A Light Contract - Chapter 37

It was when Yura, who had been hesitating in front of the door for a while, was about to reach for the handle. The door opened gently, and her mother-in-law Mi Hee appeared.

“Sweetie, why aren’t you coming in?”

“Hello… How are you?”

“We’re always the same. Come in, quickly.”

Mi Hee led Yura in with a kind face, making her feel embarrassed for hesitating. Following her inside, Yura carefully bowed her head to her father-in-law Baek Hyun Tae, who was standing in the living room.

“I’m, I’m sorry…”

As if to comfort Yura, Mi Hee waved her hand and stopped her words.

“Oh my, what are you sorry for? The one who spoke nonsense is the bad one.”

Yura couldn’t say anything and just blinked her eyes.

Her in-laws standing before her looked at Yura with eyes full of worry and pity. With the sudden turn of events, she didn’t have the energy to judge whether their expressions were sincere or hypocritical.

She was at a loss for what expression to make, given the reaction so contrary to that of her own parents.

Seeing this, her mother-in-law Mi Hee seemed to think Yura was in shock. She approached without hesitation and lightly hugged Yura. Unfamiliar with the sensation, Yura couldn’t react.

“You must have been very surprised. How could this happen?”

“Hyun is taking care of it, so don’t worry too much.”

Her father-in-law Baek Hyun Tae also comforted Yura with warm words.

“…Yes, yes.”

All Yura could do was belatedly give a short answer to their consolation and comfort.

Mi Hee felt sorry for Yura, who had entered looking pale. She was also concerned about one of her cheeks that was slightly red, as if something had happened. However, rather than asking about it, she judged that stability was more important for now.

Gesturing to her husband Hyun Tae not to follow, she wrapped her arm around Yura’s shoulder.

“You must have been shocked, let’s go upstairs and rest a bit. Mrs. Gu, please bring some warm honey tea to Hyun’s room.”

“Yes, madam.”

As they slowly climbed the stairs, Yura, who had been keeping her mouth tightly shut, politely apologized. This again pained Mi Hee’s heart.

“I’m sorry for causing a disturbance.”

“Again, again. I told you, you have nothing to be sorry for.”

“But still…”

Mi Hee felt sorry seeing Yura acting like a criminal, as if everything was her fault.

She was upset, wondering what Yura had heard and where, to make such a confident and self-assured child become so intimidated. Mi Hee stopped walking and met Yura’s eyes.

“Do you really have something with that person?”

When her father had accepted the article as fact, her mind had gone cold, allowing her to tie her emotions even tighter. But at Mi Hee’s doubtful question, Yura felt a surge of indignation without realizing it.

“No!”

“So, if nothing happened, why are you sorry?”

Yura now noticed Mi Hee’s following words and expression. Mi Hee hadn’t asked out of real suspicion. She meant that she believed Yura completely, so why couldn’t Yura believe in herself?

While her own father and mother saw their daughter as an adulteress, why didn’t Mi Hee see her that way? What was different?

Yura silently looked at Mi Hee’s face for a long time. What her expression and eyes were like, what thoughts she had while looking at her. However, since she didn’t know Mi Hee well to begin with, she had no basis to judge this.

“Are you… believing what I say?”

Mi Hee, with her kind face, smiled faintly.

“Of course. I believe my daughter-in-law, not some reporters I don’t even know.”

“Thank you. Thank you, mother.”

“Oh dear, you must have been very upset.”

Feeling an indescribable emotion welling up in her throat, Yura kept repeating “thank you”. That was all she could say right now.

She felt her eyes getting hot, but Yura bit the soft flesh inside her mouth and managed to hold back her tears. Guided by Mi Hee, she entered Hyun’s room for the first time. Mrs. Gu, who had somehow come up to the second floor, followed behind with a tray.

“Madam, here it is.”

Mi Hee sat Yura on the bed and placed the tray on a small table.

“Sweetie, drink this and rest. Don’t think about anything, just rest. Hyun said he’ll come here as soon as he’s done handling things.”

Mi Hee’s gentle voice sounded nice. The touch of her hand stroking Yura’s head was also nice, making her want to hold on and ask her not to go, like a child.

“If you need anything, just say so.”

“Yes, mother.”

However, Yura wasn’t an affectionate person, and even that felt like greed, so she just bowed her head to Mi Hee as she left.

Yura carefully took in the unfamiliar sight of Hyun’s room.

When she first visited Hyun’s house for the contract, she thought it was a very Baek Hyun-like space.

Not flashy, but neatly organized without any unnecessary things, it had a strong cold feeling. In contrast, Baek Hyun’s room at his family home was incredibly warm.

The overall white and natural wood decor, with potted plants and paintings scattered throughout, and even family photos that seemed really out of place for him. This space was probably completed by Mi Hee’s hand.

In this space where Mi Hee’s tendencies and traces of lavish love were clearly evident, Yura realized one thing.

‘I’m insanely envious of Baek Hyun.’

She was envious. She was envious of Baek Hyun enough to dwell on it over and over.

“Ha, it’s the first time I’ve ever been envious of Baek Hyun.”

