Chapter 83 – A Woman Looking at Multiple Glasses

Ju Yong-hae raised his cell phone and checked the location again.

‘It must be here.’

In front of an unfamiliar wine bar.

He stood for a moment and hesitated.

‘Sigh… should I just not go… but it would still be uncomfortable not to meet at all, right? Just in case… since I don’t know, let’s at least hear why he contacted me.’

Ju Yong-hae, who was about to climb the stairs, suddenly stopped and looked down at the tips of his shoes. He took a handkerchief out of his pocket and dusted off the dust sitting on his shoes.

Shrugging his shoulders once, he confidently climbed the stairs one by one.

Tinkle.

As the door opened with a small bell sound, a soft light illuminated the dark space.

As his eyes grew accustomed to the dark lighting, the sight of dozens of wine glasses reflecting the soft light along with low jazz music caught his eye.

At the opposite side of the entrance, a man whose face was hidden in shadow gestured to Ju Yong-hae.

“Hello. I am Ju Yong-hae.”

As he approached the table, the man also stood up immediately and offered a handshake.

“Nice to meet you. I am Attorney Kim Hong-seok of Law Firm Gangyeok. Have a seat.”

He raised his hand and called a staff member.

“Let’s have a light drink, shall we? It’s a bit awkward to just talk.”

Ju Yong-hae looked at Kim Hong-seok with a wary gaze. A bottle of beer was placed in front of Ju Yong-hae, and an uncomfortable silence flowed between the two for a moment.

First, Kim Hong-seok took a sip of wine with a relaxed attitude and opened his mouth.

“I suppose you must have been surprised by the sudden contact. Haha. Don’t be so guarded.

I contacted you just to make a light proposal.”

Ju Yong-hae asked, adjusting his expression.

“…A proposal?”

“You have a good career. Coming from the court, with a long career as an office manager… honestly, even in this industry, your resume is decent.”

Kim Hong-seok smiled.

“I’ll get straight to the point. I will offer you more than double your current salary. An annual salary of 500 million won. It will exceed the salary of most new lawyers at law firms, and as an office manager scout, it will be an exceptional treatment.”

“F… Five hundred million won?”

At the mention of a scout with an annual salary of 500 million won, Ju Yong-hae’s expression stiffened hard, but he immediately cut him off and replied.

“I have no intention of changing jobs yet.”

Ju Yong-hae thought in an instant.

‘A scout with 500 million won… it’s a tempting story, but why would Gangyeok go so far as to pay 500 million won for me…? It must be because there is something they want.’

Kim Hong-seok smirked inwardly and nodded.

‘Right, you should decline immediately. Since you’re an office manager with some career, naturally doubt would come first…’

“Don’t take this the wrong way. I heard that your daughter, Office Manager Ju, even went on an idol program? From what I briefly heard, she’s a friend with a lot of talent.”

At that single word, strength went into the tips of Ju Yong-hae’s fingers.

“You see, we have an affiliated US law firm.

Do you know which corporation that law firm is in charge of? W Music. One of the top ten music labels in the US. We can present your daughter with a bigger stage than Korea.”

Kim Hong-seok took another sip of wine and lowered his voice.

“She seems to be at the age to go to college soon… we will help your daughter study abroad.”

Ju Yong-hae’s gaze shook a bit. The beer foam in the glass slowly died down.

‘Studying in the US. It’s a dream-like story. On top of that, an introduction to a record company.’

Seeing Ju Yong-hae shaken for a moment by the story of his daughter, Kim Hong-seok took out his business card with a cool attitude and set it down on the table with a thud.

“Don’t worry, Office Manager. You don’t need to answer immediately.

Just to add one more word out of concern, I’m not asking for Teum’s information. I’m speaking based on your skills.

I am making this scout proposal after looking at your records of cases secured and won last year.”

Kim Hong-seok stood up from his chair with a smile.

“Don’t feel burdened. Think about it slowly.”

Ju Yong-hae was left alone in the place Kim Hong-seok departed.

Under the dim lighting, his face grew darker and darker, and after hesitating for a long time, Ju Yong-hae carefully picked up the business card on the table.

***

On the way home the next day.

Rustle, tap.

“How much is it?”

Ju Yong-hae stopped by a convenience store and bought a few cans of beer and a bag of snacks.

Even while paying, his thoughts did not stop.

“I don’t know how the day passed… a sudden scouting…”

Ju Yong-hae’s head grew increasingly complicated.

The time spent with Geum Nae-yeong was already approaching two years. Naturally, case processing also increased, and thanks to that, his work skills grew further.

The salary was not bad, either. No, he received more than he deserved.

Originally, Geum Nae-yeong had hired him right away when he was forced to take a retirement that wasn’t really a retirement.

‘Right… still, a person must have loyalty. Even if it’s 500 million won, that is really not right.’

While thinking that, on the other hand, Ha-yul kept weighing on his mind.

‘If it’s studying abroad… since the kid is still young, it would be hard to send her alone.

I heard that if you send them alone in adolescence, they easily fall into bad ways… If so, I’d feel relieved only if I send her with Mi-yeong. If the two go together, the living expenses will also be substantial.

But if the annual salary is around 500 million won… I think it will be enough to send her to school and pay for training or English lessons.

Even if she’s an idol or whatever, she should know some English to become a popular artist abroad, and it would be good to be fluent in English if she wants to lead a singer’s life later, right?

If I say I’ll send her to study abroad, Ha-yul will jump with joy…’

Crack, psshh.

In his troubled mind, Ju Yong-hae cracked open the beer and gulped it down at once.

“Sigh… I, Ju Yong-hae, am not a disloyal guy, but having that one daughter keeps lingering in my mind…”

A bitter smile spread on his mouth.

