Yura, who had returned to her in-laws’ house, was puzzled by Lee Hyun’s inner thoughts for not choosing divorce despite such an incident occurring. One way or another, divorce would eventually happen, so why postpone it?

Could it be that he’s thinking of demanding a divorce in 2 years, using this incident as grounds? As it was a relationship with a predetermined end, she felt bitter about constantly connecting all actions to divorce.

Yura recalled Lee Hyun’s leisurely smile. Though he was cold to the point of cruelty when dealing with others, he was always relaxed and gentle with her.

It was a different side from when she saw him just as her elder brother’s friend. And that side always made Yura’s heart skip a beat.

Lee Hyun’s touch, especially tender today, and his breath exploring her lips with unusual persistence, refused to fade from memory.

Moreover, being in his bedroom seemed to intensify his lingering scent, even creating the illusion that she was still in his arms.

Yura felt a twinge in her heart, wondering how she had fallen so deeply for Lee Hyun. Would she be able to cope well after parting with him? Could she return to the time before him? She already feared the time when she would be left alone.

Perhaps that’s why. The fact that she could still be by Lee Hyun’s side felt somewhat fortunate. She was relieved to be able to continue this happiness a little longer.

As Yura gently stroked the spot where Lee Hyun had lain, her phone rang.

Hurriedly checking the screen in case it was Lee Hyun, she was disappointed to see it was Song Min Woo.

“Hello, this is Jin Yura.”

−This is Song Min Woo.

“Yes.”

−I saw the article. Your husband seems quite capable.

Yura was impressed by Min Woo’s perceptiveness. When the article came out, everyone assumed it was from CH, but due to the lack of any explanation, they didn’t jump to conclusions. They just kept the possibility in mind as reporters swarmed.

But Song Min Woo’s voice was full of confidence. That made her feel somewhat uneasy. Did Song Min Woo also know all that information? Was that why he had behaved so rudely towards Oh Se Jin?

Yura tried to ignore the questions in her mind, feeling she might be overreacting.

“Thank you.”

−You must feel relieved now.

“There are still issues to resolve though.”

−Let me know if you need any help. I’m always ready to assist.

“I appreciate just your words.”

The unexplained kindness wasn’t particularly welcome. It seemed too unclear to be just a desire to strengthen their relationship.

In the relationship between Songlim Art Center and A&J Management, Songlim was naturally the needier party.

It should be Yura from Songlim offering favors, not Song Min Woo. She wondered if she was being too sensitive due to recent events, but it never hurt to be cautious.

−Will you be taking time off work for a while?

“No, I’ll be back to work as usual from tomorrow.”

−Then, when would be a good time to visit? We need to sign the contract.

At Song Min Woo’s words, Yura recalled that whether it was kindness or not wasn’t the important thing. With Oh Se Jin’s situation shaky, the second half performance schedule was likely to fall through.

Baek Jin Ho had said he would terminate the contract regardless of any penalties. In this situation, the contract with A&J Management was quite important.

They needed to replace the soon-to-be-vacant second half performance slot with Yoon Ga Eun. Of course, that was only possible if the timing worked out.

So they needed to look for other artists as well, just in case. Yura put on her business mindset and raised her voice slightly.

“You’re welcome anytime.”

−Ha ha, I’m glad to hear you say that.

“We’ll do our best to ensure you don’t regret choosing Songlim despite this commotion.”

−I trust in Team Leader Jin’s abilities.

“Please contact me when you’re available.”

−Alright, let’s do that.

“I’ll see you again soon.”

The long-awaited contract was proceeding smoothly. Of course, all contracts are only complete when stamped, but this was a good flow so far.

Yura thought that since Oh Se Jin would be out, Yoon Ga Eun alone wouldn’t be enough for the second half performances, so she’d look for other artists as soon as she got to work. With that in mind, she headed to the bathroom.

With the room phone and both Se Jin and Jin Woo’s cell phones ringing incessantly, all communication lines were blocked.

The hotel was instructed not to connect any calls to the room phone, and all cell phones were turned off. They only turned them on when making calls, but each time, the ringing sounds made Se Jin extremely agitated.

“Turn off the phone!”

They had briefly turned it on to repeatedly call Hye Rim, who wasn’t responding. Jin Woo hurriedly pressed the power button on his phone at Se Jin’s shout.

Ding dong.

For a moment, both of them froze. Jin Woo even held his breath. He felt his heart shrink at the thought that now they were even coming to the room.

They weren’t some vicious loan sharks, but the reporters who had been smiling and requesting interviews now seemed to be chasing after them like debt collectors. Jin Woo was terrified by this shocking experience he had never had before.

“Hey, hey! Go check. It might be reporters. Just say we’re not here, no matter what. Quick!”

“Ah, yes. Yes.”

Preparing for any situation, Jin Woo lowered his voice and reluctantly stood at the entrance. Taking a deep breath, he carefully spoke towards the door.

“Who… is it?”

“It’s me. Open the door.”

Hearing the cynical voice, Jin Woo was so moved he felt choked up.

“Di, Director!”

“What?”

Surprised by the sound, Se Jin also jumped up from his seat and looked towards the entrance. As Jin Woo hastily opened the door, Joo Hye Rim, neatly dressed, entered with an indifferent expression.

