A Night Soaked With You - Chapter 19
The part-timer, just like last time, entered with her yellow blonde-haired boyfriend.
Looking a little nervous, the part-timer approached Yeong-won.
“Unnie, I’m really sorry about last week. You must’ve been shocked. He’s not usually like that…….”
The part-timer, who had bowed her head, nudged her blonde-haired boyfriend in the side.
He turned his head sharply with a displeased expression, clearly not intending to apologize to Yeong-won.
As the situation grew more uncomfortable, Yeong-won was about to tell them it was fine when the blonde guy suddenly noticed Chae-young and shouted.
“Omg! It’s Yu Chae-young!”
“Hello.”
Chae-young greeted him with a bright smile. The part-timer also gasped, “Oh my gosh, it’s really Yu Chae-young!”
“Why are you here…… A-Are you two friends?”
Before Yeong-won could deny it, Chae-young quickly hooked her arm around Yeong-won’s from behind the counter.
“Of course. We’re best friends. We even worked on our first project together.”
“No way. Unnie, I’m a fan!”
“Me too, me too! Could we get your autograph?”
“Autograph? I can even take pictures with you.”
Chae-young replied, smiling as she stepped closer to them.
“Wow. She’s completely different from anyone else. She said she wouldn’t take a picture with a face like a spoiled brat, but Chae-young is so nice.”
The blonde-haired guy whispered to the part-timer. However, the space was so small that it was loud enough for anyone to hear.
The part-timer poked the blonde in the side, but he didn’t care and began taking pictures with Chae-young as if they were the best of friends.
“Yeong-won, let’s take one together.”
Chae-young called out sweetly. Yeong-won glanced at her reflection in the glass display.
There was Chae-young, all glammed up, and there was Yeong-won, with no makeup and a pale face.
Chae-young’s intention was obvious.
“No.”
Yeong-won refused coldly. The atmosphere immediately turned awkward and tense. She knew this was exactly what Chae-young wanted, but there was no way she was going to play along.
“Geez…… look at her temper.”
The blonde-haired guy muttered again. Pretending not to hear him, Yeong-won headed to the back room, grabbed her bag, and came back out.
“Our Yeong-won must be feeling down about something. I’ll apologize on her behalf. Please understand by looking at my face.”
“No way! Oh my, how can you be so beautiful and have a kind heart, Chae-young unnie?”
“When I saw you on TV, I thought you were really aloof.”
“Oh, come on. My nickname is ‘Teol-eul.'” (t/n: means “easygoing.”)
‘Easygoing’ my foot. She may have treated people casually before, but recently, rumors had spread that she was venting her frustrations on the staff too.
Last time, she had thrown a fit when she asked for pork gimbap and was given something else because it had run out.
Chae-young didn’t stop there, she dragged Yeong-won into the conversation.
“The aloof one is Yeong-won. She’s not a bad person, but she can be a bit finicky about things…… So don’t take it too personally, she’s not like this with just you two.”
“I kind of thought so.”
Caught in their exchange, Yeong-won found herself standing frozen in place.
She had to endure it. There was no need to react to every little word they said, especially since it would only hurt her in the end.
But despite knowing this, she just couldn’t stand it this time.
Her mind was boiling, rejecting any rational thoughts.
Turning back to them, Yeong-won forced a smile onto her face.
“Well, Chae-young, I’m sorry, but I don’t think I can grant your request.”
“……What?”
“The lead role in ‘Distress’? I got it.”
Yeong-won flashed a bright smile at Chae-young.
Chae-young’s smile instantly withered away. Yeong-won couldn’t help but feel a thrill of triumph inside at the sight.
So she decided to drive the point home one more time.
“I know you really wanted it. Sorry.”
She said it in a voice that held no genuine remorse and walked out of the convenience store.
She might regret it tomorrow, but for now, at this moment, she felt utterly relieved.
◇ ◆ ◇
Yeong-won ate the cold lunchbox in silence, her mind still elsewhere. Was she being reckless for no reason.
The girl who had wanted the role in ‘Distress’ would undoubtedly try to snatch it from her by any means necessary once she learned that Yeong-won had landed the lead.
With the male lead still undecided and more staff being recruited, her situation could change at any moment.
She trusted Director Choi Bong, but there were too many factors involved in making a film.
‘Seong Tae-geon…….’
The man who was Chae-young’s sponsor came to mind.
He had the power to replace the lead a dozen times over. Was Seong Tae-geon still looking out for Chae-young?
A wave of anxiety washed over her. A man like that wouldn’t just say, “Yes, understood.” and dismiss Chae-young with a word.
Lost in her thoughts about Chae-young and Seong Tae-geon, she was startled when a water bottle was suddenly placed in front of her.
Looking up in surprise, Yeong-won spotted someone and let out a soft groan.
‘Why is he here again…….’
Before she knew it, the image of Tae-geon, who had filled her mind, was summoned into reality—right in front of her, handing her a bottle of water with the cap already off.
As Yeong-won stared blankly at him, he asked,
“Doesn’t eating just rice make your throat dry?”
Does it make my throat dry……?
Confused, she followed his gaze.
Tae-geon’s eyes were fixed on the expired lunchbox Yeong-won had been eating from. The side dishes remained untouched, while the rice was completely gone.
She must have mindlessly eaten all the rice while getting lost in thought, leaving the side dishes alone.
Yeong-won felt her cheeks heat up slightly.
“I just ate because the rice was delicious.”
“……Looks like you have a serious picky-eating habit.”
His mutter made her feel strangely choked up. Still, it wasn’t like she could admit that she had only been eating rice because she was thinking about him.
Taking a sip of water, Yeong-won set the bottle down and asked,
“Why are you here? You’re not asking me to apply ointment again, are you?”
“My lips aren’t fully healed yet.”
He tapped his lips lightly. From his actions, he looked like someone who had just received a medal or something.
