Mine, Again Chapter 4

“What do you intend to do?”

 

A subsidiary of Yuseong Group. The president’s office of Yuseong Department Store.

 

Kim Ji-hoon, Ryu Sung-woon’s secretary and close friend, let out a long sigh.

 

“About what?”

 

“Are you really asking that after reading the report on Song Su-hwa?”

 

Sung-woon pushed aside the report he had finished reading and reached for another document. Despite the stark difference in content, his expression remained unchanged.

 

Was this a sign of approval or disapproval?

 

Ji-hoon, observing Sung-woon’s unreadable expression, could only grow more anxious.

 

“Soul Entertainment’s financial situation is worse than expected.”

 

Worse was an understatement. They had recklessly pulled in funds to expand their business and even got listed on KOSDAQ. There was even evidence of bribery involved in the approval process, and now marriage with the daughter of that household?

 

The Ryu Sung-woon he knew would never make such a choice.

 

And yet… This time, something felt off.

 

“Is that so?”

 

“No matter how you look at it, there is no benefit in this marriage. Also, Song Won-sik officially registered her in his family when she was 20. That’s when her surname changed from Jang to Song.”

 

Twenty years old. From Jang Su-hwa to Song Su-hwa.

 

On the surface, it was an adoption, but Ji-hoon added that it was an open secret that she was Song Won-sik’s illegitimate daughter.

 

“The only advantage, if there is one, is Song Su-hwa’s public recognition and image.”

 

Even now, her name frequently appeared in idol fan galleries. A tragic genius trainee. The quintessential center of a legendary girl group.

 

It was unusual for a trainee who never even debuted to maintain such popularity. Her competition performances were still talked about, and her fancam views continued to increase in real-time. She had left a significant mark.

 

“One thing I found odd was her sudden withdrawal from her debut group. Her ranking kept rising, and by the finals, she was first in the viewer votes. Including the agency’s evaluation, she was set to debut at third place.”

 

Ji-hoon carefully watched Sung-woon’s reaction as he continued his report. If he had no interest, this was where he should stop. But if Sung-woon was listening, he needed to go into more detail.

 

“Being first in the viewer votes means she was the most popular member. Officially, she withdrew due to health reasons, but it doesn’t seem convincing.”

 

Sung-woon lifted his gaze from the document he was reviewing and took off his non-prescription glasses, placing them on his desk.

 

It was a sign that he was paying close attention.

 

“In reality, the stock market had been betting on the success of the new girl group, and as soon as the competition ended, Soul Entertainment’s stock price surged.”

 

“That makes sense. Stocks reflect the future, not the present.”

 

“If she had debuted, she would have been even more successful. There are many rumors about her withdrawal. Some speculated she had a history of school violence, but with no exposé posts to back it up, most believe that wasn’t the case.”

 

A golden goose capable of laying golden eggs had been sacrificed. But why? What was so urgent?

 

Not that it mattered. This was a three-year contract marriage. During that time, all he needed from her was an heir.

 

“Prepare for it. I’m going to marry Song Su-hwa.”

 

Sung-woon picked up his glasses again. There would be no taking back his decision.

 

Just what kind of deal did he make that day!

 

Ji-hoon clutched his forehead. They had been friends since university, and yet he still couldn’t understand Sung-woon’s mind.

 

Either way, the marriage had become urgent. Ever since he came out as gay in front of his parents, he had been reassigned from the main Yuseong Electronics group to the perennially unprofitable department store division.

 

His parents had warned that if he did not intend to continue the family line, they would adopt an heir from a collateral branch. Their resolve had been so firm that even Ji-hoon had felt the chill.

 

They said blue blood ran in the veins of the Yuseong Group.

 

A glance at his friend confirmed that this was not an exaggeration.

 

“…Understood. There was no need to compile a separate file on Song Su-hwa. Just searching her name on Witube brings up plenty of videos.”

 

Ji-hoon bowed slightly and left the office. As always, Sung-woon resumed handling the mountain of work before him.

 

Click. The mouse stopped moving. A sudden wave of discomfort furrowed his brow.

 

Staring at his monitor, he opened a video-sharing site he normally wouldn’t visit. The cursor blinked in the search bar.

 

-Song Su-hwa.

 

The moment he typed the name, a flood of related search terms appeared. She was more well-known than he had thought.

 

“So that’s why she seemed familiar.”