“Director!”

“Why are you making such a fuss?”

Unlike Jin Woo’s excited response, Se Jin unleashed sharp resentment towards Hye Rim as soon as the door closed.

“You, what kind of woman are you! Do you know what kind of mess I’m in right now?”

“I know. I know very well.”

Despite Se Jin’s resentment, Hye Rim approached without changing her expression. She was always good at hiding her emotions, but today Se Jin found her demeanor particularly ominous.

Se Jin and Hye Rim were the same age, and due to frequent meetings to clean up Se Jin’s various incidents, they had been interacting like friends outside of work for some time now.

“Quickly stop the articles. Say we’ll sue those who gave testimony.”

“On what grounds will you sue?”

“What?”

“What grounds do you have to sue when they didn’t lie?”

Ominous premonitions were never wrong. The usually bold and carefree personality that always reassured him not to worry had now turned into a knife aimed at Se Jin. Hye Rim’s emotionless gaze felt ominous and unpleasant.

With staff sexual harassment allegations and supporting victim testimonies adding to the mix, all sorts of speculations were rampant, and comments filled with criticism and mockery were overflowing.

The only person who could resolve this mess was Joo Hye Rim. Since she was connected to the higher-ups who supported him, if she just put in a word, everything could be reset to square one.

“You can do it.”

“Where did you hear my words?”

The desperate plea crumbled at Hye Rim’s indifferent response.

“I told you there would be no more covering up, so watch your behavior, didn’t I?”

Se Jin’s mind went blank at her words, tossed out as if annoyed. If Joo Hye Rim didn’t move, no one would help him.

Now, how should he get out of this? It seemed like if he could just get through this once, but he couldn’t think of any way.

Then, he remembered one fact he had forgotten. Se Jin quickly erased his bewilderment and snapped back.

“I, I’m still with IF. You have a duty to protect your agency’s artist!”

“Ah right, that’s true.”

Whatever the situation, the contract with IF hadn’t ended yet. Se Jin felt relieved at the thought that this was the true hidden card, as Hye Rim furrowed her brow and clicked her tongue.

Se Jin spoke condescendingly, as if granting a favor.

“I’ll let it slide this time, so hurry up and clean up these articles.”

Se Jin’s behavior, not knowing his place, was quite a sight. Deaf to warnings, he recklessly caused trouble despite Hye Rim’s cautions. He must have been quite impatient.

The crumbs he thought were in his hands turned out to be in someone else’s, so he must be fuming. Or perhaps he had been trapped in his own delusions from the start. The psychiatric records in the article weren’t lies. Se Jin was prone to exaggeration to the point of suspected pathological lying.

As Hye Rim was contemplating how to smack this hopeless person upside the head, an unexpected order came along.

“And find out who did this. I won’t let them off easy.”

This was really too much, trying to use Hye Rim like his own lackey. Though she had cleaned up Se Jin’s messes for years while hanging out together, that was only because she highly valued Se Jin’s abilities, nothing more.

Now that those abilities were in doubt, Se Jin should be more cautious, but lacking both tact and thought, he remained trapped in the same logic as always. Seemingly beyond hope of maturing or becoming human, Se Jin pointed to an unexpected figure.

“Ah, start with CH’s Baek Lee Hyun. It must be that bastard’s doing.”

‘Oh, your instincts are good at times like this.’

Though he seemed to have gained some awareness, he had clearly lost his sense of fear. Hye Rim decided to probe Se Jin’s true thoughts while on the subject.

“Before that, what were you thinking putting out an article like that?”

“What do you mean what was I thinking, I just wanted to find my woman. What’s wrong with that?”

My woman, huh. Did Jin Yura really still love Oh Se Jin? That was the most fundamental question, and the start of this whole mess. Se Jin’s ambition came to mind, confidently declaring he would start over because she still loved him.

But why did Jin Yura marry Baek Fox as soon as Oh Se Jin appeared? Why did Baek Fox insist on going through with this marriage?

Even if not Jin Yura, at least Baek Fox seemed to have his own sincerity. Whether it was passionate love or simple possessiveness, that is.

“Wasn’t that woman supposed to love you?”

“She does love me. I’m the only one Jin Yura loves. It’s just that Baek Lee Hyun interfered and caused some complications.”

Hye Rim felt sorry, even pitiful, for Se Jin’s stubbornness. She asked again, incredulous at what basis he had for his insistence.

“Are you saying she would have loved you if Baek Lee Hyun wasn’t there?”

“She does love me! She’s just denying it because of Baek Lee Hyun!”

At the desperate outburst, Joo Hye Rim made her final judgment of Oh Se Jin in one sentence.

‘He’s completely lost it.’

Oh Se Jin was trapped in delusions, just like his psychiatric records. He was convinced that Jin Yura’s only love was himself, and everything else was just lies. It was pathetic, not knowing where this delusion started.

She felt pathetic herself for expecting potential in such a Se Jin. If there had been even a tiny possibility, she would have tried to help a little, but even that sympathy had now disappeared.

“Alright. Don’t do anything stupid while I handle this. Just focus on practicing.”

Hye Rim gave Se Jin firm instructions and turned to leave. She added to Jin Woo, who followed, to keep a close eye on him.