A Night Soaked With You - Chapter 18
Yeong-won wiped the sweat from her forehead with her sleeve.
Time had flown by as she organized the display shelves, setting aside items for disposal.
It was almost time for the next part-timer to arrive and take over the shift. Just as she was about to check the register, the door beeped, signaling a customer. Yeong-won turned her gaze.
Curly hair, a face so small it was nearly swallowed by her oversized sunglasses, and a glamorous figure.
Yeong-won’s mouth fell open. Of course, it wasn’t because the woman who had just entered was stunningly beautiful.
It was Chae-young, Yeong-won’s long-time rival.
As soon as Chae-young spotted Yeong-won, she strutted confidently toward her, her heels clicking against the floor. Taking off her sunglasses, she flashed a bright smile and greeted her.
“Yeong-won, how have you been?”
“Why…… are…… you…… here…….”
Yeong-won stammered, unable to finish her sentence in shock, while Chae-young smiled sweetly.
“I came to see an old friend’s face after a long time.”
A hollow laugh escaped from Yeong-won. “Friend”? The words she had heard on the rooftop bar were still fresh in her ears.
Has this convenience store been cursed or something? Why are all these unwelcome people showing up lately?
Yeong-won hardened her expression and glared at her.
“We’re not exactly on terms to be exchanging greetings, are we?”
“Not on greeting terms? We’ve known each other for more than just a year or two, Yeong-won. Aren’t you being a bit heartless?”
Chae-young pouted her lips in a mock sulk, as if she were blaming Yeong-won.
At that moment, it almost felt like a playful conversation between friends, which only left Yeong-won more dumbfounded.
“Yu Chae-young. Have you forgotten everything you said to me?”
The same Chae-young who had mocked her, telling her to find someone to sponsor her, the one who said taking from those without connections was the easiest thing to do.
Yeong-won remembered everything clearly. Could Chae-young possibly have multiple personalities?
“I didn’t have a choice back then. Do you think I wanted to take what was yours? You know how terrifying my dad is. If I don’t make it big, he’ll just marry me off to some random guy…….”
Chae-young pretended to look pitiful, letting her eyebrows droop sadly.
A beautiful woman playing the sympathy card with a sorrowful face—anyone would be fooled.
“Yu. Chae. Young. Why. Are. You. Here.”
Of course, Yeong-won wasn’t buying any of it. She had been through this too many times before to fall for it again.
As Yeong-won came at her quite aggressively, the corners of Chae-young’s lips, which had been forming a smile, trembled slightly.
But Yeong-won didn’t care. Crossing her arms, she stared at Chae-young intently. Unable to endure Yeong-won’s sharp gaze, Chae-young sighed and finally got to the point.
“……I want to be the lead actress in the movie ‘Distress’. Can you introduce me to Director Choi Bong?”
So, of course, she had come to ask for a favor. Yeong-won let out a hollow laugh.
“Why should I?”
“That’s what friends are for.”
“I’m not your friend.”
There was a time when Yeong-won had considered Chae-young a friend. But after being betrayed multiple times, she had come to realize something
No matter how much you think someone is a friend, it means nothing if the other person doesn’t feel the same.
Because they had debuted together and worked on their first project side by side, Yeong-won had once thought highly of Chae-young.
Of course, now, she didn’t just dislike her—she absolutely loathed her, especially her two-faced nature.
“We’ve known each other for so long, we have each other’s numbers, and we share memories. If that’s not friendship, then what is, Yeong-won?”
Chae-young wasn’t fazed at all, smiling brightly as ever.
“You’ve got a solid connection, don’t you? That Seong Tae-geon guy or whatever his name is. Just get close to him and land the role. Why bother coming to me?”
At the sudden mention of that name, the smile slowly faded from Chae-young’s face. She quietly studied Yeong-won’s expression, her face taking on a peculiar look.
“You mean to tell me…… you don’t know?”
“You don’t know? Everyone knows that Seong Tae-geon, the CEO of Melliot Investments, is backing you.”
Yeong-won snapped back, then took a moment to catch her breath.
For some reason, just mentioning that man’s name made her stomach churn even more. It felt filthy. She couldn’t stand the thought, even after saying it out loud.
She had said what she needed to say, so why did she feel even angrier?
“……You really don’t know.”
Chae-young muttered as she looked at Yeong-won. Blinking, Yeong-won wondered what she was missing.
“What don’t I know?”
“It’s nothing.”
Chae-young flashed a bright, seemingly pleased smile in Yeong-won’s direction.
Just as Yeong-won was about to tell her to do whatever she wanted, whether it was starring as the lead or as an ant, and then get lost, the door suddenly opened.
