Chapter 649. Healing (4)
“I don't really understand why I need to defend myself to you, but here it goes, anyway! The more I think about it, the more it looks like you're misunderstanding something here, Eun-Sol! What you are thinking about did not happen. Okay!”
Choi Yeon-Ha sounded very resolute. Firm. Unyielding... in her yelling!
As if she'd not allow one iota of misinterpretation to creep in, she explained herself like a teacher reading from a textbook. Although, it was hard to overlook the unfortunate fact that doing so only made her sound more desperate.
“It's just that things got a bit scary for me before Mister Jin-Ho showed up, okay? And he didn't even book a place to stay, so we merely slept together. That is it!”
Han Eun-Sol's eyes opened wider. “You slept together?!”
“No, not that! You know! We just slept!” Choi Yeon-Ha grew even more impatient at Han Eun-Sol's counterattack. “I'm telling you, what you think happened did not happen! Really!”
“...Noona?”
“Yes, Eun-Sol?”
Han Eun-Sol sighed deeply before addressing Choi Yeon-Ha again. “Please stop. It's getting unsightly now. You're a young woman, so isn't it fine to have some fun? I mean, why are you getting so worked up to the point of screaming all these excuses at me? I can even see the veins popping in your neck and all. Listen, noona. I'm your manager, okay? I ain't gonna spread bad rumors of what happened. Don't you trust me?”
“That's not it! It's nooooot!” Choi Yeon-Ha cried out while grabbing at her hair. She was this close to passing out from the blood rushing to her head!
'No! This is unfair! Too bloody unfair!'
Choi Yeon-Ha actually didn't care about Han Eun-Sol's misunderstanding. It didn't matter, anyway. She was never all that obsessed with people perceiving her as a modest woman, to begin with. However, what she did care about was how unfair this situation was!
If she and Kang Jin-Ho had done something, she wouldn't be this aggrieved about it. Indeed, if they had at least kissed or something...! She wouldn't be fuming this badly!
And, and! It wasn't even the case of 'Let's hold hands while we sleep', either! Who wouldn't get pissed when it wasn't even something as innocent as holding hands?! Just who!
Choi Yeon-Ha finally decided to redirect her anger to someone else. “Say something, will ya?!”
“Sorry?” Kang Jin-Ho tilted his head, his expression implying this entire conversation had totally flown over his head with a loud whoosh. Currently, he was riding in the van after inadvertently joining Choi Yeon-Ha and Han Eun-Sol for the trip to the filming location.
“Uwaaaaah! You utterly, completely useless man!”
Choi Yeon-Ha had regained her vitality through Kang Jin-Ho's treatment. Unfortunately for the treatment provider, though... He couldn't have imagined in his wildest dreams that her recovered vitality would be used to verbally abuse him like this!
When Kang Jin-Ho wordlessly turned his head away and looked elsewhere, Choi Yeon-Ha redirected her yell containing the entire world's worth of resentment in Han Eun-Sol's direction. “YOU! Don't you trust me?!”
“Of course I trust you,” Han Eun-Sol coolly replied.
“Then why are you acting like this?!”
“Because it's entertaining.”
“Huh?!”
Han Eun-Sol smirked. “Obviously, the one and only Choi Yeon-Ha would never lose her composure about stuff like that, am I right? I mean, we aren't even talking about something earth-shattering here, anyway!”
“R-right. Of course!”
Han Eun-Sol smiled wryly when Choi Yeon-Ha straightened her back a little as if she had finally regained her prestige. Of course he believed what she said. After all, Choi Yeon-Ha wasn't the type to lie about stuff like this. Wasn't she someone who worked tirelessly to make sure she had nothing to hide from anyone?
It was just that Han Eun-Sol got the shock of his life after discovering Kang Jin-Ho 'staying together' with Choi Yeon-Ha.
Even now, Han Eun-Sol didn't know what the interior of Choi Yeon-Ha's home looked like. She was very strict about separating work and personal matters, which meant even her manager wasn't allowed inside her hotel suite, never mind her home!
