Chapter 30

"Don't go hitting on people you've just met. Only me."

"...?"

Did 'only me' mean she could hit on him? So, instead of strangers, she should hit on him? But, why?

From the very beginning, Ho Rang was a man who looked at Bo Bae as if she were a mere stone. Bo Bae couldn't fathom what he meant by saying such things now.

Just as Bo Bae, who couldn't stand being left in the dark, was about to ask what he meant...

"Oh? President Baek Ho Rang!"

Producer Jang approached Ho Rang.

"When did you get here?"

"Just now. I came by to show some support and see if the filming was going well."

"Haha. Thanks to you, President, filming is going great. Everything is perfect. This building is so luxurious. It fits our drama perfectly."

Producer Jang led the conversation with his characteristic slick tone, and the two naturally moved away as he introduced Ho Rang to the actors.

Left alone in the wake of their departure, Bo Bae stared blankly at Ho Rang's retreating back. A man who didn't lose his luster even when standing next to actors, no, he was actually more dashing.

Every single gesture was elegant, and every word was full of dignity. She was dazed, wondering what on earth that man had just said to her a moment ago.

Was he... trying to seduce me with those red lips?

"No. There's no way. Why would Mr. Baek Ho Rang..."

She was shaking her head while watching Ho Rang grow distant when...

"Oh my, look who it is! Isn't this Bo Bae?"

Someone called her name. As Bo Bae turned around, a dark shadow cast over her face.

"It's you, Ju Hee."

Kang Ju Hee. A friend she had met back at the drama academy, and now a respectable, successful screenwriter. Unlike Bo Bae, who only had a single debut work to her name, Ju Hee had completed two mini-series, and the project she was starting now was her third.

The success of her previous works was evident in the way Ju Hee held her neck stiff with pride. Though she wasn't particularly tall, her gaze, which looked down on others, seemed quite full of herself.

She was a woman who was always "honest." Consequently, she was a bit rude, someone whose opinions came before others' feelings, whose meddling came before etiquette, and whose questions came before silence. A loud-voiced woman. In short, she was exactly the kind of person Bo Bae wanted to avoid.

Bo Bae knew Ju Hee was working on a project with Producer Jang, but she hadn't expected to run into her here. Bo Bae wanted to avoid her even now, but Ju Hee was the type who never let go once she sank her teeth into someone.

"What brings you here, Bo Bae? This shopping center hasn't opened yet, so just anyone can't come in."

The phrase 'just anyone' stung a bit, but now was not the time to be shaken by such trifles. If this was the Ju Hee she knew, she would spit out much worse.

"I'm working a part-time job here."

"Ah, so that's how you got in."

Since she couldn't explain her complicated relationship with Ho Rang, Bo Bae just glossed it over by saying she was working part-time. If she gave Ju Hee any room to wonder, the questions would be endless.

"But Bo Bae."

"Yeah?"

"Isn't being thirty and still working part-time a bit much? It's not even a proper job, just part-time work."

Bo Bae's face crumpled at the over-the-top question that came without warning.

"Hohoho. I'm kidding. Why are you making such a face over a little joke?"

Her ability to read the room has improved a bit, at least.

"But, why are you doing part-time work instead of writing?"

"Ah, that's..."

"I actually heard about it from Producer Jang. Is your chronic illness still acting up?"

Bo Bae’s mood soured instantly at Ju Hee’s tone as she asked with a faint smile. It was bad enough that they were talking behind her back, but Ju Hee’s intentions were transparent. She was mocking and belittling her.

"Why don't you try changing genres?"

The 'chronic illness' Ju Hee was referring to was romance. Having attended the academy together, Ju Hee knew Bo Bae’s weaknesses better than anyone. And since she had it verified by Producer Jang, she must know it all too well.

There was one more thing Ju Hee knew, that Bo Bae loved and wanted to write romance more than any other genre.

"It’s foolish to hold onto something you don't have the talent for. It's been ages since your debut. What are you going to do if you can't even write your next work? Should I help you?"

Ju Hee reached out with a look of concern, but Bo Bae had no intention of taking that hand. She wasn't such a fool that she couldn't distinguish between malice and goodwill.

"Ju Hee, I'll take care of my own business."

When Bo Bae drew a hard line, Ju Hee nodded, though her expression clearly said, 'As if you could.'

"Sure. I'm sure you'll handle it. But, if you ever need help, just let me know. What are friends for? We should help each other at times like this."

"By the way, what scene are they filming here?"

Bo Bae changed the subject to deflect the excessive attention on herself. As if she had been waiting for that question, Ju Hee began to drone on about the drama.

"Our male lead is the CEO of a shopping center. He’s a handsome, tall, and rich 'Young & Rich' type. We were originally going to film at another department store, but Tae Seong Group practically begged us to film here, so we had no choice."

"Ah... really?"

Bo Bae recalled Producer Jang's face as he scrambled to cater to Ho Rang earlier. It seemed the person doing the 'begging' was the other way around...

"Do you happen to know a man named Baek Ho Rang?"

"Huh?"

"You know, the President of Tae Seong Group. Chairman Baek Man Seok's grandson."

