Startled by the dangerous behavior, So Yeon secretly glanced at Seo Jun, protesting with her eyes, but it was useless. The more her sparkling gaze reached him, the more tightly Seo Jun intertwined their fingers, firmly gripping So Yeon’s hand.

In fact, Seo Jun’s inner feelings were the opposite of his smiling expression as he enjoyed the photo time.

A few hours ago, from the moment Bong (manager) told him that Gu Won Hoo’s partner was Eom So Yeon, Tae Seo Jun’s mood was far from pleasant. Not only was he annoyed, but he felt as if something of his had been taken away, which grated on his nerves.

The reason he came down to the lobby after pacing in his room was because of that, but appearing in front of reporters was largely an impulsive move. He simply couldn’t stand the sight of Eom So Yeon standing intimately with another man.

So he had to do this.

Tormenting her. Making her flustered so she would only look at him.

“…!”

Please let go of my hand! Stop doing this!

Just by looking at her trembling eyes, he could almost hear her voice.

“…”

If you hate it so much, why don’t you try pulling away yourself.

The secret struggle between the two continued until they left the hotel lobby.

It’s easy to start, but difficult to start again. In the past, he had recklessly jumped in without anything to protect, but now it was different.

Didn’t he have something precious that he must protect even if it cost him his life? Even if that path was a minefield, So Yeon did not cross the line she had drawn because it was the path she had willingly chosen. No, she absolutely must not cross it.

However, in front of Tae Seo Jun, that boundary kept crumbling and blurring.

So Yeon felt like a frog in a pot as she couldn’t help but be shaken whenever he shook her.

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The nominal purpose was to promote friendship among celebrities and businesspeople from various fields.

However, the people gathered at this party each had their own distinct purposes.

The chaebol were there to build connections that would help maintain or expand their company’s capabilities, while those leading popular culture, creators and artists below them, aimed to secure investors or raise awareness.

And another group’s main interest was finding good marriage prospects for their children, with those wealthy matriarchs heating up extremely private conversations in a separate room adjoining the banquet hall.

“There’s still no news from Elstella’s president and vice president? About grandchildren, I mean.”

“Come to think of it, you’re right. The eldest son married two years ago, and the second son at the end of that year, didn’t they?”

“With no word from either daughter-in-law yet, Mrs. Cha must be quite worried.”

As Mrs. Kim pried into others’ family matters, the other ladies seated around the same table chimed in with their own comments.

Thoughtlessly, not considering how the listener might feel.

But whether innate grace becomes more solid with age, even the fine wrinkles around Cha Yeo Jin’s eyes formed from her discomfort were elegant.

“It will happen soon, I’m sure. But having children is clearly a matter for the couple, and I can’t meddle in it.”

Yeo Jin said softly, with a relaxed smile on her lips.

The noble ladies found it fascinating how Yeo Jin, nearly sixty, looked as if she had bypassed twenty years of aging. However, more enviable than her sturdy beauty was the enormous wealth of the Elstella matriarch who could have anything in the world if she so desired.

Was that envy excessive? Mrs. Kim blurted out unfounded speculation without filtering it through her brain.

“I’m only asking because it seems unusual after so much time has passed. Could it be that your two sons are in show window marriages…”

“Ahem!”

Sensing she had gone too far, Yeo Jin cleared her throat in warning, and only then did Mrs. Kim abruptly cut off her thoughtless words.

Just as the atmosphere that had been reasonably pleasant was becoming ambiguous due to Mrs. Kim, at that moment:

“Ho ho ho…”

Entering the separate room with a laugh, Mrs. Min joined the circle of ladies, bringing along her only daughter, Oh Min Jung.

“My, everyone has gathered already.”

She had briefly called her daughter away from the bustling reception hall full of young people and brought her here to introduce her to the upper-class marriage market. After all, there could be no better place to scout for capable son-in-law candidates.

“You’re late. Please, have a seat.”

As Yeo Jin graciously offered an empty seat with a gentle gesture, Mrs. Min seated Min Jung there and sat down beside her.

“By the way, I don’t see Chairman Tae.”

“He dislikes crowded places.”

It wasn’t entirely true. Tae Seok Ho disliked people who clung to him and flattered him annoyingly. Yeo Jin had flexibly rephrased that fact.

“Oh, is that so? He’s such a hard man to meet, I was hoping to greet him this time. What a shame.”

“I’m sure the husbands will interact with each other as appropriate.”

Every time Mrs. Min spoke, the luxurious jewels on her neck and ears sparkled as if declaring her own nouveau riche status.

As Yeo Jin’s gaze moved from Mrs. Min to the person beside her, Mrs. Min nudged Min Jung’s side. It meant to greet Mrs. Cha properly, as well as make a good impression.

