A Child Who Resembles Me [EN]: Chapter 72

72. First Greeting

Having arrived at the academy, Yena neatly retied her disheveled hair. Although her hair was well-arranged, Yena felt uneasy throughout the class.

Today, as Dobin was playing with Go stones [a strategy board game], Yena asked him a question.

“If you could have as much money as you want, how much would you want?”

“I want a thousand won [approximately $1 USD].”

She thought it would be difficult to answer, but Dobin replied immediately. It seemed like an answer that came without any hesitation.

“Why?”

“If I get more than a thousand won, Mom will take it away.”

Dobin’s answer seemed plausible, and Yena nodded quietly.

Why do people keep giving me fifty thousand won [approximately $50 USD]? I can’t even keep such a large sum of money anyway.

And why do I feel bad when I receive money? If I had money, I could pester Mom to buy me the toys I like.

“Why do people give me fifty thousand won?”

“Fifty thousand won? Who gave it to you?”

“A stranger.”

“Then you should tell your mom.”

“Even if I didn’t take it?”

“If I were you, I would tell her. Fifty thousand won is five thousand one-thousand-won bills. It’s a lot of money.”

Dobin, who had been showing off, immediately backed down at Yena’s correction.

“…Still, fifty thousand won is a lot of money, so I’d tell her.”

Yena also nodded.

“Yeah. I should tell her.”

* * * * * * *

Eunbi couldn’t go to work and was bedridden.

‘That little girl is Jung Jiheon’s biological daughter.’

Hopfully, her brother was mistaken. Hopefully, it was a lie.

But the more she thought about the past, the more desperate she felt.

Lee Jung-oh and Jung Jiheon had been strange from the beginning.

Jiheon was instinctively obsessed with Lee Jung-oh, like a beast with Lee Jung-oh’s name engraved in its genes, and Jung-oh seemed to avoid Jiheon but was confident and defiant, as if she had something to rely on. And…

“The director resembles my ex-boyfriend, not my dad.”

She even said that in front of her and Jung Jiheon. It was a hint appealing to Jiheon, who had lost his memory.

So that’s what it meant.

‘Lee Jung-oh. Is she using the child as a hostage to approach Jung Jiheon?’

Realizing that all of this was Lee Jung-oh’s scheme, Lee Jung-oh’s scenario, she felt goosebumps all over her body.

Yet, the reality that she couldn’t expose her slyness was frustrating and sad, and all she could do was cry.

While she was crying under the blanket, she heard the sound of the front door opening.

“Are you still like that?”

Last night, Eunbi cried in the man’s arms. It was a very sad day. After losing her lover, being treated like a nobody at work, and even getting hit by her own brother, she felt like she was alone in the world.

The only person she could rely on was this man. When she lamented while crying to the man, he even came to her house to comfort her.

And in the morning, he made her breakfast, went to work during the day, and then returned to Eunbi’s house.

“Honey, I’m so tired, I feel like I’m going to die.”

Eunbi got up with swollen eyes and reached out her arms to the man, acting spoiled. The man came over and hugged Eunbi.

“That child took everything from me. I have no future now, and I’ll be kicked out of the company. There’s no one by my side anymore.”

“What are you talking about? I’m here.”

The man held Eunbi tightly and comforted her with kind words.

“Everything will be alright. Eventually, everything will turn out the way you want it to.”

Hiccup, hiccup.

“Heaven helps those who help themselves. You need to be strong and cheer up, especially in times like these. Okay?”

Hiccup, hiccup.

“It’s okay. Don’t worry.”

Still, the man’s kind words gave her strength as if by magic. The man had a talent for counseling.

Just as she wiped away her tears, her phone vibrated. It was Eunyeop’s call.

“It’s my brother’s call. What should I do?”

The man, who knew that Eunyeop had hit Eunbi, said to Eunbi. Eunbi answered the phone with a trembling heart.

“Hello.”

[Why are you answering the phone so late?]

Hearing her brother’s tone, she despaired that there would be no apology. As she sighed inwardly, Eunyeop’s question followed.

[You haven’t been causing trouble today, have you?]

“What are you talking about? I couldn’t even go to work.”

[Yeah. It’s better if you don’t go to work.]

At her brother’s harsh words, the remaining tears in her eyes disappeared.

[Listen carefully. Just don’t do anything. That’s what’s best for you. Got it?]

The one-sided call, which was nothing but one-sided advice, was cut off abruptly.

She was stunned for a moment, but Eunbi soon came to her senses.

It seemed like her brother was preparing something. His voice was very confident.

Surely Eunyeop had a plan.

Come to think of it, Madam Jang is definitely not someone who can accept Lee Jung-oh. Maybe Lee Yena.

So, if Eunyeop uses his tricks to tie up Lee Yena’s parental rights and custody, making it impossible for Lee Jung-oh to approach…

Somehow, Chaeeunyeop seemed capable of doing it.

