YDCF 06

Chapter – 06

Did I ever think I’d run into my former crush at a dinner party?

“You ran away like that, and now you’re ignoring even me.”

It could happen, so be careful.

Yeah. I was frozen solid right now.

Because Ryu Do-gyeong was glaring at me with eyes colder than minus forty degrees.

How could I ever forget that face?

Ryu Do-gyeong.

I used to like him once. I was very young back then, and after I became independent from the Joo family, I cut off contact.

Even so, I still heard his name from time to time. Just turning on the news, Ryu Do-gyeong would often appear.

Before my regression, when I had just passed twenty—

• Seohae and Dongwoo to become in-laws… engagement rumors between heirs shake the business world

• Seohae Group heir Ryu Do-gyeong (21), rumored to be engaged to Dongwoo Group’s Joo Soo-yeon (20) — “Completely false”

There were rumors that he was engaged to Joo Soo-yeon, Joo Soo-deok’s daughter and my age-mate, but until the day I died, he never got engaged to her.

Every time Ryu Do-gyeong’s face appeared on the news or InTube videos, I’d sniffle and think, Wow, he grew up really well… I really did have a good eye…

But never in my dreams did I think I’d meet Ryu Do-gyeong again like this!

My forehead’s going to get pierced at this rate…

He was taller by a full head, glaring at me while radiating an intimidating aura. I hurriedly avoided his gaze.

“Your eyeballs are loud.”

Ryu Do-gyeong grabbed my cheek and turned my face. Our gazes tangled heavily in midair.

“Why aren’t you answering? Did you forget how to talk? Or maybe you—”

“……”

“Don’t want to talk to me?”

Of course not! I squeezed my eyes shut and briefly recalled the past.

Back when I used to trail after Ryu Do-gyeong everywhere, the words I cried out to him after getting scolded by my mom—

‘What do I do? Mom— Mom says she’s going to marry me off to an idiot… sniff… Can’t I marry you, oppa? Can’t you just become an idiot?’
‘Joo Sae-i, stop following me and go apologize to your mother. Forget marriage or whatever, you idiot.’

…Ah.

I even remembered blowing my nose on his sleeve.

As I stood there blankly, Ryu Do-gyeong tapped my forehead with his finger, urging me to answer.

“You’re the one who never showed your face.”

“……”

“Do I have to be treated like an uninvited guest?”

“No— No!”

No matter how embarrassing my dark past was, he was still the young power holder of Seohae Group, a cold-blooded figure. If I ignored a remark like that, I might earn his resentment.

I hurriedly waved my hands. Only then did Ryu Do-gyeong tilt his head slightly, as if pleased to finally get a reaction.

Just as he was about to speak again—

“Chairman Joo is entering.”

Perfect timing!

The main character of the dinner party—the reason I came here—had appeared.

“Thank you all for coming this far.”

Chairman Joo’s rough voice filled the now-quiet hall. The hanbok, personally tailored by a master craftsman, shimmered in the light and showed off its texture.

Figures from the political and business worlds returned to their assigned tables. Ryu Do-gyeong did the same.

Sae-i’s seat was at the table grouped with the Joo family, right next to my aunt.

After lightly raising his hand in greeting, Chairman Joo stopped at the center of the hall and slowly looked over the tables.

His gaze lingered heavily on one spot.

…So she really came.

Joo Sae-i.
The seat of the granddaughter left behind by his eldest daughter, who had passed away before him.

“Tsk.”

Chairman Joo clicked his tongue.

Not long ago, she showed up at Dongwoo Hall. Now she had somehow persuaded her aunt and even gotten invited to the dinner party.

She used to avoid coming even when I told her to.

At his granddaughter’s changed behavior, doubt appeared on Chairman Joo’s face.

Once he took the seat of honor, the staff began serving warm dishes over the white tablecloth, as if they had been waiting for this moment.

“How does it make sense that I have to sit at the same table as her?”

Even though Joo Soo-yeon was openly showing her displeasure, my mind was filled with stray thoughts.

I needed to show Chairman Joo my acting. If not today, I might never get another chance.

Trying to calm my restless heart, I turned my gaze. People who had mostly finished eating were watching Chairman Joo closely. And then—

“Chairman. Chairman Ryu has specially sent a gift.”

