A Child Who Resembles Me [EN]: Chapter 137

Jae-kwang returned home late and was surprised to find even more flower arrangements the next morning. Young-mi, who hadn’t contacted him during his work hours, had silently taken care of the gifts and compiled a list.

Young-mi must have been fielding calls from all sorts of people. She would never disparage her own child to others, so she’d bottle up her feelings every time she received congratulations, suffering in silence.

It couldn’t be easy for her.

But I think her heart is softening, little by little.

“Look at the pictures we took when the kids came home last weekend.”

Jae-kwang carefully approached and placed the tablet beside Young-mi. Yena’s smiling face filled the screen. Young-mi glanced at it briefly but didn’t pick up the tablet.

“Yena called me yesterday. She said she ate all the candies and asked me to make more.”

“…….”

“I hope you’ll be there next time Yena comes.”

Jae-kwang voiced his wish. Young-mi’s hand, which had been tidying up, paused for a moment before resuming its movements.

“We’re never going to see each other again, so what’s the point?”

“She’ll forgive you if you apologize. You know they aren’t the type of kids to hold a grudge.”

Young-mi tightly closed her mouth at Jae-kwang’s urging. He stroked her shoulder and then stood up.

“I’m going to work now. I’ll leave the pictures here.”

“I don’t need them.”

“Still, take a look.”

Since everyone in the family was stubborn, it would take time to change their minds. Jae-kwang decided not to push her.

As Jae-kwang was about to leave, his phone rang. It was his secretary.

“Are you already at work? I’m just heading out.”

“Chairman, I think you need to see these articles right away.”

The secretary sounded urgent. Jae-kwang opened the news articles she sent. A barrage of articles about the Seryun Group had been released.

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

「Seryun Group Owner Family’s Abuse of Power」

「Larvae Found in Seryun Food’s New Dumplings」

「Seryun Food’s Dumpling Factory Has Poor Hygiene: Former Employee Confesses」

「Seryun Construction Affiliate’s Illegal Bidding: Suspected Shell Company」

「Seryun Group’s Second Generation, Jung Ji-tae and Jung Ji-heon’s Dissolute Lifestyle and Corruption Allegations」

「Seryun Food’s President Jung Ji-tae Giving Work to His Younger Brother’s Company, Max Planning」

As if coordinated, new articles about the Seryun Group were appearing constantly.

Interspersed with the general exposés were product photos from Seryun Food and videos purportedly showing the inside of the Seryun Food factory. The source was unknown, and the truth was unclear, but the situation couldn’t be easily dismissed.

Ji-heon was summoned to group headquarters. The company was inundated with calls from reporters, and client companies informed them that Max Planning had been removed from upcoming presentations. Needless to say, the stock prices of all Seryun Group affiliates plummeted.

Due to the wedding announcement the day before, Jung-oh also found herself under unwanted scrutiny. Reporters had somehow obtained her internal phone number and were calling her.

As a result, Jung-oh left work early and met Jin-seo in front of Yena’s baduk [Go, a strategy board game] academy for the first time in a while, accompanying her to Jin-seo’s OB/GYN.

For Jin-seo, the Seryun Group scandal was the main topic of conversation. She shook her head in disbelief.

“This can’t all be a coincidence. Someone is definitely plotting against you.”

Jin-seo seemed convinced that someone was intentionally behind it. Jung-oh began to consider the possibility.

If it was a scheme, who could be responsible? Maybe Remy Remy?

Remy Remy, who had been humiliated by Ji-heon on Monday and kicked out, was reportedly facing disciplinary action at Dawon Liquor. This was because Ji-heon had sent the video file to an executive at Dawon Liquor.

After reviewing the video, Dawon Liquor conveyed its sincere apologies to Max Planning and promised to never send anyone like Remy Remy again. It was fortunate for Max Planning, but Remy Remy might be plotting revenge.

But Jung-oh quickly dismissed the idea. It seemed too big to be Remy Remy’s doing.