“I… I think I can put my hopes on my brother.”

Thinking about it made her feel better. She thought she had done well to answer the phone.

* * * * * * *

“Ah, ah, ah.”

Jiheon cleared his throat a few times.

“Hello, Mother. Yena, how are you?”

This is the director’s office, where you can see the sight of the once arrogant Jung Jiheon being polite to the air.

After practicing his greetings a few times, Jiheon stood in front of the mirror, reflecting on his body and face. His tense face looked a bit fierce. He tried to relax, but it didn’t work.

Knock knock.

“Yes.”

Jiheon answered at the knock, and the door opened. Seunggyu peeked his face through the opened door.

Jiheon recognized Seunggyu’s face but didn’t leave the mirror.

“What are you doing?”

Seunggyu spoke bluntly, finding Jiheon’s appearance of looking at his face in the mirror unfamiliar.

Jiheon asked Seunggyu with a faint smile.

“What’s my impression?”

“Why are you doing something you never used to do? Did someone tell you that you look scary again?”

“No. It’s not that.”

“……”

“I’ll tell you after today.”

“What…”

Seunggyu grumbled quietly and sat on the sofa. In fact, Seunggyu had come to talk about something too.

“Did you hear about it? There was a fight in your headquarters the day before yesterday.”

“What fight?”

“You haven’t heard?”

“……”

“Lee Jung-oh and Chaeeunbi fought in the bathroom. They said they heard Lee Jung-oh slapping Chaeeunbi.”

Jiheon’s carefully crafted smile faded, and his face hardened. He had never heard such a thing from Jung-oh.

The day before yesterday was the day Jiheon found out that Yena was his daughter. He visited Jung-oh at night and spent a long time together, but there was no mention of a fight.

Come to think of it, just before Jiheon first asked about Yena, Jung-oh said that she had a hard day today.

“Didn’t you hear anything from Lee Jung-oh?”

“Not at all. Don’t you know what happened?”

“Chaeeunbi said terrible things to Lee Jung-oh. I think she insulted her by calling her a single mother. She talked about Lee Jung-oh’s mother and her child. The insults were pretty bad. Everyone was shaking their heads, saying they didn’t know Chaeeunbi was that kind of person.”

Jiheon clenched his fist below his waist.

“If Lee Jung-oh doesn’t bring it up, don’t pretend you know first. It must be hard for her.”

“I can’t pretend I don’t know if I’ve already heard it.”

“…Then don’t say I told you.”

Jiheon smiled a little at Seunggyu’s timid request.

It was fortunate to be working at the same company as a friend. If it weren’t for Seunggyu, he would have been fooled again without knowing anything.

“Thank you for telling me.”

“What.”

“And you.”

“Yeah?”

“You really married well. Do you know that?”

“I know that, but I don’t want to hear that from you?”

“Okay. I’m sorry for saying something presumptuous.”

“What, Director Jung Jiheon, what’s wrong with you today?”

Seunggyu frowned, feeling that Jiheon’s expression and behavior were somehow different.

“What is it?”

“Is something going on today? I feel a strange sense of scheming.”

At Seunggyu’s question, Jiheon finally answered briefly.

“I’m meeting Lee Jung-oh’s mother today.”

Seunggyu’s mouth dropped open.

“What? That’s too fast.”

“There’s a reason. I’ll tell you after today.”

“You don’t mean…”

“……”

“Did you get her pregnant or something?”

“……”

“Really? Huh!”

Now Seunggyu’s eyes widened as if they were about to pop out, and he stared at Jiheon.

It was true that he had a child, but what should he say about this?

“It’s not what you think.”

“Then what, what is it!”

“Anyway, I’ll tell you after today.”

“Hey! Are you trying to die? How can you say this and stop! I can’t wait until tomorrow!”

Seunggyu demanded with an excited face. Jiheon left the office, leaving Seunggyu behind.

* * * * * * *

Quitting time.

Jung-oh tidied up her clothes and makeup in the bathroom and came out. Eunju, who she encountered upon returning to the team, stared at Jung-oh indifferently, but after a moment, she sat down at her seat.

Similarly, Jung-oh approached Miran, who was blankly watching her movements.

“Team Leader, I’m leaving work early today.”

“Oh, oh, okay, okay. Okay.”

She had been watching so intently, as if something was wrong, but when Jung-oh spoke to her, she looked surprised. Since the day before yesterday, Miran had been staring blankly at Jung-oh for no reason and then getting startled. She seemed very surprised by the commotion in the bathroom.

“Deputy Manager, I’ll give you a ride. I’m leaving work too.”

Kihun was no different. Kihun seemed to pity Jung-oh.

Yesterday morning, he gave Jung-oh a calming pill, and this morning, he gave her chocolate. He also offered to do the hard work if Jung-oh had to take it on, and he didn’t forget to encourage her.

