A Child Who Resembles Me [EN]: Chapter 50

50. Why Mom?

The next day. Wednesday morning.

As soon as Seung-gyu arrived at work, he went to see Ji-heon, his eyes brimming with tears. He was overflowing with gratitude.

“I survived because of you the other day. Thank you so much, my dear friend.”

If Ji-heon hadn’t visited, Seung-gyu might have had to rush all three kids to the hospital. Just imagining it made him dizzy.

“I accidentally had a third child… I’m really worried because my wife seems to be having such a hard time.”

After expressing his thanks, he slumped down, lamenting his situation. But Ji-heon didn’t react to Seung-gyu’s complaints at all.

“What’s wrong? What happened?”

“Could you look into Lee Jung-oh for me?”

Instead of responding to his friend’s woes, Ji-heon abruptly asked him to investigate someone. Seung-gyu was surprised that the target was Deputy Lee Jung-oh.

“Deputy Lee Jung-oh… why?”

“I heard she has a child. She’s an unwed mother.”

“Wow.”

“Just find out some simple things. Who she’s living with, if she’s seeing anyone, if she has in the past, if she’s still with someone.”

“……”

“If possible, find out what kind of guy he is, too.”

“…That doesn’t sound simple.”

Seung-gyu replied, his voice trembling slightly.

However, Ji-heon didn’t retract or soften his request.

“You’re the only one I can trust. Please.”

He had never investigated anyone before, so he was flustered, but Seung-gyu couldn’t refuse. It was also the first time Ji-heon had made such a personal request.

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

Every second Wednesday of the month is Jajangmyeon Day [black bean noodles day] for Production Team 2, who take their Jajangmyeon very seriously.

Jung-oh hadn’t forgotten to bring a black t-shirt. She had been feeling gloomy since yesterday, but she couldn’t resist Jajangmyeon.

Her heart and clothes became one with black, and she felt a cathartic sense of darkness rising within her.

As she walked down the hallway to the conference room, Gi-hoon, who was also wearing a black t-shirt, spoke to her.

“We look like a couple wearing this.”

“Don’t say that. It’s already widely known that I’m a mother.”

“Maybe it’s also widely known that I like you, Deputy Lee.”

“Oh my. You’re asking for trouble, Gi-hoon.”

Jung-oh playfully tapped Gi-hoon’s arm.

Gi-hoon, ever good-natured, laughed even as he was being hit.

The smile she barely managed to conjure quickly disappeared as she looked straight ahead. Ji-heon was walking towards them from the opposite direction.

Ji-heon passed by them without showing any reaction.

She felt something breaking in her heart.

She felt like they had returned to being lovers for just one day. No, a few hours.

That short tryst disappeared like a dream in the night.

Back to normal, really back to normal. Back to when she was alone. Jung-oh quickly accepted the change.

It’s okay, I am.

I’m not weak enough to despair over every little thing like this.

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

In the midst of the chaos, the PT [presentation] D-day was fast approaching. Even though she had prepared perfectly, there were constant revisions, so the final proposal ended up being called ‘the real real real final final final’.

And so, on the day of the PT.

The elite team members, fully prepared, got into the car.

The PT attendees were the planning team leader, Team Leader Sung Mi-ran, Deputy Park Young-gwang, and Jung-oh and Ji-heon.

While driving to the Sori Telecom headquarters, the PT venue, Ji-heon gave instructions.

“Since the launch is urgent, if we win the advertisement, we need to schedule the filming right away. The PD [production director] should keep that in mind and be able to answer any questions about the filming schedule immediately. We have some overseas filming, so giving them confidence in the overseas location will help us score points.”

“Yes, Director. I’ve prepared well for that part and I’m confident.”

Deputy Park Young-gwang replied to Ji-heon’s words.

“I also believe it will go well.”

Ji-heon, smiling reassuringly, shared additional information he had obtained.

“As you know, the CEO of Sori Telecom likes emotional appeals. He has a habit of sticking his butt out and leaning his head forward to look closely at the presenter when the story is interesting. And if he ultimately likes it, he leans back in his chair and takes a comfortable posture. Keep a close eye on the CEO’s intentions, manage your time well, and get good results.”

Jung-oh quietly nodded, focusing solely on her presentation for the day.

Since the fact that Jung-oh was an unwed mother was revealed, Ji-heon had never approached Jung-oh privately. Even when he had something to say to the presenter, he only spoke publicly in front of everyone.

Jung-oh also unknowingly avoided Ji-heon. As Mi-ran advised, she didn’t want to have any contact with Ji-heon until the rumors at the company died down, and she also wanted to focus on preparing for the PT.

