A Child Who Resembles Me [EN]: Chapter 71

71. Bring Him Here

A languid afternoon without meetings.

Jeong-oh stretched her neck, looking over at Eun-bi’s empty seat. Chae Eun-bi, who had gone out on business in the morning, had not yet returned. Team Leader Ahn Chan-seop of Production Team 1 was heard asking where Eun-bi had gone several times.

‘She’s probably running around saying she’s going to sue me.’

Is she going to run to her brother and tell him everything? Then whose lawyer will Chae Eun-yeop be?

Chae Eun-yeop would naturally abandon Lee Jeong-oh and side with Chae Eun-bi. From the beginning, he approached her under the name Ha Jin-cheol, so once he got the information he needed, he would cut off contact immediately.

‘I’ll only be able to meet Chae Eun-yeop once or twice more. And even then, I’ll have to be fully prepared.’

As Jeong-oh was pondering how to get back at Chae Eun-yeop, Deputy Manager Park Young-gwang approached her.

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

“Ah, yes. I understand.”

Jeong-oh wondered why Ji-heon was looking for her and got up from her seat. Gi-hoon turned his chair to face Jeong-oh and asked.

“Should I go with you?”

“No, I’ll go alone. Thanks.”

Jeong-oh smiled at Gi-hoon. Team Leader Seong Mi-ran stared blankly at the scene, and when her eyes met Jeong-oh’s, she quickly turned her head away.

Yesterday, there was a commotion in the restroom. Jeong-oh hit Eun-bi, and Eun-bi harshly criticized Jeong-oh. Perhaps because of that incident, it felt like her colleagues were even more wary of Jeong-oh. The only person who treated her consistently was Assistant Manager Go Eun-ju.

“I’ll be back.”

Jeong-oh quietly reported and left for the director’s office. The secretary who was always sitting in front of the office was not at her desk.

Knock knock.

“Director, it’s Lee Jeong-oh.”

“Yes.”

It sounded like the reply was coming from close to the door. Jeong-oh tilted her head and opened the door.

And, whoosh. As soon as she opened the door, an arm reached out from the inside and pulled her in. Just like at the hotel in Melbourne.

Click.

Ji-heon hugged Jeong-oh and reached behind her to close the door. His embrace was nice and warm, but Jeong-oh was worried about his actions.

“The secretary will notice right away if you do this.”

“Secretary Yoon is on vacation today.”

“Don’t call me to your office when you don’t have any business.”

“Why don’t I have any business? You’re my biggest business.”

Ji-heon, who was leaning his head on Jeong-oh’s shoulder, said. As she tried to break free, he squeezed her even tighter.

“I can’t breathe.”

“I can’t breathe either.”

“Right? You can’t breathe either, right?”

“No. I can’t breathe because you’re squeezing me too hard.”

Jeong-oh retorted, pushing away his hold with all her might.

Ji-heon, pushed back, looked at her with narrowed eyes as if he didn’t like it.

“Director, there’s an order to things. People feel uncomfortable if it doesn’t fit that order.”

Jeong-oh glared at Ji-heon.

“Our problem involves a love affair, so it’s the perfect subject for people to gossip about. We need to sort it out properly. And some time needs to pass.”

“But Yena is waiting.”

“Still, we can’t rush it.”

“…….”

“And who knows how long your change of heart will last.”

“What?”

Ji-heon, who was trying to nod obediently even though he was upset by her lecture, was dumbfounded.

“You think my heart will change?”

“You never know with people.”

He wanted to warn her not to change her mind, but he didn’t have the strength to argue. He couldn’t deny that it was mostly his fault for not remembering her for seven years.

“Don’t worry about that.”

“…….”

“It will never change.”

He said seriously. In fact, Jeong-oh knew that he wouldn’t change. He was a man who had approached her with the same instincts as he had seven years ago.

“Okay. I’ll believe you, so you should set an example too. Don’t do your work half-heartedly, work hard. Huh? You’re in the head of headquarters position, so you have to become a true leader.”

If she didn’t do this, he might create a place for Jeong-oh in the secretary’s seat, or even in a corner of his office, so she quickly distanced herself.

“And Director, please be careful with honorifics at the company. And don’t call me for unnecessary things.”

“But I need to see you to get stimulated and remember more…….”

“Let’s just work at the company. Got it!”

The 7 years they lived apart. It wasn’t Ji-heon who had changed, but Jeong-oh.

She fiercely maintained her reason.

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

A day that passed peacefully compared to yesterday.