I’m grateful that he’s being so kind, but he shouldn’t feel sorry for me.

If he knew all the facts, he would feel betrayed instead.

Jung-oh refused Kihun’s kindness with a slightly guilty heart.

“No. It’s okay. I have somewhere to go.”

“Where are you going? I’ll give you a ride there too.”

“No, really, it’s okay. I’ll go alone.”

Deputy Manager Goeunju quietly laughed from her seat. Like someone who knew everything.

Go Eunju seemed to be the only one who hadn’t changed her attitude since the bathroom incident the day before yesterday. Eunju handed over the recording of Chaeeunbi’s terrible remarks with the same attitude as usual.

Now, Jung-oh really liked Go Eunju, who was moderately cynical and moderately loyal.

Except for when she smiled meaningfully to herself like this, as if she knew something.

“Anyway, thank you. See you tomorrow. I’ll leave work first.”

Jung-oh quickly greeted and went outside.

Jiheon was waiting across the street from the company.

Finding Jiheon’s car, Jung-oh ran to Jiheon’s car and got in.

“Is anyone watching? Is anyone watching?”

“No one was there.”

Jiheon calmly replied to Jung-oh’s exaggerated head movements.

A fragrant and sour smell filled the car. Turning her head to where the scent was coming from, she saw that the back seat was full.

One was a large bouquet of flowers, and the other was an even larger fruit basket. Jung-oh’s mouth dropped open at the size of the fruit basket, which seemed big enough for Yena to fit in.

“Why did you buy such a big thing?”

“Yena and your mother like it.”

Jiheon asked Jung-oh, who was nodding with a guilty heart.

“What happened with Chaeeunbi the day before yesterday?”

“Ah……”

She felt guilty again. She didn’t want to tell him. But judging that he might be more upset if she hid this, Jung-oh told him the truth.

“Chaeeunbi went to Mom’s restaurant with her friends.”

“……”

The story continued for a long time after the car started. Jiheon hardly changed his expression throughout the story, but he occasionally turned his head to the other side and sighed deeply.

“Chaeeunbi didn’t come to work today either. I wonder if she’s going to quit.”

“She wouldn’t want to face her colleagues. Her true colors have been revealed.”

“Anyway, Oppa [term of endearment for older brother or boyfriend], stay still.”

“Stay still again?”

“Yeah. Let’s just think about our mom and Yena today.”

Jung-oh quickly changed the subject, worried that he might get upset about Chaeeunbi.

“Today, if my mom says harsh things to you, don’t get too hurt.”

“……”

“My mom has suffered a lot because of me. But still, my mom isn’t really a scary person.”

This time, Jiheon swallowed hard. The tension he had temporarily forgotten while talking about Chaeeunbi resurfaced. His shoulders stiffened despite Jung-oh’s request and comfort.

* * * * * * *

Guksoon was busy all day. She closed the restaurant early today and came home to prepare food diligently, but she was running out of time, perhaps because she was too greedy.

“Oh dear. What should I do? I didn’t pick up the rice cakes. It’s almost time for them to arrive. What should I do?”

“Grandma, who’s coming?”

“Should I tell them to stop by on the way? Or should we just eat what we have?”

“Grandma, who’s coming?”

“You’ll know when you see them.”

She was half out of her mind from all the fuss, but Guksoon smiled at Yena. But Yena was upset because Guksoon didn’t give her a proper answer.

I have to talk about the fifty thousand won. It was obvious that Grandma wouldn’t listen to my story.

Pouting, Yena went out to the living room and thought carefully.

Who on earth is the guest?

I feel like it’s going to be a man, but I don’t think so.

I’ll know if I wait a little longer. Who the guest is.

Yena quietly waited for the guest. And after a while, she heard the sound of the front door number lock being pressed. Mom came first before the guest. Yena got up from her seat.

“Princess Yena!”

“Mom……”

But Yena, who was about to run out calling for her mom, was soon tied up.

There was one more person behind Mom. Mom came with the guest. The guest was indeed a man.

Her prediction was spot on, but strangely, Yena didn’t feel good seeing the two of them coming home together. Much more than she had imagined.

I’m Mom’s partner. I’m Mom’s partner.

A bad feeling that she might lose her partner.

Jiheon greeted Yena first, who was standing still.

“Hello, Yena.”

Jiheon’s heart tingled every time he saw Yena.

He had stopped by briefly to see Yena off to the daycare bus in the morning and met her again after a few hours. The child seemed even more beautiful in a few hours.

Jiheon, who suppressed his surging heart, also greeted Guksoon politely, who came out of the kitchen.

“Hello, Mother. My name is Jung Jiheon.”

And, at that moment when Guksoon was about to greet Jiheon as well.

“Mister, is our grandma your mom?”

Yena, who had been watching this scene intently, opened her eyes wide and demanded fiercely.

“Why do you call our grandma ‘Mother’?”