A child who looks like me

It was a lazy afternoon without any meetings.

Jungoh continued with her work, occasionally stretching her neck to glance over at Eunbi’s desk. Eunbi, who had left in the morning for an external meeting, still hadn’t returned. Several times, she heard An Chansub, the Team Leader of Production Team 1, asking about her whereabouts.

‘She’s probably wandering around, threatening to sue someone.’

Was she off tattling to her brother? If so, whose side would Cha Eun Yeob take?

Of course, Cha Eun Yeob would side with Cha Eunbi, not Jungoh. After all, he’d approached her under the guise of Ha Jin Chul, so once he’d obtained the information he needed, he would surely cut off contact.

‘I’ll only get to see Cha Eun Yeob maybe once or twice more, and that’s if I’m lucky and brace myself for it.’

As Jungoh pondered how to mess with Cha Eun Yeob, Deputy Manager Park Young Gwang approached her.

“Assistant Manager Lee, Director Jung wants you to come to his office.”

“Oh, sure. Got it.”

Curious about why Jiheon was summoning her, Jungoh rose from her seat. Kihoon swiveled his chair to face her and asked, “Want me to come with you?”

“No, it’s okay. I’ll go alone. Thanks.”

Jungoh smiled at Kihoon. Team Leader Sung Miran, who had been watching the scene blankly, quickly turned away when her eyes met Jungoh’s.

Yesterday, there had been an incident in the restroom. Jungoh had hit Eunbi, who then criticized her harshly. Because of that, her colleagues seemed to be even more wary of her. The only person treating her the same as before was Deputy Manager Go Eun Joo.

“I’ll be back.”

She quietly informed her team and left for the office. The secretary, who usually sat outside the office, was absent.

Knock, knock.

“Director, it’s Lee Jungoh.”

“Yes.”

The response seemed oddly close to the door. She tilted her head in confusion as she opened it.

Then, swoosh. As soon as she opened the door, an arm extended from inside and pulled her in, just like that night in the Melbourne hotel.

Click.

Jiheon, embracing her, reached behind her to close the door. Although his arms felt warm and comforting, she was a bit anxious about his behavior.

“The secretary’s going to notice right away.”

“Secretary Yoon’s on leave today.”

“Don’t call me to your office for no reason.”

“It’s not for no reason. You’re the most important reason.”

With his head resting on her shoulder, Jiheon murmured as he tightened his hold, preventing her from pulling away.

“You’re suffocating me.”

“I’m suffocating too.”

“Right? So you feel suffocated too?”

“No, you’re holding me so tightly I can’t breathe.”

As she struggled to push his arms off her, Jiheon, now slightly pushed away, gave her a displeased look.

“Director, there’s an order to things. If it’s out of order, people feel uncomfortable.”

Staring at him with piercing eyes, she continued.

“Our situation involves personal entanglements, so it’s perfect gossip material for people. We need to handle it properly, and we need to let some time pass.”

“But Yeona’s waiting.”

“Even so, rushing things isn’t the answer.”

“…….”

“Besides, who knows how long your whims will last?”

“What?”

Jiheon had been about to nod compliantly despite her rebuke, but now he was stunned.

“Do you really think my feelings might change?”

“You never know what might happen.”

Though he wanted to warn her not to change either, he couldn’t argue against her words. He couldn’t deny that the biggest fault lay in him for failing to remember her for seven years.

“You don’t need to worry about that.”

“…….”

“I won’t change. Ever.”

He spoke sincerely, and she knew he wouldn’t. This man, who had approached her with the same instincts as seven years ago—how could he ever change?

“Fine. I’ll trust you. But you need to set an example. Work hard, not haphazardly. You’re sitting in the Director’s chair, so act like a true leader.”

If she didn’t keep him in check, he’d probably create a space for her right next to the secretary or even in a corner of his office. She quickly distanced herself.

“And Director, please watch your terms of address at the office. Don’t call me over for trivial things.”

“But seeing you helps me remember better….”

“Let’s just work when we’re at work, understood?”

The seven years they’d been apart had changed Jungoh, not Jiheon. She had firmly taken hold of her reason.

.*. *. *. *. *. *.

The day passed more peacefully than the day before.

Jungoh also left work early and went to help at Guksun’s restaurant.
There were quite a few customers today, so it wasn’t until after 8 p.m. that they managed to close up. By the time they finished cleaning up and she got home, it was already past 9.

