A Child Who Resembles Me [EN]: Chapter 45

45. My Man

“Did Department Head Jo Si-nae say that? That the Director and I broke up? So now, you’re believing the words of someone who caused an incident and got kicked off the team?”

Eun-bi stormed out of the conference room, her face flushed red from Department Head Go Eun-ju’s attack.

It was obvious she was going to confront Department Head Jo Si-nae.

Eun-ju’s victory was decisive, but her expression barely changed as she left the conference room.

“How dare she touch me?”

Jeong-o watched silently, sensing Eun-ju’s quietly muttered words.

“Did she get a head just to keep her shoulders from being lonely?”

*Ugh. That’s really innovative and terrible…*

Jeong-o cautiously touched her head, imagining a spare head placed on her shoulder.

Trying not to show her reaction, she attempted a breath that was neither laughter nor embarrassment, but inhaled sharply instead. At that moment, she met Go Eun-ju’s eyes. Eun-ju stared intently and asked accusingly.

“Why?”

“No reason.”

“…….”

“Department Head Go, you don’t swear, do you? You always say that those who swear are vulgar.”

“There’s a need to show a human side every now and then, isn’t there?”

Eun-ju replied without batting an eye.

“How about Director Lee swearing once in a while? He makes people eat it with a smile. It’s such a bright madness.”

Pfft.

“Director Lee, don’t laugh. If you don’t swear at times like this, you’ll get bruises on the inside.”

Far from getting bruises on the inside, she felt even more cheerful thanks to Go Eun-ju.

The news that the two had broken up would soon spread. Because of what she had said, Chae Eun-bi would receive even more glares.

Eun-bi went straight to find Department Head Jo Si-nae. When she left the conference room, she was angry and stomping, but as she climbed the stairs, she began to rethink her approach. What was the smartest way to act now?

With sorrowful, moist eyes, Eun-bi opened the door to the reading room. Department Head Jo Si-nae was sitting at the librarian’s desk, endlessly fiddling with her phone.

“Department Head Jo Si-nae.”

“Oh, yes. Section Chief. What’s the matter?”

Si-nae looked at Eun-bi with wary eyes.

Last Friday, Si-nae had been called in by Ji-heon. And she learned that all the marriage stories Eun-bi had told her were false.

Ji-heon didn’t explicitly reveal it, but Si-nae could sense it. No, she got the impression that Ji-heon was indirectly speaking, hoping she would notice Eun-bi’s lies.

From the moment she left Ji-heon’s office, Si-nae’s mouth was itching. She felt like she was dying to tell someone what she had learned, but no one would talk to her.

The only person who came to Si-nae, who was alone, was Department Head Go Eun-ju. Si-nae grabbed Eun-ju, who had come to receive the handover, and talked about this and that, adding more interesting details to the story she had heard.

She also knew that Chae Eun-bi would come running to her someday. But Si-nae was not intimidated. If Chae Eun-bi was not Jung Ji-heon’s prospective bride, then Chae Eun-bi was useless to Si-nae.

So she treated her indifferently, as if looking at dust in front of her eyes, but Eun-bi asked about Si-nae’s well-being with teary eyes.

“Have you been well? I miss you so much, really. Department Head Jo was my best friend. It feels like an arm has been torn off.”

Si-nae’s eyes wavered.

Quickly sensing this, Eun-bi carefully asked.

“…Did you hear something from Ji-heon *oppa* [older brother or male friend]?”

“…….”

“That’s not true. There’s a complicated problem right now.”

Eun-bi looked at Si-nae with sincere eyes. She knew to some extent how to move Si-nae’s heart.

“There’s another culprit. We talked about it in the bathroom once. Don’t you remember?”

“…….”

“My hunch and Department Head Jo’s were exactly right. Do you know how I feel?”

“…So, is Department Head Lee Jeong-o stealing Director Jung?”

As expected, Si-nae quickly reacted.

“…I’ll tell you everything someday. Anyway, what Department Head Jo knows is not true. I’m really upset and speechless, but I’ll overcome it.”

“…….”

“Department Head Jo is here because of Lee Jeong-o. Let’s all overcome it. Let’s work hard and restore everything to its original state.”

*Saying, I’m also a victim like you.*

The two were in a perfect position to form a consensus.

Eun-bi was someone who should never collapse.

