The next day. Wednesday morning.
As soon as he arrived at work, Seung-gyu went to find Ji-Heon. With teary eyes, he expressed his gratitude.
“Thanks to you, I survived the day before yesterday. Thank you so much, my friend.”
If Ji-Heon hadn’t shown up, he might have had to drag all three kids to the hospital one after another. Just imagining it made him dizzy.
“I somehow ended up with a third child… and I’m worried because my wife is having such a hard time.”
After his words of thanks, he sat down and began to vent his frustrations. However, Ji-Heon didn’t react at all.
“What’s wrong? Did something happen?”
“Can you look into Jeong-o Lee for me?”
Ji-Heon’s sudden request for a background check surprised Seung-gyu, especially since the subject was Jeong-o Lee.
“Assistant Manager Jeong-o Lee… why?”
“They say she has a child. A single mother.”
“Huh.”
“Just look into it briefly. Who she lives with, if there’s a man in her life, if there was one, or if there is one now.”
“…….”
“And if possible, find out what kind of guy he is.”
“……That doesn’t sound like a simple request,” Seung-gyu replied, his voice trembling.
However, Ji-Heon did not retract his request.
“You’re the only person I can trust. Please.”
Seung-gyu was flustered; he had never performed a background check on anyone before, but he couldn’t say anything more. It was the first time Ji-Heon had ever made such a request.
*
Every second Wednesday of the month is “Jjajangmyeon Day” for Production Team 2—a team truly serious about their black bean noodles.
Jeong-o didn’t forget to wear a black T-shirt. Although she had been feeling down since yesterday, she couldn’t pass up the chance for Jjajangmyeon.
As her heart and outfit were both pitch black, she felt a sort of grim catharsis rising within her.
While walking down the hallway toward the meeting room, Gihun, who was also wearing black, spoke up.
“Dressed like this, we look like a couple.”
“Don’t say things like that. It’s already widely known that I’m a mother.”
“Perhaps it’s also widely known that I like you, Assistant Manager.”
“Oh, boy. You’re asking for it, Gihun.”
Jeong-o tapped Gihun on the arm. The good-natured Gihun laughed even as he was hit, but his faint smile vanished as he looked straight ahead. Ji-Heon was walking toward them.
Ji-Heon passed the two of them without the slightest expression.
A sharp, snapping sensation erupted in her heart.
It felt as though only a single day—no, a few hours—had passed since she felt like they were lovers again. That brief, secret rendezvous had vanished like a dream in the night.
Back to normal—truly back to normal. She returned to the life she had lived alone. Jeong-o quickly accepted the change.
*I’m fine.*
*I’m not so weak that I would fall into despair over things like this.*
*
Amidst the chaos, the D-Day for the presentation approached rapidly. Even though they were perfectly prepared, there were constant revisions upon revisions, so the final proposal evolved from “Final” to “Really-Really-Totally-Final.”
Finally, the day of the presentation arrived. The elite team members, fully prepared, boarded the company vehicle. The attendees for the presentation included the Planning Team Manager, Team Leader Miran Seong, MR. Yeong-gwang Park, as well as Jeong-o and Ji-Heon.
As they headed to the Sori Telecom headquarters, Ji-Heon gave his instructions.
“Since the launch is urgent, we’ll need to set the shooting schedule immediately if we win the contract. I want the PD to keep that in mind and be ready to answer any questions about it. We have some overseas filming, so giving them confidence in those locations will likely earn us points.”
“Yes, Director. We have prepared well for that part and are confident,” MR. Yeong-gwang Park replied.
“I believe it will go well,” Ji-Heon said with a reassuring smile, then added some inside information. “As you know, the CEO of Sori Telecom loves emotional themes. He has one habit: if he finds the story interesting, he pushes his hips back, leans forward, and watches the presenter closely. If he’s ultimately satisfied, he leans back into his chair and adopts a relaxed posture. Please pay close attention to the CEO’s cues and manage the time well.”
Jeong-o nodded quietly, focusing only on her portion of the presentation.
Ever since the fact that she was a single mother came to light, Ji-Heon hadn’t sought her out alone even once. Even when he had things to say to the presenter, he did so publicly in front of everyone.
