Chapter 17: Their Little Secret (2)

Do-Dam Group would grow even bigger than it currently was in the future, but they would have to safely maneuver around the trap that was Kim Han-Gyo during the process. If they were unable to...

‘They’ll suffer quite a bit down the line.’

Kang Ra-Eun already knew how it would end up. Honestly, she could offer Ji Han-Seok a plan of exactly how Do-Dam Group could grow exponentially, but she refrained from doing so.

‘It’s not like he’d believe me anyway.’

In the first place, Han-Seok may not even believe that Park Geon-Woo ended up becoming a high school girl just because he didn’t check off one category in the Return Application Form. Hence, she decided not to even bring it up. In exchange...

“I’d love to meet Chairman Ji Seong-Geum one day if the opportunity ever arises,” she mentioned.

“My grandfather? Why?” Han-Seok asked.

“Actually, my slave... I mean, my oppa has a lot of interest in business.”

She almost misspoke. It was her first time since becoming a high school girl that she used the word “oppa." She got goosebumps.

“Oh, you have an older brother?”

“Yes, he’s a university student.”

“Come to think of it, I’ve heard people say that university students have taken much interest in becoming young entrepreneurs lately,” Han-Seok mentioned.

“Yes. Apparently, the person he respects the most is Chairman Ji.”

“Although my grandfather is rather strict, he is certainly worthy of respect. He also used to be my role model, though I’ve taken up acting now,” Han-Seok remarked as he nodded several times. “Okay, I’ll try setting you guys up with a meeting if he has time. This isn’t a brag, but he likes me quite a lot, so he usually grants me favors.”

‘Of course he does.’

Ra-Eun had approached Han-Seok even while going so far as to become an actress because she knew that.

“You don’t know my contact information, do you?” he asked.

“No, I don’t,” Ra-Eun replied.

“My number is written here, so just send me a text later. I’ll save your number as well.” Han-Seok said as he passed her his name card.

“Thank you very much, sunbae.”

“No worries. Feel free to contact me if you have any questions related to acting that you’re unsure about.”

The operation was a success. However, it was only just the beginning.

***

Program Director Son Han-Woo smiled contentedly as Ra-Eun and Han-Seok were chatting it up.

“Chief Jung,” he said.

“Yes, Director Son?” Chief Jung replied.

“I had felt this while filming, but don’t you think those two fit well together?”

One couldn’t find a more good-looking couple. Chief Jung answered right away, as if he had been waiting for this moment.

“Of course they do!”

“Especially Ra-Eun, she just has this charm to her. She’s only a rookie, but... how should I say it, she has the ability to attract people,” Director Son commented.

“And the scenes with Ra-Eun in it have the highest view ratings,” Chief Jung added.

Ra-Eun was only known as ‘Devil’s Touch University Girl’ among the public before, but the name ‘Kang Ra-Eun’ had now been engraved into the drama fans’ minds. The view ratings were higher in episodes that Ra-Eun appeared in, which Director Son found to be very unfortunate.

“I would’ve increased her screen time even more if I knew this would happen,” Director Son muttered joylessly.

Chief Jung had instinctively felt that an opportunity had arisen.

“You can just increase it a bunch in season 2, can’t you?” Chief Jung mentioned.

“That’s true. Coach Heo was saying Ra-Eun would also be able to handle action scenes really well.”

There weren’t many instances when the martial arts coach Heo Son would speak so highly of someone. If he praised someone to that extent, it meant that their skills were verified.

“We sure have a beautiful little lucky charm on our team,” Director Son said as he looked at Ra-Eun with eyes filled with appreciation.

***

After the drama shoots were over, she called Seo Yi-Jun to treat him to something as she had promised. Yi-Jun decided on a famous curry restaurant located at the edge of downtown.

As he deliciously ate the naan that he dipped in the curry, he looked over at Ra-Eun, who was just sitting still, in confusion.

“Are you not eating, noona?” he asked.

“I don’t have an appetite,” she replied.

“You’re not going on a diet, are you? If that’s the case, then you need to eat. You need to gain weight rather than lose.”

Glare.

Ra-Eun narrowed her eyes. She seemed to be in a very bad mood today.

“Maybe I should kick you on the shin.”

An awkward laugh naturally came out of Yi-Jun as Ra-Eun gave him a fierce glare.

“A-Anyway, noona, you’re super famous these days! There were so many people who recognized you on our way here.”

“Yeah, I almost died from how much of a hassle it was.”