Just as her nose was about to sting, her phone in her bag vibrated softly. Hoping it might be a message from Hyun, she quickly checked, but it wasn’t particularly welcome.

[We can’t take strong action at the company right now. The situation isn’t good because you’re a contracted artist. We’re looking for a way, so don’t worry too much. Eun Su is very worried. It’s shameless of me, but please contact Eun Su.]

Baek Jin Ho’s message belatedly reminded Yura of the company.

“Ah, the company.”

Although she hadn’t contacted them, there must have already been quite a commotion.

Still feeling she should at least convey her apologies, she fiddled with her phone, but the most important part of Baek Jin Ho’s lengthy message caught her eye. Though the preamble was long, what he wanted to say was in the very last sentence.

“Damn Baek Jin Ho, if it weren’t for Eun Su unnie, you’d really have gotten hit by me. Tsk.”

The two had suffered emotionally due to a miscarriage scare in early pregnancy. Yura was about to call but worried her voice might choke up at Eun Su’s voice, so she sent a short message saying she was fine instead.

After sending the message to Eun Su, Yura carefully contacted Manager Jung.

“It’s me, Manager Jung.”

−Team Leader! Are you alright?

“I’m sorry. Because of me…”

−No need. You don’t have to apologize. Right now, the company is deliberating on how to respond.

Having already received a message from Jin Ho, Yura didn’t probe Manager Jung about the situation. Right now, she just wanted to proclaim her innocence. The truth that some believe and some don’t.

On the other hand, she was also afraid to bring it up. What if Manager Jung thought the same as Yura’s parents?

So even if she didn’t say it outright, wouldn’t he consider her an adulteress? But Yura cleared her throat, trying to be confident.

“It’s false reporting. It will be clarified soon.”

−Public opinion isn’t good, but I believe you’ll resolve it well, Team Leader.

“I see. Thank you and I’m sorry.”

Yura wasn’t greatly swayed by Manager Jung’s words. Although he neither affirmed nor denied Yura’s claim that it was false reporting, she was grateful just for him believing that she would resolve it well.

She was relieved that at least it wasn’t the same view as her parents.

“Right, it’s natural from their perspective. They’re all strangers anyway, who would they believe.”

She wanted to respect their choice to remain neutral. They were good work colleagues and had shared joys and sorrows for five years, but the fact was they were still strangers.

So there was no need to feel hurt that they weren’t on her side. It was enough to be grateful that they didn’t firmly believe that article.

Yura held her phone in her hand, unable to let go. She was waiting for a contact to come any moment now, but there was still no news from Hyun.

“Still nothing.”

Thinking she wanted to talk to anyone, Yura scrolled through her phone contacts. However, the contacts were all work-related people and family.

She let out a hollow laugh at the fact that she didn’t have a single friend, male or female.

She had made quite a few friends in college, but when they found out she was the daughter of the Jinhua Group, most of their attitudes changed.

That difference was so disgusting that Yura intentionally avoided contact with them. As months passed like that, by the time she started working, she wasn’t in contact with anyone.

“Well, I’ve lived a wasted life. How come I don’t have a single friend to confide in?”

Just as bitterness was spreading thickly, a contact came from an unexpected person.

“Hm? Song Min Woo?”

Yura debated whether to answer or not, then decided to take the call thinking it might be about work.

“Yes, this is Jin Yura.”

−Your voice sounds cheerful. This is Song Min Woo.

“Ah.”

Seeing him comment on her voice condition right off the bat, she could tell he had already seen the article. Unable to give a suitable answer, Yura bit her lip.

−The media is in an uproar.

They weren’t under contract with Song Min Woo yet, so it would be troublesome if this issue derailed the contract. As Yura became anxious, appropriate words wouldn’t come to her mind and she stammered.

“That, those articles. I mean…”

−I know they’re false.

“What?”

Yura’s eyes widened at the unhesitating answer. She wondered why this man, who was neither family nor colleague, had such confidence in her.

−It wasn’t a long time, but at least the Team Leader Jin I saw doesn’t seem like someone who would do such a thing.

She had only met Song Min Woo twice. It was a bit disconcerting that he believed in her sincerity.

On the other hand, having realized how much the trust of others brings peace of mind, like her in-laws’ belief, she was just grateful for Min Woo’s words, whether they were sincere or not.

“…Thank you, even if it’s just empty words.”

−They’re not empty words. I have a very good eye for people.

Though his voice contained laughter, she could feel sufficiently that it was neither a joke nor just casual banter.

“Thank you. But why did you contact me? Is it because of the article, about the contract…”

−No. We will proceed with the contract as planned. I just… wondered if you were alright, so I called.

Yura recalled Song Min Woo’s appearance from their second meeting. Even then, she had felt he was a very polite and upright person. Thinking that impression wasn’t wrong, her heart inexplicably swelled.

“Thank you for your concern. I’m fine.”

−I see, that’s good. I’ll contact you again soon.

“Yes.”

After ending the call, Yura felt her cluttered and troubled mind had lightened considerably.

“Even this bit of chat makes me feel better. Is it because it’s someone who believes me?”

Having thought she could live well without friends all this time, Yura regretted it after going through this incident. She realized belatedly how precious it is to have someone to talk to openly, and bitterness spread.