“What, what are you saying?”
“I hoped it wouldn’t be resolved, but you resolved it again. Director Jo is amazing. Anyway.”
Continuing to mumble something low, Taeseok suddenly raised his head. When his cold pupils and eyes met hers, Ji Hyunjeong felt a chill down her spine for an inexplicable reason.
“I’m going to start over with Yeoreum. Let’s not block rumors from now on.”
Although his lips were smiling, his gaze became unexpectedly cold.
“The accident with that girl yesterday.”
“…”
“At that moment, I realized. I still like her. We’re going to meet again. I’d rather not stop the dating rumors. I prefer it that way.”
“Taeseok…”
“Yeah, why?”
Taeseok lowered his gaze, casually brushing off his clothes as he replied. “Even if it’s just a dating rumor, I want to meet her again. I miss her so much.”
“Why did you call me?”
The self-talk already heard by Ji Hyunjeong’s ears created an overwhelmingly miserable feeling.
“A woman who filed taxes, received money. Have you forgotten about that?”
The restless touch of her red fingernails scratching the tips of her fingers.
“Oh, that money. Noona.”
While Taeseok silently stared at Ji Hyunjeong, he opened his mouth significantly.
“Why did Yeoreum need money? Did she really spend that money?”
Watching Ji Hyunjeong’s trembling fingertips, Taeseok let out a sigh mixed with self-mockery. He had wondered, and as expected, he was right. Ji Hyunjeong trembled significantly when the topics of ‘Choi Yeoreum’ and ‘money’ came up.
“It’s not like she’s from a financially struggling family that urgently needs that amount of money. Strange.”
“Well, what’s strange about it? Why bring it up now?”
Ji Hyunjeong mumbled vaguely, trying to move on.
“Leaving that aside, among the scenarios you received, there was a project you wanted to showcase. What was it?”
“If I were Choi Yeoreum.”
Taeseok interjected, cutting off the conversation without giving her a chance to continue.
“It would have been around 5 billion.”
“!”
“So that I could buy a small building somewhere. Meeting Seo Taeseok for a year would only bring in about 500 million. Too easy, isn’t it?”
“I don’t know. I haven’t thought about it.”
Avoiding Taeseok’s gaze, Ji Hyunjeong responded.
“I’m only worth 500 million? It subtly hurts my pride.”
“For, for some reason!”
Ji Hyunjeong finally stood up and began rummaging through piles of scripts on her desk. Taeseok coldly watched her from behind.
“I’m going to ask Yeoreum directly.”
Ji Hyunjeong’s busy hands froze for a few seconds.
“5 billion. Exactly where did she spend it? Perhaps, was it not enough?”
“…”
“If it’s not enough, I can give more.”
Ji Hyunjeong held a bundle of papers and returned to the sofa, saying, “It’s all in the past now! Don’t bring up such trivial matters now. Don’t do that. It’s unlike you.”
“As a parting gift, I took 5 billion. If I meet her again, should I promise 50 billion?”
Taeseok said with a somewhat cheerful face, casually. In contrast, Ji Hyunjeong’s face contorted messily.
“Noona, don’t put on an act. You look old because of the wrinkles.”
Taeseok spoke cruel words with an affectionate tone and smiled.
“If you give me that much, I’ll meet her again. If you’re in a hurry, add another 10 billion there. She likes money. If you say you’ll give money, she’ll look at me again.”
“No, what are you saying…”
“I came to say this. Don’t try to salvage any dating rumors or scandals in the future.”
Taeseok smiled and stood up.
“I should go. Time has flown by. I have another overnight shoot.”
Blocking Ji Hyunjeong’s rebuttal, he walked towards the entrance.
“Noona, but we agreed to have a meal together. We keep talking about it but keep missing each other. Let’s go to a nice place and have a real meal. I’ll contact you. I’m leaving.”
Having successfully overturned Ji Hyunjeong’s arguments with a few words, Taeseok left the office with a relaxed smile.
The sound of tossing piles of documents behind her back echoed. It was a small sound that could only be heard if you listened closely. Taeseok’s expression stiffened coldly.
Thinking briefly about how much he contributed to elevating this building, he walked through the corridor excessively lit with twinkling lights.
Ji Hyunjeong’s reasons for such actions were still unclear, but Taeseok had no intention of overlooking it anymore. Depending on Seo Taeseok, she could lose both wealth and honor.
Riding the shiny elevator coated in gold, Taeseok sat back in the chair as he got on the van waiting in the underground parking lot. Despite not doing much, he felt exhausted.
“It’s exhausting to act when there’s no camera around.”
“Good job.”
As Director Hong started the car, Taeseok lifted his head and called K.
“How was it? Did it go well?”
K mumbled something while chewing.
[Yeah. You did well. It’s a bit twisted, but it looks good enough.]“I left it on the table in the flowerpot. There should be a part slightly hidden by the stone.”
[For a beginner in planting cameras, you did well.]“Well, I’m good at anything.”
Director Hong, hearing Taeseok praise himself, shook his head as if in pity. Taeseok narrowed his eyes.
“Hong Minwoo. Well, I’m not just smart for a day or two.”
K shouted from the phone.
[Hey! She’s throwing away Ji Hyunjeong. What a weird woman.]He had always thought of her as calm and elegant. Taeseok covered up the self-confidence he trusted and realized how much of a mess his belief in himself was, closing his eyes slightly.
“If there’s anything unusual, let me know. Ending the call.”
After the call ended, Director Hong pointed to the shopping bag on the opposite side of Taeseok.
“Taeseok, I’m heading straight to the filming site. Miyoung bought kimbap, so eat it.”
“Got it.”
“But, are you okay with the CEO backstabbing you? Don’t step up. If needed, I’ll handle it.”
Even though they always bickered, friends were friends. Director Hong’s voice, speaking coolly, strangely comforted Taeseok. Taking a long breath, Taeseok said,
“I’ll handle it.”
“…”
“I’ll find Yeoreum back with my own strength. So it’s right for me to do it. Right now, there’s not even a moment for a needle to go in.”
The face of Yeoreum’s mocking smile briefly appeared on the glass and soon disappeared.
“Someday, she’ll smile at me again.”
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.”
