#094
Even while having dinner with Shin Gihyeon, Kang Dojun’s entire attention was focused on contacting Yeonwoo. Even when Park Daeho and Shin Gihyeon were discussing contract matters, he was distracted, fiddling with his phone. He had fulfilled his role as bait to bring Shin Gihyeon to this meeting, and it wasn’t a situation where he needed to get involved in contract talks.
He had thought they’d spend intimate time together when he went down on Monday, but Kim Haseon had appeared like an intruder.
Should I tell him not to come?
He knew that if he told Yeonwoo that, Yeonwoo would listen to him without any questions.
But since there were no set limits on how much he could interfere with Yeonwoo’s every move, he was more cautious. Even now, he was controlling Yeonwoo to some extent, but wouldn’t it be too harsh to stop him from meeting friends? Especially when they only met occasionally.
Unaware of Kang Dojun’s concerns, Park Daeho gave him looks for not putting down his phone even in front of Shin Gihyeon. He acted this way thinking Shin Gihyeon didn’t know that Yeonwoo and Kang Dojun were meeting.
Understanding Park Daeho’s behavior, Kang Dojun looked at Shin Gihyeon and said:
“Gihyeon-ssi knows too.”
“Ah, really? …Huh?”
Park Daeho’s hand holding the chopsticks trembled slightly as he looked at Shin Gihyeon.
“Did you know about the relationship between him and Yeonwoo-ssi?”
At Park Daeho’s demanding look for an explanation, Shin Gihyeon asked back, saying it was strange. After the premiere, they had dinner together, and hadn’t they all met knowing about each other then?
“Yes. Didn’t you know too, Manager-nim?”
“Well… Yes. That’s how it turned out.”
Park Daeho scratched his head in embarrassment.
What, then there was no need to hide it?
He had been beating both the drum and gong by himself, worried about being caught by Shin Gihyeon.
Just then, Shin Gihyeon’s phone briefly vibrated.
「Dojun hyung likes braised anchovies」
Shin Gihyeon’s eyebrows twitched as he read the text. He was dumbfounded by the random content Yeonwoo had sent.
「So what」
Even as he sent the blunt reply, he stubbornly imprinted ‘braised anchovies… I see’ in his mind.
Another text came from Yeonwoo.
「Give it to him」
For a while, Shin Gihyeon couldn’t understand the meaning and kept thinking about what he’d sent.
Give? What? Braised anchovies?
Shin Gihyeon couldn’t understand the message content until the end and put down his phone. Just as he was about to ignore Yeonwoo’s words and continue eating, the braised anchovies placed in front of him came into view.
…What the hell.
He got goosebumps for a moment and looked around, but there was no way Yeonwoo could be there.
Suddenly he saw Kang Dojun, who was presumably still in contact with Yeonwoo while holding his phone.
What on earth are they talking about?
After reporting in detail to Yeonwoo about the number and types of side dishes, the main menu, and even the location of their seats, Kang Dojun saw the braised anchovies suddenly pushed in front of him and gave Shin Gihyeon a puzzled look.
“Please eat. You like braised anchovies, right?”
“Have I ever mentioned that in an interview?”
“No, but I had a feeling you would.”
“…Thank you.”
Only then did Kang Dojun put down his phone and start eating. Then he could hear the conversation sounds that he hadn’t heard while contacting Yeonwoo.
“I’m grateful for the contract offer, but I have teams I’ve been working with…”
“We could bring all your team members over.”
At Park Daeho’s words, Shin Gihyeon seemed to hesitate a little. Thinking this was his chance, Park Daeho eloquently tried to persuade him.
“If only Gihyeon-ssi comes, anything would be possible, but first, for detailed matters, the recruitment team…”
“I’ll think about it more.”
Shin Gihyeon said firmly. Of course, DH Entertainment’s contract offer was very good news, but FAM Entertainment, where he currently belonged, was also a place that could be called major, and they had maintained good relationships continuously.
Just because the company was a bit bigger and his idol Kang Dojun was there wasn’t enough reason to make an easy decision. If it were, he would have already moved to DH Entertainment.
Since Park Daeho understood this, he decided to be satisfied with the answer that he was considering it for now.
“Yes, if you have any questions while thinking it over, please, please contact me anytime. You have my number, right?”
“Yes, I’ll contact you.”
Park Daeho looked at the empty plates and stood up.
“Shall we get up if we’re done eating? I’ve pointlessly taken up Gihyeon-ssi’s free time.”
“Not at all. I enjoyed it too.”
They finished their meal, drove Shin Gihyeon to his filming location, then returned to their agency. This was because Kang Dojun’s car was parked at the agency.
Arriving at the parking lot, Kang Dojun got out of Park Daeho’s car and asked again:
“The dating scandal is definitely resolved well, right?”
“Of course. It wasn’t even something for you to get involved in. The other side denied it too, and it was concluded as a staff mistake.”
“There won’t be any follow-up stories, right?”
“Ah, I’m telling you it’s fine! The company handled it well, so don’t worry and just go home quickly.”
Despite Park Daeho’s confident answer, Kang Dojun showed his anxiety and planned to search for it separately when he got home later.
If Yeonwoo got hurt by something like this, he wouldn’t have the face to look at him.
“And definitely come to tomorrow evening’s meeting. Or contact me. I’ll come pick you up.”
At Park Daeho’s words, Kang Dojun picked up his car keys and brought up again the words he’d been repeating since driving here, as if trying to brainwash him.
“I understand, so don’t tell the director I’m quitting acting.”
“Then when will you tell him?”
“Around when the contract is about to end.”
“Huh? Dojun is quitting acting?”
