Chapter 29
You Found Me
CEO’s Office, Consensio
Reviewing the financial statement, Gyeon-hee let out a heavy sigh.
“At this rate…”
Because of last year’s reckless spending spree, the company’s debt ratio was already dangerously high. On top of that, Chun-deok’s subtle moves toward online distribution were getting on her nerves.
“In the end, the only real solution is to acquire DNBM.”
But the DNBM CEO’s whereabouts remained a mystery, which only added to her frustration.
While absently circling the words DNBM CEO with her pen, Gyeon-hee slammed the fountain pen down.
Thunk. Roll…
The elegant pen spun and stopped.
Just then her phone rang—Secretary Kwon.
“Did things go smoothly with them?”
Gyeon-hee knew exactly where Kwon had gone and got straight to the point.
“Uh… something weird happened.”
“What do you mean?”
“Seon-i suddenly ran out in the middle of the conversation.”
“Why?”
Gyeon-hee frowned.
“I… don’t know.”
“Didn’t you say you’d handle it?”
“…Sorry.”
“Where is she?”
Gyeon-hee forced herself to keep her anger in check.
“Sir, you can’t go in there!”
A security guard’s voice came from beyond the door.
“It’ll just take a moment!”
Then a familiar voice.
“…I think I know where she is.”
Understanding the situation, Gyeon-hee’s voice turned cold.
“What? Where?”
“When you’re back, write me a full report.”
She hung up on Kwon and walked to the entrance.
Opening the door, she found Seon-i arguing with the security guard.
“C-CEO.”
Recognizing her, the guard bowed nervously.
“It’s fine. You can go.”
“Ma’am?”
“I’ll take it from here. Go on.”
“Ah, yes.”
Only after the guard left did Gyeon-hee turn and walk back into the office. Seon-i followed, her face tense.
“What’s going on?”
“You know exactly what.”
“If you cut out the beginning and end, how am I supposed to know?”
At Gyeon-hee’s calm reply, Seon-i bit her lower lip.
“…It was you, wasn’t it?”
“What was me?”
“Canceling W’s placement. It was you, right? Like last time.”
Seon-i spoke with certainty. Gyeon-hee stayed silent, her gaze heavy. After a long moment, she finally answered.
“…Yeah. I did it. So what?”
Her eyes were even colder now.
“What?”
“I canceled W’s placement and ordered them to bring you to Consensio. So what?”
Gyeon-hee’s voice sharpened.
“G-Gyeon-hee…”
“Answer me. Are you coming or not?”
“…No.”
Seon-i’s reply was firm.
“Really? Then we’ll all go down together.”
She said it as if talking about someone else’s problem, arms crossed.
“What are you waiting for?”
All go down together.
The words froze Seon-i. If W’s placement was canceled, Kids Fan wouldn’t even have a chance to recover.
“Weren’t they precious to you?”
Her eyes trembled at Gyeon-hee’s question.
“So precious, and this is all you can do? How amusing.”
His words cut like a blade. Seon-i squeezed her fists and closed her eyes.
“I’ll give you one last chance.”
He paused at the door.
“There are only two kinds of people in this world: those I use, and those trying to use me. Think carefully. Use me—or become someone worth using.”
Seon-i had no answer. He was simply stating an unvarnished truth.
“Precious? Words mean nothing.”
With that, he left.
Click.
Silence settled over the office. Only Seon-i remained.
“Whew…”
Seon-i exhaled deeply, her face set.
Before she knew it, she was near the Kids Fan office. She didn’t even remember how she’d left Consensio. Only the thought that people she loved might suffer because of her filled her with unbearable pain.
It felt like salt rubbed into an open wound. But one thought was clear:
I can’t let them suffer because of me anymore.
She slapped both cheeks hard, checked her reflection in a window, and marched down the stairs.
“Unni! Where were you? We were worried!”
Ari scolded as Seon-i came in.
“Sorry. I had to blow off some steam.”
She offered an apologetic smile.
“What about that guy?”
“Who? That squid? He bolted the moment you left.”
“Forget those jerks. If they show up again, I’m calling the cops.”
Eun-young’s voice was firm.
Knowing they were only worried for her, Seon-i gave a bittersweet smile. After a pause, she spoke.
“Unni, let’s just accept their offer.”
“Where? Don’t tell me… Consensio?”
At Eun-young’s shocked question, Seon-i nodded.
“No matter how I think about it, that’s the best option right now.”
“Are you crazy? How could we go there after everything?”
“This isn’t just about you. We’re in this together. If we close the office, where will I go? Where will Ari?”
She exaggerated playfully to soften Eun-young.
“Stop it.”
