Chapter 38 – The Way to Melt Someone

The evening in Italy faded quietly.

Yoo Jung-hwa was waiting for someone’s call in a suite room of a hotel in Milan.  

*Brrr, brrr.*  

“Yes, go ahead.”  

Jung-hwa’s expression, as she listened to the voice on the phone, resembled that of a wax figure.  

She was dumbfounded by the report that the location of the Malaga mansion where Tae Seo-jun was staying could not be identified.  

Without saying a word, Jung-hwa hung up the phone, slowly closed her eyes, then opened them again. She brought her coffee cup to her lips and swallowed it bitterly, as if drinking herbal medicine.  

Even after she and Tae Seo-jun had broken up, she had been with countless men. But none of them had satisfied her as a lover—not a single one.  

No one but Tae Seo-jun, whose stunning appearance and overwhelming presence could dazzle both the eyes and the mind, and who was perfect even in bed. Perhaps that’s why she couldn’t forget him.  

Still, no matter how flawless he was as a man, she used to think that he lacked financial power.  

However, realizing belatedly that this judgment was the biggest mistake of her life, Jung-hwa now found herself filled with nothing but resentment toward Tae Seo-jun, who had fooled her so completely while they were together.  

The way she used to rage at her father, saying he had nothing but debts, wasn’t just an act.  

As a top star, she had to maintain a glamorous lifestyle and keep the mouths of reporters who knew about her scandalous private life shut. But all that money was just a drop in the bucket compared to what she had lost to her devilish father, who was worse than a demon.  

Jung-hwa’s financial situation had dried up completely, like a parched rice field cracking under the sun. She had even resorted to extreme measures against Yoo Byung-hwan as part of her revenge.  

But that, too, had only been half successful.  

What should I do now? Some people are born with gold or silver spoons in their mouths, but I’m not even a wooden spoon—I’m nothing more than a worthless stick floating in muddy water. Must my life, which started off on the wrong foot, continue like this until the end? Isn’t it because I had the misfortune of being born to the wrong parents that I’m this unhappy?  

While she was bitterly lamenting her situation, she heard something shocking behind her.  

What she learned was so incredible that she could have fainted on the spot. Her hands and feet trembled uncontrollably at the revelation about Tae Seo-jun’s true identity.  

Leaving the El Stella Hotel in that state, Jung-hwa rushed to the airport and boarded a flight to Europe.  

Though she had already been invited to the Milan Collection, which was opening the next day, she had no intention of attending.  

How could she leisurely clap her hands at a fashion show when debt collectors could come knocking at any moment?  

But Jung-hwa, who had discovered a glimmer of hope amidst her despair, was already imagining herself as the daughter-in-law of a chaebol family.  

Moreover, being in Italy made it easier to move to Spain as soon as she found out where Tae Seo-jun was. That calculation had driven her to board the flight to Europe.  

After arriving in Milan the day before, Jung-hwa spent a large sum of money to hire someone. She needed to meet Tae Seo-jun as soon as possible. She felt as though fate, giving her one last chance, had winked at her.  

But now, they were saying they couldn’t find him?  

That they couldn’t locate him?  

Why? He’s a man who stands out wherever he goes, so why on earth not?  

If only she knew where he was, she could go to him right away, cling to his legs, or even bite her tongue and collapse in front of him. But because he was such a mysterious man, even that was impossible.  

Unable to just sit idly by, Jung-hwa stood up abruptly after much thought.  

*Crash!*  

At the same time, the coffee cup in her hand fell to the floor.  

“Unnie!”  

Startled, her manager, Seong Jin-ah, who had been reviewing the schedule beside her, jumped up. But Jung-hwa, paying no attention to Jin-ah’s reaction, simply said what she wanted to say.  

“I’m going out for a bit.”  

“At this hour? Where are you going…?”  

“I just need some fresh air. You go to bed first.”  

Jung-hwa, wearing a coat and sunglasses as she left the room, made a call while standing in front of the elevator.  

“Could you come to the sky lounge? Let’s have a drink.” 

-I was feeling bored anyway, so this works perfectly.  

“I’ll head there first. Take your time.”  

-How could I keep the top actress waiting? I’ll be there soon. 

The Milan Collection was being held that day.  

The man Jung-hwa had called was none other than Jo In-ha, who had walked the finale runway at the fashion show.  

***

After drying her long hair with a dryer, Eom So-yeon neatly combed it and tied it into a single ponytail.

She replaced her bathrobe with a fitted mini skirt and a white blouse, followed by high heels she didn’t usually wear.

Although all she had to do now was open the door and step out, So-yeon paced nervously between the bed and the tea table before suddenly catching her reflection in the mirror.

