DBEM ~ 08

Chapter – 08

“A week ago…?”

“The day of the first snowfall. I got an urgent call that evening. I never imagined I’d live to see Seo Tae-o in person.”

The day of the first snowfall…

It was the same day he had placed an umbrella in her hands.

What had he said?

As if reliving the tension of that moment, Woo-cheol took a slow sip of his hot tea to moisten his dry throat before continuing.

“Seo Tae-o said I had to bring you in no matter what. He said he absolutely wanted you as the female lead of this drama. He even promised to invest in our company if I convinced you.”

None of it made any sense.

He had clearly seen the horrific face melted by hydrochloric acid that day.

So why?

The question she had pushed to the back of her mind began to rise again like a shimmering mirage.

“It was practically a threat,” Woo-cheol grumbled. “That brat’s unbelievably arrogant. He even tracked down your home address. And he’s the one who gave me your phone number.”

Despite his complaints, a smile lingered at the corners of his lips, as though he secretly admired Tae-o’s determination.

Leaning far across the table, Woo-cheol pleaded,

“Seol-hwa, Seo Tae-o is the producer, and he really wants you in this project. Chances like this don’t come around often. Let’s do it, okay?”

But Seol-hwa barely heard him.

Her thoughts were consumed entirely by Tae-o.

Even if she gave him every benefit of the doubt—even if she assumed he hadn’t actually seen the scars on her face that day—

She still couldn’t understand why he would go through so much trouble just to help her return.

It couldn’t simply be for the publicity surrounding his first drama production.

Why?

Seeing her lost in thought, Woo-cheol cautiously tested the waters.

“What? Is it because Director Jeon Gi-beom’s involved? Forget about that bastard.”

Apparently, Seol-hwa wasn’t the only one eager for this project.

Woo-cheol looked terrified she might refuse.

“Seo Tae-o’s the one with the real power anyway. It’d be such a waste to let this opportunity slip away. It’s the perfect comeback project for you. I heard Jeon Gi-beom’s pushing Ma Yu-gyeong as the lead, but there’s no way I’m accepting that. It should obviously be you.”

He seemed convinced that the reason for her serious expression was Gi-beom.

But Seol-hwa hadn’t decided to return because she wanted revenge.

No…

If anything, her comeback couldn’t be for something as petty as revenge.

“I want to act again,” she said quietly. “And I want this drama to be my triumphant return.”

To do that, she had to rightfully win back the lead role that had already been promised to Ma Yu-gyeong.

Not through connections.

Through ability.

She wanted to earn it with her own talent.

“I’ll call Director Seo Tae-o myself and discuss it.”

“You will?”

“Yes.”

After wrapping up the conversation, Seol-hwa hesitated before asking,

“But… why was Seo Tae-o so determined to cast me? There are plenty of actresses.”

“Huh?”

Woo-cheol looked genuinely caught off guard, as if he’d never even considered that question.

Rolling his eyes in thought, he finally answered,

“I don’t know… Maybe he’s your fan?”

Seol-hwa couldn’t help laughing.

“As if.”

She was certain.

A man as arrogant as Seo Tae-o would never sincerely admire or support anyone but himself.

TL Group Headquarters Lobby

Jun-hyup followed closely behind Tae-o like a shadow as they walked toward his office.

The moment they entered the building, he discreetly scanned their surroundings before stepping closer.

Spotting a middle-aged man approaching from the opposite direction, Jun-hyup immediately leaned toward Tae-o’s ear.

“That’s Manager Yoon Jung-hyun.”

Hearing the quiet whisper, Tae-o calmly looked at the approaching man.

“Good morning, Director.”

“Good morning, Manager Yoon. You’ve changed your hairstyle.”

“Yes. I decided to cut it short this time.”

“It suits you. Have a good day.”

After Tae-o gave a polite nod, Jun-hyup once again leaned close.

“Chairman Seo Chung-gu is coming this way.”

For the first time that morning, Tae-o’s indifferent eyes sharpened.

“Good morning, Chairman.”

“What kind of son calls his own father ‘Chairman’? You’re a cold-hearted brat.”

Clicking his tongue in annoyance, Chung-gu glared up at Tae-o.

“When are you coming home? Your younger brother’s been waiting for you.”

