Chapter 41
“Yes. I’ve recently developed some interest in that area.”
“Entertainment has way too many things to worry about, and compared to that, the profits aren’t much. And a film investment company? Recovering the capital won’t be easy either.”
“That’s why I’m approaching it cautiously. It’s my first time in this field. It feels unfamiliar, fascinating, and completely unpredictable…”
Naturally, Sarah’s face came to mind.
He had met countless people in business, but none as unique as Sarah.
That was why she caught his attention.
She always acted so confident, as if nothing in the world could ever harm her. But peel back just a single layer, and she was the type to burst into tears over fighting with a friend.
Seung-tae found himself wanting to know her more.
What lay hidden in the deepest part of this woman?
Noticing the change in his son’s expression, Seok-hoon spoke in a worried tone.
“You’re not doing anything foolish, are you?”
“Whether it’s foolish or not… we’ll only know when the film is released—”
“No, not that. I’m talking about fooling around with some actress under the pretense of investing in a film.”
“Ah.”
“A man gains true responsibility only when he builds a proper family. Don’t waste time on useless things.”
Seok-hoon’s voice was firmer than ever.
“Of course, Father. Don’t worry.”
Seung-tae looked straight at his father and smiled.
The meal was almost over when—
Without warning, the door burst open.
A casually dressed young man strolled in and plopped down next to Seung-tae.
Looking at the empty plates, he said,
“What? You’ve already finished eating?”
“Do you know how long ago we told you to come? Tsk. Sit tight, I’ll order you something.”
“Dad, you don’t know how busy I’ve been preparing for my exhibition. I barely sleep three hours a day.”
“You slack off the whole year, then brag about working a few days. Your brother works like that every single day.”
“Hyung and I aren’t the same.”
He pouted and wiped his hands half-heartedly with a wet tissue.
“It’s been a while, Min-tae. When did you say your exhibition was?”
“May 8th. You’ll come, right, Hyung? Buy all my pieces and let me show off to my classmates.”
Min-tae chuckled, leaning across the table with one hand holding his head up.
It was a terribly rude posture for a family meal, yet no one scolded him.
His father, Seok-hoon, clicked his tongue outwardly but still pushed dishes toward his youngest son.
“Min-tae, after the exhibition, how about learning some of the company business?”
“Mom, didn’t we agree already? You said you’d leave me alone until thirty. I still have three years left.”
“Do you only think about yourself? You should help your brother. Do you know how hard it is to work alone?”
“It’s fine, Mother. Let Min-tae do what he wants. Father and I can handle the company just fine.”
Seung-tae gave a gentle smile and stared at the woman across from him.
He clearly remembered the day he first met his stepmother, Son Jung-hwa, when he was just five years old.
Having a mom made him nothing but happy.
With no memory of his birth mother, who had passed away a year after giving birth, his new beautiful and kind mother was a blessing.
He even boasted to his friends back then that his mom was the prettiest in the whole world.
When his younger brother was born, he had wiped his face with his little hands and vowed to be a strong older brother.
“Hehe. I’ll just rely on Hyung. I already have so many things I want to do in life, and you’re telling me to work at the company? Ugh, it sounds boring just hearing it.”
“Seriously, you partied your way through school—how can you still have things left to play at?”
“Dad, you’d be shocked if you heard my schedule. Morning skating with friends, afternoon working at the studio, and evening beers while watching Seo Sarah.”
At the unexpected name, Seung-tae instinctively snapped his head toward Min-tae.
“Seo Sarah?”
“Yeah. You don’t know? The actress who won an award at Attré recently.”
“I think I saw her on TV a couple of times. My goodness, our son knows Seo Sarah?”
Jung-hwa blinked and leaned forward.
Even as he poked at his dessert with a fork, Seung-tae’s ears were tuned to Min-tae.
“Ah… I wish. Not personally. Don’t you all watch Rockstar? It’s insanely popular these days.”
“Rockstar?”
“Yeah, the drama. Seo Sarah plays the villain, and she’s amazing. Mom, you have to watch it. It’s really good.”
Excited, Min-tae rattled off the plot of Rockstar.
Realizing it was just about a drama, Jung-hwa’s face softened.
“For a second, I thought you were dating an actress.”
“Come on, how could I possibly meet Seo Sarah?”
“Didn’t she attend that New Year’s party?”
It was Seok-hoon, who had been silent, that spoke.
Seung-tae added,
“That’s right. Quite a few actors and singers came that time, including Seo Sarah.”
“What! She was there? Why didn’t you tell me?”
“What do you mean? We sent you an invitation, but you said you’d rather throw a pool party with your friends than attend some boring event full of old folks.”
“That was that party? Hyung, you didn’t tell me Sarah was going to be there! Of course I would’ve gone. Did you see her? Is she pretty? I heard she looks even better in person.”
Min-tae’s eyes sparkled so brightly with excitement and regret it almost felt burdensome.
“She was pretty.”
Taking a sip of wine, Seung-tae recalled the day he first saw Sarah.
By chance, he had overheard her phone call at that dull, boring party—a coincidence so uncanny it felt fated.
If not for that, he might have remembered her as nothing more than a “pretty actress.”
“What was it, Seung-tae—you said you were investing in films? Doesn’t that mean you’ll see that actress?”
“A film investment company? Since when did we do that kind of business?”
“Your brother is investing in a movie this time.”
As Min-tae pried eagerly about Sarah’s whereabouts, Seok-hoon casually asked Seung-tae.
Knowing well how much his father doted on his youngest, Seung-tae answered as if he had been waiting for the chance.
“As it happens, the lead actress in the first film our company is investing in is none other than Seo Sarah.”
“Seriously? Hyung, then can I meet her? Can I visit the set?”
“Well, that depends on her agency.”
“Hyung, I’m really her fan. I’ve watched all her movies and dramas. Please, just this once, ask for me. Think of it as granting your little brother’s wish.”
“Alright, alright.”
Seung-tae nodded generously.
Overjoyed, Min-tae rattled off every work of Sarah’s he had seen.
He was surprisingly passionate—his claim of being a fan was clearly no exaggeration.
He only let his brother go once he got a promise that Seung-tae would reach out.
“You like her that much? If you’re this crazy about an actress, once you get married, you’ll probably forget about Mom altogether.”
“Come on, this is just fan-love. Mom’s on a whole other level.”
Min-tae softened his tone playfully to soothe Jung-hwa.
“And anyway, marriage is a long way off. How could I get married before my great hyung does?”
“Your brother has a girlfriend. It might happen soon.”
“What!?”
He reacted exactly the same as Seok-hoon had earlier.
Min-tae grabbed Seung-tae’s shoulder and shook him.
“Hyung, you have a girlfriend? Who? Yoori noona? Or Min-jung? Joo-yeon?”
“No. And who are they?”
“Just girls chasing after you. I thought one of them finally succeeded.”
Seung-tae put down his wine and dabbed his lips with a napkin.
Like Seok-hoon and Jung-hwa earlier, Min-tae pestered him about who it was, but got no answer.
“Wow, still, that’s amazing. Hyung actually has a girlfriend.”
“Is it that surprising?”
“Well, I’ve never seen or heard of you with any woman. I thought you weren’t interested in women at all.”
“I’ll introduce her to you later.”
“Really? Wow, I’m dying to know who managed to capture my unshakable brother’s heart.”
“You’ll probably like her too, once you meet her.”
And that wasn’t a lie.
Because he already liked her this much.