Jeong-o also found herself avoiding Ji-Heon without even realizing it. Following Miran’s advice, she didn’t want to have any contact with him until the rumors died down, and she wanted to focus on the presentation.
She thought she was doing the right thing. Since then, Eun-Bi hadn’t bothered her, and the preparation had proceeded well; she had essentially reclaimed her daily life.
“Both of you, just do as you did in yesterday’s rehearsal, and it will be fine.”
At Ji-Heon’s encouragement, Jeong-o smiled nervously. When her eyes accidentally met his, she quickly dropped her gaze to the floor.
Upon arriving at the venue, they were guided to the waiting room. Max Planning was the last in line among the three agencies. Jeong-o saw the team before them leaving the meeting room with hollow sighs.
As she greeted their presenter, the person smiled bitterly and said, “It wasn’t a presentation; it was a pressure interview. Good luck.”
Hearing that made her even more nervous. Jeong-o steeled her heart and entered the room.
The atmosphere was solemn, filled with stern-looking executives. No matter how she looked at it, she didn’t see anyone her own age. She worried if she would be able to perform in front of people who looked like they hadn’t smiled in years.
Under the table, Miran tightly squeezed Jeong-o’s hand. For some reason, Miran’s hand was ice-cold, and the sensation cleared Jeong-o’s head.
“Director Ji-Heon Jeong has come in person,” the CEO of Sori Telecom noted. He seemed to know Ji-Heon—as the son of the Seryeon Group Chairman, it was natural they might be acquainted.
“Yes. Hello. I look forward to working with you,” Ji-Heon said, giving a brief greeting before handing the floor to the Planning Team Manager. The presentation began immediately.
While the Manager presented the proposal, Jeong-o observed the executives. The CEO nodded from time to time, but his expression remained unreadable. Even at the jokes the Manager seasoned with experience, no one laughed. Still, the presentation concluded safely.
Then, it was Jeong-o’s turn.
Standing, she looked out at the audience. She took in the faces of her team members, and in the middle of them, Ji-Heon. His indifferent gaze felt unexpectedly reassuring.
“Hello. I am Jeong-o Lee, a copywriter at Max Planning.”
Jeong-o began. Her presentation received a better response than the proposal itself. As she continued, the Sori Telecom CEO pulled his chair back and watched her, propping his chin on his hand. His expression still didn’t change, but his eyes showed clear interest. Jeong-o monitored his reaction and adjusted her pacing accordingly.
Her presentation ended successfully, and the Manager resumed with the schedule and media plan. As expected, there were questions about the shooting schedule; MR. Yeong-gwang Park stood up and solidified the point that they could guarantee the overseas shoots.
The Manager answered questions about the media smartly, and Ji-Heon personally addressed the cooperation plan with Seryeon Group affiliates, heightening their credibility.
She thought that was the end of it, but finally, the CEO called out for Jeong-o.
“Copywriter Jeong-o Lee?”
“Yes.” She stood up.
“Can our brand show a mother’s heart?”
“…….”
“To you, Copywriter Jeong-o Lee, what is a ‘mother’?”
It was a question about ‘Why a Mother?’ Was this the “pressure interview” the previous team had warned her about?
Jeong-o kept her mouth shut, thinking in silence. Her own mother came to mind, as did her child, who called her “Mom.”
Thinking of her child, Ji-Heon—watching her from across the room—stood out even more clearly. Various expressions of her child flashed through her mind.
*I love you. I love you.*
*I’m sorry, because I love you so much.*
She felt a pang of sorrow for everything she had tried her best at but ultimately failed to fulfill. The face of her mother, who always said she was sorry, came to mind. The image of herself, who had told her child time and again that she was a lacking mother, flickered by as well.
“Mothers. We mothers are…” In the quiet room, Jeong-o finally spoke.
“…the kind of people who, even after giving so much, obsess over what we couldn’t give and break our own hearts.”
The CEO, who had been leaning back, lowered his hand and straightened his spine.
“I am certain that ‘Me-and-Talk’ will be an application that shares hearts. I hope it becomes an app that looks into the love and pain of a mother, dissolved within the words, ‘I miss you.’”
Soon after, the CEO relaxed his shoulders and leaned comfortably back into his chair. With a faint, almost imperceptible smile, he said, “Thank you for your hard work. You may leave.”
