Chapter 88
Inside the main conference room of K Media headquarters, Jiyoon sat at the seat of highest authority, listening to the industry trend reports.
Since trends were crucial in this industry, representatives from each subsidiary gathered once a week to report on industry developments to Jiyoon.
No matter how busy he was, this was one schedule he never skipped.
After the entertainment subsidiary representative stepped down from the podium, the OTT subsidiary representative waiting in line went up.
“Let’s begin the trend report.”
The major developments in the OTT industry were listed one by one.
From news about large-scale variety productions by overseas OTTs, to the promising reactions for small-scale independent films and well-made works imported by emerging OTTs, the presenter moved on to news about the OTT service Taesung was preparing to launch.
“Hammer, which is set to launch in the second quarter, as you all know, is a new OTT service under Hyun Media, which is part of the Cha-hyun Group.”
The presenter pointed to the screen and began the presentation.
“Hyun Media recently acquired TJ Media and TY Cinema, and also took over ‘Yeon Production.’ They also have a high chance of securing terrestrial broadcast supply contracts. Notably, they seem to be eyeing exclusive broadcasting rights for next year’s baseball season.”
Jiyoon tapped on the desk, listening to what Taesung had already accomplished and what he was about to achieve.
He didn’t feel particularly pleased.
He had expected Taesung to make great achievements in the biotech sector and then settle straight into the headquarters’ planning and strategy office, but he hadn’t expected him to enter the same entertainment industry.
Taesung, who had originally dreamed of becoming a film director, clearly had more talent for business than directing.
Aggressive drive, sharp judgment, and even a streak of luck—he had it all.
He had been formidable in every way. Even now, ten years later, he still held a place in Haeyoung’s heart.
“Here’s an article recently released by a media outlet,” the presenter said.
Jiyoon’s gaze, which had been drifting, fixed sharply on the screen.
Hammer, backed by the Cha-hyun Group, directly competing with K Media OTT KICK?
“This seems to be an article released by Hyun Media. It looks like their image marketing strategy is positioned to compete with ours.”
Everyone in the conference room anxiously watched Jiyoon’s lips, wondering what he would say.
But unlike usual, Jiyoon ended the trend report briefly and without fuss.
“Good work. You may leave first.”
As people hesitated, unsure if that was really the end, Jiyoon’s secretary gave them a subtle cue.
Only then did they file out of the conference room like a receding tide.
Jiyoon even told his secretary to leave first, smirking to himself.
“Alright… let’s see about this, Ju Taesung.”
The article had surely passed through Taesung’s approval.
But a news article that provoked competitors wasn’t his style.
This meant he was deliberately provoking Jiyoon now.
Was it because of work?
No—it had to be because of Haeyoung.
Sighing, Jiyoon chuckled to himself at the thought.
Haeyoung had always been under his care, safe in his “cage.”
But now Ju Taesung had appeared, stirring up his little bird.
Jiyoon couldn’t just stand by and watch.
Resolving his thoughts, he took out his phone and called Haeyoung.
“Haeyoung. I need to talk. Can we meet for a moment?”
Plans be damned, he had to keep Haeyoung by his side.
He couldn’t waste the ten years he had painstakingly invested.
Haeyoung sipped the cold water in front of her, unsure how to face Jiyoon.
He had asked to meet, but she refused when he suggested coming to her workplace, as he usually did.
For the first time, she came near where he worked.
The reason was simple: if Taesung’s words were true, she didn’t want Jiyoon anywhere in her usual circle of life.
Closing her eyes to steady herself, Haeyoung replayed her conversation with Taesung.
“Why, why would you make that deal? Why with me…?”
“Because Jiyoon likes you.”
“…….”
“He probably wanted to trap you in his world because he thought you didn’t like him.”
The suspicion she had denied for so long came from Taesung’s own mouth.
But this time, it wasn’t jealousy driving the words.
Now that Haeyoung was older, she could understand.
Taesung was serious, more than ever.