Jin-seo said in a low voice, “This feels like a huge scheme. Could Chae Eun-yeop be behind it? He’s been harboring resentment since Ji-heon and Jung-oh announced their wedding.”

Jung-oh considered Jin-seo’s suggestion, but she couldn’t easily agree. Chae Eun-yeop would be cautious, especially with his father facing a confirmation hearing for a Supreme Court Justice position. He was too much of a planner to risk causing trouble and jeopardizing his hard work.

After discussing this and that, they arrived at Jin-seo’s OB/GYN. The appointment was brief, just to get the results of her prenatal checkup. Jin-seo had severe anemia, so the doctor prescribed iron supplements.

“Aren’t you getting a prenatal checkup, Jung-oh?”

“Prenatal checkup?”

“Yes. You’re planning on having a second child, right?”

Jung-oh simply nodded.

“It’s good to get one before you get pregnant, or even better, before you start trying. They can check for hepatitis antibodies and give you a shot in advance if you don’t have them.”

“…….”

“The test is simple. It doesn’t take long.”

“Ah, should I get one then?”

With Jin-seo’s encouragement, Jung-oh decided to get a prenatal checkup. As Jin-seo said, the test was quick.

After the test, the hospital even gave her folic acid supplements as a gift. The container rattled with every step she took.

When she was pregnant with Yena, she hadn’t taken nutritional supplements early on. It was a lingering regret. Jung-oh stared at the folic acid and said, “But I’m a little worried. Even if I have a baby now, there will be a big age gap with Yena.”

“We can raise them together with our third child,” Jin-seo said, as if it were nothing to worry about. She seemed genuinely happy at the thought of raising a child alongside Jung-oh. Jin-seo, imagining such a future, remembered something from the previous weekend and spoke again. “We must be destined. I saw a picture of Do-bin when he was young the other day and, guess what……”

However, before she could finish her story, Jung-oh suddenly ran off, leaving Jin-seo behind.

Someone had collapsed in the middle of the road. Jung-oh rushed to the fallen person and cried out, “Chae Eun-bi! Eun-bi!”

Chae Eun-bi?

Surprised by Jung-oh’s shout, Jin-seo ran over. The person lying on the street was indeed Chae Eun-bi. Jung-oh, holding Eun-bi, who was unconscious and pale, checked her breathing and continued to call her name before looking up.

“We need to get her to the hospital.”

“I’ll pick up the kids, so you go ahead.”

Jin-seo hailed a taxi. Jung-oh, with the driver’s help, supported Eun-bi and headed to the hospital.

Why did she collapse? Why is she in this state? Even unconscious, Eun-bi was holding her hand over her stomach as if protecting something. A strange ache resonated in Jung-oh’s heart.

Eun-bi was immediately taken to the emergency room on a stretcher. Her body was emaciated, but her lower abdomen seemed slightly swollen. Jung-oh told the medical staff about Eun-bi’s condition and mentioned a possibility, however remote.

“Please check her medication. She might be pregnant.”

“Are you a family member of the patient?”

“No. I’m a friend.”

“Can you contact her guardian?”

Jung-oh felt awkward. Eun-bi’s phone was locked and, for some reason, in airplane mode.

Contacting Eun-yeop, whose number she knew, felt dangerous. But asking Ji-heon to get Eun-bi’s mother’s number felt like inviting a scolding.

Unable to do either, Jung-oh stayed by Eun-bi’s side. The doctor said she should wake up soon if there were no complications.

But Eun-bi remained unconscious for a long time. Around 7 p.m., Guk-soon called. Jung-oh stepped out of the emergency room and answered the phone.

“Hello.”

“Why aren’t you here? Did you go to Do-bin’s house?”

“No, Mom, someone I know collapsed, and I’m at the hospital.”

“Who!”

“Chae Eun-bi.”

“……Chae Eun-bi collapsed? Why are you at the hospital? Is there no one else?”