Ju Hee lowered her voice as if she were sharing some grand secret. She was talking about a man even an elementary schooler in Korea would know.

"Yeah. I know him."

We're living in the same house right now.

"Actually, President Baek Ho Rang says he's a fan of mine. He supposedly told Producer Jang."

Bo Bae furrowed her brows at the word 'fan.' Given that man's personality, he wasn't the type to be anyone's fan. She couldn't believe he had actually said such a thing.

"Apparently, he looked up everything from my debut work until now and even asked for all my scripts. And he threw a fit saying he wouldn't do the PPL for this shopping center unless it was a work by writer Kang Ju Hee. It was quite embarrassing."

No way. Bo Bae had seen with her own two eyes Producer Jang clutching Baek Ho Rang's pant legs, pleading for the sponsorship. She had even heard Ho Rang say he would pull the sponsorship if the ratings didn't hold up.

Furthermore, he was a calculating man whose life motto was 'give and take' and who wouldn't even listen to anything that wasn't productive. There was no way he would approach work with a pure emotion like being a fan.

"Bo Bae, you probably wouldn't know since you don't have fans, but..."

Ju Hee was laying the groundwork for something unpleasant again.

"I find it hard to turn down requests from fans. So I had no choice but to accept the PPL."

"Ah, I see."

Bo Bae just nodded half-heartedly, her soul practically leaving her body as she listened to the bragging.

"Actually, I wasn't even going to come here today. Why would a writer need to be at the filming site? A writer's job is to write scripts in the studio. But Mr. Baek Ho Rang said he was coming to see me today. That’s why I squeezed this into my busy schedule."

Ju Hee’s inconsistent bragging was unpleasant to hear, but Bo Bae didn't feel like correcting her.

'Mr. Baek Ho Rang came to see Producer Jang, not you. And I know that man a bit. He's not the type to be a fan of anyone. Even if Shakespeare were standing in front of him, he wouldn't even blink, unless Shakespeare gave him the copyrights.'

She wanted to say that, but she didn't want to get petty.

"I see."

As she nodded while letting the words go in one ear and out the other, Ju Hee suddenly exclaimed.

"Oh, right! Bo Bae. I just had a great idea. Tell me what you think."

Better if you didn't think at all.

"I happen to be looking for an assistant writer. How about you come work under me?"

"...!"

In an instant, Bo Bae’s mind went blank. Until now, she had been using her 'soul-detached' listening method to let the nonsense pass, but this was impossible to filter out.

She could tolerate the pretending to care or the fake concern, but this was crossing the line. No, it was way past the line. This wasn't concern. It was a blatant attempt to trample on her pride.

To tell a writer who had officially debuted and was currently preparing a manuscript to work 'under' her.

What made it even more infuriating was that she couldn't think of a sharp comeback to refute Ju Hee's words. Countless words flashed through her mind and resentment boiled up in her chest as if it were about to burst, but her mouth was tightly shut.

"I think I can take good care of someone like you. What do you say?"

"..."

"Ah, I'll pay you well too. If the ratings are good, I might even buy you a luxury bag. I'll replace your laptop, too."

"..."

"I don't know what kind of part-time job you're doing now, but I think learning under me would be more helpful for your writing. What do you think?"

She couldn't pull herself together. It felt like her pride had been shattered into dust like a brittle cracker. Her face flushed hot. Her ears turned red, and her hands began to sweat.

She had to say something. She had to draw a line like before and tell her not to worry, that she would handle her own business, but like a fool, the words wouldn't come out.

"Writer Kang, are you here?"

It was then. Having finished their greetings with the actors, Producer Jang and Ho Rang approached them.

"Oh? Writer Na was here too? What brings you here?"

"Bo Bae says she's working part-time at the shopping center."

When Bo Bae hesitated, Ju Hee jumped in to answer. Producer Jang muttered with an awkward expression.

"From the café to the shopping center, you're certainly working hard at your part-time jobs."

"By the way, who is this gentleman?"

Ju Hee asked, pointing at Ho Rang. In truth, Ju Hee had been dying of curiosity about the man with Producer Jang. She had been waiting for Producer Jang to introduce them while she toyed with Bo Bae, and seeing him up close, he was even more impressive than from afar.

He was tall, at least 187cm, with perfect proportions, a handsome face, luxury brands from head to toe, and an air of nobility in his movements. He seemed even more dashing than the male lead in her own drama.

"Ah, I'm late with the introductions. This is President Baek Ho Rang of Tae Seong Group, who is providing the sponsorship for our drama."

Ju Hee smirked as if she had known it all along. Visuals like that didn't just come from anyone.

"And on this side..."

Just as Producer Jang was about to introduce Ju Hee, Ho Rang spoke first.

"I'm a fan."

"!"

Bo Bae, listening to their conversation from the side, couldn't hide her shock. When Ju Hee had said those things, Bo Bae was certain they weren't true. She would have bet that Baek Ho Rang would never be Ju Hee's fan, but he really was?

It felt like Ho Rang was pouring salt into the wound Ju Hee had opened.

Just as she bit her lower lip and tried to leave the spot...

"I'm a fan. Of writer Na Bo Bae."

Ho Rang's voice caught her.