A Child Who Resembles Me [EN]: Chapter 133

133. I Want to Take the Call

After Jiheon left the conference room, everyone’s attention snapped to Jeongo.

“Oh… Oh… Deputy Lee, so that’s what happened. Deputy Lee got married. To the Director…”

“So, that’s why the Director rushed over here?”

The planning team leader and the production team leader spoke, their voices still laced with shock. Go Eunju, the deputy, answered instead.

“I called the Director. I told him the Remi Remi advertiser was here, so he should come take a look.”

Eunju offered a quick excuse, but both she and Jeongo knew the truth: Jung Jiheon had come to protect Lee Jeongo.

Jeongo bowed her head slightly.

“I’m sorry for telling you so late.”

“No, it’s okay. Congratulations! Congratulations! …You’re going to keep working after you get married, right?”

Team Leader Ahn Chanseop waved his hand, asking cautiously.

“Of course. Please, speak as comfortably as you always do.”

Ahn Chanseop’s long sigh rippled through the room, spreading like a domino effect to the planning team leader beside him, and then to the colleague next to him.

The meeting was effectively canceled. It was too uncomfortable to remain seated, so Jeongo quickly gathered her things and stood up. As soon as she left the conference room, she hurried towards Jiheon’s office, eager to reach him before anyone else could.

She burst through the door, and Jiheon looked up at her with a nonchalant expression.

Jeongo, a firm resolve etched on her face, approached and glared at him.

“You’re good at swearing, huh?”

“So what? They’re people I won’t see again anyway.”

“You swore in front of the employees.”

“I’m allowed to. Besides, you felt relieved too, didn’t you?”

“…Anyway, a father shouldn’t swear.”

“Why not? Is a father not a person?”

“No. You’ll get into the habit, and what if you do it in front of the kid?”

“Why would I swear in front of the kid?”

Even though he had revealed his true colors in front of the employees, he didn’t seem to regret anything.

“Anyway, that’s something I can’t help even if you tell me. I might do it in an unavoidable situation.”

“…”

“I almost killed him because he said he was personally close to you.”

When he put it like that, it sounded too sincere.

Feeling a sudden chill, Jeongo quickly changed the subject.

“Oh, Jung Jiheon has changed so much. Seven years ago, he was a pure young man who talked to flowers and butterflies.”

“Are you taking advantage of the fact that I lost my memory to say whatever you want?”

At Jeongo’s exaggerated joke, Jiheon chuckled, as if he was dumbfounded.

Chasing away Remi Remi was a relief, but Jeongo was worried about the aftermath. That’s why she had rushed over.

Jiheon was a member of the owner’s family, but the company didn’t belong to him. If this matter became known in the wrong way, he could face even greater criticism for being the owner’s son.

“What are you going to do now? What about Dawon Liquor?”

At Jeongo’s question, Jiheon placed the phone he was holding on the table and pressed the button on the screen. A voice they had heard once before echoed from the phone.

[Why are you asking me that? I told you to take care of it yourself. Whether you dance or sing.]

[Ugh. That’s why production is no good. AEs [Account Executives] do everything they are told, but why is production like that? What university did Deputy Lee graduate from? It’s always the less educated ones who are so arrogant.]

It was a recording of Remi Remi’s abusive remarks. If Dawon Liquor made an issue of this, they could present them with this recording. Jeongo’s mouth widened in surprise.

“Jung Jiheon… you’re really a meticulous craz–”

“What? Why are you stopping in the middle of your sentence?”

“No. It’s nothing.”

“Weren’t you going to say, ‘You’re really a meticulous crazy person’?”

“Oh, no. How could I say such vulgar words? Absolutely not.”

Jeongo, who had just scolded Jiheon for swearing, quickly feigned innocence and snatched Jiheon’s phone away.

“But didn’t you record Oppa’s swearing? I want to hear it again.”

“You told me not to earlier.”

“It’s not okay for Oppa to do it, but it’s okay for me to listen to it.”

Pfft.

Just a few minutes ago, when she heard Remi Remi’s voice in front of the conference room, anger had surged, and she was still upset that she couldn’t hit Remi Remi and had to let them go nicely, but thanks to Jeongo’s self-contradiction, the boiling anger inside calmed down a little.