“Hello. I’m Oh Min Jung.”

Oh Min Jung bowed her head demurely in greeting, but the flesh near her chest, precariously covered by her pink dress, was slightly visible. Yeo Jin’s expression was pristine as she responded, pretending not to have seen it.

“Yes, nice to meet you.”

“You were pretty when you were young, but you’re even prettier now.”

As Yeo Jin complimented Min Jung on her graceful upbringing, the other ladies nodded along in agreement.

But Mrs. Min, not caring about anyone else, fixed her gaze solely on Cha Yeo Jin and revealed the thoughts she had been harboring.

“I hear Chairman Tae’s third son is abroad?”

“Why do you ask?”

“Well, they say connections aren’t found but made. I was wondering if we could match him with my daughter. Since the sons running Elstella Hotel are so handsome, the third son must naturally be outstanding too, even without seeing him?”

Surprised by Mrs. Min’s statement, which went from pulling on the rope to grabbing the ox’s horns, everyone widened their eyes.

“Or rather, it wouldn’t be bad to let the kids meet first. If you could tell me where your son is staying and his phone number, we can have our Min Jung move in that direction. Anyway, that’s my intention, but what do you think, Mrs. Cha?”

“…”

Yeo Jin, her lips pressed into a straight line, stared at Mrs. Min for a long time with lowered eyes.

Who wouldn’t be curious and ask if they had a mouth? In the past, some people had brought up similar topics to Mrs. Min. But the only response they got from Yeo Jin was a low sigh and long silence.

Faced with the same reaction from Cha Yeo Jin as before, the ladies in the separate room were unsure whether to scold Mrs. Min for being reckless or applaud her for her unexpected courage. However, reading the situation was the first priority.

Just as there are ranks among the chaebol, there was also a firm hierarchy among the ladies.

As the Tae family had been renowned real estate tycoons for generations, Chairman Tae currently owns high-quality resorts all over the world in addition to the Elstella luxury hotels.

Moreover, Cha Yeo Jin’s own family had been wealthy within the four gates of Seoul for generations, making her the alpha among alphas in this gathering.

But even in an abundant life, there are bound to be worries. Chairman Tae was displeased with Seo Jun, who chose to become an actor instead of pursuing medical studies as he should have, and had initially imposed a gag order.

For that reason alone, Yeo Jin found it quite uncomfortable and unwelcome for her youngest son to be mentioned in this setting.

Not knowing these circumstances, Mrs. Min was just babbling on, but she was not only nouveau riche but also lacked refinement. And it was not Cha Yeo Jin but her sister, Cha Yeo Jeong, who couldn’t contain her anger at that attitude.

“Mrs. Min, it seems you don’t consider what’s impolite.”

“W-what do you mean by that…”

“There’s a reason my sister hasn’t said anything until now. Don’t be so uncouth, and try to read the atmosphere first.”

As Yeo Jeong spoke in a sharp tone, Mrs. Min, overcome with a sense of humiliation, scowled and her eyes darted about wildly.

“What? Are you lecturing me about refinement?”

“I’m glad. At least you understood that much.”

As soon as she finished speaking, Yeo Jeong turned her gaze elsewhere.

“You… witch!”

Enraged by the dismissive behavior, Mrs. Min grasped a water glass with trembling hands. And just as she was about to throw the water:

“Mom, stop it!”

Min Jung shouted and quickly snatched the glass from her mother.

If she hadn’t stopped her, Mrs. Min would have paid the price by never being able to set foot in high society again. Oh Min Jung had moved swiftly, anticipating that situation.

“Ha, the more I see, the more unlucky this is! How great do you think you are to act like this!”

But Mrs. Min, still fuming, alternately glared at Yeo Jin and Yeo Jeong while spewing vitriol.

“What’s lacking in my daughter! Who are you to ignore me like this!”

“I said stop it already!”

Embarrassed by her mother raising her voice and cursing, Min Jung grabbed Mrs. Min’s arm and spoke.

“I don’t want a political marriage like that! How many times do I have to tell you I’m not ready to get married yet!”

“You fool, you need to marry into a respectable family so we can hold our heads up high!”

Mrs. Min, veins popping on her forehead, continued to raise her voice without even realizing what she was saying.

“You didn’t have the brains for studying, so I tried to make you a painter but your art was worthless! Singing was hopeless too, so you ended up switching to acting. Do you know how much money I’ve spent on you so far? Why do you think I did all that!”

She says making her daughter into a celebrity was a stepping stone to survive in high society. As Mrs. Min self-destructively spoke those words, Min Jung jumped up in place.