Jung-oh thought it was a good thing. Since then, Eun-bi’s harassment had stopped and the PT preparation had gone well, so she had regained a sense of normalcy in her daily life.

“Both of you just need to do as you did at the rehearsal yesterday.”

At Ji-heon’s encouragement, Jung-oh smiled nervously. When she accidentally made eye contact with Ji-heon, Jung-oh lowered her gaze.

The team members arrived at the PT venue and were guided to the waiting room. Max Planning was the last of the three advertising agencies to present. Jung-oh saw the members of the team right before them leaving the conference room with frustrated sighs.

She greeted the presenter with a nod, and the presenter smiled bitterly and said.

“It’s not a PT, it’s a pressure interview. Good luck.”

Hearing the presenter’s comments made her even more nervous. Jung-oh steeled herself and entered the conference room.

A solemn atmosphere, dark figures. No matter where she looked, she couldn’t see anyone her age. She worried if she could perform well in front of the executives who didn’t seem to have any smiles.

Mi-ran grabbed Jung-oh’s hand tightly under the table. Mi-ran’s hand felt cold for some reason, and it felt like her head was clearing.

“Director Jung Ji-heon, you came in person.”

The CEO of Sori Telecom seemed to know Ji-heon. Since he was the son of the chairman of the Saeryun Group, they might know each other.

“Yes. Hello. Thank you for having me.”

Ji-heon gave a short greeting and passed the baton to the planning team leader. The presentation began immediately.

While the planning team leader was presenting the plan, Jung-oh examined the expressions of the executives. The CEO nodded from time to time, but there was little change in his expression.

Not many people laughed at the jokes that the planning team leader made based on his experience. Still, he finished the presentation smoothly.

Then, it was Jung-oh’s turn.

Looking at the audience while sitting and looking at them while standing was definitely different. The faces of the members who attended together, right at the end of the audience, were also captured one by one.

And in the middle of them, Jung Ji-heon.

His gaze, looking at her indifferently, felt a little trustworthy for some reason.

“Hello. I’m Lee Jung-oh, copywriter at Max Planning.”

Jung-oh began her presentation.

Jung-oh’s presentation was better received than the plan. During the presentation, the CEO of Sori Telecom pulled his chair back, rested his chin on his hand, and looked at Jung-oh.

His expression didn’t change, but his eyes showed interest. Jung-oh watched the CEO’s reaction and adjusted her pace.

After Jung-oh’s presentation ended successfully, the planning team leader presented the overall schedule and media plan again. As expected, after the presentation, questions were asked about the filming schedule, and Deputy Park Young-gwang stood up and emphasized that they could guarantee overseas filming.

The planning team leader answered the questions about the media smartly. Ji-heon answered directly about the cooperation plan with the Saeryun Group affiliates, which increased credibility. There were no other questions about the production plan.

She thought it would end like that, but the CEO called on Jung-oh last.

“Copywriter Lee Jung-oh?”

“Yes.”

Jung-oh stood up from her seat.

“Can our brand show the heart of a mother?”

“……”

“What is ‘mother’ to Copywriter Lee Jung-oh, what are ‘mothers’?”

It was a question about ‘Why Mom’.

Was this what the presenter from the competitor meant by a pressure interview?

Jung-oh closed her mouth and thought quietly.

Her mother came to mind, and her child, who called her mother, came to mind.

When she thought of her child, Ji-heon, who was looking at her in front of her, came into view even more clearly.

And then, her child’s various expressions came to mind again.

I love you. I love you.

I’m so sorry because I love you so much.

She felt sorry for everything she had done her best for but ultimately fell short.

The face of her mother, who always said she was sorry, also came to mind.

Jin-seo’s appearance, saying several times that she was a lacking mother, also flashed by.

“Mothers. Mothers are.”

In the quiet, Jung-oh opened her mouth.

“They are the ones who find what they haven’t given even after giving so much and feel sorry for it.”

The CEO, who had been looking at Jung-oh with his chair pulled back, lowered his hand from the table and straightened his spine.

“I am confident that Me&Talk will become an app that shares hearts. I hope it will become an app that looks into the love and pain of a mother that is melted in the words ‘I miss you’.”

Soon, the CEO, who had relaxed his posture, leaned back comfortably in his chair.

The CEO, who smiled faintly as if he was about to show it, said.

“Thank you for your hard work. You can leave now.”

The members of Max Planning packed up their equipment and came outside. Everyone sighed quietly as if they were thinking of something they regretted.

