Chapter 2. Unfamiliar Address

The meeting that had continued since morning finally ended as lunchtime approached.

One by one, team members left the conference room.

Yeonsu firmly pressed above her heavy eyelids.

Perhaps due to unintentional heavy drinking last night, her condition was worse than usual.

“Team Leader Seo, you look more tired than usual today.”

Yeonsu straightened her back at the voice that reached her as she was gathering documents.

Director Yoon was still there, apparently not having left yet.

“I think it’s because I was at the company dinner until late yesterday.”

“What? You actually went to a company dinner? Oh right, CEO Moon appeared too, didn’t he?”

At the three syllables of Moon Seonjae’s name, Sehee, who had been fiddling with her phone, looked up.

“Yes. He came to the studio yesterday for an interview shoot.”

“Really? That’s too bad. If I’d known the CEO was coming, I should have appeared instead.”

Director Yoon approached, leaned on the desk, and giggled.

If she had known Moon Seonjae was coming, Yeonsu would have refused to participate no matter what.

Not knowing the inside story, Yeonsu awkwardly smiled at Director Yoon.

“You can still appear instead of me, if you’d like.”

“It’s too late.”

Even knowing it wasn’t possible, Yeonsu wished Director Yoon would really take her place.

Then Yeonsu glanced at Sehee sitting to one side.

Just as she was gathering her things to leave—

“CEO Moon Seonjae appeared?”

When Yeonsu looked up, her eyes met Sehee’s across from her.

Though the question had been directed at her, Director Yoon answered instead.

“Yes. I heard an interview was suddenly scheduled. The PR department was thrilled. The CEO is exceptionally good-looking. They said the interview video views will be massive.”

Yeonsu glanced sideways at Sehee.

Even though she had asked first, Sehee pressed her lips tightly at Director Yoon’s continuing words.

“Honestly, CEO Moon is so handsome that actors should step aside. I heard his screen presence was no joke. He didn’t even have makeup on, but how can he have such an aura?”

Sehee’s light brown eyes had darkened.

Director Yoon continued talking without noticing, but Yeonsu, who had been with her for 14 years, could tell.

That Sehee wasn’t in a good mood.

“I need to organize some revisions before the vendors arrive, so I’ll be going now.”

“Oh, okay. Good work.”

Yeonsu bowed her head, not wanting to get caught in the crossfire. Just as she was about to leave the conference room—

“Team Leader Seo.”

Yeonsu turned at Sehee’s call.

Sehee’s gaze, which had been fixed on Director Yoon, was now directed at Yeonsu.

“This weekend…… Never mind. Go ahead.”

Sehee had started to say something but stopped and turned her head, telling Yeonsu to go.

※※※

When Yeonsu returned to her desk and sat down, her eyes fell on the calendar.

Next week’s second filming date for “The Closet” was marked.

Without realizing it, she sighed.

For the past five years, Yeonsu’s life had been extremely monotonous. It consisted solely of going between work and home.

But since meeting Moon Seonjae, her daily life seemed completely twisted.

“Hoo.”

Feeling stifled again, Yeonsu thumped her chest.

It was before lunch, but she already felt bloated.

※※※

Yeonsu stayed in her officetel during a rare weekend.

Her body felt heavy even at home, perhaps because her stress had reached its peak recently. It felt like a panic attack might come soon.

Feeling unwell, she had just taken her medication and was resting when—

—Are you home? Get ready and come to Seongsu-dong right away.

Yeonsu had to come to Seongsu-dong after receiving a phone call from Sukgyeong.

As she headed to the living room, Sukgyeong, who seemed to be on a call with someone, approached Yeonsu.

“You’re here.”

“Yes. Is something wrong? I thought today was the dinner you mentioned.”

It was the dinner Sehee had brought up earlier. A celebration for Siwoo’s return to Korea.

“What do you mean ‘something wrong’…… Yeonsu, you should join us for dinner before you go.”

“Me too?”

“Why, don’t you want to? Well, Sehee said you refused when she asked.”

Sukgyeong sat on the sofa in front of Yeonsu. Then she narrowed her eyes as she looked up at her.

Seeing her expression that seemed upset, Yeonsu hurriedly waved her hands.

“No, not at all. I’m grateful if you’re inviting me.”

It wasn’t that she disliked this dinner gathering; she was afraid to face Sehee’s child who would be somewhere in this mansion.