The Max Planning members gathered their equipment and stepped outside. Everyone sighed quietly, thinking of things they regretted not saying. Miran’s face looked noticeably uncomfortable. Jeong-o’s legs were shaking as if she had just finished a high-pressure interview, but Ji-Heon’s expression was, annoyingly, one of relief.
“Great work, everyone. Let’s head back now,” Ji-Heon said. Just then, the conference room door opened, and a man called out: “Max Planning representatives, please come back inside.”
Ji-Heon’s annoying smile deepened. He took the lead, and Jeong-o followed, eyes wide with surprise.
Upon re-entering, the CEO stood up, walked toward Ji-Heon, and offered a handshake.
“The board has reached a unanimous decision. We’ve chosen Max Planning.”
Ji-Heon shook the CEO’s hand, maintaining a professional, practiced smile as if he had expected it all along.
“We will do our best. We look forward to working with you.”
“The schedule is tight. You’ll need to prepare for the shoot immediately.”
“Yes, CEO. We will discuss it with the working-level staff.”
It was a decisive victory. Only then did Jeong-o let out a sigh of relief, her eyes welling up with tears. She felt moved that their struggle had finally been rewarded.
However, Miran’s expression had worsened. Even though the air conditioning made the room cold, beads of sweat were forming on her forehead. On the way back, setting aside her joy, Jeong-o asked, “Team Leader, you look terrible. Are you feeling unwell?”
“Yeah, I think I need to go to the hospital…” Miran said, groaning. She looked as if she might collapse at any moment.
The car headed straight to the hospital. By now, Miran could barely walk. The others returned to the office, while Jeong-o stayed behind to be by her side.
The diagnosis was acute appendicitis. She underwent emergency surgery. When Miran woke up from the anesthesia, even while feeling awful, her first priority was the schedule.
“There’s a cosmetics meeting this afternoon.”
“Yes. MR. Yeong-gwang Park will handle it. You’ll need to be hospitalized for at least four days, Team Leader.”
“But I have a business trip this Friday…” Miran let out a long, pained sigh before struggling to turn her head toward Jeong-o. “Assistant Manager Lee, you have a passport, right?”
“I’m sure I could find it somewhere…”
“Then that’s settled. You’re going.”
“…Australia? Me?”
“You’ve been there, haven’t you? It’ll be easier since you know the place.”
“But that was seven years ago…”
“You’re the best person for the job. Go.”
Jeong-o stared at her, hesitant.
“You know I started as a copywriter, right? You’ll be a Creative Director one day, too. This is all work you’ll have to do then.” Even in her dazed state, Miran smiled to ease Jeong-o’s burden. “I’m counting on you. You’ll do great.”
Under Miran’s persistent persuasion, Jeong-o finally accepted the mission. A five-day, three-night overseas trip acting as a substitute. Her heart pounded with a mix of pressure and excitement.
The filming location was none other than Melbourne, Australia.
*Ji-Heon, the place where we first met. I’m going back there.*
*
With such a tight schedule before the air date, MR. Yeong-gwang Park had no time to share the joy of winning the account. The overseas shoot for Friday was confirmed, and the Planning Team Manager, MR. Yeong-gwang Park, and Assistant Manager Jeong-o Lee were to go.
Yeong-gwang immediately drafted the documents and reported them to Ji-Heon.
“Because Team Leader Miran Seong had to undergo surgery, Assistant Manager Jeong-o Lee will be joining. She worked the hardest on the PT preparation and also has experience living in Australia, so I believe she will be helpful.”
“She lived in Australia?”
“Yes. She is quite familiar with the area around the filming site.”
Ji-Heon looked at Yeong-gwang with narrowed eyes before looking down to sign the document.
“No matter how capable Assistant Manager Jeong-o Lee is, there is a gap in rank compared to Team Leader Miran Seong. The client, who entrusted us with this work based on their trust in us, will inevitably feel disappointed.”
“But there is no one more suitable than her…”
“I will go as well. That should balance things out.”
“…Excuse me?”
“I’ll leave separately on Sunday, so you don’t need to worry about it,” Ji-Heon replied casually and handed back the document.