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

5 minutes before 10 a.m.

After finishing the meeting preparations, Jeong-o went to call Ji-heon.

Ji-heon was already out in the hallway. Ji-heon, who found Jeong-o, slightly raised the corners of his lips. Jeong-o didn’t show any reaction and went next to him and asked.

“You’re going to the meeting, right? Director.”

“I have to.”

While standing side by side and taking a few steps together, she kept feeling itchy. Jeong-o asked with suspicious eyes.

“Did you tell Department Head Jo Si-nae? That Eun-bi lied?”

He didn’t answer. But Jeong-o read the silence as affirmation.

*Wow…*

*He’s really amazing, amazing.*

This man schemes for the truth, while Chae Eun-bi schemes for lies, but somehow the tendency to use people well seemed similar between the two.

*I didn’t know this man’s true colors seven years ago.*

She felt somehow provoked. She stuck to his side and snapped.

“But can you be so relaxed? I think you’re also very wrong, Director.”

“What’s wrong?”

“Isn’t a fake relationship wrong from the start?”

“Is that jealousy?”

“It’s not! I’m advising you as a friend!”

*Ugh, there’s no reasoning with him.* Jeong-o abandoned Ji-heon and went into the conference room first.

Soon, the first planning and production meeting began. The planning proposal was presented by the planning team leader, and the production proposal was presented by Team Leader Seong Mi-ran.

The reaction was good. Everyone in the planning team was also satisfied with the production proposal. Ji-heon also added only the things that needed to be supplemented without much criticism of the production proposal.

“The advantage of an in-house agency is that it can receive cooperation from other affiliates. I hope that some ideas that utilize affiliate benefits are included. Since there is no time, if you prepare by tomorrow, I will review it and request cooperation from the affiliates.”

*I thought he wasn’t very interested in working, but he does do a little.*

Jeong-o chuckled in the corner.

At that moment, Ji-heon made eye contact with her from afar.

“But which person will be doing the production presentation?”

“I’m going to do it for now, but I’m worried because the target is 2030 [people in their 20s and 30s].”

Team Leader Seong Mi-ran replied.

“How about Section Chief Chae Eun-bi doing it? Section Chief Chae Eun-bi has a good expression.”

The planning team leader recommended Eun-bi. Eun-bi smiled, putting on a good expression.

Ji-heon didn’t even glance at Eun-bi and asked Mi-ran.

“Department Head Lee Jeong-o worked hard to prepare the PT [presentation], right?”

“Yes. Department Head Lee Jeong-o always works hard.”

When Mi-ran praised Jeong-o, Ji-heon also glanced at Jeong-o and smiled faintly.

“She’s also good at improvisation.”

Jeong-o didn’t like Ji-heon’s praise for some reason. It felt sarcastic.

The improvisation she showed in front of Jung Ji-heon was nothing but criticizing Jung Ji-heon.

Even so, she felt a little flutter in her heart when he praised her in front of everyone.

“Let’s have Department Head Lee Jeong-o do it.”

After a while, Ji-heon made a decision.

Jeong-o was a little surprised, but nodded calmly.

Everyone was satisfied with Ji-heon’s decision, but Eun-bi, who was shocked, bit her lower lip tightly.

After the meeting, all the participants in the competitive PT had lunch together. Jeong-o talked more with the planning team AE [Account Executive] and Team Leader Seong Mi-ran.

Jeong-o had never met the Sori Telecom officials, so she didn’t know the atmosphere properly. She needed to be aware of the tendencies of Sori Telecom executives and the points to note at the PT venue.

She heard so many stories that she didn’t know whether the abalone hot stone pot rice that Director Jung Ji-heon bought her went into her ears or her nose.

“But Department Head Lee isn’t eating much today. Are you nervous?”

“Haha. No. I’m just listening to the team leader’s words.”

“Pfft. That’s why I’m relieved about Department Head Lee. I’m relieved that you don’t get intimidated wherever you go.”

Team Leader Seong Mi-ran praised her once again. But Mi-ran was busy, so she couldn’t stay by her side all the time.

“Then I’ll leave you alone, so eat slowly and come back.”

Mi-ran got up from her seat first, and other team members left the restaurant one by one. Gi-hoon waited for Jeong-o until the end, but eventually Gi-hoon was also called by the advertiser and had to rush back to the company.

