Young In took off her shoes, remembering Hae Yoon who had been talking about Sung Hyuk throughout dinner. She had heard so much that the word “Representative” still lingered in her ears.

Suddenly, the words she had heard from him this morning flashed through her mind.

“Tell them yourself before they find out through someone else.”

Thinking it would be good to just say it today and be done with it, she entered the living room and saw a welcome face. Of course, she had no expectation that the other person would be happy to see her.

“Hey, you stayed out last night, didn’t you?”

Ah Rim, sitting on the sofa, shot a cold question and a sharp glare simultaneously.

“I had some work to do.”

“Staying out without any contact.”

“I’ll let you know next time.”

“Don’t stay out at all.”

“You know how unpredictable this job can be.”

Although things had become much more flexible than before, there were still times when she had to rush down to local filming locations or work overnight at the company. Even if she promised never to stay out like last night again, it was unreasonable to promise never to stay out at all.

“What great work are you doing, showing off like that?”

The most common thing Young In had heard from her family since becoming a manager was that they had spent a lot of money to send her to a good university, only for her to end up serving celebrities.

“I’m not showing off, I’m just explaining the nature of my work.”

“Behave properly so people don’t say you weren’t raised well. Don’t make our parents look bad.”

“Okay.”

Young In responded in a nonchalant tone.

It wasn’t particularly surprising as she heard it periodically. Only on days like today, her desire to live independently grew stronger.

The reason Young In lived in this house, treated like an outcast, was because of Chairman Chae, who didn’t allow independence except through marriage. As for independence, Beom Jun and Ah Rim were in the same situation.

Chairman Chae and Mrs. Kwak were a couple who practiced noblesse oblige publicly. As part of fulfilling their moral obligations, they promoted adoption and, regardless of Young In’s wishes, spread the fact that she was an adopted child everywhere.

Unlike how the couple boasted about giving birth to their youngest daughter with their heart and raising her with love, what Young In actually received from her adoptive parents was only discrimination and abuse.

As repayment for being fed, sheltered, and educated, she never spoke to anyone about her adoptive parents’ two-faced nature. She hadn’t even told Sung Hyuk about it herself.

“Elder sister, I changed jobs.”

Telling her sister would be enough, as it would reach her brother’s ears, and telling her brother would reach her sister’s ears.

“Changed jobs? Where to?”

Ah Rim’s head tilted in confusion at the sudden change of topic.

“SL Entertainment.”

“What? SL?”

“Hyesung was absorbed and merged into SL Entertainment. I’ve been going to SL since yesterday. But the CEO of SL Entertainment is Sung Hyuk.”

“What are you saying? Why would Sung Hyuk go to SL? He said he was going to the Management Planning Division. You heard it too.”

Just then, Beom Jun appeared, stumbling. His face was red as if he had been drinking, and his tie was half-loosened.

As soon as Ah Rim saw him, she asked urgently.

“Elder brother, is it true?”

“What is.”

His furrowed brow conveyed that he was too tired to be bothered.

“That Sung Hyuk didn’t go to the Management Planning Division.”

“What are you talking about.”

“They say he went to SL Entertainment?”

“Who said that?”

“She did.”

Beom Jun’s gaze followed Ah Rim’s pointing finger. Only then did he notice Young In’s presence.

“What are you saying?”

“Because Hyesung was absorbed and merged into SL Entertainment, I started going to SL since yesterday. But Sung Hyuk turned out to be the CEO of SL Entertainment.”

Young In repeated the same words like a parrot.

“Why did Sung Hyuk go there?”

“Why are you asking me? Ask him yourself.”

Beom Jun immediately pulled out his mobile phone and called Sung Hyuk.

“He hasn’t been answering calls or calling back for a few days, what’s going on…”

As he was grumbling, the call connected.

“Hey, man.”

Ah Rim jumped up and ran to Beom Jun, pressing her ear to his mobile phone. She wanted to hear what Sung Hyuk was saying with her own ears.

-I’m busy. Keep it brief.

No matter how hard he tried to shake her off, she stubbornly clung on and wouldn’t let go. Beom Jun resignedly pressed the speaker button. Then, glaring at Ah Rim who took a step back, he spoke into the phone.

“Is it true you went to SL Entertainment?”

-Yes.

“Why so suddenly?”

-Because I realized what I want.

“Did you suddenly become interested in the management business?”

-No, something else.

“Ah, then the content business?”

-I don’t have time to play twenty questions with you. If you’re done, hang up.

Beom Jun had no idea that what Cha Sung Hyuk wanted was a person, and that person was Chae Young In.

Only Young In, who was hearing everything Sung Hyuk was saying thanks to Ah Rim, was biting her lip tightly.

“You could have let me know in advance. It’s disappointing to hear it from someone else.”