Team Leader Sung Mi-ran’s face looked noticeably uncomfortable. Jung-oh’s legs were also shaking as if she had just finished a pressure interview, but Ji-heon’s expression alone looked annoyingly relieved.

“Thank you for your hard work. Let’s go back now.”

Ji-heon said to everyone. Then the conference room door opened again and a man shouted.

“Max Planning people. Please come back in.”

Ji-heon’s annoying smile deepened even more. Ji-heon took the lead. Jung-oh widened her eyes and followed.

When they entered the conference room, the CEO got up from his seat and approached Ji-heon to shake hands.

“The executives unanimously decided to go with Max Planning.”

Ji-heon shook the CEO’s hand, maintaining a business smile as if he knew it would happen.

“We will work hard. Thank you for your consideration.”

“The schedule is tight. You need to start preparing for filming right away.”

“Yes, CEO. I will discuss it with the staff.”

It was a very decisive decision. Tears welled up in Jung-oh’s eyes, who finally breathed a sigh of relief. She felt like her efforts and hard work had been rewarded, and she felt like she was about to cry.

But Team Leader Sung Mi-ran’s expression was even worse than before. Even though the air conditioning was cold, Mi-ran’s forehead was covered in sweat.

On the way back, Jung-oh put aside her happy heart for a moment and asked Mi-ran.

“Team Leader, you don’t look too good. Are you feeling unwell anywhere?”

“I know, I think I need to go to the hospital…”

Mi-ran said, groaning. Her face looked like she was about to collapse at any moment.

The car carrying the PT attendees went straight to the hospital. Mi-ran was now barely able to walk.

The others returned to the company, and Jung-oh stayed by Mi-ran’s side as her representative.

The diagnosis was acute appendicitis. Surgery was performed urgently.

Mi-ran’s face, which had been carried into the operating room and came out, looked like it had been halved in the meantime [meaning she looked much thinner/weaker].

Jung-oh informed those who were worried and continued to stay by Mi-ran’s side.

Mi-ran, who woke up from anesthesia, checked the schedule first, even though she was groaning.

“There’s a cosmetics meeting this afternoon.”

“Yes. Deputy Park Young-gwang will take care of it. I think you’ll have to be hospitalized for 4 days, Team Leader.”

“I have to go on a business trip on Friday…”

Mi-ran sighed deeply, looking at the other side, and turned her head with difficulty to say to Jung-oh.

“Deputy Lee, you have a passport, right?”

“If I look for it, it might be somewhere…”

“Then that’s fine. Go and come back.”

“…Australia? Me?”

“It’s a place Deputy Lee has been to, right? It’ll be easier because you know it.”

“No, but that was 7 years ago…”

“Deputy Lee is the best person for the job. Go and come back.”

Jung-oh couldn’t answer easily and looked at Mi-ran.

“You know I’m from a copywriter background, right? Deputy Lee will become a CD (Creative Director) someday too. When that time comes, you’ll have to do everything.”

Even in the midst of her confusion, Mi-ran smiled to ease Jung-oh’s burden.

“Please take care of it. You’ll be able to do it well.”

Jung-oh eventually accepted the mission after Mi-ran’s repeated persuasion.

A 3-day, 5-night overseas schedule as Mi-ran’s replacement.

Jung-oh’s heart was pounding with pressure and excitement.

The filming location is none other than Melbourne, Australia.

Jung Ji-heon, the place where we first met. I’m going back there.

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

With a tight schedule until the on-air date, Deputy Park Young-gwang immediately started moving without dwelling on the joy of winning the advertisement.

First of all, the overseas filming departure was confirmed for Friday, and the planning team leader, Deputy Park Young-gwang, and Deputy Lee Jung-oh were leaving as representatives.

Young-gwang immediately prepared the documents and reported to Ji-heon.

“Team Leader Sung Mi-ran had surgery, so Deputy Lee Jung-oh will be joining. Deputy Lee Jung-oh worked the hardest to prepare for the PT and also has experience living in Australia during her student days, so I think she will be helpful in many ways.”

“She lived in Australia?”

“Yes. She says she knows the area near the filming location well.”

Ji-heon looked at Young-gwang with narrowed eyes, then lowered his head and signed the documents, saying.

“No matter how well Deputy Lee Jung-oh does her job, there is a difference in rank from Team Leader Sung Mi-ran, so the client who trusted us and entrusted us with the work will inevitably feel disappointed.”

“But there is no one as qualified as Deputy Lee Jung-oh…”

“I will go too. Then the balance will be right.”

“…Yes?”

“I’ll go separately on Sunday, so you don’t have to worry about it.”

Ji-heon replied in an indifferent tone and handed over the documents.