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“Where’s Park Kyung-ae?”
“I don’t know either!”
“What a liar!”
Yura, her hair grabbed by Choi Young-sook, the apparent leader of the debt collectors, was shaken violently.
The more she struggled to break free, the greater the pain became.
“Let go of me and let’s talk!”
“Forget talking, search the bathroom and everywhere else!”
While the debt collectors ransacked the room, Yura was forced to kneel. She sobbed, her appearance disheveled, but no one sided with her.
There were as many as five people who had barged in.
Claiming to be looking for Kyung-ae, they overturned the bathroom and even under the bed.
“She’s not here?”
“Open her bag.”
“Are you crazy? Give me back my bag!”
The debt collectors, who had been played by Kyung-ae for years, were ruthless.
They even emptied Yura’s wallet and threw it on the floor.
“She’s completely broke.”
The debt collectors huffed. Still not satisfied, they picked up Yura’s phone.
“You contact Park Kyung-ae, don’t you?”
“......”
“Aren’t you going to answer?”
Other guests, startled by the commotion, gathered around.
Just then, the motel owner, who had come upstairs after receiving a complaint call, was aghast.
“What are you doing in my business establishment?”
“Mind your own business and go!”
“If you keep causing a disturbance, I’ll call the police.”
“We came to catch a con artist who took our money and ran away. We’re the victims!”
The motel owner, standing apart, simply shook his head and watched. The other guests also murmured and stepped back.
When Yura sent them pleading eyes, the debt collectors closed the door.
“Spit it out while I’m being nice. Where’s Park Kyung-ae?”
“My mother is in the Philippines.”
“Call her right now.”
Yura reluctantly took back her phone. Biting her lower lip tightly, she called Kyung-ae, who answered quickly.
-Did you find a part-time job?
Kyung-ae immediately asked if she had found work first.
Even as Yura looked tearful, they gestured for her to continue the call.
“Yeah.”
-Where?
“A cafe.”
-Hey, will that even make money?
“Mom, stop talking nonsense!”
-Since you found a job anyway, ask the cafe owner to advance you some of your salary.
“Ugh, I’m going crazy.”
-My living expenses are all gone, so send me money first.
Just then, Song Young-sook, who had grabbed Yura’s hair, snatched the phone away.
She shrugged ostentatiously and spoke in a loud voice.
“This is Choi Young-sook.”
-......!
“You thought you could run away after scamming us and never get caught, huh?”
-Y-Young-sook unnie!
“Listen carefully to what I’m about to say.”
-Yes?
“Crawl back to Korea right now. Otherwise, your eldest daughter might just disappear.”
-Oh, please don’t! I’ll somehow get the money and pay you back.
“What do I trust in a woman who sold her daughter to a loan shark?”
-Young-sook unnie, please listen to me.
“Shut your mouth. Your eldest daughter will work on our farm until all the debt is paid off, so know that.”
-What are you talking about!
“Or you can come and work it off yourself. Hang up.”
The person most horrified by the phone conversation was none other than Yura.
The thought that she could be sold into slavery because of debt in this day and age made her heart shrink.
“I didn’t even know my mother had debts. Please give me just one chance, okay?”
“If I fall for that lie again, I’m a crazy bitch. Pack your things.”
Choi Young-sook’s command was given.
The people who had come with her carelessly stuffed Yura’s belongings into a large travel bag.
Becoming desperate, Yura groveled before Choi Young-sook.
“You know my younger sister is actress Lee Haejoo, right? If I ask her, she’ll help.”
“You really are pathetic.”
“Huh?”
“Is there anyone among the people gathered here who didn’t live in that neighborhood?”
“......!”
“If you were Haejoo, would you help? Speak if you have a mouth.”
“Haejoo is a celebrity. If rumors spread, she’d be in trouble too, so there’s no way she’d pretend not to know.”
Choi Young-sook, twisting her lips, clutched her stomach and laughed.
The other debt collectors who had come with her clicked their tongues or snorted at Yura.
“Do you even know how we found out you were here?”
“Who told you?”
“What’s the point of telling you? You don’t even have a penny to your name anyway. Pay off your debt with labor.”
Resigned, Yura had to leave the motel that day. At Choi Young-sook’s promise of a job, she got into the van they had come in.
Some time later, they arrived at a vinyl greenhouse complex in Gyeonggi Province.
“I’ll pay you properly. But when you get your salary, pay off your debt honestly first.”
“That’s not even my debt!”
