29. You were looking for me.
In the director of Consencio’s room.
As he checked the financial statements, he sighed, seemingly frustrated.
“If this situation continues…”
Last year’s hasty dividends increased their debt ratio fairly high. Moreover, Chunduk had been snooping around the online distribution department, and that was displeasing for Gyeonhui.
“In the end, the only solution is to acquire DNBM.”
He was frustrated with the CEO of DNBM, who has not shown himself in the industry recently.
Gyeonhui repeatedly drew a circle around the words “CEO of DNBM,” then roughly put the fountain pen down on the table.
‘Tuk. Trrr.’
The high-end fountain pen spun around and stopped.
Then his cell phone rang. It was his assistant Ojae.
“Did you talk to them?”
Gyeonhui asked because he knew where Ojae had gone.
“Well, things are getting a little strange?”
“What are you talking about?”
“Well, Miss Sun suddenly sprang out from her office while listening to me.”
“Why?
Gyeonhui scowled.
“I don’t know either.”
“You said that you were going to take care of this?”
“… Sorry.”
“Where did she go?”
He barely fought off his anger.
“You can’t go in!”
Then he heard the voice of the security staff through the door.
“I just need to talk to him for a second.”
A familiar voice was heard.
“… I think I know where she is.”
Gyeonhui understood the situation and spoke in a subdued voice.
“What? Where is she?”
“Write an apology letter as soon as you return to the office. Got it?”
Ojae’s voice was heard, but he hung up on him. He then walked to the entrance and opened the door by himself.
Outside the door, he could see her clashing with the security staff.
“Mr. President.”
The security staff recognized him and greeted him with amazement and surprise.
“It’s all right. Leave us.”
“Sorry?”
“I’ll take care of it, you can leave now.”
“Oh, okay.”
The security guard turned carefully and returned to his seat. As he watched the staff moving away, he turned and entered his office. With a serious face, she followed him.
“What is it?”
He asked while scowling.
“Are you really asking me because you know nothing about what’s going on now?”
“How do I know if you don’t give me the full story?”
Hearing his response, she bit her lower lip.
“… You did this, right?”
“What?”
“The W. Department store canceled the business with us. Did you really not do this? You did the same thing last time too.”
She spoke in a convincing tone. He looked at her with his eyes sinking, his mouth was closed. He took a few breaths, and time passed before he started speaking again.
“… Okay. I did. So what?”
His eyes were more subdued than before.
“What?”
“Yes. I have ordered the W. Department store to cancel the business with you, and bring your company into Consencio. So what?”
He scowled and raised his voice.
“Gyeonhui…”
“What’s your answer? Are you coming in?”
“…I don’t want to.”
She said as if she had decided.
“Really? Then we’re all going down together.”
He looked at her with his arms crossed, as if talking about someone else’s case.
“What are you doing? Get out.”
He looked at her, standing there, not knowing what to do.
‘We’re going… all together… screwed…’
She froze at his shocking words. The Kids Fans wouldn’t even have a chance to revive if their partnership with The W. Department store was canceled.
“Did you not say that they are like a family to you?”
Sun’s eyes trembled at his words.
“You said they are, but is this the only thing that you’re going to do for them? That’s ridiculous.”
Sun closed her eyes upon hearing his words, which struck her like a dagger with her fists tightly clenched. He walked past her and stopped.
“I’ll give you one last chance.”
He turned and continued.
“There are only two types of people in the world. A person I want to use, or a person who wants to use me. Think about whether you’re going to use me or you’re going to be worthy of being used.”
She couldn’t answer his grim words. His words were true and irrefutable.
“Did you say they’re precious to you? You have the capability to say anything.”
He walked out of the office after throwing these words at her.
‘Bang.’
After a while, it was only her in the silent office.
***
“Hah.”
She exhaled for a long time with a severe face.
She looked up, and before she knew it, she had arrived near her office.
She couldn’t remember how she left Consencio and returned to the office. It was just unbearable to think that her loved ones were being harmed because of her.
Her heart was in pain as if she had sprinkled salt on her wounds, but one thought was apparent throughout her walk.
‘I can’t make them suffer anymore because of me.’
She slapped her cheek, steadfastly. She looked through the window, checked her face several times, and walked down the stairs with vigorous steps.
“Hey! Where did you go? I was worried.”
Ari looked at her entering the office and asked.
“I’m sorry. I was so upset, so I had to relieve some stress.”
