SBC 13

Chapter 13

Yoon Jinwoo urgently pushed Kang Dasom away with both hands. Stumbling backward, Kang Dasom lost her balance and fell on her backside.

“……!”

He hadn’t meant to do that. Alarmed, Yoon Jinwoo quickly stood up and approached her. But Kang Dasom suddenly grabbed his wrist and pulled him closer. Half-bent over, he widened his eyes at her.

“How long are you going to live like that?”

“What exactly are you talking about?”

A strange woman. Someone impossible to figure out.

That’s what Kang Dasom was to Yoon Jinwoo.

“Pretending not to see doesn’t mean you’re happy.”

“I don’t understand what you’re saying…”

“You understand perfectly well—you’re just pretending not to.”

Kang Dasom smirked faintly. Looking back, it wasn’t as though she’d never considered the possibility that her husband, Yoon Sunghoon, and Jung Hana might be having an affair.

But she had brushed the thought aside with: ‘No way.’ or ‘It’s probably just my imagination.’—and left it at that, dismissing it as an unpleasant suspicion.

Footsteps came from behind the building. Yoon Jinwoo hurriedly helped Kang Dasom up. She brushed the dirt off her clothes as if nothing had happened.

“I won the bet, didn’t I?”

“…Fine. We’ll have a meal sometime.”

Kang Dasom was more persistent than he’d expected. When Yoon Jinwoo finally gave in, she beamed brightly, satisfied. The garden lights shone on her as the breeze lifted her hair.

The sight was strikingly beautiful.

What on earth am I thinking?

No matter her motives for approaching his brother, she was still his brother’s girlfriend.

“By the way, when are we—”

“I’ll contact you first.”

“….”

“I only said you’d eat with me, not when.”

Yoon Jinwoo had nothing to say. She wasn’t wrong. Kang Dasom’s flawless pale face wrinkled slightly at the nose as she teased him.

“You’re stubborn.”

“You were the stubborn one first. And… are you speaking informally to me now, or is that just my imagination?”

“Yeah, I am. I’m older, after all.”

They were going to keep seeing each other anyway. Besides, Sunghoon and Hana practically spoke like old friends, so why shouldn’t she drop formalities with Jinwoo too?

“…Fine. Do as you please.”

Not wanting to argue further, Yoon Jinwoo turned away. Kang Dasom grabbed him again.

When he looked back, she was holding a folded piece of paper.

“What’s that?”

“Take it. See for yourself.”

She shook her hand insistently until he finally, after some hesitation, accepted it—like a wary puppy.

He debated several times whether to unfold it. In the end, he shoved it into his pocket, unopened.

“I’m leaving.”

With that, Kang Dasom turned on her heel as if her business was done. But Yoon Jinwoo quickly caught up, draping his jacket over her shoulders.

“You’ll catch a cold.”

“You didn’t need to go that far…”

Caught off guard, Kang Dasom looked faintly flustered. On the way back, they passed some household staff.

Apparently, the rumor had already spread that Kang Dasom was Sunghoon’s girlfriend, because none of them seemed suspicious about seeing her with Jinwoo.

“Look carefully at those around you.”

“What’s that supposed to mean?”

He asked, but Kang Dasom only smiled faintly, offering no answer.

In her previous life, she hadn’t known. She had thought anyone who treated her kindly must be on her side. But the truth was, she had been the one trapped in a cage, crying without realizing it.

She felt a strange kinship with Yoon Jinwoo.

Jinwoo wanted to ask more, but they had already reached the main building. After returning his jacket, Kang Dasom bowed politely. Without a word, Jinwoo went upstairs.

When Sunghoon suggested he stay the night, he declined with the excuse of a headache, then rode home in the car provided by Cheonmyeong Group.

Shhhhhh—

Scalding water poured over his head without pause. Water streamed down his bare body. Yoon Jinwoo stared at the mirror fixed on the wall.

The steam-clouded mirror reflected his figure faintly, like his own unknowable, frustrating self.

Look carefully at those around you.

Why was it that for days, those words refused to leave his head? He reached out, wiped the condensation away, and his reflection appeared sharp and clear.

After staring for a long while, he stepped out, dried himself, and dressed. As he was about to leave as usual, his eyes fell on a piece of paper lying on the table.

The one Kang Dasom had given him that day.

With a sigh, he picked it up and unfolded it.

[BiYoon Film]

Nothing grand was written on it. Curious, he searched it on his phone—it was the name of a drama studio.

“Why that place?”

Buzz.

His phone vibrated beside him.

“I’ll be right down.”

It was a message from his manager, Lee Sangtae, who had arrived. A few commercials were lined up, and they were scouting his next drama project.

Thanks to Cheonmyeong Group’s pull, offers came in fairly often. His acting wasn’t bad either.

“The agency had a meeting and thinks this one looks best.”

[That Year, We Were in Love]

It was by a veteran drama writer whose past two works had done above average.

“Hana said this one looked good too.”

“Really?”

Normally, he wouldn’t have hesitated. But now… his hand wouldn’t reach for it. Sitting alone in the conference room, he drifted into thought.

“Take your time. I’ll step out for a call.”

Sangtae closed the door behind him. Jinwoo tapped the script cover with his finger.

Tap. Tap.

Then, without warning, he pulled out his phone and called BiYoon Film.

— “Hello? Is this really Actor Yoon Jinwoo? Ah, but didn’t you already decline Writer Kim’s project?”

“What do you mean, decline?”

— “Oh? That’s what I heard… strange.”

Hearing the confused voice of the company head, Jinwoo’s brow furrowed.

“No. I’ll check again and get back to you.”

He hung up quickly as footsteps approached outside. Sangtae came back in.

“Have you decided?”

“BiYoon Film.”

“Huh?”

“They said they sent me a script. Where is it?”

At the name, Sangtae’s face stiffened slightly before forcing a laugh.

“Ha… right. They did send something. But it’s an action thriller film, not a drama. It doesn’t suit you.”

“You rejected it?”

“Well, not exactly… not yet.”

“I told you to bring me every single offer without exception.”

“It should still be upstairs. I’ll get it right now!”

Sangtae rushed off and soon returned with a script.

<The Fifth Statement>

Jinwoo skimmed through it in silence before placing it down firmly.

“My next project will be this one.”

“Wait—you’ve never done a film before! And I told you, action thrillers—”

“I said this one.”

He left no room for argument. It was true he’d never done a movie, let alone an action thriller. But the synopsis was solid—and what really nagged at him was what the BiYoon Film rep had said before hanging up:

‘The writer actually had you in mind when drafting this script. We’d be very grateful if you reconsidered.’

At the very least, even if he declined, shouldn’t he be the one to read it himself? Not his agency?

Sangtae tried to dissuade him, but Jinwoo didn’t budge.

Ever since that night, Kang Dasom’s words kept echoing in his head.

About a week later, after deciding on the film, he received a text from Kang Dasom.

[Next week is my birthday. I’m planning a small party at home. Come.]

“…Not even a ‘Would you like to come?’”

Crossing his legs, Jinwoo muttered to himself as he stared at the message. Just what was she thinking, treating him this way?

[I’m not going.]