A slight twitch appeared at the corner of her mouth. Kim Young-hoon continued.
“Moreover, it seems he bought that pension in a hurry just to meet Yun Dajeong.”
A bad feeling crept in. O Chaewon’s mood plummeted.
“What do you mean? Are you saying it’s a serious relationship?”
“I’m sorry, but I couldn’t find out more. Jaeho’s guards are tight. But it seems he’s been monitoring the fan club Yun Dajeong is active in.”
O Chaewon bit her lip. The stylist hinted at needing to take care, but she paid no heed.
“No way. That’s impossible. A penniless orphan by the side of the heir to the whole Taemyung Group?”
It wasn’t a question expecting a reply, so Kim Young-hoon remained silent.
“Still, I need to cut her off. Find out more about this woman.”
Time was running out. Her father, Oh Seoktae, had started insisting on an arranged marriage since he allowed her to become an actress. None of the wealthy and well-bred corporate heirs appealed to O Chaewon.
“Also, keep track of Jaeho’s schedule.”
Recognizing the caller, Jaeho excused himself to Dajeong.
“Just stay in the living room for a moment.”
He entered the room and picked up the call, only to be greeted with a scolding.
[It’s been over ten years! Why are you still having nightmares?!]Jaeho was familiar with his grandfather’s way of expressing concern with a raised voice. If he’d understood this from the start, he might have been less hurt. Back then, adapting to the house in Pyeongchang-dong was overwhelming enough.
“Chief Choi is quite fast.”
[Jaeho. No matter what anyone says, that incident was a stroke of luck for you. This old man thinks so. It sounds cursed to say, but I’m thankful for that accident. It led us to you.]“…How can an accident be lucky?”
The conversation continued, revealing the complex emotions and family dynamics behind Jaeho’s current life and his relationship with his grandfather.
[You almost lived your whole life in poverty without knowing your lineage! And I nearly closed my eyes not knowing the existence of my grandchild. That accident brought you back to where you belong.]
Visions of his friends’ faces in the flames haunted Jaeho. He closed his eyes for a moment and apologized, knowing that despite his grandfather’s harsh words, his heart felt the opposite. He explained that his grandfather donated significant amounts every year on their memorial days and asked his friends for understanding.
“Why did you call?”
[Stop having nightmares. Forget those memories now. Taemyung Group is your world now. Bury the painful memories and focus on the future.]“…I’m not sure my world is Taemyung.”
Jaeho glanced towards the living room where Dajeong waited. She must be sitting demurely, perhaps blushing from their recent kiss. My world, Dajeong.
[You silly boy.]A brief silence followed.
He thought of his friends’ names – unforgettable ones like Kim Moo-hyuk, Lee Dong-hyun, Ju Si-hu. Boys in navy uniforms, forever young in his heart.
He consciously avoided one heavy name – Yoon Woo-jung.
“Let’s talk more when I see you next week, Grandfather. I’m busy.”
The call ended.
The friend he had tried not to think about stood beside him in his mind. A friend, brother, and at times a parent to a troubled teenage boy. To Jaeho back then, Yoon Woo-jung was everything.
“…I’m sorry.”
The beautiful boy smiled warmly.
“Woo-jung. I owe you so much…”
The debt of the heart, unpayable, sank deeper.
Days passed.
“I might come back late at night. Pack warm clothes. I have blankets and heat packs.”
“Where are we going?”
Dajeong grabbed another down jacket and got into the car.
After their deep kiss under the guise of an apology, Jaeho immediately said it wasn’t really an apology. The real apology was planned for a night with many stars.
Annoyed but charmed, Dajeong slapped his chest twice.
Then came today.
“Let’s go. We’re late.”
“Are you not going to tell me where we’re going?”
The car started, crunching over small stones. Moths fluttered in the headlight beams. In the distance, the sound of crickets mixed with the wind.
A beautiful country road.
“We’re going to see the stars,” Jaeho said with a smile.
“Stars?”
The country night was alive with insect and wave sounds, and above all, her racing heart.
“I used to come to Taean often. There’s a beach I know, where stars pour down.”
What will happen tonight?
She looked at him, driving intently without a navigation system, and asked.
“How long will it take?”
Jaeho estimated and replied.
“About 30 minutes.”
Male lead reborn without memories — but he still falls for her.
The person he finds displeasing in this life turns out to be his cherished wife-master in previous life…
Xie Zhi and Fang Xianxing who had known each other for less than three days through a blind date sat in the same car in front of the civil affairs bureau. They had a disagreement and failed to get married.
Xie Zhi immediately took out his phone, slid through his contacts, and randomly selected the next marriage candidate.
The woman snatched his phone and hung up. Looking at his phone wallpaper, she awkwardly changed the subject: “An ancient painting, eh? It looks pretty good, it’s just that the person in the painting looks a bit like me.”
When he heard this, he sarcastically mocked her for being so delusional, completely unaware that, the person in front of him was the reincarnation of Wen Ru, the famous prime minister of Yuan Shun whom he most admired…
The female CEO who doesn’t want to get married with a divorce agreement in hand × The male archaeological researcher who will only get married if he’s sure he can get divorced