“Yes, from now on only CFs mainly…”
“I see.”
The two hurriedly turned their heads to check the face of the outsider who had suddenly interjected into their conversation. Speak of the devil – the director was leisurely smiling while jingling his car keys.
Then he delivered the finishing blow to the two who had frozen stiff.
“You’re quitting?”
***
Yeonwoo picked up a short branch rolling on the roadside and spun it in his hands like rolling a pencil.
His gentle face was full of resentment.
‘I can do it too.’
‘It’s okay. We’ll solve it.’
‘Why. I’ll help too. Is there anything you don’t know? Should hyung teach you?’
‘…Hyung. We’re high school seniors.’
He had gone to visit Cheolsu’s house and found Cheolsu and his friend Seongwoo in the middle of studying.
Yeonwoo was happy to see workbooks after a long time and approached them intending to help with their studies, but ended up being kicked out. He had planned to use the answer keys Kang Dojun had sent him for explanations, but couldn’t even use them.
Is being a senior that big of a deal? They usually play around just fine. Well, it is a big deal, but…
Dojun hyung isn’t here either, and who am I supposed to hang out with?
Even though Yeonwoo originally wandered around alone in the rural village, today he felt like he had even less to do.
He had already walked all of Grandma Suni’s dogs, and was on his way back from checking on the bees. But the sun was still high in the middle of the sky.
‘Why is the day so long?’
It seemed like a day didn’t need to be 24 hours.
“Ah, I’m bored.”
Even if he shouted into the air, no one would answer.
Still, hyung said he’d come on Monday. Kim Haseon is coming too, so it should be fun.
Instead of going to his house, Yeonwoo headed straight to Grandma Kyeong-i’s house next door.
“Grandma! It’s me, Yeonwoo.”
He ignored the doorbell next to him and knocked hard on the door. Since Grandma Kyeong-i was hard of hearing, he went around the front door to an open window on the cement wall and cupped his mouth to shout.
“Grandma Kyeong-i!”
…Is she not here?
I really have nothing to do today.
Just as he was about to give up regretfully and go home quietly, a tiny head popped out from beyond the window.
“Oppa?”
At the sound, Yeonwoo quickly turned around. There was Grandma Kyeong-i’s granddaughter holding a colored pencil in her small hand and looking up at the window. She was definitely…
“Oppa! I’m starting elementary school next year!”
Ah, she’s seven.
Scratching his head, Yeonwoo approached the window.
“That’s great. Is no one home?”
“Grandma went out to play, and dad is showering.”
“Really?”
Even though he didn’t know her age, he knew the granddaughter’s name exactly from hearing it from Grandma Kyeong-i. Yeonwoo gestured toward the front door and asked.
“Mirae-ya. Can you open that door for me?”
The granddaughter blinked her big eyes and shook her head. Her neatly tied pigtails swayed.
“Dad said not to open the door for strangers. And I’m not Mirae, I’m Seoirae.”
Yeonwoo moved his lips. Did he mishear the name while drunk?
“Sorry. Seoirae-ya. Open the door for me. Don’t you know uncle? I even bought you snacks when you were a baby. Don’t you know Lee Yeonwoo?”
Yeonwoo tapped the window screen like knocking and called out.
“I wasn’t a baby, it was last year.”
At Seoirae’s sharp words, Yeonwoo laughed, saying he got caught.
“Look at that. You remember.”
Having fallen completely for his trick, Seoirae gripped the colored pencil in her hand tightly as if it might break.
“Still no! Dad will be out soon, so come back when dad comes out.”
“When did uncle go in to shower?”
“Dad?”
“Yeah, Irae’s dad.”
Seoirae ran into the living room with a clatter, checked the wall clock, then told Yeonwoo.
“20 minutes ago.”
Hmm, he’ll be out soon.
Rather than going home and being bored alone, it was much better to wait a bit and hang out with people.
After finishing his thoughts, Yeonwoo answered “Got it,” then moved to wait in front of the front door.
“Oppa!”
Once again, he heard her calling him from beyond the window. Seoirae struggled to open the screen, then handed him a portable fan.
“If you’re hot, use this. It’s mine but I’ll lend it to you. You have to use it nicely.”
“Oh, I’ll use it well. Tell uncle that Uncle Yeonwoo is waiting, so he should shower quickly and come out.”
“What about greetings?”
“…Hello?”
Not understanding what Seoirae meant, Yeonwoo put his palm next to his face and waved it.
Seoirae’s cheeks puffed up. It didn’t seem to be what she wanted.
“You borrowed mine, so what about a thank you?”
“Ah, a thank you? Thanks.”
“……”
Still, Seoirae’s cheeks didn’t deflate. This isn’t it either. It’s hard to play with a seven-year-old.
“No soul.”
At the harsh evaluation, Yeonwoo opened his eyes wide and looked at the portable fan with a slightly exaggerated expression.
“Wow! Thank you so much! Thank you very much?”
“So-so.”
Fortunately, this time seemed to pass.
“Yeah. I’ll wait in front of the front door.”
“Yes! I’ll open it right away when dad comes out.”
Seoirae stuck her hand out the window and waved vigorously toward Yeonwoo’s retreating back.
Going around the wall and plopping down carelessly on the ground in front of the front door, Yeonwoo pressed the button on the portable fan he’d received from Seoirae.
“……”
The blades didn’t turn. No matter how much he pressed, the fan that wouldn’t turn made him realize the battery was dead.
Yeonwoo put down the fan and closed his eyes, leaning his head against the wall.
Ah, I said thank you for nothing.
Author: Hyacinthus B
Hyacinthus
