AVSH 12

Chapter 12

 A Taboo Word

“No…… it’s nothing. I was so flustered I couldn’t even greet him properly.”

Wait, why did I lie?

It had been only a day since she’d gone all the way to the wealthy neighborhood mansion to meet Jang Geon-woo and, through no fault of her own, ended up filming a 007 movie while being chased by reporters.

But she didn’t want to confide in Je-min about something she hadn’t even told Ju-young in detail.

“You haven’t met him separately?”

“No. But why do you ask?”

“No reason, I was just a bit curious. There’s been a lot of talk about that man around lately. I heard you were discharged yesterday—were you home the whole time?”

“Yes. I was home the whole time.”

“I see,” Je-min said, trailing off, and recalled an internet post he’d seen before coming here. It had been about Do Da-hee being spotted on a street near the wealthy neighborhood yesterday.

“Title: ㄷㄷㅎ spotted in a secret rendezvous with a chaebol man

↳ ㄷㄷㅎ = Do Da-hee? Not a single quiet day, huh!

↳ Where do you see ㄷㄷㅎ in that?

↳ I think it really is ㄷㄷㅎ. Living the good life. Dating amid all this chaos.

↳ Love blossoms even on the battlefield, as they say.

↳ Do Da-hee has never had a single scandal until now. I really don’t think it’s her?

↳ Whoever the guy is, his physique is killer.”

The blurry photo in the post showed the backs of a man and a woman. In the hundreds of comments, people argued over whether it was Do Da-hee or not, but nowhere was there a photo with a clear face.

Je-min, who had been bothered by the post ever since he saw it, gazed steadily at Da-hee.

“Why are you looking at me like that?”

“Just. I was thinking how glad I am that you’re alive.”

The Da-hee Je-min knew was someone who couldn’t lie. So he decided to believe her words that she’d been home the whole time since discharge. He wiped his stubbly face and let out a sigh.

“But how did you get in here? I heard there are a lot of reporters outside.”

“I couldn’t reach you, so I asked Manager Kim for a favor. I also have something important to tell you. It seems like it’ll be a long story. Let’s sit down and talk first.”

The two sat facing each other across the table. Je-min, who had a gentle personality, wore an unusually serious expression today.

“What’s going on, oppa? This thing you have to tell me…….”

“Don’t be shocked, just listen. It’s about your mother.”

The moment Je-min brought it up, Da-hee’s expression hardened instantly.

Her mother, who had once been Da-hee’s only family. But after declaring a severance, Do Geum-ja had not contacted her even once in several years, and Da-hee’s feelings toward her were none too good.

“I’m sorry, but I don’t want to hear it.”

“Da-hee. I know well how you feel about your mother. But I think you really need to know this.”

“Did you forget that word is a taboo? Don’t say it. I don’t have a mother.”

“Fine. Anyway, just listen. That person—she’s getting out soon.”

“……!! Out? What do you mean?”

Da-hee’s eyes wavered at the unexpected word. The news of Do Geum-ja that Je-min delivered was rather shocking. Da-hee listened to his story with a constantly surprised face.

“After she severed ties with you, she went to the Philippines. But even there, she used your name to run gambling scams, and three years ago she was arrested by local police.”

“Ha…….”

“By the time I found out, she was already in a Philippine prison. At the time, I asked my father to try to bring your mother back to Korea somehow, but it wasn’t easy.”

“…….”

“At any rate, all I could think about was preventing this from becoming public. I thoroughly blocked any chance of that person’s name getting tangled with yours and appearing in the news. Fortunately, the Korean press didn’t catch on either, so it passed quietly.”

“So what. What’s the conclusion?”

Da-hee’s expression as she asked calmly was composed, but the end of her voice, hiding her tension, trembled slightly.

Je-min let out a long breath and answered.

“She’s released in ten days, and she’ll be returning to Korea. And…….!

“She says she misses you a lot.”

“Ha, ha, haha, ha.”

“Da-hee.”

“Je-min oppa. Have you been in contact with that person behind my back all this time? How could you! What right do you have, oppa! Why are you looking after that person? She’s someone who has nothing to do with me anymore! You knew perfectly well how much I suffered because of—because of her!”

Da-hee, who had finally burst the resentment she’d been suppressing, cried as her whole body trembled.

“I’m sorry for not consulting you beforehand. But I did it thinking of you—she is your mother, after all.”

“I told you not to call her that!!”

“Da-hee.”

“Just leave. I don’t want to hear any more of what you have to say.”

Da-hee, who had sharply shaken off Je-min’s hand as he approached telling her to calm down, went into her bedroom.

Bang—

Da-hee, who had locked the door so no one could come in, covered her ears at the sound of him calling her from outside. And then she just sank down where she was.