After sitting blankly for a moment, he raised his head.

“Sigh… this won’t do.”

He moved to the computer desk, holding the beer can.

Whirrr.

Turning on the computer power, Ju Yong-hae sat in his chair and began to tap on the keyboard.

Tap, tap.

He entered something in the search bar, and as if finding something he liked while scrolling down, he clicked the mouse button.

‘They say this place is quite skilled…’

The screen opened with a ding sound on the website.

* Your Horoscope This Month (Employment/Job Change Luck)

“This Month’s Horoscope! How is your employment or job change luck? We will tell your fortune receiving the moon’s energy. Please choose the drawing you like among the following.”

Four drawings were floating on the cards in the screen.

① A man holding two large coins

② A boy trying to peel fruit with a paring knife

③ A worried man holding a bundle of pencils

④ A woman looking at multiple glasses

‘Hmm…’

Ju Yong-hae, who was seriously contemplating, chose the last one, number ④.

Along with a ding sound effect, the corresponding horoscope scrolled.

“You have many worries! Your feet are entirely covered in clouds, so you cannot clearly pierce through the essence of anything.

Frankly, your judgment is blurred this month. The resolute back of that woman turned away, she holds the answer. It is closer to you than you think. Well, good luck!”

“Geez… what are they saying…”

Ju Yong-hae clicked his tongue and turned off the screen.

***

The next morning.

As soon as Ju Yong-hae arrived at work, he went straight to Kim Mi-yeong’s desk.

“Let me talk to you for a second.”

Kim Mi-yeong looked up at him with surprised eyes.

“What is it from early morning?”

At her question, Ju Yong-hae did not say anything.

Bluish stubble, a face with hollow eyes from not being able to sleep.

At his unfamiliar air, Kim Mi-yeong tilted her head.

‘What’s this, why is Ju Yong-hae’s mood like this…?’

After a moment, the two sat facing each other in the consultation room. Kim Mi-yeong asked with her arms crossed.

“So, what is it. Calling me out since early morning.”

Ju Yong-hae caught his breath for a moment and opened his mouth.

“That… about Ha-yul. That idol thing, she is going to keep doing it, right?”

“Ha-yul? Well, she still seems interested?”

When Kim Mi-yeong replied as if puzzled, Ju Yong-hae nodded.

“If I… send you two to study abroad together… can you take good care of Ha-yul?”

“Studying abroad?”

Kim Mi-yeong opened her eyes wide as if surprised.

“Yes. Studying in the US. What if she learns English, and they groom her professionally for that idol thing?

Looking at them, all singers nowadays went to school abroad. With Ha-yul’s current grades, it doesn’t seem like it will be easy to go to college in Korea either…”

Ju Yong-hae’s voice grew increasingly firm. Kim Mi-yeong stared at that sight blankly for quite a long time.

‘Could it be that Mi-yeong is touched…?’

“Ahahahahahahahahaha!”

Suddenly, all of a sudden, Kim Mi-yeong burst into laughter.

Ju Yong-hae was flustered by her unexpected reaction.

“Why are you laughing? I mean it. I am saying this after worrying immensely, what is so funny?”

Kim Mi-yeong snorted and uncrossed her arms.

“Briefly, let’s grant that you are the best in South Korea at treasuring a single daughter.

No, but still, how uninterested is the child’s father in her studies that you suggest sending her to study abroad?

Will a kid who gets a grade 9 in Korean immediately become a grade 1 in English just because you send her abroad for a bit?

Would a kid who misspells ‘maternal aunt’ do well even in English…”

“….”

“I don’t know where you heard such talk, but don’t get uselessly vain. If it’s not yours, don’t covet it. The same goes for children. Only when it’s someone like Attorney Geum do you contemplate whether to spend big money and educate them properly… sigh…”

“…..Tsk…”

“Mr. Ju Yong-hae! Pull yourself together. Did you set the mood since morning just to tell me that? How absurd. Stop talking nonsense and work hard. Okay?”

Kim Mi-yeong left the consultation room with a laugh.

Left completely alone, Ju Yong-hae sat blankly and muttered to himself.

“Was our Ha-yul… that bad at studying?”

A long sigh flowed out.

“…Right. It was uncomfortable anyway… I was shaken by a strange place for a moment. If you covet things not suited to your lot, ruining your life is but a single moment…”

Ju Yong-hae took his cell phone out of his pocket and sent a text message to the contact number written on the business card.

“I am Ju Yong-hae. It seems that place is not my spot. You do not need to reply. I am blocking you.”

***

Whirrrrr.

Warm air from the dryer squeezed through the strands of hair.

“Oh, your hair quality is so good.”

The hair salon staff admired as they handled Cha Ra-ri’s hair.

“Thank you.”

“But are you going somewhere nice?”

“Ah, me? A school reunion.”

When Cha Ra-ri stated the destination, the shop staff’s eyes sparkled and smiled.

“A girls’ high school reunion by any chance? That is important! For women!”

“Right. Besides, they say the kid who spoke carelessly to me when we were young is showing up. I’m going to put her in her place this time.”

“Oh my, you had such circumstances? Then we can’t do it like this.”

As she gestured, a staff member pushed a cart and approached.

In an instant, various makeup supplies spread out before her eyes.

“Strong? Graceful? Coy? Or… wealthy-looking?”

“So that she loses her spirit the moment she sees me.”

When Cha Ra-ri ordered with a laugh, the staff’s fingertips grew busy. The lights in front of the mirror turned on, and the brush swept over her face.

“Where is the reunion held?”

“Ah, Atre Hotel in Songpa-gu.”

“Ah, it’s close. Go today and make sure to show her what’s what.”

“Naturally I should.”

Cha Ra-ri’s eye makeup grew darker and darker, gradually shifting into battle mode.