5.2

“To become Joo-eun’s secretary?”

Mrs. Ko had hurriedly made this proposal when she heard Chaeyoon was about to graduate and start working.

“Please stay on as a secretary until Joo-eun is married and has her first child, until she’s settled. Of course, this period will all count as experience. I’m looking at about 5 years, at most.”

“5 years?”

Is Joo-eun supposed to get engaged, married, and have her first child in the next five years?

Since this future is decided without regard to Joo-eun’s own will, Chaeyoon felt uneasy.

“After 5 years, I’ll assign you as the head of any department you want, anywhere. I’ll even write up a contract if you want.”

“That’s a very generous offer.”

“It means that I recognize your value.”

“Thank you for recognizing me, but I will have to decline this offer again.”

“May I ask why?”

Mrs. Ko’s face stiffened for a moment.

“I want to remain as Joo-eun’s friend. But if I become her secretary, it will inevitably turn into a hierarchical relationship. Is it greedy of me to want to remain friends with her until the end?”

Chaeyoon looked into Mrs. Ko’s eyes. Mrs. Ko, returning her gaze, smiled gracefully once again.

“What kind of greed is it to refuse such a good offer to remain friends? I’m envious. Joo-eun is lucky to have a friend like you. I never had that; all I had around me were people looking to use me.”

A moment of bitterness and disillusionment flashed across Mrs. Ko’s face before disappearing.

Sometimes Chaeyoon thinks that just as people feel victimized by the tyranny of the wealthy, the wealthy themselves have a paranoia about whether someone is trying to take advantage of them.

“Yes, having such a friend by your side isn’t bad at all.”

“I only have one friend like Joo-eun, too.”

She’s not sure if Mrs. Ko truly took those words to heart.

“I’ll probably get an earful from her for not being able to win you over.”

Mrs. Ko then took an envelope out of a drawer.

“Go and study well. And when you’re done, you sell me your first piece, okay? This is a down payment.”

“Please, don’t do this.”

Chaeyoon waved her hands, her face showing discomfort.

“I told you, it’s a down payment. I’m not just giving this to you for nothing. I want to be the first client of a promising jewelry designer. I’ll pay the rest when I receive the goods. That’s acceptable, right?”

Chaeyoon looked at the envelope Mrs. Ko was holding out. 

It wasn’t a small amount, which is why she felt hesitant to accept it immediately.

Of course, she could always refuse. But then that might make it difficult to maintain her friendship with Joo-eun. This is why she disliked getting entangled with wealthy families—those with less power often have little choice.

“Yes, thank you. I’ll create the finest jewelry that suits you, Mrs. Ko.”

Chaeyoon chose a bit of shame over losing her friend and politely accepted the envelope.

At least it’s a good thing. The condition isn’t about parting ways.

A bitter taste rose up as if the tea she had been drinking was refluxing.

***

Chaeyoon walked into Ah-young’s office, her mother, and slammed the white envelope down on the desk.

“Mrs. Ko gave this to me.”

“What is it?”

“An envelope of money.”

“It can’t be to stop seeing Joo-eun, is it?”

“A down payment for being my first client, technically. Actually, it’s more like a scholarship?”

Chaeyoon said in an annoyed tone.

“Don’t read too much into it.”

Ah-young glanced at the envelope and spoke indifferently.

“Don’t make a big deal out of this big money?”

“You can be overly sensitive sometimes. Of course, it’s a lot of money. But for them, it’s not that much.”

“Okay. Spending this much money in a day, it’s a routine for them. But you know how they can spend so much money and be so stingy with people? They don’t give it away for no reason. They usually do it to make people realize they have a vested interest.”

“True, but I don’t think that’s why she gave you this money.”

“You think not?”

“It could be because of our relationship, or maybe because she genuinely finds you charming. It’s a big amount, even for an allowance.”

“You really have a way with comforting words.”

Chaeyoon tousled her hair in frustration.

“What’s the problem? You’re being unusually sensitive.”

“When I was in middle school, I felt like this when I entered Joo-eun’s private middle school because Chairman Cha recommended me. It felt like I was being seen not as ‘Han Chaeyoon’ but as an accessory to Joo-eun. Is this an inferiority complex?”

Ah-young let out a shallow sigh, walked away from her desk, and approached Chaeyoon, patting her shoulder a couple of times.

“It’s not an inferiority complex. It’s completely natural to feel that way sometimes, especially because their actions often make you feel that way.”

“Have you ever felt that way, Mom?”

Chaeyoon looked up at Ah-young.

“Yes, I have. But once I accepted that it was part of their culture, I started to feel less offended. It’s true that many people from chaebol families act like they’re almost divine. But there are also those who practice noblesse oblige and are respected for it. You need to learn to see people differently, Chaeyoon. You’re too prejudiced.”

“So, what? Mrs. Ko is a decent person? Are you defending her just because she’s your boss?”

Skepticism filled Chaeyoon’s eyes.

“Yes. Do you think I could have worked as a secretary for such a long time under someone awful, given my personality? Even if she paid well?”

“That personality, the way of dealing with people, you hide it well. Isn’t that considered a skill too? You’re my role model for having a dual personality.”

“Ha ha, I seem to have taught you quite a variety.”

Ah-young shrugged and scratched her cheek.

“It’s okay. Those skills have been very useful in social life. Competence is essential, and knowing how to handle people is optional. It’s easier if you have it.”

“You’ve learned well, I’m proud of you, my daughter. Anyway, Mrs. Ko knows how to recognize people and is eager for talent. If that weren’t the case, she would never have allowed you, a secretary’s daughter, to stay by Joo-eun’s side. She would have said it doesn’t suit her status.”

“What about this envelope?” 

Chaeyoon tapped the envelope with her finger.

“Did she put it in the envelope in front of you?”

“No, she pulled it out of a drawer.”

“So, she had prepared it beforehand.”

“Do you think she offered me to be Joo-eun’s secretary thinking I’d refuse?”

“Both are true. She genuinely wanted you by Joo-eun if she could have it that way. And at the same time, she wanted to celebrate your going abroad for studies by preparing the money. Believe me, I’ve been her secretary for how many years and you don’t think I know that?”

“Haah.”

Chaeyoon sighed deeply.

“Of course, living in a culture of privilege, they often do things that we might find offensive. It’s just their weakness, so just accept it.”

“Why do I always have to be the one to accept and understand? Because they are chaebols and I’m just an ordinary person?”

“Then why did you put up with Joo-eun? She must have shown that kind of attitude too. Why didn’t you cut ties with her?”

“…Because she’s my friend.”

“Then treat Mrs. Ko with the same respect as an adult. She’s no different from Joo-eun. They’re the same. So don’t take it too hard, go use that money to eat something delicious and study even harder. Fiercely, like revenge.”

The word “revenge” gave a grim shade to Ah-young’s eyes.

“You want me to burn my negative emotions and replace them with positive achievements?”

“That’s right. My smart daughter.”

Ah-young smiled proudly.