Chapter 2
Long black hair.
A long black coat.
Dressed entirely in black from head to toe, Yoon Iseol pulled her black baseball cap low over her face as she walked out of the College of Social Sciences building.
Since debuting as a child actress at the age of twelve, she had spent far more time on film sets than in classrooms. Even so, she had never neglected her studies.
It was thanks to her mother’s teachings.
“If you want to become a wise person, never stop learning.”
Unlike most former child actors who enrolled in Theater and Film departments, Iseol had chosen to study psychology—a field she genuinely loved.
After retiring from the entertainment industry, she entered graduate school and now worked as a research assistant.
“Isn’t that Yoon Iseol?”
Even during the short walk to the parking lot where her driver was waiting, whispers rose from a nearby group of students who had recognized her.
She had been born with the kind of beauty that naturally attracted attention.
Even dressed entirely in black with her face hidden beneath a cap, she still stood out effortlessly.
“Are all those clothes designer brands? I can’t even tell.”
“Her husband’s Cha Sunho. You think she’d wear cheap clothes?”
“Do you think those sponsor rumors before her marriage were actually true?”
“Who knows? If Cha Sunho says they’re false, then even the truth becomes a rumor.”
“Life must be easy when you’re that pretty. She debuted as a kid, became a top actress, and now she’s married to a billionaire heir. What a lucky life.”
Easy? For whom?
A bitter laugh escaped inside Iseol’s heart.
Other people’s lives always looked easy.
Because people never saw the whole picture.
They only saw the parts they wanted to see.
She had long grown accustomed to strangers judging her life however they pleased, yet every whisper still reopened old wounds.
But she couldn’t possibly explain herself to every person who misunderstood her.
So…
She ignored them.
Leaving their laughter and gossip behind her, Iseol quietly climbed into the back seat of her car.
Fourteen years in the entertainment industry.
What remained after all that time was betrayal from the agency she had grown up with, conspiracies woven behind her back…
…and a public that believed every false rumor and threw stones without hesitation.
Exhausted and disillusioned by it all, she had desperately needed somewhere to hide.
That was when Sunho had appeared.
“We’ve arrived, ma’am.”
The driver’s voice pulled her back to reality.
She stepped out of the car.
Normally, she hardly wore makeup or dressed up anymore.
But whenever she attended an official event, she had to look flawless.
Not because she was Yoon Iseol—
But because she was Cha Sunho’s wife.
As she entered the salon she’d reserved, the director—a man with long permed hair—approached her with a bright smile.
“Iseol! It’s been a while.”
The salon was famous, frequented by countless celebrities.
Still smiling warmly, he led her to her seat.
When her makeup was finished, he admired his own work before speaking.
“Doing makeup feels rewarding when the before and after are completely different.”
He chuckled.
“But with you, Iseol… there’s hardly any difference at all.”
Having learned the realities of the adult world far too young, Iseol returned the compliment with practiced politeness.
“There’s definitely a difference.”
She smiled gently.
“It’s just that your skills are so good they’re impossible to put into words.”
The director laughed at the flattering remark and lightly patted her shoulder.
“You’re beautiful, and you speak beautifully too.”
Just as Iseol stood to head upstairs and change into the gown she’d reserved—
Knock. Knock.
The door opened.
Standing there was actress Shin Yooju, one of the hottest stars in the industry.
“Directooor…”
She pouted dramatically.
“I’m so sad I couldn’t get my makeup done by you today. You’ll do mine tomorrow, right?”
Speaking in an adorable, playful tone, Yooju slipped her arm naturally through the director’s.
To everyone else, Shin Yooju seemed warm, friendly, and easygoing.
To Iseol…
She was nothing like that.
“I couldn’t today because Iseol had a reservation.”
The director smiled apologetically.
“But I’ll definitely do yours tomorrow.”
At the mention of Iseol’s name, Yooju’s expression stiffened for the briefest instant.
Then, just as quickly, her bright smile returned.
Only Iseol noticed that fleeting change.
When Yooju turned her head, their eyes met through the mirror.
Despite wearing only light makeup, the woman reflected there possessed delicate features and strikingly clear eyes.
Her beauty wasn’t something created with cosmetics.
It radiated naturally.
Elegant.
Pure.
Refined.
A beauty that no one else could imitate.
The woman in the mirror was Yoon Iseol.
For a split second, Yooju’s gaze wavered.
Then she smiled again.
Turning toward Iseol, she bowed deeply—a perfect ninety degrees.
“Hello, Senior.”
Watching Yooju’s fake politeness through the mirror, Iseol answered expressionlessly.
“Hello.”
The director beamed.
“See? Yooju’s manners are impeccable. In this industry, people with good character are the ones who last.”
He looked toward Iseol as he spoke.
The moment his attention shifted away, Yooju curled one corner of her lips into a crooked smirk before quickly smoothing it away.