Her anxious gaze mirrored the mix of excitement and fear in her heart. Her lightly made-up face glowed with a vitality she had never seen before. For some reason, she felt like she wasn’t herself today.

Tonight, no matter what, she would confess who the father of her child was.

And she would take one step closer to him, revealing the love she had been so desperate to hide until now.

She would love Tae Seo-jun with all her heart.

But she couldn’t quite believe, nor easily imagine, herself acting on such resolve.

Having finished preparing for the Sunset Carnival, Tae Seo-jun lounged on a vintage sofa, his long legs stretched out. His low gaze alternated between the clock on the table and the door.

Though his relaxed, half-reclined posture appeared casual, his heart fluttered like a spring breeze as he waited for So-yeon, who had changed into her evening attire, to come over to his room.

As the clock’s second hand ticked, his dark eyes moved more quickly.

Had I ever been this anxious waiting for someone? Had I ever wanted someone this much? 

Both were unfamiliar experiences for him, but today was different.

She said she’d come, so she would. Even if she wanted to run away, in this unfamiliar place, there was nowhere to go, no escape route. Yet, he couldn’t help but feel restless.

Perhaps it was because she was running a bit later than expected.

Rising abruptly from the sofa, Seo-jun let out a faint, incredulous laugh and strode over to the master room door, staring at the doorknob. Slowly, he reached for it.

And then—

Knock, knock.

He froze.

The dull sound of knuckles against the wooden door stopped him in his tracks.

But in that brief moment, his Adam’s apple bobbed twice. Though he knew who was knocking, his body, which had been waiting for her all along, instinctively showed its delight. Continuing that reaction, Seo-jun flung the door open.

“I’m here.”

“I know.”

Standing there, So-yeon spoke.

“Did you wait for me?”

“Is asking questions you already know the answer to a hobby of yours, Eom So-yeon?”

Seo-jun responded casually, furrowing his brow slightly. He was annoyed by how loudly his heart was pounding at her shy demeanor.

Stepping out of the master room, Seo-jun gestured with his eyes and extended his hand, signaling her to follow him to the car. It was a gentlemanly offer to escort her.

Drawn by his chivalrous gesture, So-yeon blushed slightly as she took his hand.

In the meantime, Seo-jun’s gaze traveled from her high-heeled feet, up her figure, and lingered on her hair for a moment.

“Why are you looking at me like that?”

“This.”

Eom So-yeon shyly asked, and Tae Seo-jun, with a single touch, untied the ribbon loosely binding her hair. As a result, her rich and glossy hair cascaded over her shoulders like a curtain.

“This looks much better.”

Praising his own handiwork, Seo-jun hooked the yellow ribbon onto his finger, waved it slightly, and then tucked it into his pants pocket.

“Was my appearance really that bad?”

“A little.”

Seo-jun, trying to hide his nervousness, teased her playfully.

“You’re so honest. It’s embarrassing…”

She had deliberately chosen the yellow ribbon because she knew he liked the color. Though it was a small detail, So-yeon’s clear eyes dimmed slightly, feeling as if her effort had been disregarded. Her lips even pouted slightly, and Seo-jun, focusing on her expression, flashed an even row of white teeth as he spoke.

“You should’ve just come without spending time dressing up and putting on makeup. Didn’t you feel that time was wasted?”

Though his words were reproachful, the affectionate tone at the end instantly swept away any feelings of disappointment.

“Because you’re the prettiest when you do nothing at all, Eom So-yeon.”

“……”

He called her pretty. The unexpected compliment made her indifferent expression turn as red as if it would explode.

So-yeon still didn’t know. The only woman Tae Seo-jun’s otherwise cold mind recognized as a woman was her, Eom So-yeon.

However, she felt as though she might have understood how to melt him.

“……Oppa.”

“What?”

“Oppa.”

Perhaps it was her way of returning the unexpected compliment. So-yeon called out to him in her clear voice.

“Tae Seo-jun oppa.”

While Yeo Do-soon used the term habitually, for So-yeon, it required a great deal of courage. Even so, she wanted to call him that at least once.

“……”

So this is what dazzling cuteness feels like?

What was this sweet word that burrowed into my ears?

Even her flushed face, calling him “oppa,” was adorable. Seo-jun, struck directly in the heart by So-yeon’s deliberate display of charm, momentarily wore a blank expression.

However, his gaze, fixed on her, was burning hot and piercingly clear.

“Do you dislike it when I call you this way?”

“……”

Why would he dislike it? He liked it so much it was driving him crazy.

With a stylish smile, Seo-jun took her small hand and walked down the hallway, matching her stride as they descended the stairs.

***

Yoo Jung-hwa met Jo In-ha at the fashion show venue.

