Misuk looked as if she had heard the most unbelievable thing. How could someone like Han Na-eun, who seemed to have no connections to such high-profile circles, be involved with a man of his stature?
“What? How are you and the representative of your broadcasting station together?”
Han Na-young kicked off her heels, tossed her coat onto the sofa, and collapsed into it before speaking.
“There’s the eldest son of the Myeongseong Group. He’s the older brother of our station’s representative. He used to head Myeongseong Electronics, but he’s been at an overseas branch, right? I suppose he’s at the main residence now. Han Na-eun said she’s working there as a live-in tutor.”
Only then, as if the reality of the words finally took hold, Misuk’s eyes widened. She pounced on the conversation.
“Oh my, oh my. She hit the jackpot. Well, I suppose she does have a cunning side. She must have caught the eye of a wealthy mistress. That’s probably why she’s doing that part-time job. Don’t you think they pay a fortune for that kind of work?”
When Misuk asked with a face full of curiosity, Han Na-young shook her head.
“I don’t know. Even so, how much could a live-in job really pay? Anyway, have you been to the place Han Na-eun moved into?”
Misuk shook her head.
“I haven’t. She said the place was miserable. She kept hounding me for money, claiming she needed it for rent. What’s the point of visiting a hole like that? It would only make me feel pathetic for no reason.”
Han Na-young fell silent for a moment. Recalling the image of Han Jiho she had seen earlier that day, she muttered to herself.
“Still, Han Jiho’s face was so smooth and glowing; he was incredibly handsome.”
Just then, the sound of the bean sprout soup boiling over filled the kitchen. Misuk scrambled over to turn down the heat, her voice rising to match the hiss of the steam.
“That’s right. It’s been a while since you saw Han Jiho, hasn’t it? He really is handsome—maybe he takes after you. I think he could even be a celebrity one day.”
Misuk clamped the lid back onto the pot and lowered her voice to a whisper.
“They say you can’t deceive blood, and since he’s your son…”
As soon as those words landed, Han Na-young’s face flushed scarlet and she bristled.
“Mom!”
Han Na-young let out a sharp, jagged sound and clenched her fists.
“I told you never to say that in front of me! I’m going to develop a neurosis at this rate. Is this why I can’t go anywhere with you? Why don’t you just invite the whole neighborhood over and announce it? Tell them Han Na-young is actually Han Jiho’s mother!”
Misuk shook her head as if in disbelief, waving her hands dismissively.
“Hey, why would I ever do that? If I were planning to do that, I wouldn’t have put Han Jiho in Han Na-eun’s care.”
Though Misuk attempted to soothe her daughter, her tone remained edged with indifference.
Han Na-young raised her chin, struggling to suppress her anger.
“Then please, stop saying it. Are you trying to drive me mad?”
Misuk shrugged, feigning a clumsy mistake.
“Oh, no, no. I only said it because you brought it up first. By the way, why has Director Song been so scarce lately?”
Misuk asked with a casual shift in tone, clearly trying to steer the conversation elsewhere.
Han Na-young glared at her, her eyes brimming with annoyance.
“He’s busy. And besides, we’re going to break up anyway.”
“Why? Why are you breaking up?”
Misuk’s eyes went round as she leaned toward her daughter.
“He provides for your living expenses well, and he seems decent enough.”
Han Na-young gave a cynical, mocking laugh.
“Director Song is a married man.”
Misuk was speechless for a moment, staring at Han Na-young in shock. Then, she quickly clamped her mouth shut and let out a long, sharp sigh.
“Oh my, have you lost your mind? If that’s the case, you should have weeded him out from the start. You’ve been seeing a married man this whole time… Oh, goodness, and I didn’t even know, acting all polite and staying tucked away in my room every time he visited!”
“Mom. I didn’t have any intention of marrying him anyway. Isn’t that enough?”
“Still, you shouldn’t have touched a married man, you brat!”
When Misuk shouted, Han Na-young replied with practiced brazenness.
“It’s because I get along well with Director Song that I’ve made it this far. I even secured the main MC role for cable TV. Even if we break up, I need to stay on his good side.”
“Hey. Where in the world do a man and a woman break up and stay on ‘good terms’? What kind of preposterous talk is that?”
Misuk was so dumbfounded she slumped into a dining chair. She glared at Han Na-young with disapproval, but Han Na-young only sighed.
“It’s complicated. And besides, I want to marry the representative of our broadcasting station.”
“What? The station representative? Why would a man like that marry you?”
Misuk snorted. Han Na-young retorted with a resentful glare.
“Why, is that something for you to say? With my beauty and intellect, I can make him fall for me whenever I want.”