“…You really didn’t know? That he likes you.”
“I… didn’t know.”
She truly hadn’t known.
From the very beginning, he had just been a good older brother figure.
She had thought the reason he treated her well was simply because he considered her like a younger sister.
Looking back now, though, she could faintly see it.
That Jiyoon hadn’t always treated her merely as a younger sister.
But the clear boundaries she had always maintained prevented her from realizing it at the time.
If he had confessed at the right moment, maybe they could have remained as “good brother and sister.”
But the golden time had long passed.
Opening her eyes, Haeyoung saw Jiyoon in her sight.
As always, he wore a neat suit and a calm smile.
And with that face, he had prevented her from winning the contest.
Her stomach churned.
“Haeyoung, what would you like to drink?”
“Just any warm tea, please.”
She answered calmly, forcing herself to maintain composure.
“I’ll go place the order.”
With a faint smile, Jiyoon nodded and headed to the counter.
Haeyoung clenched the hand resting on her thigh.
If Taesung had misunderstood, she would calmly ask, listen, and judge for herself.
This was her relationship; she would make the judgment.
When Jiyoon returned after placing the order, he spoke first.
“Haeyoung.”
“Yes?”
She was unsure how to start, but he spoke before she could.
He held a light brown envelope.
“Open this.”
Flustered, Haeyoung accepted it, speechless.
Inside were not many sheets of paper, but her face immediately stiffened.
“What is… this?”
“It’s a contract.”
“So, why… give this to me?”
“I want to sign a contract with you. You still have the drama script you submitted to the contest last year, right? We want to produce it on our side. Fill in the contract fee and delivery date however you like.”
Jiyoon’s expression was serious, as though he had thought long and hard about this contract.
But Haeyoung’s face was full of disbelief.
“…You haven’t read the script.”
“I don’t need to. If it’s your work, Haeyoung, I can trust it. You already explained the story and the planning concept roughly.”
For the first time, Jiyoon’s usually calm face showed a hint of anxiety.
In contrast, Haeyoung, who had previously trembled, had become eerily composed.
His sudden contract proposal was an answer to the unspoken questions she had harbored.
If he had helped her out of pity, he would have done so already.
If he were truly interested in her work, he would have at least asked to see the script.
Taesung’s claim—that he blocked her path to keep her in his world—seemed credible.
“I won’t sign the contract.”
“Why…?”
“I already signed with Taesung’s company.”
Haeyoung pressed her lips together briefly, then spoke in a small trembling voice:
“Ten years, you trapped me in a tunnel with no end… was it really you, oppa?”
“Haeyoung, I don’t know what Taesung said to you, but I’ll explain—”
“Oppa… do you like me?”
Jiyoon’s lips froze mid-explanation.
He looked like a child whose last favorite candy had been taken away.
“So… that’s why…?”
Haeyoung’s voice trembled with confusion.
From the start of tutoring, to helping with her grandmother’s hospital visits, he had always been kind.
He was one of the few people she cherished.
Yet all that trust and fondness were on the verge of being destroyed… or rather, had already been broken.
The weight of years added to the betrayal was too much for Haeyoung to bear.
She stared at him, demanding an answer.
Jiyoon’s gaze, weary yet steady, lowered before meeting hers again.
Thanks to Taesung’s move, he had nowhere to retreat.
He hadn’t planned to discard a decade-long unrequited love so easily.
Taking a deep, calm breath, Jiyoon spoke.
“Yes. I like you. I’ve liked you for a long time.”
His face, finally letting out the words he had swallowed countless times, resembled someone expelling a long-held poison more than someone confessing love.
Trembling, he took out a ring from his inner pocket—the one he had bought during his last business trip to the U.S., carrying it like an inseparable part of him ever since.
Click.
He opened the box and placed the ring before Haeyoung.
“I wanted you to need me. That’s why I did it. I was afraid that if you succeeded, you wouldn’t need me anymore. I was even afraid that I wouldn’t be able to see you occasionally under the pretext of helping.”