Because of Lee Jeongo, his life had no time to be boring.

Jiheon grabbed Jeongo, who was pointlessly pressing the buttons on his phone screen, and turned her face towards him. A breath as sweet as last night made him forget today’s fatigue.

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

「Jung Jiheon, Director of Max Planning and the second son of Sehyun Group Chairman Jung Jaegwang, recently announced his marriage. The bride is a copywriter at the same company. The two have not yet held a wedding ceremony and have only registered their marriage. They plan to hold a wedding ceremony with only family and close friends invited in the future.」

On Thursday, as Jiheon had predicted, the marriage registration article was published. Without a single photo, without any gossip about amnesia or hidden children, it was an article with only very simple facts.

Nevertheless, flower gifts poured in for Jiheon without a break, and the company was in an uproar.

In the afternoon, rumors spread throughout the company that Jiheon’s bride was Lee Jeongo. Every time Jeongo passed by, people greeted her with joyful smiles and congratulations.

“It’s amazing. No one is asking how a single mother married a bachelor, no one is begging to hear the behind-the-scenes stories, and no one seems to be giving me the side-eye or whispering. Everyone is just congratulating me.”

Jeongo, who had received long greetings even while going to the restroom, spoke to Eunju as if it was nothing special. Eunju replied.

“Didn’t you know? I posted it in the group chat.”

“Deputy Go did?”

“Yes. The Director told me to prevent Deputy Lee from getting tired of answering so many people.”

With her answer, Eunju showed the group chat screen. It was a chat room that Jeongo didn’t participate in.

– Deputy Lee Jeongo’s daughter is Director Jung Jiheon’s daughter. The Director lost his memory in an accident seven years ago, so he broke up with Deputy Lee, but recently met Deputy Lee again. And got married.

Following Go Eunju’s short and dry explanation, exclamations such as ‘Oh my!’, ‘Wow!’, and ‘Oh my god!’ followed in a row.

“I’m not the only one. Song Kihun probably posted the news in the group chat he participates in as well. Section Chief Park probably posted it too.”

Eunju added, pointing to Kihun and Younggwang’s seats.

Jeongo was bewildered by the fact that such machinations were taking place without her knowledge. She had expected that when the news of the marriage registration was announced, all sorts of rumors would spread and a storm would break out.

She had been preparing herself, thinking that it was something she had to go through once, but there was this secret behind the more uneventful reaction than expected.

“I’m just an ordinary employee, so I did what the Director told me to do. Is that okay?”

“Of course, of course! You did it for me, Deputy!”

“The Director’s image isn’t like it used to be these days, and it’s really good. His favorability rating went up even more after he kicked out Remi Remi last time. Everyone must be thrilled that good news is being delivered at such a good time.”

“Thank you. Deputy Go.”

“Then buy me food. Something delicious.”

“Of course, of course! I’ll buy you something really delicious and expensive.”

At Jeongo’s bright smile, Eunju shrugged her shoulders, lowering her eyelids like a prim girl. She had been secretly worried, but she was proud of Jeongo’s reaction.

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

Eunbi, who learned about Jiheon’s marriage through a friend’s call, lamented sadly. Her life was falling into the abyss, while Lee Jeongo had caught a good fish and was living in luxury.

She felt bitter and didn’t want to contact anyone, but Ham Daegeun kept calling. He was being too annoying. Eunbi couldn’t bring herself to block him, so she ignored all his calls.

She didn’t even want to reply to text messages, so she sent a separate text to Eunyeop. She asked her to say that she was sick if Daegeun was looking for her.

She really wasn’t feeling well. She felt a stabbing pain in her lower abdomen for some reason. It was the moment she realized that she was not alone.

She wondered if she was having a miscarriage, or if it would be better to have surgery, and Eunbi dragged her listless body to the hospital.

“You’re back so soon.”

At the doctor’s greeting, Eunbi explained the reason. On the one hand, she wished the baby would disappear without a trace.

“Yes. My lower abdomen keeps throbbing. I was wondering if there was something wrong with my body.”

“Is that so? Is your uterus weak…”

The doctor looked worried and immediately checked the condition of the fetus. The doctor’s voice soon brightened.

“It’s playing very well. Today… it’s much bigger than last time?”

