A Night Soaked With You - Chapter 45
“Yeong-won-sshiiiiii!”
Startled by the loud call of her name, Yeong-won quickly turned around. Someone was charging at her like a bull.
Yeong-won, shocked, tried to dodge, but the person running towards her tripped and fell flat on the ground.
A collective gasp of sympathy came from the crowd.
It was Director Choi Bong of ‘Distress’.
“Director, are you alright?”
Director Choi groaned as he slowly got up. Tae-geon, in a tone that lacked any real apology, casually said,
“Oh dear. Apologies. I didn’t realize someone was coming from that direction.”
Yeong-won blinked in disbelief, staring at Tae-geon with a puzzled expression.
She had clearly seen it, Tae-geon deliberately tripping the director after making sure he was charging toward her.
Sometimes, Tae-geon seemed like the perfect con artist, so smooth and polished that even if you were deceived by him, you wouldn’t realize it until much later.
And the prime example of that was the director.
“Hahaha, no, no. It was my fault. I should’ve been more careful. I was just too excited to see Yeong-won! Haha.”
Brushing off his clothes, Director Choi looked at Yeong-won with awe in his eyes.
“But seriously, Yeong-won, how did you manage to come looking so beautiful? I was completely taken by surprise.”
“Thank you.”
Yeong-won replied with a bright smile.
“And who, exactly, made you look so stunning?”
As the director continued, he suddenly paused, sensing something unusual. His eyes darted toward Tae-geon, who had been waiting for this moment.
Tae-geon’s lips curled into a sly smile.
“Yes. I did. From head to toe.”
There was something ominous in Tae-geon’s tone, as if he was hoping to spark a misunderstanding.
And sure enough, Director Choi’s expression grew strange. Worried that the director might misinterpret the situation, Yeong-won quickly corrected him.
“N-no, I borrowed it! The CEO just lent it to me.”
Despite her attempt to clarify, the director’s face only became more confused.
After a moment of contemplation, he glanced cautiously at Tae-geon before leaning in close to Yeong-won and whispering.
“Yeong-won, did you borrow money from him?”
“What?”
“That kind of person wouldn’t do it for free, right? Isn’t your entire appearance fee going to pay for the dress? The interest must be higher than what loan sharks charge, right? When I had a private meeting with him last time, he wrote up a detailed plan for where the investment money would go, and it was quite impressive.”
Yeong-won swallowed a sound of protest. Whether it was unfortunate or fortunate, it seemed the director wasn’t making any ‘strange misunderstandings’.
Of course, it felt like he was misunderstanding it in a stranger way.
“He said to pay it back…… tenfold. Haha.”
Yeong-won gave an awkward laugh. Tae-geon had jokingly mentioned repaying the film investment tenfold during their last dinner at the eel restaurant.
“Oh dear. You’d be better off dealing with a loan shark. Why on earth did you go to someone like the CEO……?”
Director Choi clicked his tongue, his face full of sympathy.
Even though he whispered softly, it seemed like Tae-geon heard everything, as he curled his lips into a smile.
As a result, Yeong-won’s smile became even more awkward.
On one hand, she felt relieved that the director wasn’t misunderstanding her relationship with Tae-geon, but on the other, she felt strangely unsettled by his complete lack of connection between them.
Perhaps it was the realization of just how different their positions were.
‘Maybe the person who knows that man best in this place is Director Choi…….’
She faintly thought about that.
◇ ◆ ◇
The room was abuzz with chatter as idols and rookie actors dressed in extravagant outfits gathered in one corner, engrossed in conversation.
Their eyes were busy scanning ‘one person.’
“Isn’t that girl the one? The one Seong Tae-geon took into his room at the rooftop bar back then?”
“For real? Tae-geon took her? I thought he couldn’t stand celebrities?”
“I saw it with my own eyes. I guess she’s the exception. Look at that. No matter how much he’s invested, would Tae-geon be the type to escort someone like that? Is he smitten? In love? Wow, seriously—”
The woman, who had carelessly continued talking, was abruptly elbowed by her friend, causing her to shut her mouth.
She had only just realized that Chae-young’s icy gaze was fixed on her.
“Sorry, Chae-young.”
“You won’t have to greet me anymore, will you?”
Chae-young said sweetly, smiling. The woman’s face turned pale as a sheet.
“I-I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to—”
“From today, you’re out of the group. Also…….”
Chae-young took a step closer and softly whispered into the woman’s ear.
“From tomorrow, start thinking about how you’ll make a living. You’re about to experience firsthand what it feels like to sink in this industry.”
“Chae-young! Please!”
“If you talk to me one more time, I’ll start today.”
At Chae-young’s threat, the woman trembled, unable to say a word. Chae-young had many people backing her. The woman knew it wasn’t just an empty threat.
Without a care, Chae-young brushed past her and headed to the restroom. She was too furious to stay in the hall any longer.
It was unbelievable.
She had gone out of her way to get the most expensive dress, invited the kind of friends that would make headlines, and even had the male lead, In-woo, standing by her side.
So, naturally, she should have been the star of this party.
Yet, once again, all the spotlight was on Yeong-won.
‘How does she always manage to take everything I want?’
Chae-young had never lived as someone’s sidekick. Everyone around her was like a baby’s breath, meant to make her stand out.
Yet, Yeong-won, whom she thought was far inferior, always sparkled and shined just a step ahead of her.
Chae-young believed she would never have to bury herself in darkness and feel that humiliating emotion again.
But that wasn’t the case.
Chae-young glared at her distorted reflection in the bathroom mirror.
The fact that she had never beaten that girl, even once, filled her with rage.
She wouldn’t allow herself to be robbed of everything again like back in ‘School.’
She vowed she would never return to that humiliating moment.
Looking at her distorted face, Chae-young reaffirmed her determination.
