They were talking about Hyukju’s mother passing away.
In truth, Eunsoo didn’t know much about it. She had only heard the story of her passing from cancer. Sometimes, she wondered what the woman who gave birth to Hyukju looked like.
However, there was no picture of Hyukju’s mother anywhere in the house.
Everyone in the family must have had deep wounds, Eunsoo guessed. That’s why they probably pushed her away, knowing about her medical history.
“They say Chairman watched his mother’s death when he was young. Because of that memory, he probably wanted to make it easier for his mother-in-law’s last moments.”
Eunsoo nodded calmly.
She had never harbored resentment towards Hyukju regarding her mother’s final moments. Unlike her emotional self, Hyukju would have made the most rational and composed decisions in that situation.
Watching Eunsoo lost in thought, Sangjudaek got up and filled the electric kettle with water.
As the water boiled, steam rose from the spout of the electric kettle, white and wispy, like smoke. It reminded her of the humidifier that had never stopped emitting steam in her mother’s hospital room. Memories of refilling the humidifier’s water and cleaning its container every day came flooding back.
Perhaps Sangjudaek was having similar thoughts, as the kitchen fell into silence.
After switching off the kettle, Sangjudaek poured Rooibos tea in front of Eunsoo.
“Chairman used to visit the hospital room often.”
“…He did?”
“Yes. He used to drop by before going to work, and according to the night nurse, he often visited after working late.”
It was a fact Eunsoo had only recently learned.
She had known that he occasionally visited the hospital, and that too, only to receive updates on her mother’s condition through the attending physician.
During the two years she had spent with Hyukju, she had thought she knew almost everything about him. But now, Eunsoo realized that her assumption had been arrogant.
There was more she didn’t know than what she did.
His mother’s situation had been like that, and the events during their two years as a couple were no different.
Indescribable emotions surged within her chest.
“That day.”
Sangjoo cleared her throat, her lips trembling briefly.
“She was holding onto her… even after she passed away.”
“…”
“The person who had already left… for a long time.”
Eunsoo wrapped her face in her hands. When she rushed into the hospital room, her mother had already closed her eyes.
But her mother’s body had still been warm.
As she entered the room, she vividly remembered the broad back of Hyukju, who had been holding her mother.
He had been doing that, guarding her mother’s warmth, until she arrived.
Her breath caught in her throat.
I worried about myself for not being able to protect my mom’s last moments and for not being able to hold her cold body…
Eunsoo covered her face with both hands, tears flowing endlessly. Sangjoo approached her, her shoulders shaking with sobs.
Sangjoo embraced the sobbing Eunsoo.
“So, please don’t blame yourself too much.”
Sobbing…
Tears fell like summer rain.
Eunsoo cried sorrowfully for a long time.
Manager Song greeted Hyukju, who had arrived at the airport, with a nod.
“Have you arrived?”
“I kept changing the schedule, I’m sorry.”
“… ”
Hyukju’s forehead twitched as he looked at the hesitating Manager Song. When he sent a questioning look as if to ask why there was no response, Manager Song shrugged and said,
“It seems like it’s the first time you’ve said sorry.”
“Is that so?”
“You don’t have to apologize. It’s something I should naturally do.”
Manager Song smiled faintly.
Now, it felt like life was returning to his face. It was as if the sun was slowly breaking through the clouds on his previously shadowed face.
Manager Song was pleased with Hyukju’s change and followed behind him with lighter steps than ever before.
Seated in the car, Hyukju quickly scanned a few documents assigned to him. Manager Song, who observed him through the rearview mirror, moved his lips as Hyukju put down the documents.
“The flower shop is still running.”
Upon hearing about Seoyeonji, Hyukju rubbed his forehead with his hand.
He had been told to close the store in his own building but appeared to have ignored that and was continuing to crumple up the papers. Amidst his preoccupation with Eunsu’s affairs, he hadn’t managed to tidy up any of the surrounding matters.
“Director Moon Young Ran also paid a visit.”
“That’s right.”
“Recently, I’ve been creating and uploading videos under the name ‘Flower Class.'”
“Ha…”
Hyukju’s sigh quickly turned into a bitter chuckle.