Her heart would race whenever she saw children around that age. She was also afraid she might ruin the atmosphere at a gathering meant to celebrate a happy occasion.

But she couldn’t honestly say that either.

Moreover, it had been almost two years since Sukgyeong had invited Yeonsu to a dinner after Sehee left for America.

She was taken aback because she naturally assumed she would be excluded from this gathering.

“I thought I wouldn’t be attending since you didn’t mention anything.”

Sukgyeong leaned back on the sofa as she looked at Yeonsu.

After a moment of silence, she parted her lips.

“Someone specifically asked me to invite you. Yeonsu, I told them you would be uncomfortable, but still. Plus, the Moon son-in-law was curious too, so what could I do?”

Sukgyeong reluctantly answered Yeonsu.

Yeonsu read the discomfort evident on her face.

It seemed she hadn’t invited Yeonsu of her own accord either.

“I guess Sehee did that.”

Yeonsu sighed softly.

The only person she could imagine was Sehee.

Besides, now that she was in Seongsu-dong, Yeonsu had no choice.

She had already taken her medication, so all she could do was hope the day would end without incident.

“Sehee…… Anyway, I’ve already told the guests you’ll be joining us. Keep that in mind and stay for dinner.”

“Yes, I’ll do that.”

After hearing Yeonsu’s answer, Sukgyeong immediately disappeared into the bedroom.

Left alone, Yeonsu raised her head and stared up the stairs.

The brightly lit second floor.

The guest room Sukgyeong mentioned was up there, but she couldn’t bring herself to go.

Perhaps because of Sehee’s child who might be somewhere there.

Or perhaps because she could envision herself sitting alone and isolated at the dinner table—either way, her chest felt tight.

This was why she hadn’t wanted to come today. Nothing ever went according to her wishes.

In the end, Yeonsu turned her steps toward the kitchen.

She thought at least there wouldn’t be anyone in the kitchen making her uncomfortable.

Just as she entered the kitchen, someone sensed her presence and turned around.

It was Ms. Jung, the household helper.

“Is that you, Yeonsu? It’s been a while.”

“Ms. Jung, have you been well?”

“Of course. You’ve become quite the young lady since I last saw you. Why don’t you visit more often these days?”

Her face immediately brightened upon seeing Yeonsu.

She approached in one step and took Yeonsu’s hands in hers.

“Sehee is back too, so drop by more often. I’ll forget your face.”

After moving to her officetel, Yeonsu rarely came inside the Seongsu-dong house.

There was no reason for her to be alone with Sukgyeong in a house without Chairman Hong and Sehee.

Even if they met, it was always outside or just briefly at the entrance.

Seeing the warm-hearted Ms. Jung, Yeonsu finally felt warmth in the house that had been bleak all along.

“I should. Is there anything I can help with?”

“No, no. Help with what? You’re a guest, Yeonsu.”

Ms. Jung waved her hand at Yeonsu with a kind face.

“I arrived early, so I have nothing to do.”

“Then go upstairs and rest. Am I the only one here? There are staff, so don’t worry.”

As she added these words, Ms. Jung referred to the other staff in the kitchen.

There were noticeably more kitchen helpers than when Yeonsu had stayed in Seongsu-dong.

Ironically, the number of Chairman Hong’s family members actually living in Seongsu-dong had decreased.

Yeonsu was freshly reminded of Sukgyeong’s position.

The mistress of Seungji Apparel and in-law to the Taeseo family.

Ms. Jung, who had approached, tried to push Yeonsu out of the kitchen.

Just as she was reluctantly about to turn around, the dining room door next to the kitchen opened.

“Ms. Jung, Siwoo doesn’t want to eat alone.”

The voice of an unfamiliar child wrapped around her ears.

And simultaneously, the grip of Ms. Jung’s arm loosened and moved away.

“What should we do? Siwoo was told to eat first? You need to take your medicine and sleep.”

“Don’t wanna. I want to eat with Mom and Dad later.”

Yeonsu froze at the whining voice that followed.

The owner of that voice naturally formed in her mind.

The child she had wondered if she would ever meet, the one who had made her repeatedly worry whether she could genuinely welcome him if they did meet.

Moon Siwoo.

As Yeonsu carefully turned her body, a small figure hidden by Ms. Jung’s stout frame came into view.

The child’s pupils peeked out, then widened after discovering Yeonsu.