The shoot taking place here today was for a travel channel. Its first broadcast featured a segment on a nearby amusement park, a destination perfect for families. The show’s MC was Han Na-Young.
After finishing her lines, Han Na-Young spotted a massive monkey balloon and muttered, “Who on earth buys a monkey balloon that huge?”
“Thank you for your hard work.”
“Thank you, too.”
As she moved to leave the set after the polite exchange, Han Na-Young hesitated. She turned back, her gaze snagging on the tall man holding the giant balloon.
“Huh?”
It was him. The CEO of Myeongseong Media—the man who hadn’t spared her a single glance back then.
He didn’t seem like the type to fit in at an amusement park. Why was he here, cradling such a garish toy?
Then she saw who stood beside him: Han Na-Eun. Jiho was there as well, along with a little boy she didn’t recognize. Seeing the four of them standing together like a family struck her like a physical blow. Han Na-Young marched straight over to her sister.
“Oh my, Han Na-Eun. What are you doing at an amusement park?”
Han Na-Eun was truly startled by the sudden appearance and greeting.
“Unni!”
“Oh my, our Jiho has grown so much. It’s your auntie.”
Jiho offered a polite greeting. “Hello, Auntie.”
The child’s skin was smooth and glowing, his features noble and striking. She had known she would raise him well, but she hadn’t expected him to turn out quite so handsome. Han Na-Young was momentarily speechless as she gazed at him.
“Has it been six months since I last saw you?”
Han Na-Young purposefully addressed only Han Na-Eun, acting as if she didn’t notice Choi Kang-Woo standing right there. She figured that since they hadn’t made proper eye contact before, he wouldn’t know who she was; it would be easier to approach him under the guise of a stranger. But that was a miscalculation. Choi Kang-Woo already knew exactly who she was.
“Who is this? I don’t believe we’ve met.”
As he asked Han Na-Eun to introduce her, Han Na-Eun hesitated before saying, “He’s the uncle of a student I tutor.”
*How can that idiot introduce him like that? She should have said he’s the CEO of Myeongseong Media. And I should have introduced myself as Han Na-Young, the MC working at Myeongseong Media.* Han Na-Young felt a spike of bitterness at the poor introduction. She decided to make her presence known, acting as if she had just recognized him.
“Oh my. Now that I look closer, aren’t you the CEO of Myeongseong Media? Hello, CEO. It’s nice to meet you. I am Han Na-Young, an MC for your company. I’m Han Na-Eun’s older sister.”
She greeted him with the forced familiarity of an old friend, only to be met with a blunt response.
“I am aware, Han Na-Young. I believe I saw you at the party last time, though you don’t seem to remember me.”
“Ah.”
Han Na-Young flushed with embarrassment. An MC who couldn’t remember her own company’s CEO—it was mortifying. “Oh my, CEO. I just momentarily forgot.”
“That can happen. Let’s go, Minho. I’ll be heading that way, so carry on with your conversation.”
As Choi Kang-Woo pulled Minho away with an air of indifference, Han Na-Young turned to her sister, irritated. “Why are you so bad at introducing people?”
“What are you talking about?”
“It would have been better if you’d introduced me as an entertainer from the start.”
“The CEO already knew who you were.”
“That’s not the point. Anyway, why are the four of you here?”
“I’ve been tutoring that child part-time after work.”
“You’re a live-in tutor for him?”
“Yes! We live together every day!”
At Jiho’s sudden outburst, Han Na-Eun squeezed her eyes shut. She had never explicitly told the boy not to mention it, but she never expected to be found out so quickly.
“What? What is this about?”
Han Na-Eun quickly turned to Jiho. “Jiho, go to where Minho is. Mom will be right there.”
“Okay.”
Since they were nearby, Jiho immediately called out to Minho and ran off. Han Na-Eun attempted damage control. “He says we live together because we see each other every day.”
Han Na-Young tilted her head, unconvinced. “He says you live together just because you see each other every day? Does that even make sense?”
Han Na-Eun looked at her sister firmly. “Five-year-olds are like that. You wouldn’t know, Unni, since you’ve never raised a child.”