For Jung-hwa, who was solely focused on making Tae Seo-jun hers again, Jo In-ha, who knew the internal affairs of CN Entertainment inside and out, was undeniably useful.

Having worked together on several advertisements and films in the past, and even staying at the same hotel, the two shared a dinner.

During their conversation, Jung-hwa’s ears perked up as she heard something she had overlooked in her haste earlier. The woman currently with Tae Seo-jun in Malaga was Eom So-yeon. How could she remain indifferent?

Four years ago, it had been the same. Now, a similar situation was reappearing like déjà vu. Whatever it was, this girl who kept getting in her way was endlessly irritating.

The only thing that somewhat eased Jung-hwa’s mind was Jo In-ha’s attitude. He mentioned that after finishing his schedule in Milan, he planned to visit the filming site in Spain to meet Eom So-yeon. His eyes even glistened slightly, suggesting that their relationship was far from ordinary.

Jo In-ha appeared in the sky lounge just as Jung-hwa was sipping a gulp of amber cognac.

“You came so quickly.”

“Did you think I was lying? Didn’t I say I’d hurry?”

Jung-hwa handed him a freshly filled glass as he sat across from her at the table.

About an hour into the drinking session, the two were pleasantly tipsy.

When In-ha lifted his glass and downed the cognac in one go, Jung-hwa, who had been watching him quietly, took advantage of the relaxed atmosphere to casually mention that she had once been Tae Seo-jun’s girlfriend and that they might be getting back together soon.

Of course, it was merely her own wishful thinking, but In-ha’s expression brightened noticeably. Sensing what that meant, she felt a strange sense of camaraderie.

“You mentioned during dinner earlier that you’d be heading to Spain once your work here is finished.”

“I did.”

“To be honest, I’d like to go cheer him on too, but I’m hesitating. As you may know, Seo-jun really dislikes drawing attention. Other than him, I don’t have any particularly close acquaintances there, so I’m not sure what to do…”

Trailing off as if conflicted, Jung-hwa’s words were interrupted by In-ha, who smirked slightly.

“If that’s your concern, why not come with me? Though it’ll be a week later due to my current photo shoot.”

“Hmm… I don’t have any pressing plans for now… Would that be alright?”

“Why not? Let’s do that.”

“Alright, shall we? Taking a break in Italy while I wait doesn’t sound bad either.”

Having already given up on going to Malaga, Jung-hwa had decided to visit Cadiz before leaving her room.

Now that she had Jo In-ha to accompany her, she had a plausible excuse to show up without feeling awkward in front of the filming crew.

It was around the time this drinking session had achieved its purpose.

“Wow! Who do we have here? Isn’t this Jo In-ha? Oh my, and Yoo Jung-hwa too?”

The woman approaching their table with a loud voice was none other than Oh Min-jung.

Before joining the local filming team in Spain, she had stopped by Milan to stock up on European luxury goods she had her eye on. As such, her manager and even Min-jung herself were carrying shopping bags from famous brands.

“May I join you?”

“Of course.”

“……”

With Jung-hwa’s approval and In-ha’s nod, Min-jung handed her shopping bags to her manager, quickly sending them to her room before taking a seat.

“By any chance, are you two… secretly dating abroad or something?”

Parched from spending all day at duty-free shops, Min-jung took a sip of water before playfully teasing them with a suspicious look. Both In-ha and Jung-hwa immediately put on serious expressions.

“Of course not.”

“Do we look like we are?”

“Hehe, as long as you’re not.”

Though she had briefly crossed paths with Jung-hwa at beauty salons and other venues, this was her first time interacting with her up close. Admiring Jung-hwa, who was undoubtedly the top actress among her peers, Min-jung boldly asked,

“By the way, can I call you ‘unnie’?”

“Well, isn’t it a bit too soon? We’ve only just met.”

Jung-hwa responded with a cryptic expression.

“Oh, do you dislike it? If I was being rude, I apologize.”

While not true for everyone, most actresses needed to have a strong personality to survive in the industry. And if strong personalities were a competition, Min-jung rarely lost. But Yoo Jung-hwa was on a whole different level.

Feeling intimidated, Min-jung hesitated and backed down slightly, only for Jung-hwa to soften her expression and say,

“I never said that.”

“But you rejected me.”

“No, I didn’t. I’ve already dropped formal speech, haven’t I?”

“Oh, I see… Unnie!”

Finally relaxing, Min-jung shouted playfully, looking at Jung-hwa with mock annoyance. Of course, this was Min-jung’s signature way of expressing affection.

“Alright. I like it when you call me that. It feels like I’ve gained a younger sister.”

Jung-hwa’s crimson lips curved into a mysterious smile.

Though Oh Min-jung was known for her straightforward and simple nature in the entertainment world, Jung-hwa saw potential value in keeping her close.