So, Han Eun-Sol was already stunned when Choi Yeon-Ha told him to come inside her suite earlier in the morning. And to add more fuel to his shock, he realized that Kang Jin-Ho had been allowed to sleep in her suite!
That alone told everything Han Eun-Sol needed to know about what Choi Yeon-Ha thought of Kang Jin-Ho.
In all honesty, Han Eun-Sol wouldn't have been that surprised to see Choi Yeon-Ha and Kang Jin-Ho getting together for a romantic evening in a hotel before going their separate ways. But the fact that she allowed Kang Jin-Ho into her personal space like that? Now that was shocking.
'That doesn't comfort me at all, though...!'
Han Eun-Sol sighed under his breath while gripping the steering wheel even tighter.
He had already given up a long time ago. In that case, was it necessary to confirm the kill like this?
Han Eun-Sol had discarded any delusions while boarding the plane out of South Korea, although it wasn't because his competition was Kang Jin-Ho. No, he knew Choi Yeon-Ha would never see him as a man even if Kang Jin-Ho wasn't in the picture. No wonder he didn't have lingering resentment or regrets. Even so...!
Bang!
“Ouch!” Choi Yeon-Ha unhappily cried out. “What is wrong with your driving today?! Why are you hitting every rock on the road?!”
“Huh. The road's fairly rocky today for some reason.”
“We drive through this road every single day, so how can you say that?!”
Han Eun-Sol shrugged his shoulders. “Dunno. Maybe all the rocks came from a construction site nearby.”
Han Eun-Sol was getting petty with jealousy. Something about this situation was causing him a nasty heartburn! Quite a severe one at that, too!
While feeling this burning sensation in his chest, Han Eun-Sol deliberately drove over every pothole he could see on this unpaved road.
Bang! Boom! Thud!
“Hey, you! Are you gonna keep doing this?!”
“I'm telling you, it's not my fault, noona.”
Han Eun-Sol had resolved to temporarily become the worst driver in the world for today.
***
“Aigoo... My back... I'm dying...” Choi Yeon-Ha groaned loudly while holding her back. She shot a sharp glare in Han Eun-Sol's direction, but he ably avoided meeting her glare while whistling away. “You... We're gonna have a serious chat later. You got that?”
“This is why you shouldn't have insisted on shooting your scenes today, noona. Wouldn't it have been great if you took the day off?”
“That's not how adults operate, Eun-Sol. Even if I want to take a day off, I need to speak to the director face-to-face first. Demanding a break over the phone is just plain rude, you know!”
“Noona...”
“What is it?”
“Don't you think it's a bit too late to worry about being rude or not? If you still think so, you're daydreaming, big time.”
“You...! You, come here!”
Han Eun-Sol swiftly created some distance between him and Choi Yeon-Ha.
'I'm being serious, though...!'
Since Choi Yeon-Ha and the director had a proper verbal square-off yesterday, he would obviously not view her in a good light anymore. Even Korean directors would've gotten pissed after a much-younger actress dared to humiliate them in front of the crew. Chinese directors would also be the same. No, it might even be worse!
The way the Chinese viewed the world was markedly different from how the Koreans perceived things. Preserving 'face' meant so much more to the Chinese people than to the Koreans. Although they wouldn't go as far as risking their lives for their honor, it shouldn't be too far off.
Han Eun-Sol hadn't said anything to Choi Yeon-Ha about this, but he had been considering quitting the production. Even if the law was on their side, even a moron should be able to predict that she would be bullied and ridiculed during the filming. And the remainder of the shoot was a bit too long for anyone to endure such bullying.
So, quitting had to be seriously considered as a way to prevent Choi Yeon-Ha from erupting like a real volcano and becoming a front-page headline. No one could tell whether she knew what her manager was thinking or not when looking at how Choi Yeon-Ha was fuming like a raging bull at Kang Jin-Ho, though!
