Chapter 4: Eun-ha, I Have Sincerity Too
Early morning.
No, it wouldn’t be odd to call it dawn. I barely managed my stiff body and headed towards the center of Seoul.
‘Is this the place?’
Looking up, I saw a building with a distinctly modern design. Overall, it was boxy but sohow had a stylish atmosphere.
Above all, a huge electronic billboard at the front of the building caught my eye. More precisely, it was the sight of ‘Seo Jun-woo’ looking down at from there.
‘…The kid is doing well.’
Seo Jun-woo was a university colleague. However, he lived a life that was the complete opposite of mine, as I was treated like an outsider at school.
‘He used to get A’s even without attending classes.’
Having been a famous actor since his child actor days, he often missed classes during the sester due to filming.
But Park Jae-jin and the rest of the faculty cherished him a lot, and absences due to his acting work were all acknowledged as official leaves.
Of course, so of the top students complained about this.
– If you also star in a terrestrial drama, I’ll grant you official leaves too.
Everyone shut their mouths after the bone-crushing comnt from the departnt head.
At the sa ti, he drew a line that he would never give an (A ) unless the attendance days were fulfilled, so any lingering complaints disappeared.
“…I’m jealous. So jealous.”
A feeling I couldn’t swallow burst out of my mouth. I’ve always been envious of that guy, from my school days until now.
It was more admiration than jealousy. Seeing Seo Jun-woo, who always received the spotlight wherever he went, I thought that one day, I should reach that point too.
‘The problem is it’s getting farther away.’
Sigh-
I couldn’t help but sigh. While my worth was decreasing over ti, Seo Jun-woo’s follower count was increasing in real-ti.
‘How many followers did he have?’
He had over a million followers a few years ago and held a follower appreciation event, so now, the number might have changed drastically.
“Sigh…”
“Why are you sighing so much?”
Gulp-!
I choked on my breath at the sudden voice. I cald my protesting lungs and barely turned my head.
Then, I saw Kim Eun-ha with a playful smile on her lips.
As I felt before, she’s incredibly skilled at concealing her presence.
“When did you co?”
“Hmm, who knows?”
“…You heard everything.”
“Not exactly. I just heard you say ‘I’m jealous’ while looking at our departnt store’s main model, Seo Jun-woo ssi.”
“That was all I said.”
“Oh, really!?”
Kim Eun-ha exaggeratedly widened her eyes and acted surprised. As much as she can see through people’s hearts, she’s also exceptional at scratching their insides.
When I silently glared at her, Kim Eun-ha continued speaking with a feigned smile on her lips.
“Should I change it for you?”
“What?”
Swoosh-
Instead of answering, Kim Eun-ha turned her head towards the billboard. Following her, I naturally shifted my gaze and once again t Seo Jun-woo’s eyes.
“If you want, I can change it right now.”
“……”
This is not a joke.
Kim Eun-ha is the actual owner of this huge departnt store right before my eyes. She has enough power to execute her words.
Even the trivial legal responsibilities and image damage that may arise from this process are within her vast capabilities to handle.
‘If I’m honest…’
I imdiately want to nod my head. If my face, even for a brief mont, is engraved in that place where ten million Seoul citizens look up to, how thrilling would that be?
“It’s fine.”
Despite that, I resolutely shook my head. Then, Kim Eun-ha blinked in surprise and spoke.
“It’s not a joke.”
“I’m not joking either.”
“You do know how much that’s worth, right?”
“I know it’s extrely expensive.”
“Then why reject it?”
Her reaction seed genuinely puzzled.
It sounded like she was questioning why I was suddenly standing on pride when I had easily accepted a parachute position and even a fake marriage.
“Eun-ha, I too have sincerity.”
“…Why are you suddenly speaking informally?”
“…You don’t know this line?”
“I don’t have ti to keep up with theater.”
It’s not theater, but a movie.
Moreover, it’s a movie that’s still ntioned as a masterpiece even over 10 years after its release. There have been a series of sequels too.
But I wasn’t tactless enough to point out this painful truth. Especially not to an employer who literally held my livelihood in her hands.
“Well. It’s a that young people these days don’t really know.”
“But Woo-ju ssi, you’re the sa age as .”
“I was often called an old soul when I was a student.”
Zap-
A mont of suspicious scrutiny swept over , but years of thick-skinned resilience shielded .
“…Go on with what you were saying.”
“It’s nothing grand. Just, well. A trophy forced into my hands by soone else doesn’t seem very appealing, does it?”
“Even though it’s what you wanted?”
“Especially because it’s what I wanted.”
I looked up at the electronic billboard once again. Would I really be happy if I got that spot through Kim Eun-ha’s power?
‘Not at all.’
No matter how many tis I thought about it, the answer was the sa.
I didn’t reject the parachute because it was an ‘opportunity’ for to act. The outco depended entirely on .
But having my face on the billboard isn’t an opportunity. It would only diminish both Kim Eun-ha’s and my image.
‘She must know that too.’
The ownership of Mirae Departnt Store wasn’t won through a ga of luck. Before coming here, I did so research on her…
[‘Luxury President’ CEO Kim Eun-ha] (TL: Luxury President is a Korean term given to CEOs, etc., by Koreans who own luxury brands.)
[Her journey turning adversity into opportunity]
[Astounding philanthropy! Kim Eun-ha’s noblesse oblige]
Articles praising her were plentiful. Of course, there were so negative opinions, but considering the nature of the internet, they were minimal.
At first, I thought it was image managent by the group, but it wasn’t just that.
[Corrupt prosecutors vs. the second son of a chaebol family]
[Connections between certain politicians and famous chaebols?]