“Mom, why are you saying things like that! Do you want to see me bite my tongue and die?”

What more words were needed in this already ruined place?

“Ugh, how embarrassing!”

Muttering angrily to herself, Min Jung ran out of the separate room alone, regardless of her mother.

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Seo Jun, who had only briefly shown his face at the party, left early.

Even Won Hoo hadn’t returned to his seat after an hour had passed.

As the shop master had said, So Yeon was the center of attention, but the longer she waited, surrounded by strangers, the more she felt like a lost child.

Meanwhile, Oh Min Jung, who had returned to the party hall from the separate room, sat down in her seat, fuming.

“Ah, I’m so irritated!”

Perhaps she needed someone to vent her anger on from what happened in the separate room. Min Jung scanned the acquaintances seated around the same table, then suddenly fixed a sharp gaze on So Yeon, pressing down hard.

“Eom So Yeon! You know that a supporting actress needs to complement well for the main character, me, to shine, right?”

“…?”

Whatever was bothering her, the edge in her voice from the start was unusual. So Yeon’s large eyes turned towards Min Jung, unable to miss how her mood was much more twisted than usual.

“Ah, really! Anyway, do a good job! I’ll be watching you closely, so get your act together!”

“I’ll do my best, as much as you’re concerned.”

As So Yeon responded appropriately as always, Min Jung curled up the corners of her mouth primly and clinked champagne glasses with her acquaintances, laughing merrily as if she had never lost her temper.

There are ranks among actors too. Veterans who have built recognition through consistent activity. Newcomers who become stars overnight. However, only a select few among them are granted longevity.

And even those who reached great heights often plummeted unexpectedly due to unforeseen storms.

This was the danger lurking behind the glamour.

But how powerful was Tae Seo Jun, who had effortlessly leaped over all of this? He truly reigned over the stars like the only sun, mastering both looks and acting skills.

Compared to him, Oh Min Jung, who had just entered the ranks of stardom, was nothing more than a fledgling. In other words, acting alongside Tae Seo Jun as a lead was a stroke of luck for Min Jung. But even that opportunity wouldn’t have existed without Eom So Yeon.

Initially, there was zero chance of Tae Seo Jun joining that drama. However, CEO Gu Won Hoo made it possible, and Seo Jun’s heart was moved because of Eom So Yeon.

Completely unaware of this context, Min Jung was busy gloating as if she had achieved it all on her own.

“The lineup is a mess, not to mention the supporting leads, but what can you do. There’s no actress more suitable to be Tae Seo Jun’s counterpart than me.”

“I heard the screenwriter is Kwon Eun Young and the director is Yoon Ji Wan?”

“With the addition of Tae Seo Jun, a guaranteed box office success, it would be stranger if it doesn’t become a massive hit!”

The acquaintances, who had already heard about “The Sun’s Owner”, added their own comments to Min Jung’s story.

“Look at you guys? Why are you leaving out me, the ratings killer?”

Her mood flipping again, Min Jung glared sideways at the quiet So Yeon and grumbled.

“…Know your place. Tsk!”

So Yeon heard Min Jung clicking her tongue, but not understanding what she meant, she simply ignored it.

“A parachute?”

“It means exactly what it sounds like. She got the supporting role thanks to the company, a parachute.”

But how could she block out the voices of people that naturally reached her open ears?

“…?”

I’m a parachute?

What does this mean?

So Yeon’s heart raced. It was a very different kind of pounding from excitement.

She thought she had won the role solely through her own strength and effort.

But if that wasn’t the case, wasn’t she ignorant and embarrassing?

Feeling the need to confirm what had happened, So Yeon thought only of meeting CEO Gu as soon as possible, even if just a second earlier.

Suppressing the emotions welling up inside her, So Yeon left the banquet hall and headed towards the bathroom. As soon as she turned the corner, she took off her shoes and held them in both hands, now barefoot. Not only did her feet hurt, but the long, flowing dress that had nearly tripped her several times was also quite cumbersome.

So Yeon, who had lifted her skirt with one hand and sat down on a bench placed in a corner, took out her phone from her clutch bag.

Just as she was about to press the call button, a message that had just arrived floated on the screen.

[Could you come to the hotel’s VIP floor now. There’s a problem and I need you here.]

It was a message from CEO Gu Won Hoo, whose whereabouts had been unclear.

She tried calling him first, but the long ring tone never connected no matter how long she waited. Puzzled and not knowing what was going on, So Yeon got on the elevator for now.

As soon as she stepped off onto the VIP floor, which she had set foot on 4 years ago, her heart felt like it dropped to her toes. Her palms were already damp with cold sweat.

Hah, to think I’d come here again…

So Yeon had an ominous feeling for some reason.