Chapter 9 – Where Is That Woman Now?

Early in the morning, journalists who caught wind of the exclusive article gathered in front of Seo-jun’s house. The fortress-like building and walls were so high. It was impossible to even get a glimpse inside.

Even late into the afternoon, the journalists, stomping their feet in the cold weather, helplessly waited for Tae Seo-jun, who might appear at any moment.

Their wish seemed to come true.

The bunker garage door, which had been firmly closed, softly opened, revealing a sleek, black car from body to window that slowly showed its front.

“Hey! There he comes!”

“It’s Tae Seo-jun!”

“Block the car! Don’t let him go anywhere!”

The quick-footed journalists rushed frantically in that direction.

However, they were all deceived.

Like making noise in the east and slipping away to the west, the Rolls-Royce Phantom sedan carrying Tae Seo-jun leisurely exited from the back of the parking lot.

Having smoothly handled the business report and video conference related to <Ki Hazel> and leaving the house, Seo-jun headed straight to <CN Entertainment> in Samseong-dong.

The sleek luxury car fit for its owner parked smoothly in the underground third-floor parking.

Tae Seo-jun, who got out of the car, seemed to have shed his previous upright image, with the bluish-grey hue of his double suit exuding a deep decadence.

When the man with the perfect physique stepped out of the elevator, the dazzling light in the lobby pooled at his feet. His long legs took confident strides, and his elegant walk, as if on a red carpet, led him through the secretary’s office and into the CEO’s office.

“Living the good life, CEO.”

Seo-jun greeted him playfully, crossing his long legs and lounging on the sofa.

“You ignored my calls, and now you decide to show up?”

“Well, it seemed like someone was desperately looking for me, so I thought I’d stop by. Was I mistaken?”

Go Won-hoo, who had his legs propped on the crystal desk in a relaxed manner, quickly brought them down to the floor, speaking as if asking why Seo-jun’s welcoming reaction was so minimal. Seo-jun beckoned with a finger, indicating him to come over.

“How should I deal with this arrogant bastard to feel relieved?”

Despite the harsh words, Go Won-hoo’s agile body quickly moved to sit close to Seo-jun.

“As if you could?”

“I could if I wanted to. But I’ll let it pass this time. Since you barely made it back alive.”

“Thanks for letting it slide, I’m so touched I could cry.”

The two men exchanged words that sounded like jokes, but it was their way of lightly bypassing heavy truths. It wasn’t a lie that Seo-jun had briefly visited the other world.

On the day of the terror attack, Seo-jun had been blown away by the force, suffering muscle tears in his back and bruises all over his body. The most severe had been a concussion, and it was miraculous that he only lost consciousness for a day.

Go Won-hoo’s eyes narrowed as he scrutinized Tae Seo-jun.

He seemed to have recovered quickly, looking perfectly fine on the outside. No, more than fine—Seo-jun exuded a lethal elegance, even with his skewed gaze and tone.

He seemed slightly thinner than before enlistment, but having returned more refined than three years ago, Seo-jun’s intense presence was several times stronger than before.

To accurately describe the upgraded atmosphere of Tae Seo-jun, it was like a seasoned male wolf that retained its dignity despite hunger.

“A great project that suits you perfectly came in, want to take a look at the script?”

Go Won-hoo cut to the chase and brought up work right away. Seeing the luxury actor who matched the role that freely crossed between good and evil with 100% synchronicity right in front of him made him impatient.

“It’s a major drama. It’s set to start airing in the summer, and they’ll go into production as soon as casting is complete. The director is Yoon Ji-wan.”

“That guy who only does movies, what’s he doing now?”

“You’re interested after hearing the director’s name, right?”

If it was Yoon Ji-wan, he was a talented movie director known as a genius in the Chungmuro film industry, and it was every actor’s dream to work with him once.

Having turned down the director’s offers a few times due to scheduling conflicts, Seo-jun found it somewhat unexpected that such a talented person was venturing into drama, but he didn’t think much beyond that.

“No. I’m planning to rest for a while.”

“Can’t you change that thought?”

“…”

Seo-jun’s silent gesture of waving his open palm was a firm refusal.

His gaze shifted to the window overlooking the park.

The clouds in the sky were fluffy like cotton balls. The trees lining the path still showed their bare branches, but soon, the warm wind and sunlight carrying spring would melt the frozen world and sprout tender green buds, a natural order.

Even though the sunlight seemed to bring spring, his heart was still in midwinter. Feeling somehow stifled by the chilly energy filling his chest, Seo-jun sighed and spoke.

“I’m fine, give it to another actor. Opportunities should be fair.”

His voice was as dry as leaves dried in the cold wind.

“It’s not that we don’t have male actors in our company who can handle the role, but none are better than you. So just this once, go along with my suggestion. Okay?”

His words were lengthy. Unless he had other intentions, Seo-jun knew better than anyone that Go Won-hoo, who usually preferred brevity, was acting differently.

“Stop beating around the bush and just say it.”

“Man, your intuition is amazing.”

“So what’s your plan?”

“Actually, Oh Min-jung has been decided as the female lead of that drama, but we’re thinking of adding another female supporting role as well. It’s a role equal to the lead, so there are many applicants, but Director Yoon said it might be possible if he connects you.”

Go Won-hoo used his excellent business smile to gently persuade Seo-jun, who was acting indifferent.

“So, the director wants me, and you’re planning to use that to insert the actress you’re considering into the drama?”

“That’s right. Her acting skills might still be lacking, but that’s due to a lack of experience, and most importantly, her visuals are too good to remain unknown.”