Sun smiled and said, feeling sorry for her.
“What about that man?”
“Who? Oh, the squid? He left as soon as you did.”
“It’s all done. Don’t worry about them. I’ll just call the police if they come here again.”
Eunyoung said.
Sun smiled bitterly because she knew Eunyoung always looked out for her. After a moment of contemplation, Sun started speaking as if her thoughts were clear.
“Eunyoung. Let’s do this.”
“Do what? No way… you mean, Consencio?”
Sun nodded at Eunyoung’s question, which she asked surprisingly.
“No matter how I think about it, it’s the best thing for us for now.”
“Are you crazy? How can I do that to myself?”
Eunyoung leaped and said,
“This is not just all about you. We’ll be fine. What if this office is closed? Where should I go? What about Ari?”
Sun persuaded Eunyoung with a slightly stronger tone.
“No. Stop it.”
Eunyoung turned away to end the conversation. Sun knew her mind better than anyone else and slowly approached Eunyoung.
“Hey…”
Sun hugged her from behind and called her calmly.
“If you’re going to say something useless, then go away.”
Eunyoung tried to release Sun’s hand, but Sun embraced her with more power.
“… This is for everyone. Okay?”
“…”
“Let’s do this and increase our strength, and then come out on top proudly. Okay?”
Sun smiled more brightly, trying to reassure Eunyoung.
“Sun…”
Eunyoung called her name unwillingly.
“I’m fine. It’s a bit uncomfortable, but it’s really nothing more than that.”
She smiled and pretended to be okay.
“Hah…”
Eunyoung closed her eyes without answering.
Ari, also looked at the two of them with a worried face, not saying anything.
“Well, then I’ll assume that it’s been decided.”
Sun picked up Ojae’s business cards that were lying on the table.
She pulled out her phone and dialed the number. Ojae answered the phone after the signal sounded a few times.
“It’s Kids Fan. We’ll accept your proposal. Yes, please contact us.”
Sun talked to him on the phone and hung it up.
“… I’m sorry.”
Eunyoung said, without seeing Sun.
“No, Don’t be. I should be the one apologizing. All of this happened because of me. We’re going to beat them and come back!”
Sun tried to brighten up the mood by clapping her hands.
“… Well, do you want to have a drink?”
Sun shook her head at Eunyoung’s suggestion.
“I’d rather not drink today, sorry.”
“Okay. Forget it. I don’t think doing anything in this mood would make us feel any better. Just go home.”
Eunyoung pushed Sun’s back out of the office.
‘Bang.’
The door closed, and there was silence on the stairs.
The smile disappeared from Sun’s expression, which was awkward anyway.
“Hah…”
A deep sigh followed, leaking out of her mouth.
***
After leaving the office, Sun walked wherever her feet would take her.
Suddenly, the sun went down, and the streets became dark. Time had passed, but her thoughts had become more difficult and complex.
‘… I can’t get away from him.’
She went on a trip and worked crazily, but it seemed that she was always in the same spot.
She was wounded, and the bitterness felt even more awful. Her body and mind were exhausted from constant pain. She just wanted to give up.
“… I had tried hard, I tried….”
She seemed to have done everything she could, but things didn’t get any better.
Her life still revolved around Gyeonhui, and his words were still sharper than a dagger. However, she couldn’t abandon the people in Kids Fan.
She couldn’t see any more of her loved ones suffer because of her. Instead, she’d prefer that she got sick. That was more bearable. She pretended to be okay in front of people. Still, the pit of her stomach was sore because of their suffering.
Sun sat on the bench, seemingly distressed lowering her head.
She wanted to dust off her frustration, but she couldn’t say anything to Eunyoung or Ari, and no one came to mind.
Looking at her phone list, Sun, without noticing, stopped at Eunwoo’s contact number. She unwittingly pressed the call button.
“Huh?”
At that moment, Sun became alarmed and quickly turned off her phone.
“What am I doing…”
Sun exhaled a frustrated sigh.
‘Tuduk, Tukdu.’
Then it started raining.
“What a perfect time…”
She felt like she was getting more miserable as if there couldn’t be anything worse than now. She had to go home before the rain would get stronger. She quickly stepped forward, but accidentally stumbled and sprained her ankle.
“Ah…”
The pain felt like a jolt of lightning going piercing her body. Sun clutched her ankle, suffering in pain.
Then the rain poured all of its glory all over Sun’s wretched body.