Chapter 37

What’s a little flutter worth? So what if my heart thumped for you for a moment? In almost thirty years of life, it’s inevitable that the heart might short-circuit for an instant.

“So if this doesn’t work out, it puts your aunt in a tough spot, right?”

She knew all too well how harsh Iseong’s father could be to Yein. It was hard to ignore the desperate SOS in those pleading, teary eyes.

“Then, about the introduction… I’ll try talking to Iseong. But I have a business trip to Goseong starting tomorrow, so it might be tough to do it soon. Will that be okay?”

“Aw, thank you. You’re my only hope, Jeong.”

“I can’t promise I can persuade him. In fact, I’d say the odds aren’t in our favor.”

“He won’t even pretend to listen to me, so you’re still the best bet.”

Well… she wasn’t sure about that herself, and she offered only an awkward smile in reply.

The next day…

Right after arriving in Goseong, she checked in on the construction site for the new set and unpacked at the temporary accommodation. The old, slightly worn resort had its own retro charm and was conveniently located near the shooting site.

More than that, it offered an impressive view — mountains and valleys to the back, and a panoramic ocean view in the front. An untouched, hidden spot that hadn’t yet been discovered by the masses.

The kind of location that directors like to hoard, knowing its worth.

After the site inspection and meetings, as she stepped into the resort lobby, Director Heo announced to the staff:

“Let’s have a barbecue tonight! I can’t supply unlimited beef, but I’ll make sure it’s enough to fill everyone’s stomachs.”

Everyone responded with applause and cheering. Then Director Heo added:

“Ah, right — Iseong will be joining the dinner tonight too. Maybe our actor will cover the rest of the meat?”

That set the staff off with a roar of applause and hooting. Even Nayeon, standing beside her, grinned and clenched a delighted fist.

“Wow! So our actor, the one and only Seong, is really coming tonight? Did you know, boss? Of course you knew, right?”

Meanwhile, she felt like the ground had been pulled out from under her. Along with Dohoon and Seoyeora, she was thrown into a whirlwind of thoughts — or maybe she was the only one who felt this unsettled.

For some reason, she had felt reassured thinking she wouldn’t be seeing Iseong for a while. Even felt grateful for that distance, hoping that the flutter in her heart would fade if she didn’t have to face him.

If she immersed herself in work long enough, wouldn’t these feelings fade? She’d felt confident… until now.

But here he was. Suddenly appearing in front of her.

As evening fell, roughly twenty people gathered for the barbecue. The staff clustered at round tables, laughing and talking. The setting was cozy, lined with pebbles, and bathed in summer warmth combined with the smoky aroma of the barbecue.

She was seated with Seoyeora, Nayeon, and Director Heo. The atmosphere was delicate — the awkward tension between herself and Dohoon was palpable, a faint reminder of their almost-marriage. Not many people knew about it, but their proximity felt like it could ignite gossip. They exchanged wary glances and kept their distance, only making necessary conversation about work.

Director Heo and Nayeon carried the conversation for the table, while she and Seoyeora smiled faintly, doing their best to match the mood.

“Did you know I was the one who pushed for Director Gam?” Director Heo said, pouring her a shot of soju and grinning.

It was news to her. She had assumed it was Director Ko’s recommendation. To find out that Director Heo had sought her out felt like an honor.

“Really? Director Ko didn’t mention that.”

Director Heo shrugged, brushing his beard with a finger. “Apparently you’ve been doing great work. People spoke highly of you. After checking out your portfolio, I gave Director Ko a call for a final review. He was very enthusiastic. Young, but bold and creative, he said.”

Although Dohoon had wronged her, she held no resentment for his family. They weren’t the kind of people to hold a grudge for long — they knew that water can sometimes be just as valuable as blood.

Smiling, she expressed her gratitude to Director Heo. “I’m really honored to be working with you. I’m looking forward to learning a lot.”

Director Heo waved a hand. “This isn’t an award ceremony, you know? No need for a speech. I don’t have the stomach for that sort of thing.” He grinned and then added, “By the way, I heard you’ve been friends with Actor Iseong for a long time.”

Hearing this, her heart sank like a stone.

Seoyeora, seated diagonally across from her, also twitched, looking like a woman with unresolved feelings.

As if he had noticed, Director Heo glanced between the three of them. “Iseong and Gamjeong… friends for a long time. Must be a strong bond.”

A tipsy Nayeon chimed in, giggling. “More than friends! Our director and Iseong have been friends since birth. Might as well call them ‘fated friends.’ Right, boss? Oh, I mean… Director. Heehee, old habits.”

Then she added, “And Director Seo here is friends with him from college, too.”

All eyes landed on Seoyeora, making her smile awkwardly.

“Yeah, I am… but when you hear the names ‘Iseong’ and ‘Gamjeong’ together, you can guess, right? There’s no space for anyone else between them. They’re that close.”

The words weren’t sharp, but the sentiment landed sharply. An old flame making her claim.

Although she tried to sound neutral, the sting in her voice was unmistakable. As if saying, Even when I was Iseong’s girlfriend, there was no room between him and Gamjeong. The undertone felt like a quiet accusation.

Director Heo noticed, smiling as if enjoying the tension. “Sounds like Director Seo was a little jealous of their friendship, huh?”

Seoyeora smiled faintly and shifted the focus. “We were all a bit envious. Weren’t we, Nayeon? You’ve been a fan of Iseong since college too, right?”

Nayeon waved a hand, laughing. “Not jealous — more like in awe. Hahaha.”

At that moment, the atmosphere bubbled with whispers and tension until Iseong walked into the barbecue area.

He came in dressed in a crisp, trendy silhouette — a loose pair of jeans and a plain white t-shirt that somehow made him look like a runway model. The man could wear anything and make it look like a statement piece. But tonight… tonight he looked especially captivating.

Have I lost my mind?

As his gaze swept across the space and landed on her, her heart sank to the floor. Suddenly, she felt herself wavering.

Why was she more anxious than happy? Why this desperate, urgent feeling? What was this strange mix of fear and anticipation every time she looked at him?

She knew why.

She wasn’t ready for this. Not at all.

She had hoped that the distance would make her forget the flutter in her heart, hoped she could bury these feelings. But the moment she laid eyes on him, her heart surged wildly — even harder than before.

It was as if she had no defense, no preparation at all for the emotions rushing back.

The room fell silent as Iseong stepped closer, every gaze drawn to him.

Director Heo jumped up, grinning as he pulled Iseong towards their table.

“Talk about making an entrance! You always show up right when we’re talking about you.”