At the doctor’s examination, Eunbi’s eyes widened. Along with the loud heartbeat, the image of a baby like a teddy bear was displayed on the monitor.

“I’d say it’s 9 weeks.”

“You said it was 8 weeks and 2 days on Monday.”

“There may be errors depending on the baby’s movements or the angle of the machine. Even so, the baby is growing very well.”

“…”

“Since the baby’s growth rate is fast, the mother also needs nutrition, so you should eat a balanced diet and take nutritional supplements. If you have any problems, come to the hospital anytime.”

The doctor smiled as if he was genuinely happy that the baby was growing well. Eunbi couldn’t cry in front of him and had a blank expression. The doctor, who had met many pregnant women like Eunbi, was quick to notice. The doctor cautiously tried to persuade Eunbi.

“I think your uterus may be congenitally weak, so if you give up [have an abortion], it may be difficult to have another child. You have to be strong.”

Eunbi left the hospital with heavy steps. In the meantime, she received a call from another friend. The friend, who still thought she worked at Max Planning, called to congratulate her on her marriage.

Since the article mentioned ‘a copywriter at the same company,’ these calls would continue for the time being. She even began to suspect that Jung Jiheon and Lee Jeongo had done it on purpose.

There’s nothing I can do as I please.

No, there was one thing. Whether to give up the child or keep it.

Tears came to her eyes when she realized that her life, lamenting a life that didn’t go her way, was similar to the life of the baby in her womb. For the first time, she felt sorry for the baby. For meeting the wrong mother…

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

After the news of his second son’s marriage was published, Jaegwang received as many congratulations as Jiheon. He politely declined the gifts because he had not yet held a wedding ceremony, but Jaegwang’s office was soon filled with flowers.

Even those who came to see him for work congratulated Jaegwang.

“Chairman, I heard you have a granddaughter. Congratulations.”

“Thank you. Would you like to see a picture of my granddaughter?”

Jaegwang didn’t miss such a guest and showed them his granddaughter’s picture. He didn’t even wait for them to beg him to show it.

“Oh. What kind of work is this?”

“It’s me. You can tell it’s me at a glance. Don’t you think?”

“…That’s right. She drew it very well.”

“Right? She’s only seven years old, but she has a very genius talent.”

Jaegwang was learning about a new happiness in life. Of course, there were considerable side effects. He kept wanting to see the child. He would enter and delete his granddaughter’s phone number on his phone a dozen times a day.

“Chairman, the meeting is ready.”

“Okay.”

Today, Jaegwang stared blankly at the phone screen before heading to the meeting.

He regretted not telling her to call him every day. He didn’t want to be a grandfather who nagged his granddaughter, so he didn’t set a specific time, but if he had known that the child would make him so anxious, he would have set a day and time in advance.

“The area that has shown the most remarkable growth in the Indonesian expansion project is…”

As the saying goes, sincerity moves heaven. Just as he was about to focus on the presenter’s presentation, the phone screen lit up. Jaegwang’s eyes widened as he saw the words ‘Princess Yena’ filling the screen, wondering if this was a dream. His heart was also beating like crazy.

However, the situation was not good. It was an important meeting. He couldn’t pretend to be distracted with dozens of executives called in as the head of the group. His lips were parched.

“Chairman, are you feeling unwell somewhere?”

“Oh, no, no, water.”

“Here’s water.”

The water was in front of Jaegwang, but the secretary thought Jaegwang hadn’t seen it, so he brought it right in front of Jaegwang’s nose.

Jaegwang didn’t touch the water and kept looking at his phone.

I want to take it. I want to take the call.

But while he was agonizing, the call was cut off. It was as if the lifeline of affection had also been cut off.

“Hoo…”

The surroundings became quiet at Jaegwang’s deep sigh.

“Ah, don’t worry about me and continue.”

Jaegwang waved his hand at the presenter who had stopped the presentation at his sigh.

“Recently, with the Korean Wave [Hallyu, the increase of international interest in South Korea], interest in domestic brands has also increased…”

At that moment, the phone rang again!

The embers of hope that had been revived!

Jaegwang couldn’t stand it and got up from his seat.

“Let’s take a 30-minute break and resume the meeting.”

Jaegwang held the phone to his chest and hurriedly left the conference room.