A Child Who Resembles Me [EN]: Chapter 84

84. Please Come to Your Senses!

The new package design for Dawon Liquor’s new product barely passed. Jiheon visited the Dawon Liquor headquarters with the designer to finalize everything. If the samples were made tonight according to the design, they needed to be checked immediately and sent to the filming location tomorrow.

Although the designer was the busiest, Jeong-o was also running around so much that she forgot that the MianTalk teaser ad was released today. It wasn’t until late in the afternoon that Jeong-o checked the video site to see people’s reactions.

‘It’s a heartwarming ad after a long time,’ ‘The warm copy touches my heart,’ ‘I should contact my parents,’ ‘I’m looking forward to the main ad’… There were quite a few favorable reviews.

Of course, the main ad that follows needs to get a good response, but it seemed that they had succeeded to some extent in raising people’s expectations.

It’s most rewarding when an ad causes a stir and boosts product sales, but I also feel proud as a copywriter at times like this—when a line of copy I wrote resonates with people.

Jeong-o wanted to show the new ad to Guksun, so she sent her a text message and continued working. On the way back from seeing the AE [Account Executive] about the ad shoot tomorrow, she ran into Seunggyu in the hallway. Seunggyu greeted her with a bright expression.

“Hello, Ms. Jeong-o.”

“Yes, hello, Mr. Team Leader.”

When Jeong-o replied with a smile, Seunggyu came closer, lowered his voice, and said, “I heard about it from Jiheon.”

“Yes. I heard that you told Mr. Team Leader too.”

“It’s a strange relationship in many ways.”

“I agree. It was also surprising that Dobin’s father is Mr. Team Leader.”

“Do you have time to talk for a moment?”

When Jeong-o agreed, Seunggyu pointed to an empty conference room nearby. Inside, Seunggyu showed Jeong-o a video on his phone.

Jeong-o’s eyes widened as she took Seunggyu’s phone.

It was a video of Jiheon and his friends at a drinking party. Jiheon’s youthful appearance played on the screen.

“This is…”

“It’s Jiheon from 7 years ago. Probably around June.”

“…”

“It’s a side of him I haven’t seen since the accident.”

In a noisy pub, Jiheon was smiling slightly, his face flushed. Even when his friends asked what good thing was going on, Jiheon just drank and smiled happily without saying a word.

Jeong-o’s eyes welled up at the sight of his kind face.

June 7 years ago. It seemed to be right after Jeong-o and Jiheon started dating.

“He looks very innocent, right? He wasn’t always like this. In the military, he was steadfast and sincere, but he was always reserved, so he didn’t make many close friends. He started to open up a little after traveling to Australia.”

Seunggyu recounted that time.

“This friend, who was changing, changed again after the traffic accident 7 years ago. He became colder, as if a part of his heart disappeared.”

“…”

“I’ve been wondering what disappeared from my friend’s life that made him change so much. It turned out to be Ms. Lee Jeong-o.”

Jeong-o’s heart ached at Seunggyu’s words. She thought it was fortunate that Jiheon had a friend like Seunggyu by his side.

On the one hand, she felt sorry for him. The Jiheon of 7 years ago didn’t seem to realize how good a friend Seunggyu was, so he probably didn’t confide in him. She was sincerely grateful to Seunggyu for maintaining a good relationship without giving up on the cold and taciturn Jiheon.

“Thank you for showing me. Thank you for telling me the story, too.”

Jeong-o thanked him sincerely.

* * * * * * *

Guksun Baekban [a local restaurant].

Yena was sitting at the table, just watching the entrance. Soon, the door opened.

“Mom.”

“Yena, my princess! Have you finished eating?”

Jeong-o, who finished work and left on time, approached Yena and asked.

“No. I waited to eat with Mom.”

“Okay. Let’s eat quickly.”

Jeong-o greeted Guksun, who was working alone in the kitchen, sat facing Yena, and started eating. She left work early, but tomorrow was the filming day, and there was a big issue to resolve, so Jeong-o’s phone kept ringing.

After a couple of spoonfuls, the phone rang, and after finishing the call, another call came, so she couldn’t eat for long. She was on the phone for about 10 minutes before finally being able to eat.

Although 10 minutes had passed, Yena’s rice bowl was still full. Yena seemed more tired than usual. She usually doesn’t complain about the side dishes and eats slowly, so Jeong-o watched her for a few minutes before gently scolding her.

“Lee Yena, you have to eat everything.”

“Mom, can’t I stop eating?”

“No. Eat five more spoonfuls.”

“I can’t eat anymore.”

“Okay. Stop eating, but no snacks.”

Usually, she would whine and fuss if she couldn’t have snacks, but Yena got up from her seat sullenly. Only then did Jeong-o ask Yena.

“Our Yena, you don’t seem to be in a good mood? What’s wrong?”

“Mom.”

Yena, encouraged by Jeong-o’s attention, said, “Can’t you buy me a cell phone?”

“…Huh?”

“Mom has one, and Grandma has one, but only I don’t have one.”