At the sharp tone, Jun-hyup instinctively glanced at Tae-o.

For a brief moment…

A faint but unmistakable sneer appeared on his superior’s lips.

“Is that younger brother really my brother?”

“What did you say, you little—!”

Just as Jun-hyup expected.

One calm sentence had stabbed directly into his father’s heart.

“I have a meeting, so I’ll excuse myself.”

After offering a perfectly courteous farewell, Tae-o turned away without the slightest hesitation.

Jun-hyup immediately hurried after him.

Someone had to be his eyes…

Since his boss couldn’t even recognize his own father’s face.

Tae-o’s office was both magnificent and empty.

Every wall and floor was covered in polished black marble.

Beyond the spotless floor-to-ceiling windows, the sprawling skyline of Seoul stretched out on both sides.

There wasn’t a single potted plant.

Not even a painting.

The barren office seemed to reflect Seo Tae-o himself.

A man born with everything…

Yet as empty as the hollow look in his eyes.

The moment Tae-o sat behind his desk, Jun-hyup handed him a folder of newspaper clippings.

“There have been a lot of articles about your appearance at yesterday’s funeral. Reporters are speculating about your relationship with the late actress Noh Hee-yeon, and whether you’re connected to her daughter.”

It was likely that one of the few people who actually knew Tae-o’s face had leaked the information.

Since he rarely appeared in public, the attention surrounding him was enormous.

After a brief silence, Tae-o finally spoke.

“What about articles concerning Jung Seol-hwa?”

His tone suggested he couldn’t care less about the reports concerning himself.

“There aren’t any yet.”

Tae-o gave no response.

He simply seemed lost in thought.

“However, Jang Entertainment contacted us. They’re planning to sign a new contract with Ms. Jung Seol-hwa today.”

“And Studio TL?”

“The building is in its final stages of preparation after construction. Some employees have already started working.”

Studio TL was an entertainment company Tae-o had insisted on establishing despite fierce opposition from every executive within TL Group.

Had Seo Tae-o not achieved remarkable success in the overseas division, the project would never have been approved.

As far as the group was concerned, it was an unnecessary business.

Jun-hyup stole another glance at his unreadable boss.

Even as the man who served Tae-o most closely, he’d never understood why Tae-o had pushed so hard for this venture after returning to Korea, ignoring even Chairman Seo’s objections.

Not until yesterday…

Not until he saw Jung Seol-hwa at the funeral.

The reason Tae-o had arrived hours early and waited inside his car…

The reason he’d hired such an overwhelming security detail…

It had all been because of an actress who had disappeared for three years.

Only then did Jun-hyup understand why Tae-o had ordered an investigation into Director Jeon Gi-beom.

…

A calculating, cynical man had started an unprofitable business…

Because of a woman.

Realizing that somehow made his intimidating boss feel just a tiny bit more human.

Jun-hyup quietly watched him.

At that moment, Tae-o’s tightly closed lips slowly curved upward.

Like a predator remembering the taste of delicious prey.

“The meeting with the actress should happen as soon as possible.”

“You’re… going personally?”

Seo Tae-o attending an official meeting himself?

Jun-hyup never imagined he’d witness such a thing.

His surprised tone earned him a cold, intimidating stare.

“Is that a problem?”

Of course not.

Nothing in the world was beyond Seo Tae-o’s will…

Except for the face blindness that had somehow become part of his life.

Jun-hyup hurriedly shook his head.

“No, sir. I’ll arrange it immediately.”

He couldn’t suppress his curiosity any longer.

Who exactly was Jung Seol-hwa to Seo Tae-o?

What kind of person could make him go this far?

Gathering his courage, Jun-hyup carefully asked,

“May I ask… what your relationship with Actress Jung Seol-hwa is?”

“I wonder.”

“Were you… perhaps her fan?”

Even Jun-hyup found his own question ridiculous and let out an awkward laugh.

“I know it sounds impossible, but it’s the only explanation I can think of. Besides… this is the first time you’ve ever recognized someone’s face…”

As Jun-hyup rambled on with his clumsy excuse, Tae-o answered with two short words.

“My first love.”

“…!”

Jun-hyup’s eyes widened in utter disbelief.

He had never imagined that would be the answer.