-Who did you hear it from?

“Young In.”

-Ah, we absorbed and merged several substantial management companies, including the one Young In worked for. I’ve been busy grasping the work, so I didn’t have time to contact you. Do I need to say anything else?

“No, that’s fine. Take care.”

Beom Jun quickly hung up, afraid of upsetting Sung Hyuk, and then shuffled off to his room.

“Hey.”

Young In, who had been quietly taking steps towards her room, stopped and turned her head. A venomous gaze was fixed on her.

“You, if you flirt with Sung Hyuk, I won’t let you off. I’ll kill you.”

“That won’t happen.”

“Get lost.”

Ah Rim glared daggers at Young In as she silently walked towards the stairs.

Ah Rim disliked everything about Chae Young In, but what she hated most was her calm expression and quiet eyes. Listening to her composed tone made Ah Rim feel vulgar herself, which made her even angrier.

She remembered that a few months ago, during a weekend family meal, their father had asked Young In about her company’s recent situation. At that time, Young In had said that the company might be sold.

The sale of Hyesung had been in progress for at least several months, and SL hadn’t just purchased Hyesung, so there was nothing strange about it.

But why did it feel so unsettling?

Young In showered and lay down in bed. It was about 30 minutes after she had come up to the second floor.

Just as she picked up her phone to set the alarm, it started vibrating. After staring at the screen for a while, Young In finally answered the call.

“Yes.”

-Everything okay?

A voice that never got tiresome no matter how many times she heard it filled her ears.

“Yes, it is.”

-I thought you might be with Beom Jun, so I couldn’t call right away.

When she closed her eyes, his voice seemed to sound even clearer.

-Are you alone?

“I was about to sleep.”

-I think I’ll have to work all night today, can’t you share some of my pain?

Young In opened her eyes slightly, wondering what he was going to say next.

“How?”

-By keep talking to me while I work.

“I don’t want to.”

-How cold. Would it hurt to at least pretend to agree?

“What’s the point of making an obvious lie?”

-It wouldn’t have been obvious. Even if you had agreed to share my pain, I was going to tell you to sleep.

“……”

While Young In smiled silently, Sung Hyuk continued speaking.

-I won’t make you share my pain under any circumstances. Sharing joy, maybe.

Even though she wasn’t particularly emotional, her nose suddenly stung.

“I should go to sleep now.”

-Sweet dreams. I’d appreciate it if you dream of me.

“I can’t dream of you in case it’s a nightmare.”

-It won’t be a nightmare. Unless it’s a very erotic dream.

“Hang up.”

Young In abruptly ended the call.

“Why has he become so smooth-talking…”

As she grumbled while setting the alarm, a faint smile played on Young In’s lips.

It was a night where his existence provided quite a bit of comfort.

At the same time the two were on the call.

Ah Rim, who had been chewing her lips and pondering something, rushed to the master bedroom and flung the door open.

“Mother!”

Mrs. Kwak, who had been lying in bed watching a drama, slowly sat up. Chairman Chae hadn’t returned from work yet.

“Why are you interrupting while I’m watching TV?”

Ah Rim strode to the bed, sat down, and turned off the TV. Then she got to the point.

“I want to marry Sung Hyuk.”

Mrs. Kwak’s eyes widened in shock.

“Marriage? Did Sung Hyuk propose? Are you two dating?”

“I’m not saying Sung Hyuk proposed, I’m saying I want to marry him. Why can’t you understand, it’s so frustrating.”

“You’re not even dating?”

“No! We’re not!”

After bursting out in anger for a moment, Ah Rim’s eyes welled up with tears.

“Do something about it, Mother.”

“What do you want me to do?”

“I heard Sung Hyuk’s mother is looking for a woman to marry him off to. You said so yourself.”

“That’s what I heard from Mrs. Jin.”

“Then try to push me forward somehow.”

“…You?”

“Why? Is that not possible?”

“I’m not sure if that family will find you satisfactory…”

“Is that something a mother should say to her daughter?”

Ah Rim’s sharply raised eyebrows slowly lowered, and she began to shed thick tears.

“How could you… How could Mother do this…”

Mrs. Kwak panicked and pleaded in front of her sobbing daughter.

“Alright. I’m sorry. Don’t cry. I’ll meet with Mrs. Jin once.”

“Really…?”

As always, it was the same result.

Chairman Chae and Mrs. Kwak had never won against their daughter who would cry and throw tantrums all day if things didn’t go her way since she was young. She would often cry until she fainted if they didn’t give her what she wanted, so they had no choice but to give in eventually.

Thanks to this, Ah Rim could get everything she wanted. She had no doubt it would be the same this time.

I should have done this earlier.

A satisfied smile appeared and disappeared on Ah Rim’s face.