She had to forcibly smile because of the fans who came to her for an autograph. She had thought that she only needed to smile during shoots, but that wasn’t the case at all.

“I think I understand why celebrities wear sunglasses now,” Ra-Eun said.

Although she ended up debuting as an actress to form a connection with Chairman Ji Seong-Geum, there were many more cons to it than she had anticipated. Waves of regret hit her far too late, as she was thinking that she should have found another way if she knew that it would turn out this way. However, it was far too late to turn back. Director Son was blazing with enthusiasm while working with writers to increase her character’s screen time, and Chief Jung was encouraging them from the sidelines.

She had found it all to be extremely annoying, but it wasn’t all bad.

‘The more famous I get, the higher my chances of meeting Chairman Ji.’

If Ra-Eun was Chairman Ji and had the choice to meet either an ordinary person or a popular actress, she would most definitely choose the latter.

‘Chairman Ji had always liked to meet famous people across various fields.’

He had always loved to expand his horizons, so a popular actress should be able to somewhat sate his curiosity.

‘It’s a pain, but I have to do it.’

It was all for taking down Congressman Kim Han-Gyo.

“Then how about we go buy a pair of sunglasses after we finish eating? It’ll be on me,” Yi-Jun suggested.

“You’re broke, aren’t you? It’s fine. I’ll use my own money,” Ra-Eun replied.

“Come on, noona. I at least have enough to buy you a pair of sunglasses.”

She didn’t see a reason to refuse when he was so adamant on buying her a pair.

“Do as you like,” she said.

She decided to take him up on his offer.

***

They headed to an optical store after their meal. There were a few more people who had recognized her on their way there, which only reinforced her desire to buy sunglasses as quickly as possible.

Various sunglasses were displayed in the store. The optician recommended a few that would suit Ra-Eun. As she was wearing them one by one and looking into the mirror, she turned to face Yi-Jun.

“Hey, how do these ones look?” she asked.

“Mm... You have a petite face, so that pair looks a bit too big on you.”

“Really?”

She moved on to the next pair.

“How about these ones?” she asked again.

“They looks fine, but aren't they a bit too gloomy? They're nothing but black.”

“The color doesn’t matter.”

“It does matter. Brighter colors suit you far better. How about these?” Yi-Jun suggested.

“...”

Ra-Eun stared sharply at him, but did not refuse his suggestion. She put them on and looked into the mirror.

“Like you said, these ones suit me better,” Ra-Eun reluctantly admitted.

“Right?”

“You have good taste for this kind of stuff.”

“I’m studying fashion quite a bit, after all. My dream is to become a fashion designer,” Yi-Jun expressed.

Ra-Eun’s ears perked up.

“You’re not gonna inherit the cafe?” she asked.

“Yes. Neither me nor my sister will be inheriting it.”

It was a wise decision. It would be far better to strive for a path that they wanted to pursue instead of inheriting a cafe that was almost out of business.

“If you’re gonna become a fashion designer, will you be pursuing a job related to clothing?” Ra-Eun asked.

“Well... I guess?” Yi-Jun answered.

“That’s perfect.”

“Huh? What do you mean?”

Ra-Eun was already planning on getting into the clothing business through Park Seol-Hun. If a young fashion designer with great sense like Yi-Jun were to join them, she was sure that it would form a good synergy.

“Tell me when you start looking for a job. I’ll make room for you,” Ra-Eun said.

“Huh? Well, if you say so... Okay, I’ll do that,” Yi-Jun answered in puzzlement.

He had yet to know nothing about the big picture that Ra-Eun was drawing.

***

As the two of them left the optical store, they could hear a commotion on one side. They naturally shifted their attention to the crowd of people.

“They’re not doing some sort of event like last time, are they?” Yi-Jun commented, half jokingly.

Ra-Eun answered as if to reassure him, “Even if there is, I’m not gonna participate, so don’t tremble like that.”

But that aside, she was curious. She could see a man shaking hands with the small entrepreneurs while being guarded by several men in suits. Her face stiffened as soon as she saw him.

Yi-Jun tilted his head as he stared at the man.

“I feel like I’ve seen him somewhere before...” he said.

Yi-Jun had seen the man’s face before, but could not recall his name.

Ra-Eun took off her sunglasses. Her smooth forehead was slightly contorted.

He was a man that Ra-Eun knew all too well.

“Kim Han-Gyo...!”

She had come face to face with her archnemesis.