“If she lacks the talent for acting, why involve me in this trivial matter? I don’t know who she is, but if she’s not capable, tell her to give up. That goes for you too.”

Seo-jun’s expression, with one eyebrow raised, was as calm and solid as his neatly slicked-back hair. At least until he heard her name.

“Ah, come on! Just help out!”

“I said no.”

Picking up the Zippo lighter on the table, Seo-jun began to fidget with it, chuckling quietly as if it was out of the question.

He wasn’t planning on agreeing, but if he did get involved, it would be quite a hassle to keep an eye on the actress throughout the project, and that was the last thing Seo-jun wanted.

Go Won-hoo, knowing his thoughts, slumped on the sofa, tapping the armrest and muttered indifferently.

“You know I wouldn’t ask this if it wasn’t important.”

“That’s what I’m saying. There’s a casting department for that, so why are you stepping in? You must have other intentions with the woman you’re trying to sell along with me.”

Seo-jun’s deep gaze narrowed slightly.

“Hey, man, it’s not like that!”

What was meant as a playful jab made Go Won-hoo jump in place as if he’d been struck by an ax.

“Then what is it?”

“She’s an actress who uses her real name, Eom So-yeon. If she grabs the opportunity well, she’ll definitely rise, but she’s been struggling because things have been tangled up and I feel sorry for her!”

“…”

Eom So-yeon.

He hadn’t expected to hear her name here.

Furrowing his brows and tilting his head slightly, Seo-jun stared directly at Go Won-hoo, not rushing. He just asked in a deep, resonant voice.

“Where is that woman now?”

Moving directly to the desk, Go Won-hoo pressed the intercom button and spoke to his secretary.

“Did Eom So-yeon come to the company today?”

• I did see her having lunch with Manager Yeo Do-soon in the cafeteria around noon. Should I contact Eom So-yeon?

“No. She’s probably in the practice room, I’ll do it.”

Having roughly grasped Eom So-yeon’s whereabouts, Go Won-hoo stood up from the sofa and called out to Seo-jun, who was walking toward the door.

“Where are you going?”

Had he suddenly changed his mind? 

They hadn’t finished their conversation, and he was trying to leave. Go Won-hoo’s puzzled gaze turned skeptical.

“My room.”

By ‘my room,’ Seo-jun meant his own director’s office.

“Weren’t you going to meet Eom So-yeon and consider the proposal?”

“That’s not it. I thought about seeing her, but it seems pointless now.”

“Wow…!”

Wow, I really want to hit him!

Not usually one to be so indecisive, Go Won-hoo was frustrated enough to smack the back of Seo-jun’s head as he reached for the doorknob.

Did he feel that gaze? 

Seo-jun, who was about to leave, stopped and stared back at Go Won-hoo.

“Why? What is it?”

“Is that woman twenty-six?”

“Did you know her?”

“Maybe.”

Leaving only a wry smile, Seo-jun left the CEO’s office.

The age matched. It seemed to be the same Eom So-yeon. But so what. What was he supposed to do with her now?

There was no need to stir up the past from three years ago, which would have been covered in dust. Seo-jun walked aimlessly, not knowing where his feet were taking him. But his heart was pounding intensely.

Eom So-yeon.

From the moment he heard that name in the CEO’s office.

***

The item he had started fiddling with again at the deployment site was now in his hand.

Riding the elevator, Seo-jun unconsciously hesitated at the button for the 9th floor, then moved his finger up to press the 10th floor. The smoking area was on the rooftop.

Getting off on the 10th floor, Seo-jun opened the door in front of him and stepped outside. It was then. He saw someone standing alone at the end of the rooftop garden.

“……!”

Even silhouetted against the backlight, Seo-jun knew.

The slender silhouette bathed in the sunset was unmistakably her.

As soon as she was captured in his dark eyes, the breath that had seemed blocked for so long was released. Seo-jun realized that this alone made him understand what had been suffocating him all this time.

It was a ridiculous notion, but ultimately, it was because of this woman.

A meeting and parting that didn’t even last a day.

A woman he couldn’t end with because there was no beginning.

That unfinished longing had been gnawing at his mind.

“Eom… So-yeon?”

The name slipped out, tickling his tongue, unbeknownst to him.

Perhaps because he had uttered that name, Seo-jun’s calm lips curled into a sneer.

As if mocking the mistake of God or the whimsical prank of fate.

“!”

A low, smooth voice called her. It might have been an illusion brought on by her desire to see him, but the voice that reached So-yeon’s ears was not unfamiliar. So surprised, a soft sob escaped her lips as she held her breath.

That’s when it happened.

Seo-jun approached Eom So-yeon with long strides.

Wiping her blurred vision with the back of her hand, So-yeon looked up at him with a dazed gaze.

Blinking repeatedly.

Looking and looking again at the dazzling man’s large form, like an illusion.

“……!”

No matter how much she looked, it was him!

The man before her was Tae Seo-jun…

She knew it too well…

But…

Seo-jun silently looked down at her small, white face, and So-yeon continued to look up at his excessively dazzling face with tear-filled eyes. At a distance where their noses would touch with just a slight tilt of the head.

“……”

“……”

A warm breeze seemed to blow between the two intensely intertwined gazes.

It was a spring breeze that thawed a heart frozen all winter long.

The strong scent emanating from him gripped So-yeon’s heart tightly. As her long hair, carried by the wind, touched Seo-jun’s collar, his heart pounded violently.

Thump, thump, thump…

The two, who had turned back the clock, delved into the past through their memories.

That winter night, which had been paused for quite a long time.

Back into that moment in time.