 

-Legendary Trainee Song Su-hwa. Dream of You. Fancam.

-Soul Entertainment Survival Show Ranking Announcement. Song Su-hwa.

-We Have an Eternal Idol (feat. Song Su-hwa).

-A Compilation of Song Su-hwa GIFs I Made for Myself.

-Godly Song Su-hwa Cross-edits. Melancholic Ending, Cute Ending, Girl Crush Ending.

 

Sung-woon clicked on the video with the highest views among those featuring her face in the thumbnail. Song Su-hwa appeared wearing a tube top and a ballet-inspired dress. In the center of a group of nine trainees.

 

The camera focused solely on her, as if desperate to capture every expression and movement.

 

“She stands out.”

 

Wasn’t this what they called the bouquet effect? The group formation around her made the choreography look decent.

 

The next video auto-played.

 

Leaning back in his chair with his arms crossed, Sung-woon watched as Su-hwa appeared, practicing her choreography with her long hair flowing.

 

– “I can be of help to you, Ryu Sung-woon.”

 

Sweat dripped down her chin. She repeated the same moves over and over. She must have been exhausted, yet her smile never wavered.

 

– “During my trainee period, I also took acting lessons. I’m confident in expressing emotions. I’ve been praised for my ability to embody different concepts.”

 

The smiling trainee in the video overlapped with the 25-year-old Song Su-hwa he had met in person.

 

Boldly, she had stated her worth.

 

That day, Su-hwa had proposed a contract marriage.

 

***

 

“What part of you could possibly be of help to me?”  

 

“I will stand by your side as the image they want in front of people.”  

 

“You’re saying you’ll act out the concept I want?”  

 

“Yes. Anything.”  

 

Anything. She really had no fear. Sung-woon adjusted the slightly slipping frame of his glasses and spoke.  

 

“And how do you know what I want?”  

 

Flinch.  

 

Sung-woon didn’t miss the slight tension that passed through her rounded shoulders. But what caught his attention even more was Su-hwa’s smile.  

 

A picture-perfect smile that contrasted with her stiff body.  

 

If he hadn’t been paying close attention to her condition, he might have been fooled by her radiant expression.  

 

“Whatever it takes… If I lack something, I’ll try harder.”  

 

“You’re at an age where you should know that not everything can be solved by effort alone.”  

 

Su-hwa’s pupils trembled.  

 

Was she going to give up? Her face had turned pale, as if she might burst into tears at any moment.  

 

That would be quite disappointing.  

 

Sung-woon patiently waited for her to open her mouth.  

 

A moment later, Su-hwa lifted her head. Her eyes, which had seemed on the verge of tears, were now dry.  

 

“For you to go as far as signing a confidentiality agreement… It means even you care about public rumors.”  

 

“Is this persuasion or blackmail?”  

 

“No. I’m reconstructing our meeting. Let’s say we met by chance, fell in love, and promised to marry.”  

 

Met by chance and fell in love?  

 

Hah. Sung-woon let out a deflated laugh.  

 

“No one who knows me would ever believe that.”  

 

“This isn’t the first time you have seen me. You’ve had your eye on me since the girl group competition three years ago. You already fell for me back then.”  

 

That never happened. A woman trying desperately to persuade him. Negotiations with a desperate opponent were easy. So easy that there was no way to lose.  

 

Such a dull game wouldn’t even have the chance to be played at his table—yet, somehow, Song Su-hwa piqued his interest.  

 

Just enough to play along.  

 

“It doesn’t quite fit my image, but it’s a plausible story.”  

 

“And then, we met again. After much deliberation, you decided to date me—with marriage in mind. If that rumor spreads, wouldn’t the gossip surrounding you disappear?”  

 

Su-hwa promised to act as a loving fiancée in accordance with the fabricated story. So please, choose me.  

 

“I’ll think about it. Then, what do you want from me, Song Su-hwa?”  

 

“When the contract ends… I want complete freedom. I want to leave Korea with my mother.”  

 

Complete freedom. Her condition was simple. She wanted to leave Korea with her mother.  

 

“That’s not a difficult condition. Preparing the necessary foundation for immigration is doable.”  

 

“…It has to be with my birth mother.”  

 

Her gaze fell to the floor as if hiding something. It wasn’t hard to see through her. The biggest expense would go toward her biological mother. Sung-woon realized it instinctively.