CHAPTER 7
“They say if the investor uses you, they’ll replace the entire art team, and they don’t even care if the production period gets longer.”
“It’s not even spending money recklessly, it’s madness.”
It was right for her to quit.
“It would be shameless of me to even ask if you’re doing well.”
The misfortune of that person, who still couldn’t be well, ran deep.
Nine years ago, that person saved me when I was dying, but in the end, I was the one who killed him.
His gaze, his voice—every time he looked at me, he became unhappy, and I didn’t want that man to be unhappy anymore.
“And it makes even less sense for everyone to quit because of me.”
“That just makes me uncomfortable and sorry.”
“What about your career?”
“What do you think people will say behind your back?”
“You can just call me for your next film, unni.”
Seo Jeongha fidgeted with both hands and smiled awkwardly.
“Of course I’ll call you.”
“But that’s one thing, and this is another.”
“Do you think it’s possible to work in films in Korea while avoiding Kang Taeyoon completely?”
“It looks like you came to Korea with serious determination.”
“I know.”
“I know it won’t be easy.”
“You know how enormous his influence is.”
“Not just in Korea, he’s global.”
“If you work on his film…”
“That’s why I hope you do it, Art-nim… unni.”
“I saw Director Moon’s graduation film, and he’s amazing too.”
“Don’t turn back because of me, and don’t worry about me, okay?”
“What about you?”
“What are you going to do?”
“I’m going to take a break.”
“It actually worked out well.”
“Our Yoon-ah is about to start school, and I’ve always felt sorry leaving her to aunt and Hae-in.”
“You know I was already 고민ing about it during this project.”
“I know you’re worried, unni, but I’m really okay.”
Seo Jeongha put strength into her voice.
To forget the sudden sounds rushing into her mind.
The sharp metallic noise tearing through the air, the dull grinding sound, and the screaming sirens all rushed in at once.
The bitter smell of burnt tires filled her nose, hot and suffocating.
A car that had crossed the center line at terrifying speed and another car that had been crushed from the driver’s seat to the back seat like a rag.
Through the horribly crumpled bonnet, the exposed engine burned openly.
Fragments torn from the vehicles by the massive impact were scattered everywhere.
Kang Taeyoon was there.
His younger sister, who was about to get married, was also there.
And her father, completely drunk.
Kang Taeyoon’s anger was justified.
It wasn’t excessive at all.
If her mother hadn’t been sick, she would have even handed over the deposit money for rent.
The reason she couldn’t do that was because she selfishly wanted to survive herself.
Nine years ago, she also understood why he forgot the five months on Big Island.
To live sanely, he couldn’t hold on to those memories.
“CEO Kang Taeyoon is really a good person.”
Gong Ji-seon gently nodded while holding Seo Jeongha’s hands resting on her lap.
“Yeah.”
“There must be something hard to talk about.”
“So what about you?”
“What are you going to do now?”
“You’re not quitting films just because Kang Taeyoon has it out for you, right?”
“I’m going to keep doing films.”
“You know I love films.”
“I’ll just think of it as going a little slower instead of fast.”
“Nothing has changed.”
“It’s just a matter of speed.”
“Until my next project, I can work at my aunt’s shop.”
“There’s also my friend’s workshop.”
“She’s always asked me to help.”
Seo Jeongha rubbed her forehead and stopped thinking.
That was when Woo Shin-young from the production department, who came looking for her, knocked on the already open door.
“Jeongha!”
“Oh? Art-nim Gong is here too.”
“I just stopped by for a moment.”
“I’ll leave soon.”
“But what brings you here?”
“Did you come to pick up a laptop?”
“We already returned it earlier to someone else from the production team…”
Seo Jeongha greeted her while hiding her reddened eyes.
“No, that’s not it.”
“Actually, CEO Kang asked to see you.”
“I think he saw that you came to the company.”
Feeling a cold tension climb up the back of her neck, Seo Jeongha asked again.
“If you mean CEO Kang…”
“CEO Kang Taeyoon.”
—
‘BIG T Investment.’
The only investment company where Kang Taeyoon, a man with countless titles, held the position of CEO.