“Yeah. There’s no one else. She collapsed in front of me, so I couldn’t just leave her.”

Jung-oh’s voice was apologetic. A sigh came from the other end of the line.

“Mom, don’t worry. Yena is playing at Do-bin’s house for the first time in a while, so you can pick her up, or Ji-heon can pick her up later.”

“Okay. I understand. Take care of yourself, too.”

Jung-oh smiled weakly, knowing what her mother was worried about.

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

Eun-bi woke up in the emergency room, surrounded by curtains.

“Gasp!”

Startled by the eerie sight, Eun-bi immediately touched her stomach. She was anxious, unsure if the baby she was carrying was still there.

Earlier that afternoon, Eun-yeop had come to her house and taken her to the hospital. He had already completed all the paperwork. Eun-yeop confidently demanded that the doctor perform the surgery ‘legally, because the continuation of the pregnancy was harming the mother’s health.’ After receiving the doctor’s confirmation, Eun-yeop left with a satisfied expression, and Eun-bi was prepped for surgery.

But as time passed, she realized something felt wrong.

Eun-bi had fled the hospital. She seemed to have lost consciousness near the hospital.

What happened after that? How did I get here?

Is the baby… safe?

As she looked around, the curtain was pulled back, and someone entered. It was Lee Jung-oh. Eun-bi’s eyes widened in horror.

“Are you okay?”

“…….”

“I brought you here because you collapsed on the street.”

“Why are you here? Get out.”

When Jung-oh didn’t move, Eun-bi decided she had to leave. She tried to pull out the IV needle, but Jung-oh stopped her.

“No. You need to finish the injection.”

“How can I get an injection in front of you? How do I know what’s in it?”

“What are you talking about? How can you say that?”

“…….”

“This is just a nutritional supplement. It’s harmless to the fetus…”

Jung-oh carefully mentioned the baby.

Eun-bi felt miserable at Jung-oh’s words, as if she knew everything. But strangely, she also felt a sense of relief. She felt like she was about to cry.

It was awful that the only person who acknowledged her child was the person she hated most, but she also felt an unexpected comfort.

“Think about your health. You know your condition better than anyone else.”

Jung-oh handed Eun-bi her phone, offering gentle advice.

“Contact your mother. I’ll leave when she gets here.”

“It’s okay. I’ll take care of it, so just leave.”

“Okay. Then I’ll watch you make a call and then I’ll leave.”

Eun-bi glared at Jung-oh.

But Jung-oh didn’t budge. She had confirmed that Eun-bi was pregnant and couldn’t leave her alone. She had a feeling something bad would happen if she did.

“Or give me the number of a close friend. I’ll call them.”

“…….”

“Chae Eun-bi, this isn’t the time to be stubborn.”

“Don’t pretend to be nice and get out! Do you even know what I did because of you guys…”

Eun-bi stopped, embarrassed. Jung-oh’s eyes widened.

Her heart pounded. It seemed Eun-bi was hiding something.

“…What?”

“It’s nothing. Go.”

“What did you do?”

“…….”

“What kind of secret are you hiding?”

Jung-oh watched Eun-bi’s lips become dry.

What had Chae Eun-bi done? Was it related to the online attacks against the Seryun Group? Or was it Chae Eun-yeop?

Or was it about Yena?

“Tell me. I’ll help you if I can.”

“Don’t act friendly just because you caught me at a weak moment. It’s disgusting.”

Eun-bi even gave a sarcastic smile, as if she had regained her strength, and asked a mocking question. “Would you be so concerned if the baby in my stomach was Jung Ji-heon’s?”

“That’s impossible. It would be more believable if you said you were having a phantom pregnancy.”

Lee Jung-oh wasn’t one to be swayed by such provocation.

“I’ll ask again. Chae Eun-bi, what do you know?”

Jung-oh asked again, her voice even more serious.

Eun-bi’s heart tightened.