“Park Kyung-ae took out loans in your name too. If you don’t believe me, see for yourself.”
Choi Young-sook held out the promissory notes she had kept.
Unbelievably, they really stated that 100 million won had been borrowed in Yura’s name.
“I let you go because I thought you’d never get caught if I sued you for fraud too.”
“That’s ridiculous.”
In fact, Kyung-ae had borrowed money in Yura’s name to send her off to get married but then denied everything. It was something she had done because no one would lend her money in her own name.
Despairing, Yura went into the container that served as accommodation. It was a place where foreign workers lived, separated by gender.
Choi Young-sook threw her work clothes, boots, and work gloves at her as she sat down and cried.
“It’s too hot to work during the day. You have to get up by 5 AM at the latest.”
By the time she regained her senses, she had already stamped her seal on an employment contract.
As night fell, the foreign workers who had finished their work gathered at the accommodation.
Yura lay in a corner, quietly wiping away her tears.
________________________________________
On Wednesday morning, Haejoo came down to the first floor in neat attire.
Hyun-sung had just arrived and greeted her brightly.
“Thanks for coming all this way.”
“It’s nothing. Are those paparazzi cars still following me?”
“Ah, that.”
Hyun-sung asked as he opened the door of the van.
Haejoo, who had gotten into the car, pondered for a moment before answering.
“Dojun-ssi caught that car and said a few words, and they haven’t followed me since.”
“What did he say?”
“It’s something.”
The car stopped in front of Director Kwak’s private office in Cheongdam-dong.
From the outside, it looked like a three-story private house, but it was a building that Director Kwak had built with great care.
The small parking lot was already quite full of cars.
Even though Haejoo had hurried, there were others who had arrived earlier, so she quickened her pace.
“Noona, this way.”
Following Hyun-sung’s guidance, she entered the conference room where the meeting would be held.
Unlike a typical company office, the interior looked like a cafe had been moved in.
Nameplates with the names of each role were placed on a long table with elegant wood grain.
“Director, hello.”
“Ah, Haejoo-ssi. Welcome.”
Director Kwak, who was sitting at the head of the table, stood up at Haejoo’s appearance. He introduced her to Kim Joon-woo and Han Jae-jin, who would play the male leads, and had them greet her.
“Haejoo-ssi, this is Kim Joon-woo-ssi. He’ll be working closely with you until the movie ends.”
Jun-woo was a top actor popular even overseas. Haejoo, who had only seen him on screen, was simply dumbfounded meeting him in person.
“Nice to meet you. I’m Kim Jun-woo.”
“I’m Lee Haejoo. Please take good care of me.”
Next, Jae-jin, who played Young-in’s helper, also greeted Haejoo. Just as they were finishing the awkward introductions with the other supporting actors with significant roles, the entrance door opened.
“Hello.”
The one who entered with a characteristic aloof voice was Yoonji.
She bowed deeply to Director Kwak.
“Thank you for taking in someone as inadequate as me.”
“Don’t mention it. ...Everyone knows this person, right? Hong Yoonji-ssi will be playing the role of Young-in.”
Haejoo hadn’t bothered to ask Hyun-sung if Yoonji would be in this movie.
She had a feeling, and it was indeed her.
Yoonji, just like Haejoo, greeted the other actors first.
The male actors didn’t seem particularly surprised to hear that Yoonji had been cast, perhaps they already knew.
Moreover, Jun-woo and Jae-jin acted friendly, as if they knew Yoonji.
“Let’s work well together.”
“You’re the one who needs to do well, Jae-jin-ssi.”
It already felt like their own exclusive club was forming because of Yoonji. This was why Haejoo had hoped it wouldn’t be Yoonji, but there was nothing she could do.
“First, let’s have a briefing about the movie, and then based on the analysis of each role, please practice.”
The full-fledged meeting began.
Haejoo felt quite awkward having to work with Jun-woo.
However, as they did the script reading, they gradually narrowed the distance, and she breathed a sigh of relief.
“The feeling is good. However, Yoonji-ssi needs to relax more.”
Yoonji received several criticisms from Director Kwak. Her face, which had been bright, gradually darkened and only improved when they ate lunch.
“The location filming has been decided for Jeju Island, so we’ll send the schedule to each agency as soon as it’s finalized.”
Outside, the heads of outsourced companies, from lighting to everything needed for film production, were lined up waiting for meetings. As much as the script revision had been delayed, Director Kwak was accelerating the film production.