After putting Yeona to bed, Jungoh joined Guksun in the living room, sitting beside her. Guksun, who was folding laundry, glanced at her and asked flatly, “Why? Hungry again?”

“Mom, do you think I’m some kind of eating machine?”

Jungoh grumbled, picking up a towel. Neither of them mentioned the incident at the restaurant last night or the letter from Jungoh. There were things they both understood without needing words—a solid love that required no explanations.

But what she was about to talk about now was something that would never be known unless said out loud.

“Mom. I have something to tell you.”

Carefully folding a towel and stacking it neatly, Jungoh began, her tone cautious.

“Why are you kneeling like that? Trying to scare me?”

Seeing her tense up and adjust her position, Guksun frowned.

“You didn’t quit your job, did you?”

“Oh, Mom. Why would I quit?”

“Then what is it? What’s the problem now?”

“…I met Yeona’s dad.”

Her mother’s expression, which had initially reflected mild annoyance, changed as her mouth fell open wider with her daughter’s confession. But, as always, Madam Lee Guksun didn’t get too agitated.

“…Are you okay?”

First and foremost, she wanted to know if her daughter was alright.

“Of course, I’m fine.”

“What kind of man is he? Is he doing well?”

“Yeah. He’s doing great.”

Even at the news that he was doing exceptionally well, Guksun’s frown didn’t ease.

She thought back to the man who had visited the restaurant with Jungoh a few days ago. She’d heard he was a company director, but something about the way he looked at her daughter seemed unusual.

Surely, it couldn’t be him.

“That director who came to the restaurant that day. It’s him.”

She had hoped otherwise, but alas…

Sigh! Guksun let out a deep breath.

Jungoh could see the rage boiling up in her mother’s eyes. The neatly folded T-shirt in her mother’s hands was now thoroughly wrinkled.

Jiheon, if you’d been here now, you might have ended up with a broken bone or two…

Watching her mother’s expression carefully, Jungoh began to explain in a soft voice.

“There’s a story behind it. He has amnesia.”

“…”

“He didn’t know I was pregnant. He had completely forgotten me.”

“Forgotten? For seven years?”

“Yes, seven years.”

“That scoundrel. How does anyone forget something like that? Are you sure it’s true?”

“Yes, I checked everything.”

“Oh, good heavens.”

“….”

“Good heavens… good heavens…”

As if she were standing in the middle of an earthquake, Guksun placed both hands on the floor to steady herself. Seeing her daughter’s face, blinking nervously, only made her feel more pity.

How hard must it have been for this child? How much had she suffered?

The thought of not even being able to fully understand her pain made her heart ache.

“Bring him over. Tomorrow, right away.”

Rising to her feet, Guksun straightened her back, her voice stern.

“Tell him to prepare himself for a good scolding.”

After issuing her command, Guksun headed toward the door. Startled, Jungoh rose and asked, “Where are you going?”

“To cut a switch.”

“At this hour? Wait, are you going to hit someone’s child?”

“It’s an initiation.”

“….”

“If he made my daughter cry, he should be ready to get hit.”

“Mom, I didn’t cry blood!”

Without so much as a scoff at her daughter’s rebuttal, her mother disappeared into the night.

Having narrowly cleared one hurdle, Jungoh immediately called Jiheon.

Ring.
“Yes, hello?”

.*. *. *. *. *. *.

Jiheon, who had been anxiously waiting for her call, answered almost immediately.

“I told my mom.”

“What did she say?”

Ba-dum, ba-dum…

“She said to bring you tomorrow.”

Phew…

Releasing a breath of relief, Jiheon leaned back in his chair, secretly exhaling.

“But don’t relax just yet. You might get hit, and it might be with a switch, so you might want to dress in thick clothes.”

Unable to see her expression, he couldn’t tell if she was joking or serious. Calming his nerves, she added one more hopeful suggestion.

“After we talk with my mom, let’s also tell Yeona. Tomorrow.”

His heart began to pound again.

.*. *. *. *. *. *.

The next afternoon, in front of the Go Academy.

The daycare bus arrived, and Yeona stepped off.

With Jiseo pregnant, Yeona had resumed taking the daycare bus to and from school. Her academy teacher, who had been waiting, greeted her with a warm smile.