Jeong-oh also left work early and helped Guk-soon with her restaurant work. There were quite a few customers today, so they didn’t close the restaurant until after 8 p.m. By the time she finished cleaning up and returned home, it was after 9 p.m.

Jeong-oh, who had put Yena to bed first, came out to the living room and sat next to Guk-soon. Guk-soon, who was folding laundry, glanced at her and asked bluntly.

“Why? Are you hungry again?”

“Mom. Do you think I’m just a glutton?”

Jeong-oh grumbled and picked up a towel. The two of them didn’t say anything about what had happened at the restaurant last night or about Jeong-oh’s letter. There were things they knew without saying. A solid love that didn’t need to be spoken.

But the story she was about to tell was something that could never be known unless she told it.

“Mom. I have something to tell you.”

Jeong-oh, who had neatly folded a towel and stacked it well, carefully opened her mouth.

“Why are you kneeling? It’s scary.”

Guk-soon frowned and asked as Jeong-oh, nervous, readjusted her position.

“Did you quit your job or something?”

“Oh, Mom. Why would I quit my job?”

“Then why? What’s the problem now?”

“……I met Yena’s father.”

The mouth that had been opened as if dissatisfied with her daughter’s actions widened even more at her daughter’s continued confession. But as expected, Ms. Lee Guk-soon didn’t get too excited.

“……Are you okay?”

Whether her daughter was okay, that was the first thing.

“Of course, I’m okay.”

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

“Yeah. He’s doing great.”

Even with the answer that he was doing great, Guk-soon’s expression didn’t improve.

The man who had come to the restaurant with Jeong-oh a few days ago came to mind. He was the director of the company, but somehow his eyes when he looked at Jeong-oh seemed different.

Surely it’s not that guy.

“The director who came to the restaurant with me that time. It’s him.”

She thought it couldn’t be, but wow.

Hoo! Guk-soon took a rough breath.

Jeong-oh could clearly see that her mother was grinding her teeth inside. The neatly folded T-shirt that had been in Guk-soon’s grasp was already crumpled.

Mr. Jung Ji-heon. If you were here right now, something would have broken…….

Jeong-oh carefully told her the situation, watching Guk-soon’s reaction.

“There’s a story. He has amnesia.”

“…….”

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

“Forgotten? For seven years?”

“Yeah. For seven years.”

“That terrible guy. How could he forget that? Is it true? Not a lie?”

“Yeah. I’ve checked everything.”

“Oh my, good heavens.”

“…….”

“Good heavens. Good heavens…….”

Guk-soon braced herself with both hands on the floor as if she were in the middle of an earthquake zone. She felt even more sorry for her daughter when she saw her blinking, watching only her mother’s reaction.

How hard must this young one have had it all this time. How much it must have hurt.

She felt like she couldn’t fathom all of that, and her heart ached.

“Bring that guy here. Right away tomorrow.”

Guk-soon got up from her seat, straightened her back, and sternly ordered.

“Tell him to be prepared because I’m going to give him a good scolding.”

Jeong-oh, who had gotten up from her seat following her mother who had thrown down the order and was strangely leaving, asked.

“Where are you going?”

“To break a switch.”

“At this hour? Ah, no, are you going to hit someone else’s child?”

“It’s a welcoming ceremony.”

“…….”

“If he made my child shed tears of blood, he should be prepared to get beaten up too.”

“Mom, I didn’t shed tears of blood!”

Click.

Without even scoffing at Jeong-oh’s rebuttal, her mother suddenly left the house.

Anyway, Jeong-oh, who had overcome one hurdle well, immediately called Ji-heon.

[Hello.]

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

Ji-heon, who had been eagerly waiting for Jeong-oh’s call, answered the phone like a shot.

[I told my mom.]

“What did she say?”

Thump thump thump…….

[She wants you to come tomorrow.]

Haaa…….

Tension was released, and all the strength drained from his body. Ji-heon leaned back deeply in his chair and secretly let out a sigh of relief without Jeong-oh knowing.

[But don’t be relieved yet. You might get hit. You might get hit with a switch, so you should wear thick clothes when you come.]

Only hearing her voice without being able to see her expression, it was ambiguous whether she was serious or joking. Jeong-oh added a plan of hope to soothe his confused heart.

[After talking to my mom, let’s talk to our Yena too. Tomorrow.]

His heart pounded again.

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

The next day, afternoon. In front of the Baduk [Korean chess] Academy.

The kindergarten bus stopped, and Yena got off.

Due to Jin-seo’s pregnancy, Yena was once again using the kindergarten bus for both going to and from school. The Baduk Academy teacher, who had been waiting for Yena, greeted her with a happy face.