Han Eun-Sol slightly tilted his head.
'By the way... Why is she so full of energy this morning?'
If this had happened yesterday, merely talking to Han Eun-Sol would've been enough to tire Choi Yeon-Ha out, and she'd have become one with the nearest chair. But today? Her battery seemed to be fully charged, judging from how much ruckus she was raising.
'Is it because Mister Jin-Ho's here? That can't be right. I mean... She really looks energized for that.'
Han Eun-Sol had been by Choi Yeon-Ha's side long enough to know whether she was faking it or was really full of energy. That was why he couldn't understand this mysterious turn of events.
“Mister Jin-Ho!” Choi Yeon-Ha hurriedly walked up to Kang Jin-Ho and whispered in his ear, still oblivious to what her manager was thinking. “I know I dragged you along because of how chaotic things were in the morning, and I couldn't think straight...!”
She couldn't think straight? Kang Jin-Ho's smile at that moment could only be described as cramped. Didn't Choi Yeon-Ha forcibly shove him inside the van even though he expressed his desire to return to his lodging? Even if she wanted to lie, shouldn't she say something a bit more logical?
“We're in a closed film set, so you must never wander off, okay? If you can help it, please stay right next to Eun-Sol at all times!”
“Got it,” Kang Jin-Ho coolly nodded.
“I'm so sorry about this. I don't think we can converse for long.”
“It's fine.”
Choi Yeon-Ha hurriedly bowed her head at Kang Jin-Ho before walking away to join the production crew.
'I must've lost my mind!'
What was she thinking by bringing Kang Jin-Ho to the filming location! Even if this was not South Korea, rumors still could circulate about how Choi Yeon-Ha suddenly showed up with a man none of the crew members had seen before! Yes, the Chinese crew members wouldn't really care about who was in Choi Yeon-Ha's entourage, but...
When her thoughts reached that far, Choi Yeon-Ha's steps came to a sudden halt. She turned her head to confirm Kang Jin-Ho's face, then urgently called out to her manager. “Eun-Sol! Eun-Sol!!!”
Han Eun-Sol hurriedly dashed toward his talent. “What is it, noona?”
“Go and get a face mask and a hat from the van! Hurry!”
“Huh? Why?”
“We gotta hide that guy's face!”
“...Ah!” Han Eun-Sol nodded in understanding. He didn't need a lengthy explanation to figure it out.
A man hanging around as a member of Choi Yeon-Ha's entourage wouldn't make anyone's headline. However, what about a man with Kang Jin-Ho's looks? Now that would certainly make the front-page news!
“I'm gonna go get them right now!” Han Eun-Sol nodded before running back to the van at full tilt. He brought back a mask and a baseball cap before presenting them to Kang Jin-Ho. “I'm sorry about this, but can you put these on for us, Mister Jin-Ho...?”
“...Sure thing,” Kang Jin-Ho didn't complain and readily accepted the mask and hat. Although he wasn't sure why he needed to wear these, he also didn't see a need to ask for an explanation either. Choi Yeon-Ha and her manager wouldn't ask him to put these on for no reason, after all.
Choi Yeon-Ha nodded in approval when Kang Jin-Ho finished putting on the mask-and-hat duo. “Mmhm! That's better. It can get a bit worrisome whenever you're walking around with your uncovered face, you know!”
“Mm? What do you mean?” Kang Jin-Ho tilted his head.
“No, don't mind me. Okay, so! Don't forget to stick close to Eun-Sol until the end of today's filming, okay?”
“I will. Do your best today.”
“It's not the time yet, though. We'll start with makeup soon. Don't you dare wander off and always stick right next to Eun-Sol, okay? Next to him is the same as being next to me, got that?”
“...Yes, I got it.”
Choi Yeon-Ha took the lead and strode energetically toward the makeup area. For now, all Kang Jin-Ho could do was sigh and follow her.