Misuk tilted her head, skeptical.
“You’re aiming too high. Lower your sights a bit. Wouldn’t it be better to just find a small or medium-sized business representative?”
But Han Na-young shook her head.
“No. I’m sick to death of poverty. So, Mom, next time you meet Han Na-eun, put in a good word for me. Tell her to build a bridge so the representative and I can meet. Naturally.”
“Fine. I’ll try to do that.”
Satisfied with Misuk’s promise, Han Na-young softened. Then, she tensed again.
“You don’t think Han Na-eun has feelings for the representative, do you?”
“Who knows.”
Misuk replied vaguely, and Han Na-young said, thinking of Choi Kang-woo,
“That man is incredibly handsome. His education, his family background, his looks… With a man that attractive, what woman wouldn’t lose her heart to him?”
“Hey. Still, she’s a single mother with a child; would she really aim for a bachelor from such a wealthy family? People need to know their place. Han Na-eun isn’t the type to chase foolish dreams or be vain.”
“Right?”
“Of course. It would be different if you were a celebrity like her.”
When Misuk looked at Han Na-young with pride, her daughter nodded.
“Right. That must be it. She’s just a single mother; she’s not someone who would dare to aim for him.”
Han Na-young was certain. She would definitely capture the man’s heart. She believed she could.
* * *
Late that night, after bathing and tucking the children into bed, Han Na-eun hesitated at the foot of the stairs.
Is it right to go up these steps to spend time with Choi Kang-woo? She had been swept up in it—it was a one-night escapade, nothing more. Or so she told herself. She had wanted to experience such a night with a man, and it was only possible because it was Choi Kang-woo.
But was she the only one who felt that way?
Suddenly, Han Na-young’s words echoed in her mind.
[I’m interested in that representative. So, give me a push.]
“Push, my foot.”
Regardless, the memory of those words made her waver. Just then, Choi Kang-woo appeared at the top of the stairs. He descended quickly and pulled her into a tight, possessive embrace.
“I was waiting for you—what are you doing at the bottom of the stairs? Are you playing hard to get because you want to see me go crazy?”
At his words, Han Na-eun looked up.
“You were waiting?”
“Of course I was. Didn’t you wait for me, Han Na-eun?”
Choi Kang-woo pulled her closer, his body pressing firmly against hers.
“Han Na-eun.”
Their lips met. As the kiss deepened, Choi Kang-woo scooped her into his arms and carried her up the stairs. The moment they tumbled onto his bed, Han Na-eun closed her eyes. She had felt a simple joy at the amusement park that day, but now, she was swept up in a darker, more volatile passion that made her pulse race.
It had been a few days since they first crossed that line. Her mind was entirely consumed by him. His voice echoed in her ears.
“You shouldn’t talk about ‘eating and running’ anymore.”
When he spoke, Han Na-eun couldn’t help but giggle.
“Is that word so scary to you?”
“Yes. Being abandoned by you is terrifying. So, let’s go out. Starting today.”
“If we’re going to go out…”
“It means exactly what it sounds like. Let’s go out. Don’t think about anything else.”
Han Na-eun hesitated before replying.
“Then, I have a condition.”
At her words, Choi Kang-woo looked at her with intense focus.
“Tell me. I’ll grant anything.”
Han Na-eun answered slowly.
“Let’s just go out without thinking about marriage or the future. We’re both adults; we can go out and part ways later.”
Choi Kang-woo slowly brushed a strand of hair from her face. Meeting her gaze, he said,
“You’re right. A man and woman can date without thinking about marriage. But you’re asking me to date on the premise of eventually breaking up, aren’t you? People don’t usually start something with an exit strategy in mind. Can you really call it a romance when the ending is already written?”
Choi Kang-woo was right. No one would start a relationship knowing it had to end in heartbreak. But it didn’t feel like they were in a position to dream of anything else.
“Just… let’s just go out without thinking about anything.”
“Then promise me this. Promise that we aren’t going out on the premise of breaking up. Let’s just be together.”
Tears welled up and spilled down her cheeks before she could stop them. She didn’t know why she was crying. His words were everything she wanted to hear. However, Han Na-eun still felt the conclusion of this story was already set in stone.
She knew what kind of person Choi Kang-woo’s mother was. She was a woman who only found peace when every detail of life was controlled to her liking.
To teach children, one must understand psychology, because the foundations laid in childhood rarely fade. Han Na-eun had seen it in Choi Kyung-hye. She was exactly that kind of person. It wasn’t necessarily evil, but it made Han Na-eun realize there was simply no room in that world for someone like her to be accepted.