Eun-young turned away. Understanding her better than anyone, Seon-i approached slowly.
“Unni…”
She hugged her from behind.
“If you’re going to talk nonsense, let go.”
But Seon-i held on tighter.
“…It’s for everyone. Okay?”
“…”
“Let’s get stronger there, then leave on our own terms. Okay?”
She smiled brightly, trying to reassure her.
“Seon-i…”
“I’m fine. It’ll be uncomfortable, but really, I’m okay.”
She forced a smile.
“…Haah.”
Eun-young closed her eyes, unable to answer. Ari just watched in worried silence.
“Then it’s settled.”
Seon-i grabbed Secretary Kwon’s business card from the table, dialed the number, and spoke once the call connected.
“This is Kids Fan. Yes. We accept your proposal. Please get in touch.”
She ended the call.
“…I’m sorry,” Eun-young murmured without looking at her.
“What are you sorry for? It’s my fault. We’ll win and come back stronger!”
Seon-i clapped to lighten the mood.
“…Should we have a drink?” Eun-young suggested.
“Again with the drinking? I’ll pass today.”
“Fine. Nothing will improve in this mood anyway. Go on, get some rest.”
Eun-young gently pushed her toward the door.
Click.
Once outside, the smile slipped from Seon-i’s face.
“Haa…”
A deep sigh escaped her.
She wandered aimlessly through the darkening streets.
Will I ever break free?
She’d tried traveling, throwing herself into work, but nothing changed. The pain only grew.
Despite everything, she couldn’t ignore Kids Fan. Better she suffer than see her loved ones hurt.
She sat on a bench, staring at her phone. Without realizing it, her thumb hovered over Eun-woo’s name—and pressed call.
“…Oh?”
Startled, she quickly hung up.
“What am I doing…”
She sighed.
Pat, pat.
Rain began to fall.
“Perfect timing…”
She needed to get home before it poured, but as she hurried, she misstepped and twisted her ankle.
“Agh…”
Pain shot through her as the rain came down in sheets.
“Blaming me, huh?”
Back at home, Gyeon-hee sighed, recalling yesterday’s meeting with Chun-deok.
“What the—are you going to hit me with that?”
As Gyeon-hee approached holding a heavy book, Chun-deok flinched.
“Aaah!”
He shielded his head, but nothing happened. Peeking out, he saw her slide the book neatly onto a shelf.
Realizing she was teasing him, he scowled.
“Anyway, about that placement—you were pathetic enough that I almost let it through, but my team leader said no. Said it was terrible. So I told them to scrap it.”
He even mimed kicking something. Gyeon-hee’s brow twitched.
“So that’s why you dumped them—no value to use, right?”
Chun-deok smirked. Gyeon-hee’s voice turned silky.
“That’s not what I heard.”
“What?”
“People said they don’t work with parachute CEOs. Parachutes only fall, after all.”
His face flushed, but he forced a smile.
“That’s nonsense. You just made that up.”
“Caught me. Yes, I did.”
She smiled, provoking him further.
“You’ll keep falling for the rest of your life—as long as I’m around.”
“You little—!”
He grabbed her collar, but she twisted his wrist and shoved him to the floor.
“You know this is self-defense, right?”
Coldly, she watched him, then sat at her desk. Fuming, he finally stormed out.
That was all.
“Unbelievable.”
Even now, Seon-i’s accusation baffled her. She had no intention of explaining.
“Ugh…”
Suddenly her ankle throbbed. She lost her balance, dropping her coffee cup.
Crash!
Porcelain shattered. The pain was sharp, strange—like it wasn’t her own.
“…Cheon-seon…”
Face flushed, she struggled to stand, grabbed her coat, and limped out.
“It just won’t stop, huh.”
At a convenience store’s outdoor table, Seon-i looked up at the sky. The rain only grew heavier.
She took a bitter sip of beer.
“…Doesn’t even taste good. And I’m not getting drunk.”
Three cans in, and still nothing.
Hugging her knees, she gazed down the dark, empty street.
The world felt like it wouldn’t notice if she disappeared.
Only the relentless rain kept her company.
Loneliness gnawed at her.
She hugged her legs tighter, but the chill in her chest wouldn’t fade.
“Haa…”
Then footsteps pounded through the rain. Someone dashed under the awning.
“Haah… found you.”
Seon-i lifted her head at the voice.
“Huh?”
She froze, eyes wide.
Eun-woo stood there, soaked to the skin, breathing hard, rain dripping from his hair.
“You found me, didn’t you?”
“…What?”
“You called me.”
He smiled warmly and held up his phone.
On the screen: a missed call from Seon-i’s number.