***
“Hhhnng~...” Choi Yeon-Ha quietly hummed to herself.
Her makeup artist, Ji Eun-Hui, tilted her head slightly. “Unnie?”
“Ng?”
“Did something good happen this morning?”
“No, it's nothing like that.”
“Still, you look like you're in a good mood, you know?”
“The way you said that, it sounds like I'm always in a bad mood, Eun-Hui.”
'But, that's the truth, isn't it!'
Ji Eun-Hui forced herself to smile.
Even during makeup, Choi Yeon-Ha would cross her arms in front of her chest and scowl deeply in the mirror. She'd lean back in the chair, her legs crossed in a display of obvious displeasure! But today, she was making the gentle face of a little kid enjoying the Spring's warm breeze.
“Besides all that! Unnie, look! Your skin's gotten so smooth and nice! What did you do?” Ji Eun-Hui asked while excitedly pointing at the mirror.
Choi Yeon-Ha's expression brightened a little more as she checked her reflection.
'It's true!'
She did think something was different about her while washing up in the morning, but with how hectic things were back then, she didn't have the time to get a good look at herself. Now that she had done just that, though...
Choi Yeon-Ha could see that vitality had returned to her complexion. Her previously-coarse skin had become softer and smoother, too.
'Is it because I got a good night's sleep?'
She suspected that her skin had returned to its usual state after she got that much-needed sleep. Of course, she had no way of knowing that it was only possible thanks to Kang Jin-Ho removing all the turbid qi from her body the night before.
Choi Yeon-Ha smirked while casually shrugging her shoulders. “Well, I guess the dream was weird for a reason...”
“Dream?” Ji Eun-Hui tilted her head. “What dream, unnie?”
“N-no, it's nothing! Don't worry about it,” Choi Yeon-Ha hurriedly waved her hand. 'I gotta watch what I say!'
Regardless of what, she couldn't blurt out that she dreamed of Kang Jin-Ho straddling her in the middle of the night, now could she! Even if the dream version of Kang Jin-Ho still couldn't do anything to her other than that!
'Wait, maybe he doesn't have any testosterone in him?'
When Choi Yeon-Ha thought about it, wasn't this a serious issue? A man with too much lust was obviously a problem, but not having enough urges was also problematic, no?
Choi Yeon-Ha quietly muttered while rubbing her chin. “...Right. He can be a bit too much in that regard.”
Ji Eun-Hui tilted her head again. “Sorry?”
“...! Ah, no. I-it's nothing. Please finish up with the makeup.”
“Mm? Okay, will do. Eh? Did I already do your cheeks? Why are they so red...?”
“Kuh-huh-huh-hum!” Choi Yeon-Ha loudly fake-coughed.
Ji Eun-Hui wisely stopped her line of questioning and focused on finishing the makeup. But then, her curiosity eventually got the better of her. “Mm... By the way, unnie?”
“Ng?”
“Just who... is that man?” Ji Eun-Hui used her eyes to point out Kang Jin-Ho sitting quietly next to Han Eun-Sol. “People might think he's a stalker or something! What with his face all covered up like that. Look at his sunglasses, too!”
'Oh, no. Eun-Sol, you dummy...!'
Choi Yeon-Ha grimaced a little. She was happy with the mask-and-hat combo, but it seemed Han Eun-Sol wasn't. Just when did he find a pair of sunglasses while she wasn't looking?
A man in a tracksuit with a baseball cap deeply pressed down on his head and his face covered in a surgical mask and a pair of sunglasses? How would people perceive such a man sitting there randomly...?
'...He kinda resembles a suspect being arrested by the police, doesn't he?'
Even though Kang Jin-Ho's face had been perfectly covered up, doing so only made him even more suspicious instead. Still, wouldn't that be better than letting everyone see what he looked like?
“Oh, uh... That guy, he's...”
Before Choi Yeon-Ha could explain, she had to stop talking and frown a little. After all, she had discovered the director approaching her makeup chair from some distance away.
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