Looking at the floor directory engraved on the wooden panel inside the elevator, Seo Jeongha held her heavy breath.
She was clearly going up, but it felt like her heart was falling into a bottomless pit.
Kang Taeyoon’s office was on the 39th floor of the same building.
The highest place in the building.
A place where one could look down from the very top.
Only his office existed on the 39th floor.
To get there, one had to pass through security from the 38th floor.
When she stepped out of the elevator, the secretary at the long L-shaped desk stood up and greeted her politely.
“The CEO is waiting for you.”
As Seo Jeongha tried to calm her trembling chest and open the office door, the door opened first and Manager Han stepped out.
His measured demeanor was like a robot made solely for Kang Taeyoon.
“Please go in.”
Her steps slowed like a cow being led to slaughter.
Telling herself that there was nothing left to be hurt by in a relationship already ruined, Seo Jeongha took about ten steps toward his back.
Slowly.
With great difficulty.
The office was spacious.
Two sides were made of full glass windows, showing off an overwhelming view.
The furniture, including the desk, carried a bleak aura resembling its owner.
With even the minimal lighting turned off, the office was illuminated only by the night view, like a dark forest.
Seo Jeongha stopped.
At just the right distance.
A place where she could run away at any moment even if she got closer.
It was close enough for voices to be heard.
His gaze didn’t matter.
She had already endured something far more brutal in that sudden accident.
Today, Seo Jeongha was ready to say “I’m sorry” first.
Unlike eight years ago, she wouldn’t smile just because he was alive.
“Why are you smiling?”
“Ah, because I regained consciousness, you think you’ll have to pay less compensation?”
His solid back, wearing only a dark gray vest over his shirt, didn’t move at all even as she entered.
“I heard you were looking for me.”
Standing with his back to the door in front of the window, he glanced at her like she was an uninteresting object, then turned away again.
His movements were concise.
“Are you happy?”
His tone was calm and casual.
But Seo Jeongha clasped her hands together.
Her face burned as if struck by a stone.
“I won’t live well until Kang Taeyoon forgives me.”
“I won’t live happily.”
Because while raising Yoon-ah, she had forgotten that promise she made with Taeyoon.
“You seem happy.”
“How shameless.”
“….”
“Couldn’t you at least lie?”
His crooked tone was filled with sharp criticism.
“I’m sorry.”
“At least in front of me, try to pretend you’re unhappy.”
Kang Taeyoon turned around.
The deep evening darkness filled the space and settled heavily on his broad shoulders.
His expressionless face carried a hint of fatigue and boredom.
“If you knew I was in the film industry, you should have quit on your own.”
“Didn’t you think you might run into me anywhere?”
His tone was gentle, but there was no trace of laughter.
“In Korea, it’ll be hard to find a film untouched by my influence.”
“With just one word from me, I could bury you in this industry.”
“Weren’t you even scared?”
“I wasn’t scared.”
“How brave.”
“Very brave.”
Their quiet gazes tangled in the dim space.
“Right.”
“You’re the one who handed car keys to a severely alcohol-dependent patient.”
“No wonder you have no fear.”
Then, letting out a small “Ah,” Kang Taeyoon corrected himself with a faint smile.
“Actually, you didn’t hand them over, right?”
“You just left them where he could see them.”
“I’m sorry.”
“The film you recklessly jumped into…”
“Whose script do you think it was?”
Seo Jeongha recalled the initials ‘MS’ written on the script cover.
She had been curious but dismissed it as trivial.
“Kang Minseong.”
“The man your father killed—my father, Kang Minseong.”
Seo Jeongha’s eyes widened.
“Ah, you didn’t know.”
“I really… really didn’t know.”
“If I had known, I wouldn’t have done it.”
A low laugh scattered harshly through the silent room.
“Yeah, I’m sure you wouldn’t have.”
“Just like back then.”
“So.”
“….”
“Pretending not to know, pretending to be innocent.”
“Sometimes it makes me want to let it slide.”
Frowning irritably, he took out a cigarette and placed it between his red lips.
With a flick, he lit it and took a deep drag, the tip glowing red in the darkness.
“But at times like this…”
“It makes me want to kill you again.”
“….”
“You have a child.”