The Do Geum-ja that Da-hee remembered was the worst from beginning to end. She was a heartless mother who hadn’t held her daughter with love even for a single moment.

‘I’m the one who gave birth to Do Da-hee, the top star everyone in the world praises! I, Do Geum-ja, am the one who brought you into this world! So isn’t it only fair that I receive this much compensation?’

‘What good is a pretty face if your heart isn’t kind too? Your mother is investing with a plan in mind, so pitch in a little too.’

‘How long do you think you can make a living off that pretty face? Aging is only a matter of time. There will be thousands, tens of thousands of girls prettier and younger than you coming along. Be good to your mother.’

‘Why are you making such a fuss over a little money spent? It’s not like it’s going to kill anyone.’

‘You ungrateful—! How can you sever a blood tie? How can you call yourself human after that! Do Da-hee! You’ll be punished by heaven for this!’

She had worked hard, holding the top position in the entertainment industry for over ten years, but the money Do Geum-ja had blown through amounted to hundreds of billions of won.

Eventually, a few years ago, a massive debt scandal erupted, and Da-hee officially declared she had cut ties with her mother. It was so that no one else would suffer because of her name.

But she never dreamed that Park Je-min, who knew all about that situation, had been in contact with Do Geum-ja.

The consideration he had shown without a single word of consultation became a tremendous wound to Da-hee instead.

— Da-hee. Calm down and listen to me.

“Sniff. Hic!”

— I didn’t bring this up to make you cry. All my choices have always been for you. Please just know that much. Okay?

At Je-min’s earnest voice coming from outside the door, Da-hee covered her mouth. The hand she pressed over her mouth to keep her sobs from escaping trembled.

— I’m sorry for bringing this up when you’re struggling. But Da-hee. Please don’t bear it alone—lean on me.

— I want you to be able to lean on me comfortably. If you want, I’ll always be by your side. I mean it.

“Leave, please. Just leave!”

— ……I’m sorry, Da-hee. I’ll leave her number here.

Even after saying he would go, it was quite a while later before the sound of the front door closing was heard.

After Park Je-min left, Da-hee cried loudly. And so a night soaked in tears passed.

Jang Dong-wan, who had personally toured the logistics center site, hurried to the hotel restaurant.

Today there was an important luncheon meeting with business figures, including overseas partners.

The meal proceeded in the usual atmosphere of active business discussions. But at that table, an unexpected topic came up.

“Chairman Jang. I heard there was a happy occasion in your family recently. Congratulations.”

“You mean my son Vice President Jang Hyun-woo’s wedding? Thank you.”

“Ah, I was actually referring to your youngest son. The doctor son who saved that famous celebrity. You have quite a remarkable talent there.”

“Indeed. To think Chairman Jang had such a wonderful son as well. You’ve raised your children very well. I’m envious.”

“Haha. You’re too kind. Such excessive praise.”

He didn’t particularly want to bring it up, but these days praise for Jang Geon-woo was everywhere he went, so Jang Dong-wan laughed it off as if resigned.

“Actually, I had something I wanted to pass along to Chairman Jang. Everyone knows Professor Kim Dae-sung of H Hospital’s Trauma Center, don’t you?”

“Of course. Isn’t he a figure who represents our country’s medical community?”

“Professor Kim says he owes a great debt to Chairman Jang’s youngest son. He wants to express his gratitude separately but says he has no way to contact him, so he asked me to pass along a request for his contact information.”

As Congressman Hong, who had brought it up, gestured, his secretary approached Jang Dong-wan and handed him an envelope. Inside were a handwritten card and a business card from Professor Kim, saying he would wait for the day he could see him again.

“Please do pass this along to your youngest son.”

“How curious. Geon-woo has only ever been overseas—how did he come to have a connection with Professor Kim?”

“Actually, I was curious too, so I asked Professor Kim. He said he owed his life twice.”

As Congressman Hong began, everyone’s attention turned as if wondering what the story was.

Congressman Hong said he’d heard it directly from Professor Kim Dae-sung and brought up a story from six years ago.

“When Professor Kim went to Africa for medical volunteer work, he was in a car accident there and was badly injured. The person who saved Professor Kim’s life was none other than Chairman Jang’s youngest son.”

“Really?”

“That’s not all. He even told Professor Kim, who was returning home after recovering, to be sure to get an endoscopy when he got to Korea. So he got one, and wouldn’t you know—it was stomach cancer.”

“My goodness!”

“Fortunately, because it was caught early, he’s now fully recovered. So just as Professor Kim said, isn’t he a benefactor who saved his life twice?”

“Good heavens, what a connection!”

“Chairman Jang, you truly have a remarkable and admirable son.”