Dajeong didn’t want to know the truth. It was the same in the past. She wasn’t curious about the truth of screaming for her parents’ death. Even if her brother came back alive, would it make any difference?
Jaeho was the same. His intentions. His past relationships. His friendship with O Chaewon. Would I be happy if I heard all the truths?
Dajeong lowered her head. Most of the truths Dajeong knew were painful.
She looked at the brown envelope stuffed in the corner of one suitcase with a dismal look. Anyway, this was the truth.
It was then.
Knock, knock.
The man entered the living room by politely knocking on the already open door. Dajeong hastily closed the suitcase.
“I’ve packed everything.”
“Good job. Byunghoon will carry it. Should we do it now? He’ll come right away.”
“No.”
Dajeong looked silently at the three suitcases. These suitcases would never be loaded into Jaeho’s car.
These suitcases were Dajeong’s reality. It was time to go back home now. She thought of her small apartment with one room and a living room.
“…I have something to say. Mr. Jaeho.”
“Go ahead.”
He approached, sweeping his lips with his thumb. Dajeong struggled to pull away, creating some distance.
“This is a serious conversation.”
“Okay.”
“We… now. Stop.”
Goodbye. My actor. My favorite.
“…Let’s end it.”
Through the floor-to-ceiling window overlooking the sea, orange autumn leaves fell like petals. It felt like watching a muted video. The wind blew, and the leaves continued to pour down.
Relentlessly. Endlessly.
It was the cruel color of autumn light.
“Let’s go back to our own reality.”
“What are you ending?”
The man broke the silence. After a short chuckle, he spoke slowly.
“What should I end when I haven’t even started?”
Casually replying, he laughed.
“Let’s stop here. I’ll take it as a joke.”
Dajeong had to push him away again with all her strength. She bit her lower lip until it bled to avoid showing tears.
“I’m serious. Keep the promise. Us.”
Jaeho stared into Dajeong’s eyes. Dajeong didn’t avoid his direct gaze and emphasized once again. Let’s do it that way. Us.
“Why should we?”
“….”
“What should I do with the promise you made alone?”
“….”
“Did I ever say I would do that?”
Jaeho lifted Dajeong’s chin and stared intently.
“Ms. Yoon Dajeong.”
“….”
“I like it, so why break up?”
It felt like speaking against the wall. Dajeong pushed him away again.
“I want to stop.”
“Is he really dead?”
Director Jung, who was checking emails, made a strange expression. The clues to Hajaewoo seemed to be catching but never caught.
Based on the face from 13 years ago, Director Jung looked at the montage drawn to estimate his current appearance.
“He hasn’t used a credit card… hasn’t found a job…”
Spending an enormous amount of money, searching all over the country, but frustratingly unable to find his whereabouts.
Director Jung, who had ruined Jaeho’s life and even taken away his brother’s life, was also grinding his teeth. He had confidence in finding people, but why couldn’t he catch this guy?
Then a call came.
[Director, we received a tip that someone resembling the montage was seen. Should we check it?]
“Where is it?”
[Cheorwon.]Would it be another false step? How many times had it been?
Still, verification was necessary.
“Depart. Go see it for yourself.”
Knock, knock.
As he hung up the phone, someone knocked. When he looked up, it was Chief Choi, Heontae’s secretary. Jaeho stood up with a welcoming expression.
“Director!”
Since Chief Choi was the one personally picked by Jaeho and attached to him, he always felt grateful.
“Why is the office for Jaeho Director’s secretary still lit when the owner is not here?”
“Director, you seem to be working overtime too. Please sit.”
Director Jung hastily prepared coffee. Seeing Chief Choi’s face as he did, a kind smile overflowed.
“I guess it’s because you’re the director’s boss. But Director Jung, aren’t you getting younger?”
“I’ll tell the Director.”
“Stop talking. Got chased away for no reason, coming all the way to Taean.”
“I heard.”
Facing each other, they laughed with disappointment.
“Why haven’t you left work yet?”
To buy time for thinking, Director Jung casually picked up a coffee. Jaeho searching for Hajaewoo was a secret from Heontae. Choi Director knew it wasn’t something to report to Heontae, but it was still better to be cautious.
Heontae hoped Jaeho would completely forget the past. If he knew that he was secretly looking for the criminal, he would surely be furious.
“I was investigating the death of Mr. Lee Jinwoo as instructed by the chairman.”
As this task had just begun, it wasn’t entirely a lie.
“Jaeho still has nightmares about it… I worry a lot because of that.”
Choi Director poured out his sincere feelings.
“He’s not a child who would do something foolish, but his heart is heavy. You know as well as I do, once Jaeho’s eyes change, madness follows… Anyway, it’s disturbing. I thought everything was okay now.”
Director Jung understood what day he was referring to and reassured him with a look as if saying not to worry.
“Don’t worry. Mr. Lee is not a child anymore. He’s over thirty.”
“Even if he’s over thirty, he’s still a child… Please take care of him so that he can ease his mind. He’s like my son.”
It was a vacant morning.
Even the seagulls were silent on this quiet morning.
After checking around both rooms, 101 and 102, and realizing the cause, he let out a short laugh. Whether it was a sigh or a sigh of relief, wind escaped from his mouth.
Yoon Dajeong had disappeared with three suitcases as if she never existed. Yoon Dajeong, doing such audacious things.
Surely, did she think he wouldn’t find her?
“It’s making me tired…”
Looking up at the sky, which was so blue that it made his eyes sting, Jaeho smiled sadly.
The game of make-believe had come to an end.
My Step-brother Is Obsessed With Me (Female-dominant)
A gentle female protagonist vs pitiful in the early stage, and a sick male protagonist in the later stage
Cheng Songer transmigrated into the body of a vicious cannon fodder female supporting character with the same name as her in a female-dominant novel.
In the original story, the cannon fodder female supporting character was inhumane, committing domestic violence, gambling excessively, being lustful, and even wanting to sell her stepbrother to a brothel for money.
As luck would have it, she just happened to transmigrate at this time.
Seeing Cheng Qingzhi biting his lip, enduring the tears in his eyes, looking pitiful, her heart softened.
She stuffed the money back into the Madam’s hand and reached out to him.
“Brother, come home with me.”