An idea had come to her.
Finally…
A chance to knock the ever-proud Yoon Iseol down a peg.
Lowering her brows with a look of fake concern, Yooju spoke sweetly.
“Director… if you say that, it almost sounds like Senior Iseol retired early because she didn’t have good character.”
The director’s face immediately fell.
Iseol had retired at just twenty-six after getting married.
Cold sweat formed on his forehead.
“N-No! That’s not what I meant!”
He hurried to explain.
“Iseol retired because she became the daughter-in-law of Haeseong Group.”
Seeing him flustered, Iseol smiled calmly.
“I know you didn’t mean it that way, Director.”
She knew perfectly well who had been trying to insult her.
It wasn’t him.
It was Shin Yooju.
“It’s been two years since I last saw my junior.”
She smiled politely.
“I’d like to have a little chat.”
Understanding the hint, the director quickly excused himself.
The moment the door closed behind him, leaving the two women alone…
Yooju’s expression changed completely.
Every trace of friendliness vanished.
Crossing her arms, she leaned against the wall and sneered at Iseol’s reflection.
“Marriage must be nice.”
She tilted her head.
“Actually… maybe it’s just nice because your husband is Cha Sunho.”
Ever since Iseol retired two years ago, Shin Yooju had inherited every role left vacant.
She had climbed almost to the top.
Just one more successful project, and she’d become an A-list star.
Yet people still called her…
“The Second Yoon Iseol.”
Even her favorite makeup director always pushed her appointment aside whenever Iseol booked first.
In Yooju’s mind, there was only one reason.
Because Iseol was Cha Sunho’s wife.
Whether Iseol had still been active or had already retired…
Yooju always felt trapped beneath her shadow.
That deep inferiority complex had only grown stronger.
Iseol smiled faintly.
“If you’re jealous, you should get married too.”
She paused.
“Ah… maybe you can’t.”
Her smile sharpened.
“Would your sponsor allow it?”
The moment the word sponsor left her lips—
Yooju’s arrogant expression froze.
Still can’t hide your emotions.
Just like two years ago.
Even after two years apart…
Nothing about Shin Yooju had changed.
Looking at her leisurely, Iseol asked again,
“I’ve never had a sponsor, so I honestly don’t know.”
She tilted her head innocently.
“Can people with sponsors still get married?”
“Shut up!”
Yooju shouted.
Unbothered, Iseol continued.
“Or maybe…”
She pretended to think.
“No man would marry someone if he found out she had a sponsor?”
Another pause.
“Or does getting married mean your sponsorship ends?”
The infamous sponsor scandal that had cornered Iseol two years ago…
Had belonged to Shin Yooju all along.
It had been orchestrated by Yooju’s sponsor…
Her agency’s CEO…
And Yooju herself.
“Without your sponsor, you’re nothing!” Yooju snapped.
“You can’t even act!”
“I said shut up!”
Her shrill scream echoed through the room.
Iseol frowned slightly, as though the noise hurt her ears.
Just like before.
Whenever she runs out of arguments, she starts yelling.
“Keep your voice down.”
Iseol spoke almost lazily.
“The soundproofing here isn’t very good.”
She smiled gently.
“People might find out you’re being sponsored.”
Using the exact same fake expression of concern Yooju had worn earlier, Iseol looked at her sympathetically.
Yooju said nothing.
Her fists trembled violently.
“You really think you replaced me, don’t you?”
Watching Yooju’s shaking hands through the mirror, Iseol slowly stood.
Then she turned to face her.
“You’re mistaken.”
Her voice was calm.
Steady.
“I threw that position away because I didn’t need it anymore.”
She looked directly into Yooju’s eyes.
“You just picked up what I discarded.”
Yooju glared at her.
Then muttered bitterly,
“You were the one who got kicked out.”
Iseol understood immediately.
She was talking about the sponsor scandal from two years ago.
Without changing her expression, Iseol struck directly at Yooju’s deepest insecurity.
“That drama you’re filming right now…”
She smiled.
“It was offered to me first at the beginning of this year.”
Yooju’s face stiffened.
“I turned it down.”
Iseol’s voice remained infuriatingly calm.
“You happily accepted something I rejected.”
She took one slow step closer.
“So…”
“How does it feel?”
“Doing a project that I threw away?”
Even after retiring, movie and drama offers had continued pouring in.
Yoon Iseol had debuted at twelve.
She had captured the nation’s attention as a child actress, and after becoming an adult, she had never once stopped being a star.
People often called her “a work of art created by God.”
Her breathtaking beauty.
Her astonishingly deep and delicate acting.
The way she transformed completely into every character she played.
People didn’t simply call her an actress.
They called her someone who had been born to act.
From a very young age, Yoon Iseol had been both a top star…
…and the nation’s actress.
The sponsor scandal had certainly played a part.
But…
It wasn’t the real reason she had chosen to retire.
