It’s really annoying.”

Seowoo immediately pressed the reject button and put her phone on silent mode. A single phone call had made her mind a mess.

The sparkle in Seowoo’s eyes dimmed as she held her wine glass.

***

[I’ll send someone to pick you up from today. Just come downstairs around noon.]

Seung-min contacted her.

Seowoo had entrusted Seung-min with her schedule management, but as the CEO of a company, he couldn’t accompany her everywhere like he used to when he was her manager. 

So, Seung-min hired a manager to drive Seowoo around. Seowoo didn’t mind since Jung-ah was going to be with her for most of the time anyway.

“I’ll be good at it.”

Seowoo muttered to herself as she looked at the script on her dressing table.

She could barely breathe, feeling like her life was being consumed. Since the divorce, she felt like she had lost herself. She couldn’t live like this forever. 

‘I’m working on a script that perfectly suits you. I really hope you’ll consider it.’

It was evident in Cho Young-eun’s confident voice as if there was no one else who could play this role other than Seowoo. Despite saying she had no intention of acting again, Young-eun had come down to where she lived, insisting she at least take a look at the synopsis and script. 

‘Just take a look at the script, just once. Okay?’

Seowoo tried to refuse, but Youngeun insisted, placing the synopsis and script firmly in her hands before leaving.

Two months passed with the script left neglected in a corner. Seowoo had almost forgotten about it until she casually took it out one day.

Reading through the lengthy script in one go, she immediately called writer Cho Young-eun.

‘I’ll do it, writer.’

‘I knew you would. You made the right decision.’

From that day forward, Seowoo read the script whenever she could. Whenever she felt anxious, overwhelmingly lonely, or her heart felt heavy.