________________________________________
A few days later, Haejoo squeezed in time from her busy schedule for a photoshoot for a clothing brand she was currently advertising.
It was a brand that was currently gaining a lot of popularity, so Jinhan came to watch.
Before the shoot, Hyun-sung approached Haejoo, who had finished her hair and makeup.
“Noona, the Entertainment City interview is ready.”
Haejoo had received the questions from the Entertainment City production team in advance. She had wanted to remove all the questions about marriage, but the writer pleaded with her to leave just one.
She organized what she wanted to say in her head and then moved to the room where the interview was scheduled.
The reporter greeted her enthusiastically upon her arrival.
“Lee Haejoo-ssi, it’s so nice to finally meet you!”
“Hello.”
“We’re short on time, so shall we get straight to the interview?”
“Let’s.”
At the reporter’s cue, a red light turned on the camera.
Behind the scenes, Jinhan and Hyun-sung watched with keen eyes.
The reporter asked Haejoo common questions, from the advertisement shoot to her recent activities.
Then, mentioning Dojun, they approached the end of the interview.
“These days, photos of Haejoo-ssi and your husband are causing quite a stir online.”
“Is that so?”
The reporter displayed a photo on a tablet PC, one of Haejoo and Dojun holding hands and walking, among the photos circulating online.
“Look at this photo! You two look so good together, I’m really envious.”
“Oh, it’s nothing special. My husband and I are just ordinary.”
Jinhan’s expression was not good. Haejoo, glancing at him, focused solely on the interview.
“Does your husband offer any special support for you as an actress?”
“Um... special support?”
Haejoo, who had prepared a suitable answer, pretended to ponder.
She smiled shyly and began to speak.
“My husband is a good cook.”
“Really?”
“Even though he has to go to work early in the morning, he prepares breakfast for me.”
“He’s such a romantic! Anything else?”
“Huh?”
“Just one more thing, please! Quickly!”
The reporter made an unexpected request.
A flustered Haejoo unknowingly blurted out the sincerity she held within.
“He knows everything about me. That’s why I feel nervous every night.”
“Nervous? In what way?”
“If there’s a sudden power outage at home, he’s by my side in no time. Now, I can even recognize him just by the sound of his breathing.”
The interview ended without any issues.
As soon as Haejoo returned to the waiting room, Jinhan rushed over.
“Haejoo-ssi, what did that mean earlier?”
“Meaning?”
“The answer you gave at the very end of the interview.”
“Ah, it’s nothing much.”
“The power outage story, was that made up?”
Jinhan’s underlying desire for it to be made up made Haejoo uncomfortable.
Even though she was displeased, she gave an appropriate excuse.
“Power outages happen quite often in that neighborhood. It was the only thing that came to mind when I had to think suddenly.”
Haejoo, who had unintentionally revealed her true feelings during the interview, couldn’t manage her expression.
Even in the moment of trying her best to play it cool, the person who came to mind was Dojun.
That’s how much he was influencing Haejoo’s life.
She had to be careful, as it would only increase in the future.
“I see.”
Jinhan seemed half-convinced.
Haejoo, having turned her chair towards the mirror, checked her makeup.
Outside, she heard a staff member shouting that they were about to start filming.
.
.
.
It was around sunset that day when Haejoo, having finished her photoshoot, returned home.
The interview she had done during the day was scheduled to air live at 9 PM.
Haejoo, having finished showering, turned on the TV.
The reporter introduced the fresh footage they had just filmed, and Haejoo’s interview began to play.
“I wonder if Dojun-ssi will be late.”
Feeling tired, Haejoo went up to her room and fell asleep on the bed with the light on.
When she opened her eyes again, it was dark all around.
Even the lights illuminating the garden had gone out, and darkness enveloped everything.
“Another power outage? This neighborhood is really...”
Just as a frightened Haejoo struggled to get up, someone instantly grasped her hand that was reaching out into the air.
Startled, she was about to scream when Dojun’s voice seeped through her dim vision.
“Is this what you meant by feeling nervous every night?”
He was only wearing pajamas, and the primal scent of his skin wafted from him.
Even in this pitch-black night, the blue veins that climbed his forearm were clearly visible.
Haejoo recalled the interview. He must have seen it, as it had aired live in the evening without editing.
“Don’t misunderstand. That’s...”
Dojun turned on the flashlight on his phone.
Revealed through the narrow beam of light was his audacity in getting onto Haejoo’s bed.
“From today, this is my spot.”
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