With her hair pulled up like a ballerina and wearing a pretty dress, Yeona looked like a princess.

“Hello, teacher!”

“You look pretty today, Yeona.”

“Yes. I heard we have a guest coming.”

“What kind of guest?”

“I don’t know.”

Even as she answered, Yeona thought she might have an idea.

That morning, the “uncle” had visited her again—her mom’s director.

Unlike usual, when he said “See you tomorrow” at the bus, he had said “See you later.”

‘Uncle seems to want to be close with Mom.’

Does Mom like him too?

If so, then today’s guest must be him.

Feeling a twinge of disappointment, Young Detective Yeona took her teacher’s hand and entered the academy building.

“Let’s take the elevator.”

The teacher guided her into the arriving elevator. Yeona stepped in alongside her teacher.

Just as the elevator doors were about to close, a hand slid between them, and they opened again. A tall, poised, middle-aged woman stepped inside.

Her clothing and accessories looked expensive, and Yeona’s teacher thought the woman didn’t seem to match the building’s environment.

The woman gazed intently at Yeona, who was holding her teacher’s hand tightly.

So, it’s you. You’re Yeona.

“What floor are you going to?”

Since the woman hadn’t pressed a button, the teacher asked first. The woman, as if suddenly recalling her destination, pressed a button. Yeona, standing close to it, took a step back, but the woman’s ornate bracelet caught on her hair.

“Ow!”

Yeona yelped.

“Oh, dear!”

The woman quickly pulled her bracelet away, flustered. It had happened too fast for the teacher beside her to intervene.

“Ouch!”

Yeona let out an even louder cry.

Her neatly styled hair that Jungoh had so carefully combed that morning was now a mess. Realizing her hair was in disarray, Yeona’s face twisted in dismay.

“Oh dear, your pretty hair is all ruined. What a shame…”

The woman, looking embarrassed, pulled out some money from her wallet. It was a fifty-thousand won bill.

“Sweetie, I’m so sorry. Would this help?”

“No, it’s okay. I can just fix her hair again myself.”

The teacher stepped between the woman and Yeona, speaking politely.

“Oh, I’m really sorry. Sweetie, I’m sorry.”

Since the woman repeatedly apologized, neither the teacher nor Yeona could hold a grudge.

“It’s okay,”

Yeona answered firmly, remembering how she’d been taught to forgive those who sincerely apologized.

When the elevator doors opened, Yeona and her teacher exited first. The woman waved at Yeona, gripping her bracelet tightly.

A little later, the elevator stopped on an upper floor, but the woman didn’t get off. Instead, she pressed the button for the first floor again.

After exiting on the first floor, she climbed into a car waiting in front of the building.

“The child is cute,”

Youngmi muttered, sighing as she gazed at the building from inside the car. Then, she pulled out a hair strand from her bracelet, placing it in an envelope and handing it to Choi, the driver.

“Drop me off at home, then deliver this to the address written on the envelope. I’ve already informed the staff, so make sure you get it there on time.”

“Yes, madam.”

With that, Driver Choi started the car.

.*. *. *. *. *. *.

Eunyeop waited nervously for Driver Choi. Ten minutes passed, and soon she spotted him approaching.

“Driver.”

“Yes, Attorney.”

Eunyeop pointed to a child’s electric toy car behind her.

“Oh, it looks brand new.”

“My nephew barely used it. It’s practically new. I hope the child likes it.”

“I’m sure they’ll love it. Thank you.”

Eunyeop had put in a lot of effort for this meeting. She knew, from brief conversations with Driver Choi, that he had a child, so she’d offered him her nephew’s electric toy car. This let her monitor Lady Jang’s actions closely.

After confirming Yeona’s existence through Eunbi, Lady Jang would undoubtedly act right away. And sure enough, she had gone straight to Yeona’s Go academy.

“You’ll probably need to load it into the trunk; would you like some help?”

“Oh, no need, Attorney.”

Driver Choi lifted the large toy car with ease, looking pleased. Meanwhile, Eunyeop took a quick glance at the front passenger seat of the car.

Everything was in place. Next to the driver’s seat, she spotted a white envelope. Swiftly, she opened the door, grabbed the envelope, examined its contents, and switched it with an identical one she’d brought along.

It’s done.

A gleam of triumph sparkled in Eunyeop’s eyes as she completed her plan.