Yena, who had her hair tied up like a ballerina and was wearing a pretty dress, looked like a princess.

“Hello, Teacher!”

“Yena, you’re dressed up nicely today?”

“Yes. Because a guest is coming.”

“What guest?”

“I don’t know.”

She said she didn’t know, but Yena somehow felt like she knew.

The man had come to see her this morning too. Mom’s director.

The man waved his hand in front of the kindergarten bus and said ‘See you later’ instead of ‘See you tomorrow’.

‘I think the man wants to be close to Mom.’

Does Mom like the man too?

Somehow, Detective Yena felt a little sad about that.

Yena took the teacher’s hand and entered the building where the Baduk Academy was located.

“Let’s take the elevator.”

The teacher led Yena to the elevator that had arrived just in time. Yena entered the elevator with the teacher.

Just as the elevator door was about to close, someone put their hand in between. The door opened again, and a woman entered the elevator.

She was a middle-aged woman who was tall and had a straight posture. The clothes and accessories she wore looked expensive, so Yena’s teacher thought that the woman didn’t really fit in with this building.

The woman stared intently at Yena, who was holding the teacher’s hand tightly.

So, it’s you. You’re Yena.

“Which floor are you going to?”

The teacher asked first because the woman didn’t press a button. The woman pressed a button as if she had remembered late. Yena, who was standing right next to the button, took a step back, but the woman’s fancy bracelet caught on Yena’s hair.

“Ouch!”

Yena made a sound.

“Oh my, what should I do!”

The woman quickly took back her bracelet, not knowing what to do. It happened so quickly that the teacher standing next to her didn’t even have time to look.

“Ouch!”

Yena screamed even louder.

Yena’s hair, which Jeong-oh had brushed nicely in the morning, was disheveled. Knowing that her hair was a mess, Yena’s face also became tearful.

“Oh my, your pretty hair is all messed up. What should I do…….”

The woman said as if she was embarrassed and took out money from her wallet. It was a 50,000 won bill [approximately $38 USD].

“Little girl. I’m sorry. Will this be okay?”

“No, it’s okay. I can tie the child’s hair again.”

The teacher said, blocking the space between the woman and Yena.

“Oh my. I’m really sorry. Little girl. I’m sorry.”

Since she repeatedly said she was sorry, neither the teacher nor Yena could get angry.

“It’s okay.”

Yena, who had learned to forgive those who apologized first with a generous heart, replied firmly.

The elevator door opened, and Yena and the teacher got off the elevator first. The woman waved her hand at the child. Holding the bracelet tightly.

After a while, the elevator stopped on the upper floor, but the woman did not get off and pressed the button for the first floor again.

The woman who got off on the first floor got into the car waiting in front of the building.

“The child is pretty.”

Young-mi sighed, looking at the building from inside the car. And she took out a strand of hair from the bracelet she had brought and put it in a bag and handed it to Driver Choi.

“Drop me off at home and take this to the address written on this envelope. I’ve already told the employee in advance, so make sure you get it there on time.”

“Yes, Madam.”

Driver Choi, who had answered, started the car.

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

Eun-yeop waited anxiously for Driver Choi. After waiting for about 10 minutes, Driver Choi appeared.

“Driver.”

“Yes. Lawyer.”

Eun-yeop showed the driver the children’s electric car behind him.

“Oh my. It’s brand new.”

“My nephew said he didn’t ride it much. It’s as good as new. I hope the child likes it.”

“Of course, they’ll love it. Thank you.”

Eun-yeop had worked quite hard today for this meeting. Eun-yeop, who had identified that Driver Choi had a child from the greetings he exchanged while coming and going, contacted him constantly, saying that he would give him the electric car that his nephew used, and investigated Madam Jang’s movements.

He was convinced that Madam Jang, who had confirmed Yena’s existence from Eun-bi, would take action immediately.

As expected, Madam Jang visited the Baduk Academy herself to find Yena.

“I think you’ll have to put it in the trunk, would you like me to help you?”

“Oh my. No, thank you, Lawyer.”

Driver Choi lifted the large electric car with a happy expression. Meanwhile, Eun-yeop examined the front seat of the car that the driver had brought.

There was not a single deviation. A white envelope was visible right next to the driver’s seat. Eun-yeop quickly opened the door and picked up the envelope, examined the inside, and replaced the envelope containing the hair with the one he had brought.

Now it’s done.

Eun-yeop’s eyes shone, having accomplished everything.