The last one to get up from her seat, Jeong-o, was about to leave the restaurant when someone stuck close to her side.

It was Chae Eun-bi.

“Do you know why Ji-heon *oppa* [older brother or male friend] is showing interest in you?”

“…….”

“It’s because of you. Lee Jeong-o. Because it’s you.”

She felt like the lunch she had eaten was stuck in her throat.

But Jeong-o quickly resigned herself.

*Okay. Chae Eun-bi. If you want to vent somewhere because you’re cornered, I’ll gladly be your opponent.*

*What must have been on your mind, waiting for me in front of the restaurant, wanting to say that one word to me.*

Jeong-o stood there and listened to Eun-bi’s words.

“*Oppa* [older brother or male friend] is a born *chaebol* [wealthy conglomerate heir], so he has a natural sense of compassion. He can’t just pass by shabby children, and he’ll give money without hesitation if someone is starving.”

“…….”

“If I were you, if you were from a single-parent family and had nothing and aroused compassion, *oppa* [older brother or male friend] would be willing to show interest in that shell.”

As Jeong-o just stared without saying anything, Eun-bi went on more fiercely as if she was excited.

“Did you try to look more pitiful, by any chance? Because that’s your only competitive edge?”

“…….”

“Still, no matter how uneducated you are, there are things you shouldn’t covet. How can you covet your friend’s man?”

“Friend’s man?”

Jeong-o frowned and asked briefly.

Eun-bi corrected the words she had said.

“Ah. ‘Friend’ is a bit much between us. Anyway, it’s not good to touch someone else’s man, someone else’s thing, Jeong-o.”

Jeong-o raised one corner of her mouth and smiled quietly.

“Okay. Thanks for the advice. Listening to you, I guess so. It must be because I’m Lee Jeong-o. But what can I do?”

*Now it’s time to counterattack.*

*Jeong-o wasn’t just someone who was being beaten.*

*This situation where there’s no one around isn’t just advantageous to you. I can say whatever I want, too. Chae Eun-bi.*

“You must be so frustrated that you can’t even get that kind of attention. Because you can never be Lee Jeong-o.”

Eun-bi’s eyes widened at Jeong-o’s blow.

“And, someone else’s man? Someone else’s thing?”

“…….”

“How is that person yours? It’s never been yours, has it?”

Now, in response to Jeong-o’s confident question, tears of anger could be seen in Eun-bi’s eyes.

Jeong-o realized one thing.

*’The two of them really weren’t anything!’*

Once she realized that, Eun-bi’s actions became even more incomprehensible.

“You’re the one who’s sick for clinging to someone hopeless, Eun-bi. You can never have Jung Ji-heon.”

“…….”

“He’s my man.”

*Well, he’s the father of my child.*

*Mr. Jung Ji-heon, I’m sorry.*

*I don’t want to talk about you like an object either. But she’s being rude. So, excuse me for a moment.*

Jeong-o politely asked Ji-heon for understanding in her heart and smiled at Eun-bi.

She thought it was too vicious. But remembering what happened in Ji-heon’s office last Wednesday, this didn’t seem like much.

Eun-bi’s face twitched at Jeong-o’s words. She seemed so frustrated that she couldn’t grab her hair first because of her pride.

Eun-bi, who was staring at Jeong-o with her fists clenched so tightly that she thought her fingernails would break, strode towards the company.

*I’m not sorry at all.*

Jeong-o stared at that figure for a long time and muttered to herself.

“Hmph. So small.”

“Pfft. I know, right.”

Huh……?

Jeong-o was surprised by the voice coming from behind and turned around.

It was a chilling feeling that all the blood was draining from her body.

*No, why are you coming out from there…*

A person came out from behind the pillar of the *piloti* [open space under a building] parking lot next to the building, which she didn’t even know existed.

She didn’t know there was space behind the pillar.

Jeong-o almost fell without tripping on anything.

*Does he think he’s caught her weakness?* Ji-heon was looking at her very satisfyingly with an expression that he was having a hard time holding back his laughter.

Jeong-o thought.

*I’ll probably be doing blanket kicks [acting embarrassed] for the next 20 years thinking about today.*

No, the next 20 years weren’t the problem.

What… what exactly did I say?

“He’s my man.”

The crazy words she spat out as if threatening Eun-bi were stuck in Jeong-o’s head again.