“Our Yena is only seven years old…”

“That man can contact Mom whenever he wants, but I can’t contact Mom when I miss her.”

While Jeong-o, flustered, was searching for a response, Yena argued sharply.

Had she accepted that Jiheon was talking to her?

“Yena, the call Mom just made was because of work…”

“Buy me a cell phooone!”

Waah.

Before Jeong-o could explain further, Yena suddenly burst into tears. A customer who opened the restaurant door was momentarily stunned by Yena’s cry.

Jeong-o soothed Yena and looked into cell phones for children while feeding her dinner. She thought it would be okay to get one if it only had calling and text messaging functions.

She liked that it also had a location tracking function, so she could prepare for any unforeseen events.

Jeong-o visited a cell phone store with Yena and got her a cell phone. A cute cell phone about the size of a credit card fit perfectly in the child’s hand.

A cute child holding something cute.

The child looked at the cell phone with a bright face as if she had never cried. It was a cell phone with no functions other than calling and text messaging, but the child seemed happy just to have her own, just to have her own number.

Jeong-o sternly told Yena.

“Lee Yena, I didn’t buy this for you because you cried. I’m buying it so you can call Mom right away if a suspicious person appears. Got it?”

“Yes!”

“From now on, too, I won’t listen to anything if you cry and whine. Got it?”

“Yes!”

Despite Yena’s energetic answer, Jeong-o’s worries piled up.

“Hoo, Mom is worried. If you get a cell phone, Dobin will want one too.”

* * * * * * *

After going on a business trip, the day passed quickly, and it was soon evening. Jiheon couldn’t leave work late because it was Monday, and he had a lot to do.

His eyes kept getting tired because he didn’t get much sleep looking at the child’s picture. Jiheon stopped working for a while, leaned his head back on the chair, and closed his eyes.

Knock knock.

Without a moment’s rest, there was a knock on the door.

“Yes.”

Jiheon straightened his back and answered. The door opened.

He thought it was an employee with a report, but it was Chae Eunyeop. Jiheon’s expression hardened.

In the morning, Jiheon formally notified Eunyeop’s law firm that he would terminate their advisory contract. He figured a law firm that size could easily lose one client like Max Planning, but he was a little surprised that Eunyeop came to visit in person.

As soon as Eunyeop entered the office, he looked at Jiheon’s face and asked in surprise, “Jiheon, are you okay? You don’t look good.”

“It’s none of your business.”

Jiheon coldly retorted to Eunyeop, who asked him how he was doing so nonchalantly.

“Did you come about the contract? If so, it was a wasted trip.”

Jiheon, who was wondering whether to get up or not, stood and walked to the door.

“There’s no going back on the decision. I hope you handle it according to procedure, return your access card, and leave.”

Jiheon, who firmly grabbed the doorknob, paused.

“And by any chance, can you contact your sister?”

Since it would be difficult to meet again, he had to tell him what he needed to say while he was here.

“She’s been absent from work without permission for a long time and hasn’t properly handed over her work, so her team is in a difficult situation. Tell her, when you see her, that if she wants to quit, she should do so after cleaning up properly.”

“Haa. Jiheon, think about it. Why would my sister be like this now?”

Eunyeop continued with a frustrated look and a hollow laugh. “Wouldn’t it be absurd for her? She’s been interested in you for 4 years, and the person she’s been dating has been shamelessly two-timing her, even though it’s too late to get married. It’s not just about going to work. Does my sister even want to live right now?”

“You know very well that there was nothing between Chae Eunbi and me, right? I even told you that I was in trouble because Chae Eunbi was spreading rumors.”

“It’s not a rumor. You and Eunbi had a consensual relationship.”

Jiheon’s eyebrows twitched at Eunyeop’s provocative words.

“I only listened to your side and thought my sister was wrong, but after listening to her, it was too absurd.”

“…”

“Using my sister as your girlfriend for 4 years—that was exploitation, Jiheon.”

Before visiting the office, Eunyeop had considered various scenarios. He needed to act shamelessly and confidently, which was something he did best.

You wicked bastard. You’ll never get away with this, Jeong Jiheon.

Jiheon’s face, who was just glaring at him because he couldn’t use force in this place, seemed ridiculous. The fact that he looked so tired, probably from what he did last night, was also a good sign.

“And Ms. Jang said that Lee Jeong-o claims to have given birth to your child.”

“…”

“Jiheon, do you really think you know that woman Lee Jeong-o properly? Do you really think that child is your daughter? How can you be so sure?”

Despite Jiheon’s cynicism, Eunyeop continued.

“I was so close to you 7 years ago. You’re not the kind of person who would like a woman like Lee Jeong-o. I don’t know what kind of memories Lee Jeong-o forced into you, but you’re being used.”

Eunyeop appealed, his face distorted as if he was sincerely worried about his friend.

“Your memories are wrong, Jiheon. Please come to your senses!”

Doubt your memories.

Don’t trust your judgment.

Don’t trust yourself, Jeong Jiheon.