[The detrintal impact of chaebol monopolies on the Korean economy]
In an era where any Korean citizen can broadcast with just a finger, perfect dia control is practically impossible.
Moreover, the governnt was particularly targeting Mirae Group for ‘chaebol hunting’ after so missteps in the last presidential election.
‘Yet, to still have such a favorable public opinion…’
It ant Kim Eun-ha’s capabilities were extraordinary. In fact, Mirae Departnt Store’s performance had been declining annually, but it reversed after she took charge.
So, this question could be a trap. Even if she didn’t intend it to be.
“Think about it this way. What would you feel if soone handed you the successor position of Mirae Group?”
“I’d think it’s a windfall.”
“…What if the food is spoiled?”
“My stomach is quite strong.”
Smirk-
Kim Eun-ha lifted the corners of her mouth as if she found my response amusing. It felt like she had anticipated my questions and was already prepared with her response.
Irritated by her playful smile, I retorted a bit gruffly.
“Randomly eating anything can cause stomach trouble.”
“I’m not in a position to be picky right now.”
“Even with everything you have?”
“? You’re joking.”
As I casually glanced at the departnt store and brought it up, Kim Eun-ha quickly shook her head, denying it.
This ti, there was no teasing tone in her voice. If her ambition wasn’t to beco a top actress, then her response was 100% sincere.
“You’re greedy.”
“If you see the wealth my relatives have, you’d faint.”
“People should know when to be satisfied.”
“What about you, Woo-ju ssi?”
“……?”
Swoosh-
I turned my head slightly and found myself looking directly into Kim Eun-ha’s eyes, which had been watching all along.
Her black eyes, twinkling under the streetlight, seed to carry the galaxy in them, fitting her na ‘Eun-ha’ (TL: Eun-ha ans Galaxy).
Caught off guard by the unexpectedly serious atmosphere, I hesitated for a mont before she continued in a calm voice.
“How much would it take for you, Woo-ju ssi, to be satisfied?”
“Well…”
I barely stopped myself from responding reflexively, sensing that a light answer wouldn’t be appropriate here.
Seemingly reading my hesitation, Kim Eun-ha did not rush , allowing ti to ponder.
‘Satisfaction.’
My gaze naturally drifted to the electronic billboard.
The imdiate goal was, of course, Seo Jun-woo.
But if I really reach that spot.
What then?
Will I stop there?
Or will I aim higher?
I didn’t ponder for long.
‘…I’ve been too narrow-minded.’
Those who reach the top gain a broader perspective. Having been busy looking up at the mountain, now I stood atop it.
But for those with elevated sights, new vistas co into view. Such is the law of nature.
‘Since when did Seo Jun-woo beco my goal?’
Even if I reach Seo Jun-woo’s position, I won’t be satisfied. By then, I’ll be looking towards sothing higher, like Kim Eun-ha now.
“I misspoke. I apologize.”
I bowed slightly towards Kim Eun-ha. Not because she was my employer, but for taking her ambitions too lightly.
“I’ll accept your apology.”
Her response ca coolly, without delay. As I slightly raised my head, she was looking at with a gentle smile on her lips.
Beautiful.
I found myself thinking involuntarily. Her smile, not contrived but genuine, was truly beautiful.
“Aren’t you staring a bit too obviously?”
Hehe-
However, that smile was fleeting. A wave of regret washed over , but I composed myself and continued.
“Is that not allowed?”
“No, it’s not.”
“Why not?”
“…….”
Huh?
A sense of déjà vu enveloped . Before I could unravel this feeling, Kim Eun-ha quickly turned away, hiding her face.
“Let’s go inside now.”
“Are you perhaps changing the subject because you’re embarrassed…?”
“Stop talking nonsense and hurry up. Everyone is waiting.”
“Huh?”
Instead of replying, Kim Eun-ha moved briskly. Her pace was so fast that I had to jog to keep up without losing sight of her.
“……!?”
As soon as we entered the departnt store, I was stunned by the unfamiliar scene unfolding before my eyes.
From the entrance to the escalator. Dozens of employees dressed in black suits were lined up on both sides, forming a path.
“Welco.”
Before I could grasp what was happening, the employees bowed in unison, greeting with perfect precision.
A grand reception that seed like sothing out of a 2000s drama. And Kim Eun-ha, walking between them as if it was the most natural thing in the world.
That’s when it really hit .
The kind of world I had stepped into.
“……”
Despite the number of people gathered, not even a breath could be heard. The weight of the silence pressing down on my shoulders sent a chill through my heart.
Everyone except Kim Eun-ha had their heads bowed, but I could feel their eyes on , as if they all had eyes on the back of their heads.
– Who is that?
– Is he a VVIP?
– Surely, he’s not the CEO’s boyfriend?
Eventually, I even felt tickled by their voices, which shouldn’t have been audible. My mind felt like it was turning blank.
– This is Park Do-Hyun.
Was it just a coincidence?
Was it re fiction that I heard the voice of that guy in my ear? If it had been him, how would he have acted in this situation?
‘…He would have walked confidently.’
Because that’s the kind of guy he is.
Even in an unfamiliar situation, he would never have been flustered. Especially soone who would take this kind of treatnt for granted.
‘Let borrow you for a mont.’
As if his spirit had possessed my body. No, as if I had peeled off his skin and draped it over mine.
I straightened my shoulders confidently.
A cold smile on my lips.
I took a bold step forward.
Thud-
As my firm footsteps broke the silence, I sensed a hint of panic around , but I never turned my head.
My gaze was fixed solely on her.
I had to look only at Kim Eun-ha.
“……”
“……”
Kim Eun-ha, who had been walking ahead, also stopped at so point. She turned her head to et my eyes but didn’t say a word.
She just wore a satisfied smile.
****
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