Chapter 21
The Coming Woman
“Wow, Director?”
Seoni, surprised, looked up at Eunwoo with wide eyes.
The two of them, under the same umbrella, gazed at each other as the soft sound of rain embraced them.
“I thought I’d catch up with you quickly, but you’re faster than I thought.”
Eunwoo said with a hint of regret, looking at Seoni’s wet hair.
It was only then that Seoni realized that Eunwoo had come running for her.
“My clothes…”
Seoni noticed that Eunwoo’s surgical gown, soaked by the rain, was visible. Her slippers, which she must have worn while running, had mud stains all over the back of her pants.
“I can change when I get home. For now, take this and go.”
Without caring about her appearance, Eunwoo offered the umbrella to Seoni.
“It’s okay… the bus stop is just up ahead.”
Seoni shook her head and politely refused. Eunwoo, however, placed the umbrella gently in Seoni’s hand, her warm touch lingering before disappearing.
“Take it, you’re still recovering from your cold.”
With that, Eunwoo suddenly darted into the rain.
“Ah, Director!”
Seoni called out in a panic, but Eunwoo had already gotten quite far.
For a moment, Eunwoo stopped, turned around, and waved her hand as if urging Seoni to hurry.
Seoni watched Eunwoo’s retreating figure for a moment before turning her gaze to her own hand.
It felt as though the warmth of Eunwoo’s touch still remained in her fingers.
Seoni awkwardly fiddled with the umbrella’s handle and, once more, looked up at Eunwoo’s disappearing back.
Through the raindrops, her figure grew more distant.
Back at the Office
Seoni arrived at the office entrance and shook the raindrops off the umbrella.
As she carefully descended the wet stairs, she heard Eunyeong’s voice.
“Ari, how does this outfit look? Does it seem a bit edgy?”
Her voice was slightly higher-pitched than usual.
Seoni, wondering what was going on, entered the office.
“You look sharp, for sure.”
Ari, still focused on adjusting her project proposal, replied mechanically without even looking.
“What’s going on?”
“Did you come? Ugh, I don’t know. I’m just so annoyed.”
Ari responded in a small voice while pouting.
“How about this scarf? Is it too old-fashioned?”
Eunyeong asked again.
“No…”
“The lipstick…”
“It’s pretty.”
Ari had already lost count of how many times she had answered.
“What’s wrong with her?”
Seoni, alternating glances between the two, whispered quietly.
“Sigh, we have a meeting with Team Leader Song today.”
“Team Leader Song?”
“Yeah, the MD for W Department Store. The one with the receding hairline.”
“Ah… So you’re connected with them now? You said before you weren’t interested.”
“Who knows what they think? Anyway, it’s a rare opportunity, so…”
Ari’s words trailed off, and Seoni felt a pang of guilt.
Although Gyeonhee had said it wasn’t her fault, Seoni knew that she had some responsibility in the cancellation of the Conscio brand’s store opening.
“Oh? You’re here.”
Finally, Eunyeong greeted Seoni, her mind clearly on the upcoming meeting.
“Alright, let’s double-check everything.”
At Eunyeong’s shout, Ari quickly checked her laptop.
“Laptop’s good, proposal’s good. Everything’s good!”
Ari replied as if she had memorized it, almost like a rapper.
“Nice! Let’s do this properly.”
Eunyeong clapped her hands loudly and got ready to leave.
“Wait, unni.”
Seoni called out as Eunyeong was about to exit.
“Why?”
“I’m coming with you.”
“You don’t need to. You still have a cold.”
“No, I’m almost better. I want to help with something.”
“Mm.”
“Actually, you created the Beijo character too, right? Let’s go together, okay?”
Ari, standing nearby, also urged Eunyeong.
“Mm. Fine.”
Eunyeong smiled and left the office first.
Ari exchanged a glance with Seoni before quickly following her.
Seoni grabbed her coat and, as she did, looked at the small bear doll on the table.
It was a character she had designed herself, with a chic exterior but a soft, loving personality inside.
“Take care of things, Beijo.”
Seoni whispered, patting the doll.
“Unni, if you keep dawdling, we’re leaving without you!”
Ari’s voice came from the top of the stairs.
“Coming!” Seoni quickly responded, hurrying to leave the office.
In the Underground Parking Lot
The building’s underground parking lot in Nonhyeon-dong felt damp, likely due to the rain that had fallen until afternoon.
Gyeonhee, lying back in the car with her seat reclined, had a displeased expression, her brows furrowed in frustration.
Beeep.
A text message arrived, and Gyeonhee reluctantly picked up her phone.
‘Aren’t you coming? Seoni’s here.’
“Sigh…”
After reading Secretary Kwon’s message, Gyeonhee exhaled a long, frustrated sigh.
She hesitated for a moment before, still annoyed, she typed out a quick response and sent it.
‘Is this really the best you could come up with?’
‘We have to protect her without her getting hurt. Do you have any better ideas?’
Unable to come up with a proper response, Gyeonhee irritably threw her phone to the side.
She tossed and turned a few times, growing more frustrated, before finally sitting up.
There didn’t seem to be any better options.
“Ugh!!”
Gyeonhee slammed the car door shut and made her way out of the parking lot, heading for the café.
With her sunglasses on, she radiated the aura of a celebrity.
Beeep.
At that moment, her phone rang again.
“I’m going in, I’m going in!”
Gyeonhee assumed it was Secretary Kwon and answered the phone while shouting.
Where are you going?
On the other end of the line was not Secretary Kwon, but Chaegyeong’s voice.
Surprised, Gyeonhee checked the caller ID and sighed deeply.
“Sigh. I told you not to call.”
Did you ever listen to what I say? Anyway, where are you?
“I don’t need to tell you.”
Annoyed, Gyeonhee abruptly hung up the phone.
The phone rang again, but this time, she switched it to silent mode.
“I really don’t need any more distractions right now…”
With a frustrated look on her face, Gyeonhee turned and walked toward the back entrance of the building, deliberately avoiding the front.
She opened the door, carefully checking around her before sneaking in.
Raising her head slightly, she could see Seoni having a meeting with a client and some of the Kids Fan staff.
“Here. Here.”
Secretary Kwon, sitting in a corner of the café, called him in a quiet voice.
Bent over, Gyeonhee entered and slumped into the chair.
“Is this really the only way?”
Gyeonhee asked with evident displeasure.
“Sigh… We have to protect her. There’s no better way than following her around like this.”
Secretary Kwon noisily bit into a chocolate cake as he spoke.
“Still, this is… enough.”
Gyeonhee wasn’t pleased with the idea of spying, but there was no better option.
“Sigh… Aren’t you hungry? Eat this.”
Secretary Kwon pointed to the coffee and cake he had ordered in advance.
Gyeonhee glared at him, her irritation growing.
“Can you eat without making so much noise? Clean your mouth too.”
Reluctantly, Secretary Kwon closed his mouth and silently began to melt the cake with his tongue.
His actions and expression only added to Gyeonhee’s frustration.
“…Sigh.”
Gyeonhee crossed her arms, barely holding in her anger.
Looking out the window, she noticed Seoni’s empty seat among the others, who were still engaged in their meeting.
‘Where did she go?’
She felt puzzled as she looked through the café’s windows.
At that moment, she saw Seoni coming toward her from behind.
“Is she… crazy?”
A cold sweat dripped down Gyeonhee’s back.