Dressed in extravagant luxury, Han Na-Young towered over her in high heels. Han Na-Eun felt a flash of discomfort as she had to crane her neck to look up at her.
“So, are you out here for a shoot?” Han Na-Eun asked, scanning her sister’s impeccable, high-fashion ensemble.
Han Na-Young nodded, a relaxed, practiced smile on her face. “Yes. That’s how it always is for me.” She glanced pointedly at Han Na-Eun’s modest attire and sneakers.
Han Na-Eun sighed, feeling the contrast. “You look flawless, Unni. Every piece is luxury.” There was a sharp bitterness in her voice.
Han Na-Young swept her hair back, her expression triumphant. “This is how an entertainer on television should look.” She met Han Na-Eun’s gaze head-on. “But I heard you moved?”
“You’re asking quite late,” Han Na-Eun replied, bewildered. “It’s been a while since I moved.” She added coldly, “It’s also been a while since Mom visited. Aren’t you curious about Jiho? How can you not even make a single phone call?”
Han Na-Young shrugged with a nonchalant smile. “Why would an aunt be that concerned about her nephew?”
The brazen indifference was suffocating. Han Na-Young acted as if she had completely forgotten that Jiho was the child she had birthed herself. Han Na-Eun looked at her with pure disbelief. *How could she?* She struggled to mask her hurt, feeling as though she were the one being abandoned.
“So, what’s the new place like? Not as good as the old one?”
“Housing prices in Seoul have gone up. I have to pay rent, too. It’s difficult.”
“And you come to places like this to play when things are difficult?”
“Yes. We came to play even though things are difficult. The family I tutor for asked me to look after the child this weekend, too.”
“But why did the CEO come with you? If it’s a tutoring gig, even I would want to do it.”
“Are you interested in our CEO?”
“Yes. Of course. What woman in Korea wouldn’t be interested in a man like that?”
Han Na-Eun felt a sudden, crushing misery. If someone as glamorous as Han Na-Young was interested in Choi Kang-Woo, perhaps the night they spent together meant nothing to him at all.
“You’re a single mother,” Han Na-Young continued. “Surely you don’t have other feelings for the CEO, right?”
“Did you forget whose child Jiho is?”
“Jiho is your child. You said that’s how it would be from the start. Or unless…”
“That’s right. You wanted to send him to an orphanage, Unni. Your own child.”
Han Na-Young’s face went pale. “What are you saying? What child did I birth? I am Jiho’s aunt.”
The sheer audacity of the lie left Han Na-Eun reeling. “Can’t you be honest, at least in front of me?”
“Honest? I’m being honest. It’s your child. Legally it’s your child, and you’ve been the one raising him since he was born.”
“Fine. Jiho is my son. So, don’t ever take an interest in him for the rest of your life.”
“Are you really not in a special relationship with the CEO? Then that child must be the eldest grandson of the Myeongseong Group, right? I heard the eldest son is at an overseas branch. I guess he put him in the main house because he divorced and couldn’t raise him alone.”
Han Na-Young’s mind raced through the connections. Han Na-Eun looked at her and said, “Stay away from Minho.”
“The CEO must really cherish his nephew. Seeing him come here together like this.”
“How would I know? Probably.”
Han Na-Young watched her intently. “I’m interested in the CEO. So, I’m planning to approach him. This works out well. Since you happen to be the tutor for his nephew, give me a push.”
“Sure. I’ll push you. Toward a cliff, that is. Don’t expect anything else from me.”
As she turned to leave, Han Na-Young grabbed her arm. “I’ll give you money. Is 1 million won enough?”
In the past, she would have caved, desperate for the cash. But now, she felt a quiet pride in her own ability to provide.
“Forget it. What am I, a beggar? You go ahead and live well, decked out in luxury, working as an entertainer. I’m leaving. I need to get back to the kids.”
She walked away without looking back, the encounter leaving her hollow.
“Jiho. Come here. Give Mom a hug.”
Jiho came running over. Han Na-Eun lowered herself and hugged him tightly.
Jiho is my son. Yes, that’s all that matters.
\”Sure. I’ll push you. Toward a cliff, that is. – priceless 🤣👏🍿😁