With a neatly arranged smile, Ryu Do-gyeong spoke up warmly. Fearlessly.

“I’ve prepared something as well! Let’s talk slowly.”

“Me too, Chairman—!”

One by one, guests who had been waiting for a chance raised their hands.

“Hoho… So Do-gyeong speaks first,” Chairman Joo said.
“……”
“Let’s hear them one at a time. What you prepared, and why.”

It was the moment when legal flattery was unleashed.

Chairman Joo rejected gifts he didn’t like without hesitation.

Amid the lively atmosphere, Joo Soo-deok, his daughter, and my aunt were chatting with acquaintances.

I stayed behind alone at an empty table, sneaking glances at Ryu Do-gyeong sitting over there.

Ryu Do-gyeong went first and delivered Chairman Ryu’s gift—and passed.

Maybe because of that, he returned to his seat and calmly observed the situation.

My turn is coming soon.

My hands were shaking. I was far more nervous than when I acted in front of Actress Sung Hye-sim. My future was on the line, after all.

I lowered my head toward the floor and silently recited my memorized lines over and over. It helped steady my wavering mind, even just a little.

“Hey.”

“Hik!”

“Why are you so startled? Am I going to eat you?”

When did he get here? Ryu Do-gyeong stood over me, hands in his suit pockets.

“You kept staring at the ground and muttering.”

“Uh… You saw all that?”

“I could see it. Easily.”

“I see… You could see it easily…”

I nodded blankly, my soul half gone.

“You’re being overly polite. It doesn’t suit you.”

“Yes.”

“Talk casually.”

“No. I’m more comfortable like this…”

Ryu Do-gyeong’s eyes widened for a moment. A shaken expression.

Why is he surprised?

It’s been years since we last met. I’m the girl who confessed a hundred times, got rejected a hundred times, then disappeared.

“You.”

“……”

“Are you uncomfortable around me?”

Of course I am!

…was what I desperately wanted to shout, but I held it in. Ryu Do-gyeong had already taken the seat next to me and was staring straight at me.

“That’s strange…”

Ignoring his muttering, I cleared my throat. It was really almost my turn.

Hoo.
I took a deep breath and stood up. Ryu Do-gyeong lightly grabbed my arm.

“He’s not lenient, even with family.”

It seemed he had realized I was going to present my gift and was warning me.

The agitation from before was gone. His expression had turned serious.

This was the Ryu Do-gyeong I used to see on the news.

“I know.”

“And your preparation?”

“I prepared something he’ll be satisfied with.”

He tilted his head, as if he couldn’t believe it.

“What is this gift? If you finally show up after all this time and get scolded—”

Is he… worried about me?

But I didn’t have time to deal with him anymore. I shook off his hand and said quietly,

“You’ll know when you see it.”

The moment I turned away—

“Joo Sae-i.”

My grandfather called my name. I calmly walked toward him.

“You wouldn’t show your face again for no reason after ignoring me whenever I called.”

“……”

“At this point, I’m curious about what you prepared. Go on. Show me.”

“The gift I prepared is…”

I looked at him with certainty in my eyes—and carried that certainty into my voice.

“Something you treasure the most.”

“……What?”

“Something you believe no longer exists in this world.”

The party hall fell silent. I could feel that everyone was listening just from the air itself.

I didn’t mind.

“I’ll return it to you—through acting.”

I stated my purpose.

“What! Something he treasures? Acting? Father, what could she possibly know about your heart?”

Starting with Joo Soo-deok, the guests began to murmur. I had expected this reaction, so I waited only for my grandfather’s permission.

“She’s saying she’ll act like a street performer in front of everyone! You need to send her away immediately!”

“Soo-deok.”

“Father!”

My grandfather hesitated. A granddaughter who suddenly appeared, suddenly claiming she’d perform acting—it must have felt like an all-or-nothing gamble.

If this continued, I’d be forced to retreat without showing anything. Just as I was about to press my lips together and try persuading him again—

“Chairman.”

Ryu Do-gyeong raised his hand from the back. The murmuring stopped.

And then—

“I want to see it. Sae-i’s acting.”

I didn’t know whether it was trust or mockery.

“……Very well. Let’s see it.”

Ryu Do-gyeong’s words placed me on my grandfather’s test stand.

And that, to me, was a very welcome thing.