A few years ago, before she left for Canada, she was quite well-known on social media. She had gained fame by posting pictures of luxury items and stays in top-tier hotel rooms.
Such displays of vanity didn’t sit well with Hyukju. Whether she noticed his discomfort or not, Seoyeonji closed her social media account not long after.
When he searched, it was the same account as back then.
Under the most recently uploaded video, there were quite a few comments. Seoyeonji had replied to each one.
“Why is she suddenly doing this?”
“Maybe she’s doing it to make money.”
“I don’t think it’s just about money.”
“Could there be another purpose?”
“I wonder what her aunt said when she visited. Moreover, it was a time when her aunt was worried that Eunsoo and I might go astray. So, she probably said something to Seoyeonji like ‘Leave Korea.'”
At Hyukju’s explanation, Director Song nodded.
However, he still didn’t fully understand.
What does the story about leaving Korea have to do with SNS? Director Song, deep in thought, suddenly widened his eyes with a thought.
“She must have been trying to make her presence known.”
“I couldn’t touch SNS.”
“It’s a kind of self-defense mechanism. Director Moon could threaten to send her somewhere forcibly or reveal the truth on SNS…”
“That’s possible.”
Hyukju let out a sigh.
A little later, the car driven by Director Song stopped on the road where Seoyeonji’s flower shop was located.
“How long do you think it’ll take?”
“Not long.”
As he got out of the back seat, Hyukju spoke with a firm voice.
It was right to tidy up quickly and simply. There was no good way to end things, especially between people.
Hyukju’s eyes narrowed as he stood in front of Seoyeonji’s flower shop.
Through the window, he could see Seoyeonji moving busily. The shadow of regret stuck to him like it did in the past.
He should have cut ties with the past a long time ago.
Memories of days when he lived immersed in the past, stained heavily with guilt towards his mother, came flooding back.
In living like that, he had ruined the present he shared with Eunsu and the future they could have had.
To avoid further damage, he had to cut ties properly.
Hyukju pulled the store’s door open.
“Oppa?”
Surprised to see him, Seoyeonji approached with a bright smile.
Top Celebrity Younger Brother Bears Her Child (Female-dominant)
One-line summary: Forced to live stream romance with a top celebrity in a female-dominant world.
Yan Jin transmigrated into a brothel, with a fellow transmigrated junior beside her.
Hearing the obscene words coming from outside, the unfortunate junior covered his ears tightly, his cheeks flushed red, and whispered to comfort her, “Don’t worry, I will definitely help you escape.”
“Don’t worry, I will definitely defend your chastity.” Yan Jin looked at the flawless and delicate features of the unfortunate junior and gently comforted, “Because we have transmigrated into a female-dominant world.”
※※※
Top celebrity Yu Shu suddenly fell into a coma during a concert.
Research scientist Yan Jin fainted in the lab after working overtime.
Two people with no connection were rushed to the same hospital.
Three days later, neither of them had woken up.
Suddenly, the entire nation discovered that a live streaming app had been forcibly installed on their phones.
Upon opening it, they heard the two discussing how to escape from the brothel.
The entire internet was in an uproar.
After the two successfully escaped from the brothel, Yu Shu’s fan group rushed to make a banner and sent it to the hospital overnight.
“Big sister bravely took action to defend the chastity of our idol!”
※※※
When Yu Shu was diagnosed with pregnancy, Yan Jin stared at his belly for a long time.
Covering his stomach, he muttered gloomily, “If you don’t like it, I’ll go get an abortion.”
“It’s not that I don’t like it.” Yan Jin hugged Yu Shu and said softly, “I just feel like I’m not human.”
Yu Shu comforted Yan Jin, “I was already an adult when we got together.”
Yan Jin hesitated, “But you won’t be of legal marriageable age even after giving birth to the child.”
At the same time, a flood of bullet comments appeared in the live streaming room that the two couldn’t see.
[Although it’s inappropriate, I also want a young and handsome boyfriend to have my child.]
①Male pregnancy (highlighted)
The female lead is five years older than the male lead, and the male lead is already an adult when he appears.
