Chapter 24
“Director Jin says she can't come because something urgent came up.”
At Yugam's gesture, the manager approached.
“Please prepare lunch.”
He glanced toward Sora.
“Choose whatever she likes.”
The manager handed them a special menu reserved for VIP guests.
“A cup of tea would be enough for me.”
Despite saying that, Sora ordered a meal.
With a sticky smile, she made her interest in Yugam so obvious that it was almost uncomfortable.
“I've been rude today.”
She smiled sweetly.
“Maybe next time.”
“Yes.”
“Director Jin will definitely come next time.”
“It's fine.”
Sora's eyes brightened.
“I'm happy just to see someone I've known for so long.”
She smiled.
“It reminds me of high school. It's exciting.”
“I see.”
Yugam stood.
“Miss Han, enjoy your meal.”
His voice remained polite.
“I'll be leaving first.”
Sora stared at him.
“What? Alone?”
She shot to her feet when she saw him stand.
She had waited months for this.
Had all the hair and makeup she received since dawn not been good enough?
There was no way she could let a meeting arranged with so much difficulty end like this.
“I... really don't want you to leave yet.”
“I have another appointment.”
Sora gathered her courage.
“Chairman, next time I'd like to meet you together with my father.”
Yugam looked at her.
“My father has high expectations for you too.”
Her voice trembled slightly.
“I'd like to see you often.”
Then she added carefully,
“Both professionally and personally.”
Sora knew meetings like this weren't easy to arrange.
She wanted to make her interest as clear as possible.
Yugam answered calmly.
“I'm honored Minister Han thinks highly of me.”
Then he added,
“If it's for business, I'm available anytime.”
His expression didn't change.
“Contact my secretary.”
Sora's trembling voice made her look pitiful.
But she wasn't his partner.
There was no reason to let her misunderstand for even one minute.
After finally leaving Sora behind, Yugam called Jaekyung.
She didn't answer.
Where did she run off to?
He had told her the meeting would take about an hour and to wait nearby.
But he had come out much sooner than expected.
Ever since they returned from Jeju, Jaekyung had kept a very obvious distance from him.
She had moaned inside his arms while licking and biting his lips.
Then, apparently embarrassed by the kiss, she became even more sensitive afterward.
He remembered her words.
“Please stop. Sudden touching and kindness make me very uncomfortable.”
“I've spent twenty-five years building this shell. Don't touch it however you want.”
Her eyes had looked tired lately.
Had she stayed awake all night thinking about him?
Did she fall asleep somewhere?
At a café in the building beside Yugam's hotel, Jaekyung had finally found a rare moment to meet an old friend.
“Yeseul, thank you so much.”
She looked apologetic.
“Things must be tight for you too.”
Jaekyung had given a large amount of condolence money to Teacher Kim Juyoung.
Now she was short on living expenses.
Thanks to her elementary-school classmate and neighborhood friend Yeseul, she could at least pay this month's credit-card bill.
“I got a bonus, so it's fine.”
Yeseul waved it off.
“That program was a huge hit this time. You watched it, right?”
Yeseul worked as a writer for a television current-affairs program.
She was so capable that even though she had only been at the station for two years, she was already working on three weekly programs.
“Of course I watched.”
Jaekyung smiled brightly.
“They were all really good. Writer Jung Yeseul is the best.”
“I'm only an assistant writer.”
Yeseul laughed.
“Don't praise me too much.”
Then she smiled.
“Still, having a loyal fan feels nice.”
“You worked hard for that money.”
Jaekyung looked guilty.
“Thank you for lending it to me without hesitation every time.”
Yeseul was the only friend Jaekyung could ask for help when she was desperate.
But ever since graduating university, she had felt increasingly ashamed to keep asking.
“I guess television writing suits me.”
Yeseul shrugged.
“I'm not suffering at all.”
Then she grinned.
“Friends don't need to thank each other. Just buy me food.”
“Of course I'm paying.”
Jaekyung immediately answered.
“What do you want to eat?”
“Oh, right!”
Yeseul suddenly remembered something.
“Your neighborhood is being redeveloped, isn't it?”
Jaekyung blinked.
“Really?”
Then she smiled faintly.
“I guess redevelopment is finally happening.”
Her father had bought that first house after being tempted by promises that redevelopment would make them rich.
They had survived year after year.
Now construction was finally beginning.
People said redevelopment alone often took at least ten years just to break ground.
Their case had taken more than twenty.
Almost twice as long.
“You didn't know?”
Yeseul tilted her head.
“Aren't you living there anymore?”
Then she frowned.
“The roof looked bad too. The house seemed like it needed a lot of repairs.”
“It leaks when it rains.”
Jaekyung hesitated.
“But I'm staying somewhere else for now.”
Yeseul's eyes widened mischievously.
“Your doctor's house?”
“No, that's...”
Yeseul nodded to herself.
“Well, if they're starting redevelopment, you can't stay there anyway.”
Then she smiled warmly.
“If you have nowhere to go, come stay at my place.”
Yeseul knew Jaekyung's situation better than most people.
When they were children, Yeseul had been the only friend who ever visited Jaekyung's home.
She lived in a large apartment complex just across the main road.
Once, when Jaekyung had fallen at school, Yeseul had helped her home.
She hadn't acted shocked when she saw the shabby house.
Instead, she had quietly shared snacks and school supplies with Jaekyung.
She had always been kind.
“I'm staying somewhere else.”
“Where?”
Yeseul leaned closer.
